World

SAN RAMON — A 45-year-old New York resident was arrested on suspicion of coming to the East Bay to pull off a bizarre scam whereby the victim allows the trickster to remove expensive jewelry from their neck. The man was …

Despite stormy weather and a potential government shutdown, millions of people were gearing up Friday to travel across the state and the nation for the holidays. The American Automobile Association estimated that 119.3 million people would travel 50 or more …

California’s long-awaited Dungeness crab season will get under way as the new year begins. Crab fishers can drop their gear on Jan. 2 and start pulling up the first crab pots on Sunday, Jan. 5, the Department of Fish and …

The party is over for a US retailer that for decades bedazzled birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and weddings. Party City Holdco’s chief executive told corporate employees on Friday that the company is shuttering all stores, according to a report by …

The Hotline mailbag publishes weekly. Send questions to wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com and include ‘mailbag’ in the subject line. Or hit me on the social media platform X: @WilnerHotline Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity. Can you explain the 2024 bowl …

WALNUT CREEK — A suspect was arrested Friday morning in the stabbing late Wednesday night of a BART train passenger, officials said. The condition of the victim, a 45-year-old San Jose man, was not available at midday Friday. Related Articles …

During tumultuous times, we look for comfort. And we often find it in our go-to dishes at our longtime favorite restaurants. But every year we say goodbye to many of those establishments. The ones we pay tribute to here had …

Forty minutes before opening on a recent Friday night, San Francisco’s Four Kings had a line of nearly 20 people waiting outside. The first 10 without reservations made it for the first seating at the counter; the next 10 provided a …

By GRAHAM DUNBAR | Associated Press GENEVA — FIFA has signed Netflix to a United States broadcast deal for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil plus the 2031 edition that could be played in the U.S. The deal announced …

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office on Friday dismissed the manslaughter case against the lone remaining officer charged in the 2021 death of Mario Gonzalez, who stopped breathing while being pinned to the ground by multiple Alameda police officers. The …

ALAMEDA — A man wanted as a suspect in an April fatal shooting of a 2-year-old boy in Washington state was arrested Wednesday at a homeless facility in the Bay Area, authorities said. The suspect, Jerome Lewis Jr., 31, is …

SANTA CLARA — General manager John Lynch talked about his decision to banish De’Vondre Campbell from the sideline after the veteran linebacker said he didn’t want to play in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Campbell was suspended …

The Bay Area and California managed modest job gains in November, but the pace of statewide employment increases have begun to fade at the same time the local nine-county region has perked up. More than half of the job gains …

The Hotline is delighted to provide fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on Dec. 19 … Dickert’s …

BAY POINT — Just two weeks after he was charged with exposing himself to a nurse at a hospital, an East Contra Costa man was arrested again in connection with four sexual assaults, authorities said Oscar Medrano, 38, of Bay …

The Bay Area woman killed in a Thanksgiving crash near Echo Summit has been identified as Peggy Liu, 50, of Fremont, the California Highway Patrol said. Related Articles Crashes and Disasters | South Bay motorcyclist killed in Santa Cruz Mountains …

California’s seemingly lofty paychecks look relatively run-of-the-mill when considering the state’s costly lifestyle and tax burdens. Related Articles Housing | California nets large population increase in 2024 — nearly returning to pre-pandemic level Housing | Want to leave the country? …

The Vallejo Police Department have made an arrest of Jeffrey Joseph Caldwell for assault with a deadly weapon. On Tuesday at approximately 8:28 p.m.., officers assigned to the Vallejo Police Department Patrol Division responded to multiple reports of gunshots heard …

SAN JOSE — A mixed-use project that once was poised to bring huge changes to a San Jose site may undergo a fresh course correction by adding an auto dealership as the economy shifts. Related Articles Real Estate | Nystrom …

The Saratoga City Council unanimously voted on Dec. 18 to appoint Belal Aftab as mayor and Chuck Page as vice mayor for 2025. Aftab had been poised to take on the role of mayor after serving in 2024 as vice …

