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DA charges South Bay armed robbery suspects with hate crimes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

SAN JOSE — Three men arrested in connection with a South Bay armed robbery spree are also facing hate-crime charges because they targeted Asian people, prosecutors said.In a statement Thursday morning, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said the suspects “targeted Asian people because of their perceived wealth.”The trio — identified as Tevita Lauti Fefita, 21, of Oakland; Curtis Eddie Charles Freeman, 19, of Stockton; and Siahola Jlan Tupouata, 18, of Oakland — were arraigned Thursday afternoon on robbery and hate-crime charges. They face prison time if convicted.“Those who prey on Asian people should know that both my office and our county are proudly diverse and united against hatred and violence,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said.The men are suspected of committing three armed robberies Monday night in Palo Alto and Milpitas.The Palo Alto robberies occurred within 25 minutes of one another. The first was reported at 6:35 p.m. in the 1100 block of Trinity Lane and ...

Warriors win Game 3, trail Kings 2-1 in first round series

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Golden State Warriors won a crucial Game 3 over the Sacramento Kings Thursday night at Chase Center 114-97. The Warriors now trail the Kings 2-1 in the first-round series.Stephen Curry posted a game-high 36 points in the win, torching the Kings both inside and outside the 3-point arc. Kings star De'Aaron Fox led Sacramento in points with 26. The Warriors were without forward Draymond Green, who was suspended for Game 3 after he stomped on Kings center Domantas Sabonis. Green's suspension was partially due to his “history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the NBA said. Jordan Poole took his place in the starting lineup. ‘Not right’: NBA world reacts to Draymond suspension Even without the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the Warriors were able to limit the Kings' explosive offense to 97 points. Sacramento particularly struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 11-46. Golden State built a 29-20 lead after the first quarter, which was capped off by a bu...

Grisham has 4 RBIs, Padres beat D-backs in Tatis’ return

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Trent Grisham had two doubles and four RBIs, Xander Bogaerts added a two-run homer and the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 in Fernando Tatis Jr.’s return from a PED suspension Thursday night.Tatis was 0 for 5 with two strikeouts in his first regular-season game since 2021, batting leadoff and playing right field. His highlight of the night came on defense in the eighth, when he sprinted back and to his left before snagging a line drive, robbing Josh Rojas of an extra-base hit.The 24-year-old Tatis missed all of last season, first because of a broken left wrist and then an 80-game PED suspension. Grisham and Bogaerts were among the Padres that made up for Tatis’ slow offensive start. Grisham drove home two runs in the second inning to give the Padres a 2-0 lead and had another two-run double in the sixth that made it 7-5.Bogaerts mashed a 405-foot shot in the third for his fifth homer of the season. Matt Carpenter also had a solo homer.Ta...

Judge’s donations cloud rulings in Catholic bankruptcy case

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge donated tens of thousands of dollars to New Orleans’ Roman Catholic archdiocese and consistently ruled in favor of the church amid a contentious bankruptcy involving nearly 500 clergy sex abuse victims, The Associated Press found, an apparent conflict that could throw the case into disarray.Confronted with AP’s findings, which have not been previously reported, U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry abruptly convened attorneys on a call last week to tell them his charitable giving “has been brought to my attention” and he is now considering recusal from the high-profile bankruptcy he oversees in an appellate role. “Naturally,” Guidry told them, “I will take no further action in this case until this question has been resolved.” AP’s reporting on Guidry and other judges in the New Orleans bankruptcy underscores how tightly woven the church is in the city’s power structure, a coziness perhaps best exemplified when executives of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints s...

Curry scores 36, Warriors beat Kings 114-97 without Green

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 36 points, Kevon Looney matched his career high with 20 rebounds to go with nine assists, and the Golden State Warriors got right back in their first-round playoff series by thumping the Sacramento Kings 114-97 in Game 3 on Thursday night to pull within 2-1.As suspended star Draymond Green watched from home, the defending champions dominated without him as they have done so many times before. The fiery forward was suspended without pay for stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter of Monday’s Game 2 at Golden 1 Center. The Warriors also were without key defensive stopper Gary Payton II after the guard became ill Wednesday.Curry shot 12 for 25 with six 3s while Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors, who never trailed and will now try to even the best-of-seven series in Game 4 on Sunday back on their home court at Chase Center. Sabonis, who grabbed Green’s foot during the play in q...

