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Kevin Costner’s estranged wife could ‘be financially wiped out’ — even with $129,000 in child support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

To many people, it sounds like Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine Baumgartner will be sitting pretty the rest of her life, now that a judge has agreed that the actor should temporarily pay her $129,000 a month in child support as they await a final settlement in their divorce.But not so fast, according to family law experts. Believe it or not, Baumgartner “could be financially wiped out” in the future, given a number of factors, one expert said.These factors include the way child-custody and California divorce laws work, the strange reality of the Costner family’s extravagant life-style, the vast power differential between the estranged spouses, and Baumgartner’s aggressive, “extravagant” demands for money from her rich and powerful husband.“It’s a very dangerous game she’s playing,” said Christopher Melcher, a Los Angeles-based family law attorney who has worked with a number or high-profile clients. “She has a...

Review: Acclaimed rock act is at the height of its powers at sold-out Bay Area show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

Margo Timmins looked over at the lovely bouquet of fresh-cut flowers that sat next to her onstage on Tuesday night (July 18) and thanked the fans who sent it to her.“I wish I had a happy song to sing for you,” said the vocalist, who then added with her traditional self-effacing deadpan humor: “But there really is nothing.”And that was perfectly OK with the listeners who filled the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley for the first of two sold-out shows by the Cowboy Junkies. They didn’t buy tickets to hear radio-friendly joyous ditties, but rather to be run — once again — through the emotional ringer in ways that are both devastating and transformative.They came for a dose of “Such Ferocious Beauty” — which is the title of the Junkies’ most recent album, but also as accurate a description as one will find of the band’s music.Related ArticlesMusic | Yes, people of Toronto, this amazing Canadian band is stil...

Warriors: Poole’s dad, Draymond trade Twitter barbs over punch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

The tension that remained following Draymond Green’s preseason punch of Jordan Poole last year was, at least, part of the reason for Poole’s trade to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul. Green appeared to rekindle some of those tensions in a social media back-and-forth with Poole’s father on Wednesday morning.In a clip posted from an appearance on NBA player Patrick Beverley’s podcast, Green alluded to some of the backstory behind him punching Poole in a preseason practice last October.“I don’t just hit people,” he said. “Dialogue happens over time. You ain’t just triggered by something that fast to that degree. This is a team, ain’t nobody on my team triggering me in an instant. We know stuff that you don’t say amongst men. We know things you have to stand on.”Anthony Poole, Jordan’s father, replied to the clip on Twitter rebutting Green’s statement, calling it “BS”.“(Jordan) was...

Stanford president announces resignation over allegations of manipulating data

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

(KRON) -- Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced his resignation Wednesday over allegations of misconduct related to his scientific research and papers that he authored or coauthored. In a letter addressed to the Stanford community, Tessier-Lavigne maintained that while he has consistently denied the allegations, he would be stepping down as president.The resignation follows the release of a report released by a special committee after the university's board of trustees initiated a review last December. 4 Bay Area restaurants receive new Michelin stars "As I have emphatically stated, I have never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented," Tessier-Lavigne wrote. "Today's report supports that statement."Tessier-Lavigne, a Canadian-American neuroscientists went on to say that while the "report clearly refutes the allegations of fraud and misconduct that were made against me," he would be stepping d...

Air quality advisory issued for Bay Area due to Oregon wildfire smoke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- An air quality advisory has been issued for the Bay Area for Wednesday afternoon and evening due to wildfire smoke from southwestern Oregon. Smoke from the Flat Fire is forecast to blow into the region this afternoon and evening, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which issued the advisory."Smoky, hazy skies may be visible across the Bay Area and the smell of smoke is possible at higher elevations, especially the East Bay, North Bay and Santa Clara Valley regions," the BAAQMD said. 4 Bay Area restaurants receive new Michelin stars No Spare the Air Alert has been issued however, because pollutant levels aren't expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard, BAAQMD added.The air district said it will closely monitor air quality throughout the region for smoke impact from the Flat Fire and other wildfires.If the smell of smoke is present, the BAAQMD advises Bay Area residents to take the following precautions:If possible, stay ...

