mercurynews--2020-02-09--Bob Boughner feels Sharks’ power forward is finding his ‘sweet spot’

SAN JOSE — Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner feels Timo Meier has been as physical in the last three or four weeks as he has all season .
With that , Meier has seen his offensive numbers pick up as well .
Meier has two goals and three assists in his last four games and going into Monday ’ s home date with the Calgary Flames , now leads the Sharks with 11 points in 14 games since the start of January .
From Boughner ’ s perspective , it ’ s starts with Meier using his 6-foot , 210-pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the inside to create traffic in front of the opposing net and generate scoring opportunities .
“ He ’ s finishing a lot of hits , ” Boughner said .
“ I think he ’ s found that sweet spot of where he ’ s got to be .
Now he ’ s getting paid off for it offensively , so it ’ s an easy sell that way.
” Meier had two goals and an assist in the Sharks ’ 6-3 win over Edmonton on Thursday .
His first goal came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Oilers ’ net and redirected Brent Burns ’ point shot past goalie Mikko Koskinen .
For complete Sharks coverage follow us on Flipboard .
Meier ’ s second goal came on a snap shot from near the faceoff dot , but his third point of the game was an textbook example of what Boughner wants from his 23-year-old power forward .
Meier collected the puck along the wall inside the Oilers zone , sent it around the boards and behind the net to Joe Thornton .
Meier then darted toward the crease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the net — and took the pass back from Thornton .
Meier ’ s shot went off Kevin Labanc to give the Sharks a 6-3 lead with 7:41 to go in the third period .
“ As a team , we have to do a better job of that , get to their crease , stop in front , find some ugly goals in front of the opponent ’ s net , ” Meier said .
“ That ’ s where most of the goals are scored in the NHL , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay the price to go there.
” Meier ’ s not quite having the season he envisioned after he signed a four-year , $ 24 million contract extension last summer .
Neither are the Sharks , for that matter , with a 24-27-4 record .
Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news , commentary and conversation .
Still , with 18 goals in 55 games so far , Meier ’ s only two goals behind the pace he had in 2018-19 when he finished with a career-high 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more direct style of play , he could match last season ’ s goal total and reestablish a foundation for how he has to go about his business going forward .
“ That ’ s the one thing we try and hammer ( home ) with him all the time , and constantly watching video of when he does it and when he doesn ’ t , and what kind of player he has to be to have success , ” Boughner said .
“ Inside , he ’ s paying more attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not throwing pucks away as much .
His details defensively are a lot better right now , too.
” “ I always measure myself on team success , ” Meier said .
“ So far , it ’ s been disappointing , but there ’ s still a lot of games left , For me , it ’ s focusing on the team success .
I know everything else is coming when we work as a team .
“ I ’ m trying to go out there and think team-first and do whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful , and then automatically , you ’ re getting your goals and your points.
” ▪ It appears the Sharks will be keeping the same forward lines and defense pairs for Monday ’ s game as they had for their road wins over Calgary and Edmonton .
Besides Meier playing with Thornton and Labanc , Patrick Marleau has been playing with Evander Kane and Barclay Goodrow to round out the Sharks ’ top six forward group without both Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl .
“ The reason we put Patty up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed that shutdown line and Patty ’ s very responsible , and they ’ ve had some chemistry , ” Boughner said .
“ And the young guys have done the job on the third and fourth ( lines ) .
Right now , anyways , I think the combinations are working.
” ▪ Center Joel Kellman practiced with the Sharks for the first time since he was injured Feb. 1 .
He is eligible to come off injured reserve but is not expected to play against the Flames .
Boughner said Kellman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit Winnipeg and Minnesota on Feb. 14 and 15 , respectively .
Kellman could be activated for Monday ’ s game and just be a scratch if he is deemed ready to play by the Sharks ’ medical staff .
Otherwise the Sharks will recalled a forward from the Barracuda .
• Sharks 6 , Oilers 3 : Dell commands the net , the kids provide a boost and plenty of ‘ painful ’ goals • How Bob Boughner can relate to what Brenden Dillon ’ s going through Kellman suffered a lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sharks ’ home game against Tampa Bay when he was checked into the boards by Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk .
Up until that game , Kellman had one goal and two assists in 17 games , mainly as the Sharks ’ fourth line center .
▪ Aaron Dell will start in net Monday .
Dell stopped 30 of 31 shots in Tuesday ’ s 3-1 Sharks win over the Flames .
Boughner said Dell and Jones will each start a game next week when the Sharks play the Jets and Wild .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sharks ’ practice , this time with pucks .
Couture has now skated three times since Jan. 7 when he suffered a fractured bone in his left foot .

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SAN JOSE — Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner feels Timo Meier has been as physical in the last three or four weeks as he has all season.
With that, Meier has seen his offensive numbers pick up as well.
Meier has two goals and three assists in his last four games and going into Monday’s home date with the Calgary Flames, now leads the Sharks with 11 points in 14 games since the start of January.
From Boughner’s perspective, it’s starts with Meier using his 6-foot, 210-pound frame to greater effect, playing more on the inside to create traffic in front of the opposing net and generate scoring opportunities.
“He’s finishing a lot of hits,” Boughner said. “I think he’s found that sweet spot of where he’s got to be. Now he’s getting paid off for it offensively, so it’s an easy sell that way.”
Meier had two goals and an assist in the Sharks’ 6-3 win over Edmonton on Thursday. His first goal came after he stationed himself in front of the Oilers’ net and redirected Brent Burns’ point shot past goalie Mikko Koskinen.
For complete Sharks coverage
follow us on Flipboard.
Meier’s second goal came on a snap shot from near the faceoff dot, but his third point of the game was an textbook example of what Boughner wants from his 23-year-old power forward.
Meier collected the puck along the wall inside the Oilers zone, sent it around the boards and behind the net to Joe Thornton. Meier then darted toward the crease — beating Leon Draisaitl to the front of the net — and took the pass back from Thornton. Meier’s shot went off Kevin Labanc to give the Sharks a 6-3 lead with 7:41 to go in the third period.
“As a team, we have to do a better job of that, get to their crease, stop in front, find some ugly goals in front of the opponent’s net,” Meier said. “That’s where most of the goals are scored in the NHL, so you’ve got to be winning to pay the price to go there.”
Meier’s not quite having the season he envisioned after he signed a four-year, $24 million contract extension last summer. Neither are the Sharks, for that matter, with a 24-27-4 record.
Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.
Still, with 18 goals in 55 games so far, Meier’s only two goals behind the pace he had in 2018-19 when he finished with a career-high 30. If Meier can stick with this more direct style of play, he could match last season’s goal total and reestablish a foundation for how he has to go about his business going forward.
“That’s the one thing we try and hammer (home) with him all the time, and constantly watching video of when he does it and when he doesn’t, and what kind of player he has to be to have success,” Boughner said. “Inside, he’s paying more attention, he’s protecting pucks, not throwing pucks away as much. His details defensively are a lot better right now, too.”
“I always measure myself on team success,” Meier said. “So far, it’s been disappointing, but there’s still a lot of games left, For me, it’s focusing on the team success. I know everything else is coming when we work as a team.
“I’m trying to go out there and think team-first and do whatever I can to help the team be successful, and then automatically, you’re getting your goals and your points.”
▪ It appears the Sharks will be keeping the same forward lines and defense pairs for Monday’s game as they had for their road wins over Calgary and Edmonton.
Besides Meier playing with Thornton and Labanc, Patrick Marleau has been playing with Evander Kane and Barclay Goodrow to round out the Sharks’ top six forward group without both Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl.
“The reason we put Patty up with Kane and Goodrow is we sort of needed that shutdown line and Patty’s very responsible, and they’ve had some chemistry,” Boughner said. “And the young guys have done the job on the third and fourth (lines). Right now, anyways, I think the combinations are working.”
▪ Center Joel Kellman practiced with the Sharks for the first time since he was injured Feb. 1. He is eligible to come off injured reserve but is not expected to play against the Flames. Boughner said Kellman will likely be available when the Sharks visit Winnipeg and Minnesota on Feb. 14 and 15, respectively.
Kellman could be activated for Monday’s game and just be a scratch if he is deemed ready to play by the Sharks’ medical staff. Otherwise the Sharks will recalled a forward from the Barracuda.
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▪ Aaron Dell will start in net Monday. Dell stopped 30 of 31 shots in Tuesday’s 3-1 Sharks win over the Flames. Boughner said Dell and Jones will each start a game next week when the Sharks play the Jets and Wild.
▪ Couture skated again Sunday after the Sharks’ practice, this time with pucks. Couture has now skated three times since Jan. 7 when he suffered a fractured bone in his left foot.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--From Pitt to ‘1917,’ what to anticipate at Sunday’s Oscars

