Category: Bay Area

By Heather Hollingsworth and Brian Witte | Associated Press MISSION, Kan. — Road conditions were deteriorating Saturday in the central U.S. as a winter storm brought a mix of snow, ice and plunging temperatures, with forecasts calling for the dreaded combo to spread eastward in the coming days. “Winter returned,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland. The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually stays penned up around the North Pole, spinning like a top. But sometimes it escapes or stretches down to the U.S., Europe or Asia — and that’s when large numbers of people experience intense doses of cold. Studies show a fast-warming Arctic gets some of the blame for the increase in polar vortex stretching or wandering. Snow and ice in the forecast By Saturday evening, widespread heavy snow was likely between central Kansas and Indiana, especially along and north of Interstate 70, where there was a high chance of at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow. Part of the interstate was closed in central Kansas by the afternoon. The storm was forecast to

By Bill Barrow, Jeff Amy and Kate Payne | Associated Press ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) — Jimmy Carter ‘s extended public farewell began Saturday in Georgia, with the 39th U.S. president’s flag-draped casket tracing his long arc from the Depression-era South and family farming business to the pinnacle of American political power and decades as a global humanitarian. Those chapters shone throughout the opening stanza of a six-day state funeral intended to blend personalized memorials with the ceremonial pomp afforded to former presidents. The longest-lived U.S. executive, Carter died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. “He was an amazing man. He was held up and propped up and soothed by an amazing woman,” son James Earl “Chip” Carter III, told mourners at The Carter Center late Saturday afternoon, referring to his father and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023. “The two of them together changed the world. And it was an amazing thing to watch so close.” Grandson Jason Carter, who now chairs the center’s governing board, said, “It’s amazing what you can cram into a hundred years.” Carter’s children, grandchildren

OAKLAND — An Oakland police sergeant shot a man who then hid in a nearby home before surrendering after a standoff early Saturday, authorities said. It all started around 5:09 a.m. when the officer observed a man firing a rifle in the 6600 block of MacArthur Boulevard in East Oakland, according to the Oakland Police Department. The sergeant confronted and then chased the suspect on foot. The sergeant then shot the man, who then ran into a nearby apartment building and barricaded himself, police said. Additional officers responded to the building and after a lengthy standoff, the man surrendered and was taken into custody, according to the OPD. Police said they recovered a firearm at the scene. The suspect was transported to a hospital and was in stable condition as of Saturday afternoon, according to police. The Oakland Police Officer’s Association identified the officer who fired his weapon as Sgt. Jared Blue-Lowry. The officer was not injured, according to the police union. In accordance with OPD policy, he has been placed on paid administrative leave, while the department’s Office of Internal Accountability and the Community

By Fatima Hussein | Associated Press WASHINGTON — In the East Room of the White House on a particularly frigid Saturday afternoon, President Joe Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 of the most famous names in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and science. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aroused a standing ovation from the crowd as she received her medal. Clinton was accompanied to the event by her husband former President Bill Clinton, daughter Chelsea Clinton and grandchildren. Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor-director Denzel Washington were also awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor in a White House ceremony. “For the final time as president I have the honor bestowing the Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, on a group of extraordinary, truly extraordinary people, who gave their sacred effort, their sacred effort, to shape the culture and the cause of America,” Biden said in his opening remarks. “Let me just say to each of you, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’ve done to help this country,” Biden said Saturday. Four medals were awarded

(CNN) — Russia has vowed retaliation after claiming to have shot down eight US-made ATACMS missiles fired by Ukraine on Saturday morning. Moscow sees the use of such missiles, which have a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles), as a major escalation. The country’s air defenses shot down the eight ballistic missiles alongside 72 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Russia’s Ministry of Defense said. It added that “these actions by the Kyiv regime, which is supported by Western curators, will be met with retaliation.” The statement said several drones were destroyed in the Leningrad region in the north-west and one in Kursk, where Ukraine launched a surprise attack late last summer. The outgoing US President Joe Biden approved Kyiv’s use of ATACMS in November – saying in part it was in response to Russia expanding the conflict by deploying North Korean troops. Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to respond to Ukrainian strikes using ATACMS with Russia’s new nuclear-capable ballistic missile “Oreshnik.” Last month, Putin suggested that it could be fired at the capital Kyiv as a test of Western-supplied air defense systems.

