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Antioch claims subpoenaed officers have ‘industrial injuries’ to avoid testifying about racism, alleged crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

The city of Antioch is resisting subpoenas for at least five of its police officers called to testify about racism and alleged crimes within the department, claiming the officers are out on injury leave and therefore unavailable, this news organization has learned.One of the five is a K9 officer and central focus of an ongoing FBI investigation who was allowed to keep his canine partner while on leave and later claimed he was injured while walking the dog, multiple law enforcement sources say.Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford has signed sworn declarations under penalty of perjury that the officers — some under FBI investigation and others who sent racist texts to colleagues — have “not been medically cleared by (their) physician to attend court.”Those documents, obtained by this news organization, say the five won’t be available to testify in a Friday hearing that will explore the department’s alleged violations of the Racial Justice Act. The hearing could result in serious cri...

Feds charge suspect in violent Oakland home invasion with trafficking meth and fentanyl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

OAKLAND — A 29-year-old Oakland man has been charged with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl, after authorities raided his home in a home invasion and assault case and allegedly seized distribution-quantities of both drugs, court records show.Maxfer Palma was under investigation in a March 13 home invasion that targeted a woman who had previously lived with Palma and at least two of the other suspects, when Oakland police raided his apartment on Foothill Boulevard and seized more than 200 grams of fentanyl and more than four pounds of methamphetamine, along with two unregistered guns, authorities said. He has not been charged in connection with the home invasion, but was indicted on charges of drug trafficking, one of which carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison term, court records show.A federal judge has ordered Palma to remain jailed while the case his pending, at a July 13 court hearing. His next court date has been set for Aug. 22.The investigation into Palma s...

Remembering Nancy Pyle as a tenacious politician with style

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

When you envision former San Jose City Councilmember Nancy Pyle, who died last Friday at age 85, you may immediately think of the stylish outfits that earned her a reputation as the best-dressed member of the council during her tenure from 2005 to 2013. But to only remember her that way would be a disservice to the tenacity she showed over decades of service.She may have dressed to the nines, but Pyle fought like Rocky Balboa.It’s easy to forget that the former elementary school teacher, who had a 25-year career mostly in the San Jose Unified School District, twice ran unsuccessfully for the Almaden Valley seat, losing to Pat Dando in 1995 and 2000. She finally broke through on her third attempt in 2004 when the popular Dando was termed out. But even then she had to overcome a 12-point advantage in the primary by her opponent, Rich De La Rosa, who was endorsed by Dando.While her time in office was one of the city’s most economically challenging, Pyle continued to fight &...

Bay Area tech layoffs hit mainly non-tech workers: CBRE report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

SAN JOSE — The massive tech layoffs that have jolted the Bay Area job market have primarily affected non-tech employees of the companies that have orchestrated the local job cuts, a new report released Tuesday states.The new CBRE report — which determined that the Bay Area is the nation’s top region for tech talent — offers a fresh look at the nature of the tech layoffs that have haunted the Bay Area economy for more than 18 months.“Even as the tech sector’s resilience was tested in 2022, the (Bay Area) region continues to lead with the largest tech talent labor pool and highest number of tech roles of any U.S. market,” stated the new “Scoring Tech Talent” report from CBRE, a commercial real estate firm.The CBRE report for the first time examined and compared wages in key tech regions. The Bay Area is paying the highest wages for tech workers.In 2021, annual tech wages averaged $185,425 in the Bay Area, $172,009 in Seattle and $121,794...

San Leandro’s first Restaurant Week features special events, deals, contests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

The inaugural San Leandro Restaurant Week will run through this Saturday, July 22, with more than 35 restaurants, brewpubs and other culinary purveyors holding special events or offering deals.The promotion, presented by the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce in junction with the city, is a competition too. Prizes will be awarded to customers in the categories of most restaurant check-ins, most amount of money spent on Restaurant Week meals and highest number of social media tags.The list of participants features some of the city’s long-lived restaurant favorites. Think contemporary Italian/steakhouse Paradiso, Emil Villa’s barbecue pit, seafood specialist Horatio’s, Porky’s Pizza Palace and Fifth Wheel Food, a diner that originally served truck drivers.Other restaurants include Habibi’s Birria, Le Soleil, Dough Zone Dumpling House, Poke Kitchen, Pistahan, Scends, Sistas Soul Food Kafe, Los Cantaros, Mai Thai, Moussaka, Paradiso, Banju Bay, Kendejah, King ...

