Category: Bay Area

By Anthony Washington, The Fresh Toast Video games are so popular around 25% of the world population plays them…so which ones have the marijuana in them? Over 3 billion people play video games globally with about 1.7 billion playing online. The average age is 32 years old with 53% being male.  And also being mainstream, marijuana pops up in these popular video games. Cannabis has been featured in various video games over the years, reflecting changing societal attitudes towards the plant.  The green planet has been featured on the Simpsons, Martha Stewart is a fan, and even younger and state level politicians is promoting it. It is part of the culture. And if you want to add into your gaming life, here are some options. RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life Grand Theft Auto The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise has prominently featured cannabis in multiple installments. In GTA: San Andreas, players encounter “The Truth,” a cannabis-loving hippie voiced by Peter Fonda. GTA V takes it further, allowing players to smoke from bongs and even purchase a medical marijuana dispensary called “Smoke on the Water”. In GTA Online, players can operate cannabis

Bay Area Home Report 18459 Twin Creeks Road – Google Street View A 2,694-square-foot house built in 1974 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 18400 block of Twin Creeks Road in Monte Sereno was sold on Nov. 21, 2024, for $3,400,000, or $1,262 per square foot. This two-story house offers a roomy layout with five bedrooms and three baths. In addition, the home includes a three-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The lot of the property covers a substantial area of 0.7-acre. Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include: In September 2023, a 5,460-square-foot home on Quito Road in Saratoga sold for $8,400,000, a price per square foot of $1,538. The home has 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. A 4,794-square-foot home on the 18300 block of Twin Creeks Road in Monte Sereno sold in May 2024, for $8,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,773. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. On Becky Lane, Monte Sereno, in May 2024, a 9,501-square-foot home was sold for $8,200,000, a price per square foot of $863. The

Whether you are tying one on or sleeping one off — or somewhere in between — we are here for you with a special early edition of The Weekender full of cool ideas for shows and movies to watch and places to have fun this holiday weekend. So let’s get to it, shall we? (As always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines or other details.) Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters  or  www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters . 1. WATCH: The best film of 2024? Colson Whitehead’s novel about two young boys surviving a brutal reform school has been adapted into perhaps the year’s best movie — and it hits Bay Area theaters this week. Mark Thorsen enjoys a plunge at the South End Rowing Club in San Francisco om 2-22. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)  2. PLAY: Greet a new year with new fun Oakland entrepreneur Shonda Scott says she kick-started her life with a practice she has since branded as

The season of sniffles and coughs has come again. But while influenza and RSV activity is “moderate and increasing” around California, COVID activity is unusually low for the holiday season. The most recent weekly update from the California’s Department of Public Health shows the test positivity rate for flu has risen by nearly 4 percentage points in a week to 13.2%​ as of Dec. 14, the most recent available data. The COVID positivity rate is at 2.3%, rising 0.2 percentage points from the previous week. The health department’s weekly updates are posted most Fridays, but the respiratory virus reports for the last two weeks of the year are not reported until January. “COVID is rising, but influenza is leading the pack right now,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Since COVID emerged at the end of the 2019-2020 respiratory virus season, it has been by far the most deadly of the respiratory viruses for which the state tracks and publishes weekly data, though it has killed fewer people each of the last few years compared to

OAKLAND — A Berkeley man has been arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, but allegedly told police his sexual interest in children had spanned several years. Izaiah Temple, 26, was charged Dec. 17 with possession/distribution of material depicting a minor engaging in sex, a felony. Temple was arrested one day before the charges were filed, and allegedly told police that when he was 18, he had a “crush” on his ex-girlfriend’s 10-and-11-year-old sisters, according to court records. Temple denied ever sexually abusing the girls, according to police. The investigation into Temple started with a tip from Facebook last November, involving someone uploading child sexual abuse material on the social media platform. Police say they located an image of a “prepubescent minor posing in a sexual manner” and drafted a warrant for Temple’s arrest. Though living in Berkeley, Temple has no fixed address, police say. He was arrested on Dec. 16 and taken into custody on a $150,000 warrant. He refused to leave his jail cell for a Dec. 27 court appearance, yet was still released without bail and remains out of custody, according to

RICHMOND — An Oakland man was sentenced to 32 years in state prison to settle his murder case, court records show. Gregory Bonner, 50, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the 2022 shooting death of 33-year-old Jeremy Griego, records show. In exchange, he was sentenced to 32 years in prison with a little more than 700 days of credit for time served while in jail. Bonner’s plea deal was finalized in July but has not been previously reported. He is currently incarcerated in Calipatria State Prison, records show. Griego was shot and killed on Aug. 20, 2022, according to court records. Police said at the time that Griego and Bonner, both Oakland residents, arrived together in a grey Pontiac at Richmond’s Southside Park, near Sixth Street and Virginia Avenue, shortly before the shooting. Witnesses and a video obtained by police helped establish that the two argued and fought after arriving at the park, and that Bonner shot Griego at least once during the altercation. The Pontiac was later found at a homeless encampment in Oakland, authorities said. Bonner was scheduled to go to trial

