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Feds allege Bay Area woman used payroll tax money on herself, put nonprofit out of business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal grand jury has indicted a Vallejo woman in what prosecutors called a $257,000 embezzlement scheme that put a San Francisco nonprofit organization out of business, authorities said.The indictment charges the 53-year-old Vallejo woman with four courts of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey of the Northern District of California said in a statement. The nonprofit, which provided academic support and employment assistance to students in the Sunnydale and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods of San Francisco, is now defunct, Ramsay added.U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex Tse released the woman on her own recognizance following her first court appearance to face the charges Wednesday, Ramsey said. She next will appear for a status hearing on Aug. 30.The woman was the organization’s director of operations, Ramsey said. The organization received donations from several sources, including the City of San Francisco, San Francisco County and the U.S. Department of ...

Russia continues assault on Ukraine’s port cities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

By Samya Kullab | Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine — Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night Thursday, keeping Odesa in the Kremlin’s crosshairs after a bitter dispute over the end of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.The strikes killed at least two people in Odesa. In Mykolaiv, a city close to the Black Sea, at least 19 people were injured, including a child, Ukrainian officials said.Russia has targeted Ukrainian critical grain export infrastructure since it vowed “retribution” this week for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukrainian drone boats.The strikes on Ukraine’s grain export infrastructure have helped drive up food prices in countries facing hunger. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the end of the deal Monday would result in more hum...

Los Gatos restaurant's spicy 'Dragon Balls' trigger lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

(KRON) -- Everyone has different culinary preferences for spicy food. But one San Francisco Bay Area restaurant's "Dragon Balls" dish is so spicy that a diner filed a lawsuit after eating the balls. Harjasleen Walia filed a civil lawsuit accusing Coup De Thai in Los Gatos, as well as the restaurant's cook, waitressing staff, and owner, of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Coup De Thai's website describes its cuisine as "a true revolution of your senses. Fireworks light up your mouth from our traditional menu that puts the true 'Thai' back in command of Thai food."According to the lawsuit filed July 3 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, "Dragon Balls" were so spicy that Walia suffered burns on her vocal cords, esophagus, and nose. "Harjasleen Walia was poisoned, made ill and burned necessitating medical care. Her throat and voice has been damaged. She incurred permanent injuries and will forever be damaged to her body. These consequences are the direct re...

Why is hazing such a widespread problem? Abuse prevalent despite efforts to stop it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

Northwestern University is facing multiple lawsuits after allegations that the football program had a hazing problem for years, including “forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature.”The scandal at the Big Ten school, which led to the firing of longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald, centers on a problem that extends far beyond sports, even if it is sports that often gets the headlines.Studies have found that 48% high school students report being subjected to some form of hazing. An Alfred University study from 1999 also found that 79% of NCAA athletes reported being hazed in high school and their recruiting trips were not always about a positive experience: “One in five was subjected to unacceptable and potentially illegal hazing. They were kidnapped, beaten or tied up and abandoned. They were also forced to commit crimes – destroying property, making prank phone calls or harassing others,” the study found. Experts say more, updated research is also needed....

Man United signs goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for $57 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

Manchester United completed the signing of goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for 51 million euros ($57 million) on Thursday, reuniting Erik ten Hag with a player with whom he won three Dutch titles at Ajax.Onana has joined on a five-year contract. There is also an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months and United will have to pay 4 million euros ($4.5 million) in add-ons, dependent on his success at the club.“To join Manchester United is an incredible honor and I have worked hard all my life to get to this moment, overcoming many obstacles along the way,” the Cameroon goalkeeper said.Onana will join up with his new teammates on their preseason tour of the United States.He replaces David de Gea, who announced his departure from United after 12 years at the club earlier this month.Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Onana should allow Ten Hag to implement his plans to build play from defense, which he struggled to do with De Gea last season.Onana’s footwork wa...

Russia bombards Odesa and other southern Ukraine port cities for third night since end of grain deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night Thursday, keeping Odesa in the Kremlin’s crosshairs after a bitter dispute over the end of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.The strikes killed at least two people in Odesa. In the nearby city of Mykolaiv, which is close to the Black Sea, at least 19 people were injured, including a child, Ukrainian officials said.Russia has targeted Ukrainian critical grain export infrastructure since it vowed “retribution” this week for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukrainian drone boats.The strikes on Ukraine’s grain export infrastructure have helped drive up food prices in countries facing hunger. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the end of the deal Monday would result in more human suffering, with potenti...

Kicked cooler lands Mariners OF Jarred Kelenic on IL with broken foot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners outfielder Jared Kelenic broke a bone in his left foot kicking a water cooler following a ninth-inning strikeout.Kelenic was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, a day after the getting hurt.Kelenic was apologetic fighting through tears for letting his emotions get out of hand and expressing his frustration.“I made a mistake. I let the emotions get the best of me there. I just feel terrible, especially for the guys,” Kelenic said. “I just let the emotions get the best of me and I just let them down and take full responsibility for it. It’s on me. It just can’t happen.”Seattle manager Scott Servais said Kelenic will be out for an extended period of time but did not estimate a timeframe. The team doesn’t believe surgery will be needed.Kelenic’s injury occurred in the ninth inning of Seattle’s 6-3 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday night. With two runners on in the ninth inning, Kelenic had a nine-pitch at-bat against closer Jhoan Duran that included ...

United States winger Tim Weah ready for the challenge of replacing Juan Cuadrado at Juventus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

TURIN, Italy (AP) — United States winger Tim Weah has a lot to live up to after joining Juventus from Lille.Not only is he the son of one of the top players to have plied his trade in Italian soccer — former FIFA Player of the Year and current Liberian President George Weah — but the 23-year-old will have to replace Juan Cuadrado.The Colombia international signed a one-year deal with Inter Milan on Wednesday after eight seasons at Juventus.“Definitely a responsibility, because what he’s done at the club has been amazing, I mean for me he’s a legend,” Weah said about Cuadrado in a news conference on Thursday. “Just watching his every move, his plays and what he’s done for the club has been great. And, you know, I can only just be inspired.“So, you know, I just pray to God and hopefully, you know, I put in the work, work hard and … definitely some big shoes to fill. But I’m ready for the challenge.”Weah’s father also played in Italy, for AC Milan, but recently told Italian newsp...

Four new casinos, video gambling could be on horizon as North Carolina Republicans negotiate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — As many as four new casinos as well as video gambling machines could be authorized in North Carolina under proposals now being discussed by legislators, the top General Assembly leaders said on Thursday. House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters separately about the ideas, which they said have yet to reach the level of formal legislation that could be voted upon. But details about those ideas and some potential bill language are being exchanged, the Republican leaders said, reflecting an upgrade in negotiations that have waited in the wings for months during this year’s legislative session. The negotiations appear intertwined with extended talks over a final two-year state budget that was supposed to be enacted by July 1. Votes on any outstanding legislation from this year’s work session — including any budget agreement — now are not likely to happen until at least early August, the lawmakers said. “I would anticipate that if at ...

Wheaton High School hosts inaugural DC South Asian Music Fest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:04 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the DC South Asian Music Fest (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Growing up in India, Manoj Singh listened to Western music like ABBA, Sting and The Beatles.Now, he wants to reverse the cultural exchange and bring Indian music to Montgomery County.The inaugural D.C. South Asian Music Festival launches this weekend with three nights this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Sil...