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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza , launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine . The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. Wednesday's strike in Muwasi — a desolate area with few public services that holds hundreds of thousands of displaced people — wounded at least 28 people, according to Atif al-Hout, the director of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. An Associated Press journalist at the hospital counted at least 15 bodies, but said reaching a precise number was difficult because many of the dead were dismembered, some without heads or badly burned. In the morgue, an infant's blackened hand and face peeked out from beneath a heavy blanket used to transport bodies to the hospital. “It was like doomsday,” said a wounded woman, Iman Jumaa, who held back tears as she described how the strike killed her father, her brothers and her brothers' children. Videos and photos of the strike shared widely on social media showed flames and a column of black smoke rising into the night sky, as well as twisted metal tent frames and shredded fabric. Palestinian men searched through the still-burning wreckage, shouting, “Over here guys!” Further away, civilians stood at a distance, observing the destruction. The military said the strikes had set off secondary blasts, indicating explosives present in the area had detonated. It was not possible to independently confirm the Israeli claims, and the strikes could also have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters or other materials in the camp. Shortly after the strike, Al-Awda Hospital said two people had been killed and 38 wounded in an attack on a residential block in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The military had no immediate comment on the strike, but said earlier strikes in central Gaza had hit “terrorist targets." Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths, saying the militants often operate in residential areas and are known to position tunnels, rocket launchers and other infrastructure near homes, schools and mosques. Previous Israeli strikes on tent camps in Gaza have drawn widespread international outrage, such as when a wounded student’s last moments were caught on video as he burned to death in a tent outside a hospital. In northern Gaza, dozens of Palestinian families said Israel's expanding offensive had forcibly displaced them from schools-turned-shelters. Associated Press footage showed people on the road Wednesday leaving Beit Lahia, many crowded onto donkey carts with their belongings in their arms. Others walked on foot. “This morning a quadcopter (drone) detonated four bombs at the school. There were people injured, human remains — we left with nothing,” said Sadeia al-Rahel. The 57-year-old said her family has been eating grass, leaves, and animal feed for two months due to the lack of food aid in the north. The amount of aid entering Gaza plunged in October, and hunger is widespread across the territory, even in central Gaza where aid groups have more access. Humanitarian organizations say Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order make it difficult to deliver assistance. Israel has said it is working to increase the flow of aid. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 people were abducted. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. On Wednesday, Israel said its forces recovered the body of a hostage who was captured alive during the Oct. 7 attack. Israel believes Itay Svirsky was killed by his captors. The families of hostages held in Gaza have grown increasingly concerned that their loved ones are at risk so long as the war continues. Israel’s military released on Wednesday the findings of a probe into the circumstances behind the deaths of six hostages whose bodies were recovered in August, determining they were probably shot by their captors after a nearby Israeli strike in February. Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-wars

President Joe Biden is rounding off his trip to Angola by announcing $600 million in new financing for a multi-country railway as the U.S. looks to bolster its investment in critical minerals infrastructure in Africa and curb Chinese influence. Today’s announcement builds on $553 million the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. pledged earlier this year in the Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor, connecting the Central African copperbelt to the Angolan coast. The new investments will support not just the rail infrastructure but also agriculture, clean energy and associated supply chains, along with health and digital access in the country, according to the White House. “The United States understands how we invest in Africa is just as important as how much we invest in Africa,” Biden said in Lobito, a port city on Angola’s Atlantic coast. “To help Africa lead the way. We need more capital, more infrastructure to deal with these real solutions. That’s why we’re here today.” Biden, whose nickname is Amtrak Joe, during a speech in the capital, Luanda, on Tuesday joked that he is the most “pro-rail guy” in the U.S. He’s used the trip to highlight the importance of the Lobito project, a railway being revamped with the aim of expediting the shipment of critical minerals including cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia for technology including electric vehicles. While in Lobito, Biden toured the port and met with companies investing in the project, including SunAfrica, U.S.