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Opinion: A racially charged murder trial in small-town Oregon results in manslaughter and minimum sentence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

If you think that race is only an issue in the country’s biggest cities, consider a murder trial that recently concluded in the small town where I live, in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon.The defendant in this criminal case was Robert Paul Keegan, a 50-year-old white man. In November 2020, Keegan was staying at a motel in Ashland, a few miles from my home, because his house had burned down two months earlier in a wildfire.Keegan, who had complained before about noise at the motel, testified that one night at around 4 a.m. he heard loud music and believed it was coming from the motel parking lot where a Black teenager, Aidan Ellison, was sitting in a parked car.Ellison, 19, was staying at the motel because he’d also lost his home in the fire. A roommate told police that Ellison had trouble sleeping and had gone outside to sit in her car to avoid keeping her awake.Keegan admitted that he used profane language in shouting at Ellison, and claimed that Ellison responded in kind.The m...

Alcaraz, Djokovic ‘not otherworldly’ in French Open wins over foes making Slam debuts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

By HOWARD FENDRICH (AP Tennis Writer)PARIS (AP) — You might assume that the opponents for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the French Open’s first round would come away from their straight-set losses Monday feeling too overwhelmed by the play of the two tournament favorites. You would be wrong.Forget the scores and the point-by-point particulars on a windy day at Roland Garros for a moment. Of course it turned out that No. 1-seeded Alcaraz, the reigning U.S. Open champion, beat 159th-ranked qualifier Flavio Cobolli, a 21-year-old from Florence, Italy. And of course it turned out that No. 3 Djokovic, a 22-time major winner, got past 114th-ranked Aleksandar Kovacevic, a 24-year-old who grew up in New York City and is now based in Florida.And naturally, both Cobolli and Kovacevic acknowledged feeling a bit jittery at the outset of what were their Grand Slam debuts in huge arenas against a couple of elite players.“I started in a bit of a daze,” Cobolli said a...

Rockies place Charlie Blackmon on bereavement list, call up Elehuris Montero

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

Outfielder/designated hitter Charlie Blackmon was placed on the bereavement list ahead of the Rockies’ series with the Diamondbacks on Monday.The move comes amid a nine-game hitting streak for Blackmon, who has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games and reached base in 18 in a row. He’s submitted a .318/.365/.561 slash line with six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 12 RBIs over that 18-game period.In a corresponding move, the team recalled Elehuris Montero from Triple-A Albuquerque. The corner infielder could be called on to DH in Blackmon’s absence. Montero struggled before being sent down to Albuquerque, slashing .255/.296/.373 with just one homer in 51 at bats to start the season with Colorado. He’s mashed since (.383/.435/.765) in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, with 13 home runs, five doubles and 38 RBIs over 115 at bats.In two other moves, left-hander Ryan Rolison, who is returning from shoulder surgery, was reinstated from t...

Los Angeles names intersection in front of Azerbaijan consulate to protest blockade of Artsakh

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

The Los Angeles City Council earlier this month unanimously approved a measure to rename an intersection in Brentwood where the consulate of Azerbaijan is located.The intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Granville Avenue was designated "Republic of Artsakh Square," named after the breakaway region of the dictatorship that has ethnic and historical ties to neighboring Armenia.In December 2022, Azerbaijan instituted a blockade on the Republic of Artsakh, threatening the lives of thousands of people who call the region home. The renaming of the intersection is a symbolic gesture from the City Council to protest the blockade and the Azerbaijan government, which city officials say has a "long and sordid history" of war crimes, threats of genocide and violating international law and breaching internationally recognized borders.The proposal to rename the intersection was drafted by Council President Paul Krekorian, who was the first Armenian American elected to the city council in Los A...

