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CU Boulder chemists develop future of recycling plastics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

Chemists at the University of Colorado Boulder are developing the future of recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common type of plastic found in packaging and soda bottles. The method relies on electricity and chemical reactions to dissolve the plastic.The study addresses concerns about the problem of plastic waste around the world. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the total generation of municipal solid waste in 2018 was 292.4 million tons. This is approximately 23.7 million tons more than the amount generated in 2017.PET plastic is found in everyday items such as water bottles, blister packs and some polyester fabrics. Mixed with a special kind of molecule and small amount of electric voltage applied, the reaction decomposes acids and alcohols in the presence of oxygen.This approach works to highlight PET being deconstructed into their molecular components through electrochemical reaction.Study co-author Oana Luca, who is also an assistant professor in th...

Sylmar church's crosses set on fire; hate crime suspected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

Arson and hate crime investigations are underway after three crosses belonging to Sylmar Christian Fellowship Church in Sylmar were set ablaze early Thursday.The fire was reported in front of the church around 4:40 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said.The flames were already extinguished when crews arrived at the scene. Officials say a neighbor saw the fire and came over to help.Three crosses were set on fire at a church in Sylmar on July 6, 2023. (KTLA)"Probably an accelerant was used, but we’re not sure at this time," an LAFD captain told KTLA.The Los Angeles Police Department, LAFD, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working to determine if the incident was a hate crime, as the church's membership is predominantly Black."It's a shame that people still want to do things like this, in this day and age," the church's pastor, Pierre Howard, told reporters. "We're going to put those three crosses back up ... We're moving forward. Nothing stops us."Th...

LAPD seeks additional victims of man accused of raping child

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

The Los Angeles Police Department is looking for possible additional victims of a man they say raped two people, at least one of whom is a minor.Peter Avraham Shure, a 29-year-old from the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, was arrested June 28 under suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 18 years old, police said in a news release.The LAPD received two separate reports of forced sexual assault after Shure allegedly convinced the victims to come to his home before assaulting them.The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office charged him with rape and committing lewd acts against a child 14 years old or younger.He was released on $320,000 bail on July 3 and is due to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 7."Detectives from Juvenile Division are releasing the suspect’s booking photo because they believe the suspect is responsible for additional, unreported sexual assaults and they are asking for anyone that was victimized by this suspect to immediately c...

Yosemite hiker swept away by fast-flowing creek

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

A hiker has been missing in Yosemite National Park since the holiday weekend after being swept away by a cold and fast-flowing creek as California's epic winter snowpack melts.Hayden T. Klemenok vanished while backpacking with a group at Upper Chilnualna Falls on Sunday, the National Park Service said in a statement.“At approximately 2 p.m., he entered Chilnualna Creek near the trail junction, and his whereabouts are currently unknown,” the service said.The section of the creek is about a dozen miles (20 kilometers) south of Yosemite Valley and features a series of waterfalls and cascades that plunge hundreds of feet.Klemenok’s parents told The San Francisco Chronicle that his friends said the day of the accident was hot and the 24-year-old from Petaluma, California, had gotten down on all fours to wet his face, but his hands slipped and he went into the water.“It’s the worst experience any parent or family should go through,” said Michelle Klemenok.California authorities have been ...

One Killed in Fiery Collision on Interstate 5 [San Joaquin County, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

Two-Vehicle Crash near Walnut Grove Road Left One DeadSAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CA (July 6, 2023) – A person was killed in a fiery collision involving a big rig on Interstate 5 early Friday morning.The deadly crash happened around 4:06 a.m. on I-5 between Walnut Grove Road and West Peltier Road.According to California Highway Patrol, a Kia driver collided with a semi-truck, causing the Kia to catch fire.The first responders declared the Kia driver dead at the scene. However, their identity has not been disclosed to the public, ending notification from the next of kin. No other injuries were reported from the incident.At this time, the cause of the crash remains unclear investigation. Anyone who witnessed the fiery collision is asked to contact the San Joaquin County Officials as soon as possible.Sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the victim. Thoughts are with them during this very difficult time.It is important to have strong legal representation on your side when losin...

