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65-year-old California fugitive sentenced to 50 years for killing Florida woman in 1984

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. — A 65-year-old California fugitive who eluded authorities for nearly four decades before his arrest in June has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing a Florida woman.Donald Santini pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a deal with prosecutors to avoid a first-degree murder charge. Circuit Judge Samantha Ward approved the deal before issuing the sentence in Tampa on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The case had been set to go to trial in two weeks.“Good luck,” the judge told Santini, who has been in jail without bond since his arrest in June at his home near San Diego.”Thank you, Your Honor,” Santini, whose hands were cuffed in front of him, replied.Before his arrest, Santini had lived in California under the name of Wellman Simmonds. He was president of a local water board in Campo, a tiny suburb of San Diego, and he regularly appeared at public board meetings.The life he had built in California came to an end thanks to a tip from the Florida/Carib...

Driver flees after woman killed in multi-vehicle Hayward freeway crash

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

HAYWARD — A woman was killed Thursday night in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 880 and one of the drivers involved fled the scene, authorities said.Four other people suffered minor injuries, authorities said.The woman’s name was not immediately released pending notification of her family.The crash, involving four vehicles, happened about 9:50 p.m. Thursday in the northbound lanes of I-880 south of A Street, the California Highway Patrol said.The four vehicles included a Ford F350 pickup truck, a Toyota Corolla, a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, the CHP said.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Ghost Tire Memorial placed at site of Malibu crash that killed 4 Pepperdine students Crashes and Disasters | Drivers of boxy SUVs and pickup trucks are more likely to kill pedestrians, study finds Crashes and Disasters | One-car crash in Pittsburg is latest fatal wreck on Highway 4 Crashes and Disasters | ...

San Mateo County Libraries offering free diaper kits

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

(KRON) – San Mateo County Libraries has launched a three-month pilot program offering over 1,800 free diaper kits to support families in need. Families are invited to pick up kits including free diapers and wipes. Supplies are on a first-served basis. Families do not need to bring a library card, ID, or proof of income. 2 arrested in connection to woman’s body found at Golden Gate Park during Outside Lands Each kit contains 80 diapers and 200 wipes. “Free diapers and wipes can make a big difference for families struggling with the high cost of living in the Bay Area, especially during the holiday season,” Sara McDowell, Library JPA Governing Board Chair said. “San Mateo County Libraries are a trusted resource in our communities, and we are honored to be the ones providing these essential items in a welcoming environment for families and their little ones.”   Upcoming Free Diaper Distribution Events  Belmont Library, 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, Be...

Car crashes into San Mateo home Friday morning

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

(BCN) -- A car crashed into a home in San Mateo on Friday morning, according to police.San Mateo police issued an alert at 7:44 a.m. about the crash in the area of Murphy and Ashwood drives.No injuries were reported in the crash, but police said people should expect delays while driving through the area.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

One dead in multi-car crash on I-880 in Hayward

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

(BCN) -- One person is dead after a multi-vehicle crash in Hayward last night.According to preliminary information from CHP, at least two people were trapped inside their vehicles and were taken to the hospital.One of the cars involved took off at a street off-ramp near Happyland Avenue.This is a developing story. 

Inka Grings out as Switzerland coach after big losses to Women’s World Cup champion Spain

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Inka Grings lost her job as Switzerland coach on Friday following three recent losses to Women’s World Cup champion Spain by a combined score of 17-2.Grings said the decision to leave was taken “with a heavy heart, to lift the pressure off the team,” according to a statement from the national soccer federation.Switzerland, which will host the women’s Euro 2025 tournament, won only one of 14 games this year. The losses included a Women’s World Cup exit in the round of 16 in August to eventual champion Spain 5-1.Spain then won both of their games in a UEFA Women’s Nations League group — 5-0 in September and 7-1 in October.Grings was a prolific striker who won two European Championship titles with Germany.The Swiss soccer federation did not name a replacement for Grings. Switzerland will play Sweden and Italy next month.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Hedman taps in late goal, Lightning edges Blackhawks 4-2 to end 3-game slide

