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Oakland man jailed for seven months released after DA’s office concedes it can’t prove woman was killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

OAKLAND — An Oakland man spent seven months behind bars facing murder charges, despite an autopsy being unable to determine the alleged victim’s cause of death, court records show.Baraka Robertson, 42, was charged Oct. 18 with killing 53-year-old Belinda Washington in a beating at an Oakland home. Washington was found, dead, in a residence on the 2500 block of 82nd Avenue, six days before Robertson was arrested.Washington suffered from bruises and small cuts to her head, which authorities initially believed had killed her. But a subsequent autopsy not only failed to find an official manner of death, but found the injuries were “superficial” and didn’t kill her, according to court records.On May 17, weeks after turning the autopsy findings over to Robertson’s attorney, an Alameda County prosecutor dismissed the case, freeing Robertson from seven months inside Santa Rita Jail. In a statement to this newspaper, Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods sai...

Steph Curry, other Bay Area stars prepare to tee off at annual Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

Led by the Curry contingent, the Bay Area is set to be well-represented at the annual celebrity golf tournament on the shores of Lake Tahoe.But Steph Curry isn’t just in the three-day American Century Championship for show. He’s in it to win, and he’s considered a contender.Caesars Sportsbook gives Curry 12-to-1 odds to win the tournament, tied with former NBA player and coach Vinny Del Negro for the seventh-best odds. His dad Dell isn’t too far behind, with 85-to-1 odds ranking 17th out of 89 golfers in the field. (Brother Seth is way back at 350-to-1.)Steph has played in the celebrity event at Edgewood Golf Course for several years now and finished 16th in last season’s event.Curry’s top competition has a Bay Area flavor to it. Former Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is one of three at 8-to-1 odds (alongside former Braves pitcher John Smoltz and former LPGA star Annika Sorenstam). And former A’s pitcher Mark Mulder has 5-to-1 odds ahead of his attempt to win the celebrity tournament fo...

Shelter in place ordered due to hazardous spill on eastbound 92 in San Mateo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

(KRON) -- The eastbound lanes of Highway 92 are shut down just before the 101 interchange in San Mateo due to a potential hazardous liquid spill. The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department is advising drivers to avoid the area if possible. Public safety officials are on the scene and people in surrounding locations are being asked to shelter in place. Majority of people arrested for drugs in SF not from the city, according to mayor The source of the spill was a large flatbed truck that dumped unknown liquid on the roadway. The liquid has spread across all lanes. San Mateo County Fire units are on the scene.All eastbound 92 lanes are closed, and traffic is being diverted. The truck that dumped the liquid reportedly had 330 gallons of sodium bisulfite in a tank.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Spare the Air alert issued for Friday due to excessive smog

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

(BCN) -- The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the year's second Spare the Air alert for smog on Friday. Hot inland temperatures and vehicle exhaust are expected to combine to create unhealthy air conditions, especially for older people, children and people with respiratory conditions. "We can help keep our air healthier by finding alternatives to driving alone, such as taking transit, biking or walking," said air district executive officer Philip Fine. More Bay Area tech layoffs on the way People are being advised to limit outdoor exercise to the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower. Spare the Air alerts are issued when ozone levels are forecast to reach levels that can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain, and often coincide with high temperatures. The National Weather Service forecast calls for rising temperatures Friday morning through Sunday evening and the agency has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the region's ...

Big 12 brings Malzahn and Holgorsen back into Power Five as part of league’s four new teams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Gus Malzahn is back in a Power Five conference with UCF prepping for its first season in the Big 12, where Houston coach Dana Holgorsen is again overseeing a team’s transition into the league like he did just more than a decade ago at West Virginia. While BYU is giving up its football independence, coach Kalani Sitake has past experience with a program moving up to the highest level. And Scott Satterfield’s first season with Cincinnati — and the Bearcats’ debut in the Big 12 — comes after four seasons in the ACC as Louisville’s coach. They are the four new coaches, for the four new teams, in the expanded Big 12. “It’s just the excitement of playing some of the best teams in college football week in and week out and that grind that goes with it,” former Auburn coach Malzahn said Thursday as the Big 12 wrapped up its football media days. “That’s what excites me. Just the profile of our program taking that next step.”Malzahn is going into...

