Category: Bay Area

By Vanessa Gera | Associated Press WARSAW, Poland — Western security officials suspect Russian intelligence was behind a plot to put incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes headed to North America, including one that caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another that ignited in a warehouse in England. Poland said last month that it has arrested four people suspected to be linked to a foreign intelligence operation that carried out sabotage and is searching for two others. Lithuania’s prosecutor general Nida Grunskiene said Tuesday there were an unspecified number of people detained in several countries, offering no elaboration. The events come as Western officials say they are seeing an intensification of a hybrid war of sabotage by Russia targeting Ukraine’s allies, including election disinformation and arson attacks in Europe this year. Several officials said they believe the attacks were the work of Russian military intelligence, the GRU, although Moscow denied involvement. Poland’s Internal Security Agency, or ABW, says that incidents in Poland, as well as other EU and NATO members, had intensified this year. ABW believes they are initiated and coordinated

By JOSH BOAK and LINLEY SANDERS WASHINGTON (AP) — Voters said the economy and immigration are the top issues facing the country, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting a ballot in Tuesday’s presidential election. AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change as Americans faced a stark choice between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, the Republican, sought to define the election as a referendum on the Biden-Harris administration and blamed it for inflation and illegal crossings at the U.S. border with Mexico. Harris, the Democrat, tried to brand herself as being more focused on the future and described Trump as old, tired and a threat to the Constitution. About 4 in 10 voters considered the economy and jobs to be the most important problem facing the country, as frustration with inflation spiking in 2022 lingered in the form of higher grocery, housing and gasoline costs. Roughly 2 in 10 voters said the top issue is immigration, and about 1

SAN JOSE – Defenseman Jake Walman will be a scratch for the first time this season Tuesday when the San Jose Sharks face the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth game of a five-game homestand. Walman is dealing with a minor upper-body injury incurred in the first period of Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. But coach Ryan Warsofsky said it was his decision to scratch Walman, who leads all Sharks defensemen with nine points and is second among all skaters in average time on ice (22:42). Rookie Jack Thompson will dress instead of Walman as the Sharks look to improve their record on this homestand to 3-1-0. The Sharks host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, then begin a four-game road trip against Metropolitan Division teams. Warsofsky said he and Walman talked about the decision but did not wish to elaborate to reporters on why he’s making a change. Walman was hurt by a body check by Canucks forward Brock Boeser late in the first period Saturday as he went shoulder-first into the boards to the left of the Sharks’ net. Walman left the

By Yosef Federman | Associated Press JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region. The move sparked protests across the country. Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival before taking the step as the world’s attention was focused on the U.S. presidential election. Netanyahu cited “significant gaps” and a “crisis of trust” between the men in his Tuesday evening announcement. “In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister.” In the early days of the war, Israel’s leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. But as the war has dragged on and spread

SUBSCRIBER ONLY High-profile San Jose tower lands key funds in sign of project confidence Office highrise gets more than $200 million in funding (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group) 200 Park, a 19-story office tower in downtown San Jose that totals 971,000 square feet, as seen on Aug. 14, 2024. An eye-catching office tower in downtown San Jose has landed more than $200 million in key financing. Originally Published: November 5, 2024 at 12:15 PM PST

BY JEREMIA KIMELMAN | CalMatters Nearly $100 million has been spent this year by corporate- and labor-funded committees in California legislative races, including more than $42 million in just the last month. These independent expenditure committees are becoming a bigger financial force in legislative campaigns across the state: Since Sept. 1, they have invested $51.5 million. That’s 29% more than over the same period in 2022, when the $40 million spent was 25% more than in 2020 and nearly twice as much as 2018. Unlike direct contributions to legislative campaigns, there is no limit on how much these outside groups can spend, as long as they don’t coordinate with a candidate. The money is mostly used to buy ads, mailers and text messages, often attacking the candidate’s opponent. Uber is the largest single source of independent expenditures; the ride-share company’s political action committee has reported spending more than $7 million, about 7% of all the outside money. For instance, it has invested more than $443,000 into a contentious state Assembly race in Los Angeles, siding with Democrat Sade Elhawary over another Democrat, Efren Martinez, for

Bay Area Home Report 1314 Gainsville Avenue – Google Street View The property located in the 1300 block of Gainsville Avenue in San Jose was sold on Oct. 4, 2024. The $1,100,000 purchase price works out to $733 per square foot. The house, built in 1963, has an interior space of 1,501 square feet. This single-story house boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and two baths. On the exterior, the home features wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. Additionally, the home comes with a one-car garage, offering a dedicated parking spot and storage area. The property sits on a 5,300-square-foot lot. Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby: A 1,073-square-foot home on the 1200 block of Gainsville Avenue in San Jose sold in April 2024, for $1,040,000, a price per square foot of $969. The home has 4 bedrooms 1 bathroom. On Gainsville Avenue, San Jose, in March 2024, a 1,073-square-foot home was sold for $870,000, a price per square foot of $811. The home has 4 bedrooms 1 bathroom. In April 2024, a 1,696-square-foot home

