Milpitas offering free SMART rides for Earth Day

Free SMART rides Milpitas commuters who use the coupon code EARTHDAY24 when booking a SMART ride April 22-30 can use the ride share service for free to travel to and from the Milpitas BART Station and VTA’s bus and rail services. Residents and visitors can also utilize this service for local daily trips to work, school, shopping and other needs around town. Book a SMART ride by downloading the Milpitas SMART APP, visiting https://book.smart.rideco.com or calling 408-330-3302. For more information, visit milpitas.gov/smart. Small Business Expo Milpitas is hosting a Small Business Expo on April 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 691 S. Milpitas Blvd. Breakout session include “Untapped Resources,” led by staff from the California State Treasurer’s office who will focus on resources and funding available from state and local agencies; “Creative Finance,” focusing on how to get funding from venture capitalists in a slower economy; and “Healthy Growth and Scale, “ a panel of CEOs who will discuss how they tripled their business in 2023. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com. Youth art contest Assemblymember Alex Lee invites students to participate in the Assembly District

San Jose company kicks off National Dance Week with free fest

Spring Dance Festival To celebrate National Dance Week, sjDANCEco is hosting its Spring Dance Festival April 27-28 at Eastridge Center, 2200 Eastridge Loop in San Jose. The free festival is also the kickoff to sjDANCEco’s 21st season. The festival runs noon-5 p.m. both days, with 15-minute performances on the half-hour and free 15-minute dance classes every on the hour. More than 60 choreographers and Bay Area dance organizations, from young children to professional companies and everything in between, will present various styles of dance. For more information, visit www.sjDANCEco.org. Children of the Dragon Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is hosting “Children of the Dragon:  A Vietnamese Heritage Celebration” on Saturday, April 20, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Yun Yee Tong USA will perform a lion dance at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Museum visitors can make a dragon puppet, pose for a commemorative family photo in a xich-lo, and stop by the theater to watch a short video to learn more about Vietnamese cultural heritage and the legend of Children of the Dragon. Tickets are $18 for children and adults and $16 for seniors at https://www.cdm.org/celebrate/community-celebrations; infants and museum members

Latest line: A good week for Tara VanDerveer, a bad week for fishermen

Tara VanDerveer Stanford women’s basketball coach, who won three national championships and 1,216 games — more than any men’s or women’s NCAA coach ever — announces a well-deserved retirement after 45 years. Fishermen The same week as Dungeness crab season is cut short to protect whales, federal regulators ban all salmon fishing off California for the second year in a row due to low numbers following the state’s recent drought. Rich Lyons Palo Alto native and former Cal business school dean is named chancellor of UC Berkeley, and will make $946,450 a year. But he inherits a campus torn by budget challenges and culture wars over the Hamas-Israel war.

This map reveals where supersized ‘builder’s remedy’ projects could be coming

Last year, dozens of cities around the Bay Area missed the deadline to come up with a state-approved “housing element” — a plan the state requires cities to submit every eight years showing how they will accommodate their share of the 2.5 million homes that California must build by 2031. Without a valid housing element in place, cities face a penalty called the “builder’s remedy,” which effectively allows housing developers to bypass local zoning and design restrictions to propose projects far taller and denser than typically allowed, so long as 20% of the units they propose are affordable. The projects run the gamut from a 412-foot tower in Menlo Park at the former Sunset Magazine headquarters to a sprawling 1,464-unit development near the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport. The builder’s remedy projects largely target affluent cities around the Bay that have been some of the most resistant to adding new housing, especially at higher densities. Search for builder’s remedy projects around your area on the map. Click on a dot to reveal details about the number of units and the developer. How the Bay

PG&E hit with $225-million lawsuit for 2021 Dixie fire damages

A coalition of timber companies has filed a lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. seeking roughly $225 million in damages from a 2021 fire sparked by a utility power line. The complaint, filed Wednesday by Oregon-based Collins Pine Co. and six affiliated timber businesses with property in the Collins Almanor Forest in Plumas and Tehama counties, alleges that PG&E failed to properly manage the forest and electrical equipment to prevent the devastating Dixie fire and that the businesses suffered massive financial damages as a result. A 2022 investigation by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection found that the Dixie fire, the second largest in California history, “was caused by a tree contacting electrical distribution lines owned and operated” by the utility company. The timber companies claimed the fire, which burned through nearly 1 million acres in Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama counties in the summer and fall of 2021, incinerated approximately 55,000 acres of their property, including “commercial-grade timber, trees of many species and ages (some over 200 years old), roads, structures, bridges, culverts, and many of the research plots.” The

