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Southern Baptists Move to Purge Churches With Female Pastors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

NEW ORLEANS — The letter in October came as a shock to Linda Barnes Popham, who had been pastor of Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, for 30 years, the first woman to lead her congregation. She had served in ministry even longer, since she started as a pianist at age 16.But now, she read in the letter, officials of the Southern Baptist Convention had received a complaint about her church being led by a woman. The denomination was investigating, it said.She replied at length, listing her qualifications and her church’s interpretation of the Bible that affirmed her eligibility to lead. Church deacons, including men, rallied to her defense.Convention officials decided to expel her church anyway, along with four other congregations that have female pastors, including one of the most prominent in the country, Saddleback Church, based in Southern California.“I never believed this would happen,” Barnes Popham said of the move to expel her church, as ...

Bill in California legislature aims to keep incarcerated parents closer to their children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

A bill that would require incarcerated parents in California to be housed in facilities closest to their children is one step closer to becoming law.Assembly Bill 1226 advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee and will now head to the Senate Appropriations Committee, according to the bill's author, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco).Haney's bill would require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to make a concerted effort to house California inmates closer to their children or children in their legal care. Haney says the bill will require CDCR to "respect the rights of minor children to remain in contact with their incarcerated parents."Inmates with children who are currently incarcerated would also have the ability to request transfer to the facility closest to their custodial children."In a large state like California, there are thousands of incarcerated parents who are placed more than 500 miles from their children," a spokesperson for Han...

New York man found guilty of kidnapping 68-year-old woman with dementia in West L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

A 51-year-old man from Bronx, New York, is facing the possibility of life in prison after he was found guilty on federal criminal charges in connection with the kidnapping of woman with dementia outside of a West Los Angeles medical center, authorities announced Tuesday.  The kidnapping occurred at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 11301 Wilshire Boulevard on the morning of July 19, 2021, according to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office.  The 68-year-old female victim and a friend were approaching their car outside the VA facility when Johnny Ray Gasca unexpectedly appeared and pushed the victim toward his pickup, which was parked nearby. “Gasca then picked [the victim] up and threw her into the rear portion of the truck’s passenger compartment,” the release stated. The 52-year-old man then fled the scene with the victim.  The victim’s friend, who witnessed the kidnapping, told agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Gasca...

Conflicts between neighbors, group homes persist in California's 'Rehab Riviera'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

A grand jury in Orange County is making a series of recommendations to grapple with the growing conflict between group treatment homes and neighbors in what is known as “The Rehab Riviera.”Some of the most common complaints include noise, smoking, traffic, trash, relapses, vomit, and "curbing" - when residents are kicked out of a home for bad behavior or their source of payment runs out.The panel was created in 2022 in response to numerous city council and town hall meetings in which residents complained of an “over-saturation” of group homes with very little oversight, according to the grand jury’s report, which is titled "Welcome to the Neighborhood."“Orange County has some of the heaviest concentrations of group homes and sober living residences in the nation,” the panel said. “The densities are more than the local population can bear and residents believe the influx of the group home residents seriously impacts their neighborhoods.”According to the California Department of Publi...

Cursing John Fisher, Oakland A’s fans hold out hope their team stays put

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

OAKLAND – Alternating chants of “sell the team” and “(expletive) John Fisher” — in reference to the Oakland A’s owner — filled the air Tuesday afternoon as over a thousand amped-up fans in green and gold gathered for a pregame tailgate in the Coliseum’s south parking lot hours before their favorite team’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.The event began at 3 p.m. Tuesday, with a few dozen people arriving more than 3½ hours before the first pitch. Tailgate organizers and members of the Oakland 68s fan group gave away hundreds of green T-shirts that read “Sell,” and after an hour, the assembled crowd swelled to several hundred people.The Coliseum parking lot, which is usually mostly empty for weekday home games, also rapidly filled up, providing something of a festive atmosphere for ardent followers of the team.“We do it to keep the A’s in Oakland,” said Oakland 68s member Jorge Leon, one of the organizers of the event. “That’s the whole end goal, to try to put ...

