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Letters: Big issues | Better screening | Take a stand | No high road | Hamas surrender

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Focus on big issues,not minor differencesRe: “LaPhonza Butler just got to the Senate, but she’s not planning to stay in position long” (Page A1, Jan. 1).I am taking an online course describing the origins and eventual horrors of the Spanish Civil War.What is most frightening are the similarities between the roots of the Spanish Civil War and our polarized U.S. society.When neither side is trusted to govern in an inclusive fashion; when each side demonizes the other as destructive of the nation’s future, then hatred builds and the ability to compromise withers, potentially destroying our democracy.As your recent article on Laphonza Butler highlights, we need to focus on problems that affect us all (access to medical care, income inequality, crime and yes, illegal immigration) rather than focus on the mostly minor issues that separate us.Ed TaubMountain ViewRacist cop shows needfor ...

New Jersey Sen. Menendez faces additional accusations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

By Larry Neumeister | Associated PressNEW YORK — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez introduced a member of the Qatari royal family and principal in a company with ties to the government of Qatar to a New Jersey businessman before the company invested millions of dollars in the businessman’s real estate project, a rewritten indictment alleged Tuesday.The latest version of the indictment against the Democrat in Manhattan federal court did not identify the member of the Qatari royal family, but it said the individual was a principal of the Qatari Investment Co.The indictment said the Qatari investor then considered and negotiated a multimillion-dollar investment in the real estate project planned by Fred Daibes, one of three businessmen charged in the indictment along with the senator and his wife. All of them have pleaded not guilty.Messages left with lawyers and a spokesperson for Menendez were not immediately returned.Tim Donohue, a lawyer for Daibes, said he had no immediate comment.No n...

San Jose councilmember granted restraining order against owner of popular Instagram page

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

The owner of a popular San Jose-themed social media account has been ordered to stay away from Councilmember Peter Ortiz over posts that the elected official says put him and his girlfriend in danger and fuel hateful messaging towards the LGBTQ community.Ortiz filed the restraining order on Dec. 20 against Robert Saenz, who owns the Instagram page “ESSJ Times,” an account that has garnered nearly 70,000 followers and purports to be a news source for San Jose’s east side.The page features videos and pictures that mostly center around crime and public safety in San Jose. More recently, Saenz has also published controversial posts about medical treatment for transgender children, and in some instances using the term “groomer,” which falsely links legitimate medical care for transgender kids with child abuse and encourages violence against the LGBTQ community, according to advocates.Ortiz says a post from Dec. 17 pushed him to file the restraining order whe...

Trump appeals ruling barring him from Maine primary ballot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

By Nicholas Riccardi and David Sharp | Associated PressPORTLAND, Maine — Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday appealed a ruling by Maine’s Democratic secretary of state barring him from the ballot over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was expected to also ask the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on his eligibility to return to the presidency in a related Colorado case.The Republican candidate appealed the Maine decision by Shenna Bellows, who became the first secretary of state in history to bar someone from running for the presidency under the rarely used Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. That provision prohibits those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office.Trump’s appeal to the Maine Supreme Court declares that Bellows had no jurisdiction in the matter and asks that she be required to place Trump on the March 5 primary ballot. The appeal argues that she abused her discretion and relied on “untrustworthy evidence....

Woman's body found in Berkeley, boyfriend arrested in Santa Cruz County for homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

(KRON) -- A former rock band member was arrested in Santa Cruz County Tuesday morning on homicide charges. Theobald "Theo" Lengyel, 54, of El Cerrito, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Alice "Alyx" Herrmann, the Capitola Police Department wrote. Capitola police said investigators found "human remains in a wooded area within Tilden Regional Park" in Berkeley. "The identification of the human remains is pending DNA confirmation from the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office," the Capitola Police Department wrote. Theobald "Theo" Lengyel is arrested in Santa Cruz County on Jan. 2, 2024. (Capitola PD photo)Lengyel an ex-musician who played saxophone in the rock band "Mr. Bungle," News Nation reported.Herrmann was last seen alive on December 3 in Santa Cruz. Her relatives reported her missing to police on December 12.Police quickly became suspicious of Lengyel, who also goes by the name "Mylo Stone," in the wake of his girlfriend's disappearance. Herrmann's red 2007 Toyota Highlander ...

