Marin hiker initially thought to have been shot may have been killed by a horse

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

Marin hiker initially thought to have been shot may have been killed by a horse The “suspicious” death of a hiker in Marin County last week may have been caused by a kick from a horse, the sheriff’s office said on Monday.At 6:51 p.m. on Friday, an emergency call reported a man suffering from an apparent fall and head wound on a fire road near Wild Iris Drive and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in San Geronimo.The man, later identified as Richard Helzberg, 82, was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries, the sheriff’s office said.Initially, the medical staff at Marin Health Medical Center reported that Helzberg appeared to have a ballistic wound to his head. The sheriff’s office now says that observation “does not appear to be valid.”“At the conclusion of the autopsy, it was determined, based on all available evidence, the injuries sustained were caused by a blunt force strike,” said the sheriff’s report. “Sheriff’s Investigations Division (is) now investigating the possibility that...

Oakland native Jim Hines, once the world’s fastest man, dies at 76

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

Oakland native Jim Hines, once the world’s fastest man, dies at 76 By Matt Foster | CNNTwo-time Olympic gold medalist Jim Hines, who was the first man to run 100m in under 10 seconds, passed away on Saturday at the age of 76, according to World Athletics.Hines recorded a hand-timed 9.9 second 100m dash at the US Championships in Sacramento in June 1968 according to USA Track and Field (USATF), before running the first electronically timed 100m under 10 seconds at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. Hines’ world record earned him his first individual Olympic gold medal.That time (9.95 seconds) lasted as the world record in the event for 15 years, until Calvin Smith broke it in 1983 – the longest the 100m record has stood during the fully automated era, according to World Athletics, the global governing body for track and field.Hines also won the 4x100m in a world record time at the same Olympics, anchoring the US team to victory in a time of 38.24 seconds.The sprinter grew up in Oakland, California, though he was born in Arkansas, according to USATF. ...

‘Pretty dang close to full’: Bay Area groundwater back to pre-drought levels after massive winter storms

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

‘Pretty dang close to full’: Bay Area groundwater back to pre-drought levels after massive winter storms Anyone driving around the Bay Area can see how the drenching storms that soaked California this winter filled local reservoirs after three brutal years of drought.But the wet winter also refilled an equally — if not more important — source of water: underground aquifers. Across the Bay Area, communities that rely on groundwater, from Silicon Valley to the East Bay suburbs, have measured big increases in recent months in their subterranean supplies to some of the highest levels on record.The unseen bounty is dramatic, and rebuts a common misperception among many Californians that groundwater always takes years to recover, or is all so hopelessly overdrawn it can never be restored. While that is true in some heavily pumped farm areas in the Central Valley, experts say, water agencies in the Bay Area that have carefully managed groundwater supplies for decades saw the payoff this winter.Groundwater provides 40% of the water supply for 2 million people in Santa Clara County. Following m...

San Jose redesigning roads in hopes of curbing sideshows: Roadshow

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

San Jose redesigning roads in hopes of curbing sideshows: Roadshow Q: At the corner of Flickinger Avenue and Sierra Road around six months ago, the city of San Jose installed yellow markers about 3 feet tall in the center of the roads on the double solid lines, going both directions. What is the explanation for these?There are left turn lanes in each direction. I can’t see there being a problem with people driving on or over the double yellow lines. They are not in the intersection to possibly prevent cars from doing donuts. It seems a waste of money that could be put to better use for road repairs. Is there a specific reason for these?Charles StackA: The yellow dividers are part of a quick-build safety project along Sierra Road. They are there primarily to deter sideshow activities, while calming traffic and improving bicyclist safety. These delineators narrow the roadway and make it a less appealing place for sideshows, without impacting traffic flow through the intersection. This was one of several locations the police department helped the city...

Reducing crashes, congestion on roads near I-95 interchange in Springfield

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

Reducing crashes, congestion on roads near I-95 interchange in Springfield If you’ve ever taken the highway to drive to the Springfield Mall or Springfield Metro station, chances are you’ve spent some time driving — or stopped — on Franconia Road.The Virginia Department of Transportation is asking for public input as it tries to reduce congestion and the number of crashes on half-mile stretches of Franconia Road, and nearby Commerce Street.With five on- and off-ramps to the Interstate 95 interchange and three intersections, VDOT is looking to make safety and operational improvements, in part prioritized by feedback from the online survey.According to a VDOT presentation, Franconia Road, which carries about 69,000 vehicles a day had 162 crashes, between January 2015 and October 2022. Commerce Street averages far fewer vehicles — 19,000 daily — but had 171 crashes.Among the potential improvements, VDOT will consider reworking intersections and changing lane configurations. In addition, the agency will be looking for ways to make pedestrian and bi...

