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On the brink of a government shutdown, the Senate tries to approve funding but it's almost too late

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is on the brink of a federal government shutdown after hard-right Republicans in Congress rejected a longshot effort to keep offices open as they fight for steep spending cuts and strict border security measures that Democrats and the White House say are too extreme.With no deal in place by midnight Saturday, federal workers will face furloughs, more than 2 million active-duty and reserve military troops will work without pay and programs and services that Americans rely on from coast to coast will begin to face shutdown disruptions.The Senate will be in for a rare Saturday session to advance its own bipartisan package that is supported by Democrats and Republicans and would fund the government for the short-term, through Nov. 17. But even if the Senate can rush to wrap up its work this weekend to pass the bill, which also includes money for Ukraine aid and U.S. disaster assistance, it won't prevent an almost certain shutdown amid the chaos in the...

Newsom faces challenging decision in Feinstein replacement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is faced with a difficult decision over who will fill the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) seat after her passing Friday at age 90. Feinstein, the longest-serving woman in the Senate, died after three decades in the upper chamber. The pressure is now on Newsom to appoint a replacement to temporarily serve as senator for the Golden State until voters elect their next choice in 2024.  Newsom has said he will pick a Black woman to fill the seat, though he has also signaled he wants to stay above the fray in next year's Senate race — drawing rebukes from Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), one of the declared candidates, in the process. “He has a big political calculation to make,” California-based Democratic strategist Kate Maeder said of Newsom’s “huge task at hand” in picking a replacement to follow Feinstein’s “titan” legacy representing her state.  “Choosing her replacement is no easy ...

Contra Costa County judge shows no leniency to man convicted of killing two girls in 2018 crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

A man accused of killing two young girls while driving a stolen truck received no leniency Friday from a Contra Costa County judge, who had been tasked with reconsidering his sentence after an appellate court tossed one of the man’s five convictions.Noe Saucedo, 29, saw his potential prison term effectively reduced by only a few years after Judge Rebecca Hardie imposed the stiffest possible remaining sentence against him during an emotional and tear-filled hearing inside a Pittsburg courthouse.Calling the case “profoundly disturbing and sad,” Hardie said she saw few — if any — mitigating factors suggesting Saucedo should walk free anytime soon. She also expressed regret that that she couldn’t do more to help ease the enduring pain felt by the girls’ parents.“These little girls will never go to school, have a wedding, find love — and that’s not going to change today,” Hardie said.During the hearing, the girls’ father, Jesus Cardoz...

East Bay firefighter with pending child porn case allegedly drowned in mysterious boating accident. The feds aren’t so sure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

OAKLAND — Charles Johnathen Harris ‘ legal and personal problems had been stacking up last March. But a week after he was indicted of federal charges of possessing child pornography, and in danger of losing his Alameda County firefighter job, he got one small amount of relief.A magistrate judge on March 14, 2023 lifted requirements that Harris remain on home detention and submit to location monitoring by a pretrial services officer, court records show. Just three weeks later, Harris was gone.To Harris’ family and lawyer, he died a tragic death before he had a real chance to demonstrate his innocence in a court of law.The U.S. Department of Justice isn’t so sure. Citing her many unanswered questions, a federal prosecutor convinced a judge in April to issue an arrest warrant for Harris, should he turn up alive. Now, five months later, the case and the warrant remain active, newly obtained court records reveal.The mystery centers on Dutton Island, a remote marsh...

Moody surprises young Warriors superfan paralyzed by stray bullet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

OAKLAND — Warriors guard Moses Moody came to the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital on Thursday with a bag full of team gear. His mere presence was a gift to the boy in the wheelchair.Asa is an 8-year-old from Oakland whose young life was forever changed on July 14, when he was struck in the back of the neck by a stray bullet. He was hit while riding in the backseat of a car driving down I-580 that was caught between two cars with people shooting at each other.Asa is paralyzed from the neck down. He lives on a respirator and a feeding tube and requires round-the-clock nursing care, therapy and more surgeries to come.Through it all, though, his family sees Asa’s passions glimmer at the surface.“He’s not always that excited to get up in the wheelchair, which is new to him,” said Asa’s mom, Melissa Neuwelt. “But when he found out Moses Moody was coming he said, ‘Let’s do this.'”Asa loves to read, play chess and requests to hear ...

