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

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

(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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

(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...

Warriors to hold practice at Chase Center open to the public

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Dub Nation, want to see your Golden State Warriors practice? The team announced fans will be able to watch the Warriors practice at Chase Center. Warriors announce WNBA expansion team for 2025 The open practice will be on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $5 each. Proceeds from the event will go to the Warriors Community Foundation, the Warriors said.The event will begin with Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and play-by-play announcer Bob Fitzgerald participating in a question-and-answer session. Then, the players and coaches will take the court and begin practice. It is unlikely forward Draymond Green will participate in this practice as he is nursing a sprained ankle, KRON4 reported last week. The injury is expected to sideline him for three to six weeks. The open practice will happen roughly three weeks after Green's injury was reported. Doors open for fans at 5 p.m. Those who purchase a ticket will be able to get on Muni for free. Fre...

Feinstein remembered by dignitaries outside City Hall

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

(BCN) -- Shaded in the gilded dome of San Francisco's City Hall, presenters including Mayor London Breed, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered remembrances of Dianne Feinstein to a crowd of sun-drenched dignitaries Thursday. The trailblazing politician died last week at the age of 90. Their reflections were interrupted, sometimes accented, by random flyovers by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerobatic jet corps, who were practicing for San Francisco Fleet Week. Breed was quick to point out that Feinstein brought the Blue Angels to San Francisco in 1981, and now they were back to say goodbye. She recalled Feinstein being a source of advice when she became mayor. Blue Angels schedule, where to watch, what you need to know "Gold in peace, iron in war," said Breed describing Feinstein's support and advice to her throughout the pandemic. "Dianne will not only be remembered for what she showed us as an adult, but...

Matt Gaetz Says He Wants To Negotiate. Democrats Should Take Him Up On It.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:00 GMT

This was originally published as a newsletter from Ryan Grim. Sign up to get the next one in your inbox.Let’s assume for the sake of argument that Matt Gaetz is not serious. At all. About anything. I don’t happen to believe that’s the case, but I can understand why somebody would. But I don’t think it matters. It doesn’t matter, because he’s now the equivalent of a free radical bouncing around the molecular structure of Congress, and nobody quite knows how the drama currently unfolding will end. Including Gaetz, as he conceded even before he launched his successful putsch against Kevin McCarthy, rendering the House speakerless since Tuesday. On Wednesday, taking Gaetz’s grievances about the way the House is run seriously, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna proposed a series of reforms that would reduce the power of big money in politics, bank stock trading by members of Congress, and democratize the functioning of the House.On Thursday, Gaetz responded: “Ok. Let’s negotiate.” Gaetz...