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Whopping 15 49ers finish atop Pro Bowl fan ballots; official honors unveiled today

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ talent pool and popularity sure has changed since coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch inherited a roster that had no Pro Bowlers seven seasons ago.At 5 p.m. today, a slew of 49ers players will draw that all-star designation, perhaps their most since 2012, when 10 bypassed their Pro Bowl nod to play in the Super Bowl.An astonishing 15 49ers finished first in Pro Bowl votes at their respective NFC positions in fans’ online ballots, which counts for just a third of the selection process, as players and coaches also have their say.Brock Purdy, who stands to become the 49ers’ first Pro Bowl quarterback since Jeff Garcia in 2002, led all players in fan balloting with 451,864 votes, according to the NFL. Teammate Christian McCaffrey placed second (429,993) ahead of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (414,502), 49ers tight end George Kittle (373,750) and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (327,263).Of course, as the NFC’s No....

Homicides soar in Oakland, vanish in East Palo Alto

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A San Francisco Bay Area city that was once known as the "murder capital" of the United States reached a remarkable milestone in 2023. For the first time in the city's history, East Palo Alto had zero homicides last year.An opposite crime trend plagued Oakland neighborhoods throughout 2023. One-hundred-twenty-six people were slain in Oakland, including a police officer who was gunned down in the line of duty two days before New Year's Eve.The Bay's two most populated cities, San Francisco and San Jose, had 53 and 36 homicides, respectively.2023 HomicidesOakland - 126San Francisco - 53San Jose - 36East Palo Alto - 0 East Palo Alto city leaders weighed in on possible reasons why public safety has strengthened. "This is a direct result from astute decision-making," East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio Lopez said. "In 2023, the Council voted to increase police pay and budget after the City endured significant staff turnover. I am grateful to the leadership of City Manage...

BART service recovering after disabled train between Concord, North Concord stations

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

(BCN) -- BART service was recovering in the East Bay on Wednesday morning after major delays were caused by a disabled train between the Concord and North Concord stations. The problem was initially reported around 8 a.m. and affected trains in both directions through the area, BART spokesperson Jim Allison said. 17-year-old wearing ankle monitor arrested for violent robbery of 12-year-old Passengers had to be taken off the disabled train and taken to Concord, according to BART. As of about 10 a.m., service was recovering with residual delays, Allison said.Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.

Alameda firefighters contain blaze at Peet's Coffee warehouse

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

(BCN) -- An early morning fire damaged some equipment at a Peet's Coffee warehouse in Alameda Wednesday but no injuries were reported, according to the Alameda Fire Department.Crews first responded to a call about the fire in the 2000 block of Harbor Bay Parkway on Bay Farm Island at about 5:50 a.m. and were able to extinguish the blaze and clear the scene by about 8:20 a.m., said department spokesperson Kevin Tidwell."The fire was contained to a hopper system on the exterior of the building. It didn't spread throughout the remainder of the structure," Tidwell said. Caltrain strikes vehicle near Burlingame crossing, 1 hospitalized Tidwell said the department has previously responded to similar fires at the same location.Wednesday's response included 20 fire department personnel, three engines, two trucks, an ambulance, a care unit and a battalion chief, Tidwell said.Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.

Scheffler wins player vote as PGA Tour player of the year over Rahm

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

KAPALUA, Hawaii. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has been voted PGA Tour player of the year over Masters champion Jon Rahm, a player vote that raises questions of whether Rahm was penalized for defecting to LIV Golf.Scheffler is the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Woods in 2006-07. The world’s No. 1 player had the best statistical season since Woods by leading the tour in all the important categories from the tee to the green, along with scoring.What he lacked, compared with Rahm, was winning. Scheffler won The Players Championship and the Phoenix Open. So remarkable was his consistency that Scheffler did not finish worse than 12th until July.Rahm, however, won four times, including his second major when he captured the Masters.The PGA Tour said voting took place from Dec. 1 through Dec. 15. Rahm, who for 18 months had been an ardent supporter of the tour, donned a LIV letterman’s jacket and announced he was joining the Saudi-funded rival league on Dec. 7.The tour said Sc...

