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California officials gird for potential disaster: When and where will the record melting snow go?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

This winter has been one for the record books, with snow piled so high across California’s mountain ranges that it’s collapsed roofs and extended ski season into summer.Now California officials are anxiously eyeing the weather and girding for potentially disastrous flooding in parts of the state — especially the southern Central Valley — as that bountiful snowpack begins to melt, flows down saturated ground and pours into already swollen rivers. Because the snow is thicker in some areas than it’s been in generations, it’s hard to say how quickly it will melt and difficult to predict what will happen as it does.“We’re in uncharted territory for the southern Sierra because we’ve never measured snowpack this thick,” said Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center. How bad the snowmelt will be depends on how warm it gets and how fast, which affects when the snowpack “...

Germany moves to relax rigid family name system

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

Associated PressBERLIN — Germany’s justice minister on Tuesday launched plans to relax the country’s strict restrictions on family names — for example, allowing couples to take double-barreled surnames and pass them on to their children.The current system “is about as up-to-date as a coal stove and as flexible as concrete,” Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said in a statement as he published the draft legislation.As it stands, one partner in a married couple — but not both — can add the other partner’s name to his or her surname, but their children can’t carry both surnames.The reform will allow both partners to take on a double surname, with or without a hyphen, and for their children to take that name too. Even if the parents both keep their original names, they will be able to give their children a double-barreled surname, regardless of whether they are married. The new system still won’t allow names that are more than double-barreled.Bus...

Letters: Tech’s duty | Save Winehaven | More than stats | Outrage appropriate | Touching account | Keep abortion legal

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Tech must help keeplocal news afloatApplause for your editorial — and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks’ bill — seeking some compensation from Big Tech, which uses journalistic content from others to make big money. It’s well known that local journalism has been in a death spiral — because of Big Tech — and the Wicks bill would rightfully assist in helping to keep these agents of democracy alive.As someone with a journalism degree and a short-lived life as a reporter, it would make me happy that local newspapers be thrown a lifeline. But even more, now as a locally-elected official, to see the scrutiny, coverage and transparency that healthy local journalism could again provide to local government would be an added bonus for our democracy.Paul FadelliEl Cerrito City CouncilRichmond must actto save WinehavenRichmond is home to Winehaven, an irreplaceable historical asset. Once California’s largest winery a...

Volcano erupts on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

Associated PressMOSCOW — A volcano erupted early Tuesday on Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, spewing clouds of dust 265,600 feet into the sky and covering broad areas with ash.The ash cloud from the eruption of Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka’s most active volcanoes, extended more than 300 miles northwest and engulfed several villages in grey volcanic dust.Officials closed the skies over the area to aircraft. Local authorities advised residents to stay indoors and shut schools in several affected communities. Two villages had their power supplies cut for a few hours until emergency crews restored them.Ash fell on 41,699 square miles of territory, according to the regional branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Geophysical Survey. Scientists described the fallout as the biggest in nearly 60 years.The village of Klyuchi, which is located about 30 miles from the volcano, was covered by an 3-inch layer of dust. Residents posted videos showing the ash cloud plunging t...

Exclusive: Inside the Antioch police department’s secret racist texting group

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

Editors’ note: This story contains racist and offensive language detailed in an investigative report by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. ANTIOCH — For years, Antioch officers routinely used private text messaging groups to flout their racist views, using slurs in front of superiors without fear of reprisal.The horrific language was also common at work, a newly-released report shows, even in front of internal affairs investigators. Officers joked about harming Black residents — one offered to buy a “steak dinner” for anyone who shot Mayor Lamar Thorpe with a projectile used on protesters. Others joked about committing civil rights violations and eliciting false confessions.The comments were met with laughter, indifference or praise, according to a 21-page report obtained by this news organization that details dozens of racist texts shared between nearly two dozen officers over two years.“I’ll bury that n—-r in my fields,R...