OAKLAND — Juan Gaxiola-Chavez’s wounded body finally gave out, but his family will always remember his decades-long battle to stay alive. He was only 15 and a Castlemont High School freshman when he was shot in the neck outside of the East Oakland campus on June 9, 2004. The shooting left him a quadriplegic. Bedridden and on a ventilator ever since, he died Nov. 9 at a Los Angeles rehab facility at the age of 35. “He was the most selfless person I ever met in my life,” his mother, Maria Hernandez, said. “He had a huge heart and so much love. I have no words to describe it.” Juan Gaxiola-Chavez was wounded in a shooting outside Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif. on June 9, 2004. He died Nov. 9 at a Los Angeles rehab facility at the age of 35 and it was determined the gunshot wound caused his death. (Photo courtesy of Maria Hernandez)  On the day that Hernandez had to make the decision to turn off her son’s ventilator, she “wanted to be selfish,” she said. “I wanted to just keep

Bay Area Home Report 4145 Byron Street – Google Street View The property located in the 4100 block of Byron Street in Palo Alto was sold on Nov. 18, 2024 for $3,425,000, or $1,036 per square foot. The multi-unit house, built in 1964, has an interior space of 3,307 square feet. This is a two-story house. The interior features just one fireplace. Additionally, the house includes a five-car carport. Nestled on a generous 10,168-square-foot lot, the property provides abundant outdoor space including a pool. This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans. Our real estate data comes from public records that have been registered and digitized by local county offices. You can report errors or bugs to content@bayareanewsgroup.com.

By Anthony Washington, The Fresh Toast Roughly 25% of people are planning to give cannabis as a holiday gift….here are some practical suggestions to make it a success. Last year was a watershed year for Santa with 1 in 4 planning to add cannabis into their gift giving, the trend is only going up in 2024. Since the plant has become mainstream (except for a few in DC), it is to be found under the tree, next to the menorah and during festive gatherings. Gen Z and Millennials are leading the trend with 78% (vs. 56% of Gen X and Boomers) in planning to include cannabis in their holiday plans. But you you want to do it right, here are the best tips if you are giving marijuana as a gift. RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life While giving alcohol is a long tradition, giving cannabis is does have some variances.  To start, so far most can’t grab it out of personal stock or fish it out of Christmas gifts already given for the year. While Costco, groceries stores and Total Wine are the booze

Kurtenbach: 2025 will be much, much better for the 49ers. We saw three reasons why vs. the Lions San Francisco 49ers 34 – Detroit Lions 40: Ricky Pearsall’s breakout game changes the game for the 49ers going into 2025. San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (14) makes a catch against Detroit Lions’ Terrion Arnold (0) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) The kids are more than alright. Originally Published: December 31, 2024 at 9:48 AM PST

The top-five teams remained unchanged after a light schedule of games over the holidays. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here. Originally Published: December 31, 2024 at 9:46 AM PST

OAKLAND — A man was fatally shot Tuesday morning in West Oakland, the second killing in the city in 10 hours, authorities said. The death came less than a day after city leaders lauded a reduction in gun violence in 2024, praising the revival of an anti-violence strategy known as Ceasefire. The name of the man killed Tuesday was not immediately released pending notification of his family. Authorities said the man is in his 50s. His place of residence has not been confirmed. The shooting happened about 7:12 a.m. Tuesday in the 1300 block of 14th Street. The man was found outside suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. A motive for the killing is under investigation. No arrests were announced and no suspect information was released. The killing is the 84th homicide investigated by Oakland police in 2024 and the second in the city in 10 hours. A 25-year-old man was fatally shot in East Oakland just after 9 p.m. Monday. Anyone with information about either killing may call homicide investigators at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950. Anyone with

WALNUT CREEK — A 16-year-old San Jose resident was arrested following a crash early Saturday that killed another juvenile, police said. Authorities early Tuesday did not identify the boy who died in the crash or release his age. The wreck happened about 2:35 a.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Newell Avenue, underneath an Interstate 680 overpass. Three of the other four occupants in the car ran or walked away from the crash scene, Walnut Creek police Lt. Bruce Jower said in a statement. It was not clear if any of those people were injured. A Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office deputy was first on the crash scene and performing CPR on a boy when police officers arrived, Jower said. An ambulance rushed him to John Muir Medical Center, about two miles away, where he was pronounced dead. Police said they developed information identifying the driver and found him in San Jose. He was arrested there on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run causing serious bodily injury or death. Jower said police are still investigating and seeking more information. Those who may have some

Best of the West MBB power rankings: UCLA on top, Utah State soars and UC San Diego makes its debut In two consequential results, the Bruins edged Gonzaga and the Aggies held off San Diego State The Aggies beat San Diego State to continue their sizzling start under new coach Jerrod Calhoun. Originally Published: December 31, 2024 at 6:39 AM PST

