SFGATE: After alleged elevator sexual assault, BART searches for suspect

After alleged elevator sexual assault, BART searches for suspect
Published on December 07, 2019 at 05:32AM by Madeline Wells

The BART Police Department is searching for information on a suspect who may have committed sexual assault early Friday in a Millbrae Station parking garage elevator.

SFGATE: Flooding closes Highway 101 in Monterey County

Flooding closes Highway 101 in Monterey County
Published on December 05, 2019 at 06:29AM by Josh Copitch, KSBW

The National Weather Service has issued several flood advisories for parts of Monterey County as Highway 101 is closed due to high water.

According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol has closed Highway 101 in both direction near Chualar for flooding. Old Stage Road has also been closed. A detour has been created on Chualar Main Street to River Road.

SFGATE: 'Severe turbulence' advisory affecting SFO travelers is sent

'Severe turbulence' advisory affecting SFO travelers is sent
Published on December 02, 2019 at 04:50AM by Amanda Bartlett

A SIGMET ROMEO 1 aviation notice was issued for severe turbulence by the National Weather Service on Sunday afternoon, negatively impacting SFO travelers as they attempt to fly home after the weekend holiday. The weather advisory will remain in effect until 12:22 a.m. on Monday, December 2.

SFGATE: Buttigieg’s rise positions him as top target at 5th debate

Buttigieg’s rise positions him as top target at 5th debate
Published on November 21, 2019 at 06:20AM by By BILL BARROW and WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Pete Buttigieg’s rise in the Democratic presidential primary makes him a prime target at Wednesday’s debate as the four candidates now bunched at the top seek to distinguish themselves with less than three months until voting begins.

The 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has gained significant ground in recent months in Iowa, which holds the nation’s first caucuses on Feb. 3. But with top-tier status comes added scrutiny, as the other front-runners discovered in four previous debates throughout the summer and fall.

Former Vice President Joe Biden had to swat back criticism of his past work with segregationist Senate colleagues and his support of some unpopular Obama administration policies. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has faced weeks of tough questions about her support for a “Medicare for All” universal health insurance plan, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has been forced to prove he has the stamina for the race, especially after the 78-year-old’s heart attack in October.

Buttigieg could face pressure to demonstrate that he can woo black and other minority voters and that his experience running a city of only about 100,000 residents is enough to qualify him for the White House.

“Anytime a candidate pops up above the pack, there’s a vigorous effort to vet them,” said Democratic strategist Zac Petkanas. “Buttigieg is going to have to prove that his recent rise is not just a flash in the pan.”

Previous attacks against Biden, who turned 77 on Wednesday, Warren and Sanders failed to reshape the race — but the trio likely will face their own share of criticism on the debate stage in Atlanta, even if Buttigieg gets a disproportionate amount of attention.

Medicare for All has dominated the primary and could again be a top topic after Warren, 70, released plans to...

SFGATE: Chesa Boudin takes lead over Suzy Loftus in neck-and-neck San Francisco DA's race

Chesa Boudin takes lead over Suzy Loftus in neck-and-neck San Francisco DA's race
Published on November 09, 2019 at 06:02AM by Alix Martichoux, SFGATE

A new tally, updated after 4 p.m., shows Chesa Boudin with a razor-thin lead over Suzy Loftus.

If you just look at first-choice votes, Boudin has a wider lead over Loftus: 61,796 to her 55,899. But multiple rounds of ranked-choice voting make the race a lot tighter. After candidates Nancy Tung and Leif Dautch were eliminated, Boudin was ahead 78,809 to 78,653 — a difference of only 156 votes or 50.05% to 49.95%.

SFGATE: Miniature horse joins BART passengers in adorable commute

Miniature horse joins BART passengers in adorable commute
Published on November 06, 2019 at 06:38AM by Amanda Bartlett

BART passengers were joined by perhaps one of the cutest commuters the transit agency has seen as of late: a miniature horse named Sweets.

Alameda resident Louis Rodrigues said he first saw the animal when he embarked on a train at 12th Street in Oakland. “From there, I looked on in amazement as this pony rode the train to Montgomery, of all places.”

