Letters: Leverage power | Tax increase | A good read

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

Letters: Leverage power | Tax increase | A good read  Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.U.S. should leveragepower to aid GazansThe United States should leverage Joe Biden’s “bear hug diplomacy” to insist on a U.S. military security-controlled delivery of food and water to Gazans by sea.The U.S. military has tight logistical control and the discipline to guarantee that each delivery contains only food and water. There would be no valid concerns that shipments conceal weapons.U.S. military ships stationed off Israel/Gaza are laden with food for troops, including prepackaged MREs, and they have amphibious landing capabilities.Amphibious craft deliver to shore for distribution by U.N. operations. U.S. boots do not need to even get wet.If Israel blocks its one remaining international ally from a security-guaranteed, life-saving humanitarian operation, their intentions of genocide by starvation of the Gazan population is clear.In that case, we should boldly invoke a showdo...

US, Mexico officials meet to talk immigration, border

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

US, Mexico officials meet to talk immigration, border By Maria Verza and Edgar H. Clemente | Associated PressMEXICO CITY — A top U.S. delegation met with Mexico’s president Wednesday in what many saw as an attempt to have Mexico do more to limit a surge of migrants reaching the U.S. southwestern border.Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said he is willing to help, but he wants to see progress in U.S. relations with Cuba and Venezuela, two of the top sources of migrants, along with more development aid for the region.But Mexico’s top priority appeared to be getting the United States to reopen border crossings that were closed because of the migrant surge.“We spoke about the importance of the border, and about the economic relationship … the importance of reopening the border crossings, that is a priority for us,” Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Bárcena said after the meeting.Both sides in the talks face pressure to reach an agreement after past steps like limiting direct travel into Mexico...

San Mateo County commits $15 million to fight flooding

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

San Mateo County commits $15 million to fight flooding The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has committed $15 million to the construction of the Vista Grande Watershed Project, aimed at addressing persistent flooding in San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco.Supervisor David Canepa attributed the floods in the area to excessive rainfall triggering an overflow of water in San Francisco’s Lake Merced.“When San Francisco’s Lake Merced overflows, it floods north San Mateo County five hours later, and during heavy rains like we are experiencing now, the floods can cause extensive property damage,” Canepa said in  a statement.Canepa added that the sewer system in San Mateo County is “aging and historic” and it would need significant plumbing adjustments to adapt to the changing climate in the Bay Area.Daly City, an area consistently affected by the floods, will spearhead the expansion of the capacity of the Vista Grande Drainage Basin to facilitate better rainwater movement to the Pacific Ocean.“The Vis...

US announces new weapons package for Ukraine

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

US announces new weapons package for Ukraine By Lolita C. Baldor | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The U.S. on Wednesday announced what officials say could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation that is stalled on Capitol Hill.The weapons, worth up to $250 million, include an array of air munitions and other missiles, artillery, anti-armor systems, ammunition, demolition and medical equipment and parts. The aid, provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, will be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles.In a statement, Marine Lt. Col. Garron Garn, a Pentagon spokesman said there is no more funding to replace the weapons taken from department stocks. And the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides long-term funding for future weapons contracts, is also out of money.As a result, Garn said Wednesday, “Without the supplemental funding, there will be a shortfall in replenishing U.S. military stocks, affecting American military readiness.”Pre...

Woman dies in hospital a week after being hit by car outside San Jose shopping center

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

Woman dies in hospital a week after being hit by car outside San Jose shopping center SAN JOSE — A woman died Sunday after being hit by a car nearly a week earlier outside of a San Jose shopping center, authorities said Wednesday.The woman was hit on Dec. 18 at the entrance of a shopping center on the 6200 block of Santa Teresa Boulevard, according to the San Jose Police Department. She was walking on a sidewalk when the driver of a 2013 Honda sedan pulled out of the center’s parking lot and ran into the woman, police said.The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died Sunday from her injuries.Her name has not been released because authorities are still working to identify her.The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. No other details of the crash were released.The woman’s death marked the 49th traffic fatality this year in San Jose. Twenty-seven of those deaths involved pedestrians being hit by vehicles.Anyone with information about the crash can call 408-277-4654 or email tips to [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submit...