LOS ANGELES — The Oscars are here , already .
After the shortest awards season in decades , the 92nd annual Academy Awards will get underway Sunday evening at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles .
The red carpet is being rolled out two to three weeks earlier than usual in a bid to freshen up a ceremony and potentially boost ratings .
The truncated time table has put the normally bloated Oscars season on a diet ( Sunday ’ s show will also , for the second straight year , be hostless ) and sent film academy members scrambling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task in a year featuring a few three-hour epics like “ The Irishman ” and “ Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.
” Fittingly for a fast race , a movie about a mad dash has risen to the top of the heap .
After winning nearly every major precursor award , Sam Mendes ’ “ 1917 , ” about a pair of British soldiers sent with an urgent message to deliver through recently-held enemy territory , is the favorite for best picture .
Thanks to its technical dazzle , the seemingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come away with the most awards Sunday , even without any acting nominations .
Although Joaquin Phoenix , Renée Zellweger , Brad Pitt and Laura Dern all appear to be all-but-certain locks in the acting categories , there ’ s still the potential for a history-making upset .
Momentum has swung behind Bong Joon Ho ’ s South Korean thriller “ Parasite , ” and some believe it has a chance to become the first non-English language film to win best picture .
Such a win would be a watershed moment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been content to relegate international films to their own category .
But in an effort to diversify its largely white and male membership , the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has inducted more overseas members in recent years .
And just about no one has a bad word to say about t he widely praised class satire “ Parasite , ” the Palme d ’ Or winner at last year ’ s Cannes Film Festival and the first foreign language film to win top honors from the Screen Actors Guild Awards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6:30 p.m. EST on ABC .
Among the presenters the academy will lean on in the absence of a host are Tom Hanks , Maya Rudolph , Spike Lee , Julia Louis-Dreyfus , Chris Rock , Timothée Chalamet , Will Ferrell , Diane Keaton and Kelly Marie Tran .
The ceremony will come just days after the death of Kirk Douglas , one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood ’ s golden age .
Kobe Bryant , a 2018 Oscar winner for the short “ Dear Basketball , ” is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Memoriam segment .
ABC and the academy will be hoping a widely watched field of nominees — including the $ 1 billion-grossing “ Joker , ” up for a leading 11 awards — will help viewership .
Last year ’ s show garnered 29.6 million viewers , a 12 % uptick .
This year ’ s Oscars comes amid a streaming overhaul throughout Hollywood .
Hurrying to catch up to Netflix and Amazon , most of the major studios are prepping or have already launched their own streaming services , as have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the Oscars with a leading 24 nominations thanks to “ The Irishman , ” “ Marriage Story , ” “ The Two Popes ” and the likely best documentary winner , “ American Factory.
” But despite spending heavily through awards season , Netflix may go home with only a few awards .
The streamer is still seeking its first best picture win after Alfonso Cuaron ’ s “ Roma ” came up just shy last year .
Instead , this year ’ s Oscar favorites are largely movies released widely in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characters and come from male directors .
After a year in which women made significant gains behind the camera , no female directors were nominated for best director .
The acting categories are also the least diverse since the fallout of # OscarsSoWhite pushed the academy to remake its membership .
Cynthia Erivo ( “ Harriet ” ) is the only actor of color nominated .
Those results , which have been a topic in speeches through awards season , stand in contrast to research that suggests the most popular movies star more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ticket sales slumped about 4 % last year despite the Walt Disney Co. ’ s record $ 13 billion in worldwide box office .
Disney , which acquired 20th Century Fox last spring , accounted for an overwhelming 38 % of domestic ticket sales .
And yet Disney , aside from owning the network the Oscars are broadcast on , will likely play a minor role at the Academy Awards .
The studio may win best animated feature with “ Toy Story 4 ” and possibly best editing for the Fox film “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the Oscars ?
• Oscars to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant — but it ’ s complicated • Oscar , meet Joker : Are comic book movies at Academy Awards to stay ?
• Oscar 2020 predictions : who will win , who should win And while Democratic candidates are vying for the presidency and votes are still being counted in Iowa , former President Barack Obama may well notch another win .
The first film from his and Michelle Obama ’ s production company , “ American Factory , ” is @ @ @ @ @ @

By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The Oscars are here, already.
After the shortest awards season in decades, the 92nd annual Academy Awards will get underway Sunday evening at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The red carpet is being rolled out two to three weeks earlier than usual in a bid to freshen up a ceremony and potentially boost ratings.
The truncated time table has put the normally bloated Oscars season on a diet (Sunday’s show will also, for the second straight year, be hostless) and sent film academy members scrambling to finish their movie-watching — no small task in a year featuring a few three-hour epics like “The Irishman” and “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.”
Fittingly for a fast race, a movie about a mad dash has risen to the top of the heap. After winning nearly every major precursor award, Sam Mendes’ “1917,” about a pair of British soldiers sent with an urgent message to deliver through recently-held enemy territory, is the favorite for best picture. Thanks to its technical dazzle, the seemingly one-continuous-shot “1917” is also likely to come away with the most awards Sunday, even without any acting nominations.
Although Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger, Brad Pitt and Laura Dern all appear to be all-but-certain locks in the acting categories, there’s still the potential for a history-making upset. Momentum has swung behind Bong Joon Ho’s South Korean thriller “Parasite,” and some believe it has a chance to become the first non-English language film to win best picture.
[vemba-video id=”entertainment/2019/06/28/best-one-liners-from-movies-orig.cnn”]
Such a win would be a watershed moment for the Academy Awards, which has long been content to relegate international films to their own category. But in an effort to diversify its largely white and male membership, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has inducted more overseas members in recent years. And just about no one has a bad word to say about t he widely praised class satire “Parasite,” the Palme d’Or winner at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and the first foreign language film to win top honors from the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The official pre-show will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST on ABC. Among the presenters the academy will lean on in the absence of a host are Tom Hanks, Maya Rudolph, Spike Lee, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Timothée Chalamet, Will Ferrell, Diane Keaton and Kelly Marie Tran.
The ceremony will come just days after the death of Kirk Douglas, one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood’s golden age. Kobe Bryant, a 2018 Oscar winner for the short “Dear Basketball,” is expected to be included in the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.
ABC and the academy will be hoping a widely watched field of nominees — including the $1 billion-grossing “Joker,” up for a leading 11 awards — will help viewership. Last year’s show garnered 29.6 million viewers, a 12% uptick.
This year’s Oscars comes amid a streaming overhaul throughout Hollywood. Hurrying to catch up to Netflix and Amazon, most of the major studios are prepping or have already launched their own streaming services, as have new entrants like Apple. Netflix comes into the Oscars with a leading 24 nominations thanks to “The Irishman,” “Marriage Story,” “The Two Popes” and the likely best documentary winner, “American Factory.”
But despite spending heavily through awards season, Netflix may go home with only a few awards. The streamer is still seeking its first best picture win after Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” came up just shy last year.
Instead, this year’s Oscar favorites are largely movies released widely in theaters. They also predominantly feature male characters and come from male directors.
After a year in which women made significant gains behind the camera, no female directors were nominated for best director. The acting categories are also the least diverse since the fallout of #OscarsSoWhite pushed the academy to remake its membership. Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”) is the only actor of color nominated. Those results, which have been a topic in speeches through awards season, stand in contrast to research that suggests the most popular movies star more people of color than ever before.
Ticket sales slumped about 4% last year despite the Walt Disney Co.’s record $13 billion in worldwide box office. Disney, which acquired 20th Century Fox last spring, accounted for an overwhelming 38% of domestic ticket sales. And yet Disney, aside from owning the network the Oscars are broadcast on, will likely play a minor role at the Academy Awards. The studio may win best animated feature with “Toy Story 4” and possibly best editing for the Fox film “Ford v Ferrari.”
And while Democratic candidates are vying for the presidency and votes are still being counted in Iowa, former President Barack Obama may well notch another win. The first film from his and Michelle Obama’s production company, “American Factory,” is favored to win best documentary.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--‘Birds of Prey’ flies low on Oscars weekend with tepid debut

LOS ANGELES — “ Birds of Prey , ” the DC Comics ’ Harley Quinn spinoff , made a tepid debut in theaters over the weekend , opening in No .
1 but below expectations with $ 33.3 million domestically , according to studio estimates Sunday .
“ Birds of Prey ( and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn ) , ” an R-rated Warner Bros. release , arrived in theaters while its star — Margot Robbie — is nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in “ Bombshell ” and the previous DC film , the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for a leading 11 Oscars .
Despite those lead-ins , “ Birds of Prey ” came in for a rocky landing .
It had been expected to open around $ 50 million .
It fared similarly overseas , grossing an estimated $ 48 million from 78 international markets .
Warner Bros. said the coronavirus impacted sales in Asia , though in South Korea , where “ Birds of Prey ” made $ 1.9 million , it came in second to a local release .
“ Birds of Prey ” doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Suicide Squad ” never opened there .
Cinemas in the country , the world ’ s second-largest movie market , have shut down amid the coronavirus outbreak .
“ Birds of Prey , ” the week ’ s lone new wide release , cost approximately $ 100 million to make .
Cathy Yan directs the “ Suicide Squad ” spinoff , which Robbie also produced .
Robbie stars as Quinn , the crazed criminal who after splitting with Joker is a solo vigilante .
Reviews were mostly favorable , with an 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Audiences gave it a B-plus CinemaScore .
After three weeks atop the box office , Sony Picture ’ s “ Bad Boys for Life ” dropped to second with $ 12 million in its fourth weekend .
The action-comedy , which reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence , has grossed $ 336 million worldwide .
Though analysts are forecasting a down year for Hollywood at the box office , the success of “ Bad Boys for Life ” has helped drive the year ’ s ticket sales to an almost 10 % uptick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to data firm Comscore .
Ahead of the Academy Awards , several nominees padded their ticket-sales totals .
Universal ’ s “ 1917 , ” the Sam Mendes-directed World War I film , took in another $ 9 million in its seventh weekend , good for third place .
The film , a favorite for Sunday night , has grossed $ 132.5 million domestically and $ 287.4 million globally .
Rian Johnson ’ s “ Knives Out , ” nominated for best screenplay , added $ 2.4 million , bringing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lionsgate earlier this week confirmed a sequel to the acclaimed whodunit .
Greta Gerwig ’ s Louisa May Alcott adaptation “ Little Women , ” up for six Oscars including best picture , also ranked in the top 10 with $ 2.3 million .
Its seven-week domestic total is $ 102.7 million .
That gives the best-picture category five $ 100 million-grossing movies , including “ 1917 , ” “ Joker , ” “ Ford v Ferrari ” and “ Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.
” ( Counting overseas sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 100 million . )
Netflix hasn ’ t reported box-office data for its two best-picture contenders , “ The Irishman ” and “ Marriage Story.
” Holdovers “ Doolittle ” ( $ 6.7 million in its fourth weekend ) and “ Jumanji : The Next Level ” ( $ 5.5 million ) rounded out the top five .
• Here ’ s a chance to ask Bud Selig about the A ’ s and San Jose • Oscar , meet Joker : Are comic book movies at Academy Awards to stay ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do this weekend Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters , according to Comscore .

