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In Pleasanton, tainted water tapped to meet peak demand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

Across the Bay Area, reservoirs are brimming, snowmelt is plentiful, and drought restrictions have ended. Yet in Pleasanton, some residents are worried that, even with all that water, there won’t be a safe drop to drink.The end of California’s drought restrictions left the East Bay city with an unenviable choice — continue to mandate water conservation to meet peak summer demand after one of the wettest winters of record or tap contaminated wells.During a City Council meeting last month, Pleasanton chose the second option in a bid to satisfy residents eager to use more water, fill swimming pools and soak lawns after years of restrictions. Although the city gets most of its water from Del Valle Reservoir, city leaders say they’ll also need to tap city wells contaminated with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” to meet the highest spikes in usage.So far, the city is sticking with its decision, emphasizing that the well water is safe, amid a growing chorus of concerned resid...

Oakland man sentenced to 25 years to life for murder of innocent bystander during shakedown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

OAKLAND — A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years to life for fatally shooting a 40-year-old father of four during the robbery of another person, court records show.Donovan Johnson, of Oakland, was sentenced by Judge Rhonda Burgess, who also oversaw the trial where Johnson was convicted of second degree murder and use of a firearm. According to a transcript filed on May 22 of the sentencing hearing, none of the victim’s family membered issued statements, nor did Johnson say anything on his own behalf.Johnson was convicted of killing Chrystian Valdez Negrete at around 2 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2018, near a night club on the 4400 block of International Boulevard in East Oakland. A 36-year-old man was struck by gunfire but survived. Prosecutors allege that Johnson fired 10 rounds at the intended victim and that a stray bullet hit Valdez Negrete, who was standing down the block.Johnson is still in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, awaiting transfer to the state prison system, records ...

Review: ‘Othello’ pulls no punches at San Jose Stage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

The tragedy of “William Shakespeare’s “Othello” isn’t simply the violence that explodes in the play’s denouement. True devastation festers from the onset, when the play introduces Black Othello and white Desdemona’s love.Deeper examination of the text makes it clear that marriage under any circumstances would be problematic. Nuptials between a strong Black man and a petite white woman would never be allowed in Venice — clearly the couple was aware of this, leading to their hasty, secret union.Despite a wedding that should be associated with joy, it’s just a matter of moments before Othello’s life becomes a fit of revengeful rage.San Jose Stage Company’s production of “Othello” hits many correct notes, which have nothing to do with the smoking-hot jazz tunes that turn the stage into a 1950s film-noir world. Director Kenneth Kelleher does terrific things when sets are minimal, and there is nothing fancy here; a bare stage, sprays of light that touch up the surroundings, textured...

A series of ghastly transactions: Harvard and University of Arkansas human body trafficking ring told through federal charging documents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

At least one of the members of an alleged human body parts trafficking ring that ranged from New Hampshire to Harvard to Pennsylvania and to Arkansas has entered into a plea bargain that acknowledges the federal allegations.Meanwhile, the family of a Granite State husband and wife who donated their bodies to help science are demanding action.“My mom just passed away in March and she’s down there, and we want her back,” Paula Peltonovich said to WMUR9. “Who could do something like that? What kind of person? No respect at all for the family,” Peltonovich, the victim’s daughter, added. “They need to pay.”Jeremy Lee Pauley, 41, of Enola, Penn., who a federal “information” complaint alleges purchased all kinds of body parts from a woman who worked for a crematorium contracted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and also tanned human skin sent to him by a Massachusetts woman named Katrina MacLean, signed the plea agreement on May 8, 2023.The case is documented as multiple c...

Teen found guilty for causing father’s death by dousing him with drain cleaner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

After deliberating for approximately three hours, an Oakland County, Michigan jury returned with a verdict Thursday in the case against an Ortonville teen accused of throwing lye at her father, leading to his death.Shortly after 2 p.m. on the fourth day of trial,  jurors announced a guilty verdict for 19-year-old Megan Imirowicz on one count of unlawful possession or use of harmful devices – imitation/irritants – causing death — a felony — and misdemeanor domestic violence for the Oct. 1, 2021 assault on her father, Konrad Imirowicz.He spent approximately five months hospitalized for chemical burns and related complications before coming home on hospice care and dying three days later. He was 64.Konrad Imirowicz (photo credit: Quora) Megan Imirowicz is scheduled to be sentenced July 25 by Oakland County Circuit Judge Victoria Valentine.According to assistant prosecutor Jason DeSantis who tried the case, on the day of the assault Megan Imirowicz fought with her father because he...

