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Sources: US will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

By Nomaan Merchant, Lolita C. Baldor and Ellen Knickmeyer | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The Biden administration has decided to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine and is expected to announce on Friday that the Pentagon will send thousands as part of a new military aid package worth up to $800 million for the war effort against Russia, according to people familiar with the decision.The decision comes despite widespread concerns that the controversial bombs can cause civilian casualties. The Pentagon will provide munitions that have a reduced “dud rate,” meaning there will be far fewer unexploded rounds that can result in unintended civilian deaths.U.S. officials said Thursday they expect the military aid to Ukraine will be announced on Friday. The weapons will come from Pentagon stocks and will also include Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles and an array of ammunition, such as rounds for howitzers and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS, offici...

Threads: All your questions about Meta’s new Twitter rival answered

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

By Wyatte Grantham-Philips | Associated PressNEW YORK — Threads, a text-based app built by Meta to rival Twitter, is live.The app, billed as the text version of Meta’s photo-sharing platform Instagram, became available Wednesday night to users in more than 100 countries — including the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada and Japan. Despite some early glitches, 30 million people had signed up before noon on Thursday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Threads.New arrivals to the platform include celebrities like Oprah, pop star Shakira and chef Gordon Ramsay — as well as corporate accounts from Taco Bell, Netflix, Spotify, the Washington Post and other media outlets.Threads, which Meta says provides “a new, separate space for real-time updates and public conversations,” arrives at a time when many are looking for Twitter alternatives to escape Elon Musk’s raucous oversight of the platform since acquiring it last year for $44 billion. But Meta’s new app has al...

Bay Area rhythm section anchored in love sets series of local gigs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

Jazz bands are intricate organisms that grow from the rhythm section up, and when a group attains liftoff it’s usually powered by the current flowing between the drummer and the bassist.As a sidewoman, San Jose-reared drummer Sylvia Cuenca has for three decades been levitating jazz legends such as tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, pianist Kenny Barron, and trumpeter Clark Terry, who employed her 17 years. But these days she’s just as likely to lead her own combo, and whenever possible Cuenca hires bassist Essiet Okon Essiet, whose two-year stint in Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers confirmed his status as an all-star talent.More than a superlative rhythm section tandem, Cuenca and Essiet are also a couple who wedded in Los Gatos last September. While maintaining independent careers, the bicoastal couple can often be found swinging with abandon together on bandstands around the Bay Area, like on their far-ranging run of performances in the coming week.“I’ve learned a lot and I’m stil...

Letters: Sterilization reparations | Saving journalism | Ascribing hate | Prison transfers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Push needed to paysterilization victimsThe U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1927, Buck v. Bell, that states had the right to sterilize institutionalized people.Today, about 600 survivors out of the more than 20,000 California victims are eligible for reparations. In 2022, only three people forcibly sterilized at Sonoma State Hospital received reparations of $15,000 each from the California Victims Compensation Board.Project teams at the Department of Developmental Services, Department of State Hospitals and California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation are composed of only one employee, instead of involving survivors and advocates, to decide sites and types of memorials. The Forced or Involuntary Sterilization Compensation Program ends on Dec. 31. Without direct outreach to survivors urging them to apply for compensation and involving them in the decision-making for the memorials at California sites,...

Letters: Night markets | Propping up BART | Rightly concerned | Composting | Court’s decision | Dumbing down

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Night markets recallvisits to family in ChinaRe: “Bay Area night markets a foodie’s delight, with art vendors, music and more” (Page F2, July 2).Thank you for sharing the information about the local night markets, and being able to see the food market photos made me nostalgic.The food and music, especially, made me think of the market that I visited while I was in China before the pandemic. The circumstances made me recall the family members and friends in China as they had been with me in the local night market four years ago.Limited flights from the United States to China are the reason that I stayed here in the Bay Area this summer, and as the summer kicks in full gear, I hope that there will be more direct flights to China so that I can travel again to see my family and friends.Yunwen FangSaratogaVoters should decideon propping up BARTRe: “BART’s desire for money fuels b...

Oakland RV fire near Hegenberger Road displaces one

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

(KRON) -- One person was displaced as a result of a fire in an RV that broke out Thursday on Leet Drive near Hegenberger Road, according to the Oakland Fire Department on Twitter. Three engines, a truck and a battalion responded to the blaze which fully involved the RV. Teenage girl reported missing by Oakland police No one was injured as a result of the fire, and just one was displaced. The fire was deemed accidental, according to fire authorities.Photos from the scene showed firefighters mopping up the charred remains of the RV.KRON On is streaming live news 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%; height: 100%; }No other information was immediately available.

Willow Pass in Concord closed in both directions due to car crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

(KRON) -- Willow Pass Road is closed in both directions between Farm Bureau Road and Clayton Way due to a solo vehicle crash, according to the Concord Police Department. The vehicle crashed into a power pole. PG&E is responding to the incident, but it is not known if power in the area has been impacted. Father arrested after daughter, 7, killed on Highway 101 in Monterey County There is no estimated time for the road to reopen, according to Concord PD.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

2 minors arrested in scooter robbery at Oakland BART station: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

(KRON) -- Two juvenile suspects were arrested after allegedly robbing a victim of his scooter on BART Wednesday night in Oakland, the public transit agency's police department announced on social media. Around 6:48 p.m., police received a call of a robbery at the West Oakland station.BART police located the two suspects who had robbed a victim of his scooter, officials said. One of the suspects spat at an officer and tried to run away. Both suspects were arrested shortly after and were booked at Alameda Juvenile Hall.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%; height: 100%; }Officials did not report any injuries in the alleged robbery.

Port of Oakland to receive portion of $119 million from the state

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story misstated the portion of the grant that the Port of Oakland would receive. (July 6, 2023)(KRON) -- The Port of Oakland will be awarded a portion of a $1.2 billion grant on Thursday to boost up its infrastructure and zero-emission goals. The Port of Oakland will receive $119 million in grant funding. The whole of the grant will be dispersed among several ports and transit agencies. Shooting reported near elementary school in Pacific Heights The grant will allow the port to increase its capacity to move goods throughout the State of California's global trade gateways while lessening the environmental impacts on neighboring communities. “The Port of Oakland thanks the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom and all our legislative, business and community partners who worked diligently with the Port in the grant application process,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan. “We look forward to our continued work with Califo...

Thai golfer disqualified at US Women’s Open when caddie uses rangefinder

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:23 GMT

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Natthakritta Vongtaveelap of Thailand only made it through five holes Thursday in the U.S. Women’s Open when she was disqualified for her caddie using a rangefinder.The USGA said the Thai’s caddie used the distance measuring device on multiple occasions. She was even par through the 14th hole — having started on No. 10 — when she was disqualified.Such devices are allowed at LPGA Tour-sanctioned events except for the U.S. Women’s Open, which is run by the USGA, and the Women’s British Open run by the R&A.Vongtaveelap missed the cut last week in the Women’s PGA Championship. The PGA of America allows rangefinders, hopeful it will help with pace of play for when players get out of position and might need extra time to measure distances.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource