Category: Bay Area

The Airport fire, accidentally ignited by an Orange County work crew, has sparked about $400 million in liability claims from more than 100 people seeking an array of damages and reimbursement, down to one evacuee’s $3 purchase of peanut M&Ms at an Arco station. Some of the claimants lost homes or personal belongings. Others sustained burns. Some were trapped by the flames. All were victims of a 23,526-acre fire that began Sept. 9 and burned for 26 days in Orange and Riverside counties after a public works crew used heavy machinery to move boulders in tinder-dry Trabuco Canyon. The crew had failed to follow department “best practices” and bring a water truck for fire suppression. Some evacuees called that a “terrible error” or “a mistake with horrible consequences.” Katie and Regis Saalfeld look through the remains of their cabin in Holy Jim Canyon on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. The cabin, in the Orange County portion of the Cleveland National Forest, was destroyed in the Airport fire. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG) 1 of 2 Katie and Regis Saalfeld look through the remains of

The mother of two boys killed during a San Diego police vehicle pursuit filed a lawsuit last week alleging negligence on behalf of the department and the officers involved. Malikai, 8, and Mason Orozco-Romero, 4, were killed Dec. 8, 2023, when a BMW allegedly driven by Angel Velasquez Salgado, 20, slammed into the car carrying the boys on an Interstate 805 onramp. The car went down an embankment and crashed into a tree, then caught fire. The boys’ mother, Victoria Hayes, and her front-seat passenger, Lisbeth Martinez, were severely injured. At the time of the collision, San Diego police had been pursuing Salgado in a high-speed chase that began after officers attempted to pull him over for a bad headlight. Salgado was arrested and charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, hit and run, evading and driving without a license. He has pleaded not guilty. In the complaint filed Tuesday in San Diego County Superior Court, lawyers for Hayes and Martinez allege that police “never should have engaged (Salgado) in a high speed chase and negligently failed to terminate the pursuit prior to causing harm and death

About two weeks before state officials will vote on the future of the controversial Aliso Canyon underground natural gas storage facility, which became the site of a massive gas leak nine years ago, a group of 100 scientists sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to shut down the facility. For four months in 2015 the gas leak spewed nearly 100,000 metric tons of methane, the largest methane release in U.S. history. The disaster forced 32,000 residents in Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Chatsworth —  and several other communities in the San Fernando Valley — to evacuate and many experienced nosebleeds, dizziness and respiratory issues. According to UCLA researchers studying the health impacts of the gas leak, pregnant women living near the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility during and after the blowout were more likely to have premature births and low-weight newborns compared to women in other communities. Former California Gov. Jerry Brown directed the CPUC in 2017 to draft a plan that by 2027 would shut down the facility located in an underground depleted oil reservoir in the Santa Susana Mountains

DEAR JOAN: I know that dogs sweat through their tongues and panting, but do cats do the same? I’m worried about my Maine Coon, Toby. He’s about 3 years old but ever since I’ve had him – a couple of years – he likes to find the warmest spot in the house to stretch out. In the winter, that hot spot is in front of the fireplace. He gets so close to gas flames, I’m afraid he’s going to burn himself. Is there something wrong with him? Should I stop using the fireplace? He never seems to react to the heat. I’ve never seen him panting. — Maria J., San Jose DEAR MARIA: Cats and dogs sweat in much the same way, but not in the way you think. Dogs don’t sweat through their tongues. Panting allows a dog to quickly take in a breath of air, humidify it and breathe it out. This has the effect of cooling the dog from the inside out. Cats also use panting to regulate their body temperature, but like dogs, they sweat through glands on their paws. The most telling

Santa Clara County is building a war chest for immigration fight against the Trump administration The county is moving $5 million out of its reserves to protect immigrants The county is moving $5 million out of its reserves to help protect immigrants. Originally Published: December 9, 2024 at 6:30 AM PST

TODAY’S WORD — RANKLE RANKLE: RANK-ul: To anger or irritate. Average mark 15 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 19 or more words in RANKLE? The list will be published tomorrow. SATURDAY’S WORD — EPHEMERAL: earl epee ephemera pale paler palm pare peal pear pearl peel peeler peer perm plea pram hale hamper hare harem harm harp heal healer heap hear heel helm help helper hemp here male maple mare marl meal melee mere rale ramp real realm ream reap reel repeal repel ahem alee ampere ample aper lame lamer lamp leap leaper leer leper To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last! RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or

