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Tesla lawyer asks San Francisco jury to cut $137 million award in race discrimination case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

By Malathi Nayak | BloombergTesla Inc.’s lawyer asked the jury in a damages trial over racism at a California plant to focus on how much money the victim of the abuse should get and not on changing the world.The five-day trial that started Monday is a redo for Owen Diaz, a former contractor who complained of racial taunts and threats at the electric car-maker’s plant in Fremont, California. Two years ago Diaz won a $137 million verdict, one of the largest jury awards in US history in a discrimination lawsuit by an individual. After the judge decided the amount was too high and offered Diaz $15 million, he instead chose a retrial over damages with a new jury.“What this case is not about is whether we think everything that happened at the Fremont factory of Tesla was defensible or right. It was not. There’s no excuse,” company attorney Alex Spiro told jurors in federal court in San Francisco. “This case is also not about harassment generally or the problems of this country or the hist...

Diego, a shy African crow, is missing from the Oakland Zoo. Here’s how you can help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

On a stormy day last week, Diego the crow made his great escape.A dash for freedom by the African bird from the Oakland Zoo has triggered a hunt in the East Bay, with zookeepers asking residents to scan the skies for any sign of the smart but shy animal.“There are lots of dangers in the wild that he doesn’t have to worry about here at the zoo,” said supervising zookeeper Madison Brandon. “We’d like to get him back, so that he’s safe and sound again.”The valuable bird escaped after a eucalyptus tree crashed through the mesh wiring of his hillside aviary in the zoo’s African Savannah area during last Tuesday’s fierce winds and rain. A Pied Crow, he is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and looks like he’s wearing a cutaway tuxedo, with a large collar of white feathers from his shoulders to lower breast. Five other birds also fled, but they proved easier to catch.Three Superb Starlings — small and brightly colored creatur...

Elvis Costello is taking Bay Area, SoCal fans on a Summer Holiday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

Elvis Costello has announced dates for the We’re All Going on a Summer Holiday tour.The 23-date trek includes stops at the intimate Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco on June 13 and the iconic Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on June 16. The tour also reaches the Ventura Theatre on June 14.Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. March 31, ElvisCostello.com.Costello will be accompanied for these shows by his Imposters band, featuring Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher — with ample assistance from acclaimed Texas guitarist Charlie Sexton on this tour.Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets are also on the bill.We’re All Going on a Summer Holiday Tour datesWed Jun 07 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth TheatreFri Jun 09 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle WinerySat Jun 10 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes AmphitheaterSun Jun 11 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino RenoTue Jun 13 – San Francisco, CA – Golden Gate TheatreWed Jun 14 – Ventura, CA – Ventura TheatreFri...

CHP: 100 mph wrong-way Bay Bridge driver with children in car arrested in San Leandro after high-speed chase

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

SAN LEANDRO — A 33-year-old woman suspected of driving 100 mph the wrong way on the Bay Bridge with two children in her vehicle was arrested Tuesday morning after a pursuit to a relative’s home in San Leandro that also reached speeds of 100 mph, the California Highway Patrol said.The woman, whose name was not immediately released, and the two children, ages 6 and 8, were taken to a hospital as a precaution for evaluation. The woman was arrested on a variety of charges and was expected to be booked at Santa Rita Jail after being released from the hospital.The CHP said an officer working to provide safety for a construction zone crew in the Yerba Buena Tunnel saw a Honda sedan about 3:55 a.m. Tuesday driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of the bridge at about 100 mph.The officer activated the emergency lights and siren on his patrol vehicle and tried to stop the Honda. When it tried to pass him, the officer rammed the Honda, causing it to turn around in the right direc...

Missing lawyer: Clues include blood in office bathroom, large cart wheeled to parking lot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

A Florida plastic surgeon accused of murder paused to take a phone conference in the middle of what was allegedly a carefully orchestrated plot at the victim’s workplace, according to a timeline released by prosecutors.Tomasz Kosowski, 44, pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder. Steven Cozzi, last seen on March 21 at his law office in Largo, is presumed dead.Investigators have blood, video and other evidence linking Kosowski to the disappearance, Pinellas County prosecutors said in court documents.Cozzi, 41, was a lawyer for Blanchard Law, which is representing Kosowki’s former employer and co-workers in a lawsuit he filed against them.Last Tuesday, both Cozzi and Kosowski were scheduled to call in to a hearing concerning the case at 10:30 a.m. But Cozzi’s co-workers say he disappeared before then; he apparently went to take a bathroom break, leaving his wallet, keys and phone at his desk and an uncompleted email on his computer screen.Documents filed by ...