The Malaysian contractor known as “Fat Leonard,” who bribed dozens of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers in the service’s worst-ever corruption scandal, was sentenced Tuesday in San Diego federal court to 15 years in prison. Leonard Glenn Francis, 60, will likely spend about 8½ more years in federal prison when accounting for the credit he’ll receive from the time he has already been held in custody. He could serve even less if he qualifies for early release, though his attorney warned the judge that a lengthy prison term would be “essentially a death sentence” for Francis, who has dealt with severe health issues. U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino also indicated she would order Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy on top of the $35 million he was previously ordered to forfeit as part of his plea agreement. Additionally, she ordered Francis’ Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, to pay a $36 million fine. Francis, who has only ever said a handful of words in open court, somberly addressed the judge and asked for mercy so he could be reunited with his children.

FREMONT — A woman died early Sunday after she was hit by a vehicle while walking across Mission Boulevard, authorities said. The woman’s name was not immediately released pending notification of her family by the coroner’s bureau. The fatal collision happened about 5:40 a.m. Sunday on westbound Mission Boulevard near Mohave Drive. Police said the woman was walking across Mission Boulevard but was not in a marked crosswalk when she was hit by a vehicle. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating in the investigation, authorities said. Police said drug or alcohol impairment does not appear to be a factor in the collision. Westbound Mission Boulevard was shut down between Interstate 680 and Warm Springs Boulevard for several hours while the police investigation was being conducted. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has other information about what happened is asked to contact the police traffic unit at 510-790-6760. The death follows an Oct. 3 traffic fatality near the same intersection where a man died after he was struck by a bus in the

SUBSCRIBER ONLY Art, light, healing: Illuminated sculptures welcome patients to Walnut Creek hospital Barbara Grygutis’ “Regeneration” art installation greets patients and staff at John Muir’s Walnut Creek Medical Center. Walnut Creek. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Light, art and healing come together at John Muir’s medical center for cancer patients in Walnut Creek. Originally Published: November 5, 2024 at 9:00 AM PST

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: In late 2018, I booked three flights on Air France for a trip in 2019 through American Express. I had to cancel the flights and received a one-year ticket credit. I rebooked a flight to Europe for 2020 through KLM, an Air France partner. But in June 2020, at the height of the pandemic, KLM canceled the flight. Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter  Air France’s website clearly states that if tickets were purchased through a travel agent, passengers should contact their travel agency. Amex submitted refund claims with Air France on our behalf. At the time, I thought our vouchers would be extended beyond the original 12-month validity date, given the unprecedented COVID restrictions. They weren’t. Air France denied our claim because the tickets were purchased through Amex, and it said we needed to contact Amex for a refund. Now Air France says that our ticket credits have expired, and Amex says it can’t do anything because it must follow Air France’s rules. Can you help me get my money back? — Gilda Souza, San Leandro, California ANSWER: This is it! Our

SUBSCRIBER ONLY 3 amazing Bay Area whiskey bars to help you embrace the fall season Warm your spirits at these destinations specializing in “liquid sunshine.” Bartender Alfredo Velazquez mixes up a drink called East Meets West at the Nokori Japanese Whisky Bar inside the Tetra Hotel in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. The East Meets West has Legent bourbon with matcha honey, lemon, mint, and ginger ale. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Warm your spirits at these destinations — in Walnut Creek, Oakland and Sunnyvale — specializing in “liquid sunshine.” Originally Published: November 5, 2024 at 9:00 AM PST

An assortment of cookbooks coming out in Fall 2024. (Covers courtesy of Clarkson Potter, 4 Color, Union Square, 10 Speed Press, Rodale and Bloomsbury) By Erik Pedersen | epedersen@scng.com | Southern California News Group PUBLISHED: November 5, 2024 at 9:00 AM PST Hungry for some delicious recipes? We found 10 new books with food ideas to explore — from Dolly Parton’s recipes to Vietnamese fare. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

SUBSCRIBER ONLY TasteFood: Kimchi Brussels sprouts are guaranteed to turn haters to lovers With its mixture of gochujang, kimchi and other umami-rich ingredients, this twist on Brussels sprouts will surprise you. (Courtesy Lynda Balslev for Tastefood) With its mixture of gochujang, kimchi and other umami-rich ingredients, this twist on Brussels sprouts will surprise you.

