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Tag: Bay Area

  • Letters: Aisha Wahab’s BART anger is campaign theater

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    Wahab’s BART anger is campaign theater

    Re: “Irvington station project delays irk area officials” (Page A1, Feb. 5).

    The frustration around the Irvington BART station is understandable, but what rings hollow is the sudden outrage from Aisha Wahab, who has been absent from the regional transportation conversation until launching a campaign for Congress.

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    Letters To The Editor

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  • East Bay man faces combined murder trial in Solano County

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    Attorneys continued presentation of evidence to a judge in Solano County Superior Court Friday, part of arguments over whether a Martinez man charged in connection with two murders, committed months apart, in 2022 can be tried on both allegations at once, or whether the two shooting deaths should be tried separately.

    The hearing on the allegations against Richard Raymond Klein, 54, and the motion to sever the two murder charges will resume on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Fairfield courtroom of Judge John B. Ellis.

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    Robin Miller

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  • NCS girls basketball playoffs 2026: What to know after Sunday’s seeding meeting

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    NCS basketball 2026: Top storylines from Sunday’s girls basketball seeding meeting.


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    Nathan Canilao

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  • They said it: Dating apps no longer delivering?

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    Bay Area News Group

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  • SF Giants observations: Roupp ramps up for innings uptick

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    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A year ago, Landen Roupp entered camp in competition for the fifth spot in the Giants’ rotation with Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp — a spot he ended up winning. His spot in the rotation has long been secure, but Roupp isn’t changing anything ahead of his third major league season.

    “I’m just thinking of it the same way, trying to fight for my spot,” Roupp said. “Even if I do have the spot, I’m going to attack it like I don’t.”

    Roupp and left-hander Matt Gage threw their first live bullpens of camp on Saturday afternoon after right-handers Logan Webb and Hayden Birdsong did so on Friday afternoon.

    The 27-year-old Roupp, pitching to Logan Porter, threw 25 pitches and faced six hitters, though his second time facing Patrick Bailey ended early due to pitch count. He struck out Jesus Rodriguez swinging but allowed a home run to non-roster invitee Eric Haase.

    Gage, pitching to Diego Cartaya, faced four batters and threw 20 pitches, striking out Porter swinging but allowing a base hit to Bailey.

    Roupp emphasized his cutter during his live bullpen season. He threw the pitch last year but changed his grip at the suggestion of new assistant pitching coach Christian Wonders.

    “I threw it a lot today, just trying to feel it out and see how it played,” Roupp said. “Got some good swings on it.”

    With a solidified spot in the Opening Day rotation, Roupp is headed for a significant workload spike after throwing a career-high 109 2/3 innings last year (three of those innings were during a rehab assignment).

    Roupp landed on the 15-day injured list last year with right elbow inflammation, but he believes the Giants made the move out of caution. He also missed the last month of the season after awkwardly twisting his knee at Petco Park in late August, but that injury was of the fluke variety.

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • South Bay officials take a post-Super Bowl victory lap, look ahead

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    South Bay officials were taking victory laps this week after a successful Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium, but they won’t be resting on their laurels long — with NCAA March Madness games and FIFA World Cup matches on the horizon.

    “Hosting three major sporting events marks a major milestone for our region and is a truly historic moment for our city and the South Bay,” San Jose City Manager Jennifer Maguire said during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The upcoming basketball and soccer games “will further establish San Jose as the South Bay’s hub for sports, arts and entertainment,” she said.

    While nearly all the official NFL events were in San Francisco, fans still showed up in droves for events in the South Bay organized by the San Jose Sports Authority, Visit San Jose and the city of San Jose during the week leading up to the big game. A city report on foot traffic in downtown San Jose shows about 459,000 unique visitors to downtown from Jan. 31 through Feb. 8. The biggest day was Feb. 7, when about 153,000 people descended on downtown for the Dom Dolla block party and San Pedro Super Fest event.

    The city’s first use of an entertainment zone downtown, which allows partygoers to take certain drinks outside of bars and restaurants, brought just under 48,000 visitors to San Pedro Square — including 22,900 on the Saturday before the Super Bowl.

    “This was without question the busiest weekend San Pedro Square Market has ever experienced,” said John Burroughs, operations manager for San Pedro Square Market. “Saturday alone shattered our previous single-day sales record by more than 30%, and throughout the weekend the Market felt like a nonstop Sharks game rush for nearly seven straight hours.”

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    Sal Pizarro, Grant Stringer

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  • Young Antioch charity Gracefully Broken growing by leaps and bounds

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    What began as a small clothing giveaway has grown into a far-reaching community effort providing food, clothing and emotional support to families across East Contra Costa County.

    Gracefully Broken, a nonprofit founded by Antioch native Randi Garcia, has spent the past three-and-a-half years serving residents in need through resource distribution, family events and volunteer outreach rooted in dignity and compassion.

    Garcia, born and raised in Antioch, said her connection to the community runs deep, having attended local schools before eventually settling in Oakley. The inspiration for Gracefully Broken came during her first clothing giveaway. Alongside clothing, Garcia assembled small “blessings in a bag” filled with hygiene essentials.

    “A young boy about 8 years of age asked if he could have one,” she said. “He yelled across the room, ‘Mom, I got a new toothbrush.’ I had to walk away … the most basic item anyone can have, and here a small boy is so excited about it.”

    That same day, a grieving mother approached Garcia, unsure how she would afford school clothes after losing her husband months earlier. The encounters reshaped Garcia’s vision.

