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These alerts help California avoid blackouts in summer’s heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

By David R. Baker | BloombergCalifornia’s power grid has so far survived this summer’s heat intact, with none of the rolling blackouts that have occasionally struck the state in the past. But grid managers did issue a brief alert this week asking residents to conserve power, and more will likely follow.The alerts appear on the mobile phones of Californians who sign up for them, and they have been shown to make a difference in avoiding outages. Here’s a guide to how they work.Energy Emergency Alert WatchThese notices can be issued the day before a potential emergency, if the California Independent System Operator — which runs most of the state’s grid — sees electricity demand possibly outstripping supply. They mean that all available power sources are already expected to be in use and may not be able to satisfy demand. It’s a sign for power plant operators in other states to offer more supplies into California’s market.Energy Emergency Alert 1 (EEA1)These alerts, issued in real time,...

Monterey man found guilty of child molestation sentenced to 95 years to life in state prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

SALINAS – A Monterey man convicted on 28 counts of child molestation last month has been sentenced to 95 years to life in the California Department of Corrections, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.Monterey County Superior Court Judge Mark E. Hood sentenced Miodrag Vuletic, 71, on Thursday. He also ordered Vuletic to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.On June 1, a Monterey County jury found Vuletic guilty of three counts of oral copulation on a child 10 years old or under, 23 counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 and two counts of forcible lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14. All 28 of the charges were violent felonies and considered strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law.Law enforcement have been pursuing Vuletic for two and a half years, after he was found molesting a child – referred to as “Jane Doe 2” by authorities – in December 2020.On Dec. 23, 2020, Jane Doe 2’s father – a longtime family friend of Vuletic’s – found V...

Yosemite hiker missing since Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

A hiker has been missing since Saturday in Yosemite National Park, park authorities said.Yailine Maldonado, 22 — who goes by Jaylene — was last seen around 10 a.m. Saturday as she left a campsite near Ostrander Lake. She reportedly planned a day hike to Horse Ridge.Maldonado, who is 5-foot-6, was wearing black shorts, a black long-sleeved shirt over a green shirt, and a red bandana. She was carrying a red pack.Searchers wish to speak to anyone who saw her or was hiking in the area of Ostrander Lake, Hart Lake or Buena Vista Lake. They can be reached at (209) 238-7046.The Horse Ridge summit is at 9,496 feet, about 1,000 feet higher than Ostrander Lake.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Human remains found along Alameda shoreline Crime and Public Safety | Good Samaritan spots ‘Help me!’ note in California parking lot, triggers rescue of kidnapped 13-year-old girl Crime and Public Safety | Bay Area man who went missing in Yo...

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge pollution prompts calls for returning bike path back to 3rd traffic lane reopening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

Marin County’s state assemblyman, Bay Area business organizations and Richmond residents are calling on the state to use bridge toll revenues to reopen a third westbound lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to address air pollution impacts caused by traffic jams.The proposal comes as the state nears the end of a controversial, four-year pilot project that converted the bridge’s westbound emergency and maintenance lane into a bicycle and pedestrian path that is separated from vehicle traffic by a moveable barrier.Studies commissioned by the state have so far shown the bicycle path has had declining use but also no significant impacts on traffic congestion or vehicle accidents.Assemblyman Damon Connolly and other supporters said the path should be reopened to vehicle traffic during the peak morning commute hours to address severe congestion on the Richmond side and alleviate the exhaust polluting neighboring communities.“It’s particularly important to listen to the local voices most...

Marin County hike peaks where picnic tables replaced missile radar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

From the 1950s to the ’70s, San Rafael was home to a set of triangulated sites comprising a missile battery that ultimately housed a Nike-Hercules air defense system. The sites were all part of San Francisco Defense Area Site 93, or SF-93. SF-93L was the missile launch site and now rests under picnic tables and over a skate park at the end of Smith Ranch Road. It overlooks SF-93A, the administrative area, which included housing that later became the site of a substance use recovery center and now stands abandoned.And then there was SF-93C, the radio control site perched more than 1,000 feet above sea level on the ridge of San Pedro Mountain. It sits at the edge of China Camp State Park, and reaching this point means you’ll also have gained 360-degree views on Marin, from Mount Tamalpais to San Pedro Bay to Novato.Gold Hill offers beautiful views of Mount Tamalpais. Photo by Emily WillinghamThe hike to the former SF-93C begins on Gold Hill Fire Road in what is now the city of Sa...

