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Ring in 2024 with these New Year’s Eve celebrations in Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

It’s almost time to usher in the New Year and Southern California will be filled to the brim with various events and parties to welcome in 2024.Here is a list of a few events taking place across the Southland for those who want to start 2024 off with a bang. Here are the stores that will be open or closed on New Year’s Eve and Day in California Gloria Molina Grand Park’s NYELADescribed as the “West Coast’s largest Free New Year’s Eve event,” guests can dance their way into the New Year with two music stages while enjoying food, immersive art installation experiences, and various family-friendly activities. The free event starts at 8 p.m. More information can be found on its Eventbrite page.L.A. Zoo Lights Family New Year's EveThe whole family can enjoy a New Year's Eve celebration without staying awake until midnight. The Los Angeles Zoo will host a New Year’s Eve event complete with dancing, express entry into the L.A. Zoo Lights displays and a live broadcast of the ball dropping...

San Pablo dispute over stolen items turns into murder when victim dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

SAN PABLO — Authorities have filed murder charges against a woman after an argument over stolen packages in San Pablo escalated into a vehicular assault and ultimately a homicide case when the victim died from her injuries.Contra Costa County prosecutors filed murder charges on Friday against a 39-year-old woman, Dene Blakely.Dene Blakely, 39, a suspect in a murder in San Pablo. (San Pablo Police Department)The charges arose from a verbal altercation between Blakely and an unidentified 60-year-old female victim who became involved in a verbal altercation regarding stolen packages, investigators said.Blakely saw the victim walking in a neighborhood and believed that she recognized the victim as an individual who had stolen one or more packages from Blakely’s residence, according to authorities.The altercation escalated into a traffic collision involving a vehicle that struck the victim, leaving the 60-year-old woman suffering from major and life-threatening injuries....

South African launches case at UN accusing Israel of genocide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

By Mike Corder | Associated PressTHE HAGUE, Netherlands — South Africa launched a case Friday at the United Nations’ top court accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks — the first such challenge made at the court over the current war. Israel swiftly rejected the filing “with disgust.”South Africa’s submission to the International Court of Justice alleges that “acts and omissions by Israel … are genocidal in character” as they are committed with the intent “to destroy Palestinians in Gaza” as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group.South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Many there, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have compared Israel’s policies regarding Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank with South Africa’s past apartheid regime of racial segregation. Israel rejects ...

Prosectors say no need to hold second trial of FTX founder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

By Larry Neumeister | Associated PressNEW YORK — A second trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on charges not in the cryptocurrency fraud case presented to a jury that convicted him in November is not necessary, prosecutors told a judge Friday.Prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in a letter that evidence at a second trial would duplicate evidence already shown to a jury. They also said it would ignore the “strong public interest in a prompt resolution” of the case, particularly because victims would not benefit from forfeiture or restitution orders if sentencing is delayed.They said the judge can consider the evidence that would be used at a second trial when he sentences Bankman-Fried on March 28 for defrauding customers and investors of at least $10 billion.Bankman-Fried, 31, who has been incarcerated since several weeks before his trial, was convicted in early November of seven counts, including wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and three conspiracy...

San Pablo woman killed suspected package thief, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

(KRON) -- A 39-year-old San Pablo woman was charged with murder after she intentionally ran over a pedestrian with her vehicle, according to police. The accused killer, Dene Blakely, believed that the victim had previously stolen packages from her home, the San Pablo Police Department said. The victim was walking on the 1100 block of Broadway Avenue at 2:27 p.m. on December 8 when Blakely confronted her and ran her over, police said.When officers arrived at the collision scene, they found the 60-year-old victim suffering from major injuries. Blakely remained at the scene and was questioned by officers. "Officers quickly learned that the driver of the vehicle, identified as 39-year old Dene Blakely ... had been involved in a verbal altercation with the victim regarding theft of packages prior to the collision," SPPD wrote. Investigators said they discovered that Blakely believed she recognized the victim as a package thief. Blakely "confronted the victim. The altercation escalated an...

