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Pac-12 picks: Washington and USC roll, Utah and Colorado struggle and Oregon State looks vulnerable at SJSU

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

The Pac-12’s final season of existence (at least in its current form) ramps up Thursday and features games on four consecutive days.The conference is favored in eight of nine matchups against FBS opponents, including Utah’s critical duel against Florida. Eight victories, if combined with three wins over FCS foes, would make for a stellar opening weekend.But from a wagering standpoint, the outlook isn’t as bright. Pac-12 teams are precariously positioned as road favorites in four games against Group of Five foes and double-digit road favorites in two.Traditionally, the conference has not handled that role very well.Welcome to another season of the Hotline’s picks against the spread, where we aim for the high side of .500 and will select a winner in every Pac-12 game — even the ones we’d rather avoid.Last year, the Hotline was 47-40-1 against the spread (54 percent).Here we go.All picks against the spreadLines taken from BetMGM (via vegasinsider.com...

Work trucks burglarized in 3 Pacifica neighborhoods

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

Work trucks from three neighborhoods in Pacifica were burglarized early Sunday morning, police said.Officers responded to several reports of vehicle burglaries in the city’s Fairmont, Westview, and Pacific Manor neighborhoods, the Pacifica Police Department said in a news release Monday.The burglaries occurred between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, the police department said.Hand tools and power tools were taken from contractor and work trucks, which had signs of forced entry, according to police.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Redwood City man arrested on suspicion of hate crime, assault Crime and Public Safety | Pacifica: Driver arrested on suspicion of DUI, hit and run, police say Crime and Public Safety | 70-year-old Peninsula man pleads not guilty to molestation charge Crime and Public Safety | Arrest made in vicious attack at Redwood City park Crime and Public Safety | 2...

One killed, another wounded in East Oakland shooting early Wednesday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

OAKLAND — An East Oakland shooting just after midnight Wednesday left one man dead and another injured, according to authorities.The shooting took place at 12:03 a.m. on the 600 block of East 18th Street, police said, in an area that’s a mixture of residences and small bussineses.A 20-year-old Oakland man suffered fatal injuries, while an 18-year-old San Francisco man was transported to a hospital where he remains in stable condition. The two victims knew each other, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Crime victims assail bill they say could free some of California’s worst killers Crime and Public Safety | California judge accused of murdering wife wanted his concealed weapon permit to protect family Crime and Public Safety | Weekend shooting victim near downtown Antioch identified Crime and Public Safety | Two men killed, another wounded in two Oakland shootings Monday Crime and Public Sa...

High utility bills? California regulators must do more to protect consumers, auditor says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

Electric bill shocking? Natural gas bill igniting a slow burn? Folks love to blame all that on the California Public Utilities Commission, which critics say has rarely met a rate increase it didn’t like.The state auditor isn’t quite that harsh, but the watchdog agency’s probe of the CPUC and its in-house Solomon-the-Wise/Protector-of-the-People, the Public Advocate’s office, finds weaknesses in their oversight of California’s utility monopolies.“Our assessment focused on electricity and natural gas rate increases, and we determined that the CPUC and Cal Advocates need to strengthen their monitoring of utilities’ costs, and the CPUC needs to provide greater transparency when authorizing rate changes,” said California State Auditor Grant Parks in a report to the governor and legislature released Tuesday, Aug. 29.“(B)oth agencies can better protect customers by implementing certain improvements to their oversight.”All charts by the California State Auditor The auditor looked at ra...

Saratoga winery could stop tastings next month when permit expires

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

House Family Vineyards may have to stop hosting wine tastings on its property at the end of next month.The winery is set to go before the Saratoga City Council on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. to ask for an extension of its temporary compliance plan, which allows the business to host wine tastings while it completes the permit process it bypassed more than a decade ago.House Family Vineyards, located in the hills of Saratoga at 13336 Old Oak Road, opened 10 years ago and has become a popular tasting room with an open-air deck and sweeping views of Silicon Valley.Once the city caught wind of the winery’s lack of permits, it was forced to shut down until it had the necessary paperwork on file.Last year, the winery applied for a temporary compliance plan, which allowed it to remain open at a limited capacity until Sept. 30. A group of residents appealed the decision, citing noise levels, traffic concerns and safety issues, but the council rejected that appeal.Nancy Leitzke, who filed the app...

