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From the Roadshow archives: Bed of flowers puts the brakes on Highway 85 commute

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

Editor’s note: Mr. Roadshow wanted to share some of his favorite columns and stories from more than 30 years of informing, entertaining and getting things changed for Bay Area (and beyond) drivers. He’ll be back on the road with new material soon. In the meantime, please keep sending Mr. Roadshow your comments or questions to [email protected] story originally was published on Oct. 21, 1994This one will live in Highway 85 infamy.The first horrendous traffic jam on the first morning commute on the sparkling new freeway was the result of:Not a serious accident, not a cop pulling some guy over, but pansies.Motorists slowing down to look at a roadside display of the yellow and purple flowers brought all northbound lanes to a screeching halt Thursday morning. Caltrans officials, angry that a floral arrangement turned their spiffy new freeway into a parking lot, plan to rip out the pansies as soon as possible.The 6-by-46-foot bed of pansies — which spells out R...

After getting taken to school by T.J. Watt, 49ers’ O-line set sights on Aaron Donald

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Colton McKivitz isn’t any happier about what happened against Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt than the fans already calling for his replacement.Playing his first game since being anointed the 49ers’ starting right tackle in place of the departed Mike McGlinchey, McKivitz was beaten for three sacks leading to two fumbles by Brock Purdy, one of which the quarterback recovered by lying on his back with the ball underneath him.“It wasn’t great, I’ll give you that,” McKivitz said Wednesday as the 49ers began preparations to visit the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. “It didn’t look like me on tape. The angles were flat and he was able to get to the edge quick.”While the hypercritical of the 49ers’ Faithful are calling for a trade on social media, McKivitz, at least, has an opportunity to do something about it. He can work on the depth of his sets, the position of his hands and use his height (6-foot-5) and long arm...

Homes may sprout on San Jose site occupied by older office buildings

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

SAN JOSE — Affordable homes could sprout on the site of an older San Jose office center that’s more than six decades old, city documents show.The proposed development is slated to be built at 259 Meridian Avenue in San Jose, according to a preliminary proposal filed with the city’s Planning Department.Office center at 259 Meridian Avenue in San Jose, shown within the outline. Boundaries are approximate. (Google Maps)If the project is built, the housing development would include 154 units, the city planning documents show.The six-story project would be developed within the framework of SB 330, a law that’s designed to streamline the process for the approval of housing developments.The Meridian Avenue project site is located between West San Carlos Street and Norton Avenue.The 1.3-acre development site currently consists of three one-story office buildings, city documents show. The three office buildings were built in 1958, according to the LoopNet commerc...

Editorial: Elections matter, even in tiny Sunol school district

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

Elections matter. Even in the tiny Sunol Glen School District with a single K-8 school that enrolls fewer than 300 students.District parents learned that hard lesson Tuesday night as chaos broke out at a school board meeting. Eventually, the audience of about 100 people was thrown out of the meeting before the three-person school board passed a resolution by a 2-1 vote that prevents the district from flying the Pride flag.Beyond the harmful, devastating message it sends to LGBTQ members and supporters throughout the community, it raises important issues about the values of the board members and the district — issues that are increasingly being raised in school districts in California and throughout the nation. Another election year is rapidly approaching. The Sunol debate points to the need for voters to make every effort to become as knowledgeable as possible about candidates before casting their votes in 2024.The Pride flag was reportedly attached to a chain-link fence at th...

Opinion: Why Governor Newsom should sign gun violence prevention bill

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

The decrease in deaths related to smoking and tobacco use is one of the great public health achievements in California history. With smoking rates declining more than 50% since the 1980s, our policies have been credited with saving 1 million lives and $134 billion in health care costs. A key pillar to this success is an excise tax on the tobacco industry, with revenues used to fund a variety of smoking prevention and cessation programs.The idea is simple but powerful: When an industry creates a product that harms society, redirect some of the profits from the sale of that harmful product to programs that will help alleviate the impact.As smoking deaths decline, gun deaths are on the rise in California, and it’s time to borrow from the success of the anti-smoking movement. A bill passed by a supermajority of the California Legislature, AB 28, would do exactly that — place a modest, 11% excise tax on the firearm industry, not consumers, that would generate $160 million annually ...

