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Federal appeals court deals blow to Voting Rights Act

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

By Christina A. Cassidy and Ayanna Alexander | Associated PressWASHINGTON — A divided federal appeals court on Monday ruled that private individuals and groups such as the NAACP do not have the ability to sue under a key section of the federal Voting Rights Act, a decision voting rights advocates say could further erode protections under the landmark 1965 law.The 2-1 decision by a panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals based in St. Louis found that only the U.S. attorney general can enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires political maps to include districts where minority populations’ preferred candidates can win elections.The majority said other federal laws, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act, make it clear when private groups can sue but said similar wording is not found in the voting law.“When those details are missing, it is not our place to fill in the gaps, except when ‘text and structure’ require it,” U.S. Circuit Judge Da...

Brad Pitt’s 2nd son blasted him as ‘terrible,’ ‘awful human being’ in 2020 post, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

Several months after Brad Pitt reached the pinnacle of his Hollywood career in 2020 by winning an Academy Award, his second son, Pax Jolie-Pitt, reportedly blasted him on Father’s Day as an “awful human being” who makes the youngest of his six children “tremble in fear.”The then-16-year-old used his private Instagram account to slam Pitt, penning his screed over a photo of Pitt accepting his Oscar for best supporting actor in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” in February 2020, the Daily Mail reported. Four years earlier, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt after the actor allegedly became intoxicated and abusive to her and at least two of their six children on a private plane ride from Europe to Los Angeles.“Happy Father’s Day to this world class a–hole!!” wrote Jolie-Pitt, now 19, according to a screenshot of the post, which was published by the Daily Mail. “You time and time again prove yourself to be a terrible and despic...

Popular SF pizza spot to close after 19 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The original location of Little Star Pizza, a popular Bay Area pizza chain, is closing after nearly two decades in business. In an Instagram post Sunday, the restaurant chain announced that its original location in San Francisco's Western Addition would close at the end of the year.The closure was announced on the location's 19th anniversary. Will San Francisco streets remain clean even after APEC? "Today is 19 years for The Original Little Star Pizza on Divisadero!" Little Star said in the post. "With a heavy heart on this anniversary day, we announce that LS Divisadero will be closing at the end of this year.""It has been a marvelous run, and an honor to have been a part of the Western Addition/Nopa/Alamo Square neighborhood," the post continued. "A tremendous thanks to all of the lovely people that has passed through our doors and supported us!"No official reason was given for the closure in the post.Little Star maintains two other locations -- one in th...

Hundreds of OpenAI workers threaten to quit after CEO Sam Altman booted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- OpenAI employees said they are ready to make a mass exodus from the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence tech company after their CEO was unexpectedly booted. More than 500 employees wrote a letter to OpenAI's board of directors accusing board members of "destroying" the world's leading AI company and terminating CEO Sam Altman without evidence that it was necessary. Altman's sudden departure from the company happened on Friday, just one day after he spoke at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco's Moscone center. He also delivered a keynote address on November 6 at the first-ever Open AI DevDay conference in San Francisco. Then-OpenAI CEO Sam Altman looks on during the APEC CEO Summit at Moscone West on November 16, 2023 in San Francisco. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)In their letter, employees reminded the board that OpenAI's workers developed "the best models and pushed the field to new frontiers. "The products we bu...

2 arrested for armed carjacking before leading a police chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

(KRON) -- The San Mateo Police Department announced the arrest of two suspects allegedly responsible for an armed carjacking that happened in September.On Sept. 15 around noon, the victim of the carjacking parked his work van near the intersection of 42nd Avenue and Edison Street, according to police. Two people armed with guns then got out of a white Infiniti parked in front of the van and demanded the victim get out of the van and onto the ground. One of the suspects, identified as Jose Ramirez Marquez, 18, of Oakland, got into the van and drove away. The other one, identified as Julian Villalobos, 18, of Antioch, got back into the Infiniti and drove away. Verdict reached in San Carlos samurai sword murder trial After police responded to the scene, Brisbane police said they located the stolen van driving on Highway 101. Police said they attempted to stop the van, but Ramirez Marquez led them on a chase into San Francisco. Once in San Francisco, police said Ramirez Marquez got ou...

