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Letters: Mishandling police | Florida’s future | Long-time liar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Alameda mishandlingcity’s problem copsRe: “Alameda approves $11.4M payout” (Page A1, Dec. 16).A Dec. 16 article in the East Bay Times announced that the city of Alameda had approved $11.4 million in payouts to the family of Mario Gonzales, killed by Alameda police officers.In its statement, the city said that the settlement “shall not be construed as an admission by any party of liability.” I would say that there had, indeed, been a $11.4 million admission of liability.Why does the city of Alameda continue to sweep under the rug the problems of its police force and its power-drunk confrontations with Alamedans of color? And why does our City Council stand for it?Robert BardeAlamedaClimate change meansFlorida has no futureRe: “Florida economically better than California” (Page A7, Dec. 26).Mike Heller in his Dec. 26 letter overlooked a stark reality: Florida does ...

Single family residence in Saratoga sells for $3 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

18692 Cox Avenue – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 18600 block of Cox Avenue in Saratoga was sold on Dec. 8, 2023. The $3,000,000 purchase price works out to $1,453 per square foot. The house, built in 1950, has an interior space of 2,064 square feet. The layout of this single-story house includes two bedrooms and two baths. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. In addition, the house is equipped with a one-car garage.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:A 2,595-square-foot home on the 18600 block of Paseo Tierra in Saratoga sold in May 2023, for $3,100,000, a price per square foot of $1,195. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Paseo Lado, Saratoga, in November 2022, a 1,232-square-foot home was sold for $2,050,000, a price per square foot of $1,664. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In August 2023, a 3,107-square-foot home on McFarland Avenue in Saratoga sold for $4,400,000, a price per square foot...

Pierce Brosnan faces federal charges after allegedly trespassing in ‘delicate’ Yellowstone hot spring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

Did Pierce Brosnan think that once playing super-spy James Bond made him immune to dangers of the highly acidic hydrothermal waters, boiling in one of Yellowstone National Park’s hot springs?Or, did he somehow think that being an internationally renowned movie star made him special enough that he could allegedly ignore stay-on-the-trail signs and trespass in an area of the park that’s been designated as off limits?Who knows what was on Brosnan’s mind, but he reportedly entered “delicate,” restricted areas in the Wyoming national park twice on Nov. 1, according to The Telegraph and other news reports. And now he has to answer it.The 70-year-old Irish actor is due to appear in court in Wyoming on Jan. 23, accused of leaving permitted trails in the park to apparently get a closer look at the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces, The Telegraph said. This famous attraction consists of technicolored limestone rock formations that are created by water boiling up out o...

Maine becomes second state to bar Trump from presidential primary ballot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

By Nicholas Ricciardi and David Sharp | Associated PressPORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally in a decision that has potential Electoral College consequences.While Maine has just four electoral votes, it’s one of two states to split them. Trump won one of Maine’s electors in 2020, so having him off the ballot there should he emerge as the Republican general election candidate could have outsized implications in a race that is expected to be narrowly decided.The decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows follows a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that booted Trump from the ballot there under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Colorado is a Democratic-leaning state that is not expected to be competitive for Republicans in November.Bellows found that T...

Police: Prince George’s Co. officer in shooting near National Harbor’s Tanger Outlets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

A police officer shot an unidentified person near the Tanger Outlets shopping center in Oxon Hill, Maryland’s National Harbor area on Thursday evening, according to police.“We are working an officer involved shooting involving an off-duty PGPD officer that occurred in the 6700 block of Oxon Hill Road,” the Prince George’s County Police Department said in a tweet.WTOP’s Matt Kaufax is headed to the scene.Below is a map of where the shooting occurred: This is a developing story. Stay with WTOP for the latest details.Source

With benching of Russell Wilson, Broncos and Chargers each turn to backup quarterbacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — With one of the league’s highest-paid QBs sent to the bench, it’s now backup against backup.Stidham versus Stick.Not exactly what everyone envisioned this time of year. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is sending Russell Wilson to the sideline in order to see if Jarrett Stidham can spark a sporadic offense Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers (5-10), who are relying on Easton Stick after an injury to Justin Herbert.The Broncos (7-8) still have a slim playoff chance — an 8% chance at the moment, according to the NFL — that now rides on Stidham’s right arm. The decision by Payton to bench Wilson for the final two games is a franchise-altering one that figures to lead to a divorce between the two sides come the offseason, with money and salary-cap implications factoring in. Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million contract last year that kicks in next season.“Ultimately, our job is to get the ball in the end zone, and we have to be more efficient d...

