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Rupert Murdoch gets engaged to Ann Lesley Smith at his California vineyard estate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

By Toyin Owoseje | CNN BusinessBillionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch is preparing to walk down the aisle for the fifth time.The 92-year-old tycoon revealed he’s engaged to marry Ann Lesley Smith in an article published Monday in the New York Post, one of his own publications.Murdoch told gossip columnist Cindy Adams that he met his soon-to-be wife in September, when she visited his vineyard, the Moraga Estate, in Bel Air, California.“I was very nervous,” Murdoch said of their whirlwind romance. “I dreaded falling in love — but I knew this would be my last. It better be. I’m happy.”The News Corp. founder proposed with an Asscher-cut diamond solitaire in New York on St. Patrick’s Day, because he is “one-fourth Irish.”The pair intend to get hitched in late summer this year. “We’re both looking forward to spending the second half of our lives together,” Murdoch said.Smith was previously married to Chester Smi...

Postmaster describes 'disturbing' rise in crimes against Oakland postal workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- A series of attacks against United States postal workers in Oakland prompted the local postmaster to send out a letter to warn community members in early March. On Monday, the U.S. Postal Service also held a press conference to address the incidents. Anti-trans rant at Cheesecake Factory in San Francisco caught on video In the letter, dated March 3, Oakland Postmaster Sunil Chanan says, "We are asking for your help and vigilance," after a "disturbing" rise in criminal acts against postal workers, vehicles and mailboxes. A reward of up to $50,000 is available for anyone who can offer information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who assaults or robs a U.S. Postal Employee.In January, the Oakland Police Department warned the community about an uptick in postal worker attacks. Police said that in several of the robberies, postal workers were even held at gunpoint as suspects demanded keys to their truck and stole mail. KRON On is streaming...

Stonestown Mall brawls overwhelm security, result in injuries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Large scale physical altercations between groups of what appear to be school age teenagers have been breaking out at Stonestown Mall lately, according to Supervisor Myrna Melgar who represents District 7 where the mall is located. Melgar said the mall's private security has been overwhelmed by the fights and that officers with the San Francisco Police Department have been deployed. Anti-trans rant at Cheesecake Factory in San Francisco caught on video Videos of the fights have been "posted and promoted" on social media, Melgar added in a Twitter thread about the incidents. Melgar said that the mall has increased security as a result of the fights and that the SFPD Taraval Station would be increasing patrols to the area.The supervisor also said she would be speaking with the San Francisco Unified School District to address the brawls, which have been occurring during afterschool hours, particularly on Wednesdays, which are early release days.One video of the...

BART Red Line service resumes after being suspended due to fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Service on BART's Red Line between Millbrae and San Bruno has resumed in both directions after being suspended due to a fire alongside the tracks, according to a tweet from the agency. Millbrae Station, which was closed temporarily, has reopened. BART plans to maximize police presence on the system Earlier, SamTrans was providing bus service on bus ECR between the two stations, BART advised in a subsequent tweet. BART is experiencing a 10-minut delay on the San Francisco line due to police activity in Daly City, in addition to the earlier fire.

Biden pays tribute to Iranian women at Nowruz celebration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden used a White House event to mark Persian New Year on Monday to pay tribute to Iranian women and girls who took to the streets of Iran to protest following the death last year of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and vowed to keep pressure on Tehran.Biden said he wished the Nowruz holiday, a nearly 4,000-year-old tradition known as the Festival of Fire that’s linked to the Zoroastrian religion, would be a moment of “hope for the women of Iran fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”“The United States stands with those brave women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction,” Biden said, describing the reception as the biggest White House Nowruz celebration to date. “We’re going to continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people.”The United States, Europe and the United Kingdom have imposed a series of fresh sanctions on dozens of Iranian officials and organizations, ...

