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Oakland: Charges dismissed in human trafficking case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

OAKLAND — Alameda County prosecutors have dismissed human trafficking and pimping charges against a man, due to an apparent lack of cooperation from the alleged victim.Nile Steward, 32, was arrested last January on charges that he trafficked a teen girl and threatened her with a gun when she resisted. Steward’s preliminary hearing had been set for late February, and the alleged victim was ordered by a judge to appear with her attorney.But just two weeks later, in mid-March prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges, citing a “lack of complaining witness,” court records show. Steward was released from jail later that day.Though Steward wasn’t arrested until last January, the charges stemmed from allegations made by the victim that covered a time period in October 2021. The girl claimed she delayed reporting Steward to police because she was afraid of him, and waited until July 2022, when he was arrested and briefly held in an unrelated investigation.

Trump appeals $5M judgment in Carroll sexual assault suit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

By Kara Scannell and Lauren del Valle | CNNFormer President Donald Trump is appealing the $5 million judgment awarded by the Manhattan federal jury that found he sexually abused and defamed former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll.Trump’s lawyers filed the notice of appeal in the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, hours after federal Judge Lewis Kaplan filed a written ruling endorsing the jury verdict and ordering Trump to pay Carroll the full sum. Kaplan presided over the civil trial in New York.Trump had previously indicated he planned to appeal.In a further development Thursday, in the wake of Trump’s continued insults against Carroll in his CNN town hall Wednesday night, the New York Times is reporting that Carroll may sue him again.Trump’s comments on CNN came one day after a jury in Manhattan awarded Carroll $5 million in damages after finding Trump liable for sexually abusing her in the mid-1990s and liable for defaming her last year when he described h...

San Jose: If you can’t read this sign, you’re driving too fast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

After a record 65 traffic fatalities last year, San Jose is pushing out a new message to drivers: Slow down already!The three-month “Slow Down, San Jose” campaign was launched this week by the city’s Vision Zero Task Force, which aims to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. The word will be going out in multiple language through billboards, yard signs and posters, as well as online videos and radio ads.We love our numbers here in Silicon Valley, so here are a couple shared by the task force. A car going 25 mph takes 30 feet to stop, and if you’re going 35 mph that stopping distance jumps up to 59 feet. Those extra 29 feet could cost somebody’s life.This billboard on East Santa Clara Street in San Jose is part of “Slow Down, San Jose,” a three-month awareness campaign launched May 8, 2023 to encourage drivers to reduce their speeds. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) If you’ve been driving through downtown San Jose recently, you ...

Musk says he’s found a new CEO to run Twitter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

By Barbara Ortutay and Matt O’Brien | Associated PressElon Musk said Thursday he has found a new CEO for Twitter, or X Corp. as it’s now called — and it’s a woman. He did not name her but said she will be starting in about six weeks.Musk, who bought Twitter last fall and has been running it since, has long insisted he is not the company’s permanent CEO. The Tesla billionaire said in a tweet Thursday that his role will transition to being Twitter’s executive chairman and chief technology officer.In mid-November, just a few weeks after buying the social media platform for $44 billion, he told a Delaware court that he does not want to be the CEO of any company.While testifying, Musk said “I expect to reduce my time at Twitter and find somebody else to run Twitter over time.”More than a month later, he tweeted in December: “I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job.” The pledge came after millions ...

Alameda County District Attorney’s bid to secure early release for convicted murderer is delayed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

SAN LEANDRO — The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office will have to wait until later this year before potentially arguing for the early release of a man convicted in the 2012 fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl.Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price in a county office building on Wednesday, April 13, 2023, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) The delay came after a ruling Thursday by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Scott Jackson — concerning the case of convicted murderer Lilron Jones. Jones was originally sentenced to 114 years in the December 2012 death of Jubrille Jordan, 15. But several factors – including a change in California law, an appellate court order and the election of new District Attorney Pamela Price in November – have since raised the specter of Jones’ potential early release.Such a move would fall in line with Price’s efforts at reforming the county’s criminal justice system, which include limiting prison sentences and combattin...

