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Not so free freeways? Officials float idea of adding new toll roads in L.A.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

Officials are floating the idea of adding new toll roads to Los Angeles freeways.An anticipated study from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is expected to show that drivers should pay up if they want to enter certain freeways. Officials said such a program could help ease up traffic in the heavily congested region.Metro is considering the program called congestion pricing, which suggests motorists pay a fee on the highways. The cost could depend on how far a commuter drives, entry to certain neighborhoods or business districts.The next step would be seeking input from the public and use that feedback to help design a pilot project, come up with ways to give people better travel options and low-income assistance programs.In an independent report on the matter, the UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies estimated that 13% of households might be unduly burdened by freeway tolling in California due to low incomes and travel habits.Michael Manville of the ...

Restaurant patrons aren't feeling the love

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

Have restaurants fallen out of love with their customers? Could be, says the New York Times. But many eateries are trying to fix things."A plaintive cry is rising from America’s dining rooms: Can we get some service around here?" the newspaper reports."And not just any service. Diners say they crave a night out free from QR codes, waiters who don’t seem to care and menus designed to glorify the chef and attract influencers."In short, customers "want to feel like welcome guests again, wrapped in the kind of warm, competent hospitality they fantasized about while the pandemic took it all away."Sounds like somebody needs a hug.In any case, the Times says restaurant owners are taking the matter seriously."Some restaurant owners, even as they struggle to train a new generation of waiters, hosts and cooks, say they’re looking for ways to restore and even improve that essential piece of the experience," it reports."They’re retiring robot waiters, making dining rooms cozier and giving serve...

U.S. Census data reveals the largest racial group in Los Angeles County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

Newly released data from the U.S Census Bureau breaks down the largest racial groups for Los Angeles County and other places nationwide. The data, released Thursday, gives a more in-depth look at the 2020 Census data.Researchers found that Los Angeles County’s population is 10,014,009 and the largest racial group is Latino people. In total, there are more than 4 million Latino people in the county alone. For California, that number rises to over 15 million, according to the data.The data was divided into multiple categories, which include, health, race and ethnicity and education. These are the ‘best’ places to live in California, study says. See where L.A. ranks Here is a breakdown of the racial groups in L.A. County.American Indian and Alaska Native: 163,464Asian: 1,499,984Black or African American: 794,364Hispanic or Latino: 4,804,793Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 24,522White: 3,259,427According to the data, Latinos are also the largest racial group statewide. Six Cali...

NorCal baseball regionals: Santa Teresa’s code cracked as Stevenson advances

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

SAN JOSE — It wasn’t easy to crack Santa Teresa’s pitching code.For 34 consecutive innings, the Saints put only zeroes on the scoreboard, a run that included a 14-inning victory in the section semifinals and a shutout in a championship game.But the code was finally solved in a midday matinee on its home field in San Jose on Tuesday.And then Stevenson pounced.After tying the score 1-1 on a throwing error in the fifth, the visitors from Pebble Beach erupted for four runs in the sixth to win the first-round NorCal Division IV regional game 5-1.Stevenson, the seventh seed, advanced to play in the semifinals Thursday.Santa Teresa’s season ended at 17-14.“It’s tough,” Santa Teresa coach Patrick Hawk said. “They just grinded some at-bats. You thought one run was going to hold it. They were able to come up with a big hit with the bases loaded.”In a game that began at 11:05 a.m. to accommodate Santa Teresa’s 4 p.m. graduation at San Jose State — a ceremony that will include four baseba...

Sale closed in Hayward: $1.8 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

2615 Hillcrest Avenue – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 2600 block of Hillcrest Avenue in Hayward has new owners. The 3,013-square-foot property, built in 2011, was sold on May 1, 2023. The $1,762,500 purchase price works out to $585 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a garage as well as three parking spaces. The unit sits on a 0.3-acre lot.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:In September 2022, a 2,450-square-foot home on Tribune Avenue in Hayward sold for $1,585,000, a price per square foot of $647. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,685-square-foot home on the 2600 block of Home Avenue in Hayward sold in April 2023, for $1,315,000, a price per square foot of $490. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Parkside Drive, Hayward, in August 2022, a 1,111-square-foot home was sold for $935,000, a price per square foot of $842. The home has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathrooms. 