By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — “Birds of Prey,” the DC Comics’ Harley Quinn spinoff, made a tepid debut in theaters over the weekend, opening in No. 1 but below expectations with $33.3 million domestically, according to studio estimates Sunday.
“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn),” an R-rated Warner Bros. release, arrived in theaters while its star — Margot Robbie — is nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in “Bombshell” and the previous DC film, the $1 billion-grossing “Joker,” is up for a leading 11 Oscars.
Despite those lead-ins, “Birds of Prey” came in for a rocky landing. It had been expected to open around $50 million. It fared similarly overseas, grossing an estimated $48 million from 78 international markets.
Warner Bros. said the coronavirus impacted sales in Asia, though in South Korea, where “Birds of Prey” made $1.9 million, it came in second to a local release. “Birds of Prey” doesn’t have a China release scheduled, and “Suicide Squad” never opened there. Cinemas in the country, the world’s second-largest movie market, have shut down amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“Birds of Prey,” the week’s lone new wide release, cost approximately $100 million to make. Cathy Yan directs the “Suicide Squad” spinoff, which Robbie also produced. Robbie stars as Quinn, the crazed criminal who after splitting with Joker is a solo vigilante. Reviews were mostly favorable, with an 80% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences gave it a B-plus CinemaScore.
After three weeks atop the box office, Sony Picture’s “Bad Boys for Life” dropped to second with $12 million in its fourth weekend. The action-comedy, which reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, has grossed $336 million worldwide.
Though analysts are forecasting a down year for Hollywood at the box office, the success of “Bad Boys for Life” has helped drive the year’s ticket sales to an almost 10% uptick over the first five weeks of 2019, according to data firm Comscore.
Ahead of the Academy Awards, several nominees padded their ticket-sales totals. Universal’s “1917,” the Sam Mendes-directed World War I film, took in another $9 million in its seventh weekend, good for third place. The film, a favorite for Sunday night, has grossed $132.5 million domestically and $287.4 million globally.
Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out,” nominated for best screenplay, added $2.4 million, bringing its North American total to $158.9 million. Lionsgate earlier this week confirmed a sequel to the acclaimed whodunit.
Greta Gerwig’s Louisa May Alcott adaptation “Little Women,” up for six Oscars including best picture, also ranked in the top 10 with $2.3 million. Its seven-week domestic total is $102.7 million.
That gives the best-picture category five $100 million-grossing movies, including “1917,” “Joker,” “Ford v Ferrari” and “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.” (Counting overseas sales, “Parasite” has also surpassed $100 million.) Netflix hasn’t reported box-office data for its two best-picture contenders, “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story.”
Holdovers “Doolittle” ($6.7 million in its fourth weekend) and “Jumanji: The Next Level” ($5.5 million) rounded out the top five.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--Iran again fails to put satellite into orbit amid US worries

By Amir Vahdt and Jon Gambrell | Associated Press TEHRAN , Iran — An Iranian rocket failed to put a satellite into orbit Sunday , state television reported , the latest setback for a program the U.S. claims helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program .
The launch happened at 7:15 p.m. local time at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran ’ s Semnan province , some 145 miles southeast of Iran ’ s capital , Tehran .
A Simorgh , or “ Phoenix , ” rocket couldn ’ t put the Zafar 1 communications satellite into orbit , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state TV reported .
“ Stage-1 and stage-2 motors of the carrier functioned properly and the satellite was successfully detached from its carrier , but at the end of its path it did not reach the required speed for being put in the orbit , ” Defense Ministry space program spokesman Ahmad Hosseini told state TV .
Hosseini still sought to portray the failure as a “ remarkable ” achievement for its space program .
Previous Simorgh launches of the 80-ton satellite carrier suffered other failures .
In the days leading up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting the mission , including the country ’ s Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi .
His quick rise through the Islamic Republic ’ s carefully managed political system already is generating speculation he could be a candidate for Iran ’ s 2021 presidential campaign .
Jahromi acknowledged the unsuccessful launch in a tweet shortly after the news broke on state TV , comparing it to a “ few samples of US launch failures.
” “ But We ’ re UNSTOPPABLE !
We have more Upcoming Great Iranian Satellites !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a satellite emoji .
He later tweeted in Farsi that “ sometimes life does not go the way we like it to go.
” He added : “ Please do not pay attention to fake news.
” The launch had been planned amid celebrations ahead of the February anniversary of Iran ’ s 1979 Islamic Revolution .
Iran routinely unveils technological achievements for its armed forces , its space program and its nuclear efforts during this time .
Satellite images by Colorado-based Maxar Technologies obtained by The Associated Press showed the launch tower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the revolution ’ s leader , the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , and the current Iranian supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei .
Iran had spent just under 2 million euros to build the Zafar 1 , Jahromi previously said .
Officials planned for the satellite , whose name means “ victory ” in Farsi , to remain in orbit for 18 months before crashing back through the Earth ’ s atmosphere and disintegrating .
Sunday ’ s failure came after two failed launches of the Payam and Doosti satellites last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August .
A separate fire at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in February 2019 also killed three researchers , authorities said at the time .
The rocket explosion in August drew even the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump , who later tweeted what appeared to be a classified surveillance image of the launch failure .
The three failures in a row raised suspicion of outside interference in Iran ’ s program , something Trump himself hinted at by tweeting that the U.S. “ was not involved in the catastrophic accident.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same day the country faced a major cyberattack .
The U.S. alleges such satellite launches defy a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Iran to undertake no activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons .
American officials , as well as European nations , worry such launches could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons .
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment and the White House did not immediately acknowledge the launch .
Iran , which long has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintains its satellite launches and rocket tests do not have a military component .
Tehran also says it hasn ’ t violated the U.N. resolution as it only “ called upon ” Tehran not to conduct such tests .
Western missile experts have also questioned the U.S. contention that Iran ’ s program could have a dual use for nuclear weapons .
Over the past decade , Iran has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit and in 2013 launched a monkey into space .
The launch comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Tehran ’ s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018 .
Iran since has begun breaking terms of the deal limiting its enrichment of uranium .
• Coronavirus : When will it end ?
• US official : American casualties in Afghan military mission Meanwhile , a series of attacks across the Persian Gulf culminated with a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killing Iran ’ s Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani and a retaliatory ballistic missile strike by Iran on Iraqi bases housing American troops earlier this month .
Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airliner taking off from Tehran amid the tensions , killing all 176 people on board .

