Category: Bay Area

By Rebecca Santana and Travis Loller | Associated Press WASHINGTON — Congress is allocating more than $100 billion in emergency aid designed to address extensive damage caused by disasters after this week’s scramble to find consensus on a government spending bill. The money comes after back-to-back hurricanes — Helene and Milton — slammed into the southeastern United States this fall, leaving havoc in their wake. But the money would go to much more than just those two storms under the bill signed Saturday by President Joe Biden that keeps the federal government funded through March 14. Biden said in a statement that the bill “delivers the urgently needed disaster relief that I requested for recovering communities as well as the funds needed to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge ” in Baltimore, which collapsed under the impact of a massive container ship that lost power and veered off course in March. The disaster funding looked set to pass earlier this week until President-elect Donald Trump issued new demands that tanked a compromise and threatened a pre-Christmas federal shutdown. A slimmed-down version cleared Congress early Saturday

If you’re video game shopping and looking for one of the biggest bangs for your buck, role-playing games fit the bill. These modern-day epics are packed with thrilling adventures and shocking tragedies. When they suck you into their worlds, it feels like you are bingeing a really great Netflix show. Players will linger for one more quest or they’ll have the urge to explore one more dungeon. What gives these games value is that developers pack the titles with content, and that’s important at a time when publishers ask buyers to fork over $70 for a video game. Although RPGs dominate this list of the best releases of 2024, there are other ways to keep players enthralled, and the top game does just that. 1. “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” — Microsoft saved its best for last and published not only my favorite game of the year, but one of the best Indy adventures period. MachineGames lovingly crafted this game so that it hits all the right notes — from voice actor Troy Baker nailing Harrison Ford’s timbre to the way it shows off

By Bay City News A Mexican national pleaded guilty to charges tied to a large-scale illegal marijuana cultivation site that caused significant environmental damage in the Los Padres National Forest, federal prosecutors announced. As part of his plea agreement, Jacinto Correa Cruz, 56, admitted to the depredation of federal lands and manufacturing marijuana, the office of U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey said. The charges stem from Correa Cruz’s involvement in a grow operation within the Ventana Wilderness, a protected biodiversity area in the forest. Authorities arrested Correa Cruz in July 2022 during a multi-agency search of the site. Investigators found two plots cleared of native vegetation with about 10,000 marijuana plants, hazardous pesticides, and an irrigation system diverting 33,780 gallons of water daily amid severe drought conditions, a press release issued on Thursday noted. According to officials, cleanup efforts took more than a year and cost over $92,000. Correa Cruz has been in custody since August 2022 and is facing up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each charge. Sentencing is set for March 4, 2025.

OAKLAND — Rickey Henderson, the Oakland kid who became the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history and his hometown A’s biggest star, has died. Henderson would have turned 66 on Christmas Day. After a frenzy of social media speculation overnight, multiple sources confirmed to the Bay Area News Group on Saturday morning that Henderson had died. The family is expected to make an announcement later in the day. Henderson had been in the hospital battling pneumonia, a source told the Bay Area News Group. The left fielder with the unmistakable crouched batting stance and affable swagger set MLB career records with 2,295 runs and 1,406 stolen bases and is the single-season stolen base king. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility. “My favorite hero was Muhammad Ali,” Henderson said during his induction speech in Cooperstown, New York. “He said one time, quote, I am the greatest, end of quote. That was something I always wanted to be, and now that the (Baseball Writers’ Association of America) has voted me into the Baseball Hall of Fame, my journey

OAKLAND — Two men were fatally shot Friday night inside an apartment they shared, authorities said. The names of the men, who police said were in their 40s, have not been released. Police have not yet said if the men were related. The men were found just after 11 p.m. Friday inside their apartment at a complex in the 300 block of Fairmount Avenue, a mostly residential area in the Oakland Avenue/Harrison Street neighborhood south of Interstate 580. The men were pronounced dead at the apartment. Police believe the men were shot by another person who fled before officers got to the apartment. A possible motive for the killings has not been released by police nor has any suspect information. The two killings bring to 80 the number of homicides investigated by Oakland police this year. Last year at this time police had investigated 122 homicides in the city. Anyone with information about the killings may call homicide investigators at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950. People with videos or photos that may assist the investigation can email them to cidvideo@oaklandca.gov. Check back for updates on this developing

