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Editorial: Hopeful signs that Bay Area’s largest housing project will finally begin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

It might have seemed like déjà vu when the Concord City Council last weekend selected yet another master developer for the Bay Area’s largest housing project.It was the third time in seven years that the council had picked a firm with which to negotiate for construction of some 12,300 homes and about 6 million square feet of commercial development on roughly 2,350 acres of the Concord Naval Weapons Station site.Combined with the project’s open space, most of which already has been transferred to the East Bay Regional Park District, the site is about 5,000 acres, or roughly 8 square miles. For comparison, that’s approximately two-thirds the area of Mountain View in the South Bay and slightly larger than Pleasant Hill in the East BayDespite the size of the project, Concord’s track record with selecting a developer was so bad that only one company provided a meaningful proposal this time. Fortunately, Brookfield Properties is an international development and real estate firm with the h...

Huge East Bay buildings that include Tesla operations are bought

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

LIVERMORE — Three huge Livermore buildings whose tenants include Tesla have been bought in a deal that tops $300 million, a sign that some Bay Area real estate sectors remain sturdy.A veteran real estate buyer bought the buildings as part of its purchase of a vast portfolio of industrial sites totaling 3.5 million square feet in three California locations including Livermore.In Livermore, Westcore, acting through an affiliate, paid slightly under $326.8 million for the trio of East Bay industrial and logistics buildings, according to documents filed on Aug. 29 at the Alameda County Recorder’s Office.801 Challenger Street in Livermore, an industrial building totaling 294,900 square feet whose tenant is Draexlmaier Automotive of America. (Google Maps)Together, the three Livermore buildings total just under 1.3 million square feet, according to posts on commercial property websites Compstak and PropertyShark.Here are some key details of the three Livermore buildings, w...

Caltrans schedules a 104-hour West bound I-80 closure near Vallejo during Labor Day weekend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

Drivers can always count on traffic during Labor Day weekend. It’s about to get even more congested in Vallejo due to work by Caltrans.Caltrans has scheduled a 104-hour full highway closure of westbound I-80 on Labor Day weekend starting Thursday, at 9 p.m. and concluding at 5 a.m. on Tuesday. West bound I-80 will be closed and traffic detoured beginning at the West bound I-80/I-780 interchange in Vallejo.The closure includes the closures of all westbound traffic lanes on WB I-80 on the Zampa Bridge across the Carquinez Strait. Eastbound I-80 traffic lanes will remain open.For motorists traveling westbound on I-80 at I-780 (Curtola Pkwy) will need to exit onto eastbound I-780 in Vallejo and continue eastbound I-780 to southbound I-680.Motorists can then use southbound I-680 to reach westbound state route 4, westbound state route 24 or westbound I-580 to access central and south Bay Area destinations.Caltrans has also scheduled nightly lane closures at various times during the weeken...

Opinion: On the climate crisis, it’s time to lean into pessimism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

The state of the environment in California — as in the nation — is grim this summer. A record-breaking heat wave. The first tropical storm recorded in 84 years in the state. Another dangerous wildfire season ahead. There’s no end to the bad news. What’s the best way to cope with our collective climate anxiety?Some might say that you should keep a positive outlook. In fact, if you’ve read about the environment lately, you’ve surely heard arguments in favor of “climate optimism,” the view that humanity will figure out how to fix the damage we’ve done before we reach social and biological collapse, often characterized as “climate doomism.”There are two motivations behind this kind of positivity. The first is a genuine belief that things are going to work out. The other is a practical matter — the idea that a positive attitude is the best motivator for people to devote their time and resources to climate solutions.Or, perhaps more to the point, that climate doomism is ...

Beyoncé gives 'Beyhive' a show to remember at Levi’s Stadium

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KRON) – From the moment Beyoncé took the Levi’s Stadium stage at 9:02 p.m. Wednesday night to her departure nearly 2.5 hours later, she had the “Beyhive” buzzing. The packed, frenzied crowd sang along to the iconic performer’s every song and matched her shimmering costumes with outfits just as exotic and eye-catching. Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour stopped in the Bay Area for just one night, and tens of thousands of rabid fans descended on Levi’s Stadium to spectate. They flew in from as far as Tokyo for a chance to see the superstar in action. Beyoncé put a memo out on her Instagram and website on Aug. 23: wear silver to the next month of shows. The crowd obliged. A look around the stadium showed a plethora of silver garments: sparkly silver dresses, silver wings attached to the back of a top and silver cowboy hats – just as Beyoncé herself wore for the Renaissance album’s art. August 30, 2023 – Santa Clara, California – Levi's StadiumPhotographer: J...

