Opinion: It has everything to do with the color of our skin

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

Opinion: It has everything to do with the color of our skin Last week, Tennessee state Representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones were expelled by the Republican-dominated legislature for “knowingly and intentionally bringing disorder and dishonor” to the House. A third representative, Gloria Johnson, narrowly escaped expulsion by a single vote.They were accused of breaching House decorum by joining a protest in the House gallery demanding the legislature pass gun safety legislation while still on the House floor. For this, the Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton, said the three engaged in an act of “insurrection” equal to or worse than January 6.In the aftermath of this stunning abuse of power, because I’m a former Speaker of the Colorado House I was asked if I would have done things differently. The short answer is yes. A functioning democratic process requires transparency, respect for democratic norms, and a healthy fear of being corrupted by power. There is a reason Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, b...

Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes loses bid to stay out of prison

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes loses bid to stay out of prison Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been rebuffed in her attempt to stay out of federal prison while she appeals her conviction for the fraud she committed while overseeing a blood-testing scam that exposed Silicon Valley’s dark side.In an 11-page ruling issued late Monday, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila concluded there wasn't compelling enough evidence to allow Holmes to remain free on bail while her lawyers try to persuade an appeals court that alleged misconduct during her four-month trial led to an unjust verdict.The judge’s decision means Holmes, 39, will have to surrender to authorities April 27 to start the more than 11-year prison sentence that Davila imposed in November. The punishment came 10 months after a jury found her guilty on four counts of fraud and conspiracy against the Thearanos investors who believed in her promises to revolutionize the health care industry.Holmes had accompanied her lawyers to a San Jose, California, courtroom on March 17 to try to c...

1 Injured in Pedestrian Accident on Civic Center Drive [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

1 Injured in Pedestrian Accident on Civic Center Drive [Las Vegas, NV] Teenage Boy Hospitalized After Auto-Pedestrian Crash near Tonopah AvenueLAS VEGAS, NV (April 11, 2023) – Thursday afternoon, a teenager sustained injuries in a pedestrian accident on Civic Center Drive.The crash happened around 1:23 p.m. near Tonopah Avenue on February 23rd.As per the LVMPD, the boy was reportedly crossing inside a marked crosswalk in the area when for unknown reasons, he was struck by a vehicle.Paramedics arrived and took the boy to UMC in critical condition. Officials currently withheld the identity of the victim pending notification of kin.Meanwhile, the driver involved stayed at the scene and cooperated with the authorities.At this time, police did not consider drugs and alcohol to be factored in the crash. However, an active investigation into the accident at Civic Center Drive is still ongoing.Those with further information regarding the accident are encouraged to contact local authorities as soon as possible.When driving, it is vital always to be alert ...

Ben Affleck’s Slamdunk Directing Helps Air Fly

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

Ben Affleck’s Slamdunk Directing Helps Air Fly With Air, Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort, he accomplishes the near-impossible: he makes a pending business deal as compelling as a hostage crisis (Argo) or a bank heist (The Town). It’s safe to say that this Affleck kid knows how to please a crowd (and not just in memes).His latest is the true story of how a few rumpled executives at Nike gambled everything on a rookie named Michael Jordan by creating a sneaker around his persona (the Air Jordan) and by doing so, changed the way businesses worked with athletes forever. But that’s just the skeleton. At its core, this is a classic underdog tale about the American dream, believing in your instincts, and the risk it takes to jump off a cliff to see where you land.It’s 1984, and the movie opens with a montage of capitalist-driven, pop culture references from that era like Ghostbusters, Run-DMC, and the famous “Where’s the beef?” Wendy’s commercial. It’s a loud, fluorescent smack in the face, which quickly turns drab when w...

Bay Area’s first-ever Portugal Restaurant Week runs April 17-24

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

Bay Area’s first-ever Portugal Restaurant Week runs April 17-24 Garlic shrimp. Linguica. Bacalhau.The Consulate of Portugal in San Francisco and the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP) have teamed up to introduce diners to the delights of Portuguese cuisine. They are sponsoring the inaugural Portugal Restaurant Week, which will run from Monday, April 17, through April 24.The event will feature specials at five Bay Area restaurants: Sister restaurants Adega and Petiscos in San Jose; Uma Casa in San Francisco; and sister restaurants LaSalette and Tasca Tasca in Sonoma.Petiscos: Carlos and Fernanda Carreira’s Petiscos restaurant will offer a three-course menu for $45, with multiple choices for each course. For example, you can start with Caldo Verde, the classic soup (or one of 12 other choices), then move on to Oven-Roasted Octopus (again, a dozen other selections) and finish up with an Orange Tort (or one of five other desserts).Adega: For a Michelin-caliber dinner, head to the couple’s Adega — San Jose’s only s...