SAN FRANCISCO – Two of the West Coast’s great women’s basketball programs had wildly different experiences at the Chase Center on Friday night.  Hometown Stanford was rocked 84-59 by No. 11 Ohio State in the first game of the doubleheader, with the Buckeyes’ press taking the Cardinal by surprise as former coach Tara VanDerveer sat courtside. VanDerveer was Ohio State’s coach from 1980-85 before beginning her legendary run at Stanford. No. 1 UCLA was without former Stanford player Lauren Betts (lower-leg injury) but was still a dominant force. In a rematch of last season’s second-round NCAA Tournament game with Creighton, the Bruins jumped out to a 26-4 first quarter lead and romped past the Bluejays 70-41.  Here’s four takeaways from Friday’s college basketball showcase in The City. Stanford guard play outclassed by Ohio State Ohio State’s Chance Gray #21 scores over Stanford’s Chloe Clardy #13 in the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)  Ohio State relentlessly pressed and trapped Stanford’s guards, and the Cardinal admitted to being puzzled by the tactic.  Stanford, which

OAKLAND — A 53-year-old Brentwood man who misrepresented his marijuana distribution business as a nonprofit to obtain $300,000 in COVID-19 relief funds was sentenced Thursday to just over three years in federal prison, according to prosecutors. Thanh Duy Nguyen previously pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release. Nguyen ran and was the sole officer of T&A Distribution, an unlicensed interstate marijuana trafficking scheme with grow houses around the Bay Area, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said Nguyen used the business to secure two Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDL loans to small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nguyen filed the first loan application in April 2020 and the second in June 2020. In both, he certified he was not involved in any unlawful activity even though he knew his marijuana distribution business was illegal under federal law, according to prosecutors. He also purportedly lied about T&A Distribution’s gross revenues, cost of operations and

Embattled San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus is under investigation for potential campaign finance violations during her successful 2022 bid to become the county’s first Latina sheriff. State elections regulators are looking into a complaint lodged during the election that alleges the Corpus campaign reported accepting donations that exceeded local contribution limits and failed to disclose its spending on social media ads and campaign banners, among other reporting infractions. News of the investigation comes as Corpus faces a March 4 special election to give county supervisors the authority to remove her from office. Supervisors decided to send the ballot measure to voters after an explosive independent auditor’s report last month found Corpus and department leadership responsible for widespread abuses of power and possible corruption. Corpus, who unseated her former boss in an insurgent victory to become sheriff, has vehemently denied the accusations and resisted loud calls for her resignation. She’s described the report and efforts to oust her as a politically motivated “coup” orchestrated by a “good ol’ boys network” threatened by her plans to overhaul a department she says is in desperate need of

By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline.org (TNS) The death of Ollie, a 9-month-old labradoodle mauled at a Massachusetts pet care facility in 2020, led the state this October to enact the stringent “Ollie’s Law,” tightening regulations on the care and housing of pets at boarding and training kennels. The new Massachusetts law mandates the timely reporting of such incidents to local authorities. It also empowers state regulators to come up with new rules that may require that dogs be housed with similarly sized animals and not be left without human supervision, as Ollie was, according to his owner. A few other states — including Colorado and Iowa — have regulations in place, but most states rely on local rules or have no regulations at all for pet care facilities, according to Jeremy Cohen, an attorney who founded Boston Dog Lawyers. His firm represents pet owners in cases ranging from custody in a divorce, to injury and wrongful deaths, to defense of dogs that bit someone. (He did not represent Ollie’s owner, who did not file a suit.) Ollie, a labradoodle, died when he was 9 months

By Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald (TNS) People of faith are not more generous than non-religious people — except in one case, a new study found. A study by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden found that religious people are more generous than non-religious people when they know the recipients’ religious beliefs — otherwise there is no difference. The research includes three studies of Christians, Muslims and atheists in different countries, including Sweden, the United States and a combined study in Egypt and Lebanon. About 1,700 people were included in the study published in September by Cambridge University Press. The results are slightly surprising as some recent studies have shown that people with religious beliefs are more likely to be generous than non-religious people. In 2016, a Pew Research Center study of U.S. adults found that highly religious Americans are more likely to donate time, money or goods to help the poor, and in 2021, a YouGov poll of adults in the United Kingdom revealed that religious people are more likely to be charitable than those that are non-practicing or irreligious. How the study worked Study

