Coronavirus Disinfecting Services : February 2021

Sunday, 28 February 2021

Semi truck stolen in Novato with donated bikes destined for Africa

NOVATO, Calif. (KRON) -- Novato police are looking for the drivers of a semi truck who were caught on camera at Mike's Bikes headquarters in Novato driving away with a shipping container full of 500 donated bicycles that were supposed to be shipped to Africa.

"We pieced together over a few days. My gosh, the entire container has been stolen. The container, all the bikes inside, all gone."

Ken Martin, CEO of Mike's Bikes, says the driver was caught on surveillance video at their headquarters in Novato, drove into their parking lot and left with a container full of 500 donated bicycles that were destined for Botswana, Africa.

"It felt like a punch to the gut. completely devastating that all of the work we put in this container, all of our donors who have given their personal bikes to this foundation now everything was gone."

Martin describes the contents of this container as life-changing for those who were supposed to receive it.

Through Mike's Bikes foundation, Martin and his team collect donated bicycles from people all over Northern California and ship them off to entrepreneurs in Africa who run small bike shops. From there, the bikes are then repaired and sold at lower prices to help the entrepreneurs run their shops.

"The difference a bicycle can make in the life of someone who doesn't have one or in the life of your everyday African who doesn't have the things like freedom of movement and mobility that we just take for granted here."

Over more than a decade, Martin says the non-profit has donated 37,000 bicycles in 74 different containers, all without incident, that was until this 75th container.

Martin says he didn't realize what happened until just a few days ago when he discovered the damage left behind from the semi truck and its skid marks.

Novato police are aware of the license plate on the stolen trailer and have notified other agencies.

"It was not a crime of opportunity. Somebody knew they were coming there to get a container. they drove a semi-truck there with the intention of attaching a trailer and container to the semi-truck. They knew exactly what they were doing."

Martin believes they were targeted here and say the thieves probably didn't know the bikes were donated and not brand new.

If you have any info or have seen the truck, contact Novato police.

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Bay Area photographer achieves dream, shoots NBA stars

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (KRON) -- A Bay Area photographer is making his mark on the NBA.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in Jordan Jimenez eyes there’s nothing more beautiful than basketball.

“I think the thing that actually brought me to photography was basketball," said Jimenez.

At just 23-years-old, the San Bruno native has already worked with some of the best in the NBA.

Clicking through his J Squared Photography Instagram page, you find snapshots of Pau Gasol, James Harden, Jeremy Lin, and of course, many of the Warriors.

“It’s kind of insane, most of the time it doesn’t really click in my head the kind of people I’m working with," said Jimenez.

Jimenez first picked up a camera in high school as a way to cope with depression. Then he made the tough choice to drop out of college to pursue his dream.

“For me when I was first starting out I was always shooting like random workouts, random games, AAU tournaments - not even really paid really just shooting for free," said Jimenez.

Thanks to some hard work and persistence, he’s now done freelance work for Slam magazine, Bleacher Report, the Warriors, and he often gets hired by athletes themselves.

Steph Curry has become a regular.

“He’s an even greater human being, super humble, super down to earth. As much as he is great on the court, luckily I’ve been able to see the side off the court and that’s even greater," said Jimenez.

Jimenez hopes to grow his business to the point where he can hire others.

“Once I get to a different level I’ll be able to put on black and brown creatives who don’t get to the same rooms as me. My main goal is to make a difference in people’s lives," said Jimenez.

Most importantly, he wants to show everyone the beauty around them, and within.

“The thing I love most about photography is helping people see a positive light in the world. Really believe in yourself. Because we’re all gifted in some sort of way and we all have some sort of talent to share with the world," said Jimenez.

Jimenez was one of thirty people who were gifted a pair of shoes by Steph Curry, as a way to say thank you when the Warriors left Oakland.

To check out more of Jimenez' work or get in touch, you can find him on Twitter or Instagram:

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SF restaurant owner fears closure after neighbors want parklet removed

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) -- It's been a lifeline for struggling restaurants throughout San Francisco. Outdoor dining parklets have allowed these businesses to take their customers outside as indoor dining remains off limits.

But now one restaurant in Lower Pac Heights is at risk of shutting down because neighbors want their parklet to close.

The owner of the building says Harry Bar which is next door is preventing them from selling this closed down space because the parklet blocks it.

The city has informed the owners of the bar they have to remove it within the next few weeks, but Harry's is concerned without an extension to keep this space open they may be forced to close their business down.

A big chunk of this outdoor dining parklet in front of Harry's Bar on Fillmore Street is at risk of being removed.

The bar has invested $30,000 in putting this up and it has helped them to stay in business.

But now this portion may have to go.

"We're kind of walking a little bit of a tightrope right now financially," Charles Johnson said.

Harry's general manager Charles Johnson says they opened up this space last summer.

The former business owner in the building next door was apparently fine with it.

But that business owner may have given this spot away without the proper consent.

The building's owner is now demanding the parklet be removed after the store front failed because of the pandemic.

The owner also says the parklet is preventing the empty storefront from being rented while affecting the value of the property.

Johnson warns the removal will put the bar's staff out of work.

"We've been trying to keep them employed and keeping this parklet intact at least until we get to 50% inside dining," he said.

San Francisco is expected to re-enter the red tier and allow for indoor dining on March 3.

The capacity limit will be 25% but that's half of what harry's bar says they need at the moment. And with the city requesting a 1/3 of the parklet be removed by March 15 -- the pressure is on.

"We might be faced with a situation where we have to shut it down," Johnson said.

Johnson has started a petition to save the parklet and save the jobs that would be lost without it.

They plan to present hundreds of signatures to the city to keep the space in place.

Johnson fears if the city rejects it--the neighborhood overall neighborhood will take another hit.

"We are struggling. We're all struggling," Johnson said. "And we just need the city to understand we may need to go outside of what the rules maybe around shared spaces to help us out a little bit."

The petition which can be found on change.org right now has more than 300 signatures. The goal is to get to 500.

KRON4 reached out to the supervisor of this district for comment on this situation and as of this report they have not responded.

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Marin officials investigate 'suspicious' death at China Camp State Park

MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) -- Authorities are investigating what they are calling a "suspicious" death at China Camp State Park in San Rafael, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to the 1600 block of N. San Pedro Road for a report of a possible dead body.

