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Utah Gov. signs bill requiring parental OK for social media

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

By Samantha Murphy Kelly | CNNThe governor of Utah signed a controversial bill on Thursday that will require minors to obtain the consent of a guardian before joining social media platforms, marking the most aggressive step yet by state or federal lawmakers to protect kids online.As part of the bill, called the Utah Social Media Regulation Act, social media platforms will have to conduct age verification for all Utah residents, ban all ads for minors and impose a curfew, making their sites off limits between the hours of 10:30 p.m. – 6:30 a.m. for anyone under the age of 18. The bill will also require social platforms to give parents access to their teens’ accounts.The legislation, which was introduced by Republican Sen. Michael McKell and passed by Republican Governor Spencer Cox, will go into effect on March 1, 2024.“When it comes down to it, [the bill] is about protecting our children,” McKell said in a statement to CNN, citing how depression, anxiety and ...

TikTok CEO grilled by skeptical lawmakers in Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

By Haleluya Hadero and Farnoush Amiri | Associated PressWASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers grilled the CEO of TikTok over data security and harmful content Thursday, responding skeptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritizes user safety and should not be banned.Shou Zi Chew’s rare public appearance came at a crucial time for the company, which has 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.In a bipartisan effort to rein in the power of a major social media platform, Republican and Democratic lawmakers pressed Chew on a host of topics, ranging from TikTok’s content moderation practices, how the company plans to secure American data from Beijing, and its spying on journalists.“Mr. Chew, you are here because the Ame...

Young San Jose chefs dish out their best for competition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

They may not be able to reach the top shelf of a pantry without help, but the eight elementary school students taking part in the finals of the Future Chefs Challenge for San Jose Unified School District this week sure can cook.The young chefs — all in third or fourth grade — put together their favorite dishes Tuesday at Gunderson High School for a panel of judges with hopes of moving onto the next stage of the national competition, which is sponsored by Sodexo, the food service company that manages San Jose Unified’s school cafeterias.Cruz Skinner, a 10-year-old fourth-grader from Schallenberger Elementary, took first place in the contest with “Cruz’s ZuccCorn Fritters with Lemon Dill Dipping Sauce.” Second and third place went to a pair of fourth-graders at Graystone Elementary: Rohan Kedlaya, who made “CAULiforIndian Potatoez,” and Jacob Walsh, who made a “Persimmon Pop Salad.” Back when I was in fourth grade, I think my best ...

Bay Area storm cleanup: Over 18K PG&E customers still without power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The most recent in a seemingly never-ending series of atmospheric river storms tore through the Bay Area this week. High winds and heavy downpours uprooted trees, blew out windows in high-rises and took the lives of five people. As the Bay Area braces for yet another storm next week, storm cleanup and repairs are underway across the region. Follow our blog for the latest. Another storm coming to Bay Area to bring more rain Monday Bay Area storm cleanup updates:2:15 p.m. -- Sinkhole opens up on Woodside Road in San Mateo CountyWoodside Road is closed to through traffic from Tripp Road to Portola Road due to a developing sinkhole, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. People are being advised to use alternate routes and avoid the area. There is no ETA for when the road will be reopened.2:05 p.m. -- Number of PG&E customers without power drops slightlyThe number of PG&E customers that remain without power dropped slightly Thursday afterno...

BART to move forward with $90M new fare gate project

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- BART announced Thursday it would be moving forward with plans to purchase and install new fare gates systemwide. Upgrading the existing fare gates for more secure models are part of the transit system's broader effort to win back ridership in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The new fare gates will "bring a new look and improved experience, offering state-of-the-art technology that will boost safety by reducing fare evasion," BART said in an announcement on its website. The new gates will also enhance access for people in wheelchairs and people who ride BART with bikes and strollers. Uber driver calls for more warnings from rideshare platform after near $900 scam At a meeting Thursday, the BART Board of Directors staff recommended that the Board move forward with the first purchase of the $90 million Next Generation Fare Gate project, BART announced. Staff also recommended awarding up to $47 million to STraffic America to implement the project.An insta...

The Death of Peter Thiel’s "Kept" Romantic Partner Is Being Investigated as a Suicide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

Jeff Thomas, a model and social media influencer who was recently in a long-term relationship with billionaire Peter Thiel, said he spent much of his time with the tech mogul working to persuade him away from his increasingly aggressive pursuit of a culture war — a war that Thomas warned was blowing back on their community.“I don’t side with him on a lot of political things, but I understand him,” Thomas told me in an interview last November. “I’m trying to influence him in ways to show him my heart, and show him how it affects myself, certain individuals, himself.”Thomas said that he felt like he had made strides with Thiel, though his effort was cut short earlier this month, on March 8, when he died tragically. His death is being investigated as a possible suicide, according to a Miami Police Department report and sources who have been contacted by the police for information. Miami police have been in contact with Thiel, and will interview him as part of the probe, two...

April showers bring Arlington Players, who make a splash with local production of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'Singin' in the Rain' by the Arlington Players (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); The American Film Institute voted the 1952 film the greatest movie musical ever made — and I don’t disagree.Now, a new generation makes a splash as the nonprofit Arlington Players stage “Singin’ in the Rain” from March 25 through April 8 at the Thomas Jefferson Commu...

Rap artist Afroman sued by officers who raided his home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

WINCHESTER, Ohio (AP) — Seven law enforcement officers have sued rap artist Afroman, accusing him of improperly using footage from a police raid on his Ohio home last year in his music videos.Four deputies, two sergeants and a detective with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office brought the suit earlier this month, claiming invasion of privacy. Other law enforcement officers who were involved in the raid are not named as plaintiffs.The plaintiffs say the rapper, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, took footage of their faces obtained during the August 2022 raid and used it in music videos and social media posts without their consent. They say that has caused them “emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation.”The plaintiffs are seeking all of Foreman’s profits from his use of their personas. That includes proceeds from the songs, music videos and live event tickets, as well as the promotion of Foreman’s Afroman brand, under which he sells beer, ma...

Business Highlights: TikTok CEO’s grilling, credit crunch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

___TikTok ban CEO congressional hearing ByteDance ChinaWASHINGTON (AP) — The CEO of TikTok has been grilled by a U.S. congressional committee to make the case for why the hugely popular video-sharing app shouldn’t be banned. Shou Zi Chew’s testimony Thursday came at a crucial time for the company, which has 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials concerned about data security and user safety. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology. Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, made a rare public appearance to counter the volley of allegations that TikTok has been facing. ___Fed’s unwanted ally in bid to tame inflation: Credit crunchWASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is getting some unwanted help in its drive to slow the U.S. economy and defeat the worst bout of inflation in four decades: a cutback in bank lending. The upheaval in the financia...

Texas has Terry coaching among March Madness heavyweights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:25 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Of the four coaches who led their teams to the semifinals of the Midwest Region at the NCAA Tournament, the most unlikely of them might feel the most at home when he walks into T-Mobile Center on Friday night.Sure, Kelvin Sampson has taken Oklahoma and Houston to the Final Four and is two wins away from guiding the Cougars back for the second time in three years. Miami coach Jim Larrañaga led George Mason to its own improbable Final Four in 2006 and had the Hurricanes a game away from the national semifinals last season.Xavier’s Sean Miller has reached the Elite Eight twice, once at Arizona and once in his first stint with the Musketeers.Then there’s Rodney Terry, the assistant-turned-savior of Texas, who not only kept the Longhorns from floundering after the firing of Chris Beard but has them thriving. The same coach that couldn’t get Fresno State out of the first round, or get UTEP into the Big Dance, has the Longhorns playing in the Sweet...