    “Although basic needs are important, the emotional support is needed as well,” she said. “I began to meet people one-on-one … and have conversations.”

    Gracefully Broken originally operated as part of Antioch Covenant Church (antiochcovenant.org), where Garcia hosted outreach events. As attendance grew, she saw the need for expansion. Last July, the organization became an independent nonprofit — a move Garcia said was intentional.

    “We saw such a great need … not only basic needs but love, support, kindness and respect,” she said. “Many people tend to shy away from a ‘church.’ We want our community to see us as a safe place that welcomes all.”

    Though still based at a church, Gracefully Broken does not require religious participation.

    “We do not force any kind of religion on our participants,” Garcia said. “That’s where the respect comes in.”

    Garcia says the nonprofit group’s name reflects the shared humanity she sees in those they serve.

    “I feel we have all been broken … but we are given grace,” she said. “People tell me how lost, scared and broken they feel. As we meet and talk … it helps them feel more comfortable and I hope less broken.”

    She says the group’s core mission is simple: “To treat people with love and respect. To serve them with a happy heart and compassion.”

    Gracefully Broken hosts quarterly clothing giveaways and seasonal events such as Easter egg hunts, trunk-or-treat celebrations and “Christmas with the Grinch.” Plans are underway for a community baby shower and school supply distributions.

    Garcia said outreach happens through social media, school partnerships and word-of-mouth within the congregation. The nonprofit is funded entirely through donations, including food, clothing and financial gifts. Local businesses can sponsor events, and the group is beginning the grant-writing process.

    Community partnerships include the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Sweet Beginnings Diaper Bank and Antioch’s CIWP (Community Integrated Work Program) center for disabled adults. For recipients, the impact is tangible. Barbara Blaser, 80, of Pittsburg, first encountered Gracefully Broken through Antioch Covenant Church.

    “There is such a feeling of warmth and connection there,” Blaser said. “I may be able to get a salad mix, a few potatoes … eggs … hair products if I need them — but what I value most are the volunteers … who learned my name and welcomed me.”

    Blaser now volunteers alongside her daughter.

    “It has strengthened our relationship,” she said. “We have a common goal … to show love and compassion without prejudice.”

    She recalled the happiness she has witnessed at events — from back-to-school giveaways to holiday celebrations at which children receive birthday party kits.

    “I have seen the joy in children’s faces,” Blaser said.

    Pittsburg’s Danika Phillips is both a volunteer and former recipient. A single parent living in public housing, she said food distributions were vital during difficult periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We rely heavily on food donations,” Phillips said. “I was a recipient for years until I began volunteering.”

    Philips praised Garcia’s leadership as demand increased.

    “She acted quickly to secure permits, attend meetings and manage an ever-evolving crew of volunteers,” Phillips said. “She doesn’t stop. She says, ‘Who else can we help?’ ”

    Garcia said what moves her most is seeing stigma dissolve into community.

    “It is a very humbling experience to come for free food and clothes,” she said. “You feel vulnerable … I want to put an end to the negative stigma of receiving help.”

    Garcia said prefers not to call those served “clients.”

    “To me they are friends,” she said.

    Looking ahead, Garcia envisions classes on couponing, meal preparation and family nights designed to build connection alongside resources.

    “We would love to build a place that people will tell others about,” she said. “Where they feel safe and welcomed no matter their circumstances.”

    Her personal philosophy guides her work.

    “Outside appearances do not matter, we all have a back story,” Garcia said. “We are all given a gift, and we have to do our best to use it.”

    Visit them on Facebook at “Gracefully Broken” (facebook.com/groups/1290318332878672). For more information or to donate, contact Randi Garcia at randimiller73@yahoo.com.

    Reach Charleen Earley, a freelance writer and journalism professor at Diablo Valley college, at charleenbearley@gmail.com or 925-383-3072.

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    Charleen Earley

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  • Prep spotlight: Dougherty Valley gets what it wants. But can it beat DLS?

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    EBAL boys basketball powers De La Salle, Dougherty Valley set to meet in league title game Friday night. In girls soccer, St. Francis’ defense stands out. Plus, notes on Liberty, Pittsburg basketball, Palo Alto football.


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    Nathan Canilao, Christian Babcock

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  • World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opens among worst rounds at Pebble Beach Pro-Am

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    PEBBLE BEACH – Two fans in puffy vests, with “transfusion” cocktails in hand, walked upstream among the 10th hole’s gallery as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am opened Thursday.

    “Ah, Scheffler. That’s why there is a crowd,” one of the middle-aged men said to the other.

    Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer since May 2023, indeed should be the No. 1 attraction this week, aside from the heavenly landscape.

    He was the odds-on favorite until his even-par debut sank him into a tie for 64th in the 80-man field, while almost all others seized on idyllic sunny weather, with rain forecast for Sunday’s final round.

    Leader Ryo Hisatsune went 10-under in his first-ever round at Pebble, and of the 10 golfers who finished 7-under, six played Pebble Beach while the others conquered Spyglass Hill.

    Only two other golfers, each at 2-over, scored higher at Pebble than Scheffler.

    “I feel like typically I’m good at scoring and today I felt like I didn’t score at all,” Scheffler said after making birdie on the 18th. “Anything that kind of went wrong seemed to be going that direction, and I just felt like I scored poorly.

    “I actually feel like I’m playing pretty well. Just one of those days.”

