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San Francisco Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Daily fantasy sports betting is illegal in California, AG says
Gambling on sports events is illegal in California, except for betting on horses at racetracks. And gambling on fantasy sports games is just as illegal, Attorney General Rob Bonta said Thursday. 'Such games constitute wagering on sports' in violation of state laws dating back to 1909, Bonta said in a formal opinion issued by his office. While supporters have argued that fantasy sports gambling is a competition of skills, Bonta said, quoting a past judicial opinion, that it was 'simply a skill in betting.' The law defines illegal betting as 'promises to give money or money's worth upon the determination of an uncertain or unascertained event in a particular way,' the attorney general wrote, and that definition applies to fantasy contests as well as real-life sporting events. Assembly Member Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale (Los Angeles County), who had asked Bonta for his assessment, called the opinion 'very powerful' but said it would certainly be challenged in court by gambling advocates. It would also be 'very surprising if there's not some legislation' to legalize at least some types of fantasy sports betting, Lackey said. 'Clearly there's a lot of money involved.' He said he has no personal opinion on the issue. The opinion, if it withstands legal challenges, would clear the way for prosecutions, generally brought by local district attorneys. Last month the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, which includes popular platforms like PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy, told KCRA-TV in Sacramento that 'Californians have been playing daily fantasy sports games for more than a decade, and it is shocking to think that the state would suddenly take them away.' California is one of only 12 states that prohibit sports wagering. In 2022 the state's voters overwhelmingly rejected two ballot measures that would have legalized betting on a variety of sports at the 65 Native American tribal casinos in the state and at horse racetracks, and would have allowed online sports betting. Opposing sides spent a total of $460 million in their campaigns. Bonta said the Legislature made sports gambling illegal in 1909 'out of concern that horse-race wagering had resulted in addiction and financial ruin.' In 1933, the voters approved a state constitutional amendment allowing horse-race betting at racetracks, but did not legalize other types of sports wagering. The attorney general said gambling on fictitious sporting events is just as illegal as betting on actual contests under the 1909 law, which makes it a crime to participate in a 'contest … of skill, speed or power of endurance of person or animal, or between persons, animals or mechanical apparatus.' In one variety of sports fantasy gambling, known as 'pick 'em,' competitors pay an entry fee and then predict whether an athlete or team will achieve certain results. That constitutes sports gambling, Bonta said, because the competitors are betting on the result of a 'contest' of an athlete's skill, speed or power of endurance. He gave the same assessment to the other major category, 'draft-style' fantasy gambling, where participants assemble their own fictional teams and compete against one another. Operators of draft-style contests contend they are not sports gambling because the players are engaged in their own competition, separate from events on the field. But 'as with 'pick 'em,'' Bonta said, 'each player's financial success depends on the outcome of the underlying sports games.'
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama All-American Mark Sears reveals mindset in NBA draft workouts
Alabama All-American Mark Sears reveals mindset in NBA draft workouts Mark Sears was a Naismith Player of the Year semifinalist, and the former Alabama guard is working to showcase himself at a high level ahead of the 2025 NBA draft. Sears was a consensus first-team All-American, averaging 18.6 points, 5.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds on 34.5% shooting from 3-point range in 37 games. His 690 total points ranked fourth-most in a single season in program history. The 6-foot standout is projected to be a second-round pick after establishing himself as one of the top guards in the country. He wants to show he can do more than just score and is using feedback from teams to improve over this process. "They want to constantly see me do things that are not going to show up on the stat sheet so that is what I'm doing," Sears said Monday, via Sean Cunningham of KCRA-TV. "I'm trying to show that I can guard bigger players, I can defend at a high level -- doing stuff that doesn't require scoring the ball." Sears left college ranked 19th in all-time career scoring with 2,841 points, having spent two years at Ohio and three at Alabama. He set the Crimson Tide records for points (232), wins (9) and games played (11) in the NCAA Tournament. The 23-year-old helped Alabama advance to the Elite Eight in each of the past two seasons, the only team to accomplish that feat over that span. He was the West Region Most Outstanding Player and set a program record with 10 3-pointers in a win over BYU on March 27. Sears is on the verge of joining a growing list of Alabama players drafted to the NBA. He believes his time in Tuscaloosa helped prepare him for that opportunity. "I feel like they set me up great for this opportunity I'm going through," Sears said. "We played very similar to the NBA style. What Coach (Nate) Oats has going is very high level, and I feel that is going to be a great transformation for me in the league."
