A hawkish litigation strategy in Alameda County has led to costly courtroom battles that have stretched on for years, racking up millions of dollars in attorneys’ fees and incurring multimillion-dollar settlements for which taxpayers have footed the bill. There are many such expensive examples, according to numerous lawyers who’ve sued the county. In May 2023, for example, Alameda County’s lawyers sought a new trial for two sheriff’s deputies who were found to have illegally detained Aasylei Loggervale and her two daughters, who had fallen asleep in their car in Castro Valley in 2019. The officers were searching for two male suspects who had burgled cars in the area, but they detained the Loggervales and demanded the mother provide her ID. A jury awarded the Loggervale family $8. 25 million for their unlawful detention four years later, but the county’s attorney for the case, Kevin Gilbert, made a motion for a new trial, claiming senior U. S. district judge William Alsup had advocated for the plaintiffs, permitted incorrect statements on the record, and that the “totality of circumstances in the case is troubling and problematic.” But Alsup was having none of it. “I wish I could believe you. When I go through the list, you’ll see why I don’t trust almost anything you say,” Alsup said in a back-and-forth with Gilbert. The following appeal cost the county and its taxpayers an additional $3 million for a total settlement of $11. 26 million. According to the Loggervales’ lawyer, Joseph May, the initial settlement offer was approximately $750,000. In recent years, county-hired lawyers have pursued a similar litigation strategy in multiple cases, even when the outcome appeared to obviously disfavor the county’s case, according to lawyers who’ve sued the county. Cases that could have been settled quickly for a fraction of the ultimate cost have instead become years-long courtroom battles, driving millions of dollars in attorneys’ fees and million-dollar settlements with the plaintiffs, May and other attorneys said. Gilbert and the county’s legal team “took an extremely aggressive approach,” May said. “Later on, once the facts started becoming clear, (Gilbert) just kept doubling down.” Gilbert did not respond to a request for comment. In Alameda County, County Counsel Donna Ziegler and the Risk Management Unit decide how to respond to cases filed against the county, varying from alleged violations of labor laws to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fourth Amendment. With a case’s assigned lawyer, they face a choice: fight the allegation or settle. In case after case, plaintiffs’ attorneys interviewed for this story describe the county’s legal strategy as “sophomoric and unfortunately blind to obvious risk.” Inquiries to County Counsel Donna Ziegler and the Risk Management Unit did not receive a response. In another case, in 2015, Daniel Ridge, a morgue employee at Alameda Health System, was working seven days a week while the hospital sought to fill a vacant attendant role. The consequences of this demanding role caused Ridge’s mental health to suffer, his attorney, Lawrance Bohm, said. When he sought treatment for “work stress,” his doctor with Kaiser diagnosed him with generalized anxiety disorder, depression and PTSD, according to court documents. Ridge eventually went on medical leave to participate in an Intensive Outpatient Program. It was during this period in late 2015 that the health system fired Ridge for failure to show up for work, despite a doctor’s note excusing him in violation of California labor law. The mortician’s mental health deteriorated further; he became estranged from his family and was homeless as he pursued the lawsuit. Alameda County “could not have had Daniel Ridge in more of a leveraged position, being in litigation for eight years, homeless, disabled, financially destitute,” Bohm said. “And they couldn’t get this case resolved, mainly because they didn’t try. Instead, they took a ‘pounds for defense, pennies for resolution’ approach.” Bohm said he had offered to settle the lawsuit for $550,000 in 2018, but county counsel sought a jury trial. And in March 2025, a jury found the hospital system had violated California labor law by firing Ridge and ordered it to pay $2. 4 million in addition to $5 million to $7 million for attorneys fees that are still being accounted for, according to Bohm to Ridge’s family, as his lawyers had told the court he could not be located. The hospital system then appealed the jury’s verdict, stating, the “plaintiff’s allegations were not supported by fact” and that “Alameda Health System defended itself from litigation in this case because it was and is the right thing to do.” But doing the right thing, in Bohm’s opinion, requires accountability. The county’s defense team instead “dug in its heels” for five years and used odd interpretations of the law to avoid taking responsibility, he said. The county “lost this case on every issue, required a federal injunction to issue, and subjected taxpayers to over $1. 