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‘No one is going to miss you’: How an AC Transit bus, a Baby Yoda doll, and a woman with ‘great hearing’ led to arrests in brutal homicide

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

CASTRO VALLEY — Even before detectives elicited a confession from a man who bragged that he strangled Benjamin Hemmann “like you would any (expletive) dog,” the suffering Hemmann had endured was obvious.A 37-year-old man who lived with his dad in San Leandro, Hemmann was found dead near the 2.95 mile marker on Redwood Road in Castro Valley, after a motorcyclist drove by his body a little before 3 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2021, and called 9-1-1. Hemmann had been tied up with ratchet straps, bound with duct tape, gagged with a rag and strangled with something that resembled a dog leash, according to recently obtained court records.Before long, police had zeroed in on a pickup truck that they believed was the only vehicle that had traveled down Redwood Road at the time of the homicide. It was a blue Toyota Tacoma, with stolen plates and one distinctive feature: someone had tied a small Baby Yoda doll on the grill, a modification that would prove significant in coming weeks.By...

Sharks’ first-round draft pick to play in Sweden this season

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

The San Jose Sharks officially loaned their 2022 first-round draft pick, center Filip Bystedt, back to Linköping HC of the Swedish Hockey League on Thursday.Bystedt, 19, has played a combined 60 regular season games for Linköping over the last two years. Last season, had 20 points in 45 games, finishing third in scoring among SHL forwards age 20 or younger, and was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Sharks in June.Bystedt, born in Norrkoping, Sweden, also tied for his country’s team lead in points with 10 (four goals, six assists) at the World Junior Championships last winter. Sweden fell in the bronze medal game to the U.S., but Bystedt scored a tying goal late in that game to force overtime.Bystedt, chosen 27th overall last year, is eligible to play for the Barracuda, San Jose’s AHL affiliate. But general manager Mike Grier told this news organization via text message that the team feels Bystedt’s development would be best served by remaining in Sweden.At the Shar...

Correction: Tech layoffs mount in Bay Area

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

A story on the cover of Wednesday’s Business section incorrectly stated that SPT Microtechnologies had decided to permanently lay off employees in San Jose. SPT said it was included in the California WARN list due to a miscommunication with the state Employment Development Department. SPT is temporarily laying off workers during the upcoming holiday season. All of the workers are retaining their jobs.

Letters: Support transit | Good officers | Pay up | Youthful voices | Changing Constitution

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.We have the meansto support transitRe: “Brakes applied to bridge toll hike bill” (Page A1, Aug. 22).Now that the bridge toll increase to fund public transit operations has been paused, Will McCarthy reports that “state lawmakers will now have to return to the drawing board as they determine how to support the Bay Area’s regional transit system.”They don’t have to look far. An alternative measure that would ask all drivers, not just those using toll bridges, is already available for public transit improvements. AB 595 by Valerie Brown became law in 1997. It authorizes the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to place a regional ballot measure before voters in the nine counties to hike gas taxes by up to 10 cents per gallon. If voters passed the measure, it would be the first regional gas tax in California.A comparable increase in electric vehicle annual fees registered in t...

VTA expanding service for Beyoncé concert at Levi's Stadium

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

(KRON) -- Beyoncé concert-goers who are making the journey to Levi’s Stadium on August 30 can fall "Dangerously in Love" with public transportation.The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will add 30 percent more passenger capacity for light rail service to and from the stadium for Beyoncé's highly-anticipated show.Queen Bey's "Renaissance World Tour" performance is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.Extra service to the stadium will begin at 4:30 p.m. on August 30 throughout the light rail system.  Extra bus service will be on standby to supplement light rail, if needed. After the concert, VTA will run light rail trains continuously until all passengers are cleared from the Great America light rail station next to the stadium. Fans of Beyonce enter to the Friends Arena to watch her first concert of the World Tour, named "Renaissance," in Sweden on May 10, 2023. (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)Passengers connecting to BART should take the VTA Orange Line to the M...

Bay Area sports personality Mychael Urban dies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

(KRON) -- Long-time Bay Area sports personality Mychael Urban has died, the Oakland A's said on Twitter Thursday. Urban wrote for publications including the San Francisco Examiner, MLB.com and The Athletic. He also hosted a show on the KNBR radio station. He was 55 years old, according to Barrett Media. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mychael Urban," the A's said. "Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this time." Carlos Santana gives anti-trans speech during New Jersey concert Urban often wrote about baseball, and he penned a book called "Aces: The Last Season on the Mound with the Oakland A's Big Three." The book focuses on the careers of the famous trio of A's starting pitchers Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson, who starred for Oakland's "Moneyball" teams. Several of Urban's friends remembered him on Twitter on Thursday. "Such dreadful news. Mychael Urban covered A’s teams with some big personalities and he somehow had a personality just as big and ...

Georgia GOP Gears Up to Remove Atlanta Prosecutor Who Indicted Donald Trump

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

A little over a week after a prosecutor in Georgia indicted former President Donald Trump for trying to overturn the results of the state’s 2020 presidential election, Republicans said they will use a new law to remove her from office. In May, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed the law that created a new commission of political appointees with the power to remove and discipline elected prosecutors over decisions or policies not to prosecute certain offenses. The law seeks to limit or restrict reform-minded prosecutors. In the case of Fulton County — which includes Atlanta — though, District Attorney Fani Willis is not even known as much of a reformer. Instead, Republican lawmakers set their sights on Willis for another reason: prosecuting the wrong person.  Join Our Newsletter Original reporting. Fearless journalism. Delivered to you. I'm in In a Facebook post Mo...

Trump arrives at a jail in Atlanta to surrender on charges he conspired to overturn his 2020 election defeat

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Trump arrives at a jail in Atlanta to surrender on charges he conspired to overturn his 2020 election defeat.Source

Joey Votto placed on the 10-day injured list by Reds with shoulder discomfort

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was placed on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder discomfort on Thursday ahead of an important four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.Votto, who turns 40 on Sept. 10, didn’t make his season debut until June 19 while rehabbing from left shoulder surgery in August 2022, when he had a torn rotator cuff and biceps repaired. Votto missed opening day for the first time since 2008. Reds manager David Bell said he’s hopeful it’s a short-term injury. Votto left the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Angels after the shoulder became too sore for him to contribute.“For me, it’s a day-to-day thing, a commitment over the next 10 days to strengthen his shoulder, with the goal of getting him back as quick as we can,” Bell said. “He’s obviously a huge part of our team, so it’s a disappointing setback, but there’s still time in the season where he can strengthen ...

Browns trade backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs to Cardinals for fifth-round pick in 2024

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:10:38 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joshua Dobbs quickly went from backing up to packing up.Just hours after Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said he was the team’s No. 2 quarterback, Dobbs was traded by the Browns to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2024 on Thursday.The Browns sent Dobbs and a seventh-round pick to the Cardinals, who have current uncertainty at quarterback while starter Kyler Murray recovers from season-ending knee surgery.Dobbs’ stunning departure means Browns rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has had an impressive training camp and exhibition season, will back up starter Deshaun Watson.Also, the Browns decided to keep QB Kellen Mond, who had been waived on the final day of training camp before Cleveland pulled off the deal with Arizona.Following Thursday’s practice, which had been pushed inside for the second straight day by inclement weather, Stefanski was asked specifically about the 28-year-old Dobbs.“I’ve been very blessed to...