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Susan Hayden aka “Library Girl” Explores Loss and Love in L.A. (Book Excerpt)

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

Susan Hayden aka L.A.’s “Library Girl” is known for nurturing writers via her curated local events. Her new book, Now You Are a Missing Person, captures the random uniqueness of Los Angeles, especially from a perspective of loss. The deaths of her father, her childhood best friend and her husband lead her down a path of self discovery and healing that also highlights the past and present vibes of this city, a place that can be lonely even in crowded places and overwhelming even in solitude. The untraditional memoir, which includes stories, poems and idea fragments, traces Hayden’s search for identity from the 1970s to the present– from growing up in an observant Jewish family in the San Fernando Valley to making a name for herself on the literary circuit with her poetry and music series.Hayden, who is currently in the midst of her book tour (her recent Beyond Baroque launch sold out swiftly) will be reading and speaking with NYT Bestselling Author Steve Leder (For You When I Am Gone...

Trump, DeSantis trade jabs in New Hampshire

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

By Eric Bradner, Kit Maher and Kate Sullivan | CNNFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis described former President Donald Trump as having over-promised and under-delivered on Tuesday, vowing in New Hampshire to “break the swamp” in Washington while faulting Trump for failing to deliver on his 2016 campaign promises to “drain” it.“If I tell you I’m going to do something, I’m not just saying that for an election,” DeSantis said in one of his sharpest attacks on the former president yet.Trump, meanwhile, mocked the size of DeSantis’ town hall crowds, telling attendees at a luncheon in Concord that “nobody showed up” to the Florida governor’s event a 40-minute drive south in Hollis.The two top-polling contenders for the GOP’s 2024 nomination circled each other Tuesday in New Hampshire, trading shots as they crisscrossed the state that hosts the first primary – after Iowa’s caucuses – and is a crucial momentum-builder.Their exchanges offered a preview of the months to come, with the Republican field...

Letters: Police transparency | Pork rules | Democrats’ successes | TB returns | U.S. policies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.State should not backoff police transparencyRe: “Is California rolling back public’s viewing of police misconduct records?” (Page A1, June 26).The criminal case involving former Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputy Devin Williams as reported by the East Bay Times is a cautionary tale and case in point as to why Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature should not roll back access to police misconduct records.Before working for Alameda County, Williams had some issues with the Stockton Police Department, which eventually resulted in his dismissal after failing field training exercises. What is remarkable is that even with robust transparency laws in place like state Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 1421, Alameda County still has attempted to block access to Williams’ past psychological evaluations. Most police bureaucracies like the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office are structur...

Two-bedroom home in Palo Alto sells for $2.5 million

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

844 Boyce Avenue – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 800 block of Boyce Avenue in Palo Alto was sold on June 13, 2023 for $2,500,000, or $2,508 per square foot. The house, built in 1946, has an interior space of 997 square feet. The property features two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a garage. There’s also a pool in the backyard. The unit sits on a 5,000-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:On Addison Avenue, Palo Alto, in July 2022, a 823-square-foot home was sold for $2,437,000, a price per square foot of $2,961. The home has 1 bedroom 1 bathroom.In December 2022, a 1,045-square-foot home on Fife Avenue in Palo Alto sold for $2,712,000, a price per square foot of $2,595. The home has 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom.A 864-square-foot home on the 800 block of Guinda Street in Palo Alto sold in May 2023, for $2,800,000, a price per square foot of $3,241. The home has 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom. 

Tom Hanks’ niece shows that Chet Hanks isn’t his only embarrassing relative

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

Tom Hanks may be an Oscar-winning American movie icon. But as a Hollywood patriarch who heads a family of established and up-and-coming nepo babies, he’s delivered mixed results.The epic, public meltdown of Hanks’ niece Carly Reeves, while she appeared on ABC’s reality-competition series, “Claim to Fame,” shows why Hanks’ problematic son Chet Hanks may not be the only embarrassing member of his family.HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 27: Actress Carly Reeves arrives at the Premiere of Universal Pictures’ ‘Larry Crowne’ at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on June 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) When Reeves was eliminated from “Claim to Fame” on Monday night’s Season 2 premiere, she broke down in tears, stormed off the stage, could be heard belittling her fellow contestants and screamed that she deserved more “camera time.”Of course, the fact that Reeves appeared ...