Harrowing details released after Redwood City police shooting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

(KRON) -- The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office released harrowing details from a 2022 incident in which a man used children as human shields, pointed a gun at their mother, and told police, "Come over here and I'll f**king smoke her.'"An investigation report into the Redwood City Police Department's use of lethal force was released publicly on Tuesday. Five police officers were justified in fatally shooting Abran Gutierrez during the confrontation on El Camino Real, the District Attorney's Office concluded in the report. District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe concluded that "there is no legal basis for filing criminal charges against any of the five Redwood City Police Officers involved in the death of Mr. Gutierrez" and the officers' actions were "legally justifiable self-defense and defense of others." The five officers were identified as RCPD officers Luke Shoats, William Wolfe, Nicholas Muniz, Victor Figueroa, and Jose Montoya.A police officer's body camera shows Gutierr...

5 arrested in Santa Rosa for roles in 'fentanyl trafficking organization'

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

(KRON) -- The Santa Rosa Police Department arrested five suspects who were allegedly part of a fentanyl trafficking organization. Police said they found 1,200 fentanyl pills while serving search warrants related to the investigation. Police served five search warrants on Monday afternoon and arrested five suspects. They were identified as:Mohammed Latrache, 19, of Santa RosaCristiana Sanchez, 19 of Santa RosaHamzah Latrache, 19 of WindsorMichael Burke, 23, of GratonKobe Williams, 23 of Rohnert ParkThe warrants were served at these addresses:200 block of Richmond Dr, Santa Rosa3000 block of Ross Rd, Graton1100 block of Hailey Ct, Rohnert Park7900 block of Shira St, Windsor400 block of Duncan Dr, WindsorAccording to SRPD, the 1,200 pills discovered were made to look like the prescribed opioid Oxycodone Hydrochloride (M30). The pills, sometimes referred to as counterfeit pills, had identical markings, shape and color as the prescription drug, per police. Mid-Market Whole Foods locati...

Man charged in vandalism of statues at St. Patrick's Seminary

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

A 39-year-old transient has been arrested and charged for allegedly vandalizing statues of the Biblical figures of Mary and Joseph in Menlo Park on the night before Easter last weekend, San Mateo County prosecutors said Tuesday. Roberto Vatical is accused of the vandalism of the statues at St. Patrick's Seminary and University on Middlefield Road around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the county District Attorney's Office. Woman’s body found in water off Berkeley Marina Vatical allegedly set a Duraflame log at the base of the statue of Joseph, sprayed lighter fluid on it and set it on fire, then taped a balloon to the statue's right hand and clear tape around the neck, while the statue of Mary had a broken egg on its face and pieces of bread and tomatoes on the ground, prosecutors said. A priest at the seminary saw the fire and came out to put it out as Vatical allegedly fled. Investigators eventually identified Vatical as the suspect after finding stickers on the food...

Woman's body found in water off Berkeley Marina

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

(KRON) -- A body was found in the water off the Berkeley Marina on Monday, the Berkeley Police Department has confirmed. The body was found around 6:49 p.m. after a caller reported seeing it floating against the rocks at Hs Lordships restaurant on Seawall Drive. UC Berkeley sexual assault suspect arrested Tuesday Officers arrived on the scene and found a female victim floating against the rocks, police said. The Berkeley Fire Department responded to the scene to assist and helped retrieve the body from the water. Firefighters began life-saving measures but were unable to revive the victim. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Alameda County Coroner's Office responded and transported the deceased woman. Berkeley police are conducting an investigation. The deceased woman has not yet been identified.

Un pescador encuentra un auto sumergido en un lago con una mujer con vida dentro que había sido reportada como desaparecida la semana pasada

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

(CNN) — Las autoridades de Texas dicen que un pescador encontró la semana pasada un automóvil sumergido en un lago, pero dentro fue encontrada viva una mujer que había sido reportada como desaparecida.El despachador de la oficina del sheriff del condado Marion recibió una llamada de un pescador este viernes por la mañana que decía que estaba en el lado sur del lago O’the Pines cuando vio “un jeep negro sumergido a unos 12 metros de la rampa para botes de Woody’s Camp”, dijo la oficina del sheriff en comunicado de prensa.El capitán del sheriff del condado Marion, Chuck Rogers, le dijo a CNN este martes que, a la llegada de los agentes y debido a las condiciones climáticas, se determinó que el vehículo estaba demasiado lejos en el agua para llegar de manera segura y verificarlo. Tan pronto como llegó el barco de auxilio, el pescador ayudó con su bote. “Él y el empleado del camión de auxilio engancharon el Jeep al cable para sacarlo del agua. Fue en ...