    The day came and went without a sighting of Taylor Swift, whose fiancé, Travis Kelce, worked the pro-am circuit at Spyglass Hill, along with 49ers legends Steve Young and Alex Smith – the few recognizable faces in what had been an annual celebrity carnival but now serves as the PGA Tour’s first Signature Event this season.

    Also at Spyglass was defending champion Rory McIlroy, who holed out from the 14th hole’s front bunker to go 4-under through five, and that’s where his final score rested.

    Scores were so low that a third of the field — 27 golfers — emerged 5-under or lower.

    Scheffler’s line: three birdies, three bogeys, and one putter flip in disgust after missing a birdie and settling for a tap-in par on 15th. He also had a “huge mud ball” that detoured his second shot on the second hole.

    “When you’re playing later in the day, it can be tough to hole putts on these greens,” said Scheffler, who played into the wind most of the back nine before finishing at 3:25 p.m. “I need to take advantage of holes early in the round and I wasn’t able to do that, knowing that the wind was going to pick up and then we were going to turn into it on the back nine.”

    Hisatsune, the first-round leader, birdied 5-of-7 out the gate. Even better were the six consecutive birdies to open by Chris Gotterup, Sunday’s Phoenix Open winner in a playoff against Hideki Matsuyama, who went 5-under as Scheffler’s playing partner Thursday.

    One magnificent shot among Scheffler’s even-par 72 verified his world No. 1 stature: After a southerly breeze carried his approach past the green and back bunker, his ball stopped a yard shy of the lateral-hazard line and 2 yards from a pit of doom, where a creek separates Pebble’s southernmost hole from a $40 million home once owned by late actor Gene Hackman.

    Scheffler’s delicate flop shot landed on the 10th green’s fringe and he saved par with a 7-foot putt.

    “If that ball lands on the green with how soft the greens are, probably a 15-footer for birdie,” Scheffler said of his wind-derailed, 154-yard approach. “It lands about a foot into the fringe and not only doesn’t go in the bunker, it hops over that bunker. Fortunately, in spite of the hazard, I was able to make par. Little stuff like that is what I was going up against today.”

    A week earlier, Scheffler opened the Phoenix Open with a 2-over 71. He rallied to threaten the leaders and finished tied for third.

    Can he repeat those dramatics here?

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    Cam Inman

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  • How SF Giants’ additon of Arráez affects Schmitt, Fitzgerald, Koss

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    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants were intent on adding a second baseman this winter. They couldn’t land Brendan Donovan. Or Nico Hoerner. Or CJ Abrams. Then, a week-and-a-half before spring training, they landed Luis Arráez, a three-time batting champion with a divisive skillset, on a one-year deal.

    For Casey Schmitt, the ripple effect was obvious. Despite an encouraging season, one where he grinded through multiple brutal injuries, Schmitt will transition from starting second baseman to San Francisco’s utility man.

    “Casey did make some big strides last year,” said president of baseball operations Buster Posey on Tuesday. “(Christian) Koss, same thing. Adding a guy like Arráez, I think, is an opportunity for a guy like Casey and a guy like Koss to learn from, as well as they continue their development. And then it just gives us another layer of depth in our infield to have Arráez.”

    Having played all four infield positions, Schmitt is plenty qualified for the role. Still, there’s an argument that Schmitt, who turns 27 in March, deserved a chance to start at second base — and that the Giants should’ve dedicated the $12 million they spent on Arráez to its pitching staff.

    Schmitt’s third season in the majors was his best to date, one that ended with him seizing the starting second baseman job. His numbers don’t leap off the page but he totaled career-highs in homers (12), RBIs (40) and games (95) while posting a .706 OPS (101 OPS+).

    The former second-round pick struggled for the first two months, missing time due to a left oblique strain. When Matt Chapman hit the injured list, Schmitt took off as Chapman’s temporary replacement. Before Chapman’s injury, Schmitt had a .521 OPS over 58 plate appearances. From June 10 onward, Schmitt posted a .742 OPS over 290 plate appearances.

    That performance is especially impressive considering his body was a magnet for baseballs.

    On June 15, the day the Giants traded for Rafael Devers, Schmitt fouled a pitch off his left foot and left the game.

    On June 25, Schmitt got nailed in the left wrist by a 95.2 mph sinker from the Miami Marlins’ Calvin Faucher.

    On August 15, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Edwin Uceta nailed Schmitt on the right elbow with a 93.3 mph fastball, forcing Schmitt to leave the game.

    On September 1, Chase Dollander, who played for new manager Tony Vitello at Tennessee, hit that same right elbow with a 95.7 mph sinker.

    Schmitt described the season as “a little bit of a grind physically and mentally,” but thought the season went well overall. He conceded that the left wrist ailment affected his swing, particularly his ability to hit the inside fastball.

    The wrist kept barking after the season, and Schmitt underwent surgery in December to remove the carpal boss in his left wrist. He’s a little behind schedule compared to other position players in camp, but has one more week of his hitting progression before being fully cleared for all baseball activities.

    Assuming health, Schmitt is the overwhelming favorite to win a spot on the bench as a utility player. Schmitt, who has dropped five to ten pounds, said he hasn’t done any work in the outfield aside from shagging fly balls, and Vitello said the Giants haven’t discussed getting Schmitt reps in the outfield.

    “It just seemed to be a season of interruption for him,” Vitello said. “For him to do what he did and look back on it and still gain valuable reps … he should take confidence in that he was able to accomplish things, but he also he was able to build up some experience.”

    Added Vitello: “To me, if he’s of the right mindset and he prepares the way I think he will with Wash, he kind of becomes a weapon at third base and second base defensively.”

