2 California universities share top spot on U.S. News & World Report rankings

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

2 California universities share top spot on U.S. News & World Report rankings For the seventh year in a row, the University of California, Los Angeles has been named the nation’s top public university by U.S. News & World Report, tying another University of California school: U.C. Berkeley.The publication has released its annual list which measured factors including graduation rates, student performance, retention, faculty salaries and peer assessments.Not only did UCLA and Cal land at the top among public schools, but they also tied for 15th among all institutes of higher education, public or private.“The success we have had in college rankings is reflective of the hard work, dedication, resilience, ingenuity and excellence of the people who make up the Bruin community,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block in a statement.Among the top 25 national universities, UCLA ranked highest in social mobility, which looked at the academic success of diverse students, particularly first-generation students and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, the ...

Former doc gets 1.5 years for selling opioids in Victorville

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Former doc gets 1.5 years for selling opioids in Victorville A former doctor has been sentenced to a year and a half in prison for illegally distributing hundreds of thousands of opioids at his Victorville office.Las Vegas resident Wendell Mark Street, 71, was sentenced Monday for illegally prescribing oxycodone "without a legitimate medical purpose," the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.The sentencing comes four years after Street's guilty plea to two charges of improperly distributing oxycodone.Street, who was an anesthesiologist, sold two prescriptions for oxycodone and alprazolam (also known by the brand name Xanax) for $300 each to an undercover investigator with the California Medical Board.Between November 2012 and November 2013, he issued nearly 8,000 prescriptions, including about 437,000 doses of oxycodone."He wrote the prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose and intentionally acted outside the usual course of professional practice, including by failing to conduct a physical examination, establish diagnos...

Winter Adventure Activities Beyond Skiing in Iceland: Your Ultimate Guide

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Winter Adventure Activities Beyond Skiing in Iceland: Your Ultimate Guide Sponsored ContentIceland, often referred to as the ‘Land of Fire and Ice,’ offers a plethora of winter activities that go way beyond skiing. While many travellers flock to the country’s famous ski resorts, there’s a whole other world of adrenaline-pumping adventures waiting for those willing to stray off the beaten path. This article provides an extensive guide to some of Iceland’s most exhilarating winter activities.Ice Climbing: Scaling Nature’s Frozen ArtworksAn exhilarating sport, ice climbing involves ascending frozen waterfalls using specialised equipment. Given the abundance of cascading falls that freeze over in winter, Iceland is an ideal playground for this sport.Safety FirstIt’s imperative to climb with professionals and ensure you have the proper safety gear. Harnesses, helmets, and ice axes are a must.Choosing the Right LocationResearch or ask locals about the best spots to climb. Some falls are more suitable for beginners, while others cha...

Have the Russell Brand and Mila Kunis controversies ruined this beloved 2008 comedy?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Have the Russell Brand and Mila Kunis controversies ruined this beloved 2008 comedy? Some might say it’s unfair to lump Russell Brand and Mila Kunis into any category together, but both have been at the center of fierce news cycles over the past 10 days due to revelations that have threatened to “cancel” them professionally and culturally.They also became break-out film stars in the same 2008 hit comedy, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Fans of the the Judd Apatow-produced film are now left to wonder if they can still enjoy the movie — which features a mix of crass humor, smart writing and heartfelt romance — with the same unbridled pleasure. A still photo from the film has circulating online.this photo isn’t aging well in 2023 pic.twitter.com/G83DBdfBcs— T (@trinawatters) September 16, 2023The revelations about Brand have been highly disturbing. The comedian and actor, who built his reputation on bad-boy lasciviousness, has been accused in U.K. news investigative reports of raping, sexually assaulting and emotionally abus...

San Jose officials eye fine for firm that rid church of “trash bag” wrap

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

San Jose officials eye fine for firm that rid church of “trash bag” wrap SAN JOSE — Officials may impose a fine on a construction executive whose crews removed an unsightly and crumbling tarp that had covered a historic downtown San Jose church.Construction crews a few weeks ago removed a gigantic tarp — a wrap that had prompted some to call the downtown San Jose building the “trash-bag church” — that was hanging in tatters from the historic building.Uncovered dome of First Church of Christ, Scientist at 43 East St. James Street in downtown San Jose, August 2023. This photo was taken before crews supervised by construction company executive Jim Salata patched the rooftop and removed a huge bag that had covered the old church. (Jim Salata)Repaired and patched dome of First Church of Christ, Scientist at 43 East St. James Street in downtown San Jose. This photo was taken after crews supervised by construction company executive Jim Salata patched the rooftop. (Jim Salata)But in the wake of the removal of the “tr...

