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Where to see 2023’s wildflower blooms in the Bay Area: Readers’ top picks

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

We recently wrote about five places to observe 2023’s wildflower season, which due to torrential rains and previous wildfires, could be the best in the Bay Area (and possibly the entire state) in 20 years. Readers had opinions about their own favorite spots to enjoy the ongoing blooms – so without ado, here are five of them:“No way I’m telling you about my favorite wildflower spot in Sunol off of Welch Creek Road up Eagle View Trail to the bench at the lookout under the big oak tree. Do you think I want dozens of people out there enjoying the quiet, only broken by the ruffling of feathers of passing raptors? Or hikers smashing wildflowers that have burst forward after waiting for the rains to give them new life?” – JimA Venus thistle flower grows in Walnut Creek in the spring of 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)“Back entrance to Santa Teresa (County Park in San Jose) from Fortini Road and Edgewood (Park and Natural Preserve near Redwo...

SF Giants slug 5 more homers to clinch series win over White Sox, return home on positive note

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Returning home from a six-game opening road trip, the Giants will rejoice when their charter flight lands back in San Francisco at about 9 p.m. local time Thursday night. While it will be a quick turnaround to their Friday afternoon home opener, on the other side represents their longest time in their own homes, with their families, since the middle of February.“We’ve been on planes and buses and trains … five cities in eight or nine days,” manager Gabe Kapler lamented recently. “There’s been a lot of travel.”The Giants started in Scottsdale, flew to San Francisco, played an exhibition in Oakland, opened the season in New York and ended their trip in Chicago. It came to an end on a positive note Thursday, as the Giants turned in a five-homer explosion to back Alex Wood’s first start and beat the White Sox, 16-6, securing their first series win of the young season.Here are some observations:1. One turn through the Giants’ rotation, ...

Contra Costa County water district to end drought restrictions, surcharge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

One of the East Bay's largest water districts announced it will end several drought-related restrictions, including a surcharge intended to encourage water conservation. At its meeting Wednesday, the Contra Costa Water District board voted to end most water-use prohibitions approved in April 2022 and to drop the surcharge that went into effect that July. "We are in a much different situation as compared to April 2022 and accordingly, we have lifted several water use restrictions and ended the temporary drought surcharge," CCWD board president Ernesto Avila said. Rain set to return to Bay Area Thursday "At the same time, we encourage customers to continue efforts to use water efficiently as we adapt to the ever evolving water supply conditions," Avila said in a news release Thursday. The surcharge of 79 cents per 748 gallons of water, which amounted to a 15 percent increase on household water bills, will sunset at the end of April. A typical household uses about 260 gal...

Idaho’s Abortion Travel Ban Shows Dangers of GOP’s “Parental Rights” Agenda

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

Demonstrators walk to the Idaho Capitol carrying anti-abortion signs on April 5, 2023.Photo: Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty ImagesThe dream of many far-right pro-natalists came true on Wednesday, when Idaho became the first state to restrict interstate travel for abortion. Abortion is already almost entirely prohibited in Idaho; the new law makes it illegal to help minors travel out of state to receive abortion care without parental consent.The legislation sits at the intersection of many of Republicans’ preferred sites of oppression today: the criminalization of pregnancy, extreme attacks on bodily autonomy, and the total decimation of young people’s liberty, all under the manufactured pretext of so-called parental rights.Idaho’s new law sets yet another grim precedent by bringing a whole new category of crime into being: “abortion trafficking.” The law defines “abortion trafficking” as anyone “recruiting, harboring, or transporting the pregnant mino...

Jordan Phillips rejoins Bills by signing 1-year contract

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is returning to the Buffalo Bills for a second consecutive season after signing a one-year contract on Thursday.Phillips expressed a desire to re-sign with Buffalo after completing his one-year contract last season. He had 20 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in 12 games despite closing the season with a shoulder injury that required surgery. The 30-year-old previously enjoyed his role in Buffalo in 2018 and ’19, after he was released by Miami in October 2018, and claimed by the Bills on waivers.Listed at 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds, Phillips has been a dependable run-stuffer playing alongside Ed Oliver in Buffalo. His 9 1/2 sacks in 2019 are the most by a Bills player since Lorenzo Alexander had 12 1/2 in 2016.Phillips was initially selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2015 draft, but grew unhappy with his limited playing time in Miami, which led to his release. He also spent the 2020 and ’21 seasons playing for Arizona.__...

