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Crowd control at SoFi Stadium isn’t limited to people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

With a wingspan of three feet and a menacing beak, Sol has an important job at SoFi Stadium.To limit the number of nuisance birds."She's a predator. They're prey,” says George Herrera, SoFi Stadium’s official falconer.Sol is a female Harris hawk who is part of an eco-friendly program that was set up before the Inglewood stadium opened in 2020. When she swoops in, other birds scatter.Sol, a Harris hawk, scares away seagulls at a Rivers Lake at SoFi Stadium. November 2023. (KTLA)“They see a threat coming right at them,” Herrera says.Seagulls, ducks, pigeons and geese often find easy snacks at the stadium when thousands of fans gather for NFL games, other sporting events, or concerts. With these nuisance birds come heaps of droppings and shredded trash. The L.A. Rams are moving their practice facility Sol's job is to simply be herself. She doesn’t typically harm the other birds but, to them, the threat is real."There could be birds on the ledge, as soon as they see me pull up, they l...

Fillmore man arrested for burglary hours after being released from jail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

A man was arrested in connection to a residential burglary hours after he was released from jail, authorities with the Ventura Police Department announced Wednesday.The suspect, 30-year-old Fillmore resident Oscar Ramos, was taken into custody for "burglary and resisting, delaying, or obstructing police officers" on Tuesday. Ramos was eventually booked at the Ventura County Jail, the same place he was released from that morning, a news release said. 10 Freeway fire set with ‘malice intent,’ Newsom says On Tuesday, a resident who lives on the 600 block of County Square Drive in Ventura was notified that the suspect had gained entry into their home. The resident was not home at the time and officers responded to the scene shortly after.Authorities didn't disclose the resident's identity. Ramos initially walked out of the home but retreated inside when he saw police officers. About 20 minutes later, Ramos exited the house and was taken into custody.Before his recent arrest, Ramos was...

Sean Cornwall Hurt in Red-Light Crash on South Valley View Boulevard [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

49-Year-Old Man Hospitalized after Auto Accident near Flamingo RoadLAS VEGAS, NV (November 15, 2023) – Sean Cornwall suffered injuries Sunday morning in a collision at a red light on South Valley View Boulevard. Emergency responders arrived at the scene around 3:10 a.m., near Flamingo Road.According to reports, the driver of a 2004 Toyota Corolla was traveling east on Flamingo with a green light. However, the driver of a northbound 2016 Toyota Tundra entered the intersection on a red light, colliding with the right side of the Corolla.The impact resulted in significant damage to both vehicles. The Corolla’s driver sustained life-threatening injuries, necessitating immediate transportation to UMC Trauma in critical condition. After completing initial responsibilities, law enforcement arrested 49-year-old Cornwall on charges related to driving under the influence.Currently, an ongoing investigation seeks additional information. Further details will be provided once they be...

Letters: Short of justice | Toll roads | Valley buildings | Climate legislation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Ex-trainer’s sentencefalls short of justiceRe: “Ex-SJSU trainer sentenced to 2 years in prison for sexually abusing athletes” (Nov. 14).Upon reading the article about ex-SJSU trainer Scott Shaw sentenced only to a two-year sentence for sexually violating many SJSU students, I am outraged, not only by our justice system for the sentencing and restitution to the victims not being enough for his heinous actions, but also at the fact that he will still receive his pension.His abuse of power as a trainer, and his taking advantage of so many young women, has broken my trust in the university.Alivia MartinezSan JoseMTC’s toll road planshould be rejectedThe MTC is considering making all lanes of Bay Area freeways tolled. Good intentions cannot pave new transit lines or construct infrastructure upgrades.I understand and support efforts to encourage greater transit use and reduce emissions ...

Students and teachers shout down San Leandro school board after firing of popular principal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

Police were called to a chaotic San Leandro Unified school district board meeting Tuesday night as hundreds of San Leandro High School students and teachers protested the dismissal of their beloved principal, Dr. Ronald Richardson.Over the course of the evening, students and teachers shouted down board president Peter Oshinski, threatened to go on a hunger strike, and reduced Superintendent Michael McLaughin to bargaining–and even begging–for the crowd to allow the meeting to continue.It was a striking scene, as primarily Black and Brown students excoriated a mostly white board for dismissing a Black principal who they say served as a role model, made them feel safe, and turned San Leandro High School around.According to parents at San Leandro High School, Richardson, affectionately known by the community as “R.O.,” was put on leave without explanation a few weeks ago. Then on Sunday night, parents were informed by email that Richardson “would not be returning to SLHS”.A...

