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Lawmakers try to keep kids from social media, porn, but skeptics doubt legislators’ ability to thwart tech-savvy teens

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

Elaine S. Povich | Stateline.org (TNS)To address the harmful effects of pornography and social media on children, states are passing laws meant to keep kids off certain sites and to block them from adult content.But the efforts face major hurdles — and real questions about whether the proposed solutions would even work.Some of the measures would require parental permission for minors to access certain websites. Others call for tech companies to install obscenity filters on devices sold to minors. Lawmakers have passed legislation in both blue and red states, from California to Texas.Two of the most stringent laws already face legal challenges over free speech and privacy considerations.Critics also say the laws go too far in undermining parental rights – ceding control to the state. And there are the practical concerns that kids, being generally more technologically savvy than their parents, will find ways to circumvent even the most tightly drawn laws.“It’s something more like, ‘I’...

Man arrested on suspicion of 1996 child sexual abuse in Sunnyvale; authorities say there may be more victims

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

SUNNYVALE — A 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl in Sunnyvale nearly 30 years ago, and authorities said they’ve identified two additional victims.Richard Jeffery Martinez, a current resident of San Jose, was arrested Monday. In a news release, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said the 1996 assault of a 7-year-old took place in the Cherry Orchard neighborhood, near Highway 82.Authorities said Martinez, who was in his early 30s at the time of the alleged assault, was identified through forensic genealogy and an extensive investigation. They did not provide additional details.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | East Bay task force arrests 7 accused sexual predators Crime and Public Safety | Bay Area man gets 10 years in federal prison for distributing film of himself sexually abusing a boy Crime and Public Safety | East Bay couple charged with murdering 11-year-old girl who w...

AAA: Electric vehicles’ range falls when carrying heavy loads

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

Charles E. Ramirez | (TNS) The Detroit NewsElectric vehicles lose a significant amount of range when loaded with heavy cargo, according to a new AAA study released Tuesday.An electric pickup truck can lose nearly 25% of its range when hauling loads about 100 pounds less than its maximum capacity, the study said.“Range anxiety remains a top reason consumers are hesitant to switch from gasoline-powered vehicles to EVs,” Adrienne Woodland, a AAA spokeswoman, said in a statement. “While this study may heighten concerns, it’s worth remembering that excess weight reduces fuel economy in gas-powered vehicles too.”In the study, the auto club’s researchers drove a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck with a 1,400-pound load of sandbags. The load was 110 pounds less than the truck’s maximum capacity.Ford Motor Co.’s F-150 Lightning is one of its most popular vehicles. Last week, the company said it’s on track to reach its 150,00...

Police searching for Fremont girl who went missing 9 days ago

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

(KRON) -- A 16-year-old Fremont girl went missing on June 5, and as of Wednesday, her whereabouts were still unknown. Arely Curiel could be in the East Bay's tri-city area (Fremont, Newark, and Union City), or Hayward, investigators said. The Fremont Police Department issued an alert Wednesday morning asking community members to be on the lookout. Arely Curiel is missing. (Image courtesy FPD) Curiel is described as Hispanic, 5-feet 1-inch tall, weighs 165 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding the girl's whereabouts is encouraged to call the Fremont Police Department at 510-790-6800, extension 3.

Contra Costa County DA: Officers' use of deadly force on Discovery Bay resident was 'lawful'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

(KRON) -- The Contra Costa County District Attorney has released a report on the use of deadly force for a Discovery Bay resident, Robert Steven Jones, who was shot by police last year.On March 22, 2022, Jones's wife called police to report that her husband had been drinking and pushed her. As officers entered the residence, Jones brandished a large knife and officers drew their firearms, ordering Jones to drop his knife, officials said. 2 teens shot, 1 dead in San Leandro Jones grabbed what appeared to be a rifle. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the officers safely exited the residence and waited for backup to arrive.Jones walked outside of the residence pointing the suspected rifle at the officers and began walking towards them. After ignoring several commands to drop his weapon, the officers shot at him. After determining the area was safe to approach, officers began life-saving measures while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Jones was taken to a local hospital w...