When they arrived, deputies located the body of a man about 30 feet off the roadway.

Officials say they are treating the death as suspicious and are asking the public to avoid the area at this time.

No additional information is being released at this time as the investigation continues.

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San Francisco expecting to reopen restaurants this week

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) -- All signs are pointing to San Francisco entering the "red tier" on Wednesday.

So that means many indoor activities like shopping centers and fitness centers can welcome people back in -- with limited capacity.

This also includes restaurants, opening indoors at 25-percent capacity.

Laurie Thomas, the president of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, joined KRON4 to talk more about all of the changes for indoor and outdoor dining and how this will help get people back to work.

You can watch the full interview above.

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Golfer drowns in pond while searching for his ball at Florida country club

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) -- Deputies said a 74-year-old man playing golf at a country club in Oldsmar, Florida drowned in a pond while looking for his golf ball.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded to the East Lake Woodlands Country Club after reports of missing 74-year-old Hermilo Jazmines.

Jazmines was last seen looking for his golf ball near the green of hole three at the golf course.

When deputies arrived, they found Jazmines' golf cart parked on the cart path and his putter lying on the ground near a pond.

After searching the nearby wooded area, deputies and firefighters began searching the edge of the pond. They eventually called on the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office dive team who found Jazmines submerged in the water.

Jazmines was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Investigators believe the man may have fallen into the water while searching for his ball and drowned.

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First U.S. Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses shipping Sunday night

WASHINGTON — Nearly 4 million doses of the newest COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped Sunday night, and will begin to be delivered to states for injections starting on Tuesday.

White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients announced that the entire stockpile of the newly approved single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will go out immediately. J&J will deliver about 16 million more doses by the end of March and 100 million total by the end of June.

Though the new shot is easier to administer and requires only one dose, the administration is not altering its distribution plans. Zients says, “We’re distributing the J&J vaccine as we do the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, the chair of the White House equity task force, encouraged Americans to take the first dose available to them, regardless of manufacturer.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted overwhelmingly to recommend the vaccine for adults 18 years old and up. The ruling followed emergency clearance of the vaccine by U.S. regulators a day earlier.

Members of the group emphasized that all three vaccines now available in the U.S. are highly protective against the worst effects of the virus, including hospitalization and death.

Health officials are eager to have an easier-to-use vaccine against COVID-19, which has killed more than 511,000 Americans and continues to mutate in troubling ways.

CDC recommendations are not binding on state governments or doctors, but are widely heeded by the medical community. The same CDC panel previously recommended use of the two vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna authorized in December.

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California man cited after using mannequin for carpool lane

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California driver who said he had used a mannequin as his passenger for at least a year and a half in order to access carpool lanes has been cited and faces a fine of at least $400.

The mannequin — adorned with gray hair, wrinkles, glasses, a Cleveland Indians baseball hat and a face mask — sat in the passenger seat of the driver’s Toyota Tacoma when he was pulled over on Feb. 19.

Officer S. Sullinger was patrolling the eastbound 210 freeway in Glendora in search of carpool violators.

The officer noticed the front passenger in the Toyota was suspicious and that the vehicle had tinted windows on its front passenger side, which is illegal.

Sullinger realized the passenger was fake when the driver rolled down his window.

“The driver didn’t say much,” California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said to the Los Angeles Daily News on Friday. “Other than that he’s been driving with the mannequin and he’d been getting away with it for a year and a half.”

The driver was cited for the carpool infraction but the mannequin was not confiscated. There is no additional punishment for trying to dupe officers by placing a mannequin in the passenger seat, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.

Drivers will attempt to use mannequins, a bundle of blankets or even a small doll to make it look like another person is in the vehicle, Jimenez said.

This mannequin, though, was the most realistic attempt at carpool lane deception Jimenez and Sullinger said they had seen.

“I thought I’d seen them all, but I guess not,” Jimenez said. “This is something that’s straight out of the log ride at Knotts Berry Farm or Disneyland.”

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1 dead following shooting at RV lot in San Mateo

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KRON) -- One person is dead following a shooting at an RV storage lot in San Mateo Sunday morning.

Around 11:38 a.m., a man called police to inform them that he shot his neighbor in the chest. SMPD received two more calls reporting shots fired near Fashion Island Boulevard and South Norfolk Street.

When officers arrived, they located a 57-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. They rendered first aid and CPR on the man before he was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery.

The man died at the hospital.

The motive for the shooting is currently under investigation.

Detectives learned there was an argument between the two prior to the shooting. The suspect and victim both live in mobile homes at the location and knew each other.

Witnesses are still being interviewed and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information or security footage related to this shooting is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Paul Pak at (650) 522-7660.

Officials say additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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Tiger Woods shows appreciation after PGA tournament honors him

LOS ANGELES (KRON) -- Tiger Woods expressed his appreciation for all the support he has received following his car crash in Los Angeles last week.

There were red numbers on the board and on the golf course Sunday in the Workday Championship Tournament. Several players wore red shirts and black pants to honor Woods while he recovers from career-threatening leg injuries.

"It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the tv and saw all the red shirts," Woods tweeted, in part.

It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the tv and saw all the red shirts. To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 1, 2021

Woods is reportedly being hospitalized in Los Angeles.

The 45-year-old was the lone occupant in the SUV when it crashed about 7:12 a.m. in the area of Hawthorne Boulevard and Blackhorse Road, on the border of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A neighbor was the first person to call 911 to report the incident.

The vehicle, a 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV, was headed north on a twisty, downhill stretch of Hawthorne that has a higher frequency of accidents, L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at an afternoon news conference.

There was no indication of skid marks or braking just prior to the crash, according to the sheriff.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Trump: 'I’m not starting a new party' in first speech following presidency

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Taking the stage for the first time since leaving office, former President Donald Trump on Sunday called for Republican Party unity, even as he exacerbated intraparty divisions and trumpeted lies about the election in a speech that made clear he intends to remain a dominant political force.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he has been hailed as a returning hero, Trump blasted his successor, President Joe Biden, and tried to cement his status as the party’s undisputed leader despite his loss in November.

“Do you miss me yet?” Trump said after taking the stage, where his old rally soundtrack had been playing. “I stand before you today to declare that the incredible journey we begun together ... is far from being over.”

Though Trump has flirted with the idea of creating a third party, he pledged Sunday to remain part of what he called “our beloved party.”

“I’m going to continue to fight right by your side. We’re not starting new parties,” he said. “We have the Republican Party. It’s going to be strong and united like never before.”

The conference, held this year in Orlando instead of the Washington suburbs because of COVID-19 restrictions, has served as a tribute to Trump and Trumpism, complete with a golden statue in his likeness on display. Speakers, including many potential 2024 hopefuls, have argued the party must embrace the former president and his followers, even after the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

And they have repeated his unfounded claim that he lost the November election only because of mass voter fraud — an assertion that has been repeatedly rejected by judges, Republican state officials and Trump’s own administration.

Still, Trump continued to repeat what Democrats have dubbed the “big lie,” calling the election “rigged” and insisting that he won in November, even though he lost by more than 7 million votes.

“As you know, they just lost the White House,” he said of Biden, rewriting history as he teased the prospect that he will run again in 2024. “I may even decide to beat them for a third time,” he said.

And he mocked those who have warned that such talk will damage the party.

“If Republicans don’t get this and the other things I’m going to say, then you should, like the Supreme Court, be ashamed of yourselves,” he said.

The conference’s annual unscientific straw poll of just over 1,000 attendees found that 97% approve of the job Trump did as president. But they were much more ambiguous about whether he should run again, with 68% saying he should.

If the 2024 primary were held today and Trump were in the race, just 55% said they would vote for him, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 21%. Without Trump in the field, DeSantis garnered 43% support, followed by 8% for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and 7% each for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

It is highly unusual for past American presidents to publicly criticize their successors so soon after leaving office. Ex-presidents typically step out of the spotlight for at least a while; Barack Obama was famously seen kitesurfing on vacation after he departed, while George W. Bush said he believed Obama “deserves my silence” and took up painting.

Not Trump.

He delivered a sharp rebuke of what he framed as the new administration’s first month of failures, including Biden’s approach to immigration and the border.

“Joe Biden has had the most disastrous first month of any president in modern history,” Trump said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki brushed off the expected criticism. “We’ll see what he says, but our focus is certainly not on what President Trump is saying at CPAC,” she told reporters.

Aside from criticizing Biden, Trump used the speech to crown himself the future of the Republican Party, even as many leaders argue they must move in a new, less divisive direction after Republicans lost not only the White House but both chambers of Congress in the last elections.

And he insisted the party was united, even as he called out by name Republicans who voted to impeach him for inciting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, including the No. 3 House Republican, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, and lashed those he labels RINOs, “Republican in name only.”

“We cannot have leaders who show more passion for condemning their fellow Americans than they have ever shown for standing up to Democrats, the media and the radicals who want to turn America into a socialist country,” Trump said.

On Friday, Trump began his vengeance campaign, endorsing Max Miller, a former aide who is seeking to oust Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, who voted in favor of Trump’s impeachment.

Still, in his speech Sunday he insisted the only gulf in the party was “between a handful of Washington, D.C., establishment political hacks and everybody else, all over the country.”

While he no longer has his social media megaphone after being barred from Twitter and Facebook, Trump has already been inching back into public life. He called into conservative news outlets after Rush Limbaugh’s death and to wish Tiger Woods well after the pro golfer was injured in a car crash. He has also issued statements, including one blasting Mitch McConnell after the Senate Republican leader excoriated Trump for inciting the Capitol riot. McConnell has since said he would “absolutely” support Trump if he were the GOP nominee in 2024.

At his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump has been quietly meeting with aides and senior party leaders as he builds his post-presidential political operation. While he has already endorsed several pro-Trump candidates, aides have been working this past week to develop benchmarks for those seeking his endorsement to make sure the candidates are serious and have set up full-fledged political and fundraising organizations before he gets involved.

They are also planning a new super PAC that could raise unlimited amounts of money, though one aide cautioned they were still deciding whether to create a new entity or repurpose an existing America First super PAC.

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Gov. Cuomo issues new statement after sexual harassment accusations

ALBANY, N.Y. (KRON) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a new statement Sunday regarding the sexual harassment allegations he is facing.

The governor admitted to playfully making jokes and teasing people he interacts with in the office. He also acknowledged the "insensitive" behavior was seen as "unwanted flirtation" and added that he will cooperate with the investigation.

His full statement reads:

"Questions have been raised about some of my past interactions with people in the office.

"I never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm. I spend most of my life at work and colleagues are often also personal friends.

"At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I do, on occasion, tease people in what I think is a good natured way. I do it in public and in private. You have seen me do it at briefings hundreds of times. I have teased people about their personal lives, their relationships, about getting married or not getting married. I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business.

"I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended. I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.

"To be clear I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers deserve answers to.

"That's why I have asked for an outside, independent review that looks at these allegations.

"Separately, my office has heard anecdotally that some people have reached out to Ms. Bennett to express displeasure about her coming forward. My message to anyone doing that is you have misjudged what matters to me and my administration and you should stop now - period."

The crisis deepened Sunday as the state’s attorney general demanded he grant her the authority to investigate claims he sexually harassed at least two women who worked for him.

The calls for an investigation into Cuomo’s workplace behavior intensified after a second former employee of his administration went public Saturday with claims she had been harassed.

Charlotte Bennett, a low-level aide in the governor’s administration until November, told The New York Times Cuomo asked inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she ever had sex with older men, and made other comments she interpreted as gauging her interest in an affair.

Her accusation came days after another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, a former deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, elaborated on harassment allegations she first made in December. Boylan said Cuomo subjected her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments about her appearance.

Cuomo, 63, said in a statement Saturday he had intended to be a mentor for Bennett, who is 25. He has denied Boylan’s allegations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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San Francisco's oldest church at risk of closing

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) - It's been around 167 years since the oldest church in San Francisco, and it even survived the 1906 earthquake.

But Old Saint Mary's Cathedral may now be in jeopardy of closing its doors forever due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In an exclusive interview with KRON4, Father John Ardis reveals what the church is trying to do to survive.

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Alameda Unified School District launches COVID-19 testing program

ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) - As Alameda Unified School District prepares to get students and staff back into classrooms, officials have set up a testing strategy to help ensure the safety of all on campus.

In an exclusive interview with KRON4, Superintendent of Alameda Unified School District Pasquale Scuderi outlines how the pilot program is going so far.

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Cat missing after garage fire: Freemont police

FREMONT, Calif. (KRON) - Firefighters in Fremont responded to a garage fire a little before 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon on Snyder Way in Niles.

On Saturday, February 27 at 2:51 PM, Fremont firefighters responded to a garage fire on Snyder Way in Niles. Two people were home at the time of the fire, both uninjured. The residents had 2 pets—a dog was found unharmed & a cat remains missing. The cause is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/lrnndc0zTv
— Fremont Fire Department (@FremontFire) February 28, 2021

Two people were home at the time and were uninjured. They have one dog who was unharmed and a cat that remains missing.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Golden Globes organization says it will recruit Black members after criticism

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The organization hosting the Golden Globes says it is developing a plan to recruit Black members after falling under sharp criticism for lacking diverse members.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said in statement Friday that an “action plan” is under development to admit Black members. The group currently has 87 members who are journalists, but none are Black.

Former HFPA president Meher Tatna told Variety in an interview that the organization hasn’t had a Black member in nearly two decades. The Mumbai-born board chair said she couldn’t recall when there had been a Black member, but she says the organization will keep trying.

Some including Time’s Up and presenter Sterling K. Brown are among those who have criticized the HFPA’s lack of inclusion and diversity. The criticism comes just days before the Globes air live on Sunday.

An HFPA spokesperson said it welcomes the opportunity to meet with groups such as Time’s Up and prospective Black members who are interested in joining the organization.

“We are fully committed to ensuring our membership is reflective of the communities around the world who love film, TV and the artists inspiring and educating them,” the HFPA statement read. “We understand that we need to bring in Black members, as well as members from other underrepresented backgrounds, and we will immediately work to implement an action plan to achieve these goals as soon as possible.”

Time’s Up took aim at the HFPA in a tweet saying “a cosmetic fix isn’t enough.” The activist organization also included the hashtag #TimesUpGlobes.

Brown, an award presenter, posted the Time’s Up photo on social media with his own criticism.

“For any governing body of a current Hollywood award show to have such a lack of voting representation illustrates a level of irresponsibility that should not be ignored,” he said.

Brown said the HFPA must do better. He said the organization has a responsibility to show its “constituency is fully reflective of the world in which we live.”

“And having a multitude of Black presenters does not absolve you of your lack of diversity,” he continued. “This is your moment to do the right thing. It is my hope that you will.”

The HFPA said it welcomes journalists from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds based in Southern California that cover entertainment for foreign media. The organization says membership is majority female and more than 35% percent of its members are from non-European countries across the world.

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LIVE: Trump to speak at CPAC in first post-White House appearance

(NewsNation Now) — Donald Trump will be making his first post-presidential appearance at a conservative gathering in Florida on Sunday.

The 45th president is due to speak this weekend at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference, more commonly known as CPAC.

The annual three-day summit of conservatism is already underway, but you have to scroll all the way to the end of the CPAC agenda to find Trump, who is set to close out the event with the final address. He is scheduled to take the stage at 3:40 p.m. EST.

Aides say Trump will use the speech at CPAC to criticize his successor, President Joe Biden’s first month in office, including the new president’s efforts to undo Trump’s immigration policies and try to cement his status as the party’s undisputed leader going forward despite his loss in November.

“I stand before you today to declare that the incredible journey we began together four years ago is far from over,” Trump will say, according to excerpts of his speech released by aides. “We are gathered this afternoon to talk about the future — the future of our movement, the future of our party, and the future of our beloved country.”

NewsNation will live stream the event on NewsNationNow.com and the free NewsNation Now app.

Trump has begun to wade back into the public, calling into some news outlets after the death of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh and after golfer Tiger Woods’ serious car accident. His aides have been meeting this week to set benchmarks for fundraising and organization for candidates seeking his endorsement.

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For your health: How to prevent blood clots

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) - Blood clots affect 900,000 Americans every year and result in one in four deaths worldwide.

Blood clots are considered one of the biggest health problems that the public doesn’t know about, so warning signs are often ignored.

Our health expert, Karen Owoc, is here to shine some light on this life-threatening but preventable condition.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

• As we talked about last week, blood clots can lead to heart attacks as well as strokes.

• DVTs are blood clots that occur in the large, deep veins — usually in the leg or pelvis — They also form in the arm, brain, intestines, liver, or kidney.

• More people die from blood clots than breast cancer, AIDS, and motor vehicle collisions combined.

The Danger:

• When blood clots form, they may partially or completely block blood flow.

• Clots can break loose, travel to the lungs, and block off blood flow to the lungs, a.k.a. pulmonary embolism (PE) —> Life threatening!

• About 20% to 30% of people with DVT will develop a PE.

• Superficial veins, which do 10% of the work, are visible through the skin, and have many pathways back to the heart. These veins can bulge (varicose veins).

• Varicose veins (5 times more likely to develop a DVT)

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• WARNING! A superficial blood clot can become so large that it connects to the deep vein system, can break off, and travel to the lungs.

Risk Factors for a Blood Clot

• Hospitalization, particularly involving physical trauma, surgery, or prolonged immobility (the most common)

• Being overweight — More body fat means there are more lipids in the blood, which increases risk of developing blood clots.

• Tobacco — Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow), which reduces the flow of blood to your organs and clots are more likely to develop.

• Alcohol

• Drinking more than 3 oz of liquor per week (2 shots of hard liquor) increases the risk of DVT by 5%.

• Alcohol activates platelets, so they are more likely to form clots.

• Long-term, excessive drinking causes long-term, consistent platelet activation.

• Liver damage reduces the ability to produce proteins that regulate blood clotting.

• Dehydration

• Serious medical conditions, e.g., heart and lung disease, diabetes, cancer, having a pacemaker

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Calf muscles, when contracting, are the body’s “pump” that moves blood ‘upstream’ through the veins.

• If driving, stop every 2 to 3 hours, get up and walk, exercise calf muscles.

