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NIYAZ’s Fourth Light to Illuminate Royce Hall

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

NIYAZ’s Fourth Light to Illuminate Royce Hall: NIYAZ, the ethno-electronic Iranian-American musical group featuring Azam Ali and Loga Ramin Torkian, perform at UCLA’s Royce Hall on Saturday, and it promises to be a special, night.Their immersive multimedia event The Fourth Light combines, they say, “captivating music, stunning visuals, dance, and innovative technologies to create an immersive and unforgettable journey for audiences.”“We have performed The Fourth Light over sixty times around the world, but Los Angeles being our hometown and the center of the movie industry means so much to me personally,” said Torkian.“During this tumultuous time in our homeland Iran, when women are rising so bravely in their quest for freedom, I cannot help but reflect on how this struggle has its roots as far back as the 8th century with Rabia Al Basri,” said Azam Ali. “For us, this show has always been about celebrating the power of women. Presenting it in Los Angeles in c...

5 things to know about the police scandals in Antioch and Pittsburg

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

The indictments Thursday of several Antioch and Pittsburg police officers marked a new, momentous phase in burgeoning scandals that have prompted protests in East Contra Costa County, the dismissals of numerous criminal cases and a sprawling state civil rights investigation.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Exclusive: Antioch, Pittsburg cops rounded up in early morning FBI raid following grand jury indictment Dozens of headlines about the scandals have been published since the Bay Area News Group first reported in September 2022 that a federal grand jury had convened, highlighting rampant racism throughout the Antioch Police Department’s ranks and numerous alleged misdeeds by officers in Pittsburg and Antioch. Each new development has revealed new fault lines in this part of the Bay Area — particularly in Antioch, a community whose Black population has swelled in recent years, while its police force has remained primarily white.Here’s a primer on ...

Woman found shot to death in hills above East Oakland

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

OAKLAND — A woman was found shot to death Wednesday night in the hills above East Oakland, police said.A passer-by found the woman fatally shot about 7:23 p.m. in the 5100 block of Keller Avenue, near Campus Drive, police said. The area has homes and small businessesThe woman’s identity was not publicly released pending confirmation and notification of her next of kin.Police did not immediately say whether they believe the woman was shot at that location or left there after being shot elsewhere. Investigators were still working to establish a motive and identify a suspect.The homicide is the 68th one investigated by Oakland police in 2023. A year ago at this time, police had investigated 75 homicides.BART police and East Bay Regional Parks police each have investigated one homicide that happened in their jurisdictions within Oakland city limits.Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspec...

Exclusive: Antioch, Pittsburg cops rounded up in early morning FBI raid following grand jury indictment

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

The FBI led a series of raids around the Bay Area Thursday morning, rounding up officers from Antioch and Pittsburg, in the culmination of an 18-month investigation into an alleged criminal network composed of law enforcement officers.The raids came after a federal grand jury in San Francisco handed down an indictment that accuses current and former officers with a wide range of offenses, including criminal conspiracy. A U.S. District Judge has placed the indictment under a sealing order, but that is expected to change sometime Thursday.The arrests mark the end of an investigation that started in early 2022, when a tipster informed the FBI and Contra Costa District Attorney that a group of East Contra Costa County cops were cheating on college tests to obtain education incentive pay bumps. The scope of the investigation later widened to include alleged violent crimes and drug trafficking, and precipitated a cascade of scandals that has transformed the Antioch Police Department into ...

Danville city council to extend state of emergency

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

(BCN) -- The Danville Town Council will hold a special meeting Thursday to extend the local emergency and finish repairing last winter's storm damage to a downtown section of San Ramon Creek. The creek flooded Dec. 31 during one of the area's atmospheric river events, causing mudslides and several trees to fall along the creek, from Front Street between Diablo Road and East Linda Mesa Avenue. A second atmospheric event hit Jan. 4, causing more damage, the day after the town already declared a local emergency. The council has extended the emergency several times, most recently on June 20. The council is required to determine whether the emergency still exists every 60 days to keep Danville eligible for federal reimbursement. Much of the work has been done, but the Front Street slide still needs repair. In a staff report for Thursday's meeting, Danville officials said, "This repair, which is significant and needs to be completed to avoid loss of the roadway, is an em...