The Special Counsel Who Indicted Trump Is No Democrat. They Never Are.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

Ben Shapiro, conservative commentator and lead singer of an Alvin and the Chipmunks tribute band, has some thoughts about former President Donald Trump’s arraignment yesterday on federal charges in Florida. “When the Justice Department gets reduced to pure politics, you have a problem,” said Shapiro on his eponymous show. He continued:Now I hear people screaming, ‘But you just said that Trump may have committed criminal activity here, the allegations against him are very strong.’ That’s true [but] the only way that you actually restore the credibility of the justice system is to have Republicans prosecute Republicans and Democrats prosecute Democrats. … If the basic line here is the Republicans are just supposed to accept that Republicans who are guilty of crimes get indicted, and Democrats who are guilty of crimes get slots on CNN and MSNBC, that is not a workable solution for anyone. … The double standard is what is going to destroy the credibility of the institut...

Pausa para los pagos de deudas estudiantiles expira pronto: todo lo que debes saber

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

NUEVA YORK  — Después de tres años, el congelamiento ordenado por las autoridades de Estados Unidos a los pagos de los préstamos estudiantiles de la era de la pandemia terminará a finales de agosto.Puede parecer tentador seguir adelante sin hacer pagos, pero las consecuencias pueden ser graves, como un impacto en el puntaje de crédito y la exclusión de ayuda y prestaciones sociales futuras.Más de 40 millones de estadounidenses tendrán que comenzar a pagar sus préstamos estudiantiles federales nuevamente al final del verano bajo los términos de un acuerdo de techo de deuda aprobado por el Congreso. Biden veta proyecto de ley que habría anulado el plan de cancelación de la deuda estudiantil Cómo pagar tus préstamos estudiantiles cuando finalice la pausa por la pandemia este verano Millones también esperan saber si la Corte Suprema permitirá que siga adelante el plan de condonación de préstamos estudiantiles del presidente Joe B...

Falcons plan expansion, renovation of training center

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — After scoring poorly on a players’ union survey, the Atlanta Falcons announced a major renovation of their suburban training facility Wednesday.Construction will begin early next month — just weeks before the start of training camp — on a two-story strength and conditioning center on the south side of the existing main facility in Flowery Branch. The expansion, which will allow for a seamless open-air transition from the workout areas to the outside practice fields, will include a second-floor mezzanine with a focus on cardio equipment. In addition, the dining area will be renovated and expanded.The Falcons ranked 23rd out of 32 teams in a facilities’ survey conducted by the NFL Players Association. “Many player respondents expressed a consistent complaint about not having enough room in multiple parts of their facility as they go through their workday,” the union said in its report. “This feedback of players being too ‘crammed’ foc...

Bud Light dethroned as America’s top selling beer after 2 decades with LGBTQ+ backlash ongoing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

After more than two decades as America’s best-selling beer, Bud Light has slipped into second place.Modelo Especial, a Mexican lager, overtook Bud Light in U.S. retail dollar sales in the month ending June 3, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Bump Williams Consulting. Modelo controlled 8.4% of U.S. grocery, convenience and liquor store sales; Bud Light fell to 7.3%.It’s a milestone in the months-long sales decline Bud Light has experienced since early April, when critics vowed to boycott the brand after it sent a commemorative can to Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer. Bud Light has also faced backlash from Mulvaney’s fans, who think the brand didn’t do enough to support her.Dave William, Bump Williams’ vice president of analytics and insights, said Bud Light has been the top-selling U.S. beer since 2001, and it could still retain that crown this year. He noted that Bud Light’s year-to-date market share of 9% is still outpacing Modelo’s, at 8%. But Modelo appears to have t...

Iowa city hires outside firms to investigate partial building collapse

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two firms have been tasked with investigating the partial collapse of a six-story apartment building in Davenport, Iowa, that left three dead, many injured and dozens displaced, the city announced Wednesday.The city hired White Birch Group, LLC, and SOCOTEC Engineering to complete a cause and origin report that will be shared with the public “when deemed appropriate,” city officials said in a statement.A report could start to answer questions about the May 28 partial collapse, including why residents remained in the 116-year-old brick, steel and concrete building despite the many warnings over many months about its integrity.Structural engineers, masons, city inspectors and tenants all had concerns, city documents show.One tenant noticed in April that the wall was bowing, the window frame was pulling away from the wall and the floor was uneven. Shauna Dixon messaged her leasing agent questioning if the wall was safe.“Just asking because the floor and wa...