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SoCal DJ creates 'Republic of Slowjamastan'; invites KTLA anchors to join nation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

A San Diego-based slow jams radio DJ has spent his life visiting every country in the world. Now, Randy "R Dub!" Williams is the "sultan" of his own "country," tucked away right here in California.Over the course of about a decade, Williams visited every single UN-recognized nation, some of the world's most elusive destinations, including North Korea and Venezuela. While traveling the world, he visited a "micronation," or a self-declared territory, in Nevada known as the "Republic of Molossia."In the fall of 2021, Williams purchased a 11-acre plot of empty, desert land deep in the arid landscape of Southern California's Imperial County, about 100 miles east of San Diego, to establish his new nation on.A few months later, on Dec. 1, he officially declared independence from the United States, signing the secession document from "Dublândia," the capital of the new "Republic of Slowjamastan."KTLA Morning show anchors discussed the new micronation on air, and that's when they got an invi...

Will home prices increase after 2 insurance companies pull out of California?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

New California homeowners could encounter roadblocks when looking for home insurance after news broke that Allstate and State Farm will be pulling out of the California home insurance market.It’s unclear how this news will affect the California real estate market overall, but many residents already struggle to afford the six- and seven-figure home prices in the Golden State, without even accounting for monthly expenses. Six California cities where lower-budget home buyers can purchase a home “It would be more expensive to own a home since insurance is a part of your monthly budget,” Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, said. “And if there are fewer insurers, then the insurers left behind will be able to command a higher price.”While California doesn’t require homeowners to have insurance, many mortgage lenders do. With fewer insurance companies willing to insure homes in high-risk areas, such as fire prone locations, more people won’t be able to purchase homes at all.Ac...

Stanford professor accused of domestic abuse found after disappearing on backpacking trip

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

Hunter Fraser, a Stanford biology professor accused of brutally beating his then-girlfriend, was found in Olympic National Park Sunday after “self-rescuing,” according to the National Park Service.Fraser reportedly exited the park via the Dosewallips River trail on the east side of the park with assistance from other hikers. He was then driven to Quilcene, Washington, where he was met by medical personnel and his family. It’s unclear whether he was injured.Searchers began looking for Fraser on June 8 after he was reported missing by a family member. The professor had planned a 40-mile backpacking trip through the national park and had been expected to make his return to Seattle on June 7.The Clallam County Sheriff’s office described Fraser as an “extremely experienced solo hiker,” and “well-equipped.” The multi-day search covered over 70 miles of trails and included air support, dog teams, and a variety of search and rescue agencies.He had been set to appear in San...

East Palo Alto man gets 4 years for Fremont home invasion robbery that turned deadly

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

OAKLAND — An East Palo Alto man was sentenced June 7 to four years in state prison after pleading no contest to participating in a home invasion robbery where one of his cohorts was shot and killed someone in the home.Gerardo Landa-Sandoval, 22, had been charged with murder under the provocative act theory, which says that a participant in a crime can be held liable when the victim kills one of the responsible parties in self-defense. But the murder count was dropped as part of the plea agreement, and Landa-Sandoval’s attorney argued the facts simply didn’t justify a murder charge.The hectic and chaotic robbery occurred on March 10, 2021, when Landa-Sandoval, 19-year-old Carlos Eduardo Contreras-Reyna, 22-year-old Lajon Harris, and a fourth person whose identity is unknown went to the Mosaic Apartments in Fremont to rob a specific unit, according to police. There were six people in the home, at least one of whom was armed. Details only get more unclear from there.A...

