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Rep. Zephyr’s town feels divided from rest of Montana

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

By Nicholas Riccardi | Associated PressMISSOULA, Montana — In the college town of Missoula, pride flags are as common a sight as the peaks of Montana’s Rattlesnake Mountains. Even a downtown crosswalk is rainbow-colored.Often described as a blue island in a vast red state, Missoula sent the first openly transgender female legislator in Montana history to the state capital. Its voters, fully aware that they are vastly outnumbered by conservatives statewide, were still shocked at what happened next.Their new representative, Zooey Zephyr, was barred last week from speaking on the floor of the Legislature by the Republican majority, which accused her of violating decorum by saying they had “blood on your hands” for approving a bill barring gender-affirming care for minors. On Wednesday, Republicans voted to bar Zephyr from the House floor for the remainder of the legislative session, scheduled to end next month.Zephyr was elected with 80% of the vote in November in her...

Letters: Charging stations | Bobblehead boost | Sell A’s | Recall Thao | Health care | Palestinian violence

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.State needs moreEV charging stationsYour column “I’m ready to trade in my electric car,” (Page A7, April 26) accurately points to the urgent need to add electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to highways and cities.But the headline misses the point that the author is considering a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), not a gas car. A PHEV only uses gas after 40 miles or so, i.e. only on long trips, so it is still mostly an electric car. For families with two cars, an all-electric car and a PHEV can serve all travel needs without buying a gas car. That’s why so far this year in Alameda County 37.8% of new cars have been EVs or PHEVs.If we can get Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to fund abundant EV chargers as part of roadway infrastructure, we will rid the state of auto pollution.Jack FleckOaklandBoost A’s crowds withexecutive bobbleheadsThe ...

West Virginia Gov. Justice announces run for Senate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

By Shania Shelton, David Wright and Manu Raju | CNNRepublican Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia announced his Senate candidacy on Thursday, setting up a potential challenge to Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, among the most vulnerable incumbents in 2024.“I am officially announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate,” Justice told a roomful of supporters in White Sulphur Springs. “And I absolutely will promise you to God above that I will do the job, and I will do the job that will make you proud.”The term-limited governor was joined by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who praised Justice during introductory remarks.“We need help in Washington. We need a winner. We need somebody that can win in a general election. A conservative who can move the ball forward in Washington, DC,” Graham said. He added that “we’ve made mistakes in 2022. We didn’t nominate maybe the right person for ...

Letters: PG&E rates | ‘Gravy train’ | Dragging feet | A decent place | Range of sexes | Unlikely fix

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Higher PG&E rateswill cut donationsRe: “PG&E rate change is because of new law” (April 18).This is the dumbest law ever.As a person who worked their butt off to live in this valley, I will probably fit in the highest category. My plan is to cut my substantial donations to some California charities. The net result will be zero.A number of my friends have told me they will do the same.Robert DroegeSan JoseState’s ‘gravy train’keeps homeless comingRe: “Homelessness rise baffles lawmakers” (Page B1, April 23).The headline in Sunday’s Mercury News, “Homelessness rise baffles lawmakers,” was surprising considering that the answer to the question is contained in the first sentence of the article: “The state has spent billions of dollars on homelessness in recent years.”When the gravy train is running at full speed, passengers from n...

Search called off for person reported in the water off Embarcadero

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The search has been called off for a victim reported in the water off the San Francisco Embarcadero near the Cupid's Span sculpture Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco Fire Department said. Bay Area transit agency accuses NBA of trying to ‘kneecap’ Warriors’ dynasty over Game 6 schedule Rescue swimmers, rescue divers, rescue boats and San Francisco Police Department boats had all been deployed in an extensive search of the area. First responders were unable to locate the victim.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

2 pedestrians die in separate San Jose crashes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

(KRON) -- Two pedestrians died after they were struck by cars in San Jose, the city's police department said. The separate crashes both happened on April 20, with the victims dying several days later. Bay Area transit agency accuses NBA of trying to ‘kneecap’ Warriors’ dynasty over Game 6 schedule First crashThe first crash happened at about 12:15 p.m. in the area of N. Capitol Avenue and Hostetter Road. The San Jose Police Department said a Chevrolet sedan was turning onto Hostetter Road when the car struck a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.The victim was originally hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and stabilized. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on April 23. Second crashSJPD responded to the area of W. Santa Clara Street and N. 2nd Street at about 3:12 p.m. A Chevrolet SUV was reversing at slow speeds when it struck a woman crossing N. 2nd Street in an unmarked crosswalk, SJPD said.The victim was also hospitalized with life-threatening injuries an...

SF police respond to possible bomb threat, no device found

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The San Francisco Police Department is investigating a possible bomb threat at a building on Montgomery Street, SFPD confirmed. The threat came in around 1:39 p.m. SFFD divers searching for person in the water off Embarcadero Officers arrived on the scene and received communication regarding a possible threat involving an explosive device. Officers established a perimeter while additional SFPD resources arrived and searched the location. No suspicious device was located.The incident is still being investigated.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

11-year-old girl reported missing in Oakland

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department is asking for help in locating an 11-year-old girl who's been reported missing. Guadalupe Barrientos-Delgado was last seen on Thursday, April 27 around 12:45 p.m. and is considered at risk due to her age. SFFD divers searching for person in the water off Embarcadero Guadalupe was last seen in the 2300 block of East 15th Street and was wearing a pink tank top, blue jeans and possibly a gray hooded sweatshirt with a pink logo, police said. She's described as an 11-year-old girl who is 5 feet tall, weighs 150 pounds and has brown hair and eyes. Her family says she has good mental and physical conditions, police said. Anyone with any information regarding her whereabouts is asked to notify the Oakland Police Department Missing Person's Unit at (510) 238-3641.

Pleasant Hill police search for suspect in fireworks explosion that injured teen

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

(KRON) -- Last Monday, a 14-year-old boy was injured in a fireworks explosion on a walkway near Pleasant Hill Middle School where the boy is a student, the Pleasant Hill Police Department announced in a press release Thursday. The boy suffered "significant" injuries to his hand after the detonation of a firework around 3:05 p.m. on April 17 at the walkway near 2800 Contra Costa Boulevard.Police are now asking for the public's help to find the unidentified suspect (pictured below) responsible for the teen's injuries from the detonation of the firework. The suspect is described as a man 18-22 years old, 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds. Stabbing victim at Northgate High in Walnut Creek in stable condition Police later discovered that the fireworks were found on the ground at the middle school a day earlier on Sunday when school was not in session, the release said. The suspect placed the fireworks in an outdoor hallway and lit the firework, but it did not explode. After leaving the device ...

Biden’s student loan help would be ‘annihilated’ by GOP bill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s student loan agenda would be all but obliterated by the U.S. debt legislation passed by House Republicans, dooming his mass cancellation s, scrapping a more generous loan repayment option and permanently barring future regulation around student debt.Republicans see it as a victory for taxpayers. Democrats say it would hurt the economy and block college students who need financial aid.The GOP bill would cancel both of Biden’s marquee student debt proposals: a one-time cancellation of up to $20,000 for more than 40 million Americans, and an updated loan repayment plan that could slash monthly payments for millions.It would also lift a pause on federal student loan payments, forcing borrowers into repayment sooner than planned.On the House floor Wednesday, Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said Biden’s plan for student debt was an obvious target as the government reins in spending.Wit...