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Veteran Oakland firefighter named new chief of city’s fire department

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

OAKLAND — Damon Covington, a highly respected Oakland firefighter for 24 years, was named Oakland’s next permanent fire chief by Mayor Sheng Thao and City Administrator Jestin Johnson, the city announced on Friday.Covington, 50, has been the interim fire chief since June 2023. He assumed the position following the retirement of Reginald Freeman, who served as chief less than two years after coming from Hartford, Connecticut.In announcing the appointment, Mayor Thao said: “I am thrilled that Chief Covington has accepted this important appointment to become the next chief of our proud Oakland Fire Department. Damon Covington has a distinguished professional resume from his 24 years of experience in the fire service, and his personal commitment to the safety of Oaklanders is unparalleled.”Prior to being named chief, Covington served in an array of capacities over his 24-year career with the Oakland Fire Department, including firefighter-paramedic, fire engineer, battalion c...

Request by former Alameda County prosecutor to dismiss misdemeanor charge denied

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

OAKLAND — The bid by a former Alameda County prosecutor — and vocal critic of District Attorney Pamela Price — to have the criminal case against him tossed on constitutional grounds was denied Friday.Amilcar “Butch” Ford was ordered to appear for trial on Nov. 27 after Alameda County Judge James Cramer struck down a request by the former longtime senior county prosecutor to have his case tossed. In ruling from the bench, Cramer disagreed with Ford’s contention that the law in question is unconstitutionally vague or overbroad, while also stressing that his decision said nothing about the actual evidence in the case, filed by Ford’s former boss.Ford — now a prosecutor with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office — could be disbarred if convicted of defending after public prosecution as the prosecutor, a seldom-used line of the state’s business and professions code aimed at rooting out corruption. He pleaded not guilty moments after ...

Oakland selects Damon Covington as new fire chief

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

(KRON) -- Oakland named Damon Covington, a 24-year veteran in firefighting, as the city's new fire chief on Friday."I am thrilled that Chief Covington has accepted this important appointment to become the next chief of our proud Oakland Fire Department," said Mayor Sheng Thao. "Damon Covington has a distinguished professional resume from his 24 years of experience in the fire service, and his personal commitment to the safety of Oaklanders is unparalleled."Prior to this appointment, Covington served in an array of roles over his 24 year career with the Oakland Fire Department, including firefighter, fire engineer, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, deputy chief, and most recently interim fire chief.Fire Chief Damon Covington (Image courtesy Oakland Fire Department) "Chief Covington is a highly experienced, enthusiastic leader, with a deep understanding of the complex public safety needs and emergency preparedness challenges in Oakland," said City Administrator Jestin Johnson. "Hi...

Suspected San Jose car thief nabbed in Redwood City 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

(KRON) – The Redwood City Police Department arrested a suspect in connection with vehicle theft. The reporting party heard suspicious sounds coming from the street in front of his residence. According to police, the man witnessed a dark-colored Dodge Charger and black Chevrolet Corvette parked out front with approximately six people. The man pointed his firearm to the ground and fired a warning shot to scare off the suspects, and the suspects fled the scene in the cars. Red Flag Warning issued Saturday and Sunday Redwood City police were dispatched to the area of Sanchez Way and Oak Avenue for a report of the sound of gunshots.The officers located the suspect vehicles in the area of Woodside Road and Broadway.  The black Corvette collided with a street sign on the southbound Highway 101 off-ramp at Woodside Road. The driver proceeded to flee on foot, according to police. The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, and the Atherton Police Depart...

Coyotes’ Travis Dermott on using Pride tape, forcing NHL’s hand: ‘Had to be done’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

Travis Dermott had a lot on his mind as he carefully wrapped the shaft of his hockey stick with rainbow-colored tape.The NHL had dispatched a memo to teams before the season, reiterating its ban on altering on-ice gear for warmups and practices to reflect theme nights.The Arizona Coyotes defenseman was about to become the first player to defy that edict on supporting social causes — including Pride tape for the LGBTQ community. And he was going to do it in a game.“A bunch of thoughts are going through your head,” Dermott said. “But not one of them was, ‘Should I do this or shouldn’t I do this?’ It was more, ‘How fast is it going to blow up? How much is it going to blow up? Is anyone even going to notice?’“It had to be done. I was going to deal with whatever came my way.”What came his way was an avalanche of support after Dermott sported the tape on Saturday in Arizona’s home opener against the Los Angeles Kings.It also didn’t take long for the NHL to backpedal. The league announced ...

