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Tag: California

  • California School District Reaches $27M Settlement With Family Of Boy Killed In Bullying Incident

    California School District Reaches $27M Settlement With Family Of Boy Killed In Bullying Incident

    A California school district has agreed to pay $27 million to the family of an eighth-grader who died in a bullying incident four years ago. he lawyers representing the family of Diego Stolz announced the settlement Wednesday. Diego Stolz was 13 years old when he died. A graphic video of the attack that took his life showed the moment two teenage boys attacked him at Moreno Valley Unified School District’s Landmark Middle School.

    In a graphic video of his attack a kid sucker punches him in the back of the head. Stolz goes down immediately and hits his head against a pillar. Stolz suffered a traumatic brain injury and died nine days later. Stolz’s family sued the Moreno Valley Unified School District, alleging he was a regular victim of bullying and the school was aware of the ongoing harassment he was facing.

    The family’s attorneys say school administrators promised family members and Diego that the boys who were harassing and bullying him would be suspended and that the school was “taking care” of the problem. But when Diego arrived at school days later, he found that the boys were not suspended and the bullying began again, reaching new highs as they physically assaulted him for what would be the final time.

    The Moreno Valley Unified School District did not comment on the settlement and told the AP it did not intend to do so.

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  • California School District Faces Lawsuit Over Policy Requiring Parental Notification For Student Gender Identity Or Pronoun Changes

    California School District Faces Lawsuit Over Policy Requiring Parental Notification For Student Gender Identity Or Pronoun Changes

    California‘s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has filed a lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District over a controversial policy that requires teachers to notify parents if their child changes their identity or pronouns, reports the Daily Mail. 

    Bonta claims that this

    “parental notification”

    policy is discriminatory and violates civil rights and privacy laws. The lawsuit argues that the policy puts transgender and gender-nonconforming students in

    “danger of ‘imminent, irreparable harm,’ by risking they’ll be outed in their household ‘before they’re ready.”

    The policy was discussed during a public meeting in July, where more than 80 community members, including students, teachers, parents, mental health professionals, and advocates, voiced their concerns and opposition. They argued that the policy would endanger transgender and gender nonconforming students, with some stating that it would threaten their safety and sense of belonging. Letters written by LGBTQ+ students highlighted the potential consequences of forced disclosure, including abuse, hate crimes, and even murder.

    The lawsuit seeks to discontinue the enforcement of the policy. Bonta also believes other Southern California districts with similar policies will be affected by the litigation. Bonta emphasized that the policy infringes on students’ rights.

    “It tramples on students’ rights,”

    he told ABC 7 News. 

    Under the policy, Chino Valley schools must inform parents in writing within three days if a student requests to be identified or treated as a gender different from what is recorded on official documents. Parents will also be notified if students participate in sex-segregated activities or use bathroom facilities that don’t align with their listed gender. The lawsuit is now in the hands of the San Bernardino County Superior Court, which will determine whether the practice should be immediately banned.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts? 

  • San Francisco Overwhelmed By A Catastrophic Surge In Fentanyl Overdose Fatalities, Reports Say

    San Francisco Overwhelmed By A Catastrophic Surge In Fentanyl Overdose Fatalities, Reports Say

    San Francisco is currently experiencing a devastating surge in drug overdoses, primarily caused by the deadly substance fentanyl, per The Post. According to recent data from the city’s Medical Examiner’s office, out of a total of 71 deaths resulting from drug overdoses last month, a staggering 62 were attributed to fentanyl. 

    These grim statistics come at a time when San Francisco is grappling with a multitude of issues, including crime, homelessness, and drug abuse, as highlighted in a newly published report that states the city’s government is

    “failing its residents.”

    Furthermore, these overdose numbers indicate that San Francisco is on track to surpass the record-breaking 712 overdose deaths recorded in 2020, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

    “This tidal wave of fentanyl continues to overwhelm our communities,”

    Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco health department director, told the newspaper.

    “The department recognizes that the tragic, continuing rise of overdose deaths in San Francisco is unacceptable and we want everyone to know we are responding with urgency and with our full attention.”

    Colfax, the head of a department in San Francisco, has announced plans to establish 10 additional

    “wellness hubs”

    to provide drug users with treatment options. However, this approach has faced criticism following the closure of the controversial $22 million Tenderloin Linkage Center in December. 

    While city officials claim that the open use of narcotics in these areas was never technically legal, critics remain skeptical. San Francisco health officials are urgently seeking solutions, including making medications like methadone and Narcan more accessible.

    Nonetheless, former senior DEA special agent Michael Brown attributes the surge in overdoses to liberal policies in cities across the nation.

