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Couple walking dog robbed at gunpoint in West Hollywood; dog stolen 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

A couple in West Hollywood is devastated after their dog was stolen from them at gunpoint near their apartment building. One of the dog’s owners, identified only as Justin, told KTLA 5’s Annie Rose Ramos that he and his girlfriend were walking their English bulldog named Capone while Justin went to retrieve belongings from his car on Olive Drive around 11:45 p.m. Monday night.  That’s when three thieves pulled up, jumped out of a black four-door Jeep and pointed a gun at them. According to Justin, one of the gunmen told him to “give [him] the dog or [he dies].”  Historic hangar at former air base in Orange County engulfed in flames While one thief took Capone to the back of the Jeep, another jumped into Justin’s car and ransacked it, throwing his belongings around. Justin says that all that was stolen was an old security badge, and that a wad of cash in the car was not taken. The thieves eventually sped off, and while Justin tried to chase after them, they were abl...

Photos: Firefighters battle massive blaze at historic Tustin air base hangar

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

Residents from around Orange County woke up on Tuesday to the devastating news of one of the hangars at the historic Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin being engulfed and partially destroyed by a massive fire.The blaze began around 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.Photos of the blaze can be viewed below:The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was reportedly completely engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived. (OnSceneTV)The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (Sky5)The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was reportedly completely engulfed ...

High school football rankings Week 12, 2023: Bay Area News Group Top 25

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

Serra, De La Salle, San Ramon Valley, Pittsburg and El Cerrito are the Bay Area News Group’s top five high school football teams heading into the playoffs.But will they remain in those spots when the curtain closes on the 2023 season next month?This week’s rankings are similar to last week’s, with a few exceptions.Sacred Heart Prep and Capuchino are in this week. Antioch and Hillsdale are out.Twenty-four of the 25 teams in the updated rankings are still playing. The only one that’s done is Liberty, which did not receive one of the eight spots in the North Coast Section’s Open/Division I playoffs.The Lions are obviously not happy about that.If you have not already, please subscribe here for digital access all season. Your contributions keep us going.On to the rankings …Bay Area News Group Top 25(Mercury News & East Bay Times)No. 1 SERRA (10-0)Previous rankings: 1Last week: Beat St. Ignatius 43-10Up next: Saturday vs. Salinas in CCS Open/Division I pl...

Santa Clara County could see a sales tax increase in the next five years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

Santa Clara County residents could once again see a sales tax hike.Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed off on a bill giving the county the power to increase the sales tax rate — with voter approval — past the current cap.Senate Bill 335, authored by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), allows Santa Clara County to put a measure on a ballot before December 2028 to increase the sales tax rate by 0.625%. The county currently has the fourth highest sales tax rate in the state at 9.125%, behind Alameda, Los Angeles and San Mateo counties.“There’s certain things that the county funds that they don’t have general fund resources that are vital to the public,” Cortese told the Mercury News. “This legislation at least ensures that if they find themselves in a situation like that they can take a vote and go to the ballot if they can get enough supervisors to agree.”California has capped district tax rates in each county at 2% since 1969. Santa Clara County currently has...

The saga of Annie, UC Berkeley’s peregrine falcon

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

It was clear from the start: Annie was going to be a star.In late 2016, people began noticing a pair of peregrine falcons flying around the UC Berkeley campus. The birds weren’t being secretive, says biologist Sean Peterson, but it still took a while to narrow down where they might be roosting: atop the iconic Campanile bell tower.With permission from the university, a small handful of volunteers climbed a hidden spiral staircase concealed in one of the Campanile’s columns. The passageway was so narrow, the intrepid explorers had to push their backpacks ahead of themselves.At the top, they found a small opening covered by wooden slats — and a pair of piercing yellow eyes staring back at them. It was Annie, sitting on the torn sandbags that served as her nest.Since then, Annie and her mates have captured the attention of a wide audience. Thousands of people from around the world watch the web cams installed on the Campanile, following every dramatic moment in the falcons’ lives...

At beleaguered San Jose’s animal shelter, care for dogs is criticized

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

It was a hot San Jose summer day two years ago when the city’s animal control squad set off to seize 20 dogs from a suspected illegal dog breeding business. The string of missteps that followed would mark one of the darkest days in the city shelter’s recent history, but records show it wouldn’t be the last time a dog lost a limb or died.The shelter is currently facing a City Council-ordered audit amid ongoing criticism of conditions at the facility and inadequate staffing and infrastructure.In the mishap in July 2021, which was never publicly disclosed, animal control truck No. 11108 arrived at the San Jose shelter with three dogs. As the temperatures inside rose, officers first unloaded other animals from the other vehicles. Inside the sweltering truck, the dogs became hotter and hotter.An American bulldog named BMF and a French bulldog named Shika died, likely of heat stroke as their body temperatures reached nearly 110 degrees, a summary from that day and autops...

San Jose Sharks struggles: What are Hasso Plattner’s thoughts on the rebuild?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks owner Hasso Plattner keeps close tabs on the organization and was no doubt aware of how badly his team was outclassed last week in losses to the Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins.“Obviously, to lose the way we have lost,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said Monday, “I’m sure it’s been alarming to him.”Grier, though, said he’s been in regular contact with Plattner and has his support as the Sharks go through an extended rebuild for one of the few times in their history. San Jose, which has a 0-10-1 record going into Tuesday’s game with the Philadelphia Flyers, has multiple needs to address and is all but assured of missing the playoffs for a fifth straight season.Plattner, a titan of the tech industry who was worth $16.2 billion, per Bloomberg, as of Monday, keeps a low profile when it comes to the Sharks and in recent years has opted to issue statements about the team through press releases rather than speak publicly. Although he finalized...

Woman struck and killed by car, San Jose’s 24th pedestrian death of the year

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

(KRON) – A woman was struck and killed by a car in San Jose Monday night at 11 p.m. The incident occurred between Chesbro Avenue and Blossom Hill Road.This is San Jose's 24th pedestrian death of the year.  Series of violent robberies leaves Walnut Creek residents on edge The woman was taken to the hospital where she passed away.Police say the driver of the vehicle that struck her remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

Polls now open in Virginia as voters cast ballots in pivotal state election

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

Visit WTOP’s Virginia Election 2023 page for our comprehensive coverage. It’s Election Day in Virginia.The polls opened at 6 a.m. and voters are casting ballots that will decide which party controls the Virginia Legislature — as well as a slew of local races for school and county boards.The outcome in Virginia — among just four states with legislative elections this year — will be closely scrutinized nationwide for hints of what may come in the 2024 presidential cycle.Here’s what you need to know.How to votePolls are open until 7 p.m. You can look up your closest polling place online.Virginia now also has same-day voter registration, which allows voters to cast a provisional ballot if they are not registered before Election Day but can prove they are eligible to vote. You can find more information on the Virginia Department of Elections website.If you requested a mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at your local registrar’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day or to another ...

Transportation panel eyes toll increases and fees on electric, hybrid vehicles in Maryland

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:24:16 GMT

Paying Highway Toll. Men in the Car Paying the Toll. Highway Systems.(Getty Images/iStockphoto/welcomia) Paying Highway Toll. Men in the Car Paying the Toll. Highway Systems.(Getty Images/iStockphoto/welcomia) A blue ribbon transportation panel is poised to recommend new fees for electric vehicles and increased tolls as part of an effort to solve a revenue shortage plaguing the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.The Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs Commission was briefed on both possibilities Monday. An interim report due to the General Assembly by the end of the year could include both recommendations to lawmakers and the Maryland Department of Transportation.Frank Principe, chair of the panel somet...