Category: Bay Area

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Fremont’s camping ban discounts compassion Re: “Homeless camp ban is among state’s toughest” (Page B1, Feb. 13). As we collectively wade through the Trump administration’s dismantling of our federal institutions, it is natural to hope that our local politics are shielded by such callousness. Fremont’s camping ordinance and other Bay Area policies demonstrate the contrary. In another instance of our cities turning on the impoverished, San Jose’s OLIVE Program is actively towing RVs that are keeping people out of the cold and rain. The unfortunate truth that we all must contend with is that homelessness will get worse under the Trump presidency. The actions in his administration guarantee that he will gut the social safety net keeping countless people from the edge of homelessness. Cities must prepare for that reality right now and put in protective measures to both stem the tide of homelessness and humanely manage the issue. We must be deliberate and compassionate in response to the unconstrained cruelty in the current administration, not reflect it. Tiffay Ngo

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Juvenile justice reform is key to saving youths Too many young lives are lost to a system that punishes rather than heals. Instead of offering guidance, we lock up children, ignoring the trauma that led them there. Restorative justice offers hope, allowing youth to repair harm while learning accountability. It’s time to stop criminalizing our youth and start investing in their futures. As a former youth commissioner for the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, and as a formerly incarcerated person, I’ve witnessed the lack of support for youth, especially in Santa Cruz County, where Black and Brown youth are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. All counties face this systemic problem. People need to become informed in order to care and create change. Therefore, addressing the systemic challenges within the juvenile justice system is essential to inspire action and reform. Kalia Vasquez Capitola Immigration debate requires calm voices The authoritarian changes under President Trump have reopened the debate over immigration policy. His abuses of the rule

There is some grumbling in high school basketball circles regarding scheduling for the North Coast Section playoffs in that games are too spread out and at sites which aren’t seen as rewarding enough for teams playing their championship games. The problem? The NCS was unable to secure a more glamorous venue with Saint Mary’s College unavailable for the second year. The Gaels are home Saturday night against Oregon State, but have nothing scheduled Friday. Meanwhile, the Central Coast Section upper-division title games will be at Santa Clara University, Sac-Joaquin Section title games are at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, the Central Section title games at Fresno State’s Selland Arena and the Southern Section title games are at the Toyota Center in Ontario. The lone place where a high school hoops junkie can see multiple games championship in a day is Saturday at San Leandro High, which has opened a new gym. Piedmont faces St. Vincent-St. Patrick at 3 p.m. (Division IV boys), Cardinal Newman plays Moreau Catholic at 5 p.m. (Division II boys) and California faces Bishop O’Dowd at 7 (Division I girls). Here

OAKLAND — Shootings about 16 hours apart in West and East Oakland hospitalized two people, authorities said. The second shooting happened early Thursday about 3:15 a.m. in the 900 block of Brush Street in West Oakland, police said. According to police, the 44-year-old unhoused man was wounded more than once and taken by ambulance to a hospital. On Wednesday about 11:30 a.m., gunfire in the 2600 block of International Boulevard wounded a male. Police did not have an age for the victim. He also was taken by ambulance to a hospital. The East Oakland shooting victim was in stable condition at a hospital, while the West Oakland victim was in critical but stable condition, authorities said. Police did not have any information on suspects in either shooting, nor a motive. Originally Published: February 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM PST

A Colorado woman has been arrested after a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, was vandalized several times, with incendiary devices discovered at the scene, according to a release from the Loveland Police Department on Wednesday. An investigation started January 29 when the first act of vandalism at the local car dealership was reported, followed by a second incident February 2. On February 7, police officers went to the dealership after reports of attempted arson. A number of vehicles and the Tesla building itself had been vandalized with graffiti, “some of which were offensive and hateful in nature,” police said. RELATED: Tesla feels the wrath of anti-Elon Musk backlash Just before midnight Monday, the Loveland Police Department arrested Lucy Grace Nelson, who they say had “returned to Loveland Tesla while in possession of additional incendiary devices, along with materials attributed to vandalism.” Nelson was arrested without incident. The 40-year-old was booked into the Larimer County Jail and is facing several felony charges, including using explosive or incendiary devices during a felony and criminal mischief. Police are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Like nearly everyone, my wife and I both have smartphones, but for more than a decade, we’ve also had what looks and acts like a “landline” in my home office and our bedroom. The service we use is provided by Ooma, which is a leading provider of what is called “Voice Over Internet,” or “VOIP.” Emergency calls There are several reasons we have this service despite our smartphones. For one thing, it’s quick and easy to call 911 in an emergency. Unlike smartphones, the 911 operator knows exactly where you are because you register your street address when you sign up. If you call 911 from a cell phone, they have to rely on GPS, cell tower triangulation or other approximate measures to locate you, which is not necessarily precise, especially if you’re in an apartment building or condo. And, though it’s not difficult to dial 911 from a smartphone, it’s definitely easier from a standard handset. Just pick it up and dial 3 numbers instead of having to wake up the phone, unlock it, click on your phone app, dial the numbers and press

