49ers make move ahead of free agency by extending young starter McKivitz

SANTA CLARA — Right tackle Colton McKivitz’s first full season as a 49ers’ starter has earned him an extension. McKivitz agreed to a one-year, $7 million extension with 65-percent of that fully guaranteed, according to his agency, AMDG Sports. While next week’s free agency might still lure more offensive linemen to the reigning NFC champions, the 49ers have been pro-McKivitz for over a year, and he acquitted himself well last season as Mike McGlinchey’s replacement at right tackle. McKivitz had one year remaining on his contract, at a 2024 base salary of $2.5 million. The 49ers have yet to confirm McKivitz’s deal or any other contract moves ahead of Wednesday’s start to the new league year, and the first day that free agents can be signed from other teams. Negotiations with free agents can begin Monday at 9 a.m. PT. Related Articles San Francisco 49ers | 49ers face significant questions with their own free agents — beyond Jennings San Francisco 49ers | Will 49ers make one last huge free agency swing before salary cap tightens? San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers, Giants get the

More Black women say abortion is their top issue in the 2024 election, a survey finds

By AMANDA SEITZ (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — More than a quarter of female Black voters describe abortion as their top issue in this year’s presidential election, a poll out Thursday from health policy research firm KFF reveals. The findings signal a significant shift from previous election years, when white, conservative evangelicals were more likely to peg abortion as their biggest priority when voting. Those voters were highly motivated in recent presidential elections to cast ballots for Donald Trump, who promised to appoint U.S. Supreme Court judges who would take away the constitutional right to an abortion. But just months ahead of the first presidential election since the court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, that voting dynamic is drastically changing, KFF’s poll suggests. “It’s a complete shift,” said Ashley Kirzinger, a KFF pollster. “Abortion voters are young, Black women — and not white evangelicals.” Overall, 12% of voters surveyed said abortion was the most important issue in this year’s election. Certain female voters, however, were more likely to identify the issue as top of mind. They include 28% of Black women, 19% of women living in states where abortion is

RNC votes to install Donald Trump’s handpicked chair as former president tightens control of party

By STEVE PEOPLES and MICHELLE L. PRICE (Associated Press) HOUSTON (AP) — The Republican National Committee voted Friday to install Donald Trump’s handpicked leadership team, completing his takeover of the national party as the former president closes in on a third straight presidential nomination. Michael Whatley, a North Carolina Republican who has echoed Trump’s false theories of voter fraud, was elected the party’s new national chairman in a vote Friday morning in Houston. Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, was voted in as co-chair. Trump’s team is promising not to use the RNC to pay his mounting personal legal bills. But Trump and his lieutenants will have firm control of the party’s political and fundraising machinery with limited, if any, internal pushback. “The RNC is going to be the vanguard of a movement that will work tirelessly every single day to elect our nominee, Donald J. Trump, as the 47th President of the United States,” Whatley told RNC members in a speech after being elected. Whatley will carry the top title, replacing longtime chair Ronna McDaniel after she fell out of favor with key figures

It’s not just Israeli bombs that have killed children in Gaza. Now some are dying of hunger too

By MOHAMED JAHJOUH, JACK JEFFERY and LEE KEATH (Associated Press) RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — It’s not just Israeli bombs that have killed children in war-ravaged Gaza — now some are dying of hunger. Officials have been warning for months that Israel’s siege and offensive were pushing the Palestinian territory into famine. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces and has suffered long cutoffs of food supplies. At least 20 people have died from malnutrition and dehydration at the north’s Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals, according to the Health Ministry. Most of the dead are children — including ones as old as 15 — as well as a 72-year-old man. Particularly vulnerable children are also beginning to succumb in the south, where access to aid is more regular. At the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, 16 premature babies have died of malnutrition-related causes over the past five weeks, one of the senior doctors told The Associated Press. “The child deaths we feared are here,” Adele Khodr, UNICEF’s Middle East chief, said in a statement earlier this week. Israel’s bombardment and ground assaults have

