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Local children’s hospital to unveil first-of-its-kind digital experience  

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

The Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital is set to introduce a new digital experience to their facility for patients, visitors and their families. The experience, called Loma Land, blends technology and art in a three-part sequence where children can create their own personalized forest creatures.Loma Land has been carefully designed to reduce stress and improve the well-being of those who participate, according to an official hospital release. “Children visiting the hospital will have the opportunity to select their very own personalized forest creature, which will accompany them on their path to the elevators,” the children’s hospital said. The custom creatures can also be decorated with a range of accessories. Upon creating and customizing their own forest creature, children can “release” them into the wild where they can interact with the creations of others. The magical “release” takes place on a 60-foot-wide screen that serves as the children’s “gatewa...

Joseph Cruz Died in Head-On Collision on Highway 1 [Lompoc, CA]

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

23-Year-Old Rider Died in Car Crash on Highway 1LOMPOC, CA (November 6, 2023) – Joseph Cruz lost his life in a head-on collision on Highway 1, Wednesday afternoon.The accident happened shortly before 5:45 p.m. on October 25th, at Highway 1.According to CHP, a Yamaha YZF-R1 heading south at a speed of more than 55 mph when he was unsuccessful in navigating a curve and veered into oncoming traffic. His rider struck head-on with a Tesla.The Yamaha rider was identified as 23-year-old Joseph Cruz who died immediately on the spot while the Tesla driver, a woman, sustained minor wounds.Additionally, authorities shut down a portion of the roadway to allow for cleanup and preliminary duties. However, the highway has since been reopened to the public.Furthermore, the investigation is still ongoing and encourages any with information to contact CHP’s Buellton office.Sweet James sends out their heartfelt sympathies to the friends and family of Joseph Cruz who are grieving over the loss of...

Investors embrace downtown San Jose office to housing project switch

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

SAN JOSE — Investors in a huge downtown San Jose project have embraced plans to switch a proposed office tower to a residential complex with housing highrises, a developer says.Initially, a real estate firm had proposed the development of an office tower at 147 East Santa Clara Street next to North Fourth Street and a residential tower at 95 North Fourth Street next to East St. John Street.Street-level view of 600-unit complex of residential towers at 147 East Santa Clara Street in downtown San Jose, concept. (BDE Architects)Urban Catalyst, as this news organization reported in September, now has proposed the concept of switching the office into a housing tower complex that could be built in one or two phases as highrises.“With the current state of the office market, this is what we had to do,” said Erik Hayden, founder and managing partner with Urban Catalyst, the developer of the office tower at Fourth and Santa Clara and the nearby proposed residential towe...

SF Giants pick up option on Alex Cobb, All-Star starter returns for 2024

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

Farhan Zaidi executed his easiest decision of the offseason Monday, picking up the San Francisco Giants’ $10 million player option on Alex Cobb, ensuring the 36-year-old first-time All-Star will be back in 2024.When the Giants brought Cobb on board before the 2022 season, it wasn’t hard to imagine the club option as a potential exit ramp on a deal with a then-34-year-old four years removed from his last 100-inning season. But Cobb has proven that he is firmly in the fast lane, making his rate a bargain, even with the news that he will miss at least the first month of next season recovering from hip surgery.In 56 starts the past two seasons (only three fewer than the 59 he made over the course of his previous four-year, $57 million contract between the Orioles and Angels), Cobb has posted a 3.80 ERA and an even better 3.41 FIP (fielding independent pitching). His reliable presence was all the more important last season, when he and Logan Webb were the only Giants pitchers...

Walnut Creek’s new pizza and beer restaurant is an homage to its owners’ pizza-loving dads

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

Last week, cousins Baldeep and Gurpreet Sangha opened the doors of a pizza and beer restaurant in Walnut Creek named after their fathers: Bill and Bali’s Pizza and Pints.The restaurant’s namesakes are brothers who immigrated to the U.S. from India’s Punjab region, landing first in Yuba City before moving to the Bay Area in the 1980s. Along the way, they discovered pizza, chowing down on pies by Bay Area-founded chains like Straw Hat and Round Table.Bali’s son, Baldeep, and Bill’s son, Gurpreet, grew up in the East Bay and now live in Oakland and Fairfield, respectively. About five years ago, the cousins opened Walnut Creek’s Hops & Scotch, a taproom and whiskey bar with 47 beer taps and some 1,100 whiskeys, one of the biggest whiskey selections in the Bay Area.The Zesty Zucchini pizza from Bill & Bali’s Pizza and Pints in Walnut Creek is made with zucchini, red pepper flakes and ricotta and mozzarella cheeses ($22). (Courtesy Bill &a...

