Page 11 - California

Man charged for Sikh family's kidnapping, murder in California: Authorities

The man involved in the kidnapping and killing of an Indian-origin Sikh family, including an eight-month-old baby, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, one for each life lost, authorities in California said. The Sikh family of four, 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her 27-year-old mother Jasleen Kaur, her 36-year-old father Jasdeep Singh, and her 39-year-old uncle Amandeep Singh were kidnapped and killed by a former disgruntled employee of their trucking company last week. Jesus Salgado, the man involved in the kidnapping and killing was arrested on October 6. He was charged on Monday with four counts of first-degree murder, one for each life lost, prosecutors were quoted as saying by the Los AngelesTimes. The Merced County district attorney's office said in a news release that it would not make a determination this year on whether to pursue the death penalty in the case of Salgado, 48. District Attorney Kimberly Lewis declined to comment on the case beyond the charge

Kidnapped Indian-origin Sikh family found dead in California

Four members of an Indian-origin Sikh family, including an eight-month-old baby girl, who were kidnapped by an armed man in California earlier this week have been found dead in a rural orchard, authorities said as they were working to determine the motive behind the "horribly senseless" killing. "Our worst fears have been confirmed," Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said at a news conference on Wednesday night. "A whole family wiped out, and we still don't know why," Warnke, who was visibly emotional and frustrated at what happened to the Indian-origin family in the US state of California. The family, originally from Harsi Pind in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was kidnapped from their newly-opened trucking business in Merced County, California, on Monday. Sheriff Warnke said the bodies of 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri and the baby's uncle, 39-year-old Amandeep Singh were found on Wednesday evening in an orchard in a remote area

California braces for another dry winter as severe Western drought drags on

The past three years have been California's driest on record, a streak unlikely to break this winter, state officials said Monday. The official water year concluded Friday, marking an end to a period that saw both record rainfall in October and the driest January-to-March period in at least a century. Scientists say such weather whiplash is likely to become more common as the planet warms. It will take more than a few winter storms to help the state dig out of drought. This is our new climate reality, and we must adapt, Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said in a statement. Her comments came ahead of expected remarks Monday by state water officials about what to expect in the months ahead. The water year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, so that the rainiest winter months are recorded together. Snow that falls in California's mountains typically provides one-third of the state's annual water supply, but last year snow levels were far below average by th

India, California to collaborate for innovation in zero-emission vehicles

India has entered into a collaboration with California for research and innovation in the field of zero-emission vehicles to spur the development of its nascent EV industry and address climate risks. California has the world's most advanced zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) policies. It has an ambitious 100 per cent ZEV mandate by 2035. As part of the collaboration, the University of California, research institute Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, established a new India ZEV Research Centre. The California-India ZEV Policy programme is aimed at supporting ZEV uptake in India, spurring the development of an EV industry in India and contributing to India's industrial growth. In addition to addressing policy, technology, and investment strategies for a ZEV transition, it would identify opportunities for India to emerge as a strategic leader in the global ZEV transition. Announced in Pittsburgh last week on the sidelines of the Clean Energy Ministerial attended by Union Science and

California murder suspect, teen daughter killed during police shootout

An abducted 15-year-old girl and her father a fugitive wanted in the death of the teen's mother were killed amid a shootout with law enforcement Tuesday on a highway in the high desert, authorities said. The teenager, Savannah Graziano, was wearing tactical gear as she ran toward sheriff's deputies during the firefight, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus. Authorities did not specify whether the teen was struck by bullets fired by her father or responding deputies. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly before noon. Her father, 45-year-old Anthony John Graziano, was pronounced dead at the scene in Hesperia. He allegedly killed his estranged wife in a domestic violence incident on Monday in the city of Fontana. Investigators had issued an Amber Alert after Graziano fled with his daughter. He had been described as armed and dangerous. His truck was spotted Tuesday morning in Barstow, prompting a chase where Graziano repeatedly fire

8 US states sue crypto platform for lying to investors, not registering

Cryptocurrency platform Nexo has been sued by New York, California and 6 other states for failing to register with the state as securities and commodities brokers or dealers and lying to investors

Amazon keeps prices 'artificially high' for consumers, California alleges

He said the agreements block competition from other online retailers, resulting in inflated fees for merchants and higher prices for consumers

California man sues Tesla for 'deceiving' customers about self-driving cars

A California man claims the electric-car maker has "deceptively and misleadingly marketed" its driver-assistance systems

California school staff member shot after fight among students, strangers

A Northern California high school staff member was shot on Tuesday after breaking up a fight on campus, authorities said. The Vallejo High School staff member was struck at least once and is expected to survive, police said. The staff member had just broken up a fight among several students and some unknown males" when the shooting occurred around 3.45 pm. Some of the brawlers fled in a sedan, firing back toward the remaining group before they left, police said. This is a senseless act of violence committed by some individuals who do not value human life, Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams said in a news release. Enough is enough. It's a sad day anyone is shot in front of our children at school where they should feel safe. The school was put on lockdown in the aftermath of the violence. There will be an increased police presence on campus on Wednesday. Vallejo is about 32 miles (50 kilometres) north of San Francisco.

