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Attorney general appoints Hunter Biden special counsel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday appointed David Weiss, the Delaware federal prosecutor who has led the investigation into Hunter Biden, as a special counsel overseeing the investigation.Garland said he made the decision in the politically explosive case after Weiss asked for the appointment. “On Tuesday of this week, Mr. Weiss advised me that in his judgment, his investigation had reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel, and he asked to be so appointed,” Garland said in a statement to the press Friday. “Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel.”Republicans have sharply criticized how the tax probe into Biden was handled, citing claims from two IRS whistleblowers that Weiss was blocked from seeking special counsel status — a claim Weiss and DOJ have consistently denied.Meanwhile, the pending plea dea...

Oxnard man admits to providing gun used in fatal 2017 shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

An Oxnard man pleaded guilty on Thursday to several charges connected to a 2017 shooting that killed a woman and wounded another person.Jacob Jamal Steir, 26, admitted to voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder and three special allegations, including his second felony strike, according to a press release from Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.On Oct. 8, 2017, Alexis Jean Lopez was killed and her passenger wounded when an "associate" of Steir opened fire on their vehicle in the Neyland Acres of unincorporated Oxnard, apparently under the mistaken belief that the passenger was involved in an unrelated shooting earlier that day, the DA's office said.Steir provided his illegally owned gun to his associate for the shooting, as proven by forensic tests on the weapon, prosecutors said.The shooter has not yet been arrested, but the prosecutor of Steir's case, Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick, said officials hope to rectify that in the near future."I am very appre...

Edwin Vincent Hoffman Arrested after Fatal Multi-Car Crash on Interstate 5 [Oceanside, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

Woman Killed, 4 Injured in Multi-Vehicle Collision near State Route 78OCEANSIDE, CA (August 11, 2023) – Edwin Vincent Hoffman was arrested Wednesday evening, after a deadly multi-car crash on Interstate 5.Authorities responded to the scene around 8:58 p.m., on the northbound lanes of the freeway just north of SR 78.Per reports, the driver of a black Chevrolet Corvette was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck a parked red Dodge Caliber that was on the side of the road. Upon impact, the Dodge was pushed into the No. 4 lane and struck an 18-wheeler big-rig.Upon impact, the driver of the Chevrolet exited his vehicle and fled the scene on foot through a hill. Crews were eventually able to locate and arrest 39-year-old Edwin Vincent Hoffman of Oceanside, for felony DUI and other related charges.Medics arrived and pronounced one female passenger inside the Dodge dead at the scene. Although, police have not yet released her identity.Meanwhile, paramedics transported four other...

Douglas Green Arrested after DUI Crash on Stony Point Road [Petaluma, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

Douglas Green Detained after Suspected DUI Collision on Petaluma Boulevard NorthPETALUMA, CA (August 11, 2023) – Monday evening, Douglas Green was arrested following a DUI crash on Stony Point Road.According to the police, the incident happened around 8:30 p.m. near Stony Point Road and Petaluma Boulevard North.Officers arrived to find the suspect, Douglas Green, traveling on the westbound lane of Petaluma Boulevard North before turning right to continue northbound on Stony Point Road.Green, on the other hand, reportedly made an open turn and went into the southbound sections of Stony Point Road, resulting in a head-on crash with another vehicle.Meanwhile, the other motorist was hurt and was taken to a nearby hospital.According to the police, Green displayed indicators of intoxication.Officers also determined that his driver’s license had been suspended due to a prior DUI, according to the agency. Moreover, both directions of the roadway were temporarily shut down to allow for...

From BT to Haim — the New LA Weekly Playlist is Live

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

From BT to Haim: The 169th LA Weekly playlist, reviewing the musicians that we’ve been writing about all week, is live now. There’s electronic music from BT, pop from Taylor Swift, Anna Aya and Carly Rae Jepsen, punk from the Oxys and Green Day, new wave from Josie Cotton, and so much more.Find us on Spotify here,or on Soundcloud here.Don’t forget to “Like” the playlists and “Follow” the profiles.BT (Lacy Transeau)From BT to HaimAlso this week:Print star Anna Aya told us that, It’s not the basic J-pop, which is only in Japanese. My song is mixed with English and Japanese, so not only is it a fusion of the languages, it’s a fusion of the sound as well because it’s more of a western beat that you would technically hear in America more maybe. But the lyrics and the melody are more Japanese-inspired in that it’s soft and more emotional. So yeah, I think it’s not the most generic way of describing J-pop, but it’s something I define as my kind of J-pop.”In “Not Another DJ,” BT...