Bay Area News Group reporters, photographers honored with NorCal journalism awards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

East Bay Times and San Jose Mercury News reporters and photographers won top honors in this year’s annual Excellent in Journalism awards, which highlights the best journalism in Northern California.The NorCal chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists named Nate Gartrell the 2023 Journalist of the Year, the organization’s highest annual honor.The SPJ board acknowledged Gartrell’s prolific nature of the past year — he had more than 600 bylines — but said it was “the depth of his criminal justice reporting” that “demands the attention of the Bay Area, especially in Antioch.”Gartrell, a courts reporter, led news coverage of a police corruption scandal in Antioch and Pittsburg that led to policy changes within the Antioch police force, before ultimately ending in the indictment of 14 police officers.“Gartrell has woven together extensive records and key leaks that shined a bright light on Antioch,” SPJ NorCal’s board wrote in a press release Tuesday. “During this time, the publi...

FDA authorizes home tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

By Jen Christensen | CNNThe US Food and Drug Administration has greenlit the first test for chlamydia and gonorrhea that will allow users to collect samples at home. After HIV, this is the first FDA-authorized test that will allow more accessible home collection for a sexually transmitted infection.The Simple 2 Test, made by New York- and Dublin-based LetsGetChecked, got FDA market authorization Wednesday.Up until now, people concerned that they might have chlamydia or gonorrhea would have to get tested at a doctor’s office.Users of the new test won’t need a prescription and can activate it online. They fill out a health questionnaire for a clinician to go over, collect a vaginal swab or urine sample using the Simple 2 collection kit and then send it in to be evaluated. Test results are delivered online. If the test is positive or if the results are invalid, a health care provider follows up.“This authorization marks an important public health milestone, giving patients more informa...

Finalist for NL Cy Young, SF Giants’ Logan Webb finishes as runner-up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

A banner year for Logan Webb, which began with the Giants’ homegrown ace inking an extension that will keep him in San Francisco for the next five years and featured career-highs in innings and strikeouts, ended in a runner-up finish for the National League Cy Young.Webb, 26, placed second behind the Padres’ Blake Snell, who became the seventh pitcher in MLB history to win the honor in both leagues. The Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen, the other finalist, finished third, followed by Spencer Strider, Justin Steele, Zack Wheeler, Kodai Senga and Corbin Burnes.While Webb led the majors in innings pitched, one of only five starters with 200 or more, Snell separated himself from the pack with his strong finish. Allowing two runs over his final six starts, Snell lowered his ERA to 2.25, a full point lower than Webb’s, giving him the upper hand despite throwing only 180 innings to Webb’s 216.The highest finish for a Giants pitcher since Tim Lincecum won the award in ...

Bosa not compelled to taunt Mayfield anymore when 49ers face Buccaneers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa stood at the same spot in front of his locker and talked about Baker Mayfield, only Wednesday’s words came out more endearing than four years ago.“He’s definitely scrappy, and he’s tougher than he looks in the pocket with escapability and athleticism,” Bosa said.Sorry, folks, Bosa no longer feels the need to needle Mayfield about a college feud from their days at Ohio State and Oklahoma, respectively.“I’ve never had anything against him. It was just a joke as a rookie,” Bosa said of his antics in an October 2019 win over Mayfield and the visiting Cleveland Browns. “It was fun. My celebrations as a rookie were pretty good.”Now, Bosa wouldn’t mind repeating his shoulders-shrug sack dance a few times Sunday, when Mayfield returns to Levi’s Stadium with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4) for a cross-country matchup with the 49ers (6-3).Bosa said he had a nice time meeting Mayfield off the field at this past ...

In need of a Hells Angels expert, Santa Clara County’s DA turned to an Antioch cop on leave in racist text case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:17 GMT

Unable to carry his Antioch Police Department-issued badge or gun after being named in a sprawling racist texting scandal, Officer Thomas Lenderman has found another way to put those sidelined policing skills to work.He’s testifying as Santa Clara County prosecutors’ hand-picked gang expert in a case against members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and the group’s alleged ties to two brutal beatings during a Chris Stapleton concert last year at Mountain View’s Shoreline Amphitheater.All of this, despite Lenderman having spent the past six months on paid administrative leave from his day job in Antioch.His testimony in late October and early November marked a new twist in one of the Bay Area’s largest police scandals in decades. While several other Antioch officers on leave tried desperately in recent months to avoid appearing in court — even going so far as to cite “industrial injuries” for their absences — Lenderman put up no...