Dear Eric: I play mah-jongg with senior citizens several times a week at a Barnes & Noble. One day our group needed two tables. There were several open tables but the only one of the right size had stuff sitting on it, along with a backpack on the floor. I moved the stuff to another table and took the one we needed. When the young man finally came back, I apologized and said, “Sorry to move your stuff, but we needed this table, and you were nowhere around.” He then told me it was rude to touch his stuff. Many of the ladies agreed with him, so I wonder if I was wrong. But the way I look at it is, you can’t put your stuff on a table and then walk around for an hour and expect no one to want the table. Also, I have come many times early and sat at a table to “reserve” it rather than just leaving my stuff on it. What do you think? – Game Play Rules Dear Rules: I think you shouldn’t have touched another person’s

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 30-year-old woman, and my parents are constantly pressuring me to get married. The truth is, I don’t want to — ever. I’ve made a conscious decision to focus on my own passions, dreams and personal growth instead of pursuing a traditional path. However, this choice has been met with disappointment from my family, especially since I grew up in a traditional household. As the eldest, I spent most of my childhood and teenage years helping to raise my younger siblings. I had to take on a lot of responsibility, including tasks that I felt should have been my parents’. It wasn’t just physically exhausting, but emotionally draining, too. I often felt like I didn’t have a childhood of my own. This experience shaped my mindset, and I made a vow to myself that once I was older and independent, I would never subject myself to the pressures of having a family of my own. This decision feels right for me, but I can’t help but wonder if it sounds selfish to others. My family sees marriage and children as essential

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A young couple moved in next door. When they get mail addressed to the former occupant, they don’t contact her, even though she lives in the same small town (and runs a store here). One recent package contained some marketing materials she had ordered from me, which I mistakenly sent to her old address. When we figured out the problem, I texted my new neighbor, and he then left the package on my porch. But he had had it for three weeks without doing anything about it. When these neighbors are on their deck and my husband goes into his vegetable garden nearby, they immediately go inside. What’s wrong with these people? GENTLE READER: Maybe they are on their honeymoon. Maybe they are on the lam. Who knows? But they do not have to socialize with you. In any case, they do not want to be good neighbors, which is their privilege — up to a point. Retaining someone else’s mail was beyond that point. Miss Manners hopes that the post office will be more responsive when your former neighbor requests her

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Felicity Huffman, 62; Donny Osmond, 67; Beau Bridges, 83; Dame Judi Dench, 90. Happy Birthday: Communication will encourage compassion and understanding. Getting along regardless of differences will pave the way to progress. A willingness to see all sides of a situation and to offer concrete alternatives along with compromise will show those you associate with your ability to lead the way. Stepping up and making a difference is necessary, so don’t sit back. Trust your instincts and be diligent when checking facts. Your numbers are 4, 17, 23, 28, 32, 35, 44, 47. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Use your imagination. Pace yourself and budget wisely to ensure you get the highest return. A passionate discussion will clarify your position and ward off anyone trying to lead you astray. Keep your money, plans and possessions in a safe place. Focus on self-improvement, not trying to change others. 3 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your actions will be scrutinized by onlookers and those trying to outmaneuver you. Refrain from letting anger set in when change is what to concentrate on if you

SANTA CLARA — It’s nice knowing these 49ers didn’t totally fool us. It’s comforting to confirm that the kind of performance they put on the field Sunday — a 38-13 onslaught of the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium — is, in fact, still possible for this team. We can take some solace now, having seen for the first time this season a Niners team that showed toughness, fight, and grit. They were aggressive and efficient, and they built momentum through complementary football. Yes, the 49ers might have waited 14 weeks to show it, but the team in red jerseys on Sunday was a good football team. Those Niners on the field Sunday were the Niners we expected to see all season — a team that went from offensive performances the past two weeks (losing by a combined margin of 73-20) to the right kind of offensive (319 first-half yards, 24-0 lead) on Sunday. The shame is that it was probably too little, too late for San Francisco. While they are not technically eliminated from postseason contention, the 49ers’ only realistic route to the playoffs is

