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Friday, 2 December 2022

Ye no longer buying Parler, has Twitter account suspended

The rapper Ye is no longer buying right-leaning social media site Parler, the company said Thursday.

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, had offered to buy Parler in October. At the time, Ye and Parlement Technologies, which owns Parler, said the acquisition would be completed in the last three months of the year. The sale price and other details were not disclosed.

“This decision was made in the interest of both parties in mid-November," Parlement Technologies said in a statement Thursday. “Parler will continue to pursue future opportunities for growth and the evolution of the platform for our vibrant community."

Early Friday, Ye’s Twitter account was suspended after the rapper posted a picture of a swastika merged with the Star of David. New Twitter CEO Elon Musk confirmed the suspension in a tweet replying to a Ye post of an unflattering photo of the billionaire, which Ye called his “final tweet.”

“I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended,” Musk tweeted.

Parler is a small platform in the emerging space of right-leaning, far-right and libertarian social apps that promise little to no content moderation to weed out hate speech, racism and misinformation, among other objectionable content. None of the sites have come close to reaching mainstream status.

Parler launched in August 2018 but didn’t start picking up steam until 2020. It was kicked offline in January 2021 over its ties to the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol earlier that month. A month after the attack, Parler announced a relaunch but didn't return to Google Play until September of this year.

Ye has made a series of antisemitic comments in recent weeks, including praising Hitler in an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Thursday. Ye’s remarks led to his suspension from social media platforms, his talent agency dropping him and companies like Adidas cutting ties with him. The sportswear manufacturer has also launched an investigation into his conduct.

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Thursday, 1 December 2022

Ye shares alleged text exchange with Elon Musk

(KRON) -- The artist formerly known as Kanye West made headlines again on Thursday. After telling Alex Jones that he likes Hitler, the rapper took to his recently reactivated Twitter account to share a barrage of tweets.

One of the tweets, which has since been deleted, showed an image of a swastika crossed with a Star of David. Another, which has also been deleted, appeared to show Twitter CEO Elon Musk texting Ye that he did not like the tweet. Both tweets were taken down because they "violated the Twitter rules."

The alleged text from Musk reads, "Sorry, but you have gone too far. This is not love." Ye responded, "Who made you the judge." Ye then tweeted a picture of Musk shirtless, saying it would be his final tweet. Musk said Ye's account would be suspended for violating Twitter's rule against inciting violence.

Earlier in the day, Musk responded to a Ye tweet that said in part, "I pray to Jesus that Elon is for real." Musk responded, "Jesus taught love, kindness and forgiveness. I used to think that turning the other cheek was weak & foolish, but I was the fool for not appreciating its profound wisdom."

The chaos was not limited to Musk. In another tweet Thursday night, Ye insinuated that he caught his ex-wife Kim Kardashian romantically involved with NBA star Chris Paul.

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The tweets continued what has been an eventful week for Ye, who was spotted at dinner with former President Trump and white nationalist Nick Fuentes.

It is also the latest controversy that Musk has been involved in since buying Twitter. There have been widespread layoffs at the company, with the New York Times reporting that about 3,700 jobs were eliminated.

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Oakland representative blasts health care inequities on World AIDS Day

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) - Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), the co-chairs of the congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, are taking the opportunity of World AIDS Day to urge an end to health care disparities between ethnic and sexual identity groups.

“On the 34th annual World Aids Day, we remember those that we have lost in the struggle against this disease and the millions across the globe that continue to fight against it,” Lee stated in a press release. “Just as the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep health disparities, we know the HIV and AIDS epidemic disproportionately affects communities of color and LGBTQ communities, here in the US and in developing nations. As Co-Chair of the Congressional HIV & AIDS Caucus, I’m dedicated to addressing these disparities in access to life-saving sexual and reproductive healthcare, services, and education so that we can achieve the first AIDS-free generation.”

Lee introduced a resolution supporting the goals of World AIDS Day this year, which is themed "tackling inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic." The Ryan White Minority AIDS Initiative, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief already help reduce the epidemic's burden.

“We’ve come a long way in understanding and countering HIV and AIDS around the world, thanks to the significant improvements that have been made in research, prevention, and treatment,” González-Colón, a non-voting representative from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, stated. “Now, while we reach our goal to free our communities from this epidemic, it is necessary to strengthen outreach and educational tools to fight the stigma that continues affecting HIV patients, as well as to ensure accessible healthcare. As Co-Chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, on this 34th Annual World AIDS Day, I’m proud to support the common goal of tackling disparities in health services faced by disadvantaged HIV groups in our nation, including the over 15,848 people diagnosed in my district, Puerto Rico.”

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The human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS, has been able to be virally suppressed with medication in many cases since the mid-1990s, though access is sometimes challenging. But as KRON4 previously reported, 72 San Franciscans died in 2020 from HIV-related causes, 2019 saw 70 deaths, 2018 saw 73 and 2017 saw 83.

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Pedestrian seriously injured when hit by car on state Route 1

(BCN)-- A man walking on State Route 1 in Soquel was seriously injured Wednesday night when he was hit by a car, according to the California Highway Patrol. Officers responded to a 6:48 p.m. report of the collision in the northbound lanes just south of the Park Avenue interchange.

The initial investigation revealed that a 31-year-old Watsonville man had been walking in the northbound lanes in the direction of traffic when he was hit by a car driven by a 61-year-old Capitola woman, who stopped and remained on the scene, according to the CHP report. The man was taken to a local hospital with major injuries.

