mercurynews--2020-09-07--Giants’ Pablo Sandoval says coronavirus sent his wife to emergency room

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
No Giants players or coaches have tested positive for COVID-19 since the season began on July 23 , but infielder Pablo Sandoval revealed Monday his wife , Yuli , spent time in the emergency room in August as she dealt with coronavirus symptoms .
Sandoval spoke to reporters for the first time this season Monday and said five members in his family showed COVID-19 symptoms before making full recoveries .
“ They were sick , ” Sandoval said .
“ My two kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick and she was taken to the emergency room a couple of times .
The rest of the family was symptomatic .
It ’ s one of the things when you ’ ve got something outside of the baseball field , especially when the season is tough because of that , you worry about that a little bit more .
My two kids are high-risk so I was worried about it.
” Sandoval never left the team to return home , but said he did take time off to focus on family matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When we were in Houston against the Astros , that ’ s when I got the bad news that my wife was taken to the emergency room so Gabe gave me a little break in the field and I kept the phone with me all day , ” Sandoval said .
The 34-year-old switch-hitter also said his wife and children ’ s health remained a top priority for him when he was able to return to the field following the mid-August scare .
“ I can be tough and separate things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t separate things because it ’ s my two kids and my wife , ” Sandoval said .
“ These are things you ’ re going to have on your mind every day.
” When the Giants were in Houston to face the Astros , manager Gabe Kapler didn ’ t include Sandoval in any starting lineups against right-handed pitchers as he said Sandoval was dealing with a family matter .
Sandoval did make a pinch-hit appearance on Aug. 11 , his 34th birthday , but didn ’ t appear in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prior to Monday , Sandoval had politely declined all interview requests this season through Giants media relations .
Sandoval ’ s fluctuating weight was a prominent storyline during his first tenure with the club which lasted from 2008-2014 and was again a topic of discussion when he reported to summer camp in San Francisco in July .
Kapler addressed Sandoval ’ s weight at the beginning of camp and said he believed Sandoval was healthy enough to contribute during the 2020 season .
• Gabe Kapler ’ s first Giants coaching staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Deets : We ’ re finally seeing the real Brandon Belt “ I think what we ’ re always looking for , is Pablo able to do the things necessary for him to be a good baseball player ?
” Kapler said in July .
“ I think it ’ s understandable that in today ’ s world we focus on weight .
I get it .
In this particular case , what we ’ ve all noticed about Pablo is the ball ’ s jumping off his bat and his throws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a combination of factors led him to decline interview requests so he could maintain his focus on baseball .
“ I didn ’ t talk to you guys for a long time because of that , because I didn ’ t want to put negative things on my mind right now and between a lot of the things I ’ ve been through this season , ” Sandoval said .
“ I just focus to play my game and to work hard at every little thing.
” The two-time All-Star and 2012 World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average with a .522 OPS this season , but the Giants believe his statistics aren ’ t indicative of the quality at-bats he ’ s put forth so far .
Sandoval ’ s .254 batting average on balls in play ( BABIP ) is well below his career .304 mark and his hard-hit rate ranks in the 90th percentile of all MLB batters .
Sandoval is slated to start at third base for the first time this season Monday after Evan Longoria was scratched from the lineup with a sore right glute .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered serious , but Kapler said the Giants were comfortable resting him and starting Sandoval at third base because of all the preparation the corner infielder has put in over the last several weeks .
His first start at third base comes almost 13 months after undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that likely limited the number of teams interested in pursuing Sandoval in free agency last winter .
After ending the 2019 season on the injured list , Sandoval returned to the Giants on a minor league deal over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I ’ ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you ’ ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com .
Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer .
Thank you !
— Kerry Crowley

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
No Giants players or coaches have tested positive for COVID-19 since the season began on July 23, but infielder Pablo Sandoval revealed Monday his wife, Yuli, spent time in the emergency room in August as she dealt with coronavirus symptoms.
Sandoval spoke to reporters for the first time this season Monday and said five members in his family showed COVID-19 symptoms before making full recoveries.
“They were sick,” Sandoval said. “My two kids were symptomatic, my wife was real sick and she was taken to the emergency room a couple of times. The rest of the family was symptomatic. It’s one of the things when you’ve got something outside of the baseball field, especially when the season is tough because of that, you worry about that a little bit more. My two kids are high-risk so I was worried about it.”
Sandoval never left the team to return home, but said he did take time off to focus on family matters when his wife required emergency care.
“When we were in Houston against the Astros, that’s when I got the bad news that my wife was taken to the emergency room so Gabe gave me a little break in the field and I kept the phone with me all day,” Sandoval said.
The 34-year-old switch-hitter also said his wife and children’s health remained a top priority for him when he was able to return to the field following the mid-August scare.
“I can be tough and separate things, but in this moment, I couldn’t separate things because it’s my two kids and my wife,” Sandoval said. “These are things you’re going to have on your mind every day.”
When the Giants were in Houston to face the Astros, manager Gabe Kapler didn’t include Sandoval in any starting lineups against right-handed pitchers as he said Sandoval was dealing with a family matter. Sandoval did make a pinch-hit appearance on Aug. 11, his 34th birthday, but didn’t appear in the first or last game of the series.
Prior to Monday, Sandoval had politely declined all interview requests this season through Giants media relations.
Sandoval’s fluctuating weight was a prominent storyline during his first tenure with the club which lasted from 2008-2014 and was again a topic of discussion when he reported to summer camp in San Francisco in July.
Kapler addressed Sandoval’s weight at the beginning of camp and said he believed Sandoval was healthy enough to contribute during the 2020 season.
Related Articles San Francisco Giants | Nearing rehab assignment, Mitch Haniger says time away from SF Giants has been ‘difficult’, ‘frustrating’
Nearing rehab assignment, Mitch Haniger says time away from SF Giants has been ‘difficult’, ‘frustrating’ San Francisco Giants | SF Giants get the best of former reliever Littell to beat Rays
SF Giants get the best of former reliever Littell to beat Rays San Francisco Giants | SF Giants surrender 18 hits in blowout loss to Rays as offensive woes continue
SF Giants surrender 18 hits in blowout loss to Rays as offensive woes continue San Francisco Giants | SF Giants’ call-up of Wade Meckler only the latest chapter in outfield prospect’s storybook journey
SF Giants’ call-up of Wade Meckler only the latest chapter in outfield prospect’s storybook journey San Francisco Giants | SF Giants coach Nakken is pregnant, husband announces “I think what we’re always looking for, is Pablo able to do the things necessary for him to be a good baseball player?” Kapler said in July. “I think it’s understandable that in today’s world we focus on weight. I get it. In this particular case, what we’ve all noticed about Pablo is the ball’s jumping off his bat and his throws have nice carry.”
Sandoval said Monday a combination of factors led him to decline interview requests so he could maintain his focus on baseball.
“I didn’t talk to you guys for a long time because of that, because I didn’t want to put negative things on my mind right now and between a lot of the things I’ve been through this season,” Sandoval said. “I just focus to play my game and to work hard at every little thing.”
The two-time All-Star and 2012 World Series MVP has posted a .208 batting average with a .522 OPS this season, but the Giants believe his statistics aren’t indicative of the quality at-bats he’s put forth so far. Sandoval’s .254 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is well below his career .304 mark and his hard-hit rate ranks in the 90th percentile of all MLB batters.
Sandoval is slated to start at third base for the first time this season Monday after Evan Longoria was scratched from the lineup with a sore right glute. Longoria’s injury isn’t considered serious, but Kapler said the Giants were comfortable resting him and starting Sandoval at third base because of all the preparation the corner infielder has put in over the last several weeks.
His first start at third base comes almost 13 months after undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that likely limited the number of teams interested in pursuing Sandoval in free agency last winter.
After ending the 2019 season on the injured list, Sandoval returned to the Giants on a minor league deal over the offseason.
We Need Your Support!
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I’ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you’ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com. Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer. Thank you! — Kerry Crowley


mercurynews--2020-09-07--5 gender reveal disasters: wildfires, fatal explosion, plane crash

