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The arts aren’t just good for us, they’re good for San Jose’s economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

We hear all the time how important the arts are to building a strong community and how they provide real economic benefit to cities that invest in them. Now there are some numbers to back that up.The newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study shows that nonprofit arts and culture organizations generated $292 million in economic activity in San Jose in 2022 — the major chunk of $384.5 million generated by arts groups in all of Santa Clara County.Randy Cohen, vice president of research at Americans for the Arts, talked about the results before nearly 100 arts and community leaders at a luncheon Friday co-hosted by the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs and SV Creates at the San Jose City Hall Rotunda. San Jose, he said, is a bit of an anomaly compared to the rest of the nation, with a stronger comeback in the arts sector since the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.“San Jose has always been such a great arts epicenter for the region, and it just grows a...

In Concord, a push to reopen 1985 case of young Black man found hanging from a tree at BART station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

CONCORD — Tragedy shook the Bay Area in 1985 after the body of a young Black man from Berkeley was discovered hanging from a fig tree near the Concord BART station — news that reverberated across Northern California and made national headlines.Timothy Charles Lee, a 23-year-old fashion design student and gay man, had fallen asleep on the train after work on Nov. 1, a Friday, in San Francisco. He awoke in Concord, which at that time was the end of the BART line, and called family and friends from a nearby payphone, trying to secure a ride home.Roughly 11 hours later, Lee was found hanging in the tree in a vacant dirt lot off Mt. Diablo Street.Local law enforcement quickly closed the case, deeming Lee’s death a suicide. Police said a suicide note was found nearby, and no evidence of a physical struggle had been recorded in Lee’s autopsy report, which also noted that his blood alcohol level was .13, just above the legal driving limit in the 1980s.But nearly four decades lat...

Live Oak completes incredible rally at Christopher, wins league crown. ‘This was our Super Bowl’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

GILROY — Unfazed by a 21-point deficit just seven minutes into the game, the Live Oak football team came all the way back to beat Christopher 28-24 in a matchup between undefeated teams from neighboring towns in front of a packed house at Christopher.“Unbelievable game,” Live Oak coach Mike Gemo said. “This is a great rivalry, Christopher and Live Oak, has been for years. It comes down to games like this, two teams and two groups of kids that know each other and like to battle against each other.”With the win Live Oak (9-0, 5-0) captures the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division championship, the top division in the 24-team BVAL. Christopher (9-1, 4-1) fell just short.“If Live Oak and Christopher played 10 times in a year it would probably end up 5-5,” Christopher coach Darren Yafai said. “They got us this time. We’re proud of our kids. They played their hearts out to the very end.”Live Oak’s Josh Gagni...

Nepal rushes aid and rescue operations after strong quake shakes its northwest, killing at least 157

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The death toll of a strong earthquake that shook Nepal’s northwest has risen to 157, the National Emergency Operation Center announced Saturday.Most of those killed were crushed by debris when their houses — usually made by stacking rocks and logs — crumbled under the force of the tremblor midnight Friday, local media reported. While rescuers were scrambling to rush much-needed aid to the affected area, operations were hampered by the fact that many of the mountainous villages could only be reached by foot. Roads were also blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Soldiers could be seen trying to clear the blocked roads.The government is trying to get as much aid to the affected areas, deputy prime minister, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said on Saturday. Tents, food and medicine were flown in as thousands became homeless overnight.Besides aid, rescuers are focusing on finding survivors, officials said.“The priority is to find the survivors and take t...

Denver weather: More sunshine and above average temperatures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather is looking to stay dry and warm through the weekend. Temperatures cool off and there is a chance of showers by the middle of next week. Weather today: Sunny and warmWe're kicking off the weekend with plenty of sunshine and warm air. Temperatures will warm into the upper 60s nearing 70 degrees with winds coming out of the southeast around 5-10 mph. Highs will be around 10 degrees warmer than normal for the beginning of November. Weather tonight: More clouds, mildA few more clouds move into the mix this evening as lows sink into the upper 30s and lower 40s. Winds could be breezy at times with gusts up to 20 mph not out of the question.Looking ahead: Staying warm for the first half of the weekWe have a mix of clouds and sunshine to wrap up the weekend as temperatures will stay very warm. Highs tomorrow will be in the lower 70s. Lets keep the warm and dry trend going through Monday. We'll cool off a little bit on Tuesday as we await our next system, brin...

