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Oakland man’s Instagram posts come back to haunt him in federal court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

OAKLAND — Federal prosecutors here have filed gun possession charges against an East Bay man who is also suspected of involvement in a robbery crew made up of gang members, court records show.Ray Gilbert, 25, was charged last month with being a felon in possession of a firearm found during a search of an Oakland residence where he and two others lived, court records show. The search was predated by a police investigation that centered on Gilbert’s own Instagram posts, mostly selfies of him possessing guns, flashing cash, and making threats towards a rival gang, according to federal prosecutors.Gilbert also faces charges in four separate prosecutions in Alameda County — he is charged with two parole violations, retail theft for allegedly stealing thousands in merchandise East Bay stores, and firearms possession, court records show. Prosecutors have cited his suspected involvement in a “Case Gang robbery crew” that was active throughout 2023 as a reason t...

Single family residence sells for $1.6 million in Milpitas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

278 Falcato Drive – Google Street ViewA 1,910-square-foot house built in 1977 has changed hands. The property located in the 200 block of Falcato Drive in Milpitas was sold on Aug. 15, 2023, for $1,570,000, or $822 per square foot. This two-story home offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Outside, the home presents roofing composed of wood shake roofing / shingles materials. Inside, there is a fireplace. The property is equipped with a heating system and central A/C. Additionally, the home is equipped with a two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:In May 2023, a 1,675-square-foot home on Sepulveda Avenue in Milpitas sold for $1,540,000, a price per square foot of $919. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Lacey Drive, Milpitas, in February 2023, a 1,755-square-foot home was sold for $1,510,000, a price per square foot of $860. The home has 4 bedrooms a...

Letters: Water policy | Medicare model | Spanish representation | Radiation fears | Mideast conflict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Policy drives state’swater problemsRe: “Stricter water use restrictions on tap” (Page A1, Sept. 1).There is no shortage of available water to more than satisfy all of California’s yearly needs. The problem is regulatory: A large percentage of California’s available fresh water must be allowed to flow into the ocean, unused. This is due to environmental lawsuits.The other serious problem we face is the lack of adequate storage. The voters showed their approval for new storage in 2014, passing Prop. 1. Unfortunately, there has been no new significant storage project in about 50 years, during which, our population has doubled. Environmentalists have long fought dams as they “change” the environment.California is no stranger to drought; it is a recurring reality of our state.Mark FernwoodDanvilleHome insurance shouldfollow Medicare modelRe: “Anxiety builds as coverage dissolves&...

Biden administration cancels several leases for Alaska drilling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

By Ella Nilsen | CNNThe Biden administration announced Wednesday it will cancel seven Trump-era oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and protect more than 13 million acres in the federal National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, stymieing a years-long attempt to drill in the protected region.The cancellation will affect Alaska’s state-owned oil development agency, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, which bought the leases covering about 365,000 acres on ANWR’s Coastal Plain during the Trump administration.“With today’s action, no one will have rights to drill for oil in one of the most sensitive landscapes on Earth,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland told reporters on a press call. “Public lands belong to all Americans, and there are some places where oil and gas drilling and industrial development simply do not belong.”President Joe Biden echoed Haaland’s comments in a statement and said that his administration will “continue to take bold action” ...

Texas AG Paxton’s affair explains illegal acts, former aide testifies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

By Jake Bleiberg and Paul J. Weber | Associated PressAUSTIN, Texas — An extramarital affair Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had with a donor’s employee helped connect the dots about why the Republican was using his power in ways that are now at the center of his impeachment trial on accusations of corruption, a former top aide testified Wednesday.“It answered that ‘why’ question,” said Jeff Mateer, who was Paxton’s second-in-command at the Texas attorney general’s office.The account by Mateer, who went on to report Paxton to the FBI in 2020 over allegations of abuse of office, quickly injected an affair that Paxton has acknowledged to staff into the historic impeachment trial — the gravest threat to Paxton’s political career after years of criminal charges and alleged scandal.At the center of the case are accusations that Texas’ top lawyer wrongfully used his power to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, one of his poli...