A wildfire that has burned 8,600 acres and forced the evacuation of half a Southern California city was sparked by a pyrotechnic device at a gender reveal party , fire investigators announced Sunday .
The El Dorado Fire , in San Bernardino County , is not the first large wildfire to result from a misguided attempt to announce the sex of an unborn baby .
In April 2017 , an expectant Arizona father fired a bullet into a target packed with an explosive substance and set off the Sawmill Fire , which burned almost 47,000 acres .
That man — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agent — was convicted of a misdemeanor and ordered to pay $ 8,188,069 in restitution to those whose property was burned .
The U.S. Forest Service released video of the Arizona incident .
A gunshot is heard , and a boxlike target explodes in a cloud of blue powder .
Immediately , the dry grass around it bursts into flame , and a man is heard yelling , “ Start packing up !
” The explosive in that case was identified as a Tannerite target , a brand that explodes when hit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulated in California , with a permit required for its purchase or use .
In the El Dorado Fire , investigators from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection revealed few details .
They said the fire began at 10:23 a.m. Saturday at El Dorado Ranch Park , just east of the Yucaipa city limit , and that it was caused by a “ smoke-generating pyrotechnic device.
” As of Monday , 12 square miles of Yucaipa was under evacuation order , as well as neighboring communities in San Bernardino and Riverside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a car whose exhaust had been rigged to spew blue smoke caught fire as it did doughnuts in front of an expectant Australian couple .
The driver bailed and the spectators fled in the incident caught on drone video .
• In September 2019 , a cropduster that had just dropped 350 gallons of pink water stalled and crashed in front of party guests in Turkey , Texas .
The plane was destroyed and a passenger suffered minor injuries .
• In October 2019 , 56-year-old Pamela Kreimeyer died instantly when she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of metal from an exploding device during a family gathering at her home in Knoxville , Iowa .
She was the grandmother of the baby whose sex was to be revealed by a homemade pipe bomb using gunpowder and colored powder .
• Finally , in a March 2018 stunt , nobody was injured , but the treatment of an animal drew criticism when the video was released on Facebook .
Mike Kliebert , who runs an alligator farm in Louisiana , put a watermelon in the mouth of a gator ; when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploded with blue goo .
Below : Video released by the Forest Service of the start of the Sawmill Fire in Green Valley , Arizona .

A wildfire that has burned almost 10,000 acres and forced the evacuation of half a Southern California city was sparked by a pyrotechnic device at a gender reveal party, fire investigators announced Sunday.
The El Dorado Fire, in San Bernardino County, is not the first large wildfire to result from a misguided attempt to announce the sex of an unborn baby. In April 2017, an expectant Arizona father fired a bullet into a target packed with an explosive substance and set off the Sawmill Fire, which burned almost 47,000 acres.
That man — Dennis Dickey, a 37-year-old Border Patrol agent — was convicted of a misdemeanor and ordered to pay $8,188,069 in restitution to those whose property was burned.
The U.S. Forest Service released video of the Arizona incident. A gunshot is heard, and a boxlike target explodes in a cloud of blue powder. Immediately, the dry grass around it bursts into flame, and a man is heard yelling, “Start packing up!”
The explosive in that case was identified as a Tannerite target, a brand that explodes when hit by a high-velocity bullet. Tannerite is strictly regulated in California, with a permit required for its purchase or use.
In the El Dorado Fire, investigators from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection revealed few details. They said the fire began at 10:23 a.m. Saturday at El Dorado Ranch Park, just east of the Yucaipa city limit, and that it was caused by a “smoke-generating pyrotechnic device.”
CalFire’s press release referred to a “party;” in an interview with the Associated Press, agency spokesman Bennet Milloy characterized the event as a family outing to record video of the device’s detonation.
He said surveillance video showed the unidentified couple frantically racing to their vehicle to retrieve water bottles once the flames erupted.
“You can’t fight a fire like this with a water bottle,” Milloy said. “They had no chance after it started.”
The couple could be liable for the cost of fighting the fire and criminally charged with misdemeanor or felony counts.
As of Monday, 12 square miles of Yucaipa was under evacuation order, as well as neighboring communities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Other bad outcomes from gender reveal parties:
• In April 2018, a car whose exhaust had been rigged to spew blue smoke caught fire as it did doughnuts in front of an expectant Australian couple. The driver bailed and the spectators fled in the incident caught on drone video.
• In September 2019, a crop duster that had just dropped 350 gallons of pink water stalled and crashed in front of party guests in Turkey, Texas. The plane was destroyed and a passenger suffered minor injuries.
• In October 2019, 56-year-old Pamela Kreimeyer died instantly when she was struck in the head by a piece of metal from an exploding device during a family gathering at her home in Knoxville, Iowa. She was the grandmother of the baby whose sex was to be revealed by a homemade pipe bomb using gunpowder and colored powder.
• Finally, in a March 2018 stunt, nobody was injured, but the treatment of an animal drew criticism when the video was released on Facebook. Mike Kliebert, who runs an alligator farm in Louisiana, put a watermelon in the mouth of a gator; when the animal bit down, the melon exploded with blue goo.
Below: Video released by the Forest Service of the start of the Sawmill Fire in Green Valley, Arizona.


mercurynews--2020-09-07--A’s experience another injury blow: A.J. Puk shut down with left shoulder injury

After news of Matt Chapman ’ s right hip tendinitis , more bad injury news hit Oakland Monday .
The A ’ s prized left-handed pitcher A.J .
Puk was shut down for a third time this year with a left shoulder injury .
Puk was supposed to throw a bullpen session Sunday , as he was nearly on his way back to the A ’ s bullpen for the rest of the season .
But Puk felt pain and couldn ’ t even play catch Sunday or Monday .
“ I don ’ t know how severe , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a doctor in the next day or so , ” manager Bob Melvin said .
Puk was shut down with a left shoulder strain in early March during the first spring training .
He was shut down again prior to the truncated season with the same injury .
Puk hasn ’ t played on the big league squad this season , but was called up in August of 2019 and compiled a 3.18 ERA with 13 strikeouts out of the bullpen .
Puk would have been an ideal bridge reliever candidate to replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith , who is out possibly for the rest of the year with a right forearm strain .
Puk , 25 , has struggled with injury throughout his young career .
He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and has yet to settle into a clean bill of health .
With just three weeks remaining in the 2020 regular season , it appears there ’ s a chance Puk could miss out on this strange season .

After news of Matt Chapman’s right hip tendinitis, more bad injury news hit Oakland Monday.
The A’s prized left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk was shut down for a third time this year with a left shoulder injury.
Puk was supposed to throw a bullpen session Sunday, as he was nearly on his way back to the A’s bullpen for the rest of the season. But Puk felt pain and couldn’t even play catch Sunday or Monday.
“I don’t know how severe, he probably is going to have to see a doctor in the next day or so,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Puk was shut down with a left shoulder strain in early March during the first spring training. He was shut down again prior to the truncated season with the same injury.
Puk hasn’t played on the big league squad this season, but was called up in August of 2019 and compiled a 3.18 ERA with 13 strikeouts out of the bullpen. Puk would have been an ideal bridge reliever candidate to replace the void left by right-handed reliever Burch Smith, who is out possibly for the rest of the year with a right forearm strain.
Puk, 25, has struggled with injury throughout his young career. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and has yet to settle into a clean bill of health. With just three weeks remaining in the 2020 regular season, it appears there’s a chance Puk could miss out on this strange season.


mercurynews--2020-09-07--Matt Chapman could miss Astros series with hip tendinitis, won’t hit IL

Matt Chapman left Sunday ’ s game against the San Diego Padres early , feeling pain in his right hip after diving and twisting to make a play on a ground ball .
An MRI revealed Chapman is dealing with right hip tendinitis , manager Bob Melvin said prior to Monday ’ s game .
Chapman will not hit the injured list , and is considered day-to-day .
He could return at some point during the five-game series against the Houston Astros , though he is expected to miss , at least , most of it .
“ It takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of a game , ” Melvin said .
“ And then the timing of it , missing this series , is unfortunate .
He ’ s frustrated.
” Chapman had been experiencing pain in his right hip during the previous series in Houston on Aug. 28 , and perhaps before that .
But , the pain felt worse when the A ’ s returned to the Coliseum field for work outs after the five-day hiatus .
“ He was comfortable playing on it until that throw , but at this point we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s not the most ideal person to be out right now .
But the fact of the matter is , we ’ re going to have to deal with it for a while and pull it out , ” Melvin said .
Tommy La Stella plays third base in Chapman ’ s place Monday .
He ’ s experienced all over the infield , having played third in 119 games through his seven-year career — he played third in 30 games last season with the Los Angeles Angels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and some on the defensive end , prior to this injury .
Since the series in Houston — which turned into a doubleheader after two game postponements due to protest and Daniel Mengden ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis — Chapman was batting .176 and had struck out in 10 of his last 11 at bats .
He also committed his fifth error of the season .
Did the hip injury impact his performance ?
Chapman has not yet been made available for comment .
“ Sitting here and listen to him tell me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Melvin said .
“ I don ’ t know if he would tell you that .
He would defer and say you have to fight through it , that ’ s what baseball is all about .
But sitting here now I ’ d say yeah.
” Mike Fiers will not face the Houston Astros The stars did not align .
Mike Fiers , who blew the whistle on his former team ’ s sign stealing system this past winter , will be the only A ’ s starter not pitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , the A ’ s will play the Astros five times this week , but new acquisition Mike Minor will pitch the second game of Tuesday ’ s doubleheader .
This means Fiers will miss out entirely .
The rotation for both teams this week is as follows :

