Category: Bay Area

Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey interim Sen. George Helmy, a Democrat appointed when Bob Menendez resigned after a federal corruption conviction, is stepping down this weekend so Sen.-elect Andy Kim can be sworn in early. The move was expected and confirmed what Helmy and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced during his appointment this summer — that Helmy would resign early so the winner of November’s election could get into office before the start of the new session of Congress next month. Murphy explained the arrangement, saying he wanted the “democratically chosen winner” of this year’s election to have a smooth transition into office. Kim defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw on Election Day. He’ll become the first Korean-American in the Senate when he is sworn in on Monday. Helmy is a former chief of staff to Murphy and has said he wasn’t interested in pursuing elected office. He counted voting to confirm 20 judicial nominations and resolving more than 100 constituent cases as some of his accomplishments in little more than two months in office. Helmy said he’s been working closely with Kim since

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Utility district ignores better plans for tower The iconic tower in the Lafayette Reservoir, over 100 years old and the de-facto symbol of Lafayette, is in grave danger. EBMUD, which owns the tower, proposes to shorten the tower to a virtual stump and claims approval from the California Division of Safety of Dams to do so. The problem is that EBMUD apparently submitted just one proposal for earthquake safety to the Division of Dams: their own. Other proposals, providing seismic safety, but retaining the tower’s integrity, were not submitted. These alternative plans were developed by a committee of astute structural engineers and architects from Lafayette, including Jack Moehle, professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley. EBMUD apparently cannot admit anybody knows better about the tower than their own engineers, with their sledgehammer approach to seismic safety. EBMUD apparently doesn’t care about the city of Lafayette, nor about Lafayette’s history. William Gilbert Lafayette High school sports is getting its due Kudos to the crew at the East Bay Times for

The Matulich family delivered the news in a heartfelt note on their website. “It is with a mix of deep gratitude and heartfelt emotion that we share some bittersweet news: after 45 incredible years, Steamer’s The Grillhouse will be closing its doors. This decision was not made lightly, and while it marks the end of an era, we want to take this moment to celebrate everything Steamer’s has meant to our family and to this wonderful community.” The Los Gatos restaurant, which has been the town’s premier seafood destination and a downtown mainstay, will shut down after dinner service on Christmas Eve. Siblings Paul, Mark and Linda Matulich opened the restaurant on Aug, 17, 1979, and Steamer’s has remained under that family’s ownership and direction since then. The restaurant moved to its current University Avenue location in 1999. As longtime seafood experts, the Matulich family has steered the menu’s evolution over the years, supplementing the classic entrees of Seafood Linguine, Steamed Clams and Atlantic Lobster with dishes such as Asian BBQ Glazed Salmon and Roasted Mussels with a Thai Curry-Lime Butter. But never count out

There’s a new drink in town called the San Jose Sour, that is actually a delicious treat just in time for the holiday season. Selena Harkey, Vine Hospitality’s director of wine and spirits, crafted this cocktail — a Silicon Valley take on the popular New York Sour — incorporating a pair of San Jose-based ingredients: 10th Street Distillery’s award-winning “Dragon” whiskey and Alamitos Vineyards’ Hawk Eye Syrah. Harkey joined 10th Street Distillery owner Virag Saskena and Alamitos Vineyard owner Shaun Coleman at Downtown Ice last week to help launch the drink. Both Saskena and Coleman are former tech guys who started second careers in the wine and spirits, though in Coleman’s case, it’s also a family legacy: His grandfather, John Vargas, an immigrant from the Azores, was a winemaker for Old Almaden Winery, not far from the current location of Alamitos Vineyard in San Jose. Alamitos Vineyard owner Shaun Coleman, Serena Harkey of Vine Hospitality, and Virag Saksena, of 10th Street Distillery, from left, at the Downtown Ice rink in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)  The 10th