1 dead, 1 injured in shooting near Port of Oakland

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

(KRON) -- One person is dead and another is being hospitalized following a shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon near the Port of Oakland, according to police. Around 4:45 p.m., officers responded to multiple reports of an individual who was shot in the 90 block of Linden Street. One victim was found suffering from at least one gunshot wound, Oakland police said. Deputies nab 2 suspects in attempted bank robbery in San Lorenzo, hit-and-run of minor Shortly after arriving to the scene, officers were informed of a second victim who transported themselves to a local hospital with at least one gunshot wound. The victim at the scene was transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead after succumbing to their injuries, police said. The second victim is being treated at a local hospital with their condition currently unknown.The victim’s identity is being withheld until next of kin is notified. Anyone with information is asked to contact OPD's Homicide Section at 51...

Deputies nab 2 suspects in attempted bank robbery in San Lorenzo, hit-and-run of minor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

(BCN) -- Two men have been arrested on suspicion of robbing a bank and the hit-and-run of a juvenile in San Lorenzo, the Alameda Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Kevin Perry, 21, and Dewey Nguyen, 21, were arrested on suspicion of the attempted robbery of a Citibank and the felony hit-and-run of a juvenile in a crosswalk. Teen struck by fleeing bank robber’s car in San Lorenzo Police were initially searching for an unknown male in a dark hoodie and mask who entered the Citibank on Paseo Grande on Monday and passed a note demanding $20,000, "or the bank would be blown up," police said. A second man in his early 20s with a slender build, wearing all-black clothing, a black backpack and red and black shoes acted as a lookout. Both men left the bank before any money was surrendered, police said. The suspects got into a blue Ford Taurus and a brief vehicle pursuit by police ensued, but was ended for public safety after the suspects struck a juvenile walking across th...

No. 18 Oregon State opens a season of high expectations at San Jose State

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

No. 18 Oregon State (0-0) at San Jose State (1-0), Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)Line: Oregon State by 16 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oregon State leads 4-2.WHAT’S AT STAKE?The Beavers open the season with high expectations after winning 10 games last season under coach Jonathan Smith, including the last four. Oregon State is looking to get off to a fast start with three games against non-power conference teams. The Spartans lost their opener 56-28 at No. 6 USC and are looking to snap a nine-game losing streak against ranked teams since beating Fresno State in 2013. KEY MATCHUPOregon State secondary against San Jose State WR Nick Nash. The converted QB had a big season debut with six catches for 89 yards and three touchdowns. Nash caught just 11 passes his first four seasons and will test the Beavers defensive backs led by Ryan Cooper Jr. Cooper had 13 passes defensed last season.PLAYERS TO WATCHOregon State: QB DJ Uiagalelei. The Clemson transfer is set for his ...

Cade Klubnik is confident and ready for his first season as starting quarterback for No. 9 Clemson

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was asked if he felt any butterflies about his first season as a starter for the ninth-ranked Tigers. “I’m excited,” Klubnik said quickly with a smile. He then used “excited” five more times in his two minute answer. Told of his passer’s exuberance, first-year Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley smirked. “You got to calm him down sometimes, he’s so amped up,” Riley said. “And that’s certainly not a bad thing.” Especially if the sophomore passer channels high energy into high-scoring performances. Klubnik grabbed attention as a freshman backup for D.J. Uiagalelei last season, entering when the Tigers’ offense struggled against Syracuse and rallying the team from 11 points down in the second half to a 27-21 victory. When Uiagalelei struggled again a few weeks later in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game against North Carolina, Klubnik once more got the call and delivered with a high-octane showing in a 39-10 w...

Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, jailed after returning from exile, requests a royal pardon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:25:00 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently returned from exile and began serving an eight-year prison term, has requested a royal pardon, a senior member of the outgoing Cabinet said Thursday. Thaksin was moved from prison to a state hospital soon after his return last week for reported ill health.Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is acting justice minister as well as a deputy prime minister, said he has received a letter from Thaksin requesting a pardon, but declined to say how long it would take to be approved.“The process of approval entirely depends on his royal grace,” he said. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, giving King Maha Vajiralongkorn the final word on pardons of convicted criminals.Thaksin, by promoting populist policies and using the fortune he made in telecommunications to build his own political party, was elected prime minister in 2001 and easily reelected in 2005. He was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and accused of corruption, abuse o...