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Opinion: Legal attack on California gig initiative threatens direct democracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

Direct democracy is a part of California’s DNA and is deeply ingrained in our state Constitution. For California voters, the Constitution has long given us the right to legislate directly at the ballot box.Direct democracy was a Progressive-era reform promoted over a century ago by former Gov. Hiram Johnson and designed as a public check on the influence of special interests in the state Legislature. When the establishment of the initiative, referendum and recall were put before voters in 1911, they passed with 76% of the vote. Today, two-thirds of California voters still back direct democracy, according to polling from the Public Policy Institute of California.The long-enshrined right of the people to legislate by initiative has been jealously guarded by our courts again and again. This right is sacred, and it’s one reason I was heartened that the First District Court of Appeal in March upheld the core elements of Proposition 22.In 2020, California voters approved Proposition 22 wi...

As Lakers bemoan officiating, Warriors’ free-throw numbers tell a different story

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

The free-throw disparity in the first two games between the Warriors and the Lakers is going just as expected, with the Lakers having more than double the attempts at the charity stripe than the Warriors.But you’d never know it, based on the feelings and comments after Thursday night.It’s the Lakers who have been expressing their frustration with the officiating, despite the Warriors being called for 20 more fouls (47 to the Lakers’ 27) and Los Angeles shooting 46 free throws compared to Golden State’s 22.Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell told the media, “I’m not trying to go viral tonight,” when asked about the officiating after the game, and Lakers coach Darwin Ham made it clear that he wasn’t happy, though he didn’t want to directly address it.“I have zero thoughts,” Ham said. “I get paid to coach. I’m trying to coach my ass off for my team. Anything officials related, that’s on the league to look at. Try to be as fair and consistent as possible for both teams.”LeBron James als...

New Twitter rules expose election offices to spoof accounts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tracking down accurate information about Philadelphia’s elections on Twitter used to be easy. The account for the city commissioners who run elections, @phillyvotes, was the only one carrying a blue check mark, a sign of authenticity.But ever since the social media platform overhauled its verification service last month, the check mark has disappeared. That’s made it harder to distinguish @phillyvotes from a list of random accounts not run by the elections office but with very similar names.The election commission applied weeks ago for a gray check mark — Twitter’s new symbol to help users identify official government accounts – but has yet to hear back from the Twitter, commission spokesman Nick Custodio said. It’s unclear whether @phillyvotes is an eligible government account under Twitter’s new rules.That’s troubling, Custodio said, because Pennsylvania has a primary election May 16 and the commission uses its account to share important information with vote...

El príncipe Harry asiste a la ceremonia de coronación mientras las tensiones con la familia aumentan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

(CNN) — El príncipe Harry asistió a la coronación del rey Carlos III este sábado, la primera vez que se lo ve en público con su familia desde el lanzamiento de sus explosivas memorias “Spare”.El duque de Sussex estuvo entre el primer grupo de miembros de la realeza en ingresar a la Abadía de Westminster, llegando junto a sus tíos, el príncipe Eduardo y el príncipe Andrés, y dos de sus primas, la princesa Beatriz y la princesa Eugenia.Harry se sentó con Andrew, su tío, en la tercera fila del servicio. Ambos son miembros de la realeza que no trabajan y no desempeñaron ninguna función durante la ceremonia.El hijo menor del rey regresó a Londres sin su esposa, Meghan, y sus hijos, el príncipe Archie y la princesa Lilibet. Están de regreso en California, ya que también es el cuarto cumpleaños de Archie.El príncipe Harry, uno de los dos hijos del rey, camina frente a la Abadía de Westminster antes de la coronación. Aceptó la invitación a la coronación de su padre, pero e...

King Charles III’s coronation in pictures

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

King Charles III’s coronation in picturesA look at the crowning of the British monarch.King Charles III after being crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, 2023 | Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charles III was crowned at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday. The coronation was attended by members of the king’s family as well as global leaders, and watched by people across the United Kingdom and many others worldwide. The following photos offer a glimpse into the coronation, the first of a British monarch in almost 70 years.An army contingent marches across Westminster Bridge | Sgt Donald C Todd/EPA-EFEMounted police on the Mall | Jon Super/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesSpectators gather to watch the coronation procession | Yara Nardi/WPA pool via Getty ImagesPeople sit in Hyde Park to watch coverage of the coronation | Ian Forsyth/Getty ImagesWell-wishers along the procession’s route | Niklaas Halle’n/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charl...

Sunny and milder weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

7Weather – After a dreary and damp weekend, it’s all about the nice weather this weekend! We get more sunshine and mild temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s both days.This morning was the coolest we’ll be all weekend as a more mild airmass takes over. High pressure will be around and bring us a northwest breeze. It will be strong enough to push all the way to the coastline both days, preventing a sea breeze from developing from the North Shore to South Shore. Temperatures will be slightly lower for the Cape and Islands with a southwest breeze coming off the cool ocean water. Those temperatures you see below are in the towns, so it’ll feel cooler if you’re walking on the beach.Patio or grilling plans this evening? It’ll be comfortable out around sunset.We’ll stay mainly clear with a slight breeze overnight. Temperatures drop to the mid 40s for our coolest towns tomorrow morning and near 50° on the coast and southeast Mass.From there, tempera...

Prince Harry attends coronation ceremony as tensions with family run high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

(CNN) — Prince Harry attended the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday — the first time he has been seen in public with his family since the release of his explosive memoir “Spare.”The Duke of Sussex was among the first group of royals to enter Westminster Abbey, arriving alongside his uncles, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew, and two of his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.Harry sat with Andrew, his uncle, in the third row of the service. Both are non-working royals and did not perform any duties during the ceremony.The King’s youngest son returned to London without his wife, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. They are back in California as it is also Archie’s fourth birthday.There was widespread speculation in the build-up to Saturday’s celebrations over whether Harry would have a role in proceedings — and if his return might suggest the family has moved on from the rift that...

In shock and mourning, Serbia struggles to comprehend two mass shootings in as many days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

(CNN) — Serbians are reeling and demanding answers after two mass shootings in less than 48 hours left multiple people dead, with widespread calls for tough action to prevent any further repeat of such tragedies.Gun ownership is high in Serbia, but the sort of mass shootings seen on a daily basis in the United States are extremely rare in the Balkan country and school shootings were — until this week — virtually unheard of.That all changed on Wednesday when a 13-year-old boy opened fire on his classmates at a school in the capital Belgrade, killing at least eight children and a security guard.The nation was still in deep shock when news of another mass killing broke on Thursday night. A 21-year old gunman wielding an automatic weapon killed eight people in the village of Dubona, south of the capital city. The gunman has been arrested following a massive overnight manhunt involving hundreds of special forces.“This n...

Liam Hendriks is perfect in 1st rehab outing for Chicago White Sox and receives ‘emotional’ ovation from fans and both teams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

The magnitude of the moment wasn’t lost on anyone as Liam Hendriks went through his warmup pitches Friday in Gwinnett, Ga.The closer, on the road to returning to the Chicago White Sox after battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, heard a PA announcement as he prepared for his first minor-league rehab appearance with Triple-A Charlotte.“Both teams got out and started clapping,” Hendriks said during a video conference call, “which is — don’t get me wrong, it’s really, really nice. I very much appreciate it. It made me very emotional.“I’m a guy who pitches on anger, and it’s really hard to get angry when you know the other team is full of nice people. So a little tough to get locked in.”Additionally, he had to contend with wet field conditions.“I slipped on the first pitch and then had to finagle my mechanics a little bit just to make sure I was getting down there all right,” Hendriks said.The fact that Hendriks was b...

Yogi Berra documentary ‘It Ain’t Over’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:39 GMT

If you’re a Yankee fan, you will love this.If you’re a Met fan, you will also love this.And if you dislike New York sports teams with every fiber in your body, you will still love the documentary, “It Ain’t Over” about Lawrence Peter “Yogi” (It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over) Berra.Sony Pictures Classics releases the doc in the tri-state area and Los Angeles on May 12, but at a recent screening in New York, the doc emits what the country needs.Humor.There are lots of “Wait! What?” Yogi-isms, but the iconic Hall of Fame Yankee catcher is well represented by a plethora of baseball greats and their insights.How many documentaries have a casting call that includes Torre, Girardi, Jeter, Mattingly, Guidry, Rivera and Randolph?There’s also interviews with teammates Bobby Richardson, Tony Kubek, Don Larsen, owner Hal Steinbrenner, Hall of Fame journalists Vin Scully, Bob Costas, Claire Smith, comedian Billy Crystal an...