The 49ers got back in the win column on Sunday, beating the Bears 38-13. They dominated the first half, scoring on four of their first five possessions and holding the Bears to just four total yards of offense at the break. The defense relented some in the second half, but the Bears never even made it a two-score game. Brock Purdy was 20-for-25 passing for 325 yards and two touchdowns. He was shaken up after a high hit in the fourth quarter, but returned to the game one play later. Isaac Guerendo rushed 15 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns before going to the locker room early with a foot injury. Patrick Taylor Jr. spelled him and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown, totaling 25 yards on seven carries. George Kittle did not score, but he made up almost half of Purdy’s passing yards, catching six balls for 151 yards. Jauan Jennings caught two touchdowns from Purdy and had seven receptions for 90 yards. Here’s what coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers had to say after the win: San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan keeps

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors ruled out Andrew Wiggins ahead of their contest against the Timberwolves, meaning Golden State will be without its best point-of-attack defender against Anthony Edwards. The right ankle impingement that knocked Wiggins out has been an issue for a couple weeks now and flared up on Friday night — the Warriors’ first meeting with Minnesota. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the injury isn’t a long-term concern for the wing and described Wiggins as day-to-day. Wiggins has missed three games this season. “It’s all part of it,” Kerr said. “People are missing games all over the league. You just lean into your depth.” Not only is Wiggins the Warriors’ best perimeter defender, he also ranks second on the team in scoring at 17.2 points per game. The veteran is shooting 42.7% from 3, a crucial mark for a team desperate for consistent shooting around Steph Curry. The Warriors have lost six of seven, including Friday night’s 107-90 defeat. In that game, Minnesota’s aggressive, athletic and rangy defense choked out the Warriors’ offense in the halfcourt, limiting Golden State to a 15-point second

By Eric Tucker and Aamer Madhani | Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. government believes missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian capital, is alive and that Washington is committed to bringing him home after Bashar Assad’s ouster from power in Damascus. “We think we can get him back,” Biden told reporters at the White House, while acknowledging that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. “Assad should be held accountable.” Biden said officials must still identify exactly where Tice is after his disappearance in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus. “We’ve remained committed to returning him to his family,” he said. Tice, who is from Houston, has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets. A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” He has not been heard from since. Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him. The United States has no new evidence that Tice

Cal didn’t face USC or UCLA this season in its first year away from the Pac-12, but the Bears will play in Southern California, after all. The Bears (6-6, 2-6 ACC) were selected Sunday to play in the LA Bowl against UNLV (10-3, 6-1 Mountain West) on Dec. 18. Kickoff at SoFi Stadium is set for 6 p.m. and the bowl will air on ESPN. Cal opened as a 1.5-point favorite, according to the Action Network. In Justin Wilcox’s eighth year leading the program, Cal finished tied for 14th in the 17-team ACC after going 4-0 in non-conference play. The former Pac-12 teams kept the ties to the conference’s bowl games rather than taking on new affiliations in their new conferences, and Cal ended up with the shortest commute possible. The Bears will travel further than the Rebels, though, for a game that could help both teams recruit the Los Angeles area, though UNLV will do so with a new voice as coach Barry Odom accepted the job at Purdue this weekend. Wide receivers coach Del Alexander was named the Rebels’ interim head coach Sunday

HAYWARD — Police here are investigating the killing of a man found with gunshot wounds late Saturday night behind an industrial complex along Industrial Boulevard. No suspects were in custody as of Sunday afternoon, and the investigation is ongoing, police said. The death is the city’s 14th homicide of 2024. Police received a call at 11:45 p.m. Saturday about a shooting in the 25000 block of Industrial Boulevard, authorities said. Responding officers found an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers and emergency medical personnel provided treatment at the scene before transporting the man to a hospital, where he later died. The victim’s identity was not released Sunday, pending notification of family. Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call Detective Navas at 510-293-7176. Originally Published: December 8, 2024 at 2:57 PM PST

Pedestrian fatality in Solano County is under investigation The crash happened on Gibson Canyon Road between Farrell Road and Vine Street around 10:09 p.m. 4 people are killed in a car crash in unincorporated San Diego County. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) By Bay City News A fatal collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian in unincorporated Solano County near Vacaville Saturday night is under investigation, though driving under the influence is not suspected, the California Highway Patrol said. The crash happened on Gibson Canyon Road between Farrell Road and Vine Street around 10:09 p.m., according to the CHP. The roadway was closed to accommodate an onsite investigation, reopening at 11:50 p.m., the CHP said.

