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Editorial: Alameda County supervisors should not appoint another carpet-bagger

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

We find out Thursday whether Alameda County supervisors will once again make a mockery of the process for filling a vacancy on their own board.Following the death last month of Richard Valle, the supervisors could appoint one of three current officeholders already representing residents of District 2: Hayward Councilmember Elisa Marquez, Fremont Councilmember Teresa King or Harris Majadedi, a new trustee for the Chabot-Los Positas Community College District.Of the three, Marquez is the standout and, by far, most experienced. A lifelong resident of District 2, Marquez has been a hardworking member of her city’s Planning Commission from 2008-14 and the City Council since then. She brings strong government and elected-office experience and decades of involvement in the district that should make her an excellent supervisor.Or supervisors could make a tragic mistake by choosing a fourth applicant, Ariana Casanova, who has no elected office experience, has lived in the district just over ...

Congress moves to make xylazine a controlled substance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

By Janelle Chavez | CNNUS lawmakers are moving to classify xylazine, the animal tranquilizer that’s increasingly infiltrating illicit drugs, as a controlled substance.Bipartisan legislation introduced Tuesday in the House and Senate reflects growing concern over the highly dangerous sedative, commonly known as “tranq” or “tranq dope.”“Drug traffickers are going to great lengths to pad their profits with dangerous drugs like tranq, and we need to empower law enforcement to crack down on its spread in our communities,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., lead sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure the DEA and local law enforcement have the tools they need to get xylazine off our streets while protecting its important use as a veterinary tranquilizer.”Xylazine has not been approved for human use. It has heavy sedative effects like an opioid but isn’t one, so it doesn’t respond...

Former SF Giants star Williams, now Padres’ coach, has colon cancer

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres third base coach Matt Williams, the former Giants All-Star, has colon cancer and will have surgery on Friday.Mike Schildt, the former St. Louis Cardinals manager who is a senior adviser with the Padres, will fill in as third base coach Thursday, when the most eagerly anticipated season in franchise history begins with a home game against the Colorado Rockies.Williams, a five-time All-Star in a 17-year career spent mostly with the Giants, said he was diagnosed about three weeks ago.“I don’t have any symptoms, I don’t have any issues, but at this point it’s important that we get it out of there,” Williams said Wednesday.Williams, 57, said initial scans show that the cancer hasn’t spread. “That’s a good thing, so we’ll so how it goes from here.”Williams played with the Giants from 1987-1996, winning three Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards as the cornerstone third baseman at Candlestick Park. With the Giants...

Storm updates: Video shows hail around the Bay Area

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

(KRON) -- The rain will continue on and off through Wednesday with much of the Bay Area experiencing possible 30-mile-per-hour winds and pea-sized hail. San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley are under a special weather advisory, according to the National Weather Service, while the mountain communities should expect more snow.Previously saturated soil could lead to downed trees and branches and power outages, as the area has seen from recent storms. More rain means more money for East Bay MUD customers Stay up to date with the latest storm-related news.Wednesday, March 292:45 p.m. -- Hail falls in Pleasant HillVideo shot in Pleasant Hill Tuesday showed hail falling around mid-day. 1 p.m. -- Accident reported on I-280 near Serramonte Boulevard(North County Fire Authority)(North County Fire Authority)The North County Fire Authority reported an accident on northbound Highway 280 south of Serramonte Boulevard. The fast lane is blocked. Expect delays and avoid the area. Make s...

Felon found with drugs, guns near Santa Rosa school

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) -- A convicted felon was found in possession of guns and drugs not far from a school on Monday afternoon, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. Police search for owners of large pig nicknamed 'Ham-rietta' Around 2 p.m., detectives with the narcotics team contacted Buck Knell Jr., 25, at his house on the 2100 block of Citrine Way. Knell Jr. is currently on pre-trial release from a pending case of evading peace officers. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from having guns or ammunition and is subject to search and seizure of his property, police say. Detectives found two loaded handguns in the backpack that Knell Jr. was wearing, the sheriff's office said. The rifle and two pistols found by authorities were ghost guns that Knell Jr. allegedly manufactured, authorities said. Over 25 grams of methamphetamine was also found, and the sheriff's office says it was packaged for sale. KRON On is streaming now.embed-container { position: relative; pa...