Woman arrested for driving wrong way on Bay Bridge at 100 mph with 2 kids in car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A woman who was traveling the wrong way on the Bay Bridge at 100 mph with two children in the car has been taken into custody, the California Highway Patrol confirmed. Just before 4 a.m. on Tuesday, a CHP San Francisco officer saw a Honda Sedan traveling westbound on the eastbound lanes of the bridge at 100 mph. Arrest made in January San Francisco homicide There was a construction zone established on the eastbound side of the bridge from 1st Street to Treasure Island and an officer positioned within the closure west of Treasure Island responded to intercept the wrong-way vehicle at the Treasure Island tunnel, the CHP said.The car attempted to pass the officer, who tried to disable the speeding vehicle by ramming it, as there was more eastbound traffic approaching. The vehicle then turned around and began heading east on the eastbound lanes of the bridge toward Oakland.The officer again attempted to stop the vehicle by using a tip maneuver. It didn't work, ...

Military members file claims for fuel in Hawaii Navy water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A Navy sailor, an Army colonel and an Army major are the first active-duty military members taking the initial step toward suing the U.S. government over jet fuel that contaminated drinking water in Hawaii. Navy Ensign Koda Freeman, Army Col. Jessica Whaley, and Army Maj. Amanda Feindt filed pre-litigation claim forms with the Navy late Monday, which will allow them to later file a federal lawsuit in Honolulu, their attorneys said. In 2021, jet fuel spilled from a drain line at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, flowed into a drinking water well and then into the Navy’s water system serving 93,000 people in and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Nearly 6,000 sought medical attention, complaining of ailments such as nausea, headaches and sores. The military put about 4,000 families in hotels for several months. The Hawaii Department of Health ordered the Navy to shutter the facility after the spill, which also contaminated the ground beneath the tanks and th...

Brewers’ Hiura outrighted to Triple-A after clearing waivers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers outrighted infielder Keston Hiura to their Triple-A affiliate in Nashville on Tuesday after he cleared waivers.The move means Hiura will remain with the Brewers organization after they had designated him for assignment.Hiura, 26, had an outstanding rookie season in 2019 but hasn’t been able to recapture that form. He batted .226 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs in 80 games last season and struck out in 111 of his 266 plate appearances.He has a .238 career batting average with a .318 on-base percentage, 50 homers and 132 RBIs in 284 games. His best season was that rookie year of 2019, when he hit .303 with 19 homers and 49 RBIs in 84 games while posting a .938 OPS.Hiura began his career as a second baseman but primarily has played first base since 2021. He also played five games in left field last season. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Majors-most Ls do not dim Nationals pitcher Corbin’s belief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — No major league pitcher lost more games in 2022 than Patrick Corbin’s 19. And none took more Ls in 2021 than Corbin’s 16. Last season’s ERA for the Washington Nationals left-hander was 6.31. A year earlier? 5.82.Hard not to notice those numbers. Hard not to comment on them. Corbin is all too aware.“Doesn’t really matter what other people are saying,” he said Tuesday in the home clubhouse at Nationals Park before Washington hosted the New York Yankees in an exhibition finale. “I just kind of believe in myself and what I’ve done.”That includes, most notably, a starring role as a starter and reliever as the Nationals won the 2019 World Series championship. If that seems as if it was forever ago, it’s probably because it is, in some ways, for a franchise that has finished last in the NL East every year since and was 55-107 in 2022.When the Nationals host the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, there will be only two players on Washington’s 26-man roster who were around for the...

Police: Impaired semi driver kills 4 people changing tire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:04 GMT

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (AP) — The driver of a tractor-trailer that hit a van alongside an interstate in east Tennessee — killing four people who were changing a tire and critically injuring another — was impaired, police said.Saul A. Carrera, 60, of New York, was driving a Peterbilt tractor-trailer south on Interstate 81 Sunday when the vehicle veered to the right onto the shoulder and sideswiped the white Chevrolet Express van, hitting five males who were trying to repair the tire, Kingsport Police said in a statement. Afterward, the tractor-trailer continued south for a short distance before jack-knifing and overturning, police said. Jesse James Delacruz, 49, of Fayetteville, Tennessee; Jose Urbano Serrano Ramos, 25, of Crossville, Alabama; a 17-year-old male from Crossville; and another male who hasn’t yet been identified were killed. A 17-year-old male from Gasden, Alabama, was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but he was later updated to stable, police said. Three me...