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Walters: Gov. Newsom wins feud with oil industry — or did he?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

So, the third time was the charm for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s crusade to punish oil companies for what he described as price-gouging — sort of.Newsom spent six months vilifying the oil industry after retail gasoline prices surged last year to as much as $2.60 a gallon over the national average, and initially proposed a tax on windfall profits.However, that didn’t wash with enough Democrats in the Legislature to pass, since new taxes require a two-thirds vote. Newsom then exchanged the tax for penalties, but while they would have required only a simple-majority vote, legislators were also cool to deciding what profit margins would be allowed.Finally — and almost in desperation — Newsom cut a deal that would dump the whole issue onto the California Energy Commission to gather data about refinery operations, establish a reasonable profit allowance and assess penalties for exceeding it.“Finally, we’re in a position to look our constituents in the eye and say we now have a better understandin...

Office vacancies rise in Silicon Valley and balloon in San Francisco

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

SAN JOSE — Office vacancy rates have increased in the South Bay and have ballooned to scary heights in San Francisco amid a wobbly economy punctuated by wide-ranging job cuts in the tech and biotech sectors.The worsening state of the tech sector fueled jumps in the availability of office space during the first three months of 2023 in the South Bay and San Francisco, according to a new report by Savills, a commercial real estate firm.Silicon Valley’s office vacancy rate increased to 23.1% in the first quarter of 2023, a level that Savills described as a “new historical high”, and up from 22.7% in the final three months of 2022, the company stated in the report.San Francisco’s office vacancy level rocketed 32.7%, “a new all-time high,” in the 2023 first quarter, up from 32.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022, Savills reported.Asking office rents in San Francisco averaged $5.89 a month in the January-through-March quarter of 2023, down from $5.94 ...

A whole new ballgame: Monkey business baseball heads to San Jose

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Turkey Mike’s has been the star at San Jose’s 82-year-old ballpark on the corner of East Alma and Senter Road for years.But for one night this summer, it’ll be all about the Bananas instead of the barbecue.A batter on stilts – who also plays first base. Back-flipping outfielders. Yellow baseballs. Flaming baseballs … and bats. Twerking umpires. And a 76-year-old relief pitcher who isn’t opposed to chugging a beer in the stands before reaching the mound.The Savannah Bananas are coming to San Jose. And it happens to be the toughest ticket to score in baseball this summer. Savannah Bananas Luke Kelley (6), Matt Malatesta (11), Maceo Harrison (00), Christian Dearman (25) and Collin Ledbetter (23) perform after the second inning during a game against the Kansas City Monarchs at Legends Field in May of 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/TNS) The Bananas have been playing their unique – and wildly entertaining – version of the national pastime for seve...

The eight most expensive reported home sales in Hayward the week of March 27

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

A house in Hayward that sold for $1.3 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Hayward in the past week.In total, 8 real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $888,500. The average price per square foot ended up at $487.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of March 27 even if the property may have been sold earlier.8. $710,000, condominium in the 200 block of Sullivan WayThe 1,860 square-foot condominium in the 200 block of Sullivan Way, Hayward, has now been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in February and the total purchase price was $710,000, $382 per square foot. The condominium was built in 2011. The condominium features 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.Sullivan Way7. $715,000, single-family residence in the 20200 block of Times AvenueA sale has been finalized for the single-family house in the 20200 block of Times Avenue in Hayward. The pr...

Opinion: California migrant-children program could be national model

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Migration by unaccompanied minors remains a central topic in immigration. Adding to concerns for young migrants’ welfare, the New York Times recently exposed the prevalence of migrant child labor in the United States and the conditions under which unaccompanied Central American children fall into exploitative, dangerous and life-threatening jobs.Following these revelations, the Biden administration announced plans to increase enforcement of immigration and labor laws — actions that many advocate for. But this oversimplifies child labor in the U.S. as a failure of oversight and ignores that children engage in labor migration as a means of survival.Families need alternatives to support themselves. Thus, efforts to protect unaccompanied immigrant children in the U.S. must pair law enforcement with the provision of social services that offer new opportunities for migrant children and their families.We don’t have to look far to imagine this pairing. California, which is consistently one ...

