Category: Bay Area

OAKLAND — A man who allegedly participated in a large scale romance scam was sentenced to two years in state prison, court records show. Barnabas Jime was described by prosecutors as the money man in a romance scam ring, allegedly tasked with opening accounts and facilitating transactions whereby he and co-conspirators stole $840,363 from 120 people. Others, who weren’t named in court papers, posted as romantic interests of victims and used various tricks to convince them to part ways with their money, prosecutors said. Jime allegedly created six different bank accounts with both faux identities, then used ATMs at Berkeley, Oakland, and Emeryville to withdraw funds from the alleged fraud schemes, authorities say. Barnabas was identified after using an ATM in Emeryville during one of the illegal transactions, prosecutors said. In an apology letter, Jime said that the sudden passing of his father, shortly after Jime enrolled in college, “ultimately caused misdirection in my life.” I stand before you today seeking both redemption and a chance for rehabilitation. I plan to finish my bachelor’s degree, honoring my father’s sacrifices for my education,” he wrote.

“Terrible” Tom Bowden shows up a few minutes late for an appointment in West Oakland — and, of course, a friend immediately lets him hear about it. “What are you talking about?” Bowden counters. “I’ve been here since ’38 — 1938.” And during that time, Bowden, 86, has become nothing short of a legend in the area: a immensely talented bluesman who draws comparisons to Otis Redding and has traveled in the same company as Aretha Franklin, B.B. King and many other iconic performers; an old-school tough guy who duked it out with a heavyweight champion and lived to tell about it; and a rough-and-tumble, larger-than-life character whose story includes stints in prison, drug addiction and, eventually, salvation. And it’s highly likely that he’s the only person on the planet who can claim to have worked as a minister, a pimp and a bodyguard for one of the greatest stars in music history. “I was Stevie Wonder’s bodyguard for a minute,” Bowden says. Not all of his past deeds. of course, deserve to be celebrated. But, then again, whose can? Yet, it’s hard to imagine

By BARBARA ORTUTAY Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms Inc. said Thursday it will begin testing its crowd-sourced fact-checking program, Community Notes, on March 18. It will initially based on a ratings system used by Elon Musk’s X. Meta ended its fact-checking program in January. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at the time that fact-checkers had become “politically biased,” using some of the language that conservatives have long used to criticize his platforms. But media experts and those who study social media were aghast at Meta’s policy shift. The decision “not only removes a valuable resource for users, but it also provides an air of legitimacy to a popular disinformation narrative: That fact-checking is politically biased. Fact-checkers provide a valuable service by adding important context to the viral claims that mislead and misinform millions of users on Meta,” said Dan Evon, lead writer for RumorGuard, the News Literacy Project’s digital tool that curates fact checks and teaches people to spot viral misinformation. Meta began fact checks in December 2016, after President Donald Trump was elected to his first term, in response to criticism that “fake

(SDG Architects, AO) Aerial view of a 253-unit residential development proposed for a site at the northwest corner of Collier Canyon Road and Constitution Drive, on the north side of Interstate 580, concept, By George Avalos | gavalos@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: March 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM PDT A big East Bay housing project that would produce hundreds of units is pushing ahead with a $25 million property deal. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

SAN FRANCISCO — A man and woman who robbed two local banks on the same day have been sentenced to federal prison, records show. Ashley Crowder, 42, was given two-and-a-half years behind bars, and her co-defendant, Anthony Fardella, 41, was given a five-year sentence, records show. The two used threatening notes to rob a Bank of America and an East West Bank in San Francisco on Nov. 19, 2022, netting a sum total of $2,600. The defense argued that the robberies were committed during a multi-day drug bender, when the two were impaired from narcotics and lack of sleep. They also raised sympathetic factors about the defendants’ situations, saying Fardella had been homeless on and off throughout his life and that Crowder “has been the victim of abuse in every way imaginable.” Another woman was involved in the robberies but was not indicted, according to court records. Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM PDT

