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Opinion: Can Kounalakis beat the odds and become California governor?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

Given that two of the last four California governors – Gavin Newsom and Gray Davis – acceded to the position after serving as lieutenant governor, some might assume that it is fairly logical and almost automatic for the No. 2 to advance to No. 1.Well, that would be wrong.In the entire 173-year history of the state, only three sitting lieutenant governors have ever been elected governor. The first time was in 1922 – fully 72 years into that history. The second time was 76 years later: Davis in 1998. And Davis was also the first-ever Democratic understudy to be elected governor. Newsom was only the second.Not only has it been a rare occurrence for lieutenant governors to become governor, but in modern times it has actually been more common for lieutenant governors to downsize themselves by running for and being elected to Congress, going from No. 2 in the largest state to one of 435.John Garamendi in 2009, in the middle of his first term as lieutenant governor, left to run successfull...

Monterey County cold case murder solved after 32 years, but suspect died in 2021

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

SALINAS – A cold case murder more than three decades old has been solved according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, but the suspect will never be charged because he died before DNA testing confirmed evidence found under the victim’s fingernails matched his.On Jan. 3, 1991, Vicki Johnson, a 34-year-old mother of three from Seaside, was found dead in Sabado Park at Darwin Street and H Place in Seaside.Johnson had been strangled, asphyxiated, and her body had been set on fire, according to a press release from the District Attorney’s Office. The physical evidence indicated that Johnson had struggled with her killer. No eyewitnesses to the crime could be located, and no significant suspects were developed.No arrests were made in the initial investigation of Johnson’s murder and the case remained unsolved for more than 32 years.In 2021, the Johnson murder case was reopened when investigators with the DA’s Cold Case Task Force worked together with the Seaside Police Depa...

Carmel’s iconic Butterfly House sold for $29 million

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

CARMEL – One of the most recognizable homes along Carmel’s coastline with a profile that mirrors its name – The Butterfly House – has sold for $29 million.The house was built on an ocean-front promontory in 1951 by Frank Wynkoop and is one of only a handful of residential properties along Scenic Road in Carmel. Wynkoop was a commercial architect and original owner of the home.“We feel fortunate that we were able to help our clients acquire this iconic coastal property that they, and so many others, have coveted for years,” said Tim Allen of the Tim Allen Properties Team, Coldwell Banker Realty, in a press release, and who represented the buyers. “The Butterfly House is one of the most notable homes along California’s Central Coast with its midcentury modern design and architecture by Frank Wynkoop. The canted roofline that resembles a butterfly spreading its wings just feet from the sea has given it worldwide notoriety as an architectural treasure.”The Butterfly House is considered ...

Ditch the cob and put some Bay Area corn in your glass

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

Corn is king, especially in summer, because that’s when it’s fully ripe and tastes best. For those who don’t know, corn isn’t a vegetable, it’s an annual grass, technically classified as zea mays (maize). Corn fits into the scientific family Gramineae, along with wheat, barley, rye, rice and sugar cane, all of which are used somewhere in the production of whiskey.Prior to Prohibition, rye whiskey was the preeminent whiskey in the United States. When repeal came in 1933, the whiskey that returned in force was corn-based bourbon. Bourbon was king (and the Bourbons were kings, first of France and later of Spain) for a number of reasons, the most prominent being that it was cheaper to make. It’s still cheaper to make today, with corn at little more than half the price of rye on average.Savage and Cooke’s Second Glance American Whiskey features flavors of baking spice, graham cracker and butterscotch. Photo by Jeff BurkhartUnlike rye, wheat and malt whiskey, which are self-explanato...

San Rafael evicts homeless campers amid crime spike

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

Citing a recent shooting and other criminal activity, San Rafael cleared a small camp of homeless people about a block from City Hall on Tuesday.City Manager Cristine Alilovich signed an administrative order prohibiting camping through Aug. 31 at the Falkirk Cultural Center and the Menzies parking lot on Mission Avenue. Officials estimated eight campers were living at the site.San Rafael police officers have responded to 107 incidents, including 74 calls for service, at the camp. Police have made six arrests at the site “for violations of non-camping criminal laws,” the city order says.Alilovich issued the order on Thursday, the same day police arrested a suspect in the shooting.“The incident with a firearm at the Menzies lot significantly escalated the public safety concerns at that location,” Genevieve Coyle, assistant city attorney, said in an email. “The City took this immediate action to ensure the safety of all residents in the neighborhood, as well as the individuals camping ...

