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Denver airport needs better oversight to avoid overpaying for work on costly Great Hall Project, audit says

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

Denver International Airport’s $2.1 billion terminal renovation project needs stronger management and oversight of its major contractor to ensure the airport isn’t overpaying for work, city auditors found in a long-awaited report released Thursday.The audit spurred push-back from airport project officials, who defended both their handling of the quick effort to reboot the troubled project in late 2019, after DIA terminated its prior project contracting team, and their oversight of the new contract arrangement. Since Hensel Phelps Construction took over the Great Hall Project three years ago, work has proceeded more smoothly — though with a vastly expanded budget and a timeline extended by several years, to 2028.But auditors questioned a lack of documentation supporting the selection of Hensel Phelps through a quick, streamlined bid process in which DIA limited the pool to companies that had done previous airport work. They also were critical of DIA’s oversigh...

Compton officials use 4/20 to publicize crackdown on illegal dispensaries

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

Thursday may be 4/20 — cannabis' big day — but Compton city officials had a unique way to celebrate.The city joined with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to discuss the nine illegal dispensaries that have been shut down and send a warning to those that remain under the radar."This is a great example that other local cities can use a framework to shut down illegal operations in their own communities," said Capt. Terrance Bell. Part party, part call to action: A look at pot holiday 4/20 Not only are dispensaries banned in Compton, but some of the locations were selling more than just marijuana. At certain places, customers could find mushrooms, hard drugs and even weapons, officials said. "These businesses are attracting violence, murders, robberies, fights," said City Councilmember Andre Spicer. "They're, again, just a nuisance to our neighborhoods."Also targeted are businesses like banks and landlords that provide services to these criminal enterprises, officials said. ...

Knott's Berry Farm reimplements chaperone policy that was enacted due to fights

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

Knott’s Berry Farm plans to reimplement its chaperone policy, which was enacted last summer due to increasing fights, beginning this Saturday, the theme park announced Thursday.Under the new policy, park guests who are 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone 21 years old or older to be admitted or remain inside the theme park after 4 p.m.“The chaperone must present a valid government-issued photo identification with date of birth at ticket entry. One chaperone may accompany no more than 10 guests ages 15 or younger per day,” the Buena Park theme park said on its website. ‘Well-received’ chaperone policy at Knott’s Berry Farm expanded: What you need to know The chaperone policy was first implemented last year due to multiple fights at the theme park, including scuffles that forced the park to close three hours early on a Saturday. Previously, guests 17 years old or younger needed a chaperone on weekends, although the park removed the Saturday restrictions over th...

U.S. House approves trans athlete ban for girls and women's teams

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

Transgender athletes whose biological sex assigned at birth was male would be barred from competing on girls or women’s sports teams at federally supported schools and colleges under legislation pushed through Thursday by House Republicans checking off another high-profile item on their social agenda. The bill approved by a 219-203 party-line vote is unlikely to advance further because the Democratic-led Senate will not support it and the White House said President Joe Biden would veto it. Supporters said the legislation, which would put violators at risk of losing taxpayer dollars, is necessary to ensure competitive fairness. They framed the vote as supporting female athletes disadvantaged by having to compete against those whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth. Republicans seize on transgender rights ahead of 2024 Opponents criticized the bill as ostracizing an already vulnerable group merely for political gain. The House action comes as at least 20 o...

Woman Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash on Campus Park Drive [Bakersfield, CA]

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

Traffic Collision near Spring Gate Drive Left Woman Dead, 2 Men InjuredBAKERSFIELD, CA (April 20, 2023) – Tuesday evening, a two-vehicle crash on Campus Park Drive left a woman dead and two men hospitalized.Officers responded to the fatal collision on April 18th at around 5:44 p.m. near Spring Gate Drive.Upon arrival, they discovered a woman in a driver’s seat where first responders declared her dead at the scene.Meanwhile, paramedics transported the driver and the passenger of the second vehicle to a hospital for moderate injuries.Based on the initial investigation, a man traveling eastbound on Campus Park Drive crossed the westbound lanes for unknown reasons.Consequently, the man collided head-on with the woman’s vehicle. In the end, Bakersfield Officials closed Campus Park Drive between Mountain Vista Drive and Shimmering Way in both directions for investigation.Police said that excessive speeds from the man’s vehicle contributed to the incident. However, it was uncle...

Another Bay Area high school basketball star transfers to a prep school

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

Moreau Catholic basketball standout Kellen Hampton is moving to Southern California Academy in Northridge for his junior season. “It was a surprise, for sure,” Moreau coach Frank Knight told the Bay Area News Group on Thursday. “It took us all by surprise.”Knight said he wishes Hampton the best and has no hard feelings.Hampton is not the first Moreau star to transfer to a prep school. Kyree Walker moved to an Arizona prep school after receiving national freshman player of the year honors by MaxPreps in 2017.“This is not new territory for me,” Knight said. The 6-7 Hampton averaged 20.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game this past season and received second-team all-Bay Area News Group honors. He helped lead the Mariners to the North Coast Section Division I final and a berth in the NorCal Division II playoffs. Hampton is the second high-profile Bay Area basketball player to recently transfer to a prep school. King-Jhsaani Wilhite moved midseason from Archbishop...

Kurtenbach: Oakland, the East Bay deserve better than John Fisher’s bush-league A’s

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

Around these parts, those who can do.Those who can’t move to Las Vegas.The A’s — baseball’s worst team and the worst-run organization in professional sports — decided they could not build a new ballpark in Oakland, so they’re heading to a truck stop in Nevada.Good riddance.Related ArticlesOakland Athletics | Q&A: A’s president Kaval on Las Vegas land purchase, future in Oakland and more Oakland Athletics | Going, going, gone? A’s announce Las Vegas land deal Oakland Athletics | Dazzling dose of Miller time can’t save Athletics in loss to Cubs Oakland Athletics | Athletics trade former Bay Area prep star to SF Giants for cash considerations Oakland Athletics | Athletics fall to Cubs for historic sixth straight series loss The news that the A’s had bought land in Las Vegas to build a new ballpark (that the A’s will ask someone else to pay for) is a gut pu...

San Mateo: Assisted-living center employee charged with involuntary manslaughter in deaths of 2 residents

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

A former employee of a San Mateo assisted-living facility is facing criminal charges after two residents died last year from drinking toxic dishwashing fluid mistaken for cranberry juice, prosecutors said.Alisia Rivera Mendoza, 35 of East Palo Alto, was charged April 11 with two counts of felony involuntary manslaughter and three counts of felony elder abuse by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. Three residents of Atria Park of San Mateo drank the dishwashing fluid on August 28, according to a wrongful death lawsuit, and two of them died shortly thereafter.According to the suit filed in September, one employee poured poisonous dishwashing fluid into a smaller container, which was then served to residents by another employee who thought the fluid was cranberry juice. The suit was filed by the son and daughter of Peter Schroder, who died on Sept. 7 at the age of 93.A lawyer representing the Schroder family previously told Bay Area News Group that she hoped the comp...

The top 10 most expensive home sales in Oakland, reported the week of April 10

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

A house in Piedmont that sold for $3.9 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Oakland in the past week.In total, 15 real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2 million. The average price per square foot was $905.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of April 10 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.6 million, single-family house in the 1700 block of Pleasant Valley AvenueThe 1,588 square-foot single-family home in the 1700 block of Pleasant Valley Avenue in Oakland has now been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in March and the total purchase price was $1,575,000, $992 per square foot. The house was built in 1917. The house features 3 bedrooms and 1 bathrooms.Pleasant Valley Avenue9. $1.7 million, townhouse in the first block of Schooner HillThe sale of the townhouse in the first block of Schooner Hill in Oakland has bee...

Fremont freeway shooting: Trio appears in death of 5-year-old girl

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:45:17 GMT

A trio of men pleaded not guilty on Thursday in the shooting death a 5-year-old Santa Clara girl, who was killed earlier this month on Interstate 880 in Fremont when authorities say the men mistook a car the girl was riding in for that of a rival gang member.Wearing red jail jumpsuits, Humberto Anaya, 29, Emmanuel Sarango, 27, and Kristo Ayala, 25, appeared at Dublin’s East County Hall of Justice to face murder charges in the killing of Eliyanah Crisostomo, 5. She was traveling with her family to a birthday party when she was hit in the heart by a bullet, leaving her mortally wounded.The men showed little emotion and spoke very little as their attorneys denied the slew of charges against them, which include murder and various other offenses, some related to a non-injury shooting that happened a short time before the killiing. Sarango was ordered to be held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail, while bail remained at $140,000 for Anaya and Ayala.The hearing came days after Alame...