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House Ethics Committee revives Rep. Gaetz investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

By Paula Reid, Alayna Treene and Annie Grayer | CNNInvestigators from the House Ethics Committee have begun reaching out to witnesses as part of a recently revived investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, focused on allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, illicit drug use or other misconduct.At least one witness in Florida told CNN they have spoken to investigators about the Republican congressman in recent weeks about alleged lobbying violations, and sources familiar with the Ethics Committee probe say other witnesses also have been contacted.A source familiar with the House panel’s work told CNN that the Justice Department’s decision not to bring charges against Gaetz does not impact what the committee will and won’t investigate. The committee plans to examine the same allegations they were looking into when they opened the investigation in 2021, the source told CNN.The Ethics Committee, which at the time was controlled by Democrats, originally opened an i...

Single-family house sells for $5.3 million in Saratoga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

13831 Via Alto Court – Google Street ViewThe spacious, recently built property located in the 13800 block of Via Alto Court in Saratoga was sold on June 28, 2023. The $5,250,000 purchase price works out to $1,772 per square foot. The house, built in 2018, has an interior space of 2,962 square feet. This single-story home presents a roomy floor plan, featuring four bedrooms and four baths. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. Additionally, the house includes a two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The lot of the property covers a substancial area of 0.4-acre, complete with a pool for outdoor enjoyment.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:In January 2023, a 1,887-square-foot home on Ravenwood Drive in Saratoga sold for $3,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,855. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,213-square-foot home on the 18500 block of Allendale Avenue in Saratoga sold in February 2023, ...

Arson spree: Man charged with setting 10 fires in Morgan Hill and Gilroy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

SANTA CLARA COUNTY — A San Jose man has been charged with deliberately setting 10 fires over the past month in what authorities are calling an arson spree inflicting destruction that spanned Gilroy and Morgan Hill.According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and court records, 32-year-old Daniel Hilario Catano was charged with 10 counts of arson and five other criminal counts of prowling, burglary, possessing stolen property, having an illegal weapon, and resisting arrest.The resisting charge is likely connected to his reported evasion of police officers chasing him before he was eventually taken into custody Tuesday.Catano was booked into the Elmwood men’s jail in Milpitas and was being held in lieu of $1.025 million bail, according to jail records. He was scheduled for arraignment Thursday afternoon at the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill.“I am deeply thankful that no one was hurt or killed,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said i...

Biden slams Tuberville for ‘jeopardizing US security’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

By Arlette Saenz and Kaitlan Collins | CNNPresident Joe Biden said Thursday that Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is being “irresponsible” and jeopardizing national security by blocking military promotions over his objections to the Defense Department’s reproductive health policies.“I’d be willing to talk to him if I thought there was any possibility he would change his ridiculous position on this. He’s jeopardizing US security with what he’s doing,” Biden said during a news conference in Helsinki, Finland, when asked by CNN about Tuberville’s position.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s office attempted to set up a call between the secretary and Tuberville on Thursday, but the Alabama senator’s office declined the opportunity, saying he did not have time for a call on Thursday or this weekend, a senior defense official told CNN. Tuberville had complained that Austin has not tried to reach him about his hold on military nominations in protest of the Pentagon’s reproductive health polic...

Oakland man jailed for seven months released after DA’s office concedes it can’t prove woman was killed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

OAKLAND — An Oakland man spent seven months behind bars facing murder charges, despite an autopsy being unable to determine the alleged victim’s cause of death, court records show.Baraka Robertson, 42, was charged Oct. 18 with killing 53-year-old Belinda Washington in a beating at an Oakland home. Washington was found, dead, in a residence on the 2500 block of 82nd Avenue, six days before Robertson was arrested.Washington suffered from bruises and small cuts to her head, which authorities initially believed had killed her. But a subsequent autopsy not only failed to find an official manner of death, but found the injuries were “superficial” and didn’t kill her, according to court records.On May 17, weeks after turning the autopsy findings over to Robertson’s attorney, an Alameda County prosecutor dismissed the case, freeing Robertson from seven months inside Santa Rita Jail. In a statement to this newspaper, Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods sai...