Several Disneyland Resort attractions to close for refurbishment in July

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

Guests visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth” in July won’t be able to enjoy several classic rides and attractions due to scheduled refurbishments.Beginning on July 5, Alice in Wonderland, Soarin’ Around the World and the Disneyland Monorail will be closed to park guests, according to the Disneyland calendar. The resort hasn’t provided a specific reopening date for the attractions.The closure of Alice in Wonderland marks the second time the popular dark ride will be closed during the summer season. The attraction is scheduled to close on June 5, along with other Fantasyland-based attractions, Peter Pan’s Flight and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Disneyland announces re-opening dates for attractions scheduled to close in June The ride is scheduled to reopen on June 16 before it’s expected to close again on July 5.Soarin’ Around the World, located at Disney California Adventure Park, will also close on July 5.The famous ride simulates flying through the air as riders travel to iconic landmar...

NATO-led peacekeepers injured in clashes with Serbs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

By Radul Radovanovic and Llazar Semini | Associated PressZVECAN, Kosovo — The NATO-led peacekeeping force said on Monday that 25 of its troops were injured in clashes with ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo after they tried to take over the offices of one of the municipalities where ethnic Albanian mayors took up their posts last week.The Serbs clashed with NATO troops and Kosovo police in the municipality of Zvecan, 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of the capital. The soldiers fired tear gas and stun grenades to protect the Kosovar officers and disperse protesters, according to witnesses. The assembled Serbs responded by throwing rocks and other hard objects at them.“Several soldiers of the Italian and Hungarian KFOR contingent were the subject of unprovoked attacks and sustained trauma wounds with fractures and burns due to the explosion of incendiary devices,” said the NATO peacekeepers in a statement.Some Kosovo police vehicles and one belonging to journalists were damage...

Condominium sells in Saratoga for $2 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

14673 Fieldstone Drive – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 14600 block of Fieldstone Drive in Saratoga was sold on May 3, 2023 for $1,952,500, or $903 per square foot. The condominium, built in 1978, has an interior space of 2,163 square feet. The property features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a garage. There’s also a pool in the backyard and two parking spaces. The unit sits on a 1,377-square-foot lot.Additional units have recently changed hands nearby:A 3,116-square-foot unit on the 14600 block of Stoneridge Drive in Saratoga sold in April 2023, for $2,900,000, a price per square foot of $931. The unit has 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In November 2022, a 2,585-square-foot unit on Springer Avenue in Saratoga sold for $1,940,000, a price per square foot of $750. The unit has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Big Basin Way, Saratoga, in September 2022, a 1,276-square-foot unit was sold for $1,186,000, a price per square foot of $929. The unit has 2 bedrooms and...

PHOTOS: 2023 BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

NAPA, Calif. (KRON) -- Thousands descended on Napa Valley this Memorial Day weekend for the BottleRock music festival. The three-day festival showcased dozens of musical talents including: Post Malone, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Belle English, Wu-Tang Clan, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, and Paris Jackson. Actor Keanu Reeves also performed on the bass with his band, Dogstar.The festival sold out of tickets, and music fans interviewed by KRON4 said they attended to see rapper, singer, and songwriter Post Malone, as well as discover new music. Lizzo performs on day two of the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Napa Valley Expo in Napa, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Keanu Reeves of Dogstar performs on day two of the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Napa Valley Expo in Napa, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Keanu Reeves plays with Dogstar during the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival in Napa,...

Brush fire breaks out in Daly City, south of John Daly Boulevard overpass

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

(KRON) -- Fire units are responding to a brush fire south of the John Daly Boulevard overpass in Daly City, according to a tweet from the North County Fire Authority. Motorists are advised to be prepared to yield to fire vehicles. Cyclist dragged 400 feet in San Jose hit-and-run, suspect sought According to information from the California Highway Patrol, the fire could be related to homeless people tapping into the electricity under the overpass. The CHP has put in a request for Caltrans to check the electricity.The John Daly Boulevard overpass crosses I-280.

What is '529 Day,' and how can it save college students money?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:53 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- May 29 isn't just Memorial Day in 2023. It's also 529 Day, otherwise known as National College Savings Day. KRON4's Noelle Bellow spoke with Patricia Roberts, the Chief Operating Officer of Gift of College, to learn more about how 529 plans can help families avoid or minimize their student loan debt.