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Opinion: Getting creative to take guns off the streets using federal laws

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

Double mass shootings last weekend set a disturbing United States record for the most mass shootings in a single year.Then on Wednesday a gunman walked onto the campus at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and killed three members of the business school’s faculty, critically injuring a fourth.To date, 38 mass shootings broke the previous 2006 year record of 36, as defined by incidents in which four or more people have died, not including the assailant. Here, in Colorado, we are all too familiar with the devastating impact of mass shootings.And, while mass shootings get the most attention, they are simply the tip of the iceberg and a small percentage of firearm-related deaths. Gun violence is a serious public health problem and a leading cause of premature death.According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 48,000 firearm-related deaths in the U.S. in 2022, which translates to about 132 people dying from a firearm-related injury eve...

Three Elizabeth middle school staff charged with failing to report suspected child abuse

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

Three Elizabeth Middle School staff members are facing misdemeanor charges for failing to report suspected child abuse after they allegedly did not report student complaints about a teacher to law enforcement, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday on X.The three staff members — identified by the district attorney’s office as principal Brett Michel, assistant principal Jeff Sparrow, and counselor Shannon Paxton — had been on administrative leave for nearly a month while law enforcement and the Elizabeth School District investigated the complaints, the school district said in a news release Thursday.The school district also announced it is ending the three staff members’ employment, pending approval by the district Board of Education at its Monday meeting.“While we recognize these individuals’ many positive, past contributions to the school community, we have high expectations that our staff will follow legal expectations and boa...

Buc-ee’s has started hiring for first Colorado location, expects store to open in March

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

Work is on schedule for Colorado’s first Buc-ee’s to open early next year.The Texas-based company, known for its mega convenience stores, gas stations and red-capped beaver mascot, is building a store in Johnstown. The store will be the company’s first planned outside the South and the farthest west.And at 74,000 square feet, the Johnstown store will be one of the biggest Buc-ee’s. There will be 120 gas pumps.“We’re scheduled to open the store in March. As we get closer to March, we’ll announce the official day,” Jeff Nadalo, Buc-ee’s general counsel, said Thursday.The building at the southwest corner of Interstate 25 and Colorado 60 is taking shape, clearly recognizable as a Buc-ee’s. The store will be the same size as one in Sevierville, Tenn., currently the largest Buc-ee’s, Nadalo said.A new store under construction in Luling, Texas, will be slightly bigger at 75,000 square feet. Luling was the site of the first Buc-ee&...

From Baby Tate to Offspring — the New LA Weekly Playlist is Live

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

From Baby Tate to Offspring: The 186th LA Weekly playlist, reviewing the musicians that we’ve been writing about all week, is live now. There’s electronic music from Hayden James, hip-hop from Baby Tate and Pheelz, punk from the Offspring, industrial from Skinny Puppy, alt-rock from Garbage and the Strokes, and so much more.Find us on Spotify here,or on Soundcloud here.Don’t forget to “Like” the playlists and “Follow” the profiles.Baby Tate (Bonnie Nichoalds)From Baby Tate to OffspringAlso this week:Print star Baby Tate told us that,“I feel like as I’ve grown as an artist and as a person, the evolution is really just refining and tightening and honing in on the skills that I started off with. I’m really proud of this project because it feels to me the most ‘me’ that I’ve sounded in a while. I attribute that to just really coming into my own this year, learning a lot about myself, and allowing that to shine through these records.”In “Not Another DJ,” Hayden James said tha...

California home-repair costs jump 67% in a decade

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

“How expensive?” tracks measurements of California’s totally unaffordable housing market.The pain: The cost of fixing or remodeling your home in California has risen by 67% in a decade – twice overall inflation’s jump.The source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed Verisk’s repair cost index, which tracks the cost of 31 groups of items used in home repairs including appliances, doors, framing, plumbing and windows – plus their installation.. The surging expenses nudged up costs for homeowners, landlords, builders and insurers.The pinchConsider that these building projects that cost a typical Californian $10,000 at the start of 2013 now run $16,703.But the upswing has sped up since coronavirus upended the economy, disrupted supply chains, and increased interest in homeownership and remodeling.Related ArticlesHousing | To save on their mortgages, Bay Area buyers are increasing their down payments Housing | Middle or upper income? Californians brace for higher ele...