Reactions from other passengers ranged from a mix of surprise to laughter, Rodrigues said. While the expressions worn by most BART commuters are stereotypically stony-faced, a few cracked a smile upon seeing Sweets.

SFGATE: 49ers look to end 8-game skid vs. NFC West rival Cardinals

49ers look to end 8-game skid vs. NFC West rival Cardinals
Published on October 31, 2019 at 03:40AM by By JOSH DUBOW, AP Pro Football Writer

Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly couldn't do it in their one season as head coach in San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan hasn't done it in two years with the 49ers.

The past three coaches in San Francisco have combined to lose eight straight games against the NFC West rival Cardinals heading into the first meeting this year Thursday night in Arizona.

The Niners' last victory in this rivalry came in Jim Harbaugh's final game as coach in 2014 when the playoff-bound Cardinals lost a most meaningless Week 17 game in San Francisco. It's not as if the Cardinals have been world-beaters during this stretch. After winning 13 games in 2015, Arizona hasn't had a winning record the past three seasons despite sweeping the 49ers.

Last season's result was most glaring as Arizona won both meetings and only one other game in a 3-13 campaign.

This season, the Niners (7-0) come into the game tied for second in the AP Pro32 power poll and are one of two remaining undefeated teams, while the Cardinals (3-4-1) are 21st and once again have a losing record.

Could the streak continue even though San Francisco is favored by 10 points? ...

49ERS, 27-10

KNOCKOUT POOL: The AP prognostication crew is still alive after eight weeks but it's getting tougher to find good choices still available. Considered taking the Jets at winless Miami but remembered they are still the Jets.

So the pick will be SAN FRANCISCO.

No. 26 Tampa Bay (plus 6½) at No. 7 Seattle

Jameis Winston makes plenty of big plays for the Buccaneers and far too many mistakes. Russell Wilson simply makes big plays for the Seahawks.

SEAHAWKS, 31-27

No. 10 Houston (minus 1½) vs. No. 18 Jacksonville in London

The Texans needed a goal-line stand to beat Gardner Minshew and the Jaguars in Week 2 but...

SFGATE: BREAKING: New fire rapidly spreads in East Bay

BREAKING: New fire rapidly spreads in East Bay
Published on October 28, 2019 at 04:49AM by Amanda Bartlett

Just after 4 p.m., the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District announced they were responding to yet another fire — this one spanning five acres and rapidly spreading in Martinez near Alhambra Avenue and Forrest Way.

SFGATE: Here's when PG&E plans to restore power, based on location

Here's when PG&E plans to restore power, based on location
Published on October 27, 2019 at 06:21AM by Alix Martichoux, SFGATE

Just as the power was shut off in phases, it would also be restored in stages, depending on location and weather forecast. The affected area is broken up into seven regions, according to PG&E incident commander Mark Quinlan:

— Sierra foothills: all clear planned for 6 a.m. Monday

— North Bay Area: all clear planned for 8 a.m. Monday

— Southern Sierra foothills: all clear planned for midnight Monday

— South Bay and East Bay Area: all clear planned for 8 a.m. Monday

— Northern California Coast up to Humboldt County: all clear planned for 4 p.m. Sunday

— Kern County: all clear planned for 6 p.m. Monday

— Madera and Fresno counties: all clear planned for 10 p.m. Monday

SFGATE: High Wind Warning issued for North Bay, 80-mph gusts possible

High Wind Warning issued for North Bay, 80-mph gusts possible
Published on October 24, 2019 at 07:33PM by Amy Graff

Meteorologists are closely watching the forecast for Saturday night into Sunday when the biggest wind event since the North Bay fires in 2017 is expected to whip mountaintops. Damaging gusts of up to 80 mph are possible on the highest peaks.

SFGATE: BART stops trains in Transbay Tube due to reported smoke

BART stops trains in Transbay Tube due to reported smoke
Published on October 23, 2019 at 05:59AM by Greg Keraghosian, SFGATE

BART service between San Francisco and the East Bay abruptly stopped Wednesday evening, as trains in the Transbay Tube were halted in both directions due to equipment issues on the track.

