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Editorial: House Republican dysfunction couldn’t come at a worse time

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

The nation’s government is paralyzed — and it’s hard to imagine a worse time.The good news is that for the third time at least 20 brave Republicans combined with Democrats to block Rep. Jim Jordan from becoming the next speaker of the House. The nation could ill-afford an ultraconservative, Donald Trump lackey and fellow election denier from leading the lower chamber of Congress or standing second in line to succeed the president.The bad news is that the latest rejection of Jordan extended the House dysfunction for an 18th day on Friday following the unprecedented ouster of Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3. For 2½ weeks, and counting, the nation has watched this slow-motion trainwreck.Surely, it wouldn’t last, we thought. But it’s now becoming apparent that this could go on for a long time. It’s already lasted far too long. The government again faces a shutdown if Congress can’t pass a spending bill by Nov. 17, when the short-term budget deal President Biden signed at the end of Septe...

Mailbag: The ‘Pac-2’ and the Big 12 and ACC, an alternative outcome for the Pac-12, the role of the UC regents and more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

The Hotline mailbag publishes each Friday. Send questions to [email protected] and include ‘mailbag’ in the subject line. Or hit me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline.Please note: Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.Any truth to the talk about other conferences using remaining ‘Pac-2’ assets as a reason to invite Oregon State and Washington State? — @CelestialMoshLet’s split this question into two buckets: One that addresses the legal weeds, the other that tackles the realignment landscape.The outgoing schools are concerned about this very issue, according to a conference source. It’s one reason the ‘Pac-10’ is loath to give Washington State and Oregon State full control of the Pac-12 board.Specifically, the worry is that WSU and OSU would retain all the assets once the 10 leave next summer, then simply join  another conference — just as the outbound schools are doing.In other words, they would be no different tha...

Kenneth Chesebro: Pro-Trump lawyer pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case, implicates Trump in fake elector conspiracy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

Atlanta (CNN) — Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who helped orchestrate the Trump campaign’s 2020 fake electors plot, pleaded guilty Friday in the Georgia election subversion case to being part of a conspiracy alongside former President Donald Trump and others.The plea deal is another blow to Trump and a major victory for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who charged Trump and 18 others in the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. It comes one day after former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell also pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Chesebro pleaded guilty to one felony – conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Fulton County prosecutors recommended that he serve 5 years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution, and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee imposed that sentence at Friday’s hearing. Chesebro has also agreed to testify in future court proceedings.As part of his plea deal, Chesebro admitt...

2 California Hells Angels sentenced to prison in case involving murder, illegal cremation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A pair of California Hells Angels members were sentenced to prison for participating in a criminal enterprise that included the murder and illegal cremation of another Hells Angel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Friday. Jeremy Greer, 43, of the Sonoma County Hells Angels was sentenced to seven years in prison for violent crimes as part of a racketeering conspiracy. Merl Hefferman, 54, of the Fresno Hells Angels, was sentenced to four years in prison for obstruction of justice.Greer committed multiple "brutal" assaults, armed robbery, home invasion robbery and witness intimidation, according to the FBI. He also committed multiple violations of his release conditions, resulting in him being arrested again and remanded to custody. Home Depot employee allegedly embezzled $1.2m in cash: San Rafael PD Hefferman arranged the illegal cremation of former Sonoma County Hells Angels member Joel Silva after he was murdered by Fresno Hells Angels presiden...

Yountville issues mandatory boil order after E. coli detected in water supply

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

(BCN) -- The town of Yountville in Napa County issued a mandatory boil water order Friday after E. coli was detected in the municipal water supply.It is the second time this year that the town has faced a boil order for its water after a precautionary order was issued for three days in July.The most recent order came after samples from a treatment plant at the Veterans Home of California tested positive for E. coli earlier Friday. The treatment plant handles water that comes from Rector Reservoir, Yountville's primary water source located east of Silverado Trail, town officials said. Flying tails: Newborn puppies rescued in Fresno All 838 water customers of the town are affected by the problem, which Yountville officials anticipated resolving by Tuesday.People should boil water for a minute and let it cool before drinking, and should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth and food preparation while the order is in effect.More information on what to do when a boil...

Morgan Hill Unified must give girls the same access to athletic equipment, facilities and training as boys

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

(BCN) -- Morgan Hill Unified School District must give female athletes equivalent access to facilities, equipment, transportation and coaching as male athletes, according to a resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights announced Thursday.The resolution agreement followed an investigation that found that female athletes did not have the same opportunities as male athletes when it came to equipment, scheduling of game times, travel, coaching, locker room and competitive facilities, medical and training facilities and publicity, according to a news release from the Office of Civil Rights. SF teachers’ union reaches tentative agreement with school district "Today's resolution with Morgan Hill Unified School District addresses the disparities in the quality and availability of benefits for female athletes that OCR observed in the athletics programs at Live Oak High School," said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon. "Morgan Hi...

Judge fines Donald Trump $5K but won’t hold him in contempt after post disparaging court clerk lingered on campaign site

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Judge fines Donald Trump $5K but won’t hold him in contempt after post disparaging court clerk lingered on campaign site.Source

Maryland judge presided over divorce case of man suspected in his killing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Police are searching for a man suspected of fatally shooting a Maryland judge who had awarded custody of the suspect’s children to his wife on the day of the killing, authorities said Friday.The judge was shot in his driveway Thursday evening while his wife and son were home and just hours after he ruled against the suspect in a divorce case, authorities said.Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said authorities are “actively working” to apprehend 49-year-old Pedro Argote for the “targeted attack” of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson.Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. Thursday outside his home in Hagerstown, authorities said. Wilkinson was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.Albert said at a news conference Friday that Argote is considered “armed and dangerous.” Albert declined to identify that type of weapon used in the slaying but said Argote legally owned a handgun.Judges across the U.S. have ...

Stock market today: Wall Street is closing its worst week in a month with more losses

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is closing out its worst week in a month with more losses on Friday.The S&P 500 was 0.9% lower in late trading and on track for a fourth straight drop. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 188 points, or 0.6%, as of 3 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.1% lower.The stock market has been struggling under the weight of the bond market, where the yield on the 10-year Treasury briefly topped 5% late Thursday for the first time since 2007, according to Tradeweb. High yields make borrowing more expensive for everyone, and they slow the economy while dragging on prices for stocks and other investments.The yield on the 10-year Treasury was sitting at 4.91% after easing from within a hair of 5% earlier in the morning. It’s been catching up to the Federal Reserve’s main interest rate, which is already above 5.25% and at its highest level since 2001.Yields swung a day earlier after investors took comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Pow...

Live updates | Hamas frees 2 American hostages, even as Israel airstrikes continue in southern Gaza

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:46 GMT

This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows both the Egyptian, left, and Gaza Strip, right, sides of the Rafah border crossing Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Satellite photos analyzed Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, by The Associated Press show a massive convoy of semitruck trailers lined up at the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side, likely waiting for approval to cross into the besieged Gaza Strip as the Israel-Hamas war rages. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)(AP/Planet Labs PBC) This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows both the Egyptian, left, and Gaza Strip, right, sides of the Rafah border crossing Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Satellite photos analyzed Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, by The Associated Press show a massive convoy of semitruck trailers lined up at the Rafah bord...