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How Silicon Valley will put airships back in flight

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

It’s longer than three Boeing 737s. Someday it could carry up to five tons of cargo and float from San Francisco to Chicago.Long hidden in a dark hangar at Moffett Field, the remarkable Pathfinder 1 — a gigantic white cigar-shaped airship — was rolled out into the bright Bay Area sunshine for some quick exercise last week, then rolled back in.The behemoth aircraft, the brainchild of Google co-founder Sergey Brin and aviation innovator Alan Weston, behaved exactly as intended.It didn’t float, because it was securely tethered by ropes held by ground crew. That’s planned for next time, probably within several weeks. Its initial maneuvers will be around Moffett Field, which Google leases from NASA Ames. Over the next year, it will fly several FAA-approved missions at an altitude below 1500 feet over the waters of the South Bay, including the Dumbarton Bridge.But, as hoped, Pathfinder “superheated” when its skin was warmed by the sun, causing it to expand and lighten. When pr...

5 things to know about the A’s relocation vote as MLB owners meetings begin

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

The future of baseball in Oakland is expected to be determined this week at the MLB owners meetings in Arlington, Texas.The A’s, who have played at the Oakland Coliseum since arriving from Kansas City in 1968, are seeking to relocate their franchise to Las Vegas, where they plan to build a stadium on The Strip after failing to strike a deal to build a new stadium in the East Bay.Oakland officials have been adamant that they did their part to raise money for a stadium, and they are preaching positivity to a fanbase poised to lose its second team (third counting the Warriors’ move to San Francisco) in five years.The league’s owners are set to put the A’s relocation plan to a vote sometime during the meetings, which begin Tuesday and end Thursday.Here are five things to know about the situation:1. The owners are likely to vote yesA’s owner John Fisher needs 75% approval (23 total ‘yes’ votes) from his fellow team governors for the relocation bi...

Health care clinic at Vietnamese plaza in San Jose nears approval

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

SAN JOSE — The high-profile Vietnam Town commercial center near downtown San Jose is poised to add a medical services facility for senior citizens.An adult day care center is slated to be developed within a large, empty building in Vietnam Town, a well-known commercial complex in San Jose’s Little Saigon district that’s near the corner of McLaughlin Avenue and Story Road, documents on file with city planners show.The proposal envisions a healthcare complex totaling 45,200 square feet at 939 Story Road in San Jose, according to documents on file with city officials. The proposal was slated to be given final approval by city planners at a meeting on Nov. 15.Northeast Medical Services, a nonprofit whose affiliate owns the property that will accommodate the healthcare facility, proposed the development, documents on file with the city and Santa Clara County show.The nonprofit’s affiliate bought the property in June 2022, paying $20 million for the site in an all-...

Skelton: It’s about time California built Sites Reservoir

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

California’s state government began drawing up plans for Sites Reservoir in the Sacramento Valley 70 years ago. And it still only exists on paper.So, kudos to Gov. Gavin Newsom for deciding that it’s finally time to put this tardy project on the fast track.Fast track means there’ll be limited time for any opponent to contest the project in court on environmental grounds.Newsom used a new law he pushed through the Legislature in June aimed at making it easier to build transportation, clean energy and water infrastructure by expediting lawsuits under the California Environmental Quality Act.Sites is the first project to be fast-tracked.Biggest since 1979It will be the biggest dam built in California in roughly a half century, since 1979, when the federal government completed New Melones in Calaveras County.It will also be the first major dam constructed since 1999 when the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California finished Diamond Valley in Riverside County.Much of the public...

Marin police arrest East Bay teen in armed robbery probe

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

Police have arrested a Richmond teen in connection with an armed robbery in Tiburon.The crime happened Friday after the victim withdrew money from the Bank of America cash machine in Strawberry, according to the Tiburon Police Department. Police suspect the teen and an accomplice followed the victim from the Chevron gas station to the cash machine and then to his home on Janet Way in Tiburon.Related ArticlesCalifornia News | Union City police searching for suspect who stabbed someone multiple times California News | Person arrested in Fremont shooting that left one dead, one wounded California News | Man arrested in fatal shooting outside East Bay restaurant California News | Marin detectives arrest East Bay man in drug sales investigation California News | Fremont: One killed, another injured in Sunday afternoon shooting The robber emerged from the car with a gun and demanded money from the victim, poli...