SFGATE: US envoy says Giuliani was given role on Ukraine policy

US envoy says Giuliani was given role on Ukraine policy
Published on October 18, 2019 at 05:30AM by By ERIC TUCKER and MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to the European Union told House impeachment investigators Thursday that President Donald Trump instructed him and other envoys to work with his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on Ukraine policy and that he was "disappointed" by the directive. He spoke to lawmakers for around 10 hours.

Lawmakers leaving the closed-door deposition said there were gaps in his testimony, and said Sondland responded "I don't know" and "I don't recall" many times. But they said it was enlightening and damning as the political appointee and Trump donor described Giuliani's takeover of U.S. policy toward Ukraine.

"It is clear you have a shadow shakedown going on by Giuliani," said California Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democratic member of the House intelligence panel. "I think it is just important for the American people to understand Rudy Giuliani is Donald Trump and Donald Trump is Rudy Giuliani. If Rudy Giuliani is doing something it is because he's the lawyer for Donald Trump, and lawyers don't take actions that are not authorized by their clients."

Sondland's closed-door testimony to three House committees was aimed at distancing himself from Trump and Giuliani's efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Sondland said he was concerned that the president delegated to Giuliani foreign policy responsibilities that he thought belonged to the State Department, but Sondland followed Trump's instructions anyway. He insisted that he played no role in encouraging investigations of Biden, telling lawmakers that he thought it improper to invite a foreign government to conduct criminal probes to influence American elections.

The ambassador was the latest in a series of witnesses to be privately interviewed by three House committees conducting the impeachment...

SFGATE: Analysis: Romney raises troubling theory about Trump and Turkey

Analysis: Romney raises troubling theory about Trump and Turkey
Published on October 18, 2019 at 04:04AM by Aaron Blake, The Washington Post

Sen. Mitt Romney delivered perhaps the most thorough Republican rebuke of President Donald Trump's Syria withdrawal Thursday, calling Trump's abandonment of the Kurds there "a bloodstain on the annals of American history."

But while that line will get a lot of play, there's something else Romney said that shouldn't escape notice. He also floated a theory about how Trump arrived at the decision: that he got bullied into it by Turkey and that he backed down.

"It's been . . . suggested that Turkey may have called America's bluff, telling the president they are coming no matter what we did," said Romney, a Utah Republican. "If that's so, we should know it. For it would tell us a great deal about how we should deal with Turkey, now and in the future."

Romney then returned to the idea that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might have given Trump an ultimatum that was met with acquiescence.

"Are we so weak and inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey?!" Romney said. "I believe that it's imperative that public hearings are held to answer these questions, and I hope the Senate is able to conduct those hearings next week."

To be clear, there have been suggestions that perhaps Trump got rolled by Erdogan, who has been pitching the idea that Turkey could take over the fight against ISIS in northern Syria for a long time. The possibility that Trump gave away the farm because Erdogan was particularly convincing or because of something else - Trump's business interests in Turkey, his desire for Middle East withdrawals, etc. - is a well-trafficked theory among Trump's opponents.

But here is a U.S. senator - and a Republican one - suggesting not just that Trump got out-negotiated but that he basically got told what was going to happen and ran away. Romney is entertaining the...

SFGATE: PG&E power shutoff could last 'five days or longer' in Napa County

PG&E power shutoff could last 'five days or longer' in Napa County
Published on October 08, 2019 at 05:16AM by Alix Martichoux, Katie Dowd, SFGATE

Pacific Gas & Electric plans to shut off power to Napa County starting Wednesday morning, county officials warned the public Monday afternoon.

The shutoff could last "five days or longer," according to the county's office of emergency services.

Napa isn't the only area that might go dark later this week; PG&E is monitoring 30 of California's 58 counties for a potential power shut-off due to a "severe wind event" forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

SFGATE: Three deeply problematic aspects of newly released text messages centered on the Ukraine scandal

Three deeply problematic aspects of newly released text messages centered on the Ukraine scandal
Published on October 04, 2019 at 05:01PM by Philip Bump, The Washington Post

It's generally not a good sign when a government official sends a written message questioning the propriety of an action and another official replies by suggesting they talk on the phone. The implication is that the second official is worried about leaving behind evidence of their conversation. A phone call doesn't leave a paper trail.

