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Letters: Paying enough | Making good | Security staffing | Republican chaos | Inaccurate picture | Ukraine support

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Bay Area residentsalready paying enoughRe: “Funding for transit is ‘at a crossroads’” (Page A1, Oct. 3).It comes as no surprise that a recent survey found little enthusiasm for transit subsidies, and much less for tax, toll and fare increases.Over the last several elections, voters in Santa Clara County have passed multiple tax and fee increases including gas taxes, the Caltrain Measure RR tax, two bridge toll increases, three VTA sales taxes, Santa Clara County’s Measure A 1/8-cent sales tax, the state Proposition 30 1/4-cent sales tax and the 2010 Measure B vehicle registration fee of $10. Additionally, we’re on the hook to pay back numerous state bond issues including high-speed rail, the Proposition 1 water bond and the infrastructure bonds of 2006.All these fees contribute to making the Bay Area a horribly expensive place to live; especially for people of modest means, who mu...

McCarthy ouster leaves House adrift, GOP in search of leader

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

By Farnoush Amiri and Stephen Groves | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The stunning removal of Kevin McCarthy as speaker has left the House adrift as Republicans struggle to bring order to their fractured majority and begin the difficult and potentially prolonged process of uniting around a new leader.The House convened briefly Wednesday and then went into recess, with North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry, the caretaker speaker pro tempore, serving in the job with very little power for the foreseeable future. Other Republicans left Washington, awaiting the next steps.The House will try to elect a speaker as soon as next week. The timing is nowhere near certain as Republicans line up for their chance at the gavel amid the bitter divisions that sparked the chaos.The House majority leader, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., is in line for the post, but he faced an immediate challenge from Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the Judiciary Committee chairman and a favorite of conservatives, who quickly announc...

Julia Ormond sues Weinstein saying he assaulted her

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

By Deepti Hajela and Andrew Dalton | Associated PressNEW YORK — Julia Ormond, who starred in films alongside the likes of Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford in the 1990s before her spotlight faded, filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in 1995 and then hindering her career.Ormond, who also accuses The Walt Disney Co., Miramax and her former agents of knowing Weinstein was a problem but doing nothing about it, filed the case in state Supreme Court in Manhattan under the Adult Survivors Act, a law passed last year that allows a temporary window for those who allege sexual assault to file past the state’s normal deadlines.In her suit, Ormond says she was a star on the rise when she met Weinstein in 1994. She says she kept in touch with him to discuss scripts and projects, and in 1995 entered into a production agreement with Miramax, where he was co-chairman. She accuses him of committing sexual battery against her in Dece...

Is 49ers QB Purdy capable of epic comeback over Cowboys?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

SANTA CLARA — A generation after Joe Montana launched the 49ers’ dynasty with a fourth-quarter comeback over the Dallas Cowboys in “The Catch” game for the NFC crown, inquiring minds want to know if Brock Purdy can do the same, albeit in Sunday night’s regular-season showcase.Well, at least one guy still wants to know: Micah Parsons, who leads the Dallas Cowboys (3-1) up against Purdy and the 49ers (4-0) at Levi’s Stadium.“There are still things we want to see from Purdy, not when Purdy is winning, but when Purdy is down,” Parsons said last month on his Bleacher Report show. “The adversity aspect of the football game is huge, learning how to play from behind, learning how to play situational football.“I’m not saying he can’t do it,” Parsons added. “It’s something we haven’t seen yet.”It’s something Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones could not do in lopsided losses to Dallas this season for the N...

‘You ought to be making this money for me,’ Bay Area man allegedly told ‘prostitutes.’ Unfortunately for him they were undercover cops

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

OAKLAND — Last week, a pair of undercover Oakland cops dressed up like sex workers and headed off to the 500 block of International Boulevard with the hopes of attracting suspected pimps or men attempting to buy sex.Apparently, their disguises were effective.At about 6:15 p.m., the officers were accosted by a man who pulled up in a 2005 silver Dodge Magnum and rolled down the window, authorities said.“You ought to be making this money for me,” he allegedly called out to them. “You making hella contact for nothing.”The women promptly signaled to another police unit waiting nearby in the shadows, who swooped in and arrested the man. Two days later, Alameda County prosecutors filed two felony charges against him, related not to pimping, but to a loaded gun with an extended magazine allegedly found in the Dodge.The man was identified as 24-year-old Zaire Rucker-Jackson, a Santa Rosa resident. He was charged on Sept. 29 with carrying a concealed weapon in a ...

