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Bay Area graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang adjusts to being a pop culture megastar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

Graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang’s life is a bit surreal right now, and that’s more than all right with him.The San Jose resident and East Bay native is in demand, with people clamoring for his thoughts on Disney+’s eight-episode adaptation of his award-winning 2006 graphic novel “American Born Chinese,” which debuted May 24.Yang has also been hobnobbing with people in high places, including a recent stop at the White House for a special screening where he met, among others, President Joe Biden and Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (who’s a co-star in “American Born Chinese”). Yang also appeared this month onstage at the Castro Theatre for a Q&A and screening as part of the CAAMFest Asian American film festival.In between all that, he’s been hustling on two prominent projects; one writing a series of books with illustrators Les McClaine and Alison Acton that “further fleshes out” the Supercell mobile worlds imagined in the popular Clash of Clans and Clash Royale games; the other a r...

Woman suspected in Gold Country hatchet murder is thought to be in Stockton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

A woman sought in a Gold Country murder is thought to be in the Stockton area, and the Tuolumne County sheriff is asking for the public’s help in finding her.Sabrina Starkweather is a suspect in a murder March 15, 2023, in Tuolumne County, Calif. (Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office) Sabrina Starkweather, 28, has been a fugitive since shortly after Ben Lindsey, 63, was found slain in his home on March 15. His body was wrapped in a tarp secured with binder clips; an autopsy determined he had been bludgeoned with a hatchet.Lindsey’s neighbor and tenant was Starkweather’s father, who had been allowing his daughter and her boyfriend to stay at his home in Big Hill, a rural community between Columbia and Twain Harte.The father and the boyfriend were both arrested March 17 on suspicion of Lindsey’s murder.It was Starkweather’s father who reportedly made the 911 call to say that Lindsey had not been seen for three days and his orange Jeep was missing, ...

Oakland brewery brings Asian-inspired flavors to craft beer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- "Good times and good company," that's the idea behind Asian-inspired craft brewery, Dokkaebier. The Oakland-based company prides itself on experimenting with beer by introducing ingredients from Korean culture and all over Asia.A social lubricant with thousands of years of history, beer is a true love, but also a lot of fun for Youngwon Lee."I mean I love it. I drink it every night so, it takes a lot of work to keep my weight as it is," Lee said. 4 Asian dishes to try in the Bay Area Lee is the CEO of the aptly named craft brewery, "Dokkaebier." The brewery's labels and glasses feature playful creatures from Korean folklore."The name comes from a Korean mythical creature called "Dokkaebi" that likes to eat, drink and hang out with people," Lee explained. "And usually, what they do is they hide in objects during the daytime, they come out at night and hang out."Dokkaebier got its start at maybe the worst time to break into business, at the outset of the CO...

San Francisco to upgrade water infrastructure after winter flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- After historic winter rainstorms flooded some San Francisco neighborhoods with several feet of water, officials are pumping money into improving storm drains and other infrastructure. Mayor London Breed, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and Environmental Protection Agency announced a $369 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan to the SFPUC on Thursday.The funds will support the city’s capital improvements and resiliency projects to mitigate flood prone areas with stormwater upgrades and water main replacements, like the Wawona and Folsom areas, and Vicente Street. A series of powerful atmospheric rivers overloaded storm drain systems in the city last winter. Some low-lying neighborhoods were swamped after more than five inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours on New Year’s Eve. SFPUC will modernize aging wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to enhance seismic resiliency, adapt to climate change, and reduce the risk of...

Rhode Island attorney general sues manufacturers of ‘forever chemicals’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha filed a lawsuit Thursday against the manufacturers of so-called “forever chemicals,” commonly referred to as PFAS, saying they have caused significant harm to the state’s residents and natural resources.Neronha faulted the companies for engaging in what he described as “a massive and widespread campaign to knowingly deceive the public,” moving assets to avoid paying for damages, and manufacturing, marketing and selling hazardous chemicals for decades while knowing the risks.The complaint, filed in Providence County Superior Court, alleges the companies violated state environmental and consumer protection laws.“We are still uncovering the consequences of exposure to these hazardous chemicals by Rhode Islanders, but the burden of this enormous cost should be borne by the companies who made, marketed, and sold these products,” Neronha said.Andrew Fasoli of the American Chemistry Council, an industry group, ...

