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Here’s how Colorado Proposition II would affect tobacco taxes and preschools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

Proposition II poses a simple question to Colorado voters, or at least as simple as a tax measure can be: Can the state keep nearly $23.7 million to pay mostly for preschool programs, or does it need to return that money to tobacco wholesalers and distributors?The money was collected from taxes on tobacco and nicotine products that voters approved with 2020’s Proposition EE. State analysts projected that Prop. EE would generate about $186.5 million in new taxes during the first year; instead, the state collected $208 million. The taxes included higher tax rates for cigarettes and other tobacco products and a new tax on nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and other types of vaping devices.Colorado’s constitutional Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights requires the state to ask voters to keep tax revenue collected above published projections. Lawmakers put Proposition II on the ballot this past spring for voters to decide in the Nov. 7 election.Here’s a quick look at the bal...

11 of the best pizza joints in and around Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

Denver’s obviously not Chicago, Detroit or New York when it comes to pizza lore or traditions. But what the city lacks in a signature style — unless you count the “Colorado-style” mountain pies at Beau Jo’s — it makes up for with sheer variety.Denver is a melting pot for pizza. We’ve got the popular sourdough crust at spots like Joy Hill and Hops & Pie; Detroit and Sicilian-style, which is cooked in a pan for a crispy golden cheese crust; and Neapolitan, of course, for the folks who still wish they were on an Italian holiday.Many restaurants have stuck to a classic New York-style, where East Coast transplants feel at home, or New Haven-style for that specific niche. And there are a few making the attempt to re-create the thin-crust, square-cut Chicago tavern pie, or even a deep dish.“Denver’s pizza scene is maturing and growing,” said Zach Parini, owner of Lakewood’s Pizzeria Lui. “It’s always been good, and now it’s just getting better.”In honor of...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping, other top diplomats during trip to Beijing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

Despite heightened tensions between China and the United States over the years, California Governor Gavin Newsom received a warm welcome to Beijing this week. Wednesday marks Gov. Newsom’s third day of a week-long tour of China in an effort to promote cooperative climate action and strengthen cultural ties.The two leaders were photographed during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon local time. Newsom commended China’s progress in eliminating pollution and reiterated how important the nation’s efforts are.  California partnering with Chinese province to fight climate change “We updated [our Memorandum of Understanding] with nine core principles to advance our collective strategies and efforts to address the issue that defines our times and defines the purpose of my trip to China...the issue of climate change,” Gov. Newsom said on Wednesday. “And the imperative importance of addressing the fundamental fact that we are not going to move the needle on climate change unle...

Deadcrow will WAIT4U

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

Deadcrow will WAIT4U: Budding bass music producer Deadcrow when he started making mashups with his friend when he was 10 using Virtual DJ.“It was kind of in that same time period that I started playing around with FL Studio on my dad’s laptop, as I was interested in writing  songs instead of just making mashups. At the time I was also still playing drums, which I started doing at 3 years old, and ended up quitting at 15 because writing songs was really what I wanted to do. This was also when I started producing more seriously. At 16 (in 2012) I started the Deadcrow project, and also started going to Herman Brood Academie, which is almost like a Dutch version of Icon Collective. After graduating there at 19 years old I pretty much stuck all my time into my music, which started getting actually serious when I was about 24. That’s when I got picked up by my manager Jonathan, and started playing a lot more shows.“He describes his sound today as dark, aggressive, fun, cinemat...

Year-long El Camino improvement project in Mountain View and Palo Alto scheduled for fall start: Roadshow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

Q: Several months ago, I was thrilled to read in your column that, after very spotty pothole filling after winter storms, the long overdue repaving of El Camino in Palo Alto and Mountain View would begin in August or September. We’re at the end of October and no repaving! Meanwhile, potholes and root bumps keep getting bigger and bigger. Do you have updates?Marion Krause, Robert Sutis, Jerry Brodkey, Lydia Cooper, Larry Castelli, Caroline Bliss, J.J. Luranc, Jim Evans, Jim Wissick, Ed King and many moreA: Information provided last week by Victor-the-Caltrans-spokesman for Santa Clara County shows construction beginning this fall. The El Camino project extends from 0.7 miles south of Highway 237 to Sand Hill Road. It will last more than a year and be complete in spring 2025.The work will improve El Camino’s road surface and increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists along this route. The current road surface will be partially removed and improved by an overlay of rubb...

