Category: Bay Area

SAN JOSE – A man died last week of injuries he suffered in a crash nearly a month earlier in San Jose, police said. The two-vehicle collision happened just before 1 p.m. on Dec. 6 in the 1100 block of Lincoln Avenue, San Jose police spokesperson Stacie Shih said in a news release. The man was driving a 2015 Volkswagen Golf northbound on Lincoln Avenue when he suffered a medical emergency and rear-ended a woman in a 2015 Audi A5, Shih said. The crash left the man with life-threatening injuries. Shih said he was taken to an area hospital and stabilized, but he died of his injuries on Jan. 15. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office will release the man’s identity after it is confirmed and his next of kin is notified. The death marked the 49th traffic fatality of 2024 on city streets, according to Shih. Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Ryan Leslie at 408-277-4654 or 4264@sanjoseca.gov. Check back for updates.

Bay Area Home Report 45 El Pintado Place – Google Street View A spacious house located in the first block of El Pintado Place in Danville has new owners. The 4,633-square-foot property, built in 1999, was sold on Dec. 6, 2024, for $3,050,000, or $658 per square foot. This single-story home offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and four baths. The property is equipped with central A/C. In addition, the home includes an attached three-car garage. Nestled on a generous 1.6-acre lot, the property provides abundant outdoor space including a pool. These nearby houses have also recently changed hands: A 2,205-square-foot home on the first block of Ohlson Lane in Danville sold in October 2024, for $2,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,134. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. On El Rio, Danville, in August 2022, a 2,822-square-foot home was sold for $2,025,000, a price per square foot of $718. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. In November 2022, a 3,929-square-foot home on Shirlee Drive in Danville sold for $2,650,000, a price per square foot of $674.

The San Jose Sharks’ season hit rock bottom Tuesday night. The Sharks took a four-goal lead early in the second period, only for the wheels to totally fall off in what became a disheartening 7-5 loss to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The Sharks led 5-1 after Mikael Granlund scored a power-play goal at the 4:28 mark of the second period. But the Sharks sat back, lost their edge, and watched momentum completely swing the other way, as the Predators scored twice in 53 seconds midway through the second period and added three more goals in the first 8:09 of the third. The Sharks could not generate a response as they gave up yet another third-period lead in what can easily be described as their biggest faceplant of the season. San Jose is now 8-6-2 in games in which it has held a lead going into the third period. The loss marked a crushing end to the Sharks’ five-game road trip, which began with an encouraging win over the Detroit Red Wings last Tuesday and was quickly followed by losses to the Columbus Blue

VALLEJO — Even though he has laid his roots in retirement elsewhere, the rough-and-tumble place CC Sabathia grew up and its characters who helped him along the way were still on his mind when the phone rang Tuesday afternoon with good news. Sabathia, 44, will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer alongside Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner, receiving 342 of a possible 394 votes (86.8%) in his first time on the ballot. He will go in wearing a Yankees cap on his plaque. But Vallejo will be in his heart. “Being from Vallejo and being from the Bay Area is something I’m very proud of,” Sabathia said on a conference call after the announcement. “I think most people know my story at this point, the trials and tribulations I had coming out of Vallejo, so I’m very proud of where I came from and where I’m sitting today.” In case you haven’t read his best-selling biography or watched the HBO special, Sabathia’s path to Cooperstown started in a tough part of town called “The Crest,” where he would throw grapefruits at

By DAVID BAUDER, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — An estimated 24.6 million television viewers watched President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the smallest audience for the quadrennial ceremony since Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013. The Nielsen Company said Tuesday that viewership was down from Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration, which reached 33.8 million, and Trump’s first move into the White House, seen by 30.6 million in 2017. Inauguration viewership has varied widely over the past half-century, from a high of 41.8 million when Ronald Reagan came into office in 1981 to a low of 15.5 million for the start of George W. Bush’s second term in 2004. The length of Trump’s inauguration coverage may have hurt him in bragging rights. The 24.6 million figure represents the average number of people tuning in to coverage on one of 15 networks between 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern. In past years, the coverage didn’t go on for so long, which meant the averages were likely higher because people tune away as the day goes on. Nielsen had no immediate estimate, for example, of how many people watched

