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Letters: Unsolved problems | Oakland police | Junior rodeos | AI rules | Alternative Constitution | Open door

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Despite effort, money,problems go unsolvedA review of the Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury Report Summaries 2022-2023 is alarming in that it reports the failure of local governments to make progress in several areas.Considerable money and effort have been poured into implementing progress in areas such as affordable housing, Concord Naval Weapons Station development and affordable housing with little or no results and often for many years. Why can’t these governments make more progress?My sense is that voters are not demanding timely action and the governments have their own agendas of much less importance.John AmosPleasant HillOakland must solvepolice staffing problemRe: “911 call dispatch suffers glitches” (Page A1, July 8).As Oakland police union head Donelan states: “There’s no concern for public safety among the leadership of this city.”The article notes Oakla...

Hayward: Two charged in violent attempt to recruit teen into Norteño gang

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

HAYWARD — Two men have been arrested and charged with several felonies for allegedly attacking and threatening a 17-year-old boy who resisted their attempts to recruit him into a subset of the Norteños, court records show.The defendants, both Hayward residents aged 41 and 26, were charged with making criminal threats, illegal gun possession and dissuading a witness, along with enhancements alleging the use of violence and being armed during the commission of the crime. They were also charged with gang activity but a judge dismissed those counts at a July 13 preliminary hearing, court records show.Police allege that on the evening of June 7, the teen was walking on Havana Avenue when three known Norteño members approached him and told him he was going to join their gang. One of them allegedly told him he could say no if he wanted to, but then changed his mind and told the boy he didn’t have a choice.The suspects are affiliated with a subset of the Norteños known as “...

SF Giants’ outfielder who missed first half set to begin rehab assignment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

After missing the first half of the season, Giants outfielder Luis González is nearing a return.González, who underwent back surgery in spring training, began a rehab assignment Monday with their rookie-league affiliate in Arizona. An important milestone in a long road back, González was scheduled to serve as the designated hitter in his first game action since last season.Rehab assignments for position players can last up to 20 days, aligning González’s potential return with the timeline shared by president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi during his midseason media availability.González, who hit .251/.320/.357 as a rookie in 2022, “could be a factor for us in August,” Zaidi said.The back injury, a chronic issue for the 27-year-old outfielder predating his time with the Giants, forced the native of Hermosillo, Mexico, to miss the club’s two-game series in his home country earlier this season.Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants sign...

Men to compete in artistic swimming for first time at Paris Olympics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Snicker if you wish. Guffaw for good measure. Bill May and other male synchronized swimmers — now called artistic swimmers — have heard the putdowns before.But they’re getting the last laugh.Men have competed in synchro at the lower levels for decades. Now they’re being included in the Olympics, meaning next year’s Summer Games in Paris.“I think it’s a huge opportunity for the sport to grow and attract more men,” May told the Associated Press at the World Aquatics Championships. “By keeping men out you’re limiting the sport. By including men you’re going to see an upshift in the popularity and the numbers.”May looks like a lean bodybuilder. He was among the first men to compete when synchro was included in the worlds for the first time in 2015. And he worked for 17 years at Cirque du Soleil doing water-themed shows. He has come out of competitive retirement for a chance to compete at the Olympics.“There has always been ...

Aces look to maintain historic pace in 2nd half, repeat as WNBA champions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

The Las Vegas Aces are on a historic pace heading into the second half of the season and have shown no signs of letting up.With 19 wins in their first 21 games, the Aces sit atop the WNBA standings and have the top offense and defense in the league.“Just staying focused on what we’ve been doing up to this point,” point guard Chelsea Gray said. “Trust in each other, playing for each other and with each other and just having fun doing it. We never take anybody for granted.”Gray, one of four Las Vegas players in the All-Star Game over the weekend, said despite the Aces’ record, the WNBA is a lot more competitive then it’s been in recent years.“This league is so good and there’s a lot of parity between the teams,” she said. “There’s not a bunch that’s just up top. So you got to come with your best game every night.”Las Vegas is seeking to become the first repeat champion since Los Angeles in 2001 and ’02. Before the playoffs, the Aces can make a run at the best record ...