By Amir Vahdt and Jon Gambrell | Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian rocket failed to put a satellite into orbit Sunday, state television reported, the latest setback for a program the U.S. claims helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program.
The launch happened at 7:15 p.m. local time at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s Semnan province, some 145 miles southeast of Iran’s capital, Tehran. A Simorgh, or “Phoenix,” rocket couldn’t put the Zafar 1 communications satellite into orbit, however, due to a low speed, Iranian state TV reported.
“Stage-1 and stage-2 motors of the carrier functioned properly and the satellite was successfully detached from its carrier, but at the end of its path it did not reach the required speed for being put in the orbit,” Defense Ministry space program spokesman Ahmad Hosseini told state TV.
Hosseini still sought to portray the failure as a “remarkable” achievement for its space program. Previous Simorgh launches of the 80-ton satellite carrier suffered other failures.
In the days leading up to the launch, Iranian officials had been promoting the mission, including the country’s Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi. His quick rise through the Islamic Republic’s carefully managed political system already is generating speculation he could be a candidate for Iran’s 2021 presidential campaign.
Jahromi acknowledged the unsuccessful launch in a tweet shortly after the news broke on state TV, comparing it to a “few samples of US launch failures.”
“But We’re UNSTOPPABLE! We have more Upcoming Great Iranian Satellites!” Jahromi tweeted in English, including a satellite emoji. He later tweeted in Farsi that “sometimes life does not go the way we like it to go.”
He added: “Please do not pay attention to fake news.”
The launch had been planned amid celebrations ahead of the February anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran routinely unveils technological achievements for its armed forces, its space program and its nuclear efforts during this time. Satellite images by Colorado-based Maxar Technologies obtained by The Associated Press showed the launch tower for the rocket bore massive images of the revolution’s leader, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and the current Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran had spent just under 2 million euros to build the Zafar 1, Jahromi previously said. Officials planned for the satellite, whose name means “victory” in Farsi, to remain in orbit for 18 months before crashing back through the Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrating.
Sunday’s failure came after two failed launches of the Payam and Doosti satellites last year, as well as a launchpad rocket explosion in August. A separate fire at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in February 2019 also killed three researchers, authorities said at the time.
The rocket explosion in August drew even the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who later tweeted what appeared to be a classified surveillance image of the launch failure. The three failures in a row raised suspicion of outside interference in Iran’s program, something Trump himself hinted at by tweeting that the U.S. “was not involved in the catastrophic accident.”
Iran postponed the launch from Saturday, the same day the country faced a major cyberattack.
The U.S. alleges such satellite launches defy a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Iran to undertake no activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. American officials, as well as European nations, worry such launches could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment and the White House did not immediately acknowledge the launch.
Iran, which long has said it does not seek nuclear weapons, maintains its satellite launches and rocket tests do not have a military component. Tehran also says it hasn’t violated the U.N. resolution as it only “called upon” Tehran not to conduct such tests. Western missile experts have also questioned the U.S. contention that Iran’s program could have a dual use for nuclear weapons.
Over the past decade, Iran has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit and in 2013 launched a monkey into space.
The launch comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018. Iran since has begun breaking terms of the deal limiting its enrichment of uranium.
Meanwhile, a series of attacks across the Persian Gulf culminated with a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani and a retaliatory ballistic missile strike by Iran on Iraqi bases housing American troops earlier this month. Iran also accidentally shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner taking off from Tehran amid the tensions, killing all 176 people on board.
Earlier Sunday, Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile.
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--Whicker: Brendon Todd finds his way back inside the ropes, where treasures await

Brendon Todd drove to the golf courses like a man approaching a tax audit .
Putting the car in “ park ” was the gateway to misery .
He knew that he would go to the range and watch an independent-minded ball soar in directions Todd had not intended .
He knew that on Friday afternoon he would head to another airport , cut and bleeding .
Todd was already a winner on the PGA Tour and had already put one dogged slump behind him .
But this one had stubbornly endured second , third , fourth , fifth opinions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the worst golfing virus , except it was also “ the fairway yips , ” which attacked Todd ’ s big clubs .
It is difficult to shoot low scores from behind the ropes .
At one point Todd missed 37 of 40 cuts .
“ You go to the course with bad thoughts before you even start , ” Todd said .
“ Usually , after about six holes , you realize that all the stuff that you ’ ve been working so hard on is not working.
” The yips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a PGA Tour event in Bermuda and then a full-field tournament at Mayakoba , Mexico , getting him back into the Masters and , more critically , letting him plan his schedule for the next two seasons .
Todd used that privilege to skip the past three tournaments .
He plays at Riviera in the Genesis Open Thursday , the best field of the season so far , with black tape all over his rear-view mirror .
“ I ’ ve won at every level , ” Todd said .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ ve converted two of them .
I have that pedigree , and I knew I could and I thought I would , but there was certainly no guarantee.
” Todd shot 24-under in Bermuda , 20-under at Mayakoba , and then 16-under at Sea Island , Ga. , where he finished fourth .
He shot 68 or better in 12 consecutive rounds .
Only Todd and Tiger Woods have done that since 1983 .
“ I was more surprised when I didn ’ t hit a good shot , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks about getting into a ‘ flow state.
’ That was the epitome.
” Todd is 34 , beat Rickie Fowler in a U.S .
Amateur match , beat Webb Simpson twice for North Carolina high school championships , and was a four-year factor at Georgia .
In 2010 he didn ’ t make a cut all year on what was then the Nationwide Tour , but in 2014 he won the Byron Nelson Classic .
When the new yips invaded , Todd quickly disappeared .
If you ’ re not among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t win a Players Championship or win an event every other year , you ’ re basically a temp .
Todd missed 20 of 21 cuts in 2016 and was gone , except for sponsor ’ s exemptions , or tournaments with such weak fields that he could enter as a former winner .
Meanwhile , the helpers in his world began hindering .
“ People don ’ t talk about it enough , but not every teacher on the range is good for everyone , ” Todd said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My issue was not being able to square the club .
Some teachers convince you that the backswing really matters .
The only thing that matters is swinging down and hitting it straight from the top.
” A former Georgia teammate mentioned former tour player Bradey Hughes , an Australian who had written “ The Great Shot Makers.
” Hughes put a small , round “ impact bag ” in front of Todd and asked to swing the club with one hand , then two .
Slowly Todd worked his back to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address the downswing in the way I ’ d needed to , ” Todd said .
Todd still couldn ’ t qualify for the Triple-A tour , but at least knew where the ball was , and wasn ’ t , going .
By the middle of 2019 he was making cuts again .
In the meantime , Todd noticed that the tour ’ s proud , independent-contractor ethic can seem forbidding when the contracts expire .
“ You don ’ t have many guys coming up to you asking about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is kinda weird .
You have your own brain , your coach , your history .
We all just try to stick to our little box and hope we can make our box work .
“ Nobody wants to come up and say , at random , look , I see you ’ re struggling , how can i help ?
I had guys come up and tell me I was better than this .
But they didn ’ t tell me how to get out of it.
” “ I had zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 percent .
It ’ s just a matter how efficient I am , how many birdies I can get.
” It ’ s also a matter of how quickly Brendon Todd can get to a golf course , Augusta National in particular .

Brendon Todd drove to the golf courses like a man approaching a tax audit.
Putting the car in “park” was the gateway to misery. He knew that he would go to the range and watch an independent-minded ball soar in directions Todd had not intended. He knew that on Friday afternoon he would head to another airport, cut and bleeding.
Todd was already a winner on the PGA Tour and had already put one dogged slump behind him. But this one had stubbornly endured second, third, fourth, fifth opinions.
It was “the yips,” the worst golfing virus, except it was also “the fairway yips,” which attacked Todd’s big clubs. It is difficult to shoot low scores from behind the ropes. At one point Todd missed 37 of 40 cuts.
“You go to the course with bad thoughts before you even start,” Todd said. “Usually, after about six holes, you realize that all the stuff that you’ve been working so hard on is not working.”
The yips finally left in 2019. Todd won a PGA Tour event in Bermuda and then a full-field tournament at Mayakoba, Mexico, getting him back into the Masters and, more critically, letting him plan his schedule for the next two seasons.
Todd used that privilege to skip the past three tournaments. He plays at Riviera in the Genesis Open Thursday, the best field of the season so far, with black tape all over his rear-view mirror.
“I’ve won at every level,” Todd said. “I’ve held two 54-hole leads out here and I’ve converted two of them. I have that pedigree, and I knew I could and I thought I would, but there was certainly no guarantee.”
Todd shot 24-under in Bermuda, 20-under at Mayakoba, and then 16-under at Sea Island, Ga., where he finished fourth. He shot 68 or better in 12 consecutive rounds. Only Todd and Tiger Woods have done that since 1983.
“I was more surprised when I didn’t hit a good shot,” Todd said. “My mental coach talks about getting into a ‘flow state.’ That was the epitome.”
Todd is 34, beat Rickie Fowler in a U.S. Amateur match, beat Webb Simpson twice for North Carolina high school championships, and was a four-year factor at Georgia. In 2010 he didn’t make a cut all year on what was then the Nationwide Tour, but in 2014 he won the Byron Nelson Classic.
When the new yips invaded, Todd quickly disappeared. If you’re not among the Top 50 players, or if you don’t win a Players Championship or win an event every other year, you’re basically a temp. Todd missed 20 of 21 cuts in 2016 and was gone, except for sponsor’s exemptions, or tournaments with such weak fields that he could enter as a former winner.
Meanwhile, the helpers in his world began hindering.
“People don’t talk about it enough, but not every teacher on the range is good for everyone,” Todd said. “I went through four or five. My issue was not being able to square the club. Some teachers convince you that the backswing really matters. The only thing that matters is swinging down and hitting it straight from the top.”
A former Georgia teammate mentioned former tour player Bradey Hughes, an Australian who had written “The Great Shot Makers.” Hughes put a small, round “impact bag” in front of Todd and asked to swing the club with one hand, then two. Slowly Todd worked his back to “square.”
“Nobody else had wanted to address the downswing in the way I’d needed to,” Todd said.
Todd still couldn’t qualify for the Triple-A tour, but at least knew where the ball was, and wasn’t, going. By the middle of 2019 he was making cuts again.
In the meantime, Todd noticed that the tour’s proud, independent-contractor ethic can seem forbidding when the contracts expire.
“You don’t have many guys coming up to you asking about it,” he said, “which is kinda weird. You have your own brain, your coach, your history. We all just try to stick to our little box and hope we can make our box work.
“Nobody wants to come up and say, at random, look, I see you’re struggling, how can i help? I had guys come up and tell me I was better than this. But they didn’t tell me how to get out of it.”
Now?
“I had zero confidence and now it’s at 100 percent. It’s just a matter how efficient I am, how many birdies I can get.”
It’s also a matter of how quickly Brendon Todd can get to a golf course, Augusta National in particular.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--Pedestrian critically injured in San Francisco when he’s struck by vehicle