Erdoğan says (again) that Sweden not doing enough against Kurdish militants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Stockholm has not taken sufficient steps to deal with Kurdish militants, raising an earlier objection to Sweden’s request to join NATO after the Swedish bid had seemed to be making progress. Turkey will “try to facilitate the work” on ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO “so long as our counterparts approach us positively,” Erdoğan told reporters on Friday, Reuters reported.His comments come after the Turkish government submitted Sweden’s NATO accession bid to the country’s parliament for ratification last month, ending a months-long guessing game over whether Ankara intended to postpone its approval process further.Erdoğan has demanded that Stockholm both crack down on what he called Kurdish “terrorists” operating in Sweden and relax restrictions on Swedish arms sales to Turkey before he will greenlight Swedish accession to the defense alliance.On a return flight from Kazakhstan,...

1 person injured in Needham as fire officials respond to home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

A person was injured Saturday morning in Needham as state fire officials were responding to a home on Prince Street, officials said.A Department of Fire Services spokesperson said the Needham Fire Department and State Police fire investigators were responding to the home. The person had non-life-threatening injuries, the spokesperson said.A Needham Fire Department official declined to comment on the situation when reached by phone.Town records show the home is a single family residence valued at over $573,000. It was last sold in 2000, according to town records.This is a developing story…

Column: Montez Sweat trade comes down to 1 goal — Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears are seeking to add ‘erasers’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

It’s going to be a lot to ask Montez Sweat to make the impact Khalil Mack had with the Chicago Bears in his first game and before him Julius Peppers.But Ryan Poles was dreaming big when he became the only general manager for a team with a losing record — the Bears enter Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome at 2-6 — to be a buyer at the trade deadline day Tuesday.Poles is banking on Sweat being a difference maker for seasons to come and used the term “eraser” when talking about the need to add elite players to the roster Wednesday after Sweat passed his physical and the trade of a 2024 second-round draft pick to the Washington Commanders was finalized.What does an eraser look like? They come in all shapes and sizes and play nearly every position. You see them routinely when you watch weekend highlights. They come in the form of edge rushers who defeat offensive tackles with aggressive hand moves before bending the c...

Mike Preston: Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton’s versatility, honed since youth, paying off | COMMENTARY

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

When the Ravens struggled last week against the Arizona Cardinals’ rushing attack, they were saved several times by second-year safety Kyle Hamilton, who finished the game with 10 tackles, including nine unassisted.That’s why safeties are important.They are the last line of defense, and the Ravens haven’t had a quality player at the position since Bernard Pollard in 2012, which is also the last time they won a Super Bowl.Hamilton isn’t a thumper like Pollard, not yet anyway, but he could become that kind of enforcer. In his second season, the first-round selection out of Notre Dame is fourth on the team in tackles (42) and is tied for third in sacks (three).And he still might add a little more weight and muscle to that 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame.Ouch.“It’s almost like he’s across the board gotten so much better, but I would say — if I was going to pick the number one thing that he’s really improved at — it’s just under...

From lowriders to hot rods, this weekends' Bomb Fest will have it all

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:59 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- More than 300 cars are expected to be on display at the Embarcadero Marina Park North near downtown Saturday.A San Diego tradition is being kept alive for another year as the annual Bomb Fest welcomes riders of classic cars, mini trucks, and more to gather at the city's vibrant waterfront this weekend.Event organizers say all cars and trucks from 1954 and beyond are welcome, as well as all lowrider bicycles and motorcycles. There's still time to register your vehicle ahead of the event. John Lennon’s art collection unveiled in San Diego for first time in a decade A "best of show" cash prize will be awarded, along with car club participation prizes."We got a lot in store this year," said Bomb Fest organizer Jose Arevalo." We have cars coming from all over -- from Colorado to Mexico City, we have cars coming from Northern California." Aside from some unique cars and specialty wheels, attendees can expect to enjoy a live performances by Soto the Band, Pepe Marquez a...