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Vegan Mexican restaurant in Mission closes, says San Francisco has 'deteriorated'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A once-popular vegan Mexican restaurant in the Mission District announced it was closing this week and cited worsening conditions in San Francisco as being among the reasons. Gracias Madre, which was located at 2211 Mission Street near 18th Street, posted a message on its website explaining the closure."The condition of life in San Francisco has deteriorated and made running a small business nearly impossible," the message read. "We thank all of those who worked beside us from the beginning until the end, your devotion will never be forgotten." Owners of Oakland group homes slapped with lawsuit The restaurant, which specialized in plant-based Mexican food, opened 16 years ago. Its mission was "to honor the mothers who give so much to serve, care for and live in hope for their families, especially in Mexico," the message said.The restaurant has two locations in Southern California -- West Hollywood and Newport Beach -- that will remain open.Gracias Madre's a...

Man accused of San Carlos samurai sword beheading will stand trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Carlos woman's accused killer will stand trial for murder.Jose "Rafa" Solano Landaeta, 34, of Hayward, is accused of beheading his ex-girlfriend with a samurai sword in front of multiple witnesses on September 8, 2022. The victim, 27-year-old Karina Castro, was a mother of two daughters. Landaeta was the father of her youngest daughter. On Tuesday, a San Mateo County judge received reports from two doctors who determined that Landaeta was sane when he allegedly killed Castro. The murder trial is scheduled to begin on October 27.Landaeta has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.On the day of the homicide, Castro's young daughters were inside her apartment when Landaeta confronted his ex-girlfriend outside on Laurel Street, investigators said. A heated argument escalated until he slashed Castro several times with a sword, according to prosecutors. Jose Landaeta is accused of beheading Karina Castro with a sword in San Carlos. (Pool image) Landaeta remains in a Redw...

Air quality advisory issued through Thursday due to wildfire smoke

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

(BCN) -- The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued an air quality advisory through Thursday because of the continued impact of smoke from wildfires in Northern California and Oregon. The air district had issued a Spare the Air alert for Wednesday due to temperatures nearing 100 in inland parts of the Bay Area that were forecast to combine with light winds, vehicle exhaust and the wildfire smoke to create unhealthy air quality in the region. Critical fire weather arrives in Northern California’s interior; PG&E cuts power to 8,400 customers People around the Bay Area reported smelling smoke Wednesday from the fires and that could continue Thursday, but the pollutant levels are not expected to exceed federal health standards and there is no Spare the Air alert planned for Thursday, according to the air district. Anyone who smells smoke is advised to stay inside with windows and doors closed, and to set their air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-c...

New York attorney general seeks immediate verdict in fraud lawsuit against Donald Trump

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general says a judge doesn’t need to wait until an October trial in her civil lawsuit against former President Donald Trump to rule that he committed fraud while building his real estate empire.In court papers made public Wednesday, Attorney General Letitia James urged Judge Arthur Engoron to issue an immediate verdict endorsing her claim that Trump and his company defrauded banks and business associates by lying on financial statements about his wealth and the value of his assets.Engoron has scheduled a Sept. 22 hearing on James’ request. Her lawsuit, which seeks $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York, is scheduled to go to trial Oct. 2 in state court in Manhattan. Even if Engoron rules on the fraud claim, he would still preside over a non-jury trial on other claims in the lawsuit if it is not settled.Messages seeking comment were left with Trump’s lawyers and a spokesperson for his company, the ...

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow back at practice for the first time since July 27

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow was back at practice on Wednesday, more than a month after he was sidelined by a strained right calf muscle.The Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl quarterback put on the pads and participated for the first time since he pulled up limping and then went down during a scramble on July 27.The 26-year-old Burrow warmed up with backup quarterbacks Jake Browning and newly signed practice squad QB Will Grier in the portion of the practice open to reporters. The team said Burrow was not available for interviews Wednesday. Receiver Tee Higgins said it seemed as if Burrow was never away when the quarterback found rookie receiver Charlie Jones with a perfect deep ball during practice.“When Joe’s out there, it’s a little more dialed in,” receiver Ja’Marr Chase said.Other teammates agreed.“Joe’s been working really hard,” center Ted Karras said. “Obviously, we know who he is, but it was really great to have him back out there. He looks like Joe....

Ex-Catholic cardinal McCarrick, age 93, found unfit to stand trial on teen sex abuse charges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — The once-powerful Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick will not stand trial on charges he sexually assaulted a teenage boy decades ago, as a Massachusetts judge dismissed the case against the 93-year-old on Wednesday because both prosecutors and defense attorneys agree he suffers from dementia.McCarrick, the ex-archbishop of Washington, D.C., was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after an internal Vatican investigation determined he sexually molested adults as well as children. The McCarrick scandal created a crisis of credibility for the church, primarily because there was evidence Vatican and U.S. church leaders knew he slept with seminarians but turned a blind eye as McCarrick rose to the top of the U.S. church as an adept fundraiser who advised three popes.During Wednesday’s hearing, Dr. Kerry Nelligan, a psychologist hired by the prosecution, said she found significant deficits in McCarrick’s memory during two interviews in June, and he was ofte...

Mexican mothers mark day of the disappeared with protest and demands for the government to do more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mothers of some of 111,000 people who have disappeared in Mexico over decades of violence on Wednesday marked the International Day of the Disappeared with protests and demands that the government do more to locate their loved ones. Most of those missing are believed to have been abducted by drug cartels or kidnappers, and their bodies buried in shallow graves or burned. Some marching down Mexico City’s main boulevard were also protesting an apparent government effort to minimize the problem. About 200 protesters — almost all women — chanted: “Where are they? Where are our Children?” Edith Pérez Rodríguez, one of the marchers, wore a T-shirt with photos of her two sons, Alexis and José Arturo Domínguez Pérez. They vanished without a trace a decade ago in the northern state of San Luis Potosi. Lack of funding and manpower have left police and prosecutors unable to conduct even the most basic searches — leaving it to volunteer groups made up of mothers, who of...

New era leads to plenty of questions in Green Bay as Jordan Love takes over for Aaron Rodgers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-9)EXPECTATIONS: It’s been quite some time since the Packers entered a season with this much uncertainty. That’s mostly due to the trade of four-time MVP QB Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. The Packers benefited from three decades of Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback production with Rodgers following Brett Favre. Now they’re turning to 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love, who has made one career start. Love will be passing primarily to rookies and second-year pros, which will put more pressure on Green Bay’s rushing attack. The questions on offense will force the Packers to lean heavily on a defense that underachieved last year but has plenty of talent. Green Bay produced 12 takeaways during a four-game winning streak late last season. The defense will need to deliver more of those types of plays for the Packers to contend for a playoff spot.NEW FACES: K Anders Carlson, TE Tucker Kraft, S Tarvarius Moore, TE Luke Musgrave, S Jonathan Owens, WR Jayden Reed, OLB Lu...

Djokovic and Swiatek roll, Tsitsipas falls in hot, sticky US Open second round

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek rolled to straight-set victories to move into the third round at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, fighting not only their opponents but sticky, 85-degree Fahrenheit (29-degree Celsius) weather on the hottest day at the tournament so far.“That’s why we train several hours a day in humid, hot conditions so we can be ready for whatever awaits you on court,” the second-seeded Djokovic said after a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium over 76th-ranked Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain.“I still have the hunger,” said the 36-year-old from Serbia who owns 23 Grand Slam titles. “I still got it.”Swiatek, the top-seeded defending champion from Poland, had only slightly more trouble in her 6-3, 6-4 victory over 322nd-ranked Australian Daria Saville in Louis Armstrong Stadium. Swiatek has never lost in a major to a player outside the Top 100.In the biggest upset of the day, seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas fell in the second round to 128th-ranked...

Colorado's EV 'cash for clunkers'-like program starts Thursday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you have an older gas-powered vehicle and are looking to upgrade to an electric vehicle soon, you may be in luck.Applications for the Vehicle Exchange Colorado Program open Thursday, Aug. 31, at 9 a.m., and will provide EV purchase rebates to people in exchange for their older or high-emitting vehicles.Colorado EV exchange rebate: The basicsThere are two separate rebate amounts, depending on whether the EV you purchase or lease is new or used:New EV: $6,000Used EV: $4,000Also, the program allows EV buyers to combine the state rebate with other rebates and incentives. This includes a $5,000 state tax credit and, potentially, a $7,500 federal tax credit.Who qualifies for the EV rebate?The program is only for income-qualified Coloradans. Essentially, only those who have a household income that's no more than 80% of the area median income can sign up.The area median income is based on two factors: household size and county of residence.A single person living in Denve...