Matt Chapman left Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres early, feeling pain in his right hip after diving and twisting to make a play on a ground ball. An MRI revealed Chapman is dealing with right hip tendinitis, manager Bob Melvin said prior to Monday’s game.
Chapman will not hit the injured list, and is considered day-to-day. He could return at some point during the five-game series against the Houston Astros, though he is expected to miss, at least, most of it.
“It takes a lot to get him to come out of a game,” Melvin said. “And then the timing of it, missing this series, is unfortunate. He’s frustrated.”
Chapman had been experiencing pain in his right hip during the previous series in Houston on Aug. 28, and perhaps before that. But, the pain felt worse when the A’s returned to the Coliseum field for work outs after the five-day hiatus.
“He was comfortable playing on it until that throw, but at this point we have to back off of it now.
“It’s not the most ideal person to be out right now. But the fact of the matter is, we’re going to have to deal with it for a while and pull it out,” Melvin said.
Tommy La Stella plays third base in Chapman’s place Monday. He’s experienced all over the infield, having played third in 119 games through his seven-year career — he played third in 30 games last season with the Los Angeles Angels.
Chapman had been struggling at the plate, and some on the defensive end, prior to this injury. Since the series in Houston — which turned into a doubleheader after two game postponements due to protest and Daniel Mengden’s COVID-19 diagnosis — Chapman was batting .176 and had struck out in 10 of his last 11 at bats. He also committed his fifth error of the season.
Did the hip injury impact his performance? Chapman has not yet been made available for comment.
“Sitting here and listen to him tell me the timeline, I would say yes,” Melvin said. “I don’t know if he would tell you that. He would defer and say you have to fight through it, that’s what baseball is all about. But sitting here now I’d say yeah.”
Mike Fiers will not face the Houston Astros
The stars did not align. Mike Fiers, who blew the whistle on his former team’s sign stealing system this past winter, will be the only A’s starter not pitch against the Astros this regular season.
Yes, the A’s will play the Astros five times this week, but new acquisition Mike Minor will pitch the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. This means Fiers will miss out entirely.
The rotation for both teams this week is as follows:
Monday: Christian Javier vs. Chris Bassitt.
Tuesday, Game 1: Zack Greinke vs. Frankie Montas
Tuesday, Game 2: TBA vs. Minor
Wednesday: Luis Garcia vs. Jesús Luzardo
Thursday: Jose Urquidy vs. Sean Manaea


mercurynews--2020-09-07--Raiders’ Mariota to injured reserve — will miss at least three games

The Raiders placed Marcus Mariota on injured reserve Monday , leaving Nathan Peterman as the No .
2 quarterback for at least the first three games of the season .
Mariota , who has missed time with various physical problems , did not practice as the Raiders began preparations to face the Carolina Panthers in their regular-season opener .
DeShone Kizer , meanwhile , was signed to the practice squad to run the scout team offense posing as Teddy Bridgewater , with Peterman to preparing as the backup to quarterback Derek Carr Sunday in Charlotte , N.C .
In other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linebacker Kyle Wilber were signed to the 53-man roster and rookie Tanner Muse ( toe ) joined Mariota on injured reserve .
Neither coach Jon Gruden nor general manager Mike Mayock were available for comment .
Peterman , who was retained as a restricted free agent for a $ 2.1 million figure , recently agreed to a $ 1 million salary for the 2020 season .
Under this year ’ s injured reserve rules , players who made the original 53-man roster can be designated for return and be back after three games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight games .
It ’ s been clear Mariota hasn ’ t worked out as expected , and the hope is the time on I.R .
can get the 27-year-old veteran physically ready to assume the role he signed on for on March 16 .
The news on Mariota comes two days after the Raiders traded third-round draft pick Lynn Bowden Jr. and a sixth-round pick to Miami , an admission they had misjudged the selection of the 80th player taken in the 2020 NFL draft .
Everything about Mariota ’ s signing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than they ’ re getting .
First off , there was the money .
In terms of salary , only two non-starters are making more money — Jacoby Brissett of Indianapolis and Alex Smith of Washington .
Both signed their deals as starters .
In terms of straight salary for a player signed as a backup , Mariota ’ s $ 7.5 million figure is the highest in the NFL and his cap number of $ 9.125 million is the sixth highest on the team .
There are incentives which could make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but at this point that possibility seems light years away .
It made sense too , given that Gruden loved Mariota coming out of Oregon in 2015 and so did Mayock .
Both were in the media at the time , Gruden working for ESPN and Mayock as the main draft analyst for the NFL Network .
Both had Mariota ahead of Jameis Winston , who went No .
1 to Tampa Bay just before Mariota was drafted by Tennessee .
“ He runs 4.52 40 , he is incredibly elusive , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great competitor , ” Gruden said .
“ I see him functioning in the pocket , out of the pocket , and if you want to run a zone-read , he ’ ll rip the defense apart .
He is like Russell Wilson , only he is 6-4.
” Even allowing for the fact that television draft analysis on a panel is all about hyperbole and debate , that ’ s high praise .
Mayock was asked in August about his preference for Mariota over Winston .
“ I felt like Marcus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus he had the element of being able to extend plays and use his legs , ” Mayock said .
“ So , if you ask me what the determining factor in that conversation was , that was it right there.
” So it ’ s fair to assume that both men believed Gruden could take Mariota places he never went in Tennessee , as well as give a gentle nudge to Carr in that there was an alternative more threatening than Matt McGloin , Connor Cook or Mike Glennon .
In theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of having someone who could give the offense a lift instead of just being a placeholder , but be available for occasional formations designed to use his mobility as a change of pace .
Mariota wasn ’ t a bad quarterback with the Titans , but he never looked like a player that could alter the fortunes of a franchise , either .
In four seasons , Mariota was 29-32 as a starter .
When he was benched at 2-4 last year in favor of Ryan Tannehill , Tennessee went on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a four-year contract extension worth a maximum of $ 114 million and $ 62 million in guarantees .
Other than one early practice where Gruden said Mariota did some good work with his legs and was “ dazzling , ” those present at practice haven ’ t painted a rosy picture of his passing skills .
Mariota hasn ’ t been made available to the press at any point since his signing .
Gruden and Mayock have both referred to physical issues without being specific .
Both men gave up a little more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , alluding to “ ankle and feet ” issues and mentioning surgery .
Gruden also mentioned a shoulder problem during camp , and the NFL Network reported Peterman had a pectoral strain .
Perhaps because both Gruden and Mayock held such a high opinion of Mariota five years ago , they jumped a little too quickly in signing Mariota .
Winston , for example , is getting about $ 2.7 in salary and bonus from the New Orleans Saints , coming aboard on April 26 after Tampa Bay signed Tom Brady .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of third-round pick Bowden is ‘ 100 percent on me ’ • Game Changers : Four years after Kaepernick kneeled , a look at Bay Area sports leaders who stood before him Peterman , a fifth-round draft pick by Buffalo in 2017 twice ascended to the starting position at quarterback but had abysmal results .
He was 1-3 as a starter , completing 52.3 percenet of his passes with three touchdowns and 12 interceptions .
“ I know he ’ s got some nightmare performances in the NFL , but when you watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — it ’ s not all his fault , ” Gruden said after Peterman came aboard .
“ He has some experience .
He was an opening day starter for the Buffalo Bills last year.
” The Raiders signed Peterman to the practice squad in December of 2018 , then to a reserves/futures contract .
He spent last season on injured reserve after an elbow injury during the preseason and remained at the facility , going to meetings and learning the system .
Wilber , who has played for the Raiders for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special teams captain , was released at the cutdown to 53 .
The transactions involving Young and Muse were confirmed by Mayock Sunday during a conference call .
The Raiders still have one spot available on their practice squad .

