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Less driving but more deaths: Spike in traffic fatalities puzzles lawmakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

Tim Henderson | (TNS) Stateline.orgTraffic deaths are lingering near historic highs in most states despite less driving overall, prompting policymakers to consider deploying more police or installing automated monitoring such as speed cameras to curb speeding and reckless driving.People are driving fewer miles than they were in 2019, but more are dying on roadways. Traffic deaths spiked 18% from 2019 to 2022 — though miles traveled fell 3%, according to a Stateline analysis of federal records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.Experts blame bad driving habits that took hold when roadways suddenly cleared out as the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. At the same time, law enforcement agencies shifted their priorities away from traffic violations and many struggled to hire officers amid heightened scrutiny and criticism, especially after a police officer killed George Floyd in May 2020 in Minneapolis.States and citi...

‘Fatso,’ ‘Lamb Thigh,’ others jailed in massive Italy mafia trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

By Barbie Latza Nadeau | CNNAn Italian court has sentenced more than 200 crime gang members to a total of 2,200 years in prison, following the country’s largest mafia trial in three decades.During the trial, which began in January 2021 and took place in a purpose-built bunker in the southern Italian town of Lamezia Terme, more than 400 lawyers represented the defendants and some 900 witnesses provided testimony.A panel of three judges, who had been deliberating the fate of the 338 accused since the trial ended on October 16, delivered their verdict Monday. It took the court one hour and 40 minutes to hand down its rulings, Italian news outlet Ansa reported.Some 207 mobsters were jailed and more than 100 were acquitted. The total jail time includes five life sentences and three 30-year sentences.Among those tried were 42 women – a record for a mafia trial – of whom 39 were convicted.Many of the defendants had colorful nicknames – including “The Wolf,” “Fatso,” “Sweetie” and “Lamb Thi...

49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga has ‘clean’ ACL tear; Ji’Ayir Brown to make first start at Seattle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

SANTA CLARA — As excited as Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers are for rookie Ji’Ayir Brown’s starting debut Thursday night in Seattle, it comes in the wake of safety Talanoa Hufanga’s season-ending knee injury.“Really bummed about Huf,” Shanahan said Monday morning on a media conference call.Hufanga, who made All-Pro last season, is confirmed to have sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s 24-17 home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He got hurt attempting to make an open-field tackle in the third quarter as the Bucs’ Rachaad White faked going inside before bursting past Hufanga’s left side.Hufanga did not sustain further damage to his meniscus or other ligaments.“It was as clean as it could be for an ACL,” said Shanahan, adding that the recovery timeline puts Hufanga in line to return for the start of next season, barring any setbacks.Sunday’s win raised the 49ers’ record to 7-3, and, shortly t...

San Jose: Officer from indecent exposure scandal arrested again after hit and run

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

SAN JOSE — A San Jose police officer infamously put on leave last year after he was allegedly caught masturbating while working a call, then was subsequently accused and charged separately with groping women, is in trouble again after a hit-and-run arrest over the weekend.Matthew Dominguez, who joined the San Jose Police Department in 2018, was arrested late Friday and was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail the next morning, records show. He was still in custody Monday morning in lieu of $105,000 bail pending an arraignment scheduled Wednesday.The jail confirmed that Dominguez was arrested by SJPD and booked on suspicion of three counts of assault, one count of hit and run, and a count of driving with willful disregard of safety while avoiding a peace officer. Whether those alleged offenses were registered as felonies or misdemeanors was not immediately clear Monday.Additional details about the arrest were also not immediately available. After an inquiry from this ne...

49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga suffers torn ACL Sunday in Bucs win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga suffered a torn ACL on Sunday during the Niners game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hufanga left the game in the second half with a knee injury.At the time, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan suspected it was a torn ACL. Perfect Brock Purdy throws 3 TD passes to lead the 49ers past the Bucs 27-14 On Monday, KRON4 Sports Anchor Kate Rooney confirmed the player had suffered a torn ACL. ACL injuries require typically require surgery and several months of rehab, meaning Hufanga will likely be out for the remainder of the season.In Sunday's win, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes to lead the Niners past the Bucs, 27-14.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Many Latino Californians aren’t voting. Can U.S. Senate candidates motivate them?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

