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Google co-founders gain $17 billion as AI boost lifts stock

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

By Biz Carson | BloombergGoogle’s co-founders are reaping the rewards of the artificial intelligence frenzy, adding more than $17 billion to their combined wealth as the company unveiled a revamped search engine.Larry Page’s net worth increased by $8.7 billion this week to $106.2 billion, while Sergey Brin’s rose $8.3 billion to $101.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That puts them on track for their biggest weekly gain since February 2021.Google will start experimenting with a more conversational search engine and has made its AI-powered chatbot available more broadly, the Mountain View, California-based company said at its annual developer conference on Wednesday. That’s helping the firm assert dominance in an increasingly competitive field. Shares of its parent, Alphabet Inc., were little changed at 10:57 a.m. in New York after surging 8.6% in the two days through Thursday.Page and Brin, who’ve been helping with the AI push and are more involved in the com...

Ukraine says it has made gains near key city of Bakhmut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

By Samya Kullab | Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian military commanders said Friday that their troops had recaptured more territory from Russian forces at the scene of the war’s longest and bloodiest battle, for the eastern city of Bakhmut, but it wasn’t clear if this marked the start of Kyiv’s long-expected counteroffensive.Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said Ukrainian forces had stepped up attacks north of the region while denying speculation by Russian military bloggers that the Kyiv forces had achieved “defense breakthroughs.”The 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of territory that Ukrainian forces south of Bakhmut retook this week represented a significant gain and will protect an important supply chain, according to commanders of Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, a special forces unit that led the attack.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he met with the top military commanders Friday, noting that Gen. Oleksandr Sy...

The 10 most expensive reported home sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton the week of May 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

A house in Danville that sold for $3.6 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton in the past week.In total, 21 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2.3 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $729.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of May 1 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $2 million, detached house in the 6400 block of Paseo Santa MariaThe 2,588 square-foot single-family house in the 6400 block of Paseo Santa Maria, Pleasanton, has now been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in March and the total purchase price was $2,040,000, $788 per square foot. The house was built in 1988. The house features 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.9. $2.5 million, single-family home in the 2800 block of Tulare Hills DriveThe 4,266 square-foot single-family resi...

Bay Area councilwoman calls for censure of colleague following incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

Brentwood City Councilmember Jovita Mendoza this week called for the censure of fellow Councilman Tony Oerlemans for his actions at a previous meeting.During the April 25 meeting, Oerlemans got into a heated exchange with Mayor Joel Bryant and then left the meeting briefly. The exchange happened when the councilman tried to pull two consent calendar items while a different motion was already on the floor, which was then seconded and unanimously passed.Orelemans, hearing that the items he wanted pulled – a contract for a soundwall and expense adjustment for the police dispatch system – had been approved, became upset, accusing the mayor of unfairly pushing the items forward.Brentwood Councilman Tony Oerlemans becomes angry over a consent calendar item on a sound wall that was not pulled for discussion and gets into a heated exchange with Mayor Joel Bryant and later walks out on April 25, 2023. “You don’t understand anything. I am disgusted with the ability for you to push someth...

Concord, San Jose: Would you sign a waiver to eat spicy chicken at new Angry Chickz restaurants?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

Angry Chickz, a SoCal-based chain that’s fired up about Nashville-style chicken, has just doubled its Bay Area footprint with new restaurants in Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties.These are the third and fourth Angry Chickz locations for the the Bay Area. The first opened on San Jose’s Saratoga Avenue during the pandemic and the second in Brentwood earlier this year. This new San Jose location takes over the former home of Blue Rock BBQ on Meridian Avenue, and the Concord one is on Ygnacio Valley Road.Founder David Mkhitaryan first discovered Nashville hot chicken in 2017 and set about perfecting his recipe for a spicy, juicy chicken tender. He, his wife and a friend opened the first Angry Chickz in Hollywood in 2018. Since then, the business owners have been on a tear, opening 21 fast-food restaurants in California, Nevada and Arizona.Heat levels range from Country style (no heat), up through Mild, Medium, Hot, to X-Hot and then — if you are willing to sign a w...