    Schmitt isn’t the only primary infielder affected by the team’s signing of Arráez.

    For Koss and Tyler Fitzgerald, the path to an Opening Day roster spot becomes more unclear. Given the positional inflexibility of Arráez and Rafael Devers (and potentially Bryce Eldridge), it’s pretty much a prerequisite for Fitzgerald and Koss to play in the outfield.

    Fitzgerald and Koss aren’t unfamiliar with grazing the grass. The former has played 61 combined games in the outfield in the majors and minors, while Koss has seen time in the outfield in both the minors and the Puerto Rican Winter League.

    “I think grabbing reps voluntarily is important, but also it’s on us, if we see a point where it’s like, there could be a day in May where this guy needs to help us at this position, then we need to put him that position in spring training,” Vitello said.

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • Jenna Webb’s dramatic 3-point play lifts Los Gatos over Los Altos

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    Los Gatos completes season sweep of Los Altos, maintains grip on first place in SCVAL’s De Anza Division.


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    Glenn Reeves

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  • ‘Never know’: SF Giants’ Eldridge starts shagging outfield fly balls but focus remains at first base

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    SCOTTSDALE — Bryce Eldridge used two different gloves on the backfield at Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday morning. One belonged to him; the other belonged to Jung Hoo Lee.

    Eldridge dedicated the early part of his morning to working on infield defense, beaming with joy as he described his first fielding session with new infield coach Ron Washington. Then, as the first position player groups took batting practice, Eldridge grabbed Lee’s glove and headed out to left field to shag fly balls alongside outfielder Drew Gilbert.

    To be clear, Eldridge isn’t changing positions anytime soon. He is a first baseman, and barring the unforeseen, he will continue to be a first baseman. But his presence in the outfield might be a common sight this spring.

    Eldridge told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that manager Tony Vitello wants him to shag fly balls just in case a need suddenly arises. The Giants’ top prospect added that he will just be shagging and he won’t be taking reps with the team’s actual outfielders.

    “My mom’s shipping my outfield glove that I’ve never used because I haven’t played outfield in the last two years,” Eldridge said.

    Eldridge, 21, isn’t completely unfamiliar with the outfield. In 2023, Eldridge played 26 minor-league games in right field after the Giants selected him in that year’s draft. The following year, San Francisco moved Eldridge to first base, the only defensive position he has played the last two seasons.

    “I never really got a chance to get comfortable out there. I never played out there in high school, so for what it’s worth, I felt comfortable enough,” Eldridge said. “Obviously, it probably wasn’t pretty. You can ask the Low-A (San Jose) coaches if it was pretty or not. I felt like I did a good job.”

    Eldridge, in all likelihood, won’t be anything more than an emergency outfielder in the same way that teams have an emergency catcher.

    The Giants will always carry at least one, if not two, outfielders on the bench, and utility players Tyler Fitzgerald and Christian Koss have professional experience in the outfield. Even new second baseman Luis Arráez has played 48 games in left field, though he hasn’t played the position since 2021. For Eldridge to see time in the outfield, multiple things would have had to go off the rails.

    Still, as Eldridge put it, you “never know.”

    “Me and Gilbert are really tight, so he … was giving me some tips on how to prep and approach the ball when it’s on the ground and how to go about it,” Eldridge said. “I was kind of just running around there. I would run for one, then I saw another one in the air and go sprint. He’s like, ‘Dude, just take a rep, take it seriously, go reset.’ I’m kind of out there doing cardio.”

    While Eldridge’s attitude regarding his outfield duties is more of the laissez-faire variety, his approach to improving as a defender at first base is anything but.

    Eldridge, who is full go after undergoing left wrist surgery in October, has been in Arizona since January and has been taking grounders for over a month. After completing fielding drills with Washington and Jolbert Cabrera, the fundamentals coach for Triple-A Sacramento, Eldridge listened intently to Washington’s defensive guidance for several minutes.

    If Eldridge has a good spring, he and Washington may both be standing on Oracle Park’s third-base line on Opening Night.

    Eldridge will be one of the biggest storylines to monitor over the next six weeks. The Giants’ top prospect isn’t guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster, and it’s possible he starts the season with Sacramento despite making his debut last September.

    “I knew coming into (camp) last year that I didn’t really have a chance to make it, so it’s definitely different,” Eldridge said. “It makes it easier to relax and have fun. We heard a good message from Willy (Adames) and (Matt) Chapman in a camp the other week, saying everyone just has to be themselves and don’t try to impress (anybody). I feel like being myself is what got me here, so I’m just going keep being myself.”

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • Green Day opens Super Bowl in rousing fashion

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    Green Day  finally got their Super Bowl moment.

    No, it wasn’t in the form of a halftime show — which is something the band has been worthy of headlining now for well over two decades. Instead, the pop-punk legends opened up the Super Bowl pregame entertainment festivities inside Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday.

    The East Bay band, consisting of vocalist-guitarist Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool, performed as previous Super Bowl MVPs including Tom Brady, Jalen Hurts, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning and Jerry Rice made their way onto the turf.

    Green Day performed a four-song set of mostly upbeat and often abbreviated fan favorites, including “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” “Holiday,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “American Idiot.”

    And while the band and particularly Armstrong are known for their outspoken beliefs, Green Day did not use the Super Bowl forum to make any political statements, instead focusing on the excitement of the situation.

    “Welcome to the Bay!” Armstrong said. “It’s Super Bowl 60!!”

