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These California cities are increasing minimum wage in 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

California’s minimum wage will increase to $16 per hour on Jan. 1, 2024, but employees in select cities and counties across the Golden State will make more money due to local ordinances.In cities where the local minimum wage exceeds the state’s requirements, “the employer must follow the stricter standard; that is, the one that is the most beneficial to the employee,” according to the state Department of Industrial Relations. Home sales in California drop to lowest level in 16 years “Similarly, if a local entity (city or county) has adopted a higher minimum wage, employees must be paid the local wage where it is higher than the state or federal minimum wage rates.”These California cities and counties have minimum wages higher than the state’s requirement, according to a report from UC Berkeley's Labor CenterAlameda:  $16.52 as of 7/1/2023                        ...

Ryan Gosling drops Christmas version of 'I'm Just Ken'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

If you've loved the "Barbie" movie and love the holidays, you're in luck. Ryan Gosling and music producer Mark Ronson just released "Ken the EP," which has three versions of the song "I'm Just Ken." Among them includes “I’m Just Ken (Merry Kristmas Barbie),” “I’m Just Ken (In My Feelings Acoustic)” and “I’m Just Ken (Purple Disco Machine Remix).”Ryan Gosling poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the "Barbie" movie, July 12, 2023, in London. On Dec. 20, Gosling — the Ken to Margot Robbie's “Barbie” in the film — released the “I'm Just Ken” EP alongside collaborators Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. (Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)They also released the music video for the festive version called "I'm Just Ken (Merry Kristmas Barbie)."The video showed Gosling walking into a jam session at a music studio and sitting down at the piano.He asks Ronson, "What if I lean into this 'Hey girl' thing and say 'Hey girl, it doesn't seem bad.' Whatever we get, I lean into ...

Morris Vaughn and Patricia Vaughn Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash on State Highway 89 [Corpus Christi, TX]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

2 Dead, Lisa Farago and Al Saenz Hospitalized after Solo-Car Accident near Highway 77CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (December 20, 2023) – Morris Vaughn and Patricia Vaughn died Saturday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash.At approximately 2:30 p.m. on December 2nd, law enforcement officers responded to an incident on the eastbound lanes of State Highway 89 near the Highway 77 on-ramp. According to reports, Morris was operating a 1992 Chevrolet Caprice heading south on Highway 77 and failed to give the right-of-way to an eastbound Ford F-150. Consequently, the Chevy collided with the Ford, which was occupied by Lisa Farago and Al Saenz. Emergency responders found the damaged vehicles in a nearby grassy area. Paramedics declared 90-year-old Morris and 88-year-old Patricia deceased at the scene. Meanwhile, Farago and Saenz were transported by responding paramedics to a Corpus Christi hospital in stable condition. Currently, an active investigation is underway to gather additional information...

Antioch: Alleged prison gang shot caller released after judge lowers bail in murder case

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

MARTINEZ — An alleged prison gang leader accused of ordering the murder of a man over his gang’s attempts to take over an Antioch “money block” has been released from jail after a judge lowered his bail to $200,000 in a pending murder case, court records show.William Pree, 41, faces unresolved charges of murdering 23-year-old Kartiae Ely near East 18th Street and Cavallo Road in 2015. Pree and his co-defendant, 45-year-old Edward Robinson, were convicted of murder in 2017, only to have the case be overthrown by an appeals court earlier this year.Both Robinson — the man accused of shooting Ely in the back of the head — and Pree filed motions to either be released from custody or receive bails lower than the $1 million standard for murder charges. On Friday, Judge John Kennedy granted Pree’s motion over the prosecution’s opposition and denied Robinson’s, clearing the way for Pree’s release from jail.Pree’s motion says t...

Milpitas: Ex-city manager sues city, alleges former mayor exchanged endorsements for political favors

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

MILPITAS — A new lawsuit from former City Manager Steve McHarris alleges that ex-Mayor Rich Tran exchanged endorsements for political favors and that he and current Mayor Carmen Montano overstepped their authority by trying to get a city employee fired — accusations that Tran vehemently denies.McHarris, who was hired in June 2019 and left in February after the Milpitas City Council decided not to renew his contract, filed a lawsuit against the city in Santa Clara County Superior Court last week. He’s seeking at least $25,000 in damages, claiming the council violated a provision in his contract that barred them from taking action on his employment within six months of an election, and that they essentially terminated him without cause and frequently scheduled unsanctioned performance evaluations.In early November 2021, McHarris began observing conduct of city officials that he “believed to be unlawful and/or unethical,” the lawsuit said.Tran, Montano ...

