National Spelling Bee: Three from Bay Area will compete in final

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

National Spelling Bee: Three from Bay Area will compete in final OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — In an impressive display of regional brainpower, the three Bay Area contestants at the Scripps National Spelling Bee survived Wednesday’s rounds and will compete in Thursday night’s final for the winner’s trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes.Over two days, the initial field of 231 was winnowed to 11 through five rounds of spelling and three of vocabulary.The Bay Area spellers are:Shradha Rachamreddy, 13, a seventh-grader at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Upper School, in San Jose. She finished 23rd last year, when she attended Quarry Lane School, in Dublin.Vikrant Chintanaboina, 14, an eighth-grader at Discovery Charter School – Falcon Campus, in San Jose. He was 49th last year.Dhruv Subramanian, 12, a seventh-grader at Windemere Ranch Middle School, in San Ramon.Given that nearly everyone who competes in the National Spelling Bee ultimately misses a word, the default posture for spellers is nervous, flustered, defensive. Ev...

Blaming prior administration, Alameda DA dismisses 2 of 3 murder charges against Oakland man

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Blaming prior administration, Alameda DA dismisses 2 of 3 murder charges against Oakland man OAKLAND — In the latest shocking twist over a man accused of killing three people for a West Oakland gang when he was teenager, Alameda County prosecutors have dismissed two of the three murder counts just days before he was set to go to trial.Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced the dismissals in a Wednesday evening news release, hours after a county prosecutor appeared before Judge Mark McCannon to request dismiss charges that 32-year-old Delonzo Logwood murdered Richard Carter and Zaire Washington. A third murder charge over the killing of Eric Ford still stands, and is set to go to trial soon.All the alleged crimes occurred when Logwood was 18 and his co-defendant, Dijon Holifield, was 17. The original charges included a total of five murder counts, three involving Logwood.Logwood’s case has been rife with surprises since last March, when McCannon made the rare move of refusing to accept a plea deal that would have sentenced Logwood to 15 years and...

New model homes now open in Lodi — starting in the $500,000s

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

New model homes now open in Lodi — starting in the $500,000s Experience the best of California living in a new home at Lumina at Reynolds Ranch in Lodi! Signature Homes introduces beautiful one- and two-story homes in the charming community of Lodi that offers a historic downtown, Lodi Lake, local wineries, and farm-to-table restaurants.Four brand-new model homes in Lodi are now open to tour at Lumina at Reynolds Ranch by Signature Homes. Four professionally decorated model homes are now open at Lumina at Reynolds Ranch. Each stunning home features thoughtful design and open plan living, three to five bedrooms, two-and-a-half to four-and-a-half bathrooms, and approximately 2,046 to 3,149 square feet of living space. Priced from the high $500,000s.The home designs at Lumina offer family-friendly choices for every lifestyle. Residence One is a single-story home design that is ideal for empty nesters or first-time homebuyers. Residences Two, Three and Four are all spacious two-story home designs with plenty of room for growing families, plu...

Bob Lee murder suspect hires celebrity defense attorney

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Bob Lee murder suspect hires celebrity defense attorney SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The man charged with murdering Cash App Founder Bob Lee in San Francisco is switching up his defense team with hopes of proving his innocence.Nima Momeni hired a Florida-based celebrity attorney, Saam Zangeneh, this week and "dumped" his lead defense attorney.Zangeneh defended rapper Pooh Shiesty in 2021 for a Miami hotel shooting. The rapper pleaded guilty to a single firearms conspiracy charge in exchange for three more serious charges being dropped and less prison time. Zangeneh's colorful Instagram profile states that he is "101% Persian." Zangeneh wrote on Instagram, "I fight tooth and nail. I fight high profile media cases, death penalty cases and cases others are afraid to touch. I do this because everyone accused of a crime is entitled to a 'Champion' that will fight next to him or her."Momeni, 38, of Emeryville, was born in Iran before he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area as a teenager with his mother and sister, according to court documents.H...