California wildfire triples in size to over 18,000 acres in just 24 hours

The fast-moving Fairview Fire started on Monday afternoon near the city of Hemet in Riverside County amid a brutal heatwave, reports Xinhua news agency

Amid heat wave, California faces weather threats from wildfires to floods

Forces were beginning to collide in California as wildfires threatened communities, an epic heat wave stressed the electrical grid and as moisture from a tropical storm was expected to bring thunderstorms and floods along with cooling. Firefighters on Thursday struggled to control major wildfires in Southern California and the Sierra Nevada that have grown explosively, forced extensive evacuations and produced smoke that could interfere with solar power production. The Fairview Fire in Southern California covered about 30 square miles (78 square kilometers) of Riverside County and was just 5 per cent contained. Two people died while fleeing flames on Monday and at least seven structures have been destroyed. In the Sierra, the Mosquito Fire burned out of control, scorching at least 11 square miles (28 square kilometers), forcing evacuations for some 2,500 residents in Placer and El Dorado counties, while blanketing the region in smoke. Flames jumped the American River, burning ...

US: Northern California sheriff's deputy in custody after slaying double

A Northern California sheriff's deputy has turned himself in to law enforcement after he was accused in the fatal slaying of a husband and wife in their home early on Wednesday, authorities said. Devin Williams Jr., a deputy with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, called authorities in the hours after the shooting and said he wanted to turn himself in, officials said. Police stayed on the phone with him until the off-duty deputy was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol. Police were called to a home in Dublin a city in the East Bay about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from downtown San Francisco around 12.45 am. The 911 caller said two people had been shot inside the residence and the suspect, later identified as Williams, had fled in a vehicle. Law enforcement officials said they were searching for Devin Williams Jr., a deputy with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. He is considered to be armed and dangerous. Williams apparently knew the couple but investigators we

Power outages likely as California sees its worst heat wave for September

A record-setting heat wave made life miserable in much of the West on Tuesday, with California stretching into its second week of excessive heat that taxed the state's power supply and threatened power shortages that could prompt blackouts while people were desperately trying to stay cool. The California Independent System Operator, the entity that oversees the state's electrical grid, said there could be rotating power outages" Tuesday evening when demand for power could reach an all-time high. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom urged residents to conserve, warning in a video message that the risk for outages is real and it's immediate. This heat wave is on track to be both the hottest and the longest on record for the state and many parts of the West for the month of September, Newsom said. Everyone has to do their part to help step up for just a few more days. California's state capital of Sacramento tied a record Tuesday with its 41st day of temperatures reaching at least 100 degree

California to see blackouts with highest-ever demand amid brutal heat wave

California will face its highest chance of blackouts this year as a brutal heat wave continues to blanket the state with triple-digit heat, officials have warned. As people crank up their air conditioners, the state forecast record levels of energy use that could exceed supply Monday evening, said Elliot Mainzer, president of California Independent System Operators, which runs the state's electrical grid. The state could fall 2,000 to 4,000 megawatts of electricity short of its power supply, which represents as much as 10 per cent of normal demand, he said. State energy officials said the electrical load on Tuesday potentially could hit 51,000 watts, the highest demand ever seen in California. CAISO issued a Flex Alert call for voluntary conservation between 4 pm and 10 pm on Monday and for 4 pm to 10 pm Tuesday, making seven alerts in as many days. Consumers were urged to keep air conditioners at 78 degrees (25.5 degrees C) or higher during the period and avoiding using major ...

California calls grid emergency with power use at 5-yr high amid heat wave

California declared a power grid emergency as a blistering and sustained heat wave threatens to push the state's electricity system to its limit

US reports over 17,000 monkeypox cases; New York, California top list

The US has confirmed over 17,000 monkeypox cases, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Southern California hit by severe heat wave, temp to rise to triple digits

This week's excessive heat for the region will be the warmest and longest heat wave so far this summer, said David Sweet, a meteorologist

Climate crisis: California votes to ban gas-powered car sales by 2035

By 2026, 35% of new cars in California must be zero-emission vehicles, and the quota will rise to 68% by 2030, and 100% in 2035

California nuclear power plant extension challenged in legislative proposal

A proposal circulated Friday by California Democratic legislators would reject Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to extend the lifespan of the state's last operating nuclear power plant and instead spend over $1 billion to speed up the development of renewable energy, new transmission lines and storage to maintain reliable power in the climate change era. The legislative plan obtained by The Associated Press reveals mounting tension between the Democratic governor and some members of his own party over a politically volatile issue. The rift was revealed one week after Newsom proposed giving plant operator Pacific Gas & Electric a forgivable loan up to $1.4 billion as part of a plan to keep the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant running beyond its scheduled closing by 2025. Newsom has argued that as hotter temperatures drive up the demand for power, the twin-domed reactors along the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco would provide a necessary buffer against electrical blackouts, as

Three killed after planes collided in California while landing: Officials

Three people were killed after two small planes collided in Northern California while trying to land at a rural airport, authorities said Friday. The names of those killed after their planes crashed Thursday at the Watsonville Municipal Airport will be released once their families have been notified, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. There were two people aboard a twin-engine Cessna 340 and only the pilot aboard a single-engine Cessna 152 during the crash, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The city-owned airport does not have a control tower to direct aircraft landing and taking off. The airport accounts for about 40% of all general aviation activities in the Monterey Bay area, according to the City of Watsonville's website. Watsonville, an agricultural town near Monterey Bay, is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of San Francisco. The sheriff's office said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Boar