2 million in avoidable legal expenses, not including the money spent on the County’s private losing defense firm,” Bohm said. “The Board of Supervisors and citizens should be outraged at this overly litigious mishandling of a meritorious civil rights issue.” But there may be more to the county’s litigation strategy, according to UC Berkeley law professor and former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. “There is a long-term strategy that many big entities, government and private, . “Sometimes it is worth paying lawyers more than it would cost us to settle a case to fight and deter future copycat litigation.” Last month, Alameda County settled a lawsuit with Lisamaria Martinez, a Union City resident who is blind and had sued Alameda County twice for failing to accommodate her disability as required by law. While Martinez’s first lawsuit against Alameda County was adjudicated within months of filing it in 2013, her second lawsuit took nearly six years to settle. Martinez had sought to establish a business name in 2019 and asked the county’s Clerk and Recorder’s Office staff to help her sign the document, but they refused and said that only the business owner could fill out the form, according to court documents. Martinez then sued the county to force it to change its policies to be more accessible, and the county once again fought Martinez’s allegations that staff had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Five years later, a federal jury in San Francisco ruled that Alameda County had discriminated against Martinez and her request for reasonable accommodation, awarding her $1. 2 million nearly all of which was for legal fees. Her attorney, Tim Elder, said the county counsel’s “overly litigious mishandling” of a foundational civil rights case should outrage the public. “Plaintiff Lisamaria Martinez was willing to resolve this case five years ago for no damages, minimal legal fees and the County of Alameda agreeing to change its policy,” Elder said. “The county refused to work with us.” In commenting on the Loggervale case, Judge Alsup emphasized how the county’s legal approach had cost the county. “In my view, the reason it’s a large verdict is the way Mr. Gilbert tried the case and not because of what actually happened. It’s quite clear to me that it was the way in which this case was tried that led to this big verdict,” Alsup said. “When I finally do this order, I want your boss to read it, because there are so many things you said in your brief that turned out to be false.”.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/11/24/how-alameda-countys-stonewalling-legal-approach-has-cost-taxpayers-millions/
Tag: circumstances
Angels GM Perry Minasian: Grayson Rodriguez is ‘a gamble worth taking’
Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez offered too tantalizing of a package for Perry Minasian to turn down, despite the risk. A day after the Angels acquired a pitcher who has been hurt for nearly a season and a half, Minasian said the current reports of his Rodriguez’s and the potential he offers were sufficient to be worth sending the Baltimore Orioles one of their best power hitters, Taylor Ward. “Is there risk? Yes, there’s risk,” the Angels’ general manager said Wednesday. “It’s eyes wide open on the risk. That being said, it’s four years of control. It’s somebody that, when he pitches, can beat anybody on any given night. The weapons he has and the ability to throw strikes, it’s a combination that some of the best in the game have. We’ve got high expectations. He’s somebody we’re really excited to have.” Rodriguez, 26, is a former first-round pick with a 100-mph fastball. He had a 3. 25 ERA over a 31-start stretch from July 2023 to July 2024. He struck out 193 and walked 53 over 182⅔ innings in that span. His walk rate is slightly better than the major-league average. However, he hasn’t thrown a pitch in a regular season game since July 31, 2024. Rodriguez suffered a lat strain that cost him the last two months of the 2024 season, and he missed all of 2025 with a similar strain and then elbow problems. He had surgery to have a bone spur removed in August. “We need him to be healthy,” Minasian said. “We like where he’s at. Obviously, we felt like the medical (report) was in a good enough place to where this was a chance, a gamble worth taking. We expect him to be healthy in spring. He’s throwing bullpens in January. We’ve talked to him. He’s very motivated, very excited. Somebody that can really give us a jolt in the rotation.” Rodriguez is scheduled to talk to the media Wednesday afternoon. For now, any report of his health has to be taken with caution. No team would give up an established starting pitcher with four years of control for a hitter with one year of control under normal circumstances. Mike Elias, the Orioles president of baseball operations, told the Baltimore media recently that Rodriguez was a “wild card.” “There’s nothing going on right now that would hold him back,” Elias said. “He’s not injured right now and he’s preparing for spring training, but the poor guy’s missed a year and