Israel’s defense chief travels to Azerbaijan, reaffirming shared opposition to Iran

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s defense minister visited Azerbaijan on Thursday, seeking to strengthen ties between countries with shared opposition to Iran.Defense Minster Yoav Gallant and Azerbaijani officials agreed to work together to deter threats from Iran, the Israeli Defense Ministry said. Israel views Iran as its archenemy, while Azerbaijan, which borders Iran to the north, also has a rocky relationship with Iran. “We have many shared challenges – in particular the fight against terrorism – which not only threatens national security, but also aims to destabilize the region,” Gallant said in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. “Together, we may further deepen the ties between our countries and strengthen the cooperation between our defense establishments and our forces.”Israel considers Iran to be its greatest threat, citing Iran’s calls for Israel’s destruction and its support of hostile militant groups. It also accuses Iran of trying to develop a nuclear bom...

Thousands protest outside US offices in Tel Aviv, say Netanyahu government is straining relations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of protesters gathered outside the main U.S. diplomatic office in Tel Aviv Thursday night, calling upon the U.S. to condemn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary.The gathering came days after President Joe Biden called members of Netanyahu’s far-right government “extreme” and said that supporters of Israel’s West Bank settlements were “part of the problem.” Netanyahu’s allies, who comprise the most far-right Israeli government ever, have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are the excessive powers of unelected judges. The proposed changes include giving Netanyahu’s allies control over the appointment of judges and the power to overturn court decisions they do not support. Protesters say the plan will destroy the country’s fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. Protesters, who are now in thei...

ICC prosecutor says he is investigating alleged new war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The International Criminal Court prosecutor said Thursday he is investigating alleged new war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s western Darfur region during the current conflict that has killed and displaced thousands.Karim Khan told the U.N. Security Council that fighting between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces has spilled into Darfur where war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed back in 2003. He said the country is now “in peril of allowing history to repeat itself,” Khan said. In 2005, the Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC and Khan said the court’ still has a mandate under that measure to investigate crimes. He said people in the vast region are living in fear of their lives, in the middle of conflict and with their homes burning. Source

US climate envoy John Kerry spars in heated exchanges with House Republicans ahead of Beijing trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. climate envoy John Kerry defended his negotiations with China — and angrily rebuffed what he called a “stupid” lie that he routinely travels by private jet — during a grilling by House Republicans on Thursday before he sets out on his next climate mission to Beijing. Kerry leaves Sunday for meetings with his counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, the first extensive face-to-face climate discussions between the world’s two worst climate polluters after a nearly yearlong hiatus.The questioning in Thursday’s hearing by the Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee’s oversight subcommittee underscored the risks for Kerry that rising tensions between the two rival countries will stymie progress in what scientists stress are essential cuts in fossil fuel emissions over this decade.Republicans’ questioning of Kerry on his climate diplomacy at times broke down into challenging the existence of the scientifically established fact of climate change and openly ...

Maryland announces first heat-related death of year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:25 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland announced the first heat-related death of the year in the state on Thursday.A 52-year-old man died in Cecil County, the state’s health department said. “We are very saddened to report our first heat-related death of the season,” said Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Maryland’s deputy secretary for public health services. “As we experience more hot days like today, this tragedy reminds us of how important it is to take every precaution to avoid overheating. Also, be sure to check on family and neighbors who are at risk for heat-related illness.”Temperatures hit the mid to upper 90s in Maryland on Thursday. From May through September, Maryland’s health department monitors temperature conditions and incidents of heat-related illness and death. Source