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Alameda police say they’ve solved the mystery of who killed Pleasanton woman and dumped her body along the shore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

ALAMEDA — Police here say they’ve not only identified the badly decomposed body of a woman that turned up on shore last month, but arrested a suspect who has been booked on murder charges after a Thursday morning raid.The suspect, identified through jail records as 42-year-old Joseph Roberts, has been charged with murder and booked into Santa Rita Jail on a no-bail hold. He is set to be arraigned Friday morning in Dublin, court records show.The badly decomposed body of the victim, identified by police as 27-year-old Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, was found inside a plastic bag on the shoreline near the Bay Farm Island Bridge in Alameda. The grisly discovery was made on July 20 by a dog who led his owner to the bag. The owner cut the bag open and notified police, authorities say.The charging records allege Roberts killed Buckner on or about July 13, and police determined her body was dumped no later than July 18, authorities say. Police haven’t disclosed the motive...

Schiff leads Porter, Lee — and Steve Garvey — in race to succeed Feinstein in U.S. Senate, but many undecided

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

The latest poll in the race to succeed Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate gave a boost Thursday to Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, putting him ahead of fellow Southern California Democrat Rep. Katie Porter and double digits in front of Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee, who’s struggling to get voters’ attention.But Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll director Mark Di Camillo said the race remains a “wide-open affair.”“About a third of voters remain undecided,” Di Camillo said. “That’s a lot of voters. Voters by and large haven’t tuned into the Senate race. So there are opportunities out there for Lee and even Republicans to increase their name recognition, but it’s also very expensive to do in California.”The poll found 20% support for Schiff, 17% for Porter and 7% for Lee, the same as for leading Republican James Bradley and former baseball star Steve Garvey, a political novice who some Republicans are encouraging t...

Letters: A good start | Wrong track | Math scores | Accountability problem

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.SB 9 good startingpoint for housingRe: “Popular housing narrative upended by planning expert” (Page A12, Aug. 27).In her oped Lafayette City Councilwoman Susan Candell, challenges the state law, SB 9, on the issue of fair housing.I have been a resident of Lafayette since 1969 and have always regretted that our community has lacked both diversity and equity in housing. SB 9 certainly has its failures, but it is a beginning. I would encourage multifamily units throughout our community, and, yes, right in my neighborhood, as one answer to this local and national crisis. I am grateful to the state for trying to address the housing issue.I believe we would all still be drinking out of separate water fountains had it not been for the government stepping in to change the laws. We have a wonderful opportunity to make our society more fair. Let’s improve on SB 9.Lynn MacMichaelLafayetteSB 94 is...

Four-bedroom home sells in Milpitas for $1.7 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

1635 Serpa Drive – Google Street ViewA 1,976-square-foot house built in 1978 has changed hands. The property located in the 1600 block of Serpa Drive in Milpitas was sold on Aug. 16, 2023. The $1,725,000 purchase price works out to $873 per square foot. This two-story house presents a roomy floor plan, featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The home’s outer structure has wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. In addition, the house features a two-car garage.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:A 1,186-square-foot home on the 1700 block of View Drive in Milpitas sold in September 2022, for $1,035,000, a price per square foot of $873. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Ellis Avenue, Milpitas, in January 2023, a 1,584-square-foot home was sold for $1,391,000, a price per square foot of $878. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In February 2023, a 1,210-square-foot home on Ellis Avenue in Milpitas sold for $522,000, a pr...

Supervisors embrace reforms for Alameda County criminal justice — but they won’t be easy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

An Alameda County report two years in the making has outlined a series of recommendations that would lead to a comprehensive overhaul of the county’s criminal justice system — if it makes it that far.The 248-page report, titled “Reimagine Adult Justice,” would do just that. The recommendations, presented at a committee meeting on Thursday, aim to reduce recidivism, shrink the incarcerated population at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, prevent victimization of Black and Brown residents, and much more.If instituted, the county would make enormous strides toward building some of the most progressive criminal justice programs in the region. A jail population review team would identify people for early release, alternatives for people with behavioral health concerns would be increased and a long-term strategy would address racial and ethnic disparities. There would also be a comprehensive oversight system, expanded pretrial release, and community-based rehabilitation programs.Already...

Letters: Two crises | Fired attorney | Glimpse at workers | Teaching standards | On the mark | New leaders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.State should solvetwo crises at onceRe: “Housing proposal panned by state” (Page A1, Aug. 31).The housing crisis, and the state’s reaction to it, illustrates again the state government’s inability to react to the times. While hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial office space across California remain vacant, threatening yet another large-scale financial crisis, California remains focused on fighting local governments over housing plans and unworkable mandates.State and local governments can address at least a portion of the housing problem by working with commercial office owners to streamline the repurposing of existing commercial space into residential space. The results could change California’s big cities, putting California at the vanguard of modern urban city living.Will it be easy? No. Not even close. But the “double the word score” benefits o...

A Black-led group proposed a $5 billion plan for Oakland Coliseum. The A’s could stand in the way.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

OAKLAND — A Black-led, local development group has formally offered to buy out the A’s partial ownership share of the Coliseum, proposing to take one of Oakland’s most notable pieces of real estate off the team’s hands in order to revitalize the property.In an offer letter, the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) describes its interest in “expediting the future redevelopment” of the 155-acre Coliseum complex, which includes the baseball stadium and the Oakland Arena, plus the vast parking space in between.AASEG sent the letter earlier this week to the A’s, as well as to numerous city and Alameda County officials. It did not name a price, but offered instead to engage in negotiations with the franchise over the terms of a potential buyout, noting the team’s intentions of constructing a new Las Vegas ballpark by 2028.Amid public overtures by Mayor Sheng Thao to keep the A’s in town for as long as possible, this ...

FBI SF office seeks help in finding man seen with sexually exploited child

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

(BCN)--The FBI's San Francisco office is asking for public assistance in finding a man who may have critical information about a child victim of sexual exploitation. The FBI said Wednesday that the man only known as "John Doe 47" was first recorded on video with a child in August 2020 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Third suspect arrested in Skyline High School shooting The video's data indicated that its files were produced before April 2020, federal agents said. The man is described as a black male, likely between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. The FBI said he could be heard speaking English in the video. Further details about the man and the child were not immediately available. According to the FBI, no charges have been filed in this case and the man being sought is presumed innocent "unless and until proven guilty in a court of law." Federal agents said they are looking for him as part of the "Operation Rescue Me" and "Endangered ...

Bill that decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms headed to governor's desk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A bill that allows personal possession and use of small amounts of psychedelic mushrooms is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for approval. On Wendesday, the bill passed the California State Assembly. California Senate Bill 58 passed in the California State Senate earlier this year and was sent back to the Senate where it received final approval Thursday, according to California State Sen. Scott Weiner.The bill was held up in the state assembly for several months following its passage in the senate. The bill removes criminal penalties for personal possession and use of a limited set of "naturally occurring psychedelics," according to a statement from Weiner's office. Quarantine in effect for portions of Santa Clara County due to oriental fruit flies Substances covered by the bill include psilocybin (mushrooms), Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline (excluding peyote). The bill also triggers a process to craft policy proposals for group therapeutic use of ...

Slumping Rangers put AL RBI leader Adolis García on 10-day IL with patellar tendon strain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:57 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — All-Star slugger Adolis García, the American League leader with 100 RBIs, will be placed on the 10-day injured list by the playoff-contending and slumping Texas Rangers after an MRI on Thursday revealed a patellar tendon strain in his right knee.General manager Chris Young said García won’t need surgery and that the team is “cautiously optimistic” he might be able to return this season for the Rangers, who have 23 regular-season games left. The GM didn’t provide a definite timetable. “We won’t know that for certain until the next week to 10 days as we kind of see how the healing and inflammation responds,” Young said. “Nonetheless, it was not a rupture, which we were fearful of. So I think that was good news all things considered, and we’ll will remain hopeful that he can return.”Texas is going to call up top prosect outfielder Evan Carter, and he will join the team for the opener of a weekend series at home against Oakland on Friday night. Young said the tea...