two months basically, and we’ve got to be mindful of that, and I think he’s a really nice wild card talent for us, and I’m really optimistic and bullish about it. But the fact that he’s missed so much time recently, we just have to be prudent about that. “We don’t want to plan around him too heavily, but I really like where he’s at.” If Rodriguez is healthy, he would join a rotation that includes right-hander José Soriano and left-handers Yusei Kikuchi and Reid Detmers. Soriano is 27 and Detmers and Rodriguez are 26. The Angels control Detmers and Soriano for the next three years, and Rodriguez for the next four. The Angels still need another starter, and to that end the deal helps by freeing up some money. Ward was set to make around $14 million in arbitration, and Rodriguez will make just over the major-league minimum of $780,000. “The more flexibility, the better,” Minasian said. “That was discussed too. It’s not only acquiring somebody we feel like can impact the rotation, but freeing up some money to maybe get into areas where we wouldn’t have been able to before.” The Angels will need to replace Ward’s production at the plate. Last season, he hit 36 homers and drove in 103 runs with a . 792 OPS. The Angels still have Mike Trout, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler to play the corner outfield spots. Trout and Soler likely can’t handle full-time outfield duty, so the Angels would probably look to have them split time in the outfield and at designated hitter. Adell could also play center, but perhaps now the Angels are more likely to get a true center field and keep Adell in one of the corners. “It’s a long offseason,” Minasian said. “We’ll continue to look.” More to come on this story.
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2025/11/19/angels-gm-perry-minasian-grayson-rodriguez-is-a-gamble-worth-taking/
$75,000 A Year Is How Much An Hour? and Best Jobs To Give You 75K
Making a yearly income of $75,000 seems like a good deal, but is it really enough? Do you know how much you have and owe at the end of each pay period? Or are you wondering: $75,000 a year is how much an hour? In this article, you will find out how much $75,000 is hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly. We will also factor in several other variables that affect your income and offer some tips on how to live within your salary. Read on. $75,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour? $75,000 yearly will allow you to make $36. 06 or $36 an hour. First, find the number ofhours you worked during the year. There are 5 working days each week, and with 8 hours of work daily, we have 40 regular hours making up for a complete work week (5 days * 8 hrs/day). Then, there are 52 work weeks in a year. To calculate your total working hours in a year, let’s make it simple with this formula: 40 total working hours a week * 52 total working weeks in a year = Total working hours in a year 40 * 52 = 2, 080 hours With a $75,000 gross yearly income as a full-time worker, you make $36. 06 or $36 an hour. Yearly salary/total working hours in a year = Total hourly salary $75,000 / 2, 080 = $36. 06 or $36 an hour If you have a part-time job that requires you to only work 4 hours a day instead of 8, which is half the daily work hours, your total annual pay will also be halved to $37,500. Divide this amount by the number of hours in a working year (1, 040), and you’ll get your total hourly salary of $36. 06 or $36 as a part-timer. $75,000 a Year Is How Much After Taxes? When you earn $75,000 a year, you’ll earn between $55,286-$59,995 after taxes, depending on your situation. Different states in the United States have different tax rates, ranging from 0 taxations in Texas to a flat income tax rate in Colorado to a graduated rate in California. Your specific circumstances determine the exact amount of deductible tax from your income. Aside from where you work or reside, your net annual income after taxes may be affected by exemptions. Federal taxes and other government deductions, such as Social Security and Medicare, are also considered. If you work full-time or live in California, an annual gross pay of $75,000 will become $55,286 after deducting $19,714 in taxes, including federal and state taxes and other government deductible items. A Texas resident’s total tax will amount to $15,006, and the net annual pay is $59,995. Assuming you work part-time, clocking in 4 instead of 8 hours a day, your total yearly income will be $37,500 instead of $75,000. It will be subject to a tax deduction of $6,875 if you are in California, leaving you with a net annual pay of $30,625. But if you are from Texas with no state taxes, your take-home pay for the year after taxes of $5,609 will be $31,891. $75,000 a Year Is How Much per Month? If you earn $75,000 a year, the total monthly taxable income will be $6,250. To convert the total yearly salary into monthly income, your yearly salary is divided by the total working months in a year. The conversion is shown below: $75,000/12 months a year = $6,250 If you work in