On Thursday night, the chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight committees - Reps. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Elijah Cummings, D-Md., respectively - made public a document excerpting text messages exchanged between government officials working on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship. Those officials sat in positions that are currently under intense scrutiny, with still-expanding questions about President Donald Trump's behavior toward Ukraine and his efforts to get that country to conduct investigations that he hoped would aid him politically.

While the released text messages are neither comprehensive (representing "only a subset of the full body of the materials," according to the letter accompanying the messages) nor do they directly implicate Trump, they contain significant new revelations and suggestions about the Trump-Ukraine interactions. They include, in two suggestive moments, specifically the sort of don't-document-this responses that imply an awareness of lines being crossed.

1. There's an explicitly stated quid pro quo.

A central participant in the messages is Kurt Volker, former special envoy to Ukraine. Until last week, he served in the administration, resigning shortly after he was identified in a complaint filed by a whistleblower in the intelligence community. The whistleblower portrayed Volker as working with European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland to try to run interference between Ukrainian officials and Trump's personal...

SFGATE: South Hayward BART station closed, trains turning back

South Hayward BART station closed, trains turning back
Published on September 17, 2019 at 06:23AM by Drew Costley, SFGATE

The South Hayward BART station is closed and trains headed in that direction are turning back at the Hayward and Union City stations, BART said on Monday evening. There are major delays on the Warm Spring Line in the Warm Springs, Richmond and Daly City directions due to a equipment problem on the track.

SFGATE: Antonio Brown accused of rape by former trainer

Antonio Brown accused of rape by former trainer
Published on September 11, 2019 at 07:01AM by By JAY COHEN, AP Sports Writer

New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown has been accused of rape by a former trainer.

Britney Taylor says Brown sexually assaulted her on three occasions, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the Southern District of Florida.

Brown has denied the allegations. Darren Heitner, a lawyer representing Brown, says it was "a consensual personal relationship."

The New York Times first reported about the lawsuit.

Messages were left seeking comment from the Patriots and the NFL.

Brown was released by the Oakland Raiders last week after clashing with the team throughout training camp. He agreed to a contract with New England on Saturday, but has yet to play for the Patriots.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

SFGATE: Longtime team executive, nephew of 49ers founder dies

Longtime team executive, nephew of 49ers founder dies
Published on August 29, 2019 at 05:13AM by Drew Costley, SFGATE

Rick Morabito, the nephew of the founder of the San Francisco 49ers and a front office executive on the team from 1983-1992, has died, the 49ers announced on Wednesday.

SFGATE: Marin County wildfire leads to evacuations

Marin County wildfire leads to evacuations
Published on August 28, 2019 at 05:51AM by Drew Costley, SFGATE

The Marin County Fire Department has ordered evacuations for the area of Rancho Santa Margarita East due to a 5-acre wildfire that broke out above Spirit Rock near Woodcare.

SFGATE: Andrew Luck announces retirement in shocking move

Andrew Luck announces retirement in shocking move
Published on August 25, 2019 at 08:52AM by By MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Luck watched one last game from the sideline Saturday.

Then he said goodbye to the NFL.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback heard boos as he walked away from the field, then walked to the podium and made the surprise decision official. The oft-injured star is retiring at age 29.

"I am going to retire," he said. "This is not an easy decision. It's the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me."

Luck said the repeated injuries, the lingering pain and continual rehab took away his love for the game.

Word first leaked about Luck's plans during the fourth quarter of Saturday's 27-17 loss to the Chicago Bears when ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported Luck felt mentally worn down and had met with team owner Jim Irsay to inform him of his decision.

Luck has most recently struggled to recover from a lower left leg injury.

Luck's former coach Chuck Pagano made his first return to Lucas Oil Stadium since he was fired as the Colts' head coach following the 2017 season. Luck did not play that season because he was recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder.

He returned last season and led the Colts back to the playoffs for the first time in four years, winning the league's Comeback Player of the Year award.

But in March, he suffered a strained left calf, was held out of all of the team's offseason workouts and returned on a limited basis for three practices at training camp in July. Lingering pain forced him back to the sideline and the Colts later determined that he had an injury near the back of his left ankle.

Coach Frank Reich had said he hoped to have an answer about Luck's availability for the Sept. 8 season opener after the third preseason game. This might not have been the one he wanted — and certainly didn't...