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Russia sentences jailed Putin foe Navalny to 19 more years

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

Associated PressMELEKHOVO, Russia — A Russian court convicted imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny on charges of extremism and sentenced him to 19 years in prison on Friday. Navalny is already serving a nine-year term on a variety of charges that he says were politically motivated.The new charges are related to the activities of Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates. It was his fifth criminal conviction and the third and longest prison term handed to him, all of which his supporters see as a deliberate Kremlin strategy to silence its most ardent opponent. Russian state news agencies reported that he would serve this new term concurrently with his current sentence on charges of fraud and contempt of court.The prosecution had demanded a 20-year prison sentence, and Navalny said beforehand that he expected to receive a lengthy term.He was also sentenced in 2021 to two and a half years in prison for a parole violation. The extremism trial...

Actor Mark Margolis dies at 83; played fan favorite Hector Salamanca on ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

By Marianne Garvey CNNMark Margolis, a veteran actor known for his performances on “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” has died, his son, actor and Knitting Factory Entertainment CEO Morgan Margolis, told The Hollywood Reporter.He was 83.CNN has reached out to representatives for Margolis for comment.Margolis had received an Emmy nomination for portraying Hector “Tio” Salamanca. Tio, a fan-favorite character, was a former cartel enforcer who communicated using a brass bell attached to his wheelchair. He later played Tio as a younger man before he was in a wheelchair.“It was a marvelous creature! The fact that he didn’t have any words was not an issue for me,” Margolis told Time in 2013 of the role. “I was delighted not to have to learn any lines. I mean, I had to know what was going on, I had to my cues, but the fact that I didn’t have to master lines was great. I got to fly out to New Mexico and not worry about memorizing anything.”Margolis also appeared in “Scarface,” “Ace Vent...

San Pablo: Most residents allowed back home after discovery of dangerous chemical stockpile

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

SAN PABLO — The vast majority of residents evacuated from their homes were allowed to return late Thursday night after bomb squad technicians made significant progress removing a massive — and volatile — stockpile of homemade chemicals that was discovered earlier this week.The residents of all but five houses along Stanton and John avenues were given the green light to return home at about 9 a.m. Friday, said Capt. Chris Toler, a spokesman for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.The move came nearly 30 hours after hundreds of residents were ordered to evacuate when authorities discovered a stockpile of more than 1,000 chemical containers at a house along the 900 block of Stanton Avenue, on the city’s north side. The discovery was made by the brother of a self-proclaimed chemist, one who died earlier this year after having spent decades living at the property.It prompted a massive cleanup and removal effort, complicated by the volatility of the chemicals invo...

Oregon to allow self-serve gas pumping starting on Friday

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

Oregon’s decades-long ban on self-service gasoline pumping is set to end Friday, Aug. 4.House Bill 2426, passed by the Legislature in June, had as of Friday morning been neither signed nor vetoed by Gov. Tina Kotek.  Because Aug. 4 is her deadline to act, the legislation is expected to automatically take effect. She had not given any indication of opposing the bill.The legislation allows Oregon gas stations to open up half of their pumps for self-serve gas. Stations will not be allowed to charge different prices for self-pumped and employee-pumped gasoline.New Jersey is now the only state banning self-service gasoline.In recent years, Oregon has been whittling away at its ban, which was enacted in 1951.In 2015, the law was amended to allow stations in rural areas — the 17 counties that have fewer than 40,000 residents — to offer self-service gas between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. In 2018, those rural counties were allowed to offer self-service gas at any time.Statewide tem...

Accused San Francisco nightclub gunman pleads not guilty

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A man is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly opened fire at a San Francisco nightclub and shot three people this summer, prosecutors said Friday.Salvador Rodriguez, 42, of San Francisco, was arraigned in court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to all charges.Two men and one woman were shot at Stratos Night Club in the Ingleside neighborhood on June 10 just before midnight, investigators and city leaders said."The Ocean Avenue night club shooting was horrifying," said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.  "These types of violent acts are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Brazen shootings like the one that Mr. Rodriguez is accused of will be prosecuted vigorously by my office on behalf of the victims and city residents who just want to feel safe in their own neighborhoods."At the time of the shooting, Rodriguez was on felony probation for a previous assault with a deadly weapon conviction. San Francisco police officers arrested ...

