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Law enhancing California inmates' religious protections gets nod from Gov. Newsom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

(BCN) -- Religious protections for incarcerated people across California will be enhanced following Gov. Gavin Newsom's approval last week of legislation allowing inmates to practice religious clothing, headwear and grooming traditions.Senate Bill 309, proposed by Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, sets rules about religious clothing, headwear, and grooming for people being booked into prison or jail. The law follows research that shows when inmates can practice their spiritual tradition while in detention, they're less likely to be violent or engage in other negative behaviors, Cortese's office said in a news release Saturday.Maintenance of free exercise rights among incarcerated people also reduces the chances of recidivism or repeat offenses, the office added."Freedom of religious expression doesn't only exist outside of prison walls. Never again in California should someone be stripped of their religion while they are booked into a detention facility," Cortese said in a statement."R...

Danville City Council to discuss modifying its cannabis rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

(BCN) -- The Town of Danville on Tuesday will hold a study session to discuss whether the city should allow commercial cannabis use.A staff report for Tuesday's meeting says since the state began legalizing cannabis sales, "the town has prohibited all commercial cannabis uses in town to the extent permitted by state law."The ban includes a prohibition on residential delivery of cannabis, which must be lifted on Jan. 1, because of a new state law - the Medicinal Cannabis Patients' Right of Access Act - which says local jurisdictions can't enforce or adopt regulations prohibiting the retail delivery of medical cannabis to either medical cannabis patients or their primary caregivers.The law will allow local jurisdictions to adopt "reasonable regulations of such deliveries," the city said.The council will discuss whether the city should amend its ordinance to remove the prohibition on residential delivery or simply stop enforcing it while leaving it on the books.It will also discuss whe...

San Mateo couple facing 20 years in fed prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

(BCN) -- A San Mateo woman has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and will be sentenced along with her husband, U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert announced Thursday.Kendra Dennaoui, 67, and her husband, Dennis Moore, defrauded their victims by promising to invest their money into real estate deals, but instead spent the money on themselves and to continue their fraud schemes, prosecutors said.The couple misappropriated over $500,000 from their victims, the U.S. Department of Justice said.Both Dennauoui and Moore, who had previously pleaded guilty, are scheduled to be sentenced in Feb. 29, 2024. Each are facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

BART sets post-pandemic ridership record Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

(BCN) -- BART officials said on social media that the system set a new post-pandemic ridership record on Saturday."Yesterday we served 116,181 trips. That's 72% of our average Saturday ridership before the pandemic," BART officials said Sunday.Fleet Week in San Francisco definitely played a part, but BART said trains run more frequently on weekends and late evenings now as well."And our commitment to safety and cleanliness is paying off," BART said.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Mouthguard technology detecting brain injuries to be adopted in rugby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — Rugby will use mouthguard technology as part of its efforts to detect brain injuries suffered by players on the field.The smart technology, which measures the force of head impacts in real time, will send alerts to an independent matchday doctor to signal “a high level of acceleration which could lead to an injury,” global governing body World Rugby said Monday.Players who might not have shown symptoms can then be taken off the field and checked out as part of the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process.World Rugby said it is investing 2 million euros ($2.1 million) in the technology to support unions, competitions and clubs. It will be used for the first time in the inaugural edition of the WXV — the global women’s competition — this month and integrated into the HIA from January.Elite rugby players will be required to wear the mouthguards in training as well as matches. World Rugby said that would enable coaches “to better tailor drills, tackle skills and training...

