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LAPD promises it's not using video from food delivery bots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

The Los Angeles Police Department says it is not using video from food delivery bots as part of regular crime investigations, despite media reports that may imply otherwise.A brief press release issued by the LAPD on Wednesday said media reports about the practice necessitated clarification from police officials.The release was issued following the publication of a story by 404 Media, an independent news organization that covers, among other topics, technology and digital privacy.Citing public records requests, the website alleged that food delivery bots seen on streets can and have been used as a crime-solving tool by law enforcement investigators.The focus of the piece centers around a grand larceny investigation by the LAPD, in which two men allegedly tried to steal a food delivery robot owned by Serve Robotics.Emails obtained by the publication appear to confirm that the robotics company uploaded video to the Police Department to assist in its investigation. A Serve Robotics foo...

Summer heat returns to Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

Yet again, Southern Californians are feeling the heat as offshore flow combines with a high-pressure system to bring warm and dry weather through Thursday, and a moderate Santa Ana wind event through Friday that will keep temperatures well above normal, the National Weather Service reported.  Inland temperatures, according to KTLA Weatherman Kaj Goldberg, are forecast to be in the uppers 90s to low triple digits.  As the weak Santa Ana winds move into SoCal, keeping up the heat all the way through the weekend, air quality is also expected to diminish with the hot, dry winds. The winds are forecast to peak today, with gusts of 25-40 miles per hour.  The skies are expected to remain mostly clear through Saturday. The hottest weather will come Thursday-Friday, and while weekend temps will be warmer than normal, the region is unlikely to see any of those low triple digits.  "Late Sunday into Monday, we’ll see the offshore flow start to weaken and the onshore flow gains mo...

These are the federal income tax brackets for 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

Editor's Note: This story was updated to accurately reflect the time federal income tax brackets were announced. Tax brackets for the upcoming tax season are expected to remain the same as 2022 after the Internal Revenue Service announced higher federal tax brackets and standard deductions amid soaring inflation last year. The income thresholds have increased for each bracket, which is expected to be in place until 2025, according to Nerd Wallet. The brackets show how much a taxpayer will owe on “taxable income" from their return, which is calculated by adding up all income sources and then subtracting any standard deductions, according to H&R Block.These are the federal tax brackets Married$22,000 or less10% of the taxable income$22,001 to $89,450$2,200 plus 12% of the amount over $22,000$89,451 to $190,750$10,294 plus 22% of the amount over $89,450$190,751 to $364,200$32,580 plus 24% of the amount over $190,750$364,201 to $462,500$74,208 plus 32% of the amount over $364,200$4...

San Bernardino County couple charged in death of 1-year-old boy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

A San Bernardino County couple face child abuse and murder charges in connection with the death of her 1-year-old son, officials announced Wednesday.Sergio Mena, 32, and Samantha Garver, of Sugarloaf, both pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office. Sugarloaf is east of Big Bear Lake.They are scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 12.Mena was charged with murder, assault on a child causing death and child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death. Prosecutors also filed special allegations against Mena for great bodily injury to a child under 5.Garver was charged with murder and child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.The victim, identified as Henry Wheatley Brown according to the San Bernardino Sun, died at a hospital Sunday after suffering severe burns to his body.Garver had a warrant out for her arrest more than nin...

Officials announce $298 million to rehabilitate 605 Freeway in SoCal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

Commuters are about to receive a major upgrade as a $298 million project to rehabilitate the 605 Freeway is set to begin.The construction will span nearly 200 miles of highway beginning from the San Gabriel Valley all the way down to Long Beach, according to Caltrans.Funds for the major project include:-$273 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)-$23 million from S.B. 1 also known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017Construction and rehab efforts will extend the pavement’s lifetime up to 40 years, officials said. Other benefits include reducing costly repairs, providing a smoother ride for motorists and creating a safer environment for Caltrans workers by reducing the frequency and duration of pavement maintenance.The following projects along the 605 corridor will repair or create new pavement and upgrade infrastructure between Los Alamitos/Long Beach and Duarte:Katella Avenue in Los Alamitos/Long Beach to Telegraph Road in Santa Fe Sprin...