Brandon Staley doesn’t have much time to answer why Chargers should remain ‘All In’ on his vision

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

Brandon Staley’s self-confidence and bravado endeared himself to Los Angeles Chargers fans during his first two seasons as the team’s coach.Those qualities have also put him on the hot seat after the Chargers’ 23-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, which dropped them to 4-6 and seemingly into free fall.Staley has been feeling pressure from the media and an impatient fan base since the Chargers blew a 27-point, first-half lead in their 31-30 playoff loss at Jacksonville last season.It ramped up when the Bolts opened this season with close losses to Miami and Tennessee and hasn’t abated.After Sunday’s game, Staley for the first time turned combative against those who have singled out his defense as a reason why this season has been a disappointment.The Chargers are ranked 31st in total defense and last against the pass. That puts them on pace for their worst defensive finish in the rankings since 2002, when they were 31st overall and last against the pass.“...

Indiana closes on a 13-2 run to beat Louisville 74-66 for 3rd place at the Empire Classic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Xavier Johnson had 14 points, Malik Reneau scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Indiana closed on a 13-2 run to beat Louisville 74-66 on Monday in the third-place game of the Empire Classic. Indiana trailed 64-61 with 4:23 remaining after JJ Traynor’s dunk but Louisville did not score again until Skyy Clark’s wide open layup with 4.1 seconds left.Johnson made a fast-break layup, following a steal by Reneau, to put Indiana ahead 65-64. Reneau added a basket in the paint and two free throws to make it 69-64. Indiana scored 13 straight points in the final four minutes. Kel’el Ware also scored 12 points for Indiana (4-1). Anthony Walker added 11 points. Reneau, who scored a career-high 18 points in a loss to No. 5 UConn on Sunday, finished 3 of 5 from the field and 6 of 6 at the stripe.Walker scored nine points in the first half to help Indiana build a 34-29 lead. The Hoosiers got 18 bench points in the first half and 20 points in the paint.Clark...

How community violence is impacting some Prince George’s Co. students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

Prince George's County students and staff discuss ways to make students feel safe. (WTOP/Scott Gelman) Prince George's County students and staff discuss ways to make students feel safe. (WTOP/Scott Gelman) Sitting in a circle in the school’s media center Monday afternoon, some 20 students at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, considered ways to prevent and respond to violent acts in the community.Euniesha Davis, director of the county’s office of community relations, watched as almost every student raised their hand when asked if they have been a victim of or seen violence in the community. She listened as students explained that some of their peers don’t have role models to talk ...

Denver weather: Dry, mild days before snow returns on Thanksgiving

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The rain and snow showers that fell on Monday is exactly the Denver weather we needed in what has been a dry stretch in November. According to Pinpoint Weather, Colorado’s Most Accurate Forecast, more snow is coming later this week with the potential for the first measurable snow along the Front Range for the month.Possible snow totals by late Friday along the Front Range from Pinpoint WeatherWeather tonight: Clearing and coldRain and snow showers will end from north to south by late evening across the state. Skies will clear along temperatures to turn cold. Expect overnight lows across Colorado below freezing everywhere with the coldest readings being the teens through mountain towns.Overnight lows by Tuesday morning across ColoradoWeather tomorrow: Sunny and seasonalThe forecast includes sunny and pleasant conditions across all of Colorado on Tuesday. Travel will be a breeze with dry conditions. FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and...

Denver music venue reopens months after pipe bursts, floods basement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR)-- The independent Denver music venue, HQ, reopened its doors after a burst pipe forced them to shut down on Aug. 15."The grand reopening was such a positive vibe so many people came by just to say high five and we're so glad you're back and just hang out and celebrate us being back open," said co-owner Scott Happel. "It was a super, super positive experience." What to expect from the Black Friday snowstorm in Denver When the pipe burst, it caused one of the walls in the basement to buckle and quickly fill the venue with water. The 3,200-square-foot basement was eventually submerged in muddy water, which nearly made it to the first floor."We lost almost a $100,000 dollars worth of physical stuff out of the basement and then we were closed for three months, and we haven't even really started the intense repairs that we'll pay for," Happel said.Despite the setback, Happel says they are grateful for the community, which helped them raise more than $24,000 since they clos...