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Cast your vote in the Bay Area News Group’s comics contest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

For two weeks, we’ve filled the vacancy on our comics pages with something new. Mercury News and East Bay Times readers have had Loose Parts, a witty, offbeat strip by award-winning artist Dave Blazek. Marin Independent Journal readers have enjoyed the wry, heartwarming Grand Avenue from Pulitzer nominee Mike Thompson. But Blazek and Thompson aren’t the only gifted artists out there. We’re hoping you’ll help make the final decision.Today and over the weekend, we’ll take four comics for a spin:Crabgrass, Tauhid Bondia’s engaging strip set in pre-cellphone suburbiaF Minus, Tony Carrillo’s quirky look at everyday lifeGrand Avenue, Thompson’s tale of twins being raised by their grandmotherLoose Parts, Blazek’s take on oddball characters in unexpected situationsYou’ll find the quirky quartet in print editions of the Mercury News and East Bay Times on March 16, 18 and 19 — with a vote by mail ballot running on the 19th. But subscribers can vote here instead. (One ballot per ho...

Major delays on westbound lanes of Bay Bridge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- There is heavy police presence on the Bay Bridge Thursday morning near westbound 80 and the Treasure Island offramp, according to the California Highway Patrol incident page. Traffic has been backed up since around midnight Thursday and is now impacting Thursday's morning commute.As of 3:49 a.m., CHP reported that the left two lanes are open while all other lanes remain closed. It is taking people an average of one to two hours to get over the Bay Bridge heading into the city.As an alternate route, take the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Mateo Bridge or the ferry to get into San Francisco. Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, someone climbed on to the railing of the Bay Bridge.CHP responded to the scene and said the person was on the west bound lanes just east of the center anchorage.About an hour later around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, CHP said there was a three-vehicle collision on the west bound incline with those involved sufferi...

Charles Co. schools add AI gun detection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

Charles County Public Schools in Maryland will join a growing number of D.C. area public schools with advanced gun detection technology.Weeks after a number of Virginia schools detailed security screeners that could be coming to schools in Prince William and Alexandria City Public Schools, the Maryland school system announced plans to incorporate artificial intelligence “visual gun detection technology” into their schools.More Charles County NewsMore Maryland NewsMore Local NewsThe new technology, which combines outdoor school camera software and an emergency alert system, is expected to provide a “robust response within seconds of a gun detection being verified.”Director of School Safety and Security Jason Stoddard said the system will be critical to providing valuable time to respond to potential safety threats.“Through system alerts, we will be able to notify police more quickly of a possible safety concern and place a school or campus in an emergenc...

Acacia Research: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — Acacia Research Corp. (ACTG) on Thursday reported a fourth-quarter loss of $18.4 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had a loss of 50 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 4 cents per share.The technology patent licensor posted revenue of $13.1 million in the period.For the year, the company reported a loss of $125.1 million, or $3.13 per share, swinging to a loss in the period. Revenue was reported as $59.2 million.The company’s shares closed at $4.54. A year ago, they were trading at $3.70._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ACTG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ACTGSource

Injury rules Liverpool player Bajcetic out for the season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Stefan Bajcetic will miss the rest of the season because of injury, the Liverpool midfielder said Thursday.Bajcetic missed his team’s 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday because of what was described as a “stress response” around his adductor.The 18-year-old Spanish youth international broke into Liverpool’s first team in August and has been a rare positive in a season of struggle for the Merseyside club.“Unfortunately I’ve picked up an injury that will keep me out until the end of the season,” Bajcetic wrote on Instagram. “It’s very sad to say goodbye to this amazing season for me but I understand this is part of football and will only make me stronger physically and mentally.“I would also like to say thank you to you reds for all the support through the season and I assure you I will do my best to be back stronger than ever.”Bajcetic’s absence is the latest blow for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who has ...

Tredegar: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Tredegar Corp. (TG) on Thursday reported a loss of $3.9 million in its fourth quarter.The Richmond, Virginia-based company said it had a loss of 11 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 2 cents per share.The plastic films maker posted revenue of $189.1 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $28.5 million, or 84 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $938.6 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TGSource

President says Poland plans to give Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets in the coming days and more later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — President says Poland plans to give Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets in the coming days and more later.Source

Police investigate 2 serious crashes involving pedestrians overnight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Police in Denver were investigating two separate crashes that involved a driver and a pedestrian overnight. According to the Denver Police Department, officers responded to two traffic crashes in the Capitol Hill neighborhood that involved pedestrians. The first crash was tweeted out by DPD at 10:44 p.m. Wednesday night at 10th and Lincoln Street. Officers said the crash involved serious injuries and was between a driver and a pedestrian who was near 10th and Lincoln. Road conditions: Wet, spring-like snow coats roadways Due to the investigation, Lincoln Street was shut down for a period of time. The second crash was reported at 12:45 a.m. Thursday at Colfax and Sherman Street. DPD said this crash also involved serious injuries between a driver and a pedestrian. Westbound Colfax was closed at Sherman while officers investigated. DPD has not provided an update on the victim's condition or who specifically was injured in either crash. FOX31 will update this story on...

Stray pig with overgrown hooves finds forever home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KXRM) — A stray pig with overgrown hooves recently received some much-needed medical attention and found his happily-ever-after thanks to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and the Calhan Veterinary Clinic.HSPPR posted about Wilbur the pig on their Facebook page and said when he arrived in their care, he was covered in abrasions and cuts, had old scars all over his body, and his hooves were severely overgrown and curling inward. HSPPR said Wilbur was a stray, so their team had no idea what he had been through to leave him in such a rough condition. Courtesy: Humane Society of the Pikes Peak RegionWhat was clear, however, was that Wilbur simply needed help. So, HSPPR said they opened up one of their outdoor runs and made a sanctuary for their new friend and filled the pen with straw, an extra warm comforter, and some tasty food. The veterinary team then got to work treating Wilbur's wounds and putting him on medication. Need for pet food increasing...

ECB lifts interest rates amid financial market turmoil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:31 GMT

FRANKFURT – The European Central Bank decided to raise interest rates by 0.5 percentage points to 3 percent Thursday, sticking to its previous guidance even as fears about a new financial crisis have roiled markets in recent days.Policymakers clearly opted to prioritize a continued fight against raging inflation over financial stability concerns noting that “inflation is projected to remain too high for too long.”After the collapse of two U.S. banks and turmoil at Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse, worries about a potential banking crisis raised doubts over the ECB’s previously signaled rate path — sending financial markets’ bets on a likely move today and peak interest rates on a rollercoaster ride since Monday.Today’s decision will expose ECB President Christine Lagarde to criticism that she is repeating mistakes made by former President Jean-Claude Trichet, who raised rates into the 2011 sovereign debt crisis arguing that anchoring inflation expectations is the best way to boost ...