Winchester Mystery House reveals plans for 100th anniversary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

It sounds like it’s going to be the Summer of Sarah — Winchester, that is — as her storied mansion in San Jose celebrates its 100th anniversary as a tourist attraction starting in June.A famously private person, Winchester — who died in 1922 after moving to San Jose in the 1880s — probably would have been annoyed by all the brouhaha about her sprawling, 161-room house, which she called Llanada Villa. Not to mention the millions of people who’ve stalked through the house in a century, chuckling at the “easy riser” stairs installed because of her diminutive stature, marveling at the “modern” technology touches like an elevator and admiring the gorgeous Victorian architecture and interior design. And if you got a chill visiting the seance room or were puzzled by the door opening out to a long drop? That’s just part of the experience.If you want to get an early jump on the celebration, the Winchester Mystery House’s...

Turtle rescued from BART tracks at Union City Station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

(KRON) -- A turtle that somehow made its way into the track at the Union City BART Station last weekend was rescued and handed over to an animal welfare nonprofit, according to a tweet from BART. The turtle was spotted on Saturday by a train operator on the track.The operator alerted staff, and the station agent on duty was able to recover the turtle from the track. The agent housed the turtle in the station agent booth until members of the Ohlone Humane Society arrived to rescue the turtle. Mastodon mystery in Santa Cruz County: Ice Age tooth vanishes from beach "In my 27 years at BART, I can say, I never have heard of a turtle breach into the Right-of-Way," said the track supervisor, according to BART. "Most who heard about it were, well, shell-shocked."Photos accompanying the tweet showed the turtle visible on the track and on the floor of the agent booth in front of the lost and found drawer.

Guilty verdict reached for roommate who lit woman on fire during Zoom meeting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A jury convicted a man of first-degree murder on Tuesday for beating a San Francisco woman with a baseball bat during a live Zoom meeting and lighting her on fire, prosecutors said.Min Jian Guan, 63, of San Francisco, was also convicted of elder abuse for the 79-year-old victim's death. In the summer of 2020, Yu Qin Sun was inside her home in the Richmond District participating in a Zoom video call for a class held virtually. Sun was attacked by her roommate mid-Zoom, according to prosecutors. "Mr. Guan beat a 79-year-old woman with a baseball bat and lit her on fire while she was still alive.  The beating was partially captured on Zoom and seen by a witness participating in a virtual class with the victim. (The witness) reported seeing the victim get knocked down and hit," the District Attorney's Office wrote. Homicide detectives arrested Guan on June 17, 2020."The defendant targeted a vulnerable 79-year-old with a campaign of abuse and harassment culminatin...

Police activity near Golden Gate Park now resolved

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A police activity incident in the area of 47th Avenue between Judah and Irving streets has been resolved, according to the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. Emergency crews had been on the scene earlier, although few details regarding the nature of the incident were made available. Attorney of accused Bob Lee killer withdraws from case Traffic delays are still expected and people are still advised to consider alternate routes and allow for additional travel time. No further information is available at this time. The location is close to Golden Gate Park on what appears to be a residential street just a few blocks from the beach.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Miami Heat, Florida Panthers head to the finals together for the first time in history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

For the first time, the Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers are both headed to the finals at the same time. The two South Florida teams will now compete for a championship. Both teams entered the playoffs as 8 seeds and both won a Game 7 in Boston along the way. It’s the seventh finals appearance for the Heat. The Panthers haven’t been to the Stanley Cup Finals in nearly 30 years. The teams have been rooting for each other.It’s fun to watch them, it’s fun to see the heart that they’re playing with,” said Miami Heat guard Max Strus.Coach Erik Spoelstra said the Florida Panthers winning may have been just the distraction his team needed.“It’s unbelievable. That’s been one of the great joys of everyone in our locker room, is having something to rally around and get our minds off of this,” Spoelstra said.Panther fans are getting ready for a Vegas team that rolled the Dallas Stars. On the basketball court, fans will get familiar with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets ...