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South Bay restaurants strive to make employees feel valued

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Workshop for Bay Area high school students, a two-week intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.Known for the authenticity of its food, Luna Mexican Kitchen is a small locally owned  business that not only welcomes its customers but also acknowledges its workers by showing appreciation in multiple ways.Behind the scenes, co-owners John Lopez and his wife Jo Lerma-Lopez have built a family culture at their two restaurants —– one on The Alameda in San Jose and the other in the Pruneyard in Campbell — with elaborate Christmas and Easter events, and even bowling nights.“They do not see the employees as machines. They see them as human beings,” said Jose Cerda, manager of the kitchen at the San Jose restaurant. “It’s important to the owners for us to be balanced between work and family.”Owners Jo Lerma-Lopez, left, and John Lo...

Oakland: Man who allegedly conscripted a getaway driver after killing a person to get 21 years in plea deal

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

OAKLAND — A Bay area man is set to be sentenced to 21 years in a case where he allegedly kidnapped a getaway driver after killing a man in the city’s Arroyo Viejo neighborhood.John Fritz Jr., 44, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and use of a gun in the death of 48-year-old Kevin Williams, and admitted to having a prior conviction. In exchange, prosecutors dropped murder, carjacking, and kidnapping charges against him. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday and remains in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in the meantime.Williams was shot and killed on the morning of Nov. 3, 2020, near 79th Avenue and Holly Street in Oakland. Police described the killing as an attempted robbery that went awry, and that Fritz shot Williams as he was attempting to run away.Afterwards, Fritz allegedly pointed his gun at a passing motorist and forced the man to take him away from the area. Witnesses and “digital evidence” helped police identify Fritz as a suspect, investi...

Winery Adventure: Exploring Napa Valley’s glorious Castello di Amorosa

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

Napa Valley’s spectacular Castello di Amorosa is a bit like Alcatraz. Oh, not in appearance, of course! But this re-created medieval castle and the infamous federal prison are icons. They’re places you send out-of-town visitors to be wowed — but somehow never really go to yourself. We set out to fix that on a recent sunny Saturday, winding our way north to Calistoga to explore Dario Sattui’s famous winery.With its massive crenellated stone towers, its drawbridge and moat and expansive grounds, the castle is a stunning sight as it comes into view. It’s even more stunning on the inside, where Tuscan-style frescos and period pieces would make a Medici feel right at home.The backstory: The Sattui family is a Napa Valley wine legend. Dario’s great grandfather, Vittorio Sattui, founded St. Helena Wine Cellars in 1885. And Dario Sattui, a fourth-generation winemaker, has always been passionate about wine, about the family business — which he relaunched i...

Watch: 13-year-old girl is first female skateboarder to land a 720 in competition

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

(CNN) — Australian teenager Arisa Trew has become the first female to land a 720 – a skateboarding trick involving two full rotations while in the air – as she competed in the Tony Hawk Vert Alert event on Saturday.Arisa Trew at a competition in Japan in May 2023.Credit: Kenichiro Ogane/AFLO/Shutterstock/File In 1985, legendary skateboarder Hawk became the first to complete the trick. He was present at his namesake competition in Salt Lake City, and said on Instagram that the 13-year-old Trew “brought the house down.”She won the women’s competition at the event.“I can’t believe I landed my first 720!!! And to be the first girl in the world to land a 7 in competition,” an ecstatic Trew said on Instagram, before thanking those who helped her achieve this accomplishment.Her coach Trevor Ward also took to Instagram to talk about the process of the teen making history and the battle between Trew and 16-year-old German skater Lilly Stoephasius to land the trick.“What an amazing...

How median price for a 1-bedroom apartment in SF compares to national average

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The median price for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is about twice the national average, according to a new report from Zumper. The median price for a one-bedroom according to Zumper's National average remained flat month-over-month at $1,504.San Francisco's median price for a one-bedroom also remained flat but still comes in at $3,000, nearly twice the national average. In terms of rental markets for one-bedrooms, SF is ranked third by Zumper -- behind New York City in first and Jersey City in second. This California county is most expensive in U.S. for renters, and it’s not SF For a two-bedroom apartment, San Francisco ranks second, just behind NYC at $4,130. That's more than double the national median, which increased slightly to $1,891, according to Zumper.Other Bay Area cities mentioned in the Zumper report remained flat month-over-month. San Jose is ranked sixth nationally with a median monthly rate of $2,600 for a one-bedroom. Oakland, just...