Arizona man charged over online posts that followed Australian attack in which 6 died

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A U.S. citizen has been charged in Arizona with making threatening online comments that followed what police describe as a “religiously motivated terrorist attack” in Australia a year ago in which six people died, officials said Wednesday.Queensland state police officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold and innocent bystander Alan Dare were fatally shot by Gareth Train, his brother Nathaniel Train and Nathanial’s wife, Stacey Train, in an ambush at the Trains’ remote property in the rural community of Wieambilla last Dec. 12, investigators said.Four officers had arrived at the property to investigate reports of a missing person. They walked into a hail of gunfire, police said at the time. Two officers managed to escape and raise the alarm.Police killed the three Trains, who have been described as conspiracy theorists, during a six-hour siege.The FBI said agents arrested 58-year-old Donald Day Jr. near Heber Overgaard, Arizona, last Friday.Authorities said ...

Stafford and Rams can inch closer to a postseason return by beating the Giants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J (AP) — A year after having one of the most disappointing seasons in NFL history, the Los Angeles Rams are on the verge of returning to the playoffs.The key is the 2021 Super Bowl champions need to take a big step now or else things will get dicey.The Rams (8-7) can clinch a playoff berth Sunday by beating the Giants (5-10) at MetLife Stadium, and getting a little help with either a loss by Seattle (8-7) at home against Pittsburgh (8-7) or a tie between Green Bay and Minnesota (8-7).It has been an unexpected run. Los Angeles was 3-6 going into its bye week. It is 5-1 since, with the only setback being an overtime loss to the NFL-leading Ravens (12-3) in Baltimore.It’s certainly not the same team that went 5-12 last season in becoming the 17th Super Bowl champion to miss the playoffs in the ensuing season.“I love the way that these guys have come in and I like the consistency that I’ve seen throughout the course of the year,” coach Sean McVay said. “Bu...

Boston College beats No. 17 SMU 23-14 in Fenway Bowl, ending Mustangs’ 9-game win streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

Thomas Castellanos rushed for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, leading Boston College to a 23-14 win over No. 17 SMU on Thursday in the Fenway Bowl and snapping the Mustangs’ nine-game winning streak.Castellanos rushed for 156 yards and completed 11 of 18 passes for 102 yards. Ky Robichaux also had a scoring run for the Eagles (7-6), whose main campus is less than five miles away from Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox.Kevin Jennings went 24 of 48 for 191 yards and a TD for SMU (11-3), which finished with its most victories since the 1982 squad also posted 11.With the Mustangs moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season in a sweeping list of realignments that have overtaken college football, it was a matchup of two teams that’ll see each other again next season in Dallas during league play.The game was played in a steady rain, and due to tight foul territory, both sidelines were in the outfield in front of the fabled Green Monster that was draped with banners o...

Surging Bills can’t ease up with Belichick’s Patriots up next, having lost to them already

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:50:54 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Forget the myriad scenarios — 14 in total — that would give the Buffalo Bills their fifth consecutive playoff berth if they beat or tie New England on Sunday. And don’t expect the Bills to do much scoreboard watching during the game, either, to find out whether the AFC East title will be on the line during their season finale at Miami.None of that matters to Bills center Mitch Morse when facing a Bill Belichick-coached team. Nor does the Patriots’ 4-11 record, or the speculation of major offseason changes looming in Foxborough, Massachusetts.“The one thing I’ve learned in this league is to expect the unexpected,” Morse said, dismissing speculation about Belichick’s tenure ending in New England after 24 seasons.“Until I see that, he’s been one of the most frustrating guys to play against because he’s such a masterful mind on the defensive front,” Morse added. “I have the utmost respect for what he’s done, and what he’s continued to do.”And if the Bills...