Two ordered to stand trial in Bay Point shooting of baby, bail lowered by 75 percent

MARTINEZ — Two men who were charged in a shooting where a baby was struck by gunfire have been ordered to stand trial, but had their bail lowered significantly, records show. Teron Simon, 19, of San Francisco, and Daysaun Williams, 18, of Bay Point, were ordered to stand trial on charges of attempted murder, child cruelty, and several more shooting-related counts. Their bail was also lowered from $2.42 million to $600,000, according to court records. Simon and Williams were arrested after a police helicopter spotted them in a field near a shooting on the 3600 block of Desanie Circle in Bay Point. Police say the suspects and victims were associated with two different homes on the block and that groups from both residences began to argue. At some point, Simon and Williams allegedly began firing into the other home. A woman was struck in the foot and a 7-month-old baby was grazed in the shooting, police said. Both victims survived. One resident returned fire but wasn’t charged, records show. The suspects allegedly fled into a nearby field and were arrested shortly thereafter. Williams reportedly denied any

Letters: Free BART would cost a family of four $672 annually. Bad idea.

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Reasons pile up not to make BART free Re: “To help BART, makes rides free and raise taxes to cover cost” (Page A6, Dec. 11). I was surprised at the suggestion by Michael O’Hare that we make BART free to all riders by increasing taxes on each person $3.23 a week, which he minimizes by saying it’s “less than your Monday latte.” That works out to $167.96 per year, and $671.84 for a family of four. • Opening the taxpayer’s wallet to BART will only increase the demands of unions and workers for more pay as they sense there is no limit to taxpayer funds. • People place a value on what they pay for. Zero cost equals zero value. People care for things they pay for and are vested in the product or service. We pay road taxes for roads, bridge tolls for bridge access, etc., although I’m sure bridges would be the next “free service” desired by Mr. O’Hare. • Free rides would turn BART into a rolling

A New Yorker allegedly came to San Ramon with dozens of fake necklaces, intending to scam people out of real ones

SAN RAMON — A 45-year-old New York resident was arrested on suspicion of coming to the East Bay to pull off a bizarre scam whereby the victim allows the trickster to remove expensive jewelry from their neck. The man was arrested after allegedly pulling off the scam in San Leandro, where police pulled him over after the victim reported the incident. They also traced him to incidents in San Ramon, and a cohort. San Ramon police warned of numerous incidents involving the so-called jewelry swap scam, which requires the perpetrators to trick the victims into taking off their jewelry without realizing what’s going on. In what typical incident last Halloween, a man was approached by two scammers who asked him for money. When he gave them a couple dollars, they chatted more and asked him if he’d be willing to buy one of their necklaces. They even places it around his neck to show him how good he looked in it, but when he declined, they removed his real necklace instead, for a loss of an estimated $4,000, authorities said. When police raided an Oakland

Pinole: Suspect charged in near-fatal road rage shooting

PINOLE — A 25-year-old Richmond man has been charged with felony for allegedly shooting into another vehicle during a road rage incident and nearly killing a passenger inside. Otis Keller was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, with an enhancement for allegedly causing great bodily injury to the victim. The man who Keller allegedly shot, a 24-year-old also from Richmond, was hospitalized in critical condition and remains at a hospital 11 days later, police said. The charge carried a potential life sentence, authorities said. The shooting occurred around 7:40 p.m. on Dec. 9. It began as a road rage incident near an Appian Way offramp for Interstate 80 and continued onto Fitzgerald Drive, where the shooting occurred. Keller was arrested the next day, and charged on Dec. 12. He was identified in part through surveillance footage from cameras in the area, police said. Keller’s bail has been set at $1.25 million. Police are still encouraging witnesses to come forward by calling 510-724-1111 or via email at investigations@pinole.gov

Suspect arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated assault of Colorado man: ‘This is Trump’s America now’

A man chased down and choked a journalist working for Grand Junction, Colorado, broadcasters KKCO and KJCT in front of the news stations’ offices after berating them about their nationality, police say. Patrick Egan, 39, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree assault and bias-motivated crimes, both felonies, as well as harassment, a misdemeanor. Egan began following the victim earlier in the day and confronted them at a stoplight, according to Egan’s arrest affidavit. The victim told police, according to the affidavit, that Egan rolled down his window and said, “Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine, and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” The victim called the director of the news station, who told them to drive to the office, located about a mile away. When they arrived, Egan got out of his vehicle and continued to badger them, demanding to see their ID. The victim tried to run inside the building, and Egan tackled and choked them until he was restrained by other KKCO/KJCT employees. Police said in a news

Holiday travel period will see major traffic on Bay Area highways and airports

Despite stormy weather and a potential government shutdown, millions of people were gearing up Friday to travel across the state and the nation for the holidays. Jimmy Pham, 20, attends UC Berkeley and was at San Jose Mineta International Airport on Friday, preparing to fly to San Diego for winter break. His travel plans have gone smoothly so far, he said, except for a small delay on his flight. “I don’t think it’s anything that’s heartbreaking or anything too impactful,” he said, adding that potential weather impacts or a government shutdown would “definitely” impact his decision to take a flight for a potential snowboarding trip during his break. “I guess I have to wait to see if anything happens,” he said. The American Automobile Association estimated that 119.3 million people would travel 50 or more miles for the holidays between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1. Domestic travel this year is projected to surpass by some 64,000 people the previous record set in 2019, according to a news release from the association. They also estimated that 3 million more people will be traveling home for the

New San Francisco Chinatown spot wins Esquire’s Restaurant of the Year honors

Forty minutes before opening on a recent Friday night, San Francisco’s Four Kings had a line of nearly 20 people waiting outside. The first 10 without reservations made it for the first seating at the counter; the next 10 provided a phone number and option for the second seating. Late arrivals weren’t so lucky. The tiny Cantonese restaurant is nestled in a quiet alleyway in the Chinatown neighborhood. And for five hours, five days a week, it might be the hottest place in town. Last week, Esquire named Four Kings the Restaurant of the Year while applauding the daring flavors and vibrant atmosphere created by chefs Franky Ho and Mike Long. It’s the latest in a line of accolades for an operation less than 10 months old. As artistic as they are skillful, Ho and Long met while working at Mister Jiu’s, the Michelin-starred Chinatown restaurant. Their goal was to create an environment where people enjoyed working, in the hopes that the joy would translate to the customer. Four Kings co-owner Mike Long prepares salted egg squash croquettes for dinner, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at the new

12 long-lived Bay Area restaurants we said goodbye to in 2024

During tumultuous times, we look for comfort. And we often find it in our go-to dishes at our longtime favorite restaurants. But every year we say goodbye to many of those establishments. The ones we pay tribute to here had been landmarks for years, even generations. Some chefs and owners decided to retire or take a break. Others couldn’t weather the costs of doing business in this inflationary, post-pandemic era. Or ran up against redevelopment plans. Here, in order of longevity, are 12 businesses that shut their doors after 25 years or more, plus a few revivals and relocations that we’re thrilled about. Let us know if we missed one of your favorite legacy restaurants. CASPERS HOT DOGS, Hayward, 76 years Customers line up outside Caspers Hot Dogs on C Street in downtown Hayward on June 26, 2024. The diner that company founders built in the 1940s closed July 13, but other locations remain open.. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)  In late June, folks began rushing to the Caspers on C Street in downtown Hayward not just to savor one of the chain’s classic hot

Single family residence sells for $1.6 million in San Jose

Bay Area Home Report 2283 Shelley Avenue – Google Street View A 2,022-square-foot house built in 1979 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 2200 block of Shelley Avenue in San Jose was sold on Nov. 14, 2024. The $1,635,000 purchase price works out to $809 per square foot. This two-story house presents a roomy floor plan, featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms. In addition, the home includes a two-car garage, offering generous space for vehicles and storage requirements. The lot of the property covers an area of 3,000 square feet. Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include: On Mount Davidson Drive, San Jose, in April 2024, a 1,595-square-foot home was sold for $1,420,000, a price per square foot of $890. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. In October 2024, a 1,485-square-foot home on Mount Davidson Court in San Jose sold for $1,672,000, a price per square foot of $1,126. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. A 1,568-square-foot home on the 3500 block of Calvin Avenue in San Jose sold in July 2023, for $1,700,000, a