Donald Trump ended his first day as president Monday by posting a sneering message on his Truth Social platform, boasting how his team was hunting down more than 1,000 Biden appointees to give them a message, in the words of his reality TV catchphrase: “You’re fired!” One of those Biden White House appointees is José Andrés, the revered Spanish-American chef who founded the nonprofit World Central Kitchen and who Biden appointed to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, the Daily Beast reported. Trump’s “firing” of Andres comes as the chef’s World Central Kitchen has been in Los Angeles for nearly the past two weeks, serving more than 200,000 meals to first responders and families affected by the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires. Despite the humanitarian’s efforts on behalf of people in this major American city, the new president appeared to hurl particular scorn at him, as well as three others, given that he called these appointees out by name in his Truth Social post, the Daily Beast also said. The others are Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Lee isn’t the change that Oakland needs Re: “Lee jumps into mayoral race” (Page A1, Jan. 9). I see that Barbara Lee has decided to run for mayor of Oakland. Do the people in Oakland so love the way the city has been run for the past 20 years that they want more of the same? Are the streets so clean, crime so diminishing, homeless issues so improving that they want more of the exact same thing? This is part of why I left Oakland and my beloved home with a view. I realized that Oakland voters continue to erroneously believe that voting in people with the same views on problem-solving as those who just left office will never solve the problems. It is insanity. Barbara Wilson Dublin Automate BART before taxing all of us Re: “To help BART, make rides free and raise taxes to cover costs” (Page A6, Dec. 11). Michael O’Hare made some good points about taxing everyone and eliminating the fares for BART riders in his

When the WNBA’s free-agent negotiating period began Tuesday, the Bay Area’s new team did not make an immediate splash. The Valkyries weren’t alone. As of late in the day, none of the league’s 13 teams had come to terms with the dozens of available free agents, at least not publicly. Teams are not allowed to sign players until Feb. 1 but agreements can be reached before then. As it stands, the Valkyries have 11 players on their roster, all added during the expansion draft in December.  In free agency, players are separated into three classifications. Unrestricted free agents can sign anywhere. Restricted agents can negotiate with anyone but their previous team can match the offer. Core players can negotiate a deal with another team but can only move on if their previous team receives compensation in return. Here are some players who could end up with the Valkyries: Kelsey Plum (core player) The prolific shooting guard is a free agent but was recently designated as a core player by the Las Vegas Aces. Should the Valkyries trade for Plum, she would instantly give the expansion

Five days after a huge fire at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants in Moss Landing, Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for an investigation into the blaze, which has jolted California’s renewable energy industry. “The governor believes there should be an investigation into this incident to determine cause and any steps that can be taken to make older facilities like Moss Landing safer,” said Daniel Villasenor, a spokesman for Newsom. “As the governor has said before, as this technology has evolved, California has done extensive work to advance battery safety and reliability.” Villasenor said Newsom thinks Vistra, the Texas company that owns the burned battery plant, and the California Public Utilities Commission, a state agency, should each conduct investigations. The commission’s Safety and Enforcement Division is scheduled to meet with plant officials Wednesday. Meanwhile local leaders on Tuesday asked the two companies that operate at the site to shut their battery storage facilities there down indefinitely until the cause of the fire can be discovered and steps can be taken to reduce the risk of another. By a vote of 5-0, the Monterey

MARTINEZ — It has all the makings of the Laci Peterson murder case, minus the accompanying media frenzy. A San Pablo father of two stands accused of murdering his wife and her mother simply because they became a nuisance for him. Prosecutors say that after dumping their bodies in the Oakland estuary, he reported them voluntarily missing, dropped his children off to live at his parent’s house and began a search for a new romantic interest with a Facebook page advertising himself as a “fun single dad.” But now, 41-year-old Phuc Vo is in court before a jury facing two murder charges. In front of a sparsely attended courtroom, both attorneys made their opening statements to jurors Tuesday morning, describing in detail what they think the evidence will show. The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Mary Knox, started the trial by carefully going through the history of a police investigation that started with a report from Vo, which was only thoroughly investigated months later thanks to a helpful — but suspicious — tipster. The body of Vo’s wife, Tho Ly, has never been found. Authorities say

As we head into 2025, the cannabis industry is becoming one of the most dynamic and promising sectors for small business owners. The growing movement toward cannabis legalization, combined with regulatory reforms and increasing consumer demand, is creating a wealth of opportunities for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re already in the cannabis sector or considering entering, there are numerous ways to capitalize on this rapidly expanding market. Here’s a look at the most exciting trends and investment opportunities for small business owners in the cannabis industry in 2025. 1. Federal Legalization: A Game-Changer for Small Businesses One of the most significant developments in 2024 was the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) re-scheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. This change recognized cannabis as having medical uses, which is expected to lead to full federal legalization in 2025. For small business owners, this shift will result in greater access to banking services , better tax treatment , and reduced regulatory hurdles . Businesses in the cannabis sector have long struggled with banking challenges due to the federal illegality of cannabis.