Z-Burger owner warns other businesses after he says scammer posed as DoorDash worker

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

The Z-Burger location in McLean, Virginia. (Courtesy Z-Burger) The Z-Burger location in McLean, Virginia. (Courtesy Z-Burger) The owner of popular fast-food chain Z-Burger says his company is out hundreds of dollars after falling prey to a scammer claiming to work for DoorDash.Z-Burger founder Peter Tabibian, whose chain includes 12 locations in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia area, says the McLean, Virginia, restaurant was bilked Wednesday evening.“They said they’re from DoorDash, and said your tablet is broken, and you’re missing a lot of orders,” Tabibian told WTOP. The scammer said they wanted to provide a new tablet, which would connect with the DoorDash delivery service.Tabibian ...

Movie weapons supervisor waives right to preliminary hearing in fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The woman who was overseeing the use of weapons on the movie set where Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer agreed Friday to forgo a preliminary hearing that would have provided court testimony from dozens of people, including eyewitnesses to the shooting.Arizona-based armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, in a court filing, waived her right to a courtroom review of evidence on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie “Rust.” Gutierrez-Reed also waived her right to a review of charges by a grand jury.Defense attorney Jason Bowles has described Hutchins’ death on Oct. 21, 2021, as a tragic accident and says that Gutierrez-Reed committed no crime. Gutierrez-Reed has not entered a plea to charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence-tempering. If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison. “Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls has pleaded no contest to a charg...

Connecticut visits Indiana, aims for 20th victory this season

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

Connecticut Sun (19-7, 10-3 Eastern Conference) at Indiana Fever (7-19, 4-9 Eastern Conference)Indianapolis; Friday, 7 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Sun -7.5; over/under is 160.5BOTTOM LINE: Connecticut will aim for its 20th victory of the season when the Sun face the Indiana Fever.The Fever are 4-9 in Eastern Conference games. Indiana allows 85.1 points to opponents and has been outscored by 4.8 points per game.The Sun are 10-3 in conference matchups. Connecticut is third in the Eastern Conference with 25.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Alyssa Thomas averaging 8.1.The teams square off for the third time this season. The Sun won 81-78 in the last meeting on May 30. Tiffany Hayes led the Sun with 22 points, and Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 20 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Boston is scoring 14.1 points per game with 7.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Fever. Kelsey Mitchell is averaging 15 points and 3.6 assists over the last 10 games for Indiana.Thomas is averaging 14.8 po...

New York takes road win streak into matchup with Minnesota

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

New York Liberty (20-6, 11-3 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (13-14, 8-7 Western Conference)Minneapolis; Friday, 8 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -10.5; over/under is 168.5BOTTOM LINE: New York visits Minnesota trying to continue its five-game road winning streak.The Lynx have gone 6-8 in home games. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 85.1 points while holding opponents to 45.1% shooting.The Liberty have gone 10-2 away from home. New York leads the WNBA with 24.1 assists per game led by Courtney Vandersloot averaging 8.0.The teams meet for the second time this season. The Lynx won 88-83 in the last matchup on July 29.TOP PERFORMERS: Kayla McBride is averaging 13 points for the Lynx. Napheesa Collier is averaging 13.8 points over the last 10 games for Minnesota.Breanna Stewart is averaging 22.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Liberty. Sabrina Ionescu is averaging 4.1 made 3-pointers over th...

Phoenix hosts Seattle following Loyd’s 31-point outing

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:32:12 GMT

Seattle Storm (6-20, 4-8 Western Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (7-19, 2-11 Western Conference)Phoenix; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Seattle takes on the Phoenix Mercury after Jewell Loyd scored 31 points in the Storm’s 76-65 loss to the Dallas Wings.The Mercury are 2-11 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix has a 3-14 record in games decided by at least 10 points.The Storm are 4-8 in Western Conference play. Seattle gives up 84.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 6.2 points per game.The teams meet for the third time this season. The Storm won 97-74 in the last matchup on June 25. Loyd led the Storm with 24 points, and Moriah Jefferson led the Mercury with 18 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Diana Taurasi is averaging 17.4 points and 4.9 assists for the Mercury. Brittney Griner is averaging 10.6 points over the last 10 games for Phoenix.Ezi Magbegor is averaging 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the Storm. Loyd is averaging 20.3 points and 3.9 rebound...