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Oil lobby pressure dooms state bill aimed at curbing refinery pollution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

A bill that would have tripled the fines paid by oil refineries for emitting toxic pollutants, like those released last year in Martinez, has stalled in the California Legislature.The bill would have served as a way to hold companies accountable for incidents like the one last November in which residents woke up to a layer of fine white dust on their gardens and cars from a toxic chemical release by the Martinez Refining Co. Instead, the bill, AB 1465, was unceremoniously pushed to 2024 after Democratic Sen. Nancy Skinner sent it to the “inactive file” last Thursday. Skinner’s senate district includes cities in Alameda County and Contra Costa County along the 880 corridor, but not Martinez.Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, an Oakland Democrat who sponsored the bill, requested the delay. “Over the past week it became apparent that we were going to need more time to work on AB 1465 with our sponsor, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and with opposition groups who engaged u...

Don’t be fooled — sackless Nick Bosa made his presence felt for SF 49ers against Steelers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

For as much angst that went into the holdout of edge rusher Nick Bosa and his potential availability for the regular season opener Sunday, it couldn’t have gone much better than it did for the 49ers in their blowout road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.First, when Bosa agreed to terms last Wednesday and got to the team facility, it provided a shot of adrenaline and enthusiasm for the entire team as they went through final preparations for what turned out to be a 30-7 victory.In the game itself, the ripple effect of Bosa’s arrival was felt not only by the 49ers but by the Pittsburgh offensive line, which was hit by wave after wave of defensive linemen as coach Kris Kocurek shuttled nine players in and out to keep them fresh.Bosa wound up playing 35 snaps — only tackles Javon Hargrave (42) and Arik Armstead (41) played more — with two tackles and had none of their five sacks of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett.Yet according to Pro Football Focus rankings, ...

Letters: Common sense | Limiting dialogue | Plastic pollution | Hurting military | Trump disqualified | Televise trials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.We should agree oncommon sense safetyRe: “Progressives have accountability problem” (Page A6, Sept. 8).A letter writer had an interesting response to the East Bay Times’ op-ed on car thefts. He blames progressive thinking for the article, which points out that the rise in car thefts could be due to Kia and Hyundai vehicles’ lack of theft protection systems.The article simply stated that the rise may be because those cars are easier to steal. Of course, stealing is wrong, and the fault of the thieves. But just as with making cars easier to steal, making guns easier to get is one cause of the increase in gun violence. Gun manufacturers shouldn’t be blamed for making guns, but they should be held responsible for lobbying to prevent practical limits to buying them.Common sense would argue for preventing car thefts, and for preventing unstable people from owning guns. Both progre...

Letters: Mishandling traffic | Religious policy | Hormones’ influence | Oppose EATS | Article distracts | Research spending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Bend has mishandledincrease in trafficRe: “To see the future of California, look to Oregon” (Page A13, Sept. 10).Before packing their bags to move to Bend, Ore., Californians need to know that Joe Mathews told us only half the story.In the course of making a twice-yearly auto trip to my place in Eastern Washington over the past 40 years, I’ve seen how Bend has failed miserably in addressing the increase in traffic. A beltway designed to eliminate traffic on Highway 97 through downtown is clogged with traffic during commute hours because it was constructed with stoplights at cross streets. The section of 97 between Bend and Redmond is a dangerous four-lane highway with no center median, which is jammed with heavy traffic most of the day.It is great that Bend has constructed a beautiful new high school. However, if I were betting on a liveable future, I’d place my money on Mathew...

Hammer-wielding vandal attacks Cruise car in San Francisco

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A vandal was caught on video smashing a driverless Cruise car with a hammer in San Francisco. The person in the video attacked a Cruise car at 10:59 p.m. Sunday on Buchanan Street, investigators said. Videos show the vandal slamming a hammer into the autonomous vehicle's windshield and high-tech camera equipment dozens of times. "Officers spoke with a witness, who said that they heard a scream and looked out their window to see the suspect standing in front of the autonomous vehicle. The suspect then began vandalizing the vehicle," San Francisco Police Sgt. Kathryn Winters told KRON4.The vandal fled from the scene before police officers arrived. The person's identity and motive remained a mystery on Monday, and no arrests have been made.The video was posted on social media by FriscoLive415 with the caption, "Man goes ham on a Cruise car with pickaxe hammer."Cruise did not immediately respond to KRON4's request for comment. Autonomous vehicles owned by compani...

