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Are you a victim of crypto crime? Erin West wants to help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

Thieves think that stolen cryptocurrency from duped consumers is the perfect crime – anonymous, secret and safe from seizure.Erin West is proving them wrong.In the past year, the Santa Clara County prosecutor and her team have recovered $2.5 million worth of digital currency from scammed Bay Area residents, with about 75 investigations still underway.One victim was an entrepreneur whose cell phone account was hacked, then emptied. Another was a father who was tricked into a fake investment scheme, losing his child’s college fund. Yet another was a grandfather, fooled by the sobs of someone pretending to be his grandson in a car accident. There are hundreds of others.Shining light on a complex world that thrives in darkness, West is crafting legal techniques to find and return once-vanished funds. With cryptocrimes on the rise, she has gained global acclaim, earning invitations to share her strategy at conferences in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and other U.S. cities, even the...

America’s top 100 secret beaches include 8 California gems

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

There are few things more appealing than an uncrowded beach on a sunny summer day — an under-the-radar stretch of strand where you won’t find coolers and blankets monopolizing the sandy expanse.FamilyDestinationsGuide.com, a travel planning site, recently polled 3,000 families to find the best secret beaches across the U.S. It’s no surprise that beach-blessed Hawaii and Florida took seven out of the top 10 spots — but California beaches had a good showing, too.Eight Golden State beaches appear on the top 100, including Wildcat Beach in Point Reyes at No. 8), Bowling Ball Beach in Mendocino (No. 22) and Gray Whale Cove near Pacifica (No. 25). Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, Hollywood Beach in Oxnard, Enderts Beach near Crescent City, Montaña de Oro State Park south of Morro Bay and Haskell’s Beach in Santa Barbara also made the list.“Not only do these hidden gems offer a chance to escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere,” says execu...

The Oakland teachers strike is over; school to resume instruction Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

After days of ramped-up talks and momentum rapidly building, the Oakland Education Association and Oakland Unified School District announced early Monday morning that they reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, ending the seven-day long strike in time for the final eight days of the school year.School was set to resume instruction as normal on Tuesday, with schools open Monday in a modified “transition day” format. The district says teachers may return to class Monday if they wish to do so.“Our collective power forced OUSD to commit to living wages for educators, more resources in our schools, enforceable working conditions & common good issues for our students & their families,” the union said on Twitter on Monday morning.BREAKING: OEA’s Bargaining Team of over 50 Oakland educators has reached a TA with OUSD. Our collective power forced OUSD to commit to living wages for educators, more resources in our schools, enforceable working conditio...

He lost his son to suicide after a ‘sextortion’ scam. Now this lawmaker is fighting to save other teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey’s bill criminalizing sextortion is awaiting the governor’s signature after being passed in the state’s House and Senate.(Courtesy of Brandon Guffey) By Faith Karimi | CNNGavin Guffey sent a message to his younger brother and friends in the predawn hours of July 27 last year. It was short and cryptic: The heart-shaped symbol of love — <3 — on a black background.Minutes later, in a hallway bathroom a few steps from his room, the 17-year-old fatally shot himself. His father, Brandon Guffey, says he was at their home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, when he heard a loud thud. It sounded like someone had slammed a bowling ball to the floor.He rushed to the bathroom and found his oldest son bleeding on the floor between the tub and the toilet.For weeks, the grieving family searched for signs of anything they’d missed. Then they found out that scammers masquerading as a young woman had sent Gavin nude photos ...

Oakland teacher's union, OUSD reach tentative agreement ending strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- The Oakland teacher's strike has been called off for Monday. Regular school days for Oakland students will finally be back in session Tuesday with the Oakland School District calling Monday a transition day.As teachers prepare to vote finalize this new agreement which includes a lot of those common goods they asked for.Video from 2 a.m. Monday morning when a deal was reached show some Oakland teachers crying as the group finally met an agreement with the District. The deal that took more than seven days to make and kept 35,000 students out of class just weeks before the end of the school year.The District said Monday will be a transition day and while schools will be open today for students, teachers are not mandated to go back into the classroom until Tuesday.This new agreement is said to have historic pay raises, facility resources, reparations for Black students and resources for unhoused students, among other things."As mentioned, the Oakland schools wi...

Good Samaritan killed in hit-and-run in Fremont on Mother's Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

FREMONT, Calif. (KRON) -- The search continues for the person who killed a Good Samaritan on Mother's Day. A woman and a man saw a disabled Chevy blocking the lanes of the off ramp from I-880 to Mission Boulevard around 2:40 a.m. Sunday.The pair helped get the car off the freeway and on to the shoulder and then parked behind the Chevy. The woman was standing between her car and the Chevy when a Ford pickup slammed into her car, moved it forward and hit the woman, killing her.The driver of the Chevy who the Good Samaritans were trying to help was arrested. California Highway Patrol officers said he was driving under the influence.The driver of the Ford pickup took off on foot. There is no suspect description.

Altisource: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

CHRISTIANSTED, Virgin Islands (AP) — CHRISTIANSTED, Virgin Islands (AP) — Altisource Asset Management Corp. (AAMC) on Monday reported first-quarter earnings of $3 million.On a per-share basis, the Christiansted, Virgin Islands-based company said it had net income of $1.68.The asset manager posted revenue of $2.1 million in the period.Altisource shares have more than tripled since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased sevenfold in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AAMC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AAMCSource

CPI: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

EDGEWOOD, N.Y. (AP) — EDGEWOOD, N.Y. (AP) — CPI Aerostructures Inc. (CVU) on Monday reported profit of $983,000 in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the Edgewood, New York-based company said it had profit of 8 cents.The maker of aircraft parts for the armed forces and defense contractors posted revenue of $22 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CVU at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CVUSource

ContraFect: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) — YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) — ContraFect Corp. (CFRX) on Monday reported a loss of $1.4 million in its first quarter.The Yonkers, New York-based company said it had a loss of 69 cents per share.The company’s shares closed at $1.50. A year ago, they were trading at $259.20._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CFRX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CFRXSource

Cyprus, Israel working on deal for natural gas pipeline, processing plant in Cyprus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:45 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus and Israel are working on a deal to build a pipeline that will convey natural gas from both countries to the east Mediterranean island nation, where it will be liquefied for export by ship to Europe and potentially elsewhere, the Cypriot energy minister said Monday.Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou said Monday he would soon visit Israel to hammer out a formal agreement. Once the deal is signed, the pipeline could be completed in 18 months. It will take 2 ½ years to build a liquefaction plant on Cyprus once investors are secured.So far, five sizeable gas deposits have been discovered off Cyprus’ southern coastline. Israel has 11 such fields: the biggest, named Leviathan, contains an estimated 22 trillion cubic feet (623 billion cubic meters) of gas.Papanastasiou said he would meet later this month with energy companies licensed to explore for oil and gas inside Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone – include French Total, Italy’s Eni, ExxonMobil and Chevron...