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These San Jose residents’ water bills could jump big time in July

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

Over a tenth of San Jose’s population may soon see their water bills significantly jump if councilmembers approve an increase on Tuesday, making it one of the largest rate hikes in the Bay Area this coming year.Customers of the city-operated San Jose Municipal Water System (SJMWS), which serves approximately 140,000 city residents, could see a 14% rise in their monthly water bills — roughly $16 extra per month. Price increases will go into effect July 1 if the San Jose City Council gives the thumbs up.Officials blame the cost bump on increasing charges by third-party groups who dispense the water, drought-related impacts on supply and usage, and infrastructure improvements that need to be completed. The city-run system serves customers in North San Jose, Alviso, Evergreen, Edenvale and Coyote Valley.Despite the rise in prices, water usage is not expected to change in the coming year, officials said. The SJMWS is expecting to bring in an additional $8.9 million from the a...

Historic debt ceiling vote aligns Bay Area progressives with Freedom Caucus, ties Nancy Pelosi to Kevin McCarthy to … Marjorie Taylor Green?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

It splintered the Bay Area’s deep-blue congressional delegation, aligning progressive reps. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna with far-right Republicans Matt Gaetz and Paul Gosar on one side, and putting Nancy Pelosi alongside Kevin McCarthy and Marjorie Taylor Green on the other.The roll call from this week’s historic debt ceiling vote created once-unthinkable alliances, contorting House members into a bipartisan game of Twister to keep the country from a disastrous default.In the end, more Democrats (165) than Republicans (149) supported the agreement between President Biden and McCarthy, the Republican House Speaker. More members of the GOP majority (71) voted no than Democrats (46).But in California, not a single Republican crossed McCarthy, their leader from Bakersfield, including newly-elected U.S. Rep. John Duarte from Modesto, who narrowly beat his Democratic rival in November.With the extreme factions of both parties opposing it and plenty of bipartisan support in the m...

Pushed around as a rookie, 49ers edge rusher Drake Jackson is looking to push back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Drake Jackson likes who he sees in the mirror these days, and not just because he’s added some necessary muscle following a disappointing rookie season.Time will tell if Jackson ascends to the heights his skillset would suggest as an NFL edge rusher for the 49ers. He was coasting without even realizing it through Corona’s Centennial High as one of the top talents in the country, and that continued for three years at USC.If Jackson doesn’t reach that peak, it won’t be because he didn’t apply himself after arriving as a pro. He’s even put Kris Kocurek’s mind at ease, and the 49ers’ defensive line coach is known for being blunt and demanding.“I don’t worry about when I start the truck in the morning if he’s going to be there,” Kocurek said Thursday following a 49ers’ offseason practice. “He’s proven it over time. It can’t be a one-day deal, a one-week deal. It’s got...

Busy developer assembles big Los Gatos site where Whole Foods is eyed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

Whole Foods Market store and parking areas at 15600 and 15650 Los Gatos Boulevard in Los Gatos, concept. (Kenneth Rodrigues & Partners)LOS GATOS — A long-time auto dealership site in Los Gatos has been bought by a busy development firm that now controls a big chunk of land that includes a property where a new Whole Foods store is being eyed.Sand Hill Property has bought two parcels that at present accommodate the Moore GMC auto dealership at 15480 and 15500 Los Gatos Boulevard in Los Gatos, according to documents filed on May 30 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.This deal now gives affiliates of Sand Hill Property, which is headed up by veteran real estate executive Peter Pau, control of 7.4 acres in a prime stretch of Los Gatos, county documents show.All told, Sand Hill has paid $41.6 million in two purchase transactions to acquire the acreage, some of which includes the site of a proposed Whole Foods Market.In the most recent transaction, a Sand Hi...

Opinion: We must do more to support victims of gun violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

It could never happen here — until it did. The mass shooting Jan. 23 of seven people in Half Moon Bay by a sole gunman seemed almost surreal. Many of us were frozen in disbelief, stunned by the carnage that took place and pained by the loss of so many innocent lives.As many of you know, I am a victim of gun violence. It never leaves you. The physical scars are permanent as are the mental and emotional ones. For many survivors, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevents them from functioning. The research is profound — nine out of 10 survivors report experiencing trauma, according to a national survey conducted by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund (Everytown). But fewer than half said they had access to the support they needed to cope with it.Jackie Speier (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)While the human costs of gun violence are devastating, the economic consequences are also significant. Everytown calculates that the cost to our nation is $557 bi...

