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‘I can’t deal with this’: BART’s inspector general resigns slamming agency on way out

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

The inspector general tasked with investigating fraud and waste at BART will resign next week, leaving behind a bitter relationship with the transit agency’s leaders and a bevy of audits spanning allegations of wage theft, conflicts of interest, and opaque spending.“There comes the point where you just say, ‘I can’t deal with this anymore,'” Harriet Richardson told the Bay Area News Group in an interview on Thursday, saying the agency, backed by BART’s staff, board, and unions, undermined her oversight by restricting access to documents and employees.She is leaving the BART’s Office of the Inspector General with four and half months left on a four-year term.Richardson’s departure comes as BART faces a dire financial shortfall. The agency needs to rally the Legislature behind a difficult push for a new taxpayer subsidy, even as the state faces its own looming budget deficit.But as BART pushes for money it says will stave off drastic ser...

Israeli actor Chaim Topol dies; was famed for playing Tevye in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

Associated PressJERUSALEM — Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof,” has died in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said Thursday. He was 87.The cause was not immediately released.Israeli leaders on Thursday tweeted their memories and condolences to Topol’s family.Israel’s ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog hailed Topol as “one of the most outstanding Israeli actors,” who “filled the movie screens with his presence and above all entered deep into our hearts.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Topol’s “contribution to Israeli culture will continue to exist for generations.”Benny Gantz, Israel’s former minister of defense, praised Topol for helping Israelis connect to their roots.“We laughed and cried at the same time over the deepest wounds of Israeli so...

Guitars Not Guns volunteers turning kids into musicians

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

The sound of silence is no more. Youths are learning to finger chords and pluck out simple tunes once again through the Guitars Not Guns free music program in Contra Costa County.The nonprofit’s guitar classes for youths went silent early on during the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago, but this winter the Contra Costa chapter resurrected lessons with students learning the basics of playing music from a small group of volunteers. New classes will begin in Concord next week as the revived program rotates around the county, depending on available volunteers.“We need this, especially after COVID,” Barbara Gorin, president of the nonprofit’s Contra Costa County chapter, said in an interview. “Everybody needs a little music in their lives.”On Wednesday night, the first batch of graduating music students got a chance to strut their stuff during a short performance for family and friends at the Family Justice Center in Antioch where the weekly classes had been held.“COVID impacted us...

Mexican president denies any fentanyl production in country

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

By Mark Stevenson | Associated PressMEXICO CITY — Mexico’s president said Thursday that his country does not produce or consume fentanyl, despite enormous evidence to the contrary.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador appeared to depict the synthetic opioid epidemic largely as a U.S. problem, and said the United States should use family values to fight drug addiction.His statement came during a visit to Mexico by Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White House Homeland Security Advisor, to discuss the fentanyl crisis. It also comes amid calls by U.S. Republicans to use the U.S. military to attack drug labs in Mexico.The Mexican government has acknowledged in the past that fentanyl is produced at labs in Mexico using precursor chemicals imported from China. Fentanyl has been blamed for about 70,000 opioid deaths per year in the United States.“Here, we do not produce fentanyl, and we do not have consumption of fentanyl,” López Obrador said. “Why don’t they (the Uni...

Bay Area storm updates: Several ski resorts to close Friday as storm hits

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

(KRON) -- Several Tahoe area ski resorts will close Friday as the first in a series of atmospheric rivers is set to roll into the Bay Area Thursday. The storm is expected to bring widespread rain, wind and wet weather conditions with a flood watch set to go into effect for the entire Bay Area. Rainfall is expected to arrive by Thursday afternoon and intensify throughout the weekend.Officials advise residents to prepare for the next storm by securing any property and stocking up on sandbags to prevent flooding. Bay Area storm: Here’s what to do if your house floods Stick with KRON4 for the latest updates on the storm.Bay Area storm updates:1:40 p.m. -- Kirkwood Mountain Resort to close FridayKirkwood Mountain Resort will be closed on Friday, March 10 due to severe weather, the resort announced in a tweet Thursday. "Kirkwood will not be open tomorrow, Friday March 10," a message attached to the tweet read. "Our team will be working everywhere we safely can just to maintain the mount...

