Two men have been charged with robbery in connection to dozens of purse snatchings targeting Asian women throughout the Bay Area, the Santa Clara County district attorney said Saturday. The men — Derje Blanks, 23, and Anthony Robinson, 24 — were also charged with hate crime enhancements. The office for District Attorney Jeff Rosen said the suspects “used ethnic slurs to refer to their victims,” who were almost all of Asian descent. “We will hold these defendants and anyone who worked with them fully accountable for their ignorant and destructive behavior,” Rosen said in a press release. Blanks and Robinson were arrested by San Jose and Hayward police on September 8. Robinson fled in a vehicle and ran a red light, colliding with another car and injuring a two-year-old and her father, according to police. A third suspect was arrested on Thursday, ending what SJPD called “yearlong, multi-jurisdictional investigation” into the “prolific robbery crew.” The crime spree began in …
California fires: Nine national forests to close through Labor Day
3 The Dixie Fire became the first in California history to burn from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada across the mountains to the eastern valley floor. Data reveals the details of the Dixie Fire’s staggering growth , and how it differed from other wildfires. The explosive Caldor Fire continued to thwart firefighters who battled rough terrain, heavy smoke and unpredictable winds as explosive growth forced evacuations across a huge swath of El Dorado County. The fast-moving Cache Fire in Lake County forced rapid evacuations, which included several schools. Track wildfires burning across the Bay Area and California with our interactive map , and read answers to key questions on this year’s fire season . Latest updates: Nine national forests to close through Labor Day: The U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday night that nine national forests in California would close to the public, starting late Sunday through Labor Day, …
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S.F. police investigating homicide near Alamo Square Park
2 San Francisco police are investigating a homicide after a man was shot and killed Friday night near Alamo Square Park, a city supervisor said Saturday. Supervisor Dean Preston, who represents the district where the incident occurred, said in a tweet Saturday afternoon that the homicide occured near the intersection of Grove and Webster streets, about two blocks east of the park where tourists flock to see the Painted Ladies. The victim, identified by Preston as a male, had been “reportedly on a motorcycle or dirt bike at the time” he was shot. First responders transported the victim to San Francisco General Hospital, where he died. San Francisco police did not immediately respond to inquiries about the investigation. Police had not made any arrests in the case as of Saturday afternoon, Preston said, and it was unclear whether the homicide involved more than one suspect. “We will provide further updates on the case as we learn more,” Preston said. …
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Should we compare Afghanistan to Vietnam? Here’s why one vet in Congress says no
2 WASHINGTON — As helicopters landed on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul amid the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan this week, comparisons to the fall of Saigon were quick. But one of the few Vietnam veterans in Congress isn’t keen on drawing parallels. North Bay Rep. Mike Thompson served in combat in Vietnam as a staff sergeant and platoon leader, receiving a Purple Heart after being wounded. He also sat on on the House Intelligence Committee for a stretch of the Afghanistan conflict, from 2007 through 2014, giving him a familiarity with the intelligence challenge there. He is one of only four members of Congress to have seen combat in Vietnam, and one of three in the House. Like many Americans, Thompson has been dismayed to see the chaos unfold as the Afghan government collapsed far more quickly than forecast and thousands of Americans and Afghan allies scramble to evacuate to safety. But the St. Helena Democrat said he’s not interested in comparing the debacle …
Hundreds bid tearful farewell in Roseville to Marine killed in Kabul airport attack last month
2 ROSEVILLE — At 23, Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee was honey blond and relentless — the decorated soldier who earned perfect scores on fitness tests and loved to bake, who became immortal when someone snapped a photo of her cradling a baby at the Kabul Airport last month. That’s the image of her that is now frozen in time. Forever. Through their tears as they helped lay Gee to rest on Saturday, those close to her described her as the consumate warrior whose life shone as an example of hope before it was cut short in a suicide bombing outside Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26. Gee was one of two female Marines killed in the attack, which claimed the lives of 13 U.S. troops and more than 170 civilians. The Islamic State terrorist group ISIS-K later took responsibility. As family members, friends and fellow Marines gathered to memorialize Gee at Bayside Church in her hometown of Roseville, a suburb northeast of Sacramento, photographs of the fallen …
New daily virus cases in Florida is lowest since July
2 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida reported more than 75,000 cases of COVID-19 over the week, continuing a drop from summer highs when the state battled a fierce surge in infections fueled by the delta variant, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figures released Friday brought the state's daily average for the week to more than 10,800 cases, though there were 11,275 new cases reported on Friday. A month ago, Florida was averaging more than 21,000 cases a day. The daily average for the past week was the lowest since the end of July. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Florida since the start of the pandemic in early 2020 is just shy of 3.5 million cases, according to the CDC. Despite the decline in new cases, Florida marked a somber milestone in the past week, surpassing 50,000 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began. Epidemiologists say the state’s rates of vaccination has outpaced the national …
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Holidays: Best Black Friday 2020 all-inclusive holiday deals for 2021 & 2022
Travel expert offers advice on airline vouchers after pandemic Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top Royal stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Black Friday may well be the perfect excuse for Britons to treat themselves to their dream holidays. Whether it’s a trip to the Caribbean or a holiday in Spain , Black Friday has it all. Black Friday falls on November 27, 2020 and is then closely followed by Cyber Monday on November 30. Trending READ MORE TUI Marella cruises Black Friday 2020: Latest deals for 2021 & 2022 With the coronavirus pandemic causing many holidays to be cancelled earlier this year, it’s always best to check the small print before booking. Here are …
Mystery as woman found on Croatian island speaks perfect English but can’t remember her own name
A WOMAN found on a rock at sea speaks perfect English but cannot remember her name. A fisherman who spotted her waving called rescuers. A 14-strong team had to use 4x4s and then walk two miles across jagged rocks on the isle of Krk, Croatia . The bloodied blonde, in her 60s, told them she had no idea how she got there. She had no passport, papers or phone and was dehydrated and emaciated. Experts said she had survived several nights despite bears prowling nearby. The woman, 5ft 4in with shoulder-length hair, is now being treated in hospital. Sources said she spoke English “like a professor” but they have yet to establish her nationality. A local told news site 24Sata: “It’s weird that she was looking in the area at all. It is an extremely inaccessible part of the bay with terribly sharp rocks — literally razors that cut the rubber on your shoes. “There is no life or animals except maybe wild boars or bears which know how to swim to here in search of food, but …