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‘A disturbing new normal’: Why have chemical releases at Martinez refinery continued?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

The day before the local high school’s homecoming parade last week, the Martinez Refining Company posted on Facebook wishing students a happy homecoming.But just 24 hours later, the refinery quite literally cast a black cloud over the event.At 11 a.m. on Friday, October 6, an ominous plume of black dust bellowed up from the Martinez Refining Company and floated into the city’s downtown.Related ArticlesEnvironment | Electric school buses, pesticides and oil wells: New environmental laws coming to California Environment | The largest dam removal in history stirs hopes of restoring California tribes’ way of life Environment | How to stop owls from killing owls Environment | California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law requiring big businesses to disclose emissions Environment | Report: Kilauea volcano produces 320+ quakes in 24 hours In a series of events that have begun to seem unnervingly familiar, the Contra C...

Will Hurd ends long-shot bid for GOP nomination, backs Haley

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

By Will Weissert | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Former Texas congressman Will Hurd suspended his Republican presidential bid Monday, abandoning a brief campaign built on criticizing Donald Trump at a time when his party seems even more determined to embrace the former president.Hurd said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he was endorsing Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, for the GOP nomination.“While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden,” Hurd wrote.He said Haley “has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy.”Hurd was the last major candidate to join the already crowded Republican primary field when he ann...

Car crashes into Chinese Consulate building in SF, driver shot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A driver who crashed a car into the Chinese Consulate building in San Francisco Monday afternoon has been shot, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. There were security guards inside the consulate at the time of the incident, however it is not known at this time who was involved in the shooting.Officials tell KRON4 that the suspect has not been arrested and that the scene remains active. Bay Area restaurants imposing ‘vomit fee’ on Sunday brunch-goers Geary Boulevard is closed and drivers are being told to expect traffic delays or consider alternate routes. No other details are available at this time. The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the incident.Earlier on Monday, police activity was reported near USF. It is not know if the two incidents are related.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Heavy police presence reported at Chase Bank in San Francisco

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- People in San Francisco are being told to avoid Fulton Street between Central Avenue and Masonic Avenue due to police activity. A KRON4 reporter at the scene said there is a heavy police presence at Chase Bank, located at 1720 Fulton St. Despite an earlier report that a person has been arrested, the suspect remains inside the bank. Police deployed tear gas and there is smoke coming from the building, per KRON4's reporter. The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management sent out an alert at 2:21 p.m. Monday regarding the police activity. Drivers are advised to expect traffic delays and use alternate routes.Police cars and an ambulance were at the scene Monday afternoon. San Francisco officials have not yet reported what caused the police activity. There was also police activity near Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard in San Francisco on Monday afternoon. A driver crashed into the Chinese Consulate building in a situation that also involved a shooting. This...

Man found stabbed to death in Hayward

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

(KRON) -- A man was stabbed to death in Hayward on Sunday night, the Hayward Police Department said. HPD responded to the area of Lance Way and Tucker Street at about 10:21 p.m. for the report of an assault with a deadly weapon. The victim was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. 6 passengers injured after Cable Car stops abruptly to avoid car No arrests have been made for the homicide, police said. The homicide was Hayward's eighth of 2023. HPD did not release the name of the victim.Anyone with information about the case is asked to call (510) 293-7176.

Good Samaritan shot by Oakland robbers: police  

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

(KRON) -- One person was shot and another was assaulted in a robbery attempt in Oakland early Monday morning, the Oakland Police Department confirmed. OPD was called to the 4100 block of Foothill Boulevard just before 12:30 a.m. for a ShotSpotter notification. Police found two victims at the scene -- one had a gunshot wound and the other had injuries consistent with assault. Barricaded domestic violence suspect surrenders after 6-hour standoff in Petaluma According to a police investigation, one of the victims was walking to their car when another car pulled alongside them. "An individual exited the vehicle, approached the victim, and forcefully took their belongings. While this occurred, the victim was physically assaulted," OPD said. A second victim tried to disrupt the robbery, and they were shot, per Oakland police. The suspect fled the scene with the stolen goods. Both victims were hospitalized and are in stable condition, according to police. OPD is investigating the incide...

Appeals court upholds order delaying this week’s execution of Texas inmate for deadly carjacking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a ruling delaying this week’s scheduled execution of a Texas inmate for fatally shooting an 80-year-old woman more than two decades ago.Jedidiah Murphy, 48, had been set to receive a lethal injection Tuesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the October 2000 death of Bertie Lee Cunningham during a carjacking in the Dallas suburb of Garland.But last week, a federal judge in Austin issued an order staying Murphy’s execution after the inmate’s lawyers had filed a lawsuit seeking DNA testing of evidence related to his 2001 trial.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upheld the judge’s order. The three-judge panel said that another case before the appeals court that was brought by a different Texas death row inmate raises similar issues.“We agree with the district court that a stay is appropriate at least until a decision in that case,” the three-judge panel wrote.The Texas Attorney General’s ...

University of Washington asks court to dismiss Oregon State, Washington State’s suit against Pac-12

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

The University of Washington asked a court on Monday to dismiss the lawsuit brought against the Pac-12 by Oregon State and Washington State, which seeks to prevent the conference’s departing members from standing in the way of their efforts to rebuild the beleaguered league.A mediation process is ongoing between Oregon State and Washington State and the 10 departing Pac-12 members, according to the court filings, but two schools believe that shouldn’t stop the court case from proceeding.At issue is who gets to decide what happens to the Pac-12 between now and when those schools officially leave for their new conference on Aug. 1, 2024.“The departing schools continue to undermine our efforts to secure the future of the Pac-12 Conference. They are relying on flimsy arguments to try to escape accountability for their actions,” Oregon State and Washington State said in a statement.Washington’s motion to intervene in the case, which was granted and includes a requ...

Shares in Walmart’s Mexico subsidiary drop after company is investigated for monopolistic practices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Shares in Walmart’s Mexico subsidiary dropped about 3.3% Monday after Walmart de Mexico announced it is under investigation for alleged monopolistic practices.Analysts said it was not clear what regulators were alleging the company did.But an analysis report from Intercam Banco said Mexico’s economic competition commission could be alleging price-fixing or other practices at Walmart, the country’s largest retailer.The commission is Mexico’s anti-monopoly regulatory agency. Such investigations can take months.The announcement was made late Friday, but in its first day of trading Monday after the investigation was revealed, Walmart de Mexico shares dropped 3.33%.Walmart issued a statement saying it is confident that it has “always obeyed the applicable law in order to guarantee the best prices, quality and assortment to customers.”Source

Sunrise gatherings, dances and speeches mark celebration of culture on Indigenous Peoples Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:48 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Events across the country, including a sunrise gathering in Minneapolis, a rally at the statehouse in Maine, and traditional dancing, music and food in Alaska and Arizona, marked celebrations of Indigenous Peoples Day.The ceremonies, speeches and performances in traditional regalia Monday came two years after President Joe Biden officially commemorated the day honoring “America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today.”At a gathering in Phoenix where dancers performed in traditional Aztec clothing, Sifa Matafahi said it was an opportunity to “pay respect to Indigenous cultures … to reflect on our past and history while also acknowledging our cultural presence.”In Minnesota, about 150 people, including the governor and lieutenant governor, attended a sunrise prayer and ceremony at Bde Maka Ska, a lake surrounded by parkland on the south side of Minneapolis.“Today, we recognize our ancestors and predecessors wh...