An Oakland murder trial was underway, but then defense attorney questioned his client’s mental competency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

OAKLAND — Criminal proceedings against an East Bay man were suspended just days into his murder trial, after he made a verbal outburst that caused his lawyer to openly doubt his mental competency, court records show.Charles Beal, 32, was on trial last week on charges of murdering 33-year-old Ukono Hall in a shooting that police say was motivated by a love triangle. Beal’s lawyer, Todd Bequette, was cross-examining an Oakland police evidence technician when Beal made a “verbal outburst” and demanded a new lawyer, according to the minute order for the Sept. 27 court hearing.Later in the hearing, Bequette formally declared a doubt to Beal’s mental competency for trial. The move freezes legal proceedings at least until medical professionals can evaluate Beal. If he’s found incompetent for trial, he’ll almost certainly be ordered transferred to a mental institution so doctors can “restore” his competency.Hall was fatally shot 11 p.m. ...

Hayward Unified cuts ties with teacher whose students exposed his antisemitic lessons — but he’s still getting paid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

The Hayward Unified School District has cut ties with a teacher whose lessons excused Hitler and spread antisemitic conspiracy theories, more than 10 months after students gathered evidence, then brought forward their disturbing complaints and demanded action.The district removed Mt. Eden High School English teacher Henry Bens from the classroom in February after an outcry from students and some of his fellow educators. But he has continued to receive his paycheck during his suspension over the last seven months — and on Wednesday, he signed a “separation agreement” that will keep him on the payroll through next January, said district spokesperson Michael Bazeley.During the 2021-22 academic year, Bens’ salary was $113,815 a year, according to the district. As of early October, Bens’ teaching credential remained valid and is not set to expire until next April.Late last month, an internal investigation found that Bens had both taught with antisemitic mate...

House GOP devolves into round of angry retribution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

By Melanie Zanona and Manu Raju | CNNAs Kevin McCarthy was on the brink of losing his speakership, some of his allies delivered a not-so-veiled threat to GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina: If you vote to oust McCarthy, the party might not be willing to help raise money for your race.The warning to Mace, which was described by a source familiar with the conversation, is a sign of just how seriously the speaker drama has rankled the Republican party, with money often used as a powerful carrot – or stick – in Washington.Yet Mace, a Republican who could face a competitive race and will need a well-funded campaign war chest to win reelection, ultimately joined seven other GOP lawmakers and all Democrats to sink McCarthy. And it’s not the only repercussion she could now be facing for her career-defining moment of defiance: Sources told CNN that there’s discussion among members on the Republican Governance Group about voting to kick her out of the moderate-leaning group.It’s just one o...

Warriors’ chemistry top of mind as Paul, Curry shoot after practice and Wiggins talks absence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors’ post-practice routine typically features Steph Curry getting shots up by himself with assistant coach Bruce Fraser feeding him the ball. This year, someone is joining in.Chris Paul was spotted running drills and taking shots alongside Curry after each of the Warriors’ practices to kick off training camp. Two former rivals joining forces and brain powers; it’s one of many glimpses into how intent the Warriors are to coalesce a once-discombobulated locker room. Even before training camp began, Curry and Paul were organizing all-team mini-camps from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to start building that bond.It’s no secret the Warriors’ disjointed locker room last year was a primary reason for their mediocre record and early playoff exit. That dysfunction can be traced back to Draymond Green’s preseason punch of Jordan Poole, but compounding the chemistry issues were injuries and an unexplained two-month Andrew Wiggins ab...

Despite organizational hiccups, India ready to welcome back Cricket World Cup after 12 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:10 GMT

By CHETAN NARULA | Associated PressNEW DELHI (AP) — When 2019 finalists England and New Zealand meet again to open the Cricket World Cup this week, it will mark the tournament’s return to India after 12 years.But preparations for this year’s tournament — in which the home side will start among the favorites and won the event when it was last played in India in 2011 — haven’t gone smoothly.The event experienced numerous organizational and planning issues which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the host body, often had difficulties managing.The 13th edition of the tournament was first scheduled for February-March 2023, but it was delayed to its current Oct. 5-Nov. 19 schedule after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a ripple effect for the hosting of 2021 and 2022 Twenty20 World Cups.In the meantime, the BCCI delayed formalizing tax agreements with the Indian government — an issue that had plagued the 2011 ODI and the 2016 T20 World Cups, both hosted in Ind...