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Ridley-Thomas to be sentenced on corruption charges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Former Los Angeles County Supervisor and City Council Member Mark Ridley-Thomas could be sentenced to six years in prison on Monday.Ridley-Thomas, 68, was convicted of seven corruption charges in March, among them bribery, fraud and conspiracy.Ridley-Thomas and Marilyn Louise Flynn, the former dean of USC’s School of Social Work, worked together to funnel $100,000 from a campaign fund through the school and ultimately to a nonprofit run by Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, the former supervisor's son.In exchange, USC received a "lucrative county contract," according to prosecutors. Flynn pleaded guilty to bribery last year, and she was sentenced to three years of probation, the Los Angeles Times reports.Ridley-Thomas, a longtime fixture in local and state politics, has been harshly criticized by prosecutors. Ridley-Thomas convicted of multiple charges Ridley-Thomas “defrauded the people of the county,“ U.S. Attorney Martín Estrada said, as quoted by LAist. “Anytime a politician engages in ...

Potentially record-breaking temperatures set to scorch Southern California 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Although summer is coming to a close, incredibly high temperatures are due to stick around the Southland to start the week. According to the National Weather Service, due to the excessive heat warning -- which is in effect from 10 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday across most of SoCal -- temperatures could reach up to 16 degrees above normal in some areas, with valley and mountain communities receiving the brunt of the heat. Temperatures could soar to 109 degrees in inland communities, with overnight lows hovering in the mid-80s, providing little relief from the daytime heat.“The hottest temperatures will occur [Monday] and Tuesday, when near-record heat will develop,” NWS said. Elsewhere in SoCal, it is still expected to be very warm; coastal areas are expected to see highs in the upper 90s. “High pressure has pushed back into Southern California,” KTLA 5 meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said. “The next couple of days will be very hot ones for us.”  Map: Much of C...

The Best Personal Injury Lawyers in California

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

If you have suffered an injury in California due to someone else’s negligence, you may need the help of a personal injury attorney to fight for your rights and get the compensation you deserve. With so many lawyers to choose from, itcan be tough to know where to start.To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best-rated personal injury attorneys in California based on our researchand extensive criteria. But first, let’s cover the best-rated firm on our list: GJEL Accident AttorneysWe not only looked at the attorneys in their firm, but the law firm as a whole.The #1 Top Accident & Injury Firm: GJEL Accident AttorneysWhen it comes to serious injury and wrongful death cases, GJEL Accident Attorneys is widely regarded as one of thehighest-rated California personal injury law firms. The firm has received numerous awards and accolades for their outstanding work, including being named “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, and othe...

The Best of the West: California’s Top 7 Real Estate Agents

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

In sunny California, where the palm trees sway and the waves crash against the shores, a group of extraordinary individuals has taken the world of real estate by storm. These remarkable folks aren’t just your everyday real estate agents – they’re the crème de la crème, the best of the best. They have the magic touch when it comes to buying and selling houses, turning ordinary properties into dream homes, and making every transaction feel like a breeze on a warm summer day. Get ready to meet the trailblazers who have mastered the art of California’s real estate game. They’re the ones who know the neighborhoods like the back of their hand, who can find you a hidden gem in the sprawling cityscape, and who turn “For Sale” signs into keys to a new life. Let’s dive into the world of California’s top 7 real estate agents and discover the secrets behind their success.1. Teresa Fuller Meet Teresa Fuller, the powerhouse of Los Angeles real estat...

One stabbed after violent brawls involving hundreds of young adults erupt at Emeryville mall

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

EMERYVILLE — A series of violent brawls involving hundreds of young people erupted at an Emeryville mall Sunday night, leaving one person with stab wounds, according to authorities.Police received a call at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday from a business at the Bay Street mall reporting that about 50 people were causing a disturbance inside the store. Officers escorted the people out of the store upon arrival.RELATED: Police break up melee involving 1,000 juveniles at California mallBetween 5:15 and 5:45 p.m., police said officers observed more than 200 more young adults arrive at the mall. Several fights then broke out throughout the courtyard of the mall beginning at 5:40, authorities said.Reports of a single gunshot fired in the area of Bay Street and Ohlone Way came in at about 5:50 p.m., according to police. Officers did not locate any victims or a suspect responsible for the gunfire.A stabbing was later reported in the area around 7 p.m. Police said a minor was found with a stab wound ...

