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Letters: Paying workers | Corruptible official | Music is basic | Dystopic world | TB fight | Don’t negotiate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Paying workers onlyway to ensure servicesRe: “Pay pendulum swings too far toward workers” (Page A6, Sept. 14).It is true that there is constant tension between institutions that would prefer to minimize the costs associated with the labor required to fulfill their mission. But to deny the fundamental value and needs of the labor that is required to ensure their sustainability in every economic climate is extremely flawed.Nothing in government services can be accomplished without skilled labor. None of the desired outcomes we expect from tax-paid services is achievable without the quantity and quality of staffing determined by experts on behalf of taxpayers. Parks and Recreation don’t exist without the labor to create and maintain them.So this idea that our taxes can be put to better use than paying the necessary qualified staff living wages is beyond my understanding or the realities of good governance. ...

Life without parole? Bill that could free some aging California killers fails to advance for now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

A bill that could have freed some of California’s aging killers serving life in prison without parole failed to advance this year, after running into opposition from victim advocates and law enforcement officials.Sen. Dave Cortese, a San Jose Democrat, said he’ll reintroduce, SB 94, for consideration in next year’s session as a two-year bill after it failed to move off the Assembly floor before the end of the legislative session last Thursday.“We need to be constantly vigilant about improving our justice system, making sure that public safety is paramount, but at the same time ensuring that we don’t infringe upon basic issues of due process and equity,” Cortese said. “I’ll continue to be very focused on this work next year and beyond.”The bill would allow killers who have served at least 25 years of a sentence of life without parole for an offense before June 5, 1990, to petition the courts for a life sentence with parole conside...

At 20, San Jose’s MLK library remains a partnership for the books

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

Over breakfast at the Fairmont in 1997, Susan Hammer and Bob Caret — then the mayor of San Jose and president of San Jose State — hit on the idea to collaborate on a brand-new library that would be open to both residents and SJSU students. Together, they later said, both entities could expand their library services beyond what either could do alone.It seems like a simple idea, but they were pioneers. When the $177.5 million Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library opened on the edge of campus in August 2003, it was the first collaboration of its kind between a major U.S. city and university.The two institutions are coming together again Wednesday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a building and partnership that — despite its bumps — has worked out better than most would have predicted.SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 25: "East Side Story" is a table at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in San Jose, Calif., made from parts of a Schwinn Stingray bicycle. It is one of 3...

Mother of two slain by stray bullet fired into Oakland home is identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

OAKLAND — A 42-year-old mother of two killed Friday night when she was struck by a stray bullet while inside her Laurel district home was identified by police Tuesday as Wing Yin Wong.No arrests have been made yet in her killing.The shooting happened about 9:40 p.m. Friday while Wong was lying on a couch inside her home in the 3600 block of 38th Avenue.Her husband and their two children were also in the house, but were not injured.Police said a dispute broke out about a block away in the area of 39th Avenue and Masterson Street, where a group of people were gathered and shots were fired.One of the bullets went through a window at Wong’s home and struck her. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:15 p.m. Friday.Police are trying to determine what the dispute was about and why shots were fired. Some parked vehicles were hit by the gunfire but no other victims were found. Multiple shell casings were recovered at the scene.Related ArticlesCrime and ...

One killed, one badly injured in fiery Oakland freeway collision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

OAKLAND — One woman was killed and another woman was badly injured Tuesday morning in a fiery two-vehicle collision on an Oakland freeway, authorities said.The name of the woman killed, who authorities said was 44, was not immediately released.The collision happened about 11 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 580 east of Fruitvale Avenue, the California Highway Patrol said.It involved a Chevrolet Volt driven by the 44-year-old woman and a Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV driven by another woman, the CHP said. They were the only occupants of the vehicles, according to CHP Officer Adib Zeid.After the crash, the car ended up stopped in the center divider. The SUV came to a stop on the right shoulder, where it caught fire, with flames spreading to nearby vegetation, the CHP said.Oakland firefighters extricated both women from their vehicles and extinguished the fires.Both women were taken to a hospital, where the one woman later died. The condition of the other woman was not available Tuesday af...