    The pregame entertainment began as Coco Jones delivered a soaring version of “Lift Every Voice” (aka the Black National Anthem). Jones is an immensely talented R&B/pop/soul singer, best known for the Grammy-winning hit “ICU.” She released her full-length debut album — “Why Not More?” — in 2025.

    Charlie Puth handled the national anthem. The singer, known for such multi-platinum-certified hits as “Marvin Gaye” and “See You Again,” will return to the Bay Area to perform at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on May 1.

    Brandi Carlile, the acclaimed folk-rock-pop singer-songwriter with a staggering 11 Grammy victories to her credit, sang “America the Beautiful.” Carlile will be back in the Bay Area to perform on March 6 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

    The singers were accompanied by ALS performers Fred Michael Beam (national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”) and Julian Ortiz (“America the Beautiful”).

    .

     

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    Jim Harrington

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  • E-40 and Too $hort’s NFL Honors show underscores Bay Area’s music presence during Super Bowl week

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    E-40 turned NFL Honors into a hyphy detour, firing off Bay Area slang that helped shape a generation as actor Tiffany Haddish and Carolina Panthers rookie Tetairoa McMillan danced from their seats and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce nodded along to the beat.Moments earlier, Too $hort transformed the same stage into a Bay Area time capsule, running through anthems like “Gettin’ It” and “Blow the Whistle” that have echoed from car stereos, clubs and arenas for decades.They never shared the stage, but the impact was unmistakably shared.As two of the most enduring hip-hop architects, E-40 and Too $hort brought Northern California’s sound, swagger and independence to the NFL’s biggest night outside the Super Bowl itself. Their presence underscored a broader cultural moment, as Bay Area rap voices — from Kehlani to LaRussell — were woven into a jam-packed week leading up to the game.“On this Super Bowl week, this is the ultimate because it’s on Bay Area soil,” E-40 said during rehearsals before the ceremony Thursday, where he performed classics like “Choices (Yup)” and “Tell Me When to Go.” “It’s a big platform. … Being part of these NFL festivities, I love it.”For Too $hort, the moment reflected a clear evolution in how the NFL is engaging with the Bay Area’s musical legacy.“Ten years ago, the Super Bowl was right here. I didn’t do anything. … I didn’t talk to the NFL,” Too $hort said. “So it’s a real big deal. … It’s not the halftime show, but it’s a big deal for me.”How the Bay Area regional sound sets tone on a global stageBeyond E-40 and Too $hort’s NFL Honors performance, Bay Area music has been threaded throughout Super Bowl week with visitors coming in from across the country. Performers include recent Grammy-winning singer Kehlani, rapper Larry June and soul singer Goapele. There will also be multiple performances by LaRussell and punk-rock mainstays Green Day, who will open the 60th Super Bowl with an anniversary ceremony celebrating generations of MVPs and hit the stage along with Counting Crows at the FanDuel and Spotify party at Pier 29.“It feels good to just be important to the region and show that to everyone coming in, like, ‘Hey, this is our home,’” said LaRussell, who said he’s booked for 10 performances over a four-day span, including a Jordan Brand event and a tailgate concert outside Levi’s Stadium before the game. He said the scale of Super Bowl has given artists like himself an opportunity to showcase identity of their music. “Our spirit,” the rapper said. “That BPM, that tempo, that feeling when you hear Bay music that make you smile and want to dance. That don’t exist nowhere else.”LaRussell said that his Super Bowl week sets were less about promotion than representation.“This is where I come from,” he said. “This is my lineage, and this is why it matters.”Built different: Bay Area’s independent blueprintFor decades, the Bay Area has operated as its own musical ecosystem. Hip-hop here grew with an ingrained independence — from artists pressing records, selling tapes out of car trunks and building audiences city by city before industry infrastructure ever arrived.The sound evolved in chapters: from Oakland’s early rap economy and bassline-heavy mob music, to the hyphy movement’s high-energy release, to a present-day lane where Bay artists can be soulful, street, pop, punk — or all of it at once — without asking permission.That independence extends beyond artists themselves and into the infrastructure supporting them. San Francisco–based Empire, founded by Ghazi Shami, has grown into one of the largest independent record labels in the country. During Super Bowl week, the label gathered artifacts spanning its 15-year history for a free public museum, underscoring how Bay Area artists have built lasting careers outside the traditional major-label system.Empire also curated a Super Bowl week experience with Levi’s, blending music, fashion and local history into a showcase rooted in the region.“One thing about the Bay Area, you mix all of us together, man, we some bad cats,” said E-40, who has seen multiple generations of Bay Area artists coexist, evolve and leave their mark without crowding each other out.“Everybody just playing a position. … Larry June got his own lane. He’s doing his thing,” he said. “Kehlani bringing in Grammy Awards. Everybody just playing a position, and I feel like teamwork makes the dream work.”For E-40, that shared momentum matters more than passing torches or chasing trends.“As long as I got my life, health and strength, I’m gonna be able to make music forever,” he said. “I love doing music. It’s what I do.”How the Bay Area is leaving a lasting impressionWatching E-40 and Too $hort command NFL Honors resonated deeply with LaRussell, who said seeing artists in their 50s still innovating gave him an understanding of timing, longevity and success. He viewed their performance as proof that Bay Area artists expand instead of aging out.“To be in your 50s and still moving and shaking, it gives me confidence,” LaRussell said. “As long as you stay locked in, it’s gonna still happen.”Too $hort hopes the Bay Area’s presence during Super Bowl week leaves visitors with a deeper appreciation for where they are.“If you came here with a closed mind wanting it to be something that you don’t like, you’re really missing out,” he said. “This is a world-renowned area. People come here from all over the world to see this place. Don’t take it for granted.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    E-40 turned NFL Honors into a hyphy detour, firing off Bay Area slang that helped shape a generation as actor Tiffany Haddish and Carolina Panthers rookie Tetairoa McMillan danced from their seats and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce nodded along to the beat.

    Moments earlier, Too $hort transformed the same stage into a Bay Area time capsule, running through anthems like “Gettin’ It” and “Blow the Whistle” that have echoed from car stereos, clubs and arenas for decades.

    They never shared the stage, but the impact was unmistakably shared.

    As two of the most enduring hip-hop architects, E-40 and Too $hort brought Northern California’s sound, swagger and independence to the NFL’s biggest night outside the Super Bowl itself. Their presence underscored a broader cultural moment, as Bay Area rap voices — from Kehlani to LaRussell — were woven into a jam-packed week leading up to the game.

    “On this Super Bowl week, this is the ultimate because it’s on Bay Area soil,” E-40 said during rehearsals before the ceremony Thursday, where he performed classics like “Choices (Yup)” and “Tell Me When to Go.” “It’s a big platform. … Being part of these NFL festivities, I love it.”

    For Too $hort, the moment reflected a clear evolution in how the NFL is engaging with the Bay Area’s musical legacy.

    “Ten years ago, the Super Bowl was right here. I didn’t do anything. … I didn’t talk to the NFL,” Too $hort said. “So it’s a real big deal. … It’s not the halftime show, but it’s a big deal for me.”

    How the Bay Area regional sound sets tone on a global stage

    Beyond E-40 and Too $hort’s NFL Honors performance, Bay Area music has been threaded throughout Super Bowl week with visitors coming in from across the country. Performers include recent Grammy-winning singer Kehlani, rapper Larry June and soul singer Goapele. There will also be multiple performances by LaRussell and punk-rock mainstays Green Day, who will open the 60th Super Bowl with an anniversary ceremony celebrating generations of MVPs and hit the stage along with Counting Crows at the FanDuel and Spotify party at Pier 29.

    “It feels good to just be important to the region and show that to everyone coming in, like, ‘Hey, this is our home,’” said LaRussell, who said he’s booked for 10 performances over a four-day span, including a Jordan Brand event and a tailgate concert outside Levi’s Stadium before the game. He said the scale of Super Bowl has given artists like himself an opportunity to showcase identity of their music.

    “Our spirit,” the rapper said. “That BPM, that tempo, that feeling when you hear Bay music that make you smile and want to dance. That don’t exist nowhere else.”

    LaRussell said that his Super Bowl week sets were less about promotion than representation.

    “This is where I come from,” he said. “This is my lineage, and this is why it matters.”

    Built different: Bay Area’s independent blueprint

    For decades, the Bay Area has operated as its own musical ecosystem. Hip-hop here grew with an ingrained independence — from artists pressing records, selling tapes out of car trunks and building audiences city by city before industry infrastructure ever arrived.

    The sound evolved in chapters: from Oakland’s early rap economy and bassline-heavy mob music, to the hyphy movement’s high-energy release, to a present-day lane where Bay artists can be soulful, street, pop, punk — or all of it at once — without asking permission.

    That independence extends beyond artists themselves and into the infrastructure supporting them. San Francisco–based Empire, founded by Ghazi Shami, has grown into one of the largest independent record labels in the country. During Super Bowl week, the label gathered artifacts spanning its 15-year history for a free public museum, underscoring how Bay Area artists have built lasting careers outside the traditional major-label system.

    Empire also curated a Super Bowl week experience with Levi’s, blending music, fashion and local history into a showcase rooted in the region.

    “One thing about the Bay Area, you mix all of us together, man, we some bad cats,” said E-40, who has seen multiple generations of Bay Area artists coexist, evolve and leave their mark without crowding each other out.

    “Everybody just playing a position. … Larry June got his own lane. He’s doing his thing,” he said. “Kehlani bringing in Grammy Awards. Everybody just playing a position, and I feel like teamwork makes the dream work.”

    For E-40, that shared momentum matters more than passing torches or chasing trends.

    “As long as I got my life, health and strength, I’m gonna be able to make music forever,” he said. “I love doing music. It’s what I do.”

    How the Bay Area is leaving a lasting impression

    Watching E-40 and Too $hort command NFL Honors resonated deeply with LaRussell, who said seeing artists in their 50s still innovating gave him an understanding of timing, longevity and success. He viewed their performance as proof that Bay Area artists expand instead of aging out.

    “To be in your 50s and still moving and shaking, it gives me confidence,” LaRussell said. “As long as you stay locked in, it’s gonna still happen.”

    Too $hort hopes the Bay Area’s presence during Super Bowl week leaves visitors with a deeper appreciation for where they are.

    “If you came here with a closed mind wanting it to be something that you don’t like, you’re really missing out,” he said. “This is a world-renowned area. People come here from all over the world to see this place. Don’t take it for granted.”

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Going to the Super Bowl? Here’s the special menu

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    Every NFL season, the Levi’s Stadium chefs try to take their menu to a new level of creativity. But when the Super Bowl comes to town, and fans are paying thousands of dollars to attend, the expectations soar.

    So to impress the crowd on Sunday, the culinary team headed by Jon Severson, Levy regional chef, and Alvin Kabiling, executive chef for Levy at Levi’s Stadium, has created a “best of the bay” menu.

