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Ex-CNN producer gets more than 19 years in prison for luring 9-year-old into sex acts

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

A former CNN television producer who had pleaded guilty to luring a 9-year-old girl into illegal sexual acts was sentenced Tuesday to more than 19 years in prison and an additional 15 years of supervised release during a U.S. District Court hearing in Vermont.John Griffin of Stamford, Connecticut, pleaded guilty in federal court in December to using interstate commerce to entice and coerce the girl to engage in sexual activity at his Vermont ski house.As part of the 2022 plea deal, the government dropped two remaining counts of enticement of a minor against Griffin, then 45 year old.Griffin had initially pleaded not guilty in 2021. He has been ordered to pay restitution to the victims.According to the plea deal, Griffin met a woman on a website during the summer of 2020 and persuaded the woman to bring her daughter to his Ludlow, Vermont, ski home for sexual activity.Griffin paid the woman and girl to fly from Nevada to Boston, picked them up and drove them to hi...

Armie Hammer, wife Elizabeth Chambers reach divorce settlement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

Armie Hammer has reached a divorce agreement with his wife, Elizabeth Chambers, nearly three years after she filed to end their marriage. Hammer's attorney filed documents in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday informing a judge that the actor and Chambers have come to terms over child custody, child support, spousal support and division of assets. A judge will need to sign off on the proposed agreement and declare the two divorced. The settlement comes weeks after LA County prosecutors declined to charge Hammer in an investigation stemming from a woman's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in 2017. They cited a lack of evidence to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Hammer said on Instagram that after a long public silence that “I look forward to beginning what will be a long, difficult process of putting my life back together now that my name has been cleared.” Allegations of sexual violence from women early in 2021 derailed Hammer’s career, and he has not worked i...

Arif Patel talks Bollywood, Hindi Cinema and its global popularity

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

Arif Patel is a retired teacher with an extensive knowledge of the history of cinema. Arif is particularly interested in the way in which Hindi commercial cinema has developed over the 20th century and ensures he keeps on top of both mainstream films and the more obscure Indian films. In this blog, Arif Patel traces the history and development of mainstream Hindi cinema, the wider industry in contemporary India and explains why there is always a great demand for this art form around the world. Hindi cinema is probably the most popular and well known part of Indian cinema for those outside of the country.Otherwise known as ‘Bollywood cinema’, Hindi cinema specifically refers to the part of the Indian cinema industry that focuses on producing films in Hindi.Where is the popular Hindi cinema industry based? Before it was commonly known as Bollywood, Hindi cinema was often called ‘Bombay cinema’. And so you won’t be surprised to hear that Hindi films are ma...

West Valley wineries shine at 2023 Sunset Wine Competition

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

The 2023 Sunset Wine Competition brought gold to several local wineries, among them Gali Vineyards, who scored 93 points for their 2022 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir from their vineyard in Watsonville. Check it out at their tasting room in downtown Los Gatos.The 2021 Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards Chardonnay earned gold and 93 points. Kings Mountain Vineyards scored a double gold for the 2019 Bacchus Estate Pinot Noir, Pichetti Winery’s 2021 Leslie’s Estate Chardonnay was named Best of Class and Sandar & Hem Wines scored gold for both their 2022 Bates Ranch Grenache Rosé (91  points) and 2021 Mountain Winery Vineyard Chardonnay 94  points).Virginie Boone, who penned reviews for years for Wine Enthusiast and is now writing for the New Wine Review site, where she recently gave a well-deserved shoutout to Calligraphy’s 2021 pinot noir, a collaboration between Silicon Valley resident Pooja Challa Gorthy and winemaker Megan Baccitich, who makes wine for Paul Hobbs. Gorthy, a high tech ex...

California is no longer America’s most expensive state for gas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

By Matt Egan | CNNNew York  — Drivers in the state of Washington are celebrating the official start of summer with an unwelcome sight: America’s most expensive gas prices.The average cost of regular gasoline in Washington state has jumped by 32 cents over the past month to $4.93 a gallon, according to AAA. That’s 7 cents ahead of California, which is notorious for its high prices for everything, especially fuel.It’s an unusual trend. California had held the unwanted title of America’s most expensive state for gas for roughly 95% of the time over the last few years, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.Prior to the past few days, Washington has never been the most expensive state for gas in data going back to 2005, GasBuddy told CNN. It’s also the first time over that span that the Pacific Northwest state topped both California and Hawaii.Even though Washington has the highest average price, gas stations near major California cities are still charging ...

