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Biden administration cancels several leases for Alaska drilling

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

By Ella Nilsen | CNNThe Biden administration announced Wednesday it will cancel seven Trump-era oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and protect more than 13 million acres in the federal National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, stymieing a years-long attempt to drill in the protected region.The cancellation will affect Alaska’s state-owned oil development agency, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, which bought the leases covering about 365,000 acres on ANWR’s Coastal Plain during the Trump administration.“With today’s action, no one will have rights to drill for oil in one of the most sensitive landscapes on Earth,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland told reporters on a press call. “Public lands belong to all Americans, and there are some places where oil and gas drilling and industrial development simply do not belong.”President Joe Biden echoed Haaland’s comments in a statement and said that his administration will “continue to take bold action” ...

Texas AG Paxton’s affair explains illegal acts, former aide testifies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

By Jake Bleiberg and Paul J. Weber | Associated PressAUSTIN, Texas — An extramarital affair Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had with a donor’s employee helped connect the dots about why the Republican was using his power in ways that are now at the center of his impeachment trial on accusations of corruption, a former top aide testified Wednesday.“It answered that ‘why’ question,” said Jeff Mateer, who was Paxton’s second-in-command at the Texas attorney general’s office.The account by Mateer, who went on to report Paxton to the FBI in 2020 over allegations of abuse of office, quickly injected an affair that Paxton has acknowledged to staff into the historic impeachment trial — the gravest threat to Paxton’s political career after years of criminal charges and alleged scandal.At the center of the case are accusations that Texas’ top lawyer wrongfully used his power to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, one of his poli...

San Jose’s Raging Waters to permanently close

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

San Jose’s Raging Waters, a beloved refuge for families to escape the South Bay’s sizzling summer heat, will permanently shutter after 38 years of operation.“Raging Waters San Jose is closed for the season and will not be reopening in 2024,” a Facebook message posted on Wednesday afternoon from the company reads. “We are thankful for the San Jose community and for our outstanding Team Members for helping us bring Northern California’s Largest Water Park to life for nearly four decades. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, San Jose!”The reason for the closure was not immediately known. A spokesperson for the water park did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Raging Waters was located on the eastern side of San Jose next to Cunningham Lake and featured a 350,000-gallon wave pool on a 23-acre site, according to the company’s website.Without Raging Waters, San Jose is left with no other large-scale water park. The news follows ...

Letters: Water needs | Church’s champion | Drug culture | Biden’s plans | Population policy | World of fun

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Put people’s waterneeds over corporations’Re: “Stricter water use restrictions on tap” (Page A1, Sept. 1).While municipal water conservation plans are necessary to address the climate crisis, California officials must first rein in the water exploitation of corporate agriculture and the oil and gas industries, and center public needs when considering water management.As stated in Food & Water Watch’s report on the California water crisis more than 1 million Californians lack access to clean water. However, mega-dairies use a staggering 42 million gallons of water every day. Additionally, between January 2018 to March 2021, the oil and gas industry used more than 3 billion gallons of freshwater for drilling operations.Gov. Gavin Newsom, state regulators and the Legislature must develop new water policies that ensure Californians have access to clean, affordable water and that p...

Raging Waters in San Jose will not reopen in 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

(KRON) -- Raging Waters in San Jose is closed for the summer season, and it is not reopening anytime soon. The water park announced Wednesday that it will not be open in 2024. "We are thankful for the San Jose community and for our outstanding Team Members for helping us bring Northern California’s Largest Water Park to life for nearly four decades. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, San Jose!" it said on Facebook. NFL suspends Danville native Haener for 6 games for PEDs Raging Waters' website paints a similar picture, with the words, "Thanks for the memories, Ranging Waters San Jose!" on its homepage. The park is located at 2333 South White Road. It bills itself as the largest water park in Northern California.