Sale closed in Saratoga: $2.4 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

12402 Woodside Drive – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 12400 block of Woodside Drive in Saratoga was sold on March 17, 2023. The $2,380,000 purchase price works out to $1,138 per square foot. The house, built in 1956, has an interior space of 2,092 square feet. The property features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces, as well as a pool in the backyard. The unit sits on a 10,206-square-foot lot.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:On Titus Avenue, Saratoga, in October 2022, a 2,520-square-foot home was sold for $2,500,000, a price per square foot of $992. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,230-square-foot home on the 18900 block of Easton Place in Saratoga sold in December 2022, for $3,000,000, a price per square foot of $1,345. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In November 2022, a 1,774-square-foot home on Easton Drive in Saratoga sold for $2,663,000, a price per square foot of $1,501. The home has...

San Jose mayor pushes back on bill criminalizing homelessness

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

(KRON) -- Homelessness has been a nationwide issue for years. In San Jose, there are close to 7,000 people that are currently unhoused. A bill criminalizing homelessness would ultimately not only make them move, but also could cost them a misdemeanor.Senate Bill 31 was introduced by Senator Brian Jones of San Diego and would ban people from sitting on a sidewalk within 1,000 feet of a sensitive area. Places like schools, daycares, parks and libraries. Those found within those 1,000 feet would not only be in violation and have to move, but would also get an infraction or a misdemeanor.Currently, San Jose already prohibits people from camping in some within 150 feet from schools and doesn’t allow the blocking of sidewalks streets or trails.What does San Jose mayor Matt Mahan say?Well, the homeless camps do need to be cleared out. In fact, his recent budget proposes more safe parking sites, sanctioned encampments and “no encampment zones" in commercial areas like downtown. But he doesn...

Russian businessman back after fleeing house arrest in Italy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian businessman who made a daring escape from house arrest in Italy where he was nabbed on a U.S. warrant for breaching Western sanctions surfaced in Russia on Tuesday, saying he fled because Italian courts would’ve caved in to American pressure to extradite him.Artyom Uss, the 40-year-old son of the governor of Russia’s vast Krasnoyarsk region in eastern Siberia, was arrested in Italy in October on a U.S. warrant. The U.S. has sought Uss’ extradition on charges of smuggling Western technologies in violation of Western sanctions and money laundering. He was transferred from jail to house arrest at a compound on the outskirts of Milan in December.Last month, Uss fled after an Italian court ruled to extradite him to the U.S. His whereabouts were unknown until Tuesday, when he told the state RIA Novosti news agency that he was back in Russia.Uss argued he had to flee because the Italian court had “demonstrated its clear political bias” and was like...

Staying put this spring break? Check out some day trip ideas for the DC area

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Deciding to save a little dough by not spending big on a spring break trip this year? There are plenty of fun-packed day trips for you and the kids near the D.C. region.“We have access to Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and with that comes so many different opportunities,” Daniella Byck, lifestyle editor with Washingtonian magazine, told WTOP.More Local NewsMore DC NewsTo make the most out of the trip with the kids, try to find a destination that can combine activities with other elements like outdoor access or historical significance.Byck said a top destination that should be on your radar is Front Royal, Virginia, and its access to Shenandoah Valley.“You can tour the Skyline Caverns. You can rent kayaks, even at this time of year, and paddle down the Shenandoah River,” said Byck about Front Royal, located around an hour-and-a-half drive from the District.Visitors to Front Royal also have access to plenty of Shendoah National Forest trails, such as the Fox Hollo...

Gardening help in the palm of your hand: 5 apps, phone tips

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

You’re in your garden and notice a beautiful, new-to-you flower that has popped up somewhere unexpected — pull it or leave it?Or perhaps an unfamiliar garden pest has ravaged your tomato plants. Or you experienced the deflating discovery of a gray-white crust on the soil in your seed-starting tray. Where do you turn for help when you’re on the go? Technology, of course. The latest crop of gardening apps and cellphone features may surprise you with their expert garden-planning and planting advice, pest and disease troubleshooting, instant plant and insect identification, and even integrated artificial intelligence and augmented reality.Free, reliable apps like the ones below will place an abundant harvest of valuable information at your (green) fingertips.— Seek by iNaturalist Created by a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, this crowd-sourced, image-recognition app is as straightforward a...