• Family history of blood clots

• Taking birth control pills or hormone therapy

Why Cancer Patients are Susceptible to Clots

• 20% of clots occur in cancer patients (2nd leading cause of death among cancer patients). Certain types of cancers secrete proteins, which pose a greater danger for clots:

• Brain, blood, lungs

• Stomach, pancreas, kidneys

• Uterus, ovaries

How to Catch a Clot (Know the Symptoms)

Catch a clot before it travels and may be life-threatening:

• Know the symptoms of a blood clot, especially:

• Swelling (sometimes comes on suddenly)

• Pain

• Area may be warmer than usual

• Skin that is red or discolored

• No symptoms! (You may not know you have DVT until the clot travels to your lung.)

• Blood clot symptoms can take 3 to 6 months to improve.

• Several years after having DVT, 20% to 40% of patients experience chronic complications called post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), a chronic lifelong condition. Signs of PTS:

• Pain (aching or cramping)

• Chronic leg swelling

• Itching or tingling

• Heaviness

• Brownish, bluish, or reddish skin discoloration

• Leg ulcers (“venous stasis ulcers”)

A DVT is a medical emergency! Never wait to see if the symptoms will go away.

Symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

• Sudden shortness of breath (check oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter)

• Sharp chest pain (often comes with coughing or movement)

• Pain in the back

• Unusual sweating

• Fast heartbeat

• Feeling dizzy or fainting

Treatment for Clots

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners)

• Thrombolytics (medications that dissolve existing clots)

• Compression stockings (can reduce swelling and risk of clot formation)

• Surgery — stents (which can increase risk for more clotting) and vascular filters (“inferior vena cava filters”)

• An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is placed in a large vein and “catches” a clot before they travel up to the lungs

The Takeaway: Trust your instincts, be your own health advocate, and develop a relationship with a primary care physician, so you have somebody to go to when you know something doesn’t feel “right”.

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Black History Special: Ensuring African American student achievement in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) - In honor of Black History Month, we want to highlight SPARK SF, which has launched the African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative (AAALI).

AAALI is committed to raising expectations and belief in African American student achievement, empowering African American students and their families, coordinating comprehensive wraparound supports for African American students, and ensuring African American students receive culturally responsive, rigorous instruction.

We talked with Dr. Silindra McRay, the Director and Special Assistant to the SF Superintendent.

A Doctorate of Education with a focus on Social Justice and Equity, Dr. McRay brings over 13 years of experience as an Educator, Administrator, and Program Manager within Public, Private, and Higher Education settings.

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Early morning quake shakes Central Coast near Big Sur

POINT LOPEZ (KRON) - A 3.7-magnitude earthquake hit near Big Sur early Sunday morning, USGS reported.

The quake was reported at 12:45 a.m. about 13.8 mi NNW of Lopez Point.

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3 arrests made after car flees collision scene, crashes again

ANTIOCH, Calif. (BCN) - A driver who witnesses said had a firearm fled a traffic collision Friday morning and was arrested with two others after a pursuit ended in a second collision, Antioch police said.

The collision was reported just before 11:30 a.m. at West 10th and G streets, where callers reported that the driver of a gold Chrysler 300 had a handgun visible.

When an officer attempted to stop a car matching that description speeding away from the area the driver fled and got onto westbound state Highway 4, exiting at Somersville Road, where it ran a red light and struck another vehicle exiting eastbound Highway 4.

Two occupants remained in the car after the crash while one man fled, but was discovered hiding in the rear of a business, police said.

All three were arrested, then hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the car that was struck was also with non-life threatening injuries.\

An investigation showed the suspect car was displaying switched license plates. A search of the car turned up an assault weapon and another firearm, a ski mask, a wig, and more license plates, police said.

Investigators are trying to determine if the car was involved in any other criminal activity and ask the public to check their surveillance cameras in the areas of G Street, West 10th Street, and D Street.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the dispatch center at (925) 778-2441. Tips can be texted anonymously to 274637 using the keyword ANTIOCH.

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Long Beach mayor discusses city's vaccine rollout after praise from governor

Frank Buckley talks to Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia about their COVID-19 vaccine rollout, which has been held up as a model by Governor Gavin Newsom.

"We view every single vaccination as an opportunity to save someone's life, and it has to be our top priority," Garcia said.

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Inside the Bullpen: Focus on COVID-19 vaccine equity falters as new issue arises

Julia Wick, a Los Angeles Times reporter, and Ben Christoper with CalMatters talk about the newest issue with the vaccine rollout.

As reported by Wick, codes meant for hard-hit residents to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine appointments were circulated to other residents.

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'They can afford to pay': Rep. Karen Bass talks minimum wage, new policing bill

Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, talks about the need for a minimum wage hike, which will not be included in the final stimulus bill.

"Why would we in the richest country in this history of the world essentially subject people to poverty wages?" Bass said. "And what happens when you work for big companies -- say like a Walmart or something else -- and you're paid the minimum wage, well basically the federal government is subsidizing you."

Bass adds that some people will likely qualify for government health care at those jobs.

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State funds secured to combat hate crimes against Asian Americans

Nikki Laurenzo talks to Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, about the plan to reopen California schools for in-person learning and what differences the legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom have.

"We held off so we could continue to have discussions with the administration," Ting said.

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Why you should stop waiting to sell your home

(NerdWallet) - Real estate agents have an urgent message for homeowners: Now is the time to sell. “A lot of people are missing the best market now by waiting,” says agent Kris Lindahl.

Home sellers wield formidable negotiating mojo because demand outweighs supply. Buyers outnumber sellers, as relatively few owners are putting their homes on the market. The supply of homes for sale settled at an unprecedented 1.9 months in January, much lower than the six-month supply that marks equilibrium between sellers and buyers.

Sellers call the shots, and the proof is in the pricing. The median home price rose to $303,900 in January 2021, a 14.1% increase compared with 12 months before, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Does that make it sound like sellers have it easy? Most don’t, because they’re looking to buy, too. Here are some factors sustaining this seller’s market, and the decisions that owners will face when listing their homes for sale.

Housing market gone haywire

It’s tempting to blame the coronavirus for the supply shortage — to say that homeowners want to bar strangers from their homes until the pandemic wanes. But the meager supply of existing homes has an additional cause.