Steph Curry, other Bay Area stars prepare to tee off at annual Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

Led by the Curry contingent, the Bay Area is set to be well-represented at the annual celebrity golf tournament on the shores of Lake Tahoe.But Steph Curry isn’t just in the three-day American Century Championship for show. He’s in it to win, and he’s considered a contender.Caesars Sportsbook gives Curry 12-to-1 odds to win the tournament, tied with former NBA player and coach Vinny Del Negro for the seventh-best odds. His dad Dell isn’t too far behind, with 85-to-1 odds ranking 17th out of 89 golfers in the field. (Brother Seth is way back at 350-to-1.)Steph has played in the celebrity event at Edgewood Golf Course for several years now and finished 16th in last season’s event.Curry’s top competition has a Bay Area flavor to it. Former Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is one of three at 8-to-1 odds (alongside former Braves pitcher John Smoltz and former LPGA star Annika Sorenstam). And former A’s pitcher Mark Mulder has 5-to-1 odds ahead of his attempt to win the celebrity tournament fo...

Shelter in place ordered due to hazardous spill on eastbound 92 in San Mateo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

(KRON) -- The eastbound lanes of Highway 92 are shut down just before the 101 interchange in San Mateo due to a potential hazardous liquid spill. The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department is advising drivers to avoid the area if possible. Public safety officials are on the scene and people in surrounding locations are being asked to shelter in place. Majority of people arrested for drugs in SF not from the city, according to mayor The source of the spill was a large flatbed truck that dumped unknown liquid on the roadway. The liquid has spread across all lanes. San Mateo County Fire units are on the scene.All eastbound 92 lanes are closed, and traffic is being diverted. The truck that dumped the liquid reportedly had 330 gallons of sodium bisulfite in a tank.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Spare the Air alert issued for Friday due to excessive smog

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

(BCN) -- The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the year's second Spare the Air alert for smog on Friday. Hot inland temperatures and vehicle exhaust are expected to combine to create unhealthy air conditions, especially for older people, children and people with respiratory conditions. "We can help keep our air healthier by finding alternatives to driving alone, such as taking transit, biking or walking," said air district executive officer Philip Fine. More Bay Area tech layoffs on the way People are being advised to limit outdoor exercise to the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower. Spare the Air alerts are issued when ozone levels are forecast to reach levels that can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain, and often coincide with high temperatures. The National Weather Service forecast calls for rising temperatures Friday morning through Sunday evening and the agency has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the region's ...

Big 12 brings Malzahn and Holgorsen back into Power Five as part of league’s four new teams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Gus Malzahn is back in a Power Five conference with UCF prepping for its first season in the Big 12, where Houston coach Dana Holgorsen is again overseeing a team’s transition into the league like he did just more than a decade ago at West Virginia. While BYU is giving up its football independence, coach Kalani Sitake has past experience with a program moving up to the highest level. And Scott Satterfield’s first season with Cincinnati — and the Bearcats’ debut in the Big 12 — comes after four seasons in the ACC as Louisville’s coach. They are the four new coaches, for the four new teams, in the expanded Big 12. “It’s just the excitement of playing some of the best teams in college football week in and week out and that grind that goes with it,” former Auburn coach Malzahn said Thursday as the Big 12 wrapped up its football media days. “That’s what excites me. Just the profile of our program taking that next step.”Malzahn is going into...

Israel’s defense chief travels to Azerbaijan, reaffirming shared opposition to Iran

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:18 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s defense minister visited Azerbaijan on Thursday, seeking to strengthen ties between countries with shared opposition to Iran.Defense Minster Yoav Gallant and Azerbaijani officials agreed to work together to deter threats from Iran, the Israeli Defense Ministry said. Israel views Iran as its archenemy, while Azerbaijan, which borders Iran to the north, also has a rocky relationship with Iran. “We have many shared challenges – in particular the fight against terrorism – which not only threatens national security, but also aims to destabilize the region,” Gallant said in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. “Together, we may further deepen the ties between our countries and strengthen the cooperation between our defense establishments and our forces.”Israel considers Iran to be its greatest threat, citing Iran’s calls for Israel’s destruction and its support of hostile militant groups. It also accuses Iran of trying to develop a nuclear bom...