By Pan Pylas | Associated Press LONDON — Prince William expressed his shock and sadness Saturday at the news of the death of his former nanny’s stepson in the New Year’s truck attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people. London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed Saturday that they are supporting the family of 31-year-old Edward Pettifer, including helping them through the process of returning his body to the U.K. Pettifer was from west London. In a statement on social media, the Prince of Wales said he and his wife, Catherine, were “shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack.” Pettifer was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who was the nanny for both William and his brother, Prince Harry, between 1993 and 1999, which included time after the death of their mother Princess Diana in 1997. Legge-Bourke, who is also known as Alexandra Pettifer, was regularly photographed with Diana. British media also reported that King Charles III is said to be deeply

By Bay City News Two people were arrested on Thursday following allegations of theft at a local Petaluma business. Police responded to a call at approximately 5:03 p.m. reporting the theft. Officers received information that the suspects fled via car and got their license plate, police said. Following an investigation, police tracked the two individuals to a residence in Petaluma’s jurisdiction, a press release on Friday noted. Authorities identified the suspects as Dylan Beck, 29, who is on parole with at least two prior theft convictions, and Hanna Fredrickson, 32, who is on felony probation, police said. A search of the residence led to the recovery of the stolen items. Beck was arrested on charges of parole violation, theft with prior convictions, and conspiracy. Fredrickson faces charges of probation violation, theft of less than $950, and conspiracy. Both Beck and Fredrickson were booked in Sonoma County.

By KATE PAYNE and BILL BARROW PLAINS, Ga. — Jimmy Carter’s long public goodbye began Saturday in Georgia, with the 39th U.S. president’s flag-draped casket rolling through his tiny hometown and past his boyhood farmhouse on its way to Atlanta, where he climbed the political ladder and based his decades of humanitarian work after leaving the White House. The former president’s six-day state funeral started in Americus at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, where current and former Secret Service agents who protected the late president loaded his remains into a black hearse and walked alongside as it rolled off the campus toward Plains. With Carter’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren accompanying their patriarch, a mournful train whistle filled the clear air as the pallbearers faced the hearse, hands on their hearts, for a final goodbye. In Plains, where Carter was born Oct. 1, 1924, and lived most of his life, mourners lined the main street, some holding bouquets of flowers and wearing pins bearing images of the former president. He died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. People line the street in Plains, Ga.

Santa Cruz’s beloved wharf reopened to the public Saturday, after about 150 feet of the pier’s end fell into the ocean last month and prompted the city to temporarily close the popular tourist destination. The wharf was deemed safe to reopen based on a recently completed sonar and engineering assessment conducted by engineering firm Moffatt and Nichol, according to the city. A sonar scan of the sea floor revealed that heavy construction equipment — including a skid steer and crane — which fell in the ocean, along with the wharf’s south end, are at a safe distance from the structure and do not pose a risk. “We want to let the community know, and people all over Norther California know, that it is safe to come to our wharf,” Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said during Saturday morning’s reopening ceremony on the Wharf Stage. In celebration of the reopening, parking for the first two hours on the wharf will be free for the month. Councilmember Scott Newsome, who represents the wharf area, said he appreciated how the Santa Cruz community supported one another after the

CAPITOLA — Effective Jan. 13, Yvette Brooks will cede her role as the city’s mayor as she embarks on a new professional career. Yvette Brooks.  The city’s first Latina mayor announced Friday that she had been hired as chief executive officer for the United Way of Santa Cruz County, filling a vacancy left by the departure of predecessor Keisha Browder, who left a month ago to helm the larger United Way Bay Area. Browder served as CEO in Santa Cruz since 2018 and worked for the agency since 2012. “It has truly been an honor serving on the City Council for the past six years,” Brooks was quoted in a media announcement. “I ran on a platform of supporting our community, focusing on the well-being of all residents and the youth living here. Now, I have the opportunity to serve the entire County of Santa Cruz, embracing United Way’s mission to ignite our community to give, advocate, and volunteer so that our youth succeed in school and life, our residents are healthy, and our families are financially independent. While it is an extremely difficult decision