The maddest March ever? Underdogs head to the Sweet 16

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

We know you’re upset. Underdogs have blown up every bracket in the country.An upside of the upsets: perhaps the maddest March ever.Defending national champion Kansas and fellow No. 1 seed Purdue are gone — the Boilermakers with a slice of unwanted history. The Sweet 16 won’t have blue bloods Kentucky, Duke or North Carolina for only the second time since 1979.In are upstarts like Princeton, Florida Atlantic and a team picked to finish last in the Big 12 Conference.And, this being March, of course there’s Tom Izzo.The bracket has been nearly devoid of the buzzer-beaters that college hoops fans have been accustomed to, but the games have been close. There have been four games decided by one point, the most since there were six in 2017 and three short of the record last matched in 1998.SOUTH REGIONAlabama has looked every bit the No. 1 overall seed, blowing out Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Maryland despite turmoil swirling around the program.Waiting for Alabama in...

4 guilty of conspiracy in latest Oath Keepers Jan. 6 trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four people associated with the Oath Keepers were convicted on Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the attack on the U.S. Capitol in the latest trial involving members of the far-right antigovernment extremist group. A Washington D.C. jury found Sandra Parker, of Morrow, Ohio; Laura Steele, of Thomasville, North Carolina; William Isaacs, of Kissimmee, Florida and Connie Meggs, of Dunnellon, Florida guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges. In a rare loss for prosecutors, Sandra Parker’s husband, Bennie Parker, was acquitted of obstruction as well as one conspiracy charge, and a sixth defendant — Michael Greene, of Indianapolis, Indiana — was acquitted of two conspiracy charges. Jurors said they couldn’t reach a verdict on another conspiracy charge for Bennie Parker and the obstruction charge for Greene, so the judge instructed them to keep deliberating. All six defendants were convicted of a...

WH economic report: Money for child care would help growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is making the case for more government support for child care programs in an economic report being released Monday, drawing on extensive research to say additional spending would improve kids’ lives, increase the quality of early childhood schooling and enable more women to hold jobs.The analysis dovetails with President Joe Biden’s political messaging as ideological lines are being drawn for the 2024 election. Democrats have sought to put a greater focus on Republican lawmakers who have restricted access to abortions in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court decision and called for mandating that impoverished parents be employed in order to receive government aid.The administration is also making a fuller case that its policies on children and families are better for overall economic growth, not just in terms of social fairness. The White House Council of Economic Advisers put together the 28-page analysis on child care as part of ...

Attorneys make divergent closings in trial of Haitian mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — An attorney for three Haitian men who claimed in a U.S. lawsuit that the former mayor of their small hometown subjected his political opponents to violence and terror called the defendant “a small, petty tyrant” during closing arguments Monday.But an attorney for the defendant spent his time poking holes in the testimony of witnesses and saying the plaintiffs were motivated by money when they brought the case against Jean Morose Viliena.The case against Viliena, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who now lives in Malden, Massachusetts, shed light on the broader issue of political violence in the Caribbean nation and its ineffective judicial system.Bonnie Lau, who represents the plaintiffs, asked the jury during closings to award $35 million in compensatory and punitive damages.“We have the overwhelming weight of the evidence in our favor,” she said.Peter Haley, Viliena’s attorney, said testimony from witnesses in the civil suit being heard in U.S. Dist...

Sexual harassment complaint filed against DC mayor’s former chief of staff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:24:22 GMT

A sexual harassment complaint has been filed against former D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio, who abruptly left his post last week.“We represent an employee of the District of Columbia who came forward to report serious allegations of sexual harassment by former Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio,” the statement from attorneys Debra S. Katz and Kayla Morin said. “It is our understanding that this behavior is longstanding and our client is cooperating fully with the investigation, which Mayor Bowser initiated immediately.”The statement went on to say: “Our client is courageous. She came forward to ensure accountability and protect other women. Given the gravity of our client’s allegations – which involve unwelcome advances and sexual contact – we ask the media to respect her privacy. ”At a news conference earlier Monday, Bowser said an attorney in the Mayor’s ...