NFL legend Dick Butkus dies at 80

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

NFL legend Dick Butkus dies at 80 Dick Butkus, a former NFL player who is considered to be one the greatest linebackers of all time, has died, TMZ reported. He was 80 years old.Sources told TMZ Sports that paramedics responded to a call for a medical emergency at Butkus' residence in Malibu around 12:50 p.m. Thursday. Butkus was pronounced dead at the scene.Butkus family confirmed the news in a statement on X, formally known as Twitter. Butkus was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1965 and spent his entire professional career with his hometown team. During his time in the NFL, he earned many accolades, including two awards for Defensive Player of the Year and playing in eight consecutive Pro Bowls, multiple media outets reported. Butkus was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.The Chicago Bears organization also released a statement on Butkus' passing. "Dick was the ultimate Bear and one of the greatest players in NFL history," the statement, posted on X, said. "He was Chicago's son. He exuded what our ...

One Pronounced Dead after Wrong-Way Accident on Interstate 10 [Tucson, AZ]

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

One Pronounced Dead after Wrong-Way Accident on Interstate 10 [Tucson, AZ] Head-On Collision Between Two Vehicles Resulted in One Death on I-10TUCSON, AZ (October 5, 2023) – On Sunday evening, one person died in a deadly wrong-way accident on Interstate 10.The incident occurred around 9:10 p.m., September 24th, in the westbound lanes of the interstate near Vail.According to the Arizona DPS, a vehicle was traveling east in the westbound lanes and collided head-on with a vehicle in the westbound lanes.Furthermore, the responding authorities pronounced the wrong-way driver dead at the scene and the involved driver suffered life-threatening injuries, and a passenger obtained injuries.Consequently, the paramedics airlifted the involved driver to the nearest Tucson hospital, and the passenger was transported via ground ambulance.Following the incident, the authorities have not yet added any information regarding the collision. An active investigation is still ongoing.Sweet James sends out their heartfelt sympathies to the friends and family of the victim w...

An Immersive Chat with the Twisted Minds Behind Saw X

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

An Immersive Chat with the Twisted Minds Behind Saw X Beyond the blood and guts (a glut of guts!) seen in SAW X, the latest installment of the SAW franchise offers a chance to get to know John Kramer aka Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) on a more intimate level, returning to the period between the original film and its sequel, when Kramer discovers he has terminal brain cancer.In a group therapy session, the protagonist comes to grips with his mortality (a theme that runs through all SAW movies) even as he looks for medical treatments that might reverse his condition. Later, he happens upon a man from the group who seems to have found a cure via an experimental treatment in Mexico. This sets up a journey of hope that’s surprisingly touching for a SAW movie, especially for anyone who’s seen the previous ones and knows how merciless Kramer can be.His reasons for taking the lives of others was always based on something beyond violence and vengeance: accountability, appreciation for life, and the consequences of choice. This newly expanded ...

Kaiser health care strike: Driven and likely to boost a labor-action surge

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

Kaiser health care strike: Driven and likely to boost a labor-action surge A massive strike by Kaiser Permanente workers, including 23,000 in the Bay Area, is part of a surge in union activity this year from Detroit to Hollywood, and will likely bring greater bargaining power to workers in health care and other industries, experts say.Kaiser’s strike followed the Sept. 30 expiration of the union contract for tens of thousands of workers. Other high-profile strikes, including a successful labor action by Hollywood writers and an ongoing strike among auto workers — and even a threatened strike by UPS employees that was a key tactic in negotiating a favorable contract — likely gave confidence to Kaiser workers, said John Logan, chair of the Labor and Employment Studies department at San Francisco State University.“When they see things like that, they think, ‘Yes, now is the time to do this. We can do it, too,'” Logan said.The job action over wages, understaffing and other issues that took 75,000 Kaiser workers across the U....

80% of Italians say they’re Catholic, few attend church regularly

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

80% of Italians say they’re Catholic, few attend church regularly By Giovanna Dell’Orto | Associated PressISOLA DEL GRAN SASSO, Italy — Two children scribbled petitions to St. Gabriele dell’Addolorata in the vast sanctuary where the young saint is venerated in this central Italian mountain village. Andrea, 6, asked for blessings for his family and pets. Sofia, 9, gave thanks for winning a dance competition.Their parents bring them here often, as their father’s own family did, and consider themselves better Catholics than many. The mother, Carmela Forino, even says a prayer for forgiveness when she hears someone utter a common blasphemy on the sanctuary esplanade.But they rarely go to Mass and don’t receive Communion because they are not married, thus shunning two sacraments the Catholic Church considers foundational.“I practice where I want. Every morning I pray on my own,” Forino said in the sanctuary room filled with votive offerings, from baby bibs to sports jerseys, left by 2 million annual visitors to San G...