(BCN) -- For six generations since emigrating from Mexico to America, Clarissa Renteria's family never voted.If any campaign mailers arrived during election season, Renteria's parents -- who both worked as warehouse workers in Woodlake, an agricultural town of 7,600 in California's citrus belt -- would throw them away. When their neighbor was elected mayor of Woodlake, Renteria's father shrugged it off. "Look at him trying to fit in," Renteria remembers her father saying."My family just didn't feel included in the politics, didn't feel seen," Renteria, 25, said in an interview at a voter registration event in Tulare. "It was just like: 'You guys obviously don't care about me. I don't care about you, and I'm not going to vote. I'm just going to work to live and that's it.'" Thieves break in Hayward auto dealership, $100K worth of cars stolen Lack of engagement is common among millions of eligible Latino Californians who miss out on voting each year. Latinos are the least likely to ...

Florida Democrat Who Voted to Censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib Quits Progressive Caucus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., quit the Congressional Progressive Caucus over an internal split on Israel’s siege on Gaza, according to two sources familiar with her quiet departure. Like many Democrats, Frankel has proclaimed “unwavering support for Israel,” while other caucus members are pushing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.Frankel, first elected to Congress in 2012 and a CPC member since at least 2016, had been considering leaving the caucus for several weeks, according to one source. She was one of at least six caucus members who voted earlier this month to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Frankel’s departure is a symptom of a larger split growing within the caucus over the congressional response to the war in Gaza. It comes despite the fact that the CPC rarely takes public positions on Israel–Palestine, given the deep divides within the caucus, and has not taken a position on the current crisis. But the tensions and animosities produced within the progressiv...

As Manchin Prepares Senate Exit, His Friends and Daughter Are Lining Up a No Labels Lookalike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin made a not-so-surprising announcement earlier this month that he will not seek reelection to the Senate next year. His announcement came after a monthslong flirtation with No Labels, a centrist political organization that is preparing to run a third-party candidate for president should both major parties’ candidates fail to moderate their politics “towards the center.” In the background, Manchin has been propping up a new third-way organization. Along with his daughter Heather Bresch, he has been soliciting funds for a new nonprofit that, according to documents reviewed by The Intercept, is being overseen by the senator’s longtime associates who became significant power players in West Virginia after receiving plum appointments during Manchin’s rise to the top of the state Democratic Party. Bresch, a former pharmaceutical executive, registered Americans Together in July as a 501(c)(4), a legal classification that means it is not required to p...

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground at the start of a holiday-shortened week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is gaining ground Monday to begin a holiday-shortened week, hanging near its highest level in three months.The S&P 500 was 0.7% higher in afternoon trading, coming off its third straight winning week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 182 points, or 0.5%, as of 1:27 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.1% higher.In the latest twist that captivated Wall Street over the weekend, Microsoft was up 2.3% after it said it’s bringing on Sam Altman for a new venture following his sudden dismissal as CEO of OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. Microsoft said it will also continue its partnership with OpenAI, as fervor around artificial-intelligence technology and the huge profits it’s expected to create continue to dominate Wall Street.Kohl’s fell 1.4% after the retailer said that Dave Alves left as its president and chief operating officer, less than nine months after naming him to the post.This upcoming week is relatively light on reports that cou...

Braves sign hard-throwing reliever Reynaldo López to a $30 million, 3-year contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — While keeping up their search for starting pitching, the Atlanta Braves added another reliever to their bullpen Monday by agreeing to $30 million, three-year contract with right-hander Reynaldo López.The deal calls for López to make $4 million in 2024 and $11 million in the next two seasons. There is an $8 million club option for 2027, with a $4 million buyout.The 29-year-old López pitched for three teams in 2023, combining to go 3-7 with a 3.27 ERA and six saves over 68 appearances with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians. He had 83 strikeouts in 66 innings — a career-best average of 11.3 Ks per nine innings — with a fastball that averaged 98.2 mph.The Braves, who had an MLB-leading 104 wins this past season but were eliminated in the NL Division Series for the second year in a row by Philadelphia, have been retooling their roster with an eye toward getting over the hump in the postseason. They re-signed relievers Joe Jiménez and Pierce ...