OAKLAND — Three people were shot at a downtown night club Friday evening, according to the Oakland Police Department. A 32-year-old San Francisco man is in critical condition, while a 42-year-old Patterson woman and 30 year-old Pinole man are both in stable condition, authorities said Saturday morning. The shooting occurred around 5:41 p.m. at Level 13 Ultra Lounge, located at 341 13th St. It was not immediately known how many people were inside the club when the violence happened, or what prompted the shooting. No arrests have been made and no suspect info has been released. Anyone with information is asked to contact OPD at 510-238-3426 or the department’s tip line at 510-238-7950. Anyone with videos or photos that could assist with the investigation can send them to cidvideos@oaklandca.gov. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

PLEASANT HILL — At least one person was apparently wounded in a shooting here Monday morning. No information was immediately released about the victim or how badly they were injured. Initial reports were that the shooting apparently happened before noon on Contra Costa Boulevard between Ellinwoood and Doris drives. It was not immediately known if there were other possible victims. At least two vehicles were also hit by gunfire, but it was not immediately known if the person shot had been in one of them. Contra Costa Boulevard remained closed in the area as of 1:50 p.m. Monday while police investigated. Check back for details on this developing story. Originally Published: January 4, 2025 at 7:57 AM PST

Five-star guard Aliyahna “Puff” Morris carries defending Open Division state champ Etiwanda over East Bay powerhouse Carondelet. In boys action, De La Salle (14-0) to play reigning Open state champ Harvard-Westlake for title in Arizona. Etiwanda’s Aliyahna Morris #25 celebrates a score against Carondelet at the Sabrina Ionescu SI20 showcase at Carondelet High School,, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Concord, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Five-star guard Aliyahna “Puff” Morris carries defending Open Division state champ Etiwanda over East Bay powerhouse Carondelet. In boys action, De La Salle (14-0) to play reigning Open state champ Harvard-Westlake for title in Arizona.

California classrooms will see less smartphone use, more inclusive history classes and additional courses in the new year as a slew of new education laws take effect in 2025. The legislation comes as the state wraps up a busy year in education. K-12 public schools saw a continued decline in enrollment even as transitional kindergarten enrollment could soar with the inclusion of all 4-year-olds in 2025-26. California students also saw slight improvements in test score performance despite continuing to trail pre-pandemic scores. And gender identity debates rocked school communities as leaders struggled to balance parental rights with inclusive classrooms. California universities were also embroiled in battles over gender identity — with the debate coming to the Bay Area over a San Jose State University athlete — and the Israel-Hamas war, which sparked protests at college campuses across the state. Bay Area universities also saw a drop in freshmen enrollment amid a national financial aid mess that delayed hundreds of thousands of high school seniors’ aid applications. Here are some changes Californians can expect in the classroom in 2025. Legacy Admissions Ban California universities will no

Following a tense vote on the House floor to re-elect U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker, the Louisiana Republican swore in the 119th Congress on Friday afternoon, including the Bay Area delegation’s newest members: Sam Liccardo and Lateefah Simon. Liccardo and Simon — both Democrats — begin their careers on Capitol Hill at a time when Republicans narrowly control Congress and Donald Trump begins his second term in the White House on Jan. 20. Liccardo, the former mayor of San Jose, replaces Anna Eshoo in District 16 that covers parts of the South Bay and the Peninsula, while Simon, an ex-BART board member, takes over Barbara Lee’s District 12 seat in the East Bay. Eshoo and Lee were longstanding members of Congress, having served since 1993 and 1998 respectively. In the next two years, Simon said her priority “is to fight for the people of California’s 12th district — advancing bold solutions on housing, mental health, public safety, reproductive health and so much more — especially in the face of Republican attacks.” “The road ahead will be tough, but I am committed to serving and

TODAY’S WORD — GENERATE GENERATE: JEN-er-ate: To bring into existence; to produce. Average mark 40 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 56 or more words in GENERATE? The list will be published Monday. YESTERDAY’S WORD — CARILLON: cairn call carol ciao clan clarion coal coil coin coir cola collar coral corn acorn alnico racino racon rail rain rani rill roan roil roll icon inro iron laic lain lair liar lilac lion llano loan local loin loran oilcan oral orca nail noir nori 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 vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.