‘It just didn’t enter my mind to initiate sex;’ Low sex drive in men linked to chemical imbalance

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

‘It just didn’t enter my mind to initiate sex;’ Low sex drive in men linked to chemical imbalance By Sandee LaMotte | CNNWhile hanging out with his college roommates, Peter (not his real name) realized he felt differently about sex than other heterosexual men.“I’ve never been somebody who was interested in pornography, but I’d laugh along with their jokes,” said Peter, now 44, who is British. “Of course I never mentioned that … as a man, you’d be kicked out of the herd.”As he developed “proper, serious relationships” with women, Peter discovered he didn’t have the sexual drive many of his partners did.“I would make excuses around getting tired or feeling stressed, that kind of thing,” he said. “It wasn’t an issue with attraction to my partner. It just didn’t enter my mind to initiate sex.”In 2021, Peter saw an ad recruiting male volunteers for a new study on hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD. Researchers planned to inject the study’s participants with kisspeptin —...

Opera San Jose’s ‘Tosca’ star feels she was destined for iconic role

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

Opera San Jose’s ‘Tosca’ star feels she was destined for iconic role Maria Natale is deep in rehearsals for Opera San Jose’s production of “Tosca.” It’s her first time singing the opera’s passionate and artistic title character, Floria Tosca, but she says it’s a role that fits her like a glove.“I’m more than thrilled to be singing this role,” the soprano said in a recent interview. “It’s going very well; it’s a beautiful production and the cast is stellar.  I’m just so excited.”Directed by Tara Branham and conducted by Opera San Jose music director Joseph Marcheso, Natale tops a cast that also includes tenor Adrian Kramer as Cavaradossi and baritone Kidon Choi as Scarpia. The production runs April 15-30 at the California Theatre.Natale, originally from Southern California and now based in New York, has wanted to sing the role of Tosca “since I was a kid,” she said. Her grandfather was an opera prodigy at Pittsburgh Opera, and when she was 10, he told her she would one day sing Tosca.“Ever since then, opera’s just been part of my life,” she said.Natal...

“Breaking Barriers: The Art of Iran” arrives in Sausalito

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

“Breaking Barriers: The Art of Iran” arrives in Sausalito As the fight for women’s rights rages on in Iran, a group of artists have come together for an exhibition showcasing a broad range of Persian art that transcends geopolitical and cultural borders.Curated by Shiva Pakdel, “Breaking Down Barriers: The Art of Iran” runs through April 23 at the Sausalito Center for the Arts and features more than 240 works in mediums ranging from antique art and artifacts to textiles, ceramics and photographs. The exhibition features works by contemporary Iranian artists living in the United States and Iran.Farnaz Zabetian’s oil on canvas, “Woman, Life, Freedom,” is one of 240 works on display during “Breaking Barriers: The Art of Iran” in Sausalito. (Courtesy of Shiva Pakdel) In addition to Bay Area painter Farnaz Zabetian’s “Woman, Life, Freedom,” an oil-on-canvas version of her mural in San Francisco’s Clarion Alley, you can catch a ticketed screening of Iranian filmmaker Ba...

Earthquake strikes near Morgan Hill

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

Earthquake strikes near Morgan Hill (KRON) -- A preliminary magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck on Tuesday morning about 12 miles from Morgan Hill. The quake hit around 9:40 a.m. There were no initial reports of damages or injuries.The quake's epicenter was about 8 miles from San Martin, a census-designated place in Santa Clara County.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

San Jose police union hides web pages after scandal

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:58 GMT

San Jose police union hides web pages after scandal The San Jose Police Officers' Association has blocked significant portions of its website from public access after its executive director was charged in connection with an international drug smuggling scheme. The association, which is the union that represents about 1,100 San Jose Police Department officers, previously had its website largely open to the public, including pages for its board of directors and its office staff. Now, those pages are behind a password-protected wall. Judge rules Elizabeth Holmes’ cannot remain free while appealing fraud conviction Shortly after the association's top administrator, Joanne Segovia, was charged with attempting to illegally import fentanyl in late March, she was placed on paid leave and the association removed her biography and photo from its website. Segovia, who is not a police officer, has since been fired by the association. Other staff members' images and biographies were still visible online, however. But more recently, the a...