Air Canada had the worst on-time performance among large airlines in North America, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

MONTREAL, Quebec (AP) — Air Canada, Canada’s largest carrier, had the worst on-time performance among large airlines in North America in 2023, according to a report from Cirium, the aviation analytics company.The country’s flag-carrying airline landed 63% of its 276,451 flights on time last year, placing it last among the continent’s 10 largest airlines. That means roughly 140,000 planes arrived at the gate more than 15 minutes after scheduled arrival.Delta Air Lines led the list for the most on-time airline in North America with its over 1.6 million flights arriving on time 85% of the time. Alaska Airlines was second at 82% of its 404,925 flights arriving on time.Canada’s other major airline, WestJet, placed seventh in North America with a score of 69% for 182,296 flights.In the past, Air Canada has pointed to a shortage of air traffic controllers, bad weather and a network running at full tilt amid high demand, which can mean longer recovery times after a disruption.CEO Michael Ro...

Memories of last season’s finish remind Packers they can’t take anything for granted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

The Green Bay Packers enter their regular-season finale in a familiar situation.For a second straight season, a lopsided victory over the Minnesota Vikings in their second-to-last game has put the Packers in position to reach the playoffs by defeating an NFC North team at home.They’re hoping the similarities end there.Green Bay blew a chance to earn a fourth straight postseason berth last season when its four-game winning streak ended with a 20-16 loss to the Detroit Lions that was four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ last game with the Packers.The Packers (8-8) have overhauled their roster in the year since, but they still have plenty of players who experienced that heartbreaking finish. It remains very much on their minds as they prepare to host the Chicago Bears (7-9) on Sunday.“We know what it felt like last year to come up short,” Packers running back Aaron Jones said after Green Bay’s 33-10 victory Sunday night at Minnesota. “It was one of the worst feelings. You’re right ...

‘Favorable conditions’ for winter storm this weekend in DC area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

Sign up for WTOP alerts to get up-to-date information on storm-related traffic disruptions and closings, sent to your email or phone.The full force of winter could be coming to the D.C. region early in 2024, with an evolving storm system that could result in snowfall in parts of the area this weekend. Here’s what you need to know.Meteorologists are tracking a pattern that could become more active, causing drops in temperatures across portions of the East Coast, more specifically around the mid-Atlantic.“So, you got a storm system potentially evolving as it moves up the coast, interacting with the cold air,” 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said. “It is looking more consistent now, from run to run, the guidance that we as meteorologists look at, that we have favorable conditions to get a winter-style storm around here, producing some snowfall.”When will it all happen? Johnson said that it looks like the heaviest of rain and snow wil...

Correction: Burning Man-Experimental Evolution story

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — In a story published Dec. 27, 2023, about the annual Burning Man counter-culture celebration in the northern Nevada desert, The Associated Press erroneously reported the official title of Marian Goodell. She is Burning Man Project’s chief executive officer, not its executive director.Source

Patriots assistant Jerod Mayo says he’s ready to be NFL coach, whenever and wherever he gets chance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:15 GMT

Whether Bill Belichick’s future as the New England Patriots head coach will extend beyond this season remains an open question. But one of the candidates to possibly succeed the legendary coach reiterated on Tuesday that he believes he’s ready for an opportunity to lead an NFL team. Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo said despite coaching during New England’s worst season under Belichick, he’s garnered perspective he believes will be invaluable whenever — and wherever — he gets a chance to lead a team. “When I think about when I do get my opportunity — and I don’t know when that’s going to be — honestly, I’m kind of like a dry leaf blowing in the wind, wherever (it) takes me,” Mayo said. “But at the same time, I feel like I’m prepared. I feel like I’m ready. I look forward to the opportunity, wherever that may be.”Mayo has been near the top of the list as viable Belichick successors since the Patriots took the unique step of announcing they were giving the assistant a long-term e...