Community raises over $40K for elderly ice cream vendor who was robbed in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- One elderly ice cream vendor is getting some sweet relief after he was recently robbed in broad daylight in Oakland. The Bay Area community has raised over $40,000 to get him back on his feet. "Don Juan," 82, was robbed as he was pushing his ice cream cart down the road on July 17, and the incident was caught on camera. The thieves got away with about $120.Ultimately, people touched by Don Juan's story paid it forward with an organized "buyout."Not far from where he was robbed at gunpoint Monday afternoon, Juan is back in the Fruitvale neighborhood in East Oakland selling ice cream and popsicles -- just days after his life was threatened over $120. Local ice cream lovers lined up to get a sweet treat in the summer heat, and help get Juan back on his feet. Paramore concert at Chase Center rescheduled two hours before show Citizen App video shows the robbery on East 18th Street near 39th Avenue. One of several times he has been held up recently and strippe...

DC firefighters join push for bone marrow, stem cell donations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

For years, the National Marrow Donor Program has helped match marrow and stem cell donations to cancer patients and others who need them the most. This year, firefighters in the District are pouring their efforts into the cause.D.C. firefighters have two big reasons to help put more people on a national bone marrow registry.The first, over the last decade, firefighters in the U.S. saw a 14% boost in cancer-related deaths, which many believe is related to their exposure to smoke and toxic materials.“We think that the biggest threat to them might just be running into the fire, but there are a lot more side effects that go along with being a firefighter in general,” said Cori Smothers, the member enrollment coordinator for NMDP’s Be The Match in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.The second reason is because one of their own recently received a bone cancer diagnosis.“When I was a rookie, I was diagnosed with cancer,” said D.C. Fire and EMS Lt. Jordan Wil...

Borges and Zaneratto goals highlight Brazil’s 4-0 win over Panama at Women’s World Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Bia Zaneratto’s spectacular finish will take some beating for goal of the tournament at the Women’s World Cup. And on the evidence of its 4-0 win over Panama on Monday, Brazil will take some beating for the title.Ary Borges scored a hat trick on her World Cup debut, but it was her assist for Zaneratto’s second-half strike that was the standout moment of the match in Adelaide and arguably the tournament so far. When Debinha’s cross landed at Borges’ feet toward the end of a sweeping move, the forward, who had struck twice in the first half, looked set to add a third. Instead, she checked, wrong-footed Panama’s defense and backheeled to Zaneratto, who lifted her shot into the top corner. It was a goal full of the flair that Brazilian soccer is famed for.Following on from Germany’s 6-0 rout of Morocco earlier Monday, Pia Sundhage’s Brazilian lineup produced a statement performance.“The first game is always difficult. Four goals and sometimes we played q...

Former England striker Trevor Francis, Britain’s first 1 million pound player, dies at 69

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Trevor Francis, a former England forward who became Britain’s first 1 million pound soccer player when he moved to Nottingham Forest from Birmingham in 1979, has died. He was 69.Francis died in Spain after a heart attack, his family said Monday. He spent half the year in Spain and the rest in England.“Nottingham Forest is deeply saddened to learn the passing of two-time European Cup winner, Trevor Francis,” Forest wrote on Twitter. “A true Forest legend who will never be forgotten.”Shortly after his record move to Forest, Francis headed in the winner in the 1-0 victory over Malmo in the 1979 European Cup final. Francis missed the European Cup final win over Hamburg a year later because of injury and joined Manchester City in 1981.“I’m absolutely devastated to hear about my old teammate Trevor Francis,” said former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, a member of Forest’s European Cup-winning teams of 1979 and 1980, “such a wonderful gentleman, a friend, and a terrible los...

FIFA wins at CAS in latest ruling of lengthy, multi-nation legal battle with soccer player agents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:52 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA won the latest ruling of an international, multi-case fight by soccer player agents to block rules that would regulate their industry and cap their fees.The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it “dismissed in their entirety” arguments put forth by the Zurich-based Professional Football Agents Association, which brought the case.FIFA said the ruling “fully confirms the legality, validity and proportionality of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations.”However, it was unclear how the Swiss-based sports court’s verdict will weigh on national-level cases now in process brought by agents in several different countries, including Switzerland, plus a complaint filed with the European Commission in Brussels.FIFA approved the agent rules last year that are due to take effect on Oct. 1 after thousands of agents worldwide have had the chance to take a $600 examination in either April or September.The most controversial aspect of the rules limit an agent’s earnings at 10% of a tr...