No verdict yet in trial of XXXTentacion’s accused killers

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in the trial of three men accused of murdering rising rap star XXXTentacion outside a motorcycle dealership nearly five years ago failed to reach a verdict Thursday, meaning deliberations will enter a third day.The jury deliberated for about five hours Thursday after deliberating for about an hour late Wednesday. The panel of 12 will return to court Friday. They have asked no questions of Circuit Judge Michael Usan about the case.Accused shooter Michael Boatwright, 28, alleged ringleader and getaway driver Dedrick Williams, 26, and accused second gunman Trayvon Newsome, 24, are all charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery. They all face mandatory life sentences if convicted. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.A fourth man, 26-year-old Robert Allen, pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder and testified against his former friends.XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, had just left Riva Motorsports in suburban Fo...

AudioEye: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE) on Thursday reported a loss of $1.9 million in its fourth quarter.The Tucson, Arizona-based company said it had a loss of 17 cents per share.The company posted revenue of $7.7 million in the period.For the year, the company reported that its loss narrowed to $10.4 million, or 91 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $29.9 million.For the current quarter ending in March, AudioEye said it expects revenue in the range of $7.7 million to $7.9 million.AudioEye shares have risen 38% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $5.29, a decrease of slightly more than 9% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AEYE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AEYESource

PlayAGS: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — LAS VEGAS (AP) — PlayAGS Inc. (AGS) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net income of $2.5 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.The Las Vegas-based company said it had net income of 6 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 9 cents per share.The gaming industry supplier posted revenue of $81.7 million in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $78.2 million.PlayAGS shares have climbed 25% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $6.35, a decline of 18% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AGS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AGSSource

Una nueva tormenta amenaza California con más inundaciones, pues las fuertes lluvias caerán sobre zonas que aún tienen nieve

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

(CNN) — Millones de residentes en California, ya golpeados por nevadas feroces, están a punto de enfrentar una nueva tormenta desde este jueves con lluvias torrenciales que amenazan con causar inundaciones peligrosas.“Si tienes 30 cm de nieve en el tejado, de repente se va a poner muy, muy pesada. Esa nieve va a absorber la lluvia”, advirtió este jueves el meteorólogo de CNN Chad Myers.“Y luego, en las elevaciones más altas, se lavará parte de esa nevada. Así que la lluvia con nieve comenzará a llenar partes del Valle de San Joaquín”.Más de 17 millones de personas están bajo alerta de inundaciones en California y partes de Nevada. Gran parte de California está bajo un riesgo significativo de lluvias excesivas que podrían afectar lugares ya devastados por graves inundaciones a principios de este año.“Un río atmosférico traerá una humedad anómala a California este jueves y viernes. La combinación de fuertes precipitaciones y el rápido deshielo por d...

Wawrinka wins in return to Indian Wells after 4 years away

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:45:14 GMT

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka made a successful return to the BNP Paribas Open after four years away, beating qualifier Aleksander Vukic 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 on Thursday.Wawrinka, a 37-year-old who has been ranked as high as No. 3 and is now No. 100 after a series of operations to his left foot and left knee, hit 10 aces and won 28 of 33 first-serve points. His previous match at the hard-court tournament in the California desert was a loss to Swiss Davis Cup teammate Roger Federer in the third round in 2019. Wawrinka, the runner-up to Federer at Indian Wells in 2017, will face No. 26 seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round at the first Masters 1000 tournament of the season.Two other owners of major titles who have dealt with injury issues in recent years, Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem, were scheduled for first-round action later on Day 2.Danielle Collins, the 2022 Australian Open runner-up, lost a second consecutive match against an opponent ra...