-owned mobile network Africell and Acrow Bridge, a Pennsylvania-based infrastructure company. Biden also met with African leaders including Angolan President João Lourenço, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Tanzanian Vice President Philip Isdor Mpango. Biden’s trip comes as the U.S. belatedly tries to play catchup with China, which has spent decades building influence on the continent — largely through tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure lending — and now dominates the region’s mining sector. Angola has been among Beijing’s biggest borrowers, but since his election in 2017, Lourenço has sought to reduce its dependence on China. Still, Angola’s oil industry — which accounts for about 90 percent of the country’s export revenue — sells more than half its output to China. The U.S. has provided $2.9 billion in financing in Angola for its energy, infrastructure and telecommunications sectors, according to the White House. Biden, with less than 50 days left in office, has drawn a link between the investment in infrastructure in Africa and Angola to his landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Biden promised to visit the continent after hosting a 2022 summit with African leaders in Washington. His trip has been overshadowed by his late Sunday evening announcement that he would pardon his son, Hunter Biden, and last month’s election of Donald Trump.MINNEAPOLIS — Politicians from Minnesota are reacting to the death of former President Jimmy Carter . Carter was the oldest former president in the country's history and the only one to live to the age of 100. Carter "died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family," the Carter Center said in a statement. He had been receiving hospice care at his home for nearly two years following a series of short hospital stays. Read reactions to his death from Minnesotan politicians below. "President Carter defined what it means to be a servant leader," Walz said in a post on X. He fought for our democracy, our climate, humanity, and civil rights around the world. We can find peace today knowing that he is reunited with the love his life, Rosalynn." "As President Carter reunites with his beloved wife Rosalynn, we should recognize his passing for what it is — the culmination of a life well lived. He will be remembered not as a politician, but as an unrelenting force for good," Klobuchar said. "John's and my prayers are with Jack, Chip, Jeff, Amy, and the entire Carter family at this time." "Jacquie and I join the rest of the country in honoring the life and legacy of our 39th President, Jimmy Carter," Emmer said on X. "We are grateful for his decades of service — from his time in the military to public office and beyond — and pray for peace and comfort for the Carter family during this difficult time." "Jimmy Carter personified moral leadership for our country & the world," Smith wrote on X. "I was blessed to meet him several times. My favorite moment...he had just finished an energetic conversation w/ Archie about the virtues of fly fishing. May his memory be a blessing." Riley Moser is a digital producer who covers breaking news and feature stories for CBS Minnesota. Riley started her career at CBS Minnesota in June 2022 and earned an honorable mention for sports writing from the Iowa College Media Association the same year.

Investment in Italy Data Center Colocation Market to Hit $910 Million by 2029 - Arizton 12-04-2024 09:34 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Italy Data Center Colocation Market Research Report by Arizton According to Arizton's latest research report, the Italy data center colocation market [ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/italy-data-center-colocation-market ] is growing at a CAGR of 5.50% during 2023-2029. Looking for More Information? Click: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/italy-data-center-colocation-market Report Scope: Market Size - Colocation Revenue: $910 Million (2029) CAGR - Colocation Revenue: 5.50% (2023-2029) Market Size - Utilized White Floor Area: 3.94 Million Sq. ft (2029) Market Size - Utilized Racks: 90.33 Thousand Units (2029) Market Size - Utilized IT Power Capacity: 850 MW (2029) Base Year: 2023 Forecast Year: 2024-2029 Italy data center colocation market is currently led by several key players in the retail segment, including Vantage Data Centers, CloudHQ, and Compass Datacenters. Hybrid operators, such as Equinix, Colt Technologies, and Digital Realty, offer both retail and wholesale colocation services. Wholesale colocation is primarily driven by operators like Keppel Data Centres, Retelit, and TIM Sparkle. Revenue from retail colocation largely comes from sectors like