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Colorado teen flouts school policy, wears Mexican and U.S. flag sash to graduation

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

Naomi Peña Villasano. (Photo courtesy of Naomi Peña Villasano)PARACHUTE — A Colorado student barred from wearing a sash representing the flags of Mexico and the United States to her high school graduation did so anyway, partially covering it with another sash representing her participation in a service organization.“Always stand up for what you believe in,” Grand Valley High School graduate Naomi Peña Villasano told the Post Independent of Glenwood Springs after receiving her diploma on Saturday in the west-central Colorado town of Parachute.Peña Villasano’s case is the latest dispute in the U.S. about what kind of cultural graduation attire is allowed at commencement ceremonies.Peña Villasano challenged school officials in court after they said she would be banned from graduation ceremonies if she wore the sash that has stars and stripes on one side and a cactus, eagle and a serpent to represent the Mexican flag on the other side.A federal judge had ruled Friday that the scho...

Safe containing $30K in cash stolen from Pasadena business, police say

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

A Pasadena business is reeling after a safe containing tens of thousands of dollars was stolen late Saturday night.The break-in in the 900 block of North Orange Grove Boulevard was discovered and reported to police Sunday morning, according to a report in the Pasadena Star-News.According to the Pasadena Police Department, it was actually a neighboring business that was broken into. The thieves then created a hole "into the wall leading to an adjacent business, where the stolen safe was located," Lt. Tim Bundy told the Star-News.The three suspects made off with $30,000 cash from the safe, authorities said.

Santa Clara County reports 1% dip in homeless population, 37% spike in unhoused families identified

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

Despite moving thousands of homeless people into permanent homes last year, Santa Clara County saw its unhoused population remain virtually unchanged, even as the number of homeless families spiked, according to preliminary results from its latest “point-in-time” count.The count, taken on a single night in January, identified 9,903 people living outdoors, in vehicles or in homeless shelters across the county. That was a 1% dip from the more than 10,000 homeless people counted at the start of last year.While the county housed around 3,600 homeless people over the course of 2022, officials said it wasn’t enough to overcome rising economic inequality and a severe shortage of affordable housing at the root of homelessness in the Bay Area.“People are still falling into homelessness faster than we can house in any given year,” said KJ Kaminski, deputy director of the county’s Office of Supportive Housing.At first glance, the most alarming figure in the ...

Musical has Saratogans ‘Singing in the Rain’

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

South Bay Musical Theatre is celebrating the return of water falling from the sky with the musical “Singing in the Rain.” The story is based on the 1952 hit movie during the transition from the silent screen to the talkies. If it doesn’t get your toes tapping, it still oughta make you feel good. It’s running at the Saratoga Civic Theater through June 3. https://southbaymt.com/shows/ticket-sales/singin-in-the-rainHats off to the Saratoga Foothill Club for continuing to host the city’s annual Memorial Day Observance. This is a meaningful annual event, honoring all those who have served our country. It is a community bonding experience to gather at Blaney Plaza, then walk together up Oak St. to Madronia Cemetery for the observance.Another very special day for 300 kids with cancer was made possible by many Saratogans who stepped up. “Courageous Kids Day” offered kids in treatment from all over California a chance to have a day away from cancer at Great America. The kids enjoyed all the ...

Saratoga Winery plants milkweed for Monarch restoration

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

The 10 acres of vines at House Family Vineyards, located in the Saratoga hillside, has an intricate ecosystem.The cover crops improve soil health, owls and birds of prey keep the rodent population at bay, and the grapes grown there are turned into House’s wine. But the vineyard manager is adding a new population to the mix: milkweed.The floral plant is used to restore Monarch butterfly habitats across the globe. The species is in danger of extinction from threats to its habitat and food source, and Monarchs lay their eggs solely on milkweed.Vineyard manager Jonathan Goodling sourced 96 milkweed plants from Monarch Watch, a nonprofit education, conservation and research organization based at the University of Kansas.The nonprofit partners with businesses to plant milkweed restoration plants for free. Goodling said they had to wait a year for the organization to have the native milkweed species for the region.While the butterflies will be helping to pollinate plants at the vineyard, G...