Ex-Alameda County prosecutor says accusations against him are 'baseless'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed a misdemeanor charge Monday against a longtime prosecutor over "unlawful and unethical interference."The veteran prosecutor, Butch Ford, is one of District Attorney Pamela Price's most outspoken critics. Ford told KRON4 Tuesday evening, "I've done nothing wrong, but in her world, it doesn't matter. She wants to charge me with something because I've been outspoken. The entire thing is political."Ford resigned from ACDAO earlier this year. He was recently hired by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office as a homicide attorney.According to a press release issued by Price's office, the misdemeanor charge filed against Ford stemmed from an incident in late April, when he allegedly provided "confidential work product information" to a police officer's defense attorney.In April, Ford was already on administrative leave -- a decision Price made just days after she took office in January.In May, Ford resigned f...

Guatemalan election observers’ report cites interference from parties, justice system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Some Guatemalan political parties and other actors unnecessarily dragged the country’s June 25 elections into the courts in an attempt to ignore the will of the people, the Organization of American States observation mission has concluded.“The mission considers that the abuse of legal instruments by actors unsatisfied with the results introduced a high degree of uncertainty in the electoral process and put at risk the country’s democratic stability,” the election observers wrote in a report released Wednesday.For more than two weeks, the election results that put conservative former first lady Sandra Torres and progressive former diplomat Bernardo Arévalo in a runoff together went uncertified. Several losing parties requested injunctions and the Constitutional Court ordered a review of challenged precinct vote tallies.The observers said some political parties tried to use very isolated errors to sow doubt about the trustworthiness of the election and suggest th...

Military veteran who stormed Capitol with loaded pistol is sentenced to 7 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A military veteran who stormed the U.S. Capitol with a loaded pistol, metal-plated body armor and a gas mask was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years in prison, one of the longest among hundreds of Jan. 6 riot cases.Christopher Michael Alberts isn’t accused of brandishing his concealed gun during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. But he used a wooden pallet as a makeshift battering ram against police officers who were guarding a stairwell outside the Capitol, according to federal prosecutors.Alberts told U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper that he was trying to protect others outside the Capitol as police deployed tear gas and non-lethal munitions to hold back the mob.“I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody,” he said. “I just wanted it all to stop.”Cooper told Alberts that he was one of the leaders of the mob that day.“You were not simply a bystander,” the judge said.Alberts, a former Virginia National Guard member who lives in Maryland, spent six hours on Capitol...

The Dap Project brings DC communities together to discuss what ‘dap’ means to Black men

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

Aaron Stallworth, right, and Rhonda Henderson of The Dap Project. (Courtesy The DAP Project) Aaron Stallworth, right, and Rhonda Henderson of The Dap Project. (Courtesy The DAP Project) A D.C. group is creating conversation around a well-known gesture that has become a symbol of respect within the Black community.The Dap Project was founded by Rhonda Henderson and Aaron Stallworth back in 2019, after Henderson said she became more curious about the roots of the cultural embrace she witnessed everyday.“I have observed Black men giving daps for years, and I know I’m not alone,” Henderson said. “I remember I saw a lot of the Black men I knew in college greet each other. Why do Black men look s...

Fever beat Mystics 82-76 to snap an 8-game losing streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell had 18 points, five assists and four steals, Emma Cannon added 13 points and the Indiana Fever beat the Washington Mystics 82-76 on Wednesday to snap an eight-game losing streak.Indiana used a 15-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Amanda Zahui B., to go ahead 63-53 with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Fever also scored seven unanswered points to make it 70-59 with 4:10 left.Washington made back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to get within 78-74, but Erica Wheeler sealed it by making two free throws with 7.5 seconds left. Aliyah Boston had 11 points and eight rebounds and Victoria Vivians also scored 11 points for Indiana (6-15). Wheeler finished with 10 points, going 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.Both teams were missing key players. Indiana was without NaLyssa Smith (foot) and Lexie Hull (nose). Washington was without Elena Delle Donne (ankle), Ariel Atkins (ankle), Shakira Austin (hip) and Kristi Toliver (plantar fasciitis). Na...