Mountain View man sentenced for child pornography charges

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Mountain View man sentenced for child pornography charges (KRON) -- A Mountain View man was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for possessing child pornography and enticing children to participate in it, the United States Department of Justice announced. Christopher Raymond Campbell, 37, pleaded guilty to his involvement on Jan. 17. He admitted that between March 2021 and March 2022, he duped children into sending pornographic photos and videos of themselves. SF business owner asking for help from community after vandalism incidents According to the DOJ, Campbell used aliases and screen names to trick his victims. In some examples, he presented himself as a young female to gain the trust of young girls and persuade them into sending him pornographic content. Campbell admitted in his plea agreement that he recorded live videos of his communications with the girls. He instructed his victims on how to take the photos and encouraged them to perform sexual acts that caused them pain, the DOJ said. Some of his victims were younger than 14 year...

Red Bulls snap long winless skid on road, beat Inter Miami 1-0

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Red Bulls snap long winless skid on road, beat Inter Miami 1-0 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Tom Barlow scored the lone goal of the match shortly after subbing in in the second half and the New York Red Bulls snapped a 10-match winless streak on the road with a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami on Wednesday night.Neither team scored until Barlow found the net for a second time this season — unassisted in the 52nd minute. It came just six minutes after he replaced Wikelman Carmona.The Red Bulls (4-5-7) entered play with a 0-6-4 record in its previous 10 matches away from home. The win leaves them one shy of the club-record 11-match skid by the 2011 club.Carlos Coronel had to make just one save to earn the clean sheet for the Red Bulls. Drake Callender stopped eight shots for Inter Miami.New York improves to 5-2-0 in the series. Inter Miami (5-10-0) scored four goals in its two wins but just two goals in the five losses.New York entered play having allowed just 123 shots through its first 15 matches — the lowest in the league since 2010. The Red Bulls ...

Fresh Russian bombardment hits Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 3 people and wounding others

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Fresh Russian bombardment hits Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 3 people and wounding others KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Fresh Russian bombardment hits Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 3 people and wounding others.Source

Ibrahim, Lassiter score 2 minutes apart, Montreal draws DC United 2-2

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Ibrahim, Lassiter score 2 minutes apart, Montreal draws DC United 2-2 D.C. United defender Donovan Pines, left, heads the ball over CF Montréal's Aaron Herrera during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Washington, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) D.C. United defender Donovan Pines, left, heads the ball over CF Montréal's Aaron Herrera during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Washington, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) WASHINGTON (AP) — Sunusi Ibrahim and Ariel Lassiter scored two minutes apart late in the second half to help CF Montreal tie D.C. United 2-2 on Wednesday night.Ibrahim, who entered in the 61st minute, became just the second player in club history to record a goal and an assist off the bench in the same game. H...

Own-goal leads Union to 1-0 victory over Charlotte

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Own-goal leads Union to 1-0 victory over Charlotte CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — An own-goal by Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina late in the second half gave the Philadelphia Union a 1-0 victory on Wednesday night.Kahlina’s own-goal came in the 70th minute and helped Philadelphia (8-4-3) improve to 6-1-0 at home this season.Kahlina’s mistake prevented Charlotte (6-7-3) from winning three straight on the road for the first time in club history. Despite the loss, Charlotte has earned 10 points on the road this season, one less than it had all last year.Andre Blake had two saves to earn the clean sheet for Philadelphia. Kahlina saved two shots for Charlotte.The two clubs split a pair of matches last season, but Charlotte won 4-0 which equaled the Union’s largest margin of defeat in all competitions.Charlotte travels to play the Columbus Crew on Saturday. Philadelphia will host CF Montreal on Saturday.____AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportSource

Backup Richey makes 4 saves; Chicago, Toronto play to scoreless draw

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:52:24 GMT

Backup Richey makes 4 saves; Chicago, Toronto play to scoreless draw TORONTO (AP) — Backup goalkeeper Spencer Richey made four saves after entering in the first half and the Chicago Fire played Toronto to a scoreless draw on Wednesday night.Chicago (3-4-8) has not beaten Toronto (3-5-8) on the road in 12 straight matches (0-7-5) dating to 2013. That’s TFC’s longest home unbeaten run against any club.Toronto had its chances in the first half with a 10-2 edge in shots, five on target. Chicago came close in the 10th minute on Kendall Burks’ header that went just wide.Richey entered in the 30th minute after starting goalkeeper Chris Brady was injured during a collision with Deandre Kerr.Chicago, which also settled for a 3-3 draw over the weekend after a goal from former Toronto striker Jozy Altidore, travels to play FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Toronto hits the road to play Minnesota United on Saturday.____AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportSource