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SoCal-to-Vegas bullet train receives $3B grant from feds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

The planned high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas to Southern California has received a massive boost from the Biden Administration, securing $3 billion in grant funding from the federal government.Brightline West plans to break ground in 2024, with hopes to have regular high-speed rail service by as early as 2027. The estimated $12 billion project will connect Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, where a new transit center will offer California residents the ability to transfer onto Metrolink. Brightline previously agreed to finance $10 billion for the project.The federal grant application received bipartisan support earlier this year, and is one of the most significant pieces of funding for high-speed rail in the nation's history. The announcement was made by Nevada's two U.S. Senators Tuesday, who have touted the project's positive impacts on the state, including reduced traffic on Interstate 15, increased tourism revenue and decreased carbon emissions."For decades, NV ha...

Subway franchises won't be able to reject the company's digital coupons or promotions: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

Subway franchises who chose not to accept the company’s digital coupons and promotions will soon be required to do so.Beginning Dec. 28, all franchises must “honor all digital programs and promotions,” Business Insider reported.“Effective Dec. 28, 2023, all restaurants will be required to honor all digital programs and promotions, including loyalty rewards and digital discounts," an internal memo said. "In addition, loyalty incentive programs designed to attract new loyalty members are mandatory and will not be reimbursed by Subway." 4 California eateries among the ‘best’ new restaurants in the country, Yelp says Some Subway franchises haven’t honored the company’s coupons and active promotions in the past, leading to customer frustration.One California franchise owner, who spoke to Insider anonymously, questioned if Subway could “force” operators to accept low-margin deals via the app."Isn't it considered price fixing to force people to take special offers," the franchisee said. ...

Melinda Epperson Fatally Struck in Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash on Ocotillo Road [Chandler, AZ]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

73-Year-Old Woman Pronounced Dead after Pedestrian Collision near Paseo TrailCHANDLER, AZ (December 5, 2023) – Melinda Epperson died Monday morning in a hit-and-run pedestrian collision on Ocotillo Road and Chandler Paseo Trail. The incident occurred at approximately 7:00 p.m., on November 27th.Officers say a BMW sedan driven by 26-year-old Keith Taylor was heading east on Ocotillo Road when it collided with 73-year-old Epperson, who was walking in the crosswalk.After the collision, Taylor promptly left the scene and was involved in another two-car accident by running a red light at McQueen and Ocotillo Road. Taylor then attempted to escape on foot.Law enforcement successfully located and apprehended Taylor, who exhibited signs of impairment. Additionally, a female passenger from Taylor’s vehicle fled the scene, and was also located.Following initial procedures, Taylor was arrested on charges of manslaughter, felony hit and run, and felony endangerment. Currently, an act...

David Barajas Airlifted, Steven Mahoney Involved in Fatal Wrong-Way Crash on Highway 198 [Kings County, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

24-Year-Old Man Pronounced Dead after Head-On Collision near 12th AvenueKINGS COUNTY, CA (December 5, 2023) – David Barajas and Steven Mahoney were involved in a deadly wrong-way collision on Highway 198, early Sunday morning.At approximately 2:00 a.m., law enforcement responded to an incident occurring in the eastbound lanes near 12th Avenue. The investigation is ongoing into why the driver of a Toyota Corolla was traveling in the wrong direction on the highway.The Toyota eventually collided with an eastbound Ford F-250, operated by Barajas, resulting in a collision with a Kia Soul driven by 63-year-old Mahoney. The Ford then overturned onto the road.Upon impact, the Toyota ignited in flames, and the Ford landed on top of the Kia Soul. The 24-year-old Corolla driver succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.Barajas was airlifted to a nearby hospital for further medical attention, while two other passengers from the incident were transported by ambulance to a ...

Pasta Bene owners retiring after 33 years in Berkeley, S.F. 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

Restaurateurs Farhad and Ladan Jalali are calling it a career.After serving affordable Italian fare to Cal students and other Berkeley neighbors for 13 years and San Francisco residents for 20 years before that, the couple is retiring. Their Pasta Bene restaurant will close for good at the end of service on Friday, Dec. 15.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | San Jose’s acclaimed Adega plans its final Michelin-style meals, including an 11-course NYE menu Restaurants, Food and Drink | Bay Area restaurant news: El Cerrito has a new Italian wine bar Restaurants, Food and Drink | 500-plus apartments are eyed at downtown Berkeley restaurant row Restaurants, Food and Drink | “Stealth” downtown San Jose food hall may open in weeks Restaurants, Food and Drink | Izzy’s on the Peninsula to reopen this winter Besides pasta, pizza, sandwiches and salad, Pasta Bene was known for its h...