Feds charge suspect in two Oakland shootings; both shootings and arrest occurred in front of the same liquor store

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Feds charge suspect in two Oakland shootings; both shootings and arrest occurred in front of the same liquor store OAKLAND — All of Quentel Reed’s current legal problems stem from activity outside a 24th Street liquor store.It was outside of K&D Market in Oakland where, according to prosecutors, Reed was involved in two shootings in 2022 and 2023, and where police pulled him over in August 2022 and allegedly found a loaded AM-15 rifle, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Now, Reed is in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin facing charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum 15-year prison term.These new allegations against Reed are practically a carbon copy of a decade-old arrest that resulted in another federal case. In that instance, Oakland police arrested him for allegedly discarding a gun and 59 grams of crack cocaine and a loaded pistol, during a foot chase near McClymonds High School. He was charged with carrying a pistol during a drug trafficking crime sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in 2013, but granted a compassionate release in 2020 due to health...

Mountain West power ratings: Fresno State on top, followed by Wyoming, as the Bulldogs’ shutout ends the Pac-12’s shutout

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Mountain West power ratings: Fresno State on top, followed by Wyoming, as the Bulldogs’ shutout ends the Pac-12’s shutout Last season, the Hotline published weekly ‘Best of the West’ power ratings that considered not only Pac-12 teams but those in the Mountain West and Brigham Young. The exercise was so popular that we’re adding a MW-specific column to our array of offerings this season.One week of non-conference play remains for the Mountain West, but the conference has completed its run of matchups against Power Five opponents. The end result is not exactly easy on the eyes.The MW finished 4-17 against opponents from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12.Closest to home, it was 1-10 against the Pac-12, with Fresno State’s shutout of Arizona State on Saturday night as the lone victory.Two years ago, the MW was 6-5 against its wealthier neighbor.What changed? Head coaches. And coordinators. And quarterbacks.The Pac-12 upgraded on all fronts; the MW has either held its ground or regressed ever-so-slightly.To the power ratings …(All times Pacific)1. Fresno State (3-0)Last week: 1Result: wo...

Netanyahu meets with Musk, talks AI, antisemitism on X

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Netanyahu meets with Musk, talks AI, antisemitism on X Associated PressSAN JOSE — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kicked off a U.S. trip in California to talk to billionaire businessman Elon Musk about antisemitism on his social media platform X — while Musk asked him to address his judicial overhaul in Israel. The two also discussed artificial intelligence in a sparsely-attended livestream event Monday.Netanyahu’s high-profile visit to the San Francisco Bay Area comes at a time when Musk is facing accusations of tolerating antisemitic messages on his social media platform, while Netanyahu is confronting political opposition at home and abroad. Protesters gathered early Monday outside the Fremont, California factory where Tesla makes its cars.The video livestream kicked off shortly before 9:30 a.m. with Netanyahu and the Tesla CEO. Netanyahu’s official X account posted that he is holding a “one on one conversation” with Musk. The number of viewers hovered around 700-800 people.The two kicked off with a ...

Detached house sells in Palo Alto for $3.5 million

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Detached house sells in Palo Alto for $3.5 million  2886 Waverley Street – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 2800 block of Waverley Street in Palo Alto was sold on Aug. 24, 2023 for $3,528,000, or $2,303 per square foot. The house, built in 1939, has an interior space of 1,532 square feet. This single-story home presents a roomy floor plan, featuring four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the house is equipped with a one-car garage, ensuring secure parking and storage.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:In July 2023, a 2,655-square-foot home on El Dorado Avenue in Palo Alto sold for $3,830,000, a price per square foot of $1,443. The home has 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.On Cowper Street, Palo Alto, in March 2023, a 1,456-square-foot home was sold for $4,995,000, a price per square foot of $3,431. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,383-square-foot home on the 2600 block of Waverley Street in Palo Alto sold in October 2022, for $3,000,000,...

Stolen French bulldog found, 3 arrested by San Jose PD

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:38 GMT

Stolen French bulldog found, 3 arrested by San Jose PD (BCN) -- Three suspects who allegedly stole a French bulldog from its owner at gunpoint three months ago in San Jose are in custody, police said Monday. The robbery took place about 11 p.m. on June 22 in the 2000 block of Southwest Expressway. The trio allegedly took the victim's property and the dog at gunpoint, fleeing the scene before police arrived. Surveillance video helped investigators identify and track down the three suspects and detectives obtained warrants for their arrest and to search their homes, police said."The victim's French bulldog was also recovered uninjured and reunited with the owner," police wrote.   Oakland mother killed after being struck by stray bullet while asleep On Sept. 7, the San Jose Police Department Covert Response Unit arrested Milpitas residents Isaac Ortiz, 21, and Jesse Saavedra, 20, and San Jose resident Alyssa Castro, 19. They were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of armed robbery. Copyr...