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Bay Area bishop acquitted in first United Methodist court trial of its kind in nearly a century

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

By PETER SMITH | Associated PressA United Methodist Church court acquitted a California bishop Friday of all charges in the first trial of one of the church’s bishops in nearly a century.Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the first Latina bishop in the denomination and a prominent voice on behalf of immigrants, faced four charges of violating church law. They were for alleged harassment, fiscal malfeasance, disobedience to the order and discipline of the UMC and the undermining of another pastor’s ministry. The jury reached its verdict after a few hours of deliberation Thursday evening. It was announced Friday morning.Among other particulars, the prosecution alleged Carcaño retaliated against clergy and staff who challenged her decisions and that she took actions or allowed them to be taken while sidestepping committees and other staff that should have been consulted about decisions.The prosecution also said she benefited from her use of a San Francisco parsonage, which was renovated through a...

Why does Donald Trump attack the Ronald Reagan Library?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

When the Republican National Committee announced that it would hold its second debate in the primary at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, the decision drew ire from former President Donald Trump. He said President Ronald Reagan wouldn’t approve of the leadership of Frederick Ryan Jr., the library’s longtime board chair.Trump threatened to skip the presidential debate altogether.The former president wrote on his social media platform Truth Social in April, “When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile networks with angry Trump & MAGA hitting anchors asking the ‘questions,’ why subject yourself to being libeled and abused? Also, the second debate is being held at the Reagan Library, the chairman of which is, amazingly, Fred Ryan, publisher of the Washington Post. No!”The Reagan Library, a sprawling complex of buildings and gardens, has hosted numerous GOP presidential candidate debates. Over the years, it has also welcomed worl...

DUI driver tried to buy alcohol after crashing into North Bay store: police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

(KRON) -- A man suspected of driving under the influence crashed his truck into a Santa Rosa business Wednesday before he entered the store and attempted to purchase alcohol, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.Police said the driver, identified as 34-year-old Jesus Carreno-Ortiz of Santa Rosa, didn’t slow down his Toyota truck after entering the parking lot of a business on the 2400 block of Dutton Avenue. The truck then slammed into the southeast corner of the business. Following the crash, Carreno-Ortiz got out of the truck, walked into the store and attempted to purchase alcohol, Santa Rosa police said.A photo released by authorities shows the truck outside of Ray's Food Center.Responding authorities from Santa Rosa PD, along with the Santa Rosa Fire Department and medical personnel, determined that Carreno-Ortiz had operated the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. His preliminary blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.32, police said. VIDEO: Tourists chase car in att...

WTOP’s Beer of the Week: Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Festbier

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "5c75b387-72d0-4168-a691-7e5af4196595"}).render("e9aae4b0d502417bbd4d3931ddd37c6f"); });If you can’t make it to the big party in Germany, some of it has come to you!WTOP’s Brennan Haselton is joined by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Beer Director and Food and Wine Sommelier of the Year Greg Engert to talk about Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Festbier for the latest edition of WTOP’s Beer of the Week.Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, California and Mills River, North CarolinaDescription: Brewed in collaboration with German craft brewery Kehrwieder, this festbier is bright like polished copper, rich with biscuity malt and balanced by a punchy blend of German and American hops.ABV: 6%Pairing suggestions: Schnitzels, grilled pork chops, sausages, fall...

Spain is removing the word ‘women’ from national team name to show ‘conceptual shift’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — By eliminating the phrase for “women’s soccer” from the name of its national team, the Spanish Football Federation is hoping to show it has made a “conceptual shift” in its view of the sport. It remains to be seen if more countries will follow suit. Spain made the move towards greater equality this week as part of an agreement between the governing body and its World Cup winning team, which have been in dispute since former federation president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy ceremony as Spain was crowned world champion in Australia last month. The name for the women’s team traditionally included the phrase “de fútbol femenino” — translated as “women’s soccer.” Going forward, the men’s and women’s national teams will both officially be known as “Selección Española de fútbol” or “Spain’s national soccer team.”“More than a symbolic change, we want this to represent a conceptual shift, and recognition ...

Aces, Liberty, Sun and Wings set for WNBA semifinal playoff clashes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces cruised through the opening round of the playoffs and now stand six wins away from becoming the WNBA’s first repeat champion in over two decades.Next up for the defending champions are the Dallas Wings — a team that handed the Aces one of their few losses during the regular season. New York faces Connecticut in the other semifinal matchup. Both best-of-five series begin Sunday.Las Vegas, which is looking to be the first team to repeat as champs since Los Angeles in 2001-02, had no trouble sweeping Chicago. The Aces didn’t trail in winning both games. Now Wilson and her teammates will have to deal with the formidable front line of the Wings, which features 6-foot-7 Teaira McCowan, 6-4 Satou Sabally and 6-2 Natasha Howard.“They are going to clog the paint up. That’s their bread and butter. It’s rare you see all five crash (for rebounds),” Wilson said. “When it comes to Dallas, they are all cra...

A 9/11 defendant is ruled unfit for trial after a medical panel finds torture left him psychotic

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A military judge at Guantanamo Bay has ruled one of the 9/11 defendants too mentally ill to stand trial, after a military medical panel found that the man’s abuse in CIA custody years earlier has rendered him psychotic.Guantanamo military commission spokesman Ronald Flesvig confirmed the ruling by Judge Col. Matthew McCall. The ruling means Ramzi bin al-Shibh will not be tried together with his four 9/11 co-defendants, whose case will now proceed without him.McCall made the ruling Thursday night. A notice on the military commission’s website Friday said his written decision was under security review and unavailable.A Yemeni, al-Shibh is accused of organizing one cell of the 19 hijackers who carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. A military medical panel last month diagnosed him as having post-traumatic stress disorder with secondary psychosis, and linked it to his torture and solitary confinement during four years in ...

Rays calling up 20-year old infield prospect Junior Caminero

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. (AP) — The playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays are calling up 20-year-old minor league prospect Junior Caminero from Double-A Montgomery.The minor league club announced the news on social media, saying: “Congratulations to Junior Caminero for being called up to THE SHOW!”Caminero spent time with both Montgomery and Class-A Bowling Green this season, mostly playing third base while combining to hit .324 with 31 homers and 94 RBIs in 117 games. He’s expected to join the Rays for a weekend series that begins Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.The Rays have been without Wander Franco, who was placed on administrative leave indefinitely by Major League Baseball last month while authorities in the Dominican Republic investigate the All-Star shortstop for an alleged relationship with a minor.The 22-year-old Franco was placed on the restricted list for a week on Aug. 14 while MLB launched an investigation following social media posts suggesting he was in a relati...

Pope blasts ‘fanaticism of indifference’ that world shows migrants, as he prays for dead in French port of Marseille

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Pope blasts ‘fanaticism of indifference’ that world shows migrants, as he prays for dead in French port of Marseille.Source

White House preparing for government shutdown as House Republicans lack a viable endgame for funding

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:25:27 GMT

WASHINGT)N (AP) — The White House is preparing Friday to direct federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no viable plan to keep the government funded and avert politically and economically costly disruption of federal services.A federal shutdown after Sept. 30 seems all but certain unless Speaker Kevin McCarthy can convince his rebellious hard-right flank of Republicans to allow Congress to approve a temporary funding measure to prevent closures while they work on the annual federal spending plan. But the House is not expected back until Tuesday, leaving just five days to resolve his standoff.“We got members working, and hopefully we’ll be able to move forward on Tuesday to pass these bills,” McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters at the Capitol.McCarthy signaled his preference for avoiding a closure, but a hard-right flank of his House majority has effectively seized control. “I still believe if you shut down you’re in a weaker...