Bay Area Home Report 1946 Blackfoot Drive – Google Street View The spacious property located in the 1900 block of Blackfoot Drive in Fremont was sold on Oct. 18, 2024 for $3,201,000, or $1,118 per square foot. The house, built in 1979, has an interior space of 2,864 square feet. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Additionally, the house features a garage. Nestled on a generous 0.4-acre lot, the property provides abundant outdoor space including a pool. Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby: In September 2022, a 2,434-square-foot home on Sioux Drive in Fremont sold for $2,000,000, a price per square foot of $822. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. On Paiute Court, Fremont, in February 2023, a 4,091-square-foot home was sold for $2,700,000, a price per square foot of $660. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. A home on the 42000 block of Vinha Way in Fremont sold in April 2023, for $3,500,000. This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data

While the future home for Sundance, the iconic indie film festival actor Robert Redford helped create, remains up for debate, there’s no argument about the 2025 lineup in Utah. It’s dynamite, and includes a smattering of films with Bay Area ties. This year’s roster of 88 films will be screened Jan. 23 through Feb. 2. The event isn’t yet budging from Park City, Utah, and Salt Lake City as organizers search for the festival’s next home. Their search has narrowed to Boulder, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Salt Lake City and Park City. Can’t make it to Utah? No problem. As it has done in the past, Sundance offers an online component in which half of the films will be available to stream Jan. 30 through Feb. 2. Tickets for both in-person and online screenings are open for purchase at festival.sundance.org/tickets; better get them fast since they sell out. Here’s a look at some of the “bigger” and lesser-known entries in the Sundance lineup. Most are available for online viewing. “André Is an Idiot”: Ignoring the advice to get a colonoscopy for far too long, irreverent

ANTIOCH — Antioch City Attorney Thomas Lloyd Smith resigned Jan. 17 following a special city council meeting held on the same day. Replacing Smith on an interim basis will be Derek Cole of Cole Huber LLP, the city said Tuesday in a news release. Cole will fill that role until a permanent replacement is appointed. “The City Council would like to express its gratitude to Mr. Smith for his service and dedication to our city over the past five and a half years and wish him well in his future endeavors,” the city said in the release. Prior to Tuesday’s announcement, the Antioch City Council held a special closed-door meeting on Jan. 17 with one agenda item that simply indicated that a “public employee performance discipline or dismissal or release” would be discussed. Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker was absent. While it was unclear at the time which employee was involved, a small group of residents and activists showed up at City Hall in support of Smith following rumors of his possible dismissal by the council. Members of the public brought placards in support of city staff

I’ve spent the last couple of years exploring the Bay Area’s vibrant brewery scene, dropping in on taprooms from Santa Cruz to Walnut Creek. A few weeks ago, I headed south to Fremont and Hayward, where I found several breweries well worth a visit. Jack’s Brewing, Fremont This Fremont Hub brewery originally opened in 2000, and soon ran headlong into the lockdowns that shuttered the taproom. But regulars Brian and Tricia Sparling were so sad to see the brewpub close, they bought and reopened it the following year, hiring brewer Patrick Wolpert to oversee the beer end. Jack’s had closed in such a hurry, there was still beer in the fermenters, so it took some time to get everything cleaned up and restored. The next challenge was recreating the original recipes, a daunting task given the brewery’s recipe book was so water damaged, it was nearly impossible to decipher. Wolpert resurrected the beers with help from Jack’s regulars and their taste memories, and then began making a few brews of his own. The beers are all clean and well-made, with a nice range. Both the

Even if Ivanka Trump has insisted that she doesn’t plan to move back to Washington, D.C., and take a prominent role in her father’s White House, she seized on her father’s second inauguration to once again cast herself in a quasi-princess role in American society. Donald Trump’s oldest daughter did so by stealing an iconic look from Hollywood royalty for her appearance at her father’s inaugural Liberty Ball Monday night. She wore a re-creation of the haute couture black-and-white gown that Hubert de Givenchy’ designed for Hepburn to wear in the 1954 film “Sabrina.” A White House representative told the Daily Mail that Ivanka Trump was “honored” to wear the gown and “incredibly grateful” that the Arnault family, which owns Givenchy atelier as part of the LVMH conglomerate, created “this masterpiece” of a gown for her. Ivanka Trump praised the designers for “capturing the original artistry and elegance with remarkable precision and craftsmanship.” Sons of US President Donald Trump Eric Trump (2nd R) and son Donald Trump Jr. (L), his daughter Ivanka Trump (R) and granddaughter Kai Madison Trump attend the Liberty inaugural ball in

