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Accusers in Japanese boy band producer’s sex abuse scandal hope for company apology and compensation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A group of men who say they were sexually abused by a Japanese boy band producer have expressed hope the company will provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence. They say producer Johnny Kitagawa sexually preyed on young dancers and singers for decades, having them stay at his luxury home, handing them cash and leveraging promises of potential fame. The company, Johnny & Associates, is a powerful force in Japan’s entertainment industry.The men said at a news conference Monday that they have been ignored for decades by the company, Japanese society and mainstream media.Company Chief Executive Julie Keiko Fujishima released a brief statement on YouTube in May about the accusations but has not appeared before reporters. The company has set a news conference for Thursday.“We want Julie to apologize, as the chief executive and company owner,” said Shimon Ishimaru, one of nine men who have formed a group demanding an apology and co...

John Shipley: Vikings have plenty of work ahead as they press on with ‘competitive rebuild’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

The Vikings are, by most accounts, in a transition year, which generally doesn’t instill confidence in oddsmakers or fans. It implies a team isn’t what it used to be, yet isn’t quite what it wants to be. Second-year general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is calling it a “competitive rebuild.”I don’t know if that inspired phrase simply burst one day from Adofo-Mensah’s lips, if he heard it elsewhere or if it was concocted by a roomful of crisis managers, but it’s a smart one. Like “fighting retreat,” it implies both confidence and circumspection, and like “fighting retreat,” it sits perilously close to oxymoron.Is there such a thing as a competitive rebuild? Vikings fans are about to find out.It’s important to remember that a transition period can be more than marking time. A transition period can itself produce something as worthwhile and memorable as what is, let’s face it, an often elusive end game. Think, say, “The Who Sell Out” — the bridge between the early Mod records and “Tommy” ...

Sick, dying and dead ducks washing ashore at park in Boyle Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

An unfortunate mystery is playing out at a park in Boyle Heights where ducks have been found sick, dying and dead, and now those who live near the park are looking for answers.  Those who live nearby and others who visit Hollenbeck Park on a regular basis say the discovery of the dead and dying ducks has been heartbreaking and concerning.  “I usually come running here around the lake and, you know, sometimes you’ll see birds, but there’s just any number of them, like at least 15 or so just washed up on the shore,” said a woman who didn’t want to give her name.  She said she first saw the ducks Saturday, and that when she returned to the park on Sunday, there were even more, five of them that were dead and a sixth one that was struggling to survive. Margarito Garcia, who was visiting the park, noticed a goose hovering around the dying duck, seemingly protecting it.  “I come every weekend to walk my dog through here,” he said. “Unfortunately, it looks like someone ...

Oakland: Innocent bystander walking dog at lake is badly wounded by gunfire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

OAKLAND — A woman was shot Monday afternoon as she walked her dog along the shore of Lake Merritt near Madison street and was struck by random gunfire aimed at a car driving by, Oakland police said.Multiple people got out of a car and shot at a second vehicle traveling on Lakeside Drive, police said. The unidentified woman was hit at least once. She was taken to the hospital and was in critical but stable condition, according to police. Her dog was not injured.Police technicians gather evidence at a shooting scene at the intersection of Lakeside Drive and Madison Street in downtown Oakland. Lake Merritt is visible in the background. (Harry Harris/Bay Area News Group)Oakland Police officers raced to the scene after receiving multiple calls of the reported gunfire. Both vehicles had already sped away.Oakland police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooters.People are asked to call the Oakland Po...

Oakland A’s outfielder: ‘People might think of us as a laughingstock … but next year’s going to be a different story’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

OAKLAND – Say this about rookie outfielder Lawrence Butler, he doesn’t lack confidence in himself, or in the Oakland A’s.Butler hit two of Oakland’s four home runs on Monday as the A’s had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Toronto Blue Jays before an announced Labor Day crowd of 9,062 at the Coliseum.The loss dropped the A’s record to an MLB-worst 42-96, which includes a 7-23 mark against American League East opponents. Still, all five runs came courtesy of A’s rookies, with infielders Ryan Noda and Jordan Diaz hitting solo home runs.“The A’s have a really bright future,” “People might think of us as a laughingstock of the league this year, but next year, it’s going to be a whole different story.”The A’s front office is using this time with just under four weeks left in the regular season to help determine which players can be a part of the solution going forward.It sure l...

