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1 dead in head-on DUI crash in Van Nuys, police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

A person is dead after their vehicle was hit by a wrong-way driver in Van Nuys Sunday night, and police believe the driver of the car that crossed the center line was under the influence.The crash occurred at about 11 p.m. on Victory Boulevard east of Columbus Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The allegedly intoxicated driver was headed east on Victory when he crossed the center line, striking the second vehicle head-on.The driver of the second vehicle was declared dead at the scene. Their name, age and gender have not been released.The driver of the first vehicle and his passenger were taken to local hospital to be treated, and Detective Lisset Fuentes said the the passenger, a woman, sustained moderate injuries, including a possible broken leg. The driver, believed to be in his 30s, was arrested for alleged DUI.The events immediately leading up to the crash remain under investigation."We're going to have to put this thing together to see the speed and all that...

The Oxys Dig Raw Power

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Iggy & the StoogesRaw Power (Columbia)The Oxys Dig Raw Power: Ginchy of snotty rockers the Oxys told us about his love for a Stooges classic. Jason “Ginchy” Kottwitz: What can I say that has not already been said about Raw Power? Has an album ever been more appropriately named? Thethird studio album from the Stooges, rebranded Iggy & the Stooges with the addition of guitarist James Williamson, tops my list of greatest albums of all time. Given that multiple mixes of the LP have been done since the album first dropped in 1973, I want to be clear that I strictly listen to the David Bowie mix after putting an ear on all the alternative mixes. By today’s standards, the mix may seem a bit unorthodox, but I would challenge anyone to cite an album that has more organic energy or character. This proto-punk classic laid some of the groundwork for the late ’70s punk revolution that would hit a few years after its release.Raw Power is characterized by its stripped-down, barb...

San Francisco homicides: Three fatal shootings in barely 24 hours

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Three men were fatally shot in San Francisco in barely 24 hours, the police said.• Relondo Bell, 22, called 911 at 9:43 p.m. Thursday to report he had been shot on Kelloch Avenue, in Visitacion Valley. He was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries.• A 37-year-old man was found shot near Mason and Eddy streets after a 911 call around 12:30 a.m Friday. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.• A man was found shot in the 1000 block of Quesada Avenue, an industrial area in the Hunters Point neighborhood, after officers heard gunshots around 11:10 p.m. Friday. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.No arrests have been announced, and no suspect information has been made public.Our Bay Area homicide map has details of deaths this year in the counties of Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Antioch woman released from jail in plea deal for killing allegedly abusive boyfriend in Oakland Crime and Pu...

5 things you probably don’t know about Santa Cruz’s history, according to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Want to learn about Santa Cruz’s history? Next time you visit Abbott Square, pay the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History — or MAH — a visit. (Or vice versa. You’ll want to check them both out, and they’re in the same place.)The second-floor exhibition on Santa Cruz history is thoughtfully curated and provides an inclusive history of the city, from the days of the Ohlone people to Spanish colonization, the expansion of industry, the hippie movement and local LGBTQ+ activism. Here are a few things you’ll learn. Expect to be surprised.You know all about the Big Dipper and funnel cakes. But the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s origin story is charming. Founder Fred Swanton missed New York’s Coney Island so much, he took matters into his own hands and built a Santa Cruz version. In the early 1900s, he built up Santa Cruz tourism by touring the state on a train and distributing pamphlets calling his creation, “California’s most popular playground.”A former...

Monterey County man pleads guilty to human trafficking of a minor, other exploitive crimes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

SALINAS – A Salinas man had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of exploitive crimes after engaging in an unlawful relationship with a minor for more than five months between 2021 and 2022, Monterey County District Attorney Office Jeannine Pacioni announced Thursday.Kevin Michael Chappell, 29, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to: three counts of human trafficking of a minor for commercial sex purposes; nine counts of using a minor to create sexual abuse material and two counts of dissuading a victim from reporting a crime. Chappell also pleaded guilty to multiple additional counts, including oral copulation of a minor, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, penetration for a foreign object and child abuse.These convictions constitute two strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law.According to investigators, for just over five months – between Oct. 25, 2021 and April 1, 2022 – Chappell engaged in an unlawful relationship with a 16-year-old Jane Doe. Investigators said that during the r...