Wolf-dog hybrids are becoming more popular — and that’s not a good thing

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

“Public warned as yellow-eyed wolf-dog hybrid on the loose,” Newsweek alerted in a recent headline. “Wolf hybrid spotted roaming outskirts of California town,” warned the Independent. This was, of course, in addition to all the local news and social media coverage this local story received.Shadow, the dog in question, is indeed a dog-wolf hybrid but he wasn’t lurking around looking for Goldilocks. He had escaped from his home in Santa Rosa and had been running scared for five days. Fortunately, he was caught and safely returned to his guardian.For those familiar with dog-wolf hybrids, the fact that Shadow would run away and start roaming is no surprise. These dogs are among the best escape artists. They can easily scale a 6-foot fence from standing still and are known to dig their way under any obstacle. They’re also persistent — so once they learn they can escape, they’ll likely try new tactics.Not surprisingly, they also require a lot of space — at least a half-acre of securely fe...

Former Bay Area school superintendent convicted of misconduct with child

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

A former Marin County schools superintendent accused of inappropriate contact with a child was convicted by a jury on Monday.Robert Patrick Raines, who used to administer the Shoreline Unified School District, could face a year in jail and a $5,000 fine for the misdemeanor conviction. The state penal code defines the crime as annoying or molesting a child.Raines, 69, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 13.Marin County sheriff’s deputies arrested Raines in June 2021 on suspicion of committing a felony offense, but that charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor. The 40-year education veteran, who was arrested just a few weeks before his scheduled retirement, was released on bail and said the allegations against him were “absolutely false.”On Monday, the jurors reached their verdict about two hours after the three–day trial, which was presided by Judge Beth Jordan. Raines did not testify.“The defendant was caught red–handed and he could not keep his hands to himself,” prosecutor Katie Pa...

Shootout follows robbery of Santa Cruz cannabis facility

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — A pre-dawn robbery evolved into a shootout and vehicle chase Monday through the Harvey West neighborhood.Both police and a business representative for an industrial cannabis facility on the 300 block of Encinal Street were put on alert when burglars tripped a security alarm at the site prior to 4:30 a.m., Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Jon Bush said. The business representative, however, arrived at the facility ahead of officers, catching at least two thieves leaving the site. The representative apparently attempted to apprehend the thieves by ramming his car into one of two believed fleeing vehicles, according to Bush.“At some point, shots are exchanged between the victim and the suspect, and vice versa, is our understanding,” Bush said. “The suspects ultimately ended up fleeing. They’re still outstanding.”A Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office deputy soon after located one of the vehicles, a white SUV with rear-end damage, abandoned near northbound Highway 17’s Pasatiem...

Ground officers use help of helicopter to locate car theft suspect

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

(BCN) -- A man allegedly stole a car Sunday and led Santa Rosa police on a chase into Sebastopol before ditching the car and fleeing on foot into an alley, where police arrested him.Around 1:53 p.m., the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office helicopter "Henry-One" launched to assist the Santa Rosa police in pursuing the vehicle. United flight makes emergency landing at SFO due to ‘potential security issue’ The chase went westbound on state Highway 12, as the helicopter provided units on the ground with information about the vehicle's location. The suspect stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Sebastopol Avenue (Highway 12) and South Main Street and exited on foot into a nearby alley. As the helicopter hovered overhead, police from Santa Rosa and Sebastopol found the suspect hiding among dumpsters and took him into custody. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Bayern Munich signs promising 17-year-old Australian winger Nestory Irankunda

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:28:42 GMT

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich has signed an agreement for 17-year-old Australian winger Nestory Irankunda to join the club in July.Irankunda has been acclaimed as one of Australia’s brightest-ever prospects since making his debut for Adelaide United at the age of just 15 in January 2022. Soon after he became the second-youngest scorer in the history of the A-League, Australia’s main men’s soccer competition. He’s played 39 times for Adelaide.Bayern said Tuesday that Irankunda will join the German champion July 1 on “a long-term contract.” He turns 18 in February, making an international transfer possible. “I’m happy to have this all finalized and to be heading to one of the best clubs in the world — it’s a real dream come true,” Irankunda said in an Adelaide statement. Born in Tanzania, Irankunda has played for the Australian national Under-17 team and was called up for the senior team in March but did not play.“Nestory is an extremely quick winger, a strong dr...