The Raiders placed Marcus Mariota on injured reserve Monday, leaving Nathan Peterman as the No. 2 quarterback for at least the first three games of the season.
Mariota, who has missed time with various physical problems, did not practice as the Raiders began preparations to face the Carolina Panthers in their regular-season opener.
DeShone Kizer, meanwhile, was signed to the practice squad to run the scout team offense posing as Teddy Bridgewater, with Peterman to preparing as the backup to quarterback Derek Carr Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.
In other moves, offensive tackle Sam Young and linebacker Kyle Wilber were signed to the 53-man roster and rookie Tanner Muse (toe) joined Mariota on injured reserve. Neither coach Jon Gruden nor general manager Mike Mayock were available for comment.
Peterman, who was retained as a restricted free agent for a $2.1 million figure, recently agreed to a $1 million salary for the 2020 season.
Under this year’s injured reserve rules, players who made the original 53-man roster can be designated for return and be back after three games. In previous years the absence was eight games.
It’s been clear Mariota hasn’t worked out as expected, and the hope is the time on I.R. can get the 27-year-old veteran physically ready to assume the role he signed on for on March 16.
The news on Mariota comes two days after the Raiders traded third-round draft pick Lynn Bowden Jr. and a sixth-round pick to Miami, an admission they had misjudged the selection of the 80th player taken in the 2020 NFL draft.
Everything about Mariota’s signing suggested the Raiders were expecting considerably more than they’re getting.
First off, there was the money. In terms of salary, only two non-starters are making more money — Jacoby Brissett of Indianapolis and Alex Smith of Washington. Both signed their deals as starters.
In terms of straight salary for a player signed as a backup, Mariota’s $7.5 million figure is the highest in the NFL and his cap number of $9.125 million is the sixth highest on the team. There are incentives which could make it a two-year deal worth $17.6 million but at this point that possibility seems light years away.
It made sense too, given that Gruden loved Mariota coming out of Oregon in 2015 and so did Mayock. Both were in the media at the time, Gruden working for ESPN and Mayock as the main draft analyst for the NFL Network. Both had Mariota ahead of Jameis Winston, who went No. 1 to Tampa Bay just before Mariota was drafted by Tennessee.
“He runs 4.52 40, he is incredibly elusive, and man, is he a playmaker and a great competitor,” Gruden said. “I see him functioning in the pocket, out of the pocket, and if you want to run a zone-read, he’ll rip the defense apart. He is like Russell Wilson, only he is 6-4.”
Even allowing for the fact that television draft analysis on a panel is all about hyperbole and debate, that’s high praise.
Mayock was asked in August about his preference for Mariota over Winston.
“I felt like Marcus took care of the football better, plus he had the element of being able to extend plays and use his legs,” Mayock said. “So, if you ask me what the determining factor in that conversation was, that was it right there.”
So it’s fair to assume that both men believed Gruden could take Mariota places he never went in Tennessee, as well as give a gentle nudge to Carr in that there was an alternative more threatening than Matt McGloin, Connor Cook or Mike Glennon. In theory, Mariota would not only present the possibility of having someone who could give the offense a lift instead of just being a placeholder, but be available for occasional formations designed to use his mobility as a change of pace.
Mariota wasn’t a bad quarterback with the Titans, but he never looked like a player that could alter the fortunes of a franchise, either.
In four seasons, Mariota was 29-32 as a starter. When he was benched at 2-4 last year in favor of Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee went on a playoff run and Tannehill cashed in on a four-year contract extension worth a maximum of $114 million and $62 million in guarantees.
Other than one early practice where Gruden said Mariota did some good work with his legs and was “dazzling,” those present at practice haven’t painted a rosy picture of his passing skills.
Mariota hasn’t been made available to the press at any point since his signing. Gruden and Mayock have both referred to physical issues without being specific.
Both men gave up a little more information on Sirius XM NFL radio spots, alluding to “ankle and feet” issues and mentioning surgery. Gruden also mentioned a shoulder problem during camp, and the NFL Network reported Peterman had a pectoral strain.
Perhaps because both Gruden and Mayock held such a high opinion of Mariota five years ago, they jumped a little too quickly in signing Mariota. Winston, for example, is getting about $2.7 in salary and bonus from the New Orleans Saints, coming aboard on April 26 after Tampa Bay signed Tom Brady.
Related Articles Raiders | Sam Darnold’s ‘great’ debut, plus 10 observations from 49ers’ flop
Sam Darnold’s ‘great’ debut, plus 10 observations from 49ers’ flop Raiders | Raiders 34, 49ers 7: Trey Lance sacked four times in rough return
Raiders 34, 49ers 7: Trey Lance sacked four times in rough return Raiders | 49ers at Raiders: 10 players to watch in NFL preseason opener
49ers at Raiders: 10 players to watch in NFL preseason opener Raiders | 49ers-Raiders practice: ‘Bang-bang’ defense takes out Davante Adams
49ers-Raiders practice: ‘Bang-bang’ defense takes out Davante Adams Raiders | Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers get sentimental at Vegas reunion — to an extent Peterman, a fifth-round draft pick by Buffalo in 2017 twice ascended to the starting position at quarterback but had abysmal results. He was 1-3 as a starter, completing 52.3 percenet of his passes with three touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
“I know he’s got some nightmare performances in the NFL, but when you watch the film, you can see why — it’s not all his fault,” Gruden said after Peterman came aboard. “He has some experience. He was an opening day starter for the Buffalo Bills last year.”
The Raiders signed Peterman to the practice squad in December of 2018, then to a reserves/futures contract. He spent last season on injured reserve after an elbow injury during the preseason and remained at the facility, going to meetings and learning the system.
Wilber, who has played for the Raiders for the past two seasons and served as a special teams captain, was released at the cutdown to 53. The transactions involving Young and Muse were confirmed by Mayock Sunday during a conference call.
The Raiders still have one spot available on their practice squad.


mercurynews--2020-09-07--With Kaepernick still unsigned ahead of NFL season, Roger Goodell puts onus on teams

Colin Kaepernick is about to start his fourth consecutive NFL season as a free agent .
The former 49ers quarterback is reportedly in good physical shape , but no team has been willing to go further than hosting him for a workout since he and San Francisco parted ways following the 2016 season .
NBC Sports ’ Peter King asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell , who recently apologized publicly to Kaepernick for the league ’ s lack of support in his protest against police violence , if he was “ dispirited ” that no team had signed Kaepernick .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I ’ ve encouraged teams to evaluate that and sign him if they feel that ’ s the case .
I ’ m happy if Kaep gets an opportunity but that ’ s , you know .
.
.
Teams don ’ t usually ask me for advice on football hires.
” Notably , Goodell referred to “ club decisions ” and “ teams ” rather than owners , who are effectively his bosses .
Goodell also said the league planned to support players if they choose to kneel for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of racial injustice like Kaepernick did in 2016 .
The NFL is expected to play “ Lift E ’ vry Voice And Sing , ” known as the Black national anthem , before “ The Star Spangled Banner ” ahead of all Week 1 games .
• NFL commissioner Goodell to Kaepernick : ‘ I wish we had listened earlier ’ to racial justice protest Meanwhile , Pro Football Talk ’ s Mike Florio wrote Monday roasting teams for neglecting to even take a flyer on Kaepernick , pointing out the Eagles ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remote emergency quarterback .
He suggested a number of teams could use Kaepernick in a similar role , pointing to the Patriots based on their offense under Cam Newton and even San Francisco ’ s greatest rival , the Seahawks , who arranged and then canceled a workout with Kaepernick in 2018 .
Kaepernick went through an NFL-organized workout last November , but did not receive calls from any teams after changing the venue on the day of the workout .

Colin Kaepernick is about to start his fourth consecutive NFL season as a free agent.
The former 49ers quarterback is reportedly in good physical shape, but no team has been willing to go further than hosting him for a workout since he and San Francisco parted ways following the 2016 season.
NBC Sports’ Peter King asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who recently apologized publicly to Kaepernick for the league’s lack of support in his protest against police violence, if he was “dispirited” that no team had signed Kaepernick.
“Those are club decisions,” he said. “I’ve encouraged teams to evaluate that and sign him if they feel that’s the case. I’m happy if Kaep gets an opportunity but that’s, you know . . . Teams don’t usually ask me for advice on football hires.”
Notably, Goodell referred to “club decisions” and “teams” rather than owners, who are effectively his bosses.
Goodell also said the league planned to support players if they choose to kneel for the national anthem this season in protest of racial injustice like Kaepernick did in 2016. The NFL is expected to play “Lift E’vry Voice And Sing,” known as the Black national anthem, before “The Star Spangled Banner” ahead of all Week 1 games.
Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote Monday roasting teams for neglecting to even take a flyer on Kaepernick, pointing out the Eagles’ signing of 41-year-old Josh McCown as a remote emergency quarterback.
He suggested a number of teams could use Kaepernick in a similar role, pointing to the Patriots based on their offense under Cam Newton and even San Francisco’s greatest rival, the Seahawks, who arranged and then canceled a workout with Kaepernick in 2018.
Kaepernick went through an NFL-organized workout last November, but did not receive calls from any teams after changing the venue on the day of the workout.


mercurynews--2020-09-07--Convenience store clerk stabbed, beaten in Oakland

OAKLAND — A clerk at a Fruitvale district convenience store was beaten , stabbed and slashed Monday morning after he got into a dispute with some customers , authorities said..
The 21-year-old man was in stable condition at a hospital .
The incident happened about 6:20 a.m. Monday in the parking lot of the QuikStop store , 2400 Fruitvale Ave. Police said the clerk got into a dispute with two male customers who had purchased some beer .
The dispute carried over into the lot where someone in a pickup truck was waiting for two men .
The clerk was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and slashed more than once with a knife by one of the men , authorities said .
The suspects then got into the truck which was last seen driving southbound on Fruitvale toward Foothill Boulevard , police said .
What the dispute was about has not been confirmed .
A representative for the store could not be reached for comment .
The suspected stabber was described as a Hispanic male , 20 to 25 , about 5 foot 5 and 130 pounds with a black ponytail .
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspects .
Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572 .

