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Judge in Trump’s hush-money case won’t step aside

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

By Michael R. Sisak | Associated PressNEW YORK — The judge in Donald Trump’s Manhattan hush-money criminal case has rejected the former president’s demand to step aside, denying defense claims that he’s biased against the Republican front-runner because he’s given cash to Democrats and his daughter is a party consultant.New York Judge Juan Manuel Merchan acknowledged in a ruling late Friday that he made several small donations to Democratic causes during the 2020 campaign, including $15 to Trump’s Democratic rival Joe Biden, but said he is certain of his “ability to be fair and impartial.”Removing himself from the case “would not be in the public interest,” Merchan wrote. His six-page ruling echoed a state court ethics panel’s recent opinion that endorsed his continued involvement in the Trump case.The decision on recusal was entirely up to Merchan. He previously rejected a similar request when Trump’s company, the Tr...

San Jose averts largest city workers strike since 1980s; council to vote Tuesday on contract

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

Averting a potential strike that could have brought some services to a standstill, unions representing over half of San Jose’s administrative workforce struck a tentative deal Monday with city officials. The strike would have been the largest such action among the South Bay city’s employees since 1981.Details of the deal between the city and the two unions — which represent around 4,500 workers — were not immediately available but are likely to include a jump in yearly salary raises until 2026, a demand that workers have been pushing for months. The contract still needs approval from the San Jose City Council on Tuesday. Workers will also be voting at a time yet to be determined, according to a union spokesperson.If a deal hadn’t been reached, employees who staff the city’s parks, libraries, airport and other departments were set to walk off the job Tuesday for three days — an action that would have almost certainly had a major impact on San...

Paris Hilton enjoys beach and resort in Maui, as Lahaina residents reel from disaster

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

It doesn’t look like Paris Hilton let the destruction of the historic town of Lahaina and the deaths of upwards of 96 people spoil her vacation in Maui. It also looks like she didn’t heed the request of Hawaiian tourism officials, who asked tourists and other non-essential travelers to leave the island to free up hotel rooms for residents left homeless by the catastrophe.On Saturday, Hilton was pictured smiling on the beach at a resort in Wailea, with her husband and son, reported the Daily Mail, which published photos of the family.Paris Hilton is seen in Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/tqwHLHtngi— @21metgala (@21metgala) August 14, 2023Wailea is only 30 miles southeast of Lahaina, which last week suffered the worst wildfire in the United States in the past 100 years. As Hilton reportedly continued to enjoy her vacation, a smaller wildfire was burning Sunday in south Maui’s Kihei area, just five miles from her resort, the Daily Mail also said.Hilton, her husband Car...

49ers: Shanahan sees bright side of Trey Lance’s performance vs. Raiders

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

Upon further review, the performance of Trey Lance wasn’t all that bad.That was the message Monday from coach Kyle Shanahan in a conference call with local media one day after the 49ers lost 34-7 to the Raiders in Las Vegas in a preseason game where Lance’s performance was mostly panned despite a decent stat line.“I thought he played a lot better as it ended,” Shanahan said. “I wish we could have kept him out there a little bit longer but that’s one of the frustrating things about preseason.”In his first game action since Week 2 of last season, Lance played 27 snaps and was 10-of-15 for 112 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a passer rating of 111.0.Sam Darnold entered in the third quarter and was 5-of-8 for 84 yards including a 37-yard sideline dime to rookie Ronnie Bell in 19 snaps. Brandon Allen finished up with 14 snaps, going 5-of-8 for 36 yards and an interception on a ball that hit Bell in the hands and went straight to a Raiders...

SF Giants coach Nakken is pregnant, husband announces

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

Alyssa Nakken, the Giants’ trailblazing coach, is set to enter a new stage in life.The fourth-year MLB coach is pregnant, according to a tweet Monday from her husband, Robert Abel Nakken. Her due date is Feb. 9, just before the usual start of spring training.The 33-year-old former Sacramento State softball star became the first woman on an MLB coaching staff when the Giants hired her to manager Gabe Kapler’s initial staff in January 2020. She later became the first woman to coach in an on-field role when she filled in for Antoan Richardson at first base in April 2022, a moment that she characterized as “just my job”.Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants call up 2022 draft pick batting nearly .400 in the minor leagues San Francisco Giants | Tampa Bay Rays to play series against SF Giants without Wander Franco as MLB looks into social media posts San Francisco Giants | Kurtenbach: What’d I miss? A summ...