George Kittle combats scoring drought by noting that ‘Niners are winning’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

George Kittle combats scoring drought by noting that ‘Niners are winning’ SANTA CLARA — A grin washed over Brock Purdy’s face Thursday when asked if he feels any guilt about not getting George Kittle the ball more, or if that’s a moot point when the 49ers keep scoring 30 points and keep winning.“Everyone has their big games. It’s just sort of how the play calls go,” Purdy responded. “If it were up to me, I’d love to have all my guys, including George, go for 150 every game and four touchdowns. But it’s just the nature of the game, and every game is different.”Sunday night’s game is against the Cowboys, who’ll be looking to avenge playoff losses to the 49ers each of the past two seasons. Last January, with the score tied 9-9, Purdy and Kittle improvised for a 30-yard completion to midfield, sparking a go-ahead touchdown drive in the 49ers’ 19-12 divisional-playoff win.“That was nice, right?” Kittle said of that catch. “… When the ball’s thrown your way, you have to make the...

The top seven most expensive home sales in Milpitas, reported the week of Sep. 18

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

The top seven most expensive home sales in Milpitas, reported the week of Sep. 18 A house that sold for $3 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Milpitas in the past week.In total, seven residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.5 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $856.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Sep. 18 even if the property may have been sold earlier.7. $600,000, condominium in the 100 block of Junipero DriveThe property in the 100 block of Junipero Drive in Milpitas has new owners. The price was $600,000. The condominium was built in 1971 and has a living area of 882 square feet. The price per square foot is $680. The condominium features two bedrooms and one bathrooms.Junipero Drive6. $1.1 million, condominium in the 1500 block of Larkwood CourtThe 1,547 square-foot condominium in the 1500 block of Larkwood Court, Milpitas, has been sold. The transfer of ownership ...

Letters: Solving homelessness | Newsom veto | ICE’s targets | False assumptions | Harboring hatred

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

Letters: Solving homelessness | Newsom veto | ICE’s targets | False assumptions | Harboring hatred Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Does nation have willto solve homelessness?Re: “Poll: Homelessness frustrates residents” (Page A1, Oct. 2).The front-page article identified the economic and safety concerns that definitely need attention. What is missing, though, is the frustration (and outrage) that we have a homeless population in our nation at all.We have the capacity to end much of homelessness. Do we have the political and moral will to do so? What are the systems and biases that accept homelessness as inevitable? One wonders where we go from here.Kim RisedorphDanvilleNewsom maderight call with vetoRe: “Newsom says no to jobless benefits for those on strike” (Page B1, Oct. 2).Gov. Newsom (wisely) vetoed the bill to pay unemployment benefits to striking workers, and Sen. Portantino (who wrote it), laments, “The hardworking women and men in California need to put food on their table and pay their rent. … SB799...

Mystery objects falling from the sky may be spider 'balloons'

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

Mystery objects falling from the sky may be spider 'balloons' (KRON) -- Local residents in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and Capitola sent KRON4 photographs and videos this week of mysterious objects falling on their neighborhoods. Morgan Hill resident Gina Watson shot images of strange, white webby objects that fell "from my house all the way to work," she said.John E. Banks, an environmental sciences professor at California State University Monterey Bay, said the objects are likely silky webs created by spiders that are ballooning. "No one has definitively figured out what they are, but they appear to be spider silk," Banks told KRON4.(Photo by Gina Watson)"Some of these sightings have been so far flung that people are wondering, why we are seeing these all at once?" Banks said.Ballooning is a skill several spiders species use to travel from one habitat to another. A spider will weave its own parachute or "balloon" and drift through the sky with help from wind, Banks explained. The spider is carried by the wind with hopes of reaching a location that ...

Another Bay Area city bans remote public comment from council meetings

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:28:53 GMT

Another Bay Area city bans remote public comment from council meetings (KRON) -- The City of Burlingame will no longer allow remote public comment at city council and commission meetings, according to a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday. The San Mateo County city said the ban was in response to recent "Zoom-bombing" at city council and commission meetings.Individuals espousing anti-Semitic rhetoric have disrupted meetings around the Bay Area, according to the city. "This is unacceptable, hurtful, and goes against the City Council's commitment to remain 'United Against Hate,'" the posted statement said. Suspect arrested in fatal Union City mobile home park stabbing Burlingame's announcement cited a recent Monterey City Council meeting in which white supremacists used fake names, including those of infamous Nazis. Callers in that meeting espoused "hateful and ignorant speech," the City of Burlingame said.Similar incidents have occurred with remote commentators at recent city council meetings in Walnut Creek, San Mateo, San Carlos, Pa...