Most people sell their home to upgrade, downsize or move to a better location. But with few dwellings on the market, would-be sellers “can’t find another house to move to,” says Lindahl, CEO and founder of Kris Lindahl Real Estate in the Minneapolis suburb of Blaine, Minnesota.

It’s a self-reinforcing market failure: Would-be sellers worry that they won’t find their next house, so they stay put, exacerbating a shortage that deters other owners from putting their homes on the market.

Rapidly rising prices worsen the problem. Would-be sellers think, “I’m going to end up paying more than I would expect on a comparable home,” even when downsizing, says Marc J. Jenkins, a real estate agent with Prime Property Partners, based near Atlanta. So they keep their homes off the market.

Buy first or sell first?

Sellers have two escapes from the not-enough-homes-to-buy trap:

Buy first, then put up their home for sale.
Accept an offer from a buyer who’s willing to wait while they find a place to buy.

“I would say buy first, because this way they can take their time,” says Sonia Figueroa, an agent with EXP Realty in Chicago. “They’re not feeling rushed, and they’re not just going to jump into any house, just because they need to hurry up and move out.”

She recognizes that her advice presumes that the seller can secure preapproval for a mortgage to buy the next home while paying the mortgage on the current one. Many people don’t earn enough to qualify for two mortgages at once, even briefly. “In that instance, then, unfortunately, it’s going to be a situation where we just start looking as soon as they put the property on the market,” Figueroa says.

Lindahl endorses option 2, in which the buyer agrees that the sale is subject to the seller finding suitable housing. Buyers shun this contingency in a normal market, but today’s market has moved away from normal. Sellers dictate terms.

Sellers can even negotiate a rent-back agreement, in which the buyer closes on the property, then lets the seller stay in the home for a few days or weeks at a daily rental rate, Lindahl says.

Multiple offers are routine

The scant supply of homes benefits sellers in ways besides high prices: Homes sell fast, and sellers need not fix them up.

In a balanced housing market, Jenkins asks sellers how much notice they need before they skedaddle for a showing (a visit by prospective buyers). Nowadays, he dispenses with showings and instead holds open houses.

“At this point, I’m telling my sellers, ‘Pick a Saturday,'” he says. “‘Give me four or six hours, and I’ll sell your house.'” He says 30 people showed up for a four-hour open house recently.

Jenkins tells sellers in the Atlanta metro area to expect “a flurry of offers” within days, and to sort through them and choose the best one “in a week, tops.”

A similar dynamic prevails in Chicago, provided the home sellers have kept the place in good shape, Figueroa says. “If they price the property reasonably, then most likely they’ll have multiple offer situations,” she says.

A house needs to be in good, not great, condition, Figueroa says. Her clients ask what it would take to get top dollar without, say, renovating the kitchen. She replies that they simply need to declutter, clean the carpets and maybe repaint the walls.

Jenkins says that even when sellers do nothing to fix up the house, the winning bidders feel relief instead of buyer’s remorse. “There’s a heavy emotion of the fear of missing out right now,” he says.

Buyers prefer versatility

In the era of COVID-19, buyers prefer certain amenities. Lindahl says that this year, homes replaced gyms, restaurants and offices. The classroom inhabits a nook or a cranny. Families feel sardine-canned. Consequently, the cacophonous open floor plan has lost appeal because occupants need doors to provide quiet and privacy. “Open floor plans aren’t the most popular right now because the more sectioned-off a home is, the more they can do in their home,” Lindahl says.

On the other hand, buyers in 2021 will settle for the imperfect. “You might have people that say, ‘I need extra space for an office, but I’ll take a large bedroom and I’ll put my desk in there,'” Jenkins says (cue the sad trombone).

More From NerdWallet

The article The Property Line: Why You Should Stop Waiting to Sell Your Home originally appeared on NerdWallet.

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How worried should we be about new COVID-19 variants?

(NEXSTAR) - When it comes to COVID-19 variants and vaccines, many questions remain nebulous. But with new variants being discovered with frequency, how worried should we be about whether the vaccines will work against novel strains?

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at UCSF, breaks the variants down into three categories: the good, the bad and the ugly.

The good is the novel coronavirus strain, which started the pandemic. Chin-Hong places the strain in this category because the current vaccines do an excellent job at protecting people from contracting the virus. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines — the only two approved vaccines for use in the U.S. — are 95 percent effective at preventing infection.

The bad includes variants such as the so-called U.K. variant, called B.1.1.7., which is thought to be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the initial coronavirus strain.

"It's in this category because there may be some decrease in [vaccine] efficacy," Chin-Hong said.

The ugly category features the South African variant, called B.1.351. Chin-Hong placed it in the category because it appears to highly increase transmissibility of the virus. Higher transmissibility means we may need a higher threshold for herd immunity.

Most estimates say we'll achieve herd immunity when at least 70 percent of a region is vaccinated, but with more transmissible strains, that percentage may need to increase — to 85 percent or more.

"For the good and the bad, everyone thinks the [current] vaccines will work," Chin-Hong said. But the picture is murkier for the South African variant. In February, for example, Pfizer said the variant could significantly reduce the number of antibodies created by the vaccine — potentially by up to two-thirds.

That's worrisome to Chin-Hong.

"I'm worried because our vaccine rollout has been very slow around the world. It just seems like we're playing catch up ... I worry that once we vaccinate people, a variant may setup shop and eradicate our progress."

New variants arise from replication, and replication only occurs "if noses and mouths come together," Chin-Hong said. So the faster we can vaccinate the people, the greater the odds of stopping these variants in their tracks.

"We can't really solve COVID until we immunize the world," Chin-Hong said.

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Saturday, 27 February 2021

Rally held to denounce recent hate crimes against Bay Area Asian community

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KRON) -- A march through San Mateo will not reverse the trend of hate crimes against members of the Bay Area's Asian community -- but Saturday's demonstration shows people are willing to publicly denounce systemic racism.

Burlingame teenager Ashlyn was so willing to put her name on it.

She organized the event at Central Park after learning about elderly Asian people being attacked in Oakland, San Francisco and other Bay Area cities.

"I saw all these Asians getting hurt, and I really didn't like that," Ashlyn So said. "So I thought it wasn't OK, and I had to to something about it."

Turns out she is not alone.

