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Mailbag: Desperation, thy names are Stanford and Cal; an ACC power play(?); Pac-12 had no Luck and more

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

Given the quantity of questions this week and the unresolved future of the Pac-12’s remaining schools, the Hotline will publish a two-part mailbag, with the second installment scheduled for Saturday. Send questions to [email protected] and include ‘mailbag’ in the subject line. Or hit me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline.Please note: Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.The ACC’s proposed payments for Cal and Stanford don’t seem that much higher than what they’d earn in the Mountain West or American. And travel would be worse. So why are Cal and Stanford pushing for the ACC? — @ebrohinhoBecause they are desperate to remain in a power conference — so desperate that they have offered major concessions to appease the four ACC schools in opposition to expansion.Essentially, the Cardinal and Bears are on hands and knees, shamelessly begging for an escape hatch from an awful situation that they themselves created.The subpar states of their foo...

Attorney claims officers fired from behind in Martinez fatal police shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

A man shot to death last week by Martinez police outside a marijuana dispensary was hit in the back of the head as he was driving away, and his wounded brother won’t face any charges in connection to the incident that brought police to the scene, the family’s attorney said Thursday.The Aug. 18 shooting outside the Velvet cannabis dispensary on Sunrise Drive killed 20-year-old Tahmon Wilson, of San Francisco, and wounded his 22-year-old brother.Family attorney Adante Pointer in a statement Thursday night identified that man as Tommy Wilson, Jr. and reiterated his call for police-worn body-camera video recordings to be released immediately. Pointer also said police had “no reasonable or lawful explanation” for firing their guns, because both men were in a car that was leaving the scene and did not pose a threat.Martinez police Chief Andrew White in statements last week said that four officers had fired their weapons. All of them were placed on paid administrati...

How Warriors assistant coach DeMarco led Bahamas one step closer to first Olympic berth in huge upset

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

The NBA offseason offers players time to hone their craft, but they aren’t the only ones working.Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco has spent his last five offseasons serving as the head coach of the Bahamian men’s national team, which earned a historic road win over Argentina last weekend, its second win over the tournament hosts in five days.With Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon providing lethal scoring threats and Deandre Ayton manning the paint, the Bahamas surprised at the Olympic Pre-Qualifiers in South America, winning the tournament.The small island nation of roughly 400,000 has had little success on the international stage. But this time around, the Bahamas stunned Argentina, the fourth-best team in the world, with a fourth-quarter rally to earn a spot in its first-ever Olympic qualifiers. The Bahamas’ win also shut Argentina out of the Summer Games for the first time since 2000.It wasn’t until the team was hugging one another and celebrating that DeM...

Ex-NHL player building psychedelic retreat center in Colorado for athletes, military

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

Hockey player Kyle Quincey began mentally preparing for retirement well before his career was over. The former defenseman, who spent three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, knew it would be a tough transition since he’d seen others in the National Hockey League struggle to assimilate after dedicating their lives – and bodies – to the sport.But soon after he hung up his jersey in 2019, at the age of 34, Quincey realized that nothing could have adequately equipped him for the emotional instability he experienced after leaving the locker room.“I ended my career in Finland. I came home, I’ve had 20 concussions. I had massive mood swings, from pure euphoria to suicidal thoughts,” Quincey said during a panel at the 43rd Telluride Mushroom Festival in Colorado in August. “On almost my year anniversary of retiring, my youngest son was diagnosed with brain cancer. And COVID hit the same week.”The Quincey family spent months in hospitals as 1-year-old Axl underwent surgeries, radiation and...

Residential fire in San Jose contained

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

(KRON) -- Firefighters contained a two-alarm fire at a residence just after 11 a.m., according to the San Jose Fire Department. Broadmoor police seeing increase in car burglaries The residence is located at 9th and Reed streets. Roads in the area are closed. The public is advised to use caution around fire crews and equipment, officials said.Photo: San Jose Fire DepartmentDrivers are advised to expect traffic delays.

6-year-old San Jose boy's accused killer behind bars

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

(KRON) -- The accused killer of 6-year-old Jordan Cam Walker is behind bars Friday in San Jose. Nathan Addison was booked into jail with no bail less than 24 hours ago, Santa Clara County inmate records show. Investigators confirmed to KRON4 that he is a prime suspect. Jordan's grandfather told KRON4 that investigators notified him of the arrest in connection to the young boy's death. Addison is Jordan's uncle. The grandfather, Morian Walker, explained, "He’s my daughter’s half-brother."Addison is slated to make his first court appearance Friday for arraignment in the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice.On August 4, Jordan and Jordan’s great-grandmother were found dead inside their San Jose apartment on Parkmoor Avenue. The killer stabbed the young boy and elderly woman to death before fleeing the scene, police said. The grisly double homicide scene was traumatizing for even veteran San Jose Police Department detectives, police said. The name of Jordan’s great-grandmother h...

Flares fired as civilian aircraft violates flight restriction near Biden vacation spot in Lake Tahoe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

(KRON) -- A civilian aircraft violated a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) Friday morning near Lake Tahoe, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a press release. The flight restriction was implemented since President Joe Biden is currently vacationing in the area. Scientists solve deep-sea ‘Octopus Garden’ mystery off California coast In response to the violation, two NORAD F-16 fighter aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin were deployed. Flares were fired in the air to gain the attention of the civilian pilot. The flares burned out quickly, and there was no danger to people on the ground after the flares were fired, officials said. The civilian aircraft violated the TFR at around 7:50 a.m., and NORAD aircraft escorted it out of the area. Officials did not release any further information about the civilian aircraft or its pilot. Biden has spent the past week in Tahoe. He is expected to leave sometime this weekend. The Associated Press contributed to...

Monaco closes corruption probe against Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister for lack of evidence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A three-year probe against Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister and his family over corruption allegations has been closed by Monaco’s judicial authorities for lack of evidence, the premier’s office said Friday.Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s office said that Morgan Raymond, the deputy public prosecutor in Monaco, told the Lebanese premier’s legal team that they have closed the investigation into the case that was raised by unspecified Lebanese plaintiffs on allegations of illicit enrichment and money laundering.Mikati’s office said Monaco’s decision shows that the case was “fake” and meant “for political purposes.” It added that Mikati and his family will take legal action against those who were behind these “lies and rumors.”In 2021, a trove of leaked documents named the “Pandora Papers,” that were examined by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and Daraj, a Beirut-based independent digital media platform, showed that for yea...

Niger’s junta has asked the French ambassador to leave the country, Nigerien foreign ministry says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Niger’s junta has asked the French ambassador to leave the country, Nigerien foreign ministry says.Source

Auto workers vote overwhelmingly to let union leaders call strikes against Detroit companies

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:47 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Auto workers have voted overwhelmingly to give union leaders the authority to call strikes against Detroit car companies if a contract agreement isn’t reached.The United Auto Workers union said Friday that 97% have voted in favor of authorizing one or more strikes against Stellantis, General Motors and Ford. Such votes are almost always approved by large margins. Contracts between the union representing about 146,000 workers at Stellantis, General Motors and Ford expire at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 14. Fain said earlier this week that negotiations with the companies are not progressing fast enough. But he also said a strike is not inevitable.Contract talks with the Detroit Three began in July, but Fain has consistently said the companies aren’t bargaining seriously. In a statement Friday, the UAW said the vote does not guarantee that a strike will be called.Fain told members on Facebook Live Friday that the union still hasn’t picked a target compan...