OAKLAND — A clerk at a Fruitvale district convenience store was beaten, stabbed and slashed Monday morning after he got into a dispute with some customers, authorities said..
The 21-year-old man was in stable condition at a hospital.
The incident happened about 6:20 a.m. Monday in the parking lot of the QuikStop store, 2400 Fruitvale Ave.
Police said the clerk got into a dispute with two male customers who had purchased some beer. The dispute carried over into the lot where someone in a pickup truck was waiting for two men.
The clerk was beaten by both men and stabbed once and slashed more than once with a knife by one of the men, authorities said.
The suspects then got into the truck which was last seen driving southbound on Fruitvale toward Foothill Boulevard, police said.
What the dispute was about has not been confirmed. A representative for the store could not be reached for comment.
The suspected stabber was described as a Hispanic male, 20 to 25, about 5 foot 5 and 130 pounds with a black ponytail.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.


mercurynews--2020-09-07--Harris meets Blakes, Trump goes on attack in Labor Day blitz

By Noreen Nasir , Alexandra Jaffe and Kathleen Ronayne | The Associated Press MILWAUKEE — Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris met the family of a Wisconsin man shot by police last month to kick off her Labor Day visit to a critical swing state , while President Donald Trump assailed the Democratic ticket and tried to put the halting economic recovery under the best light .
Harris gathered with Jacob Blake ’ s father , two sisters and members of his legal team at the airport in Milwaukee while Blake ’ s mother and attorney Ben Crump joined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone from his hospital bed , and Harris told him she was proud of him for how he was working through his pain , his attorneys said in a statement .
Harris also spoke individually to each member of the family and discussed Biden ’ s police reform agenda , they said .
Joe Biden met with the family last week in Milwaukee before visiting Kenosha , the city where police shot Blake .
The meeting kicked off a packed day of Labor Day campaign events , with Harris meeting International Brotherhood of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners in Milwaukee .
Vice President Mike Pence , also sent to Wisconsin , toured an energy facility in La Crosse before delivering a speech that touched on jobs , the economy and protests in Kenosha .
“ We will have law and order in every city in this country for every American of every race and creed , ” Pence said .
At a news conference from the White House , Trump attacked Biden as a leader incapable of handling the coronavirus and reviving the economy and pledged his own “ undying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Biden and Harris would “ destroy this country and would destroy this economy.
” Trump boasted of adding more than 10 million jobs since May without mentioning that ’ s only about half of the jobs lost since the pandemic .
Biden , meanwhile , was collecting a trio of endorsements from organized labor as he headed to Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , for an AFL-CIO virtual town hall with union President Richard Trumka .
Meeting first with local labor leaders in the backyard of a supporter ’ s home in Lancaster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and the economy as he criticized Trump for “ refusing to deal with the problems that affect ordinary people ” and called for strengthening unions .
The four attendees expressed support for Biden and frustration with Trump ’ s policies .
“ I can ’ t understand what ’ s going on today , I ’ m lost , ” said Bob Faust , a member of the local Ironworkers Union .
“ I get choked up when I think about the direction this country ’ s going in at this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ morning meeting with Blake ’ s family again underscored the two campaigns ’ differing approaches to addressing police shootings of Black men and women and the resulting protests , including some that have been violent .
While Harris and Biden have met with Blake ’ s family , Trump did not in a recent visit to Kenosha , instead meeting law enforcement officials and touring damage to businesses from the protests .
‘ Trump ’ s narrow win in Wisconsin in 2016 helped to send him to the White House .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all four candidates campaigning there over the past week .
The Biden campaign believes its labor support could help get out the vote in states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
According to details shared first with The Associated Press , the campaign will announce three union endorsements : the Laborers ’ International Union of North America , the International Union of Elevator Constructors and the National Federation of Federal Employees , collectively representing hundreds of thousands of union workers nationwide who can be mobilized to support the campaign .
Labor Day typically marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season as candidates accelerate their activity for the final sprint to Election Day .
But Monday ’ s events are playing out this year against the backdrop of a pandemic that has upended campaigning , forcing much of the candidates ’ traditional activity online .
Indeed , this marks Harris ’ first solo foray out on the campaign trail for in-person events since she was announced as Biden ’ s running mate nearly a month ago .
But Biden himself has stepped up his campaigning over the past week , traveling to Pittsburgh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Aides say to expect both Biden and Harris to increase their campaigning for the remaining weeks .
While the presidential campaign was roiled this past week by multiple reports recounting comments Trump allegedly made disparaging fallen soldiers , as well as the police shooting and violent protests in Kenosha , the focus on Labor Day is likely to return to the issue that polls consistently find at the top of voters ’ minds : the economy .
A strong economy that was Trump ’ s biggest asset for reelection has now become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
The Biden campaign has emphasized the economic damage wrought by what Biden argues was an inadequate response to the pandemic that resulted in more loss of life and jobs than necessary .
It ’ s a line both Biden and Harris are likely to push while speaking to union voters .
The U.S. economy has been steadily rebounding from its epic collapse in the spring as many businesses have reopened and rehired some laid-off employees .
Yet the recovery is far from complete .
Only about half the 22 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been recovered .
Economic inequalities also appear to have widened , with lower-income and minority workers suffering disproportionately while affluent Americans have lost fewer jobs and even benefited from rising stock and home prices .

By Noreen Nasir, Alexandra Jaffe and Kathleen Ronayne | The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE — Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris met the family of a Wisconsin man shot by police last month to kick off her Labor Day visit to a critical swing state, while President Donald Trump assailed the Democratic ticket and tried to put the halting economic recovery under the best light.
Harris gathered with Jacob Blake’s father, two sisters and members of his legal team at the airport in Milwaukee while Blake’s mother and attorney Ben Crump joined by phone. Blake joined the conversation by phone from his hospital bed, and Harris told him she was proud of him for how he was working through his pain, his attorneys said in a statement. Harris also spoke individually to each member of the family and discussed Biden’s police reform agenda, they said.
Joe Biden met with the family last week in Milwaukee before visiting Kenosha, the city where police shot Blake.
The meeting kicked off a packed day of Labor Day campaign events, with Harris meeting International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union members and Black business owners in Milwaukee. Vice President Mike Pence, also sent to Wisconsin, toured an energy facility in La Crosse before delivering a speech that touched on jobs, the economy and protests in Kenosha.
“We will have law and order in every city in this country for every American of every race and creed,” Pence said.
At a news conference from the White House, Trump attacked Biden as a leader incapable of handling the coronavirus and reviving the economy and pledged his own “undying loyalty to the American worker.” He said Biden and Harris would “destroy this country and would destroy this economy.”
Trump boasted of adding more than 10 million jobs since May without mentioning that’s only about half of the jobs lost since the pandemic.
Biden, meanwhile, was collecting a trio of endorsements from organized labor as he headed to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for an AFL-CIO virtual town hall with union President Richard Trumka.
Meeting first with local labor leaders in the backyard of a supporter’s home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Biden spoke about trade, coronavirus and the economy as he criticized Trump for “refusing to deal with the problems that affect ordinary people” and called for strengthening unions.
The four attendees expressed support for Biden and frustration with Trump’s policies.
“I can’t understand what’s going on today, I’m lost,” said Bob Faust, a member of the local Ironworkers Union. “I get choked up when I think about the direction this country’s going in at this time. We need your help.”
Harris’ morning meeting with Blake’s family again underscored the two campaigns’ differing approaches to addressing police shootings of Black men and women and the resulting protests, including some that have been violent. While Harris and Biden have met with Blake’s family, Trump did not in a recent visit to Kenosha, instead meeting law enforcement officials and touring damage to businesses from the protests. ‘
Trump’s narrow win in Wisconsin in 2016 helped to send him to the White House. The state’s importance was underscored by all four candidates campaigning there over the past week.
The Biden campaign believes its labor support could help get out the vote in states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
According to details shared first with The Associated Press, the campaign will announce three union endorsements: the Laborers’ International Union of North America, the International Union of Elevator Constructors and the National Federation of Federal Employees, collectively representing hundreds of thousands of union workers nationwide who can be mobilized to support the campaign.
Labor Day typically marks the unofficial start to the fall campaign season as candidates accelerate their activity for the final sprint to Election Day. But Monday’s events are playing out this year against the backdrop of a pandemic that has upended campaigning, forcing much of the candidates’ traditional activity online.
Indeed, this marks Harris’ first solo foray out on the campaign trail for in-person events since she was announced as Biden’s running mate nearly a month ago. But Biden himself has stepped up his campaigning over the past week, traveling to Pittsburgh and Kenosha and holding two news conferences. Aides say to expect both Biden and Harris to increase their campaigning for the remaining weeks.
While the presidential campaign was roiled this past week by multiple reports recounting comments Trump allegedly made disparaging fallen soldiers, as well as the police shooting and violent protests in Kenosha, the focus on Labor Day is likely to return to the issue that polls consistently find at the top of voters’ minds: the economy.
A strong economy that was Trump’s biggest asset for reelection has now become a potential liability, brought down by the coronavirus. The Biden campaign has emphasized the economic damage wrought by what Biden argues was an inadequate response to the pandemic that resulted in more loss of life and jobs than necessary. It’s a line both Biden and Harris are likely to push while speaking to union voters.
The U.S. economy has been steadily rebounding from its epic collapse in the spring as many businesses have reopened and rehired some laid-off employees. Yet the recovery is far from complete. Only about half the 22 million jobs that vanished in the pandemic have been recovered.
Economic inequalities also appear to have widened, with lower-income and minority workers suffering disproportionately while affluent Americans have lost fewer jobs and even benefited from rising stock and home prices.


