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Battle over street sideshows intensifies as counties tighten crackdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

In February, a big rig surrounded by dozens of cheering spectators spun tight circles beneath an underpass in Oakland, one man hanging off the back in a mad display of pandemonium.In May, a blue sedan was set on fire and then repeatedly rammed by another vehicle as onlookers shouted and recorded the action in downtown Oakland.Just weeks ago, thousands gathered at Alameda Point to watch cars drift across the hot tarmac, the San Francisco skyline rising behind them.Sideshows — the informal, sometimes dangerous, often celebratory, and occasionally violent displays of motor vehicle stunts — are synonymous with the Bay Area. Originating in Oakland more than 40 years ago, they have grown into a subculture entirely unique to the region, as distinctive as summertime fog.They’re also more popular — and brazenly public — than ever before, which has made them the target of increasingly severe crackdowns from city and county officials around the region, who describe them as chaotic and dangerou...

New Santa Clara County Valley Health Center could be at De Anza College

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

A new Santa Clara County health clinic could be coming to De Anza College, providing healthcare access to thousands of uninsured and underinsured residents and students.The lack of any county health clinic or hospital in District 5 is an issue that has long-plagued Supervisor Joe Simitian. His district is comprised of about one-fifth of the county’s roughly 1.8 million residents, and includes Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Stanford and parts of San Jose.In October of 2022, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a Valley Health Center near the Palo Alto-Mountain View border in Simitian’s district, on Middlefield Road. The site is set to open this fall and will offer primary care, mental health, pediatrics, OB/GYN and urgent care services.But even with the new clinic, much of the West Valley lacks close access to the county’s healthcare system, in a district where some 40,000 residents...

A new California law aims to keep incarcerated parents close to their children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

The first prison Amika Mota entered was in Chino, an agonizingly long 10-hour drive from her children.During her two years in the California Institution for Women, Mota got to see 14-year-old Milo, 11-year-old Soleil and 6-year-old Blossom only once and mostly communicated through letters. Mota would write to her children once a week, but the letters couldn’t capture the joy of being in the same room.A case manager helped Mota get relocated to another women’s prison only two and a half hours away, and she was able to see her kids more frequently.A bill headed to the governor for approval could go a long way in eliminating some of the pain and anxiety of separation by requiring the state to place incarcerated parents in prisons located closest to their minor children. Assembly Bill 1226 was passed by the Senate Thursday night. California would become the second state with such a law, following the lead of New York.“All of us, whether we are Republicans or Democrats, have ...

Crews extinguish residential fire in Santa Rosa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

(BCN) -- Firefighters in Santa Rosa extinguished a residential fire early Wednesday in the Bellevue neighborhood on the city's south end, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department. Crews responded to a 12:50 a.m. report of a fire in the 2900 block of Santa Rosa Avenue, where a neighbor heard an explosion from the home next door and then saw smoke and flames. Fire crews respond to nearly 60 fires in Contra Costa County during July 4 celebrations The neighbor attempted to extinguish the fire and fire engines arrived within six minutes and quickly determined the house was unoccupied, according to a news release the department shared.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }The home's occupants arrived while firefighters were battling the...

‘Code Orange’ air quality forecast as fireworks smoke lingers in DC region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC — JULY 4: Fireworks erupt over the Washington Monument during the Independence Day fireworks display along the National Mall on July 4, 2023 in Washington, DC. Crowds of people came together to partake in the annual event commemorating the Fourth of July celebration. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)The National Mall fireworks show attracted thousands to D.C. and lit up the sky in a beautiful display, but it also left lingering smoke and triggered air quality alerts into Wednesday morning.While air quality has improved from Tuesday night, a “Code Orange” air quality alert is forecast through Thursday. That’s in part due to fireworks leaving behind pollution and also because of ground-level ozone, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.“We’re looking at some very unhealthy levels across parts of our area,” 7News Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said. “There’s no fireworks display that was ...

