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Post Premium: Top stories for the week of March 27-April 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

COKEDALE — Jack Van Heesch experimented hard with all sorts of psychedelics back in the day.“It was a party,” said the full-bearded, 66-year-old resident of this former Colorado mining town perched in the shadows of the Spanish Peaks in Las Animas County.Van Heesch was one of nearly 1.3 million Coloradans last November to vote for Proposition 122, which decriminalized the growing, use and sharing of psilocybin and psilocin — key compounds found in “magic mushrooms” — along with ibogaine, mescaline and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT.But his was a rare yes vote in Cokedale, a tiny hamlet of 150 hardscrabble residents seven miles west of Trinidad. The town, with its 350 defunct coke ovens signifying its legacy as a one-time coal mining hub, isn’t jazzed about psilocybin healing centers coming in.Residents cite concerns about crime, transients, exposure of psychedelics to children and any funding that might be needed to regulate the industry.“It’s a quality of life thing here,” Cokedale May...

49ers’ 53-man roster projection: Where things stand before NFL Draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

As Nick Bosa cleaned out his locker for the offseason, he foreshadowed what was to come of the 49ers.“There’s going to be a lot of the same guys back, so that’s exciting,” Bosa said Jan. 31. “It’s obviously never the same group, which makes the NFL tough. You just have to appreciate life and keep living.”Indeed, a familiar cast remains on the roster, more than enough to appreciate and keep title hopes alive.A rookie class will come aboard in a month, so the roster is far from set, not to mention the other personnel moves and hard-luck injuries that are inevitable. Then, cuts from the 90-man roster don’t have to be made until Aug. 29.That said, here is how the 53-man roster might look ahead of the April 27-29 draft:QUARTERBACK (3)Brock PurdyTrey LanceSam DarnoldHealth concerns with Purdy (elbow) and Lance (ankle) enticed the 49ers to sign Darnold. Who starts Week 1? Purdy’s timeline remains a mystery — otherwise, the starting job is his, if healthy. Thus, Lance could be Q...

Why major study argues Florida’s COVID death rate compares favorably to California’s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

California officials boast that the state’s extended pandemic lockdowns and health mandates saved tens of thousands of lives from COVID-19, compared to states like Florida that reopened early.But a major study of all U.S. states’ pandemic performance found that while masks and social distancing drove down infection rates, they didn’t influence death rates, which were driven more by population age, health, poverty, race, education, health care access, vaccination and public trust.The study argues that while Florida’s death rate per 100,000 was higher than California’s, it would actually be lower than the Golden State’s if all states had the same age and health characteristics of the country as a whole.“California was dealt an easier hand when it comes to COVID,” said lead author Joseph L. Dieleman, associate professor at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. “Its population is younger an...

One’s a 30-year-old AHL vet, the other moved here as a kid. Both Sharks had a dream come true Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

Danil Gushchin wasn’t sure he would get this opportunity this season. Kyle Criscuolo likely didn’t think he would get this opportunity at all.Both had a dream come true Saturday after vastly different journeys to this point.Gushchin, a 21-year-old rookie from Russia, and Criscuolo, a 30-year-old Harvard grad and relative journeyman, both scored their career NHL goals Saturday as the San Jose Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes 7-2 at Mullett Arena in Tempe.Noah Gregor had his first NHL hat trick in the win, and Erik Karlsson had four assists to give him 96 points for the season.But they shared the spotlight with Criscuolo and Gushchin, who were recalled from the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL on Saturday morning, as Oskar Lindblom remained in San Jose with an upper-body injury he suffered Thursday and Alexander Barabanov remained out with a lower-body ailment.Criscuolo and Gushchin got an opportunity with the big club — and took full advantage.“It felt really good to watch these gu...

From the bleachers to the Bay, A’s and Giants super fans see themselves as part of the team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

Only a short drive across the Bay Bridge separates the Giants and the A’s, but their ballparks couldn’t be more different.The Giants’ waterfront home turns 23 this spring and still is one of MLB’s jewels, while the A’s prepare for their 55th season in a crumbling building they have been trying to replace – and more recently completely abandon – for more than two decades.Yet, the Bay Area’s teams share a common bond: a world beyond their right field fences that make the ballpark experience at both venues unique.For San Francisco fans, it might mean braving thunderstorms and bobbing in the bay for Splash Hits. In Oakland, the soundtrack and scenes of the game are being created by a fan base that might lack numbers but is one of the most loyal in the majors.In both cases, there is nothing else like it in baseball.EYE OF THE STORMA kayaker’s rule of thumb is to never paddle in a thunderstorm. But on this rare stormy San Francisco night, the McCovey Cove Dave bylaws advised otherwi...

Editorial: Make condoms available at California’s public schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

Californians need to talk about teens and sex.Specifically, why the state should require public and charter schools to make condoms available to all teenagers by the start of the 2024-25 school year — no questions asked — and why it should fund vaccinations for our youth against a sexually transmitted virus at the root of a rapidly increasing cancer.It’s naive to believe that preaching abstinence will prevent students from having sex. It’s also wrong to think that making condoms available to students will lead to more sexual activity among teens. The Centers for Disease Control’s research has shown that condom availability programs do not increase sexual activity among teens. But they do increase condom use among those who are sexually active.State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-Panorama City, notes that teenagers too often face barriers when trying to obtain condoms and information about their proper use. When youth don’t have access to money or trans...

On SF Giants’ return to New York, meet the people working to rediscover their Polo Grounds past

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

NEW YORK — It’s mid-morning in Harlem, on the northeastern edge of Manhattan. A raspy voice, with an accent only picked up through a childhood in northern New Jersey, fills the calm spring air.“This school,” Peter Laskowich says, gesturing toward PS46, some 50 yards northeast, “is probably dead center field, so you figure Willie Mays was probably out there when he made that catch.”On the site of the old Polo Grounds, where Mays and so many other greats roamed until the Giants moved west in 1957, now sit four public housing towers.There are clues of its illustrious past — “The Catch,” “The Shot Heard ‘Round The World,” dozens of World Series games, and a presidential first pitch (from FDR) — but besides the recently repainted black-and-orange signs bearing the complex’s name, the Polo Grounds Towers, they require some searching.The original catch. Willie Mays, 1954 World Series, Polo Grounds. (AP Photo) Laskowich,...

My & My Car: ’58 Austin-Healey Sprite in Danville took years to restore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

The British Motor Corp. was formed back in 1952 by merging Austin, Morris, MG, Wolseley and some makers of farm tractors as well as commercial vehicles. It was the largest British car company, producing 39% of the country’s vehicles.Related ArticlesLocal News | Me & My Car: Bay Area owner loves his ’34 Ford pickup truck Local News | Me & My Car: New home may be sought for ’69 Mercedes in Contra Costa Local News | Me & My Car: Danville owner doesn’t baby his ’87 BMW 325i at all The Austin-Healey Sprite was designed by the Donald Healey Motor Co. Donald Healey was a famous English car designer and race car driver and was quite successful with his 100-4 and 100-6 roadsters, which were nice cars but a little pricey. So Austin executive Leonard Lord and Healey came up with the idea of building an inexpensive and small sports car that would appeal to European and U.S. buyers. The result was the Austin-Hea...

Black Bean Quinoa Bake / Belkys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

Ingredients:2 cups cooked quinoa (cook according to package directions)1 Tbs. grapeseed or avocado oil1 small red onion, diced3 cloves garlic, minced1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, diced1/2 red pepper, seeds removed, diced1/2 orange or yellow bell pepper, seeds removed, diced1 cup corn (frozen or fresh)Juice of one lime1 Tbs. ground cumin1 Tsp. chili powder1/3 cup chopped cilantroSalt and pepper to taste1 15 oz. canned black beans, rinsed and drained1/2 cup salsa2 cups shredded Mexican cheese (divided)Topping suggestions:  sliced green onions, avocado, sour cream, cilantroMethod of Preparation:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.Make the quinoa according to package directions and set aside.In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, jalapeño, and peppers. Sauté until softened – about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and corn and cook for another 3-4 minutes.   Add the lime juice, cum...

Report: Swiss prosecutors open probe into UBS takeover of Credit Suisse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:44 GMT

Swiss prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible illegal activity in connection with government support for UBS’s rushed takeover of Credit Suisse, the Financial Times reported Sunday.The two banks agreed to merge in March as part of a 3 billion Swiss franc emergency deal targeted at avoiding a national financial crisis that could have had a knock-on effect globally.“The Federal Prosecutor’s office wants to proactively fulfill its mission and responsibility to contribute to a clean Swiss financial center and has set up monitoring in order to take immediate action in any situation that falls within its field of activity,” the authority told the Financial Times.Last month, Zurich-based UBS was forced by Swiss authorities to take over its longtime domestic rival Credit Suisse in a deal that creates a new bank.The deal has been unpopular locally and on Sunday, Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger reported that the new entity could slash jobs by up to 30 percent.“If we ...