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Opinion: The Halliburton Loophole

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

From rural Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, more than 17 million Americans live within a mile of at least one oil or gas well. Since 2014, most new oil and gas wells have been fracked.Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a process in which workers inject fluids underground under high pressure. The fluids fracture coal beds and shale rock, allowing the gas and oil trapped within the rock to rise to the surface. Advances in fracking launched a huge expansion of U.S. oil and gas production starting in the early 2000s but also triggered intense debate over its health and environmental impacts.Fracking fluids are up to 97% water, but they also contain a host of chemicals that perform functions such as dissolving minerals and killing bacteria. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies a number of these chemicals as toxic or potentially toxic.The Safe Drinking Water Act, enacted in 1974, regulates underground injection of chemicals that can threaten drinking water supplies. H...

Man arrested for vandalizing Islamic Center in Los Angeles, LAPD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

Police have arrested a suspect who allegedly used a permanent marker to vandalize an Islamic Center in Koreatown with hateful comments over the weekend.The incident occurred around 12:40 a.m. Sunday at the Islamic Center of Southern California, located at 434 S. Vermont Ave., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A man who allegedly vandalized an Islamic Center in Koreatown is seen in surveillance video released by the LAPD on April 10, 2023. The man is accused of writing “anti-Islamic hate words” on the property and then running from the area north on Vermont Avenue.Police released a surveillance image of the suspect and described him as being around 40 to 50 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 180 pounds. He was wearing a black jacket, a black shirt with an unknown type of design, black pants, black shoes and a black beanie.On Tuesday morning, Sgt. Heidi Stoecklein of the LAPD confirmed a man had been arrested. No further details were available, but more information is e...

California stockpiles abortion drug misoprostol in wake of Texas court ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the state had secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, a widely-used abortion medication.The announcement comes after a federal judge in Texas on Friday halted FDA approval of mifepristone, another abortion medication, in what is viewed as a major victory for anti-abortion conservatives. California bill would ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales & other food items “In response to this extremist ban on a medication abortion drug, our state has secured a stockpile of an alternative medication abortion drug to ensure that Californians continue to have access to safe reproductive health treatments,” Newsom said in a statement. “We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California.”The drug misoprostol sits on a gynecological table. (Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press)While mifepristone is part of a two-drug regime, ...

No, thanks: Sober curious communities make it easier to decline that drink

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

In recent months, a new movement has emerged that challenges the traditional drinking culture. This movement, known as the “sober curious” community, is gaining popularity and attracting people of all ages who are seeking a healthier lifestyle. So, what exactly are sober curious communities? They are groups of people who are interested in exploring a life without alcohol, but who may not necessarily identify as sober or in recovery. These communities offer a space for individuals to socialize, connect, and have fun without the pressure of alcohol. The sober curious movement is not about shaming those who choose to drink, but rather about promoting a more mindful and intentional approach to alcohol consumption. As more people become interested in this lifestyle, the sober curious community is growing and becoming an important part of the wellness culture.Read the full article by Carmella D’Acquisto on our sister site, Bust.com, here. Advertising disclosure: We may receive...

Man shot while walking in North Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

OAKLAND — A 20-year-old man was shot Monday night in North Oakland, authorities said.The Oakland man showed up at a hospital about 8:53 p.m. with two gunshot wounds to his arm, authorities said. He was later listed in stable condition.The man told police he had been walking earlier in the area of the 700 block of 52nd Street when he was shot.Related ArticlesCalifornia News | Chanting ‘recall Price,’ protesters rally against Alameda County’s district attorney California News | Antioch mayor blames racist texts on police department culture, calls for audit California News | Man shot in neck Monday near Oakland Coliseum California News | One killed, one injured in separate Oakland shootings California News | CHP officer injured, driver arrested after Hwy. 242 collision He told police he did not know who shot him or why. No arrests have been made.Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are off...

