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California man — already in prison — sentenced to additional time for stealing COVID funds for unemployed people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

A California man who was already serving time in prison has been sentenced to an additional four and a half years for his role in a scheme to defraud the state by frauduently filing unemployment claims, officials said.Ratha Yin, 36, was sentenced to 55 months for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, according to a news release from the United State’s Attorneys Office Northern District of California.While an inmate at the California State Prison, Centinela. in Imperial, from June 2020 to September 2021, Yin conspired with others — including his wife, Amanda Yin, and 28-year-old Steven Mavromatis of San Leandro — to file claims for unemployment insurance under various identities with the California Employment Development Department, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The money was appropriated in the federal CARES Act, which was meant to assist people who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.In his plea agreement, Yin said he used at least 13...

Comic-Con 2023: 7 can’t-miss immersive experiences in downtown San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

By Phillip Molnar & Natallie Rocha | San Diego Union-TribuneMajor Hollywood studios might not be at San Diego Comic-Con International with actors, but they sure are going overboard with promotions — most not requiring a badge — throughout downtown.There are more than a dozen free immersive experiences spread throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, East Village and near the waterfront. They are meant to promote upcoming TV shows and movies with photo opportunities and interactive elements.San Diego Comic-Con badges typically sell out instantly, but these immersive activations are a chance for people who didn’t get a ticket to experience the pop culture extravaganza in a different way.Also, locals that don’t have much interest in Comic-Con — or at least that’s what they tell their friends — can take the afternoon to do an installation or two while people-watching.Here is our guide to some of the installations.FX Immersive Show Worlds ActivationWhy have a promotion for one show when you ca...

Chino Hills man impersonated firefighter, made traffic stop wearing a gun, authorities say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

A 42-year-old Chino Hills man was arrested this week on suspicion of impersonating a firefighter after he pulled over a motorist for a supposed traffic infraction while driving a pickup truck that had emergency lights and “Fire” decals, authorities said.Andrew De Boer was taken into custody on suspicion of false imprisonment and impersonating an officer Thursday, July 20, nine days after he allegedly pulled over the driver in the 6300 block of Narcissus Lane in Chino Hills, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said.During the traffic stop, De Boer wore a law enforcement uniform and a belt with a firearm, officials said. On the uniform was a badge for his made-up agency, the Santa Muerte Fire Department. He also had a baton, pepper spray and handcuffs.San Bernardino Sheriff’s investigators found weapons and other tools used by law enforcement officers upon searching the home and truck of a man arrested on suspicion of impersonating a firefighter earlier this week in Chino ...

Six months after Monterey Park mass shooting, a survivor reflects on recovery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

On the eve of Lunar New Year on Jan. 21, Lloyd Gock was 10 feet away as a gunman entered the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park.The sound of 42 gunshots rang in his ears as he saw friends fall around him.The shooter wielded a modified semi-automatic weapon, and the attack left 11 dead and nine injured.Today, Gock works to help his community recover, but those memories are still fresh. He attributes his survival to both his dance partner and an acquaintance visiting the studio for the first time.“When the shooting started happening, we were all stuck on the floor and this guy next to me used a table next to him to break up the bullets, and of course, the people in front of us got killed,” he recalls. “I was in the middle, and on the other side, it’s my dance partner, and she used a coat to put over my head and just kept saying ‘calm down, don’t make any noise.’ She keeps saying even today that she was my angel, and I really do think that.”One day later, police surrounded a w...

West Oakland community leaders rally against renewed threat of proposed coal terminal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

OAKLAND — At the West Side Missionary Baptist Church, a few dozen community members gathered Saturday to renew a decade-long fight to prevent the city from becoming the coal shipping capital of the East Bay.Surrounded by banners picturing coal carts emblazoned with a skull and crossbones, speakers outlined their case against a terminal that would ship coal overseas. Residents have expressed concern over coal dust adding to pollution in the area, which already copes with environmental issues brought by heavy truck and ship traffic around the Port of Oakland.“No longer can communities be used as toxic waste dumps so people can make a whole lot of money and not care about our health,” said Reverend Ken Chambers, the founder and president of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County, which hosted the event.Oakland councilwoman for District 3, Carroll Fife, center, and members of the community attend the No Coal in Oakland rally at West Side Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif., o...

