Category: Bay Area

By LINDSEY BAHR and JILL COLVIN, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump wants to make Hollywood “bigger, better and stronger” and has cast Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as stars of what he is calling his “Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California.” On Wednesday, the President-elect announced on his social media site that the three actors would be his eyes and ears to the moviemaking town. “It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!” he wrote on Truth Social. He also called the trio special envoys. Special ambassadors and envoys are typically chosen to respond to troubled hot spots like the Middle East, not California. U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and, in the past week, the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Overall production in the U.S. was down 26% from 2021, according to data from ProdPro. In the greater Los Angeles area, productions were down 5.6% from 2023

Holly D. Johnson, Bankrate While I find value in all types of travel — including adventure and sightseeing trips all over the world — I try to plan family vacations that are both relaxing and fun. With two teen girls to keep happy and entertained, my partner and I don’t want to over-plan or try to do too much on vacation. Instead, we like to sit back and relax, enjoy a week (or longer) without cooking or cleaning and spend time together chatting, playing games and basking in the sun. All-inclusive resorts sometimes make their way into our travel plans, but my true preference for family vacations is always going to be cruising. That’s why, ultimately, I typically take our family on three to four cruises over the course of any given year. Not only do we cruise the Caribbean over winter break each year, but we frequently cruise in Europe in order to see new destinations while keeping costs down. Are cruises worth it? I certainly think so. It’s fun, and cruises let you book the bulk of your vacation plans with a few

Marc-Edouard Vlasic will become just the 19th defenseman in NHL history to play in at least 1,300 games Thursday when the San Jose Sharks face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed Thursday morning that Vlasic will play against the Blue Jackets on the second leg of a five-game road trip, as San Jose’s lineup will remain the same after beating the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 on Tuesday. Vlasic, 37, could have reached this milestone before Thursday. Along with the league going through a work stoppage and a pandemic, Vlasic had his share of injuries, including one that kept him out of the first half of this season, and was a healthy scratch over 20 times last season. Still, Vlasic wouldn’t be here if he had not shown that he could play in the NHL at 19. Vlasic, a second-round selection by the Sharks in 2005, made his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 2006, at what was then HP Pavilion in San Jose. He had 20:54 of ice time as the Sharks beat the St. Louis Blues 5-4 in overtime

After breathless speculation and much digital ink spilled, Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, the successor to its hugely successful console, in a video. Aside from its appearance of it, not much is known about the system. Here’s what can be confirmed: What games will it play?: The Nintendo Switch 2 can play physical and digital games and some but not all games from the previous generation will be available. Nintendo said certain games may not be fully supported or fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. When is the Nintendo Switch 2 coming out?: The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to launch in 2025. What do the Nintendo Switch 2 controllers look like?: The new controllers on the Switch 2 look like Joy Cons but only bigger with a new connection method to the console. Some critics worry that it can be a point of failure. It does have an additional button on the right controller. What other form factors are different?: The kickstand is wider and will hopefully mean that it stays up more easily. When can I learn more?: Nintendo will broadcast

A telling moment in the supremely depressing Senate confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, the Fox News personality who is Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, came right at the beginning, when former Sen. Norm Coleman introduced him. “Four years ago, President Biden’s nominee, Lloyd Austin, a good and honorable man, received 97 votes on the floor of the Senate,” said Coleman, R-Minn., “and we went through the debacle of the Afghanistan withdrawal, Putin invaded Ukraine, the Houthis endangered our shipping lanes” and America was insufficiently supportive of Israel. The implication seemed to be that, since good and honorable had failed, it was time to try something else. Hegseth is something else. As has been widely reported, in 2020 he paid off a woman who filed a police report accusing him of sexual assault. (He insists they had consensual sex.) As Jane Mayer reported in The New Yorker, Hegseth “was forced to step down by both of the two nonprofit advocacy groups that he ran — Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America — in the face of serious allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety

Bay Area Home Report 331 South Genevieve Lane – Google Street View The property located in the 300 block of South Genevieve Lane in San Jose was sold on Dec. 6, 2024 for $1,780,000, or $1,288 per square foot. The house, built in 1951, has an interior space of 1,382 square feet. This single-story house has three bedrooms and two baths. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. Additionally, the house features a two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The lot of the property is substantial, measuring 9,984 square feet. These nearby houses have also recently changed hands: In August 2022, a 1,739-square-foot home on Villa Centre Way in San Jose sold for $1,780,000, a price per square foot of $1,024. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. On Villa Centre Way, San Jose, in April 2023, a 1,739-square-foot home was sold for $1,880,000, a price per square foot of $1,081. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. A 1,187-square-foot home on the 300 block of South Baywood Avenue in San Jose sold in May 2023

My wife is a much better cook than I am, but that hasn’t stopped me from tinkering in the kitchen. I’m quite good at making pasta with store bought sauce, and I can grill a steak or even bake a chicken, but when it comes to anything fancy, either Patti cooks or we go to a restaurant. But I just got my hands on the Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer that looks and cooks like an air fryer but has the smarts to take on other tasks such as baking, roasting, defrosting, reheating, broiling, toasting and dehydrating. Those tasks are classified under what the device calls Classic Cook, but it also has Chef Mode, Probe Cook and Creative Cook, as I’ll soon explain. You can control the device from the well-appointed and lit control panel with touch sensitive buttons, but it’s not a true touch screen. You can’t touch an option – just arrows and setting keys. You can also configure it from the Dreo app. The device has a clear glass front and a light that comes on automatically and turns off during most of

TODAY’S WORD — ENGRAM (EN-gram: A change in neural tissue thought to account for the persistence of memory; a memory trace.) Average mark 21 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 25 or more words in ENGRAM? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — DENDROID dido dine diner diode dire dodder doer done dried droid drone nerd nodded nodder node noir nori redid redo rein rend ridded ridden ride rind rode odder inro iron ironed 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. Originally Published: January

High-profile San Jose office building might convert to housing site 100-plus housing units would replace offices in the building (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group) A nine-story office building at 152 North Third Street in downtown San Jose, seen in 2018. A high-profile San Jose office building tied to WeWork’s co-founder might become a housing complex. Originally Published: January 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM PST

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are set to question Scott Bessent’s stance on taxes, tariffs, trade and other issues during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. The treasury secretary is responsible for serving as the president’s fiscal policy adviser and managing the public debt. He would also be a member of the president’s National Economic Council. If confirmed, Bessent will oversee massive agencies within the Treasury Department, including the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS received a massive boost in funding from Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, though that money has been in constant threat of being cut. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Originally Published: January 16, 2025 at 7:38 AM PST

Which exercise bike is best? Exercise bikes are among the bestselling home fitness equipment. Not only do they offer a great workout and major calorie burn, they also lend themselves to dynamic use. The main types of exercise bikes include upright, indoor, recumbent and air bikes. Each model offers adjustable resistance to deliver true-to-life riding experiences and intense workouts. NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle, one of the leading indoor models, is full of high-tech features to help cyclists get the most out of every ride. This article was reviewed and approved by Judd NeSmith, the BestReviews Fitness Expert. What to know before you buy exercise bikes Exercise bike types With so many exercise bikes to choose from, you might be wondering where to begin your search. Understanding the four basic types and determining which one is best for your exercise needs is an easy way to narrow your options. Upright: Upright bikes place riders in upright positions, not pitched forward like on bicycles. They often have smooth magnetic resistance that offers a different riding experience than road bicycles. Indoor: Indoor or spinning bikes simulate outdoor cycling

