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Napa judge denies resentencing request from Kayleigh Slusher's killers
(KRON) — Three-year-old Kayleigh Slusher was murdered by her mother and her mother’s boyfriend in 2014. This week, hearings were held for the Napa girl’s convicted killers because they requested for their prison sentences to be reduced under a California law, SB 1437. Napa County Superior Court Judge Francisca Tisher presided over the hearings and […]
Politics roundup: a GrowSF for Oakland, sleepy races heat up, more youth vote delay
The Nov. 5 election is 133 days away, but Oakland is already bursting with political activity. There are the recall campaigns. There are all the groups spending big on voter education and advocacy. And there are the kids, who may not be able to vote in the upcoming school board elections after all. Let’s take a quick tour around the city’s political scene.
A casino family amassed millions in San Bruno. Now, they’re in a bitter civil war
Dennis Sammut knew he was about to die. A deadly pancreatic cancer was eating at the 76-year-old’s gut, and it was time to prepare the family business for his death. This was no small task. Sammut, the no-nonsense grandson of Maltese immigrants, was the third-generation owner of Artichoke Joe’s Casino, a 103-year-old San Bruno institution he grew into one of the Bay Area city’s largest employers — and biggest cash cows.
Army veteran and Santa Rosa attorney Joe Piasta remembered as man of deep faith
Joe Piasta, a noted Santa Rosa attorney, decorated Army veteran and pillar of the local Catholic community, died at his home on July 19, three years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was 73. Piasta spent decades practicing law in Sonoma County, become a partner at Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro, Piasta & Moran and litigation partner at O’Brien, Watters, Davis & Piasta. He opened Law ...
Mission barbershop murder suspect to stand trial
Judge Christine Van Aken ruled today after a two-day preliminary hearing that Alexander Martinez, 30, accused of shooting and killing Alberto Vargas Quero, 23, outside a Mission barbershop in April, will stand trial for murder. Martinez has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in San Bruno. In...
Bay Point - Concord fire prompts 'leave immediately' evacuation order
CONCORD, Calif. - An immediate evacuation order was issued on Friday afternoon for a fast-moving vegetation fire between the cities of Concord and Bay Point. The fire, north of State Highway 4 off of Evora Road at Nichols Road, was first reported before 3 p.m. The Point Fire has grown...
Sharmell Mitchell, whose brother was killed by Vallejo police, dies fleeing gunfire
Sharmell Mitchell, the oldest sister of Willie McCoy, died last week as the result of a collision that occurred as she fled a shooting in central Vallejo. Officers responded to the intersection of Tennessee Street and Vervais Avenue at about 12:36 p.m. last Tuesday following reported gunshots, police said. When officers arrived, they found a three-vehicle crash involving a Mercedes-Benz ML350, an Isuzu Trooper, and a Kia Soul.
Person charged with firebombing UC Berkeley police car pleads not guilty
Casey R. Goonan, the Pleasant Hill resident suspected in a series of arsons at UC Berkeley, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Goonan, 34, was initially charged with a single count of using fire or explosives to damage the property of an institution receiving federal aid. A federal grand jury has since returned an indictment against Goonan adding one count each of possession of an unregistered firearm and using fire or explosives to damage property used in, or affecting, interstate commerce, court records show.
UC Berkeley official leaves, cancels negotiations concerning student housing rent hikes
(KRON) - One of University of California, Berkeley's student housing complexes has been enduring a game of ping-pong between its landlords and tenants regarding recent rent hikes and the alleged violation of some residents' union contracts. After allegedly "abruptly leaving" the Zoom conference call for negotiations, University Village's Associate Vice Chancellor canceled the meeting. Now, […]
Local with Lisa | 4th of July Parade in Piedmont
Moonlighting as a churro vendor for our city’s iconic event, I met and chatted up all the happy folks along the way. Insights, stories and interviews about homeownership and living in the East Bay. From a Piedmont native, Emmy award-winning television journalist-turned-home matchmaker, part-time radio anchor, UCLA graduate, wife...
Notes and Quotes: “Keep the energy going into this weekend”
After an early lead and dominant performance from the Boys in Glory Red, Republic FC secured three points to move up to the second spot in the Western Conference table with its 5-2 victory over Oakland. The derby match was the club’s highest-scoring game of the season and the biggest victory by either side in the all-time head-to-head series.
Oakland’s First Garba Dance Festival Arrives in Chinatown
Garba (pronounced gehr-buh) is probably something you haven’t publicly encountered in Oakland before. That’s because, well, there isn’t really anywhere that it formally happens. Reetu Mody, a second-generation Indian American who grew up in Concord, hopes to change that. For Mody, who was raised around garba (a...
SF Fire Chief Nicholson to step down due to 'medical issues'
San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson will retire at the end of August due to “unforeseen medical issues,” the department announced Friday morning. “I am proud of the San Francisco Fire Department and the people that work day and night to protect our City and citizens,” Nicholson said in a prepared statement. “It has been a great privilege and honor to serve as your Fire Chief for the past five years.” ...
Oakland Police Seek Help in Search for At-Risk Missing 71-Year-Old Melody Lo
The Oakland Police Department has issued an urgent call for assistance in locating a missing person, 71-year-old Melody Lo, who disappeared yesterday. According to the Oakland Police Department, Lo is considered at risk due to her advanced age and medical challenges. Last seen in the 2900 block of Fruitvale Avenue...
Ignite Institute Welcomes Maurice “Mo” King (MAST ’24) as New Director of Growth for Kwaray
Ignite Institute is delighted to announce that Maurice “Mo” King has joined Pacific School of Religion (PSR) as our new Director of Growth effective July 29th. This role will oversee Kwaray, the community-based learning platform dedicated to equipping rising faith leaders that is powered by PSR. Mo is...
This Week In Food: Saison's New Wine Bar Makes a Splash In SoMa
Saison's new SoMa wine bar has opened, a new Greek spot lands in the TenderNob, and Napa is getting its first Kansas City-style smokehouse and barbecue. Saison Cellar & Wine Bar has opened in SoMa, offering high-end and lesser-known pours of wine, a lot of them from France, along with pate and snacks from Maison Nico. As SFist reported in April, it's occupying two spaces on Townsend Street not far from Saison, 228 and 234 Townsend Street, one of which was formerly home to Petit Marlowe. One half is a wine bar, while the other half of the space, The Cellar, is reserved for members of Saison Cellar's wine club. Saison partner Mark Bright, who has long been the restaurant's beverage director, launched Saison Winery in Santa Cruz County in 2016, and later opened a tasting room in Los Gatos and the first Saison Cellar & Wine Bar in Scotts Valley. The new wine bar, formerly home to another Bright venture called Le Clos, is open Tuesday to Saturday, 2 pm to 10 pm, and most of the glasses are priced between $12 and $25.
DA Jenkins accused of nepotism after hiring friend in key role
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in March quietly promoted a nursing professor with no legal license — who is a longtime friend — to run the office as chief of staff, with an annual salary of nearly $300,000. Monifa Willis, who still earns more than $100,000 a year for...
‘Appalling’: Disgraced horseback riding firm could face charges after animal dies
A horseback riding company that was kicked out of Golden Gate Park in May is under investigation by Santa Clara County officials for animal neglect following the death this month of a horse at a ranch in Milpitas. The Chaparral Corporation, whose permit with San Francisco’s parks was revoked after...
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