Bay Area man gets probation for robbing San Francisco banks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — A Bay Area man who allegedly robbed two banks within a week was sentenced to probation for three years, court records show.Mark David Anderson, 59, pleaded guilty last December to one count of bank robbery, a federal offense. He was sentenced in mid-May by U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson, court records show.Anderson’s attorney wrote in court papers that he has a mental illness stemming from a traumatic brain injury after being struck in the head with a pipe during a robbery in New York City. The lawyer wrote that Anderson was originally charged by the San Francisco District Attorney and was undergoing a mental health diversion program that was upended when federal prosecutors took over the case.Federal prosecutors charged Anderson in April 2021 with robbing two banks. In November 2020, Anderson allegedly placed a steak knife on the counter of a Wells Fargo in San Francisco before departing with $605, according to the criminal complaint. Two days later,...

Asian American student claims affirmative action prevented his admissions, but California law doesn't allow that

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

(KRON) -- An Asian American student claims that affirmative action is to blame for his recent rejections from top tier colleges and universities across the United States. However, the law which impacts admissions of at least one of those colleges prevents racial preference when considering students. Local leaders speak out after Mission District mass shooting Jon Wang, 18, of Florida told Fox News that he applied to MIT, CalTech, Princeton, Harvard, Carnegie-Mellon and University of California, Berkeley, but was rejected by each of them. Wang's parents are both Chinese immigrants, and he argues that his Asian American heritage worked against him in his application process, thanks to affirmative action policies. However, one of the colleges that Wang was denied by has published reports which show it may not be the case.Wang is one of the plaintiffs that has filed suit against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina over affirmative action, and the cases are expecte...

Stern Grove Festival returns to San Francisco this upcoming weekend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Stern Grove Music Festival returns for its 86th season this summer. Molly Fremgen, the festival's marketing director spoke with KRON4's Stephanie Lin to share more about the free festival. For more information on the Stern Grove Festival click here.

Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon kicks off in San Francisco

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is back Sunday with two-thousand athletes from around the world taking part in what is pegged as one of the most challenging multi-sporting events in the world. Three injured in shooting by nightclub in San Francisco There are three parts to the triathlon which start with a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz to the San Francisco Bay. The race continues with an 18-mile bike ride out to the Great Highway and through Golden Gate Park ending with an eight mile run though the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and to the finish line at Marina Green.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%; }The race started at 7:15 a.m. and medals are expected to be awarded around noon. The public is advised to e...

Counsell missing Brewers’ game Sunday to attend son’s high school graduation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers manager Craig Counsell missed Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics to attend his son’s high school graduation.Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy managed in Counsell’s place. Murphy had a 42-54 record as the San Diego Padres’ interim manager for the final 96 games of the 2015 season after Bud Black was fired.The game counbted toward Counsell’s managerial record.Jack Counsell, who will play baseball at the University of Michigan next year, was graduating from Whitefish Bay (Wisconsin) High School. His older brother, Brady, already is playing Big Ten baseball for Minnesota.(backslash)Milwaukee was trying to avoid getting swept by the Athletics, who have the worst record in the major leagues but had won four straight games. The Athletics hadn’t won as many as five straight within the same season since September 2021.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Novak Djokovic gana su título 23 de Grand Slam al vencer a Casper Ruud en el Abierto de Francia

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

PARÍS — Novak Djokovic ganó este domingo su título número 23 de Grand Slam, su récord masculino, al vencer 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 a Casper Ruud en la final del Abierto de Francia.Djokovic, un serbio de 36 años, rompió un empate con su rival Rafael Nadal por la mayor cantidad de trofeos individuales importantes en la historia del tenis masculino, que data del siglo XIX.Nadal, 14 veces campeón de Roland Garros, se perdió el torneo de este año porque está lesionado. Djokovic consigue su décimo título del Abierto de Australia y 22 de Grand Slam Djokovic se pierde el Abierto de EEUU: insiste en no vacunarse contra el COVID-19 Esta victoria se suma a los títulos del Abierto de Francia obtenidos por Djokovic en 2016 y 2021, lo que lo convierte en el único hombre con al menos tres de cada evento importante. Desde que recogió su primer trofeo Slam en el Abierto de Australia de 2008, ha acumulado un total de 10 allí, siete en Wimbledon y tres en...