Can CBD Keep Cats From The Christmas Tree

By Sarah Johns, The Fresh Toast They seem to be total enemies – but can CBD help cats chill out around the Christmas Tree? While is seems cats do things just to annoy their owners, there are reasons. And when it comes to the Christmas tree, there are many felines that causes the pull to be “involved” with the giant temporary addition to the festive season. They enjoy being high up to survey their surroundings and it makes them feel safe from predators. The branches provide a fun climbing challenge. And they are  attracted to shiny objects with the ornaments and lights. Like humans, cats enjoy the smell of live evergreen trees which is another reason they stay close. But can CBD keep cats from the Christmas tree? Alone, CBD can not keep them from exploring, but can be used as another tool to relax them and help them lose interest in wrecking a tree. CBD for cats has gained popularity among pet owners seeking alternative treatments for various feline health issues. CBD is generally considered safe for cats when used appropriately. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive

Suspect arrested in stabbing of East Bay BART train passenger

WALNUT CREEK — A suspect was arrested Friday morning in the stabbing late Wednesday night of a BART train passenger, officials said. The condition of the victim, a 45-year-old San Jose man, was not available at midday Friday. The suspect, a 58-year-old man who authorities said was a transient, was arrested by BART Police about 5:55 a.m. Friday at the Pittsburg/Bay Point Station. He was to be booked at the Martinez Detention Facility. The stabbing happened onboard a San Francisco-bound train late Wednesday night. The injured man got off the train at the Walnut Creek station and made his way to a station bathroom, where he was found by first responders shortly after 12 a.m. Thursday. He was transported to a hospital from the station for treatment of at least one wound. BART officials did not specify how police identified the suspect or whether he knew the victim. Authorities also did not offer a possible motive for the stabbing. Originally Published: December 20, 2024 at 12:00 PM PST

Bay Point: Man linked to 4 sexual assaults in 2 days, after being charged with exposing himself to nurse

BAY POINT — Just two weeks after he was charged with exposing himself to a nurse at a hospital, an East Contra Costa man was arrested again in connection with four sexual assaults, authorities said Oscar Medrano, 38, of Bay Point, was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of groping two women at a Bay Point bakery on Dec. 2, and for later allegedly groping a third woman in another part of town. During the second sexual assault, Medrano allegedly pulled over in his Dodge Charger on Willow Pass Road and forcibly touched a woman who was walking on the sidewalk, authorities said. The next day, Medrano allegedly groped a 15-year-old girl at a store on Willow Pass Road, authorities said. Later that day, a Contra Costa Sheriff’s deputy recognized him in the Charger, wearing the same clothing all four victims described, and arrested him, according to court records. Medrano was charged in late November with indecent exposure and soliciting a lewd act, both misdemeanors, for allegedly exposing himself to a nurse who was attempting to examine him at a hospital in Pittsburg, authorities said.

Judges topple gun restrictions as courts chart an uncertain path forward

Matt Vasilogambros | (TNS) Stateline.org More than two years after the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally expanded its interpretation of the Second Amendment, federal courts throughout the country continue to strike down state restrictions on gun ownership. Since the high court’s 2022 decision — in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen — that firearm regulations must have some historical comparison going back to the country’s founding, some state restrictions have been ruled unconstitutional. But lower courts are still figuring out the limits of that historical test and have not yet come to a broad agreement on key gun-related laws. Still, wins for gun rights supporters have mounted. Over the past two years, federal courts have struck down bans on assault weapons in trend-setting blue states such as California and Illinois. In October, a federal district court judge ruled that New York’s ban on carrying a concealed firearm on private property open to the public is unconstitutional. In September, a federal district court judge in northern Illinois ruled the state’s ban on carrying a concealed firearm on public transit violated the Second Amendment.

Transgender people working in US government see peril under Trump

Tracy Wilkinson | (TNS) Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON — The Air Force lieutenant colonel left the Pentagon one day and returned the next — with a new name and a new gender identity. Bree Fram remembers the atmosphere in 2020 as welcoming and supportive. Her colleagues brought cookies. When the Pentagon officially changed her gender in employment records, she felt her journey was complete. Fram is one of thousands of transgender people working openly in government positions, including the Defense and State departments, intelligence agencies and various other federal branches. An estimated 15,000 transgender people work in the military alone. They say acceptance and support has surged in recent years. But many are now worried that the broad advances they achieved over the last decade will be reversed under President-elect Donald Trump, who has likened gender transition to “mutilation,” vowed to roll back job protections and healthcare for trans workers and threatened to reimpose a ban against transgender people serving in the military. “The mood among the community is apprehensive,” Fram said, noting she was speaking in her personal capacity and not on behalf of

White House starts scrapping pending regulations, including student debt cancellation