Rose Zhang missing Solheim Cup points under archaic LPGA policy

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis made her professional debut in 2008 in the U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen, had a one-shot lead going into the final round and wound up in a tie for third behind Inbee Park.Her earnings of $162,487 did not count toward trying to earn an LPGA Tour card because the LGPA did not co-sponsor the U.S. Women’s Open. Lewis ended up winning Q-school and before long was on her way to 12 victories, including two majors. The policy since has been changed.That’s notable now because she might have to use a captain’s pick on Rose Zhang, who has shown her worth in two big tournaments. Zhang won the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National in her pro debut. Three weeks later, she was within one shot of the lead until a bogey on the 16th hole at Baltusrol in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She tied for eighth.Because of archaic LPGA policy, Zhang does not get credit for her victory because she became a member after she won. That cost h...

England opts for all-seam attack in 2nd Ashes test while Australia ponders who to leave out

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

LONDON (AP) — After an oh-so-close loss in the first Ashes test, England is adamant about sticking with Bazball.England has been defending its chancy policy since even before the match finished a week ago at Edgbaston, where tailenders Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon pushed Australia over the line in the final hour of the last day by two wickets.The teams begin the second test on Wednesday at Lord’s. Conditions — grassy pitch and more cloud — are expected to be friendlier for bowlers than the road at Edgbaston. Yet, England will be taking the same no-fear approach.“If anything, we need to double down on how we do it, completely back ourselves and make sure we get those one percenters right at Lord’s,” England linchpin Joe Root said.Coach Brendon (Baz) McCullum added, “The way that we played validated our style. You’re not always going to win and we understand that, but we want to keep getting up and throwing punches as a team.”The Bazball era began a year ago at Lord’s...

Iconic TKTS booth in Times Square celebrates 50 years of Broadway ticket discounts

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — When Jay-Z and Alicia Keys filmed the video for “Empire State of Mind,” their valentine to New York City, they naturally ended up in Times Square, singing on illuminated red glass steps. It was no mere set: It was two New York icons standing on another.Their stage was the top of the TKTS booth, which has become part of the city’s visual and financial DNA and a key part in keeping Broadway going. This week that booth is celebrating its 50th birthday, with the city celebrating on Wednesday with songs and speeches. “It is so intrinsically linked with the city,” says Victoria Bailey, executive director of the non-profit TDF, formerly known as the Theatre Development Fund, which runs the booth. “It has kind of always been a symbol.”It’s a discount ticket booth where same-day Broadway and off-Broadway shows can be more affordable for those who balk at prices pushing past $300 a seat for some musicals. About 30% of the people who line up are first-time Broadway ...

Georgia governor attacks Biden’s electric vehicle policy at federally-backed battery plant

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is escalating his attack on President Joe Biden’s electric vehicle policy, speaking Tuesday at the groundbreaking for a company that received more than $100 million to refine graphite for electric batteries from the infrastructure law Biden signed. “Georgia’s electric mobility boom is taking place because our state is second to none for companies looking to invest, relocate, expand, and innovate – not because the federal government continues to put their thumb on the scale, favoring a few companies over the industry as a whole,” Kemp said, according to advance remarks of his speech at Anovion Technologies.The remarks are unusually partisan for a factory groundbreaking. Anovion’s $800 million investment promises 400 new jobs in rural Bainbridge, in the state’s far southwest corner.Georgia has been a top beneficiary of a nationwide electric vehicle investment boom, with more than 40 electric vehicle-related projects since 2020 pledgin...

Scientists use stem cells to create models of human embryos and study our earliest days

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:13:59 GMT

Scientists have created embryo models to help study the mysteries of early human development, the medical problems that happen before birth and why many pregnancies fail.These models are made from stem cells, not egg and sperm, and can’t grow into babies. “They’re complete enough to give you a picture of what may be happening in the embryo during pregnancy, but they’re not so complete that you could actually use them for reproduction,” said Insoo Hyun, an ethicist and director of life sciences at Boston’s Museum of Science. “It just will not work.”Using models also avoids the controversy of using real embryos in research, he said.Several groups are working on the research. Teams with researchers from the United States and England shared their work in two studies published Tuesday in the journal Nature. Other scientists in Israel and China published studies on their work earlier this month that have not yet been reviewed by peers.While previous models mimicked pre-embryos, Hyun said ...