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May the 4th Ultimate Star Wars Survey: Vote for your favorite film and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

Since the release of "A New Hope" in 1977, Star Wars has grown to become perhaps the most beloved multimedia franchise ever. It has spawned 11 major motion pictures (and counting), several television and streaming series, video games, theme park rides and attractions, and enough merchandise to fill a hundred Venator-class Star Destroyers. Please take a moment to participate in this (totally unofficial) survey to determine which Star Wars movies and characters are the most popular.Thanks for participating. May the 4th be with you!

1 Dead after Multi-Vehicle Accident on Interstate 10 [Buckeye, AZ]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving a Semi-Truck Resulted in One FatalityBUCKEYE, AZ (May 4, 2023) – Monday afternoon, police were dispatched to a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 10.The incident happened on April 24th at around 5:00 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of the interstate near milepost 103 and Hassayampa Road.According to the Arizona DPS, the collision involved seven vehicles including two semi-trucks where one of them continued to drive in a construction zone and caused a chain reaction.Furthermore, the investigation showed that one of the semi-truck was pulling a flatbed when it performed a jackknifing across the eastbound lanes.Unfortunately, the driver of the semi that continued through the construction zone was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity was not yet released.Also, three other people suffered injuries including one teenager who was airlifted and was listed in critical condition.Consequently, the deputies and crews blocked all lanes in the eastbound of ...

Rider Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash near Dobson Road [Mesa, AZ]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

55-Year-Old Motorcyclist Killed in Crash near Dobson Road and Southern AvenueMESA, AZ (May 4, 2023) – Friday evening, a hit-and-run crash near Dobson Road and Southern Avenue left a motorcyclist dead.The incident happened on April 28th, at around 8:30 p.m., near the intersection of Dobson Road and Southern Avenue.According to reports, a 55-year-old man was pushing his motorcycle across Dobson Road when he was struck by a northbound vehicle.Following the crash, the driver fled the scene on foot and deserted his vehicle in the area. Police are still investigating the identity and the whereabouts of the suspect.Emergency crews arrived shortly after and pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene.At this time, the identity of the rider has not yet been released. Further investigation is still ongoing into the Crash near Dobson Road.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment. Their deepest condolences and sympathies are with the family and fri...

New James Bond book, ‘On His Majesty’s Secret Service,’ out ahead of King Charles’ coronation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

By Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily NewsA new James Bond adventure will be released in tandem with King Charles III’s coronation.Titled “On His Majesty’s Secret Service,” the novel is set to hit shelves Thursday — just two days before the U.K. officially crowns its new monarch.“Young Bond” series author Charlie Higson was commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications to write the new 007 story. According to The Telegraph, the publisher — named after the late author who created the James Bond franchise — approached the writer on short notice, giving him only one month to turn around the manuscript.“Getting it written and turned around in such a short space of time was going to be as tense and heart-pounding as any Bond mission,” Higson said. “Although, of course, nobody would actually be shooting at me.”Related ArticlesWorld News | San Jose festival celebrates the art of letterpress printing World News | Wendell Smith covered sports, history and civil rights and ...

ProPublica: GOP megadonor paid tuition for Clarence Thomas relative

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

By Tierney Sneed | CNNA Texas billionaire and GOP megadonor paid boarding school tuition for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ grandnephew, and the justice did not report the financial assistance for the child he helped raised on his annual disclosures, according to a new ProPublica report — the latest revelation raising ethical questions around the high court.The ProPublica report on Thursday revealed that the billionaire Harlan Crow paid tuition for Mark Martin, who lived with Thomas’ family as a child and for whom the justice became a legal guardian. ProPublica cited a 2009 bank statement and an interview with a former administrator at the Georgia boarding school Martin attended.The former administrator at the school, Hidden Lake Academy, told ProPublica that Crow paid for Martin’s tuition for the year or so Martin was at the boarding school. The administrator said, according to ProPublica, that he had been told by Crow that Crow also paid for Martin&...

