State

SAN FRANCISCO—Rajvinder Singh, 51, of Apna Bazar, the owner of a grocery store in Pleasenton, has pleaded guilty to nine counts of price gouging. The charges stem from complaints filed on May 7, 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, California law restricted businesses from “profiteering during a declared state of emergency,” said District Attorney Nancy O’Malley in a statement. California state law...

SAN FRANCISCO—The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, April 15, that John Francis Porter, the former Vice President and Group Manager of the Recology’s San Francisco Group was charged with bribing Mohammed Nuru, a former Director of San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW). The feds also charged Porter with money laundering. “The complaint unsealed today alleges that Porter,...

CALIFORNIA—On Monday, April 12, the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California sentenced a former California resident to three months in prison for shooting an elephant seal to death near San Simeon in September 2019. U.S. District Court Judge Dale S. Fischer sentenced Jordan Gerbich, 30, to three months in federal prison as well as a "three...

CONTRA COSTA—An east bay couple are facing multiple charges of abuse and torture stemming from the death of their 11 year-old daughter. Reports indicate the child suffered  abuse extending back to at least November 27, 2020. The couple are currently being held in Contra Costa County jail with a bail amount of 1.4 million each while they wait arraignment...

CALIFORNIA—On Thursday, April 8, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins revealed a $536 million plan that they say will assist in preventing wildfires. This package will "fund forest management projects" and "restore the ecological health of forests."  It will also "fuel breaks around vulnerable communities to protect residents and property" and...

CALIFORNIA—Yosemite National Park announced on Thursday, April 8 that it will be limiting the number of visitors this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic by requiring them to make a reservation, San Jose Mercury News reported. In a news release, the park revealed that from May 21 to September 30, "visitors to Yosemite National Park will need a day-use reservation...

CALIFORNIA—Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday, April 6 that the state of California can fully reopen on June 15 if two conditions are met: hospitalization rates are low and enough coronavirus vaccines are available for anyone age 16 and older who want it. The state of California has administered 20 million vaccines. The governor said in a news conference that...

SAN FRANCISCO—On Monday, April 5, the San Francisco Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect, Evonta Bailey, 24, for a road rage related shooting that occurred on March 18, in San Francisco’s Bayview District. The suspect had a previous felony charge for bringing and concealing a firearm to the San Francisco Pride Parade in 2019. The shooting  left...

CALIFORNIA—Nelson Enrike Ramirez, 40, has been charged with being involved with a series of robberies within the Bay Area, federal prosecutors said in a news release. One of the robberies that the complaint said Ramirez committed was at a 7-Eleven on Washington Boulevard in Fremont on November 6, 2020. According to the authorities, Ramirez entered the 7-Eleven wearing a black or...

CALIFORNIA—On Tuesday, March 30, Universal Studios Hollywood announced in a news release that the theme park will reopen to California residents on Friday, April 16 after being closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Universal Studios Hollywood President Karen Irwin said they are "thrilled" to reopen and "return team members to work and welcome guests back...