Three-bedroom home sells in Saratoga for $3.6 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

13590 Beaumont Avenue – Google Street ViewA 1,704-square-foot house built in 1955 has changed hands. The property located in the 13500 block of Beaumont Avenue in Saratoga was sold on May 26, 2023. The $3,620,000 purchase price works out to $2,124 per square foot. The property features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage, as well as a pool in the backyard and two parking spaces. The unit sits on a 0.3-acre lot.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:On Saratoga Vista Court, Saratoga, in April 2023, a 2,541-square-foot home was sold for $3,050,000, a price per square foot of $1,200. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,846-square-foot home on the 13700 block of Beaumont Avenue in Saratoga sold in April 2023, for $2,965,000, a price per square foot of $1,606. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In March 2023, a 1,856-square-foot home on Baroni Court in Saratoga sold for $3,130,000, a price per square foot of $1,686. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathroo...

Giants lose J.D. Davis, Mitch Haniger to injury in third inning against Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

Finally back to some semblance of health, the Giants lost two starting players moments apart Tuesday night on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals.The first to go was third baseman J.D. Davis, who twisted his right ankle going from first to third base on a run-scoring single to left center by Michael Conforto.Davis was checked out by trainer Dave Groeschner, during which time St. Louis challenged the ruling that Davis was safe and was rewarded by having the call overturned.Next was outfielder Mitch Haniger, was took a pitch off the right forearm from Jack Flaherty on the first pitch of his at-bat after Davis departed. Haniger appeared to be in considerable pain and could not continue.Perhaps not coincidentally, the Giants pulled both Luis Matos and David Villar — an outfielder and a third baseman — from their Triple-A game on the road against Sugar Land and both could be in play should Davis and Haniger be headed for the injured list.Matos, considered one of the Gian...

Raiders vs 49ers, 2 other Raiders preseason games to air on KRON4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- KRON4 is once again the home of preseason games for the Las Vegas Raiders this season. Three games, including the San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders, will be airing on KRON ahead of the NFL season kickoff.Two of the games, including 49ers at Raiders, will be broadcast live. The third game will air on tape delay. Live games will also include pre- and post-game coverage from the KRON4 Sports Team. A’s stadium bill approved by Nevada State Senate Here is a complete schedule of Raiders preseason games on KRON4:49ers @ Raiders (Live): Saturday Aug. 1212:30 p.m. - KRON4 Raiders pre-game coverage1:00  p.m. - 49ers @ RaidersImmediately following the game - KRON4 Raiders postgame coverageRaiders @ Rams (tape delayed from previous day): Sunday, Aug. 206:30 p.m. - Raiders @ RamsRaiders @ Cowboys (Live): Saturday, Aug. 264:30 p.m. - KRON4 Raiders pre-game coverage5:00 p.m - Raiders @ CowboysImmediately following the game - KRON4 Raiders p...

2 DC firefighters charged in brawl caught on video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

D.C. Fire and EMS crew battle a fire at the Benning Road Transfer Station on Thursday, July 22, 2021.(Courtesy DC Fire and EMS ) D.C. Fire and EMS crew battle a fire at the Benning Road Transfer Station on Thursday, July 22, 2021.(Courtesy DC Fire and EMS ) Two D.C. firefighters accused of assaulting a man police say was acting aggressively toward personnel providing medical attention to two people in April appeared in court Tuesday.Firefighters Reden Ecleo, 21, and Lt. Sean Sinon, 48, were released on their own recognizance following their initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. Both are charged with assault for what happened on April 25.D.C. Fire and EMS had been called at 14 Florida Ave. Northwest for an i...

Column: Golf has too many balls in the air to debate distance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Professional golf rarely has been this divided, bordering on hostile, and there is no simple solution. It was always going to be a hot topic at the U.S. Open.So maybe the USGA should be thankful. No one is talking about rolling back the golf ball.“It obviously pales in comparison, when before it was maybe the biggest new issue we were talking about,” Patrick Cantlay said Tuesday.It seems small now, especially with the consternation and confusion that has gripped players over the last week about the PGA Tour and European tour becoming partners with the Saudi national wealth fund behind LIV Golf, the great disruptor in the sport.No one knows what to expect from the agreement to pool commercial businesses and rights. No one is entirely sure who will be in charge. What happens to the LIV Golf League next year? Is this the last we hear of the Cleeks and Majesticks?The shock is still fresh among so many players, particularly how blindsided they were by PGA Tour Co...