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Flo Thamba, Baylor’s “anchor” and all-time winningest player, one of three African big men helping Bears’ title push

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

When Baylor begins its pursuit of a second national title in three years on Friday at Ball Arena, pay attention to Flo Thamba.The fifth-year senior with a 7-foot-5 wingspan is Baylor’s heart-and-soul, and the program’s all-time winningest player (115 in games played). The 6-foot-10 Congo native is the lone starter left from Baylor’s 2021 title team and is one of three impact forwards who hail from Africa.“Flo’s our anchor,” senior guard Adam Flagler said. “So anytime he’s locked in and he’s flying around out there, everybody is going to feel it. The fans are going to love it, and if he goes out there and gives his all, we have an opportunity to go far in this tournament.”Thamba’s made 96 consecutive starts entering the tournament, and is averaging 5.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. While Flagler (15.5 points) and freshman guard Keytone George (16.0) are the leaders on offense, Thamba took the long road to becoming the team&...

More than 150K catalytic converters stolen in 2022; problem may be underreported, data suggests

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

The rise in catalytic converter thefts in America has been a nuisance for law enforcement agencies and car owners for the past several years. Now new data from Carfax shows just how bad the problem has gotten.The vehicle data company, known for tracking repairs and accidents on vehicles across the country, looked at catalytic converter replacements from millions of service records to come up with an estimated number of thefts in 2022: 153,000 — a 2% increase from the year prior.The number is pretty alarming, and Carfax suggests the problem has been underreported in the past.Whereas most reports regarding the total number of catalytic converters look at only insurance claims, Carfax says its data scientists looked at all replacements, taking into account ones that were replaced due to deterioration, defectivity or recalls, and came up with the 153,000 figure. Thieves steal Oscar Mayer Wienermobile’s catalytic converter in Las Vegas Carfax said it believes theft numbers reported to ...

Wait, the big banks are the good guys here?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

A $30 billion rescue of San Francisco's First Republic Bank was revealed Thursday, which should put the company's recent liquidity problems in the rear-view mirror, at least for a while.But questions remain.Not least: What are some of the country's biggest banks and financial firms getting in return for helping out their smaller cousin?While some details of the rescue plan are still being worked out, what we know at this point is that Chase, Citi, Bank of America and Wells Fargo are each ponying up about $5 billion and depositing the funds in First Republic.They're joined on a slightly smaller scale by Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, U.S. Bancorp and others.The deposited funds apparently have no strings attached and are intended to provide First Republic with sufficient cash on hand to assure depositors that the cupboard isn't bare.The heads of the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a ...

Man killed, 2nd injured in Moreno Valley shooting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

A man was killed and another was injured in a Moreno Valley shooting Wednesday night, officials said.The incident was reported around 11:30 p.m. in the 12000 block of Clark Street, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.Responding deputies found a man with gunshot wounds who was eventually declared dead at the scene.While conducting their investigation, deputies located a second victim with injuries. He was taken to a local hospital but his current condition is unknown, Sergeant Deirdre Vickers told KTLA.No further details have been released.

Video: Foraging For Mushrooms In The Santa Monica Mountains After The Rains

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

Armed with a treasure map, a Troop of mushroom lovers ventured out into the Santa Monica Mountains recently in between atmospheric rivers in search of Elfin Saddle, Golden Milk Caps, Russula, the Western Jack O’Lantern, Springtime Amanita, False Turkey Tail Mushrooms and the elusive California Golden Chanterelle. We even came across the rare Unicorn Dance Mushroom.Led by mycologist and Topanga Canyon native Brando Farr, much of it was a lesson on what NOT to eat. Our trek in the mountains along flowing streams began with a fungal tutorial.“The Santa Monica Mountains are actually home to a lot more wild mushrooms than people realize,” Farr told the group of novice and expert foragers alike. “It’s not quite caught on as much in this culture as it has in Northern California, the Pacific Northwest or Europe. They do exist, and it’s my job to bring you all a little bit deeper into that world.Foraging mushrooms in the Santa Monica Mountains (Michele Stueven)“The native coast live oak is t...