    “All across the board, you see progressive policies in California, Colorado, Portland, Washington, New York that support harm reduction. That is like trying to train a rattlesnake not to bite you. It’s a political issue at this point and until the politics are resolved, the criminality won’t be resolved either.”

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Cancer Patient Wins $18.8M From Johnson & Johnson In Baby Powder Trial

    Cancer Patient Wins $18.8M From Johnson & Johnson In Baby Powder Trial

    California man wins $18.8 million lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson after alleging he developed cancer from exposure to talc-containing baby powder, a jury decided Tuesday per the NY Post. 

    Emory Hernandez Valadez, 24, told the court that he developed mesothelioma, which is an

    “aggressive and deadly form of cancer,”

    according to Mayo Clinic. The tumor reportedly spreads to the lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs causing chest pains, shortness of breath, and other deadly symptoms. Valadez said he suffered from heart issues due to

    “heavy exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens”,

    reports reveal.

    Valadez, who sued the company last year, was awarded $3.8 million in economic damages and $15 million for noneconomic damages.

    Mesothelioma is incurable and carries a life expectancy of 18 to 31 months, according to Mesothelioma.com. Most lawsuits over J&J talc have been delayed, however, due to Valadez’s diagnosis, US Chief Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan allowed his litigation to proceed.

    The NJ-based company denies being the cause of Valadez’s prognosis and said they plan to appeal the verdict. Erik Haas, vice president of litigation at J&J, told the outlet that they have evidence, that they were not able to present in court, to prove their innocence.

    “Without the benefit of that evidence, the verdict is irreconcilable with the decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming Johnson’s baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer,”

    Haas said in his statement.

    The company announced in August that it would be discontinuing the talc-based baby powder globally in 2023.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • California Park Employee Accidentally Runs Over and Kills Sleeping Homeless Woman With Lawnmower, Family Seeking Justice

    California Park Employee Accidentally Runs Over and Kills Sleeping Homeless Woman With Lawnmower, Family Seeking Justice

    Sadly a homeless mother, who was in sleeping in a California park, was run over and killed by a lawnmower, reports the NY Post. 

    27-year-old Christine Chavez was reportedly resting in a tall grass field at Beard Brook Park in Modesto when she was fatally struck by a John Deere tractor that had a pull-behind mower. The employee driving the truck said he didn’t see the sleeping woman when mowing the area until after

    “he had already made a pass through,”

    according to Modesto police. 

    The employee notified authorities who later pronounced Chavez dead at the scene. 

    Chavez was reportedly living on the street for the last three or four years and frequently slept in parks. She leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter.

    The family of Chavez said they are having a hard time mourning the death of their loved one after coming to the scene and seeing 

    “chunks”

    of her remains still in the grass.

    “We have to go see the place because we wanted some kind of closure, and to be right there, looking at the ground, and then all of a sudden, seeing chunks of her, is horrible,”

    the victim’s sister Rosalinda told FOX 40.

    “Even when they go and pick up a dog from the street they take more time.”

    The family believes the irresponsible handling of Chavez’s body is due to her being one of the city’s thousands of homeless residents.

    “We want ordinances to change so it doesn’t happen again. Regardless if they are homeless they are still people and should be treated the same as any other people,”

    Rosalinda said. 

    #Clique, let’s keep this family in our thoughts and prayers.

  • Teen Rescued From Alleged Abductor After Holding Up ‘Help Me’ Sign In Parked Car

    Teen Rescued From Alleged Abductor After Holding Up ‘Help Me’ Sign In Parked Car

    An abducted Texas teen was saved in southern California after an onlooker witnessed her holding a sign that said

    “Help me”

    in a parked vehicle. The rescue occurred earlier in the month, reports the New York Post. 

    The unnamed 13-year-old girl appeared to be

    “visibly emotional and distressed”

    after authorities arrived at the Long Beach location where the bystander found her. Officials found out that a stranger discovered the girl holding a

    “Help me”

    sign with red letters as she sat in a parked car. Thankfully, the stranger recognized the teen, acknowledged her, and then contacted officials.

    According to NBC Los Angeles, 61-year-old Steven Robert Sablan was apprehended. Reports say Sablan was in the laundromat when the teen was discovered by the bystander. Officials learned that the 61-year-old approached the teen as she stood at a San Antonio bus stop and forced her to enter his car at knifepoint. 

    Court documents noted by the U.S Attorney’s Office, Central District of California say that he told the girl,

    “‘If you don’t get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you.’”

    A statement said that during the drive, the girl told him that she had a pal in Australia, and he then promised to place her on a cruise ship to visit her friend; however, she

    “had to do something for him first.”

    He then drove to California from Texas over a three-day span and raped her on several occasions. 

    The man was later indicted on Thursday by a federal grand jury on

    “one count of kidnapping and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity,”

    reports The Post. 