Best eSports Betting Sites in 2023: Bet on LoL, CS:GO, Dota 2, FIFA, Valorant & More

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

Sponsored ContentFor all the video game junkies out there: we’ve ranked the best esports betting sites where you can cash in the next time Lee Sin decides to dive like the blind man he is under the turret.The top esports betting websites we narrowed down let you bet on the likes of CS:GO, League of Legends, and many more; you get to choose from a variety of markets, and you can also watch live streams and bet in-play.They’ve all been independently tested for their esports market coverage, bonuses, and odds, and they’re all safe and secure to use.And while Sportsbetting.ag is our to pick, you’ve got at least 12 top-notch online esports betting sites to choose from.Let’s begin.Best eSports Betting SitesSportsbetting.ag: Best overallBovada: Prop bets for CoD, LoL & CS:GOBetOnline: 20% esports weekly rebateBetUS: Up to $100 risk-free esport betFortune Jack: 6 BTC +350 free spinsEverygame: Competitive odds888 Sport: Top choice for free betsXBet: Best for CS:GOMyBook...

Workers investigating California sewage spill discover human remains

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

Workers hacking through an overgrown area of brush in a canyon in the Agua Amarga Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes found human remains there last week, neighbors and police said.The workers, who were there investigating how 30,000 gallons of raw sewage leaked from a manhole cover connected to drainage canals underneath the reserve, made the discovery when they went to the area on Tuesday, June 13.While in the neighborhoods around Faircove Drive, the workers made their way into what’s usually an inaccessible area of the reserve.As they cut through the brush on their way to one of those manhole covers, they found the remains, neighbors said.“All of a sudden, instead of public works vehicles, we had Sheriff’s vehicles show up,” said Kathy Christie, 60. “They said they were doing an investigation, but they wouldn’t say anything else.”Both the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner’s office confirmed they went to the Agua Amarga Reserve last Tuesday after the workers repor...

2024 Copa América in US to start on June 20, final to be played July 14

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

Next year’s Copa América in the United States will kick off on June 20 and the final will be played on July 17.South American soccer body CONMEBOL confirmed the dates on Tuesday and said tournament organizers have yet to pick the host cities.Ten South American teams plus six from North and Central America and the Caribbean will take part in the 2024 Copa América. The four semifinalists in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League will qualify along with two winners from play-in games among the four quarterfinal losers.Related ArticlesSports | $30 million Brentwood soccer fields, now double in price, to be built in phases Sports | Bay FC finds its general manager in Rushton, former D.C. United GM Sports | Bay FC makes first official hire, names Brady Stewart as CEO Sports | Former California AYSO coach convicted of having sex with 14-year-old Sports | Reports: 49ers closing in on full purchase of English soccer club...

Preliminary hearing to begin for OPD officer facing perjury charges

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

(KRON) – A preliminary hearing will be held Monday morning for an Oakland police officer who is facing felony perjury charges including attempting to bribe a witness in the murder investigation of Charles Butler, who was shot and killed in 2011.  2 men wrongfully convicted of Oakland murder file lawsuit Prosecutors say that Phong Tran, who was a homicide detective for OPD, coerced and paid off a witness in exchange for a false testimony against two murder defendants Giovante Douglas and Cartier Hunter, who were serving 10 years in prison until their convictions were overturned in September 2022. KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Tran’s hearing is set to begin at 9 a.m.

Multiple violent crimes over holiday weekend: Oakland PD

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:14 GMT

(KRON) – The Oakland Police Department is investigating multiple crimes that occurred over the holiday weekend. A total of four homicides were recorded with the first incident occurring shortly before 3 a.m. on Saturday in the 100 block of 14th Street. A second homicide occurred after 3 a.m. that same day in the 2100 block of 39th Avenue and an individual has been taken into custody in connection to the incident, OPD said. CHP investigating 4 highway shootings in 6 days The third homicide occurred in the 1900 block of 73rd Avenue around 2:45 a.m on Sunday followed by a fourth homicide on Monday around 6 p.m. in the 5000 block of Camden Street. All four victims’ identities are being withheld until next of kin is notified.Multiple shootings also occurred in the City of Oakland. A juvenile was struck by gunfire just before 9:15 p.m on Friday in the 2200 block of East 12th Street. On Monday, an individual was shot just after 3 a.m. in the 800 block of 70th Avenue. Both victims are li...