Grimes sues Elon Musk after she said he wouldn’t let her see their son

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

It turns out that even Elon Musk and Grimes are vulnerable to ordinary human hassles like child custody disputes, as evidenced by the ethereal singer going to court to sue the billionaire over a matter regarding their three young children and her petition to establish “a parental relationship.”During their three-year relationship, Musk and Grimes (who’s known in court documents by her real name Claire Boucher), tried to portray themselves as intellectually superior beings who presumably were highly evolved on matters of the heart and procreation.But the publicly available records in San Francisco Superior Court suggest that the Tesla CEO and his ex-girlfriend are just like other aggrieved ex-partners. They’re having trouble working out how to co-parent their children, who, in their case, are ages 3 and under and bear the highly unusual, space-age names X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl and Tau Techno Mechanicus.Indeed, reports and Grimes’ since-deleted social...

Oakland missing person considered at risk

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing man who is considered at risk. Awot Tara, 24, was last seen on Monday at 5:10 p.m. in the 300 block of 45th Street. Starbucks to close seven San Francisco locations He was wearing a black zip-up hoodie, an orange shirt, blue jeans, and black-and-white shoes. He is described as 5 foot, 7 inches in height, 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.Police say Tara's family reports he is in good physical condition. However, he is considered at risk due to being diagnosed with schizophrenia.Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the OPD Missing Persons Unit at (510) 238-3641.

County settles lawsuit for Oakland banker homicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

(KRON) -- Alameda County agreed to pay $1.95 million to Miles Armstead’s widow and his five children to settle a wrongful death lawsuit, attorneys announced this week. Oakland will pay an additional $450,000 for the settlement. Armstead, a wealth manager at Fremont Bank, was shot to death in the front yard of his Oakland home on May 1, 2020. Armstead's next door neighbor, Jamal Thomas, is set to stand trial for murder in November. The lawsuit accused Oakland and county officials of inaction and negligence that fanned "homicidal flames burning in Mr. Thomas' mind."Oakland civil rights attorney Adanté Pointer, who represents the Armstead family, said, "We recognized the magnitude of the system’s failures led to this family’s grievous loss and disregarding Thomas' mental health needs."Thomas, 46, was on probation and pretrial supervised released when he allegedly killed his 44-year-old neighbor. Despite nearly two dozen 911 calls made by Armstead seeking help, Oakland Police Department...

Remains of missing Gilroy woman found; man arrested for murder

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

(KRON) -- The remains of a missing Gilroy woman were found in Santa Clara County, the Gilroy Police Department said Wednesday. Police arrested Iban Alfaro Escobedo, 31, of Gilroy, in connection to her death. Alyssa Salazar, 33, was reported missing to police on Aug. 10. She had not been seen since late July. Toddlers who drowned in San Jose daycare pool identified Police investigated her disappearance and went to a property in unincorporated Santa Clara County where her remains were found. Police did not specify when or where she was found. GPD detectives believe the case is a homicide. Escobedo, who used to date Salazar, was identified as the suspect. He was already in jail for previous charges involving Salazar, and he will now be charged with her murder. The investigation into Salazar's death remains open. Anyone with information is asked to call (408) 846-0330.

Poll: Marylanders split on government performance on COVID-19, masking in schools

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:16:00 GMT

While Marylanders are being reminded to get their flu and RSV vaccines, they are also being reminded that COVID-19 boosters are available. But a new poll found that not everyone is rushing to get the shot.The poll by Gonzales Research and Media Services showed that 52% of respondents said they will be getting their boosters this year, while nearly 42% said they will skip it.And their willingness to get the booster shots appears tied to how they feel about the federal government’s handling of the pandemic.The poll, which was released on Wednesday, found that 77% of those who approved of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic said they are getting their booster shots. In contrast, 66% of those who disapproved of the government response said they are not getting theirbooster shot.Asked about how they would feel about if Maryland schools required staff, students and teachers to wear masks, respondents were nearly evenly split, with 47% saying they would support such a ...