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Oakland pimp ‘Scarface’ convicted of human trafficking of a minor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

OAKLAND — A 46-year-old man known around town by the nickname “Scarface” was convicted of human trafficking, pimping, and pandering a 16-year-old girl, court records.Lawrence Bomani Johnson, of Oakland, was convicted June 8 after a trial that spanned several weeks. The trial took a turn, though, when prosecutors dropped several charges midway through, all involving a second alleged victim.Johnson was originally charged with trafficking two girls — one who was detained during an undercover prostitution investigation, and a second who was identified after a Contra Costa District Attorney’s employee told police a colleague was dating a girl who was being trafficked by Johnson. The first victim testified during trial, resulting in Johnson’s conviction. The dropped charges were related to the second girl.The first girl, who is referred to as Jane Doe in court records told police that two days earlier Johnson pulled up alongside her in a vehicle as she ...

Conor McGregor accused of sexual assault at NBA Finals game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

Associated PressMIAMI — The NBA and the Miami Heat are investigating an allegation that former UFC champion Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman inside an arena bathroom after Game 4 of the NBA Finals.The woman’s attorney, Ariel Mitchell, said her client has provided Miami police with the clothing she was wearing that night and that a report was filed.McGregor’s attorney said the fighter denied any wrongdoing. “Mr. McGregor will not be intimidated,” said the attorney, Barbara Llanes.In letters sent to the NBA, the Heat and McGregor’s representatives, Mitchell detailed her client’s allegations and said the client would discuss “reasonable settlement offers” before June 12 or else proceed with litigation.“We are aware of the allegations and are conducting a full investigation,” read a statement from the Heat. “Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will withhold further comment.”The NBA had a similar st...

New data shows how California’s hotline to report acts of hate performed in first month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

The California vs Hate network, a new hotline and online portal for residents to anonymously report acts of hate, logged 180 incidents within its first month, state officials said.The most reported bias motivations during May were race and ethnicity, followed by religion and sexual orientation, according to preliminary data the California’s Civil Rights Department released Thursday.About half of the people who made reports also accepted care coordination services, and approximately one in six reports were made by a witness or advocate, the data showed.“Make no mistake: Hate and discrimination remain a threat across the country,” Kevin Kish, the director of CRD, said in a statement. “No place is immune to hate, but in California, we’re committed to doing everything in our power to uplift, protect, and heal all our communities.”While some reports did not specify the county where the allegations occurred, at least 24 of the 180 incidents were filed from the Bay Area, according to Rishi...

Nevada governor signs bill paving way for Oakland A’s ballpark in Las Vegas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has signed a bill granting $380 million to the Oakland A’s to help build the team’s planned ballpark in Las Vegas.Lombardo, a Republican, signed the bill a day after both houses of the Nevada Legislature approved its language with a slew of community benefits and financial commitments promised by the A’s in order to secure the votes.“This is an incredible opportunity to bring the A’s to Nevada, and this legislation reflects months of negotiations between the team, the state, the county, and the league,” Lombardo said in a statement. “Las Vegas’ position as a global sports destination is only growing, and Major League Baseball is another tremendous asset for the city.”The bill’s passage clears the way for Oakland’s last major professional sports franchise to leave town and marks a significant milestone in the team’s decades-long search for a new stadium.“We are excited about Souther...

Athletics fall 4-3, but split with Tampa Bay demonstrates how far they’ve come

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

OAKLAND — With the Athletics taking a 4-3 loss Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays, it could be seen as a return to the natural order of things.The Athletics fell to 19-52, a couple of percentage points ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the worst record in baseball. The Rays are the first team in baseball to 50 wins (with 22 losses) and look on their way to 100 or more.And given the A’s are two days removed from an emotion-charged win Tuesday night in the “Reverse Boycott,” it’s worth pondering whether the recent seven-game win streak was a hint of things to come or just a blip on the radar screen toward the most losses in franchise history.Time will tell, but the A’s came tantalizingly close to taking three of four from the same team that beat them 31-5 in a three-game sweep on the first road trip of the season from April 7 through April 9.“It’s a very good team over there,” A’s starting pitcher Paul Blackburn said after...

