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Shane MacGowan, Pogues frontman, dead at 65

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

Shane Macgowan, the singer-songwriter and frontman of “Celtic Punk” band The Pogues, best known for the Christmas ballad “Fairytale of New York,” died Thursday, his family said. He was 65.“It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our most beautiful, darling and dearly beloved Shane Macgowan,” his wife Victoria Clarke, his sister Siobhan and father Maurice said in a statement.The singer died peacefully with his family by his side, the statement added.The musician had been hospitalized in Dublin for several months after being diagnosed with viral encephalitis in late 2022. He was discharged last week, ahead of his upcoming birthday on Christmas Day.The Pogues fused Irish traditional music and rock’n’roll into a unique, intoxicating blend, though MacGowan became as famous for his sozzled, slurred performances as for his powerful songwriting.FILE - Shane MacGowan poses for photographers upon arrival at the Shane MacGowan, The Eternal Buzz &...

Rite Aid to close 31 more stores, including these in California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

Rite Aid is closing over 30 additional locations after closing more than 150 of its stores earlier this year following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filings. The Philadelphia company, which is marking its 60th year in business, has posted annual losses for several years and has been cutting costs and closing stores as it dealt with long-standing financial challenges. It has said it expects a net loss of as much as $680 million in the current fiscal year, which will end next spring.The company, like its rivals, also faces financial risk from lawsuits over opioid prescriptions. Rite Aid already has reached several settlements, including one announced last year with the state of West Virginia for up to $30 million.After filing for bankruptcy protection in mid-October, the chain announced the closures of more than 150 stores across 15 states. According to court documents filed Tuesday, Rite Aid will close another 31 stores. California-based home goods retailer closing all stor...

Bay Area high school football 2023: NorCal championship weekend preview

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

The high school football season has reached regional championship weekend.Nine teams from the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area will be in action, aiming to join Serra in Southern California next weekend for the state championships.Serra has secured its spot, having been picked by the California Interscholastic Federation to represent Northern California in the Open Division title game for the third consecutive season.The Padres will play Mater Dei-Santa Ana on Dec. 9 at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.The top games this weekend include Clovis North at De La Salle, Pittsburg at Folsom and El Cerrito at Los Gatos.We preview all the games involving Bay Area News Group teams here:NORCAL DIVISION 1-AA: CLOVIS NORTH AT DE LA SALLEDe La Salle’s Drew Cunningham holds the first place plaque after the Spartans defeated San Ramon Valley for the North Coast Section Open Division championship on Nov. 17, 2023, at Dublin High. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Records: C...

Caltrain service affected due to police activity at 4th and King

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Police activity was delaying inbound and outbound trains at the 4th and King Caltrain station in San Francisco early Thursday morning, causing several delays during commuting hours.Related ArticlesTransportation | Caltrain fatally strikes pedestrian in Brisbane. It was the second fatal collision in two days Transportation | Man killed by Caltrain near Brewster Avenue in Redwood City Transportation | Opinion: Caltrain’s San Francisco extension costs more than it’s worth In a post to social media, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management told commuters to expect delays and take alternate routes as the police activity affected the station. The exact nature of the activity was not immediately clear.ALERTSF: Police Activity is affecting inbound and outbound CalTrain services at 4th and King Streets. Expect delays and use alternate routes. Check https://t.co/KhHeZty2yc for realtime traffic and transit update...

San Jose: Excessive force lawsuit from 2020 George Floyd protests cleared for trial

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

SAN JOSE — Another excessive force lawsuit stemming from the 2020 George Floyd protests in downtown San Jose has been cleared for trial, this time involving a man claiming ongoing injuries from being hit in the leg with a police projectile, a munition that drew national scorn to the city and swift changes over its use for crowd control.Earlier this month, federal Judge Beth Labson Freeman denied most of the city of San Jose’s attempts to get Kyle Johnson’s lawsuit thrown out at the summary judgment phase, paving the way for a trial in the new year.It would be at least the third excessive force lawsuit from the protests — which garnered national infamy for violent police tactics highlighted by officers prolifically using rubber and foam bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators — to survive to trial. So far, none have actually gotten to trial, with one lawsuit ending with a hefty city settlement and another tied up in court appeals.Barring a settlem...

Two California cities make list of world’s most expensive cities in which to live in 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill | CNNIn news that won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been feeling the pinch, the global cost of living crisis is far from over. And big-city dwellers can really take a hit.According to the annual Worldwide Cost of Living Index that’s published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the average cost of living rose by 7.4% this year. Grocery prices increased the fastest.Although this is slightly lower than the 8.1% jump the same survey recorded in 2022, the numbers remain significantly higher than “historic trends.”But there is some good news. Utility prices, the fastest rising category in the 2022 survey, showed the least amount of inflation this time around.Inflation predictionsPrice increases are slowing in pace because of the waning of supply chain issues since China lifted its Covid-19 restrictions in late 2022.However, grocery prices are continuing to rise as retailers pass on higher costs to consumers.“We expect inflation to continue to decele...

7 terrific Bay Area things to do this weekend, Dec. 1-3

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

Got your weekend plans? We have some ideas along those lines, from fun holiday excursions and shows to a wacky and fun movie theater. And festive hummus!And, as always, be sure to double check event and venue 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 PLAY: Submit to the holi-dazeThe way we look at it, you can pretend that it’s too early to get sucked into the holiday spirit or just take a deep breath and dive in. And if it’s holiday entertainment you crave, there is no shortage of movies, plays, concerts or dance recitals to savor.This party favorite gives hummus a little razzle dazzle with roasted beets. (Courtesy Lynda Balslev). 2 MAKE & SCARF: Hearty holiday hummusHummus is a tasty and fun party snack that’s not difficult to make. And for hol...

Share the Spirit: La Familia offers ‘peace of mind’ for thousands of East Bay residents

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

For weeks after his brother’s suicide in January, Jamaal Morgain barely ate. He refused to – he wanted to waste away, to spiral back into the dark pit of depression he’d known all too well through a lifetime of homelessness, crime and addiction.Luckily for him, someone refused to ignore the warning signs.Eyeing Morgain’s thinning frame, a counselor at La Familia finally needled an answer out of the 31-year-old Pittsburg native as to why he looked so frail.The breakthrough that came next was nothing new at the East Bay nonprofit, which has spent decades working to help impoverished, at-risk and recently-incarcerated residents improve their mental health by almost any means necessary.La Familia Transitional Age Youth Program client, Jamaal Morgain, delivers packages as part of his route in Alameda, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Morgain, who left the foster youth program at age 18, found himself homeless and incarcerated, but turned his life around thanks to La Familia Transi...

Free rent? With apartment supply increasing, Bay Area landlords turn to concessions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

A $2,000-a-month studio apartment might not be considered a good deal in most parts of the country. But in the Bay, it might be — especially if the landlord throws in a sweetener.At least, that’s how Gwen Wang, 23, felt when she got a discount on a new studio in the Skylyne Apartments in Oakland. Her complex offered two months rent free on a studio typically priced at $2,400 a month, bringing her closer to her budget of $2,000 a month.“With the promotion, it made sense to rent here,” Wang said.As thousands of new units hit the market around the Bay Area, concessions — such as free rent or free parking — are becoming more common, especially in apartment complexes. As of October, two in five apartment listings in the San Francisco and Oakland metro areas were offering concessions, and half of listings in San Jose offered them, according to a new study from Zillow.“As a way to incentivize renters to come in, concessions are rising across the board,” Zillow economist N...

Police activity impacts Caltrain service at 4th and King in SF

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:59:31 GMT

(BCN) -- Police activity is affecting Caltrain operations at the rail line's 4th & King station in San Francisco on Thursday morning, according to alerts from the city's emergency services.Both inbound and outbound services of Caltrain are affected by the police activity. Travelers are advised to expect delays and use alternate routes, an alert from AlertSF said shortly after 6 a.m.There were no further details about the police activity immediately available.This is a developing story.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.