A big rig jackknifed, spilled more than 100 gallons of fuel onto a Peninsula highway, and caused an interruption to Caltrain trains early Tuesday in what was one of two wrecks that made for a brutal morning for commuters, authorities said. The other crash happened on an East Bay freeway. The bigger of the two wrecks happened on northbound U.S. Highway 101 near S. Airport Boulevard, one of the exits for the San Francisco International Airport. That wreck happened about 5 a.m. In that wreck, a big rig jackknifed and spilled approximately 160 gallons of fuel into the three right lanes, the CHP said. The big rig also hit the fence that separates the Caltrain tracks, knocking the fence onto overhead power lines, authorities said. Caltrain spokesperson Dan Lieberman in a Tuesday statement said Caltrain lost its power from San Francisco to South San Francisco because of the crash. Caltrain got power back on the northbound track and sent trains through on a single track through the affected area, he said. Delays were expected throughout the morning and Caltrain advised travelers to use other means

What are the best play kitchens for kids? Play kitchens are popular with all kinds of children as an excellent vehicle for pretend play, whether playing solo, with other kids or adults. Young cooks will love the chance to play at making their own recipes, but kids are creative and can make all kinds of games from a play kitchen. With so many play kitchens on the market, picking the right one can seem baffling. It’s essential to choose one with all the features and accessories you want your child to have and look at some popular options to discover the best play kitchens. What do play kitchens include? What comes with your play kitchen varies depending on the model you choose. Focusing on the kitchen itself, some are more elaborate than others. The most extensive play kitchens may feature cabinets, an oven, a sink, a microwave, a washing machine, a recycling bin, a fridge and a dishwasher. More compact play kitchens will feature a smaller selection from this list. Then you get to accessories, such as pots, pans, utensils and play food. Some play

LOS ANGELES  — Gene Hackman, the two-time Oscar-winning actor, has been found dead in his New Mexico home. Authorities have opened an investigation into how Hackman, his wife and their dog died, though have said no foul play is suspected. One of the 20th century’s greatest actors, Hackman’s career spanned more than 40 years and a variety of roles, from tough-guy parts to comedic turns, playing heroes, villains and one iconic sports coach in ways that captivated audiences. Here’s a list of notable Hackman films: 1961 — “Mad Dog Coll” (debut) 1964 — “Lilith” 1966 — “Hawaii” 1967 —”Bonnie and Clyde” (Academy Award nomination, supporting actor) 1969 — “The Gypsy Moths,” “Downhill Racer,” “I Never Sang for My Father” (Academy nomination, supporting actor) 1971 — “The French Connection” (as “Popeye” Doyle, best actor Academy Award win) 1972 — “Prime Cut,” “Cisco Pike,” “The Poseidon Adventure” 1974 — “The Conversation,” “Young Frankenstein” (cameo) 1975 — “The French Connection II,” “Lucky Lady” 1978 — “Superman” (as Lex Luthor) 1980 — “Superman II” 1981 — “Reds” 1983 — “Superman III” 1986 — “Hoosiers” 1987 — “No Way Out,”

TODAY’S WORD — IMPROMPTU (IMPROMPTU: im-PROM-too: Made, done or formed on the spur of the moment.) Average mark 22 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 29 or more words in IMPROMPTU? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — SLITHER shier shire shirt silt sire site slier slit stile stir lest list lite liter lithe isle islet istle their this tier tile tire tries heir heist hers hilt hire relish relist relit rest rile rise rite 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.

Dear Eric: I am two months pregnant, or so I thought. I met Steve at a concert three months ago. Our relationship developed quickly, and we became intimate after only a few weeks. Steve is so excited about the baby. It would be his first. He has even offered to marry me as soon as possible. When I went for a checkup the other day, the doctor told me the baby is four months along, not two months. There is no mistake about it. Several weeks before meeting Steve, I had a brief encounter with another man. It ended badly (he cheated on me). I honestly had no idea I was already pregnant when I met Steve. How do I tell Steve the truth? It would crush him to find out this highly anticipated baby is not actually his. He might dump me and then I would be all alone. Even if he stays, trust will always be an issue between us. He is a smart guy. It is only a matter of time until he notices the baby is older than our relationship. –

Following multiple reports that “Gossip Girl” star Michelle Trachtenberg had a liver transport sometime before her death Wednesday at age 39, fans have wondered why she would have needed such an serious operation. Trachtenberg’s cause of death has not officially been released and is pending an autopsy by the New York City medical examiner’s office, the New York Times reported. Officials say the former child actor was found unconscious and unresponsive in her Manhattan apartment at around 8 a.m. Trachtenberg’s rep, Gary Mantoosh, would not release “further details at this time,” as he released a statement saying, “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss.” Sources have told ABC News, the New York Post and TMZ that she had recently undergone a liver transplant and may have been experiencing complications. This possibility has prompted many online to ask why a relatively young woman like Trachtenberg would need a new liver and to wonder if she had been struggling with health issues in recent years. Until friends, family or officials come forward to confirm

The Trump administration has announced that two key California reservoir projects will receive $315 million in federal funding to help the state store more water in wet years to reduce shortages in dry years. The administration is investing the money toward the costs of constructing the massive new Sites Reservoir, proposed for Colusa County about 70 miles north of Sacramento, and to raise the height of the dam at San Luis Reservoir, along Highway 152 east of Gilroy, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said in a news release Tuesday. But there’s fine print in the deal that the agency didn’t explain. Trump isn’t providing any new federal money for either project. Instead, it’s money that was already approved by Congress before Trump took office last month, and which had been announced for the projects by the Biden administration over the past few years. After Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20, he blocked the funding as part of a sweeping, government-wide prohibition on spending billions of dollars of federal grants. Critics have called Trump’s move illegal and have sued to overturn it. The move to