Analysis: As Kings shift focus to another challenging playoff series, Ducks search for answers

The Kings and Ducks headed in opposite directions when they skated off the ice Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings are going to the playoffs for a third consecutive season, the team’s longest run of postseason appearances in a decade. The Ducks, meanwhile, will be heading to the golf course again after Thursday’s regular-season finale, having missed the postseason for a sixth straight year, the longest drought in franchise history. Saturday’s 3-1 win was the Kings’ fifth victory in six games. For the Ducks, it was their 50th loss of the season, a first in the 30-year history of the franchise. But the gap between the two is narrower and more fickle than it might appear. “It’s a hard game,” said Kings President Luc Robitaille. “You have to have a plan, you’ve got to stick to it, you’ve got to be a little bit lucky with injuries too.” When that luck runs out, well, then you have the Ducks. “You can look at any team that’s won, and they’ve had a little luck,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “They’ve had a little, now they’re

Editorial: Board of Supervisors’ silent sign-off on $25-million payout fails accountability test

The Board of Supervisors is the guardian of Los Angeles County’s budget and has oversight over county policies and actions. So it is disappointing, to say the least, that the supervisors asked no questions and engaged in no discussion last week when they signed off on a $25-million settlement for Isaias Cervantes, a Cudahy man who was shot in his home by sheriff’s deputies on March 31, 2021. They were responding to a 911 call by Cervantes’ sister, who advised the dispatcher of her brother’s disabilities and said he had become aggressive with their mother. She asked if deputies could take him to the hospital. When the two deputies arrived, Cervantes was seated inside on a couch. He declined to go outside to speak to the deputies but invited them in. They entered and told him he was not under arrest but they would have to handcuff him. When he resisted, they scuffled, and one deputy said Cervantes tried to grab his gun. The other deputy shot him. It’s not that county taxpayers should begrudge the payment to Cervantes. He was paralyzed in the incident

Opinion: Why it’s hard to muster even a ‘meh’ over Trump’s New York criminal trial

In watching some of the breathless coverage of Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial, I’m reminded of the 2004 quote from former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that, “You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you might want.” People want the hush money case to be the big case that can take down Trump because it may be the only one that goes to trial before the election. Special counsel Jack Smith’s election interference case pending in Washington is the most important of the Trump cases; it may be the most consequential court case for democracy in the history of the United States. The former president is alleged to have tried to subvert the outcome of the 2020 election through fraud, to turn himself from an election loser into an election winner. Similar damning allegations appear in the Georgia state election interference case. And the charges against Trump in a federal court in Florida for allegedly mishandling and failing to turn over classified documents are quite serious. But the hush money case that opens Monday in New York? I have a

Iran declares its attack on Israel “concluded,” for now

Iran declares its attack on Israel “concluded,” for now – CBS News Watch CBS News Israel’s military says that on Saturday Iran launched more than 200 drones, cruise and ballistic missiles towards Israeli territory, the vast majority of which were intercepted. The assault – a retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus earlier this month – is the most serious escalation in an already unstable Middle East. Correspondent Imtiaz Tyab reports the latest from Tel Aviv. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Music Tonight: Sunday, April 14

Minnesota bluesman, picker, and singer-songwriter Charlie Parr is the real deal, by which I mean an artist who has sublimated the nerve-ending feedback signals of his life and the lives of those around him into a sound that captures the true essence of storytelling, that elusive place where fiction creates truth. I’m not the only one to recognize this, either. The guy has a career traveling the world with his guitar, no easy feat in the year of Our Lord 2024. He’s parked over at Humbrews tonight at 8 p.m., where he will be joined by banjo-playing singers Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee, also known as The Lowest Pair, an indie-grass duo minted in Olympia, Washington, a decade ago, and rolling on down the road ever since ($25, $20 advance). …

Why can’t JuJu Watkins enter the WNBA draft early? And even if she could, should she?