California, you will pay $1,643 in taxes each month, leaving you with a net monthly income of $4,607. A Texas resident’s taxes will amount to $1,250 with $5,000 monthly take-home pay. These are for those engaged in full-time work. A part-timer with a $3,125 gross monthly income will get a monthly net pay of $2,552 in California after $573 in taxes. In Texas, $467 in taxes will allow you to bring home $2,658 for the month. $75,000 a Year Is How Much per Week? Your gross weekly income before tax will be $1,442. Converting your yearly income into a weekly salary requires the total number of weeks worked in a year. In the previous section, we set the total working weeks in a year as 52. So, let’s convert your yearly income into a weekly salary: $75,000/52 weeks per year = $1,442. 31 or $1,442 If you’re a full-timer, working or living in California will cost you $379 in weekly taxes, leaving you with a net income of $1,063 for the week. A Texas resident’s taxes will amount to $288 with $1,154 weekly income as take-home pay. As for those engaged in part-time work, you will get a $721 gross weekly income. After $132 in taxes, you will be left with a weekly net pay of $589 if you are in California or, if in Texas, a $108 deduction will allow you to bring home $613 for the week. $75,000 a Year Is How Much Biweekly? $75,000 yearly salary will allow you to make $2,884 every two weeks. To make it simple, let’s multiply your gross weekly income ($1,442) by two weeks to get your total biweekly pay: $1,442 * 2 weeks = $2,884 With $2,884 as total biweekly pay, you will get a net income of $1,900 every 2 weeks in California after biweekly taxes of $984. If you’re in Texas, your net biweekly pay is $2,153, and your tax deduction is $731. Similarly, if you are a part-timer, your gross income for 2 weeks would be $1,442, while your net biweekly pay will be $1,063 in California and $1,154 in Texas. These amounts are after deducting your corresponding taxes of $379 and $288. $75,000 a Year Is How Much per Day? We have earlier computed the gross hourly wage as $36 with the following formula: $75,000 yearly salary/2, 080 total working hours in a year = $36. 06 or $36 total hourly salary $36 * 8 hours of work per day = $288 gross daily income You will earn $288 every day if you have a $75,000 yearly salary. If you are a full-timer, you will get a daily paycheck of $212 in California after $75. 63 in taxes. In Texas, $57. 58 in taxes will let you bring home $230 for the month. If you are a part-timer with 4 hours daily (instead of 8) at a pay rate of $26 an hour, you will earn a total of $144 for the day. In California, you will get a net daily pay of $118 after $26. 38 in taxes, while in Texas, that would be $122 in take-home pay daily after a tax deduction of $21. 53. It bears repeating that these figures may vary according to your work attendance, so don’t expect this exact amount. Keep the free tax calculator on hand during tax season and when planning your finances. Knowing your income flow at any period will give you a better grasp of your finances. With the computation used above, you will also have a clearer idea of the total amount of money you have every pay period post-taxes. Tips for Living on $75,000 a Year 1. Saving With an annual salary of $75,000, you can afford many luxurious items if you save. Instead of spending all of your money at once, we recommend that you save at least 10% to 15% of your total income for future needs. You can also use your savings to invest in order to increase your overall wealth. You can also save and earn money while you shop through these cashback apps: Rakuten. Want to get a cashback while you shop at over 3, 500 stores? Check out this rewards site to save some shopping money. Read our full Rakuten review here. MyPoints. With MyPoints, you can earn points from shopping online and doing microtasks, such as taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, and more. For more details, here is our complete MyPoints review. Fetch Rewards. An easy-to-use, mobile-only application, Fetch Rewards offers you the chance to earn points for redemption as gift cards or extra money. Our full Fetch Rewards review will give you an idea of this app’s benefits. 2. Investing Many people are making huge profits by investing in stocks, cryptocurrency, and NFTs. Before investing money in these money-making machines, thoroughly research the upward and downward trends to better predict them. Some of the investment options that you may try are: M1 Finance. A stock and ETF brokerage, M1 Finance lets you invest for as low as $100. Read our full M1 Finance review and learn the services that it provides. Crowdfunding real estate. Open an account for EstateGuru if you want to invest in real estate. Here is our full EstateGuru review for more information. Mintos. This app is a peer-to-peer lending platform. Use this link for a 1% cash back in the first 90 days. Check out the full Mintos review here. 3. Avoiding Debt Debt gradually reduces your overall income. We recommend using your savings instead of borrowing money or taking out bank loans to purchase your desired luxury. 