California is off to a slow fire season so far, but Newsom, fire leaders urge readiness as summer begins

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

California is off to a slow fire season so far, but Newsom, fire leaders urge readiness as summer begins With reservoirs full and snow still deep across the Sierra Nevada following one of the wettest winters in recent decades, California’s fire season is off to a slow start this year.But Gov. Gavin Newsom and state fire leaders urged residents on Thursday not to be complacent as July Fourth nears and summer weather begins to heat up.“In the last four years we’ve had two of the most extreme wildfire seasons — some of the worst and most destructive in terms of acreage and property and lives lost — and then two of the more modest fire seasons,” Newsom said during a visit to the Cal Fire Air Attack Base in Grass Valley.“We live in this new reality,” he added, “where we can’t necessarily attach ourselves to some of the more predictive models of the past because of a world that is getting a lot hotter, a lot drier and a lot more uncertain because of climate change.”On Thursday, 487 wildfires burned across Canada, sending thick, chok...

France braces for another night of protests after police shooting

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

France braces for another night of protests after police shooting By Sylvie Corbet, John Leicester and Alex Turnbull | Associated PressNANTERRE, France — France braced for another eruption of urban rioting Thursday night after the deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old, with tens of thousands of officers hitting the streets and commuters rushing home before transport services closed down early for safety reasons.Despite government appeals for calm and vows that order would be restored, smoke from cars and garbage set ablaze was already billowing over the streets of the Paris suburb of Nanterre following a peaceful afternoon march in honor of the teen identified only by his first name, Nahel.The police officer accused of pulling the trigger was handed a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide after prosecutor Pascal Prache said his initial investigation led him to conclude “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.”After a morning crisis meeting following violence that injured scores of police and damaged nearly 100...

At Home: The simple pleasures one finds when back at home

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

At Home: The simple pleasures one finds when back at home I owe my home an apology. I have been taking her for granted. Though she never fails to be there for me, I have not been there for her. Out of the past 30 days, I have spent just five nights at home. I have been traveling for vacation, for work and to help an adult child move, touching down briefly between trips to unpack and pack again.Being away for most of a month, living like a nomad, made me realize how very much I love being home.Maybe I’m just getting mushy with age, but as I returned this week from what I hope is my last trip for a while, I actually — and this is a touch embarrassing — felt overcome as I did routine tasks. I welled up a little when drying dishes, putting food in the dogs’ bowls, getting the mail, making my bed. This cascade of feelings reminded me just how much these small rituals, these moments of ordinary living, mean.Being in one unfamiliar place after another made me appreciate anew the many small ways I take my home, my patterns, the habits ...

Stanford president 'disappointed' in SCOTUS ruling of removing race-based admission

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

Stanford president 'disappointed' in SCOTUS ruling of removing race-based admission (KRON) -- The Supreme Court outlawed affirmative action in college admissions on Thursday. Race can no longer be a factor in the admission process, and it forces schools to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies, the new SCOTUS ruling says.Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne reacted to the news hours after the ruling was announced. In an open letter to the Stanford community, Tessier-Lavigne said he is "disappointed" in the ruling. University of California responds to SCOTUS ruling on race in college admissions "For that reason, I am deeply disappointed by today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upends the long-standing practice of race-conscious university admissions to help achieve a diverse student body," Tessier-Lavigne said in the letter. "I know that many of you in our community are disheartened. Now, our task is to respond in ways that allow Stanford to continue expanding opportunity and fulfilling our mission in a diverse and changing w...

Firearms, including ghost gun recovered, 2 arrested: SFPD

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

Firearms, including ghost gun recovered, 2 arrested: SFPD SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Two people were arrested on firearm-related charges and several firearms, including a ghost gun, were recovered, the San Francisco Police Department said Thursday. The operation also involved agents with the San Francisco Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. San Francisco fentanyl trafficker convicted by jury Officers and agents served a warrant on a firearm-related investigation. Glenn Brown, 22, and a 16-year-old juvenile were arrested.A photo posted by SFPD on Twitter showed three handguns and a short-stock assault rifle-style weapon, all of which appeared to have extended magazine clips.KRON On is streaming live news now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }"Well done!" SFPD said in the tweet.

Supreme Court: Affirmative Action Is OK — if the Students Are Getting Sent to Die in Wars

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

Supreme Court: Affirmative Action Is OK — if the Students Are Getting Sent to Die in Wars Affirmative action supporters and counterprotesters shout at each outside of the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023, in Washington, D.C.Photo: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesIn what is being described as a victory for a merit-based and colorblind approach to college admissions, the Supreme Court Thursday struck down affirmative action as a tool to redress race-based inequalities. The ruling by the court’s conservative majority dealt with affirmative action programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, but would apply across the country.The precedent set by the court’s decision is primed to transform college admissions standards around the country, yet there is one area where the law mandating diversity in recruitment is remaining conspicuously unchanged: U.S. military academies.When it comes to national priorities, the defense establishment has long been treated with kid gloves and afforded its own perks and protections. Think of the way fisca...

Spurs’ Devonte Graham pleads guilty to 2022 DWI and awaits sentencing next month

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

Spurs’ Devonte Graham pleads guilty to 2022 DWI and awaits sentencing next month RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte’ Graham has pleaded guilty to a driving while intoxicated charge stemming from a July 2022 speeding stop. The Wake County (N.C.) District Attorney’s office confirmed the deal Thursday, adding the speeding charge was dismissed. A spokeswoman at the DA’s office said the deal was made earlier in the week but she did not know the exact day.Graham faces sentencing on July 27.The plea deal was first reported by TMZ.According to the police report, Graham was pulled over at 2:39 a.m. on July 7, 2022 for driving 63 mph in a 40 mph zone. During the traffic stop, Graham displayed signs of impairment and was taken into custody and transported to the Wake County Detention Center.Graham submitted to a breath test for alcohol and results indicated a 0.11 BAC (breath alcohol concentration), above the state limit of .08.The DWI charge is a misdemeanor. Graham, 28 and a Raleigh native, was playing for the New Orleans Pelicans at t...

NHL draft wraps up with 11 picks for Chicago, dearth of trades ahead of free agency

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

NHL draft wraps up with 11 picks for Chicago, dearth of trades ahead of free agency NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks acquired their latest generational talent along with a big dose of speed in one of the NHL’s largest draft hauls.They also made another big move for their future Thursday by adding veteran Corey Perry to help teach No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard how to be the leader the Blackhawks need to contend for a Stanley Cup.“I couldn’t be happier with how this worked out,” Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson said after wrapping up an 11-player class on a day that included trading a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft to acquire the 38-year-old Perry.The Anaheim Ducks added a big Swedish center to their young, talented offense in Leo Carlsson at No. 2 overall.The reigning Presidents’ Trophy champion Boston Bruins made the most of their five selections. They bulked up with each player at least 6 foot or taller, capped by 6-5 Swedish defenseman Kristian Kostadinski at No. 220 overall in the seventh round.Now comes the...

Gauff powers past Pegula to reach semifinals at Eastbourne

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

Gauff powers past Pegula to reach semifinals at Eastbourne EASTBOURNE, England (AP) — Coco Gauff powered past her doubles partner Jessica Pegula to reach the semifinals at the Eastbourne International on Thursday.Wet weather delayed the start of play at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament before Gauff wasted little time in beating third-seeded Pegula 6-3, 6-3 in an all-American match.The 19-year-old fifth seed is the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament. Gauff next plays compatriot Madison Keys. It will be the third semifinal appearance of the year for Gauff after Auckland and Dubai.Keys won five games in a row during a 6-4, 6-1 victory in the quarterfinals over Croatian lucky loser Petra Martic.Second-seeded Caroline Garcia’s right shoulder injury caused her to retire while trailing Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 2-1. Camila Giorgi awaits Kasatkina in the semifinals. The Italian also benefited from a retirement, with Birmingham champion Jelena Ostapenko pulling out of their match after losing the opening set 7-6 (8).In the me...

Marlins’ Gurriel scratched from Red Sox game after being hit by a ball in batting practice

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:55:34 GMT

Marlins’ Gurriel scratched from Red Sox game after being hit by a ball in batting practice BOSTON (AP) — Miami Marlins first baseman Yuli Gurriel was scratched from Thursday night’s game against the Red Sox after being hit in the face with a ball during batting practice.Gurriel was taking grounders at first base when he went down. People rushed out to help him, and he was escorted off the field with a towel covering his face.Luis Arraez moved over to first base, and Jean Segura took Gurriel’s No. 5 spot in the batting order.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource