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Kiz vs. Singer: Who’s the Nuggets’ toughest first-round playoff opponent?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

Question: What foe would be most dangerous for the Nuggets in the opening round of the NBA playoffs?Kiz: We interrupt the constant bickering about whether Nikola Jokic deserves to win MVP again with this message: Who cares? Jokic is worthy of the award. So is Joel Embiid. All I care is that the Nuggets win a championship in what’s left of my lifetime. This is their best shot ever. But the road out of the West will be difficult. Is there one foe we should fear above all others in the opening round of the NBA playoffs?Singer: No Giannis on your final ballot? You see this, Milwaukee? The disrespect. You’re exactly right. All three candidates are worthy, and if Joker isn’t in line to make history, with some luck, the sun will still rise in the morning. As for your more pressing question, I’m going to cheat: Denver doesn’t want to see the Lakers or the Pelicans. LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the first round, and that’s the reward for winning the West? Brandon Ingram, and the po...

Denver-based Ovintiv announces $4.3B deal to expand drilling in Texas’ Permian Basin

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

The Denver-based energy company Ovintiv Inc. on Monday announced a nearly $4.3 billion deal for 65,000 acres of largely undeveloped resources and 1,050 well locations in the prolific Permian Basin in Texas.The deal was announced just a day after Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers said they will cut output by more than a million barrels a day. Oil prices shot up Monday and predictions were rampant of a return to $100 a barrel for oil.Ovintiv, formerly called Encana, said in a statement that the cash and stock transaction, unanimously approved by the company’s board of directors, is for assets held by Black Swan Oil and Gas, PetroLegacy Energy and Piedra Resources, which are all managed by the private-equity firm EnCap Investments.The 65,000 acres are in the core of the Midland Basin, close to Ovintiv’s existing operations in the Permian oil field, the company said. The land is in “some of the best rock in the Permian” and is an area where the company h...

L.A. County Board of Supervisors pulls plans to discuss jail depopulation

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Monday pulled plans to discuss a motion to begin the depopulation of local jails during their meeting this week.Supervisor Hilda Solis said her office received concerns from stakeholders, both opposed and in favor of jail depopulation. Board Chair Janice Hahn announced she is against the motion and indicated she wants more input from law enforcement groups before moving forward with any proposal.Solis and fellow Supervisor Lindsey Horvath were advocating for addressing what they call a “humanitarian crisis” at the jails. Their goal was to correct historic wrongs rooted in systemic racism and reverse responses to poverty and mental health.The plan would have reduced bail for criminals with misdemeanors and some felonies and inmates would serve time mostly under house arrest instead of behind bars.Opponents, meanwhile, said the plan to depopulate is “dangerous and reckless.”Eric Siddall, the vice president of the Association of Deputy Dis...

Former assistant U.S. AG joins challengers to L.A. County D.A. George Gascón

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

Nathan Hochman, a former assistant U.S. attorney, announced his bid for L.A. County District Attorney on Monday. The former candidate for California Attorney General joins Deputy D.A. Jonathan Hatami and several others in the race to unseat District Attorney George Gascón.Hochman is running as an independent and is endorsed by former D.A. Steve Cooley.During a news conference outside the Hall of Justice, Hochman said Gascón has taken a “sledgehammer to justice” and that the cry to get rid of him is loud and passionate."What I have seen has disgusted me and disappointed me as to what George Gascón has done to have our County of Los Angeles, our county of the City of the Angels, start to evolve to a Gotham-esque dystopia where lawlessness reigns supreme," Hochman said. “It’s time to stop playing politics with people’s lives.”There's been quite a bit of controversy surrounding Gascón since he took office in 2020. His own prosecutors and law enforcement leaders have criticized him for h...

These California cities are considered to be the 'best' places to live

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

Multiple California cities and neighborhoods were ranked among the “best” places to live in the nation, according to Niche’s 2023 rankings.City Center in Santa Monica was ranked as the sixth “best” city to live in, while Mid-City, another neighborhood in Santa Monica, was the 15th . The majority of California cities considered the “best” places to live are affluent areas, such as Santa Monica and Palo Alto.For example, the median price of a home in Santa Monica is $2 million and an average price in Palo Alto is $3.5 million, according to Realtor.com.Out of the 17,916 cities and neighborhoods included in the ranking, Los Angeles was considered to be the 8,770th “best” place to live.Some California cities included on the list:6th: City Center (Santa Monica)15th: Mid-City (Santa Monica)18th: University South (Palo Alto)24th: Wilshire/ Montana (Santa Monica)28th: North Downtown (Palo Alto)31st: Ocean Park (Santa Monica)52nd: Ventura (Palo Alto)58th: Evergreen Park (Palo Alto) 59th:...

