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After prison sentence in notorious 1996 campus slaying, Antioch man charged in connection with two shootings

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

ANTIOCH — A 50-year-old man who was implicated in a notorious 1996 slaying on Contra Costa College’s campus has now been charged in connection with two shootings that occurred two months apart, court records show.Samuel Paul Cox Jr., of Antioch, was charged with negligent discharge of a firearm and illegal gun possession in connection with a Nov. 4 shooting, and with being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with a Sept. 20 shootout. He has pleaded not guilty and was held to answer on the three charges at a Dec. 14 preliminary hearing, court records show.Both shootings occurred in Antioch and did not result in any fatalities or injuries, authorities said.  In the Sept. 20 shootout, police say Cox was identified as one of three suspects who fired, but that Cox allegedly shot back at a man who opened fire at him and another man.In 1996, Cox and two others were arrested and charged with murdering Contra Costa College student Christopher Robinson, in what police...

Herb Kohl dies at 88; ex-owner of Milwaukee Bucks once served as U.S. senator from Wisconsin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

By Todd Richmond and Frederic J. Frommer | Associated PressHerb Kohl, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, has died. He was 88.His death Wednesday was announced by Herb Kohl Philanthropies, which did not give a cause but said he died after a brief illness.“More than anything, Herb loved Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and that is where he chose to live out his days,” Kohl’s foundation said in a statement. “He touched an incalculable number of lives, and those who love him would remark that he is among the most decent people to ever walk the earth.”Kohl was a popular figure in Wisconsin, purchasing the Bucks to keep them from leaving town, and spending generously from his fortune on civic and educational causes throughout the state. He also used his money to fund his Senate races, allowing to him to portray himself as “nobody’s senator but yours.”In the Senate, a body renowned for egos, Kohl was an unusual figure. He was qu...

Letters: Leverage power | Tax increase | A good read

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

 Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.U.S. should leveragepower to aid GazansThe United States should leverage Joe Biden’s “bear hug diplomacy” to insist on a U.S. military security-controlled delivery of food and water to Gazans by sea.The U.S. military has tight logistical control and the discipline to guarantee that each delivery contains only food and water. There would be no valid concerns that shipments conceal weapons.U.S. military ships stationed off Israel/Gaza are laden with food for troops, including prepackaged MREs, and they have amphibious landing capabilities.Amphibious craft deliver to shore for distribution by U.N. operations. U.S. boots do not need to even get wet.If Israel blocks its one remaining international ally from a security-guaranteed, life-saving humanitarian operation, their intentions of genocide by starvation of the Gazan population is clear.In that case, we should boldly invoke a showdo...

US, Mexico officials meet to talk immigration, border

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

By Maria Verza and Edgar H. Clemente | Associated PressMEXICO CITY — A top U.S. delegation met with Mexico’s president Wednesday in what many saw as an attempt to have Mexico do more to limit a surge of migrants reaching the U.S. southwestern border.Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said he is willing to help, but he wants to see progress in U.S. relations with Cuba and Venezuela, two of the top sources of migrants, along with more development aid for the region.But Mexico’s top priority appeared to be getting the United States to reopen border crossings that were closed because of the migrant surge.“We spoke about the importance of the border, and about the economic relationship … the importance of reopening the border crossings, that is a priority for us,” Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Bárcena said after the meeting.Both sides in the talks face pressure to reach an agreement after past steps like limiting direct travel into Mexico...

San Mateo County commits $15 million to fight flooding

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has committed $15 million to the construction of the Vista Grande Watershed Project, aimed at addressing persistent flooding in San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco.Supervisor David Canepa attributed the floods in the area to excessive rainfall triggering an overflow of water in San Francisco’s Lake Merced.“When San Francisco’s Lake Merced overflows, it floods north San Mateo County five hours later, and during heavy rains like we are experiencing now, the floods can cause extensive property damage,” Canepa said in  a statement.Canepa added that the sewer system in San Mateo County is “aging and historic” and it would need significant plumbing adjustments to adapt to the changing climate in the Bay Area.Daly City, an area consistently affected by the floods, will spearhead the expansion of the capacity of the Vista Grande Drainage Basin to facilitate better rainwater movement to the Pacific Ocean.“The Vis...