How California’s overtime law threatens use of grazing goats to prevent wildfires

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

By TERRY CHEA | Associated PressWEST SACRAMENTO  — Hundreds of goats munch on long blades of yellow grass on a hillside next to a sprawling townhouse complex. They were hired to clear vegetation that could fuel wildfires as temperatures rise this summer.These voracious herbivores are in high demand to devour weeds and shrubs that have proliferated across California after a drought-busting winter of heavy rain and snow.“It’s a huge fuel source. If it was left untamed, it can grow very high. And then when the summer dries everything out, it’s perfect fuel for a fire,” said Jason Poupolo, parks superintendent for the city of West Sacramento, where goats grazed on a recent afternoon.Targeted grazing is part of California’s strategy to reduce wildfire risk because goats can eat a wide variety of vegetation and graze in steep, rocky terrain that’s hard to access. Backers say they’re an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides or weed-whacking machines that are make noise and pollut...

Dare to bare: 20 of the world’s best nude beaches

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

By Joe Yogerst | CNNIt’s been a banner year for nudity around the globe.Berlin recently announced that women can now go topless at the German capital’s public swimming pools while Nantucket Island went topless last December after locals voted in favor of “gender equality on beaches.”After a multi-year Covid hiatus, the Free the Nipple campaign was back with topless parades in New York City, Vancouver, Paris and elsewhere. And the barely veiled female figure was the fashion statement du jour at the Met Gala, Milan Fashion Week, the BRIT Awards in London and other top-shelf events.Meanwhile, there are more places than ever to sun, swim or build sandcastles au naturel at clothing-optional beaches on every continent.From rocky coastlines to talcum-powder fine sands, and big city bays to secluded shores, there are now hundreds of beaches where it’s perfectly legal (or at least de facto legal) to frolic beside the sea in nothing more than your birthday suit.“Soft, smooth sand, warm ocean ...

One dead in shooting near Hwy-87 in San Jose

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

(BCN) -- San Jose police are on the scene of a shooting early Tuesday that injured two people and has closed at least one lane of northbound Highway 87 near Willow Street, according to a 4:52 a.m. tweet from police. Thousands of people drawn to sideshow in Alameda One man and one woman were injured in the shooting. Police confirmed to KRON4 that the man has been pronounced dead, and the shooting occurred at an encampment. No further information was immediately available.

USA Basketball to play host to Puerto Rico in World Cup tuneup at Las Vegas

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

USA Basketball has finalized its schedule of exhibition games leading into this summer’s FIBA World Cup, announcing Tuesday that it will open the five-game slate against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas on Aug. 7.It will be the only World Cup warmup game in the U.S. for the Americans, a team that will be coached by Golden State’s Steve Kerr. His assistants are Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.The roster of NBA players is still being assembled.“Puerto Rico, obviously, we’re familiar with them,” said Grant Hill, managing director of USA Basketball’s men’s national team. “We’ve competed in the World Cup qualifiers, although neither team had their full heavy roster, if you will, its strongest roster. But it’s an opportunity to throw our guys into the fire. The games, the exhibition games, the lead-up, we’re going to get a lot of basketball in us before we play for real. And that’s good.”After the Puerto Rico game, the U.S. will leave for Malaga...

Jabeur bounces back at French Open, Ruud, Gauff and Russian teenager advance

Published Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:39 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Ons Jabeur got a do-over on Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open and won this time.A year after her first-round exit, the No. 7 seed beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-1 Tuesday to help erase some bad memories for the Tunisian and answer questions about a recent calf injury.On his return to Roland Garros after badly damaging an ankle in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal last year, Alexander Zverev also advanced in straight sets. Jabeur, a crowd favorite in Paris, expressed relief in not repeating last year’s mistake, when she lost to Magda Linette of Poland.“I was pretty stressed, I’ve got to say,” Jabeur said. “But I was just trying to play my game. The most important thing for me was to feel healthy and to move well on the court.”Now she can focus on trying to win her first major. She was runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.The 28-year-old Jabeur has battled injuries this season. She had knee surgery after the Australian Open, and was then ...