Washington, D.C
Gov. Newsom visits Washington, D.C. to protect California policies ahead of Trump presidency
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom is meeting with the Biden administration this week in Washington, D.C. to seek more protections for California policies before the Trump administration takes over.
Just last week, Newsom called for state lawmakers to convene a special session next month to safeguard the state’s progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Newsom spoke over Zoom on Friday about his plans to prepare for another Trump presidency.
“I think he’s going to come harder. He’s going to come faster, executive orders day one. We’re taking him at his word,” Newsom said.
One of the highest-profile California policies in jeopardy is the 2035 ban on new gas-powered car sales.
“This is where California is most vulnerable, on transportation emissions,” said Ethan Elkind, director of the UC Berkeley Center for Law, Energy and the Environment.
Elkind noted that Trump has openly opposed California’s plan to allow only zero-emission new car sales starting in 2035.
“That’s why we’re up to almost 30% of new vehicle sales in the state are electric,” Elkind said.
Besides that zero-emission vehicle policy, California is also seeking federal waivers on setting new requirements on zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, off-road vehicles, construction equipment, and buildings.
“We are not naive about what to anticipate,” Newsom said.
In 2019, Trump revoked California’s ability to enforce its own tailpipe emissions limits. This was later restored by President Biden’s administration and was upheld in federal court.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers in California are watching closely to see the impact of Newsom’s visit to the nation’s capital.
“So this is just the opening salvo and, of course, they’re going to trade some blows here,” state Senator Henry Stern (D-Calabasas) said. “I expect them to fight a lot more in public and then get a lot more done behind the scenes.”
“It’s a great opportunity, and the Democrats — Gavin Newsom at the top — are kind of squandering it if they’re going to immediately start with a confrontational approach,” Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said.
Besides vehicles, President-elect Trump could also cut federal funding for the California high-speed rail project. The Biden administration had awarded $3 billion to it earlier this year.
“Trust me. We’ve got a lot up our sleeves,” Newsom said. “We’re not done by any stretch.”
Washington, D.C
100 mph driver found not guilty of murder in deadly Rock Creek Parkway crash
A driver who fled a traffic stop on D.C.’s Rock Creek Parkway and crashed into a Lyft car, killing all three men inside in 2023, was found not guilty of second-degree murder.
Nakita Walker was found guilty on Monday morning of three counts of involuntary manslaughter, fleeing a law enforcement officer and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Walker was driving 100 mph when she crashed into a Honda at about 1:30 a.m. March 15, 2023, an expert witness testified.
The crash victims were Mohamed Kamara, 42; Olvin Torres Velasquez, 22; and Jonathan Cabrera Mendez, 23. Kamara was driving for Lyft to send money home to his family in Sierra Leone. His two passengers were on their way home to Arlington after a night out in D.C.
Walker had no visible reaction in court as the verdict was announced. The victims’ families were not in the courtroom.
News4 has covered the crash since it happened and the court case since Walker was charged with murder.
Walker pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree murder. She was accused of being drunk behind the wheel and had three previous DUI convictions.
Nakita Walker was traveling 100 miles per hour on Rock Creek Parkway for 10 seconds before the March 2023 crash that claimed the lives of three men, according to new testimony from the District’s chief medical examiner. News4’s Paul Wagner reports.
‘Is there a reason you’re driving like 80 miles an hour?’
Police body camera video shows the moments before and after the tragedy. An officer pulled over Walker near the Kennedy Center and asked why she was speeding.
“Is there a reason you’re driving like 80 miles an hour, blowing red lights?” an officer asks.
Walker was behind the wheel and Donnell Thomas, who was not charged, was in the passenger seat, prosecutors said. Walker told the officer she was rushing to get home to her son, who she said was 10 years old and alone.
Thomas can be seen on video pouring out of the window what was revealed in testimony to be liquor out of a cup before the officer noticed what appeared to be marijuana in his pocket. The officer informed him he couldn’t have marijuana on federal property and confiscated it.
A few seconds later, the video shows Walker speed off.
A short time after Walker fled the traffic stop, she slammed into the Lyft car, killing all three men inside.
A U.S. Park Police officer’s body camera showed him arriving at the crash scene. Walker is seen on the ground.
Body camera video from a D.C. officer responding to the crash captured the moment he realized all three men were dead.
Prosecutors said Walker had a blood alcohol content of 0.10, which is 0.02 above the legal limit.
Thomas testified under a grant of immunity, saying he had been concerned with Walker’s behavior that night. Thomas told the court he told Walker at least twice that he should drive but she insisted.
On the witness stand, Thomas testified that Walker sped off because the officer was harassing him for having liquor in a cup and marijuana in his pocket.
Thomas testified that he pulled Walker out of the car after the crash. A man who came upon the crash scene before police arrived testified that he pulled her out.
The D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and D.C. Superior Court are pointing fingers to explain why the license of a woman with three prior DUIs was not suspended at the time she allegedly caused a deadly wrong-way crash. News4’s Paul Wagner reports.
D.C.’s chief medical examiner told jurors the men all died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries. As the jury was shown autopsy photos of the victims, Walker never looked up from her seat at the defense table.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
Washington, D.C
US Secret Service investigates reports of gunfire near White House
Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area around Washington DC’s Lafayette Park just after midnight local time (04:00 GMT) and conducted a search of the park, just north of the president’s residence, and the surrounding area, the agency said.
Washington, D.C
Secret Service investigating overnight gunfire near White House
Washington — The Secret Service said it is investigating overnight gunfire near the White House on Sunday.
Officers responded shortly after midnight on Sunday to reports of gunfire in the vicinity of Lafayette Park, the Secret Service said in a statement. No injuries were reported, according to the statement, and a search of the park and surrounding area was conducted. A suspect was not located.
Lafayette Park is located directly north of the White House.
President Trump is in Washington and is hosting a family Easter dinner at the White House on Sunday. White House operations remain normal, though a heightened security posture is in place, the Secret Service said.
Road closures were initially in effect adjacent to the park. Chief of Communications for the Secret Service Anthony Guglielmi said in a post on X after 8 a.m. that the closures had been lifted.
The investigation remained active Sunday morning. The Secret Service said it’s seeking a possible vehicle and a person of interest, while coordinating with U.S. Park Police and Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department.
Officials encouraged members of the public with information to call D.C. Police at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.
-
South-Carolina1 week agoSouth Carolina vs TCU predictions for Elite Eight game in March Madness
-
Atlanta, GA2 days ago1 teenage girl killed, another injured in shooting at Piedmont Park, police say
-
Vermont1 week ago
Skier dies after fall at Sugarbush Resort
-
Movie Reviews4 days agoVaazha 2 first half review: Hashir anchors a lively, chaos-filled teen tale
-
Politics1 week agoTrump’s Ballroom Design Has Barely Been Scrutinized
-
Atlanta, GA1 week agoFetishist ‘No Kings’ protester in mask drags ‘Trump’ and ‘JD Vance’ behind her wheelchair
-
Entertainment4 days agoInside Ye’s first comeback show at SoFi Stadium
-
Politics1 week agoJD Vance says he was ‘obsessed’ with UFOs, believes aliens are actually ‘demons’