Piloto se habría desplomado y lucía inconsciente antes accidente aéreo en Virginia

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

Piloto se habría desplomado y lucía inconsciente antes accidente aéreo en Virginia WASHINGTON — El piloto de un avión privado que sobrevoló Washington DC y se estrelló en una región remota de Virginia parecía haberse desplomado sobre el tablero y lucía inconsciente, informaron el lunes tres funcionarios federales de Estados Unidos, quienes relataron las observaciones de los pilotos de los cazas que interceptaron el errático aeroplano.Las revelaciones se producen mientras investigadores federales se adentraban en terrenos agrestes para llegar al lugar en donde el Cessna Citation se estrelló el domingo contra una montaña, causando la muerte de cuatro personas.Los funcionarios habían sido informados al respecto y hablaron bajo condición de anonimato debido a que no estaban autorizados a discutir los detalles de una operación militar.El propietario del avión dijo a medios de comunicación que su hija y su nieta de 2 años estaban a bordo de la aeronave. Investigan causa de accidente de avión por el que se escuchó boom sónico en el DMV ...

Only 5 days into June, and this much rain has fallen

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

Only 5 days into June, and this much rain has fallen DENVER (KDVR) — It has been a rainy start to June so far. Within the first four days, Denver has almost hit its monthly rainfall total.Another afternoon of storm chances, that's been the big weather headline for the month of June so far. The Pinpoint Weather team has been tracking the rainy conditions, and it doesn't look like it will dry out anytime soon. Flash floods strand Denver-area drivers Pinpoint Meteorologist Travis Michels said that rain is in the forecast for at least the next seven days. So, with all that moisture, how much rain has Denver accumulated?June rain so farIn the first four days of June, Denver had rain every day for a total of 1.81 inches. The average amount of rainfall for the entire month is 1.94 inches, meaning Denver is less than .10 inches from the monthly average in just the first week.Month to date, Denver was 1.43 inches above-average. Year-to-date precipitationAccording to Travis Michels, since the start of the year on Jan. 1, Denver has had 10.13 ...

Group of parents calls for DPS board to resign

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

Group of parents calls for DPS board to resign DENVER (KDVR) — A group of parents is calling for the resignation of the entire Denver Public School board.The group “Resign DPS Board” said it’s frustrated with the district’s lack of ability to keep their kids safe, so parents want to start over with new leadership and a new vision.The founder of the group, Heather Lamm, said, “What we're really frustrated about is that this board has been completely ineffectual in actually coming up with a safety plan that addresses the problems. They've been ineffectual in every single thing they've done.”Lamm created this push for change after two deans were shot by a student at East High School. Members said it happened in the first place because of “relaxed and ignored safety procedures.” 4-year-old walks out of Woodland Park preschool unnoticed They also said since that incident in March, nothing has changed.The group has gathered 5,000 signatures calling for board members to step down.On the other side, DPS board members have been draftin...

Texas sheriff’s office files criminal case over transportation of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

Texas sheriff’s office files criminal case over transportation of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KTVT) — Several months after announcing it would investigate the transportation of Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard last week, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has officially filed a completed criminal case to the county’s District Attorney’s Office.In September of last year, 49 migrants were flown from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed responsibility. The move sent local officials on the island scrambling to find shelter, food and other services to accommodate the abrupt and unannounced arrival.It also reignited a national debate over U.S. border policy, with Massachusetts officials, the Biden administration and Democrats accusing Florida of using asylum-seekers as props in a political stunt.DeSantis, meanwhile, said he would continue sending migrants released from federal border custody to Democratic-led jurisdictions that have adopted so-called “sanctuary” policies, whic...

PGA Tour, Europe to merge with Saudis and end LIV Golf litigation

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:36:14 GMT

PGA Tour, Europe to merge with Saudis and end LIV Golf litigation The most disruptive year in golf ended Tuesday when the PGA Tour and European tour agreed to a merger with Saudi Arabia’s golf interests, creating a commercial operation designed to unify professional golf around the world.As part of the deal, the sides are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf against each other effective immediately.Still to be determined is how players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, who defected to Saudi-funded LIV Golf for nine-figure bonuses, can rejoin the PGA Tour after this year.Also unclear was what form the LIV Golf League would take in 2024. Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a memo to players that a thorough evaluation would determine how to integrate team golf into the game.The agreement combines the Public Investment Fund’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights — including LIV Golf — with those of the PGA and European tours. The new entity has not been named.“They were going down their path, we were going down ours, and aft...