'Just want justice': Hit-and-run driver who killed 2 Antioch boys remains uncaptured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KRON) -- The driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed two Antioch boys remains at large. The mother of Arsenio Rabb, a 12-year-old boy killed in the crash, said the two victims had great things ahead of them, and it's unfair that their lives were cut short while the driver remains on the run. The other victim was Arsenio's 13-year-old brother, Amahjè Emenike.The boys were killed on Dec. 22 when an SUV slammed into a car driven by their dad. "All he was worried about was playing video games and being around family," said Arsenio's mother, Malaysia Duvall. "He wasn't out there in the streets. He had a lot of goals and a lot of ambition." San Pablo woman killed suspected package thief, police say The boys were in the backseat of the car when they were T-boned by a black Cadillac, Duvall said. Emergency crews rushed to West 6th and G Streets in Antioch, and the driver of the Cadillac was nowhere to be found."They need to face it like a man," Duvall said. "Th...

Islanders return to hockey roots, debuting pond hockey rinks outside UBS Arena at Belmont Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Dan Craig, longtime ice guru in charge of more than 30 outdoor NHL games, can hardly contain his enthusiasm surveying his latest creation — a pond hockey surface outside the New York Islanders home arena at Belmont Park.The Park at UBS Arena is a season-long outdoor ice experience and Craig’s fresh sheet of ice is reminiscent of hockey’s purest form.“It’s for the kids, so we can get the younger generation out here,’’ Craig said about the 120-foot-by-60-foot rink which features low-slung boards and easy access for cleaning crews with snow shovels. “It’s about the community and the kids. That’s the whole premise for me.”The Islanders this week unveiled Northwell Pond which will host 4-on-4 hockey tournaments for youth and adults. Isles Pond nearby will host “Learn to Skate,” “Learn to Play” and “Try Hockey for Free” programs on synthetic ice.The Park was largely the idea of John Collins, who joined the Islanders following last season to oversee business operations. Col...

Gil de Ferran, Indianapolis 500 winner and Brazilian icon, dies at 56

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

Gil de Ferran, the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner and holder of the closed-course land speed record, died Friday while racing with his son at The Concourse Club in Florida, multiple former colleagues confirmed to The Associated Press. He was 56. Fellow Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan said de Ferran was with his son, Luke, at the private course in Opa-Locka, Florida, when he pulled over and said he wasn’t feeling well. Kanaan said de Ferran apparently suffered a heart attack and could not be revived. When de Ferran won the 2003 Indy 500 for Roger Penske, it was the third-consecutive win in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for Penske, who has now amassed a record 19 victories in the iconic Memorial Day weekend race. “We are terribly saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Gil de Ferran. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke and the entire de Ferran family,” Penske said in a statement. “Gil defined class as a driver and a gentleman. As an IndyCar Champi...

Oakland, California, officer killed while answering burglary call; shooter being sought, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — An Oakland police officer was shot and killed Friday while answering a report of a burglary at a marijuana dispensary, authorities said.Tuan Le, 36, was one of several who responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the cannabis business near Jack London Square at about 4:30 a.m., about 3 1/2 hours after an earlier burglary was reported at the same business, authorities said.The arriving uniformed and plainclothes officers saw several people leaving the business and one opened fire several times, hitting the officer, who was in plainclothes and driving an unmarked car, interim Police Chief Darren Allison said at a news conference.Other officers took the wounded officer to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about four hours after the shooting. “Officer Le was surrounded by his wife, mother, and members of his OPD family when he died,” a statement from the city said.No officers returned fire, the chief said.No arrests were immediately made, but Alli...

This College Football Playoff thing is practically routine for Texas WR Adonai Mitchell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:26:20 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell, there’s no mystery surrounding the College Football Playoff.Monday’s semifinal matchup between third-seeded Texas (12-1) and second-seeded Washington (13-0) in the Sugar Bowl will be the fifth CFP game of Mitchell’s college career. And the transfer from Georgia likes to think his experience winning two national titles with the Bulldogs will benefit a Longhorns program that hasn’t entered the postseason with a shot at a national title since the 2009 season.“Confidence is always a good thing. It’s good energy that people can feed off of, good energy that’s contagious,” Mitchell, who has touchdown catches in all four of his previous CFP games, said on Friday. “That’s just exactly what you need … ,” he continued. “You get three weeks to prepare, the other team gets three weeks to prepare, so you can be caught off guard a lot. And just keeping your composure, keeping poised ...