Westbound I-80 reopens ahead of schedule Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

(KRON) -- The full highway closure of westbound Interstate 80 between I-780 and State Route 4, including the Carquinez Bridge has reopened Monday evening, according to Caltrans. The section of roadway was closed following major pavement repair work during Labor Day weekend.Caltrans made significant progress throughout the long weekend and the roadway reopened a day earlier than previously expected. Hundreds of drug users arrested in San Francisco FridayCrews began ripping the highway's old pavement in preparation for a concrete pour.Photo: CaltransSaturdayCrews completed the concrete pour on the number three lane and worked to rip out the old concrete from the number one lane.CA Department of TransportationCA Department of TransportationCA Department of TransportationCaltrans crews also performed vegetation management work along the westbound lanes.CaltransCaltransCaltransThe full highway closure for westbound I-80 began Thursday at 9 p.m. "The roadway has become worn and in need ...

Missing Mission Peak pole recovered

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

(KRON) -- The top section of a popular pole atop Mission Peak in the East Bay that was sawed off and taken has been recovered, the East Bay Regional Parks District confirmed Monday evening. Part of the pole had been sawed off in what the parks service called an act of vandalism. The pole, which is a well-known spot for people to take pictures at, was cut off. Photos provided by KRON4 viewer Joyce Lee show the pole on Saturday around 6:30 p.m.Photo: Joyce LeePhoto: Joyce LeePhoto: Joyce LeeThe sawed-off portion of the pole was later recovered by park staff.Earlier, East Bay Regional Parks District issued the following statement to KRON4:"We are saddened to learn about this incident in our park. Any vandalism from destruction to graffiti affects what should be a positive, happy experience for community members to enjoy open space and the many trails in our regional parks."

Dubón and Altuve go back-to-back twice, Astros hit 5 homers in 13-6 win over Rangers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mauricio Dubón and Jose Altuve twice hit back-to-back home runs, rookie catcher Yainer Diaz had a three-run shot to cap Houston’s big seventh inning, and the Astros beat the struggling Texas Rangers 13-6 on Monday.In the opener of a pivotal series between AL West contenders, Houston pulled within a percentage point of first-place Seattle. Texas is in third but only a game behind.The Astros went ahead to stay with a six-run seventh, which began with them loading the bases on a walk and two singles off reliever Josh Sborz (5-7). José Abreu walked to force in the run that made it 6-5. All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who homered twice for Texas, then misplayed a grounder for an error that allowed two more runs to score before Diaz hit his 21st homer of the season. There were nine home runs in all, a single-game record at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020. Josh Smith homered in the Texas ninth off Ryne Stanek, who later in the inning injured his right ...

Shohei Ohtani’s agent says the star plans to continue as a pitcher and hitter after his elbow heals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s agent says the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way superstar is determined to continue his career as both a pitcher and a hitter after he recovers from his latest elbow injury.Nez Balelo said Monday that he thinks it’s “inevitable” that Ohtani will need some sort of procedure to heal the ligament tear in his pitching elbow, but they’re still gathering opinions on whether that procedure should be Tommy John surgery or a nonsurgical remedy. Balelo says the tear is in a different part of the ligament than the spot that was surgically repaired in late 2018 and is still strong.Balelo said Ohtani will continue playing as the Angels’ designated hitter for the foreseeable future this season. Balelo said Ohtani also intends “to be in somebody’s lineup next year DHing when the bell rings.”Ohtani will be a free agent this winter heading toward a major payday even with his injury. Balelo repeatedly mentioned Ohtani is in “great ...

¿Quién era Lefty SM, el rapero asesinado en Guadalajara?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:14 GMT

(CNN Español) — En pleno ascenso de su carrera musical, la muerte sorprendió este domingo a Juan Carlos Sauceda, de 31 años, conocido como “Lefty SM”.Según las autoridades de Jalisco, murió en un hospital tras ser atacado en su casa de Zapopan ―en el área metropolitana de Guadalajara—.Apenas el 25 de agosto relanzaba con éxito en YouTube el sencillo “Por mi México”, en el que invitó a colaborar a Santa Fe Klan, Dharius, C-Kan, MC Davo y Neto Peña; algunos de los músicos de rap y hip hop actualmente más reconocidos en el país.El sencillo sumaba este lunes más de nueve millones de reproducciones en YouTube. Apenas dos días después de su lanzamiento, el artista destacaba en su cuenta de Instagram que ya contaba con un millón de reproducciones y que era número uno en tendencias en esa red social.Matan al rapero mexicano Lefty SM en una casa cerca de GuadalajaraEn la letra de “Por mi México”, Lefty SM refleja, igual que en varias de sus composici...