Northern California receives 5.2-magnitude jolt early Friday, following a 5.5 earthquake Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

EAST SHORE — Mother Nature got the attention of a lot of people Thursday with a 5.5-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter about 3½ miles below Lake Almanor’s eastern portion. The shake took place at 4:19 p.m.; people in the Chico, Sacramento and Reno areas, and elsewhere, reported feeling the movement.According to the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake tracker website, Earth’s action continued through the night and into Friday, though imperceptibly in many cases, with aftershocks in the Lake Almanor area registering below 3.0 on the scale nine times. Only shakes of 3.0 at 5:06 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., and a 3.8 at 7:54 p.m., were likely to get anyone’s attention.A 5.2-magnitude temblor at 3:18 Friday morning undoubtedly awakened many people in Plumas County and beyond, with aftershocks of 3.1, 3.0, 3.0 and 3.1 peppering the mix starting at 5:42.A woman who answered the phone at the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office said the department had not received any reports of damage nor of injuries ...

Best Bingo Sites in the UK (Updated List) – Ranked for Online Bingo Room Variety, Promos, and More

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

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Summer-like temps headed for the Bay Area this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Unseasonably warm temperatures are set to hit the Bay Area this weekend. Temperatures will be especially high in the inland areas where the National Weather Service anticipates moderate heat risk as temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s.The warmup is set to begin Friday with parts of the East Bay forecast to reach the 80s. Coastal temps will be cooler, topping out in the 60s, according to the NWS. Saturday will be the warmest day with coastal temperatures in the 70s and inland temps hitting the 90s. 5.2 magnitude aftershock shakes Northern California, one day after stronger earthquake Sunday should see a slight cooldown, but inland temps could still hit the low 90s.With heat risk set to be moderate this weekend, the NWS warns that those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling systems could be particularly vulnerable. Precautions recommended by the NWS include:Never leave kids or pets unattended in vehiclesDon't forget sunscre...

SF DA announces murder conviction in 2019 car-to-car Tenderloin shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A man who shot and killed a passenger in a moving car from another moving car in the Tenderloin in 2019 has been convicted of murder, the San Francisco District Attorney announced Friday. Gary Owens was found guilty of second-degree murder for shooting and killing 33-year-old Ronisha Cook shortly before midnight on Dec. 19, 2019. San Carlos samurai sword beheading suspect enters insanity plea Cook was a passenger in a moving car when she was shot and killed near the intersection of Leavenworth Street and Ellis Street. The driver of the vehicle she was riding in was not hurt, the DA said.Owens was also convicted of attempted murder with a firearms allegation.“Mr. Owens will now face consequences for this unprovoked, cold-blooded killing of a beloved mother and community member,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “This verdict sends a clear message that San Franciscans will not tolerate gun violence in our community and seek to hold perpetrators accounta...

San Carlos samurai sword beheading suspect enters insanity plea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:25 GMT

(KRON) -- A man accused of beheading his ex-girlfriend with a samurai sword in San Carlos appeared in a San Mateo County courtroom Thursday.Jose "Rafa" Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, of Hayward, is charged with murdering Karina Castro outside her San Carlos home on September 8, 2022. On Thursday, Landaeta pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Following the plea, Judge Michael Wendler appointed two doctors to prepare NGI (not guilty by reason of insanity) reports, and the defendant waived his right to a speedy trial. The insanity plea means his defense attorneys will have to prove Landaeta was mentally insane at the time of the sword slaying, he did not understand the nature of the homicide, and he was unaware that the crime was morally wrong.Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta glances around a courtroom on March 1, 2023 in Redwood City. (Pool photo / File) Earlier this year, Judge Wendler ruled Landaeta is competent to stand trial based off psychological evaluations completed by Dr. Jeffre...