SAN FRANCISCO — A man was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in Ingleside Heights early Sunday morning @ @ @ @ @ The collision was reported about 3:15 a.m. at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Junipero @ @ @ @ @ Michael Andraychak said .
The man was struck by a red Toyota Prius traveling southbound @ @ @ @ @ victim was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries , according to @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle stayed at the scene .
Anyone with information on the collision is asked @ @ @ @ @ 415 ) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD @

Bay City News
SAN FRANCISCO — A man was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in Ingleside Heights early Sunday morning, according to police.
The collision was reported about 3:15 a.m. at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Junipero Serra Boulevard, Sgt. Michael Andraychak said. The man was struck by a red Toyota Prius traveling southbound on 19th Avenue.
The victim was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to Andraychak. The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--‘John Wayne is a racist:’ Oscars 50 years ago struggled with a new world order

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
At Sunday night ’ s Academy Awards , Joaquin Phoenix is expected to win the best actor Oscar for his performance in “ Joker , ” and people are waiting to see if the passionately progressive actor will use his global platform to make some kind of political statement — as he has been doing at other awards ceremonies the past few months .
But 50 years ago , a very different sort movie star was named best actor , and , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political controversy .
On April 7 , 1970 , the conservative screen legend John Wayne took the stage to accept the best actor trophy for his role as Rooster Cogburn in the Western “ True Grit , ” which was released the year before .
But unlike other winners in subsequent years , Wayne kept politics out of his acceptance speech .
After he took the trophy from presenter Barbra Streisand , he jokingly referred to his long career and the eyepatch he wore to portray the aging U.S .
Marshal .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , I would have put on that patch 35 years old.
” he said .
Wayne ’ s legendary career in Westerns and war films explains one reason he won that night .
As much as critics praised his performance in “ True Grit , ” it ’ s also believed he was being rewarded for his larger-than-life persona , representing a certain ideal of American courage and manliness .
But in April 1970 , those ideals were being questioned .
Both the film industry and America were in the midst of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War , Civil Rights and the clash of values between a younger generation and the Old Guard , represented by someone like Wayne .
This culture clash was evident during Wayne ’ s arrival for the big night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion .
The actor and his wife “ caused the most commotion ” as they walked the red carpet , according to the book , “ Inside Oscar : The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards.
” Most of the fans were screaming in delight to see the screen legend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that said , said , “ John Wayne is a racist.
” Wayne would provide strong ammunition to that accusation the following year when he gave an incendiary , wide-ranging interview with Playboy .
While talking about race relations in America , Wayne notoriously said , “ I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility.
” Wayne also said , “ I don ’ t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.
” Later in the interview , Wayne , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” were accused of perpetuating stereotypes about Native Americans , hit back by accusingNative Americans of “ selfishly trying to keep ( North America ) to themselves.
” Hollywood ’ s treatment of minorities was indeed the focus of other protests at the 1970 awards ceremony , according to “ Inside Oscar.
” Some demonstrators protested the fact that only three black musicians were playing in the show ’ s orchestra , while others criticized the nominations for “ The Wild Bunch ” and “ Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , the clash between Hollywood ’ s Old Guard and the values of new counter-culture-minded filmmakers was evident in how that year ’ s films handled the Western genre .
On one hand , there was “ True Grit , ” which represented a more traditional , “ square ” version of the genre , according to “ Inside Oscar.
” It ’ s true that Wayne ’ s Cogburn wasn ’ t the lean , laconic , heroic figure the actor played when he , and Hollywood , were younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review , Cogburn is a “ roughshod , fat old rascal.
” But Ebert also said that Wayne ’ s protagonist has a heart of gold .
Moreover , Wayne “ towers ” over the movie with his “ special presence ” and “ authority.
” Ebert said , “ God loves the old pros.
” Meanwhile , that year ’ s other westerns were represented by “ The Wild Bunch ” and “ Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid , ” films by directors who brought more irreverent , modern and graphic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more starkly , that year ’ s best picture winner deconstructed the American cowboy ideal that Wayne long represented .
“ Midnight Cowboy , ” was a gritty , contemporary X-rated drama that followed the tragic misadventures of Joe Buck , a young Texan dishwasher played by Jon Voight , who also was nominated for best actor .
Joe heads to New York City and tries to make it as male prostitute .
Joe plays cowboy to attract female clients : He dons the hat , boots and jacket that Wayne might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 30 or 40 years earlier .
In his Playboy interview , Wayne blasted the depiction of gay sex in “ Midnight Cowboy.
” He also used a homophobic slur to describe the characters played by Voight and Dustin Hoffman .
“ It ’ s been quite a year for movies , ” longtime Oscars host Bob Hope said at the beginning of 1970 ’ s ceremony .
“ You live in a wonderful age .
… This will go down in history as the cinema season which proved that crime does ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fortune in adultery , incest and homosexuality.
” “ That ’ s what we ’ re honoring tonight : A sadistic king , a consumptive drifter , a male hustler , a school teacher drop-out and a one-eyed sheriff , ” Hope continued .
“ This is not an Academy Awards : It ’ s a freakout , ladies and gentlemen.
” When Wayne accepted his award , he seemed to want to offer his institutional gravitas as a counterweight to the “ freakout.
” Wayne referred to his own role in Oscars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m no stranger to this podium.I ’ ve come up here and picked up these beautiful golden men before , but always for friends .
One night I picked up two .
One for Admiral John Ford ( the director ) , and one for the beloved Gary Cooper ( who died in 1961 ) .
” Wayne then graciously put in a plug for the institution and thanked people for offering their support .
“ I feel very grateful , very humble , ” said Wayne , who himself died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1979 .
“ I want to thank the members of the academy .
And all you people who are watching .
Thank you for taking such a warm interest in our glorious industry .
Good night .
”

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
At Sunday night’s Academy Awards, Joaquin Phoenix is expected to win the best actor Oscar for his performance in “Joker,” and people are waiting to see if the passionately progressive actor will use his global platform to make some kind of political statement — as he has been doing at other awards ceremonies the past few months.
But 50 years ago, a very different sort of movie star was named best actor and he, too, was a lightning rod for political controversy.
On April 7, 1970, the conservative screen legend John Wayne took the stage to accept the best actor trophy for his role as Rooster Cogburn in the Western “True Grit,” which was released the year before.
But unlike other winners in subsequent years, Wayne kept politics out of his acceptance speech. After he took the trophy from presenter Barbra Streisand, he jokingly referred to his long career and the eyepatch he wore to portray the aging U.S. Marshal. “Wow, if I’d known that, I would have put on that patch 35 years ago,” he said.
Wayne’s legendary career in Westerns and war films explains one reason he won that night. As much as critics praised his performance in “True Grit,” it’s also believed he was being rewarded for his larger-than-life persona, representing a certain ideal of American courage and manliness.
But in April 1970, those ideals were being questioned. Both the film industry and America were in the midst of a seismic cultural debate over the Vietnam War and Civil Rights, and the clash of values between a younger generation and the Old Guard, represented by someone like Wayne.
This culture clash was evident during Wayne’s arrival for the big night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The actor and his wife “caused the most commotion” as they walked the red carpet, according to the book, “Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards.”
Most of the fans were screaming in delight to see the screen legend, but one person held up a sign that said, “John Wayne is a racist.”
Wayne would provide strong ammunition for that accusation the following year when he gave an incendiary, wide-ranging interview with Playboy. While talking about race relations in America, Wayne notoriously said, “I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility.”
Wayne also said, “I don’t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.” Later in the interview, Wayne, whose Westerns, especially “The Searchers,” were accused of perpetuating stereotypes about Native Americans, hit back by accusing Native Americans of “selfishly trying to keep (North America) to themselves.”
Hollywood’s treatment of minorities was indeed the focus of other protests at the 1970 awards ceremony, according to “Inside Oscar.” Some demonstrators protested the fact that only three black musicians were playing in the show’s orchestra, while others criticized the nominations for “The Wild Bunch” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” because of their negative portrayal of Latinos.
Meanwhile, the clash between Hollywood’s Old Guard and the values of new counterculture-minded filmmakers was evident in how that year’s films handled the Western genre.
On the one hand, there was “True Grit,” which represented a more traditional, “square” version of the genre, according to “Inside Oscar.”
It’s true that Wayne’s Cogburn wasn’t the lean, laconic, heroic figure the actor played when both he and Hollywood were younger. As Roger Ebert said in his review, Cogburn is a “roughshod, fat old rascal.” But Ebert also said that Wayne’s protagonist has a heart of gold. Moreover, Wayne “towers” over the movie with his “special presence” and “authority.” Ebert said, “God loves the old pros.”
Meanwhile, that year’s other Westerns were represented by “The Wild Bunch” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” films by directors who brought more irreverent, modern and graphic cinematic sensibilities to the genre.
Even more starkly, that year’s best picture winner deconstructed the American cowboy ideal that Wayne long represented. “Midnight Cowboy” was a gritty, contemporary X-rated drama that followed the tragic misadventures of Joe Buck, a young Texan dishwasher played by Jon Voight, who also was nominated for best actor (and who later developed conservative leanings in his support for President Donald Trump). Joe heads to New York City and tries to make it as a male prostitute. He plays cowboy to attract female clients: He dons the hat, boots and jacket that Wayne might have costumed himself in for his Westerns 20, 30 or 40 years earlier.
In his Playboy interview, Wayne blasted the depiction of gay sex in “Midnight Cowboy.” He also used a homophobic slur to describe the characters played by Voight and Dustin Hoffman.
“It’s been quite a year for movies,” longtime Oscars host Bob Hope said at the beginning of 1970’s ceremony. “You live in a wonderful age. … This will go down in history as the cinema season which proved that crime does’t pay, but there’s a fortune in adultery, incest and homosexuality.
“That’s what we’re honoring tonight: A sadistic king, a consumptive drifter, a male hustler, a school teacher drop-out and a one-eyed sheriff,” Hope continued. “This is not an Academy Awards: It’s a freakout, ladies and gentlemen.”
When Wayne accepted his award, he seemed to want to offer his institutional gravitas as a counterweight to the “freakout.”
Wayne referred to his own role in Oscars history.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m no stranger to this podium. I’ve come up here and picked up these beautiful golden men before, but always for friends. One night I picked up two. One for Admiral John Ford (the director), and one for the beloved Gary Cooper (who died in 1961).”
Wayne then graciously put in a plug for the institution and thanked people for offering their support.
“I feel very grateful, very humble,” said Wayne, who died at the end of the decade in 1979. “I want to thank the members of the academy. And all you people who are watching. Thank you for taking such a warm interest in our glorious industry. Good night.”