SANTA CLARA — Kyle Juszczyk’s days on the unemployment line may not last much longer. Juszczyk, released by the 49ers after eight seasons, is visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. The 49ers informed Juszczyk on Monday he wasn’t being brought back for the final year of his contract at a $4.1 million salary. Last spring, Juszczyk agreed to a pay cut and produced his ninth straight Pro Bowl season, having also been honored in 2017 to cap his four-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens. If Juszczyk joins the Steelers, he’ll be the 13th player to leave the 49ers this week for a new employer — a staggering amount considering the 49ers were just in the Super Bowl some 13 months ago. The 49ers have not filled those vacancies with established starters and instead made seven budget-conscious acquisitions for backups, including Wednesday night’s deal for quarterback Mac Jones One of Juszczyk’s top moments in a 49ers uniform was an open-field stiff-arm that upended Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a 2019 game at Levi’s Stadium. Juszczyk, who turns 34 next month, grew up in Ohio

By BRIAN WITTE | Associated Press BALTIMORE — A federal judge repeatedly sounded skeptical on Wednesday that the Trump administration’s mass firings of probationary federal workers were made by the government because the employees couldn’t do their jobs, saying the terminations appeared to be part of a larger goal. U.S. District Judge James Bredar made the comments at a hearing where nearly 20 states are seeking a temporary restraining order to stop any more firings of federal probationary employees and to reinstate those who have already been dismissed. If the dismissals were part of a large-scale reduction in force, there are certain laws guiding the process. “This case isn’t about whether or not the government can terminate people. It’s about if they decide to terminate people how they must do it,” Bredar said. “Move fast and break things. Move fast, fine. Break things, if that involves breaking the law then that becomes problematic.” The states argue that the Trump administration blindsided them by ignoring laws set out for large-scale layoffs, which could have devastating consequences for their state finances. At least 24,000 probationary employees have

104 Cimarron Court – Google Street View The spacious property located in the 100 block of Cimarron Court in Danville was sold on Feb. 18, 2025. The $2,765,000 purchase price works out to $882 per square foot. The house, built in 1987, has an interior space of 3,136 square feet. This is a two-story house. The property is equipped with 219 heating and 103 cooling. In addition, the house comes with type not specified. The lot of the property is substantial, measuring 0.4-acre. 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.

Amid slightly improved financial outlook, San Jose lays out budget priorities The city’s upcoming budget will prioritize reducing unsheltered homelessness, increasing community safety, cleaning up neighborhoods, growing the economy and building more housing San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan stands in his office at San Jose City Hall in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Mahan is the city’s 66th mayor. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Despite San Jose’s financial woes, city officials say they will try to minimize impacts to the workforce Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 9:48 AM PDT

Ryan Vlastelica (Bloomberg) — For years, investors have talked of Apple Inc. as a potential port of safety in times of market turmoil. That hasn’t been borne out this time around. The iPhone maker has tumbled in recent sessions, extending its year-to-date underperformance amid a growing number of risks that are overshadowing its traditional high-quality characteristics. While Apple offers steady earnings growth and sits on a mountain of cash, headwinds form a daunting list for would-be bulls: it is heavily exposed to tariff uncertainty and China, its artificial intelligence offerings have repeatedly fizzled, and its lucrative partnership with Google parent Alphabet Inc. is potentially at risk. It trades at a premium to megacap tech peers despite slower revenue growth, suggesting that the haven case is harder to make for Apple and other big-tech names. “People like to park in Apple, but right now the stock is expensive, and not only is growth slow, but the catalysts for growth are absent,” said Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder. “It doesn’t seem like AI is doing much for it, the environment is very uncertain