As JuJu Watkins wiped tears from her eyes with the corner of her jersey after USC’s season-ending loss to Connecticut in the NCAA regional final, UConn coach Geno Auriemma gave Watkins two encouraging pats on the back. He said a few words into the freshman’s ear. What did the legendary coach tell USC’s heartbroken star who set the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record in the crushing defeat? “Go pro,” Auriemma joked later. But even with the legendary coach’s light-hearted encouragement, Watkins probably won’t hear her name called in the WNBA draft until 2027. To be eligible for the draft, domestic players must turn 22 years old during the calendar year of the event or have graduated from a four-year university prior to, or within the three months after, the draft. The age requirement has been included in the league’s collective bargaining agreement since its first deal in 1999 with little challenge. But stars like Watkins are just the first in a wave of players advancing their games faster than ever. The shift in talent could force further examination of the WNBA’s rule. “If these

Sondheimer: Colin Moore deals with Type 1 diabetes while dealing on the mound

There are important things teenage athletes never forget when leaving home. Cellphone. Wallet. Bottle of water. For Colin Moore, a junior pitcher at Crescenta Valley High with Type 1 diabetes, he has another must-have item. “I keep a jar of Skittles in my baseball bag every game,” he said. That’s his emergency go-to item if his blood sugar level becomes too low. He wears a glucose monitor and insulin pump on his arm. He monitors everything via his cellphone. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Moore is 6 feet 3, 230 pounds and has come a long way since being diagnosed at age 12, just before the pandemic. “It gave me a lot of time to get used to it and adjust to the new lifestyle I was living,” he said. He entered high school as a freshman and had few problems, but during his sophomore season, “I started getting low on my blood sugar a lot,” he said. “It was super confusing. Something was not right.” He ended up getting an insulin pump to

Mass shooting in Chicago leaves 1 child dead, 10 other people injured in Back of the Yards

By Beth Lawrence, Asal Rezaei Updated on: April 14, 2024 / 7:48 AM EDT / CBS Chicago Girl killed, 10 other people wounded in Chicago mass shooting Girl killed, 10 other people wounded in Chicago mass shooting 01:51 CHICAGO (CBS) — One child was killed and ten other people, including three other children, were injured in a shooting in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood Saturday evening, police said. The shooting happened around 9:20 p.m. near West 52nd Street and South Damen Avenue, Chicago police said. The victims were at a family gathering when the shooting happened.  Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert of 18 rounds fired and found multiple people shot on the block, police said. Officers then began providing life-saving care, including tourniquets and chest seals, according to Chicago Police Area One Deputy Chief Don Jerome.  An 8-year-old girl was shot in the head and died, police said. Her name was not immediately released.   A 1-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy were each shot multiple times and were in critical condition Saturday night. A 9-year-old boy suffered a graze wound to his

Key players to know in Trump’s “hush money” trial, set to begin Monday

By Graham Kates April 14, 2024 / 7:24 AM EDT / CBS News Potential witnesses in Trump trial Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen among potential witnesses in Trump “hush money” trial 04:11 When former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial begins in New York on Monday, it will mark the culmination of a yearslong investigation and open a new chapter of a story that goes back even further, to an alleged affair in 2006. It’s a tale that weaves together presidential politics, tabloid headlines and the mundane intricacies of corporate ledgers. The trial will feature a unique cast of characters, some of whom are already household names, while others are stepping into the spotlight for the first time. These are some of the key figures to know as the first ever criminal trial of a former president begins. The defendant and key witnesses Donald Trump Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the hallway outside a courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on March 25, 2024. Brendan McDermid/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images Trump, who has locked up the Republican presidential nomination once again, is

Veteran Times columnist Bill Plaschke wins prestigious Red Smith Award

The reaction was thunderous and effusive. Colleagues and competitors, team officials, longtime readers and even some critics all celebrated when the Associated Press Sports Editors announced this past week that Times columnist Bill Plaschke won its prestigious Red Smith Award. It is widely considered the highest sports journalism honor a writer can earn. Plaschke, 65, is the third Times journalist to win the top prize, following legendary columnist Jim Murray (1982) and former sports editor Bill Dwyre (1996). “When I heard that Bill won the Red Smith Award, my initial reaction was, ‘Well deserved! And long overdue,’” veteran Times sports reporter Gary Klein said. The sentiment was shared by many others, including droves of journalists he mentored and leaders of organizations Plaschke volunteered to assist through the years. “Whoever said you don’t want to meet your heroes has never met Bill,” Times reporter Thuc Nhi Nguyen said. “He’s not only absolutely deserving of this award that honors his incredible work and career, but he’s also a Hall of Fame person and the best teammate you can ask for.” Plaschke has earned numerous top journalism awards