4. Budgeting Budgeting is essential for living a healthy lifestyle. At the beginning of the month, list all your basic expenses and create a budget that works for you. Set aside a certain percentage of your earnings for each expense. Spend 10% to 15% of your income on food, 15% to 20% on utilities, 5% to 10% on personal entertainment, and 10% to 15% on savings and investments. 5. Cutting Expenses $75,000 can cover most of your expenses while leaving some money for your expenses on entertainment subscriptions such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Make sure you spend on these subscriptions only if your other monthly expenses are covered within the yearly salary after taxes. Check out Trim, a useful app that negotiates your subscriptions, saves you money on bills, and cancels subscriptions you don’t use. Check out our full Trim review for more details on the platform. 6. Engaging in Online Money-Making and Side Hustles We have listed some of the best online money-making techniques and side hustles to increase your overall income. Sell your skills as a freelancer. Online job platforms like Fiverr, FlexJobs, and Upwork bring employers and freelance workers together. So, if you have marketable skills like software development, marketing, proofreading, graphic design, etc., you should try creating an impressive resume and listing your profile at these job sites. Become an online tutor. Online tutoring allows you to choose your preferred time, subjects, and students. If you are into group teaching, there’s Magic Ears, mainly catering to Chinese pupils who want to learn English. Check the list of the best online tutoring jobs to try now. Drive, deliver, and earn. Make money delivering food using your own car or bike. You can make as much as $500 a week with DoorDash or Postmates. Read our DoorDash review or check out our comparison of DoorDash vs. Postmates and see what best fits you. Become a YouTuber. Find your niche, create your content, build your subscriber list, and you can earn a lucrative income from YouTube through sponsorships, vlogging, banner ads, vlogging your own web series, and more. Start blogging. Check this guide on how to start a blog and head on to this reliable web host, BlueHost, that provides various feature-packed web hosting options to help you build your website without sweat. Be a pet sitter or walker. Get paid to walk dogs or pet sit with Rover and earn over $1,000 monthly. The working hours are flexible, which will allow you to incorporate walking jobs into your part-time schedule. Get a data entry job. You can earn cash from your home. Basic requirements include typing skills, attention to detail, and computer and Internet connection. Here are some tips on making it successful in the data entry field. Flip items for profit. Turn those pre-loved or unused household or personal items into quick cash by selling them online and decluttering your home in the bargain. You may post them on Craigslist or in an online flea market. Or, if you are good at finding saleable new or secondhand goods and reselling them at a profit, there are many online sites like Craigslist, Letgo, Decluttr, eBay, and Amazon where you can earn cash by buying and selling. Participate in online surveys and earn cash or gift cards with the following platforms: Swagbucks. This rewards program lets you earn points by browsing the web, shopping online, and taking surveys. Signing up with Swagbucks is completely free. Your points are then converted into free gift cards or cash-backs. Read our full Swagbucks review here. InboxDollars. Sign up, start doing the online tasks, and earn extra cash with InboxDollars. Take the surveys, redeem coupons, play games online, watch videos, search the web, and more. Making money cannot get any easier than that! Read our full InboxDollars review here. Survey Junkie. You can earn extra cash through Survey Junkie by completing online surveys or sharing your data. You will be paid with gift cards or cash through Paypal. Read our full Survey Junkie review for more information. What Jobs Pay $75,000 a Year? We have listed some jobs that pay a $75,000 yearly salary or more. Most of these jobs pay over $75,000 with more time and experience. Commercial Pilots The median annual pay is around $78,740, with an overall growth rate of 4%. As a commercial pilot, you will handle unscheduled flight activities, such as aerial applications, aerial tours, and charter flights. Detectives and Criminal Investigators The median annual pay is around $79,970, with an overall growth rate of 5%. As a detective, you will be responsible for collecting evidence and gathering facts for criminal cases. Elevator Installer and Repairer The median annual pay is $79,480, with an overall growth rate of 12%. As an elevator installer, you will not only be responsible for the installation of elevators but also for their repair and maintenance. Funeral Service Managers The median annual salary is $78,040, with a growth rate of 7%. As a funeral service manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the operations of a funeral home. Power Plant Operators The median annual salary is $77,180, with an overall growth rate of 1%. Power plant operators are responsible for controlling and maintaining machinery to generate electricity. Is $75,000 a Year a Good Salary? Yes, $75,000 annually is a great salary if you know how to spend it. If you live in a state with a low tax rate on your annual income, your salary will allow you to live a very comfortable lifestyle. Although $75,000 is the average salary that 50% of Americans earn in a year, it is a salary package that can cover all your expenses while leaving some money for personal entertainment. Can You Live on $75,000 a Year? Yes, living alone, you can have a very good lifestyle on a salary of $75,000 per year. On the other hand, if you have a family with children, the luxuries may disappear, but your salary will still cover all of your basic expenses. Frequently Asked Questions $75,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour? How Much Will I Take Home if I Earn $75,000? You will take home $56,250 after taxes if your state charges you a 25% tax rate in total. You will pay around $18,750 as tax. The overall income after-tax can increase or decrease depending upon the state you are currently living in. New York and Washington, for example, have a state tax rate above 20%, a major part of your yearly salary. What Is the Tax on $75,000 a Year? Here are the income tax rates in different US states on your $75,000 yearly salary. New York: $19,161 New Mexico: $18,092 New Hampshire: $15,006 Nevada: $15,006 Nebraska: $19,051 Montana: $19,084 Massachusetts: $18,914 Is $75,000 a Year Considered Middle Class? Yes, $75,000 a year is considered middle class. According to Pew Research Center, the middle-class income in America ranges from $46,000 to $126,000. Around 52% of Americans fall under the middle-class category. Conclusion $75,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour? Earning an annual salary of $75,000 can be a great amount as your gross salary. This pay can surely help you in achieving your financial goals. With $75,000 a year, you make $6,250 per month pre-tax, from $4,607 to $5,000 monthly after taxes. The after-tax income varies slightly, depending on the US state you live in. Your financial habits depend on whether this will be enough each week for your expenses. Remember that you need to live within your means. If you find it hard to fit your expenses within your monthly or weekly salary, look for side hustles to increase your income. If you want to know more about how much you will make in a year at different pay rates, check out our related posts:.
https://radicalfire.com/75000-a-year-is-how-much-an-hour/
Zubeen Garg Death: Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival postponed as Assam mourns its cultural icon
**Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival Postponed Following the Tragic Demise of Assam’s Cultural Icon Zubeen Garg**
In the wake of the tragic passing of Assam’s celebrated singer Zubeen Garg, the organisers of the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF) have announced the postponement of its 10th edition. Originally scheduled for December 4-7, 2025, the festival will now be held in 2026 as a mark of respect during this period of collective mourning.
**Festival Statement**
In an official statement, the BVFF team expressed, “It is with a heavy heart that the 10th edition of the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival, originally scheduled for December 4-7, 2025, has been postponed to a later date in 2026. This decision comes as Assam mourns the loss of its most beloved cultural icon Zubeen Garg, whose voice and vision defined generations. BVFF stands in solidarity with the people and the creative community.”
The organisers further added, “As a festival deeply rooted in the cultural and emotional fabric of this land, we feel it is only right to pause our celebrations this year, in remembrance and respect. We are deeply grateful to our filmmakers, partners, and audience for their continued support and understanding. Refunds for all submissions will be processed in due course.”
**A Cultural Loss Felt Across Assam**
Zubeen Garg was more than just an artist to the people of Assam; he was a symbol of cultural pride and inspiration. His untimely death earlier this year in Singapore has triggered widespread grief across the state, as well as protests and intense scrutiny regarding the circumstances surrounding his passing.
**Legal Developments and Public Tensions**
On the investigative front, swift action has been taken by authorities. Five individuals—including the festival organiser, Garg’s manager, his cousin (who is a police officer), and his security personnel—have been arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody.
Tensions escalated outside Baksa District Jail when crowds gathered and reportedly hurled stones and sandals at police convoys. Several vehicles in the area were set ablaze amid the protests.