Transformer fire knocks out power to 4,000 customers in Fremont

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

(KRON) -- A power outage occurred at 3:17 p.m. Monday due to a transformer fire, according to the City of Fremont. The fire is at the southwest corner of Fremont Boulevard and Stevenson Boulevard. Massive sinkhole forms in SF intersection after water main break The outage is currently impacting 4,381 customers in the area of downtown Fremont. Power is expected to be restored by 6:45 p.m. Monday, according to PG&E's estimate.

East Bay law enforcement agencies using QR codes to combat sideshows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

(KRON) -- Several East Bay law enforcement agencies are banding together and adding a new tool as part of their efforts to combat sideshows -- QR codes. The agencies have formed a joint effort dubbed the Regional Side Show Enforcement Team, RESET, in a renewed effort to prevent illegal sideshow and street racing activities, according to a social media post from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.Additional law enforcement agencies taking part in the RESET initiative include the Hayward Police Department, San Leandro Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol -- Hayward area office. Piedmont carjacking suspect arrested in Oakland "RESET will not tolerate sideshow or street racing activity and we ask that you, as community members, not accept it either," said Alameda County Sheriff's Office in a post. The post includes a RESET QR Code that the agency asks users to use to report sideshow activity in unincorporated areas of Alameda County, Hayward, and San Leandro."Particip...

Fairfax Co. updates grading policy for students who don’t turn in assignments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

Not turning in an assignment will have greater consequences for students in Fairfax County, Virginia, this school year.In an update to its grading policies, Fairfax County Public Schools said teachers can now give students a zero for an assignment that’s not turned in.The change marks a departure from previous guidance, which said 50% is the lowest grade a teacher can give to a student who doesn’t turn in work. It comes after the state’s largest school system convened a working group to evaluate its high school grading policies last fall.As part of its updated grading policy for this year, Fairfax County said it’s maintaining its late work policy, which says teachers have to accept major assignments up to two weeks late, and the maximum deduction for that period is 10%. Students who make a “reasonable effort” to finish an assignment will still get a minimum 50%, the county said in a newsletter.In some cases, according to school board member Megan ...

Derek Carr and the Saints’ offense showed potential in fits and starts during Week 1 win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Alvin Kamara is arguably the biggest star on New Orleans’ offense and the Saints have started 1-0 without him as he serves a three-game suspension.It helps to have a defense that has made holding opponents to 20 or fewer points look routine. Having a new franchise quarterback might have helped, too.Derek Carr, the former Raiders starter who arrived as a free agent this offseason, was effective enough in his Saints debut to lead New Orleans to one more point than the Tennessee Titans scored in a 16-15 defensive struggle in Week 1.Carr completed nearly 70% of his passes for 305 yards and a touchdown on a day when he was also sacked four times and the Saints struggled to run the ball.“It was rough at times, but (I’m) encouraged that we did enough to make the plays that we needed to to win the game,” Allen said Monday after reviewing video of the opener. “Obviously they’re a good defense.”It took one game for Carr to exhibit good chemistry with sec...

Seahawks know expectations took a hit with flop performance in opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — DK Metcalf and Quandre Diggs lost their cool with personal fouls caused by frustration. Geno Smith and Seattle’s offense were booed off the field. Both starting offensive tackles were injured and the stands were mostly vacant by the time the final play was snapped.The Seattle Seahawks season opener could not have gone much worse.“A very difficult day to take for the opener and everybody’s expectations,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Monday. “Nobody’s were higher than ours, but everybody’s expectations were dashed a bit to get this thing started.”Seattle’s 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the opener was the worst home loss for the Seahawks in six years and one of the worst home defeats in Carroll’s tenure. The Seahawks have always found ways to be competitive even in defeat, but the performance against the Rams was a deflating effort that left players questioning whether Los Angeles simply wanted to win more.That’s never a great way to start a season, let ...