SUBSCRIBER ONLY This immersive installation plunges visitors into total darkness, forcing them to rely only on their sense of touch The Tactile Dome exhibit at the Exploratorium on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, in San Francisco, Calif. The tactile dome immerses guests in complete darkness as they make their way through the exhibit using using only the sense of touch as a guide. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) Visitors to the Exploratorium’s Tactile Dome are plunged into total darkness, forced to rely on their sense of touch as their only guide.

Breaking News Restaurants, Food and Drink | Winds will stir fire danger Tuesday, may force public safety power shutoffs Things To Do Restaurants, Food and Drink News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. SUBSCRIBER ONLY Restaurants, Food and Drink | Redwood City has a new European-style bakery Two Redwood City neighbors decided to open up a bakery together. The Baker Next Door is the delicious result. Jenna Johnson and Brian Clarke have been next-door neighbors for about a decade and recently opened The Baker Next Door, a community-oriented and European-style bakery in downtown Redwood City. (Courtesy Jenna Johnson) By Kate Bradshaw | kbradshaw@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: November 5, 2024 at 6:30 AM PST Two Redwood City neighbors decided to open up a bakery together. The Baker Next Door is the delicious result. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

SUBSCRIBER ONLY In addition to $7.5 million in civil penalties, the company agreed to hire an independent auditor to monitor its facilities throughout California over the next four years Charles Krupa/Associated Press FILE – In this Nov. 18, 2020 file photo, a woman wheels a cart with her purchases out of a Walmart store, in Derry, N.H. The holiday season is here, which means spending time with family on Thanksgiving and hunting for the best deals on Black Friday. The term “Black Friday” was linked to a financial crash in the late 1800s and became associated with shopping the day after Thanksgiving in the mid-1900s. A number of stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, including Walmart and Target. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) The settlement also stipulates that Walmart pay for an independent auditor to monitor the waste practices of California Walmart locations three times a year for the next four years. Originally Published: November 5, 2024 at 6:15 AM PST

From the glittery bling of its name, the golden mussel sounds like it could be California’s state bivalve. Unfortunately, the creature’s only connection to the Golden State is the fact that it is California’s most recently identified invasive species — and it’s a bad one, with the capacity to clog major water supply pipes. On Oct. 17, the tiny freshwater mollusks, which have already laid siege to waterways of southern South America, were found at Rough and Ready Island, near Stockton. Since then, state officials said, it has been in at least one other location, O’Neill Forebay, in Merced County. Its appearance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the mussel’s first confirmed detection in North America, according to a news release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It’s also very possibly just the beginning of a long battle ahead to slow its spread. The top concerns at the moment include potential impacts to the environment and to the Delta pumping stations that send water to 30 million people and millions of acres of farmland. Unless it is contained and eliminated immediately, said UC

TODAY’S WORD — HECTOR HECTOR: HEK-ter: To intimidate or harass. Average mark 14 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 19 or more words in HECTOR? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — GNASHED: gash gashed gnash aged ashen sage sand sane sang sedan send shad shade shag shea shed snag hand hang hanged head dash dean 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’ve struggled with a mild autoimmune condition for the last three decades that would flare from time to time. Normal life is difficult during the flares, especially while raising a family and running a business with my husband. I did the best I could. About five years ago, I got extremely sick, and it just got worse and worse. During this period I mourned the loss of my two brothers and my dad. Other traumatic things happened as well. I’m trying to heal and, most of all, trying to make the most of every day I have even if I don’t. I read your wonderful column regularly. What would you recommend to help me with the little bit of bitterness I feel over people complaining about the most minor, often ridiculous non-issues, people who are squandering their precious days with anger or resentment over things that are not big deals while there are people hoping for just another year. – No Complaints Dear No Complaints: I am always struck with awe when I read the wise words of Kate Bowler, a Duke Divinity

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 9-year-old daughter recently went over to her friend’s house for a playdate. She was so excited to spend time with her friend, and everything seemed fine when I dropped her off. However, when I went to pick her up, her friend’s mom pulled me aside and made a comment that really caught me off guard. She criticized my parenting style, specifically how my daughter behaved at dinner. Apparently, my daughter didn’t finish all of the food on her plate, and the mom felt that was incredibly rude and a sign of poor manners. She went on to say that in their household, children are expected to eat everything they’re served and suggested I should be more strict at home to instill better manners in my child. I was honestly shocked. My daughter is generally polite, but like most kids, she can be picky sometimes — especially when she’s at someone else’s house. I’ve never forced her to eat food she doesn’t like, and I don’t see this as a major issue. I was taken aback by the mom’s approach and felt judged