East Bay resident David Tolson, 39, and his family were hoping for a day of adventure and excitement exploring the Everglades in South Florida on Dec. 13 while in the state for a youth football event. Instead, Tolson was launched off the deck of an airboat in Florida and landed in alligator-infested waters, breaking his arm and five ribs, when the vessel collided with another airboat. David Tolson, his wife Pershonda Tolson, 41, and their children had been riding the airboat in Ochopee, Fla. with other parents and children from their son’s Bay Area youth football team Dec. 13 when the vessels collided, injuring at least 24 people and sending 16 to the hospital. “As a father, protective instincts kicked in, and you want to do everything you can to help everyone, especially your own family,” Tolson said at a press conference Friday. “It was very, very scary – just not knowing the depths of the severity of the incident.” Miguel Dominguez, an Atlanta-based lawyer representing some of those injured, said that more injuries from the crash were still surfacing a week later as parents who

TODAY’S WORD — PLANGENT PLANGENT: PLAN-jent: Having a loud reverberating sound. Average mark 45 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 53 or more words in PLANGENT? The list will be published Monday. YESTERDAY’S WORD — INVARIABLY: inlay inly nail nary naval navy nyala vail vain vainly varia variably vary viably vial viny viral ably airily airy alibi anvil aria avail avian aviary rail rain rainy rani rival bail banal barn bialy binary blain blini brail brain brainy bran bray briny lain lair lanai larva lava layin liar yarn 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

Dear Eric: I allowed a new boyfriend to move in with me. I am six years widowed and thought this would be wonderful. He has some issues after being forced to move out from a previous relationship and has stated how thankful he is that I came into his life. I guess my problem is he can be very negative and at times resents my grown children being around me. He states he would probably be living in his car or lying dead somewhere if he weren’t with me. He does have family from whom he is somewhat estranged. I feel like I have lost some of my independence and that now it would be better to be somewhat alone. – Feeling Regrets Dear Regrets: Resenting your kids being around is a red flag. Coupled with his negativity and the comments he makes about what would happen if you hadn’t let him move in, his behavior strikes me as manipulative. I worry that this is a pattern of behavior for him. You should ask yourself if this person is taking advantage of you and your

DEAR HARRIETTE: An old friend of mine recently passed away. As I was trying to help the family coordinate some details, I realized that I was no longer friends with him on social media. We had a falling-out years ago, and he must have blocked me. I have since learned that other former friends had been blocked, too. It seems like he held a grudge against a number of us toward the end of his life. I feel so conflicted over this. I loved him as a friend for years, but now I’m feeling dissed all over again. I don’t want to harbor bad feelings about him, but this is making me sad. How can I handle this compounded grief? — In Agony DEAR IN AGONY: My best recommendation is to hold on to the good memories you have of your friend and forgive him for whatever else occurred. It is sad that you and others experienced negativity with this person, but there is nothing you can do about it now. To heal from this loss and all that it means to you will take

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have always been the person to plan fun events for my friends. In retirement, my husband and I have moved to a golf community in a new state, and I’ve continued to organize outings — from just a few friends out for lunch to large holiday outings for ladies only. (My husband is not well and does not care to socialize, so I don’t plan couples events.) Some women are always happy to attend, but never reciprocate. I’m thinking of no longer inviting those women, and wonder what I should say if they ask why they were not invited. Years ago, a friend remarked that I hadn’t called her to do anything that winter, and I replied, “The phone works both ways.” Apparently, that was too harsh. Any more subtle replies? GENTLE READER: For that years-ago comment: “I assumed since I hadn’t heard from you that you were busy this season.” As for your current situation, omitting those women from future outings seems reasonable to Miss Manners. DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a long train journey to work each day, and

NEWARK — A 22-year-old man was injured in a shooting Friday morning in Newark, according to authorities. Officers were called to a home in the 6000 block of Noel Avenue around 4:50 a.m. for reports of shots fired, the Newark Police Department said in a news release. They arrived to find the man suffering from a single gunshot wound. Vehicles in the area were also hit by gunfire. Officers provided medical assistance until Alameda County Fire Department crews arrived at the scene. The victim was then taken to a hospital. Police said his injuries were not life-threatening. Police did not release any other details about the case. No arrests were announced Friday. Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Sgt. Matt Warren at 510-578-4960 or matt.warren@newarkca.gov. Check back for updates.

