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Oakland: Family identifies mother of five who was stabbed to death in unsolved homicide

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

OAKLAND — A 54-year-old woman has been identified as the person whose badly decomposed body was discovered in a residential neighborhood last month.Senne Monique Casey, of Oakland, was stabbed to death last month by a yet-to-be-identified person, police say. Her nude body was found wrapped in a blanket on the 2700 block of 79th Avenue in Oakland on Aug. 14.A GoFundMe page for Casey, launched by her eldest daughter, describes her as a dedicated mother and grandmother who had five children who was recently able to “get herself together” after a long struggle with addiction.“Our mom’s greatest blessing was her children, and grandchildren. She loved us so much, and wanted to be the best mom she could be for all of us and she was proud of us,” the GoFundMe page says.Police say they’re investigating several leads but have yet to make an arrest or publicly identify a suspect. They also haven’t said whether she was killed in the area or dumped...

The complicated truth about San Francisco

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

By Laura Kiniry | CNNSan Francisco is undeniably having a moment.Over the past year, headlines claiming the city is caught in a spiraling “doom loop” have become so prominent that a city commissioner decided to cash in on downtown San Francisco’s storefront vacancies, homelessness and opioid issues by anonymously advertising an hour-and-a-half long tour showcasing “doom and squalor.” For $30 a person, you could see the city’s “open-air drug markets” and “abandoned tech offices” first-hand.However, just before it was scheduled to take place, the tour was canceled (and the commissioner ultimately resigned). Instead a more “positive” walk organized by a local nonprofit guided participants through the city’s Tenderloin, highlighting a neighborhood that’s long been a poster child for the city’s hardships.While people sleeping on sidewalks and drug use were still visible, it focused on the community’s more positive attributes, including a rich history, art and a career center that’s worki...

Pac-12 picks of the week: Finding the hidden intrigue on a Saturday lacking high-profile matchups

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

The only marquee matchup on the Pac-12 schedule this week features Washington venturing to Big Ten country to face Michigan State.But take a broader view, and you’ll find at least two other games worthy of scrutiny: Oregon State’s lunchtime date with San Diego State and Washington State’s afternoon affair with Northern Colorado.The intrigue isn’t so much in the outcome — both games should be lopsided — but the implications: Victories by the No. 16 Beavers and No. 23 Cougars would create a collision of undefeated, ranked teams next week in the ‘Pac-2’ title game.WSU and OSU, the two schools left behind in the realignment game and the only remaining members of the conference as of next summer, are set for a Sept. 23 showdown in Pullman. The duel will be broadcast on network television (FOX) at 4 p.m.If the teams win this week, both will be 3-0 and ranked at the time of kickoff.And the goal for any conference, after all, is to have undefe...

West Valley school district awarded $180,000 in grants for school lunch program

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District was awarded $180,018 in federal and state grant funding for its revamped school lunch program that enhances both the nutritional quality of the district’s cafeteria menus and its science curriculum.Chef Paul Boundas last year transformed both Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools’ “heat and serve” model into a fully functional kitchen where everything is made from scratch. Students have been eating up the change, and the school district said more than 1,000 students at LGHS and more than 700 students at SHS are eating school lunches every day.The grant funds will go toward equipment and supplies and cafeteria staff training at both schools.A large portion of the grant funds will go toward renovating Los Gatos High’s snack shack into a food preparation and serving area to keep up with the growing demand at the school.The California Department of Education’s School Food Best Practice Funding grant gave $55,218 of ...

Suspect makes criminal threats toward Saratoga church

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

AUG. 28Reckless evading: At 2:59 a.m., deputies responded to an automated license plate reader notification for a vehicle with a stolen license plate at Saratoga Avenue and Highway 85. An investigation revealed the plate was previously stolen from Santa Clara and was still outstanding. The vehicle was located a short time later, and deputies attempted to stop it, but the driver did not yield, recklessly evading, and the pursuit was ultimately terminated in the interest of public safety.AUG. 29Altering and brandishing an imitation firearm: At 5:32 p.m., deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle call regarding a road rage incident that just occurred on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road at Sea Gull Way. An investigation revealed the driver pointed an altered imitation firearm at the victim’s vehicle. The suspect was located, cited and released.AUG. 31Identity theft: A Saratoga resident reported that someone used their personal information and attempted to obtain a credit account. No financial l...

