OAKLAND — Two months before 36 people died in the Ghost Ship fire, an Oakland Fire Department employee entered the warehouse and observed exposed electrical wiring, recommending tenants fix the hazard, according to an amended lawsuit filed Wednesday by attorneys representing victim families.The 179-page amended lawsuit adds the city of Oakland, Alameda County and state of California to a growing list of defendents, and alleges the agencies failed in their duties to shut down the crowded fire trap and its illegal parties.There are a few new details including in the complaint, although much...…OAKLAND — Two months before 36 people died in the Ghost Ship fire, an Oakland Fire Department employee entered the warehouse and observed exposed electrical wiring, recommending tenants fix the hazard, according to an amended lawsuit filed Wednesday by attorneys representing victim families.The 179-page amended lawsuit adds the city of Oakland, Alameda County and state of California to a growing list of defendents, and alleges the agencies failed in their duties to shut down the crowded fire trap and its illegal parties.There are a few new details including in the complaint, although much...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | By Michael R. Sistak and Tom Hays | Associated PressNEW YORK — As she tried to fight off Harvey Weinstein’s advances, Mimi Haleyi told him “no, no, no” before he held her down on a bed and forcibly performed oral sex on her, she said in emotional testimony Monday at Weinstein’s rape trial.Haleyi, one of two women whose assault accusations led to Weinstein’s trial, took the stand Monday and, at times sobbing, detailed her allegation that the disgraced movie mogul sexually assaulted her at his New York City apartment...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | By Michael R. Sistak and Tom Hays | Associated PressNEW YORK — As she tried to fight off Harvey Weinstein’s advances, Mimi Haleyi told him “no, no, no” before he held her down on a bed and forcibly performed oral sex on her, she said in emotional testimony Monday at Weinstein’s rape trial.Haleyi, one of two women whose assault accusations led to Weinstein’s trial, took the stand Monday and, at times sobbing, detailed her allegation that the disgraced movie mogul sexually assaulted her at his New York City apartment...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupWatch California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s news conference live. The governor’s office says he will be making “a major announcement.”Get Morning Report and other email newslettersClose…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupWatch California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s news conference live. The governor’s office says he will be making “a major announcement.”Get Morning Report and other email newslettersCloseWW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | and | | Bay Area News GroupIn a troubling turn in the nation’s fight against the new coronavirus, a second U.S. case of unknown origin was confirmed Friday in Santa Clara County.The case — an adult woman with pre-existing health problems, reportedly receiving care at Mountain View’s El Camino Hospital — is the second this week in which the infected person had no known exposure to the coronavirus either through travel overseas or another infected person. The first case also arose in the Bay Area, in Solano...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | and | | Bay Area News GroupIn a troubling turn in the nation’s fight against the new coronavirus, a second U.S. case of unknown origin was confirmed Friday in Santa Clara County.The case — an adult woman with pre-existing health problems, reportedly receiving care at Mountain View’s El Camino Hospital — is the second this week in which the infected person had no known exposure to the coronavirus either through travel overseas or another infected person. The first case also arose in the Bay Area, in Solano...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | Southern California News GroupCalifornia has raised $1 billion in cannabis tax revenue since the industry kicked into gear in January 2018, according to figures recently released by the state.The bulk of that $1.03 billion in tax money, after covering regulatory costs, has been spent on programs such as child care for low income families, cannabis research, public safety grants and cleaning up public lands harmed by illegal marijuana grows.While industry insiders and advocates are celebrating those numbers, they’re...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | Southern California News GroupCalifornia has raised $1 billion in cannabis tax revenue since the industry kicked into gear in January 2018, according to figures recently released by the state.The bulk of that $1.03 billion in tax money, after covering regulatory costs, has been spent on programs such as child care for low income families, cannabis research, public safety grants and cleaning up public lands harmed by illegal marijuana grows.While industry insiders and advocates are celebrating those numbers, they’re...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupIn a week where NFL free agency is seeing millions of dollars dolled out to players, the 49ers paused Thursday morning to pledge $500,000 for their employees and community organizations amid the coronavirus pandemic hitting especially hard in the Bay Area.An immediate $49,000 is being earmarked for nonprofits in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County.Al Guido, the 49ers’ team president, held a press conference outside Levi’s Stadium to announce the 49ers’ philanthropic efforts. The 49ers to...