Russian fighter jet flies dangerously close to US warplane over Syria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Russian fighter jet flew very close to a U.S. surveillance aircraft over Syria, forcing it to go through the turbulent wake and putting the lives of the four American crew members in danger, U.S. officials said Monday.The officials said the incident, which happened just before noon EDT on Sunday, was a significant escalation in what has been a string of encounters between U.S. and Russian aircraft in Syria in recent weeks. The intercept by the Russian Su-35 impeded the U.S. crew’s ability to safely operate their MC-12 aircraft, the officials said, calling it a new level of unsafe behavior that could result in an accident or loss of life. In recent weeks, Russian fighter jets have repeatedly harassed U.S. unmanned MQ-9 drones, but the latest incident raised alarms because it endangered American lives.The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation, would not say how close the Russian jet got to the U.S. warplane. The M...

“Cualquiera puede ser el siguiente”, dicen periodistas de México tras el asesinato en Guerrero del periodista Nelson Matus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

(CNN Español) — Decenas de periodistas encabezaron una manifestación en el puerto de Acapulco, en el estado mexicano de Guerrero, para exigir a las autoridades estatales y federales el esclarecimiento del asesinato a balazos en del periodista Nelson Matus en esa ciudad el sábado.Los comunicadores se reunieron este lunes y bloquearon la avenida principal Costera Miguel Alemán. Llevaban pancartas y cruces hechas de cartón, al tiempo que gritaban consignas con reclamos de justicia.“Tenemos resquemor de que cualquiera de nosotros sea el siguiente”, dijo el periodista Ernesto Caballero al tomar la palabra durante la protesta.ONU llama a autoridades mexicanas a proteger a periodistas tras asesinato de reportero en NayaritFrancisco Guerrero, editor del sitio Libertad Guerrero, afirmó que la impunidad en este tipo de crímenes alienta las agresiones contra los comunicadores.“Uno más, lamentablemente, y consideramos que es hora ya de parar estos crímenes, porque entre más impunidad hay,...

TikTokker calls out Denver for lack of drinking water at city parks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- There is a growing social media campaign that was started by a runner who ran from park to park in Denver and couldn’t find any working drinking water fountains.  Jordan Cole, whose handle on TikTok is “Jordan in Denver,” posted a story about his dry run and has had a large response from followers.“Ok I’m in my third Denver city park today let’s see if it has any water,” Cole said on the social media app as he ran through one of the parks.“It’s ridiculous and the middle of summer and look no water,” Cole said as he continued his narration on the TikTok post. Just how long will the heat last in Denver? FOX31's Vicente Arenas met with Cole in person, and he said he went through five parks -- Crestmoor, Robinson, Cranmer, Lindsley and City Park on a recent weekend.None had drinking fountains that worked, Cole said.“I feel like it’s a safety issue as it gets warmer. You see kids everywhere. I was at City Park for this last run and witnessed kids drinking out of t...

Thornton couple without air-conditioning since May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) -- A husband and wife told the Problem Solvers that they have been trying to get their apartment complex to fix their broken air conditioner since May. "I've brought it to their attention that I am three months pregnant," Yadeli Martinez said. She and her husband said they started renting at the Avens Point Apartments back in September. They said that come May they tried to turn on the AC and all it did was blow out warm air. They said they notified the leasing office. But then a few days later, with no fix they said they tried to turn it on again and this time nothing happened. “It won't turn on at all and it gets super hot in here all the time," Yadeli Martinez said. The couple said they have reached out to management at Avens Point several times. They told FOX31 they've left voicemails, gone down to the office and submitted several work orders. The couple had screenshots of those work orders that started back on May 27. Does your landlord have to provide...

Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt share experiences about historical thriller movie ‘Oppenheimer’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

It may only be Monday but I’m already looking forward to the weekend.I know what you mean and part of that is because a big blockbuster is blasting into theaters this weekend.Oppenheimer is just days away from hitting the movie screen and Deco got to chat with the stars of the new movie.These interviews were conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.Cillian Murphy (as J. Robert Oppenheimer): “We’re in a race against the Nazis. And I know what it means- if the Nazis have a bomb.”Things are getting explosive in the new historical thriller “Oppenheimer.”Cillian Murphy as (Leslie Groves Jr.): “Are we saying there’s a chance that when we push that button, we destroy the world? Cillian Murphy (as J. Robert Oppenheimer): “Chances are near zero.”Matt Damon as (Leslie Groves Jr.): “Near zero?”Cillian Murphy leads an all-star cast as the title scientist in the film about the creation of the atomic bomb.Cillian Murphy: “...