California’s all-party gubernatorial primary remained too close to call, with Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer competing for two November ballot spots. Key mayoral and House races also remained unresolved as ballots continued to be counted.
Posts tagged as “Northern California”
A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from designating AI company Anthropic as a "supply chain risk" and banning federal use of its technology, ruling the government's actions likely unlawful and arbitrary. The dispute arose after Anthropic restricted military use of its AI for surveillance and autonomous weapons, leading to the Pentagon’s prohibition and a presidential order to cease using its services. The injunction restores the status quo pending appeal, allowing agencies to choose AI providers freely while Anthropic continues legal challenges against what it calls retaliatory government actions.
A Southern California civil jury found Bill Cosby liable for sexual assault against Donna Motsinger dating back to 1972, awarding her over $19 million in damages. The verdict follows Motsinger’s 2023 lawsuit alleging Cosby drugged and raped her after a comedy show, claims Cosby’s defense disputed, and comes amid numerous other allegations against him. This civil case is separate from Cosby’s overturned 2018 criminal conviction, marking a significant development in ongoing legal battles over decades-old sexual abuse accusations.
At his press conference following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Biden discussed progress on key U.S. objectives with China, as well as the return of hostages held by Hamas. He expressed his hope for clear understanding between the two countries, and said he was "mildly hopeful" about the hostages' return. He also assured that he is doing everything he can for their return, and is confident in the intelligence that Hamas is operating a command center under the Al-Shifa hospital.
Scott Shaw, former director of sports medicine at San Jose State University, was sentenced to two years in prison for inappropriately touching four female student-athletes without their consent. The Department of Justice said that Shaw used his position of authority to commit the crimes and that the sentence should serve as a reminder that such behavior will not be tolerated. They also said that they will continue to work to ensure that all students are able to pursue their education without fear of abuse or harassment.
Steven Carrillo, a former Air Force sergeant with ties to the “boogaloo” extremist movement, has been convicted of murder and attempted murder in the 2020 killing of a federal security officer in Northern California. The jury found Justus guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder of two other officers, and he now faces life in prison. The conviction of Justus is a major victory for the government and a warning to other members of the “boogaloo” movement that they will be held accountable for their actions.
At a private fundraising event in California, President Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator, and implied that Xi was caught off guard by the U.S. military shooting down a Chinese surveillance balloon in February. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had just visited China for a rare diplomatic trip, in an attempt to ease tensions between the two countries. The meeting between Blinken and Xi was the first high-level diplomatic meeting between the two countries since President Biden took office, and the White House has said that the U.S. will continue to push for a more equitable relationship with China.
A major winter storm has caused disruption across the Northeast and California, with more than a foot of snow reported in parts of Worcester County, Massachusetts and an atmospheric river inundating cities in California. Power outages have been reported in both regions, and residents are advised to take precautions to stay safe during the storm.