Warriors 3 Things: Dubs provide reasons for optimism, despite season-opening loss to Suns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Play 81 more games like that and the Warriors will be just fine.No, Golden State didn’t win their season opener on Tuesday night — they fell to the Suns 108-104 — but the positives of the Warriors’ performance were unmissable.They moved the rock. They played, at times, tight defense. They rebounded as a team. They only turned the ball over 11 times. They saw strong contributions from young players Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. They went 10 deep.This is, unquestionably a better team than last year’s edition.There were some tough performances in the mix, too. Andrew Wiggins was sub-par, as was Klay Thompson. The team’s final-minutes execution left plenty to be desired.But you can’t knock the hustle — the Warriors played hard and smart on Tuesday.Do that every night and you’re going to win many more than you will lose, even if the Warriors did lose Game No. 1.“We’re all getting used to each other,” Chris Paul sai...

Prep roundup: Albany volleyball, Oakland Tech flag football, Castro Valley water polo among winners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

GIRLS VOLLEYBALLNo. 4 Sacred Heart Prep 3, Notre Dame-San Jose 0SHP defeated its San Jose opponent 25-14, 25-15, 25-17 as senior Isabelle Marco had 11 kills, three aces, six digs and one block. Mia Radeff had seven kills, seven digs and three aces. SHP’s senior setters Jillian Amaro and Erika Maas combined for 24 assists, while Naomi Watson stood tall in the middle, having six kills and three blocks. No. 6 Menlo-Atherton 3, Hillsdale 0Menlo-Atherton finished the regular season 13-0 in league play after it swept Hillsdale 25-11, 25-19, 25-19 and won its third match in a row. Junior Meki Maile had 29 assists and one ace, and Sienna Morales had 12 kills and two blocks. Junior Dani Eline had 13 kills and eight digs, and Kiela King also had 13 digs and three assists. No. 9 Menlo School 3, Notre Dame-Belmont 0Menlo School clinched the WBAL title after sweeping ND-Belmont 25-20, 25-21, 25-17 at home. Aaliyah Sanders and Cleo Hardin each had eight kills, and junior Lily Kautai had four bloc...

Children’s Hospital Oakland’s pioneering gene therapy aims to free patients of blood disease. Is a cure at hand?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

Faith in God called Clint and Alissa Finlayson to adopt two sick girls from an orphanage in China. Faith in medicine called them to Oakland.Born with a deadly blood disease, the Finlayson’s daughters — Ada, 9, and Lily, 12 — are the first patients on the West Coast to receive a new gene therapy offered by UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.Already, Ada is already feeling better 10 weeks after receiving her stem cell transplant. Lily started treatment last week. Both have 90% chance of a permanent cure.“It’s science, and it’s a miracle,” said their mother Alissa, sitting in the small yard of their guest home in downtown Oakland, far from their small mountain town of Kalispell, Montana.Alissa Finlayson, left, along with her daughters Lily, 12,, Ruby, 10, and Ada, 9, create art with Foil Fun in the patio at Ronald McDonald House create art with Foil Fun in the patio at Ronald McDonald House where Ada and Lily are being monitored after gene therapy for beta...

Apple announces ‘scary fast’ October event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

By Samantha Murphy Kelly | CNNApple announced its second product event of the season, a month after introducing its new iPhone 15 lineup. New iMacs are likely.The company sent invitations to members of the media for a scheduled keynote on Monday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT, later than it typically kicks off events. It will be accessible via livestream only; Apple usually hosts its product launches both in person and online.The tagline for the event – “scary fast” – is an apparent nod to the likely unveiling of its next-generation silicon chip, M3, as well as Halloween. The company is expected to show off new iMac computers boasting the new powerful chipset in a move that should also boost Mac sales. Mac sales have been down this year.Related ArticlesTechnology | ‘It Starts Here’: San Francisco billionaires, CEOs battle ‘doom loop’ with new ad campaign Technology | The cheap streaming era is over. Here’s why your bills are going up ...

49ers-Bengals preview: Can Burrow-led offense push Niners’ losing streak to three?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS – Brock Purdy digested the 49ers’ second straight defeat in the same humble fashion he assessed the preceding 10 regular-season wins.“For me, second one in a row hurts obviously,” Purdy said after Monday night’s 22-17 loss to the Vikings. “We’ve just got to be better. Got a big one ahead this week, too.”Yes, they’re all big. But this Sunday’s game could have been – and still could be – a Super Bowl preview.The 49ers (5-2) look to rebound from back-to-back road losses when they play host Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals (3-3).The Bengals are coming off their bye, as was the case with the Cleveland Browns when they ended the 49ers’ undefeated start with a 19-17 upset. Over the past two seasons, the Bengals used their byes as a launch point, winning 12 of 15 games afterward on their way to the playoffs.TOP 5 STORYLINES1. Home sweet homeThe 49ers have won their last 11 home games, including a pair in January’s playoffs and this season’s three-game homestand, which they swept...