Fast food workers to stage rallies across San Jose over low pay, other issues

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

(BCN) -- Fast food workers are planning strike lines at several locations across San Jose on Wednesday to demand government action on low pay as well as alleged issues of wage theft, violence, harassment and unsafe working conditions, according to the labor advocacy group Fight for $15 and a Union. Rallies are set to be held on Wednesday at Carl's Jr. at 1346 Saratoga Ave. at 10:30 a.m., at San Jose City Hall at noon, and at KFC at 552 E. Santa Clara St. at 1 p.m. Striking workers are expected to be joined by City Councilmembers Rosemary Kamei, Omar Torres and Peter Ortiz, as well as Bay Area labor leaders and local allies. Fatal Sonoma crash involves 4 vehicles According to Fight for $15, San Jose fast food workers are urging local and state lawmakers to support their fight to find industry-wide solutions to issues such as wage theft and unsafe working conditions, while also calling out fast food corporations for allegedly silencing workers' complaints."No fast-food wor...

Natural disaster relief bill for farm workers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

(KRON) -- California lawmakers announced a new bill that would make it a permanent structure to provide relief for farmers impacted by natural disasters. The Agriculture Emergency Relief Act aids to streamline the process for seeking and receiving relief. The bill will create a permanent structure of the United States Department of Agriculture's Emergency Relief Program. Fatal Sonoma crash involves 4 vehicles It will cover lost crops, trees, bushes and vines from natural disasters. The bill will also require farmers to purchase crop insurance for two years after receiving a payment.

Supes update sideshow ordinance, reducing jail time for spectators

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

(BCN) -- The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to reduce the jail time for spectators within 200 feet of a sideshow from 6 months to 3 months. Board president Nate Miley said the original ordinance, which passed on July 11, inadvertently failed to include an amendment the board had voted on to lower the potential jail terms."Because of this omission, a new second reading on the ordinance, as amended, is acquired," Miley said. Fatal Sonoma crash involves 4 vehicles The updated ordinance passed by a 3-1 vote, with supervisors David Haubert, Lena Tam and Nate Miley voting yes. While Supervisor Elisa Márquez voted no, Supervisor Keith Carson was excused from the vote. Supervisor Marquez, who also voted against the original law on July 17, has said drivers must be the target, not spectators. "Increasing patrol and blocking areas where sideshows are going to take place has been a mitigated effort," she said during the July 17 vote. "I would prefer t...

Man arrested after hit-and-run crash in Montgomery Co. kills 1, injures 9

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

Nine people were injured and one woman was killed after a multivehicle crash on the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County, Maryland, late Tuesday night.Shortly before 11:45 p.m., a white Mercedes SUV was driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes on Interstate 270 near Rockledge Drive, according to Maryland State Police.According to officials, the driver of the Mercedes, 23-year-old Jayleen Hannor of Macon, Georgia, crashed into two other vehicles — a Lexus and a Nissan Pathfinder — in the northbound lanes near Interstate 495 at Maryland Route 355.Five adults in the Lexus were injured and transported to area hospitals.Two adults and three children were injured in the Nissan. The driver of the Nissan, a woman whose identity is unknown at this time, was take to a local hospital, where she later died.Hannor attempted to flee the scene after the crash before being taken into custody.An investigation is ongoing in this case and charges for Hannor are pending.Source

Adient: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:06:53 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — DUBLIN (AP) — Adient PLC (ADNT) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $73 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.On a per-share basis, the Dublin-based company said it had profit of 77 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 98 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 39 cents per share.The automotive seating and interiors supplier posted revenue of $4.06 billion in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.81 billion.Adient expects full-year revenue of $15.4 billion.Adient shares have risen 23% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 27% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ADNT...