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California's historic work on possible Black reparations moves to the Legislature

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Members of California's Black reparations task force handed off their historic two-year report to state lawmakers Thursday, beginning the next chapter in the long struggle to compensate the descendants of slavery. The first U.S. panel of its kind met one last time Thursday, urging supporters to press lawmakers into action on more than 100 recommendations. State legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom must agree for any money to be paid or for any policy changes to be adopted.“This book of truth will be a legacy, will be a testament to the full story,” said Lisa Holder, a civil rights attorney and task force member. “Anyone who says that we are colorblind, that we have solved the problem of anti-Black animus and racism, I challenge you to read this document.”The mood was buoyant, but tinged with frustration and anger that hours earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education, programs that have disproportionately helped Black stu...

The Celebrity Influence: Trading Cards on the Rise

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

The ownership of exclusive and rare items, from luxury cars to original art pieces, is a common pastime for many people, including celebrities. Some enjoy the chase, while others see it as a way to express how far they’ve come from the fruits of their labor. And since COVID-19, there’s been an emerging asset that’s beginning to hold newfound prestige in the entertainment world: trading cards.In the age of social media and streaming, the trading card industry has recently seen a resurgence like no other time in its history. From the multi-platinum selling rappers Drake and Snoop Dogg to beloved actors Bryan Cranston and Mark Wahlberg, entertainers from all walks of life are diving head first into the “the hobby”— the term used by collectors, traders, and sellers to refer to the trading cards industry as a whole.At the helm of this resurgence is Dappz Sports: a Los Angeles-based media company and 24/7 live-stream shopping experience for the most passionate enth...

The Reality of Being an Adult Model with ADHD: Yasmina Khan’s Success Story

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

Photo Credit: Nisa MediaYasmina Khan, a 26-year-old self-employed adult model, has emerged as a top Bengali adult entertainment star worldwide. Her journey to success is marked by determination, resilience, and the challenges of living with ADHD. Khan’s inspiring story sheds light on the realities of being an adult content creator while managing ADHD.Growing up in a non-traditional South Asian household in Crawley, Khan faced a difficult upbringing. However, she boldly decided to prioritize her happiness by moving out and embracing a career that allowed her to express herself freely. Khan’s choice to pursue a career in adult entertainment stemmed from her dissatisfaction with a 9-to-5 job that left her depressed and anxious.With her natural hypersexuality and a desire for financial independence, Khan turned to adult content creation. Starting with modest earnings of £200 on her first day, she quickly realized the potential in this space. The positive feedback and sense o...

Empowering Single Mothers: Emily Black’s Generous Christmas Gift Campaign

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

Photo Credit: Nisa MediaEmily Black, a remarkable young woman with a heart for animals and a passion for empowering others, has made a significant impact with her inspiring Christmas Gift Campaign to support needy single mothers. With her incredible journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful entrepreneur, Emily’s story inspires all.Born and raised in Derbyshire, England, 23-year-old Emily Black has always been deeply connected to animals. She immersed herself in various roles from an early age, including working at a farm auction, a kennel, and even an exotic pet shop. Her love for animals led her to pursue a degree in zoology with entomology at Harper Adams University. Unfortunately, she had to drop out after a year due to unfavourable circumstances, but that setback didn’t deter her determination.Emily’s career path took an unexpected turn when she ventured into the world of online adult entertainment. Starting as a pole dancer and a cam girl, she ev...

Sale closed in Saratoga: $5 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

19611 Montauk Drive – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 19600 block of Montauk Drive in Saratoga has a new owner. The 3,821-square-foot property, built in 1974, was sold on June 13, 2023. The $5,000,000 purchase price works out to $1,309 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on a 0.8-acre lot.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:On Shadow Oaks Way, Saratoga, in April 2023, a 2,629-square-foot home was sold for $3,850,000, a price per square foot of $1,464. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In August 2022, a 3,402-square-foot home on Shadow Oaks Way in Saratoga sold for $4,850,000, a price per square foot of $1,426. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 2,568-square-foot home on the 14000 block of Shadow Oaks Way in Saratoga sold in May 2023, for $4,610,000, a price per square foot of $1,795. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Richmond man found dead outside crashed car after pursuit called off is identified

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

A person found dead by the side of a vehicle shortly after San Pablo police called off a pursuit has been identified by authorities, more than a week after the chase took place.Joshua Marks, 29, of Richmond, was found dead outside the vehicle when Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of the crash on June 22. The pursuit had started on San Pablo Dam Road toward El Sobrante at 12:20 a.m.It took several days to find Marks’ next of kin, according to authorities.A statement from San Pablo police Lt. Brian Bubar last week said an officer saw a 1997 green Nissan Altima speeding and tried to pull it over. The Nissan instead kept going.Bubar said the officer pursued the Nissan for about 30 seconds, nearly a mile to the 4700 block of Appian Way in El Sobrante. The officer called off the chase when the Nissan started going faster than 90 mph, Bubar said.Less than a half-mile away, deputies found Marks motionless outside the crashed car. Bubar said Thursday af...

The wrong side of history — Athletics reflect on Domingo German’s perfect game

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

OAKLAND — The Athletics were doing their best Thursday to turn the page on a lamentable chapter in their history.As if going 21-60 at the season’s halfway point wasn’t enough to digest, the A’s began the second half of the season Wednesday night as victims of the 24th perfect game in major league history as authored by New York Yankees journeyman right-hander Domingo German.It was the third perfect game at the Coliseum, joining Jim “Catfish” Hunter (May 8, 1968) and A’s television analyst Dallas Braden (May 9, 2010).While German was still basking in the glow of the fourth perfect game in Yankees history and an 11-0 win, the Athletics could do little but offer congratulations and reluctantly acknowledge their part in reverse perfection before an announced crowd of 12,479.“I feel like we’ve been trying to put a lot of things behind us,” second baseman Tony Kemp said. “In baseball, you’ve got to keep battling and y...

California is off to a slow fire season so far, but Newsom, fire leaders urge readiness as summer begins

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

With reservoirs full and snow still deep across the Sierra Nevada following one of the wettest winters in recent decades, California’s fire season is off to a slow start this year.But Gov. Gavin Newsom and state fire leaders urged residents on Thursday not to be complacent as July Fourth nears and summer weather begins to heat up.“In the last four years we’ve had two of the most extreme wildfire seasons — some of the worst and most destructive in terms of acreage and property and lives lost — and then two of the more modest fire seasons,” Newsom said during a visit to the Cal Fire Air Attack Base in Grass Valley.“We live in this new reality,” he added, “where we can’t necessarily attach ourselves to some of the more predictive models of the past because of a world that is getting a lot hotter, a lot drier and a lot more uncertain because of climate change.”On Thursday, 487 wildfires burned across Canada, sending thick, chok...

France braces for another night of protests after police shooting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

By Sylvie Corbet, John Leicester and Alex Turnbull | Associated PressNANTERRE, France — France braced for another eruption of urban rioting Thursday night after the deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old, with tens of thousands of officers hitting the streets and commuters rushing home before transport services closed down early for safety reasons.Despite government appeals for calm and vows that order would be restored, smoke from cars and garbage set ablaze was already billowing over the streets of the Paris suburb of Nanterre following a peaceful afternoon march in honor of the teen identified only by his first name, Nahel.The police officer accused of pulling the trigger was handed a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide after prosecutor Pascal Prache said his initial investigation led him to conclude “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.”After a morning crisis meeting following violence that injured scores of police and damaged nearly 100...

At Home: The simple pleasures one finds when back at home

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:35 GMT

I owe my home an apology. I have been taking her for granted. Though she never fails to be there for me, I have not been there for her. Out of the past 30 days, I have spent just five nights at home. I have been traveling for vacation, for work and to help an adult child move, touching down briefly between trips to unpack and pack again.Being away for most of a month, living like a nomad, made me realize how very much I love being home.Maybe I’m just getting mushy with age, but as I returned this week from what I hope is my last trip for a while, I actually — and this is a touch embarrassing — felt overcome as I did routine tasks. I welled up a little when drying dishes, putting food in the dogs’ bowls, getting the mail, making my bed. This cascade of feelings reminded me just how much these small rituals, these moments of ordinary living, mean.Being in one unfamiliar place after another made me appreciate anew the many small ways I take my home, my patterns, the habits ...