Vradenburg ties program record for doubles, Michigan State edges Rutgers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Brock Vradenburg went 2 for 3, including a program-record tying 22nd double, and Michigan State edged Rutgers 6-4 on Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament.Michigan State (33-21), the No. 8 seed, earned its first victory in the conference tournament since 2016 and will play again on Friday. Rutgers (33-23) lost both of its games in the tournament.Vradenburg tied Blaise Salter (2014) and Chris McCuiston (2002) for the most doubles in a single season at Michigan State. Vradenburg is hitting .403 this season with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs.Michigan State closer Wyatt Rush shut down the Rutgers offense over the final 4 2/3 innings. Rush threw 72 pitches, allowing just three hits and striking out four. Rutgers reliever Jake Marshall got a strikeout to strand runners on second and third in the seventh inning, but the Spartans plated a pair of runs on bases-loaded walks in the eighth to break a tie at 4-all.___AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports and https:...

Possible tornado spotted in SW Miami-Dade as stormy weather batters South Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

Wicked weather across South Florida ignited a possible tornado touchdown in Southwest Miami-Dade County and triggered a flood advisory in parts of Broward.As of 4 p.m. the National Weather Service has not confirmed whether or not the widely documented funnel cloud touched down.Multiple 7News viewers sent in video of the funnel cloud.In Southwest Miami-Dade the intense winds knocked over a tractor-trailer, injuring the driver. He has been taken to an area hospital in stable condition.Witness Julio Ramirez described what he saw while on the road.“Suddenly, I saw the tornado coming down, approximately about maybe a mile away from us,” he said. “I saw the tornado when it was hitting, and I decided to make a left turn just to avoid the tornado coming toward me. Thank God nothing happened. I just walked away from it.”Strong wind gusts were reported across Miami-Dade, including 56 mph in West Kendall, 45 mph in Miami and 37 mph in Opa-Locka.Cellphone video showed ha...

Miami Beach to return WWII rent money to U.S. as Hyundai Air & Sea Show begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

As the 2023 Hyundai Air & Sea Show kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, the City of Miami Beach has made a heartwarming decision. They plan to give back the rent money that the U.S. government paid during World War II, along with adjustments for inflation. Back in the day, Miami Beach was transformed into a massive military training ground, and now the city wants to honor its historical significance.Credit: City of Miami Beach“Couldn’t be prouder to return $420 in the inflated-adjusted rent that Miami Beach charged for housing and training thousands of troops in WWII,” said Mayor Dan Gelber in a press release. “It was our greatest honor to do our part for so many that served and sacrificed to protect our freedoms.” It’s a personal matter for Gelber, whose late father, Seymour Gelber, trained in Miami Beach as part of the Army Air Corps during the war. Seymour Gelber later became the Mayor of Miami Beach.“The reality is that many of these service members who experience...

Twitter to pull back from Europe’s disinformation crusade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

Twitter is on the verge of withdrawing from one of the Europe Union’s efforts to stamp out disinformation.In the coming days, the social networking giant, which is owned by Elon Musk, is expected to end its participation in the bloc’s code of practice of disinformation, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, who were granted anonymity to speak to discuss internal discussions between the company and the European Commission.The code of practice is a voluntary rulebook that was revamped last year and includes obligations for companies like Twitter, Meta and Alphabet to track political advertising, stop the monetization of disinformation, and provide greater access to these platforms to outsiders. While not mandatory, companies’ participation in the code was designed to help offset some of these firms’ obligations within the separate, and mandatory, Digital Services Act — new social media rules that include fines of up to 6 percent of a comp...

12-year old boy accused of cutting classmate’s hand with razor at Blackstone middle school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:14 GMT

One child needed stitches and another is expected to face charges after police said a 12-year-old boy allegedly cut a classmate with a razor at a middle school in Blackstone on Thursday.Blackstone police said a school resource officer responded around 8:30 a.m. at Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School after being told about a fight between two students. One of the students, age 12, allegedly had a razor and cut the other student’s hand during the incident, according to police.The other student is 11-years-old.The 12-year-old, police added, is expected to be summoned to Milford Juvenile Court at a later date.“The two students are known to each other and police do not have reason to believe that there was any threat against the larger school community,” police said.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.