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Lake Merritt BART murder suspect serves as his own attorney in key hearing, with predictable results

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

OAKLAND — A 46-year-old Oklahoma native charged with murdering a man outside the Lake Merritt BART station last August shocked everyone with a surprise announcement at the start of a key pretrial hearing.Juan Andres Martinez announced at the start of his Nov. 13 preliminary hearing that he wished to serve as his own lawyer in a case where he faces 27 years to life if convicted. Though his education is limited to a high school diploma from Midwest City, Okla., Martinez assured Judge Rhonda Burgess that he had experience working in “finance, tech companies, television and film production” that would help him navigate the complex legal world.But by the end of the hearing, Martinez may have learned that some things are better left to professionals.“I don’t know if this is the time that I would make the argument that, yes, there was an altercation and I was being threatened,” he started saying, before Deputy District Attorney Jake O’Malley cut Ma...

Study: Social media companies made $11B in ad revenue from minors

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

By Barbara Ortutay and Haleluya Hadera | Associated PressSocial media companies collectively made over $11 billion in U.S. advertising revenue from minors last year, according to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published on Wednesday.The researchers say the findings show a need for government regulation of social media since the companies that stand to make money from children who use their platforms have failed to meaningfully self-regulate. They note such regulations, as well as greater transparency from tech companies, could help alleviate harms to youth mental health and curtail potentially harmful advertising practices that target children and adolescents.To come up with the revenue figure, the researchers estimated the number of users under 18 on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube in 2022 based on population data from the U.S. Census and survey data from Common Sense Media and Pew Research. They then used data fro...

Jacques Delors dies at 98; French official is credited for building modern European Union

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

By John-Thor Dahlburg | Associated PressBRUSSELS — Jacques Delors, a Paris bank messenger’s son who became the visionary and builder of a more unified Europe in his momentous decade as chief executive of the European Union, has died in Paris, the Delors Institute think tank told The Associated Press on Wednesday. He was 98.“The whole of Europe mourns the death of one of its greatest architects,” the institute said in a statement. “The best results of European integration cannot be dissociated from the vision, the courage, the conviction, the perseverance and the relentless work which characterized Jacques Delors’ work during his 10 years at the head of the European Commission.”Paying tribute, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron said: “This grandson of farmers and the son of a bank employee, whose rise was entirely due to his talent, never allowed the lofty heights to corrupt his human righteousness.”Delors “became the builder of the EU as we know it today,” German Chancel...

San Jose Sharks’ lengthy injury list grows by one

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

The San Jose Sharks added forward/defenseman Jacob MacDonald to their already lengthy injured reserve list Wednesday.MacDonald suffered an injury to his lower body after he scored in the third period of Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, coach David Quinn told San Jose Hockey Now on Wednesday morning before the Sharks played the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena.Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood was ill Wednesday and did not take part in the Sharks’ morning skate. With Blackwood appearing to be unavailable, the Sharks recalled goalie Magnus Chrona from the Barracuda. Kaapo Kahkonen will start against the Kings.The Sharks now have five players on IR, tied for the most in the NHL. MacDonald joins Matt Benning (lower body), Ty Emberson (lower body), centers Nico Sturm (hand), and Ryan Carpenter (mid-body).MacDonald, 30, has six goals this season, the sixth-most on the Sharks. He’s most recently played as a depth forward but has also spent time this season as a defenseman.Chron...

Tatum O’Neal and two brothers shut out of Ryan O’Neal’s funeral, one brother says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

Even though Tatum O’Neal said that she and her father, Ryan O’Neal, had overcome some of the conflicts in their stormy relationship and were on “good terms” when he died on Dec. 8, she reportedly did not receive an invitation to his funeral over the weekend.Neither did her younger brother, Griffin O’Neal, or her younger half-brother, Redmond O’Neal, Griffin O’Neal said in an interview with the New York Post. Both Griffin and Redmond O’Neal also had volatile relationships with the “Love Story” actor, who was as well known for his troubled family life as for starring in classic 1970s movies.“I wasn’t even invited to send him off,” Griffin O’Neal told The Post. “I’m the hated son who told the truth. Dark times in this family. Love means never having to say you’re sorry — and Ryan never did, to anyone.”LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 30: Actor Griffin O’Neal (R) attends Farrah Fawcett’s funeral service held at th...

