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The Israel-Hammas war has roiled US campuses. Students on each side say colleges aren't doing enough

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

America’s colleges aspire to be places where ideas meet and common ground emerges. As the death toll rises in the Israel-Hamas war, they have become seats of anguish.Many Jewish students and their allies, some with family and friends in Israel, have demanded bold reckonings and strong condemnation after the attacks by Hamas militants, who stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing and abducting civilians and soldiers.Meanwhile, some Muslim students have joined with allies to call for a recognition of decades of suffering by Palestinians in Gaza, plus condemnation of the response by Israel. After the Hamas attack, Israel launched a total blockade of Gaza; airstrikes have flattened buildings and homes, killing civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate.On many campuses, these students agree on one thing: Their colleges, which are increasingly staking out positions of neutrality, have not done enough to support them.College officials, already ...

Movies and TV shows that feature St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

ST. LOUIS – If you ever find yourself with a free day, consider checking out these St. Louis-featured movies. Some are cheesy, some are romantic, but all of them showcase recognizable St. Louis locations on the big screen.White Palace: Glen Savan, a native of St. Louis, wrote the book "The White Castle," on which this movie is based. Savan even makes an appearance in the film as an extra, playing a disgruntled customer.King of the Hill: Based on A.E. Hotchner's memoir of his childhood in St. Louis during the Great Depression, this movie follows a boy's life in the city.The Black Hole is a movie about a scientific experiment gone wrong and the mayhem a mysterious creature wreaked in St. Louis.Escape from New York: While filmed in St. Louis, the movie is set in 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum-security prison. A convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.Up in the Air: George Clooney was in St. Louis during the creation of this film. The st...

Sunnyvale hosts Halloween Costume Collection and Swap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

Halloween costume swapThe City of Sunnyvale is partnering with First 5 Family Resource Center and Sunnyvale Community Services to host a Halloween Costume Collection and Swap for families in need.Clean, gently used children’s costumes and accessories can be dropped off at Columbia Neighborhood Center, 785 Morse Ave., through Saturday, Oct. 21. Donations will be accepted Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in the main lobby and 5-8 p.m. in the fitness room.Sunnyvale Community Services is also accepting donations through Friday, Oct. 20, at its donation center, 1160 Kern Ave., Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 12:30-4 p.m. Donations can also be dropped off in the main lobby on Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon.New afterschool programVargas, Bishop and Ellis elementary schools are hosting a Transitional Kindergarten Kids Learning Afterschool (TK-KLAS) pilot program is for kids ages 4-6. This after-school program is an extension of the regular school day. The program runs Monday-Frid...

Campbell’s Heritage Theatre stages ‘Dynamite,’ dancing Dorothy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

‘Dynamite’ cast reunionFans of ligers and Tater Tots might want to check out the show at Campbell’s Heritage Theatre on Nov. 2, when cast members from “Napoleon Dynamite” will be on hand to talk about the 2004 cult movie.A screening of the movie will be followed by a discussion with cast members Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico).The evening is less a serious deconstruction of the movie and more a fun celebration of the much-loved comedy. It includes “Napoleon Dynamite”-themed preshow activities starting at 6 p.m., including selfies with Tina the Llama’s cousin Varekai (from Black Cat Llamas), with food and drinks available for purchase, and maybe even some Tots. There’s also a preshow meet and greet with the actors, including professional photographs and a signed poster.Tickets are $55 at 408-866- 2700 or HeritageTheatre.org; VIP Meet and Greet tickets are an additional $75. The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Heritage Theatre, locate...

Saratoga celebrates Halloween, community spirit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce President and Mayor’s Inaugural Ball was labeled a huge success. It was fun to see people dressed up at the black-tie event at the Saratoga Country Club. Saratoga Mayor Kookie Fitzsimmons thanked the Chamber of Commerce for hosting and said, “The ball was a beautiful evening of appreciation for the individuals and organizations that have given so much of themselves to strengthen the bonds of community in Saratoga.” Vicki Seelig was named the Volunteer of the Year; Jim Cargill, Businessperson of the Year; and Citizen of the Year went to Cathie Thermond. Also honored were Chamber President Tiger Teerlink, Fitzsimmons and former mayors of Saratoga.Coming to Wildwood Park is an event that always brings smiles: the Saratoga Doghood Pet Parade and costume contest is set for Oct. 28 3-5:30 p.m. One dog “pawrent” who participated last year said, “It’s wonderful to see our community come together through mutual love for furry friends we adore and get cr...

Eastbound Stevens Creek Boulevard closed for emergency repairs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

Eastbound Stevens Creek Blvd. closedThe City of Cupertino Public Works Department has closed eastbound Stevens Creek Boulevard between Wolfe Road/Miller Avenue and Finch Avenue for emergency repairs, with an anticipated reopening of lanes on Nov. 10.  Westbound lanes through this area on Stevens Creek Boulevard remain open.A temporary detour has been set up directing vehicles to proceed north along Wolfe Road, east along Vallco Parkway and south along Tantau Avenue, back to eastbound Stevens Creek Boulevard.Entrances from Stevens Creek Boulevard to businesses along the south side of the road within the work area will be closed. Those who need to access these businesses should enter from the complex driveway on Miller Avenue, located immediately south of the Jiffy Lube at the corner of Miller Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard. Pedestrians will be routed to the sidewalk along the north side of Stevens Creek Boulevard.For more information, call 408-777-3354 or email capitalprojects@cu...

San Jose-based nonprofit’s founder sees neurodivergency as asset

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

Dreamzilla Inc., a San Jose-based nonprofit dedicated to celebrating neurodiversity, announced its first-ever scholarship recipients.Brittany Duncan of Huntersville, NC, Julianne Lukassen of Cheyenne, WY, Austin Riley of Ontario, Canada and Serafino Palumbo of Girard, OH all received funding from Dreamzilla to aid in pursuing their educational goals. The winners have a variety of neurological differences such as autism and ADHD.“Scholarship applicants must be neurodivergent,” said Ken Loh, co-founder and treasurer/secretary of Dreamzilla. “They must have some sort of personal or professional aspiration that they are pursuing, yet have a financial barrier to overcome.”Dreamzilla Inc. was co-founded in January 2022 by CEO Kyle Loh, a race car driver with autism and ADHD.“We felt that there were probably many other neurodivergent individuals who really wanted to follow their passions,” said Ken Loh, who is Kyle’s dad, “but for whatever reason they weren’t able to. We suspected that mis...

Here’s how San Jose’s smash-and-grab prevention funds will be spent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

As Bay Area residents continue to be bombarded with videos of masked thieves breaking jewelry shop cases or plundering pricey purses from designer boutiques, San Jose’s police department plans to spend millions on salaries and a controversial surveillance technology to combat smash-and-grab crimes that have become a major worry for public safety and economic vitality across California.Part of an injection of over a quarter-billion dollars in state money from Gov. Gavin Newsom, more than half of San Jose’s $8.4 million in funds will go towards salaries, benefits and overtime for a group of officers devoted to retail theft prevention.Another chunk — $3.1 million — will be spent on purchasing automatic license plate readers, which advocates claim can help police rapidly identify criminals but have also raised privacy concerns.The remaining half-million will be spent on an evaluator who will measure the effectiveness of the crime-fighting technology — as we...

Latest line: A good week for YIMBYs, a bad week for election officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

YIMBYsThe “Yes in My Backyard” movement wins big as Gov. Gavin Newsom signs multiple bills to streamline housing construction, ease selling and renting of backyard units, and to allow religious groups to build affordable housing on their land.    Election officialsA new report shows that 41% of California’s chief county election officials have left since November 2020, due in part to stress and threats linked to Donald Trump’s lies that he lost re-election because the count was “rigged” or “stolen.”   Roger BenitezAfter overturning California’s law to ban high-capacity gun magazines, the San Diego judge sees his decision temporarily blocked by the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. But it or the Supreme Court could still uphold his ruling later. 

How a fight over 1,000 feet of Bay Area road led to lawsuits and allegations of corruption

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

The final 1,000 feet of a remote stretch of road outside of Fremont has turned into an unlikely battleground over public access in the Bay Area, and a war of words that has spiraled into allegations of county corruption and even attempted restraining orders.The drama centers on Morrison Canyon Road, a rural road that dead ends into the sprawling property of CEO and rancher Christopher George.It’s also the access point for the relatively new Vargas Plateau Regional Park, a popular park for hiking, biking and horseback riding.Related ArticlesLocal News | Google opens visitor center in splashy dragonscale building Local News | ‘Coal war’ in Oakland could be settled by judge ruling in contract dispute Local News | Which way does beach sand flow? Studies challenge established views on sand migration along California coast Local News | Prominent Bay Area environmental group names new leader Local News | ...