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ ex-spouses are dating — each other

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

The plot has grown ever more complicated in the romantic melodrama surrounding former “Good Morning America” co-anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, who said they lost “dream jobs” at ABC last year because they fell in love and were determined to be together.It turns out that their ex-spouses, Marilee Fiebig and Andrew Shue, have begun dating. Page Six reported Tuesday that Fiebig, an attorney, and the former “Melrose Place” actor began spending time together, as friends, to commiserate over the scandal. But that friendship has blossomed into “something else” and the two have been dating about six months — a development that also could be said to mirror the plot of a soap opera or a 1970s farce about partner-swapping.“They’re connected over their (shared) values,” a source told Page Six about Fiebig and Shue’s relationship. “It’s bigger than the affair now.”Before Holmes and Robach were revealed to be a cou...

Musician Denny Laine dies; co-founded the bands Wings and The Moody Blues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

By Alli Rosenbloom | CNNDenny Laine, co-founder of bands Wings and The Moody Blues and longtime collaborator of Paul McCartney, died on Tuesday morning, according to Laine’s wife, Elizabeth Hines. He was 79.Hines wrote in a post on Laine’s official Instagram account that Laine had “been in ICU on a ventilator this past week.” She said Laine had Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), which “is unpredictable and aggressive.”“He fought everyday. He was so strong and brave, never complained,” she wrote.A singer, songwriter and guitarist, Laine along with McCartney established the band Wings in 1971. They went on to win a Grammy for best pop vocal performance by a duo, group or chorus in 1975 for the title track off their third album “Band on the Run,” and later won for best rock instrumental performance for 1979’s “Rockestra Theme.”Prior to Wings, Laine founded The Moody Blues in 1964, with whom he played until 1965.Later on Tuesday, McCartney paid tribute to his former bandmate via social me...

Roberts confirms Ohtani meeting, making Dodgers first team to publicly acknowledge talks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts abandoned the evasive maneuvers the Giants and other teams have adopted when asked about Shohei Ohtani’s free agency.The Dodgers met with Ohtani and made their pitch “a couple days” ago at Dodger Stadium, Roberts said Tuesday afternoon at the Winter Meetings. That meeting lasted two or three hours, he said.Roberts made no bones about the Dodgers’ No. 1 offseason target.“Clearly, Shohei is our top priority,” he said.Ohtani’s free agency has been among the most secretive in MLB history to the point that his agent, Nez Balelo, reportedly let it be known that any leaks about meetings would be held against that team. Roberts said he respected Ohtani’s desire for privacy but he was not going to pretend the meeting didn’t happen.“I don’t feel like lying is something I do,” Roberts said. “I was asked a question … We kept it quiet. But it’s going to come out at some point that we met.“So, I don’t think myself or anyone else in our organization ...

East Bay jet pilot indicted over in-flight sabotage incident, but not for attempted murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

A grand jury in Oregon indicted an East Bay pilot for Alaska Airlines on charges of endangering an aircraft and recklessly endangering others over an October incident in which he allegedly tried to shut off the plane’s engines that led to an emergency diversion to Portland International Airport, prosecutors said Tuesday.Joseph David Emerson, 44, of Pleasant Hill, who remains in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center, was scheduled for arraignment at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 7 on the indictment on a charge of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person, the Multnomah County District Attorney said.But lawyers for Emerson noted Tuesday that the grand jury did not also indict the pilot on charges of attempted murder for which he originally was charged.“The attempted murder charges were never appropriate in this case because Captain Emerson never intended to hurt another person or put anyone at risk — he just wanted to return home to h...

Woman dies after her SUV crashes in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

OAKLAND — A 43-year-old woman died Tuesday morning after her SUV collided with some other vehicles — one head-on — in the Sausal Creek area of East Oakland, authorities said.Her name was not immediately released. She is believed to be an Oakland resident.The collision happened about 8:28 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of East 27th Street and Fruitvale Avenue.According to preliminary information from police, the woman was alone in a Mazda SUV driving southbound on Fruitvale Avenue when for a still-undetermined reason she crossed into the northbound lanes, failed to stop for a red light at East 27th Street and sideswiped at least one vehicle before colliding head-on with a Toyota Highlander SUV.The woman was taken to a hospital where she died at 8:45 a.m., authorities saidTwo other people who had complaints of pain were taken to a hospital for evaluation, authorities said. It was not immediately clear which vehicles they were in.The intersection was closed for more than two ho...