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Wildfires torch structures in Riverside County; thousands evacuated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Fire crews are battling fast-moving wildfires fueled by Santa Ana winds in Riverside County that have burned three structures, damaged another six and prompted the evacuation of some 4,000 residents in the area, officials said.  The Highlands Fire, which began at Highlands and Aguanga Ranchos roads in the small town of Aguanga, was first reported at around 12:30 p.m. Monday and was estimated to be around 30 acres.By Tuesday morning at 4:30 a.m., the blaze had quickly grown to over 1,600 acres with no containment, Cal Fire said.Cal Fire officials said that an estimated 1,300 homes have been evacuated in the following areas:South of Sage Road and Golden Creek East of Becker Lane West of Boulder Vista North of Cottonwood Creek South of Highway 371West of Soreson and north of County Line RoadFirefighter seen working to extinguish several mobile home ablaze during the Highlands Fire in Riverside County on Oct. 30, 2023. (Firewatch Photography)Crews battle the win...

Bicyclist killed after violent hit-and-run; LAPD searching for driver 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

A bicyclist died after being struck by a car and dragged down the street in the San Fernando Valley late Monday night, and now the search is on for the driver. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the collision took place around 11:40 p.m. as both the driver and the bike rider were traveling southbound on Van Nuys Boulevard near Burbank Boulevard. The driver struck the bicyclist somewhere in the vicinity of the intersection of Van Nuys and Burbank, police said, and the victim became lodged underneath the vehicle.  Armed and dangerous suspect wanted for violent Claremont stabbing arrested While being dragged down the roadway, the cyclist eventually becomes dislodged from the bottom of the car. They were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver then fled the area in a red Toyota sedan, believed to be a Camry or Corolla, authorities said. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD.

2 men dead after an armed robbery in San Bernardino

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Two men are dead after an alleged armed robbery in San Bernardino on Saturday. At approximately 11 p.m., San Bernardino police officers responded to reports of an armed robbery in a back parking lot at the National Orange Show, according to a San Bernardino Police Department news release. The suspect was described as a male wearing an orange vest and a beanie hat who was armed with a handgun.When officers arrived, they located the suspect, identified as 53-year-old David Rojas Sr. of San Bernardino, who matched the description and was armed with a gun. Rojas shot at the officers, causing them to return fire. Rojas, who has an extensive violent criminal history, was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. While canvassing the area in search for witnesses and additional evidence, authorities found a man nearby who was suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. It does not appear that Rojas...

Four-bedroom home sells in Fremont for $2 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

35944 Romilly Court – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 35900 block of Romilly Court in Fremont was sold on Sept. 26, 2023 for $2,026,000, or $938 per square foot. The house, built in 1965, has an interior space of 2,160 square feet. This single-story home provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Additionally, the house is equipped with a garage. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by a pool.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:In May 2023, a 2,160-square-foot home on Nicolet Avenue in Fremont sold for $2,003,000, a price per square foot of $927. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Toledo Court, Fremont, in July 2023, a 1,630-square-foot home was sold for $1,550,000, a price per square foot of $951. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,704-square-foot home on the 4200 block of Jacinto Drive in Fremont sold in September 2022, for $1,610,000, a price per square foot of $945. The home has 4 b...

Opinion: California’s boosts privacy laws, cracks down on data brokers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Californians are more aware than most when it comes to the privacy problems linked to tech giants headquartered in their backyard like Apple, Google, Meta and TikTok. However, lurking in the shadows is the overlooked data broker industry, which has become a multibillion-dollar business, primarily fueled by the collection and sale of your personal data.When the California Legislature cannonballed into the privacy conversation in 2018 by passing the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, it created a wave that continues to crest to this day. California’s bold leap, coupled with continued inaction by Congress, has encouraged more and more states to take up the cause on their own, with baseline privacy rights extended to more than 100 million Americans through comprehensive state laws.However, even with CCPA and other state privacy laws, there are still blind spots that leave consumers underprotected. Thankfully, California took another huge step toward addressing this problem by pas...