telecommunications, content delivery networks, entertainment and media, healthcare and education, and energy, among others. Wholesale colocation revenue, on the other hand, is mainly generated by industries such as cloud and technology, IT, banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), and more. The growing presence of hyperscale cloud providers-such as Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and AWS-is expected to significantly boost demand for wholesale colocation services. As a result, wholesale colocation is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.54% during the forecast period. For example, Google provides dedicated and private access to its Google Cloud from the Data4 Campus data center in Milan, underscoring the increasing importance of high-capacity colocation facilities. Additionally, many businesses are migrating from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud to improve performance and enhance scalability. A notable example is the partnership between Oracle and TIM in June 2023 to establish a new cloud region in Italy. This collaboration aims to migrate TIM's internal applications to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and offers both public and private sector organizations in Italy enhanced cloud services and support. Key Trends * Italy has a high 5G coverage, and 5G telecommunication operators cover around 98.9%-99.7% of the Italian population. The 5G private market is expected to account for more than $210 million by 2025. In July 2023, Vodafone Italy expanded its 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service by introducing an indoor router for its Casa Wireless 5G offering. The service, priced at $30.5 per month, provides unlimited bandwidth with download speeds of up to 300 Mbps, including complimentary national fixed and mobile calls. * Italy witnesses substantial investments in AI innovations, with a focus on enhancing computing capabilities and data processing. This strategic move is expected to generate a surge in data, necessitating high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. The National AI Strategy, launched by the Italian government in November 2021, was aimed at facilitating the adoption of AI by over 70% of businesses by 2030. * Italy is a prime location for data center investments, fueled by the NRPP/Next Generation EU plan. It offers a dynamic industrial ecosystem, ideal for tech innovation and infrastructure growth, as Europe's second-largest manufacturer. Smart cities are on the rise in Italy, with local governments leveraging data and technology to improve urban life. Matera, Bologna, Turin, and Milan, Italy's financial hubs, exemplify this with their Digital City initiative, showcasing significant advances in smart city development. What's Included in the Report? * Transparent research methodology and insights on the market's colocation of demand and supply. * The market size is available in terms of utilized white floor area, IT power capacity, and racks. * The market size available in terms of Core & Shell Vs Installed Vs Utilized IT Power Capacity along with the occupancy %. * An assessment and snapshot of the colocation investment regarding core & shell area, power, and rack in Italy and a comparison between other APAC countries. * The study of the existing Italy data center market landscape and insightful predictions about Italy's data center market size during the forecast period. * An analysis of the current and future colocation demand in Italy by several industries. * Study on sustainability status in the region * Analysis of current and future cloud operations in the region. * Snapshot of upcoming submarine cables and existing cloud-on-ramps services in the region. * Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Italy * Facilities Covered (Existing): 65 * Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 18 * Coverage: 30+ locations * Existing vs. Upcoming (White Floor Area) * Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) * Data Center Colocation Market in Italy * Colocation Market Revenue & Forecast (2023-2029) * Retail Colocation Revenue (2023-2029) * Wholesale Colocation Revenue (2023-2029) * Retail Colocation Pricing along with Addons * Wholesale Colocation Pricing along with the pricing trends. * An analysis of the latest trends, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the Italy data center colocation market. * Competitive landscape, including industry share analysis by the colocation operators based on IT power capacity and revenue. * The vendor landscape of each existing and upcoming colocation operator is based on the existing/ upcoming count of data centers, white floor area, IT power capacity, and data center location. Looking for More Information? Click: [ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/italy-data-center-colocation-market ] The Report Includes: * Colocation Supply (MW, Area, Rack Capacity) * Colocation Demand (MW, Area, Rack Capacity) and by End-User (Cloud/IT, BFSI, etc) * Colocation Revenue (Retail & Wholesale Colocation Services) * Competitive Scenario (Share Analysis by Revenue & MW Capacity) Vendor Landscape