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Believe victims? Britney Spears’ fans struggle with Sam Asghari’s domestic violence claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

Some Britney Spears fans are finding it difficult to dismiss reported claims by her estranged husband Sam Asghari that the pop star frequently got “physical with him” and once gave him a black eye during their six-year relationship.They still want to support the 41-year-old pop star through this latest crisis. They feel deeply for what she’s suffered in life — the harsh and invasive restrictions she endured under the conservatorship of her father and the way media overly sexualized her and exploited her erratic behavior during her high-profile mental health breakdown in the late 2000s. Some also tend to see the 29-year-old Asghari as a wannabe actor who married Spears for her fame and money.Still, they recognize that the big message of the #MeToo movement has been to believe survivors. The controversial verdict in Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against Amber Heard — during which he managed to convince a jury that he, not Heard, was the victim of d...

Letters: Evacuation plan | Safety or profit? | Live permits | Homelessness | Good work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Orinda’s evacuationplan needs workOrinda’s Evacuation Analysis must be redone. It assumed that a wildfire would not spread. Of course, in that event, there would be no need to evacuate.The fire chief pointed out this flaw to city staff last fall, saying that wildfire spread should be modeled. Attorney General Rob Bonta has said the same thing. Orinda staff did not relay the fire chief’s concerns to the City Council, even though he asked staff to do so. The Evacuation Analysis also had been promised to but failed to analyze the effect on evacuation through downtown of the planned 1,618 new housing units to be built downtown. This is troublesome because many Orindans will need to evacuate through downtown, which is a known pinch point.Unfortunately, to date, although the Orinda City Council has been made aware of these issues, there is no indication that it intends to do anything about them.Nick Wara...

Letters: Wildfire safety | Truth telling | Bad behavior | School closures | MS portrayal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Wildfire safety techalready existsRe: “PG&E’s wildfire strategy needs careful scrutiny” (Page A6, Aug. 9).As a former utility engineer, I’ve studied the best methods, one of which was developed by San Diego Gas and Electric more than 10 years ago in response to a massive wildfire, and consists of electronic detection of a broken or shorted line within milliseconds and turning off power before the line hits the ground and the current causes a fire.One problem with relying on tree trimming is that in many mountain areas, the trees outside PG&E’s transmission corridor are tall enough to fall into their lines. Also, on many two-lane country roads where distribution poles are right along the pavement, there is almost no corridor to clear trees, so any nearby tree could land on the line.PG&E’s engineers feel that high-speed electronic shutoff is a much more cost-...

Antioch and Pittsburg police officers arrested by FBI

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The hammer finally dropped on nine Bay Area law enforcement officers who were arrested by FBI agents Thursday morning in connection to an 18-month investigation.The FBI's raid targeted current and former Antioch and Pittsburg police department officers. More than 100 FBI agents were deployed to make the arrests, and they found the officers in Hawaii, Texas, and across the San Francisco Bay Area. Nine of the accused officers are currently in custody with no bail. A 10th officer's arrest is still pending. A sweeping investigation began in early 2022 as a narrow probe into officers who allegedly cheated on college tests to obtain salary raises. FBI agents dug into the cheating scandal and opened a "Pandora's Box" of unethical and criminal behavior among officers, a source told KRON4.Thursday's raid was given a green light after a federal grand jury handed down four indictments charging 10 officers with a wide range of crimes.Names of former and current Bay Area ...

San Mateo woman reported missing, last seen in July

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

(KRON) -- Authorities are investigating the disappearance of a woman, the San Mateo Police Department said in a press release on Thursday. Dami Kim, 39, was last in contact with a friend on July 12 when she and her dog were last seen near Bridgepointe Apartments located at 2201 Bridgepointe Parkway. Kim was officially reported missing on July 19.Kim is a Korean woman who is 5-foot-2 and approximately 105 pounds, SMPD said. She has black hair and brown eyes. Kim lived in Orange County and the Los Angeles area before moving to San Mateo. Popular KBBQ chain Baekjeong opens first Bay Area location at Valley Fair (San Mateo Police Department)(San Mateo Police Department)The circumstances around Kim's disappearance are unknown at this time. Her dog, a tan toy poodle named Curry (pictured below), is still missing, SMPD said. (San Mateo Police Department)Police said anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact SMPD Detective Lazaro at 650-522-7661 or by e...

3 Petaluma retail thefts in one day being investigated, one arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

(KRON) -- Police in Petaluma are investigating three retail thefts that occurred on Wednesday, one of which resulted in an arrest, according to the Petaluma Police Department. Retail Theft 1In the first incident, officers were dispatched to Dick's Sporting Goods at around 3:35 p.m. on a report of retail theft.Employees at the store advised officers that a suspect -- later identified as Evan Thomas -- had taken over $1,000 of merchandise and fled the store without paying. The employees also provided a description of Thomas' vehicle, which had already fled the area by the time officers arrived.Thomas was located driving the vehicle a short time later. A traffic stop was conducted, and Thomas was positively identified as the thief and subsequently arrested.Officers searched his vehicle with the help of K9 officer Jax. They located the stolen merchandise, burglary tools and suspected fentanyl. He was booked into Sonoma County Jail on felony grand theft, possession of fentanyl and posses...

Fremont teen reported missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

(KRON) -- The Fremont Police Department is searching for a missing teenager. Arely Curiel, 16, has not been seen since June 14. Her family said she was reported missing on June 5 but returned home safely in mid-June. Her family reported her as missing again recently, according to police. Missing 16-year-old last seen in Santa Rosa Arely is 5-foot-1 and 165 pounds with long black hair and brown eyes. She is known to frequent Fremont, Newark, Hayward, San Jose and Sacramento. Anyone who sees her is asked to contact FPD at (510) 790-6928.

Former Milpitas teacher arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

(KRON) -- A former Milpitas teacher was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault, the Milpitas Police Department said. Daniel McQuigg, 56, of San Mateo, was identified as the suspect.In July 2023, a woman came to police to report sexual assaults that happened when she was a minor. She said McQuigg initiated a sexual relationship with her in 2016 when she was younger than 18. Missing 16-year-old last seen in Santa Rosa McQuigg was employed by the Milpitas Unified School District until 2018. He was arrested at his San Mateo home on Tuesday and was booked into jail on several counts of felony sexual assault. Detectives believe there could be additional victims. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Milpitas police at (408) 586-2500.

Half-pound of fentanyl seized in San Pablo traffic stop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

(KRON) -- Officers with the San Pablo Police Department seized over half a pound of fentanyl during a traffic stop, the department announced Thursday. San Pablo PD Officer Trevino pulled over a car and during his investigation, he located the fentanyl.The driver was arrested and booked into county jail, according to San Pablo PD. Antioch police officers arrested by FBI, mayor says "Just a reminder! Selling drugs in San Pablo will get you arrested," police said in a social media post.A photo accompanying the post showed a massive bag of fentanyl on a scale, coming in at 241.43 grams, the equivalent of slightly more than half a pound.

Missing 16-year-old last seen in Santa Rosa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

(KRON) -- Santa Rosa police are asking for the public's help in the search for a missing teen. Tyson Wesley Thompson, 16, was last seen on Thursday at around 9 a.m. near his home the 2300 block of Jose Avenue, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD). Starbucks no longer offering disposable cups at these North Bay locations Tyson was last seen wearing a gray Carhart brand hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, black shoes and had a JanSport backpack on. SRPD said Tyson left his home on a blue Specialized Rockjumper bike. Tyson has a mental health diagnosis, SRPD said. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 707-528-5222.