San Jose is 2nd best place to raise family in U.S.: report

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

(KRON) -- Despite all the talk of "doom loops" and people leaving the Bay Area for other states, one South Bay city is among the very places to raise a family in the U.S., according to a new report. San Jose ranks second in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Places to Live for Families."When it comes to raising a family, San Jose ranks right behind Huntsville, Alabama, according to the report. In terms of education, San Jose tops the list, with U.S. News saying the San Jose metro area "ranks No. 1 out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. for college readiness among high school students." Starbucks no longer offering disposable cups at these North Bay locations The report does note that San Jose residents spend a larger share of the median annual household income on the cost of living -- about 26%. The report also notes that the median home price in the area tops $1.5 million. However, at $99,430, the average salary in San Jose is also well above the national average ...

Residents flee, airlifts begin as wildfire approaches capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories (AP) — Residents of the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories began fleeing an approaching wildfire Thursday in long convoys while air evacuations were underway for those who could not leave by road, the latest chapter in Canada’s worst fire season on record.The fire was within 16 kilometers (10 miles) of the northern edge of Yellowknife, and people in the four areas of the city of 20,000 at highest risk were told to leave as soon as possible, Fire Information Officer Mike Westwick said.Residents in other areas should be out by noon Friday, because strong north winds could push the fire toward the highway needed for evacuation, Westwick said. Although some rain was forecast for the region, first responders were taking no chances.“I want to be clear that the city is not in immediate danger and there’s a safe window for residents to leave the city by road and by air,” Shane Thompson, a government minister for the Territories, told a n...

Biden to pay respects to former Pennsylvania first lady Ellen Casey, who died last week in Scranton

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is traveling to Pennsylvania on Thursday to privately pay his respects to the mother of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who died last week in Biden’s hometown of Scranton.The president is expected to arrive before visiting hours for Ellen Casey, who also was a former first lady of Pennsylvania, at St. Peter’s Cathedral.Casey, the widow of Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey and the mother of Casey, D-Pa., died at age 91. Biden issued a statement Monday commemorating her life. Before boarding the plane, Biden said Ellen Casey was an honorable and decent woman. “She played an enormous role not just in my life, but everyone’s,” Biden told reporters. “She was an incredible woman, decent, honorable, her values were amazing. And every time I’d go to Scranton over the years, I’d stop and see her. She was a friend.”Biden also released a lengthy statement earlier this week commemorating her life.The president, who grew up near the Casey household, said Ellen Ca...

Policía: Oficial de DC dispara contra sospechoso de violencia doméstica que habría estado armado

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

Un oficial de policía de DC disparó e hirió a un sospechoso de violencia doméstica en Georgia Avenue NW el jueves después de que el hombre sacara un arma, informaron las autoridades. El tiroteo ocurrió durante una sesión informativa del Departamento de Policía Metropolitana sobre cómo responder a un aumento en el crimen.Los oficiales fueron llamados a un “incidente de violencia doméstica” en la cuadra 7400 de Georgia Avenue NW alrededor de las 10:30 a.m., indicó la jefa interina de la policía, Pamela Smith. Tenían una descripción del sospechoso.“El oficial se comprometió, tuvo una conversación con el sospechoso. El sospechoso se giró, sacó un arma y nuestro oficial hizo un disparo”, explicó Smith.El oficial no resultó herido. El sospechoso, cuyo nombre no fue revelado, fue llevado a un hospital. La información sobre su condición no se dio a conocer de inmediato.Varios oficiales rodearon una gasolinera a unas pocas cuadras al sur de la línea entre DC y Maryland.La cuadra 7400 de Geo...

Caleb Williams returns to take a second shot at national title contention with No. 6 USC

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:10 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Caleb Williams’ first season at Southern California was a massive individual success, as evidenced by his Heisman Trophy and his status as the consensus top prospect in the next NFL draft.But Williams has some decidedly unhappy memories of last season, simply because the Trojans fell short of their team goals during their exciting debut under Lincoln Riley.As a quarterback who stands out both for his talents and for his embrace of a leadership role over his entire team, Williams is determined to lead No. 6 USC into national championship contention when he gets a second chance this fall.“We’ve got a lot to go get this year,” Williams said. “Everyone has the same goal and mindset this year. A whatever-it-takes kind of mindset to get all of what we want. It’s going to be a good year. Can’t wait.”The Trojans have taken on another wave of talent as they begin their second season under Riley, whose remarkable rebuilding project still needs plenty of work des...