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Kurtenbach: The SF Giants extended Farhan Zaidi, and yes, it was the right move

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The most significant news at the Giants’ introduction of Bob Melvin on Wednesday had nothing to do with the new managerAfter all, we learned that he was coming back to the Bay yesterday.No, the most important bit of new information was that the Giants and director of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi have agreed on a new contract.That secret extension that’s been talked about for weeks? Well, it’s public now. The Giants have officially doubled down on the Zaidi era.For a fanbase that is becoming more radicalized against analytics by the day, extending Zaidi — not a real “baseball man” in so many fans’ eyes — will be treated with scorn.But the extension — which, like Melvin’s new deal, will run through the 2026 season — was necessary if San Francisco wants to be competitive this upcoming season.You don’t have to like it, but this deal had to be done.Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | Kurtenbach: New SF Gian...

Houses are now planned for San Jose flea market site, offices are shelved

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

SAN JOSE — Houses will be built on a San Jose flea market site after coronavirus-linked economic upheavals prodded developers to ditch the concept of a huge tech office campus on the property, new city plans show.At one point, 1.5 million to 2.3 million square feet of office space — enough to accommodate 7,500 to 11,500 workers — had been planned on the flea market site at 1590 Berryessa Road in San Jose. The office park proposal had been approved by San Jose city officials.Instead of offices, a huge mixed-use housing development with well over 900 homes, along with retail, an urban market and plaza, and open spaces would be built on the property near the Berryessa BART station in San Jose under the new plans.This means the project planners have ditched the concept of a vast office park geared towards big tech companies.The reason for the dramatic shift: the current economic conditions in the wake of the business shutdowns ushered in by the coronavirus outbreak....

Cal football Q&A: Wilcox says fans are right, they should be unhappy with Golden Bears’ season so far

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

BERKELEY — Another possible “last time” awaits the Cal football team Saturday afternoon when century-old rival USC visits Memorial Stadium in the final matchup before the programs head off to new conference addresses next season.Dating to 1912, this will be the 110th meeting between the Bears (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12) and Trojans (6-2, 4-1), who have slid to No. 24 in the latest AP Top-25 after back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Utah.This could be the last meeting in quite some time between Cal and USC, headed to the ACC and Big Ten, respectively.“It’s really sad, you know, and kind of shameful, the way this whole thing went down,” Wilcox said of the dissolution of the Pac-12, whose members will play in four different conferences beginning next fall.Wilcox is focused this week on the Trojans as the Bears try to end a two-game skid and avoid a 14th consecutive losing conference season — their seventh under Wilcox’s watch. They will have to win four of their final five games to achie...

Single family residence sells in Los Gatos for $3.3 million

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

105 Albert Court – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 100 block of Albert Court in Los Gatos was sold on Oct. 6, 2023 for $3,298,000, or $1,298 per square foot. The house, built in 1966, has an interior space of 2,541 square feet. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and three baths. The home’s outer structure has wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. In addition, the home comes with an attached two-car garage, allowing for convenient vehicle storage and additional storage space. The property’s backyard additionally features both a spa and a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In September 2022, a 2,403-square-foot home on Serra Court in Los Gatos sold for $2,850,000, a price per square foot of $1,186. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Ohlone Court, Los Gatos, in January 2023, a 2,473-square-foot home was sold for $3,570,000, a price per square foot of $1,444...

Bay Area arts: 10 great shows and events to catch this weekend

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

From soul singer SZA to a planetary symphony and “Barbie” on the really big screen, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend.SZA set to shine in SFSZA was nothing short of fantastic on her first 2023 trip through the Bay Area, wowing a packed house at the Oakland Arena in March with more than two dozen terrific numbers on her blockbuster SOS tour.That offering — which ranked among the very best concerts we’ve seen this year — came seven months after the popular soul singer headlined at the 2022 Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park.Now, the St. Louis-born talent is returning to the Bay Area for a big show at San Francisco’s Chase Center tonight, an encore on that SOS Tour. The trek supports SZA’s sophomore full-length — also dubbed “SOS” — which debuted atop the Billboard 200 in December on its way to reaching triple-platinum heights. The album features SZA’s first chart-topping singl...