Bruce Smith Killed in Scooter Collision on Palmdale Boulevard [Palmdale, CA]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

Kick Scooter Collision on Palmdale Boulevard near 80th Street East Leaves 16-Year-Old Boy DeadPALMDALE, CA (March 16, 2023) – Sunday night, Bruce Smith was killed in a scooter collision on Palmdale Boulevard.The incident happened on March 5th, at around 6:36 p.m., on Palmdale Boulevard at 80th Street East.According to reports, Smith, on a scooter going the wrong way on Palmdale Boulevard was hit by a white Toyota Rav4 heading west. Footage from the incident revealed the compact SUV sustained damage to its hood and windshield. The impact of the collision left the teen with severe injuries.Responding paramedics arrived shortly after. Medics transported the boy to Antelope Valley Medical Center for treatment. At 7:19 p.m., officials pronounced 16-year-old Bruce Smith of Palmdale dead, due to the extent of his condition.The Sweet James team sends their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Bruce Smith. Their thoughts are with them during this very difficult time.Losing a...

Dolphins sign former Jets WR Braxton Berrios and guard Dan Feeney: source

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

Former Jets quarterback Mike White agreed to a contract with the Dolphins earlier this week. Now some of his former Gang Green teammates will join him in South Florida.According to league sources, the Dolphins will sign former Jets wide receiver and returner Braxton Berrios. ESPN reports Berrios’ deal will be for one year.Miami is also signing veteran guard Dan Feeney to a one-year deal, according to multiple sourcesAfter the Patriots drafted him in 2018, Berrios has spent the last four seasons with the Jets after the team claimed him off waivers. During that time, Berrios played in 65 games for the Green and White. He caught 107 passes for 1,085 yards (10.1 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.Berrios was a significant factor as a returner for the Jets as he 24.9 yards per kickoff return and 11.4 yards per punt return. In 2021, Berrios averaged 30.4 per kickoff return, which was a league-high. He also averaged 13.4 yards per punt return as he was a special teams first-team Al...

Stanford gets reminder of its 1-vs.-16 loss ahead of opening NCAA Tournament game

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

STANFORD — It’s almost a given that the No. 1 seeds will beat the No. 16 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.But if Stanford needed any reminder of why it’s not a guarantee ahead of its matchup with Sacred Heart on Friday, ESPN gave the current players a history lesson in its Selection Show.Just after the final bracket was unveiled, ESPN displayed the all-time record for the teams seeded No. 1, 2 and 3 in the women’s tournament: 335-1.That one? It was 25 years ago Tuesday, when No. 1 seed Stanford lost to No. 16 seed Harvard in 1998.Current Stanford senior Hannah Jump said she had “no idea” about the fact and junior Cameron Brink didn’t seem to know, either. Though it’s understandable in one sense: None of Stanford’s current players were born when that game happened.Senior Francesca Belibi did say she knew about that loss before this week, if only because she’s seen it before on the selection show.“They put that graphic up every time, and every time, I’m like, ‘Ooof,’” Belibi said on Frida...

4 Bay Area restaurants serving next-level Middle Eastern food

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

Mezze, falafel, kefta, tagine? The Bay Area’s got all that and – at certain restaurants with a knack for elevating Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine – so much more. Think epic Lebanese barbecue, complex salads of pomegranate and persimmon, and cold-brew coffee with caramel and tahini.As we continue to dig through our 50 Best Restaurants list to highlight delicious threads and themes (yesterday’s was Mexican fare), please enjoy this sampling of destination-worthy Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants across the East and South Bay:Jood, San CarlosThe Lebanese butterflied whole chicken at Jood on Laurel Street in San Carlos. This tiny counter-service restaurant in downtown San Carlos is doing next-level Lebanese barbecue and street food, including epic sandwiches on locally baked pita and lavash. With his wife and co-owner, Rawan, chef Khaled Harbali also runs the Belmont vegetarian hot spot, Falafelle. But he knew char-grilled meat long before chickpea f...

Condominium in Saratoga sells for $2 million

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:12:24 GMT

14674 Stoneridge Drive – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 14600 block of Stoneridge Drive in Saratoga was sold on Jan. 4, 2023 for $1,950,000, or $807 per square foot. The condominium, built in 1975, has an interior space of 2,417 square feet. The property features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces. There’s also a pool in the backyard. The unit sits on a 2,295-square-foot lot.These nearby units have also recently been sold:On Springer Avenue, Saratoga, in November 2022, a 2,585-square-foot unit was sold for $1,940,000, a price per square foot of $750. The unit has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In September 2022, a 1,276-square-foot unit on Big Basin Way in Saratoga sold for $1,186,000, a price per square foot of $929. The unit has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,232-square-foot unit on the 14600 block of Big Basin Way in Saratoga sold in December 2022, for $1,180,000, a price per square foot of $958. The unit has 2 bedrooms and 2 bat...