BMW warns: Don’t drive older models with Takata airbag inflators

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

BMW is warning the owners of about 90,000 older vehicles in the U.S. not to drive them due to an increasing threat that the airbags might explode in a crash.The warning covers vehicles from the 2000 through 2006 model years that previously had been recalled to replace faulty and dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata.The company used volatile ammonium nitrate to inflate the airbags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to heat and humidity and blow apart a metal canister, hurling shrapnel that can injure or kill drivers and passengers.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says drivers should park their vehicles and contact BMW for more information. Repairs are available at no cost to owners, as well as mobile repair and free towing.“These vehicles are 17 to 22 years old, and the risk to vehicle occupants is dire,” the agency said in a statement Thursday. “These are some of the oldest Takata airbags under recall and have an extremely high...

Dems pressure GOP on spending cuts, debt limit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

By Kevin Freking | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Senate Democrats pressured Republicans on the debt ceiling impasse Thursday, focused in a hearing on what they say will be painful reductions in government services if a bill recently passed by the House becomes law.No one expects that the House bill, which would importantly increase the nation’s borrowing authority as well as cutting spending, will reach President Joe Biden’s desk. The Democratic Senate won’t let it.Many Republicans admitted so when passing the measure. But they said action by the House was necessary to get Biden to the negotiating table with Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy. A meeting at the White House with congressional leaders of both parties is set for next week.Despite the legislation’s certain demise, Democrats are eager to tie Republicans, particularly in swing districts and states, to various provisions in the bill. Those include one that would cap next year’s spending at 2022 l...

How much do striking Oakland teachers make? Here’s how their pay compares to other Bay Area districts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

With Oakland Unified School District teachers on strike for a second time in two years, how does their pay compare around the region, state and country?The Oakland Education Association, the union representing the district’s 3,000 K-12 teachers, counselors, social workers, speech pathologists, nurses, librarians and substitutes, argues its teachers are the lowest paid in the Bay Area.The average annual teacher salary in Oakland Unified for the 2021-2022 school year was $70,572, according to the California Department of Education. Across the Bay at San Francisco Unified, the average was $84,881, while at San Jose Unified, it was $86,433. At Piedmont City Unified, located in the town surrounded by Oakland, the average was $89,480.Among other Bay Area districts, the average annual salary was $77,994 in West Contra Costa Unified, $82,473 in Ravenswood Elementary and $122,868 at Palo Alto Unified.The Department of Education lists Oakland Unified as California’s 11th largest s...

Shooting victim found in car outside Antioch 7-Eleven identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

ANTIOCH — Authorities on Thursday identified a man shot to death and found inside a vehicle in a 7-Eleven parking lot.Antioch police officers found 31-year-old Clayton Sills, of Pittsburg, after responding to the store in the 2700 block of Hillcrest Avenue about 7:40 p.m., Antioch police Lt. John Fortner said in a statement. Sills had been shot once.Officers originally responded to the 7-Eleven on reports that the car had crashed in the parking lot. Fortner said police believe he was shot inside his car.Two people ran from the scene, according to witnesses who spoke to police, Fortner said.The homicide is the second one Antioch police have investigated in 2023.Police have not announced any arrests.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Authorities suspect 18-year-old Concord man in Bay Point fatal shooting Crime and Public Safety | Prosecutors: Man sat in car with loaded gun at East Bay elementary school parking lot Crime and Public Safety | ...

School bus full of children crashes into car in San Jose, no reported injuries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:44 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Jose school bus loaded full of children crashed into a stopped car on the East Capitol Expressway on Thursday morning, pushing the car into several other stopped cars, according to the CHP. The bus was headed west on the expressway at around 7:45 a.m. when it hit the read end of a Toyota Corolla. Oakland teachers on strike starting Thursday after no deal is reached with school district The Corolla and the other cars involved were stopped at a red light, the CHP said. There were 27 students onboard the bus at the time of the crash, along with a bus driver. No one was reported injured as a result of the crash. At this time, police are unsure as to why the bus did not stop for the cars at the red light. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to have been a factor. Although there were no injuries, property damage was suffered by some of the involved vehicles.The CHP is leading the investigation into the incident.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.