In one form or another, College Football Playoff controversy touched the SEC, Big 12, ACC and Mountain West — all the relevant conferences except one. The Big Ten was essentially unscathed during the selection process for the inaugural 12-team event. Oregon, the undefeated conference champion, landed the No. 1 overall seed. Penn State, the runner-up, received the No. 6 seed, followed by No. 8 Ohio State and No. 10 Indiana. The Hoosiers were closest to the fire but never seemed in danger of losing their spot — even after Clemson won the ACC championship and stole a bid. It was always Alabama vs. SMU for the seventh and final at-large berth. Why did Indiana stay above the fray? For that matter, why did Penn State, which had one victory over a ranked team (Illinois), receive the No. 6 seed? And why did Ohio State warrant the No. 8 spot ahead of Tennessee, giving the Buckeyes home-field advantage in their opening-round date with the Volunteers? “Ultimately as a committee and as we voted these teams, Ohio State was one ahead of Tennessee,” said Warde Manuel, the

The 49ers are clinging to their playoff hopes as they return Sunday to Levi’s Stadium to play their first home game in three weeks. The Niners face first overall draft pick Caleb Williams and the Bears, who fired coach Matt Eberflus last week after a Thanksgiving loss to the Lions, Chicago’s sixth consecutive defeat. San Francisco won’t have Christian McCaffrey, who injured his knee last week and is out for the season. Jordan Mason, McCaffrey’s backup, is out too with a sprained ankle, so it’ll be up to rookie Isaac Guerendo to run the ball for the 49ers. Other stars will also be missing: Nick Bosa was ruled out Saturday with an oblique injury that has lingered for weeks and Trent Williams’ ankle injury will also keep him off the field. The Bears, meanwhile, will be led by interim coach Thomas Brown, the offensive coordinator who took over when Eberflus was shown the door. The 49ers enter Sunday with a 7 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to the NFL’s playoff odds calculator, but they are only two games back of Seattle (7-5) for

Thankfully, the field for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff was set Sunday morning. Had the process lasted another week, it might have ripped the sport apart and pitted conference commissioners against each other in steel-cage matches. Not everything sparked outrage when the CFP selection committee revealed the pairings. Oregon and Georgia were the top-two seeds, as expected. Boise State, champion of the Mountain West, and Arizona State, which won the Big 12, received the No. 3 and 4 seeds, respectively, and will have opening-round byes. Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and Ohio State will play home games in the opening round. But that’s where the relative peace and tranquility ended. The committee granted the final at-large berth to SMU, not Alabama, and you could instantly imagine smoke billowing from the nostrils of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. Alabama (9-3) had more quality wins and played a vastly tougher schedule than the Mustangs (11-2) but also had uglier losses than the ACC runner-up. That wasn’t the only flashpoint. Boise State was seeded higher than Arizona State despite a weaker schedule — an outcome that sends the

A Spare the Air alert is in effect through Sunday, amid moderate to unhealthy air quality across the Bay Area. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the alert Sunday morning, making it illegal for residents or businesses to burn wood or manufactured logs indoors and outside. Air quality index forecasts show conditions are unhealthy for sensitive groups on the Peninsula, Santa Clara Valley, northern Alameda County, West Contra Costa County and parts of the North Bay. Much of the rest of the Bay Area is experiencing moderate conditions. “Regional wood burning and easterly winds transporting air pollution into the Bay Area from the Central Valley have contributed to high overnight concentrations of fine particle pollution and unhealthy air quality,” the agency said in a press release Sunday. Cool temperatures and light winds preventing the mixing of what National Weather Service Meteorologist Karleisa Rogacheski described as a “pool of cooler air” below a layer of warmer air. Those weather conditions also help trap smoke from wood burning closer to homes and increases pollution buildup, BAAQMD said. Conditions are expected to improve slightly as northernly