A Stanford University misinformation expert who was called out in a federal court case in Minnesota for submitting a sworn declaration that contained made-up information has blamed an artificial intelligence chatbot. And the bot generated more errors than the one highlighted by the plaintiffs in the case, professor Jeff Hancock wrote in an apologetic court filing, saying he did not intend to mislead the court or any lawyers. “I express my sincere regret for any confusion this may have caused,” Hancock wrote. Lawyers for a YouTuber and Minnesota state legislator suing to overturn a Minnesota law said in a court filing last month that Hancock’s expert-witness declaration contained a reference to a study, by authors Huang, Zhang, Wang, that did not exist. They believed Hancock had used a chatbot in preparing the 12-page document, and called for the submission to be thrown out because it might contain more, undiscovered AI fabrications. It did: After the lawyers called out Hancock, he found two other AI “hallucinations” in his declaration, according to his filing in Minnesota District Court. The professor, founding director of the Stanford Social Media

Hugh Jackman may spend some of the Christmas holidays either without his two children or his rumored new girlfriend, Sutton Foster, because his ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness isn’t ready to created a “blended,” “modern-family” dynamic with all of them celebrating together. The 56-year-old Jackman reportedly wanted to introduce Foster, 49, to his adult children, Oscar, 24, and Ava,19, but Furness is not “keen” on the idea, Woman’s Day reported. “It’s going to take more time for loved ones to adjust to the new normal and so that means Hugh and Sutton are bracing themselves for way less time together than they’d like during the holidays,” an insider told Woman’s Day. Even without saying anything publicly, Furness, 68, has reportedly made it clear that she’s not happy with how her marriage ended. A report last month said she appeared to confirm a social media post that said that Jackman’s alleged backstage affair with Foster, his co-star in the hit Broadway revival of “The Music Man,” is the reason behind their divorce after 27 years of marriage. NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

San Jose State is returning to the Hawaii Bowl for a second year, but this time they have a new Hawaiian in a prominent position. Coach Ken Niumatalolo, in his first year in charge of the Spartans, will lead SJSU in the Dec. 24 game against South Florida. The Spartans (7-5, 3-4 Mountain West), then quarterbacked by Hawaii native Chevan Cordeiro, lost to Coastal Carolina in last year’s version of the bowl game. The 2024 Hawaii Bowl (5 p.m. PT, ESPN) will be the Spartans’ third straight bowl game — the first such stretch in program history. SJSU is 7-6 in its bowl history and has lost its last three postseason games, dating back to the 2020 Arizona Bowl against Ball State. Niumatalolo was born in Laie, a small town on Oahu, and played quarterback collegiately at Hawaii in the late 1980s, then was a graduate assistant there before becoming an assistant at Navy and eventually taking over as head coach of the Midshipmen. The Spartans’ passing attack and Biletnikoff Award finalist Nick Nash — the nation’s leader in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,382) and

(Google Maps) 100 Independence Drive, an office building in Menlo Park. By George Avalos | gavalos@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: December 3, 2024 at 12:40 PM PST A tech company has signed a mammoth office deal in the South Bay. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

Content oversight and quality assurance provided by Bay Area News Group. Bay Area News Group advertising leadership oversees sponsored, native, and paid content on this platform, ensuring its quality, relevance, and helpfulness for our audience. Articles attributed to this byline are authored by paying advertisers. The editorial team did not contribute to these pieces, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the editorial staff. Refer to our partner statement to better understand the nature of the relationship. The sponsor retains responsibility for the content and holds the copyright to their material. SPONSORED CONTENT As psilocybin and magic mushrooms’ popularity and accessibility continue to grow, there’s never been a better time to dip your toe into the world of psychedelic shrooms. Magic mushrooms are incredibly easy to use — especially in chocolate bar form. Chocolate shroom bars are formulated to blend the delicious taste of a beloved candy product with a measured dose of psychedelic ingredients.  If you’re looking to start your magic mushroom journey, you’re in luck: We’ve ranked today’s seven best chocolate shroom bars based on factors like taste, psychedelic effects