As a new year dawns, travel magazines and websites everywhere are offering up inspiration for 2025 adventures. Fodor’s issued both Go and No Go lists — the latter included 15 places to avoid — while Conde Nast Traveler suggested 25 places to go this year. Now Afar, the San Francisco-based travel brand, has launched a “where to go” list of its own with 25 “off-the-beaten-path destinations” that range from the beaches of the Danish Riviera — some 90 minutes from Copenhagen — to Oklahoma City. “Putting together Afar’s annual Where to Go list always adds new destinations to my ‘must visit’ list,” says Afar editor-in-chief Julia Cosgrove. “These places serve as fantastic alternatives to the typical overcrowded spots.” Maine’s Bold Coast with its 125-mile national scenic byway makes the list for its beautiful views, wild blueberry farms and lobster boats. Lititz, Pennsylvania is described as a place where “Amish culture and rock and roll happily collide 75 miles west of Philadelphia.” And Canada’s Prince Edward County and its combination of beaches — it fronts Lake Ontario — and vineyards woos visitors. Here are the top 10

Despite all the mortgage drama from Federal Reserve policy to debates over what inflation benchmark is best, home loan pricing was actually fairly normal in 2024. To successfully see what’s next for mortgages, please try to ignore the often breathless coverage of the weekly reports – and, more recently, daily updates – tracking the ups and downs of loan pricing. This information overload may be good for folks who sell the analysis, but trying to stay current on mortgages twists can be bad for the psyche. It’s much like eyeballing Wall Street’s daily stock grind, which does no good for your stock portfolio. To gain some understanding of mortgage swings, my trusty spreadsheet peeked at 52 years worth of Freddie Mac mortgage stats. We tried to find patterns, and some serenity, by primarily using the annual average of the weekly reports tracking the prices of the 30-year fixed loans. Ponder that for all of 2024, mortgage rates averaged 6.72%. That may sound high to young people or folks with short memories, but it ranks only as the 31st-highest yearly rate out of these 52 years.

Six Skov’s mom fell victim to a neurodegenerative disorder at the time Skov was born and died when Skov was 13. Now 24, Skov is a graduate student at Stanford University, and on the leadership team of a group of young people — many of them also deeply familiar with losing a parent — launching a new Bay Area program for kids and families affected by cancer, Camp Kaleidoscope. The nonprofit plans to offer children the escape, companionship and community that they themselves largely had to do without as they experienced the bewildering isolation of a parent’s decline, then suffered through the grief and loss when a person who created them, loved and nurtured them, was taken away forever. Camp Kaleidoscope team leader Six “Quantum” Skov talks about their program at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Wish Book for Camp Kaleidoscope. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  “More people than you think are facing this situation,” says Skov, “and they don’t have to be alone.” The camp is open to children who have lost a parent to cancer, have a

Sensory training, buried volunteers and games of hide and seek: How Tahoe’s rescue dogs learn to save lives Preparing the dozens of avalanche rescue dogs that patrol the slopes at ski resorts Malea Jordan and her avalanche rescue dog Ripp train on the slopes of Northstar California on April 11, 2024 in Truckee, Calif. (Photo by Katey Hamill/ Northstar California Resort) Inside the training of the avalanche rescue dogs that patrol the slopes at ski resorts near Lake Tahoe. Every week during ski season, they practice digging people out from under the snow, starting to train at just two or three months old. Originally Published: December 31, 2024 at 6:15 AM PST

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Joey McIntyre, 52; Val Kilmer, 65; Bebe Neuwirth, 66; Anthony Hopkins, 87. Happy Birthday: It’s okay to do things your way. It will make your life easier and encourage you to trust and believe in yourself. Stretch your imagination and take an innovative approach to your lifestyle and how you utilize your attributes, skills and knowledge to get ahead. Life is about choices; letting outside influences dictate your actions will not lead to happiness. Follow your heart, and do whatever it takes to eliminate stress. Your numbers are 4, 11, 17, 24, 32, 38, 47. ARIES (March 21-April 19): End the year on a high note. Leave nothing unfinished that might jeopardize your position or your chance to advance. Taking care of business will eliminate trepidation, turning your New Year’s celebration into a joyful event. Embrace and love who you are, and you’ll make an impression on those you encounter. 2 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your energy into tidying up loose ends. Preparation is everything; ending one year and beginning another on a high note will give you

TODAY’S WORD — VALIDITY VALIDITY: vuh-LID-ih-tee: The quality or state of being well-grounded, sound or correct. Average mark 16 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 23 or more words in VALIDITY? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — QUINATE: quaint quant quiet quit quite unit unite neat ante anti antique aunt auntie tine tinea tuna tune etui 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: For about 20 years, my husband and I and our two boys plus a dog traveled, usually by car, to visit my sisters. They never visited us. The drive to their state was 14 hours long and was not fun or cheap. We did it mostly because of my elderly mother, who couldn’t travel (she lived with one sister). I have a fear of flying so we had to drive. After my mother died, both sisters moved to another state together, along with their dog and three cats. They’re now 11 hours away by car. My husband and I have made the trip about six times to visit them in the last three years, but we recently told them that the drive was not as easy as it used to be since we’re getting older. When we approached them about driving or flying to visit us for a change, they immediately shot down the idea: “We can’t travel because of the pets!” or “That’s a long drive with pets!” They refuse to kennel their pets. Now one sister casually told us that unless