When catastrophe strikes, its victims understandably want to know how and why — but their curiosity often morphs into snap judgments and witch hunts by those with ulterior motives. The horribly destructive wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County neighborhoods have become fodder for irresponsible, fact-free finger-pointing, mostly aimed at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Social media have erupted with vituperative attacks on both figures, alleging that they, either by actions or inactions, allowed the firestorms to destroy thousands of homes and claim dozens of lives. One expertly produced fake video depicts Newson and Bass playing fiddles, Nero-like, while the city burns. President-elect Donald Trump started the campaign of misinformation by very quickly pinning the fires on Newsom, who has been one of his sharpest critics. But his broadside made absolutely no sense. “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the north to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually

Southern California’s devastating wildfires have spawned a cottage industry in false information spreading rapidly online, forcing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the governor and local officials to dedicate time and resources to pushing back against the most prevalent rumors and lies. Over the last decade, it has become common for large-scale disasters to turn into a feeding frenzy for internet trolls, political provocateurs and bad actors from foreign countries looking to sow chaos, confusion and dissent, according to Sam Wineburg, emeritus professor at Stanford University and co-principal of the Digital Inquiry Group, a nonprofit focused on digital literacy. RELATED: Break in winds allows crews to make big gain on Eaton fire; containment grows on Palisades fire, too But now, the rise of artificially generated images and text has only made it easier for a single person to wreak havoc on social media, Wineburg said. “Irrespective of where you are on the political spectrum, if you have an ax to grind, the barrier for creating a myriad of messages and putting them into the information stream is so low,” Wineburg said. “It doesn’t take much.” Misinformation can

Which neck massager is best? Neck pain is a common occurrence in our increasingly technologized world, where it seems like everyone is hunched over a computer or staring down at their smartphone. Neck pain can also be caused by arthritis and other conditions. A professional massage often provides much-needed relief for tight and painful muscles. When a professional massage is not feasible, there are many options for portable neck massagers that simulate a hands-on massage and provide a therapeutic effect for aching necks. For overall quality and quick recovery, the TheraGun Pro is the top choice. What to know before you buy a neck massager What is causing your neck pain? Everyone gets a sore or stiff neck from time to time, but according to the Mayo Clinic, if your pain is severe, has lasted for several days or has spread down your arms or legs, you should consult your healthcare professional to make sure the neck massager won’t make your condition worse. What is your goal of using a neck massager? For some people, a neck massager is to help them relax from a

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my friends recently made a comment while we were hanging out and looking at pictures from earlier this year. Out of nowhere, she pointed to one of the photos and said, “It looks like you’ve gained a few pounds since the first day of the year.” To be honest, she’s not wrong. This year has been extremely stressful for me in ways that she may not even fully understand. I’ve been juggling a lot and, like many people, when life gets overwhelming, I’ve found it hard to keep up with things like exercise and meal prepping. My focus has been on surviving, not necessarily thriving, and as a result, I’ve put on a little weight. What bothers me isn’t the observation itself, but the fact that she felt the need to say something about it. I wasn’t seeking her opinion or advice on my body, and it felt unnecessary and even a bit unkind. Now I’m struggling with how I should bring it up to her. I think it’s important to stand up for myself and let her know how her

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My fiance and I moved to a new neighborhood, and our neighbors have been really friendly, dropping by to introduce themselves. One of our neighbors really likes to talk and comes over a little more frequently. One night, he rang the doorbell at 9 p.m. just as we were sitting down to a late dinner (we had been painting all day). He was bringing us some oranges from his tree. He chatted with us for about 10 minutes and then left. After he was gone, I started wondering: Are we supposed to always invite our neighbors inside when they come over? We’re still unpacking, our house is far from tidy and sometimes when they stop by, it’s at an inconvenient time. At the same time, I don’t want to be considered rude. GENTLE READER: You cannot reasonably be expected to receive uninvited guests — particularly after a recent move — so there is nothing wrong with accepting the oranges and saying, “We look forward to being able to have you over when we are unpacked and ready for guests.” Miss Manners is

Today is Thursday, Jan. 16, the 16th day of 2025. There are 349 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 16, 1989, three days of rioting began in Miami when a police officer fatally shot Clement Lloyd, a Black motorcyclist, causing a crash that also claimed the life of Lloyd’s passenger, Allan Blanchard. (The officer, William Lozano, was convicted of manslaughter, but was acquitted in a retrial.) Also on this date: In 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman decreed that 400,000 acres of land in the South would be divided into 40-acre lots and given to former slaves. (The order, later revoked by President Andrew Johnson, inspired the expression, “40 acres and a mule.”) In 1942, actor Carole Lombard, 33, her mother, Elizabeth Peters, and 20 other people were killed when their plane crashed near Las Vegas, Nevada, while returning to California from a war-bond promotion tour. In 1970, St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Curt Flood filed a $1 million antitrust lawsuit against Major League Baseball and MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, arguing for the right to free agency. In 1991, in

DEAR ABBY: My siblings and I are estranged. I live in a different state from them. My brother and I never got along and stopped speaking many years ago. My older sister and I, after a long, toxic relationship, finally had a blowout after Dad passed. We haven’t spoken since. My younger sister took my older sister’s side and doesn’t speak to me either. I have communicated briefly via text and email with all my siblings regarding my parents’ trust and final matters. My sisters still insist on texting me birthday wishes. Because of this, I feel obligated to send them a birthday text as well. I stress out weeks before their birthdays because of it. I felt peaceful after becoming estranged from my older sister. I have many feelings of resentment toward all my siblings for having taken advantage of my parents, especially this older sister. She lived with them rent-free for many years. She refused to get a job and wouldn’t help out — not even to clean their room when they were elderly. Doesn’t estrangement include birthdays as well? Why do I

MINNEAPOLIS — The Warriors hit their low-point of the season north of the border, but bounced back against the Timberwolves stateside. Golden State dominated the first quarter, building a 24-point lead behind swarming defense and a barrage of 3-pointers. No lead is safe in the NBA, especially a Warriors lead. Minnesota clawed back, quarter by quarter, offensive rebound by offensive rebound, free throw after free throw, tying the game late in the fourth quarter. But Steph Curry elevated down the stretch, nailing two 3-pointers in the last three minutes. Curry finished with 31 points and eight rebounds in a season-high 37 minutes. Despite some late-game turnover and foul-shooting drama, the Warriors held on for a 116-115 win. Andrew Wiggins (24 points), Trayce Jackson-Davis (15 rebounds) and Buddy Hield (18 points) made major contributions. The Warriors lost every quarter after the first, but their early onslaught held just enough to sneak back home to the Bay Area with a win. The Warriors (20-20) overcame the absences of Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Kyle Anderson in the victory. They took three of four in the

In Dec., an estimated 200 bronze vases were stolen from gravesites at Oakmont Memorial Park in unincorporated Lafayette, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office)  LAFAYETTE – An investigation is underway into the theft of an estimated 200 bronze vases from gravesites at a cemetery in unincorporated Lafayette, authorities said. Oakmont Memorial Park reported the theft to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in December. “Oakmont staff noticed the vases were missing, but it was not known exactly when they were stolen,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post Wednesday. A memorial bench at the cemetery was also vandalized, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the case can contact the sheriff’s office investigation division at 925-313-2600. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call 866-846-3592 or email tips@so.cccounty.us.

OAKLAND – Two women are facing felony charges for allegedly stealing clothing and jewelry from a Hayward department store last week, according to prosecutors. The women, ages 24 and 20, were arraigned Wednesday on one count each of grand theft of personal property, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release. If convicted, the women could get up to three years in state prison, according to prosecutors. The alleged theft happened Jan. 11 at the Southland Mall JCPenney. The district attorney’s office said the women took more than $950 worth of clothing and jewelry from the store without paying, but were detained by loss prevention officers. According to prosecutors, the way the crime was carried out “indicates planning, sophistication or professionalism.” The women are scheduled to return to superior court for a plea hearing on Feb. 18.