Cal turns to transfer portal to restock roster, break out of losing rut

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

BERKELEY — Cal is still waiting on definitive word whether it will move to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season. But as the college football landscape undergoes seismic change on all fronts, the Golden Bears appear to be gaining a foothold with the transfer portal.The Golden Bears will have as many as 19 first-year transfer players on the team plane this week as they head to Denton, Texas for their Saturday opener against the North Texas Mean Green.Nine of those — including quarterback Sam Jackson V, formerly of TCU — are listed as starters or co-starters. The newcomers hail from schools in 14 states, with at least one from every Power Five conference in the country.“It’s just a new era — it’s different,” said coach Justin Wilcox, who started four transfers in the Bears’ 2022 opener. “You have so many new faces from where we were a year ago. But it’s exciting, too, because the dynamics change and the competitiveness certainly increased at a number of spots.“It’s not dull....

Saratoga Retirement Community residents speak out against proposed expansion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

The Saratoga Retirement Community, nestled in the foothills above the city’s heritage orchard, is facing an ambitious expansion project to make room for more local seniors, but current residents say the project will impact their quality of life and the character of the historic campus.The expansion project at SRC, located at 14500 Fruitvale Ave., would expand its capacity by 52 independent living units with the construction of three new buildings.First proposed in 2019, the project will head to the planning commission sometime this year, with several opportunities for public review. Earlier this month, the city hosted a meeting to discuss the project’s draft environmental impact report, and more than 400 residents sent in public comment letters against the project’s proposed design.Construction noise, air pollution and impacts to traffic are top concerns among the residents at SRC.“In a way, we really feel that this is discrimination,” said Tsing Bardin, a member of the reside...

SF store clerk killed after robbery, assault with bat

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

(KRON) -- A store clerk in San Francisco's Richmond District has died after he was assaulted with a baseball bat during a robbery Thursday night, according to organizers of a GoFundMe set up for him. Around 9:31 p.m., officers responded to the report of a robbery and aggravated assault in the 3900 block of Balboa Street. An unconscious 60-year-old man, Yohannes Tewolde, also referred to as John, was found lying on the ground, according to police.(Photo: GoFundMe)Tewolde was taken to a local hospital with significant injuries. He died on Tuesday. An investigation into this incident and eyewitness accounts revealed an unknown suspect attempted to steal merchandise from the business. Tewolde confronted the suspect with a bat, police said. Major police activity at Chabot Elementary School in Oakland The suspect began assaulting Tewolde and was able to gain control of the bat with which he began hitting Tewolde. Before fleeing the scene, in an unknown sedan, the suspect threw the bat ...

What you need to know ahead of Beyoncé concert at Levi's Stadium

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

(KRON) -- Beyoncé fans are getting ready to take over Levi's Stadium Wednesday night ahead of her “Renaissance World Tour."Here's everything you need to know if you are planning to attend the concert.Timeline3 p.m.: Parking lot and box office open.3:30 p.m.: Early check-in begins for Club Renaissance or BeyHive VIP concertgoers. 6 p.m.: Stadium gates open.8 p.m.: Show begins.TransportationParking for regular vehicles start at $60 and parking for oversized vehicles, such as buses and RVs, start at $130. Traffic and delays are expected and fans are strongly encouraged to take public transportation. Here’s what it costs to see Beyoncé at Levi’s Stadium The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is offering more light-rail trains ahead of tonight's concert.What to bringWhen it comes to what you are allowed to bring inside the concert, Levi’s Stadium only allows clear bags that do not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches.Small cameras and cell phones are permitted. Professional cameras wit...

Caregivers report emphasizes need for information, respite in Santa Clara County

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:36 GMT

(BCN) -- An increasing number of Santa Clara County residents are acting as caregivers for adult family members, a trend that is projected to increase throughout the decade. What those caregivers and professional caregivers who work directly with patients need most is information and respite, according to a report by the county's Department of Aging and Adult Services that was commissioned last year and presented to the county Board of Supervisors during its regular meeting Tuesday. The report outlined several top needs for caregivers and goals the county could pursue to provide more resources and support to the roughly 217,000 people currently acting as caregivers in the county, 177,000 of whom are volunteers such as friends, neighbors and family, and another 40,000 of whom are health care professionals known as direct-care workers. By 2030, an estimated 20 percent of Santa Clara County residents will be over the age of 65, according to state projections. Pressed by...