Truck drives into crowd awaiting Bakersfield Christmas parade

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

A pickup truck backing up “very fast” struck three people in a crowd waiting for the start of Bakersfield’s Christmas parade Thursday night.Related ArticlesCalifornia News | Q&A with Amanda Frye: She took on California’s famous Arrowhead bottled water brand — and won California News | Tesla fined for Fremont worker pinned in car on conveyor belt California News | While Oakland’s 911 system was dangerously understaffed, 1,000 operator applications went unprocessed California News | Pearl Harbor survivor recounts day of infamy, honoring veterans at Mount Diablo beacon lighting California News | Is Millbrae using a ‘racist’ amendment in the state constitution to block homeless housing? The three injured were identified as men ages 21, 42 and 77; all were taken to a hospital, Bakersfield TV station KBAK reported. They are expected to survive, police officials sai...

‘Flirty’ Kevin Costner seems unable to keep his hands off Jewel on Caribbean trip: report

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

Months after Kevin Costner extricated himself from one of the messiest and most embarrassing divorce battles in recent Hollywood history, the Oscar-winning actor was seen getting “flirty” with Jewel during a celebrity fundraising event last month in the British Virgin Islands.The sight of Costner, 68, and Jewel, 49, looking “cozy” at the tennis fundraiser, has sparked relationship rumors, People reported. Photos obtained by TMZ show Costner with his arms around the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, as she was giving a speech to attendees at the tennis fundraiser for her Inspiring Children Foundation. The event was held on Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.Both Costner and Jewel smiled as his hands rested on her waist, as she spoke into a microphone, according to the photos. Page Six said it looked as though he couldn’t keep his hands off her.“There was definitely something going on,” a source told TMZ. “They...

Jennings proving he’s more than “third and Jauan” as 49ers’ No. 3 receiver

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

SANTA CLARA — In his heart, Jauan Jennings believes that one day he’ll be “the guy” and the target of a much greater percentage of passes from his quarterback.But with the 49ers looking more and more like a potential Super Bowl team, Jennings is far too caught up in what he can do as a complementary piece on a team with no shortage of eligible receivers.“I like to win. That’s my main focus, my main goal,” Jennings said Thursday. “I want what a lot of people aren’t able to do, and that’s (to) be the last one standing at the end of the year. I don’t let the numbers get too much in my head but it creeps in sometimes. When that happens, you’ve just got to refocus.”With an offense that features runner/receiver Christian McCaffrey as well as wideouts Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, Jennings would barely be noticed by the fan base if not for his production on third down.At that point, ...

Pac-12 recruiting: Sanders lands another five-star, ASU’s scoop, news from Stanford and Cal and “all about the portal”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

The Hotline is delighted to provide Pac-12 fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on Dec. 7 …Prime Lands His Primary RecruitBoulder wasn’t hard for Jordan Seaton to find.Colorado coach Deion Sanders landed his signature recruit Thursday when IMG Academy’s Jordan Seaton, the No. 1 ranked offensive tackle by the 247Sports Composite Rankings, announced for the Buffaloes in a stunner.Seaton left the Buffs off his list of finalists, and prior to the announcement, the buzz was pointed in Tennessee’s direction. But then Seaton shocked the recruiting world by pulling out the Colorado hat.That makes it two consecutive years at Colorado — and three in a row overall — that Sanders has reeled in a five-star prospect.He grabbed cornerback Travis Hunter in 2022, when he was still at Jackson State, then cornerback Cormani ...

Three Norteño gang members responsible for multiple murders sentenced

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:58 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Three San Francisco Mission District Norteño gang members who murdered and attempted to murder four victims were sentenced to prison terms following their convictions on racketeering conspiracy charges, the First Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp announced Thursday.  Man arrested in connection with death of SF tech worker Norteño gang members sentenced:Fernando “Nando” Madrigal 25Alvaro “G-Boy” Reina Cordero, 26Oscar “Cutty” Guadron Diaz, 24All plead guilty in February 2023 to one count of racketeering conspiracy in connection with their roles in the murders and attempted murder of four victims, including a 15-year-old innocent bystander who was mistaken for a rival gang member.“Norteño criminal street gangs have terrorized San Francisco’s Mission District for years through a relentless campaign of shootings, robberies, gun trafficking, drug dealing, and extort...