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Wish You Were Here: Galapagos adventures

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

Fall is upon us, but our adventure-seeking readers have thoroughly enjoyed these last months of travel. They’ve explored Uganda’s Impenetrable Forest, trekked through Portugal and discovered England’s maritime past in Portsmouth. Along they way, they’ve shared their adventures — and some very practical travel tips too.Now, two Walnut Creek readers are reporting back on their Galapagos adventures.Wish You Were HereWildlife sightings on the Galapagos Islands include the Blue-Footed Booby. (Courtesy of the Bradford family) GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: In July, Walnut Creek residents Trudie and Michael Bradford visited Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands with Silversea Origin, a 100-passenger ship, on a weeklong cruise. “A once in a lifetime trip!” Trudie says. “The ship sailed to six islands on the western side and was extremely comfortable. Ten knowledgeable naturalist guides aboard engaged in all the daily activities offered: morning and after...

Pac-12 power ratings: The Oregon-Washington brawl starts an epic series of Saturday showdowns

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

The final Pac-12 football season is at the midway point and just getting started.Oregon’s hotly-anticipated trip to Washington this weekend marks the onset of an unprecedented barrage of conference matchups between ranked teams over the final seven Saturdays.In fact, it’s not even the only game of its kind this week.Once the No. 7 Huskies and No. 8 Ducks are finished with their 12:30 p.m. blood feud, No. 18 UCLA and No. 15 Oregon State take the stage on FOX for a primetime showdown.Expecting a stellar season long before they knew it would be the last season, Pac-12 executives in charge of the schedule crafted a lineup that would offer one premier game each week for ESPN and Fox.Turns out, there could be more than one.Over the next seven weeks, the Pac-12 has 12 conference games scheduled between ranked teams, based on the current AP top-25 poll.Oct. 14No. 8 Oregon at No. 7 WashingtonNo. 18 UCLA at No. 15 Oregon State(Also: No. 10 USC at No. 21 Notre Dame)Oct. 21No. 19 Wa...

100-year murder sentence: Dog bite led to fatal shooting on Humboldt County porch

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

A man who said he fatally shot a drinking buddy to protect his dog was sentenced to 100 years to life in prison.Last month, a jury found that Jake Combs committed first-degree murder with viciousness, callousness and a high degree of cruelty when he shot Trevor Earley, 25, at point-blank range in the head on Jan. 6, 2022, at a home in the Humboldt County community of Alderpoint. Combs, 31, was sentenced Friday by Judge Kaleb Cockrum, who told him, “I understand this case catches you on the worst night of your life as well, but (the killing) was cruel and callous. The sentence is just.”Earley’s family members and other loved ones, who filled every seat in the courtroom with many also watching proceedings over Zoom, spoke at length about their loss. When it came time for Combs to address the court, nearly everyone in the room walked out and waited in the hall until he finished speaking.During his time to talk, Combs apologized for killing Earley, bringing up a letter he wr...

Jill On Money: Shutdown-o-nomics

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

Here we go again…although Congress voted to keep the government open, averting a shutdown, it’s just for 45 days.Related ArticlesBusiness | The best home remodels for aging in place: making modifications to fit your needs as a senior Business | An Airbnb, Vrbo or other rental host ghosted you. Now what? Business | Don’t expect the same raise you got last year Business | How to spot — and avoid — personal loan scams Business | Will mortgage rates change in October? Experts weigh in We should be used to the dysfunction – there have been 21 government shutdowns since 1976. Here are questions that I have fielded about these recurring events:How would most Americans experience a shutdown?Federal workers would bear the brunt of the stalemate, with about 500,000 furloughed, and 500,000-1,000,000 being forced to work temporarily without pay. More than one million active-duty military personnel could forego...

Lincoln Ave, Marin St. closed due to downed pole, power lines in Napa

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

(BCN) -- Napa police are warning residents and motorists to avoid the area of Lincoln Avenue and Marin Street due to a downed power pole and power lines early Monday morning.The Napa Police Department issued an alert at 5 a.m. Monday regarding the downed power lines, saying Lincoln Avenue and Marin Street were closed to traffic. Emergency crews were on scene to clear the roadway, officers said. Had enough heat? Wet weather returning to Bay Area It would take some time before the roadway is fully open due to the extent of the damage in the area, Napa police said, adding that motorists should use alternate routes.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Matt Fitzpatrick wins weather-hit Dunhill Links Championship for 1st European tour title in 2 years

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Matt Fitzpatrick captured his first European tour title in two years by winning the weather-affected Dunhill Links Championship by three strokes on Monday.The 2022 U.S. Open champion shot 6-under 66 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to finish on 19-under-par overall for an event that was reduced to 54 holes after heavy rain wiped out play on Saturday and Sunday.Play was only possible on Monday after remarkable efforts from the greenkeepers at the three storied Scottish courses hosting the pro-am event — St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns — to make them playable. Large parts of Carnoustie, in particular, were unrecognizable on Sunday and there were still huge swathes of water on some fairways.Ryan Fox, a recent winner at the BMW PGA Championship, shot 65 on the Old Course and was tied for second place with Matthew Southgate (66 at St. Andrews) and Marcus Armitage (66 at Carnoustie).Fitzpatrick, who won the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour in April, hadn...

Correction: US-Rail Trail Killing-Vermont story

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

In a story published October 7, 2023, about the shooting of a retired Vermont State University dean, The Associated Press erroneously reported the hair color of a man seen in the area, based on information from the Vermont State Police. The man had short red hair, according to the agency, not dark hair, as state police initially said.Source

France captain Dupont cleared to resume full contact training at Rugby World Cup

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France captain Antoine Dupont was a step closer to playing again at the Rugby World Cup after being cleared to resume full training on Monday.The surgeon who repaired Dupont’s broken right cheekbone gave him a green light after a final checkup on Monday.Dupont was due to begin full-contact training in the afternoon.It was up to the coaches now whether the star scrumhalf was fit to lead France or come off the bench against defending champion South Africa in the quarterfinals on Sunday at Stade de France.“The key factor is apprehension,” team medical director Bruno Boussagol said on Monday. “We need to remain close to Antoine and help him across the board for him to be in the best position to apply for selection.”Dupont was injured by a head-on-head tackle on Sept. 21 against Namibia. He had surgery the next day and rejoined the team 10 days later. He has trained solo under medical supervision, and done contact work with tackle pads with fitness staff.His abse...

Stock market today: Oil prices and defense stocks climb after Israel declares war on Hamas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are climbing, and stocks are slipping Monday as violence in the Middle East injects more unease into financial markets.The S&P 500 was 0.5% lower in its first trading since Hamas launched a surprise attack over the weekend against Israel, which then formally declared war. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 137 points, or 0.4%, as of 10:50 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% lower.The area under conflict is not home to major oil production, but fears that the fighting could spill into the politics around the crude market sent a barrel of U.S. oil up 4.2% to $86.23. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 4% to $88.00 per barrel.One potential outcome is that the Israel-Hamas fighting could lead to a slowdown in Iranian oil exports, which have been growing this year, according to Barclays energy analyst Amarpreet Singh. Less supply of crude would raise its price, all else equal. The conflict could also hurt the possibility of...

Carlos Alcaraz advances to the fourth round at the Shanghai Masters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:35:54 GMT

SHANGHAI (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz had to rally from a break down in the first set to beat 30th-seeded Daniel Evans 7-6 (1), 6-4 Monday and advance to the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters.In the second set, the Spaniard committed only two unforced errors.“It was a really tough match. It was one of the toughest matches I have played outside of the Grand Slams,” Alcaraz said. “Every time I play Daniel it is a tricky match and I have to play my best to beat him. Both of us played a high quality of tennis and I am really happy to get through.”Alcaraz will next face 18th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, who beat 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov 7-6 (6), 6-4.Also Monday, fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev hit 35 winners as he defeated 31st-seeded Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-0. The Russian player will next play 12th-seeded Tommy Paul after the American beat 19-year-old Arthur Fils 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-4.Wild-card Diego Schwartzmann upset eighth-ranked Taylor Fritz 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) for his first win over a top-10 player...