    The teen was documented as a runaway; however, she’s currently with the Department of Child and Family Services.

  • Naomi Osaka and Rapper Cordae Welcome Their Baby Girl

    Naomi Osaka and Rapper Cordae Welcome Their Baby Girl

    Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka and her rapper boyfriend Cordae, have joyfully welcomed a baby girl in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, in January, Osaka shared the news of her pregnancy, and in June, she revealed that they were expecting a baby girl.

    According to a source quoted by PEOPLE.com, the couple is doing well and embracing this new chapter in their lives with happiness and contentment.

    https://twitter.com/Chicana74/status/1678858987444535296?s=20
  • Man Finally Sentenced To Life For The 2021 Fatal Stabbing Of His Father, Prosecutors Say Suspect Stabbed Father With The Same Knife He Gifted Son With

    Man Finally Sentenced To Life For The 2021 Fatal Stabbing Of His Father, Prosecutors Say Suspect Stabbed Father With The Same Knife He Gifted Son With

    A California man is facing a life sentence for fatally stabbing his father with a knife he gifted him with, Radar reported. 

    James Shade, 32, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of his father, whose identity has not been disclosed. He was sentenced to 26 years to life in the California Department of Corrections. 

    Roseville Police Department said they responded to a call on March 14, 2021, about a stab victim. The unidentified victim was reportedly found lifeless on his neighbor’s front porch. According to the outlet, Shade was caught on surveillance footage fleeing the crime scene. Investigators later found documents in the victim’s home that revealed that the suspect was his son. 

    Police later apprehended Shade at his home in Paradise. Shade admitted to driving from his residence in Paradise to his father’s house in Roseville because he planned on serving his father with a restraining order, Radar reported. According to prosecutors, Shade arrived at his father’s home while armed with a knife, viciously stabbing him over 20 times with the same knife the victim gave to him weeks before the murder. 

    He claimed to be acting in self-defense, according to the outlet. 

    “Lack of remorse has been particularly disturbing [and] he showed no signs of remorse immediately after killing his father, during his testimony at trial and in statements he made after the jury rendered its verdict. His anger toward his father did not in any way justify his decision to brutally end another human’s life,”

    Deputy Director Attorney Anna Duffy said in a statement. 

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Woman Fatally Stabbed By Father Of Her Children Despite Having A Restraining Order Against Him, Mother Reportedly Stabbed In Front Of Their Children

    Woman Fatally Stabbed By Father Of Her Children Despite Having A Restraining Order Against Him, Mother Reportedly Stabbed In Front Of Their Children

    32-year-old Rodrigo Bravo turned himself in after stabbing his children’s mother to death in front of their children despite her having a restraining order against him, according to PEOPLE. 

    Bravo has been charged with felony child endangerment, violation of probation, and violation of a domestic violence restraining order. He was also charged with murder for the death of 30-year-old Eleni Tavau. 

    Close to 3 p.m. on June 25, officials went to a California home after receiving reports of a stabbing. They discovered the mother unresponsive with several stab wounds. According to a release,

    “Her two toddler-aged children were present when officers arrived.” 

    Although the mother was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital, reports say she later died. Officials learned that she had a restraining order against her child’s father. Bravo was taken into custody the same day and he admitted to stabbing the woman. 

    The investigation is ongoing and Bravo, the father of Tavau’s children, is being held on a $1 million bond, reports KRON 4. 

    #Clique, let’s keep Eleni Tavau in our prayers!

  • Social Media Influencer Mom Sentenced To 90 Days In Jail Almost Three Years After Accusing Latino Couple Of Trying To Kidnap Her Children

    Social Media Influencer Mom Sentenced To 90 Days In Jail Almost Three Years After Accusing Latino Couple Of Trying To Kidnap Her Children

    A social media influencer falsely accused a Latino couple of attempting to abduct her two children on an Instagram video that went viral. According to FOX, the woman was sentenced to 90 days behind bars for the act, prosecutors say. 

    31-year-old Kathleen ‘Katie’ Sorensen said the couple tried to kidnap her kids at a Michael’s arts and craft store parking lot in California back on Dec. 7, 2020. The woman went on to file a false police report. One week after she filed the police report, she posted on Instagram and spoke about the alleged kidnap. 

    Carla Rodriguez, District Attorney said,

    “Ms. Sorensen has been held accountable for her crime, and we believe the Judge handed down a fair sentence… Our hope is that this measure of accountability will help provide some closure to the couple that was falsely accused of having attempted to kidnap two young children.”

    Sorensen will be able to serve 60 days of her sentence in a work release program. The woman must also do 12 months of probation, and in that time, she would be banned from having a social media presence. 

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?