mercurynews--2020-02-09--Fremont: Fleeing suspect rams police car, injures woman in collision

A 16-year-old suspect rammed his vehicle into a patrol car and led Fremont police officers on a pursuit early Sunday morning before colliding with another car , causing major injuries to the other driver , authorities said .
Around 1:50 a.m. Sunday , a patrol officer spotted an Infiniti sedan wanted in connection with a recent felony grand theft incident , according to a news release from the Fremont Police Department .
The officer stopped the car in the parking lot of the Kaiser Permanente facility on Paseo Padre Parkway , and held the driver at gunpoint while other officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentionally rammed the officer ’ s patrol vehicle and other parked cars , and maneuvered out of the parking lot at a high speed .
Officers followed the suspect , who sped westbound on Mowry Ave. , blowing through red lights and failing to yield for officers , according to authorities .
The suspect ’ s car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Mowry Avenue and Farwell Drive , causing the other vehicle to flip over .
Police said the suspect fled on foot and was apprehended nearby in a hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ jaws of life ” rescue tools , extricated a woman from the car struck by the suspect .
The woman suffered major injuries and was taken to a nearby trauma center .
The suspect also suffered major injuries and was taken to the hospital .
Neither the suspect nor the woman who was injured were believed to have life-threatening injuries , according to police .
The suspect , whose name will not be released because he is a juvenile , was found to have two active warrants for robbery in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police said they are recommending the suspect be charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon , for ramming into an officer ’ s vehicle ; felony vandalism , felony reckless evading and evading causing serious bodily injury , and other charges related to his outstanding warrants .
The suspect ’ s family was contacted Sunday after the incident , according to Fremont Police spokesperson Geneva Bosques .
It was unclear on Sunday morning whether the suspect had been released from the hospital , Bosques said .

A 16-year-old suspect rammed his vehicle into a patrol car and led Fremont police officers on a pursuit early Sunday morning before colliding with another car, causing major injuries to the other driver, authorities said.
Around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, a patrol officer spotted an Infiniti sedan wanted in connection with a recent felony grand theft incident, according to a news release from the Fremont Police Department. The officer stopped the car in the parking lot of the Kaiser Permanente facility on Paseo Padre Parkway, and held the driver at gunpoint while other officers responded to the scene.
The suspect intentionally rammed the officer’s patrol vehicle and other parked cars, and maneuvered out of the parking lot at a high speed. Officers followed the suspect, who sped westbound on Mowry Ave., blowing through red lights and failing to yield for officers, according to authorities.
The suspect’s car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Mowry Avenue and Farwell Drive, causing the other vehicle to flip over. Police said the suspect fled on foot and was apprehended nearby in a hotel parking lot.
Fremont firefighters, using “jaws of life” rescue tools, extricated a woman from the car struck by the suspect. The woman suffered major injuries and was taken to a nearby trauma center. The suspect also suffered major injuries and was taken to the hospital.
Neither the suspect nor the woman who was injured were believed to have life-threatening injuries, according to police.
The suspect, whose name will not be released because he is a juvenile, was found to have two active warrants for robbery in San Francisco County, according to police.
Fremont police said they are recommending the suspect be charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, for ramming into an officer’s vehicle; felony vandalism, felony reckless evading and evading causing serious bodily injury, and other charges related to his outstanding warrants.
The suspect’s family was contacted Sunday after the incident, according to Fremont Police spokesperson Geneva Bosques. It was unclear on Sunday morning whether the suspect had been released from the hospital, Bosques said.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--Man found stabbed to death in West Oakland

A man was found stabbed to death Sunday morning in West Oakland , according to authorities .
The man , @ @ @ @ @ 50s , was found around 7:55 a.m. near a homeless encampment in the area of @ @ @ @ @ King Jr. Way .
He was pronounced dead at the scene , according to the @ @ @ @ @ do not believe he was a resident of the camp .
Investigators were trying to @ @ @ @ @ and any potential motive .
This is the second homicide investigated by Oakland police this @ @ @ @ @ last year , police had investigated nine homicides .
Oakland Police and Crime Stoppers of @ @ @ @ @ $ 10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of suspects .
Anyone @ @ @ @ @ Police at 510-238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572 .

A man was found stabbed to death Sunday at a West Oakland homeless encampment, according to authorities.
The man, 52, was found around 7:55 a.m. at an homeless encampment in the area of 37th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Oakland police. His name had not been released Monday, pending family notification.
Police said he appeared to have been dead several hours and lived at another encampment several blocks away. Investigators were trying to determine where the stabbing occurred and any potential motive.
No arrests were immediately made.
This is the second homicide investigated by Oakland police this year. At this time last year, police had investigated nine homicides.
Oakland Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of suspects.
Anyone with information can call Oakland Police at 510-238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--Steph Curry on an early March return: ‘That’s the plan’

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SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr has said a few times this season that Stephen Curry can ’ t wait to get back on the court .
During the Warriors ’ loss to the Lakers on Saturday , Curry said as much in his own words .
Asked on the ABC broadcast when he thinks he ’ ll return from left hand surgery , Curry said he ’ s targeting the first week of March , the same timeline Golden State coaches and executives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was the first time Curry publicly acknowledged that as his return date .
“ That ’ s the plan , ” Curry said .
“ It ’ s been the plan since surgery knowing the timeline with the injury , as severe as it was .
I ’ m not rushing but I ’ m setting a goal that , hopefully , I can meet .
The first week of March .
Hopefully I can get back out on the floor with my teammates and hopefully end the season on a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 for a broken left hand he suffered in the fourth game of the season , Curry will be evaluated again on March 1 , before the Warriors play the Washington Wizards at Chase Center .
Over the next few weeks , he will ramp up his on-court work to include contact drills and scrimmages in practice .
With Andrew Wiggins now in Golden State , an early March return would give the Warriors 20-or-so games to analyze the fit between Curry , Wiggins and Draymond Green as they head into a pivotal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 3 more takeaways from the Warriors ’ loss to the Lakers • How did Andrew Wiggins look in his first Warriors game ?
Three takeaways • Andrew Wiggins shows promise in debut as Warriors fall to Lakers , 125-120 • The D ’ Angelo Russell experiment was doomed from the start

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SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr has said a few times this season that Stephen Curry can’t wait to get back on the court. During the Warriors’ loss to the Lakers on Saturday, Curry said as much in his own words.
Asked on the ABC broadcast when he thinks he’ll return from left hand surgery, Curry said he’s targeting the first week of March, the same timeline Golden State coaches and executives have recently mentioned. This, however, was the first time Curry publicly acknowledged that as his return date.
“That’s the plan,” Curry said. “It’s been the plan since surgery knowing the timeline with the injury, as severe as it was. I’m not rushing but I’m setting a goal that, hopefully, I can meet. The first week of March. Hopefully I can get back out on the floor with my teammates and hopefully end the season on a strong note.”
After being re-evaluated on Feb. 1 for a broken left hand he suffered in the fourth game of the season, Curry will be evaluated again on March 1, before the Warriors play the Washington Wizards at Chase Center. Over the next few weeks, he will ramp up his on-court work to include contact drills and scrimmages in practice.
With Andrew Wiggins now in Golden State, an early March return would give the Warriors 20-or-so games to analyze the fit between Curry, Wiggins and Draymond Green as they head into a pivotal summer.