A few hundred people showed up for her event, speaking out against the violence and encouraging all hate crime victims to speak out.

"I know my friends are struggling against the hate, and I just really want to be here for everyone," Soledad Bradford said.

Those who have encountered hate first hand say one experience is one too many.

"Enough is enough," Robert Lowe said. "You know and a lot of people are in denial and there's a problem and a big problem."

The Millbrae anti-racist coalition says it wants to be apart of the solution.

"That racism and that oppression and that systematic police brutality -- we're hear to change that," Michael Kelly said.

So is Ashlyn So -- who says this cause will consume her for quite some time.

"This has to stop," she said.

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Justice Dept. to appeal judge’s order on eviction moratorium

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Saturday it will appeal a judge’s ruling that found the federal government’s eviction moratorium was unconstitutional.

Prosecutors filed a notice in the case on Saturday evening, saying the government was appealing the matter the to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The appeal comes days after U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevented had overstepped its authority and that the moratorium was unlawful.

“Although the COVID-19 pandemic persists, so does the Constitution,” the judge wrote in the decision on Thursday.

In a statement, Brian Boynton, the acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s civil division, said prosecutors respectfully disagreed with the judge’s ruling and noted it only applied to parties in the case, not broadly to others.

“The CDC’s eviction moratorium, which Congress extended last December, protects many renters who cannot make their monthly payments due to job loss or health care expenses,” he said. “By preventing people from becoming homeless or having to move into more-crowded housing, the moratorium helps to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

The CDC eviction moratorium was signed in September by President Donald Trump and extended by President Joe Biden until March 31.

Barker, who was nominated by Trump in 2018 to serve in the Eastern District of Texas, stopped short of issuing an injunction in the case. Several property owners had brought the litigation arguing that the federal government didn’t have the legal authority to stop evictions.

“The federal government cannot say that it has ever before invoked its power over interstate commerce to impose a residential eviction moratorium,” Barker wrote. “It did not do so during the deadly Spanish Flu pandemic. Nor did it invoke such a power during the exigencies of the Great Depression. The federal government has not claimed such a power at any point during our Nation’s history until last year.”

State and local governments had approved eviction moratoriums early in the pandemic for many renters, but many of those protections have already expired.

To be eligible for protection, renters must have an income of $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers; demonstrate they’ve sought government help to pay rent; declare that they can’t pay because of COVID-19 hardships; and affirm that they are likely to become homeless if evicted.

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Health worker: Rite Aid throws away extra COVID-19 vaccines

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) – A Sacramento public health worker is looking for answers from Rite Aid after she was told by several pharmacists they throw away their extra COVID-19 vaccines.

Curiosity turned into complete shock for a public health worker who called the Rite Aid pharmacy off of Watt Avenue to see if they had any extra doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The worker spoke to FOX40 under the condition of anonymity.

"'She said, 'Well, again, we're only vaccinating people 65 and older,' so I said, 'Well, do you just mean you're going to throw them away at the end of the night?' And she said, 'Yeah, we just throw them away,'" the worker told FOX40.

She called another Rite Aid off of Norwood Avenue to see if they would have a different answer.

"They basically confirmed the same thing," the health worker said. "They said they didn't have vaccine leftover but if they did, they can only go to someone 65 and older."

Rite Aid currently accepts appointments for those in California's Phase 1A vaccination plan between 10 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. After vaccinating high priority groups first, CDHP policy says they can administer any extra or near-expired doses to lower priority groups, but these frozen doses have to be defrosted with a shelf life of only six hours.

"You know what time you took it out, you know how long you have, you know you've allocated for as many appointments as you have for the day and so it's very obvious that people aren't showing up for it," the worker said.

According to the CDC, all COVID vaccine providers are required to report the number of doses that have been unused or expired each day. A policy that is not regularly enforced.

COVID-19 vaccines are also becoming more scarce after recent winter weather affected supply rollout.

"To me, I just don't think that's right," the worker told FOX40. "If you know this vaccine expires at 8, then maybe around 7:15, 7:30, you can go out in the aisles and say, 'Hey, we have some leftover vaccine that would otherwise be thrown out. Would you like it?' There needs to be a better effort on Rite Aid's part in getting people vaccinated."

The worker said trashing vaccines that haven't expired is "unacceptable."

Rite Aid responded to FOX40's request for comment with a written statement:

Given that the current approved COVID-19 vaccinations have a limited shelf-life, should there be any additional doses available on any day due to missed appointments or other situations, Rite Aid is following CDC waste protocol.

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2 injured following DUI hit-and-run collision in Marin County

MARIN, Calif. (KRON) -- A DUI hit-and-run collision left two people injured in Marin County Saturday morning, according to authorities.

Around 10:50 a.m., a BMW with an older coupler inside was suddenly rear ended by a Chevy Camaro on Fifer Avenue near Lucky Drive. The impact of the crash left both cars unable to operate.

The driver of the Chevy immediately ran away from the scene.

A witness called 911 with a detailed description of the suspect. Within minutes, officers found him on Lucky Drive near the Town of Corte Madera Corporation Yard.

The suspect ran from officers and a violent struggle occurred before he was taken into custody.

Two officers suffered minor injuries.

The couple in the BMW were treated at the scene and will seek further care on their own.

The suspect, whose identity has not be released by authorities, was arrested for Felony DUI causing injury, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

He was booked at Marin County Jail.

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California doctor performs surgery while appearing in court video call

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Medical Board of California said it would investigate a plastic surgeon who appeared in a videoconference for his traffic violation trial while operating.

The Sacramento Bee reports Dr. Scott Green appeared Thursday for his Sacramento Superior Court trial, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, from an operating room. He was dressed in surgical scrubs with a patient undergoing the procedure just out of view; the beeps of medical machinery can be heard in the background.

“Hello, Mr. Green? Hi. Are you available for trial?” asked a courtroom clerk as an officer summoned to appear in trial raised her eyebrows. “It kind of looks like you’re in an operating room right now?”

“I am, sir,” Green replied. “Yes, I’m in an operating room right now. Yes, I’m available for trial. Go right ahead.”

The clerk reminded Green the proceedings were being livestreamed because traffic trials are required by law to be open to the public, and Green said he understood. He appeared to continue working with his head down while waiting for Court Commissioner Gary Link to enter the chamber.