Elizabeth Holmes loses battle to delay imprisonment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes’ months-long battle to extend her freedom is over: A federal court judge late Monday denied her bid to delay imprisonment, ruling she must surrender April 27 to serve her sentence for felony fraud at a Texas prison camp.Judge Edward Davila wrote in his ruling that he found Holmes was not a flight risk or danger to the public, but he concluded she had not raised any substantial questions of law or fact that would be likely to result in a reversal of the jury’s fraud verdict or a new trial. “Ms. Holmes is in no position to inflict similar harms of fraud on the community, and the Court is unaware of any evidence that she is likely to commit acts of deception or fraud in her everyday life,” Davila wrote.The U.S. Marshals Service will determine whether Holmes must show up at the prison’s gates or meet federal marshals elsewhere so she can be taken to prison. Davila has recommended she serve her more than 11-year sentence at ...

South Bay Rotary clubs package 24,000 meals for hunger relief nonprofit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

More than 100 local Rotarians, youth and community volunteers turned out April 8 at Saratoga High School to help package 24,000 meals for international hunger relief nonprofit Rise Against Hunger.Rotary clubs in Campbell, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Sunnyvale collectively donated $9,200 toward the effort, which will see the packaged meals distributed to remote communities in areas of the world experiencing food scarcity or famine. The clubs are all part of Rotary District 5170.“It is our collective duty to humanity to provide food security to those in need,” said district governor Savita Vaidhyanathan, a Cupertino Rotary member. “It is an honor for Rotary District 5170 to partner with Rise Against Hunger.”Saratoga Rotary member Sesh Ramaswami, who organized the event, said that over the years, District 5170 Rotarians have packaged a total of 128,520 meals.Related ArticlesLocal News | San Jose artist Susie Taylor weaves wonders for ICA’s new show Local Ne...

TheatreWorks set to stage new works by familiar faces, local playwrights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley on Monday announced a new season that features Sondheim, August Wilson and a San Jose playwright.“It’s a season of turning points,” artistic director Tim Bond said in announcing the company’s 2023-24 season. “The characters in this season’s works are facing watershed moments in their lives, deciding what kind of people they want to become – something we can all identify with.“This season also celebrates some of the world’s greatest authors and composers and welcomes home some of TheatreWorks’ favorite artists and dearest friends.”Bond, who directed Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” for TheatreWorks in spring 2022, will helm the playwright’s “How I Learned What I Learned” Jan. 17- Feb. 11. Steven Anthony Jones, who starred in the at Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s production under Bond’s direction, will reprise his role in the one-man theatrical memoir following Wilson’s journey from struggling young writer to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.Bond’s predecessor, ...

Worst in a generation: How did the San Jose Sharks get this bad?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

Erik Karlsson had just become the sixth defenseman in NHL history to reach 100 points in a season, and Logan Couture joined Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, and Joe Pavelski as the only San Jose Sharks players to score 700 points with the team.But the atmosphere inside the Sharks’ locker room after Monday’s game with the Winnipeg Jets was silent. Again.San Jose is now 22-42-16 following its 6-2 loss to the Jets, dropping its points percentage to .375, the fourth-worst in team history and its lowest since the 1995-96 season (.287) — two years before Marleau first came to the organization.On March 15, the Sharks, once the model of consistency, became the NHL’s first team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention with the start of the postseason still more than a month away. With their 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, the Sharks capped a home schedule that yielded just eight wins, matching a franchise low.All of this despite Karlsson’s ...

Campbell crime report for the week of April 21

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:16 GMT

April 3Overnight in the 600 block of East Campbell Avenue: Someone spray-painted inside the bathrooms.7:59 a.m. at Millich Drive and Valley Forge Way: Officers located an abandoned 2019 Honda Venza that was completely stripped. The victim tried to report it stolen out of Oakland.Overnight in the 600 block of East McGlincy Lane: Someone threw a rock through the window of a business.Overnight in the 1800 block of South Bascom Avenue: A white 1998 Honda Civic was stolen.Overnight in the 100 block of West Rincon Avenue: Someone  broke into an unlocked truck and took items.9:23 p.m. in the 1800 block of South Bascom Avenue: The suspect called the victim’s place of work multiple times, and the victim desired prosecution.9:28 p.m. in the 00 block of West Hamilton Avenue: A man, 38, was causing a disturbance inside a business and was found to be too intoxicated to care for himself.Overnight in the 300 block of Budd Avenue: Someone broke into the victim’s locked vehicle via window smash, ste...