    They’re showcasing signature ingredients from Marin County (oysters) to San Francisco/Half Moon Bay (crab) to the South Bay (garlic) along with locally sourced meat, cheese and produce.

    According to the Levy company, which is the stadium food partner, 90 percent of the purveyors are based in California.

    Pulling together a fan feast like this requires a sizeable staff. On game day, 2,000 Levy culinary, bar and serving team members will be working with 40 executive chefs behind the scenes. (Keep that in mind when you grouse about the prices.)

    Here are some highlights:

    Gilroy Garlic Steak Frites: A seared, sliced California hanger steak will be served au poivre atop hand-cut fries with crispy Gilroy garlic and pink peppercorns. Where: Sections 109 and 315, and in the East Field Club.

    Dungeness Crab “Potachos”: Hand-cut Kennebec potato chips are layered with local crab — thankfully, the Bay Area’s beloved  Dungeness season started in time — and then covered in a Petaluma white cheddar fondue sauce. Where: Sections 104, 124 and 306, and in the East Field Club.

    “Super Shucker” Hog Island Oyster Sampler: This platter will feature a half-dozen oysters sourced from Hog Island’s Marin County farm in Marshall, and served with Hogwash mignonette, lemon and hot sauce. Where: Bud Light Club.

    A dozen more special menu items will be available, along with the favorites — many from local restaurants — that the 49er faithful have been served all season.

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    Linda Zavoral

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  • Valkyries star’s dad having ‘a blast’ covering New England Patriots at Super Bowl LX

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    SANTA CLARA – Steve Burton’s day job is sportscasting.

    You might know that his off-the-clock commitment is serving as a father of four standout athletes, including Valkyries star guard Veronica Burton.

    What you probably do not know about the Burton family is that Steve’s father, Ron, was the then-Boston Patriots’ first-ever draft pick in 1960.

    Sixty-six years later, Steve, a longtime sports director in the Boston area for local CBS station WBZ, is covering the now-New England Patriots at Super Bowl 60 in the same region where Veronica led the expansion Valkyries to a surprising playoff run.

    For Steve, a positive person by nature, that serendipity is more than enough to make him crack his signature smile.

    “It’s a blast to be out here again,” Steve said. “My first day here, I was walking to go pick up my media credential, and one of my crew members said, ‘Hey, look, that’s Veronica.’ I said, ‘Veronica’s in Miami, playing right now for Unrivaled.’ She goes, ‘No, up on the billboard.’ and I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, that is Veronica.’”

    Even some of the players he covers spotted her when they were out and about.

    “It’s fun to see how the whole nation has come together to support the Valkyries down here,” Steve said. “Patriots players coming up to me, ‘Hey, I saw your daughter up on the billboard,’ which is pretty neat. Because it’s really about them. And for them to come up, and Brenden Schooler was one of them that just came up and said, ‘Hey, man, seeing this is pretty cool.’”

    Veronica thinks it’s pretty cool, too. But not just because she’s up on a billboard.

    Three generations of family history have converged in this moment, and all the Burtons are grateful. They’re paying attention, too.

    When Steve was approached in San Jose by a Valkyries fan asking if he was Veronica’s dad, he smiled and responded in the affirmative. This got back to Veronica, who grew up being asked if she was Steve’s daughter.

    Steve Burton is an institution in Boston. So are the Patriots.

    Veronica Burton is possibly on a path to becoming one in the Bay Area, and she’s building her legend on the strength of the New England family members who came before her.

    “It was always really cool,” Veronica said. “I didn’t even fully understand the magnitude of it growing up. I always had a lot of people saying they watched my dad or would see my dad on TV. So it became normal for me, especially in the Boston area. People love him out there, so it was really cool to see.

    “My grandfather passed when I was three, so I didn’t really know or hear too much from him personally. But even hearing stories and everything, experiences that my grandfather had and being a professional football player, he paved the way.”

    Ron Burton starred as a football player at Northwestern, then was drafted ninth overall by the Patriots. He kicked off a legendary run of athletic Burtons who attended the school in suburban Chicago.

    Steve came along in the 1980s and played quarterback for the Wildcats. His wife Ginni swam for NU, where she was an NCAA Division I All-American and competed at the 1984 United States Olympic trials.

    Then came Veronica, who joined the Wildcats’ basketball team in 2018 and concluded her career with an All-American nod in 2022. She was selected with the No. 7 overall pick by the Dallas Wings that spring.

    Veronica jokes that she is the “favorite” child because she followed in her family’s footsteps. Her sisters Kendall (Villanova) and Kayla (Lehigh) also played basketball in college, and her brother Austin played football at Purdue and UCLA.

    Even during his busy reporting schedule, Steve found time to come see Veronica play multiple games as she won the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2025.

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    Christian Babcock

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  • Letters: Betty Yee is our best choice to run the state

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    Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.

    Yee is best choice to run the state

    Re: “Sparks fly at initial debate” (Page A1, Feb. 5).

    California doesn’t need a governor who “wins” a two-hour TV show. We need a leader who can fix the budget, steady our economy and make government actually work.

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    Letters To The Editor

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  • Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week: Kimmora Teo, Wilcox wrestling

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    Teo, ranked in the top 10 in the state and first in the Central Coast Section, won the title at the Judy Rider Memorial tournament at Hollister High on Saturday.


    This article is only available to subscribers

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    Christian Babcock

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  • Brave new era: How a small East Bay school became a basketball juggernaut overnight

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    DUBLIN — The name on the jersey is new, but the ambition running through Brave Christian Academy’s gym feels anything but. 