Existing Operators * Aruba * DATA4 * Equinix * IRIDEOS * Keppel Data Centres * BT * Eni * Telecom Italia (TIM) * STACK Infrastructure * Others * New Colocation Operators * cloudHQ * Compass Datacenters * DATA for MED * Digital Realty * Nehos * Rai Way * Vantage Data Centers * Vitali * Deda Group The Arizton Advisory & Intelligence market research report provides valuable market insights for industry stakeholders, investors, researchers, consultants, and business strategists aiming to gain a thorough understanding of the Italy data center colocation market. Request for Free Sample to get a glance of the report now: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/italy-data-center-colocation-market What Key Findings Our Research Analysis Reveals? What is the count of existing and upcoming colocation data center facilities in Italy? What factors are driving the Italy data center colocation market? How much MW of IT power capacity is likely to be utilized in Italy by 2029? Looking for Customization According to Your Business Requirement? https://www.arizton.com/customize-report/4625 Other Related Reports that Might be of Your Business Requirement Global Luxury Fashion Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029 Poland Data Center Colocation Market - Supply & Demand Analysis 2024-2029 [ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/poland-data-center-colocation-market ] Ireland Data Center Colocation Market - Supply & Demand Analysis 2024-2029 [ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/ireland-data-center-colocation-market ] Why Arizton? 100%Customer Satisfaction 24x7availability - we are always there when you need us 200+Fortune 500 Companies trust Arizton's report 80%of our reports are exclusive and first in the industry 100%more data and analysis 1500+reports published till date Post-Purchase Benefit * 1hr of free analyst discussion * 10% off on customization About Us: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Media Contact Company Name: Arizton Advisory & Intelligence Contact Person: Jessica Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=investment-in-italy-data-center-colocation-market-to-hit-910-million-by-2029-arizton ] Phone: +1 3122332770 Country: United States Website: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/italy-data-center-colocation-market This release was published on openPR.DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip -- Israeli troops stormed one of the last hospitals operating in northern Gaza on Friday, forcing many staff and patients outside to strip in winter weather , the territory’s health ministry said. The army denied claims it had entered or set fire to the complex and accused Hamas of using the facility for cover. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit multiple times over the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in surrounding neighborhoods, according to staff. The ministry said a strike on the hospital a day earlier killed five medical staff. Israel's military said it was conducting operations against Hamas infrastructure and militants in the area and had ordered people out of the hospital, but said it had not entered the complex as of Friday night. It repeated claims that Hamas militants operate inside Kamal Adwan but provided no evidence. Hospital officials have denied that. The Health Ministry said troops forced medical personnel and patients to assemble in the yard and remove their clothes. Some were led to an unknown location, while some patients were sent to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which was knocked out of operation after an Israel raid this week. Israeli troops during raids frequently carry out mass detentions, stripping men to their underwear for questioning in what the military says is a security measure as they search for Hamas fighters. The Associated Press doesn’t have access to Kamal Adwan, but armed plainclothes members of the Hamas-led police forces have been seen in other hospitals, maintaining security but also controlling access to parts of the facilities. The Health Ministry said Israeli troops also set fires in several parts of Kamal Adwan, including the lab and surgery department. It said 25 patients and 60 health workers remained in the hospital. The account could not be independently confirmed, and attempts to reach hospital staff were unsuccessful. “Fire is ablaze everywhere in the hospital,” an unidentified staff member said in an audio message posted on social media accounts of hospital director Hossam Abu Safiya. The staffer said some evacuated patients had been unhooked from oxygen. “There are currently patients who could die at any moment,” she said. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, denied the accusations. “While IDF troops were not in the hospital, a small fire broke out in an empty building inside the hospital that is under control,” he said Friday night. He said a preliminary investigation found “no connection” between military activity and the fire. The Israeli military heavily restricts the movements of Palestinians in Gaza and has barred foreign journalists from entering the territory throughout the war, making it difficult to verify information. “These actions put the lives of all of these people in even more danger than what they faced before,” U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay told journalists, and noted colleagues' reports of “significant damage” to the hospital. It should be protected as international law requires, she added. Since October, Israel’s offensive has virtually sealed off the northern Gaza areas of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya and leveled large parts of them. Tens of thousands of Palestinians were forced out but thousands are believed to remain in the area, where Kamal Adwan and two other hospitals are located. Troops raided Kamal Adwan in October, and on Tuesday troops stormed and evacuated the Indonesian Hospital. The area has been cut off from food and other aid for months , raising fears of famine . The United Nations says Israeli troops allowed just four humanitarian deliveries to the area from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23. The Israeli rights group Physicians for Human Rights-Israel this week petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice, seeking a halt to military attacks on Kamal Adwan. It warned that forcibly evacuating the hospital would “abandon thousands of residents in northern Gaza.” Before the latest deaths Thursday, the group documented five other staffers killed by Israeli fire since October. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza vowing to destroy Hamas after the group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted some 250 others. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, around a third believed to be dead. Israel’s nearly 15-month-old campaign of bombardment and offensives has devastated the territory’s health sector. A year ago, it carried out raids on hospitals in northern Gaza, including Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and al-Awda Hospital, saying they served as bases for Hamas, though it presented little evidence. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 45,400 Palestinians, more than half women and children, and wounded more than 108,000 others, according to the Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. More than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have been driven from their homes, most now sheltering in sprawling tent camps in south and central Gaza. Children and adults, many barefoot, huddled Friday on the cold sand in tents whose plastic and cloth sheets whipped in the wind. Overnight temperatures can dip into the 40s Fahrenheit (below 10 Celsius), and sea spray from the Mediterranean can dampen tents just steps away. "I swear to God, their mother and I cover ourselves with one blanket and we cover (their five children) with three blankets that we got from neighbors. Sea waters drowned everything that was ours,” said Muhammad al-Sous, displaced from Beit Lahiya in the north. The children collect plastic bottles to make fires, and pile under the blankets when their only set of clothes is washed and dried in the wind. At least three babies in Gaza have died from exposure to cold in recent days , doctors there have said, and the Health Ministry said an adult — a nurse who worked at the European Hospital — also died this week. ___ Khaled and Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Narions contributed to this report.Central-Phenix City (AL) vs. Hoover (AL) LIVE STREAM (11/22/24) | How to watch Alabama high school football playoff game online

Final farewellA winning strategy to end Russia’s war against Ukraine

Belichick's presence looms over Fenway BowlThe year began with a 7.5 earthquake in Japan. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continued to rage. Simone Biles soared in the Olympics. . Steph Curry and LeBron James teamed up to win gold. America was captivated by a rare solar eclipse. five years after a devastating fire. A former president was convicted of 34 felonies. The current one stumbled badly in a high-stakes debate, and announced he would not seek a second term. . And a daughter of Oakland joined the race to try to become America’s first. to Quincy Jones, Joe Lieberman, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Pete Rose, Ethel Kennedy, Bob Newhart, Toby Keith, O.J. Simpson, Shelley Duvall, Kris Kristofferson and Phil Donahue. The stock market hit record highs. Hurricane Helene cut a deadly swath across the South. One of the world’s most brutal dictators was driven out of Syria. The Bay Area saw its own share of big news stories in 2024 as well, some linked closely to world and national events, and many with implications for next year. Here are the top 10: She had not planned to run until 2028. But when Joe Biden announced on July 21 that he would become the first president since Lyndon Johnson in 1968 not to seek re-election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party rallied around her. Harris, a former San Francisco prosecutor, California attorney general and U.S. senator, would have been only the second president born in California, after Richard Nixon. She had 107 days to organize a campaign and