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Author Ian Falconer dies; wrote beloved ‘Olivia’ series for children

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

Associated PressNORWALK, Conn. — Author and illustrator Ian Woodward Falconer, known for his “Olivia” book series for children, has died.Falconer’s lawyer and agent Conrad M. Rippy said Falconer died March 7 of natural causes while with family in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was 63.Falconer’s “Olivia” books featured a clever piglet with a great imagination named Olivia, a character he developed for his young niece in 1996. (Simon & Schuster)Falconer’s “Olivia” books featured a clever piglet with a great imagination named Olivia, a character he developed for his young niece in 1996. Family members and friends encouraged him to keep working on the character.He turned down publishers who wanted the text be written by an outside author. “I am afraid my vanity wouldn’t allow me to relegate myself to ‘illustrated by,'” he said. “I also thought my instincts about the story were, if unpolished, right, a...

Spain’s teenage crown princess to start three-year military training

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

Spain’s Crown Princess Leonor, the 17-year-old heir presumptive to the throne, will start three years of military training in preparation for her future role as head of state, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday.Crown Princess Leonor of Spain, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) “In the Cabinet Meeting today, we have approved a royal decree whose aim is to give structure to the military training and career of (Princess Leonor),” Robles said.As the elder of King Felipe VI’s two daughters, Leonor is first in the line of succession and so will become the supreme commander of the armed forces when her father either steps down or dies.Her military training will last for three years as she spends a year each with Spain’s army, navy and air force at their respective academies, just as her father did years earlier, before becoming king.“It shows that we will have, when the time comes, a supreme commander who i...

Stabbing at San Jose middle school being investigated by police

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

(KRON) -- Units with the San Jose Police Department are currently investigating a stabbing at Sunrise Middle School, according to a tweet from SJPD. A 15-year-old student sustained a non-life threatening injury, according to police. The suspect, who is also a student, is in custody police said.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Complete interview with former California Governor Jerry Brown

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

(Inside California Politics) — In early March, Inside California Politics visited former California Governor Jerry Brown at his ranch in Colusa County for a wide-ranging interview on his life after politics, current issues facing California and the nation, and what he thinks American politicians should be doing during the time they wield the power to make changes. The complete interview below has been lightly edited for clarity.Nikki Laurenzo: Governor, what's life like out on the ranch? Former Gov. Jerry Brown: The obvious: it's good. It's a good life. It's beautiful out here. There's animals. There’s hawks. There's eagles flying around. There's wild boars, jackrabbits, squirrels, coyotes, and, of course, all the cows. And then there are over 300 different identified wildflowers right on this ranch and they will start coming out now— a few have come out already. So it's a symphony of creation, which I'm right in the middle of. So I thoroughly enjoy it. Laurenzo:...

The big takeaways from Jerry Brown's Inside California Politics interview

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

(Inside California Politics) — Former California Governor Jerry Brown spoke with Inside California Politics co-host Nikki Laurenzo about his thoughts on several topics, including political figures that naturally seek the presidency, and several potential wars that the U.S. may face.Homelessness in CaliforniaThe former Democratic governor took a forceful approach to solutions for California's homelessness problem. "Well, I think they have to find a way to get enough shelter and then you need a law that says you can't pitch your tent on the street," Brown said. "...And then if you go somewhere, if you have any ability, you should have to pay for it in some form of work or some contribution back to your society." Dr. Mark Ghaly discusses the end of California’s COVID-19 state of emergency Brown said he supported Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE court, a program of court-ordered treatment for adults who have specified psychotic disorders, but noted potential barriers to the program's success....

One person shot in Antioch road rage incident

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

(KRON) -- One person was shot Tuesday in what police are describing as a road rage incident in Antioch. The Antioch Police Department received a call shortly before 8 p.m. on Tuesday advising that someone was shot on Lone Tree Way at the intersection of State Route 4. Officers responded and found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound, according to Antioch PD. PHOTOS: Van full of marijuana explodes on Highway 101 The victim was transported to a hospital and is expected to survive. Officers determined the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident between two unrelated vehicles. One of the occupants of a vehicle involved in that incident shot at another vehicle and inadvertently injured the unrelated occupant of a nearby vehicle.An investigation into the incident remains active, police said.

Italian court deliberates appeal of 2 US men in cop killing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

ROME (AP) — Italy’s highest court started deliberations Wednesday in what should be the final appeal of two U.S. citizens convicted in the stabbing death of a police officer during a plainclothes operation in Rome in the summer of 2019.Finnegan Lee Elder, now 23, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, now 22, were convicted in May 2021 of slaying the 35-year-old officer, as well as of attempted extortion, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause.The two men, who were friends in northern California before they traveled to Italy together, initially received life sentences, Italy’s most severe penalty. An appeals court last year upheld their convictions, but reduced the sentences to 24 years for Elder and 22 years for Natale-Hjorth. The Italian legal system allows defendants another appeal to Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation, which heard some seven hours of arguments before going into deliberations Wednesday evening. The court can either uphold the ...

DeSantis nabs presidential endorsement from GOP House member

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, an outspoken member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, preemptively endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president on Wednesday, pushing his fellow Republican House members to look beyond former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination.The public showing of support appears to be DeSantis’ first endorsement from a member of Congress and comes as the governor has been courting conservative lawmakers ahead of a formal announcement expected after the end of the state legislative session in May.Roy wrote in an email sent from his campaign that the party needs “a new generation of leadership” at the helm, and he argued that DeSantis has “proven his ability to win at the ballot box time and time again.” The comments were implicit knocks on the 76-year-old Trump, who lost his own reelection bid in 2020 and was blamed for an unexpectedly poor showing by Republican candidates in last year’s midterms.“When other Republicans ...

Gio Reyna on US roster after family tried to oust Berhalter

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Gio Reyna, whose parents tried to oust U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter after the 20-year-old midfielder was sparingly used at the World Cup, was selected Wednesday by interim coach Anthony Hudson for CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador. Reyna made two substitute appearances during the World Cup totaling 52 minutes and Berhalter later said he almost sent a player home because of lack of hustle — remarks Reyna admitted were aimed at him. His parents, former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and women’s national team midfielder Daniele Egan Reyna, then complained to U.S. Soccer Federation officials and notified them of a 1992 domestic violence incident involving Daniele’s college roommate and Berhalter’s future wife. The USSF commissioned a law firm to investigate, which determined Berhalter did not improperly withhold information of the incident. Hudson was appointed interim coach during the probe and will remain on until after a new USSF sporting direc...

Amid Man United bids, UEFA head hints at owners rule review

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:14:58 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — UEFA should rethink its rules that prevent clubs in related ownership from playing in the same competition such as the Champions League, its president Aleksander Čeferin said Wednesday.Čeferin, speaking in an interview with former Manchester United player Gary Neville, said UEFA was “not thinking about United only” in considering a review.United’s owners, the Glazer family, have invited offers to buy the storied club and a Qatari-funded bid and British industrialist Jim Ratcliffe have declared interest.A Qatari sovereign wealth fund already owns Champions League regular Paris Saint-Germain and Ratcliffe’s chemicals firm INEOS owns Nice, which regularly plays in UEFA’s lower-tier competitions.Both potential buyers could have problems with UEFA’s rule that bars clubs playing in the same competitions in any season if owners have “decisive influence” over them.Čeferin, who has held one international press conference since September, told Neville in a filmed interview relea...