Walnut Creek man arrested after teen fatally shot in botched robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

(KRON) -- A Walnut Creek man is facing a slew of felony charges after he attempted to rob an armed Antioch man in Brentwood.Antonio Barajas, 20, was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility jail on the following charges: Attempted murder, attempted robbery, conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and discharging a firearm.The charges stem from a botched robbery in Brentwood that unfolded at 7:45 p.m. on July 14.According to the Brentwood Police Department, Barajas and a 17-year-old boy were armed with guns when they tried to rob a 21-year-old Antioch man. The Antioch man also had a gun. "All three exchanged gunfire on Marjoram Drive," BPD wrote. The teenager and the Antioch man were struck by bullets, while Barajas was uninjured. Police officers found three firearms at the crime scene. The 17-year-old boy later died from his gunshot wounds. Barajas remained locked in jail as of Tuesday afternoon in lieu of $2.5 million bail.

Organization helps raise funds to pay medical bills for pets with cancer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

(KRON) -- Ken Wayne has the story of how Magic Bullet Fund helped one Bay Area pet owner whose dog was diagnosed with cancer.

PHOTOS: Freezer section chained shut in SF Walgreens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

(KRON) -- Walgreens is taking new steps to combat theft at one of its San Francisco locations. In photos posted to social media, chains can be seen locked around the freezer section of a Walgreens located at 16th Avenue and Geary Boulevard. Efforts underway to save Anchor Brewing Company (Photo courtesy of Richie Greenberg)In one photo posted by Richie Greenberg, the chains can clearly be seen across the front of the section with locks securing it to the wall.Walgreens isn't the only retailer in the Bay Area taking new steps to combat theft. Safeway also announced this week that it has taken new anti-theft measures in some of its Bay Area stores. The grocery chain says the goal of the new measures is to ensure a safe and positive experience for customers and employees. KRON4 reached out to Walgreens and received the following statement from a spokesperson:"Retail crime is one of the top challenges facing our industry today. We are focused on the safety of our patients, customers a...

Baggage cart crashes into United flight on tarmac at SFO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A baggage cart collided with an aircraft on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday morning, according to United Airlines. The aircraft, United flight 1107, was parked at the gate at the time. Sunset District high-rise ‘isn’t a thing,’ according to Weiner No one was injured as a result of the crash. The aircraft was subsequently removed from service, United said. The airline arranged for another plane to take customers to their destination.Flight 1107 was bound for Austin, TX and it was scheduled to take off at 9:10 a.m. According to United's website, the flight is estimated to arrive one hour and 14 minutes late. The flight was standing at Terminal 3 at SFO when the crash occurred.

Saints draftees Miller, Saldiveri deemed unfit to practice as camp approaches

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:49 GMT

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints third-round draft choice Kendre Miller and fourth-round draft choice Nick Saldiveri are among a handful of players the club has placed on injury lists with a week left before the opening of training camp.Miller, a running back out of TCU, has been placed on New Orleans’ non-football injury list along with rookie receivers Shaq Davis and A.T. Perry, general manager Mickey Loomis said Tuesday.Saldiveri, an offensive lineman out of Old Dominion, has joined rookie defensive back Anthony Johnson on the Saints’ physically unable to perform list.Under NFL rules, players who begin the regular season on a physically unable to perform list cannot play in their club’s first four games.The Saints’ opening practice of training camp is scheduled for July 26. New Orleans opens the regular season at home against Tennessee on Sept. 10.The 6-foot, 220-pound Miller rushed for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns on 242 carries for TCU last fall ...