Kristof: Mississippi is offering lessons for America on education

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. — The refrain across much of the Deep South for decades was “Thank God for Mississippi!” That’s because however abysmally Arkansas or Alabama might perform in national comparisons, they could still bet that they wouldn’t be the worst in America. That spot was often reserved for Mississippi.So it’s extraordinary to travel across this state today and find something dazzling: It is lifting education outcomes and soaring in the national rankings. With an all-out effort over the past decade to get all children to read by the end of third grade and by extensive reliance on research and metrics, Mississippi has shown that it is possible to raise standards even in a state ranked dead last in the country in child poverty and hunger and second highest in teen births.In the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a series of nationwide tests better known as NAEP, Mississippi has moved from near the bottom to the middle for most of the exams — and near the top when adjusted ...

Bay Area News Group boys athlete of the week: Nicholas Strezo, Hillsdale baseball

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send questions to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.Hillsdale baseball player Nicholas Strezo is the Bay Area News Group’s high school boys athlete of the week for May 22-27 after he received 32.63% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.Acalanes track and field athlete Trevor Rogers (29.22%) placed second and Skyline baseball player Joseph Salazar was third.Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.Strezo, a senior, scattered eight hits and struck out four while pitching a complete game shutout as Hillsdale won the CCS Division V championship with a 3-0 victory over Capuchino at Excite Ballpark. The senior improved to 9-2 with...

Police pursuit leads to fatal, solo vehicle collision in Brentwood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

BRENTWOOD, Calif. (KRON) – One person is dead following a police pursuit that led to a collision Thursday evening, according to the Brentwood Police Department.Just after 7 p.m., an officer observed a car commit a vehicle code violation in the area of Sand Creek Road and O’Hara Avenue. A traffic stop was conducted and the officer observed signs of the driver being under the influence of alcohol, police said. 3 dead, 2 injured after crime spree in San Jose, Milpitas; suspect arrested During the traffic stop, the driver fled in the vehicle and a police pursuit ensued. A solo vehicle collision occurred shortly after the pursuit began, BPD said. After receiving aid from officers, the driver succumbed to their injuries and died at the scene. The name of the driver is not being released at this time and an investigation is underway by the Contra Costa County District Attorney investigators.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; h...

Man pistol-whipped, robbed of money at Chase Bank in Daly City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

DALY CITY, Calif. (KRON) – An investigation is underway after a man was hit in the head multiple times by a handgun and robbed at Daly City bank on May 23.The robbery occurred just before 2:30 p.m. at the Chase Bank on Southgate Avenue. The victim said while he was depositing money into the ATM, the suspect came from behind and hit him several times with a handgun, police said. 3 dead, 2 injured after crime spree in San Jose, Milpitas; suspect arrested The suspect stole the victim’s money, approximately $1,000 to $3,000, from the ATM while pointing the gun at the victim and fled the area. The suspect is described as a skinny Black male around the ages of 25 to 30 years old and approximately six feet tall, police said.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%...

British government appoints new acting chair for BBC to ‘provide stability’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:01 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The British government appointed a new acting chair for the BBC on Friday, five weeks after the resignation of Richard Sharp, who was found to have failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest over his role in arranging a loan more than two years ago for then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer appointed Elan Closs Stephens to serve as acting chair for 12 months starting June 27 or until a new permanent chairperson is appointed, whichever is sooner. Stephens has been on the governing body of the publicly funded national broadcaster since 2010. Frazer said Stephens has the unanimous support of the board and will “provide stability” for the BBC.Stephens said the board, under her leadership, will ensure the BBC is “a vital partner for the U.K. creative industries, maintain trust, and drive change to make the BBC fit for a fast-changing media landscape,.”Her time at the helm may well be a sensitive time for the BBC, as the U.K.’s next ge...