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Butta: From Grammy Nominations to Musical Mastery

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

In the universe of music production, several stars shine brightly, but few illuminate  as vibrantly as Keith “Butta” Justice. Four-time Grammy nominee, Soul Train Award winner, and platinum selling music producer, Butta, as he is popularly known, has been carving a niche for himself in the music industry.Raised on the rhythmic streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Butta began his journey in tandem with his high school friend Allen “Bizkit” Arthur. Together, they forged B & B Entertainment, LLC, a platform that has become a touchstone of remarkable tunes. Butta’s hands have been instrumental in shaping the music of eminent stars such as John Legend, Miguel, Neyo, and Yo Gotti. One of his most distinguished works  has been John Legend’s #1 Billiard single, “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”, featuring Ludacris, a track that found its groove in the film, Think Like a Man.For Butta, the melody never stops. His recent collaborations with Bi...

University of California admits a record-number of California freshmen for the fall of 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

The University of California has admitted an unprecedented number of California students for the fall of 2023, with 88,285 first-year applicants coming from the Golden State alone.It’s an increase of 3.5% from last year, and part of an ongoing effort to get more Californians into the state’s higher education system. This year, the state’s budget included a 5% boost for the UC system — part of a multi-year agreement between Governor Gavin Newsom and the University of California — with the expectation that campuses would use that money to enroll more California students, among other educational objectives.Across the UC system, that seems to be exactly what happened. Admission rates for Californians increased to nearly 67% this year, as opposed to 64% in 2022.The surge was more prominent at UC Santa Cruz than any other campus. This fall, the school admitted 10,200 more first-year Californian students than the year prior, a 44.5% jump. Though final enrollment num...

Santa Clara County unveils new residential mental health facility amid psychiatric bed shortage

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

SAN JOSE — The rooms inside this building—modestly furnished with neatly made twin beds, tables, chairs and nightstands decorated with vases of faux orange-and-violet daises—may look unremarkable. But to Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, they represent hope.The 11 double-occupancy rooms and six singles—a total of 28 beds—will house adults with severe mental illnesses at the county’s newest residential mental health treatment center, which is set to open this fall. Across the street from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in West San Jose, it will serve who are no longer in crisis, but need assistance transitioning back to their day-to-day lives.“Each one of these rooms offers the opportunity, the hope of a better life,” Simitian told an enthusiastic crowd gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility on Tuesday afternoon. “Each of these rooms promises the hope of a life that is full and richer and worth living.”The county’s new 2...

Eastern US cleans up as storms batter New England

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

By Sarah Brumfield | Associated PressSILVER SPRING, Md. — Crews across the eastern U.S. worked Tuesday to clear downed trees and power lines and restore electricity following severe storms that killed at least two people, cut power to more than a million customers at their peak, and forced thousands of flight delays and cancellations.The storms that pounded a swath of the country stretching from Alabama and Tennessee to the Carolinas and New York on Monday continued to lash northern New England with wind and rain a day later.The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down Tuesday in the Atlantic Coast town of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, though a survey team was still determining its strength.The twister damaged homes and vehicles, downed trees and power lines, and may have damaged the water treatment plant, which remained operational, according to a statement from the town’s Select Board. There were no reports of injuries.Rain also pounded Vermont, which ex...

Sale closed in Palo Alto: $2.6 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

1081 Moreno Avenue – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 1000 block of Moreno Avenue in Palo Alto was sold on July 17, 2023. The $2,565,000 purchase price works out to $2,069 per square foot. The house, built in 1955, has an interior space of 1,240 square feet. This single-story house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the home comes with a two-car garage, allowing for convenient vehicle storage and additional storage space. The lot size of the property measures an impressive 6,760 square feet and features a pool for added enjoyment.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:In November 2022, a 1,661-square-foot home on Aztec Way in Palo Alto sold for $2,878,000, a price per square foot of $1,733. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Amarillo Avenue, Palo Alto, in April 2023, a 1,069-square-foot home was sold for $2,363,000, a price per square foot of $2,210. The home has 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom....

Lawsuit: Tesla faked driving range for cars, created special unit to squelch complaints

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

Right after James Porter received his new Tesla compact SUV — bought in large part for its advertised 303-mile range — he charged it up and hit the road to visit family. Less than 100 miles later, he arrived with a charge of only 40%, according to a lawsuit accusing the electric-vehicle maker of inflating driving-range estimates and dodging owners’ complaints.Porter of Petaluma paid $72,000 for his Model Y after test driving one in Vallejo, and received it in June 2022, according to the lawsuit. At no time during the testing or purchasing process was he told that “the advertised range did not account for normal driving conditions or that it was exaggerated,” the lawsuit claims.During his family trip, “his vehicle lost approximately 182 miles of range — despite only driving 92 miles,” the lawsuit contends.Porter and two southern California Tesla Model 3 sedan owners who are co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Bryan Perez and Dro Estepanian, are see...

Victims robbed in broad daylight Telegraph Ave. crime spree

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

(KRON) -- People were robbed and several cars were broken into in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood Tuesday morning, the Oakland Police Department confirmed. OPD said the crime spree happened on the 4400 block of Telegraph Ave. just after 11:30 a.m. A police investigation suggests that multiple armed suspects approached the business and demanded the belongings of some patrons. Person shot dead outside Lake Merritt BART station The victims handed over their items out of fear for their safety. The suspects also broke into several cars before fleeing with stolen goods, per OPD. A cannabis dispensary called Root'd in the 510 is located at 4444 Telegraph Ave. OPD is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call (510) 238-3426. 

Berkeley bank robber tried to flee on BART: BPD 

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

(KRON) -- The Berkeley Police Department arrested a suspect accused of robbing a bank on Monday, police confirmed to KRON4.Officers responded to Mechanics Bank at 2301 Shattuck Ave. at 12:55 for a reported robbery. Home Depot guard shoots suspected shoplifter in San Carlos "The suspect passed a note to a teller, stating that this was a robbery, mentioned they had a gun, and to give them the money," BPD said. The suspect was given money and left the bank. Once officers responded, they were provided with a suspect description. Officers found someone matching that description at the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. The suspect was arrested and the money was recovered. Police identified that person as 57-year-old Alden Moore.

Much-needed payout grows to life-altering levels for tiny teams that advance in Women’s World Cup

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Players who reached the knockout round at the Women’s World Cup got larger individual bonuses that are life-changing to many of them. FIFA designated $30,000 for the 732 players among 32 teams in the tournament field. The payout rises to $60,000 for players on the 16 teams that advanced out of group play. The money grows to $90,000 for players in the quarterfinals and its a significant payday for many of the players, particularly those that have had financial disputes with their federations over pay and support. Hildah Magaia, appropriately nicknamed the “Breadwinner” of South Africa’s squad, helped the Banyana Banyana advance out of group play, into the knockout stage, and double her bonus. She appropriately plans to use the money to care for her mother. “I’ll be able to do everything for my mother because I’m the one who’s taking care of her,” she said. “I’m the breadwinner, so I’ll be doing everything for my mom.” Deneisha Black...

Yankees’ Boone embarrassed by his theatrical display in argument following ejection

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:42:26 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he felt embarrassed by his theatrical display during an argument with plate umpire Laz Diaz after he was ejected during New York’s loss to the Chicago White Sox on Monday.Boone said he talked to MLB Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Mike Hill on Tuesday. He would not reveal details of their discussion.“I don’t like doing that,” Boone said. “But I also felt like I needed to fight with what was happening in that game.”Boone was tossed by Diaz after Anthony Volpe got called out on strikes against reliever Bryan Shaw to begin the eighth inning on Monday. He then made the most of his American League-leading sixth ejection.Boone ran to home plate and went into arm-waving theatrics.The manager bent down and drew a line in the dirt with his finger at the edge of the left-handed batter’s box, demonstrating where he thought the pitch was, and then mimicked Diaz emphatically calling strike three. Boone said he heard from “quite a few” ...