Trip to the Swiss Alps, skincare, candy: Take a look at what’s inside the 2024 Oscars swag bag

LOS ANGELES — Win or lose, there’s a swanky swag bag waiting for many of this year’s top Oscar nominees. “One of the cool things about doing this independently of the Academy is that I get to decide who gets it, and we only give it to the top 25 acting and directing nominees,” said Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets. “I get to decide what’s in it.” Each swag bag is worth about $180,000. “The Academy doesn’t give out gift bags anymore,” Fary said. “They stopped like 15 or 20 years ago. I still wanted to do it and in a special way. If you don’t win that Oscar, this is a good consolation prize.” No Oscar? No worries! A fabulous trip is the most expensive gift in the swag bag. “It’s a $50,000 getaway to the Swiss Alps, called Chalet Zermatt Peak, and it’s all-inclusive,” Fary said. “They get the entire sixth-floor chalet, (with) five suites to themselves.” There are also accessories that are selected specifically for the nominees. “Lily Gladstone, this is her actual purse from Elboque Couture,” Fary said. “This is

New cookie shop opens in northeast Fresno

Friday, March 8, 2024 2:53PM “Cookie Plug” has various locations in the US and now has a new spot at Campus Pointe. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — There’s a new place to buy a sweet treat in Northeast Fresno. “Cookie Plug” has various locations in the US and now has a new spot at Campus Pointe. It is next to Mochinut and across the street from “Bulldoc” Korean Fusion Cuisine. The store offers 18 different types of cookies, from Keto to dog treats. Cookie Plug will have a grand opening block party on Saturday at noon. Kevin Jordan, the CEO and Fresno State alum, hopes to open up three locations in Fresno. Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Uvalde parents lash out after new report clears city police of missteps during Texas school attack

UVALDE, Texas — An investigation Uvalde city leaders ordered into the Robb Elementary School shooting put no blame on local police officers and defended their actions Thursday despite acknowledging a series of rippling failures during the fumbled response to the 2022 classroom attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Several family members of victims walked out in anger midway through a presentation that portrayed Uvalde Police Department officers as acting swiftly and appropriately, in contrast to scathing and sweeping state and federal past reports that faulted police at every level. A report into the May 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School found there were many failures. The investigator who presented the report blamed families who rushed to the school that day for compromising the police response, prompting an eruption of anger from several families, and some stormed out. Law enforcement took more than an hour to get inside the classroom and kill the gunman, even as children inside the classrooms called 911, begging police to rescue them. “You said they did it in good faith. You call that good faith? They stood there

49ers face significant questions with their own free agents — beyond Jennings

SANTA CLARA – It’s that time of year the 49ers like to promote their “nice track record of extending the players who are important to us.” Each year, that is meant as a vote of confidence in the form of a big-money extension for a homegrown star. Brandon Aiyuk should be this year’s target, unless all parties are cool with him playing out his rookie contract at $14 million salary, which is almost half of what he might get annually in a new deal. Overall, the 49ers must overcome playoff heartbreak to recharge their roster, and the first step looms with next week’s start of free agency. Negotiations on the open market begin Monday at 9 a.m., and deals can not be executed until Wednesday, although the 49ers can re-sign their own ahead of time. Here is a look at their in-house free agents: DEFENSIVE LINE The brunt of the 49ers’ defensive line is up for a new contract: Clelin Ferrell, Chase Young, Randy Gregory, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Young, acquired in an October trade for a third-round pick, has Nick Bosa’s

Borenstein: Dealing with the A’s, city should stop swinging for the fences, take back control of the Coliseum