Al menos nueve ciudadanos latinoamericanos permanecen desaparecidos tras los ataques de Hamás contra Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

(CNN) — Al menos nueve ciudadanos latinoamericanos se encuentran desaparecidos tras los ataques de Hamás contra Israel.Durante las primeras horas de este lunes, el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Perú anunció que dos peruanos han sido dados por desaparecidos tras los ataques del sábado.En la noche de este domingo, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Paraguay reportó la desaparición de dos de sus ciudadanos, informó CNN en Español.Última hora del conflicto en Israel y Gaza, en vivoEn Brasil, las autoridades dijeron que tres ciudadanos brasileños estaban desaparecidos después de que el festival de música al que asistían en Israel fuera atacado por militantes de Hamás el sábado, según CNN Brasil citando al Gobierno brasileño.Y la ministra de Asuntos Exteriores de México, Alicia Bárcena, declaró este domingo que dos ciudadanos mexicanos se encuentran desaparecidos y que “presumiblemente” han sido tomados como rehenes por militantes de Hamás, con base en Gaza....

South Florida observes Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

Monday marks Indigenous Peoples’ Day, formerly known as Columbus Day, a federal holiday that honors the Native inhabitants of America prior to Christopher Columbus’ arrival in 1492. This year, the Florida House passed a bill formally recognizing this significant day. In Miami-Dade County, it is celebrated as “Miccosukee Day.”On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, most major banks, federal offices, and the stock market will be closed. However, for those awaiting deliveries, FedEx and UPS are still making deliveries as usual.In the local context, Miami-Dade and Broward County public schools remain open for the day. In contrast, Monroe County schools are closed, allowing students and educators to observe this important occasion.As the nation commemorates Indigenous Peoples’ Day, it serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of Native Americans and their enduring contributions to American society.

EU puts Palestinian funding on hold following Hamas attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

BRUSSELS — The EU has put funding for the Palestinian Authority on hold following this weekend’s terror attack by Hamas in Israel.EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi announced that the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio — totaling €691 million — under review, with all payments immediately suspended.“The foundations for peace, tolerance and co-existence must now be addressed. Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many,” the Hungarian commissioner said. “We need action and we need it now.”The move comes as Germany and Austria announced the suspension of aid to the Palestinian territories.The surprise attack by Hamas — the armed Palestinian group that has been designated a terrorist organization by the EU — caught much of the world by surprise, killing some 700 Israelis, with 400 Palestinians killed in retaliation strikes.The EU announcement opens a debate that has long been a concern for Israel — ou...

Homicide investigation underway in Chelsea after 23-year-old man killed in shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

State and local police are investigating after a shooting in Chelsea left a 23-year-old man dead over the weekend.Massachusetts State Police said Santos David Canizales, 23, of Chelsea, was found after police officers were called to Congress Avenue and Shurtleff Street on Sunday night.A ShotSpotter activation and multiple 911 calls led to police finding Canizales on the ground and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to MSP spokesperson Dave Procopio.The 23-year-old victim was later pronounced dead after being transported to Mass General Hospital in Boston.According to authorities, an investigation involving multiple state police and Chelsea PD units is underway, as well as the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.“Once again we’re looking at a young life cut short and a family forced to live with eternal grief, all due to illegal guns too easily obtained and too willingly used,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement. “We are doing e...

In the last 2 games, Justin Fields has been ___. The defense needs ___. Insights on 4 Chicago Bears questions.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:50 GMT

The Chicago Bears needed that. In the worst way. Thursday night’s blowout of the Washington Commanders snapped a franchise-record 14-game losing streak, was the team’s first victory in 346 days and triggered a jubilant dance party inside the visiting locker room at FedEx Field. It also sent the Bears into their mini-bye with a bit of momentum and encouragement as they try to salvage the season after an 0-4 start.So where does the team go from here? How can Matt Eberflus push the team’s progress forward in the coming weeks? Tribune writers Brad Biggs, Colleen Kane and Dan Wiederer offer their analysis.The Bears’ 40-20 defeat of the Commanders on Thursday night was ___.Brad Biggs: Mood-shifting.The 40-20 defeat of the Commanders on Thursday night was precisely what the organization needed to shift the mood in the locker room and the building. That’s not to suggest it’s been all doom and gloom at Halas Hall but winning is the ultimate deodorant...