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Massive raise could solidify Oakland mayor’s high-earning status in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

OAKLAND — Mayor Sheng Thao is poised to receive a nearly $75,000 salary bump just six months after taking office — an increase that would come on the heels of what officials have described as the city’s largest ever budget shortfall.Thao, who took office in January, would earn just shy of $278,000 a year — about a 38% raise — if the council approves the increase at a July 18 meeting. A council committee voted 3-1 on Tuesday to approve an updated salary schedule for the mayor.Already one of the highest-earning city mayors in California, the new wage would put Thao near the very top spot, which last year was held by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who made about $357,000, according to data from the state controller that KTVU first reported Tuesday.A key justification for the proposed increase: more than a decade has passed since Oakland’s mayor last received a salary bump, council President Nikki Fortunato Bas said at a meeting Tuesday.But the mor...

Teenager arrested in Redwood City hammer attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

(KRON) -- A 17-year-old Redwood City resident was arrested in connection to an armed robbery in which two juveniles were hit with a hammer last weekend. The two juveniles were attacked and robbed on Saturday, July 8 in the area of the Jefferson underpass, near Middlefield Road, according to the Redwood City Police Department. One of the suspects in the robbery was armed with a hammer and both victims were struck, one of them in the eye, causing serious injury, police said. Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten released from prison a half-century after grisly killings The Redwood City PD Downtown Services Unit worked with the Investigations Unit to ID the suspects. One of the primary suspects -- the one with the hammer -- was positively identified.The 17-year-old male was located and arrested on Tuesday. He was booked into juvenile hall on felony charges of armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.KRON On is streaming live news now.embed-container { position: relative; pa...

A's fan group plans protest at MLB All-Star Game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

(KRON) -- An Oakland A's fan group plans to hold a protest at the MLB All-Star Game in Seattle Tuesday night. The group, called Oakland 68s, will pass out cards that say "Sell the Athletics."It is the latest protest organized by A's fans after news broke in the spring that the team's ownership intended to relocate the franchise to Las Vegas. On June 13, A's fans drew national attention by packing the Coliseum for a "reverse boycott." Oakland Athletics start the process of applying to MLB for a move to Las Vegas The group met at a Seattle hotel at 2 p.m. before the game Tuesday. They passed out "Sell the Athletics" cards and implored people to wear "Sell" shirts. In addition, the group plans to explain to fans why it believes A's owner John Fisher should sell the team. There are currently ten members of the group, and they hope to recruit more."I think we've been planning this since two weeks ago, because we thought it would be a great opportunity to let (MLB commissioner Rob) Manf...

Pleasanton 'porch pirate' caught on video arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspect who allegedly stole a package off someone's porch in Pleasanton last week has been arrested, according to the Pleasanton Police Department. Officers responded to the call, which took place on July 7 at around 12:12 p.m., according to the time stamp in the surveillance video (watch in the player above). Bay Area native found dead in Yosemite after 7-day search The victim cooperated with officers and security footage was provided. Pleasanton PD officers were able to quickly track down the "porch pirate," they said. Within just hours, the suspect was located in a local parking lot.He was positively identified and the stolen packaged was recovered. The porch pirate was arrested and taken to Santa Rita Jail, police said.Pleasanton PD recommends that residents register their security cameras to assist with potential investigations.

WNBA All-Star skills competition now features teammates partnering up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is changing its All-Star skills challenge with the new format pitting four sets of teammates against each other in a head-to-head competition.The league announced the two-round competition on Tuesday that will include a timed obstacle course relay competition that showcases players’ agility, dribbling, passing and shooting skills.The four teams are Atlanta’s Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker, who are both making their All-Star debuts; Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally; New York’s Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot; and Las Vegas’ Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum.The course includes a 25-foot pass at a target on the baseline, dribbling through four pylons, a short shot in the lane, a corner 3-pointer and finally dribbling to the other end of the court to make a basket. The second player on the team will compete in the same tasks except for the final basket, which now must be a 3-pointer from the top of the arc.The two t...