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. In a statement, Schumer, of New York, said he was honored to move the party forward “during this crucial period for our country.” “Our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families,” Schumer said. “However, our Republican colleagues should make no mistake about it, we will always stand up for our values.” While Schumer remains popular with his colleagues, it is a bleak moment for Senate Democrats, who had been hopeful that they could hold the majority for the third election in a row. Instead they lost four seats and will be in the minority

Bay Area Home Report 32 Corte Nogal – Google Street View A 2,010-square-foot house built in 1955 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the first block of Corte Nogal in Danville was sold on Oct. 18, 2024, for $5,450,000, or $2,711 per square foot. This single-story home offers a spacious layout with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. In addition, the house provides an attached two-car garage, granting ample space for parking and storage purposes. Situated on a spacious 0.3-acre lot, the property offers ample outdoor space. Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby: A 2,246-square-foot home on the 400 block of Love Lane in Danville sold in August 2023, for $1,660,000, a price per square foot of $739. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. On Love Lane, Danville, in June 2023, a 2,459-square-foot home was sold for $2,300,000, a price per square foot of $935. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. In August 2024, a 1,244-square-foot home on Love Lane in Danville sold for $3,025,000, a price per square foot of $2,432. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden was departing Tuesday on her final solo foreign trip as first lady, a six-day, four-country jaunt through Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar that wraps with her and President-elect Donald Trump joining other dignitaries in Paris to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral. Biden will focus throughout the trip on the issues she has championed as first lady, including support for military families, education, and research into cancer and women’s health, and will also highlight U.S. partnerships in these areas with the countries hosting her, according to her office. She is the first Italian American to become first lady and has planned a side trip to her ancestral hometown of Gesso, the tiny Sicilian village where her father’s family hailed from. Paris is the final stop to help celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame. The cathedral was painstakingly reconstructed after fire nearly destroyed it five years ago. Trump, who was U.S. president at the time of the fire, announced on Monday that he also will travel to the French capital to join other VIPs attending

Alamo Drafthouse confirms plans to open two movie theaters in South Bay Locations will be in Santa Clara and Mountain View Alamo Drafthouse An artist’s rendering depicts one of Alamo Drafthouse’s two new planned South Bay theaters. Alamo Drafthouse announces plans to open locations in Santa Clara and Mountain View. Originally Published: December 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM PST

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge dismissed the gun case against Hunter Biden on Tuesday after President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his son. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika closed the case the week before Hunter Biden was to be sentenced. He could have faced up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender he likely would have gotten far less time or avoided prison entirely. Prosecutors opposed dismissing the case, arguing in court documents that a pardon shouldn’t wipe away the case “as if it never occurred.” Hunter Biden was convicted on three felonies after he lied on a federal form to purchase a gun in Delaware by saying he wasn’t a drug user in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged being addicted. The Justice Department special counsel is also opposed to dismissing a case filed in California after he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxe s. A federal judge in Los Angeles hasn’t yet ruled in that case. The president’s Sunday decision to go back on previous pledges and issue his son a blanket

Kendrick Lamar and SZA are joining forces for what will likely be the hottest hip-hop/R&B tour of 2025. The two superstars’ co-headlining Grand National Tour is set to hit 19 stadiums. And — here’s the best news — one of those stadiums will be Oracle Park in San Francisco. Lamar and SZA will perform at the home of the San Francisco Giants on May 29. Kendrick Lamar and SZA tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Dec. 6, grandnationaltour.com. There is also a Cash App Visa Card pre-sale that starts at 10 a.m. Dec. 4. Kendrick Lamar performs during the 2023 Governors Ball Music Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York on June 11, 2023. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)  TOUR DATES: Apr 19 – Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium Apr 23 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium Apr 26 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium Apr 29 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes Benz Stadium May 03 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium May 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field May 08 – East

Stuffed mushrooms are an eternally popular party appetizer, but these are stuffed with duxelles, a mushroom mixture that celebrates the flavor of that fungi. (Lynda Balslev for Tastefood) By Lynda Balslev, Columnist | Columnist PUBLISHED: December 3, 2024 at 6:45 AM PST Celebrate the noble mushroom by filling those caps with a duxelle that showcases its umami goodness. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.