Fomento Economico: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

MONTERREY N.L., Mexico (AP) — MONTERREY N.L., Mexico (AP) — Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB (FMX) on Friday reported net income of $559.7 million in its third quarter.The Monterrey N.l., Mexico-based company said it had profit of $1.56 per share. Earnings, adjusted to account for discontinued operations, came to $1.75 per share.The Coca-Cola bottler posted revenue of $10.81 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FMX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FMXSource

Cowboys take 10-game home winning streak into a matchup against the Rams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

LA RAMS (3-4) at DALLAS (4-2)Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, FoxBETTING LINE: Cowboys by 6 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Rams 3-2-2; Cowboys 4-2.SERIES RECORD: Cowboys lead 19-18.LAST MEETING: Cowboys beat Rams 22-10 on Oct. 9, 2022, in Los Angeles.LAST WEEK: Rams lost to Steelers 24-17; Cowboys were off, beat Chargers 20-17 on Oct. 16.RAMS OFFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (15), PASS (7), SCORING (16).RAMS DEFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (20), PASS (11), SCORING (T14).COWBOYS OFFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (10), PASS (20), SCORING (5).COWBOYS DEFENSE: OVERALL (5), RUSH (18), PASS (3), SCORING (4).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Rams minus-2; Cowboys plus-6.RAMS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Cooper Kupp had one of the quietest games of his career last week against the Steelers, making just two catches for 29 yards despite being targeted seven times. Kupp dropped two passes on the opening drive, foreshadowing Los Angeles’ rough offensive day. The Super Bowl 56 MVP and 2021 triple crown of receiving wi...

West Virginia school system mandates religious training following revival assembly lawsuit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia school district has passed a policy mandating annual religious freedom training as part of a lawsuit settlement after an evangelical preacher held a revival assembly during the school day in 2022 that some students were required to attend.As part of a settlement finalized Thursday, Cabell County’s Board of Education’s policy makes clear that it is “not the province of a public school to either inhibit, or advance, religious beliefs or practices,” board lawyer Brian D. Morrison said in a statement to The Associated Press. “Students must remain free to voluntarily express their individual religious beliefs, or lack thereof, as each student sees fit,” Morrison said. Four families in West Virginia’s second-largest city of Huntington sued the district in February 2022, accusing the school system in the southwestern part of the state of having a systematic history of disregarding the religious freedom of its students a...

It’s no trick: Avoid bringing these items when you fly this Halloween

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

This fake bullet-lined belt was not permitted through the security checkpoint at John F. Kennedy International Airport earlier this year. (Courtesy TSA) This fake bullet-lined belt was not permitted through the security checkpoint at John F. Kennedy International Airport earlier this year. (Courtesy TSA) Ghouls and goblins are more than welcome to fly the spooky skies this Halloween — but the TSA is asking you not to bring some of these other items with you.The agency has already confiscated a fake bullet-lined belt, sai swords that are popular with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans and, yep, a razor-bladed Batarang.This Batarang, which has two razor-sharp blades, was removed from a traveler’s carry-on bag at Buffa...

NASCAR’s playoff push down to the madness of Martinsville with Hamlin and Truex title hopes on line

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

Denny Hamlin elevated his game this year with the aid of a microphone and a popular new podcast that unveils the insights of the driver considered the best in NASCAR history to never win a Cup Series title. He has held nothing back in his weekly “Actions Detrimental” podcast produced by Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s media company, and along the way has sounded like a guy about to make his 18th season the one that ends the hex. A mechanical failure last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway has put Hamlin’s season on the line as he heads into the last qualifying race for NASCAR’s title-deciding finale. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell have claimed the first of four spots in the championship race, and Hamlin finds himself tied with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. at 17 points below the cutline headed into Sunday’s showdown at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Martinsville is Hamlin’s favorite track. The Virginia-raised driver has five career wins at the pap...