California city adopts policy banning LGBTQ+ and other flags on city-owned lightpoles

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

The Torrance City Council this week formally adopted a resolution that effectively bars Pride rainbow flags and other displays of conflicting religious, racial or political beliefs from flying on municipal street light poles, unless they are part of a city-sponsored event.The resolution, which passed unanimously, stipulates that only banners of city-sponsored events, as well as government and military flags, are allowed on light poles in Torrance’s public right-of-way.The decision drew the ire of some Torrance community members.“I find it embarrassing to be a part of a city that doesn’t want anything to do with Pride in any way at all, not even to allow other businesses or districts or areas to utilize the polls for inclusivity and equality,” Tiffany Mitchell, owner of Black Raven Tattoo in Old Torrance, said on Thursday, Aug. 24.Mitchell is a part of a group made up of Torrance business owners and residents who wrote their own Pride Month Proclamation earlier this year after the ci...

2 California women plead guilty to involvement in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Two Orange County women pleaded guilty to their involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to court documents.Michelle Estey, a 54-year-old Newport Beach resident, and 57-year-old Tustin resident Melanie Belger were arrested in Orange in September of 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.They were arraigned on Tuesday, Aug. 22, and each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Court records indicate they pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement. They initially faced three more counts: entering a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.Belger and Estey’s legal teams have not yet agreed to a specific amount of jail time or a financial penalty as part of their plea agreement. The maximum sentence they could face is up to six months in prison and a fine as hea...

Bronny James’ cardiac arrest likely caused by heart defect, doctors say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

After the shocking news of a mid-practice cardiac arrest thrust Bronny James’ basketball future in doubt, the path forward for the USC freshman appears clearer.According to a statement from a James family spokesperson Friday afternoon, as identified by an initial evaluation at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and follow-ups at the Mayo Clinic, James’ heart attack was likely caused by an “anatomically and functionally significant Congenital Heart Defect,” the statement read.“We are very confident in Bronny’s full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future,” the statement read.The basketball world was set astorm with late July reports that highly touted Trojans freshman James, the son of Lakers star LeBron James, had collapsed on the court during a USC basketball practice. He was in the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai for just a day, per the spokesperson, and has since been seen playing the piano in a post from LeBron and recently walked out with Drake at a recent co...

Joonas Donskoi scored one of the biggest goals in Sharks history. Where does it rank in our top 10?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Joonas Donskoi only played four seasons with the San Jose Sharks, but his place in team history is secure.Between the regular season and playoffs, Donskoi scored a combined 54 goals for the Sharks from 2015 to 2019, none bigger than his overtime goal in Game 3 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.Donskoi took a pass from Chris Tierney, created some space between himself and Evgeni Malkin as he went behind the Penguins net, turned around, and fired a shot under the crossbar and over the right shoulder of goalie Matt Murray, giving San Jose a 3-2 win.Donskoi, now 31, announced his retirement on Sunday, saying he was thinking about his own health after experiencing multiple concussions over his seven-year NHL career.“It is extremely hard to let go of something you have put your whole life into,” Donskoi wrote, “but at this point, I know it’s the right decision for my own well-being and future.”Donskoi will always be thought of as the author of one of the Sharks...

Man struck by car while walking dog, driver flees in Santa Rosa

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

(BCN) -- Police arrested a 65-year-old man in connection to a Saturday night hit-and-run case in Santa Rosa. At 5:55 p.m., Santa Rosa Police Department officers first responded to reports of pedestrian being hit by a car at Beaver Street and College Avenue. Witnesses said the 24-year-old man was walking his dog and crossing the street when a white SUV hit him and continued to drive away. VIDEO: Fight after 49ers game at In-N-Out near Levi’s Stadium leads to stabbing Officers estimate the car was driving at 40 miles per hour when it struck the man and his dog. Medical personnel said they found the man lying in the middle of the road. He was transported to a local hospital with major injuries, and is still considered to be in critical condition as of Sunday morning. Officers added that the dog ran away from the scene and a Santa Rosa resident eventually corralled the dog several hours later. The dog was taken to a local veterinary hospital, and police said they would follo...