How the soft-top surfboard went from ‘kook’ to cool

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

It wasn’t long ago that the soft-top surfboard was scoffed at, used only by novices. A surfer on a soft top was either a beginner just learning to navigate the whitewash or they were a “kook,” a clueless surfer not yet skilled enough for a real board.Despite the soft top being created in the 1970s, it took decades for the foam-filled board to be accepted into surfing culture. But much has changed in the past 15 years or so, and while there are still plenty of naysayers, it seems the soft top has found its place in the crowded lineup.At T-Street Beach in San Clemente, an event on Saturday, Aug. 12 hosted by Red Bull and Catch Surf, a local brand that has helped wipe out the soft top stigma in recent years, will showcase a less-serious side of surfing with a fun competition called Red Bull Foam Wreckers, a wacky, light-hearted event where the silliest ride on a soft top is celebrated.And with the backing of pro surfing icons and Catch Surf team riders Jaime O’Brien, who will be in fro...

Pac-12 rebuild: Estimating the media valuation of a reconstructed conference

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

The market rendered its verdict last week as Apple offered $25 million per school annually for the Pac-12’s media rights, with the potential for more if the conference met certain subscription goals.But how much would a rebuilt conference be worth?The mass exodus on Pitch-Black Friday left a quartet of schools and one gigantic question behind: Will Stanford and Cal link arms with Washington State and Oregon State to reform the Pac-12 through possible raids of the Mountain West and American conferences?What revenue levels could a Pac-8 or Pac-10 command? That market doesn’t exist yet, so we created one.The Hotline teamed with an expert in sports media valuation to estimate the market value of a rebuilt conference.Because of the unusual nature of the project, which leaned into established audience data and media contracts but combined teams from three leagues, we made a slew of assumptions:— The contract cycle was pegged to begin next fall, when the rebuilt Pac-12 would begin its next...

Opinion: I got an up-close view of how one city struggled to address homelessness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic Vision, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.When the city of Santa Clara proposed its plan to build interim housing for unhoused people at Benton Street and Lawrence Expressway, I saw it as a major step toward combating homelessness in our county.But while the city and its partner, Santa Clara County, touted the move as a possible solution, many neighbors had significant objections to the plan.Throughout five months of community review, opponents assailed what they saw as poor planning and later expressed concerns over costs. Neighbors seized on those arguments and their objections prolonged the process —leaving people unsheltered.As an average student rarely involved in local politics, I was first intrigued by the shelter’s proposal but was caught off guard by the growing anger expressed at each meeting. At one point, I ...

Cinequest 2023: Here are 12 films to see at San Jose festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

Get ready for your closeup once again, Cinequest.In-person screenings of what’s been hailed as one of the best film festivals in the nation resume this month, a first since 2020 when the fest had to shut down midway through due to COVID-19 restrictions. And although the SAG-AFTRA strike is still going on, organizers say it is not affecting the Cinequest schedule,This year’s lineup features numerous world premieres, guest appearances, meet-ups and more And from what we’ve seen, it promises to be one of the best programs yet.The festival kicks off with a killer opening night feature on Aug. 15 in San Jose and closes — also on a high note — on Aug. 30.There are 253 films to pick from, 82 of which are world or U.S. premieres. While most are in San Jose, some screenings will also be held at the swanky Mountain View Showplace ICON Theatre.To get you started, we’ve come up with a dozen films you should mark on your calendars.For tickets, passes and more in the lineup, visit cin...

Alleged Los Angeles street racers charged with murder in young musician’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:54 GMT

Two men thought to have been street racing were charged with murder in the hit-and-run death of a 20-year-old pedestrian in Los Angeles, police said Thursday.A car fatally struck Anna Michelle Solis around 10:20 p.m. on July 21 as she was crossing Hill Street near 33rd Street, about four blocks from the University of Southern California campusWitnesses said the car that struck her, a Jaguar, was apparently racing a Dodge Challenger on Hill Street. One car reportedly stopped briefly after the crash, then both fled.Solis was pronounced dead at the scene. A police detective said at a news conference Thursday that she had just performed at a nearby music venue and was carrying her guitar and amplifier.Two men were arrested last week: the Jaguar’s alleged driver, a Palmdale man, on Aug. 3, and the Dodge’s alleged driver, a Los Angeles man, on Aug. 4. The cars were impounded as evidence.Both men face murder charges, and the Palmdale man faces an additional felony hit-and-run c...