Dear Eric: I am a 76-year-old male whose friend of more than 70 years has a wife with severe arthritic conditions that have caused her to be basically wheelchair-bound for many years. Upon placing her back into their car, I normally place a kiss on her cheek. Over a year ago, as I started that, she whispered “on the lips” to me. Since that time, I have attempted to scale the friendship back because of the uneasiness it caused me. I have enjoyed their long-term friendship until this occurred. Am I being too sensitive about this? – Too Close Friend Dear Friend: If it made you uncomfortable or felt like the crossing of a boundary, you’re not being too sensitive. I’m sure you’ve gone over possible explanations in your head – perhaps she was joking, perhaps she misread your cheek kisses as advances, perhaps this, perhaps that. The reason is important but it’s not as important as how the words landed with you. It’s possible you feel awkward around the both of them now, or feel you’re holding a secret. Talking to your friend’s wife

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I go by a shortened version of my first name because I feel it suits me better than my full name. Even my parents started using the shortened name when I was a child, as they agreed it fit me better. As the manager of our intramural kickball team, I send out many emails to the players and always sign off using my shortened name, which most people follow. However, one player continues to use my full name in conversations every week. How can I politely let them know that I find my full name unpleasant on the ear and would prefer that they use my shortened name? GENTLE READER: By treating the request as an act of intimacy and not a chastisement: “I think we know each other well enough now that you can call me Gen, not Genevieve. All my friends do, and it’s what I prefer.” Shortening someone’s name can be a sign of familiarity. But with a new relationship, it can be overly so. Miss Manners suggests you act as though the people who make this mistake are

DEAR ABBY: I have been an amateur astronomer for 25-plus years, and I frequently observe celestial events. This year I invited my brother-in-law and his wife to watch a meteor shower with my husband and me. We both have campers, and I reserved and paid the deposit for two camping sites at a nice location close to some of the best night skies. The reservations were made more than a month ago. My sister-in-law, whom I dearly love and have been good friends with for more than 20 years, called me yesterday to let me know her husband had invited three of their preteen granddaughters. Abby, I thought they understood it would be an adult event, as we’ll be up half the night and traveling 30 minutes to get to the dark-sky site. I talked on the phone with my SIL for 90 minutes before I told her my BIL was wrong for not asking me first if it was OK, since I invited them and made all the arrangements for this event. Moments after we hung up, she texted me and said to cancel

PITTSBURG — A 27-year-old man suspected of illegally making and selling guns, including assault weapons, was arrested, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office said. The law enforcement agency said they will be testing the weapons to see if they are linked to any crime or shooting. The suspect, identified as Diego Vasquez-Gomez, was arrested on Thursday (Jan 2.) when detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at a residence in Pittsburg. This was part of an ongoing investigation into a shooting at the Contra Costa Fairground in Antioch last September. The shooting stemmed from an argument in which two suspects opened fire, resulting in a man suffering life-threatening injuries. Detectives said one of the two suspects had used an illegally manufactured gun during the shooting. During the search at Vasquez-Gomez’s home, authorities found assault weapons and a short-barrel rifle. Some of the weapons seized did not have serial numbers. “The weapons will be tested to see if they are linked to any shooting or crimes,” said the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in a news release. Vasquez-Gomez was booked into

TEHAMA COUNTY — A tornado warning was issued Friday in Shingletown, Manton, and Paynes Creek in Tehama and Shasta counties, urging residents to take shelter. The National Weather Service issued the warning for northern Tehema County and southern central Shasta County, but it expired at 6 p.m. The agency then issued a special weather statement cautioning residents in Shingletown, Lyonsville, Paynes Creek and Manton about a strong thunderstorm that would impact the areas through 7 p.m. The NWS said at 6:08 p.m., a Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm near Paynes Creek, or 13 miles southwest of Shingletown, moving east at 10 mph. “Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel clouds,” said the NWS. “This type of funnel cloud is harmless, but on rare occasions, they can  briefly touch down, producing wind gusts over 50 miles per hour.” The agency urged residents to move indoors if they spot a funnel cloud moving and report it to the NWS. The weather agency warned that gusty winds could knock down tree limbs, with possible minor hail damage to vegetation. Earlier, CBS reported that a