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Thai authorities battle spread of mountain wildfires

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities on Thursday ordered urgent action to stop the spread of a fire that overnight engulfed forests on two mountains in a province northeast of the capital Bangkok.Firefighting vehicles had been deployed to extinguish the blaze, which broke out Wednesday night in Nakhon Nayok province, 114 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Bangkok, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said, adding that helicopters would be sent to provide further assistance.The fire began on a high part of Khao Chaplu mountain, where safe access for firefighters was impossible, Anucha said. It then spread to the adjacent Khao Laem mountain. Local media said high winds fanned the flames.Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was closely monitoring the situation and had ordered officials and the army to mobilize to stop the fire’s spread, Anucha said.He added that Prayuth ordered officials to watch for anyone deliberately lighting fires to clear land for farming and other purposes, a practic...

Gwyneth Paltrow’s widely watched ski crash trial nears end

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The closely watched trial over a 2016 ski collision between Gwyneth Paltrow and the retired optometrist suing her for the injuries he sustained is expected to draw to a close Thursday, when attorneys give closing arguments and send the case to the eight-member jury.Terry Sanderson, 76, is suing Paltrow, claiming she skied out of control and crashed into him, leaving him with four broken ribs and a concussion with symptoms that have lasted years beyond the collision. After a judge dismissed his initial $3.1 million complaint, Sanderson amended and refiled the lawsuit seeking “more than $300,000” — a threshold that that provides the opportunity to introduce the most evidence and depose the most witnesses allowed in civil court. In response, Paltrow countersued for a symbolic $1 and attorney fees.Paltrow’s defense team used most of their final full day in control of the witness stand to call medical experts to testify. Sanderson’s attorneys are expected to begin ...

Anatomy of a political takeover at Florida public college

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has targeted a tiny, public liberal arts college on the shores of Sarasota Bay, as a staging ground for his war on “woke.” The governor and his allies say the New College of Florida, known as a progressive school with a prominent LGBTQ+ community, is indoctrinating students with leftist ideology and should be remade into a more conservative institution.A top-down restructuring is under way at New College, where DeSantis’ allies are carrying out what students and faculty call a “hostile takeover” and a political attack on their academic freedom. Here is the anatomy of the takeover, so far, at New College:Jan. 6 Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints six new members to 13-member Board of Trustees at New College, packing the board with Republican allies and insiders: -Christopher Rufo, conservative activist, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and architect of right-wing outrage over critical race theory -Jason “Eddie” S...

A college in upheaval: War on ‘woke’ sparks fear in Florida

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Professors at the New College of Florida are using personal email because they’re afraid of being subpoenaed.Students are concerned, too. Some fear for their physical safety. Many worry their teachers will be fired en masse and their courses and books will be policed. It’s increasingly hard to focus on their studies. For years, students have come to this public liberal arts college on the western coast of Florida because they were self-described free thinkers. Now they find themselves caught in the crosshairs of America’s culture war.Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has targeted the tiny school on the shores of Sarasota Bay as a staging ground for his war on “woke.” The governor and his allies say New College, a progressive school with a prominent LGBTQ+ community, is indoctrinating students with leftist ideology and should be revamped into a more conservative institution.Students and faculty say America should take note because the transformation at New College co...

Jan 6 Insurrectionists’ Treatment Exposes US Justice System Inequality

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

Jared Bednar calls out “passengers” for effort after Avalanche’s mistakes cost them first place in 4-2 loss to Minnesota Wild

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

The Avalanche had scored a power play goal in a dozen consecutive games. In the unlucky 13th, they got played by their own power play.Nathan MacKinnon’s shot was blocked, Cale Makar’s recovery of a bouncing puck was squandered at the blue line, and Frederick Gaudreau converted the ensuing short-handed breakaway for the back-breaking goal in Colorado’s 4-2 loss to the Wild on Wednesday.“I was going backward for the first little bit, and then just couldn’t get back,” Makar said. “I took the first swipe at (the puck), and it bounced over my stick. Just one of those nights.”In the most important game of the season at Ball Arena, with a chance to leapfrog Minnesota for first place in the Central, the Avs (44-24-6) conceded what was just their third short-handed goal of the season at the worst possible time.  Halfway through the second period, the Avs trailed 2-1 when Valeri Nichushkin drew a boarding penalty behind the net. Gaudreau’s...

Police pursuit ends with crash in downtown Los Angeles; 4 people hospitalized

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

Four people were injured after a police pursuit ended with a two-car crash in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday evening, officials with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed.  The incident occurred at around 9:12 p.m. when officers initiated the pursuit of a suspected reckless driver who then crashed into another vehicle near the intersection of 9th Street and Hope Street.  Aerial footage from Sky5 showed a large presence of first responders at the intersection, which had been cordoned off.  Crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported four people to local hospitals in unknown conditions, LAFD said. It is unclear if the pursuit suspect was among those who were injured. A police pursuit of a suspected reckless driver ended with a two-car crash in downtown Los Angeles March 29, 2023. (KTLA)A police pursuit of a suspected reckless driver ended with a two-car crash in downtown Los Angeles March 29, 2023. (KTLA)A police pursuit of a ...

Executive Director of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association charged with importing fentanyl

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- The executive director of the San Jose Police Officers' Association (SJPOA) has been charged with attempting to illegally import a controlled substance, according to the United States Department of Justice. Joanne Marian Segovia, 64, is accused of ordering thousands of opioids to her home and agreeing to distribute them in the United States. A federal criminal complaint states that Segovia used her personal and office computers to order the drugs between October 2015 and January 2023, including fentanyl. At least 61 shipments were mailed to her home from countries including Hong Kong, Hungary, and India, the DOJ said. "This is an incredibly disturbing allegation. No one is above the law, regardless of who their employer is. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Ramsey and his colleagues for aggressively pursuing the sources of fentanyl coming into our communities and holding drug-dealers accountable.," San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement to KRON4. &...

San Jose city council approves plans for Buddhist temple

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- The City of San Jose has given the clear to build a Buddhist temple in the Evergreen neighborhood.Despite backlash from residents in the area, the city decided Tuesday night to approve the temple's construction. It has been four years in the making, but the empty plot of land will now be a 14,000-square-foot Buddhist temple.The Khmer Buddhist temple in San Jose is home to two monks. “As you see here, we call this a temple but it’s only a single house because we have no other place,” said monk Saduol Son.Son said they need more space and that the temple is necessary for Buddhist monks to live their way of life. “Not only a place for holy worship, but capital of education, for our people, custom culture and language,” said Son. District attorney charges suspect in deadly crash that killed mom and son Despite what Son calls a peaceful life, many neighbors in Evergreen were against the city council unanimously approving a new Buddhis...

Nearly 9K San Francisco customers lose power

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:08:45 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A large power outage affected thousands of San Francisco residents Wednesday night, according to PG&E.As of 8 p.m., over 8,900 San Francisco customers were affected. The power outages occurred in San Francisco's Presidio, Richmond District, Golden Gate Park, Marina District, Cow Hollow and Pacific Heights neighborhoods.Photo courtesy of PG&E ‘Slow down,’ says CHP as Bay Area roads stay slick The power outage is believed to be caused by the weather, PG&E says. Storms have recently hit the Bay Area this week causing damage to homes and cars and creating power outages.