**Looking Ahead**
The decision by BVFF to defer the festival not only underscores the magnitude of the loss but also highlights how deeply Zubeen Garg’s legacy has resonated within Assam’s creative community. This pause is more than just postponement—it is a collective moment of mourning for a figure whose impact transcended the stage.
Further details regarding the rescheduled festival dates and refund processes are expected to be announced in the coming months.
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**Also Read:** [Zubeen Garg’s Manager Arrested in Singer’s Death Case]
Stay tuned for more updates on Bollywood and regional entertainment news.
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/zubeen-garg-death-brahmaputra-valley-film-festival-postponed-assam-mourns-cultural-icon/
Tessie Musalia leads drive to bridge digital divide in Rural Schools
The foundation, in collaboration with Ushiriki Wema—an economic empowerment programme—aims to advance technology in schools through the provision of computers and other digital learning materials.
Madam Tessie Musalia, the Co-Founder and Managing Trustee, said the programme targets enabling students to have instant access to vast amounts of information, e-books, online libraries, and real-world learning through various digital platforms.
“We believe that every child deserves access to quality education as envisaged in our Constitution 2010, regardless of their background or circumstances. By donating computers to schools, especially in rural areas, we are taking a step towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring that every student has the chance to explore, learn, and grow in this digitally driven era,” she said.
Tessie, the spouse of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, added that the initiative is supported by the United Nations through a partnership with the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
She made these remarks over the weekend during the donation of 30 desktops and 2 laptops to Mudavadi Girls High School in Madzuu, Vihiga County.
“These computers are part of 70 laptops and 30 desktops donated by the United Nations through the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary to promote IT in schools. I encourage students not only to use them for schoolwork but also to follow your curiosity, learn about the world, and dream big,” she said.
Madam Musalia emphasized that online platforms allow students to learn at their own pace and from various locations, accommodating different schedules and learning preferences.
She further encouraged teachers to equip students to connect with peers and experts globally through online tools, enabling collaborative projects and discussions across different locations.
“Technology has become an essential tool in education as it opens doors to knowledge beyond classrooms. When we invest in education, we invest in a stronger, smarter, and more hopeful tomorrow,” she added.
The programme will also complement the ongoing government initiative focused on building computer labs in schools across the country. The foundation is actively seeking to bring on board more partners and donors, both locally and internationally, to support this important cause.
https://www.citizen.digital/news/tessie-musalia-leads-drive-to-bridge-digital-divide-in-rural-schools-n371186
You can now withdraw your entire PF balance anytime
**You can now withdraw your entire PF balance anytime**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 13, 2025, 07:55 pm*
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has taken a significant step to enhance the ease of living for its members. In a major decision, the EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees (CBT) has approved allowing members to withdraw up to 100% of their eligible Provident Fund (PF) balance. This withdrawal includes both the employee and employer contributions.
### Key Decision Announced at 238th CBT Meeting
The decision was made during the 238th meeting of the CBT held in New Delhi, chaired by Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya. This move is set to bring greater flexibility and convenience for EPFO members in managing their PF accounts.
### Major Changes in PF Withdrawal Rules
Previously, full withdrawal from the PF account was only permitted in cases of unemployment or retirement. Under the new liberalized rules, members can now access their entire eligible PF balance, subject to certain conditions and specific categories.
In addition to this, the CBT has simplified the existing partial withdrawal provisions. Earlier, there were 13 complex rules governing partial withdrawals, which have now been consolidated into a single, streamlined rule divided into three categories:
– Essential needs (such as illness, education, and marriage)
– Housing needs
– Special circumstances
### Increased Flexibility for Education and Marriage Withdrawals
The new rules also increase the limits on withdrawals for education and marriage expenses. Withdrawals for education purposes can now be made up to 10 times, while those for marriage can be done up to 5 times.
Moreover, the minimum service requirement to be eligible for all partial withdrawals has been uniformly reduced to just 12 months. This is a significant relaxation compared to the previous norms, where members had to justify their withdrawal reasons under “Special Circumstances,” often resulting in claim rejections.
### Member Benefits: Minimum Balance and Auto-Settlement of Claims
To ensure members continue to benefit from the high interest rates offered by EPFO (currently 8.25% per annum), the CBT has introduced a new rule requiring a ‘Minimum Balance’ of 25% of contributions to be maintained in the PF account at all times. This provision helps preserve the compounding benefits and aids in building a substantial retirement corpus.