Water main break recovery expected to take 6 weeks

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Public works crews discovered all the pipes on the Fillmore street block in the Cow Hollow neighborhood need to be replaced. The estimated time of this new repair project is expected to take six weeks.Water, sewer and gas pipelines on that block were all found to be outdated and in need of a replacement before the street can fully reopen, the SF Public Utilities Commission said. This comes after a sinkhole formed on Monday as a result of a 70-year-old water main rupturing at Green and Fillmore streets. That sinkhole has since been filled. Fillmore Street is closed off between Union and Green streets and will remain that way through October. Crews are expected to work daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.The San Francisco City Attorney's Office is urging both homeowners and businesses to file claims if they've suffered any damage. The biggest issue some businesses may have is slower foot traffic due to the road closure.

UAE police say they have seized $1 billion worth of Captagon amphetamines hidden in doors

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Police in Dubai seized 86 million tablets of the amphetamine known as Captagon hidden in a shipment of doors and decorative building panels, authorities said Thursday, estimating its street value at just over $1 billion.The bust comes as sales of the amphetamine have become a Mideast-wide problem during Syria’s long war.A surveillance video released by the Interior Ministry in the United Arab Emirates shows suspects trying to bring the Captagon tablets through Dubai’s massive Jebel Ali Port. They were hidden in five shipping containers of doors and panels, with the drugs themselves weighing over 13 tons, authorities said.The UAE “stands as an impenetrable fortress against any threat aimed at jeopardizing the security and well-being of the Emirati society,” Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a statement. Authorities did not identify the arrested suspects but described their operation as an “international criminal o...

Who is dressing Miss Virginia for the national stage? Fairfax Co. high schoolers

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

Students in the Fashion Careers program at Fairfax Academy are dressing Ashley Williams, this year’s Miss Virginia, for the national stage. (WTOP/Sandra Jones)When Miss Virginia walks the runway at the Miss USA competition later this month, one thing is for sure: No contestants will show up in the same dress.That’s because students in the Fashion Careers program at Fairfax Academy are dressing Ashley Williams, this year’s Miss Virginia, for the national stage.“A lot of people, they outsource their wardrobe for the pageant from well-known and famous designers,” Williams said. “But I’m grateful to be wearing our high schoolers to show them that the world is their oyster.”The project is the result of a collaboration between Williams and Fairfax Academy’s Kendall Barry, who teaches in the program and also owns her own luxury swimwear brand, ISAMEL.“I think it’s really great and I really appreciate how much she is relying ...

No. 8 Washington, Michael Penix head to Michigan State to headline Pac-12 action

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

Here are some things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:GAME OF THE WEEKNo. 8 Washington (2-0) at Michigan State (2-0), Saturday. The Huskies will travel to East Lansing to face either a distracted Spartans team or one that is especially motivated. Michigan State coach Mel Tucker was suspended after USA Today reported he allegedly sexually harassed an activist and rape survivor. This is Washington’s last nonconference game, and though Michigan State is a name opponent, this isn’t a typical Spartans side. Washington is favored by 16 1/2 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, so anything but a convincing victory would be a disappointment for a school with a shot at the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is making an early case for the Heisman Trophy, with a pair of 400-yard passing performances. Michigan State QB Noah Kim was named Big Ten Conference offensive player of the week after completing 18 of 22 passes for 292 yards and three touchd...

Oil prices creep higher, raise inflation concerns

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:40:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are creeping higher and raising concerns about the impact on inflation’s cooling trajectory, consumers’ wallets and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.U.S. crude oil prices started rising in early summer after slipping or holding relatively steady for most of the year. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. measure, is up 8% for the year and approaching $90 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard is up 5% for the year and has already breached the $90 mark.Higher oil prices trickle down to everything from gasoline prices to transportation and production costs for consumer goods. The unwelcome pressure on inflation comes as prices have been generally cooling throughout 2023.Investors, economists and consumers are all hoping for the cooling trend to continue so the Federal Reserve can consider a longer pause after more than a year of aggressive interest rate hikes.Gasoline prices are among consumers’ biggest concerns, as it remains a ...