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See how COVID deaths are plummeting this spring in California and the U.S.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

The number of COVID deaths continues to fall in California and the rest of the country, dropping 65% in the last three months in the Golden State, another sign that the virus is losing its grip on our lives.In March, California added just 540 names to its COVID death total, and numbers for April could be even lower.After three years of the pandemic, the state has shown a notable pattern of decline in deaths from the virus: An average of 5,100 Californians died in each of the first 12 months, starting in April 2020. That dropped by more than half in the second year to 2,400 and by even more to 900 in the most-recent 12-month period. A total of 101,000 Californians have died from COVID since the pandemic began.“I think we’re finally seeing the fruits of the fact that we’re dealing with a less virulent organism,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. “And...

Could steady Klay Thompson step up again to help Warriors clinch in Game 6?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Klay Thompson’s consistent play throughout this season has made him an essential player in this tense first-round series between the Warriors and the Kings. And it could manifest another “Game 6 Klay” moment.Thompson played in foul trouble throughout most of Game 5 and finished with 25 points, second only to Stephen Curry’s 31. His only fourth-quarter points came on an off-balance jumper with Kevin Huerter’s hands in his face to extend a five-point lead.Paired with Draymond Green’s Dirk Nowitzki-like fadeaway several seconds later, Thompson’s jump shot — just a heel away from being his sixth 3-pointer of the night – was a dagger in a pivotal game that gave the Warriors a 3-2 series advantage heading back to Chase Center for Game 6.“When we know what the stakes are, we’re competitors and we play to that level,” Thompson said after the win. “We know how difficult it is to win in this building and it took a d...

Argh! Bay Area Pirate Festival canceled

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

The annual Northern California Pirate Festival will not be setting up anchor at the Vallejo Marina Green this year.Organizers of the popular event — which draws approximately 10,000 people each summer — sent out a news release on Facebook on Tuesday night saying that “several issues have come up and we feel the site is no longer tenable.”The letter went on to say that Ray Amsbury — one of the people most responsible for the creation of the festival — died unexpectedly on March 17.“If any one person was MOST responsible for the creation of the NorCal Pirate Festival … it was Ray,” the letter states. “Many years ago, we were sitting around lamenting that we had no pirate festival anywhere near us … and it was Ray who exclaimed, ‘Why don’t WE make one?’ If you ever met Ray, you know that it was impossible not to like him. He was the kindest pirate you could ever meet, with a Santa-like twinkle in his eye, the warmest smile, and he always made time to talk to everyone that ever walked i...

NFL Draft: Analyzing what 49ers’ 2023 opponents did in first round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

A look at how the 49ers’ 2023 opponents fared Thursday night in the NFL Draft and how it affects the defending NFC West champions:NFC WESTSeattle Seahawks (9-8)The Seahawks, who got ranger cover corner Tariq Woolen in the sixth round a year ago, used the No. 5 overall selection on Devon Witherspoon, who will step into the starting lineup on the other side.In theory, that gives Seattle two top-flight corners to combat the 49ers’ Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.Seattle passed on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, considered by some to be the top non-quarterback in the draft. Carter fell to Philadelphia (more on that later) because of character concerns which include a reckless driving charge and showing up to his Pro Day nine pounds overweight and appearing to be winded.At 5-foot-11 and playing at under 180 pounds, we’ll see if Witherspoon can deal with the physicality of Samuel and Aiyuk on a down-to-down basis. From here, it looks similar to the time the Raiders...

Police say man continued dinner date after fatal shooting man over $40

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

By JUAN A. LOZANO | The Associated PressHOUSTON — A Texas man has been accused by authorities of pausing his dinner date to fatally shoot an individual who had allegedly posed as a parking attendant and scammed him out of $40, according to court records.Erick Aguirre has been charged with murder in the April 11 death of 46-year-old Elliot Nix.During a court hearing on Thursday, Aguirre’s bond was set at $200,000. His attorney, Brent Mayr, declined to comment.Police say Aguirre, 29, and his date had parked their vehicles near a downtown Houston restaurant when Nix approached them, saying it would cost $20 each to park their cars, according to a probable cause affidavit.Aguirre paid the $40 but was later told by a restaurant employee that Nix didn’t work for the parking lot and had scammed them, police said.An employee at a nearby smoke shop later told police he saw Aguirre run back to his car, grab a pistol and go after Nix. The employee said both men went out of his view but he hear...