Crash in Manitoba, Canada, kills 15, mostly seniors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

By Rob Gillies | Associated PressTORONTO — A bus carrying seniors to a casino collided with a semi-trailer truck at a highway intersection in a rural part of the Canadian province of Manitoba Thursday, killing 15 people and injuring 10 more, police said.Rob Hill, Commanding Officer of the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the bus was carrying 25 people and authorities in Manitoba were deploying all their resources to the scene. Ten people were taken to hospitals.TV broadcasters aired images of what looked like a large van or bus smoldering in a ditch near a transport truck with a smashed engine on a road. The pavement was littered with debris — broken glass, a large bumper and what looked like a walking aid. Seven blue and yellow tarps were stretched out.RCMP Supt. Rob Lasson said “as of right now the drivers of both the bus and truck are alive and in hospital.” He did not say if they were among the 10 listed as injured. The dead were mainly seniors.Lasson sai...

Nevada governor signs A’s stadium funding bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) - Governor Joe Lombardo signed Senate Bill 1 on Thursday, June 15 making the A’s stadium funding bill law. This comes one day after the Nevada State Assembly approved a $380 million bill to help the Oakland Athletics build a new stadium in Las Vegas. Manfred comments on A’s reverse boycott, move to Vegas; Oakland mayor responds It comes after a five-day special session in which the Nevada Legislative passed the bill with two amendments. One removes an exception to pay prevailing wages in certain monorail projects and the other makes companies give 12 weeks of paid family leave if they take tax dollars. The bill amendments also increased the Community Benefits Agreement to $2 million per year which would come from the A’s and removed the homeless prevention and assistance fund.The bill gives the A’s a cap of up to $380 million of public financing for the $1.5 billion dollar 30,000-seat stadium. The funding comes from an estimated $120 million in bonds issued by C...

Santa Clara County workers poised to strike over staffing concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

(KRON) -- Following six days of voting by Santa Clara County’s largest union, SEIU Local 521, members voted to authorize their bargaining committee to call for an Unfair Labor Practice Strike.The potential strike could affect more than 12,500 county jobs. Union members work for the county's three hospitals and clinics, social services, 911 dispatch communications centers, parks, maintenance, the assessor’s office, and recorder’s office. County workers are calling for the county to invest in "funding the frontline." The vote passed with 95 percent of members casting "yes" votes, the union announced Thursday afternoon.During the next sessions of negotiations, the SEIU 521 Santa Clara County bargaining team and union leaders will evaluate when, and if, a strike is necessary. SEIU Local 521 Vice President Andre Thomas speaks at a rally. (Image courtesy SEIU Local 521) "This overwhelming majority 'yes' vote represents the voices of workers all across the county. Workers that played...

Del. Lewis leads Father’s Day pledge to combat domestic violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

A closeup of the signature of some members of the House of Delegates on a poster to combat domestic violence. Photo by William J. Ford.(William J. Ford) A closeup of the signature of some members of the House of Delegates on a poster to combat domestic violence. Photo by William J. Ford.(William J. Ford) As Father’s Day approaches Sunday, some elected officials in Maryland are spreading a pledge to combat domestic violence.About 40 Maryland state delegates signed their names to a Prince George’s County poster with a pledge “to never engage in any type of abuse — physical, emotional, sexual, financial or digital.”Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s) led the effort a few days before this year’s 90-day legislation ses...

Search underway for suspect in shooting that killed 16-year-old boy in Prince George’s Co.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:02 GMT

A 16-year-old Silver Spring boy was killed and a man hospitalized after a shooting in Langley Park, Maryland, Wednesday. Police are asking for help finding the person responsible.Prince George’s County police said the shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. in the 7900 block of Riggs Road. Police said responding officers found Kevin Ruiz Campos in the parking lot of an apartment building. He had been shot several times and was pronounced dead at the scene.A man who’d also been shot was taken to the hospital and was still there as of Thursday night, police said.Campos was a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. In a letter to the school community, Principal Renay Johnson said the school is making psychologists and counselors available to students who need support.“Our counselors are available to offer a listening ear and resources to help our students cope with the death of a peer,” Johnson said. “I know you join me in extending our hear...