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupIn a week where NFL free agency is seeing millions of dollars dolled out to players, the 49ers paused Thursday morning to pledge $500,000 for their employees and community organizations amid the coronavirus pandemic hitting especially hard in the Bay Area.An immediate $49,000 is being earmarked for nonprofits in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County.Al Guido, the 49ers’ team president, held a press conference outside Levi’s Stadium to announce the 49ers’ philanthropic efforts. The 49ers to...WW…

Film star Keanu Reeves could be in the Bay Area shooting scenes for the fourth "Matrix" film.Bay Area residents, are you ready for your closeup?If you’ve ever dreamed of appearing in a Hollywood blockbuster — and perhaps getting a little face time with Keanu Reeves — your big breakthrough opportunity might be here.A “major” film under the code name of “Project Ice Cream” is set to begin filming in the Bay Area in February. was the first to sniff out this development, citing the trade publication , which reports that the working title is listed beside the “Matrix 4.”This makes perfect sense...…Film star Keanu Reeves could be in the Bay Area shooting scenes for the fourth "Matrix" film.Bay Area residents, are you ready for your closeup?If you’ve ever dreamed of appearing in a Hollywood blockbuster — and perhaps getting a little face time with Keanu Reeves — your big breakthrough opportunity might be here.A “major” film under the code name of “Project Ice Cream” is set to begin filming in the Bay Area in February. was the first to sniff out this development, citing the trade publication , which reports that the working title is listed beside the “Matrix 4.”This makes perfect sense...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | , | and | | Bay Area News GroupCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a hospital ship from the federal government Thursday afternoon, citing a shocking projection from state officials.Newsom’s request said 56 percent of California’s population, a whopping 25.5 million people, would be infected over an eight-week period. A spokesperson for the governor later clarified the projection included zero mitigation efforts such as the Bay Area’s shutdown of non-essential businesses to decrease contact between...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | , | and | | Bay Area News GroupCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a hospital ship from the federal government Thursday afternoon, citing a shocking projection from state officials.Newsom’s request said 56 percent of California’s population, a whopping 25.5 million people, would be infected over an eight-week period. A spokesperson for the governor later clarified the projection included zero mitigation efforts such as the Bay Area’s shutdown of non-essential businesses to decrease contact between...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupToilet paper, hand sanitizer and other hygiene essentials began flying off store shelves weeks ago amid mounting worries over the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Not to worry, retailers and suppliers said, we’re churning out product and cranking up inventory to meet demand.So where is it? A week into an unprecedented statewide stay-home order aimed at keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients, consumers throughout the Bay Area and beyond are still finding empty store shelves when they...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupToilet paper, hand sanitizer and other hygiene essentials began flying off store shelves weeks ago amid mounting worries over the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Not to worry, retailers and suppliers said, we’re churning out product and cranking up inventory to meet demand.So where is it? A week into an unprecedented statewide stay-home order aimed at keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients, consumers throughout the Bay Area and beyond are still finding empty store shelves when they...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupSAN JOSE — First came the man to the rescue. And then came the dinosaur, the tiger and the cowboy.It was just before midnight Friday in San Jose, and the downtown streets were thick with “furries” — anthropomorphism aficionados dressed in fur costumes — who had poured into the city for San Jose’s annual furry get-together known as FurCon.Conversations were relaxed as people drank in the night air and cooled off from “suiting” inside fur costumes all day, said Steven Rodriguez, 26, who was...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Bay Area News GroupSAN JOSE — First came the man to the rescue. And then came the dinosaur, the tiger and the cowboy.It was just before midnight Friday in San Jose, and the downtown streets were thick with “furries” — anthropomorphism aficionados dressed in fur costumes — who had poured into the city for San Jose’s annual furry get-together known as FurCon.Conversations were relaxed as people drank in the night air and cooled off from “suiting” inside fur costumes all day, said Steven Rodriguez, 26, who was...WW…