State suspends fireworks licenses after deadly Yolo County explosion
The state suspended the licenses of Kenneth Chee, 48, the owner and CEO of Devastating Pyrotechnics, and Craig Cutright, who owns Blackstar Fireworks and has worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Esparto Fire Protection District. The Fire Marshal's office is leading the investigation into the deadly explosion.
A Chronicle investigation earlier this month found that Chee was denied a license by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to acquire or possess fireworks. But for many years, Chee continued to grow his business and put on Fourth of July and New Year's displays for cities around the state. Cutright was once listed as a part of Devastating Pyrotechnics' administrative staff.
Last week, police raided a San Francisco home, with the address listed known as Chee's former home.
The explosion at the Esparto facility, located 35 miles northwest of Sacramento, occurred on July 1 and engulfed the building in flames. A blaze soon followed, which Cal Fire named the Oakdale Fire, quickly spreading into nearby vegetation along Highway 16 and Oakdale Ranch Lane. Smoke plumes appeared to rise more than 15,000 feet into the air, and the fire was eventually contained after burning approximately 78 acres. Seven people were killed in the explosion.
Cal Fire officials said Tuesday that their arson and bomb investigators have completed their evidence collection from the explosion site.
"We continue to remain laser focused on this investigation as the family and the community deserve answers. The effort to find the cause can take time, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide a thorough and accurate investigation." said Chief Daniel Berlant, California State Fire Marshal in a statement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Body recovered in search for man who went missing in Russian River after using rope swing
The body believed to be that of a man who was reported to be using a rope swing to jump into the Russian River on Saturday was recovered, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said. Around 5:30 p.m., deputies and fire crews responded to the Hacienda Bridge in Forest Hills for a reported drowning. Deputies said a man was seen using a rope swing to jump into the water but he didn't resurface. Deputies said the incident shifted to a recovery operation Saturday evening. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said the body they believe to be the missing man was found in the Russian River around 11:20 a.m. Sunday. His identification has not been released at this time. The Sonoma County Fire District, Graton Fire, Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol and Napa County Sheriff's Office marine unit responded to the scene.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Three Weeks That Shook the Trump Presidency
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It was Fourth of July weekend, and President Donald Trump was on top of the world. Aides privately described it as the best stretch of his presidency—possibly across both terms. He had notched a run of victories that showcased how rapidly and ruthlessly his administration was reshaping American policy and culture. The Supreme Court delivered a decision limiting nationwide injunctions by federal judges—one that Trump called "a monumental victory," unlocking long-dormant campaign pledges like ending birthright citizenship. At the same time, Congress passed his self-branded "big, beautiful" bill—extending 2017 tax cuts, boosting border security funding and slashing programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Abroad, Trump flexed U.S. military might with a strike in Iran that, at least so far, has been met with limited response. NATO allies agreed to raise defense spending to five percent of GDP. The S&P 500 hit record highs. By July 4, Trump's approval rating had climbed to nearly 50 percent — downright stellar for him, in this era of polarization. Among Republicans, his support held firm above 80 percent. As fireworks lit up the D.C. night sky, Trump had plenty to celebrate. He didn't know that within days, a political firestorm would erupt—and for a change, it would be coming from within his own base. Newsweek Illustration/Canva/Getty A Promise Undone For half a year, Trump had delivered on marquee campaign promises—from sweeping ICE raids to trade pacts to deregulation. But for the conspiracy-minded wing of MAGA—the engine of Trump's digital power—one pledge loomed largest: the release of the so-called Epstein files. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News the Epstein client list was "sitting on my desk." She then distributed binders marked "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" to conservative influencers at the White House, in a photo op meant to show the administration's commitment to transparency. It appeared explosive revelations were coming. Then, silence. Then, on Monday July 7, with the country awakening from its long weekend-induced slumber, the DOJ quietly released a two-page, unsigned memo claiming no Epstein client list existed, no evidence suggested Epstein was murdered in jail, and no additional files would be released. Eleven hours of prison video accompanied the memo—but the footage contained a one‑minute gap blamed on a "camera reset." The memo was meant to put the ordeal to bed. Instead, it did the opposite. Laura Loomer accused Bondi of orchestrating a cover-up. Alex Jones called the memo "sickening," accusing the administration of "covering up child sex crimes." Tucker Carlson labeled the DOJ findings "an insult to everyone who believed in this movement." Steve Bannon put it bluntly, "How does an anti–deep state administration put out something this whitewashed?" Even Trump himself appeared frustrated over how much oxygen the topic had been sucking up, suggesting that while he and his allies used Epstein to great effect as a wedge issue during the campaign, he is less enamored with spending time on litigating the disgraced financier's past — and their past friendship— now that he's president. "MAGA really wouldn't exist without conspiracy theories," said Eric Alterman, journalism professor at Brooklyn College. "These theories don't require evidence. They're about stories people tell themselves to explain why things feel like they're going wrong in their lives." That expectation of dramatic revelations has become a defining feature of MAGA-era politics. From alleged UFO cover-ups to Epstein's supposed "client list," Trump loyalists, including sometimes Trump himself, have long stoked the belief that sinister truths would soon be exposed — just as soon as their leader was back in power. When the government declared the mystery solved, the base erupted. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino leaves after meeting with Republican lawmakers to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" at the U.S. Capitol on June 25, 2025 in Washington,... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino leaves after meeting with Republican lawmakers to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" at the U.S. Capitol on June 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. More Getty Images/AFP Trump Begs, MAGA Burns As the month progressed and outrage escalated, Trump loyalists began turning on each other. On July 9, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino—long a leading promoter of Epstein conspiracies in his former job as media personality—confronted Bondi in a closed-door White House meeting. Furious that the DOJ memo appeared to shut down any further disclosure, Bongino reportedly threatened to resign. "Bongino is out-of-control furious," one senior official told NBC. "This destroyed his credibility. He's threatening to quit and torch Pam unless she's fired." Trump's Truth Social post on July 12, imploring his supporters not to attack Bondi, backfired immediately. "What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals'?" he asked, apparently referring to the MAGA-aligned podcasters and influencers with whom he was rapidly losing favor. He defended Bondi and downplayed Epstein as "somebody that nobody cares about." It became the first Trump post ever "ratioed" on his own platform. In Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly canceled House business, sending lawmakers home for summer early rather than face a vote on Epstein documents. When pressed, he called for "full transparency" and urged Bondi to explain the department's decisions. By mid-July, fractures were visible in public opinion polling. Quinnipiac found that 63 percent of voters disapproved of Trump's Epstein response. Even among Republicans, just 40 percent approved. His support among young men—the backbone of his 2024 online comeback—collapsed. A CBS/YouGov poll showed Trump's net approval among voters aged 18 to 29 dropped from 55 percent in February to 28 percent by July, a remarkable 27-point swing in a matter of months. Joe Rogan, Andrew Schulz, and Tim Dillon — three prominent voices from the manosphere — have begun openly criticizing Donald Trump on their respective podcasts, signaling a shift in the online culture that once helped... Joe Rogan, Andrew Schulz, and Tim Dillon — three prominent voices from the manosphere — have begun openly criticizing Donald Trump on their respective podcasts, signaling a shift in the online culture that once helped power his appeal. More YouTube / X "They voted for him because he met them where they were," said Rachel Janfaza, a researcher who studies Gen Z behavior. "But the message has to match the messenger. They're not seeing results—rent is still unaffordable, jobs are scarce, and their degrees feel obsolete the moment they graduate." Thom Hartmann, left-leaning political commentator and host of The Thom Hartmann Program, said the emotional toll of disappointment was starting to show. "Many Trump supporters have spent years emotionally and socially invested in his mythos... Admitting betrayal or deception requires admitting they were wrong, which comes with deep psychological costs. This accounts for the anguish and conflict we're seeing among the Trump base." On social media, longtime loyalists posted videos of themselves burning red MAGA hats. Others shared screenshots of Epstein files stamped "PHASE 1" and captioned them "where's phase 2?" Why was that stupid binder referred to as 'Phase 1' of Epstein document releases if DOJ believed there to be no client list and no additional information about Epstein's activities? Where is Phase 2? The whole thing is so stupid and ham-fisted. Tell us which intel agencies he… — Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 8, 2025 Hartmann said the outcome depends on whether more revelations surface: "Original videotapes or photos that are clearly not doctored, first-person testimony by Ghislaine Maxwell, or more former teenage victims going on the record could spell doom for his relationship with his base." But so far, no second wave of documents has arrived. And the blowback continues to metastasize. A clearly rattled White House communications office even issued an on-the-record response to a "South Park" episode skewering the president, keeping it in the news. Anything, it seemed, to take the focus off Epstein. As Trump scrambled to shift the spotlight elsewhere—accusing former President Barack Obama of a capital crime, releasing files on unrelated, long-ago assassinations, demanding the Washington Commanders go back to their old name, and even sending Cabinet officials to kick the tires on Alcatraz's ability to house criminals again—he found that none of the tactics that once insulated him from political fallout could contain the fury this time.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Delaware County man arrested in South Philadelphia mass shooting that injured 8 people, police say
A Delaware County man has been arrested for his role in the South Philadelphia mass shooting at a nightclub that injured eight people over the Fourth of July weekend, police said. The U.S. Marshals Service said Thursday 22-year-old Nino Dasilvio, of Darby, surrendered to law enforcement in Philadelphia with his attorney and family members "after days of negotiations." Philadelphia police said Dasilvo was charged with aggravated assault, weapons charges, possessing instruments of crime and other offenses. Dasilvo is the second person taken into custody in the shooting that happened at 7 Elements restaurant, bar and lounge on 11th Street and Washington Avenue on July 5, just before 4 a.m., according to police. Police have also charged 43-year-old Michael Welton, who was working as a security guard at the time of the shooting, with attempted murder, aggravated assault and other offenses. Police said Welton admitted to discharging a firearm in the shooting. Five men and three women, ranging in age from 25 to 43 years old, were wounded in the shooting. They were all placed in stable condition. Police said last week they're also looking for another suspect in the shooting. The shooting was one of two mass shootings in South Philadelphia within days of each other earlier this month. In Grays Ferry, a different mass shooting left three people dead and nine others wounded. Police are looking for multiple suspects in that case.