mercurynews--2020-09-07--Coroner identifies man run over by ambulance while lying in San Jose street

SAN JOSE — The coroner ’ s office has identified a man who died after being run over by an @ @ @ @ @ an East San Jose roadway , but why he was there remains unclear to investigators @ @ @ @ @ , of San Jose , was hit early Saturday by an ambulance traveling east on @ @ @ @ @ Center , according to police .
The ambulance was not transporting a patient and did @ @ @ @ @ sirens activated when it hit Fisher , who was reportedly lying in the street near @ @ @ @ @ The ambulance crew tried to revive Fisher until a second ambulance took him to the @ @ @ @ @ pronounced dead .
His death marked the city ’ s 29th traffic fatality of the @ @ @ @ @ as 13th pedestrian death in the same time frame .
Anyone with information for SJPD @ @ @ @ @ .

SAN JOSE — The coroner’s office has identified a man who died after being run over by an ambulance as he lay on an East San Jose roadway, but why he was there remains unclear to investigators.
Donald Fisher, 56, of San Jose, was hit early Saturday by an ambulance traveling east on McKee Road toward Regional Medical Center, according to police.
The ambulance was not transporting a patient and did not have its lights or sirens activated when it hit Fisher, who was reportedly lying in the street near El Rancho Verde Drive.
The ambulance crew tried to revive Fisher until a second ambulance took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His death marked the city’s 29th traffic fatality of the year, and was classified as 13th pedestrian death in the same time frame.
Anyone with information for SJPD traffic investigators can contact 408-277-4654.


mercurynews--2020-09-07--Uptown nightclub closes in Oakland: “Goodbye and thank you”

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
The Uptown , a popular live music venue in downtown Oakland , is going out of business .
The nightspot , which is located at 1928 Telegraph Ave. , had already been closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic .
But it recently announced on its website ( www.uptownnightclub.com ) the “ heartbreaking decision ” to not reopen its doors.
” “ With no date in sight when live entertainment will be safe , we just can not afford to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no income in the foreseeable future , ” reads the statement , which is accompanied by the words “ goodbye and thank you.
” “ This was a heartbreaking decision and one we put off as long as we possibly could .
The Uptown was never a financial investment for us — it was always a labor of love and the dividends it paid are measured in the wonderful friendships that sprung from the shared love of music .
“ Knowing that these friendships will endure despite the closure of our beloved space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the six months that our doors have been closed due to the pandemic , we have missed you all so much !
” The loss of the Uptown will be a big hit for the Bay Area music community .
The club was home to so many local bands and events over the years , as well as top touring acts like the Buzzcocks , but all that came to a close in March as the pandemic brought live music scene to a standstill .
“ We miss the faces we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly or monthly when it was the night for ‘ their ’ event — be it Active Music Series , The Lucky Devils Band or Two Piece Tuesdays , Moonlight Comedy or Uptown Karaoke , Suavecito Souldies or Fleetwood Macrame , Hanging Garden or Death Guild , 1UPtown with The M.A.D.E .
or Hella Gay Dance Party , Hubba Hubba or Risque Riot , Smart Bomb or DAMgrown , Hiero Nights or Nerd Nite , 8x8x8 or I Love You For All Seasons , Punk Black or Dark Sparkle ; be it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a touring band about to make it big , or a lifelong music legend , ” the statement read .
“ So many talented people have played our stage and so many amazing patrons have been there to enjoy them .
It was an honor to make these connections possible .
We strived to represent and welcome the diversity of the Bay Area .
In that we succeeded and we will be forever proud of this accomplishment .
”

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
The Uptown, a popular live music venue in downtown Oakland, is going out of business.
The nightspot, which is located at 1928 Telegraph Ave., had already been closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. But it recently announced on its website (www.uptownnightclub.com) the “heartbreaking decision” to not reopen its doors.”
“With no date in sight when live entertainment will be safe, we just cannot afford to continue to pay our rent and other expenses with no income in the foreseeable future,” reads the statement, which is accompanied by the words “goodbye and thank you.” “This was a heartbreaking decision and one we put off as long as we possibly could. The Uptown was never a financial investment for us — it was always a labor of love and the dividends it paid are measured in the wonderful friendships that sprung from the shared love of music.
“Knowing that these friendships will endure despite the closure of our beloved space offers some consolation in these dark days. In the six months that our doors have been closed due to the pandemic, we have missed you all so much!”
The loss of the Uptown will be a big hit for the Bay Area music community. The club was home to so many local bands and events over the years, as well as top touring acts like the Buzzcocks, but all that came to a close in March as the pandemic brought live music scene to a standstill.
“We miss the faces we saw nearly everyday and those we saw weekly or monthly when it was the night for ‘their’ event — be it Active Music Series, The Lucky Devils Band or Two Piece Tuesdays, Moonlight Comedy or Uptown Karaoke, Suavecito Souldies or Fleetwood Macrame, Hanging Garden or Death Guild, 1UPtown with The M.A.D.E. or Hella Gay Dance Party, Hubba Hubba or Risque Riot, Smart Bomb or DAMgrown, Hiero Nights or Nerd Nite, 8x8x8 or I Love You For All Seasons, Punk Black or Dark Sparkle; be it a local band playing their first show, a touring band about to make it big, or a lifelong music legend,” the statement read.
“So many talented people have played our stage and so many amazing patrons have been there to enjoy them. It was an honor to make these connections possible. We strived to represent and welcome the diversity of the Bay Area. In that we succeeded and we will be forever proud of this accomplishment.”


mercurynews--2020-09-08--Watch: Father captures dramatic California Creek Fire rescue during camping trip

More than 20,000 people were evacuated due to the El Dorado fire , a 9,671-acre blaze ignited by a baby @ @ @ @ @ Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa , the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said @ @ @ @ @ , the third day of the blaze .