First Tokyo Olympic bribery verdict ends with no jail time

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The first verdicts in the sprawling Tokyo Olympic bribery scandal were handed down Friday in Tokyo District Court, where defendants were found guilt but avoided jail time.The scandal has sullied the Olympic brand and has forced the northern Japanese city of Sapporo to reconsider its bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics. It was the favorite before the scandal broke.The founder of Aoki Holdings, a manufacturer of affordable suits for businessmen, was found guilty of handing over 28 million yen ($209,000) in bribes to an official of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee in return for being chosen as a sponsor that outfitted the Japanese team.Hironori Aoki, former chairman at Aoki, and two other Aoki officials — including his brother — were found guilty but avoided jail time. Their penalties were suspended for four years for the founder, and for three years for the others. Prosecutors had asked for a prison term of two years and six months for Aoki, and shorter terms for t...

The struggle to read: One third grader’s winding journey

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

Thomas snuggles under the covers with me at bedtime, warm and wiggly.It is our third tour through the “Harry Potter” series, and tonight is like so many others. I pause and ask him to read a few pages of the Dr. Seuss classic “Hop on Pop” before I continue recounting the adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione.And like so many times, he refuses. Finally he fumbles through a couple pages, over passages like “Pup Cup. Pup in Cup,” with copious praise. Then he is done.It all seemed very normal that night last fall. But this was the beginning of third grade, and the Seuss book is sold as “The Simplest Seuss for Youngest Use.”Thomas has a learning disability, ADHD and epilepsy. And this is hard — harder than I thought possible.___ Third grade is considered a crucial reading year. Children who can’t read well by the end of this year are more likely to become dropouts. All sorts of bad things are possible, the research shows. Yet here we are.I know our situation is extreme. But I also know t...

Autistic soccer fans can watch in comfort in Brazil stadiums

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Hamilton Moreira is a huge fan of Brazil’s Corinthians, one of the country’s top soccer clubs.But the 16-year-old, who uses a wheelchair and has autism, never saw them in person until last Sunday after his mother learned of their stadium’s special room for people with autism. It’s built into the ninth floor high above one of the goals.“He just loved this,” Ana Moreira, 53, told The Associated Press as she pushed her joyous and shrieking son out of the room and into the crowd after the Corinthians beat Cruzeiro 2-1 in a Brazilian championship match.“Hamilton is a hardcore soccer fan, like the entire family. He watches until the very end, he celebrates with the players. It feels great to include him here,” she said.The facility in NeoQuimica Arena is called a “sensory room,” designed to have a calming effect. It has noise-proof glass walls, special lighting, crayons spread on multiple tables, toys and food — all of which can keep occupants busy durin...

'She really left a mark': Friend mourns woman killed in rock attack

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Friends of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell, the woman killed by a thrown rock in Jefferson County, remember her as someone who left a mark.According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Bartell, of Arvada, was driving northbound near the 10600 block of Indiana Street. The Sheriff's Office believes the suspects threw a large rock either from a vehicle or the side of the road at Bartell’s car. RELATED: ‘Truck of interest’ in rock attack that killed woman 'not involved' Those who knew Alexa, like former high school classmate Emily Audette, are still in shock."It just doesn't feel real," Audette said. "She was always just someone you could go to about anything, someone you could always talk to. She was just friends with everybody and made everybody laugh.”"She really left a mark on a lot of people, and I hope that inspires people moving forward to be more like she was," Audette said.'She just uplifted people all the time'Audette said she and Bartell lo...

'Truck of interest' not involved in rock attack that killed 20-year-old

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:03:07 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Investigators say they are still looking for whomever was involved in a string of crimes Wednesday night that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old after she was struck and killed by a large rock while driving.While the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office originally said they had located a Dodge pickup truck that may have been involved, they said just before 10 p.m. Thursday that they "positively confirmed" that the truck and its owner "are not involved in the crime series related to the death of Alexa Bartell."The crimes occurred on Wednesday night starting at 10 p.m., according to the Sheriff's Office. Bartell, 20, of Arvada, was driving northbound near the 10600 block of Indiana Street. JCSO believes the suspects threw a large rock either from a vehicle or the side of the road at Bartell's car. Warning: Picking up folded money could be dangerous Investigators say the rock hit Bartell, and she was killed. Moments before she was killed, Bartell wa...