US announces new weapons package for Ukraine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

By Lolita C. Baldor | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The U.S. on Wednesday announced what officials say could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation that is stalled on Capitol Hill.The weapons, worth up to $250 million, include an array of air munitions and other missiles, artillery, anti-armor systems, ammunition, demolition and medical equipment and parts. The aid, provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, will be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles.In a statement, Marine Lt. Col. Garron Garn, a Pentagon spokesman said there is no more funding to replace the weapons taken from department stocks. And the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides long-term funding for future weapons contracts, is also out of money.As a result, Garn said Wednesday, “Without the supplemental funding, there will be a shortfall in replenishing U.S. military stocks, affecting American military readiness.”Pre...

Woman dies in hospital a week after being hit by car outside San Jose shopping center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

SAN JOSE — A woman died Sunday after being hit by a car nearly a week earlier outside of a San Jose shopping center, authorities said Wednesday.The woman was hit on Dec. 18 at the entrance of a shopping center on the 6200 block of Santa Teresa Boulevard, according to the San Jose Police Department. She was walking on a sidewalk when the driver of a 2013 Honda sedan pulled out of the center’s parking lot and ran into the woman, police said.The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died Sunday from her injuries.Her name has not been released because authorities are still working to identify her.The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. No other details of the crash were released.The woman’s death marked the 49th traffic fatality this year in San Jose. Twenty-seven of those deaths involved pedestrians being hit by vehicles.Anyone with information about the crash can call 408-277-4654 or email tips to [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submit...

49ers’ Chase Young ‘pretty hyped up’ about returning to face Washington

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Chase Young still owns a home about 20 minutes from the Washington Commanders’ facility, and he plans to visit his dogs there Saturday when the 49ers’ players get a sliver of free time.Then comes Sunday’s reunion. Young has obvious motivation and insight when facing his old team, which drafted him No. 2 overall in 2020 and traded him two months ago to the 49ers in his contract year.“This week is a huge one for him,” fellow defensive end Nick Bosa said. “He’s already pretty hyped up about it and excited, so we’re going to try and play our best game for him.”Young did his best Wednesday to downplay his return as “just playing football,” but there’s no doubt he’s glad to be playing it on a different team.Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 is landed on by San Francisco 49ers’ Chase Young #92 in the first quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on...

Chick-fil-A to open another East Bay location

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

(KRON) -- Rejoice, Chick-fil-A lovers in the East Bay. Another location is coming to Contra Costa County. According to documents filed by the fast-food restaurant chain, Chick-fil-A is opening a new location in Concord.The new location will be located at 1981 Diamond Blvd. where the Willows Shopping Center is. Construction of the Chick-fil-A restaurant will be completed sometime after March 1, 2024, according to documents filed by Chick-fil-A to the California State Water Resources Control Board.It is unknown at this time when the location will open. Chick-fil-A has yet to respond to KRON4's request to provide a date for the Concord location's opening. Shake Shack to open new location in South Bay A new Chick-fil-A location is set to open at the Willows Shopping Center in Concord.This will be the Bay Area's 26th Chick-fil-A location. Currently, the closest Chick-fil-A to Concord is in Walnut Creek. Construction of the future Concord Chick-fil-A began on Sept. 1, according to the ...

Man charged with hate crimes over stabbing at New York’s Grand Central Terminal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man has been charged with attempted murder and assault as hate crimes following the Christmas Day stabbing of two teenage tourists from Paraguay at an eatery inside Grand Central Terminal, authorities said. Witnesses said Esteban Esono-Asue, 36, also known as Steven Hutcherson, made derogatory comments about white people shortly before the unprovoked attack on the 14- and 16-year-old girls inside the Manhattan transit hub Monday morning, according to a criminal complaint. He was being held without bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty Tuesday to the charges, which also included child endangerment.According to the complaint, Esono-Asue initially was asked to leave the Tartinery dining area by an employee, who said Esono-Asue responded by saying: “I’ll leave, I don’t want the white man to get at you,” or something similar. A second employee said he made another anti-white comment after he approached her and asked for a table to place an o...