[vemba-video id=”us/2020/09/07/creek-fire-mammoth-pool-reservoir-california-campers-rescued-orig-kj.cnn”]
The California Creek Fire suddenly engulfed the camp site where Jeremy Remington and his family were staying, leading to a helicopter rescue he caught on camera.


mercurynews--2020-09-08--Driver failed to fool police with hand-drawn license plate

Millersburg Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on September 2 after spotting a license plate that seemed a bit out of place , officials said .
From a distance , the homemade license plate looked somewhat like the real deal .
Although marker strokes are visible , its numbers and letters are well-drawn and resemble the state plate .
But the tag was missing one key detail — the registration sticker .
After further investigation , police determined that the vehicle driver had no insurance and was driving with a suspended license .
Police offered some sound advice for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills on their Facebook page .
Surprisingly this isn ’ t the first time a driver has pulled this stunt .
Last year , in California , a driver also tried to get away with a homemade license plate .
• The airline banned her and criticized her parenting decisions • Two very large snakes fall through man ’ s kitchen ceiling • Fishermen reel in pipe bombs at Barge Hole north of Red Bluff In that instance , Moorpark Police Senior Deputy David Anaya was helping a motorist on the side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tractor trailer ’ s fake license plate .
Not only were the plate ’ s numbers crooked and different sizes , but the state ’ s name was misspelled .
The plate said “ CALIFAS , ” which is Spanish slang for California .

A Kentucky driver’s DIY license plate didn’t quite fool the police.
Millersburg Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on September 2 after spotting a license plate that seemed a bit out of place, officials said.
From a distance, the homemade license plate looked somewhat like the real deal. Although marker strokes are visible, its numbers and letters are well-drawn and resemble the state plate.
But the tag was missing one key detail — the registration sticker.
After further investigation, police determined that the vehicle driver had no insurance and was driving with a suspended license.
Police offered some sound advice for any drivers looking to test their drawing skills on their Facebook page.
“Pro Tip: Don’t forget to draw the registration sticker.”
Surprisingly this isn’t the first time a driver has pulled this stunt. Last year, in California, a driver also tried to get away with a homemade license plate.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Sailboat stays stuck at Stinson Beach as owner works to remove it
Sailboat stays stuck at Stinson Beach as owner works to remove it Crime and Public Safety | 13 Canada geese die after landing in La Brea Tar Pits; 2 are recovering
13 Canada geese die after landing in La Brea Tar Pits; 2 are recovering Crime and Public Safety | Colorado mom breaks world record for running while pushing a stroller
Colorado mom breaks world record for running while pushing a stroller Crime and Public Safety | 30-year-old Michigan woman charged with having sex with a dog
30-year-old Michigan woman charged with having sex with a dog Crime and Public Safety | ‘All of the dream’: How Eurodance parody ‘Planet of the Bass’ became the song of the summer In that instance, Moorpark Police Senior Deputy David Anaya was helping a motorist on the side of the road when he saw a passing tractor trailer’s fake license plate.
Not only were the plate’s numbers crooked and different sizes, but the state’s name was misspelled. The plate said “CALIFAS,” which is Spanish slang for California.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-09-08--Raiders initial depth chart reveals secret plan — sneaking in an extra man

The Raiders released their first depth chart Monday evening for their weekly press release , an exercise not designed to give up too much except the obvious and gives no clue as to how they ’ ll line up in different formations on both sides of the ball .
Given it ’ s their own depth chart and they can do what they want , the Raiders listed 12 offensive starters with three wide receivers and a fullback , and 12 defensive starters with three linebackers and a third corner .
Although a first-year NFL head coach , Carolina ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Raiders get away with it Sunday in Charlotte , N.C. For what it ’ s worth , the first team kickoff return specialist is Jalen Richard , with Hunter Renfrow on the first team for punt returns .
Henry Ruggs III , the No .
12 overall pick in the draft , is listed as No .
2 for both return units .
Here ’ s how it shakes out : • Raiders ’ Mariota to injured reserve — will miss at least three games • Raiders G.M .
Mike Mayock says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 percent on me ’ SPECIAL TEAMS

The Raiders released their first depth chart Monday evening for their weekly press release, an exercise designed not to give up too much except the obvious.
Given it’s their own depth chart and they can do what they want, the Raiders listed 12 offensive starters with three wide receivers and a fullback, and 12 defensive starters with three linebackers and a third corner. Although a first-year NFL head coach, Carolina’s Matt Ruhle is unlikely to let the Raiders get away with it Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.
For what it’s worth, the first team kickoff return specialist is Jalen Richard, with Hunter Renfrow on the first team for punt returns. Henry Ruggs III, the No. 12 overall pick in the draft, is listed as No. 2 for both return units.
Here’s how it shakes out:
OFFENSE
WR: Henry Ruggs III, Zay Jones
LT: Kolton Miller, Brandon Parker
LG: Richie Incognito, John Simpson
C: Rodney Hudson, Andre James
RG: Gabe Jackson, Denzelle Good
RT: Trent Brown, Sam Young
TE: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Jason Witten, Derek Carrier
WR: Bryan Edwards, Rico Gafford
WR: Hunter Renfrow, Nelson Agholor
QB: Derek Carr, Nathan Peterman
RB: Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard, Devontae Booker
FB: Alec Ingold
DEFENSE
DE: Clein Ferrell, Arden Key
NT: Johnathan Hankins, Daniel Ross
DT: Maliek Collins, Maurice Hurst, Kendal Vickers
DE: Maxx Crosby, Carl Nassib, Kendal Vickers
SLB: Nicholas Morrow, Kyle Wilber
MLB: Nick Kwiatkoski, Raekwon McMillan
WLB: Cory Littleton
LCB: Damon Arnette, Isaiah Johnson
RCB: Trayvon Mullen, Keisan Nixon
CB: Lamarcus Joyner, Amik Robertson
FS: Erik Harris, Dallin Leavitt
SS: Johnathan Abram, Jeff Heath
P: A.J. Cole
PK: Daniel Carlson
LS: Trent Sieg
PR: Jalen Richard, Henry Ruggs III, Keisean Nixon
KR: Hunter Renfrow, Henry Ruggs III, Jalen Richard


mercurynews--2020-09-08--2 missing US tourists found dead in well in northern Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Authorities have identified bodies found in a well in northern Mexico as two missing tourists from the United States , officials said Monday .
The Baja California state prosecutor ’ s office said in a statement that the victims were identified as retirees Ian Hirschsohn and Kathy Harvey .
Their disappearances were reported to authorities Sept. 2 , the statement said .
Investigators searching an unpopulated area south of Ensenada spotted human remains at the bottom of the well the following day .
They were recovered Friday and Saturday , the statement said .
No information regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided .
The case remains under investigation .
Authorities did not provide their hometowns , but local media reported they both lived in southern California .
• Bodies ID ’ d of 2 California men missing since trip to 2019 Dead & Company concert in Washington • Suspect arrested in killing of California man who went missing in 2017 • Santa Cruz Sheriff deputies look for three missing people Meanwhile , at the southern end of the Baja Peninsula , the Baja California Sur state prosecutor ’ s office said the body of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beach in Cabo Pulmo Saturday evening .
An autopsy determined that he had been stabbed in the chest before ending up in the ocean .
Harrison , a citizen of South Africa and Canada who settled in Mexico , had been missing since Aug. 29 .
According to his real estate website , Harrison settled in Cabo San Lucas in 1997 after working as an accountant and a wine importer in Canada .

MEXICO CITY — Authorities have identified bodies found in a well in northern Mexico as two missing tourists from the United States, officials said Monday.
The Baja California state prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the victims were identified as retirees Ian Hirschsohn and Kathy Harvey. Their disappearances were reported to authorities Sept. 2, the statement said.
Investigators searching an unpopulated area south of Ensenada spotted human remains at the bottom of the well the following day. They were recovered Friday and Saturday, the statement said.
No information regarding the cause of death or motive was provided. The case remains under investigation. Authorities did not provide their hometowns, but local media reported they both lived in southern California.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Marine charged with sexual assault of missing 14-year-old girl found in Camp Pendleton barracks
Marine charged with sexual assault of missing 14-year-old girl found in Camp Pendleton barracks Crime and Public Safety | Family says body of 17-year-old Saratoga girl found in Santa Cruz mountains
Family says body of 17-year-old Saratoga girl found in Santa Cruz mountains Crime and Public Safety | Remains of Belmont man found four years after he disappeared on a walk
Remains of Belmont man found four years after he disappeared on a walk Crime and Public Safety | Missing California hiker found dead on Arizona path during extreme weather conditions
Missing California hiker found dead on Arizona path during extreme weather conditions Crime and Public Safety | Man who died on trail had been on a trip to scatter father’s ashes in Sierra Nevada Meanwhile, at the southern end of the Baja Peninsula, the Baja California Sur state prosecutor’s office said the body of 65-year-old Craig Harrison was found on the beach in Cabo Pulmo Saturday evening. An autopsy determined that he had been stabbed in the chest before ending up in the ocean.
Harrison, a citizen of South Africa and Canada who settled in Mexico, had been missing since Aug. 29. According to his real estate website, Harrison settled in Cabo San Lucas in 1997 after working as an accountant and a wine importer in Canada.
He ran a vacation rental business in Cabo.


