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'Extremely friendly' humpback entertains whale watching tour (video)

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

Passengers aboard a whale watching tour off the coast of Newport Beach were treated to a rare and breathtaking sight after a humpback whale gave them the show of a lifetime.The humpback spent about 30 minutes Friday investigating and entertaining those on board, in a practice called "mugging."Mugging happens when a curious whale decides to get up close and personal with a boat and interact with the people on board, according to the Pacific Whale Foundation.Mark Girardeau, a photographer with Newport Coastal Adventure, said the whale circled the boat for about half an hour while the engines were shut off. Passengers aboard a whale watching vessel in Newport Beach got the show of a lifetime on Aug. 4, 2023. (Newport Coastal Adventure)Video shared by the whale watching tour company showed the whale get within feet of the people on board, turning underwater and even blowing bubbles toward the surface.Girardeau said the experience showcased very rare behavior and this particular whale wa...

Mother bear and cubs wanted for dozens of break-ins in South Lake Tahoe captured

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

A large mother bear wanted for dozens of break-ins throughout South Lake Tahoe was captured along with her three cubs.The bear, known as 64F, is responsible for at least 21 home invasions between February 2022 and May 2023, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. DNA found at the break-in sites was used to confirm her identity and involvement.The mother’s three male cubs have accompanied her during recent break-ins as well, CDFW said. There are additional break-ins and property damage that 64F is also suspected of.The large mother bear was one of three bears identified by the public as “Hank the Tank” in 2022.The 500-pound black bear, who was later discovered to be three bears, were collectively responsible for more than 150 incident reports in the region between Northern California and Nevada, the Associated Press reported.The mother bear has been monitored by wildlife officials since 2022. At the time, 64F was immobilized so wildlife experts could collect DNA ...

Okla. man pleads guilty to threatening several GOP poiliticians

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

By Orlando Mayorquin | New York TimesAn Oklahoma man pleaded guilty Wednesday to making death threats on social media against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and other high-profile Republican politicians.As part of a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, the man, Tyler Jay Marshall, 37, of Enid, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transmission of threatening communication in exchange for the dismissal of a more serious charge of threatening to murder a U.S. official.Marshall faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set, according to Tyler C. Box, Marshall’s lawyer.“My client is remorseful,” Box said in an interview. “He is ready to take responsibility and take the punishment the court sees fit to move on with his life.”Box said that he would seek probation for his client, whom he described as having been in “a bad place” when he ma...

Texas man who called for mass shooting of poll workers sentenced

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

Associated PressLUBBOCK, Texas — A Texas man who advocated for a mass shooting of poll workers and threatened two Arizona officials and their children has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison, prosecutors said Friday.Frederick Francis Goltz, 52, of Lubbock, pleaded guilty earlier this year to interstate threatening communications. Goltz was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who also ordered three years of supervised release following the prison term.The U.S. saw a proliferation of threats against elections officials after former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Such threats contributed to an exodus of election officials across the country, and made recruiting poll workers difficult.Trump, a Republican, was indicted on felony charges earlier this week for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent U.S. Capitol riot by his supporters.Prosecutors say court d...

After 21 alleged home break-ins, bear family captured in South Lake Tahoe

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

After allegedly breaking into nearly two dozen homes, a female black bear and her three male cubs have been captured by wildlife biologists in South Lake Tahoe, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.The bear — whose DNA authorities say was found at 21 homes over the past year — is one of several residents have referred to as “Hank the Tank.” During her last few home invasions, her cubs came along for the ride, and together, the bear family has been suspected of even more break-ins and additional property damage, the state agency said Friday.“Relocation is not typically an option for conflict animals over concern that relocating an animal will relocate the conflict behavior to a different community,” the agency said in a press release. “However, given the widespread interest in this bear, and the significant risk of a serious incident involving the bear, CDFW is employing an alternative solution to safeguard the bear family as well as the people in t...

49ers training camp: Brock Purdy feeling ‘normal’, not scared of contact

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Any training camp story about Brock Purdy must open with his health update, especially after Friday commanded the largest workload yet for his surgically repaired elbow.“Arm feels good,” Purdy said, “feels like I can continue to keep going.”The mental side of the game is what Purdy must continue to improve before the Sept. 10 season opener. That goes for getting his eyes up to speed to track defenders’ adjustments and receivers’ routes. And it goes for the moment most comeback-making football players really feel they are back: that first hit.“I just have to get in a rhythm and play, go through progressions, and just play quarterback,” Purdy said.“It’s not really, ‘Hey, I have to get tackled here, just so I feel good about my arm.’ Nothing like that goes through my mind. I just play football, go through my reads, and I feel normal. It’s not like I’m out there timid or scared about a certain hit.”The first...

San Francisco 'Dolores Hill Bomb' riot charges in limbo

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Some of the criminal charges connected to a mass arrest during this summer's San Francisco "Dolores Hill Bomb" skateboarding event and riot are in limbo. On Friday, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins wrote, "Misdemeanor citations presented to SFDAO for failure to disperse and inciting a riot will be discharged at this time. If additional information is developed, charges may be filed for up to one year." Prosecutors are still pursuing charges for vandalism and property crimes, Jenkins said. The "Dolores Hill Bomb" is an unsanctioned annual event where skateboarders take over a steep city street. This summer it escalated into a mass arrest of more than 100 people on July 8. Just before sunset, officers made announcements over a loudspeaker in an attempt to disperse the crowd for unlawful assembly around Dolores Park. But a group of about 200 people with skateboards started breaking through and removing police barricades at 18th and Dolores streets, police said. ...

Rangers broadcaster Nadel back in booth for ’23 debut after treatment for mental health issues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel returned to the Texas Rangers radio booth Friday night to call his first game of the season after he missed the first 109 games while taking time to get treatment for some mental health issues. The 72-year-old Nadel is in his 45th season as part of Rangers broadcasts. When announcing before the season that he would be taking time away, Nadel said he was dealing with anxiety, insomnia and depression.During the pregame show before the team’s series opener against Miami, Nadel said he was delighted to be back and thanked Rangers fans for reaching out with their love and support. The play-by-play voice also expressed his appreciation to the team ownership and management, and his broadcast partners Matt Hicks and Jared Sandler“Let’s see if I remember how to do this,” Nadel said on the air just before the first pitch. Only two current MLB broadcasters have been with their teams longer. Denny Matthews has been a part o...

Orioles fans give Mets manager Buck Showalter a warm welcome back to Baltimore

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter tips his hat as he is honored on the big screen prior to a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)(AP/Julio Cortez) New York Mets manager Buck Showalter tips his hat as he is honored on the big screen prior to a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)(AP/Julio Cortez) BALTIMORE (AP) — Nobody does pregame banter quite like Buck Showalter, but after commenting on the new Topgolf facility near Camden Yards — and shying away from questions about how emotional his return to Baltimore is — the New York Mets’...

Angels will wait a couple more days before finalizing Ohtani’s next start on the mound

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:59 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Manager Phil Nevin said it will likely be a couple more days before the Los Angeles Angels finalize when Shohei Ohtani will make his next pitching start.Ohtani went only four innings in a 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night due to cramping in his pitching hand and fingers. Ohtani said the cramping was largely in his right middle finger.Nevin was optimistic that Ohtani’s next start — which would be on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants — wouldn’t need to be pushed back.“I think it’s fine. All reports today were the same, too,” Nevin said.Ohtani struggled with a finger blister and a fingernail problem for a few starts last month, but Nevin said those issues aren’t related to the cramping problems Ohtani had Thursday night.Ohtani — who leads the majors with 40 home runs — was in the lineup in his usual spot at designated hitter Friday night. When asked if a day off might help Ohtani, Nevin said Ohtani hasn’t asked fo...