Horoscopes April 14, 2024: Rob McElhenney, look for a lifestyle change

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Abigail Breslin, 28; Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47; Rob McElhenney; 47; Brad Garrett, 64. Happy Birthday: Take a unique approach to how you earn or handle your money, and opportunities will develop. Your insight and ability to decide will push you in a positive direction personally, financially or professionally. Look for a lifestyle change that suits your situation. Be true to yourself and refuse to let the past, outside influences or negative people disrupt your plans, and something good will manifest. Your numbers are 7, 11, 23, 25, 32, 39, 48. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Self-improvement will lead to a healthier lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to walk away from disruptive people or to reassess your situation and formulate a plan to make your life better. Tie up loose ends and make room for new beginnings. Romance is favored. 3 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Be open to suggestions, and you’ll find an exciting alternative to make your responsibilities more effortless and affordable. A trip, reunion or educational pursuit will change your direction or help you discover a unique outlet to use

Bridge: April 14, 2024

Today’s South wouldn’t (I hope) have opened four spades as dealer — with a side ace and second-round heart control. North would pass with 75,A964,876,AQ107 when slam would depend only on winning one of two finesses. South should also avoid bidding four spades if he were in second seat, or if East opened the bidding. North could still have enough strength to make slam a favorite, and since South owns the ranking suit, he has less urgency to preempt. To open or overcall one spade and await developments would be a reasonable course. But when West opened and East responded, South discounted the chances for slam and leaped to four spades. He expected a chance for 10 tricks and might make it hard for East-West to locate a paying sacrifice. West led the king of diamonds, and South won and saw that he might need to ruff his third club in dummy. He led a club and, for an extra chance, played dummy’s nine. East took the ten and led a trump, and South put up the ace. When West followed low, South led another

Word Game: April 14, 2024

TODAY’S WORD — FORENSIC (FORENSIC: fuh-REN-sik: Relating to the application of scientific knowledge to legal issues.) Average mark 49 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 61 or more words in FORENSIC? TODAY’S WORD — FORENSIC fern fine finer fire fisc force fore fresco fries once osier rein resin rice rife rinse rise risen rose rosin nice nicer noes noir noise nose nosier scion scone score scorn senior senor serf serif since sine sire siren snore sone sonic sore icon infer iron censor cero coif coin coiner coir cone confer conifer core corn cosine cries crone cronies 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

Ask Amy: She crossed the line with her grooming advice to my 11-year-old

Dear Amy: My husband and I have two children. Our oldest, “Ava,” will be 12 in the fall. My kids are very close with my parents and, given that we live in the same town, my folks have been very involved in their lives. We love them and feel lucky to have relatively youthful and fun grandparents for our kids – and for us. Ava recently came home from an overnight visit with my folks and told me that my mother suggested that she should shave her legs. This issue goes into one area where my mother errs: She has a habit of giving advice about bodies, clothes and grooming. She once cut my daughter’s hair without permission from either of us. I had to accept this when I was a child, but I don’t like it now. What do you think I should do? – Mother Dear Mother: First, you should talk to your daughter. Emphasize that her body hair belongs to her, and that nobody has the right to tell her what to do with it. Then you should talk to your mother.

Dear Abby: Can’t anybody use a calendar anymore? This drives me nuts.

DEAR ABBY: It seems that doctors’ offices have it set up to automatically send you emails and/or text messages to confirm your appointments. It is convenient, but they send them repeatedly, starting a week or two prior to the appointment. Why? It seems like overkill to me. Once should be enough, unless they feel we’re unable to remember when we have an appointment. Before the internet, we made our next appointments, if required, at the doctor’s office upon leaving and were given a card showing date and time. That was all we got! You marked it on your calendar at home, and life went on. Abby, do you agree with my frustration? — BLUNT GUY IN NEVADA DEAR BLUNT GUY: No, I do not. Sometimes folks forget to enter that information into their calendar and the result is that the medical and dental professionals get stood up. If the reminders become annoying, you can always delete them when they pop up. If this is your biggest problem, consider yourself lucky. DEAR ABBY: I am a gay man who matched with another guy on a dating