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Firefighters extinguish 'stubborn' blaze in Encino

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

A decades-old house in Encino went up in flames midday Friday, and fire officials say a lack of sprinklers could be to blame.The fire was reported at about 11:50 a.m. in the 11900 block of West Hartsook Street, and a firefighter and paramedic team who had been at a medical emergency nearby were quickly on scene, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a news release. The 2,217-square-foot home initially had flames coming from the first floor, though they quickly spread to the second floor and attic.The 87-year-old home did not have fire sprinklers, the LAFD noted."It took 44 LAFD Firefighters just 33 minutes to access, confine and fully extinguish the stubborn flames, which were confined to the structure," the release added.No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Beyonce and Jay-Z buy most expensive home in Malibu's Paradise Cove: Report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

Beyonce demanded respect on her check, and that's definitely the case here in California.The superstar and her husband Jay-Z are now the proud owners of the most expensive home ever in the Golden State, reports TMZ.The "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" hitmakers paid a whopping $200 million for a 30,000-square-foot home in the Paradise Cove area in Malibu. It's appropriately nicknamed Billionaires' Row. Jay-Z’s RocNation publishes open letter for Times Square casino bid The site claims the estate is the second most expensive real estate deal in the country. Number one is a $238 million New York City apartment.Believe it or not, the couple got a deal on the home, as it was listed for $295 million, the entertainment site reported. Beyonce teases new project: ‘I can’t wait for you to experience what I’ve been creating’ This isn't the couple's only California property. Jay, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and Beyonce purchased an $88 million Bel-Air mansion back in 2017, which is now close ...

David Archuleta compares 'The Masked Singer' to 'American Idol'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

David Archuleta is no stranger to singing competitions. He's been on "Star Search" and "American Idol" and most recently appeared as the macaw on "The Masked Singer."When it came to singing in disguise, he had a blast. "'The Masked Singer' is so fun because it's like being a kid, you get to play dress up, be in this big costume and sing songs," he explained to Dayna Devon on the KTLA 5 Morning News. Archuleta was the runner-up in the competition and back in 2008, received second place on Season 7 of "American Idol.""'American Idol' is amazing as well, but compared to all the high pressure and the stress and being critiqued all the time, compared to 'Masked Singer,' where you're just being silly. You're just loosened up, people don't know who you are. It was so lowkey and just fun," he said when comparing the two shows. While some may find singing in disguise more stressful because people are paying more attention to your voice, the "Crush" singer didn't see it that way. "I feel the ...

Jason Oppenheim talks real estate, love and drama on 'Selling Sunset'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

Real estate mogul Jason Oppenheim appears to be on top of the world right now.He is the president and founder of The Oppenheim Group alongside his twin brother, Brett. The brothers and their team star in the Netflix reality series "Selling Sunset."The series follows the drama, work and love lives of the real estate agents and the brothers themselves. Oppenheim himself gets entangled in it sometimes and has dated some of his colleagues. He recently dated Chrishell Stause, who has since moved on to Australian musician G Flip. The two ladies just tied the knot.When it comes to Stause and other exes, Oppenheim has no hard feelings and is happy for them. "I was super supportive of all of Chrishell's decisions, especially as it relates to relationships," he told KTLA 5's Dayna Devon. "I like the two of them. I think they're awesome. I also think it's a good example for people. There's a lot of social pressure and cultural pressure on all of us and for her (Chrishell) to just kind of super...

Woman wounded in Oakland shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

OAKLAND — A woman was shot Friday morning in East Oakland, authorities said.The woman was driven to a hospital by another person where she was being treated for a gunshot wound to her abdomen, authorities said. Her condition was not immediately available.The shooting happened about 11:36 a.m. Friday outside in the 9700 block of Edes Avenue.The woman was shot by someone seen driving away in a truck, authorities said. A detailed description of the suspect and and vehicle were not released.A motive for the shooting was under investigation and no arrests were announced.Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.

Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira will remain jailed before trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

By Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker | Associated PressA Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking highly classified military documents will remain behind bars while he awaits trial, a federal magistrate judge ruled Friday.The ruling comes after prosecutors revealed that 21-year-old Jack Teixeira had a history of violent rhetoric, and was caught by superiors months before his arrest taking notes on classified information or viewing intelligence not related to his job.In ordering Teixeira to remain locked up, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy cited his “fascination with guns,” disturbing online statements and prior admonitions by superiors about his handling of sensitive information. He said the criminal case represented “a profound breach of the defendant’s word that he would protect information related to the security of the United States.”“Who did he put at risk? I mean, you could make a list as long as a phone book,R...

Judge finds Contra Costa DA’s filing practices are racist, dismisses gang charges in murder case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

MARTINEZ — In a first-of-its kind ruling statewide, a judge on Friday dismissed gang charges against four Bay Area men under the Racial Justice Act, ruling that Contra Costa prosecutors have disproportionately targeted Black people with enhancements that open the door for sentences of life in prison without parole.It is a case already under heavy scrutiny because two of the defendants were directly referenced in racist and braggadocios text messages sent by Antioch police officers who investigated their alleged crimes. The texts — part of a much larger scandal involving racism, alleged civil rights violations, and dozens of impugned officers — made light of injuring the men during their arrests and referred to Black people in explicitly racist ways.Earlier this week, county prosecutors formally conceded that the racist texts by Antioch officers constituted a separate violation of the Racial Justice Act, and said they’ll debate the appropriate legal remedy bef...

San Jose native set to make MLB debut, join Oakland A’s bullpen mix

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

After eight seasons in the minor leagues, including a mid-career position change to pitcher, Bay Area native Lucas Erceg is set to make his major league debut with the Oakland A’s.The A’s on Friday announced that Erceg, 28, was joining the team in Houston for the start of a weekend series against the defending World Series champion Astros. The A’s needed another reliever because Zach Jackson went on the 15-day IL with a flexor strain in his right elbow. To make room for Erceg on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated right-hander Zach Neal for assignment.The A’s just added Erceg to the organization on Wednesday night in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he had yet to appear in a game with the A’s Triple-A team in Las Vegas.Erceg is an intriguing addition for the A’s. Erceg has a strong arm, he can hit nearly 100 MPH, but is relatively inexperienced as a professional pitcher, turning to the mound in 2021 after his ascent as a power-hitti...

California canceled $200 million in Middle Class Tax Refunds to balance budget — did anyone miss out?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

It was one of the more curious bullet points in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s presentation last week on how his administration will painlessly absorb, without slashing programs or hiking taxes, a deficit that has swelled to $31.5 billion: The state will hang on to $200 million it had promised last year for “Middle Class Tax Refunds.”So did Newsom pull a Lucy and snatch away the football from poor Charlie Brown taxpayers? Not quite. The unspent refund money stemmed from an overestimate of qualifying taxpayers who couldn’t claim the refund — dead people and splitters who departed California.“The principal reason,” Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer said, “is that our estimate didn’t account for turnover due to migration and deaths.”California was in a very different budget place a year ago, boasting an unprecedented $97.5 billion budget surplus thanks to economic gains enjoyed by the state’s wealthiest residents, whose p...

Documents: Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker admitted to leak, tried to frame mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:12 GMT

Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker admitted to Councilmember Suds Jain that he leaked a confidential grand jury report, and asked a campaign volunteer subpoenaed in the course of the investigation to blame the leak on Mayor Lisa Gillmor, according to grand jury transcripts obtained by this news organization.Becker was indicted by a criminal grand jury last month and has pled not guilty to allegedly leaking a Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report about the council’s relationship with the San Francisco 49ers to the team and to the Silicon Valley Voice, and then lying about it.Becker, through his public defender Christopher Montoya, has maintained his innocence, with the attorney telling reporters earlier this month that “first-time impressions of a case are often wrong or incomplete.”But transcripts of testimonies given to the criminal grand jury that indicted Becker paint a different picture.During a March 29 hearing, Jain — one of Becker’s al...