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San Jose: Excessive force lawsuit from 2020 George Floyd protests cleared for trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

SAN JOSE — Another excessive force lawsuit stemming from the 2020 George Floyd protests in downtown San Jose has been cleared for trial, this time involving a man claiming ongoing injuries from being hit in the leg with a police projectile, a munition that drew national scorn to the city and swift changes over its use for crowd control.Earlier this month, federal Judge Beth Labson Freeman denied most of the city of San Jose’s attempts to get Kyle Johnson’s lawsuit thrown out at the summary judgment phase, paving the way for a trial in the new year.It would be at least the third excessive force lawsuit from the protests — which garnered national infamy for violent police tactics highlighted by officers prolifically using rubber and foam bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators — to survive to trial. So far, none have actually gotten to trial, with one lawsuit ending with a hefty city settlement and another tied up in court appeals.Barring a settlem...

Two California cities make list of world’s most expensive cities in which to live in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill | CNNIn news that won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been feeling the pinch, the global cost of living crisis is far from over. And big-city dwellers can really take a hit.According to the annual Worldwide Cost of Living Index that’s published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the average cost of living rose by 7.4% this year. Grocery prices increased the fastest.Although this is slightly lower than the 8.1% jump the same survey recorded in 2022, the numbers remain significantly higher than “historic trends.”But there is some good news. Utility prices, the fastest rising category in the 2022 survey, showed the least amount of inflation this time around.Inflation predictionsPrice increases are slowing in pace because of the waning of supply chain issues since China lifted its Covid-19 restrictions in late 2022.However, grocery prices are continuing to rise as retailers pass on higher costs to consumers.“We expect inflation to continue to decele...

7 terrific Bay Area things to do this weekend, Dec. 1-3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

Got your weekend plans? We have some ideas along those lines, from fun holiday excursions and shows to a wacky and fun movie theater. And festive hummus!And, as always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.1 PLAY: Submit to the holi-dazeThe way we look at it, you can pretend that it’s too early to get sucked into the holiday spirit or just take a deep breath and dive in. And if it’s holiday entertainment you crave, there is no shortage of movies, plays, concerts or dance recitals to savor.This party favorite gives hummus a little razzle dazzle with roasted beets. (Courtesy Lynda Balslev). 2 MAKE & SCARF: Hearty holiday hummusHummus is a tasty and fun party snack that’s not difficult to make. And for hol...

Share the Spirit: La Familia offers ‘peace of mind’ for thousands of East Bay residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

For weeks after his brother’s suicide in January, Jamaal Morgain barely ate. He refused to – he wanted to waste away, to spiral back into the dark pit of depression he’d known all too well through a lifetime of homelessness, crime and addiction.Luckily for him, someone refused to ignore the warning signs.Eyeing Morgain’s thinning frame, a counselor at La Familia finally needled an answer out of the 31-year-old Pittsburg native as to why he looked so frail.The breakthrough that came next was nothing new at the East Bay nonprofit, which has spent decades working to help impoverished, at-risk and recently-incarcerated residents improve their mental health by almost any means necessary.La Familia Transitional Age Youth Program client, Jamaal Morgain, delivers packages as part of his route in Alameda, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Morgain, who left the foster youth program at age 18, found himself homeless and incarcerated, but turned his life around thanks to La Familia Transi...

Free rent? With apartment supply increasing, Bay Area landlords turn to concessions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

A $2,000-a-month studio apartment might not be considered a good deal in most parts of the country. But in the Bay, it might be — especially if the landlord throws in a sweetener.At least, that’s how Gwen Wang, 23, felt when she got a discount on a new studio in the Skylyne Apartments in Oakland. Her complex offered two months rent free on a studio typically priced at $2,400 a month, bringing her closer to her budget of $2,000 a month.“With the promotion, it made sense to rent here,” Wang said.As thousands of new units hit the market around the Bay Area, concessions — such as free rent or free parking — are becoming more common, especially in apartment complexes. As of October, two in five apartment listings in the San Francisco and Oakland metro areas were offering concessions, and half of listings in San Jose offered them, according to a new study from Zillow.“As a way to incentivize renters to come in, concessions are rising across the board,” Zillow economist N...

Police activity impacts Caltrain service at 4th and King in SF

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

(BCN) -- Police activity is affecting Caltrain operations at the rail line's 4th & King station in San Francisco on Thursday morning, according to alerts from the city's emergency services.Both inbound and outbound services of Caltrain are affected by the police activity. Travelers are advised to expect delays and use alternate routes, an alert from AlertSF said shortly after 6 a.m.There were no further details about the police activity immediately available.This is a developing story.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Suspect in deadly Oakland shooting last week arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

(BCN) --Oakland police said Wednesday they arrested a suspect in a deadly shooting in the city's Havenscourt neighborhood last week.James Wheeler, a resident of Oakland, was arrested for his alleged connection with the homicide of Johnny Johnson on Nov. 21 in the 6900 block of Bancroft Avenue. Wheeler was arrested last Friday, according to police. Suspect who critically injured dog during San Jose road rage incident arrested Oakland police said that shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, their officers learned of a shooting in the area. When officers arrived, they found a victim seated inside a vehicle while suffering from at least one gunshot wound.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Motorcyclist involved in fatal traffic collision near Morgan Hill identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

(BCN) -- A motorcyclist who died in a collision last week in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County was identified Wednesday by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office as Ramesh Babu Krishna Sastry, a 68-year-old Los Gatos resident.The collision occurred between Morgan Hill and San Martin at about 2:45 p.m. on Nov. 22 at Uvas and Watsonville roads. One dead after 3-vehicle collision on I-80 in Richmond The collision was being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

One dead after 3-vehicle collision on I-80 in Richmond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

(BCN) -- A man was killed and one person injured Tuesday night after three cars collided on eastbound Interstate Highway 80 in Richmond, a California Highway Patrol spokesperson said.Around 9:51 p.m., three vehicles were traveling on I-80 East when they collided just west of Carlson Boulevard, CHP said. A man driving a Nissan Frontier pickup, who was approximately 65 years old, was killed. A person driving a Toyota RAV4 was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and the two occupants of a Lexus GS 350 were uninjured. Richmond man involved in fatal collision on Highway 1 identified The collision shut down the freeway for approximately three hours and traffic was diverted off to Carlson Boulevard. The freeway reopened at 12:53 a.m. Wednesday.The cause of the crash is still being investigated, but drugs or alcohol are not suspected, CHP said.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Drunken driver gets 10 years for killing Marine veteran, his dog in Prince William Co.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:11 GMT

A drunken driver who hit and killed a Marine Corps veteran and his dog during an evening walk in June 2022 has been sentenced to a decade in prison.Luis Alfredo Perez, Jr. and his Akita mix were killed on June 18, 2022.Gentil Mwenze Banze, who pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, received the maximum sentence — 10 years in prison — from Prince William County Circuit Court Judge James Willett. After his release from prison, Banze will be under supervised probation for three years, according to court records.Prosecutors said in the early evening hours witnesses saw a 2016 Ford Focus, swerve and almost hit other vehicles, leave the roadway, before jumping the sidewalk and hitting Perez and his dog, who were walking on Old Bridge Road.After hitting the pair, the car crashed into a utility pole, bringing down live power lines, and causing an explosion.Later that evening, Banze admitted he had been drinking Guinness beer — three hours after...