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XBB.1.5, BA.2.86, JN.1: How to understand the coronavirus alphabet soup

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

By Jen Christensen | CNNThe virus that causes Covid-19 has more letters to describe its many derivatives than a bowl of alphabet soup.Omicron and Delta were names for the coronavirus that people quickly learned and used in the height of the pandemic. But at this point, most non-scientists probably could not name the version of the virus that’s set to become the next dominant one around the world. (It’s JN.1, by the way.)Although the common cold doesn’t get as many names – at least not the ones that make headlines – the specificity with which scientists talk about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, matters because it is still such a problem.A virus like this one has a lot of different names because it is changing constantly, and scientists need a common language to talk about a specific version that they’re seeing in a particular community or that they’re working with to develop treatments, vaccines and tests.“Bob the Virus” or “Susan the Variant” would probably be easier to...

49ers mailbag: Ghost of Christmas past could haunt another playoff run

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Making a list, checking it twice, time to find out which letters are naughty and nice into our weekly 49ers mailbag:Do you know when was the last time the 49ers played on Christmas Day? (@juniorvalencia408)It was 1993. The 49ers clinched the NFC West in their previous game, as they did this past Sunday. And they hosted an AFC powerhouse in the Houston Oilers, whereas this Monday night they’ll be hosting the AFC-leading Baltimore Ravens. So the turnover-prone 49ers lost 10-7 in that penultimate game of the 1993 regular season at Candlestick Park. Coach George Seifert pulled NFL passing leader Steve Young in the third quarter, seeing how the 49ers’ had already clinched a first-round playoff bye the previous week and were longshots to claim the No. 1 seed over Dallas. The 49ers went on to lose the NFC Championship Game in Dallas, and the Oilers lost their playoff opener to Kansas City.What is your best-case playoff scenario, game by game? (@all4dg3)After the wild-card bye...

The story behind Trayce Jackson-Davis’ momentum-shifting block on Jaylen Brown

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Trayce Jackson-Davis saw everything he needed to see in a split second.Jaylen Brown had the ball at the top of the key with every intention of driving to the rim. It was overtime, the Warriors up four with 2:30 minutes remaining and Klay Thompson the only body directly in front of him.Brown bumped Thompson, burst around him, switched the ball to his weaker left hand and began to levitate for what would have been an easy layup.Jackson-Davis was one step ahead of the All-Star, meeting Brown at the apex to swipe the ball off the backboard. His teammates’ hyped screams registered muffled as Jackson-Davis let his muscle memory take him back to the other end.He blacked out.“A momentum shifter,” Jackson-Davis said. “I don’t even know what happened on the next play.”The rookie’s block was just one chord in a comeback chorus, the needed defensive precursor to Steph Curry’s high-arching dagger 3 to clinch a 132-126 overtime...

Walters: How California’s school ‘dashboard’ obscures poor performance

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

When then-Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature created the Local Control Funding Formula a decade ago, their professed goal was to close the achievement gap separating poor and English-learner K-12 students from their more privileged contemporaries by providing more targeted instructional money.Education reform and civil rights groups applauded the effort but worried aloud about Brown’s unwillingness to provide accountability for whether the extra spending would, in fact, narrow the gap. He said he trusted local school officials to do the right thing.The education establishment liked Brown’s hands-off attitude but the criticism continued. Several years later, the state school board responded with a “dashboard.”  Schools and school districts would receive color-coded grades on a variety of factors, of which proficiency in language arts, math and other academic skills would have parity with other less important areas.Critics remained skeptical — with good reason.“Under this syst...

Sutter Health eyes huge Santa Clara lease in boost for office market

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Sutter Health has struck a deal to lease a huge amount of office space at a high-profile Santa Clara campus in a deal that bolsters the Bay Area’s wobbly commercial property sector.The health services titan has agreed to lease three buildings in Mission Technology Park, a four-building office complex in Santa Clara is owned by Sobrato Investments, a legendary Bay Area real estate firm.2441 Mission College Boulevard in Santa Clara, a building that totals 103,500 square feet. (Google Maps)Sutter Health is renting well over 300,000 square feet in the office buildings, according to several commercial property experts familiar with the transaction.The buildings that Sutter Health has agreed to lease are all located on Mission College Boulevard next to California’s Great America amusement park in Santa Clara.2431 Mission College Boulevard, a Santa Clara office building totaling 84,700 square feet. (Google Maps)The three office buildings that Sutte...

AG Bonta: ‘Insufficient evidence’ found for Vallejo police officer who killed Sean Monterrosa

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Tuesday there is “insufficient evidence” to support criminal charges against a Vallejo police officer in the 2020 shooting of Sean Monterrosa.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | California police must tell drivers why they’re being stopped starting next year under new law Crime and Public Safety | As foundation for ‘excited delirium’ diagnosis cracks, fallout spreads Crime and Public Safety | Defense lawyers say retired police officer who held Pleasant Hill cops at bay during two standoffs ‘did not intend to kill anyone’ Crime and Public Safety | Alameda reaches settlements with Mario Gonzalez’s estate, mother Crime and Public Safety | Santa Clara County supervisors back direct access to non-police mental health team The conclusion of the California Department of Justice’s review of the shooting focused solely on potential criminal liabili...

Marin police arrest Santa-hatted arson suspect

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

Novato police arrested a man suspected of setting three arson fires while wearing a Santa hat.The fires happened on Dec. 6. Two bench fires were reported around 2:30 a.m. on Grant Avenue, and a third fire was found 45 minutes later in the Nave Shopping Center parking lot, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | AG Bonta: ‘Insufficient evidence’ found for Vallejo police officer who killed Sean Monterrosa Crime and Public Safety | Man stabbed in robbery at Half Moon Bay grocery store Crime and Public Safety | San Jose man charged with robbing Sunnyvale USPS mail carrier Crime and Public Safety | Woman killed in Oakland traffic collision is identified; suspect facing multiple charges Crime and Public Safety | San Jose: Homicide declared for April death of 2-month-old baby after findings of malnourishment, physical abuse Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and identified the suspect as Nic...

Bay Area storm updates: Rain returns overnight into Wednesday

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Following a brief respite Tuesday afternoon, heavier rains is expected to return to the Bay Area overnight Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Rain is likely to impact the morning commute and could last throughout the day Wednesday. Wednesday's rain band could deliver up to an inch of rain before the storm clears out and heads south, according to KRON4 Meteorologist Kyla Grogan. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible before showers taper off by Thursday, the NWS said.Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the Bay Area rain.Bay Area rain updates:Wednesday, Dec. 20The National Weather Service forecast for the greater San Francisco Bay Area for Wednesday calls for rain and thunderstorms during the whole day, with up to 100 chance of showers in some areas in the region.Forecasters say rain will continue throughout the day with the focus shifting southward Wednesday night. Light to moderate showers are expected to move into the North Ba...

Helicóptero se estrella matando a dos de sus tripulantes

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

Un helicóptero de noticias se vino abajo la madrugada del miércoles en un área boscosa de Nueva Jersey matando a dos personas quienes iban a bordo, según la entidad noticiosa.Se informó que el trágico accidente tuvo lugar en Quaker Bridge Road a la altura del Wharton State Park en Burlington County.La cadena 6 ABC News informó por escrito que la nave pertenecía a su grupo de noticias y que las dos personas quienes iban a bordo perdieron la vida.“No revelaremos la identidad de los miembros de la tripulación por el momento, ya que los familiares no han sido notificados del accidente”, publicó ABC News en su sitio web. “Ambos tiene una larga trayectoria laborando como parte del equipo de Action News”.Al momento se desconoce la causa del accidente, una conferencia de prensa se llevará a cabo más tarde la mañana del miércoles y la podrás ver en este enlace.Esta es una historia en desarrollo. Quédate pendiente a TELEMUNDO 62 para actualizaciones o descarga la aplicación gratuita.Rea...

Did you know: These 5 holiday traditions are local to Colorado

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:43:22 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Setting up a Christmas tree or visiting local light displays are normal things to do during the holiday season. But Colorado isn't exactly normal when it comes to holiday traditions. Colorado’s Ice Castles announces 2023 opening date Some of these traditions have been upheld for over 100 years, and you can still participate in them this year.1. Leaving Christmas lights up until the end of the stock showIt's only acceptable to leave your lights up through January in Colorado because of the National Western Stock Show.According to the stock show, this tradition could date as far back as the 1920s when some of the first lights were hung outside the state Capitol building and the Denver City and County buildings. In later years, the tradition is attributed to keeping the city festive for travelers coming in to see the stock show.As the tradition goes, Coloradans will keep their Christmas lights up until the end of the stock show.2. New Year’s Eve fireworks on Pikes Pea...