San Jose’s Raging Waters to permanently close

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

San Jose’s Raging Waters, a beloved refuge for families to escape the South Bay’s sizzling summer heat, will permanently shutter after 38 years of operation.“Raging Waters San Jose is closed for the season and will not be reopening in 2024,” a Facebook message posted on Wednesday afternoon from the company reads. “We are thankful for the San Jose community and for our outstanding Team Members for helping us bring Northern California’s Largest Water Park to life for nearly four decades. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, San Jose!”The reason for the closure was not immediately known. A spokesperson for the water park did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Raging Waters was located on the eastern side of San Jose next to Cunningham Lake and featured a 350,000-gallon wave pool on a 23-acre site, according to the company’s website.Without Raging Waters, San Jose is left with no other large-scale water park. The news follows ...

Letters: Water needs | Church’s champion | Drug culture | Biden’s plans | Population policy | World of fun

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Put people’s waterneeds over corporations’Re: “Stricter water use restrictions on tap” (Page A1, Sept. 1).While municipal water conservation plans are necessary to address the climate crisis, California officials must first rein in the water exploitation of corporate agriculture and the oil and gas industries, and center public needs when considering water management.As stated in Food & Water Watch’s report on the California water crisis more than 1 million Californians lack access to clean water. However, mega-dairies use a staggering 42 million gallons of water every day. Additionally, between January 2018 to March 2021, the oil and gas industry used more than 3 billion gallons of freshwater for drilling operations.Gov. Gavin Newsom, state regulators and the Legislature must develop new water policies that ensure Californians have access to clean, affordable water and that p...

Raging Waters in San Jose will not reopen in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

(KRON) -- Raging Waters in San Jose is closed for the summer season, and it is not reopening anytime soon. The water park announced Wednesday that it will not be open in 2024. "We are thankful for the San Jose community and for our outstanding Team Members for helping us bring Northern California’s Largest Water Park to life for nearly four decades. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, San Jose!" it said on Facebook. NFL suspends Danville native Haener for 6 games for PEDs Raging Waters' website paints a similar picture, with the words, "Thanks for the memories, Ranging Waters San Jose!" on its homepage. The park is located at 2333 South White Road. It bills itself as the largest water park in Northern California.

Bill that decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms passes state assembly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A bill that allows personal possession and use of small amounts of psychedelic mushrooms has passed the California State Assembly, according to State Sen. Scott Weiner. California Senate Bill 58 passed in the California State Senate earlier this year and was passed on to the assembly.The bill was held up in the state assembly for several months following its passage in the senate. The bill removes criminal penalties for personal possession and use of a limited set of "naturally occurring psychedelics," according to a statement from Weiner's office. Quarantine in effect for portions of Santa Clara County due to oriental fruit flies Substances covered by the bill include psilocybin (mushrooms), Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline (excluding peyote). The bill also triggers a process to craft policy proposals for group therapeutic use of psychedelics.The bill was supported by veterans, first responders and health professionals, according to Sen. Weiner.“Cali...

NFL suspends Danville native Haener for 6 games for PEDs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:34 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Saints quarterback Jake Haener's rookie season in the NFL is not beginning in the manner he wished. Haener was suspended 6 games by the National Football League for what the league says is a violation of its policy on performance-enhancing substances. The rookie quarterback was a 4th round pick of the Saints out of Fresno State. He attended Monte Vista High School in Danville. Haener, 24, released a statement via his X, formerly known as Twitter, account on Wednesday afternoon. Read the full statement below:I recently learned that I tested positive for a substance banned by the NFL earlier this summer. I still do not know how the substance got into my body, as none of my supplements or prescribed medications contain the banned ingredient. I would never knowlingly cheat the game that I love, however I must take full responsibility for the failed test. I apolgize to the Saints organization, my friends and my family for any distraction this suspension may cause. I...