Man Hospitalized after Motorcycle-Auto Collision on Friars Road [San Diego, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

Two-Vehicle Collision Near Donahue Street Left 31-Year-Old Rider InjuredSAN DIEGO, CA (July 5, 2023) – Friday afternoon, a motorcycle-auto collision on Friars Road left a rider with serious injuries.The crash occurred shortly before 3:00 p.m. on Friars Road and Donahue Street in the neighborhood of Morena.According to the police, a 2018 Honda Civic traveling southbound on Donahue made a left turn on the eastbound lanes of Friars Road. Investigators said the Honda turn directly into the path of an oncoming 1999 Harley-Davidson, causing the motorcycle to hit the side of the car.The impact of the collision sent the motorcyclist tumbling onto the roadway. Eventually, paramedics arrived at the scene and rushed the rider to a hospital for treatment of a fractured pelvis.Meanwhile, the female Honda driver was evaluated after complaints of minor pain.The San Diego Police Department traffic division continues to investigate the Friars Road motorcycle crash.Motorcyclists rarely escape i...

Two Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash on Highway 4 [Pittsburg, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

Traffic Collision Near Bay Point Left One Two People DeadPITTSBURG, CA (July 5, 2023) – Friday night, two people were killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 4.The deadly collision happened around 8:15 p.m. along eastbound Highway 4, west of Bailey Road near Bay Point.According to CHP, a GMC pickup truck crashed into a Volkswagen sedan for reasons under investigation. The impact sent the GMC out of the roadway and overturn, causing two occupants of the truck.Responding medical personnel arrived at the scene and transported the two patients from the GMC to a hospital. Tragically, both occupants succumbed to the injuries.The driver of the Volkswagen did not sustain injuries from the crash. Authorities closed all the eastbound lanes of Highway 4 near Bailey Road as crews cleared the scene.At this time, the identities of the deceased patients remain undisclosed to the public, pending notification from their next of kin.Sweet James sends out their warm and sincerest sympathies go ...

Charlie Wilson and En Vogue at the Bowl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

Charlie Wilson and En Vogue at the Bowl: This is a great double bill. R&B icon Charlie Wilson (affectionately known as Uncle Charlie) will play a bunch of songs from his solo career as well as a lot of those old Gap Band hits. There’s never a bad time to hear “You Dropped a Bomb On Me” or “Party Train.” And En Vogue will continue to blaze the trail that they started back in the ‘90s. “Free Your Mind” is one of the all time R&B classics.This writer chatted with En Vogue in 2017, when they said that, “We still love performing. We love what we do. We’ve still got a pretty good fan base that wants to come out and hear our music and has been asking for new music for a long time now. It’s that energy and that love that keeps us going and keeps us wanting to come back and perform. When we engage with them, it energizes us, and it’s an exchange of love. We love coming back to that. ”“There are still issues in America with women not making the same amount of pay for...

FBI probe expands to Oakland: Housing cop implicated in East Contra Costa police scandal, sources say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

OAKLAND — The far-reaching FBI probe into Antioch and Pittsburg officers has expanded to Oakland, where a housing authority cop is under investigation for alleged crimes that include drug use and taking part in a college-degree scheme to earn pay bumps, according to multiple law enforcement sources.Oakland Housing Authority Officer Brauli Rodriguez-Jalapa, a former Pittsburg police officer, was placed on paid administrative leave last year, when the FBI and Contra Costa District Attorney started investigating more than a dozen current and former East Contra Costa officers for a range of alleged crimes.He remains on leave pending the outcome of the probe, an attorney for the Oakland Housing Authority confirmed this week.The revelations about Rodriguez-Jalapa’s alleged involvement raises questions about just how much the scandal will bleed into neighboring Alameda County, where several of the impugned officers had worked before moving to East Contra Costa. Thus far, prosec...

Cruise ship visibly damaged after hitting SF pier while docking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:18 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A cruise ship suffered visible damage after hitting Pier 27 while docking in San Francisco, Princess Cruise confirmed to KRON4. The ship, the Ruby Princess, made "unexpected contact with the dock at Pier 27 while docking," Princess Cruise said.No one was injured in the incident and no passengers or crewmembers were in danger as a result of the accident, the cruise line said. Flight diverted to Oakland after AirDropped bomb threat The ship, which had just completed a 10-day roundtrip cruise to Alaska, is "safely alongside" with disembarkation taking place as scheduled, Princess Cruise said. The cruise line and local authorities are assessing damage to the ship and the pier.The crash into the pier occurred shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, according to the cruise line.Photos obtained by KRON4 showed what appears to be damage to the pier as well as to the ship.Photo: Rachel ArtzPhoto: Rachel ArtzPhoto: Rachel ArtzPhoto: Rachel ArtzThere were 3,328 passengers aboa...