As the Oakland A’s bargain for a short-term lease extension at the Coliseum, the city’s mayor insists that the team, before departing for Las Vegas, leaves behind its name and a promise of a future expansion team here. It’s not going to happen. And it’s the wrong play. Mayor Sheng Thao and county officials should keep their eye on the ball and stop swinging for the fences. In what should be the final inning of the great ballpark saga, city and county representatives negotiating with the team have an opportunity to regain control over the Coliseum property. The 112-acre parcel, one of the Bay Area’s most important development sites, has stellar transportation access, including an interstate freeway on one side, a BART station and Capitol Corridor train stop on the other, and an international airport just three miles away. City and county officials have a chance to enable economic revitalization, bringing needed housing, commercial development and a refurbished sports complex to an impoverished Oakland neighborhood. They don’t need a home run. They just need a strategically placed hit that drives in the winning run and redeems

Tehama County Public Health offers community precautions against West Nile virus

RED BLUFF — Tehama County Public Health wants the community to be aware of the precautions against the West Nile virus. According to public health officials, northern California is experiencing significant rainfall, which contributes to standing water. Standing water serves as a breeding source for mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus. Hot temperatures also contribute to the increasing number of breeding mosquitoes and an increased risk of virus transmission to humans. “As we approach mosquito season, residents need to be aware of mosquitoes and take measures to reduce their risk of contracting the West Nile virus,” Public Health said. West Nile virus is a potentially severe illness that affects the central nervous system. The bite of an infected mosquito spreads it. Mosquitoes become infected with the virus after feeding on birds with West Nile virus. The mosquitoes then bite humans, horses, and other animals, spreading the disease. Most individuals who are infected with West Nile virus do not experience any symptoms, but one out of five infections produces fever, rash, headaches, and body aches. People over 50 and those with chronic medical conditions are

Women’s Breakaway Roping returns Red Bluff Round-Up

The Red Bluff Round-Up Association Board of Directors announced on Wednesday that it was reversing an earlier decision not to have women’s breakaway roping at the 2024 Roundup. The decision comes following a special meeting, during which the board voted to reverse its decision and acknowledged the concerns voiced by the contestants, various partners, and the community. One of those who were concerned about the initial decision, Lacy Hook, noted in a letter sent to the association, that nationwide 72% of rodeo tickets are purchased by females, and the breakaway made approximately $1.5 million in payouts. According to a press release, the association held discussions with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) and reached a mutual understanding to return the event to this year’s event.

Texas off base to go after Catholic halfway house | Flowers

When Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro engaged in a legal battle with the Little Sisters of the Poor over their refusal to subsidize birth control for their employees, I got very angry. As a Catholic who takes her faith very seriously and an asylum lawyer who knows a little something about religious persecution, it seemed to me that the then-attorney general was violating the rights of some women who just wanted to be left alone to serve God’s glory. Of course, there are those who will disagree and believe that Shapiro was fighting to preserve the civil rights of those female employees who, for whatever reason, refused to buy their own birth control, but it’s clear that going after nuns is not a good look. I thought I’d seen the last of that kind of chicanery from a state official, but last week brought another example of what I truly believe is anti-Catholic bigotry. The irony is that this time, it’s a Republican attorney general from Texas acting under orders from a Republican governor from Texas. Bigotry and illegality are, apparently, bipartisan. We all know that

What does spring break mean to you? | Tyrades!

You probably crave a break from my patented “sour grapes” routine, but we must face facts: spring break (a.k.a. Easter break, a.k.a. mid-term break, a.k.a. “unwind, rejuvenate, have fun, but don’t forget how oppressed you are, students”) is not the same for every family. When I was in elementary school, spring break meant visiting my grandmother for an extra day, tagging along to another antique shop with my mother, or stocking up on books at the library. High school? My job at the convenience market left little flexibility for long trips. As a cash-strapped college student, spring break was usually nothing more exotic than helping my parents with their cattle or organizing my comic book collection. I am writing these words during the much-ballyhooed Spring Break 2024. There’s no shortage of work at my farmers cooperative day job. My wife the college biology teacher is striving to stay ahead on her lesson plans. Our son the engineering student is doing homework, reading a 1950s joke book and taking care of errands. Life is good. I know, I know. Red-blooded Americans have a time-honored obligation to