The board has also announced a move towards greater automation, eliminating the need for any documentation for partial withdrawal claims. This paves the way for 100% auto settlement of claims, making the process faster and hassle-free for members.
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This landmark decision by the EPFO is expected to bring greater financial flexibility to millions of PF members across India, enabling them to access their funds effortlessly when needed.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/epfo-members-can-now-withdraw-entire-balance/story
France: 60-year-old ex-firefighter commits robbery to visit grandson in prison
**Bizarre Acts of Love: A Retired Firefighter’s Desperate Robbery**
Adding to the list of bizarre things people have done for love is the story of a 60-year-old retired firefighter with no prior criminal record who entered a supermarket near a local police station. Wearing a balaclava over his mouth and brandishing a firearm, he demanded all the money in the supermarket. Oddly, he also helped himself to a piece of Emmental cheese and some wine before being arrested.
What makes this incident truly unusual is the man’s calm demeanor when he walked with the police to their car, seemingly wanting to be arrested. It later emerged that his motives were heartbreaking rather than criminal.
According to an interview with his court-appointed lawyer, the man was desperate — he didn’t even want the money. All he wished was to see his grandson or at least be allowed to go on a walk with him. The lawyer revealed that the man was heartbroken after seeing his grandson in a waiting room with a broken tooth, a result of being molested by inmates.
The 60-year-old was prosecuted for armed robbery, aggravated assault, and rebellion. He pled guilty, but his circumstances deeply moved everyone involved, including the judge. Ultimately, the judge ruled that the man acted out of desperation and spared him from the typical three to five years of prison.
In the end, the man was ordered to compensate the victims of the robbery, undergo psychological treatment, and was banned from visiting the supermarket he robbed. Importantly, he retained the legal right to visit his grandson without being incarcerated. This story appears to have a hopeful resolution for all parties involved.
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**Invite-Only Burger: The World’s Most Expensive Burger**
While burgers are generally popular as pocket-friendly meals, burger prices are on the rise — but nothing like the $11,000 burger served at the Asador Aupa restaurant in Spain. This exclusive burger, costing approximately Rs 97 lakh, is the result of eight years of research and experimentation by the chefs and remains a closely guarded secret.
Unlike typical food joint burgers, this gourmet creation is not listed on the restaurant’s menu. The owner explains that their concept was that luxury doesn’t need to be flashy but rather unattainable. As such, diners must be invited to try this burger.
The restaurant’s website states: *“If you think you should be on the list, you can request it and the request will be processed.”* The exclusivity surrounding this high-priced burger — with no gimmicks, just high-quality ingredients — is certainly fascinating.
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**It’s a Mall World: A Shared Dream Phenomenon on Reddit**
Reddit users have been bonding over a strange shared experience: many of them report having dreams set in the same mall-like environment. Although the events within the dreams vary, the similarity of the setting has sparked curiosity and even conspiracy theories.
To discuss this phenomenon, Redditors have created dedicated spaces where people share their dream experiences related to this “mall world,” fueling speculation about the collective subconscious or other unexplained causes.
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**Who Let the Frogs In? A Painful Misguided Remedy**
In China, a woman suffering from back pain turned to an unusual and dangerous folk remedy she heard — swallowing live frogs to cure joint pain. Acting on the rumor, she swallowed eight live frogs.
Unfortunately, this extreme measure led to severe health problems, including multiple parasitic infections and blood disorders. This case serves as a cautionary tale against blindly following unverified remedies or rumors when it comes to health treatments.
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**Raw-Dogging Boredom: Gen Z’s New Screen Detox Trend**
In a surprising new trend, Gen Z has found a novel method to reduce screen time — by doing absolutely nothing. This challenge, popularized on TikTok, involves staring blankly without any entertainment, sleep, or distraction, simply enduring boredom.
Nicknamed “raw-dogging boredom,” this practice could unexpectedly help teens manage their screen addiction and improve their attention spans. Whether it becomes a lasting remedy for digital overload remains to be seen, but it’s a unique approach to tackling modern life’s screen-heavy habits.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/france-60-year-old-retired-fire-fighter-robs-supermarket-to-see-grandson-in-jail-23598300