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Federal otter tour comes to East Bay to “smash myths” and seek repopulation sites

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

Tens of thousands of sea otters once roamed the California coast, but fur traders hunting their pelts decimated nearly all populations north of the Golden Gate by the early 20th century.But what would it mean to try to bring these fuzzy, frolicking semi-aquatic mammals, which have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1977, back to local waters?Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a report about the feasibility of reintegrating otters along the West Coast in the hopes that their return will help preserve kelp forests, curb overpopulation of sea urchins and keep the Bay’s ecosystem healthy.On their quest to pinpoint ideal sites from the northern tip of Oregon to the San Francisco Bay, the federal government’s otter dreamers came to Emeryville on Thursday, the final stop of a 16-city tour gathering public input regarding the potential impact of the plan on fishing, industry and other socio-economic factors.Lilian Carswell, the Southern Sea Otte...

Draymond Green agrees to 4-year, $100 million deal to return to the Warriors: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

Draymond Green isn’t going anywhere after all.Green will reportedly stay with the Warriors for another four years.Green agreed to re-sign with Golden State on a four-year, $100 million deal contract that includes a player option in the final season, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported just seconds after free agency officially opened Friday afternoon. The deal will tie him with the Warriors through the 2026-27 season.Green, 33, has played the last 11 seasons with the Warriors, who drafted him No. 35 overall in 2012. He’s a four-time All-Star and has been named to eight All-Defensive teams, including a second-team recognition last season.After Golden State was eliminated from the Western Conference semifinals, Stephen Curry, Green and Klay Thompson all vowed that it wouldn’t be the end of their Warriors’ dynasty.Green did not pick up the $27.6 million player option in his contract for the 2023-24 season before Thursday’s deadline, which made him an unr...

California weather: How this year ranks among the all-time biggest rainfall years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

Propelled by big storms in January and March, the past 12 months ended up ranking as the wettest in 17 years in the Bay Area, and wetter than 92% of years back to the Gold Rush.That was the final tally on Friday, as the official “rainfall season” used by many meteorologists came to an end.With downtown San Francisco as a marker for Bay Area weather because it has the oldest continuous daily records in California, the year that began last July 1 and ended Friday was the 14th wettest over the past 174 years, with 34.19 inches of rain falling.That’s well above the historical average of 21.78 inches back to 1849, and it was more than enough to smash the state’s three-year drought, as a parade of atmospheric river storms dumped huge amounts of snow in the Sierra Nevada, filled reservoirs and caused flooding in some areas.While this year in the Bay Area was wetter than nine out of 10 years, on average, in recorded California history, other years in the not-too-dis...

Suspect charged in Hayward armored truck robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

HAYWARD — A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged and other possible suspects are being sought in the Monday morning armed robbery of an armored truck guard, authorities said Friday.The suspect was arrested Tuesday in Fairfield after a police pursuit that ended with him abandoning the vehicle he was driving — which contained two children — and running away.  He was arrested in the area a short time later, authorities said.He was charged Thursday with one felony count of  second-degree robbery and several enhancements.  He has pleaded not guilty and is due in court July 11 for a pre-trial hearing. He is being held at Santa Rita Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.The robbery happened about  8:55 a.m. Monday in the 1000 block of A Street.Police said a Brinks Armored Transportation guard was robbed outside the truck of an undisclosed amount of cash.  Police still have not said exactly how much money was stolen or if any of it has been recovered.Related ArticlesCrime and Public ...

Draymond Green signs 4-year deal with Warriors: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

(KRON) -- Draymond Green is coming back. The Golden State Warriors' defensive anchor is resigning with the team on a 4-year, $100 million deal, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. There is a player option for the fourth and final year of the contract.The deal, which was tweeted by Charania Friday afternoon, keeps Green, 33, with the Warriors who drafted him No. 35 overall in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. He has spent his entire 11-year career in the Bay Area, winning four NBA titles and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017. Who’s still left on the Warriors’ 2022 championship team? Green became a free agent on June 19 when he declined a player option that would have paid him $27.5 million for the 2023-24 season. He is coming off a season in which he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, averaging 8.5 points, 6.8 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game.The Michigan State product has made four All-Star, eight All-Defensive and two All-NBA teams. Last wee...