Editorial: ‘Delete Act’ would give Californians needed privacy protections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Big data is big business. An estimated 2,000-4,000 data brokers around the world have created an estimated $200 billion industry from the data they collect, largely without consumers’ knowledge.Acxiom, one of the leading global brokers, says it has collected data from 2.5 billion consumers, which equates to roughly half of the world’s 5 billion active internet users. The data has many legitimate, useful purposes — such as understanding consumers wants and needs and improving companies’ branding efforts.But the information data brokers collect can be used in disturbing ways, including, for example, tracking the location of military personnel, immigrants and even women who visit Planned Parenthood clinics. It’s clear the Legislature needs to act to protect Californians’ privacy.That’s why Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, has introduced the “Delete Act.” Senate Bill 362 would create a web site where Californians could require that a data broker ...

Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week: Annelise Burgos, Mt. Eden softball

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Mt. Eden softball player Annelise Burgos is the Bay Area News Group’s high school girls athlete of the week for April 17-22 after she received 43.03% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.The King’s Academy softball player Mia Bennette (38.82%) placed second and Gunn track and field athlete Avery Adelman was third.Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.Burgos, a sophomore pitcher, earned victories against league opponents Hayward and San Leandro last week. Burgos struck out eight against Hayward and nine vs. San Leandro. She is also batting .524 this season.To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email [email protected] by Monday, May 1, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercu...

Travel accessories retailer opens new store at Santana Row in San Jose

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Away travel store at Santana Row in San Jose, interior. (Away)SAN JOSE — A retailer that offers an array of travel-related items such as suitcases has picked San Jose’s Santana Row for its newest store as part of a fresh expansion effort.Away is opening a store at 377 Santana Row, joining the destination mixed-use retail, restaurant, office, housing and hotel center.The opening marks the first store that Away has opened since the onset of the coronavirus, the retailer said.Related ArticlesReal Estate | Google moves into two big San Jose buildings within huge tech campus Real Estate | Microsoft solidifies San Jose presence with fresh property deal Real Estate | The $11.8 billion mistake that led to Bed, Bath & Beyond’s demise Real Estate | Historic San Jose church and housing project stay stuck in limbo Real Estate | How those ubiquitous 20%-off coupons backfired on Bed Bath & Be...

California poised to ban new diesel trucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

(BCN) -- California's trucking industry is bracing for state regulators this week to enact unprecedented rules that would ban sales of new diesel big rigs by 2036 and convert large companies' existing trucks to zero emissions by 2042. "The amount of chaos and dysfunction that is going to be created by this rule will be like nothing we've ever seen before," said Chris Shimoda, senior vice president of the California Trucking Association, an industry trade group. "The likelihood that it is going to fail pretty spectacularly is very high. It's very unfortunate." The state Air Resources Board will hold a public hearing on its proposed regulation on Thursday, then is expected to vote on Friday. The proposal aims to clean up noxious diesel exhaust and greenhouse gases spewed by big rigs, garbage trucks, delivery trucks and other large vehicles by converting them to models powered by electricity or hydrogen. Trucking companies and local government officials call the deadlines ...

First Hawaiian: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — HONOLULU (AP) — First Hawaiian Inc. (FHB) on Friday reported first-quarter earnings of $66.8 million.The Honolulu-based bank said it had earnings of 52 cents per share.The results did not meet Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 53 cents per share.The bank holding company posted revenue of $262.6 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $216.3 million, also falling short of Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $216.5 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FHB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FHBSource