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Opinion: Badly bungled BART extension to San Jose could still be fixed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has badly bungled its planned BART extension project through San Jose. As a result, costs have soared.As noted by the Bay Area News Group last weekend, the price of the project has gone from $4.7 billion in 2014 to $5.6 billion in early 2020, $6.9 billion in late 2020, $9.3 billion in 2022 and now to the just-announced $12.2 billion.Will this cost for the six-mile, four-station, mostly underground extension rise further? If the San Jose political establishment insists on sticking to the VTA’s fatally flawed design, probably.The current design for the underground stations of the BART extension to San Jose. (VTA/BART)Like the rest of the BART system, the original design for the San Jose extension consisted of two 20-foot diameter subways leading to each of the three underground stations. Costs have risen in part because VTA eventually replaced the original two-bore tunnel design with a single gigantic and hugely expensive 53-foot-di...

Walters: Is Newsom resurrecting his single-payer health care pledge?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

To those on the left side of the political balance beam, no issue is more important — or more elusive — than having medical care provided directly by a governmental system.Dubbed “single-payer,” it would eliminate insurers and other aspects of private enterprise from medical care and provide everyone the same services, regardless of income or other characteristics.Not surprisingly, those who want it were elated when, in 2018, California’s leading Democratic candidate for governor virtually promised to deliver it.“I’m tired of politicians saying they support single-payer but that it’s too soon, too expensive or someone else’s problem,” Gavin Newsom said.Newsom’s pledge won him support from single-payer advocates such as the California Nurses Association. It decorated a bus with Newsom’s face and the words, “Nurses Trust Newsom. He shares our values and fights for our patients,” and toured the state.Once elected, however, Newsom sidled away from his pledge, saying his goal...

Bay Area News Group boys athlete of the week: Boxer Kopcsak-Yeung, Los Gatos football

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

Los Gatos football player Boxer Kopcsak-Yeung is the Bay Area News Group’s boys high school athlete of the week for Oct. 2-7 after he received 35.95% of the vote.San Ramon Valley football player Marco Jones (35.04%) took second.Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.Kopcsak-Yeung, a senior, carried 17 times for 161 yards and four touchdowns to help lead the host Wildcats to a 37-7 victory over Sacred Heart Prep in Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division play. Kopcsak-Yeung also caught two passes for 13 yards.To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email [email protected] by Monday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times websites and in the print edition of the Mercury News and EB Times sports sections.Related ArticlesHigh School Sports | ...

Union workers reach a tentative deal with Kaiser Permanente after the largest-ever US health care strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

By Chris Isidore and Samantha Delouya | CNNKaiser Permanente reached a tentative deal with the unions representing 75,000 employees, following the largest-ever health care strike in US history.“The frontline healthcare workers of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are excited to have reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente,” the union coalition said on X. “We are thankful for the instrumental support of Acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su.”The strike last week lasted only three days, the length of time it had been scheduled to run. But the coalition of unions was threatening an eight-day strike next month with even more workers walking out if a new deal was not reached by October 31.Details of the deal were not immediately available. The union had been seeking better pay and improved staffing levels at Kaiser hospitals and other facilities.The union coalition represents 40% of Kaiser Permanente’s non-physician workforce and includes a wide range of medical workers...

California reaches $200m settlement with Kaiser in mental health care overhaul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

(BCN) -- Kaiser Permanente must overhaul behavioral health care services and pay a $50 million fine under a settlement agreement announced Thursday by the California Department of Managed Health Care.Under the settlement, Kaiser will also make investments totaling $150 million over five years toward improving behavioral health care services.Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the settlement on Thursday, saying it will give Kaiser enrollees full and timely access to services they are entitled to under state law."Today's actions represent a tectonic shift in terms of our accountability on the delivery of behavioral health services," Newsom said. "Accountability of the private sector is foundational to ensuring our entire system of behavioral health care works for all Californians," said Governor Newsom.The $50 million fine is the highest the state's managed health care agency has ever levied, said DMHC Director Mary Watanabe.The agreement stems from two actions by the state agency -- an enforce...

1 dead after vehicle went off Hwy 1 cliff near Pescadero

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

(BCN) -- The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash on Thursday night after a vehicle went off a cliff along Highway 1 near Pescadero State Beach.One person died and two others were injured, the CHP said.The solo crash was reported shortly before 10 p.m. near Highway 1 and Pescadero Creek Road.It's not known what caused the vehicle to leave the road. The crash is under investigation. Oakland’s Grand Bakery selling for $1 Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

'Love locks' are graffiti and pose danger, National Park officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

(KRON) -- Some people demonstrate their love for their significant other by leaving a padlock -- or a "love lock" -- on a fence. The National Park Service says you should not do that. "Love is strong, but it is not as strong as our bolt cutters," the NPS said.According to the NPS, love locks are a form of graffiti and are considered littering.People who leave love locks also often carve the couple's initials into the lock before throwing the key away. This is where danger can lie, the Grand Canyon NPS said. Image from the Grand Canyon National Park Service.Rare and endangered condors inhabit the Grand Canyon, and they are drawn to shiny things. When lovebirds chuck their key into the canyon after leaving the lock on a fence, a real bird might swallow it. "Condors love shiny things. They will spot a coin, a wrapper, or a shiny piece of metal, like a key from a padlock that has been tossed into the canyon and eat it. Condors are not meant to digest metal and many times cannot pass the...

Microsoft closes $69 billion deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard after clearing UK hurdle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft closes $69 billion deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard after clearing UK hurdle.Source

French intelligence says police vetted a suspected attacker the day before knife killing at school.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French intelligence says police vetted a suspected attacker the day before knife killing at school.Source

Oct. 13-15: Things to do near Denver this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:11 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- It's an extra spooky October weekend. This Friday falls on the infamous Oct. 13. Lucky for you, there's still plenty to do, especially this Friday. Look out for flash sales, cheap tattoos and fall-related fun. Here's what you can do this weekend: Denver Nuggets 2023-24 full game schedule released Friday, Oct. 13:Horrid Spirits Friday the 13th sale From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Horrid Spirits is celebrating Friday the 13th with flash tattoos, hair tinsel, tooth gems and free beer. The tattoos are cash only and it's first come first serve.Friday the 13th at Colorado Cider CompanyZac Brown BandVampire BallEndless Ink Flash TattoosLots of places have flash tattoo sales, but this one is one of the cheapest where it's only $13 to get a permanent tattoo. There are over 300 designs to choose from and you can also get a $13 piercing when you're there.Alison WonderlandColorado University vs. StanfordSaturday, Oct. 14:Goatflix and ChillHang out with goats while you watch "Ghostbust...