US 285 road rage shooting suspect sought near Conifer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said deputies are searching for the suspect in a road rage shooting Tuesday evening.A person called JCSO just after 4 p.m., reporting they were shot in the arm while driving southbound on U.S. 285. It happened near U.S. 285 and South Sourdough Drive. Driver accused of trying to hit parkgoers in Boulder JCSO told FOX31 that the victim drove into Conifer and the suspect vehicle continued on southbound 285.The victim was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. Now, deputies are searching for the suspect.The suspect vehicle is described as a silver, four-door Acura with dark-tinted windows.The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s with a medium build, dark-colored hair and a goatee who was wearing dark sunglasses.JSCO is asking anyone who sees the suspect vehicle to call 911 without attempting to follow or approach the suspect. Anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information is asked to ...

New faces join A-list cast in explosive 4th film in ‘The Expendables’ series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

A bunch of explosions and fight scenes are what made “The Expendable” franchise blow up. Part four is dropping Friday and we got the low down from new and not so new faces.Feast your eyes on flying missiles, fist fights, and hot romance in the new “Expendables 4.”And again, it follows a group of tough mercenaries who take on missions for the good of mankind. This time, it all starts with a new comer, Andy Garcia, who plays “Marsh.”Andy Garcia: “He’s a CIA operative who’s in charge of gathering The Expendables. There’s some new characters introduced, like Megan’s character, my character. You have some returning characters, but the real thrust of it is Sly and Jason and their brotherhood.”Sylvester Stallone plays the top dog of this elite team, and second in command is Jason Statham.Together they start recruiting new “expendables” willing to risk their lives to save the world.Part of the tough gang is ...

Gordian Ramsey promises culinary magic in 13th season finale of ‘Masterchef”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

“Masterchef” season 13 brought all the ingredients for an exciting season and now it’s time for the finale.Chef Gordon Ramsay promises some culinary magic. But before we see who gets crowned the best at this cooking clash, the judges are sharing the “Masterchef” 13 journeyThe sizzling showdown on the “Masterchef” 13 finale is about to go down and Chef Gordon Ramsay is dishing out the ultimate recipe for success.Gordan Ramsay: “Step one to the finale three course meal, for me is about personality, the restaurants that are built with success through personality is atmosphere and their DNA, and so this is really important for them to make sure they really put themselves on a plate. Don’t go too fancy to begin with and build that momentum, great tasting appetizer, lock it in with the entree, and then give us that once in a lifetime dessert that really keeps us talking for months on end.”And the competitors better bring their a ...

September Storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

The stormy pattern continues for south Florida. The current culprit is a front that has stalled nearby. Since the front will linger, so will periods of rain and the threat for more street flooding. On Wednesday, we’ll need to brace for “anytime showers” while storms will still favor the afternoon and evening hours. As we’ve seen lately, developing storms will sometimes have erratic motion and will tend to move slowly. The ground is saturated from recent rains so any flooding could get amplified quickly. If there’s some bright news it includes the passage of the “weak and feeble front” towards the end of the week. Upper winds are forecast to help sweep the front southward, ushering-in slightly drier air. The timing? By Friday, we should see deep moisture suppressed south. That will limit the rain and allow for most places to get some needed dry time. It’s worth noting that the front will remain close enough to the Florida Key...

UPDATE: 11-year-old boy reported missing in Chelsea found in Cambridge, state police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:38 GMT

An 11-year-old boy living with autism was found in Cambridge on Tuesday night after his disappearance prompted a large police search.Susant Thapa, who is nonverbal, was reported missing around 2 p.m. from his home on Washington Avenue, according to state police.Thapa was found in Cambridge by Cambridge police around 7 p.m. State police say they believe he traveled to Cambridge aboard a bus.No additional information was immediately available.https://twitter.com/massstatepolice/status/1704273664445673490?s=12&t=ZpiU5SVKWOX8-Eru9y2MRAThis is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.