Man killed in Walnut Creek crash Sunday was outside stopped van, authorities say

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

WALNUT CREEK — The California Highway Patrol continued to investigate the death of a man Sunday morning who was killed when he was struck by a car while standing outside his stopped van.The name of the man killed was not released Monday pending confirmation and notification of his next of kin.The driver of the vehicle that struck the man was hospitalized with major injuries, but their condition was not available Monday.The collision happened about 5:42 a.m. Sunday at Alderwood Road and Treat Boulevard, in unincorporated Walnut Creek.The CHP said its preliminary investigation indicated a Nissan van, driven by the man who was later killed, was stopped facing westbound on Alderwood at Treat Boulevard. The man driving the van had exited the vehicle and was standing behind the vehicle, the CHP said.Investigators have not said why they believe the van was stopped.The CHP said a Honda Accord traveling westbound on Treat Boulevard approached the stopped van. The Honda driver lost cont...

Melrose at the Villages — new rental homes in Fairfield 

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

Welcome to Melrose at the Villages, new single-family residences within the Villages at Fairfield master-planned community. Melrose offers three stylish floor plans ranging in size from approximately 1,691 to 2,146 square feet with three to four bedrooms and two-and-a-half to three bathrooms. All three floor plans feature 9-foot ceiling heights throughout, quartz kitchen countertops, spacious primary suite with walk-in closet, upstairs laundry room with full-size washer and dryer, upstairs tech area or loft, and attached two-car garage. The homes at Melrose also include energy-conscious features such as solar panels, tankless water heater and LED lighting throughout.This is the four-bedroom Begonia floor plan at Melrose. Located in northeast Fairfield, this growing community offers a convenient location close to shopping, dining and entertainment. Take a stroll through nearby Linear Park or enjoy the fresh air at Rush Ranch Open Space and the beautiful views at Rockville Hills ...

Finland just doubled NATO’s border with Russia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

By Lorne Cook | Associated PressBRUSSELS — The blue-and-white Finnish flag rises outside NATO headquarters Tuesday afternoon, making Finland a member and doubling Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance.The move is a strategic and political blow to President Vladimir Putin, who has long complained about NATO’s expansion toward Russia and partly used that as a justification for his country’s war with Ukraine.“What we see is that President Putin went to war against Ukraine with a declared aim to get less NATO,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. “He’s getting the exact opposite.”Like all NATO members, Finland will benefit from the collective security guarantee that an attack on one is considered an attack on all.NATO has said that it has no immediate intention to step up its presence in Finland. Some members have deployed troops there for war games over the last year.Russia immediately warned that it w...

Pleasant Hill shooting victim identified

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

(KRON) -- Police are investigating a homicide in a Pleasant Hill strip mall parking lot that left one dead. This is the first homicide since 2021, according to Pleasant Hill's crime statistics.Police responded to reports of a shooting just before 1:15 a.m. Monday in the parking lot of Farrington's Bar just one block away from City Hall. Police said they found a 37-year-old man from Concord dead at the scene. Pleasant Hill police have not confirmed what caused the incident, but they did have to call in Concord police to help with crowd control.This victim in the homicide has been identified as Oscar Laredo Arellano, 37, of Concord. Concord jewelry store burglarized by three masked individuals Video shows a chaotic scene at Pleasant Hill Plaza. It sits off Contra Costa Boulevard and Gregort Lane just west of I-680. Video shows multiple people in distress. Police have also taped off a large part of the strip mall and placed evidence markers near a sedan and the body that laid not far...

It's a girl! First baby rhino born at Safari West in Santa Rosa

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:25 GMT

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) -- A 100-pound white rhino calf was born in Santa Rosa on Sunday evening, and she's the first calf born on the premises at Safari West, the park announced in a press release. Wild parrots could become San Francisco's official animal The baby rhino, born to mom and dad Eesha and Ongava, arrived around 5:30 p.m. The rhino calf is now nursing and bonding well with mom Eesha. The baby girl has not yet been named. (Photo courtesy of Safari West)(Photo courtesy of Safari West)"We feel fortunate and honored to contribute to the growth of global rhino populations and aid in the conservation of this magnificent protected species." -- Safari WestMother rhino Eesha arrived at Safari West back in the summer of 2008. Since then, tens of thousands of visitors have seen her and learned more about the plight that rhinos currently face in the wild. Eesha didn't show much interest in the male rhinos at Safari West until 2021 when she was introduced to newcomer Ongava. The ...