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Murrieta school district approves policy to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

The Murrieta Valley school board approved a policy Thursday night to let parents know if their children identify as transgender.The lengthy meeting included opinions by community members, parents and board members on both sides of the issue. Murrieta School board members debate a policy change on Aug. 10, 2023, that would allow parents to be notified if their children identify as transgender. (Murrieta Valley Unified School District)“The stakes are really, really high," school board member Nicolas Pardue said during the meeting. "We have young kids who are flirting with these different ideations about what their gender is at a very young age because right now the state of California, for whatever reason, is intent on allowing minors to alter who they are physically … and I think parents are very, very concerned about that.”Pardue went on to say that “at the very least they (parents) get a heads up. 'Hey, this is happening to your fourth-grader, fifth-grader, sixth-grader. You might...

The Need for Accurate Labeling & Third-Party Lab Testing in the Sleep Aid Products: CBD, Melatonin, and the Pursuit of Better Sleep

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

Sleep is an essential component of our overall health and well-being. With many people experiencing sleep issues, the market for sleep aids has expanded exponentially. Among the numerous options available, CBD and melatonin have gained popularity for their potential to support healthy sleep patterns.However, with an abundance of sleep aid products on the market, accurate labeling and third-party lab testing become crucial for consumers to make informed purchases. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of accurate labeling and third-party lab testing in the sleep aid industry, focusing on CBD and melatonin.CBD and Melatonin as Sleep AidsCannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound derived from the hemp plant, which has become increasingly popular for its potential to promote relaxation and support a good night’s sleep. Some users report that CBD helps them unwind and fall asleep more easily without the grogginess effect associated with other sleep aids. Although researc...

Odd Robot Digs Green Day and More

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

Odd Robot Digs Green Day and More: Andrew Burris of SoCal power-pop-punk band Odd Robot told us about his Green Day/Rancid/Bad Religion experience.Andrew Burris: The early-to-mid 1990s was peak Bad Religion. As one of my favorite bands, they could do no wrong. In 1993, I was handed a show flyer during a hot and sticky outdoor summer show. Bad Religion was going to headline the Hollywood Palladium, along with the newly minted Rancid, and a band called Green Day. I had just picked up Rancid’s debut record, as rumors about Lint from Op Ivy’s new band had been swirling. I turned to my friend and asked “dude, what is a Green Day? Kind of dumb, yeah? You think they’re like, stoner hippie punks?”I was 17 and had just earned my driver license. Somehow, I convinced my mom to let me drive to L.A. for a show. “What kind of show, a movie?” Yeah, sure. A couple of friends piled into my hand-me-down 1984 Dodge Caravan—metallic gold paint with fake 2-tone woodgrain paneling down the sides. Hell ye...

Missing California hiker found dead on Arizona path during extreme weather conditions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

TUCSON, Ariz.  — A California man reported missing on a hike in Tucson has been found dead, authorities said Wednesday.Pima County Sheriff’s officials say the body of 46-year-old Kyle Chance, of San Diego, was located near the Starr Pass area about 4 p.m. Tuesday.“There was no indication of foul play. More information regarding the cause of death will be available at a later date,” Sheriff’s Deputy Gordon Downing said in a statement Wednesday. “The initial indication is that it was related to exposure to the weather conditions.”Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Man who died on trail had been on a trip to scatter father’s ashes in Sierra Nevada Crashes and Disasters | Two more men go missing in the Kern River Crashes and Disasters | Body found in California forest is believed to be missing hiker Crashes and Disasters | Two women and 14-year-old boy found dead in Colorado mountains had gone to “live off the grid” ...

Man dead after Antioch shooting Thursday night

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

ANTIOCH — A man was pronounced dead Thursday evening after an apparent shooting on the 600 block of West 20th Street in Antioch, according to police.Police received multiple reports of a shooting at about 6:07 p.m. Thursday. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man, only publicly identified by police as a 31-year-old, suffering from a gunshot wounds. Despite attempts to provide life-saving measures, he was later pronounced dead at the scene.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man shot in arm at East Bay park Crime and Public Safety | Oakland police identify man who was recently shot and killed in front of his wife Crime and Public Safety | Livermore gang graffiti battle: Teen charged with a felony for tagging over rival gang’s tags, police say Crime and Public Safety | Police raid ‘heavily fortified’ East Bay home, seize 1,888 marijuana plants, firearm Crime and Public Safety | Oakland ...

