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Takeaways from AP’s report on legislative reforms to victim compensation programs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

Across the country, violent crime victims are using their stories to push for changes to state compensation programs meant to help them with medical bills, relocation, funerals or other expenses. Vanessa Martinez, who survived a gunshot wound to the head, has turned to speaking at rallies supporting legislation to fund a pilot trauma-recovery center in Arizona that would lead to more people getting help. Dion Green, whose father was killed in a mass shooting at an Ohio bar, testified in Ohio and served on a committee giving input on changes to federal victim compensation guidelines, pushing for removing existing barriers. Bernice “Tammi” Ringo, whose son died of gunshot wounds in 2019, testified before lawmakers in Michigan, which subsequently passed legislation that boosts money available to victims, eliminates police reporting deadlines and makes other changes. Their advocacy has spurred numerous changes in recent years when dozens of states passed bills changing their compensatio...

Man sentenced to 27 years in prison for role in 2019 South San Francisco robbery

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – A 30-year-old Vallejo man has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for his role in the 2019 armed robbery of a married couple in South San Francisco, prosecutors said.Handed down Friday, the sentence follows a nine-day trial in March that ended with a jury convicting James Louis Brisker IV of five felony charges including robbery and burglary, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.On March 31, 2019, Brisker and two accomplices followed the 62-year-old husband and 61-year-old wife from the Lytton Casino in San Pablo and blocked them in when they stopped at a drugstore on Westborough Boulevard in South San Francisco, prosecutors said. Brisker put a gun to the wife’s head and demanded her money.One of Brisker’s accomplices also confronted the husband and demanded his money.Prosecutors said Brisker and his accomplices made off with the wife’s purse and $400 from the husband, but they were stopped a short time later on Interstate 280...

A’s walk off on Braves error for second straight win

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN | Associated PressOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — During a season that has been one of the most tumultuous in franchise history, second-year Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay has worked overtime to keep his players positive.It’s starting to pay off.After losing their first nine series at home — one shy of the Oakland record — the A’s are finally stringing together victories.Seth Brown scored on a fielding error by Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley in the ninth inning, and the A’s beat the Braves 2-1 on Tuesday night, recording consecutive victories for the second time this season.“Kots talked to us last week about just taking the small victories when you get them,’ starting pitcher JP Sears said. “I think guys bought into that. Just trying to win each game, each pitch and just kind of keep our head down and not look at the outside and the distractions around us.”Like all 12 of the A’s wins this season, this one didn’t come easily.Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias (1-2) ...

NorCal softball regionals: Willow Glen erases early deficit to reach D-II semifinals

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

SAN JOSE — It didn’t look good for Willow Glen early on. Down 2-0 before even coming to bat. And then facing another scoring threat from Casa Grande in the second, one out with a runner on second.That’s when Alanna Clincy came in to pitch and restored order.Clincy threw 5 ⅔ innings of scoreless relief and top-seeded Willow Glen rallied for a 5-2 victory in the Northern California Division II regional playoffs.The Rams (21-7) advance to play host to fourth-seeded Bullard-Fresno, a 4-3 winner over Monterey, on Thursday in the NorCal semifinals.“I’m very happy for the girls, very happy for the seniors to have the opportunity to do this,” Willow Glen coach Don Spingola said.Casa Grande (25-5) came in with some gaudy offensive stats — 37 home runs as a team, and a North Coast Section Division II championship. But Willow Glen, down 2-0 so early, was unfazed.“We’re a good hitting team, I don’t think two runs is anything for our te...

Charges reduced against group who vandalized San Rafael church statue

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KRON) – Catholics in Marin County marched in protest Tuesday afternoon over the district attorney’s decision to reduce charges for people who vandalized a church statue. Several people were arrested back in 2020 for the vandalism at Saint Raphael Church, but they won’t be facing any jail time. The Father Junipero Serra statue was destroyed by five people during a protest in October 2020. Churchgoers say they’re enraged to learn that charges have been reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor by DA Lori Frugoli. Man who allegedly killed 16-year-old at Livermore Taco Bell extradited from Mexico, arrested “We are very upset that the statue was torn down,” one churchgoer said. “We consider that a hate crime.”Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish-born priest, helped establish California’s Catholic mission. Today, he is today considered a controversial figure.“It represents not only catholic history, but also Native American Indian history,” Frugoli said. “It’s history. It h...