barnstorm the country. She beat the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, in their only debate. She raised more than $1 billion. But she came up short. Voters still stinging over inflation that swept the world after the Covid pandemic, unhappy about illegal immigration and estranged from a party that many said was out of touch with working class concerns, chose Trump. He won all seven swing states. Republicans took back the Senate and kept a slim majority in the House. Where does Harris, 60, go next? She could seek the presidency again in 2028. Or she may announce a run next year for California governor in 2026. That would likely clear the Democratic field, and make her the odds-on favorite to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. He was the most famous Bay Area athlete in any sport, considered by some historians to be the greatest baseball player ever. The “Say Hey Kid” came out of the segregated South, joined the Negro Leagues, and played in the majors from 1951 to 1973, nearly all with the Giants. Mays’ legendary playing style — from his cannon arm to the way he raced around the bases so fast that his helmet flew off — marked a career with 660 home runs and 24 all-star appearances. No one was surprised when the Giants built a statue of him in front of their waterfront ballpark in 2000, and coronated the address “24 Willie Mays Plaza.” “Mays is the only man in baseball I’d pay to see play,” fellow Hall-of-Famer Ty Cobb once said. A fixture at Giants games for years, a mentor to hundreds of players and beloved by fans, Mays died June 18 at age 93 in Palo Alto. Ten days later, another Giants Hall-of-Famer, Orlando Cepeda, died at age 86. The Giants have struggled since winning the World Series in 2014, winning the National League West only once. On Sept. 30, after firing president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, they named former MVP catcher Buster Posey to the job. Opening Day is April 4. Bay Area voters are known for being tolerant. This year they hit their limit. Fed up with car break-ins, retail theft, attacks on elderly residents, drug dealing and squalid homeless encampments, San Franciscans dumped Mayor London Breed and replaced her with fellow Democrat Daniel Lurie, heir to the Levi Strauss fortune. Not to be outdone, East Bay voters and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price by landslide margins. Meanwhile, every Bay Area county voted to approve Proposition 36, a statewide ballot measure to toughen sentences for theft and selling drugs like fentanyl, despite opposition from Newsom. The lesson for candidates in 2025? If voters don’t feel safe, your political career may not be either. The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin had been famous for housing inmates like Patty Hearst, “Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss and actress Felicity Huffman, who was convicted in the Varsity Blues bribery scandal. The Alameda County prison became infamous, however, after the Associated Press, 60 Minutes and others documented rampant sexual abuse of inmates by prison guards and staff. Since 2021, at least eight FCI Dublin employees have been charged, including former warden Ray Garcia, who was sentenced last year to nearly 6 years in prison. This month, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced it was permanently closing FCI Dublin, and agreed to pay $116 million to 103 women who filed a class-action lawsuit. “We were sentenced to prison. We were not sentenced to be assaulted and abused,” said former Dublin prisoner Aimee Chavira. On Sept. 26, the Oakland Athletics played their last home game, ending a 57-year run. They beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 in front of a sell-out crowd at the Oakland Coliseum. With the loss of the Warriors to San Francisco in 2019 and the Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020, the A’s were the last major pro sports team left in Oakland. The city lost part of its identity and a gathering site for generations of families. “I started crying after the final moment,” said A’s fan Jesus Ventura. “I felt a deep, deep sadness.” After moving to Oakland from Kansas City in 1968, the A’s won four World Series in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1989. Fans cheered as Reggie Jackson blasted home runs, Rickey Henderson stole bases, and greats like Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter and Dennis Eckersley struck out opposing hitters. But as the Oakland Coliseum aged, the A’s failed to build a new facility in San Jose, Fremont or Oakland. Billionaire owner John Fisher, heir to the Gap fortune, announced plans last year to move the team to Las Vegas. Enraged fans launched a “sell the team!” campaign. But Major League owners gave him the OK. On Dec. 5, Las Vegas officials greenlit plans for a $1.75 billion domed stadium, with $380 million in public funds, scheduled to open in 2028. Until then, the A’s will play at Sutter Health Park, a minor league field in West Sacramento. Adding to the heartache of A’s fans, the team’s Hall of Fame hometown hero Rickey Henderson, who holds the record for most