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Get used to driving roundabouts — the Bay Area is adding more: Roadshow

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

Q: I was in Europe recently and amazed how we (a motorcycle tour group) could ride long routes through many towns and cities without ever stopping. The main reason for this is roundabouts. They were well-designed, not what we seem to be getting in the U.S. It helps when drivers have familiarity with roundabouts, but I also found that most European roundabouts were larger. The curve, being more relaxed, meant you could drive faster through them. The larger size also allowed better viewing of oncoming traffic in the circle. You could more easily judge the merge and there was more room to navigate.Too many intersections here are poorly designed. Many roundabouts seem to be created almost as a speed bump to slow traffic, rather than to help increase the flow of traffic. Certainly, available land is a problem, but it’s not like Europe has lots of room for intersections either, with towns designed much longer ago. Our traffic engineers need not be afraid to move forward to good solutions....

Oakland Airport expansion is a threat to climate change goals, environmental coalition warns

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

After an onslaught of wildfires, dangerous heat and flooding over the past few years, a recent survey shows that a third of Bay Area residents view climate change as one of the most pressing challenges facing the region.Air travel so far seems to have escaped scrutiny in the ongoing debate. But as the Oakland International Airport plans its first major expansion in 40 years, that may be changing. On Tuesday, a broad coalition of over 60 organizations will rally at the airport in protest of the plan to build a new terminal, add more gates and ultimately increase air traffic in the East Bay.Public awareness of aviation’s contributions to climate change “has been a huge blind spot,” said Lin Griffith, a member of the steering committee for Stop OAK Expansion Coalition. “We don’t need this.”In July, Oakland Airport officials published a draft environmental report outlining their plans for what they described as a long overdue effort to reimagine an airport that hasn’t seen signifi...

One controversial parklet in Richmond reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

RICHMOND — The sturdy wooden parklet outside Point Richmond’s rugby-themed Up & Under Pub & Grill has none of the decorative jerseys for which the local spot is known, lacks any butt-worn stool cushions and exposes its patrons to way too much sunlight to properly be considered a bar.Yet this outdoor dining setup quickly became a financial godsend for the popular sports tavern during the pandemic, as customers slowly began venturing out after lockdown restrictions were lifted.But Richmond’s first and only parklet is now in legal limbo, and tentatively slated to be torn down, thanks to a slew of unclear regulations, confusing paperwork and years-long miscommunication inside Richmond City Hall.Parklet dining area at the Up & Under Pub and Grill along West Richmond Avenue on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Richmond, Calif. Many cities expedited outdoor dining during the coronavirus pandemic; however, now these dining additions are feeling the heat from some neighbors...

Over 100 shelter pets find forever homes in Contra Costa County

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

(KRON) -- Seventy-nine dogs and 34 cats from the Contra Costa County Animal Services have found their forever homes. The agency previously said the shelter was at risk of having to euthanize their animals. They currently have more than 120 pets that still need homes. Adoptions are free through the month of August. Those who are not ready to commit to adopting a pet may also consider fostering them. Here are some adorable pets ready for adoption at the animal shelter:Spudnik (A1004955)Cash (A0973878)Carson (A1004963)To view more animals up for adoption, click here.

SFMTA to vote on controversial Geary Street plan

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

(BCN) -- A proposal which aims to improve the speed and reliability of public transit along San Francisco's busy Geary Boulevard will be considered Tuesday by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors. San Francisco Muni's Geary Boulevard Improvement Project is a response to gaps in service on the 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid bus lines. To provide faster service, the project would extend side-running transit lines and optimize bus stop locations, among other changes. The board will be faced with a controversial decision whether to delay the implementation of some transit lanes. The agency faced backlash from some merchants over the conversion of parking spots from slanted to parallel, which staff said is necessary to add new lanes, according to the transit agency's website. San Mateo reduces speeds limits around 13 schools The original project proposal resulted in a net loss of 70 parking spaces along the stretch of Geary from 15th to 28th av...

Laguna Honda Hospital seeks Medicaid, Medicare recertification

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

(KRON) -- Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco has applied for recertification with federal regulators. The hospital lost its Medicare and Medicaid funding following several scandals including claims of patient abuse, patient overdoses and safety violations.If the hospital is not certified by next month, it will be forced to discharge or relocate roughly 700 patients. Certification experts conducted assessments on the hospital and made recommendations on potential improvements that could be made. San Mateo reduces speeds limits around 13 schools The recertification process starts with submitting an application followed by inspections. After inspections are made, there is a period of time to show the hospital remains compliant, the city said. A full survey of the hospital is conducted after the compliance period ends. The process for recertification is expected to take several months.

San Mateo reduces speed limits around 13 schools

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KRON) -- The City of San Mateo has reduced speed limits around 13 public elementary and middle schools in an effort to improve safety.According to the city, the speed limits have been reduced to 15 or 25 miles per hour. The city council approved the new speed zones earlier this year which will be completed in phases. The first phase covers public elementary and middle schools with the second phase covering private elementary and middle schools. The third phase covers local high schools spanning to 38 roadways segments, the city said. Trump indicted by Georgia grand jury in 2020 election interference case “As my children and yours return to school this week, I’m excited to share our City’s progress to reduce speed limits near schools. We all play a part in keeping our streets safe whether we walk, bike, or drive in San Mateo,” said San Mateo City Mayor Amourence Lee. “This effort is part of a comprehensive approach to achieve Vision Zero and eliminate road fatal...

Arsenal signs goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford to provide competition for Aaron Ramsdale

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal signed goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford on a season-long loan on Tuesday, with the Spain international set to provide competition for Aaron Ramsdale.There is an option to make the move permanent, Arsenal said, without disclosing any financial details.British media reported Arsenal was paying a loan fee of 3 million pounds ($3.8 million) for Raya and had an option to buy him for 27 million pounds ($34.35 million).Raya played in all 38 of Brentford’s Premier League matches last season, and is regarded as one of the leading ball-playing goalkeepers in English soccer.He is exceptional with the ball at his feet and had a 42.1% accuracy with his long passes last season.Raya made his debut for Spain in March last year and was selected for the country’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar.“With David joining us, we are adding quality and depth to our squad so we can perform at the highest possible level in all competitions,” Arsenal sporting director Edu s...

Kenya launches an inquiry into alleged abuses by a British army training unit, including a slaying

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A parliamentary committee in Kenya has launched an inquiry into alleged human rights violations and ethical breaches by a British army training unit that has been active for decades in the country the U.K. calls “our defense partner of choice in East Africa.”The U.K. Ministry of Defense didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.Britain has roughly 200 military personnel permanently based in Kenya. Most of them currently are training more than 1,000 Kenyan soldiers a year before their deployment to neighboring Somalia to combat al-Qaida’s longtime East Africa affiliate, al-Shabab. The British government invests more than 1.1 billion Kenyan shillings ($9.6 million) every year into the partnership.But some Kenyans have raised concerns about the way British forces treat local residents and the environment in arid, bandit-plagued areas north of Mt. Kenya where they train. In late 2021, Kenyan police said they were reopening the case of a local woma...

Tandy: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:44:55 GMT

FT WORTH, Texas (AP) — FT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Tandy Leather Factory Inc. (TLF) on Tuesday reported net income of $531,000 in its second quarter.The Ft Worth, Texas-based company said it had net income of 6 cents per share.The leather goods retailer posted revenue of $17.5 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TLF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TLFSource