Oakland A's ballpark ranked worst in U.S.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

(KRON) -- The San Francisco Bay Area is home to the worst baseball stadium in Major League Baseball, according to a new ranking survey. The Oakland Athletics' ballpark, RingCentral Coliseum, was ranked dead last out of the MLB's 29 stadiums across the country, a survey released Wednesday by sports betting website NJ.bet found. Oakland's city leaders want to build a new home field for the A's, but they are facing several expensive hurdles.Cristian Pache of the Oakland Athletics runs onto the field during player introduction prior to the start of the home opener against the Baltimore Orioles at RingCentral Coliseum on April 18, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)The San Francisco Giants' home turf received a far more flattering ranking. Oracle Park ranked No. 3 on the list, in part because of its picturesque bay views."As millions of MLB fans across the country gear up for another season of baseball, we took a deep dive into the factors that mak...

Tips for coping with ongoing winter weather from a mental health expert

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The non-stop dreary weather is putting a damper on some people's moods. For many, the weather is bringing out deep feelings of sadness.Expert Dr. Brenda Wade offered tips to get us a mental health boost during the non-stop storms that have dampened our moods. She says, our brains hate being deprived of light. Lack of light stops the brain from producing stimulants, serotonin and dopamine, which make us feel good. Frank Somerville makes first TV appearance since DUI crash: Exclusive So we get grouchy, start to lack motivation and have low energy during dark weather days. The rain also keeps canceling plans, which hurts our relationships.Seasonal depression, which is a form of depression that affects millions of Americans, mainly during fall and winter, is a real thing. According to the national health institute, symptoms of "sad" can include hopelessness, withdrawing from loved ones, poor sleep habits and thoughts of death or suicide. Bay Area storm: Video...

Protect the Israeli Judiciary — but Don’t Let It Launder War Crimes Against Palestinians

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

An Israeli protester shouts during an anti-reform demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 25, 2023.Photo: Matan Golan/Sipa via AP ImagesIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government’s attempt to radically overhaul the Israeli legal and judicial system has sparked widespread protests in Israel. Hundreds of thousands of protesters poured into the streets under the banner of defending Israeli democracy.Very early on in the protests, billboard signs began popping up across Israel that said, “The High Court of Justice is our soldiers’ body armor.” The notion persisted as protests spread. And, likely driven by the fear of losing the court’s protections, a wave of reserve soldiers are declaring their refusal to serve, arguably the protests’ most significant element.The “body armor” sentiment is largely correct. The perceived independence of the Israeli judiciary is a key factor in preventing international accountability for Israel’s crimes against the Palestini...

Padres 3B coach Williams has colon cancer, surgery Friday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres third base coach Matt Williams has colon cancer and will have surgery on Friday. Mike Shildt, the former St. Louis Cardinals manager who is a senior adviser with the Padres, will fill in as third base coach beginning Thursday, when the most eagerly anticipated season in franchise history begins with a home game against the Colorado Rockies. Williams, a five-time All-Star in a 17-year career spent mostly with the San Francisco Giants, said he was diagnosed about three weeks ago.“I don’t have any symptoms, I don’t have any issues, but at this point it’s important that we get it out of there,” Williams said Wednesday. Williams, 57, said initial scans show that the cancer hasn’t spread. “That’s a good thing, so we’ll see how it goes from here. … I’ll do what I can and fight as hard as I can to get back as quickly as possible.”Williams played 10 seasons with San Francisco, one with Cleveland and six w...

Freed ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero Paul Rusesabagina arrives in US

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:59 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — The man who inspired the film “Hotel Rwanda” and was freed by Rwanda last week from a terrorism sentence returned Wednesday to the United States, where he will reunite with his family after being held for more than two years, according to a person familiar with the matter.Paul Rusesabagina’s arrival in the U.S was expected this week. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists on Monday that Rusesabagina was in Doha, Qatar and would be making his way back to the U.S.Rusesabagina’s plane touched down in Houston Wednesday afternoon and he will travel next to a military hospital in San Antonio, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss The 68-year-old Rusesabagina, a U.S. legal resident and Belgian citizen, was credited with sheltering more than 1,000 ethnic Tutsis at the hotel he managed during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. He received...