mercurynews--2020-02-09--Hurricane-force winds pound UK and Europe, upend travel

LONDON — Storm Ciara battered the U.K. and northern Europe with hurricane-force winds and heavy rains Sunday , halting flights and trains and producing heaving seas that closed down ports .
Soccer games , farmers ’ markets and cultural events were canceled as authorities urged millions of people to stay indoors , away from falling tree branches .
The storm , named by the U.K. ’ s Met Office weather agency , brought gales across the country and delivered gusts of 97 miles per hour to the Isle of White and 93 mph ( 150 kph ) to the village @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the fierce winds , a British Airways plane was thought to have made the fastest New York-to-London flight by a conventional airliner .
The Boeing 747-436 completed the 3,500-mile transatlantic journey in 4 hours and 56 minutes , landing 102 minutes early and reaching a top speed of 825 mph ( 1,327 kph ) , according to flight tracking website Flightradar24 .
Two Virgin Airlines flights also roared across the Atlantic , with all three smashing the previous subsonic New York-to-London record of 5 hours and 13 minutes , Flightradar24 reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pounded rock cliffs and cement docks .
The Met Office issued more than 250 flood warnings , and public safety agencies urged people to avoid travel and the temptation to take selfies as floodwaters rose .
Residents in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland in northwest England battled to protect their homes amid severe flooding as the River Eden burst its banks .
At least 10 rail companies in Britain sent out “ do not travel ” warnings , while nearly 20 others told passengers to expect extensive delays .
The strong winds damaged electrical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tree limbs and other debris , including a family trampoline .
Huge crowds of stranded , frustrated travelers were seen at London ’ s King ’ s Cross and Euston train stations .
Train crews planned to work all night to try to restore service , but Monday morning commutes were expected to be long and chaotic .
Dozens of flights were canceled at London airports due to heavy wind .
Heathrow Airport and several airlines consolidated flights Sunday to reduce the number of cancellations .
British Airways offered to rebook customers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gatwick and London City airports .
Virgin Airlines canceled some flights .
Lufthansa airlines said there would be numerous cancellations and delays beginning Sunday afternoon and running until at least Tuesday morning .
The airline planned to keep operating long-haul flights at its main Frankfurt hub .
Eurowings , a budget subsidiary of Lufthansa , canceled most flights for the duration of the storm .
Brussels Airport also saw delays or cancellations .
Two huge ports on either side of the English Channel , Dover in England and Calais in France , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dover was partially reopened after being closed for 10 hours .
Ferries stopped running there and across the region , including in the turbulent Irish Sea and North Sea .
The Humber Bridge in northern England also shut down , a move its website said was only the second time the massive bridge had been entirely closed .
Breaking with her usual Sunday routine , Queen Elizabeth II did not attend church in Sandringham to keep her out of harm ’ s way during the storm .
The Met Office said most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ciara by 9 p.m. , when the storm had moved on to northeastern Scotland .
However , forecasters predicted more blustery weather Monday , including much colder temperatures and snow in some northern areas .
“ While Storm Ciara is clearing away , that doesn ’ t mean we ’ re entering a quieter period of weather , ” Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said .
“ Blizzards aren ’ t out of the question.
” In Ireland , an estimated 10,000 homes , farms and businesses had their power knocked out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that a combination of high tides , high seas and stormy conditions had created a significant risk of coastal flooding , particularly in the west and northwest .
Fierce winds knocked out electricity in northern France as well .
Paris authorities sent out a warning to residents and tourists alike to stay indoors for their own safety .
Parks and cemeteries in the city of Lille and nearby towns shut down as strong winds cracked heavy branches .
Open-air markets closed early .
Luxembourg and the German city of Cologne announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid travelling under dangerous conditions .
In Germany , where the storm was known as “ Sabine , ” national railway operator Deutsche Bahn canceled long-distance trains to destinations most at risk , including Emden and Norddeich in Germany ’ s northwestern corner , the northern city of Kiel and the North Sea island of Sylt .
“ We have learned from previous storms that it ’ s better not to have trains travel into critical regions in the first place , ” Deutsche Bahn spokesman Achim Stauss said .
“ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck between stations.
” Teams of railway employees fanned out with chainsaws to remove any fallen trees blocking the tracks .
In Denmark , meteorologists warned about possible hurricane-force winds coming late Sunday , and flights were canceled out of Copenhagen .
Danish authorities warned motorists not to cross large bridges , including the Great Belt Bridge that links eastern and western parts of Denmark .
The storm was also expected to smash into southern Norway ’ s coast and hit southern and western parts of Sweden .
In the world of sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ races , rugby matches and other events were called off , including the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham .
A 10-K run in London that was expected to draw 25,000 participants was also canceled .
The Dutch football association called off all matches Sunday in the top-flight league due to safety concerns , as did Belgium ’ s top two soccer leagues , the Jupiler Pro League and Proximus League .
A German soccer league match between title challenger Borussia Moenchengladbach and Cologne was also put off .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cyclists made the most of the wild conditions to take part in the Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships .
Using only basic bikes without gears , lightweight frames or drop handlebars , contestants rode a timed 8.5-kilometer ( 5.3-mile ) course along the coast of southern Zeeland province .
Blasted by winds , blinded by blowing sand from nearby beaches , the cyclists struggled to stay upright .
“ I survived , but it ’ s very tough , ” said Hans Deting , 56 , his right hand dripping with blood after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a bucket list thing , ” rider Edwin van Gaalen explained , as he leaned on his handlebars , gasping for breath after finishing .
• Iran again fails to put satellite into orbit amid US worries • Coronavirus : When will it end ?
• US official : American casualties in Afghan military mission Ultimately , the gale-force winds became too strong even for this macho event .
Organizers brought the race to an early end after 250 of the 300 riders had finished .
Angela Charlton in Paris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Neeltjejans , the Netherlands , contributed .

By Sheila Norman-Culp | Associated Press
LONDON — Storm Ciara battered the U.K. and northern Europe with hurricane-force winds and heavy rains Sunday, halting flights and trains and producing heaving seas that closed down ports. Soccer games, farmers’ markets and cultural events were canceled as authorities urged millions of people to stay indoors, away from falling tree branches.
The storm, named by the U.K.’s Met Office weather agency, brought gales across the country and delivered gusts of 97 miles per hour to the Isle of White and 93 mph (150 kph) to the village of Aberdaron in northern Wales. Propelled by the fierce winds, a British Airways plane was thought to have made the fastest New York-to-London flight by a conventional airliner.
The Boeing 747-436 completed the 3,500-mile transatlantic journey in 4 hours and 56 minutes, landing 102 minutes early and reaching a top speed of 825 mph (1,327 kph), according to flight tracking website Flightradar24. Two Virgin Airlines flights also roared across the Atlantic, with all three smashing the previous subsonic New York-to-London record of 5 hours and 13 minutes, Flightradar24 reported.
Storm surges ate away at beaches and pounded rock cliffs and cement docks. The Met Office issued more than 250 flood warnings, and public safety agencies urged people to avoid travel and the temptation to take selfies as floodwaters rose. Residents in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland in northwest England battled to protect their homes amid severe flooding as the River Eden burst its banks.
At least 10 rail companies in Britain sent out “do not travel” warnings, while nearly 20 others told passengers to expect extensive delays. The strong winds damaged electrical wires and littered train tracks with broken tree limbs and other debris, including a family trampoline.
Huge crowds of stranded, frustrated travelers were seen at London’s King’s Cross and Euston train stations. Train crews planned to work all night to try to restore service, but Monday morning commutes were expected to be long and chaotic.
[vemba-video id=”van/ns-acc/2020/02/09/IN-44SU_CNNA-ST1-1000000005a19347″]
Dozens of flights were canceled at London airports due to heavy wind. Heathrow Airport and several airlines consolidated flights Sunday to reduce the number of cancellations. British Airways offered to rebook customers for domestic and European flights out of Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports. Virgin Airlines canceled some flights.
Lufthansa airlines said there would be numerous cancellations and delays beginning Sunday afternoon and running until at least Tuesday morning. The airline planned to keep operating long-haul flights at its main Frankfurt hub. Eurowings, a budget subsidiary of Lufthansa, canceled most flights for the duration of the storm.
Brussels Airport also saw delays or cancellations.
Two huge ports on either side of the English Channel, Dover in England and Calais in France, shut down operations amid high waves. Dover was partially reopened after being closed for 10 hours. Ferries stopped running there and across the region, including in the turbulent Irish Sea and North Sea.
The Humber Bridge in northern England also shut down, a move its website said was only the second time the massive bridge had been entirely closed.
Breaking with her usual Sunday routine, Queen Elizabeth II did not attend church in Sandringham to keep her out of harm’s way during the storm.
The Met Office said most of the U.K. likely had seen the worst of Ciara by 9 p.m., when the storm had moved on to northeastern Scotland. However, forecasters predicted more blustery weather Monday, including much colder temperatures and snow in some northern areas.
“While Storm Ciara is clearing away, that doesn’t mean we’re entering a quieter period of weather,” Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said. “Blizzards aren’t out of the question.”
In Ireland, an estimated 10,000 homes, farms and businesses had their power knocked out Sunday. National weather agency Met Eireann warned that a combination of high tides, high seas and stormy conditions had created a significant risk of coastal flooding, particularly in the west and northwest.
Fierce winds knocked out electricity in northern France as well. Paris authorities sent out a warning to residents and tourists alike to stay indoors for their own safety. Parks and cemeteries in the city of Lille and nearby towns shut down as strong winds cracked heavy branches. Open-air markets closed early.
Luxembourg and the German city of Cologne announced that all school children could stay home Monday to avoid travelling under dangerous conditions.
In Germany, where the storm was known as “Sabine,” national railway operator Deutsche Bahn canceled long-distance trains to destinations most at risk, including Emden and Norddeich in Germany’s northwestern corner, the northern city of Kiel and the North Sea island of Sylt.
“We have learned from previous storms that it’s better not to have trains travel into critical regions in the first place,” Deutsche Bahn spokesman Achim Stauss said. “What we want to avoid is trains getting stuck between stations.”
Teams of railway employees fanned out with chainsaws to remove any fallen trees blocking the tracks.
In Denmark, meteorologists warned about possible hurricane-force winds coming late Sunday, and flights were canceled out of Copenhagen. Danish authorities warned motorists not to cross large bridges, including the Great Belt Bridge that links eastern and western parts of Denmark.
The storm was also expected to smash into southern Norway’s coast and hit southern and western parts of Sweden.
In the world of sports, dozens of soccer games, horse races, rugby matches and other events were called off, including the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham. A 10-K run in London that was expected to draw 25,000 participants was also canceled.
The Dutch football association called off all matches Sunday in the top-flight league due to safety concerns, as did Belgium’s top two soccer leagues, the Jupiler Pro League and Proximus League. A German soccer league match between title challenger Borussia Moenchengladbach and Cologne was also put off.
Yet in the Netherlands, an intrepid band of cyclists made the most of the wild conditions to take part in the Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships.
Using only basic bikes without gears, lightweight frames or drop handlebars, contestants rode a timed 8.5-kilometer (5.3-mile) course along the coast of southern Zeeland province. Blasted by winds, blinded by blowing sand from nearby beaches, the cyclists struggled to stay upright.
“I survived, but it’s very tough,” said Hans Deting, 56, his right hand dripping with blood after being blown off his bike.
“This is a bucket list thing,” rider Edwin van Gaalen explained, as he leaned on his handlebars, gasping for breath after finishing.
Ultimately, the gale-force winds became too strong even for this macho event. Organizers brought the race to an early end after 250 of the 300 riders had finished.
Angela Charlton in Paris, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Mike Corder in Neeltjejans, the Netherlands, contributed.