Bill that decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms passes state assembly

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A bill that allows personal possession and use of small amounts of psychedelic mushrooms has passed the California State Assembly, according to State Sen. Scott Weiner. California Senate Bill 58 passed in the California State Senate earlier this year and was passed on to the assembly.The bill was held up in the state assembly for several months following its passage in the senate. The bill removes criminal penalties for personal possession and use of a limited set of "naturally occurring psychedelics," according to a statement from Weiner's office. Quarantine in effect for portions of Santa Clara County due to oriental fruit flies Substances covered by the bill include psilocybin (mushrooms), Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline (excluding peyote). The bill also triggers a process to craft policy proposals for group therapeutic use of psychedelics.The bill was supported by veterans, first responders and health professionals, according to Sen. Weiner.“Cali...

NFL suspends Danville native Haener for 6 games for PEDs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Saints quarterback Jake Haener's rookie season in the NFL is not beginning in the manner he wished. Haener was suspended 6 games by the National Football League for what the league says is a violation of its policy on performance-enhancing substances. The rookie quarterback was a 4th round pick of the Saints out of Fresno State. He attended Monte Vista High School in Danville. Haener, 24, released a statement via his X, formerly known as Twitter, account on Wednesday afternoon. Read the full statement below:I recently learned that I tested positive for a substance banned by the NFL earlier this summer. I still do not know how the substance got into my body, as none of my supplements or prescribed medications contain the banned ingredient. I would never knowlingly cheat the game that I love, however I must take full responsibility for the failed test. I apolgize to the Saints organization, my friends and my family for any distraction this suspension may cause. I...

Oregon man who was sentenced to death is free 2 years after murder conviction was reversed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A man sentenced to death for a 1998 murder is now free, two years after the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the conviction. The Oregon Innocence Project on Wednesday accused the state of committing a “heinous injustice” in its handling of the case. The Marion County District Attorney’s office on Tuesday asked the Marion County Circuit Court to dismiss the case against Jesse Johnson, saying that “based upon the amount of time that has passed and the unavailability of critical evidence in this case, the state no longer believes that it can prove the defendant’s guilt.” The court granted the motion, and late Tuesday, Johnson walked out of the county jail where he was held while prosecutors had mulled a retrial for the stabbing death of nurse’s aide Harriet “Sunny” Thompson, 28, in her Salem home. Johnson, who is Black, has repeatedly claimed innocence and refused a plea deal over the years. Video shot outside the jail Tuesday showed Johnson, smiling and ...

Rep. Chris Stewart’s ex-staffer Celeste Maloy wins Utah special election primary to replace him

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

A former staffer for Utah Rep. Chris Stewart won a three-way Republican primary in a special election to succeed him after he resigns from office.Celeste Maloy defeated former state Rep. Becky Edwards and businessperson Bruce Hough. She will be the favorite when she faces Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in the special general election Nov. 21 in the reliably Republican district.Maloy was chief legal counsel for Stewart, a Republican, who after 10 years in Congress is resigning Sept. 15 because his wife is ill. The district covers northern Salt Lake City and much of western and southern Utah.Maloy had the endorsement of Stewart and former Utah U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop. Republicans nominated Maloy at their convention in June despite questions about her eligibility because she hadn’t voted in recent elections while living in Virginia.The three-way primary was a rare gauge this year of how Republican voters are responding to former President Donald Trump’s indictments for allegedly wor...

California courts may weigh acceptance of child’s gender identity in custody cases

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California could soon require judges to consider whether a parent affirms their child’s gender identity when making custody and visitation decisions under a bill that cleared the state Senate on Wednesday.The vote was split almost entirely along party lines, with Democrats arguing the legislation would help to protect the well-being of LGBTQ+ children whose parents are going through a divorce. Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, said the bill was a proactive measure.“This is about not having to get involved after a child has been beaten and had their arm broken, or after they’ve been kicked out,” Wiener said. “This is about trying to make sure that something terrible does not happen to them.”Every Republican in the state Senate voted against the bill, with state Sen. Kelly Seyarto, who represents Murrieta in Southern California, arguing that lawmakers were interfering too much with how parents choose to raise their children.“Insertin...