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Downtown San Jose could use Summer Fest’s energy all year long

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

The three-day San Jose Jazz Summer Fest washed over downtown last weekend, making another great counterpoint to the notion that San Jose just can’t escape from its doldrums. It’s just too bad those good vibes and civic pride can’t be bottled up and sprinkled around the rest of the year.“Jazz Fest represents what our city can be at its best,” Mayor Matt Mahan said to a packed courtyard at Scott’s Seafood during the Mayor’s Jazz Brunch on Saturday. “To me, it’s the best weekend of the year in San Jose.”The crowd at the Latin Tropical stage on South First Street dances to the music of San Miguel during San Jose Jazz Summer Fest on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan speaks at the Mayor's Jazz Brunch at Scott's Seafood in San Jose on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)Festival goers Tainisha Backmon, left, of San Jose, Brenda Jackson, of San Jose, an...

British actor Darren Kent dies at 39; played goatherd on ‘Game of Thrones’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

By Dan Heching | CNNDarren Kent, the actor famous for his role of a goatherd in “Game of Thrones” among other titles, has died. He was 39.The news was confirmed by his London-based agency Carey Dodd Associates, who posted the news on social media, early Tuesday morning:“It is with deep sadness we have to tell you that our dear friend and client Darren Kent passed away peacefully on Friday. His parents and best friend by his side. Our thoughts and love are with his family in this difficult time. RIP my friend”Kent plays a goatherd in “Game of Thrones” in 2014. His first screen credit came a decade earlier, in the series “Shameless.” (HBO)The agency’s post on Instagram added, “Darren was not only a talented actor, director and writer, he was truly one of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. It has been a privilege and pleasure to have been a part of his journey.”Samantha Dodd confirmed Kent’s age at the time of his passing to CNN. No cause of de...

San Jose approves pay bumps for 4,500 city workers, avoiding major strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

What may have become the largest San Jose city employee strike in decades fizzled on Tuesday after councilmembers approved a significant pay bump for about 4,500 of its workers, a major win for South Bay labor organizers who claimed their members were being short-changed in one of America’s most expensive metropolitan areas.The two unions negotiating with the city — MEF-AFSCME Local 101 and IFPTE Local 21 — secured 14.5 to 15% wage increases over the next three years, about 3% more than what the city’s final offer was in June before talks broke down.The two labor groups — which represent employees who work in libraries, parks and the city’s airport — threatened to have its members walk off the job starting Aug. 15 for three days if a deal wasn’t made, an action that would have disrupted key municipal services.“It feels great,” said MET-AFSCME negotiating member John Tucker. “I know our members are excited to get back ...

Here’s the Warriors’ schedule for NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

The NBA is trying something new this season.The Association unveiled the schedule for its inaugural in-season tournament on Tuesday.The Warriors will get started Nov. 3 in Oklahoma City, followed by games against the Timberwolves, Spurs and Kings.The new tournament will feature all 30 teams competing in group play before moving on to a knockout round.A drawing at Summer League last month divided the league into six groupings — three for each conference. The Warriors are in West Group C with Sacramento, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and San Antonio.Here are the Warriors’ four group-play games:Nov. 3: at Thunder – 5 p.m.Nov. 14: vs. Timberwolves – 7 p.m.Nov. 24: vs. Spurs – 7 p.m. (ESPN)Nov. 28: at Kings – 7 p.m. (TNT)Group play across the league will take place every Tuesday and Friday in November — except for Election Day on Nov. 7, when no NBA games are scheduled to encourage higher voter turnout.Eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, which wi...

Massive blast in Dominican Republic kills at least 10

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

By Gerardo Lemos and Jessica Hasbun | CNNAt least 10 people died and 37 more were injured in an explosion in the Dominican Republic on Monday, according to the office of President Luis Abinader.A further 11 people are missing following the blast, which occurred in the town of San Cristobal in the south of the country, the president’s office said in a statement Tuesday.More than two dozen rescue units responded to the explosion, and the injured were taken to various hospitals. The cause of the explosion has not been established, added the statement.In remarks from the National Palace on Monday, President Luis Abinader expressed his concern for the situation and said he is closely following events, state broadcaster RTVD’s Central 4 Noticias reported.