Federal judge blocks California law banning gun shows at county fairs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

SANTA ANA  — A federal judge on Monday blocked California’s ban on gun shows at county fairs, ruling that the state is violating the rights of sellers and would-be buyers by prohibiting transactions for firearms that can be bought bought at any gun shop.The decision by U.S. District Judge Mark Holcomb halts enforcement of two state laws, both written by Democratic state Sen. Dave Min, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The first, effective Jan. 2022, barred gun shows at the Orange County Fair, and the other, which took effect this year, extended the ban to county fairgrounds on state-owned land.“California’s interest in stopping crimes committed with illegal weapons, as important as it is, cannot justify prohibiting the complete sale of lawful firearms at gun shows,” Holcomb wrote.Min called Holcomb’s injunction “shocking,” and predicted it would be overturned on appeal.“California’s vital ban on gun shows at state properties, encompassing even our iconic fairgrounds sites, serve...

Marin County settles lawsuit with man who lost eye in batting cage injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Marin County has reached an out-of-court settlement with a man who lost an eye and suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a ball from by a pitching machine at McInnis Park Golf Center.“He was clearing balls from the batter’s box so he could begin another round when he was struck by a 70-80 mph pitched ball several seconds after the warning lights on the pitching machine went dark,” said the lawsuit by the injured man, Phillip Jaret.As a result, Jaret, who lives in Marin, suffered complete loss of sight in his right eye as well as fractures to his nose and orbital socket, and a traumatic brain injury.The accident occurred on May 28, 2021. The batting cages at the golf center have since been closed.The nine-hole golf course — which includes a driving range, restaurant, banquet facilities, a miniature golf course and, until recently, batting cages — is owned by Marin County. The county entered into a 10-year lease agreement with Tayman Park Golf Group for operation and...

Large brush fire burning in Southern California prompts evacuations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

A fire churning through brush in the rural Riverside County community of Aguanga damaged or destroyed nine buildings Monday, Oct. 30, and prompted orders to residents to flee.The flames were moving at what Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department described as a critical rate.Related ArticlesCalifornia News | Santa Clara County Supervisor seeks broader use of AI to help prevent wildfires California News | Dangerous fire conditions return to Bay Area amid weekend of heavy winds, dry air California News | Consumer group accuses California insurance chief of drafting proposed market fix with industry lobbyists California News | PG&E electric bills outpace Bay Area inflation rate by huge margin California News | Wildfires, other ravages jeopardize California’s prized forests The so-called Highland fire was reported at 12:37 p.m. at Highlands Road and Aguanga Ranchos Road. By 7:30 p.m. the fire had consu...

Candy inflation casts a sour pall on Halloween

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

“Swift swings” takes a quick peek at one economic trend.The number: Here’s a spooky hit to your wallet: The buying power of American wages has been cut by a candy bar in two years.The source: My trusty spreadsheet looked at some Halloween-themed research from S&P Global Market Intelligence comparing candy costs and wages.Quick analysis: The pay of an average US worker bought 15.2 candy bars an hour in 2023 – that’s a 4% drop from 15.9 bars in 2022 and off 7% from 16.3 in 2021.Related ArticlesBusiness | California shoppers get 4% less for their money after inflation’s bite Business | Chipotle says it may need to tick its food prices up to pay California wages Business | PG&E electric bills outpace Bay Area inflation rate by huge margin Business | More working Californians slipped into poverty as pandemic aid expired Business | Why this Bay Area couple swapped California for Spain The problem isn’...

Abcarian: No one should get fired for stating an unpopular view

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Should Americans be punished or lose their livelihoods for things they say about a gut-wrenching conflict taking place halfway across the world? In an ideal world where freedom of speech is absolute, short of advocating violence, no one should get fired for stating an unpopular view.But we don’t live in that world, as some professionals with strong points of view and the irresistible urge to share them on social media are finding out.One day after the heinous Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team tweeted out a message of support for Israel: “We stand with the people of Israel and join them in mourning the hundreds of innocent lives lost to terrorism at the hands of Hamas.”Jackson Frank, a young sports reporter who had been hired in September to cover the 76ers for PhillyVoice, took exception.“This post sucks!” Frank quote-tweeted. “Solidarity with Palestine always.”He was fired the next day.‘...