It’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season already. Guess who’s first this year?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

It’s August, and thermometer readings are rising to 90-something degrees in many parts of the country.In Irving, Texas, the headquarters of 7-Eleven, the weather forecasters are predicting another 105-degree day today, warming to 107 by Thursday.Nevertheless, the convenience store juggernaut is boldly rolling out its version of the autumn favorite — the Pumpkin Spice Latte.“We know our customers wait all year long for their favorite fall flavors … so we decided to break out the pumpkin a little bit early this year,” said Dennis Phelps, a 7-Eleven senior vice president, in announcing the calendar-busting move. “It may not quite feel like fall outside yet, but it sure can taste like fall as we enjoy the first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season.”Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Mike’s Diner Bar in Palo Alto faces eviction after owner paid rent one day late Restaurants, Food and Drink | Castro Valley:...

What’s behind the disappearance of squirrels from a San Jose neighborhood?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

DEAR JOAN: This is the first time I can remember that our neighborhood hasn’t been overrun with squirrels.Normally, the nuisance-y critters are busy right now running around the trees and fences and stripping the fruit trees. But I noticed today that a bumper crop of untouched nectarines is ripening on the branches of our neighbor’s tree, and their fig tree is loaded with figs.I found the mummified remains of a dead squirrel in the backyard recently, and I can’t recall the last time I saw a live squirrel.Is this happening everywhere in the area, maybe due to the cold spring we had? I’m not sorry to share some of the nectarines for once, but the disappearance of the squirrels feels odd.— Mattie, San JoseDEAR MATTIE: I can’t be certain about what happened to your neighborhood’s squirrels, but I can offer some likely possibilities.The first, and worst, is that someone in the neighborhood is trapping or poisoning the squirrels, which could be illegal. The n...

Wish You Were Here: Tokyo adventures

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

After three years of staycationing, readers are taking off for vacations near and far, hiking Kauai’s Napali Coast, discovering spectacular ruins in Guatemala and exploring the islands of the Azores. And they’ve been sharing their adventures with us along the way:Wish You Were HereA trip to Japan brought Tami Brennan, left to right, Emiko Kawamoto, Kara Kolte, Nick Donaldson, Alexa Miller and Miranda Donaldson to Tokyo Tower. (Courtesy Kris Donaldson) JAPAN: Livermore residents Tami Brennan, Emiko Kawamoto, Kara Kolte, Nick Donaldson, Alexa Miller and Miranda Donaldson (left to right) are just back from an 11-day trip to Japan. The 1,092-foot Tokyo Tower “is one of many must-see sights that we visited, says Kris Donaldson.TRAVEL TIPS: “Wear comfortable shoes — most stops require lots of walking. Vending machines are a convenient way to fuel up. They offer everything from snacks to delicious meals!!”Share your travels with us! Send a photo of ...

TasteFood: Cooling off with spicy mussels

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Looking for a simple and inexpensive summer dinner? Mussels are healthy, easy to prepare and ideal for outdoor dining. They cook in minutes, which is convenient when the weather is hot and you prefer to keep your kitchen time to a minimum.The simplest method for cooking mussels is to steam them in a broth. Use a flavorful liquid, such as white wine — or in the case of this recipe, coconut milk — to infuse the mussels with flavor while they steam. As the mollusks cook, their shells will open, releasing their sweet and briny juices into the liquid and creating a flavorful soup.This Thai-inspired recipe relies on a heady concoction of coconut milk whisked with a slurry of green curry paste and aromatics for the steaming liquid. The resulting dish is a fiery, roll-up-your-sleeves dinner — perfect for an outdoor meal where you can make a glorious finger-licking mess, with dribbles, splashes and wayward shells contributing to the table decor. Add to that, the spice in th...

Has Alameda’s new deal hacked the opposition to Bay Area housing construction?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

On the city of Alameda’s north shore, an abandoned former shipping terminal sits behind a long chain link fence. Home to a dilapidated dock, a few deteriorating buildings and a large pile of dirt, the 32-acre lot has sat empty for a decade–a small piece of forgotten local history.Known as Encinal Terminals, the empty industrial site is an anomaly in an otherwise dense and bustling community. There’s a neighborhood park just blocks away. Grocery stores and shops are found within a few miles. A protected bike lane leads right up to the fence.In a Bay Area desperate for housing and open space, it might seem odd that such prime waterfront real estate could sit empty for so long. Now, as a result of a deal brokered between the state of California and Alameda, which was just last week signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the property will finally be developed. The plan includes 589 housing units, about 15% of which will be affordable.Alameda’s housing goals require it to buil...