Taliban have no plans to lift ban on female education

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

By Riazat Butt | Associated PressKANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The Taliban view their rule of Afghanistan as open-ended, drawing legitimacy from Islamic law and facing no significant threat, their chief spokesman said in an interview marking the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of the country. He also indicated a ban on female education will remain in place.Zabihullah Mujahid brushed aside any questions from The Associated Press about restrictions on girls and women, saying the status quo will remain. The ban on girls attending school beyond sixth grade was the first of what became a flurry of restrictions that now keep Afghan women from classrooms, most jobs and much of public life.The Taliban seized power on Aug. 15, 2021, as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew from the country after two decades of war. To mark the anniversary, Tuesday was declared a public holiday. Women, largely barred from public life, didn’t take part in the festivities.In the southern city of Kandahar, th...

Bay Area, California hotel sales implode as investors flee sector

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

OAKLAND — Sales activity for the hotel markets in the Bay Area and California, in a renewed sign of the sector’s collapse following the coronavirus outbreak, imploded during the first half of 2023.The number of hotels sold in the Bay Area and statewide tumbled over the first six months of this year at a pace that was reminiscent of the nosedive that the lodging industry suffered in California in the wake of the last recession of 2008 and 2009.“We have seen nothing like this, nothing this bad,” said Alan Reay, president of Irvine-based Atlas Hospitality Group, which tracks the hotel industry in California.Reay’s reference point is broad: Atlas Hospitality has been analyzing the statewide lodging sector for more than 20 years.Specifically, the number of hotels sold in California during the first half of 2023 plunged by 52.9% compared with the first six months of 2022, Atlas Hospitality Group reported.In 2009, at the tail-end of the last recession, hotel s...

GetDandy: The First AI-Powered Reputation Automation Platform

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

Sponsored ContentReputation can make or break businesses, and GetDandy is here to ensure sterling and reliable reputation management services for companies big and small. Founded by CEO Alex Bellini, the California-based company has developed a trailblazing reputation management platform.GetDandy applies AI’s limitless possibilities to both customer experience and reputation management. The pioneering business is the first AI-powered reputation automation company for businesses with a first-of-its-kind review scoring and dispute tool. With GetDandy’s ability to remove negative reviews, bad online reviews no longer have to cause irreparable damage to a business’s sales and image.Bellini’s family-owned San Diego auto repair shop first taught the CEO the importance of online reviews, shedding light on how more reviews often equate to more traction and sales. Gaining insight into the damage that unfair and illegitimate bad reviews can cause businesses, Bellini sought solutions by foundi...

Recall Alameda DA Pamela Price movement files official notice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

(KRON) -- A movement to recall Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price became official Tuesday as members of the group backing it filed a Notice of Intent with Alameda County officials. Members of "Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE)" sent photos of themselves filing the paperwork to begin the recall process. Teen girls nabbed after San Francisco business ransacked After being duly elected by voters last year, DA Price has frequently come under attack for what critics say are overly progressive policies toward criminal justice."As crime spirals out of control on Alameda County streets, DA Price reduces sentencing for criminals and even refuses to charge violent felons with crimes," read a statement from the recall effort.The statement cited statistics from the Oakland Police Department, stating that homicides are up 80% compared to pre-pandemic numbers and that violent crime and burglaries are up from a year ago at 15% and 40% respectively."African Americans are disproportionately hit...

New dates for Madonna's Celebration Tour SF shows announced

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:56 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Madonna has announced new dates for her Celebration Tour at San Francisco's Chase Center. The tour had been delayed due to an unspecified health problem the singer had reportedly been undergoing. Teen girls nabbed after San Francisco business ransacked Two of the shows, which were originally scheduled for October, have now been rescheduled for February 27 and 28. A third show, scheduled for January 15, has been canceled Chase Center announced in a social media post.Tickets purchased for the original October shows will be valid for the new dates. Refunds for the January 15 show will be applied at the point of purchase, according to Chase Center.