stolen bases, died just days before what would have been his 66th birthday on Christmas Day. It’s a common cliche: “Every vote counts.” A Silicon Valley congressional race this year proved it true. After congresswoman Anna Eshoo announced she was retiring from the 16th Congressional District, 11 candidates ran to succeed her, including former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Assemblyman Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. After the March 5 primary, an amazing thing happened. Liccardo led, but fellow Democrats Low and Simitian, fighting for the other spot on the general election ballot, were tied following weeks of counting. Each had 30,249 votes. After a recount, Low won by 5 votes. In November, the more moderate , 58%-42%, to represent the district, which stretches from Pacifica to San Jose. He will be sworn in Jan. 3. Most vestiges of the Covid pandemic are gone. But it is still decimating public transit. Because so many people continue to work from home, BART, the Bay Area’s largest public transit system, has seen ridership collapse from roughly 400,000 a day to fewer than 200,000 most days now. The agency, which operates 50 stations in five counties, raised fares by 5%. It still faces a $35 million deficit in 2026 and a staggering $385 million shortfall in 2027. Federal Covid money is running out, and the new Trump administration isn’t likely to give California a bailout. Critics say BART needs to cut bloated union benefits and staffing, and continue to reduce crime on its trains. Other Bay Area transit agencies also face shortfalls, and warn that if they cut service, traffic will increase for everyone on freeways. The agencies have tried to draft a tax increase for the 2026 ballot, but so far haven’t been able to agree. The question for 2025 may not be whether there will be cuts on hours and routes — but how big will they be? They had so much promise. With offensive stars like George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy, a stacked defense and a 12-5 record, the 49ers rolled into Las Vegas on Feb. 11 looking to dethrone the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. But in the most-watched TV show in history, with 123 million viewers, the Niners’ first Super Bowl victory since 1995 wasn’t to be. They led 19-16 with 1:53 left in the game. But future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes drove the Chiefs down the field, resulting in a game-tying field goal with 3 seconds left. In overtime, he broke 49ers’ fans hearts, covering 75 yards in 13 plays for the winning touchdown. The 49ers fired their defensive coordinator after the game. Relentless injuries this season to stars like Aiyuk, McCaffrey, Nick Bosa and Trent Williams caused them to miss the playoffs entirely. In 2025 they are expected to sign Purdy to a long-term deal. And although there are lots of question marks, they are lucky the NFC West is considered a relatively easy division. Hope springs eternal. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus got a lot of attention in 2024. But it wasn’t for arresting criminals. On Dec. 4, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted to place a measure on the March ballot that would allow them to remove a sheriff for “flagrant or repeated neglect of duties, misappropriation of public funds, willful falsification of documents, or obstructing an investigation.” The unanimous vote came after the board hired retired Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell to investigate allegations of wrongdoing. She concluded that Corpus hired her boyfriend to be chief of staff, gave him improper authority, used racial and homophobic slurs and bullied employees. Corpus denies the allegations. In November, she ordered the arrest of Carlos Tapia, a critic who serves as president of the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, for time card fraud. But on Dec. 16, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe said no crime was committed and he won’t file charges. Will San Mateo County’s first female sheriff get the boot? Voters will have the final say in three months. College campuses across California were the site of raucous demonstrations following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, sparking a massive counterattack by Israeli forces in Gaza that has killed more than 40,000 people. Hundreds of students and other protesters were arrested at Cal, Stanford, UC Santa Cruz and other campuses after refusing to leave pro-Palestinian encampments and occupying buildings. Some Jewish students said they were harassed and threatened. In August, UC system President Michael Drake banned encampments and said students would face discipline if they blocked others or wore masks as intimidation. Cal State followed suit. This fall, protests were muted. Biden has dispatched negotiators to the Middle East to try and broker a cease-fire. On Dec. 16, Trump announced that he had a “very good talk” with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and warned “all hell is going to break out” if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages by Jan. 20, the day Trump takes office.