PetSmart to pay more than $1 million to settle Bay Area multi-county lawsuit

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

MARTINEZ — Prosecutors and representatives for a pet-supplies corporation have reached a settlement over a lawsuit claiming the corporation overcharged customers and committed false advertising, officials said.With the settlement in the multi-county lawsuit, PetSmart LLC agreed to pay $1.46 million and acknowledged it created unfair competition, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Ted Asredgadoo said in a statement.PetSmart will pay $1.25 million in civil penalties, $100,000 in restitution to support efforts for consumer protection and $110,000 for the cost of the investigation to various counties, Asregadoo said. They also have implemented new policies and procedures to improve pricing accuracy.The agreement also includes orders that prohibit the company from engaging in false or misleading advertising and charging an amount greater than the lowest price posted for an item, he said. According to Asregadoo, PetSmart must add additional audit and p...

MLB turns down San Jose mayors’ letter seeking expansion team, citing focus on A’s relocation

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred offered a curt response this week to five San Jose mayors who sent him a letter asking for MLB to consider suspending territorial rights and consider San Jose for an expansion team.In a letter dated Monday and obtained by this news organization Tuesday, Manfred thanked San Jose for its interest in a team, but cited the Oakland A’s “complicated relocation process” to Las Vegas as a reason MLB is not taking any action yet.“At least until that process is complete, we are not in a position to take any other actions with respect to the territories in Northern California or to consider the possibility of expansion.”Current San Jose mayor Matt Mahan and four former mayors — Sam Liccardo, Chuck Reed, Ron Gonzales and Tom McEnery — sent a letter on June 15 that called on MLB to allow for Santa Clara County to be freed from being considered the territory of the San Francisco Giants.Mahan told this news organization that he understands MLB’s call ...

Wish Book at Work: From Mentee to Mentor: Juan Cuevas Joins Friends for Youth’s Board of Directors

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

Sponsored ContentHey there,  readers and supporters of Wish Book! We have some incredible news to share with you today that highlights the transformative power of your gifts to Wish Book. One of the 2022  Wish Book stories featured Friends for Youth, and Juan Cuevas, a remarkable individual who was once a mentee himself, who will now join FFY Board of Directors. Juan is the first alumni mentee or FFY to hold a board position, and the first FFY board member to represent the vibrant Latinx community. Let’s dive into Juan’s inspiring journey and the impact he continues to make.A Mentorship Journey Comes Full Circle:You may remember from the Wish Book story that Juan began as a mentee, seeking guidance and support through Friends for Youth’s mentoring program. With the unwavering dedication of his mentor and the opportunities provided by the organization, Juan thrived and experienced personal growth. As he continued to develop both personally and professionally, Juan&#...

Heat Advisory for Bay Area in effect this weekend

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Heat Advisory for parts of the Bay Area will be in effect from Friday through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The advisory pertains to inland portions of the Bay Area and the Central Coast where temperatures in the 90s and low 100s could impact people's life, health, commerce and travel, the NWS said."Our first heat of the season is arriving on Friday and the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory Bay Area wide with the exception of San Francisco, the coast and those directly along the bay," said KRON4 Meteorologist Kyla Grogan.  How median price for a 1-bedroom apartment in SF compares to national average Risk for those who are heat-sensitive will be moderate to high, especially those without effective cooling of hydration, the NWS said. The weather service recommends limiting outdoor activities during the afternoon or evening.Graphic: Kyla Grogan"Temperatures will be the highest for the inner East Bay where temps could r...

Garage fire damages Sunset District home

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:31:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A home in San Francisco's Sunset District was damaged by a fire, video from the San Francisco Fire Department showed. The address of the home is 1720 29th Avenue. The fire is in the garage and entryway of the home. SFFD said one occupant of the home was injured, but they are being treated by EMS and are expected to recover.Video showed SFFD firefighters attempting to put out the one-alarm blaze. Much of the downstairs segment of the unit appears to be heavily damaged.This is a developing story. A KRON4 photojournalist is on his way to the scene.