49ers’ Chase Young ‘pretty hyped up’ about returning to face Washington

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

49ers’ Chase Young ‘pretty hyped up’ about returning to face Washington SANTA CLARA — Chase Young still owns a home about 20 minutes from the Washington Commanders’ facility, and he plans to visit his dogs there Saturday when the 49ers’ players get a sliver of free time.Then comes Sunday’s reunion. Young has obvious motivation and insight when facing his old team, which drafted him No. 2 overall in 2020 and traded him two months ago to the 49ers in his contract year.“This week is a huge one for him,” fellow defensive end Nick Bosa said. “He’s already pretty hyped up about it and excited, so we’re going to try and play our best game for him.”Young did his best Wednesday to downplay his return as “just playing football,” but there’s no doubt he’s glad to be playing it on a different team.Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 is landed on by San Francisco 49ers’ Chase Young #92 in the first quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on...

Chick-fil-A to open another East Bay location

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

Chick-fil-A to open another East Bay location (KRON) -- Rejoice, Chick-fil-A lovers in the East Bay. Another location is coming to Contra Costa County. According to documents filed by the fast-food restaurant chain, Chick-fil-A is opening a new location in Concord.The new location will be located at 1981 Diamond Blvd. where the Willows Shopping Center is. Construction of the Chick-fil-A restaurant will be completed sometime after March 1, 2024, according to documents filed by Chick-fil-A to the California State Water Resources Control Board.It is unknown at this time when the location will open. Chick-fil-A has yet to respond to KRON4's request to provide a date for the Concord location's opening. Shake Shack to open new location in South Bay A new Chick-fil-A location is set to open at the Willows Shopping Center in Concord.This will be the Bay Area's 26th Chick-fil-A location. Currently, the closest Chick-fil-A to Concord is in Walnut Creek. Construction of the future Concord Chick-fil-A began on Sept. 1, according to the ...

Man charged with hate crimes over stabbing at New York’s Grand Central Terminal

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

Man charged with hate crimes over stabbing at New York’s Grand Central Terminal NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man has been charged with attempted murder and assault as hate crimes following the Christmas Day stabbing of two teenage tourists from Paraguay at an eatery inside Grand Central Terminal, authorities said. Witnesses said Esteban Esono-Asue, 36, also known as Steven Hutcherson, made derogatory comments about white people shortly before the unprovoked attack on the 14- and 16-year-old girls inside the Manhattan transit hub Monday morning, according to a criminal complaint. He was being held without bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty Tuesday to the charges, which also included child endangerment.According to the complaint, Esono-Asue initially was asked to leave the Tartinery dining area by an employee, who said Esono-Asue responded by saying: “I’ll leave, I don’t want the white man to get at you,” or something similar. A second employee said he made another anti-white comment after he approached her and asked for a table to place an o...

Denver Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

Denver Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson in a move that could have major ramifications for both his future and theirs.Although the move keeps open the team’s options next year and could ultimately save the Broncos $37 million, coach Sean Payton on Wednesday called the switch to journeyman Jarrett Stidham more of a football decision than a financial one.“I understand all the speculation and everything that surrounds a move like that, and I can tell you we’re desperately trying to win,” Payton said. “Sure, in our game today there are economics and all those other things, but the No. 1 push behind this … is to get a spark offensively.”The Broncos (7-8) have a narrow path to the playoffs. They’d have to win out and Kansas City (9-5) would have to lose out for Denver to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season.Payton said the entire offensive operation, himself included, has been deficient and this move isnR...

Drones handles the rain, leads Virginia Tech to 41-20 win over No. 23 Tulane in the Military Bowl

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:19:05 GMT

Drones handles the rain, leads Virginia Tech to 41-20 win over No. 23 Tulane in the Military Bowl ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 27: Kyron Drones #1 of the Virginia Tech Hokies throws a pass in the first quarter against the Tulane Green Wave during the Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2023 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Greg Fiume) ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 27: Kyron Drones #1 of the Virginia Tech Hokies throws a pass in the first quarter against the Tulane Green Wave during the Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2023 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Greg Fiume) ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — As long as he could h...