Georgia bill is latest GOP effort targeting prosecutors

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

Georgia bill is latest GOP effort targeting prosecutors ATLANTA (AP) — A new Georgia commission to discipline and remove wayward prosecutors would be the latest move nationwide to ratchet up oversight on what Republicans see as “woke prosecutors” who aren’t doing enough to fight crime.The Georgia House voted 97-77 on Monday for Senate Bill 92 to create the commission. The Senate later sent the measure to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto. Kemp has previously voiced support for the concept.The Georgia bill parallels efforts to remove prosecutors in Florida, Missouri, Indiana and Pennsylvania, as well as broader disputes nationwide over how certain criminal offenses should be charged. All continue anti-crime campaigns that Republicans ran nationwide last year, accusing Democrats of coddling criminals and acting improperly by refusing to prosecute whole categories of crimes including marijuana possession. All the efforts raise the question of prosecutorial discretion — a prosecutor’s decision of what cases to ...

Nashville shooter was ex-student with detailed plan to kill

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

Nashville shooter was ex-student with detailed plan to kill NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The former student who shot through the doors of a Christian elementary school in Nashville and killed three children and three adults had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance of the building before carrying out the massacre.Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake did not say exactly what drove the shooter to open fire Monday morning at The Covenant School before being killed by police. But he provided chilling examples of the shooter’s elaborate planning for the targeted attack, the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country that has grown increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.“We have a manifesto, we have some writings that we’re going over that pertain to this date, the actual incident,” he told reporters. “We have a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place.”He said in an interview with NBC News that investigators believe the shooter had “some resentment for havi...

Gwyneth Paltrow’s experts to testify in Utah ski crash case

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

Gwyneth Paltrow’s experts to testify in Utah ski crash case PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow’s attorneys are expected to call a series of experts and read depositions from her two teenage children on Tuesday in the first full day of the movie star ‘s trial that they have to call witnesses to make their case.Due to the trial’s judge-imposed eight-day clock, Paltrow’s defense team is expected to face tough time management decisions much like Sanderson’s did throughout last week as they attempt to juggle family members, ski instructors and experts in skiing and brain science.Paltrow is in court fighting a lawsuit from Terry Sanderson, the 76-year-old retired optometrist suing her for more than $300,000 over a 2016 ski collision that he says left him with broken ribs and years of lasting concussion symptoms. The actor and Goop founder-CEO has denied Sanderson’s claims that she crashed into him, countersuing for $1 and contending that he, in fact, skied into her.Her defense attorneys will likely use their witnesses t...

In The Month Of Ramadan, We Honour Abed Abdi

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

In The Month Of Ramadan, We Honour Abed Abdi

Fence around Echo Park Lake to come down 2 years after it was erected

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

Fence around Echo Park Lake to come down 2 years after it was erected Two years after it was first erected, a fence surrounding Echo Park Lake, which triggered protests and demonstrations, is coming down.  Initially touted as a temporary barrier that would let the city clear out the park’s homeless encampments and conduct much needed repairs, the fence quickly became a symbol of the city’s homelessness crisis.  Two years ago this week, hundreds of protesters clashed with police over the closure of the sprawling homeless encampment at the park. Since then, the city has spent $600,000 to clear tons of trash, repair lighting and bathrooms and restrict entry points to the park.  Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez says the barrier will be completely removed by the end of the week. “He said that when the fence comes down, there’s going to be 24/7 security,” Emily Lee, who lives nearby, said. “So, we just want to make sure he keeps his word and there’s security here once the fence is down...the way it was when the fence was up.”  Lee, ...

Median home price climbs in Southern California for 1st time since last May

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

Median home price climbs in Southern California for 1st time since last May Home prices edged higher in Southern California last month, marking the first increase since the spring of last year, according to new data from the California Association of Realtors.The median sale price of existing homes in the region was $745,000 in February, a month-over-month increase of 0.9%. The increase can largely be attributed to higher prices in San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties were down month-over-month, data showed.Southern California Median Home PricesCountyFebruary 2023January 2023February 2022Month-over-month price changeYear-over-year price changeLos Angeles$726,870$778,540$773,490-6.6%-6.0%Orange$1,159,000$1,194,500$1,260,000-3.0%-8.0%Riverside$595,000$585,000$605,0301.7%-1.7%San Bernardino$466,500$446,900$450,0004.4%3.7%San Diego$875,000$824,950$888,0006.1%-1.5%Ventura$805,000$815,000$887,500-1.2%-9.3%California Association of RealtorsHome prices in Southern California had been in a freefall for eight stra...

'Not acceptable to use violence': Elk Grove Mayor, Sikh temple staff condemn shooting

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

'Not acceptable to use violence': Elk Grove Mayor, Sikh temple staff condemn shooting (KTXL) — Representatives from the Sikh community held a press conference on Monday, condemning a shooting that happened on temple grounds in Sacramento County during a religious celebration. Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, who regularly attends services at the temple, read a statement on behalf of the Bradshaw Sikh Society condemning the shooting following a fight between three men on Sunday afternoon. “The parade was peaceful and a celebration of our faith,” Singh-Allen said. “It is unfortunate that a few misguided people tried to ruin a cultural and religious event.”  2 people shot at Sikh temple in Sacramento County, sheriff’s office says “We condemn their actions and we hope that they are punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Singh-Allen continued. “Our youth must learn that is not acceptable to use violence for disagreements.” The temple hosted festivities Sunday where thousands of people attended a parade as part of Nagar Kirtan, a traditional celebr...

Boldy has another hat trick, Wild beat Kraken 5-1

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

Boldy has another hat trick, Wild beat Kraken 5-1 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy had his second hat trick in the last five games for Minnesota, Marc-Andre Fleury made 35 saves, and the surging Wild beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1 on Monday night.Jake Middleton had a rare goal, Ryan Hartman scored late and Jared Spurgeon, Marcus Johansson and Joel Eriksson Ek each had two assists as the Wild stayed in first place in the Central Division. They took a one-point lead on both Colorado and Dallas into the day, with a critical road game against the Avalanche coming next on the schedule.Boldy is a big reason why the Wild are in the lead, with 11 goals in the nine games they’ve played since superstar Kirill Kaprizov was sidelined by a lower-body injury. The Wild are 6-1-2 without Kaprizov, who’s still 10th in the NHL with 39 goals.Jaden Schwartz ended Fleury’s shutout bid with 9 minutes left, scoring on a bouncing rebound that banked in off the goalie and into the net.CANADIENS 4, SABRES 3, SOBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Michael Pezzetta scored the ...

Embiid sits out, Jokic leads Nuggets past 76ers 116-111

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:02:44 GMT

Embiid sits out, Jokic leads Nuggets past 76ers 116-111 DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic posted his 29th triple-double of the season Monday night and the Denver Nuggets beat the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers 116-111 in a game Joel Embiid sat out with a sore right calf.That scuttled the highly anticipated showdown between MVP frontrunners that many felt could have decided whether Embiid, the runner-up the last two years, denies Jokic a third consecutive award.With Embiid in the locker room, Jokic scored 25 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and dished out 12 assists.While insisting Embiid’s absence had no effect on his own approach to the game, Jokic praised his counterpart as a dominant force on both ends of the court.“The guy’s a beast,” Jokic said. “He can affect the game in so many ways on the floor.”The MVP clash wasn’t the race that was on Doc Rivers’ mind.“It was not a hard decision for us,” the 76ers coach said of holding out Embiid, who complained of discomfort at the team’s morning shootaround a...