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Victor Hedman snapped a tie 11:53 into the third period, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 on Thursday night.Brayden Point had a power-play goal and two assists for Tampa Bay, which had dropped three straight. Mikhail Sergachev scored in the second and assisted on Brandon Hagel’s empty-netter.Hedman, who also had an assist, slipped to the left edge of the crease and tapped in the puck for the game-winner after Erik Cernak’s blue-line drive bounced off the back boards. The Lightning dominated the action for several minutes before Hedman’s fourth goal of the season.After Chicago’s Corey Perry tied it at 2 early in the third, the Lightning got rolling.“After giving up that second goal, I thought we took over the game once again after that,” Hedman said. “We got some zone time and we kept playing so it was big for us.”Lightning coach Jon Cooper praised his team’s response after Perry connected. The 38-year-old ...

Maryland remains state with the lowest unemployment rate

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

Unemployment rates rose in Virginia, Maryland and 24 other states in October, but Maryland maintained its title as the state with the lowest unemployment rate in the country.All 50 states saw positive year-over-year job growth.Maryland’s unemployment rate in October was 1.7%, up from 1.6% in September, but sharply lower than 3.2% a year earlier. Virginia’s unemployment rate rose to 2.7%, up from 2.5% in September, but lower than Virginia’s 3.1% unemployment rate in October 2022.North Dakota had the second-lowest state unemployment rate at 1.9%. Nevada had the highest at 5.4%The national unemployment rate rose to 3.9% in October.Unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted.Maryland ended October with 43,900 more jobs than a year earlier, a job growth rate of 1.6%. Virginia ended the month with 58,400 more jobs than a year prior, a job growth rate of 1.4%.Texas and Florida continue to lead the nation in job growth, each with an annual payroll growth rate of 2.9% in Oct...

McIlroy stalls, Hovland soars and Hojgaard leads by 2 shots at World Tour Championship

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood were in a group of marquee players moving into contention at the season-ending World Tour Championship on Friday.Rory McIlroy wasn’t among them.While the No. 2-ranked McIlroy was, in his words, “stuck in neutral” on his way to shooting an even-par 72 in the second round, Rahm, Hovland and Fleetwood all had 66s on the Earth Course to be in a good position heading into the weekend.Nicolai Hojgaard, a 22-year-old Dane boosted by his recent Ryder Cup experience, had a back nine of 30 containing four birdies and an eagle to shoot 66 and lead on 11-under par, two shots clear of a five-man group including Hovland and Fleetwood.Rahm, ranked No. 3, was five shots back and happy with his game, though frustrated by a three-putting from 20 feet for bogey at his last hole — No. 9.McIlroy was languishing on 1 under for the tournament, 10 back and tied for 34th place in a curtailed field of 50 for the last event ...

Author A.S. Byatt, who wrote best-seller ‘Possession’ and had a beetle named after her, dies at 87

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:07 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British author A.S. Byatt, who wove history, myth and a sharp eye for human foibles into books that included the Booker Prize-winning novel “Possession,” has died at the age of 87. Byatt’s publisher, Chatto & Windus, said Friday that the author, whose full name was Antonia Byatt, died “peacefully at home surrounded by close family” on Thursday.Byatt wrote two dozen books, starting with her first novel, “The Shadow of the Sun,” in 1964. Her work was translated into 38 languages. “Possession,” published in 1990, follows two young academics investigating the lives of a pair of imaginary Victorian poets. The novel, a double romance which skillfully layers a modern story with mock-Victorian letters and poems, was a huge bestseller and won the prestigious Booker Prize. Accepting the prize, Byatt said “Possession” was about the joy of reading.“My book was written on a kind of high about the pleasures of reading,” she said.“Possession” was adapted into a 2002 film st...