Czech Republic beats Japan 2-1 in OT in women’s world hockey

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

BRAMPTON, Ontario (AP) — Katerina Mrazova scored on a rebound on a delayed penalty at 3:16 of overtime to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 victory over Japan on Thursday in the women’s world hockey championship.Daniels Pejsova opened the scoring for the Czech Republic with 37 seconds left in the first period. Rui Ukita tied it for Japan at 3:14 of the third period. Blanka Skodova made 16 saves for the Czech Republic. Miyuu Masuhara stopped 26 shots for Japan.Japan dropped its second straight in Group A after falling 7-1 to the United States on Wednesday.Earlier in Group B, Celina Haider had two goals and two assists in Germany’s 6-2 victory over Sweden in Group B. In the night game, also in Group B, France faced Hungary.Franziska Feldmeier also scored twice for Germany, Laura Kluge and Svenja Voigt added goals and Sandra Abstreiter made 31 saves. Hilda Svensson scored twice for Sweden.Source

Harris promotes huge community solar deal in Georgia visit

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Continuing its efforts to promote renewable energy, the Biden administration on Thursday announced what it says will be the largest community solar effort in U.S. history, enough to power 140,000 homes and businesses in three states.Vice President Kamala Harris announced the deal during a visit to the Qcells solar panel factory outside Atlanta. The South Korean company’s corporate parent, Hanwha Solutions Corp., said in January it will invest $2.5 billion to expand its Dalton, Georgia plant and build another plant in nearby Cartersville. Qcells projects it will supply about 30% of total U.S. solar panel demand by 2027, including making solar panel components usually manufactured outside the United States.A deal announced by Harris calls for Qcells and Virginia-based Summit Ridge Energy to deploy community solar projects capable of generating 1.2 gigawatts of electricity in Illinois, Maine and Maryland. Community solar projects allow people to tap into solar power g...

Hovland overcomes Tiger anxiety, tied for 1st at the Masters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — When Viktor Hovland learned he’d be playing the first two rounds of the Masters with Tiger Woods, his heart started to race and his anxiety level spiked.“My heart kind of went a little bit further up in the throat,” Hovland said, knowing the inherent pressure of playing alongside the five-time champion Thursday and in front of the gigantic crowds that follow Woods.Then he decided to embrace the challenge, thinking to himself this would be “exciting.”“You can’t be scared or anything like that,” Hovland said. “If you want to win this tournament, you can’t be scared about playing with Tiger. So you’ve just got to overcome things like that.”The 25-year-old Hovland did that and more.Wearing a colorful golf shirt that blended well with the azaleas at Augusta National, the Norwegian shot a bogey-free 65 to claim a share of the early first round lead with Jon Rahm and LIV golfer Brooks Koepka.Hovland, the ninth-ranked player in the world, bested Woods by nine...

Severe thunderstorms packing damaging winds, possible hail move in to DC area

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

People in the D.C. area should prepare for the possibility of severe weather as severe thunderstorms are rolling into the region from the west Thursday afternoon, bringing strong winds, heavy downpours and possible hail.Current weather advisoriesSevere thunderstorm watch for D.C., as well as part of Maryland and Virginia until 10 p.m.Severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Spotsylvania County until 6 p.m.Severe thunderstorm warning for parts of St. Mary’s and Charles counties until 6:15 p.m.The weather service said scattered damaging wind gusts are possible with some gusts up 70 mph likely and isolated hail up to 1.5 inches.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for areas along & east of the Blue Ridge through 10 pm EDT. Primary threats include scattered gusts up to 70 mph along with isolated large hail. #MDwx #VAwx #WVwx #DCwx pic.twitter.com/Oi40DcLAwg— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 6, 2023“We’re saying around 5 o’clock to 9 oR...

England wins shootout vs. Brazil in 1st women’s Finalissima

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — England’s Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick to settle the inaugural women’s Finalissima after a dramatic game against Brazil watched by more than 83,000 fans at Wembley ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout victory on Thursday.Ella Toone looked to have secured the win for England in a match between the champions of Europe and South America. Her 23rd-minute strike was the game’s only goal going into the third minute of second-half stoppage time.But Andressa Alves exploited a mistake by England goalkeeper Mary Earps to force the shootout, where Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood and Kelly — who scored the goal at Wembley that made the Lionesses European champions last summer — got the job done for the hosts.Coach Sarina Wiegman’s side is now undefeated in 30 matches, and will look to extend that streak when it hosts Australia in next week’s pre-World Cup friendly.The official attendance was 83,132.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://tw...