World swelters to unofficial hottest day on record Monday then gets even hotter Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

A woman uses a sweater to shield from the sun as she walls on a street on a hot day in Beijing, Monday, July 3, 2023. Heavy flooding has displaced thousands of people around China as the capital had a brief respite from sweltering heat. Beijing reported 9.8 straight days when the temperature exceeded 35 C (95 F), the National Climate Center said Monday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)(AP/Andy Wong) A woman uses a sweater to shield from the sun as she walls on a street on a hot day in Beijing, Monday, July 3, 2023. Heavy flooding has displaced thousands of people around China as the capital had a brief respite from sweltering heat. Beijing reported 9.8 straight days when the temperature exceeded 35 C (95 F), the National Climate Center said Monday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)(AP/And...

A la espera de Lionel Messi, la MLS rompe su récord de asistencia a un partido

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

(CNN) — A unas semanas de que el astro argentino Lionel Messi llegue a apuntalar la liga estadounidense de fútbol, la MLS batió un nuevo récord de asistencia después de que 82.110 aficionados acudieran a ver el clásico de Los Ángeles entre el LA Galaxy y el LAFC.Apodado “El Tráfico” —un guiño a la famosa rivalidad de El Clásico entre los clubes de fútbol españoles Barcelona y Real Madrid y el hecho de que los dos equipos de Los Ángeles están separados por casi 20 kilómetros de autopista congestionada—, el partido se ha convertido en una de las rivalidades más feroces de la MLS.El derbi pulverizó el récord anterior de la MLS, establecido en 2022. En el primer partido de la historia del Charlotte FC, 74.479 espectadores acudieron al Bank of America Stadium de Charlotte para ver a su equipo enfrentarse al Galaxy.Este martes, los aficionados que acudieron al Rose Bowl presenciaron un partido muy reñido en el que el LA Galaxy se impuso por 2-1 gracias a un gol del exjug...

Md. state, city leaders promise to help shaken community in wake of mass shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Chakeem James had a question.James, standing at the edge of the crowd gathered in front of the Brooklyn Homes Community Center, waited his turn. Gov. Wes Moore (D) led a parade of officials to the Baltimore neighborhood on the 4th of July — two days after a mass shooting claimed the lives of two young adults and left 28 others wounded — many under the age of 18.James listened as Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) answered reporters’ questions. He said he fought off being nervous.And then Scott called on him.“Why y’all trying to help the community now and make it like a nice place after the mass shooting? Why haven’t you already been doing that?” James, 14 and a freshman at Digital High School asked.“I would just say we have been doing that,” Scott said in response to James’ question.The mayor noted the recent opening of Bayb...

Bayern Munich is renovating its stadium for next season and Euro 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich is taking advantage of the summer break to lay a new hybrid field for next season and modernize its stadium ahead of the 2024 European Championship and 2025 Champions League final.The new field will feature a mixture of natural and artificial grass, the club said Wednesday.“It’s a carpet which already contains synthetic fibers. Natural grass is sown in between, which combines the advantages of a natural turf with the quality of a hybrid turf. It will be even more level and therefore very easy to play on,” stadium managing director Jürgen Muth said.The stadium work involves converting some seated areas into standing only sections, the addition of more seats in other areas, and the removal of rows of seats behind one of the goals to create additional wheelchair spaces. The capacity will remain at 75,000 spectators.Bayern said the renovation work is being carried out for safety reasons on the recommendation of the local administrative office.“Everything has ...

Bayer Leverkusen signs Germany forward Jonas Hofmann from Bundesliga rival Borussia Mönchengladbach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:51 GMT

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen has signed Germany forward Jonas Hofmann from Bundesliga rival Borussia Mönchengladbach.Hofmann, who will be 31 on July 14, signed a deal through June 2027, Leverkusen said in a statement on Wednesday.“Jonas has been on our radar for a long time and we’re happy that he chose Bayer 04,” sporting director Simon Rolfes said. “He’s the type of player we were looking for for our squad thanks to his oversight of the game, his outstanding technical ability and his experience.”Hofmann started his career at Hoffenheim before joining Borussia Dortmund. He switched to Gladbach in January 2016 and went on to score 40 goals and set up 40 more in 184 Bundesliga games for “the Foals.”Kicker magazine reported that Leverkusen was paying 10 million euros ($10.9 million) to activate an exit clause in the contract that Hofmann signed with Gladbach last year. The player’s previous contract with Gladbach was due to expire in 2023 but he extended it by two years...