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Brit Vicious: The Struts raise hell with fourth album

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

Brit Vicious: British rock ‘n’ rollers the Struts have been based here in Los Angeles since the tail end of 2019 and, even accounting for the fact that COVID put a stop to everything shortly after that, it’s clear when speaking to the four chaps over Zoom that they’re thriving. The Southern Californian sun suits them, as they gush about being able to drive with the top down (a novelty in England) and wild nights out.“It was my friend Taylor Hawkins who really pushed the idea, for at least me anyway, to make the initial move, at a Thanksgiving that he was kind enough to invite me to,” says frontman Luke Spiller. “I think we all saw ourselves as very much a British-based band for quite some time. Taylor explained to me that this is a great time for me to be in the thick of it and we could be doing so much more. It was a little lightbulb moment basically. I remember I was at the Rainbow with the rest of the guys, and I said, ‘Hey, I’m really considering a move to L.A. I think it would ...

Bay Area high school football 2023: Week 6 preview, schedule

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

Any time there are four Top 10 matchups in one weekend, it has the makings of a pretty special week.That’s what we have in Week 6.On Friday, it’ll be Pittsburg — ranked fourth by the Bay Area News Group — traveling to the South Bay to play No. 6 Los Gatos and No. 2 De La Salle playing host to No. 8 McClymonds.On Saturday, the West Catholic Athletic League takes the stage as No. 10 St. Francis visits No. 1 Serra and No. 5 Valley Christian plays at No. 7 Archbishop Riordan.The Bay Area News Group will have complete coverage this weekend and all season. If you have not already, please sign up for a digital subscription. Your contributions keep us going.Here are this week’s top matchups and schedule:FridayNo. 8 McClymonds (2-1) at No. 2 De La Salle (3-2), 7 p.m.: This one could be over in a hurry as neither side passes much. Both are physical. Both have storied traditions. Both played in upper-division state championship games last season. But De La Salle is the ...

California gunmakers fear their ‘expiration date’ in a state that doesn’t want them

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

BY ALEXEI KOSEFF | CalMattersHUNTINGTON BEACH — There are two decisions about the future of gun rights in California that the employees at Rifle Supply are closely watching these days.Like many firearms enthusiasts, they anticipate the imminent end of California’s ban on “large-capacity magazines” capable of holding more than 10 rounds, a potential boon to their business. U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego overturned the law on Friday, with a brief stay to give the state a chance to appeal.Weeks before the ruling, Rifle Supply, a gun manufacturer and retailer, began thinning out the inventory stocked in its suburban Orange County store, which is already decorated with witch hats and cobwebs for Halloween. A rifle magazine engraved with a sanctified image of Benitez, who has also tossed several other California gun regulations for violating the constitutional right to bear arms, is among its top sellers.Plastic bins of standard 30-round magazines, not yet pinned to make t...

Bay Area Halloween 2023: Where to find spooky treats, best bets & good scares

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

Halloween isn’t just for Oct. 31 anymore.Indeed, it’s no longer just an October thing, what with theme parks launching their spooky celebrations in September. And some would say that’s actually a late start, when you could observe the occasion basically all year long. (Yes, we’re looking at you, horror movie fans.)Looking for ways to get in on the ghastly fun in the Bay Area (and beyond)?REALTED: 30+ Bay Area Halloween happenings, haunts and festivals for 2023We’re here to help with some cool recommendations on spooky good times, tricks and treats, big scares and other Halloween-related events to enjoy now through Oct. 31.7 spooky Bay Area adventuresGet your spooky going by taking cemetery tours, hanging with creepy crawlies and visiting haunted lakes in the Bay Area. Can you complete all seven of these ghastly adventures by Oct. 31?A layer of fog surrounds the old cemetery at Antioch’s Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Grou...

7 incredible Bay Area things to do this weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

From the amazing Hardly Strictly Bluegrass to a buzzworthy AI thriller and an all-out Oreo snack attack, there is a lot of see, do and savor this weekend. So let’s get busy, shall we?But please be sure to double check websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.1 SEE & HEAR: A fabulous festivalHardly Strictly Bluegrass remains one of the Bay Area’s best events — three days of great tunes in Golden Gate Park. The lineup features scores of acts ranging from music legends to stars on rise — here are 11 performers you should not miss.2 PLAY: Treat yourself to a good scareOne of the best things about Halloween (besides keeping winter holiday decorations from going up even earlier) is that it reminds us we can have a blast spooking ourselves all year, li...

Powerball jackpot swells to $925 million after no winner snagged the prize Wednesday night

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

By Aya Elamroussi | CNNPowerball players will get another chance to become instant millionaires as the jackpot ballooned to $925 million following Wednesday night’s drawing that yielded no grand prize winners.Wednesday night’s winning numbers were 1, 7, 46, 47, 63, and the Powerball was 7, the lottery said.After no ticket matched the lucky numbers, the jackpot grew from an estimated $850 million to a whopping $925 million, a cash value of $432.4 million, for the upcoming drawing on Saturday.And although no one hit the jackpot Wednesday, there were some big winners.Four tickets sold in California, Kansas, Maryland and New York matched the first five numbers to win $1 million each, according to Powerball.The next Powerball drawing is Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, and it’s viewable on the lottery’s website.Saturday’s jackpot, if won, would be the game’s second-largest jackpot this year and overall the fourth-largest jackpot in its history.Related ArticlesCalifornia News | Monda...

30+ Bay Area Halloween happenings, haunts and festivals for 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

With October upon us, ghouls and ghosts are soon to descend on the Bay, and there’s no shortage of eerie events to brave. Here’s a spooky sampling of local ways to get your Halloween thrills and chills, from haunted houses to family-friendly frights and adults-only boos and brews.Fright Fest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Sept. 23-Oct. 31, 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo. Six Flags will be transformed this spooky season with a frightful array of haunted attractions, scare zones, entertainment shows and Halloween themed rides. $50-$99. bit.ly/SixFlagsFrightFest2023LEGOLAND ‘Brick-or-Treat’: Sept. 28-Oct. 31, 870 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas. Scary fun awaits as monsters take over LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area. Get into the Halloween spirit for some monsterrific activities and an exclusive 4D Halloween movie, “The Great Monster Chase.” $26.99-$29.99. https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/bayarea/‘Unhinged’ at Winchester Mystery House: Sept. 29...

Wish You Were Here: A cruise on the Mississippi

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

Summer is drawing to a close, but our intrepid readers have made the most of these last months, exploring Croatia’s wonders, seeing the towers of Tokyo and trekking through Portugal. And they’ve shared their travel tips and tales with us along the way.This time, we’re hearing from two Walnut Creek readers who opted for a cruise of a different kind.Wish You Were HereMISSISSIPPI RIVER: Pre-pandemic, Walnut Creek residents Sandy and Mike Heller took cruises to far-flung destinations around the globe. “But since COVID, we have been staying closer to home,” Mike says. That doesn’t mean they stayed put, though. A recent trip on the Mississippi River took them from St. Louis, Missouri, to St. Paul, Minnesota.“We discovered the northern part of the river isn’t as wide as down south, has 27 dams and locks, is less commercial and more recreational — few barges, but lots of speed boats, private homes along the river banks, etc.” Mike ...

Minnesota Twins rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 6-4

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS  — Pinch-hitter Trevor Larnach broke an eighth-inning tie with an RBI double and the Minnesota Twins rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 6-4 on Wednesday night.After Max Kepler opened the eighth with his fourth hit of the game, Larnach sent a 1-1 pitch from Dany Jiménez off the wall in right field that evaded a leaping Esteury Ruiz. Pinch-runner Andrew Stevenson scored from first. Designated hitter Ryan Jeffers, who hit a tying two-run homer in the sixth, followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Larnach and Minnesota won for the sixth time in seven games.It was the 41st come-from-behind win of the season for the AL Central-champion Twins (85-73).“That’s a pretty sweet moment for him and for us,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said of Larnach. “In that inning, we had some interesting things going on. We take Kep out of the game. Normally, we’re not going to take Kep out of the game. But when you have a chance to get him out, he’s got four hits, put in a very good bas...

Weekend closures ahead on 101 in Redwood City to replace bridge: Roadshow

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:50 GMT

Q: I heard closures are ahead on Highway 101 in Redwood City. What’s going on?AnonymousA: Two 55-hour weekend closures are ahead for Highway 101 in Redwood City to replace the Cordilleras Creek Bridge between Whipple Avenue and Brittan Avenue.Southbound 101 will be closed here from Sept. 29-Oct. 2. Northbound 101 will be closed from Oct. 13-16. Closures start at 10 p.m. Friday night and extend until 5 a.m. Monday morning. Detours will be in effect during the closures.To maintain a safe creek habitat with this project, work must be done from June through October. Caltrans is using an accelerated bridge construction process to complete the work within one summer/fall season, instead of spreading it over three years. Visit Caltrans’ page for the project for more information.Q: Could automated vehicle companies hire taxi drivers to sit behind the wheel of their cars for an eight-hour shift each day?They could be locked out of controlling the car until there was an emergency....