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mom of 4 Identified as Woman Who Was Pinned by Her Own Car with 2 of Her Kids Inside
Linda Angelica Tracy, 36, has been identified as the woman who died after she was pinned between her car and another vehicle in a California grocery store parking lot Police reportedly said two of the woman's four children were inside the car at the time of the crash Nearly $50,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe campaign started for Tracy's family following the fatal crashThe California woman who died after she was pinned by her car, which had her two kids inside, has been identified. The Sacramento County Coroner's Office said 36-year-old Linda Angelica Tracy, of Sacramento, died just before 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 3, ABC affiliate KXTV and NBC affiliate KCRA-TV reported. Police said the car somehow moved while she was not inside, pinning her against another vehicle in the parking lot of a Bel Air grocery store, according to the reports. Tracy died at the scene. Two of Tracy's children were inside the car at the time of the crash, per the reports. Police said they were securely fastened into their seats and were not injured. A memorial for Tracy has gone up outside the grocery store where the fatal crash occurred, according to KCRA-TV. The coroner's office and Sacramento Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Nearly $50,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe campaign started for Tracy's family following the fatal incident. Tosha Nichols, who organized the campaign, said the late mom leaves behind her husband, Larry, and four 'beautiful children' between the ages of 2 months and 7 years, according to Nichols. 'She was so caring and generous, outgoing, and loved her family and her friends with her whole heart,' Nichols wrote. 'If you have ever met Linda, you know she was one of the most beautiful people you have ever met with a heart of gold and a beautiful soul.' She later added, 'You will be forever missed and never forgotten, Linda ❤️.' In a statement to KCRA-TV, Tracy's family said the late mom was a graduate of Sacramento State College and C.K. McClatchy High School who 'built a successful career in IT across multiple agencies of the State of California.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Family described Tracy as 'an extraordinarily kind, loyal and caring person' who was 'an exceptional mother and friend' and 'constantly put her family and community first.' 'She never hesitated to do difficult and thankless work for others,' the family said. 'She spent her time on earth taking care of other people, especially her children and extended family, serving as a Girl Scout troop leader, fundraising for the kids' schools, taking the kids to soccer and swim, birthdays and play dates.' They continued, 'She ran a tight ship at home and loved nothing more than planning the next family adventure. Linda was soft spoken, but fierce — the type of person you want in your corner in tough times. She would do anything to protect the people she loved.' At the end of the statement, the family said they are 'devastated by her loss and asks for privacy as they grieve." Read the original article on People
Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Grandmother went for conjugal prison visit with man who killed four – now she's dead
Stephanie Dowells, 62, was visiting her husband behind bars for a conjugal visit at Mule Creek State Prison in California, US, when he strangled her - her family have spoken out A felon who killed four people choked a grandmother to death when she visited him for a conjugal visit behind bars. Stephanie Dowells, 62, went to Mule Creek State Prison to see her husband David Brinson, who is serving several consecutive life sentences for shooting dead four men in 1990. During the visit at the Californian prison last November the 54-year-old prisoner called out to the guards and claimed she had passed out in the apartment style accommodation. Paramedics were called who attempted to save her life with the help of the prison guards, but she tragically could not be saved and she was pronounced dead an hour later. Stephanie's son Armand Toress, 28, told KCRA-TV: 'How could they just let this happen? I just don't get it. My mom was just left alone, and she called for help, I'm sure, and there's nothing she could do. "Given the history that this guy has, we kind of wanted to know how is it even possible for them to be unsupervised?" He added to NBC: 'We really love our mom, and we just wanted her to be happy, you know, and she usually came back happy. They talked on the phone every day, everything seemed good. I'm all for second chances. If she was happy, I was happy.' Brinson's claims she had passed out were dismissed when the Amador County Coroner said this week her death was a homicide. It confirmed she had been strangled. The California Department of Corrections (CDCR) website says Brinson has been transferred to the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, which provides medical care and mental health treatment for prisoners. The CDCR said in a statement: 'Family visits are a privilege, and incarcerated persons must apply and meet strict eligibility criteria to be approved. 'Only those who demonstrate sustained good behavior and meet specific program requirements are considered. These visits are designed to support positive family connections and successful rehabilitation.' Stephanie is the second person inside a year to die at the state prison during a family visit, according to the CDCR. Tania Thomas, 47, was also allegedly strangled by Anthony Curry. The 48-year-old is serving a life sentence for attempted second-degree murder, as well as other offences. CDCR says on its website: 'Family visits occur in private, apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and last approximately 30 to 40 hours. The following individuals are excluded from family visits - incarcerated persons on Death Row, any incarcerated person with convictions for sex offenses, anyone in the Reception Centers process, or anyone under disciplinary restrictions.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Aspiring firefighter dies in snowboarding accident at popular ski resort
An aspiring firefighter died after suffering from serious injuries while vacationing at an eastern California ski resort over the weekend. Roman Lacayo, 25, was visiting the Kirkwood Mountain Resort when he sustained "major head injuries" in a snowboarding accident, the Alpine County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. On Saturday, the Kirkwood Ski Patrol responded to a "medical incident" on the resort's intermediate trail and transported Lacayo to the Barton Medical Clinic, located in the facility's base area, a resort spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. Authorities were called to the clinic at approximately 12:20 p.m. after receiving reports of a snowboarding accident, according to police. He was pronounced dead just before 1 p.m. Popular Spring Break Activity Lands American Tourist In Hospital: 'Felt Like I Was In A Car Accident' The Alpine County Sheriff and Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional information. Read On The Fox News App Lacayo was visiting the resort with his girlfriend and friends when he fell and hit his head, KCRA-TV reported. "On behalf of the full team here at Kirkwood, we extend our deepest sympathy and support to the guest's family and friends," Ricky Newberry, Kirkwood's vice president and general manager, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Our thoughts are with all those affected during this difficult time." Yosemite National Park Employee Dies From Mysterious Injuries In Staff Housing Lacayo had recently graduated from a Southern California fire academy and was "close to achieving his dream," Nathan Clardy, Lacayo's father, told KCRA-TV. "It's heartbreaking because as a dad, I wasn't there with him. I know there's nothing I could have changed, but just not being there with him," Clardy said. Two days before his death, the aspiring firefighter filled out an application to join one department, the station reported. Clardy is now grappling with his son's death as the family makes preparations to transport his remains to his home in Corona, telling KCRA-TV the process has been a "logistical nightmare." "He embodies what we call service above self," Clardy said. "And even prior to the fire service, his natural instinct was to take care of other people." Lacayo's family did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for article source: Aspiring firefighter dies in snowboarding accident at popular ski resort