Oakland treats: Trade a bag of garbage for free ice cream

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

Not that you should need a reason to pick up garbage, but if you did, here is one: On June 3, if you collect enough trash from your neighborhood to fill a bag, a shop in Oakland will not only take it off your hands, they’ll give you free, delicious ice cream.This somewhat odd swap is the brainchild of Bear Silber, who runs the MyGoodness ice-cream shop inside an Ethiopian cafe at 2834 Lakeshore Ave. by Lake Merritt. Their brand is “decadent soft serve” made from organic Sonoma County dairy, and presumably they’ll be dolloping out plenty of it that first Saturday in June – provided, of course, you pony up the garbage first.Bear Silber, founder of Oakland’s MyGoodness ice cream. “Anyone that brings in a bag of trash cleaned up from their neighborhood will be able to exchange it for a free ice cream,” Silber says. “Even as a relatively new addition to the Oakland ice cream scene, we’ve already garnered 5-star upon 5-star review on bo...

Antioch BART parking lot fire extinguished, six cars burned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

(KRON) -- Six vehicles were extensively damaged in a fire in the parking lot of the Antioch BART Station, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Department. The fire appears to have been caused during an attempted gasoline theft, fire officials said. Hayward K9 officer helps locate missing special needs child The parking lot is adjacent to Slatten Ranch Road.Drivers are being advised to avoid the area to allow firefighters access to the scene. The incident remains under investigation.

Video released of 2 men fighting over Costco parking space in Danville

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

DANVILLE, Calif. (KRON) – The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office released surveillance video of two men fighting over a Costco parking spot in Danville. Prosecutors released the video just one day after they decided against filing any charges in connection to the parking lot fight. The District Attorney's Office said its investigation determined that both men were aggressors. (Watch the Costco surveillance video above). One of the men involved in the fight, Craig Blackburn, told KRON4 that he wanted the second man to be criminally prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law. Blackburn said he was attacked because the man thought Blackburn was taking too long to unload his Costco shopping bags while eating a hot dog. It all started as a normal Sunday morning for Blackburn. He did his shopping at Costco on Fostoria Way and grabbed a hot dog on his way out.A man driving a white Toyota Corolla pulled up and waited for Blackburn's parking spot. The Toyota driver quickly becam...

Man charged with murder in connection with SF fatal stabbing of 64-year-old woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The man accused of stabbing a 64-year-old woman to death inside a Duboce Triangle building has been charged with murder, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Thursday. Jesus Esparza, 41, was arrested immediately after the homicide and has remained in custody since. Mei Ran Hu, 64, was identified by San Francisco city supervisors as the victim. CNN to air hour-long ‘What Happened to San Francisco?’ special “The Duboce Avenue killing is tragic,” Jenkins said. “I offer my condolences to the victim's friends and family and my unwavering commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring that the suspect is held accountable for this senseless crime.”Police responded to the 400 block of Duboce Ave at about 11 a.m. on May 5 for the report of an unresponsive person on the ground. Officers and medics provided medical assistance, but she was pronounced dead, Jenkins' office said. Esparza is set to be arraigned on May 19. He faces 26 years to life in pri...

2 sentenced for roles in shootings after 2022 Milwaukee Bucks game that left 17 people wounded

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:32 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Two Milwaukee residents were sentenced Thursday for their roles in a series of shootings that left at least 17 people wounded near the Fiserv Forum after a Milwaukee Bucks playoff game in May 2022.Marquise Jackson, 25, was sentenced to 22 years in prison and 15 years extended supervision after he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and seven counts of first-degree reckless injury.Alexus Jackson-Milton, 21, was sentenced to five years in prison and five years extended supervision after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. Police have said the shootings stemmed from a long-standing dispute between two groups.Two other men have pleaded guilty in connection with the shootings. One was sentenced to 30 years in prison.Source