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The CHP is investigating the cause of the collision and has not yet determined whether alcohol and/or other drugs were a factor.

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How bad is RSV in California?

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Just two weeks after the first death of a child under the age of 5 due to flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was reported in California, positive tests for RSV have skyrocketed, and they show no signs of slowing down.

According to Dr. Jim Scott, Dean of Touro University California College of Pharmacy, RSV is a common viral infection that often impacts people during childhood. Our bodies are exposed to the illness multiple times throughout our life, and we are able to build up antibodies that easily fight the virus off.

However, many little ones don't have these antibodies built up in their systems – and as a result of years of masking and social distancing due to a global pandemic, neither do we.

"People have not been exposed to RSV as much so their bodies have likely stopped making the antibodies," Dr. Scott explained. Our systems know how to make the necessary antibodies, but "the bodies’ antibody production still takes time to ramp up and meet the need."

More adults are getting RSV because of low antibody rates, but the illness is still most impactful for children and older adults. Dr. Scott told KRON4 that people who experience severe RSV infections will "typically require hospitalization and specialized antiviral medications."

Thankfully, most people with mild infections can be treated at home with supportive care, which includes rest, fluids and symptom management with over-the-counter medications, according to Dr. Scott.

A spokesperson for University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospitals told KRON4 bed capacities in the hospital are fluctuating because as soon as one bed opens up, it is immediately filled by a waiting patient in need.

UCSF Benioff is currently consulting with medical teams and families of patients to determine if some surgical procedures can be postponed. The hospital is "prioritizing time-sensitive, medically necessary surgeries," according to a statement. Medical procedures that can be postponed may be rescheduled when the hospital is treating "fewer incoming acute patients needing inpatient beds."

According to Dr. David Cornfield, Chief of Pulmonary, Asthma, and Sleep Medicine at Stanford University, people with RSV usually start showing symptoms four to six days after infection.

Dr. Cornfield advises that parents contact the doctor if their child shows any of these symptoms:

High unremitting fever (a temperature of 101.3 F [38.5 C] or higher)
Signs of dehydration
Trouble breathing, such as short, rapid, and shallow breaths or retractions, where the chest caves in and the belly expands with each breath
Unusual irritability or inactivity
Refusing to nurse or bottle-feed
Turning blue around the lips and fingertips—seek out emergency care

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Rolling Stones' 60th year honored with collectible coin; band to release 'ultimate live greatest hits album'

LONDON (AP) — They want money — that’s what they want, that’s what they want. Well, now the Rolling Stones can say they’re also ON money, the face of a new collectible coin issued by Britain’s Royal Mint to celebrate the band’s 60th anniversary.

This image released by The Royal Mint shows a new collectable coin to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Rolling Stones. (The Royal Mint via AP)

The new 5-pound ($6.04) coin features a silhouette image of the iconic band performing — frontman Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, and the late drummer Charlie Watts — as well as the band’s name in what is described as their classic 1973 font. The mint said it was one of the last coins of the year to be released bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September at age 96.

The Rolling Stones were back on the road this year with their 2022 European “Sixty” tour, ending in Berlin in August.

“We are delighted to be honored by way of an official UK coin,” the band said in a statement included in the Royal Mint's announcement. “Even more significant that the release coincides with our 60th anniversary.”

The new coin is the fifth in the mint's “Music Legends’” series, which celebrates legendary British artists. Others so honored have been Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, and The Who.

While the best things in life are free, as the Stones sang in their cover of the Motown hit “Money (That’s What I Want),” the coins will cost something. Similar coins on the mint’s website from the Music Legends series range from 15 pounds ($18.12) to 465 pounds ($561.92).

“Our Music Legends series is creating a new generation of coin collectors," said Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services at The Royal Mint. “We hope this provides a fitting tribute to the band’s 60 years of rock and roll music for their millions of fans across the globe ... The Rolling Stones are UK rock legends, and we anticipate this coin being incredibly sought-after by coin collectors and music lovers alike.

“The coin is also one of the last to be released bearing the effigy of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, marking a significant moment in history," Morgan added in the statement.

The band also plans to release what they're calling their “ultimate live greatest hits album,” with appearances by Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Gary Clark Jr. and The Black Keys, early next year.

“GRRR Live!” contains songs recorded live on Dec. 15, 2012, at Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center. That night saw guest appearances by The Black Keys (“Who Do You Love?”), Clark and John Mayer (“Going Down”), Lady Gaga (“Gimme Shelter”), Mick Taylor (“Midnight Rambler”) and hometown hero Bruce Springsteen (“Tumbling Dice”).

Shown on pay-per-view in 2012, the concert has not otherwise been available to fans until now.

It also features some of the band's greatest hits, including “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It),” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Start Me Up,” “Sympathy For the Devil” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

The 24-track collection will be released on Feb. 10 in vinyl, CD, DVD, digital and Blu-ray formats.

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Tracking the Storm: Live Updates

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) - A rain storm moving from the North Bay down the San Francisco Peninsula is expected to bring heavy downpours, and KRON4 News will have live updates all day.

The morning commute is forecast to be particularly impacted, though KRON4 News meteorologist Kyla Grogan said that rain may not last as long as previously anticipated and the storm may clear out by the afternoon.

Nonetheless by that time San Francisco and most other Bay Area locales should expect a sixth of an inch of rainfall, with Santa Rosa seeing four-fifths of an inch.

Alex Baker contributed reporting.

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