CIF announces state coach of the year candidates in all sports

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

The late Mills girls basketball coach Dave Matsu was one of dozens of Bay Area coaches the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) nominated for the NFHS California State Coach of the Year award for the 2022-23 school year. “The CIF would like to thank and honor these well-deserving coaches for their commitment to education-based athletics and the student-athletes of California,” CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti said in a statement sent out by CIF. In the Central Coast Section, the candidates include Menlo School boys track and field coach Jorge Chen, Fremont-Sunnyave boys wrestling coach Erik Duus, Los Altos softball coach Robert Herrera, Milpitas football coach Kelly King, Priory girls lacrosse coach Jen Lee, Wilcox girls volleyball coach April Lujan, Los Altos girls cross country coach Stephanie MacKenzie, Mills girls basketball coach Dave Matsu, Mountain View boys soccer coach Jim McGuirk, Archbishop Mitty girls golf coach John Mosunic, Sequoia girls soccer coach Melissa S...

Walters: California’s economic outlook worsens as Newsom travels overseas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

While Gov. Gavin Newsom polishes his foreign policy credentials with visits to Israel and China, California is experiencing an economic slowdown that could bode ill for the final three years of his governorship.The state’s latest employment report, issued last week for September, found fewer Californians employed than there were a year earlier, while the jobless ranks had increased by 144,100. The state’s unemployment rate creeped up to 4.7%, the second highest of any state, while the labor force — Californians working or looking for work — continued to decline.“Census figures released this week reveal the extent to which households continue to leave California,” Taner Osman, research manager at Beacon Economics, said in an analysis of the job data. “The state’s population has fallen by half-a-million people over the past three years and this is filtering through to the economy, where the labor force has shrunk and employers are struggling to find workers.”The darkening ...

State lawmakers seek help from CHP for Antioch police department thinned by scandal

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

ANTIOCH — Two state lawmakers have asked the governor to send California Highway Patrol officers to help patrol a city whose police department is engulfed by scandal, leaving dozens of officers on leave.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Leaked video shows Antioch cops fire dozens of shots at man as he runs away Crime and Public Safety | Antioch police ID four cops who shot and wounded homicide suspect; one had spent just 4 days on the job Crime and Public Safety | East Bay leaders in Geneva to speak at Human Rights Council meeting Crime and Public Safety | Antioch: Man wanted for homicide is shot by police during pursuit Crime and Public Safety | With more than half of police unable to work, councilman calls for help In a joint letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom sent Monday, state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Contra Costa, and Assemblymember Tim Grayson, D-Contra Costa, sought help from the CHP in protect...

Santa Rosa drug bust yields over a pound of cocaine, $70K in cash, several weapons

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

(KRON) -- Officers seized over a pound of cocaine, $71,000 in cash, and several firearms along with ammunition in a drug bust last week, the Santa Rosa Police Department announced. Santa Rosa PD detectives launched an investigation last month into someone allegedly selling cocaine locally.The suspect was identified by detectives as Giovanni Small, 31, of Santa Rosa.According to police, Small left his residence in the 1700 block of Ridley Avenue at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19. He got into his vehicle and drove to the 1500 block of Hampton Way. Food delivery driver suspected of entering San Jose motel room, sexually assaulting girl Officers contacted him at that location and detained him pursuant to a search warrant.SRPD executed search warrants at two locations: one in the 200 block of E Street; and another at the 1700 block of Ridley Avenue.Officers found "nothing of note" at the E Street location, police said. However, at the Ridley Street location, officers found:Approximately 1...

Santa Cruz's wild 'surfing sea otter' has new pup

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:11:49 GMT

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON) -- A wild sea otter that became famous over the summer for hopping on surfers' longboards is now a proud new mother. Local photographer Mark Woodward captured heartwarming images of "Otter 841" floating in the chilly Monterey Bay with her tiny pup on Tuesday. The sea otter floated on her back and held her napping pup in a kelp bed offshore from the Santa Cruz Lighthouse. "It was kind of an emotional moment. We all need good news in this world right now," Woodward told KRON4 on Wednesday. "Sea Otter 841" snuggles with her pup on Oct. 24, 2023. (Photo by Mark Woodward / Native Santa Cruz) The photographer first started documenting "Otter 841's" unique passion for surfboards when summer waves were crowded with surfers. The sea otter commandeered a dozen surfboards from unsuspecting surfers next to Steamer Lane, and she caught a few waves at Cowells Beach. Wildlife officials made several attempts to catch the 5-year-old otter with plans to place her in captivit...