Anchor Brewing would consider sale to union employees, company confirms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

(KRON) -- Anchor Brewing Company would "gladly consider" a "bona-fide" offer to from its union members to purchase the brewery and save it from closure, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to KRON4.  How much do 'one percenters' earn in California? The Anchor's Union spokesperson emailed the company and stated that union members met and discussed plans before deciding the launch the effort to buy out the San Francisco staple. The union also clarified that an "unidentified" group of Anchor employees are considering the purchase, but the union itself is not.  Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KRON4 Daily News SIGN UP NOW Leadership at Anchor Brewing shared a positive note about the potential sale: “Given our deep respect for the Anchor Union and our team...

Bay Area animal rescue asks for community support

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

(KRON) -- A Bay Area animal rescue is in serious need of support.  How much do 'one percenters' earn in California? Martina Animal Rescue in Benicia is a non-profit group rescuing dogs at high risk of being euthanized from local shelters. But the rescue is running out of funds, and now, one of its facilities is closing.The dogs they care for need to be adopted, or they are all at risk of getting put down. Maria Artle, Laura Plunkett and Matthew Daughters joined KRON4 anchor Stephanie Lin to share more.

Reds hit back-to-back-to-back homers in 6th in 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — TJ Friedl, Matt McLain and Jake Fraley hit consecutive home runs in the sixth inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory.Diamondbacks rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (0-4), just recalled from Triple-A Reno, retired 16 in a row after Spencer Steer led off the first with a single before Friedl started the power spree.With one out in the sixth, Friedl launched an 0-2 pitch into the visitor’s bullpen in right. McLain followed with a long home run to left, and Fraley completed the trifecta with a shot to right to give Cincinnati a 3-1 lead. The Reds last hit three consecutive homers on July 13, 2022, when Kyle Farmer, Mike Moustakas, and Stuart Fairchild went deep at Yankee Stadium.From nearby Louisville, Kentucky, Pfaddt had a large cheering section at the ballpark.Reds rookie left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2) had another strong outing, allowing one run and three hits. Williamson has allowed just...

Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff to enter Baseball Hall of Fame

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Scott Rolen is an old-school baseball guy, but he’s grateful for the analytics of today’s game. They may have helped him get voted into the Hall of Fame.Rolen, making it on his sixth try, and Fred McGriff, elected unanimously by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee, will be inducted Sunday into the Hall of Fame.“I learned a lot more about the process the last two years. I’m not into all the metrics and the numbers, advanced stats and stuff, but apparently, they helped me, so I love them,” Rolen joked Saturday.Rolen, a seven-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner, was selected on 297 of 389 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America — or 76.3%. In his first year of eligibility, Rolen received just 10.2%, the lowest first-ballot percentage of a player later elected. His Hall vote rose steadily. It wasn’t until the past year that Rolen felt he had a great shot to get in. Along with that realization came some stress.“The firs...

ANÁLISIS: ¿Por qué el auge de los partidos de ultraderecha en toda Europa?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:47 GMT

(CNN) — Si bien la “anglosfera” se vio sacudida por un estallido de populismo en 2016, la mayoría de los países europeos demostraron ser notablemente resistentes. Las quejas de larga data en el Reino Unido y Estados Unidos impulsaron el Brexit y llevaron a Donald Trump a la Casa Blanca, pero Europa, que a veces parecía horrorizada al otro lado del Canal y el Atlántico, parecía en gran medida inmune. Bruselas se preocupó por un “efecto dominó Brexit”. En realidad, sucedió lo contrario.En los cinco años a partir de 2016, el centrismo francés hizo brotar un nuevo partido político liderado por Emmanuel Macron que sofocó al Frente Nacional. La renuncia de Angela Merkel se aprobó sin fanfarrias populistas y entregó un sucesor moderado. Mario Draghi, el tecnócrata por excelencia, se deslizó sin problemas del Banco Central Europeo al cargo de primer ministro de Italia. España incluso se fue a la izquierda.Hubo valores atípicos: Jaroslaw Kaczynski en Polonia y Viktor Orban en Hungría c...