Brewers acquire LHP Bryan Hudson after Dodgers designate him for assignment

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Bryan Hudson from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Justin Chambers on Wednesday in an exchange of left-handed pitchers.Los Angeles also will receive either cash or a player to be named.Hudson, 26, went 0-0 with a 7.27 ERA in six appearances for the Dodgers last season with seven strikeouts and four walks in 8 2/3 innings. Los Angeles designated Hudson for assignment last week to make room on their roster for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese right-hander who signed a $325 million, 12-year contract.The 6-foot-8 Hudson spent most of the 2023 season in the minors and had a 6-2 record and 2.43 ERA in 46 appearances with 86 strikeouts and 26 walks over 55 2/3 innings with the Dodgers’ Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate.Hudson’s 46 outings with Oklahoma City last season included eight starts.Chambers, 18, was selected by the Brewers in the 20th round of last year’s amateur draft.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Browns resting QB Joe Flacco, other starters for finale against Bengals to be ready for playoffs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Joe Flacco will sit out the regular-season finale at Cincinnati — along with some other regulars — to rest for the playoffs and Cleveland will go with Jeff Driskel, a franchise-record fifth quarterback to start for the team this season.Coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns have earned the right to rest players after clinching a wild-card berth.He intends to sit some prominent starters on Sunday when the Browns (11-5) play what has become a mostly meaningless game against the Bengals (8-8), who already have been eliminated from postseason contention.Stefanski wasn’t specific about his plans, but he did reveal that Flacco, who has gone 4-1 as a starter and thrown for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns since being signed on Nov. 20, will not play.Driskel was signed to the active roster off Arizona’s practice squad last week. Cleveland needed another QB after rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson sustained a season-ending hip injury against Houston on Dec. 24.The Bro...

Arizona Cardinals veteran left tackle D.J. Humphries out with torn ACL in left knee

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries has a torn ACL in his left knee, ending his season with one game remaining.Coach Jonathan Gannon made the announcement on Wednesday and said the 2021 Pro Bowl selection will be placed on injured reserve. Humphries was hurt on Sunday in the Cardinals’ 35-31 come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Eagles.The 30-year-old Humphries has been a mainstay for the Cardinals on the offensive line since he was selected in the first round out of Florida in the 2015 draft. He started his pro career as a right tackle, but moved over to the left side in 2017, which is where he’s stayed over the past seven years.Humphries’ injury could affect how the Cardinals prepare for the upcoming draft. They’ll have two picks in the first round, including one that could be in the top five depending on Sunday’s results.The Cardinals selected offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. with the sixth overall pick in last ye...

Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes to sit regular-season finale against Chargers with AFC West secured

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes will sit out the Kansas City Chiefs’ regular-season finale against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles with their eighth straight AFC West title secured and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs already locked up.The Chiefs can do no better or worse in their postseason positioning after last week’s win over Cincinnati clinched the division, so coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mahomes would get a week of rest.Veteran backup Blaine Gabbert will start and second-year pro Chris Oladokun, who has spent the season on the practice squad, will be the primary backup.Gabbert was signed in the offseason to replace Chad Henne, who retired after last year’s Super Bowl triumph. The Chiefs have long valued having a veteran behind Mahomes, and Gabbert has started 48 games and appeared in 68 over 12 NFL seasons.“He works so stinking hard in practice. It’s great to have that opportunity to go out and play,” Reid said. “He’s been a st...

Legislators pay respects, eye gun laws as they reconvene following Maine’s deadliest mass shooting

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:07:36 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The father of one of 18 people killed in Maine’s deadliest mass shooting delivered an impassioned plea for action Wednesday as state lawmakers convened for the first time since the tragedy, taking time to read the name of each victim aloud.Honoring victims, survivors and first responders was the first order of business for lawmakers who’ll be taking up gun control proposals and potential changes to the state’s so-called yellow flag law, which allows a judge to remove guns from someone in a mental health crisis.His hands shaking and his voice raw with emotion, Arthur Barnard told a rally of gun control activists that it was time to fix “careless” laws, stop playing the blame game and work together to prevent future tragedies.“This is not about taking guns, OK? This is about doing the right thing. And finding the right politicians who are willing to do the right thing more than they’re afraid of losing their job,” said Barnard, whose son Arthur Strout was g...