Looking for activities and events in Saratoga? Here’s the roundup for events happening in the city: Aspire Saratoga Saturday, March 15, 6 p.m. at Saratoga Federated Church This three-hour event is open to all women and will feature three guest speakers: author and public speaker Melissa Spoelstra, comedian Kristin Weber-Kitty and singer-songwriter and worship leader Mia Koehne. Doors are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30 for general admission and $40 for VIP reserved. Attendees can also buy tickets in groups. SVR: Comic Workshop for Teens with Author Wendy Xu Sunday, March 16, 2 to 3 p.m. in the Maple Room of Saratoga Library, for children age 13 and up Silicon Valley Reads will be hosting a comic workshop for teenagers with Wendy Xu, author of “Infinity Particle.” Xu will be talking briefly about her graphic novel, a teen selection for this year’s Silicon Valley Reads, and then lead a discussion and demonstration about how to make a comic. Participants will be able to draw their own four-panel comic. Marching Through March with Saratoga Community Band Monday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE | Associated Press Struggling chipmaker Intel has hired former board member and semiconductor industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as the latest in a succession of CEOs to attempt to turn around a once-dominant company that helped define Silicon Valley. Tan, 65, will take over the daunting job next Tuesday, more than three months after Intel’s previous CEO, Pat Gelsinger, abruptly retired amid a deepening downturn that triggered massive layoffs and raised questions about the chipmaker’s ability to survive as an independent company. This won’t be Tan’s first time running a semiconductor company, nor his first association with Intel. He spent more than a decade as CEO of Cadence Design Systems, which makes software that helps designs processors, and joined Intel’s board of directors in 2022 before stepping down last August. Tan will rejoin Intel’s board in addition to becoming CEO. “Lip-Bu is an exceptional leader whose technology industry expertise, deep relationships across the product and foundry ecosystems, and proven track record of creating shareholder value is exactly what Intel needs in its next CEO,” Intel’s interim Executive Chairman Frank Yeary said. Intel has

A Marin County Superior Court judge has ruled there is enough evidence to have a defendant tried for a San Rafael murder that occurred more than 50 years ago. “Given the totality of the record, it does meet probable cause,” Judge Geoffrey Howard said after the preliminary hearing concluded Tuesday for Michael Eugene Mullen. Mullen, 76, is accused of killing 31-year-old Nina Fischer in her house at Point San Pedro Road on Nov. 15, 1973. Fischer’s husband came home and discovered her bound and dead with gunshot wounds, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office reported. Their 2-year-old child was found unharmed in another room. The Fischers were Swedish nationals who planned to move to San Francisco. The investigation went cold until 2021, when the state Department of Justice’s familial search program helped sheriff’s detectives link DNA evidence from the case to Mullen, an Idaho resident who used to live in Sonoma County. He was arrested in August and extradited to Marin County, where he remains in custody. Mullen has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. Last month, he underwent a competency evaluation and Howard ruled

Ever received a text about an easy high-paying job you never applied for? If so, you’re not alone. These fraudsters promise remote work and big paychecks, but they’re really after your money and personal information. Employment scammers may send you a check after they have “employed” you, supposedly to buy equipment or pay bills. Then, once you have sent them money, the check will bounce and it will be hard to recover your losses. Some fraudsters pose as real companies, using nearly identical email addresses to deceive you. Avoid job offers with vague descriptions, upfront payment demands or interviews conducted through messaging apps. If something feels off, research the company’s background, double-check email addresses and never send money or personal information without verifying first. If you suspect a job offer from a reputable business is fake, contact the company directly through a verified website or phone number to confirm its legitimacy. More information at marincountyda.org or 415-473-6495 Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 7:24 AM PDT

Which golf balls are best? For many golfers, the balls they choose are as specific to their individual skills as their clubs. Though most golf balls look quite similar to those who aren’t passionate about the game, anyone who has played competitively knows how different types of balls interact to different types of swings. From novices to pros, different golf balls offer the materials, design, and construction to fit any golfer’s game. Are you still working on controlling your spin and distance? Or do you have a low handicap and want to shave a stroke or two? Regardless of your skill level, the right golf balls will give you confidence whether you are playing for fun or to win. What to know before you buy golf balls All golf balls have some similar characteristics, but they aren’t all made the same. Here are some features to consider as you shop for your new golf balls. Dimples These little indentations aren’t just for looks — they drive airflow around the balls which helps when it comes to lift and drag. Although they are only about 0.010