When Link appeared and saw the doctor on the screen, the judge hesitated to proceed with the trial out of concern for the welfare of the patient.

“I have another surgeon right here who’s doing the surgery with me, so I can stand here and allow them to do the surgery also,” Green said.

The judge said he didn’t think it was appropriate to conduct trial under the circumstances. He told Green he’d rather set a new date for trial “when you’re not actively involved or participating and attending to the needs of a patient.”

Green apologized.

“Sometimes, surgery doesn’t always go as,” he said before the judge interrupted him.

“It happens. We want to keep people healthy, we want to keep them alive. That’s important,” Link said.

The board said it would look into the incident, saying it “expects physicians to follow the standard of care when treating their patients.”

A call seeking comment from Green has not been returned.

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Second woman accuses Governor Cuomo of sexual harassment

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A second woman has accused New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment. Speaking to the New York Times, former aide Charlotte Bennett, 25, claims the governor asked her if she was monogamous and if she had ever been with an older man.

The former health policy adviser also makes claims the 63-year-old Governor said he was "open to relationships with women in their 20s."

On Feb 24, Bennet posted a tweet quoting Cuomo's initial accuser and appearing to support her claims.

For those wondering what it’s like to work for the Cuomo admin, read @LindseyBoylan’s story. https://t.co/PfWhTJgHuU
— Charlotte Bennett (@_char_bennett_) February 24, 2021

Other claims Bennett makes in the article include the Governor allegedly suggesting she get a tattoo on her buttocks when she tried to shift the conversation to something “not about my sex life.”

In response to the article, Governor Cuomo issued a statement calling Ms. Bennett "a hardworking and valued member of our team during COVID" and saying she has "every right to speak out."

Cuomo says he tried to be supportive of Ms. Bennett when she opened up to him about being a sexual assault survivor and its effects on her. He also claims he attempted to be "a mentor to her" and denies making any advances or intention of acting inappropriately.

He goes on to ask people to await the findings of a review into his conduct before making any judgement.

Governor Cuomo's full statement is as follows:

"Ms. Bennett was a hardworking and valued member of our team during COVID. She has every right to speak out.

When she came to me and opened up about being a sexual assault survivor and how it shaped her and her ongoing efforts to create an organization that empowered her voice to help other survivors, I tried to be supportive and helpful. Ms. Bennett's initial impression was right: I was trying to be a mentor to her. I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate. The last thing I would ever have wanted was to make her feel any of the things that are being reported.

This situation cannot and should not be resolved in the press; I believe the best way to get to the truth is through a full and thorough outside review and I am directing all state employees to comply with that effort. I ask all New Yorkers to await the findings of the review so that they know the facts before making any judgements. I will have no further comment until the review has concluded."
Governor Andrew Cuomo

The ongoing review into the Governor's conduct is being headed by former federal judge Barbara Jones who was appointed to the bench in 1995 by President Bill Clinton.

Senior advisor and special counsel to the Governor Beth Garvey issued a statement on how the administration initially handled Bennett's concerns

She said: "were treated with sensitivity and respect and in accordance with applicable law and policy."

She goes on to claim Bennett was transferred by request to a "position in which she had expressed a long-standing interest" when the matter was escalated.

The statement claims that during a thorough debriefing "on the facts", Bennett made no claims of physical contact or inappropriate sexual conduct.

"The determination reached based on the information Ms Bennett provided was that no further action was required which was consistent with Ms Bennett's wishes."
Beth Garvey, Senior Advisor and Special Counsel to the Governor

Garvey also added that: "There are no limits on the scope of Judge Jones' review."

On February 24, another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, published an article detailing the alleged sexual harassment she suffered while working under Andrew Cuomo. The article expanded on the claims she made against The Governor in December 2020.

Boylan says her career was strained by the inappropriate treatment, which extended to other women in the government of New York. She also claims to have faced hostility from members of Cuomo's senior team when she "spoke up for herself."

New York State political figures have been quick to respond to the new accusations, with Assemblyman Mike Lawler calling for the Governor's immediate resignation and claiming Cuomo is: "incapable of serving as Governor of New York any longer."

Lawler says the new accusation is "consistent" with the previous one, and suggests it "reveals predatory sexual behavior on the part of the Governor."

He goes on to accuse multiple members of the Governor's staff of being "complicit" in Cuomo's "targeted harassment."

The Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, called for an independent investigation and described the continued allegations as "deeply disturbing."

“The continued allegations are deeply disturbing and concerning. The behavior described has no place in the workplace. A truly independent investigation must begin immediately.”
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt called the new allegations "incredibly disturbing" before calling for a "truly independent investigation – claiming "The review suggested by someone handpicked by the Governor himself, is an outrageous, completely unacceptable idea."

The latest allegations about Governor Cuomo’s conduct are incredibly disturbing. The review suggested by someone handpicked by the Governor himself, is an outrageous, completely unacceptable idea. We need a truly independent investigation, which is why I continue to support the calls of my colleagues for a Special Prosecutor appointed by the Attorney General.

I will be convening members of the Senate Republican Conference tomorrow morning to discuss these egregious allegations and any next steps that our conference must take.
Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay has called for a "clear and decisive" response, along with a thorough, independent, investigation.

"With additional allegations against Gov. Cuomo coming to light, the response must be clear and decisive. A thorough investigation, conducted by an entity completely outside the governor's reach, must begin immediately."
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik issued a hard-hitting statement describing Cuomo as a "criminal sexual predator" and calling for his immediate resignation. The Congresswoman goes on to say:

"Governor Cuomo’s sickening workplace sexual harassment and grooming of Ms. Bennett is so horrific it makes your skin crawl."

"It takes bravery and courage for victims to come forward with their horrific experiences facing sexual harassment, sexual grooming, and sexual abuse from Governor Cuomo. Governor Cuomo is a criminal sexual predator and he must immediately resign.

I was one of the first and one of the only elected officials to call on the Governor to resign on Dec 14th. Today, it’s time for other New York State leaders to grow a spine. The New York Times article recounting Governor Cuomo’s sickening workplace sexual harassment and grooming of Ms. Bennett is so horrific it makes your skin crawl."
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.

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