Award-winning San Francisco chef Charles Phan, a trailblazer whose modern interpretations of Vietnamese cuisine captivated the Bay Area, died Monday of cardiac arrest. He was 62. When his famed Slanted Door first opened in 1994 in San Francisco’s Mission district, his Shaking Beef and Cellophane Noodles with Crab were among the most talked-about dishes in San Francisco — and Shaking Beef remains a standard not only on his menus but at Vietnamese restaurants throughout the Bay Area. Too popular to keep up with reservations, the restaurant moved to a South of Market location in 2002 and then to the city’s Ferry Building in 2004. In 2014, the James Beard Foundation bestowed Outstanding Restaurant of the Year honors on the Slanted Door. Phan expanded the concept to the East Bay in 2019 with an upscale outpost at San Ramon’s City Center Bishop Ranch and to Napa. The Ferry Building location, which has been closed since 2000, had been scheduled to reopen in the spring of this year. A statement issued Tuesday by the Slanted Door Group said, “The restaurants will continue to operate under the leadership

 Bay Area News Group boys basketball Top 20 ( Mercury News & East Bay Times ) (Records through Monday) No. 1 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (13-1)  Previous ranking: 1 Since last ranking: Beat Serra 73-35, St. Francis 75-37 Up next: Tuesday at Mitty, 7:30 p.m. No. 2 SALESIAN (18-1) Previous ranking: 2 Since last ranking: Beat Albany 65-41, Bethel 82-34, Pinole Valley 66-33, Clovis West 81-42 Up next: Thursday at Vallejo, 7 p.m. No. 3 SAN RAMON VALLEY (13-7) Previous ranking: 3 Since last ranking: Lost to De La Salle 51-45, beat Livermore 86-60, Clayton Valley 65-35, Bishop O’Dowd 76-66 Up next: Tuesday vs. Amador Valley, 7:30 p.m. No. 4 DOUGHERTY VALLEY (14-6) Previous ranking: 6 Since last ranking: Beat Foothill 62-37, De La Salle 59-48, Santa Rosa 84-49 Up next: Tuesday vs. Livermore, 7:30 p.m. No. 5 DE LA SALLE (16-3)  Previous ranking: 3 Since last ranking: Beat SRV 51-45, lost to Dougherty Valley 59-48, Sunnyslope 53-46 Up next: Tuesday vs. Dublin, 7:30 p.m. No. 6 OAKLAND TECH (14-5) Previous ranking: 5 Since last ranking: Beat Skyline 66-33, McClymonds 78-48, lost to Inderkum 85-59 Up next:

WASHINGTON D.C. — There was the aquaponics farmer from Half Moon Bay, the Sacramento Republican Assembly president who talked online about “going to war,” and the yoga studio owner from Gilroy. The Northern California residents were all named by federal prosecutors as people who joined the thousands of Capitol insurrectionists on Jan. 6, 2021, and now they’re all recipients of a pardon from President Donald Trump. RELATED: Former Proud Boys leader and Oath Keepers founder released after Trump offers Jan. 6 clemency All told, more than 1,500 people have been indicted or already prosecuted for the massive Capitol break-in, including more than 500 charged with violence against police. At least 17 were from Northern California. Many of those pardoned had already completed short jail sentences: Their criminal convictions will be expunged, and they will be released from any ongoing probation requirements. Trump’s order also directs the attorney general to “pursue dismissal with prejudice … of all pending indictments against individuals for their conduct related to the events at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.” Here’s a look at the Trump pardon

Bay FC defender Jen Beattie is retiring from professional soccer, the NWSL club announced on Tuesday morning. A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Beattie’s decorated 18-year career has spanned four countries, includes 14 trophies and stints at some of the world’s top clubs, and comes to a close after one season with Bay FC. Beattie joined the Bay Area club in February 2024 after a transfer from Arsenal and appeared in 11 games during the 2024 season. “I’m very, very grateful for everything I’ve been able to do through football,” Beattie said in the team’s news release. “When I look back at my career, my favorite thing of all is how fun it was. I’ve loved every second of it, even all the hard stuff. I would do it all again, all the injuries, the day to day, the big games. I feel so lucky to have made friends for life off the back of it as well. I’ve met really good people, and worked with great coaches and awesome clubs.”  “I’d like to thank the fans at Bay FC – you made me feel welcome

SAN JOSE — No one was injured after an unknown gunman opened fire on a group of police officers sitting in a parked car Monday night, according to the San Jose Police Department. The shooting was reported at 10:38 p.m. when plainclothes officers, inside a parked unmarked car near Melbourne Boulevard and McLaughlin Avenue, say someone shot at them, police said. At least one of the officers returned fire, but there was no immediate indication that anyone was hit, police said. The officers were not injured. Because of an ensuing police investigation, McLaughlin Avenue was closed Tuesday morning between Interstate 280 and Appian Lane, while Melbourne Boulevard was closed from McLaughlin Avenue to Macredes Avenue. Police did not release additional details Tuesday morning, and announced plans to disclose more information about the shooting in the afternoon. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.