Oakland human trafficking case thrown out over ‘lack of cooperating witness’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

OAKLAND — Prosecutors here have dismissed a human trafficking case against a 22-year-old man who was accused of pimping a teen girl, court records show.Jeremiah Means, of Oakland, was charged in August with human trafficking, pimping, and pandering. But two months later, in late October, prosecutors in Alameda County moved to dismiss the case due to a “lack of cooperating witness,” according to a minute order from the hearing where the charges were dropped.At the time of the dismissal, Means had been out of jail on his own recognizance for about six weeks, according to court records.At the time of Means’ arrest, police said they obtained text message conversations between Means and the girl showing a “pimp and prostitute relationship.” They alleged that Means met the girl on Instagram and drove out of the Bay Area to meet in person and take her back to Oakland.

Kurtenbach: The Warriors’ two-timeline plan is back in action, and it’s a sight to behold

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

The Warriors decided to go all-in on their veteran players this past offseason.The team’s “two-timeline plan” for success was considered over.But no one officially signed the death certificate.Yes, the two timelines are back by anything other than popular demand.With Draymond Green suspended until who knows when and several veteran players playing inconsistent basketball, the Warriors have been forced to turn to the kids over the last few games.And get this: It’s working.The Warriors are on a three-game winning streak, including beating arguably the NBA’s best team, the Celtics, Tuesday night at Chase Center.Now, the bulk of the credit for this streak must go to a resurgent Klay Thompson and the perpetually incredible Steph Curry.But the youngsters are playing serious minutes and providing a serious positive impact.While they might not be the kind of players that can take over for Curry, Thompson, and Green when the triumvirate calls it quits — the true...

New York Times Doxxes Source Trafficked by Chinese Gang

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

The New York Times this week published the harrowing account of a man who thought he was applying for a translator job at an e-commerce company in Thailand, but was instead abducted and sold to a Chinese gang who forced him to work for a scam operation in Myanmar.The Times, which withheld Neo Lu’s real name at his request for safety reasons, revealed identifying information about Lu to the public — and potentially the Chinese gangsters who took him hostage — by publishing what appears to be his passport number.“Mr. Lu, who goes by the nickname Neo for the character in the Matrix movies, spoke to The New York Times on the condition that his full name not be used, for fear of retribution from the criminals,” reporter Isabelle Qian wrote in the Times story.According to the account in the newspaper, Lu had provided the Times with photos of his time at the scam work camp, as well as copies of his travel documents to verify the authenticity of his situation. While the Times published seve...

2023-24 winter festivals and events in Colorado

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you're a fan of winter, you're probably a fan of Colorado. Winter starts Dec. 21 and lasts until March 19, 2024, which means there are plenty of chances to attend a winter-themed event in the state this season. Did you know: These 5 holiday traditions are local to Colorado From an ice sculpture championship in Breckenridge to the difficult-to-explain Frozen Dead Guy Days in Estes Park, there is an event for just about everyone.Ice Castles - Dec. 19- in Cripple CreekThe frozen spectacle opened a few weeks early for the first time since the 2019-20 winter season.Wintersköl - Jan. 11-14, 2024 in AspenAspen's annual "toast to winter" will feature several events to enjoy, from a craft beer festival to fireworks on Aspen Mountain.Ouray Ice Festival - Jan. 18-21, 2024 in OurayThe festival is described as a "gathering to celebrate the sport of ice climbing." It features things like climbing clinics during the day and presentations and movies from championship climbers ...

Cleanup efforts underway after gas explosion in West Park injures family of 4

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

The task of clearing debris commenced after a catastrophic blast rocked a West Park neighborhood on Tuesday. Leroy Wilkerson, among the affected residents, spent Wednesday repairing the aftermath of the explosion that knocked out windows and caused extensive damage the night before.The intense home explosion, likely triggered by gas, resonated blocks away, leaving a family of four, including two children, hospitalized.Neighbors rushed to the rescue as paramedics swiftly arrived on the scene.Another neighbor affected was Dominique Wright, who lives next door to the home that exploded. “I’ve been here my entire life … only lived here, so all my memories — my photos, my kids’ photos — all of our stuff is here, and now we gotta get rid of it,” he said. Wright’s home, the only one he’s ever known, will likely have to be torn down after it was badly damaged. Wright’s mother, who was in the home at the time, survived. “She&#...