Pinole: Man gets 35 years to life for murdering his uncle before police shot him

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

MARTINEZ — A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 35 years to life for murdering his uncle, a crime followed by a shootout between the suspect and Pinole police, court records show.Jeramy Dorsey was convicted of murder in April and sentenced last months. Jurors acquitted him of attempting to murder a Pinole officer, and couldn’t reach a verdict on an assault with a firearm charge, records show.Dorsey shot and killed his uncle, Surako Follings, on July 8, 2021 in the 1100 block of Encina Avenue. Witnesses testified at Dorsey’s April trial that he used to stay with his aunt and uncle in Pinole, but left and began threatening Follings on social media after they had a falling out.The most compelling witness was Dorsey’s aunt, who testified that her husband was attempting to calm Dorsey down, telling him, “I love you” as Dorsey had him at gunpoint and was cursing at him. After Dorsey shot Follings at close range, Dorsey’s aunt grabbed a firearm ...

SF Giants call up 2022 draft pick batting nearly .400 in the minor leagues

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Wade Meckler, the Giants’ eighth-round pick last year, has done nothing but hit since reaching pro ball. The outfielder hit .439 in A-ball, .456 at High-A, .336 at Double-A and .400 in 10 games since reaching Triple-A Sacramento.The Giants will now see if he can keep it up in the major leagues, just 13 months after being drafted out of Oregon State.Meckler, 23, will be promoted Monday to join the Giants before they opened a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The club confirmed the move Monday after ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the call-up.The 11th rookie to debut for the Giants this season, Meckler will also become the fourth prospect from the 2022 draft to reach the major leagues — the first for any organization besides the Los Angeles Angels.Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants coach Nakken is pregnant, husband announces San Francisco Giants | Tampa Bay Rays to play series against SF Giants without Wander...

Body found at Golden Gate Park identified as San Francisco woman

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The body of a woman was found at Golden Gate Park around 7 p.m. on Sunday, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The woman's body was found inside a duffel bag, the San Francisco Standard reported. The Chief Medical Examiner's Office told KRON4 that the woman was identified as Kelly Koike, 37, of San Francisco.A dog walker found the body next to Stow Lake near where the Outside Lands music festival was underway. A perimeter was set up by SFPD to prevent Outside Lands festival-goers from interfering with the investigation. A coroner's van arrived at the park just after 10 p.m. as more crowds were seen leaving the festival. The cause of the woman's death is currently under investigation. The map below shows where the woman's body was located, at 22nd Avenue and Fulton Street. It is unclear whether the woman found was attending Outside Lands which drew an estimated 225,000 people. Investigators spent hours at the scene looking for evidence.

Privately held Esmark makes offer for US Steel, sets up bidding contest for iconic steelmaker

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Industrial conglomerate Esmark said Monday it has made an all-cash offer to buy U.S. Steel that values the iconic steelmaker at $7.8 billion, topping an earlier offer from rival Cleveland-Cliffs. On Sunday, U.S. Steel said it had rejected a cash and stock offer from Cleveland-Cliffs that was valued at $7.3 billion as of the close of trading Friday. U.S. Steel also said it had received offers for all or parts of the company from several parties and was evaluating its options. Pittsburgh-based Esmark is run by James Bouchard, a former vice president in U.S. Steel’s European operations. In an interview, Bouchard said he is interested in modernizing U.S. Steel and keeping the company under American ownership. Besides its steel-producing and distribution business, privately held Esmark has operations in aviation, oil and gas exploration, real estate and other industries. Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest producer of flat-rolled steel and iron in North America. Pittsbu...

Braves’ Ozzie Albies has hamstring injury, misses start for first time in 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:30 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was held out of the lineup for Monday night’s game against the New York Yankees, his first missed start of the season.Albies was pulled from the Braves’ 7-6 loss at the New York Mets on Sunday with cramping in his left hamstring. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Albies was “still feeling it a little bit” on Monday. Nicky Lopez is the fill-in starter at second base.Albies has been one of Atlanta’s most productive players, hitting .267 with 28 homers and 90 RBIs, second in the majors behind teammate Matt Olson. Albies ranks eighth in the majors with 235 total bases.“I had to get a new stamp out,” Snitker said of his first lineup without Albies at second base.Albies is not the Braves’ only iron man of 2023. Olson at first base, third baseman Austin Riley and right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. also have started each of Atlanta’s first 117 games as the Braves have compiled the majors’ best record.“...