Daniel Ellsberg Wanted Americans to See the Truth About War

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

On a warm autumn afternoon, I sat with Daniel Ellsberg on the deck next to his house. The San Francisco Bay shimmered off in the distance behind him. It was 2021, and more than 50 years had passed since Ellsberg — risking prison for the rest of his life — had provided the New York Times and other newspapers with 7,000 pages of top-secret documents that quickly became known as the Pentagon Papers. From then on, he continued to speak, write, and protest as a tireless antiwar activist.I asked what the impacts would likely be if pictures of people killed by the U.S. military’s bombing campaigns were on the front pages of American newspapers.“But why were they lied to? How much would they do if they weren’t lied to?”“I am in favor, unreservedly, of making people aware what the human consequences are of what we’re doing — where we are killing people, what the real interests appear to be involved, who is benefiting from this, what are the circumstances of the killing,” Ellsberg replied. “I...

Sports on TV for June 17 – 18

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSaturday, June 17AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL5 a.m.FS2 — AFL: St. Kilda at RichmondAUTO RACING12:25 p.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal3:55 p.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal8 p.m.FS1 — NASCAR ARCA Menards Series: The Berlin ARCA 200, Berlin Raceway, BerlinBOXING12 a.m. (Sunday)SHO — Showtime International: Tim Tszyu vs. Carlos Ocampo (Super-Welterweights), Broadbeach, AustraliaCFL FOOTBALL7 p.m.CBSSN — Edmonton at BCCOLLEGE BASEBALL2 p.m.ESPN — College World Series: Stanford vs. Wake Forest, Game 3, Omaha, Neb.7 p.m.ESPN — College World Series: Tennessee vs. LSU, Game 4, Omaha, Neb.GOLF1 p.m.NBC — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Los Angeles Country Club, Los Angeles3 p.m.GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Meijer LPGA Classic, Third Round, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, Mich.HORSE RACING1 p.m.FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races2 p.m.FS1 — NYRA: America’s Da...

Emiten vigilancia de tormentas severas para partes de Maryland y Virginia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

El Servicio Nacional de Meteorología (NWS, en inglés) emitió una vigilancia de tiempo severo para partes de Virginia y Maryland, incluidos el condado St. Mary, el condado Spotsylvania y Fredericksburg. La vigilancia está en efecto hasta las 9 p.m. Es posible que haya ráfagas de viento dañinas y granizo grande, advirtió la agencia.La Autoridad en el Tiempo pronostica que las mayores posibilidades de tormentas estarán a lo largo y al este del corredor I-95 y en la península de Delmarva a media tarde o al final de la tarde. Llévate el paraguas contigo.Las temperaturas alcanzarán los 80 grados y se espera un aumento de la humedad. Las posibilidades de tormenta vendrán con el paso de un frente frío que debería llegar a la I-95 entre las 2 y las 6 p.m. El cielo comenzará a despejarse rápidamente tras el paso del sistema y la mayor parte del área metropolitana de DC estará seca entre las 7 y las 8 p. m.La alta presión se acumulará en el área durante el fin de semana y mantendrá alejadas la...

Declaran culpable a camionero que mató a nueve personas en una sinagoga en Pittsburgh

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

PITTSBURGH — Un camionero que expresó su odio hacia los judíos fue declarado culpable el viernes de irrumpir en una sinagoga en Pittsburgh y abrir fuego sobre las personas con las que se cruzó, lo que resultó en la muerte de 11 feligreses en un acto terrorista antisemita que podría valerle la pena capital.Se daba por sentado que se lo declararía culpable desde que los propios abogados de Robert Bowers reconocieron al inicio que atacó y mató a los feligreses en la sinagoga Árbol de la Vida el 27 de octubre de 2018, en el incidente más mortífero contra judíos de la historia de Estados Unidos.El juicio entra ahora en la etapa de sentencia, en que el jurado debe decidir si condena al hombre de 50 años a muerte o a prisión perpetua sin posibilidad de libertad condicional. Se prevé que este proceso durará varias semanas. Documentos: jóvenes presentan complot para matanzas en sinagogas y mezquitas en Chicago El secuestrador en una sinagoga de Texas ...

Leicester hires coach who helped Pep Guardiola and Man City to trophy treble

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

Fresh from helping Manchester City win a treble of trophies, Enzo Maresca was hired as manager of relegated Leicester on Friday. The Italian coach was part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom team at City, where he won the English Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup this season. Maresca was signed to 2026. “Enzo brings a combination of personality, method and ambition that meets extremely well with the footballing direction we are looking to take,” Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said. “His philosophy has been built over a rich and varied career, including an outstanding education as a coach, and fits with the vision we have for this next chapter in Leicester City’s history.”Maresca was previously an assistant to Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham and was also coach of Man City’s elite development squad and Italian team Parma. He became part of Guardiola’s staff in 2022, helping City to the greatest season in its history, including winning the Champions Le...