Grass fire burns in Sonoma County, multiple agencies respond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

(KRON) -- Crews are battling a grass fire Friday afternoon in Sonoma County, Cal Fire LNU said on Twitter. Multiple fire departments are at the scene near San Antonio Road and D Street.As of 3:30 p.m., the fire stands at approximately 15-20 acres. Cal Fire says the fire is spreading at a "moderate rate," and one structure is threatened. No injuries have been reported at this time. Cal Fire is calling this the #SanAntonioFire on Twitter. The intersection of D Street and San Antonio Road is approximately five miles outside of Petaluma. Crews battle fire at religious center in San Jose Cal Fire is being assisted by the Novato Fire Department, Marin County Fire Department, and Petaluma Fire Department in response. KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; heig...

Rattlesnake advisory issued by East Bay Regional Park officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

(KRON) -- Rattlesnakes love sunshine. With summer heat warming up the region this week, snakes may become more visible along some East Bay Regional Park trails, park officials said Friday. "Snakes, notably rattlesnakes, typically emerge in warm weather to explore their environment, which can lead to more encounters with humans and dogs," EBRP officials wrote. If you see a snake, "leave it alone - do not try to capture or harm it. All park wildlife is protected by law. Move carefully and slowly away," park officials said.Earlier this June in Mount Diablo State Park, a 7-year-old boy was running along a trail when he felt something hurt his lower leg. He never saw the snake, but the boy showed symptoms that were consisted with a rattlesnake bite. The boy’s mother carried him down to a parking lot before he was airlifted in a California Highway Patrol helicopter. The boy was treated for serious injuries at a hospital and was expected to be OK."The mom did a great job keeping her son ca...

BART reopens restrooms at Embarcadero, Downtown Berkeley stations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

(BCN) -- BART reopened the restrooms at its Embarcadero and Downtown Berkeley stations Friday as part of an ongoing effort to reopen restrooms that have been closed at 10 of its underground stations since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.The restrooms are being staffed with attendants during all hours that the station is open to discourage unwanted behavior inside, and also received improvements like LED lighting and new toilets, sinks and hand dryers, according to BART.In February 2022, the restrooms at the Powell Street and 19th Street Oakland stations reopened, followed by the Montgomery Street and Lake Merritt stations last June, with attendants staffed at all four. Grad student commutes to UC Berkeley by plane to save on rent BART officials said in the year spanning from last June through this May, nearly 250,000 people used the four bathrooms."Reopening restrooms is something our customers have been demanding," BART board member Rebecca Saltzman said in a news release...

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is reinstated by Churchill Downs after deaths of 2 horses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Churchill Downs reinstated trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. on Friday, nearly two months after indefinitely suspending him when two of his horses died suddenly at the home of the Kentucky Derby.Joseph is allowed to enter horses in races and apply for stalls at all Churchill Downs Inc. tracks immediately.The decision comes after an investigation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the release of necropsy reports of the two horses that died under Joseph’s care.Necropsies did not find any conclusive causes, according to the commission website. Sudden deaths are rare and the causes often unexplainable.“We remain deeply concerned about the condition of Parents Pride and Chasing Artie that led to their sudden death,” said Bill Mudd, president and COO of Churchill Downs Inc. “However, given the details available to us as a result of the KHRC investigation, there is no basis to continue Joseph’s suspension.”Stewards scratched Lord Miles from the Kentucky Derby ...

Wright set to initially remain with Commanders after Harris group takes over, AP source says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:22 GMT

Washington Commanders Team President Jason Wright watching players on the field warm up before the start of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) Washington Commanders Team President Jason Wright watching players on the field warm up before the start of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) Jason Wright is expected to retain his job as president of the Washington Commanders, at least initially, after Josh Harris’ group takes over, a person with knowledge of the situation said.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of ano...