By COLLIN BINKLEY and CHRIS MEGERIAN WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is abandoning his effort to cancel student loans for more than 38 million Americans, the first step in an administration-wide plan to jettison pending regulations to prevent President-elect Donald Trump from retooling them to achieve his own aims. The White House expects to pull back unfinished rules across several agencies if there isn’t enough time to finalize them before Trump takes office. If the proposed regulations were left in their current state, the next administration would be able to rewrite them and advance its agenda more quickly. Even as the Biden administration moves to pull back the rules, it pushed ahead with cancellation through other avenues on Friday. The Education Department said it was clearing loans for another 55,000 borrowers who reached eligibility through a program known as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which was created by Congress in 2007 and expanded by the Biden administration. As the pending Biden regulations are withdrawn, nothing prevents Trump from pursuing his own regulations on the same issues when he returns to the White House, but he

2024 obituaries: We said a final farewell to these famous people

By Bernard McGhee | Associated Press It was a murder case almost everyone had an opinion on. O.J. Simpson’s “trial of the century” over the 1994 killings of his ex-wife and her friend bared divisions over race and law enforcement in America and brought an intersection of sports, crime, entertainment and class that was hard to turn away from. In a controversial verdict, the football star-turned-actor was acquitted in the criminal trial but later found civilly liable in the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Years later, he served nine years in prison on unrelated charges. His death in April brought an end to a life that had become defined by scrutiny over the killings. Related: 2024 obituaries: Notable Bay Area residents who died But he was just one of many influential and noteworthy people who died in 2024. Alexei Navalny, who died in prison in February, was a fierce political foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, crusading against corruption and staging protests against the Kremlin. He had been jailed since 2021 when he returned to Russia to face certain arrest after recovering

5 great appetizers for holiday party season

5 great appetizers for holiday party season A simple marinade with citrus zest, fresh herbs and spices dresses up olives for parties. (Getty Images) Marinated olives, a rustic onion tart, bacon-cheddar shortbread and other delights await on this festive cocktail party menu. Originally Published: December 20, 2024 at 6:30 AM PST

Wish Book 2024: Helping South Bay artists with special needs chase their dreams

Gabi Dedek is all smiles and excitement as she shows off her acrylic paintings during a recent session at AbilityPath’s Phil Egan Art Program in San Jose. The first one is titled “Strike,” a colorful piece of art that places the viewer right in the midst of all the chaotic pin action at a bowling alley. I used to bowl,” she informs. “Not much now.” The next painting is equally vibrant, mixing and matching a wide assortment of triangles and squares in striking fashions. “My personality speaks through my art work,” Dedek comments. “I’m a whimsical type of person.” The Palo Alto resident has been enrolled in this Art Program now for eight years. But she’s been involved with AbilityPath — an organization that works to empower people with special needs through a variety of innovative and inclusive programs — for far longer. “Forty-nine years with AbilityPath,” says Dedek, mentioning that she turns 50 this fall. “I was born into the program.” Dedek is one of many aspiring artists with special needs who are prospering through AbilityPath’s Art Program, which offers structure and guidance —

Nystrom Village redevelopment dreams reignited in Richmond

Nystrom Village redevelopment dreams reignited in Richmond City council selects development team to bring mixed-use neighborhood vision to life Archival photo of the Nystrom Village housing complex in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, November 13, 2008. The complex is being eyed for redevelopment into hundreds of new homes and access to other amenities (Dean Coppola/Staff) Development team envisions redeveloping the 9-acre site into a well connected and walkable neighborhood with 403 mixed-income homes, community center, clinic or other amenities. Originally Published: December 20, 2024 at 6:05 AM PST

Half Moon Bay man arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide

EL GRANADA — A 39-year-old Half Moon Bay man was arrested in connection with an attempted homicide Wednesday on the San Mateo County coast, according to authorities. Deputies were called to the intersection of Coronado Street and Obispo Road in El Granada around 7:45 p.m. for a report of a man who was running through traffic and appeared to be badly injured, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. They arrived to find a 37-year-old man suffering from major injuries to his head and face. Paramedics stabilized the man and took him to a hospital for treatment, according to authorities. Witnesses provided a description of the suspect to deputies and told them he ran northbound from the area. Deputies set up a perimeter and quickly located the suspect. The sheriff’s office said the suspect was found with the weapon used in the attack, as well as drugs and drug paraphernalia. The suspect was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility on charges of attempted homicide, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Anyone with information related to the case