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Rescuers reassess safety in search for woman they think fell into a Pennsylvania sinkholeAmsterdam-style cannabis cafes. Loosened rules on tiny home construction. Bans on “outing” LGBTQ students and parking near intersections. These are a few California laws that will go into effect in 2025, with broad influence on the Golden State’s economy, schools, streets, environment and workplaces. Here are a few of the most impactful. Amsterdam’s famed cannabis “coffeeshops” are coming to California via Assembly Bill 1775 , which allows dispensaries to serve non-cannabis food and drinks to customers who can relax and smoke on the premises. These new business will officially be known as “cannabis consumption lounges.” San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney, a Democrat, sponsored the law. RELATED: New law could help California renters facing eviction stay in their homes A counterpart in the state Senate, Scott Wiener, also a Democrat, sponsored Senate Bill 969 . The law allows cities to create “entertainment zones” where customers can wander while carrying open alcoholic drinks. Wiener pitched the idea as a tool to revitalize cities by removing “needless restrictions.” “Getting people out in the streets to enjoy themselves is critical for communities across our state to bounce back from the pandemic,” he said in a September statement. A majority of voters passed Proposition 36 in November, which toughens penalties for people repeatedly convicted of shoplifting and drug crimes. It aims to use the threat of jail as leverage to divert more people into behavioral health treatment. The popular new law went into effect on Wednesday. It follows a package of bills that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in August to crack down on retail theft and other property crimes. Assembly Bill 2602 makes it illegal to use an AI-generated likeness of an actor’s image or voice without their permission. Assembly Bill 1836 also allows a deceased artist’s estate to collect damages when their artificial likeness is used without permission. The pair of bills seek to curb the growing use of AI in Hollywood, which was a sticking point for striking writers and performers last year. With Assembly Bill 1780 , the children of wealthy donors or alumni can no longer get special treatment in admissions decisions by colleges and universities in California, in a practice that disproportionately benefitted white and wealthy students. The law was sponsored by three Democrats, including former Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, now the mayor of Sacramento. Most Republican lawmakers opposed it, along with the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. Public school employees won’t be able to disclose a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation to their parents — or anyone else — under Assembly Bill 1955 . The law, sponsored by San Diego Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward, also protects staff who support LGBTQ students and requires the California Department of Education to provide those students with resources. The law passed on a party-line vote, with Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition and several lawmakers abstaining. History teachers will be required to teach the negative consequences of Spanish colonization and the Gold Rush, and the perspectives of contemporary Native Americans, under Assembly Bill 1821 . Laws introduced by Democrats, who control both chambers of the state Legislature, aim to speed up housing construction and provide more options for unhoused people. Senate Bill 1395 , sponsored by Democratic Menlo Park state Sen. Josh Becker, seeks to ramp up construction of so-called tiny homes by exempting them from the California Environmental Quality Act. The goal? Using tiny homes temporarily to house homeless residents. That’s a strategy embraced by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, though with some controversy . The new law had bipartisan support and faced little opposition from interest groups. California’s Attorney General will have more power to crack down on local governments that flout state housing mandates with Senate Bill 1037 . Sponsored by Wiener, the law allows AG Rob Bonta’s office to fine cities and counties $50,000 per month for violating state housing law. That will make it easier for the state to meet its housing goals when local governments aren’t on board, a spokesperson for Wiener said in March. RELATED: Most medical debt can no longer hurt your credit score under new California law More than 80,000 accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have been built in California in the last seven years because of laws encouraging them, according to the pro-housing advocacy group California YIMBY. Senate Bill 1211 allows a homeowner to build more detached ADUs on their property than what was previously allowed. The law was sponsored by outgoing Berkeley Sen. Nancy Skinner. Under Assembly Bill 2123 , employers won’t be able to require employees to take two weeks of vacation before accessing California Paid Family Leave benefits. Starting March 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 375 will require food delivery platforms like DoorDash and GrubHub to provide customers with the first name and photo of delivery drivers. Assembly Bill 2475 was introduced after a stabbing in San Francisco by a man with a history of psychosis and violence. The law allows state-run hospitals to delay the release of patients for 30 days if they have a history of severe mental illness and violent crime. The additional time will allow police and public health staff to plan for a patient’s release, Haney said in a March statement. Chula Vista state Sen. Steve Padilla, a Democrat, introduced Senate Bill 1105 to protect farmworkers from wildfire smoke and the intense heatwaves that have wracked California in recent years. Under the law, farmworkers can use paid sick leave to avoid smoke, extreme heat and also flooding conditions. Avoiding these disasters will be considered “preventative care.” And Assembly Bill 413 aims to protect pedestrians by outlawing parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked intersection. The idea, called “daylighting, ” is to make pedestrians more visible and prevent collisions. The law, which can fine violators, is a response to California’s concerning uptick in traffic deaths.