mercurynews--2020-02-10--California man posed as an Uber or Lyft driver to lure women into his car, police say. They want oth

California man posed as an Uber or Lyft driver to lure women into his car, police say. They want other potential victims to come forward

A California man accused of posing as a rideshare driver faces charges including burglary , false imprisonment and attempted sexual battery .
Now police are asking other potential victims to come forward .
Nassef Ragheb , 48 , of Bakersfield was arrested Friday , Bakersfield police said .
Authorities linked him to several investigations in 2018 , 2019 and 2020 .
In the most recent case , on February 1 , officers investigated a prowling incident in Bakersfield .
Ragheb was identified as the suspect , police said .
Investigators said Ragheb is also linked to two other incidents — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly posed as an Uber or Lyft driver and tried to get women to enter his vehicle .
On at least one occasion , Ragheb allegedly drove a victim to her home and forcibly kissed her , police said .
In another case , a victim reported seeing Ragheb in the victim ’ s backyard , peering into the windows , authorities said .
And in another instance , Ragheb allegedly entered another victim ’ s home through an unlocked door , investigators said .
All incidents took place in northwest Bakersfield , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday whether Ragheb had an attorney .
Authorities ask anyone else who might have been a victim to call 661-326-3554 .

A California man accused of posing as a rideshare driver faces charges including burglary, false imprisonment and attempted sexual battery.
Now police are asking other potential victims to come forward.
Nassef Ragheb, 48, of Bakersfield was arrested Friday, Bakersfield police said. Authorities linked him to several investigations in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
In the most recent case, on February 1, officers investigated a prowling incident in Bakersfield. Ragheb was identified as the suspect, police said.
Investigators said Ragheb is also linked to two other incidents — in 2018 and 2019 — when Ragheb allegedly posed as an Uber or Lyft driver and tried to get women to enter his vehicle.
On at least one occasion, Ragheb allegedly drove a victim to her home and forcibly kissed her, police said.
In another case, a victim reported seeing Ragheb in the victim’s backyard, peering into the windows, authorities said.
And in another instance, Ragheb allegedly entered another victim’s home through an unlocked door, investigators said.
All incidents took place in northwest Bakersfield, police said.
It was not clear Sunday whether Ragheb had an attorney.
Authorities ask anyone else who might have been a victim to call 661-326-3554.
🔒IN CUSTODY🔒
2/7/20
We arrested Nassef Ragheb for stalking, prowling, and other charges. We're requesting the community's assistance in identifying any additional incidents Ragheb may have been involved in. Call Detective Petris at 661-326-3554 or 327-7111 with any info. pic.twitter.com/nrp5M51ym1 — Bakersfield Police (@bakersfieldpd) February 7, 2020
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mercurynews--2020-02-10--Letter: We relied on an EBT card when I was a kid–it was difficult

Re : “ College students , seniors and immigrants miss out on food stamps .
Here ’ s why.
” ( Eastbaytimes.com , Nov. 10 ) : Your article reminded me of my middle-school times .
My mother relied on an EBT card after filing for a divorce , and it was very difficult for my brother , cousin and me .
We were considered to be low-income and might eat the same food , like ramen , every night when my mother was working .
When I attended San Jose State University , I learned about a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as food pantries and cooking classes for students .
Something that may help everyone with food insecurity is providing nutritional education on a college campus or at a community center , and forming food pantry programs there to give out food that is still in good condition .
• Letter : Pelosi is angry because of of all Trump has achieved • Letter : We should all salute Romney for voting his conscience • Letter : Do Democrats prefer it when US isn ’ t doing well ?
• Letter : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 74 Rheem Valley Bowl pin I hope this issue is resolved soon .
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

I found resources after
my own food insecurity
Re: “College students, seniors and immigrants miss out on food stamps. Here’s why.” (Eastbaytimes.com, Nov. 10):
Your article reminded me of my middle-school times. My mother relied on an EBT card after filing for a divorce, and it was very difficult for my brother, cousin and me. We were considered to be low-income and might eat the same food, like ramen, every night when my mother was working.
When I attended San Jose State University, I learned about a lot of resources for people to attain healthy food, such as food pantries and cooking classes for students.
Something that may help everyone with food insecurity is providing nutritional education on a college campus or at a community center, and forming food pantry programs there to give out food that is still in good condition.
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mercurynews--2020-02-10--Trump administration ends antitrust probe of emissions deal between 4 automakers, California

By MARCY GORDON and MICHAEL BALSAMO | The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ended its antitrust probe into a deal between California and four of the world ’ s biggest automakers , after failing to find that the companies ’ conduct violated the law .
The Justice Department ’ s investigation , which started last fall , had aimed to determine whether antitrust laws were violated by Ford , Honda , Volkswagen and BMW in reaching the July deal with California .
Under the deal , the automakers planned to comply with pollution and related mileage requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal standards sought by President Donald Trump .
The Justice Department didn ’ t find conduct violating the law and has closed the investigation , a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday .
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren ’ t authorized to speak publicly .
In September , the administration revoked California ’ s authority to set auto mileage standards , asserting that only the federal government has the power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy .
Top California officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop the rollback .
Democrats accused the administration of using antitrust powers to target political opponents with the investigation .
A top Justice Department official defended the probe before Congress and denied any political motivation or influence from the White House .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom , a Democrat , said Friday that the Justice Department ’ s “ trumped-up charges were always a sham — a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to prevent more automakers from joining California and agreeing to stronger emissions standards.
” • Doctors gave him 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California surfer is reunited with ’ 47 Dodge he shed as he prepared to die • Toyota gambling with some hybrid drivers ’ lives by not issuing safety recall , class-action suit claims • California ’ s ‘ hydrogen highway ’ never happened .
Could 2020 change that ?
• Me & My Car : ’ 47 Cadillac ’ s ownership has quite a history Newsom called the closing of the probe “ a big loss for the president and his weaponization of federal agencies.
” California ’ s authority to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to a waiver issued by Congress during passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970 .
The state has long pushed automakers to adopt more fuel-efficient passenger vehicles that emit less pollution .
About a dozen states and the District of Columbia also follow California ’ s fuel economy standards .
The deal struck by the state and the automakers bypassed the administration ’ s plan to freeze emissions and fuel economy standards adopted under President Obama at 2021 levels .

By MARCY GORDON and MICHAEL BALSAMO | The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ended its antitrust probe into a deal between California and four of the world’s biggest automakers, after failing to find that the companies’ conduct violated the law.
The Justice Department’s investigation, which started last fall, had aimed to determine whether antitrust laws were violated by Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW in reaching the July deal with California. Under the deal, the automakers planned to comply with pollution and related mileage requirements established by California that are tougher than the federal standards sought by President Donald Trump.
The Justice Department didn’t find conduct violating the law and has closed the investigation, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
In September, the administration revoked California’s authority to set auto mileage standards, asserting that only the federal government has the power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy. Top California officials and environmental groups took legal action to stop the rollback.
Democrats accused the administration of using antitrust powers to target political opponents with the investigation. A top Justice Department official defended the probe before Congress and denied any political motivation or influence from the White House.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said Friday that the Justice Department’s “trumped-up charges were always a sham — a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to prevent more automakers from joining California and agreeing to stronger emissions standards.”
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California’s authority to set its own, tougher emissions standards dates back to a waiver issued by Congress during passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. The state has long pushed automakers to adopt more fuel-efficient passenger vehicles that emit less pollution. About a dozen states and the District of Columbia also follow California’s fuel economy standards.
The deal struck by the state and the automakers bypassed the administration’s plan to freeze emissions and fuel economy standards adopted under President Obama at 2021 levels.