Montgomery Co. police identify Rockville woman struck, killed by 2 drivers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

A 70-year-old woman is dead after being struck by two vehicles while crossing a street Tuesday night in Rockville, Maryland.Rockville City Police and Montgomery County Fire Rescue responded to reports of a crash in the area of Veirs Mill Road and Atlantic Avenue around 6:50 p.m., authorities said.A preliminary investigation revealed Rockville resident Teresa Moreno De Mejia, 70, was crossing Veirs Mill Road at Atlantic Avenue when two vehicles traveling eastbound struck her, according to police. She was declared dead at the scene.The drivers of the two striking vehicles stayed at the scene, police said.Police previously believed a third vehicle was “possibly involved in the collision” and sought the other driver. The department said it has ceased the search for additional vehicles after investigators determined the woman was only struck by two vehicles.The investigation into the crash is ongoing as anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 240-773-6620.As a result...

Houston’s Stroud returns to practice with Texans but remains in concussion protocol

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, but the star rookie remains in the concussion protocol and his status for Sunday’s game against Tennessee is uncertain.“He’s in stage four of the concussion protocol, still has one more phase,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. Stroud has missed the past two games after sustaining a concussion in a Dec. 10 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf after taking a hit with about 6½ minutes left in the fourth quarter.“It’s encouraging to have C.J. back out at practice today, it’s encouraging to see him,” Ryans said. “I think it just lifts everybody’s spirits to see him back doing well. He’s still progressing in the right direction so (I’m) happy about that.”The Texans (8-7) remain in contention for both the AFC South title and a wild-card playoff spot, but a loss Sunday would drop their chances to reach the postseason for the first time since 2019 to just 13%. Veteran Cas...

Colorado GOP appeals Trump ballot case to US Supreme Court

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Colorado Republican State Central Committee has appealed a case to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to overturn a ruling that keeps former President Donald Trump off Colorado's ballot.The appeal comes two weeks after Colorado's Supreme Court justices overturned a lower court ruling that allowed Trump's name to appear as a candidate. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The case was appealed on three points.First, whether the role of the president is among those officials subject to disqualification by section three of the 14th Amendment, the so-called insurrection clause.Second, whether section three of the 14th Amendment is "self-executing," in that it allows states to remove candidates from the ballot in the absence of any Congressional action.Third and finally, whether denying a political party the ability to choose a candidate of its choice in a presidential primary and general election violates that party's First Amendment Righ...

Denver, Chicago, NYC mayors speak against migrant busing, issue regulations

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver Mayor Mike Johnston joined New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in a virtual press conference with one clear point: They're not going to take the arrival of migrants to these cities without any recourse anymore.The trio is creating a coordinated approach that will pressure bus operators to only bring migrants to the cities when and where the cities are equipped to receive them. How you can help migrants in Denver Denver specifically will be requiring buses with migrants chartered by the state of Texas to arrive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, "We are already putting in place regulatory changes here at the city to restrict the arrival times and arrival locations in similar ways," said Johnston. "So we don't have buses arriving in the middle of the night at 1 or 2 a.m. with buses full of kids and families, coming off in the freezing cold."Johnston said his administration would work with Denver City Council to increase any po...

Broncos bench Russell Wilson; Jarrett Stidham to start vs. Chargers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver Broncos have two games left this season and a complicated road to the playoffs, but the team may be throwing in the towel on their star quarterback.Early Wednesday morning, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shared on Twitter that the Broncos may be benching quarterback Russell Wilson. Can the Denver Broncos still make it to the playoffs after loss to Patriots? In an afternoon press conference, Jarrett Stidham, the only other quarterback on the team’s roster as of Dec. 27, confirmed he will start the Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers."Sean [Payton] brought me up in his office this morning and told me I was going to start this week," Stidham said. "I can't speak highly enough of Russ. Tremendous teammate, tremendous competitor. I've been extremely fortunate in my career to be around some incredible human beings and incredible quarterbacks and he obviously fits that category."Stidham, 27, played for the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders befor...