The right mountain bike handlebars can help you steer and maneuver more precisely, maintain a proper riding position and even absorb some of the impact and vibration from a rough course or trail. Whether you’re hitting the trail for the first time or participate in competitive enduro racing, having handlebars that match your riding style and preferences can help you make the most of your ride. In our buying guide, we examine the key factors that set different mountain bike handlebars apart, including materials, type, width and angle. We also share our top product recommendations, like the featherlight carbon composite Race Face SIXC DH Handlebar. What to know before you buy handlebars for a mountain bike Flat vs. riser Flat: This straight, classic design is a go-to for a reason. Flat handlebars are durable, strong and encourage a better forward-leaning posture for challenging climbs and trail riding. Riser: Riser bars angle up slightly in a U-shape that flattens at the ends for the grips and brakes. Riser handlebars allow you to ride upright, which offers extra comfort and control on extreme courses. Materials Carbon fiber: Carbon

It used to be common knowledge — not just among policymakers and economists but also high school students with a grasp of history — that tariffs are a terrible idea. The phrase “beggar thy neighbor” meant something to regular people, as did the names of Sen. Reed Smoot and Rep. Willis Hawley. Americans broadly understood how much their 1930 tariff, along with other protectionist and isolationist measures, did to turn a global economic crisis into another world war. Thirteen successive presidents all but vowed never to repeat those mistakes. Until Donald Trump. Until him, no U.S. president has been so ignorant of the lessons of history. Until him, no U.S. president has been so incompetent in putting his own ideas into practice. That’s a conclusion that stock markets seem to have drawn as they plunged following the Trump triple whammy: first, tariff threats against our largest trading partners, spelling much higher costs; second, twice-repeated monthlong reprieves on some of those tariffs, meaning a zero-predictability business environment; finally, his tacit admission, to Maria Bartiromo of Fox News, that the United States could go into recession this

TODAY’S WORD — RAILLERY (RAILLERY: RALE-er-ee: Good-natured ridicule; banter.) Average mark 21 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in RAILLERY? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — WINDSOCK: wick wind wink wonk icon nick nock disc disco disk disown dock down scion scow sick sink skid skin snow sock sonic sown oink coin kind know 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 vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Adam Clayton, 65; Dana Delany, 69; William H. Macy, 75; Neil Sedaka, 86. Happy Birthday: Leave nothing to chance this year. Map out your journey and have a checklist in place. Knowing what you want to achieve and how to make it happen will ease stress and make your life easier. Distance yourself from disaster and those who like to play with your emotions. Stand tall, engage in what makes you feel good about yourself and your accomplishments, and press forward with a smile. Your numbers are 3, 11, 22, 28, 31, 36, 45. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Explore the possibilities, travel and nurture your curiosity. What you experience will help shape what’s to come. Tweak your imagination and devise a plan that exhilarates and expands your awareness. Take the plunge and start a healthy regime, and you’ll connect with like-minded people. Self-love will change the way others perceive you. 3 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When one door shuts, another opens. Accept change and make the most of it. Let your energy flow in directions that provide the excitement

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My parents run a guest house that is filled mostly with people they consider friends. Guests often gather directly on the other side of a door that separates the guests’ quarters from ours. When I close the door for privacy, it feels as if I am rudely shutting the door in the guests’ faces. When the door remains open, guests frequently walk into our quarters — uninvited, even in the middle of dinner — and interrupt us. Is there something I can say politely as I close the door? Or is there a polite way I can voice my discontent for the unwelcome interruptions? GENTLE READER: Please remind Miss Manners to tell the business world to stop getting into etiquette, because they take things that everyone understood and muddy them up beyond all recognition. Yes, it is perfectly polite to close the door when you need privacy. All you have to do is go to the door, say, “Excuse me, I’m going to close the door for a little while now,” and do so. No, there is no easy way to tell

DEAR ABBY: My wife died five years ago. I waited for four years before getting back in the dating scene. My girlfriend was divorced six years ago. Her ex-husband lives in a different state. She refuses to tell him about our relationship because she says she doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. Her ex calls and texts her all the time. I like her a lot, and our relationship has been great in every way. I just can’t get over her not telling him. I have talked to her about this, but she refuses to tell him. Should I be worried about this? — EX ISSUE IN MICHIGAN DEAR EX ISSUE: I think so. This woman may be legally divorced from her husband but is not emotionally, which may be why she’s reluctant to tell him. She may also be less invested in your relationship than you are. Ask her whether she would want to know if her ex met someone and started a relationship. Then ask the reverse question because, if you are serious about her, the current situation is unfair to you. DEAR