SANTA CLARA — We’re at the unfamiliar point of the 49ers’ season where the dilemma is “to sit, or not to sit.” And not because they’re resting up for the playoffs. Peruse social media and talk radio and there’s a …

EL GRANADA — A 39-year-old Half Moon Bay man was arrested in connection with an attempted homicide Wednesday on the San Mateo County coast, according to authorities. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | San Mateo County deputy accused of …

RICHMOND — Dreams of redeveloping Richmond’s Nystrom Village, a historic World War II housing site, are being resuscitated with the selection of a new development team that has promised to bring more than just affordable housing to the area. During …

Gabi Dedek is all smiles and excitement as she shows off her acrylic paintings during a recent session at AbilityPath’s Phil Egan Art Program in San Jose. The first one is titled “Strike,” a colorful piece of art that places …

By Bernard McGhee | Associated Press It was a murder case almost everyone had an opinion on. O.J. Simpson’s “trial of the century” over the 1994 killings of his ex-wife and her friend bared divisions over race and law enforcement …

By Ryan Sabalow | CalMatters The year 2025 is shaping up to be a confusing one for Californians unlucky enough to buy a new or used car that turns out to be a clunker. Starting Jan. 1, car buyers who …

A Palm Desert estate built by “White Christmas” crooner Bing Crosby in 1955 recently hit the market for $13.5 million. The 6,100-square-foot, Spanish ranch-style retreat sits behind gates on a 2.5-acre-plus lot in the gated Ironwood Country Club neighborhood. It …

A 36-year-old supervisor at the U.S Postal Service office in Costa Mesa was arrested Thursday morning, Dec. 19, after she was accused of depositing roughly $281,000 in stolen checks. The Compton woman allegedly stole over 20 checks from mail at …

The online retail giant Amazon.com said its rush to deliver millions of holiday packages was largely unaffected Thursday by a nationwide strike, as thousands of drivers represented by the Teamsters union walked off the job. The strike, which began at …

SACRAMENTO — When LeBron James played his 10th minute of the Lakers’ road game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, he added another NBA record to his resume: most regular-season minutes played. James accomplished the milestone early in the …

FBI agents questioned a Carlsbad man Tuesday who had allegedly been in contact with a Wisconsin school shooter and is suspected of telling the girl that he planned to attack a government building with explosives and a gun, according to a …

SAN JOSE – As odd as it sounds for a team that’s lost six of its last seven games and has once again fallen to near the bottom of the NHL standings, the San Jose Sharks are going to be …

OAKLAND — Dave & Buster’s, a high-profile entertainment and restaurant chain, is eyeing a site near the Oakland waterfront, a potential expansion poised to fill a long-empty space in the East Bay’s largest city. The potential location for a new …

Alhambra basketball player Samuel Gillaspy is the Bay Area News Group’s boys high school athlete of the week for Dec. 9-14. In online voting that ended at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Gillaspy finished with 41.94% of the vote. Mountain View basketball …

In the wake of Sheng Thao’s recall, at least seven people are now running to be Oakland’s next mayor. Each promises to turn the city around, but it’s unlikely that the new mayor — whoever it is — will be …

Today is Friday, Dec. 20, the 355th day of 2024. There are 11 days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 20, 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government …

James Logan basketball player Iwa Lealao is the Bay Area News Group’s girls high school athlete of the week for Dec. 9-14. In online voting that ended at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Lealao finished with 45.05% of the vote. Leigh basketball …

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister and I have not spoken for a few months, and I’m really heartbroken over it. Related Articles Advice | Harriette Cole: He called me privileged, and it really struck a nerve Advice | Harriette Cole: Bringing …

Dear Eric: My husband and I, both happily retired with good pensions and Social Security, make our weekly grocery trips together. We take turns paying with our flight-points credit cards. Related Articles Advice | Asking Eric: I’m in an awkward …

DEAR ABBY: My fiance and I have been together for many years. I have never really liked his mother — for valid reasons. She belittles and is disrespectful to her son. Related Articles Advice | Dear Abby: My friends are …