By MICHAEL MAROT SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame record with a 98-yard touchdown run, Riley Leonard added two more scores and the Fighting Irish shut down the highest-scoring team in the College Football Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday night. The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (12-1) won their 11th straight — and their first playoff victory. They’ll face second-seeded Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman got the biggest win of his three-year career by extending his Irish record to 12 victories over ranked teams in three seasons. Tenth-seeded Indiana (11-2) completed a magical season by finishing with its second fewest points this season on a cold, brisk night in the first CFP game ever played on a campus site. Both of the Hoosiers’ losses came to top-five opponents. Indiana set a single-season school record for wins but still hasn’t won at Notre Dame since 1898. Notre Dame took control on its third offensive play when Love scooted around the right side of Indiana’s defense, eluded one tackle and sprinted down the sideline to

SAN FRANCISCO – A holiday break couldn’t come at a better time for the Stanford women’s basketball team.  In the Cardinal’s last game of 2024, No. 11 Ohio State routed Stanford 84-59 in the Bay Area Women’s Classic at Chase Center on Friday night.  With legendary coach Tara VanDerveer in attendance – now as a fan – her Cardinal had 19 turnovers and were totally outmatched by its Big 10 opponent.  “They jumped on us from the very beginning, and I think their press rattled us early on and kind of shook u and our confidence,” Stanford coach Kate Paye said. “We were total no-shows in the first half.” Nunu Agara led Stanford with 17 points, and Tess Heal had 10. Meanwhile, Cotie McMahon paced Ohio State with 16 points as all five Buckeyes starters scored in double-figures. Stanford, in its first season under coach Paye, came into the game without much momentum. The Cardinal had lost at No. 5 LSU 94-88 in overtime, and followed that up with a stunning 83-63 defeat at rival Cal.  Stanford’s Nunu Agara #3 is well defended by Ohio

Bay Area Home Report 1075 Longridge Road – Google Street View The spacious historic property located in the 1000 block of Longridge Road in Oakland was sold on Sept. 12, 2024 for $2,225,000, or $817 per square foot. The house, built in 1929, has an interior space of 2,722 square feet. This two-story house boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. On the exterior, the home features composition shingles on the roof. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. Additionally, the home includes a garage. The property occupies a sizable 5,712-square-foot lot. Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby: In October 2022, a 2,821-square-foot home on Hubert Road in Oakland sold for $3,250,000, a price per square foot of $1,152. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. On Sunnyhills Road, Oakland, in September 2024, a 2,043-square-foot home was sold for $1,650,000, a price per square foot of $808. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. A 2,285-square-foot home on the 700 block of Carlston Avenue in Oakland sold in October 2022, for $2,450,000, a price per square foot

By Terry Hacienda, The Fresh Toast Kratom is increasing in popularity – here is the 411 on what to know. Curious about high-potency Kratom, you’re not alone. There are many vendors offering high-potency kratom: what you need to know if you are new or experienced with the plant. More and more experienced Kratom users are on the hunt for stronger strains to get their fix. That’s why it’s important to know what to look for when you’re shopping around. In this guide, we’re gonna break down everything you need to know about finding a solid vendor for high-potency Kratom. What is High-Potency Kratom High-potency kratom refers to strains with elevated concentrations of key alkaloids. Some of the most renowned high-potency strains include: Maeng Da (available in red, white, and green varieties) Bentuangie Red Bali Factors like the maturity of the leaves at harvest, growing conditions, and post-harvest handling all play crucial roles in determining the final alkaloid content. For instance, some kratom products have been found to contain mitragynine concentrations ranging from 1% to 6% of leaf content, while 7-hydroxymitragynine levels typically fall between 0.01% to 0.04%1.

SAN JOSE — A jury has found a man guilty of voluntary manslaughter for killing an elderly stranger two years ago in a blindside assault spurred by the victim shining a flashlight at him during a chance encounter on a quiet South San Jose street. There was no dispute that 35-year-old Amiel Joey Mirador killed 81-year-old Allen Dournaee with a brief flurry of punches from behind — two of them after Dournaee was already unconscious after falling face-down onto a sidewalk. But a two-week trial that ended Friday with the verdict revolved around whether Mirador was expressly looking to kill Dournaee in a fit of anger over the flashlight, with the prosecution pointing to the viciousness of the attack and the vulnerability of the octogenarian victim as grounds for a second-degree murder conviction. Mirador’s defense — including his own trial testimony — asserted that the flashlight shining was a more serious provocation than how it might have sounded, and that his punches were never meant to kill. Combined with the injuries Dournaee suffered from falling to the ground, they argued the death was a freak