‘Police playground:’ Opposition grows to $44 million regional training facility and HQ in San Pablo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

SAN PABLO — A $43.6 million law enforcement regional training center and new police headquarters is coming to San Pablo, a largely low-income, Hispanic and aging enclave in West Contra Costa County home to roughly 31,000 residents and 62 sworn officers — and not everyone is happy about it.According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, San Pablo is the most policed city in the county, relative to its population. Now after quietly slogging through more than three years of planning, construction on this project — one of the largest in city history — is scheduled to start in October, despite growing controversy and public protest.The proposed two-story, 42,000-square-foot facility is slated for a vacant city-owned lot on Gateway Avenue, replacing the city’s current police department headquarters.The development promises to attract law enforcement agencies from across the Bay Area and alternative public safety organizations, such as Contra Costa County’s m...

49ers vs. Cardinals: Five keys to avoiding upset against ‘scrappy’ division rival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Sandwiched between last Thursday night’s home-opening hoopla and next Sunday night’s visit by the Dallas Cowboy is … a trap game?No, no, that can’t be right. The 49ers’ schedule says this Sunday’s matinee is simply against the Arizona Cardinals.Any NFC West matchup carries extra weight, and the undefeated Niners (3-0) insist they aren’t taking lightly the incoming Cardinals (1-2). Nor should they.“They’re a team that really should be 3-0 right now,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said.The Cardinals have taken a fourth-quarter lead into each of their games, only to lose against the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants before upsetting the previously undefeated Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, 28-16.“Arizona looked like a really solid team that was playing harder than Dallas,” said defensive end Nick Bosa, who caught that game on television over the weekend after Thursday night’s 30-12, home-opening win by the 49ers over the New York Giants.Speaking of L...

Pittsburg turns back Los Gatos in marquee matchup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

LOS GATOS — In an interesting matchup between two top public school football teams at opposite ends of the Bay Area, Pittsburg made the long road trip to Los Gatos and went home a 37-27 winner.“These are the kinds of games we’ve struggled with in years past,” Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez said. “To get up like we did today and then to persevere through adversity and hold the lead until the end has been one of the big focuses for me after taking over as head coach of thie program.”Los Gatos never led, but battled back throughout. Trailing 16-0 late in the first half the Wildcats scored two touchdowns in the final 1:05 of the second quarter to go into the locker room down only 16-14. And then a 2-yard scoring run by Boxer Kobcsak-Yeung (20 carries, 105 yards, two touchdowns) in the fourth quarter brought them within 23-21.“Our effort was unbelievable,” Los Gatos coach Mark Krail said. “Got down early but we didn’t quit.R...

Adult, 5-year-old killed in Friday crash, 3 others injured

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Police in Aurora investigated a crash Friday night that killed a 5-year-old and a 43-year-old and injured three other people in the Expo Park neighborhood.According to police, the crash was near the intersection of South Havana Street and East Exposition Avenue around 6 p.m.A Dodge Charger was northbound on South Havana Street when it struck a southbound Jeep Grand Cherokee that was attempting to turn left onto Exposition Avenue. Colorado officer killed while serving warrant, checking suspect’s welfare The impact of the crash pushed the Jeep 100 feet north into a drainage retention wall.The 43-year-old driver and a 5-year-old passenger died on the scene. Two other passengers, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, were taken to a local hospital but are expected to survive.The driver of the Dodge Charger, a 21-year-old man, was also taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. As of Friday night, his condition was unknown.Investigators said speed and drug intoxicati...

Denver weather: Warm and breezy weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather will remain warm and breezy! Temperatures will stay in the 80s through this weekendWeather today: Breezy and sunnyPlenty of sunshine on the way for us today! High temperatures are expected to top out in the upper 80s today with gusts possible up to 30 mph. Remember, there is a Red Flag Warning on the Western Slope, and outdoor burning is not recommended today. Weather tonight: Cloudy and breezyA few clouds move into the picture this evening, and the overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the upper 40s and lower 50s. Conditions are expected to remain dry for the most part as the strong breeze continues. Looking ahead: Breezy and a cooler workweekSunday and Monday will look very similar to Saturday with sunshine and breezy conditions in Denver and a better chance for showers in the high country. Southerly winds will gust up to 25-30 mph on Saturday and could reach over 40 mph on Sunday.Tuesday, along with a drastic temperature drop, will be D...