Stanford’s Taylor keeping Sacramento State guessing if it’ll be Daniels or Lamson at QB on Saturday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

For the second time in three games, Stanford won’t announce its starting quarterback before kickoff.Sophomore Ashton Daniels made his first start in the season opener – a decision first-year Cardinal head coach Troy Taylor kept under wraps leading up to the game. Daniels threw two touchdown passes and ran for 42 yards as Stanford won 37-24 at Hawaii, which appeared to solidify his role as the starter. But Daniels threw an interception on the opening drive against USC and was 2 of 7 passing for 19 yards before leaving the blowout loss early in the second quarter with an apparent arm injury.Syracuse transfer Justin Lamson played the rest of the way against the Trojans, leading both Stanford scoring drives in the 56-10 drubbing. He ran 16 times (the most by a Stanford quarterback in 27 years) for 36 yards and completed 8 of 18 passes for 121 yards. Lamson also fumbled once.Taylor said that Daniels was cleared to play on Saturday against Sacramento State, but he wouldn’t say if Daniels ...

Opinion: Outstanding Saratoga citizens recognized at State of City

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

Each year, the State of the City is an occasion to acknowledge our community’s achievements and those that made an impact. Our community came together for this year’s State of the City on Sept. 9 in Wildwood Park in a true celebration of the exceptional individuals and organizations that have dedicated themselves to Saratoga.This year, we introduced the Courage in Leadership Award. To select the recipient, I looked to the community to nominate a resident who inspires others through their acts of courage, compassion, resilience and ability to lead without any formal titles or authority.After carefully reviewing the compelling nominations, I selected Tsing Bardin as the 2023 Courage in Leadership Award recipient for being a fearless champion for the residents of the Saratoga Retirement Community and committing countless hours ensuring that the members of the Saratoga Retirement Community have a voice in the future of their city. As a member of the city council, I have appreciated Tsin...

With future of Cal’s Olympic sports teams in question, this program just received a $10 million gift

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

For decades, Andy Rogers’ family has been an ardent supporter of the Cal men’s rowing program. But with the ever-present threat of budget cuts to Olympic sports heightened by the destruction of the Pac-12 conference,  Rogers believed he needed to dig deeper.To that end, Rogers, on behalf of the T. Gary and Kathleen Rogers Family Foundation, is committing up to $10 million to the men’s rowing program at Cal. The gift, which will be announced by the school Wednesday, includes a $5-million guarantee to be paid over 10 years plus a 1:1 match of donations up to $5 million.Cal says it’s the third-largest gift in the 10-year history of its “Campaign for Cal Athletics Excellence.” The other two were $12.5 million to establish a holistic student-athlete development program and $10.8 million to support six women’s sports.“For Olympic sports — especially men’s rowing – to stick around, you have to support them,” Rogers said, “or watch them go away.”Rogers’ father, known...

Man brandishes replica firearm at driver, passenger

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

Sept. 4Overnight in the 1700 block of South Bascom Avenue: Someone broke the window to a business.10:15 a.m. in the 90 block of West Campbell Avenue: A transient man, 42, was called in as being suspicious on the property. He was found to be under the influence and in possession of a glass pipe and meth.3:53 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Winchester Boulevard: A man, 39, was dancing naked in the parking lot of a business and was found to be under the influence.4 p.m. at South Bascom Avenue and Campisi Way: A driver, 29, collided with a fire hydrant and was found to be DUI on Nitroxide and cocaine.3:45 a.m. in the 00 block of East Sunnyoaks Avenue: Someone took the rims and tires off a Camaro parked in the parking lot.5:13 p.m. in the 100 block of Budd Avenue: A woman, 50, collided with two parked cars and was found to be DUI. She had her 11-year-old daughter in the car with her at the time of the collision.9:26 p.m. at White Oaks Road and Browning Avenue: A woman, 36, was found pass...

Bay Area News Group high school football predictions: Week 4, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:10:36 GMT

Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s weekly high school football picks.Last week, the three of us in this all-for-fun competition — myself, Joseph Dycus and Mike Lefkow — were all tied in the season standings with 18-14 records.Well, we’re not even any longer.I had one of my best weeks as I aim for three consecutive season championships, going 13-2 to lead Lefkow by four games and Dycus by five.Lefkow went 10-5 in Week 3. Dycus was 8-7.One game — Campolindo-Windsor — was removed from the board because the teams tied 14-14.Dycus has a shot to quickly close the gap because he and I had different winners in nine of the 16 games we predict this week.Lefkow and I saw eye-to-eye in 15 of the 16.In this week’s video, we break down the MyClymonds-San Ramon Valley showdown and whether either will have a shot to become the first East Bay team in 32 years to beat De La Salle later this season.We also look at the keys to the St. Mary’s of Sto...