Nov. 29 PETTY THEFT: 10:29 a.m. at 76 Gas on Los Gatos Boulevard. A man told police that he was being attacked and someone was stealing cigarettes before the line disconnected. PETTY THEFT: 11:02 p.m. at Watkins Way. A caller reported that someone stole a package with a box of chocolates and an advent calendar worth about $250. Nov. 28 PETTY THEFT: 2:54 p.m. at Starbucks on North Santa Cruz Avenue. Someone stole the tip jar from the store and left on foot. Nov. 27 BURGLARY: 8:44 a.m. on Walker Street. A caller reported a carpet extractor machine worth “a few thousand” was stolen. Nov. 26 NOISE DISTURBANCE: 8:59 p.m. at Daves Avenue School. A caller told police that they heard a loud noise and said it sounded like someone was causing “destruction.” Nov. 25 SUSPICIOUS PERSON: 12:31 a.m. at Netflix on Albright Way. A caller reported that they were worried that a man standing in front of the building’s lobby would try to steal furniture. Originally Published: December 3, 2024 at 6:36 AM PST

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I canceled a recent flight on Iberia Airlines, and the airline offered me a $4,005 ticket credit, which was valid until Nov. 4. But when I tried to book a new flight, Iberia rejected the ticket voucher code. After several calls with their customer service department, I received an email saying the voucher was suspended “due to security issues.” Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter  Iberia instructed me to file a complaint on the website, which I did. I received an email saying I’d hear back in seven days, which did not happen. I’ve made over 11 calls to Iberia since then. Representatives have repeatedly promised me a replacement voucher, but they have never sent me one. Meanwhile, I paid $3,952 for a new ticket. I want Iberia to pay me the full value of the voucher or reimburse me for the new flight and issue a voucher for the balance. — Thomas Kush, Boston ANSWER: Iberia wasn’t wrong to suspend your ticket credit, but it should have quickly restored it. Why do I support the airline’s decision to freeze your ticket credit?

TODAY’S WORD — REFUTED REFUTED: rih-FYOOT-ed: Proved wrong by argument or evidence. Average mark 16 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 22 or more words in REFUTED? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — QUERYING: query quire unrig urge urine enquiry eying reign rein ring ruin ruing rung inure grey grin gurney gyre 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: My brother and his wife just had their first child, the first grandchild on both sides of the family. I am so excited to be an aunt, and I love the baby. So does my mom. However, she keeps saying something to my brother and I that we both are getting tired of. She has said on multiple occasions: “I love the baby more than you two” [my brother and me]. I think the first time she was trying to be funny. It still did sting, though. She keeps saying it every time there is a get-together with the baby, and I even see my brother having an upset look on his face. I can’t say anything because when I’ve said anything I’ve been told by my dad that I am “self-centered and make everything about myself.”  And my mom will just say, “Why is everyone on my butt tonight?” I don’t want to cause any problems, but my brother and I are tired of this backhanded compliment, and I honestly don’t know how to deal with it. – Second Place Dear Second

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister-in-law often makes passive-aggressive comments about my parenting style, which has been frustrating to deal with. Recently, I decided to address it directly, and I told her she has no right to meddle in how I raise my child. I spoke firmly but calmly, making it clear that I know what I’m doing and that she should respect my boundaries. However, at a family gathering soon after, she claimed I had angrily shouted at her during our conversation, which is completely untrue. Her version of events has made things awkward with other family members, and I feel unfairly judged. I want to set the record straight without escalating the situation further or creating more tension. How can I handle this gracefully while maintaining my boundaries and protecting my reputation? — Family Friction DEAR FAMILY FRICTION: It sounds like it is out of the ordinary for people in your family to call each other out on their behavior. Your sister-in-law experienced your pushback as shouting, even though you did not intend it that way. You can say to her — and your family