Mountain West power ratings: Fresno State on top after Air Force loss; Hawaii climbs (yes, Hawaii)

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

Last season, the Hotline published weekly ‘Best of the West’ power ratings that considered not only Pac-12 teams but those in the Mountain West and Brigham Young. The exercise was so popular that we’re adding a MW-specific column to our array of offerings this season.(All times Pacific)1. Fresno State (8-1/4-1)Last week: 2Result: beat Boise State 37-30Next up: at San Jose State (7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)Comment: A berth in the MW title game hinges on the outcome Saturday night. Are we completely and utterly dismissing the possibility of a loss to New Mexico or San Diego State in the final fortnight? Yes. Yes, we are.2. Air Force (8-1/5-0)Last week: 1Result: lost at Army 23-3Next up: at Hawaii (8 p.m. on Spectrum Sports)Comment: Absolutely shocking result against the Black Knights until you see the surreal turnover tally — Air Force 6, Army 0 — and then the score starts to make sense.3. Boise State (4-5/3-2)Last week: 3Result: lost at Fresno State 37-30Next up: vs....

Review: ‘Alan Wake 2’ is Remedy at it most unsettling and weird

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

Remedy Entertainment is at its best when the developer is unsettling. It’s a peculiar quality that permeates every pixel and line of code of the studio’s work. It’s in the creepy atmosphere of “Max Payne” and the dread players feel walking in the darkness of “Alan Wake.”But it wasn’t until “Control” that Remedy truly harnessed that weirdness and sinister vibe into a project that married its ambitious storytelling and its excellent game design. That breakthrough title established a tone and shape for “Alan Wake 2.” And finally, after 13 years of waiting, fans finally have a sequel and answer to the last line from the original: “It’s not a lake, it’s an ocean.”INTRODUCING A NEW HERO“Alan Wake 2” starts off with a new protagonist, FBI agent Saga Anderson, who takes a case along with her partner, Alex Casey, in Bright Falls, Washington. It’s a small town near Cauldron Lake, ...

Chase Young makes 49ers practice debut after trade from Washington

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Chase Young, in a freshly appointed No. 92 jersey, made his 49ers’ practice debut Monday, six days after being traded from the Washington Commanders.Young was reunited with Ohio State teammate Nick Bosa and the 49ers are hoping that combination helps kickstart their defense and high-priced pass rush.Young’s Day 1 outfit for the walk-through practice without pads: Red jersey, red leggings under black shorts (cut-off jersey pants), red headband, and red-and-white Jordan cleats.Acquired for a 2024 conditional third-round pick, Young passed a physical Wednesday to formally complete the trade, alleviating some concerns about his right knee injury from two years ago.Young had five sacks in seven games this season with the Commanders, putting him on track for a career-high total. He had 7 1/2 sacks as the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of The Year, then a November 2021 knee injury sidelined him until the final three games of last season.The 49ers (5-3) look to sn...

Berkeley officers shoot, kill person during response to alleged car burglary

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

BERKELEY — Berkeley police officers shot and killed a person early Monday morning, the second fatal shooting by police in recent months, department officials confirmed.An unknown number of officers were in the area of 7th and Grayson Streets around 5:25 a.m. investigating a suspected vehicle burglary in progress when they encountered three adult suspects, police said while speaking to reporters Monday.Officers eventually opened fire on the suspects, hitting one person, according to authorities. After life-saving measures were attempted, the person was later pronounced dead at Highland Hospital.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Police release video of fatal September shooting at Toyota service center in Albany Crime and Public Safety | Police fatally shoot woman who they said had BB gun at California bus stop Crime and Public Safety | Leaked video shows Antioch cops fire dozens of shots at man as he runs away Crime and Public Sa...

Los Gatos 'Party Mom' pleads not guilty to slew of new charges

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- Shannon O'Connor, also known as the Los Gatos "Party Mom," pleaded not guilty through her defense attorney on Monday to a slew of new charges. O'Connor was indicted by a grand jury last week and charged with 20 felony and 43 misdemeanor counts. She was initially charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office with 39 counts in October of 2021. The mother of two is accused of hosting alcohol-fueled sex parties for underage teenagers, including her own teenaged sons. Prosecutors said O'Connor organized secret parties between the summer of 2020 and February 2021 without her husband's knowledge. The alleged victims were 13 male and female Los Gatos High School students.She allegedly lured girls to her parties, served copious amounts of alcohol, and pressured them to have "sexual encounters" with boys.Shannon O'Connor appears in court in 2021. (Pool photo / Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)O'Connor is now facing even more charges because an ong...