China warns of risks from artificial intelligence, calls for beefed-up national security measures

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China warns of risks from artificial intelligence, calls for beefed-up national security measures.Source

Yankees place Harrison Bader on 10-day IL but get Gold Glove catcher Jose Trevino back

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — The New York Yankees placed outfielder Harrison Bader on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring injury on Tuesday.Bader left Monday’s series opener in Seattle in the third inning after beating out an infield single. He was replaced by Greg Allen, who started in center field on Tuesday.Bader had an MRI on Tuesday that revealed a low-grade strain, and shortly before the game the Yankees made the move to put him on the injured list.“Probably be a couple weeks, but we’ll see. Obviously, a guy like him really, really relies on the legs,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It wasn’t bad, but enough to know that at least this 10 days are going to be needed.”Bader strained his left oblique muscle during spring training and the Gold Glove centerfielder didn’t make his season debut until May 3. He is hitting .267 with six homers, 19 RBIs and six stolen bases.Franchy Cordero was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Bader’s spot.Bader’s i...

Loveland Reservoir reopens in Alpine

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

ALPINE, Calif. -- East County residents are relieved that their beloved Loveland Reservoir is finally back open.It took a strong showing by the Alpine and Jamul community. They raised the alarm over the Sweetwater Authority draining the reservoir and fought hard to get it back open.East County families again enjoying the recreational activities that the Loveland Reservoir has offered for generations.“Just enjoying hiking and walking around and seeing the water birds that come in this area,” said Kim Dudzik Hales, an East County resident. “Enjoy the plant life and everything else.”But last November, the Sweetwater Authority drained the reservoir and closed it to the public. “I’m angry,” East County resident Warner Recabaren said. “The purpose of this of course was drinking water and they’re supposed to use it for drinking but they took it all -- 100% of it. All the way to dry and what you see down here now is nothing but a cemetery of dead fish.”Sweetwater Authority says the act...

Vatican questions $17 million donation to impact investing fund, moves to prevent similar gifts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The former monastery on a quiet residential street in Rome once sheltered Jews fearing deportation in World War II. Purchased by the Vatican in 2021 as a dormitory for foreign nuns studying at Rome’s pontifical universities, the building now stands empty, a collateral victim of the latest financial scandal to hit the Holy See.Pope Francis has asked aides to get to the bottom of how at least $17 million, including money to refurbish the dorm, was transferred from the Vatican’s U.S.-based missionary fundraising coffers into an impact investing vehicle run by a priest, The Associated Press has learned. Two years later, the U.S. fundraiser says the money is gone, and the monastery is shuttered. Its renovation is tied up in bureaucratic red tape, while the nuns studying in Rome are still housed at a convent a 90-minute commute away.The story of what happened to the money is one that has vexed Vatican officials on both sides of the Atlantic, all the more because the tr...

Australian general says US warns war crime allegations could prevent work with Australia’s SAS

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:47 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s defense force chief says the U.S. government has warned that allegations of war crimes against Australian soldiers in Afghanistan could prevent U.S. forces from working with Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment.Gen. Angus Campbell told a Senate committee on Wednesday that he received a letter from the U.S. defense attache in Canberra on March 2021 suggesting the SAS may have been “tainted” by the allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan raised in an Australian investigation report.Campbell said “one individual” had his “posted position adjusted” following the letter.The letter warned that the Brereton report, which detailed “credible information” that Australian soldiers had unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners and civilians, could trigger a U.S. law that prevents the country’s military working with units linked to “gross violations of human rights.”“I received a letter from the defense attache of the United States Armed Forces based in Ca...