    On any given night in the west Dublin hills, the noise is sharper, the roster longer and the expectations louder than anyone remembers when the school was called Valley Christian-Dublin. 

    What was once a small-school schedule filler has turned into one of the Bay Area’s most interesting stories – a team winning now, gathering talent boldly and thinking far bigger than its enrollment suggests. 

    Rebranded as Brave Christian, the boys basketball program has surged into relevance behind a roster reshaped by improved talent and elevated by two international players from the Ivory Coast – freshman star JP Oka and sophomore Adama Kone – who have quickly become among the area’s most intriguing talents. 

    Driving the vision is coach Joe Fuca, a former executive at DocuSign and basketball architect intent on building more than a winning season. 

    His goal is long-term and ambitious: Turn a small Christian school into a regional powerhouse.

    “We want to be a classic Christian school that you see on the I-680 corridor,” Fuca said. “You’re either going to go to Berean Christian or De La Salle, two great Christian schools. I feel like we can build our own little thing there in Dublin and have a really good success.”

    Brave Christian Academy’s Adama Kone (22) battles Vanden’s James Carraway (5) for a rebound in the third quarter of their Crush in the Valley tournament game held at Napa Valley College in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

    Perfect timing

    Brave Christian has an enrollment of just under 200 students and offers 11 sports. The Lions have never been a basketball power even at the small-school level, having two winning seasons since 2004. 

    Fuca got involved with the boys basketball team in January of last year after a pastor from the school’s church asked him if he could try to revive the athletics department. 

    Fuca took on the challenge. 

    The tech executive already had a deep background in basketball as his sons were decorated players at nearby San Ramon Valley. Christian Fuca won a Division I state championship with SRV in 2015, helping the Wolves beat a Lonzo Ball-led Chino Hills team. Fuca’s other son, Joey, was the head coach of national prep school powerhouse Prolific Prep and runs a local Adidas Circuit AAU team called Lakeshow Basketball. 

    Despite making the North Coast Section Division VI playoffs, Brave Christian struggled last season, going 8-16. 

    For senior point guard Logan Reth, who transferred from nearby California, last season challenged him in ways he did not expect. 

    “I came here last year, the skill gap was a lot different. I was surrounded with a lot of great people, but just kind of beginners to basketball,” Reth said. 

    But Fuca credits Reth and other returners for getting into the postseason, which he believes built a foundation for this year’s team. 

    “There were seven basketball players in the school when I came in,” Fuca said. “I think some people who came to watch us at the end of last year were attracted to come here. So then we had a lot of kids transfer in the summer because they wanted to go to school at Brave.”

    Arrival of the stars

    The team started to take shape in the offseason as transfers were becoming eligible and the team started to mesh behind Oka and Kone – two players who were playing basketball together on the Ivory Coast just a couple of years ago. 

    Both were highly decorated international players. Kone came to Brave Christian in January of last season while Oka has been playing in the states for the last few years. 

    The duo presents nightmare matchups for opponents. Oka, a 6-foot-8 freshman, is a natural scorer who has a shifty handle and defensive tools to shut down any top player. At 6-4, Kone is a bouncy wing who overpowers defenders with brute strength and agile footwork. 

    Kone said he and Oka had a learning curve to try to get adjusted to the American game. 

    “Back home, we never play basketball inside, always outside,” Kone said. “The rules are kind of different. It’s a lot more physical back home where it’s more technical here.” 

    While their highlights make social media on a regular basis, it’s their chemistry on the court that really separates Oka and Kone from the rest.

    “JP is my homeboy from my home country,” Kone said. “He’s like a brother to me. So he knows me. I know him off the court, on the court. We just like playing together, sharing the ball with each other. If I score 20, he usually scores 20.” 

    Added Oka, “I’ve known him for two years, so it’s good to have him by my side.” 

    Brave Christian Academy's Adama Kone (22) goes up for a layup against Vanden in the fourth quarter of their Crush in the Valley tournament game held at Napa Valley College in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
    Brave Christian Academy’s Adama Kone (22) goes up for a layup against Vanden in the fourth quarter of their Crush in the Valley tournament game held at Napa Valley College in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

    Turning heads

    While most people didn’t know who the Lions were before the season started, they knew exactly what they were capable of. 

    Once the team was finally together in the offseason, Brave Christian impressed at local summer league games and built up some hype at the start of the season after starting 7-1. The Lions participated at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic in San Diego where they played the likes of St. Ignatius, Cathedral Catholic and Priory. 

    Though they didn’t come away with wins, their willingness to play high-level competition got attention from the basketball community. 

    “I have a lot of friends who play basketball and they watch us and they’re like, “Woah, where did you get those guys,’” Reth said. “I’ve heard so many people tell us that we look good and I know in a few years we’ll be a lot better.” 

    Games against higher competition have paid dividends when Brave Christian returned to the B Division of the Bay Counties League East. 

    Through 10 league games, Brave Christian has blown out every opponent with a point differential of plus-520. 

    The Lions have beaten teams by video-game like numbers. They defeated Fremont-Christian 78-8 and routed Making Waves Academy 101-31. 

    “We really just came to Brave Christian trying to change the culture,” Kone said. “We want to change everything about this school – academically and athletically.” 

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Woman assaulted during attempted robbery in Palo Alto

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    PALO ALTO – A man forced a woman to the ground and assaulted her during an attempted robbery Tuesday in Palo Alto, police said.

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    Jason Green

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