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Sax star Wayne Escoffery needs no introduction — but here’s one anyway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

On the bright side, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is introducing himself to the Bay Area music scene as an artist with nothing to prove.At 48, he’s a mid-career master who’s been at the center of the New York jazz scene for a quarter century, though his music has been inexplicably under-exposed on the West Coast.It’s not that he’s never performed here. Over the years Escoffery has delivered thrilling performances on Bay Area stages with the Mingus Big Band, which he co-directs, the quintet of trumpet great Tom Harrell, and the Black Art Jazz Collective, last seen in these parts at Yoshi’s in 2019.Most recently Israeli bassist Tal Cohen featured Escoffery at Black Cat last February, but when the saxophonist returns to the Tenderloin jazz club for a three-night run Oct. 19-21 the residency marks his Bay Area debut as a bandleader.“I’ve got a pretty full schedule with teaching and what not, but it’s funny that I haven’t traveled much out West,” said Escoffery in a recent phone conv...

Gaza Health Ministry: Israeli strike kills at least 500

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

By Najib Jobain, Samya Kullab, Ravi Nessman and Matthew Lee | Associated PressKHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip says at least 500 people have been killed in an explosion that it says was caused by an Israeli airstrike.If confirmed, the attack on the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City it would be by far the deadliest Israeli airstrike in five wars fought since 2008.The Israeli military says it is looking into the report.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel bombed areas of southern Gaza where Palestinians sought safety, killing dozens of civilians and at least one senior Hamas figure Tuesday in attacks it says are targeted at militants. U.S. officials worked to convince Israel to allow delivery of supplies to desperate civilians, aid groups and hospitals after days of failed hopes for an opening in the siege.With Israel barring entry of water, fuel and food into Gaza since Hamas’...

East Bay man dies in Northern California hospital after shooting, police car jacking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

RED BLUFF — The man who the California Highway Patrol says shot an officer, stole a patrol car and crashed into a semitrailer in Tehama County died at Enloe Medical Center on Sunday.Joseph Michael Pate, 39, was identified by the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office in a press release issued Monday which added that he was from Pittsburg, California.According to a press release issued Sunday evening by the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, an officer with CHP’s Red Bluff office responded to a report of a disabled motorist north of Flores Avenue on Interstate 5 at 11:38 a.m. Sunday.The officer put out an emergency radio call just after arriving at the scene saying that he had been shot by the driver of the vehicle with a rifle. The driver had been shot during the gunfight, but ended up stealing the officer’s patrol vehicle and headed south on I-5.It was north of Finnell Avenue where the patrol vehicle collided with a semitrailer, turning the semi onto its side. The patrol vehicle crashed into ...

Hosting a Halloween soiree? Try these 5 spooktacular cocktail recipes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

Whether you’re hosting a horror movie night with friends or a full Halloween costume party or you just want something seasonal to sip on while you hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, it’s nice to have some themed cocktails on deck.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | 8 spooky Bay Area home displays to explore for Halloween — and revisit at Christmas Restaurants, Food and Drink | Sunnyvale hosts Halloween Costume Collection and Swap Restaurants, Food and Drink | Saratoga celebrates Halloween, community spirit Restaurants, Food and Drink | Three spooky Bay Area bars to explore this Halloween season Restaurants, Food and Drink | Photos: Pumpkin sets world record (2,749 pounds!) at Half Moon Bay weigh-off It’s also handy when those cocktails don’t involve too much fuss or too many ingredients, though there are a few that are absolutely worth the effort. If all else fails, you can also mix the...

Pac-12 midseason awards: UW’s Penix, Utah’s Whittingham lead our look at the best (and worst) from the first half

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

The final season of Pac-12 football as we know it doubles as the most compelling season of Pac-12 football in eons. With seven weeks down and seven remaining, the Hotline examines the best and worst from the first half …Top storyline I: Stellar successThe conference entered 2023 with lofty expectations and met them, easily. It owns a 29-6 record in non-conference play and has a winning record against Power Five opponents. It has six teams in the current AP top-25 poll — at one point, there were eight — and two in the top 10. It claims three favorites for the Heisman Trophy and five College Football Playoff contenders (i.e., teams with fewer than two losses). Put another way: After so many subpar seasons, the Pac-12 is the best league in the land.Top storyline II: QB playWhat might be the most talented lineup of quarterbacks in conference history has excelled under the national spotlight. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is the betting favorite for the Heisman, ...

Flight canceled because of defecation incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

A flight from the Canary Islands to London was canceled and its passengers made to disembark after someone onboard the aircraft defecated on the bathroom floor.The easyJet flight on Sunday evening — what was to be a four-hour trip from the island of Tenerife to London’s Gatwick airport — had already been delayed by several hours when the incident occurred.Aaran Gedhu, a passenger on board, told CNN Travel the scheduled plane had been switched out for a smaller one, causing some customers to be turned away at boarding. Those who made it on board, two hours after the scheduled departure, then had to wait on the ground for more than an hour while bags were offloaded due to the aircraft being overweight.As the delay extended, the atmosphere on the packed flight was characterized by “suspense and anger,” Gedhu said.“EasyJet planes, as they are, just aren’t very comfortable – it’s just a basic seat with okayish legroom room. So everyone was just a bit tense,” he said.“Th...

Gigi Hadid and family get death threats over Palestine support after model was condemned by Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

Half-Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid and her wealthy Los Angeles family have become a focus of anger over Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and its brutal murder and kidnapping of civilians, especially after Hadid went on social media over the weekend to criticize Israel for “its treatment of Palestinians.”TMZ reported that every member of the Hadid household has received death threats over their support for Palestine. That includes Gigi, her younger supermodel sister Bella, their brother Anwar and their parents, real estate developer Mohamed, who is Palestinian, and their mother, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hill” star Yolanda.The threats are being made via email, social media and family members’ cell phones, and they contain graphic descriptions about how someone would carry out their executions, TMZ reported. The family members’ phone numbers also were leaked online, TMZ said.The threats come after Gigi Hadid provoked a sharp rebuke from...

Suspect in armed home invasion robbery arrested in San Jose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

(KRON) -- A man who allegedly pistol whipped someone during an armed home invasion robbery last week has been arrested, according to the San Jose Police Department. On Friday, Oct. 13, at around 10:21 a.m., SJPD officers responded to the 2000 block of Newton Avenue on a report of a home invasion robbery.At the scene, officers made contact with the victim, an adult male. A preliminary investigation revealed that the man had interrupted a burglary in progress at his home.The suspect, according to police, struck the victim in the face with a pistol, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries. The armed male suspect then took belongings and personal property from the residence.SJPD's Robbery Unit responded and began investigating the incident. Through the investigation, the suspect was identified as Elias Ramirez Velo, an 18-year-old Santa Clara resident. Detectives obtained warrants for his arrest and to search his residence.Officers from SJPD's Special Operations, METRO Unit, Violent ...

Officials deemed it a fatal crash. Then they found a bullet in the driver's body

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

Fairfield Police say that a deadly single-vehicle crash in mid-October is now being investigated as a homicide after finding a bullet in the driver's body. The crash involved only a pickup truck, which was found on October 13 around 8:30 a.m. near Cement Hill and Peabody roads, on the eastern end of the city. IRS postpones tax filing deadline one month for California storm victims Police said the truck hit several structures before stopping, and that the truck's driver, a 44-year-old Oakland resident, was ejected from the vehicle and died. Investigators believe the crash may have happened the night before, but because of the vehicle's location off of the roadways, was likely not found until there was more daylight. Body in hospital gown recovered from Stanislaus River As the crash was being investigated, an autopsy was performed and resulted in a bullet being found in the man's body. Investigators have now determined that the crash "was the result of a shooting."Police said the...

SF mayor introduces measure to give police more power to enforce laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:35 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed introduced a new ballot measure on Tuesday that would give police more power. Dubbed "Safer San Francisco," the measure is intended to remove obstacles that make it more difficult for San Francisco Police Department officers to do their jobs, according to the mayor's office."Safer San Francisco will put public safety first and put SFPD officers in position to better serve our communities," according to a statement from Breed's office. The measure would accomplish this by giving officers access to better technology and reducing paperwork so officers could spend more time on the streets. Newsom signs off on update to California’s bottle recycling law The measure would also prevent the City's Police Commission "from prioritizing ideology before community safety," according to the mayor.“We need to give our officers the tools necessary to keep our communities safe and not leave them stuck behind a desk when they can be out on t...