High school football 2023 preview: DAL Valley Division

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

Diablo Athletic League Valley Division(Predicted order of finish)No. 1 CONCORDCoach: Paul Reynaud2022 record: 9-2What to expect: Concord went from one victory in 2021 to nine wins in 2022, and coach Paul Reynaud returns the best player in the league. Senior running back Monte Beam rushed for 1,947 yards and 20 touchdowns, accounting for almost two-thirds of the team’s yards from scrimmage. Complementing him at RB is junior Jayden Reger, who Reynaud said is the strongest player on the team. Senior Isaac Schwartz will bring big-play ability on the outside as the team’s top receiver, and senior Marcelous Rivera will join him as both a WR and a DB. Reynaud said senior Alexis Barba will be expected to lead a mostly-green offensive line. Season Opener: Aug. 25 at Newark Memorial, 7 p.m.No. 2 ALHAMBRACoach: Alan Hern2022 record: 4-7What to expect: Longtime coach Alan Hern expects his crop of seniors to lead Alhambra to a bounce-back 2023 season. Slot receiver Luke Beaty has had a productiv...

5 niche Japanese grocery stores to explore in the Bay Area

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

Got an urge to cook some udon or sukiyaki? Or maybe to just pick up a fresh rice ball or sashimi plate? You won’t have to travel far, thanks to a little Pacific Rim of Japanese groceries stretching around the Bay perimeter.We’re not talking major operations like Mitsuwa or Osaka Marketplace. We’re talking smaller, often mom-and-pop stores like what you might find on a Tokyo back street. Each has their own charm and specialties to discover. In no particular order, here are five such places to visit in the Bay in 2023:Yaoya-San, El CerritoThe sign on this unassuming shop beckons you in with a basket of smiling, anthropomorphic vegetables. And inside will make you smile, with its wealth of snacks, beverages and packaged meals you won’t find many other places. There’s sushi and bento boxes from Berkeley restaurant Musashi (these items typically sell out by early afternoon), grilled fish entrees and side dishes like fried eggplant with ginger or okra in sesa...

Experienced autobahn drivers explain why it works: Roadshow

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

Q: I’m responding to Joe Rudnicki’s question about the autobahn. I lived in Germany for five years and drove on their very fine autobahns. There is no speed limit in some areas between cities, though there are limits in or near cities. You would think this results in vast carnage, but it doesn’t. Fatality rates are similar to the U.S., although their speed is much higher. The autobahn works for three main reasons:It is forbidden to pass someone on the right.The most serious infraction is tailgating. The fine can be extreme because it can be based on your income. $30,000 fines are not unheard of.If you are driving in the No. 1 lane and a guy who wants to go faster comes up behind you, he will not tailgate. He will flash his lights. You must move over to let him pass. There is a big fine for not moving over.German pavement is twice as deep as on American freeways. Roads are maintained much better. You will not hit a huge pothole at 120 mph because there are no huge p...

Too many hot dogs at Oakland Coliseum? Lonely vendor at Oakland A’s game disagrees

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

OAKLAND — On many nights, the Coliseum’s vast concrete parking lots are crowded by hot dog vendors offering, for a few bucks, the bacon-wrapped indulgences that Bay Area sports fans often find impossible to resist.They’re so popular, in fact, that stadium officials claim the situation has gotten downright dangerous. Vendors that fill the lots after A’s games and Oakland Arena concerts next door — and even crowd the tunnel bridge between the stadium and its BART station — are creating a safety hazard for fans trying to enter and exit, they say.“If a fire broke out, there would be a crisis,” said Henry Gardner, executive director of a joint powers authority that oversees the Coliseum complex. “We have got to do something — maybe point them to a certain area where they can sell.”Gardner and other Coliseum officials aren’t sure how to address what they describe as a problem of excess vendors — the rare headach...

COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:16 GMT

California’s COVID positivity rate has topped 10% and is still on a steep upward path, nearly tripling since June, according to new data from the state’s Department of Public Health.“Anecdotally, I feel like everybody I know has been getting COVID,” said Dr. Errol Ozdalga, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford.But unless your social circle has been hit by the virus recently, this wave might have caught you by surprise. The public health emergencies are over, testing has become harder to find, and data monitoring has been largely abandoned. But the virus is still among us, and more so now than in May or June.Once again Bay Area residents are scrambling to do the right thing when a family member tests positive, or they start feeling a tickle in their throat. What are the best practices these days for handling this persistent virus? What have we learned with three years of pandemic practice under our belts? We checked in with the experts.Q: I’m feeling sick...