AP Was There: Cult leader Charles Manson and followers convicted for brutal California killings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — EDITOR’S NOTE — On Jan. 26, 1971, Charles Manson and three members of his California cult were convicted for the murders of seven people, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate. On Tuesday, one of those three followers, Leslie Van Houten, was released from a California prison after serving more than 50 years for the 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles; and his wife, Rosemary.Van Houten is the only one of Manson’s followers involved in the murders to be let out of prison.The Associated Press is republishing a version of its original report about the conviction by Linda Deutsch, who covered the trial that lasted from late 1969 into 1971.___Charles Manson, shaggy leader of a cult-like clan of hippie types, was convicted Monday of first-degree murder and conspiracy along with three women followers in the savage slayings of actress Sharon Tate and six others.The state said it will ask the death penalty for all.The defendants, who staged wild o...

MLB open to consider increasing time on pitch clock in postseason

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred will consider increasing time on the pitch clock for the postseason but is reluctant to adjust an innovation the sport considers a great success.In the first season of the clock, the average time of a nine-inning game is 2 hours, 38 minutes, on track to be the fastest since 1984. It is down from 3:04 last year and 3:09 in 2021, the last season before PitchCom was introduced.“We’re going to continue to talk to the players,” Manfred told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday. “I think you ought to play the postseason the way you play the regular season. There’s exceptions. I’m open-minded on that topic.”The clock is set at 15 seconds with no runners on base and 20 seconds with runners. There also are restrictions on defensive shifts and limits on pitcher disengagements.“I don’t believe there’s any player, nor do I believe there are too many folks that want to have a new rule dramatically affect a game...

Pendants made from giant sloths suggest earlier arrival of people in the Americas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

New research suggests humans lived in South America at the same time as now extinct giant sloths, bolstering evidence that people arrived in the Americas earlier than once thought.Scientists analyzed triangular and teardrop-shaped pendants made of bony material from the sloths. They concluded that the carved and polished shapes and drilled holes were the work of deliberate craftsmanship.Dating of the ornaments and sediment at the Brazil site where they were found point to an age of 25,000 to 27,000 years ago, the researchers reported. That’s several thousand years before some earlier theories had suggested the first people arrived in the Americas, after migrating out from Africa and then Eurasia.“We now have good evidence — together with other sites from South and North America — that we have to rethink our ideas about the migration of humans to the Americas,” said Mirian Liza Alves Forancelli Pacheco, a study co-author and archaeologist at the Federal University of Sao Carlos...

Sniper-like shots fired at buildings in Broomfield and Denver may be connected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (KDVR) -- An arrest has been made in connection with a shot that was fired at a burrito restaurant in Broomfield.Investigators say there are similarities between that shooting and others that took place in Denver.The Broomfield Police Department arrested 45-year-old Kenneth Fairchild after he allegedly fired a gun at the Jus Burritos Restaurant on U.S. 287 this past weekend. Denver neighbors concerned about sniper after 5 windows shot on 2 occasions Police said Fairchild has been booked on charges of attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, prohibited use of a weapon and DUI. Mary Franco, who has owned Jus Burritos for 23 years, was at the eatery when the shooting happened.There were several workers and customers inside when the shot was fired.“The customers came running in because they saw the shooter,” Franco said.Franco said there is a bullet hole in the window frame.“I thought how could this happen in Broomfield?” Franco said.S...

Jeffco deputy gets new K-9 partner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:28 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Jefferson County deputy has been without his K-9 partner since he was killed in the line of duty earlier this year, until now.The K-9's name was Graffit, and he was shot and killed on Feb. 13. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said he loyally served since 2015. Did you know Colorado has one of the world’s best drum corps? Thanks to donations from the community, Graffit's handler, Zach Oliver, does not have to serve alone any longer. The sheriff's office welcomed Ragnar to the team as Oliver's new partner in crime-stopping.Another K-9 was welcomed into the sheriff's office --  Rico will be serving alongside Deputy Christopher Wagner.The dogs have been working diligently with their handlers at Gold Coast K-9 where they have been training to catch the bad guys.How did Graffit die?Graffit was trained in suspect apprehension. The Golden Police Department said that officers approached a driver, and they found the man slumped over his steering wheel and unres...