mercurynews--2020-09-08--Walters: California’s Legislature ignores fire insurance crisis

As wildfires of record magnitude swept through Northern California last week , destroying thousands of homes and other structures , the Legislature closed its 2020 session without doing something about the fire insurance crisis that afflicts fire-prone areas .
It ranks near the top of a long list of legislative failures this year , right up there with housing shortages and police reforms .
Insurers have sustained massive losses , tens of billions of dollars , from wildfires in recent years and are increasingly reluctant to continue coverage in fire-prone communities , even threatening to quit the market if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projected future liabilities .
Often , homeowners can only buy coverage through the state ’ s FAIR plan , which is bare-bones and expensive .
The ultimate solution would be to stop building and rebuilding homes in the “ wildland-urban interface ” — essentially the outer suburbs of major metropolitan areas – where the risk of catastrophic losses is highest .
However , for the foreseeable future , much of California ’ s population will continue to live in those communities , such as Sonoma and Napa counties , the Sierra foothills and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We need a new approach .
A truly comprehensive solution would be layers of coverage , beginning with a basic statewide policy financed by mandatory fees on all residential property , adjusted by region .
The statewide policy would be backed by reinsurance from the global market and , by covering the first layer of fire losses , would make private insurers more willing to offer additional layers .
The national flood insurance program more or less takes that approach .
Homeowners in designated flood-prone areas must buy it , but it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance to fill the gap between coverage and loss .
The insurance industry itself took a stab at a solution this year with legislation , Assembly Bill 2167 , allowing insurers to include the cost of reinsurance in their rates , as well as allowing them to base premiums on calculations of future losses — two aspects banned by current law .
The shorthand for what insurers proposed is a “ market assistance plan ” that would make insuring homes in fire-prone areas less risky .
However , AB 2167 drew fierce opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Proposition 103 , the 1988 law that imposed direct regulation on premiums by an elected insurance commissioner .
And the current commissioner , Ricardo Lara , joined the opposition .
“ In an era where climate change is contributing to more severe and frequent wildfires , homeowners need more protection — not less , ” Lara wrote in an op-ed article .
“ COVID-19 might be the Legislature ’ s primary focus , but we can not let the insurance industry use it to gut important consumer protections that have existed for decades.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of wildfires , Lara barred insurers from refusing to renew policies in ZIP codes where fires were common , but that order expires in a few months and can not be renewed .
Although rural counties endorsed AB 2167 , the opposition prevailed .
In its last incarnation , the bill merely ordered a study by Lara ’ s Department of Insurance — the time-dishonored way politicians duck tough issues .
But even that version died without a vote when the legislative session ended .
Obviously , the crisis will not solve itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars in losses from this summer ’ s fires — and the traditional autumn fire season hasn ’ t even begun .
When Lara ’ s order expires , we probably will see insurers refuse to renew policies in the wildland-urban interface or even pull out of California altogether .
The status quo may be unsustainable , but the men and women in the Legislature can ’ t be bothered to change it .

As wildfires of record magnitude swept through Northern California last week, destroying thousands of homes and other structures, the Legislature closed its 2020 session without doing something about the fire insurance crisis that afflicts fire-prone areas.
It ranks near the top of a long list of legislative failures this year, right up there with housing shortages and police reforms.
Insurers have sustained massive losses, tens of billions of dollars, from wildfires in recent years and are increasingly reluctant to continue coverage in fire-prone communities, even threatening to quit the market if they cannot increase premiums enough to cover projected future liabilities. Often, homeowners can only buy coverage through the state’s FAIR plan, which is bare-bones and expensive.
The ultimate solution would be to stop building and rebuilding homes in the “wildland-urban interface” — essentially the outer suburbs of major metropolitan areas – where the risk of catastrophic losses is highest. However, for the foreseeable future, much of California’s population will continue to live in those communities, such as Sonoma and Napa counties, the Sierra foothills and the mountain ranges ringing Los Angeles.
We need a new approach. A truly comprehensive solution would be layers of coverage, beginning with a basic statewide policy financed by mandatory fees on all residential property, adjusted by region. The statewide policy would be backed by reinsurance from the global market and, by covering the first layer of fire losses, would make private insurers more willing to offer additional layers.
The national flood insurance program more or less takes that approach. Homeowners in designated flood-prone areas must buy it, but it has limits, so they can purchase supplemental insurance to fill the gap between coverage and loss.
The insurance industry itself took a stab at a solution this year with legislation, Assembly Bill 2167, allowing insurers to include the cost of reinsurance in their rates, as well as allowing them to base premiums on calculations of future losses — two aspects banned by current law.
The shorthand for what insurers proposed is a “market assistance plan” that would make insuring homes in fire-prone areas less risky.
However, AB 2167 drew fierce opposition from consumer groups, saying it undermined Proposition 103, the 1988 law that imposed direct regulation on premiums by an elected insurance commissioner. And the current commissioner, Ricardo Lara, joined the opposition.
“In an era where climate change is contributing to more severe and frequent wildfires, homeowners need more protection — not less,” Lara wrote in an op-ed article. “COVID-19 might be the Legislature’s primary focus, but we cannot let the insurance industry use it to gut important consumer protections that have existed for decades.”
Last December, after several years of wildfires, Lara barred insurers from refusing to renew policies in ZIP codes where fires were common, but that order expires in a few months and cannot be renewed.
Although rural counties endorsed AB 2167, the opposition prevailed. In its last incarnation, the bill merely ordered a study by Lara’s Department of Insurance — the time-dishonored way politicians duck tough issues. But even that version died without a vote when the legislative session ended.
Obviously, the crisis will not solve itself. Insurers are facing many more billions of dollars in losses from this summer’s fires — and the traditional autumn fire season hasn’t even begun. When Lara’s order expires, we probably will see insurers refuse to renew policies in the wildland-urban interface or even pull out of California altogether.
The status quo may be unsustainable, but the men and women in the Legislature can’t be bothered to change it.
Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist.


mercurynews--2020-09-08--Woman who popularized the gender reveal party says enough already after California wildfire

The woman best known for popularizing gender reveal parties has a message for the world : Please stop .
This week , as more than 7,000 acres in California were burned after a gender reveal led to a massive wildfire in San Bernardino County , blogger Jenna Karvunidis — who is largely credited for creating the gender reveal party — took to Facebook to condemn the over-the-top events .
“ Stop having these stupid parties .
For the love of God , stop burning things down to tell everyone about your kid ’ s penis .
No one cares but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t the first time a gender reveal party has led to catastrophe , and yet the celebrations have only grown in popularity .
Here ’ s how we got here .
How these parties became deadly Karvunidis had her own gender reveal party back in 2008 , before they became a Thing .
She and her husband went what is now the more traditional route , though : cutting a cake that revealed an inside of pink frosting .
A girl .
“ I just thought it would be really fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out , ” Karvunidis told NPR last year .
She wrote about it on her blog , High Gloss And Sauce , and at the time it garnered some local attention .
But since 2008 , these celebrations of life have turned into risky endeavors .
Though many still opt for the classic blue or pink cake reveal , others have taken more extreme routes .
The current wildfire in California is massive , but it ’ s just small potatoes compared to a 2017 reveal in Arizona that led to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened when members at the party shot a makeshift target scrawled with the words “ Boy ” and “ Girl.
” When the target — packed with the highly explosive Tannerite — exploded , a blue cloud poofed upward and immediately ignited the surrounding brush .
It was a boy , and the party ended up costing the guilty patrons more than $ 8 million in restitution .
Just this April , a gender reveal party in Florida also led to a 10-acre brush fire , after similarly using “ Tannerite and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fire officials at the time .
If the damage done by huge wildfires isn ’ t enough , such gender reveal parties have also led to property damage ( like the plane crash last year in Texas , or the car that burst into flames in Australia ) .
And , ironically , this celebration of life has also led to at least one death .
Last October , in Iowa , an idea for a fun gender reveal party went south when the family unintentionally built a pipe bomb .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t just blue or pink gun powder that exploded , but the entire pipe did as well , sending shrapnel flying .
A piece of metal hit a grandmother , who was standing about 45 feet away , and killed her .
Danger aside , there ’ s also overwhelming criticism of the parties as a system that upholds the gender binary — that is , it ’ s either a boy , or a girl .
Karvunidis herself has hinted at this criticism as well .
In 2019 , she wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birth leaves out so much of their potential and talents that have nothing to do with what ’ s between their legs.
” Studies have backed up this same notion .
• Southern California national forests closed for a week because of fire danger One such study , published in 2017 by Carly Gieseler in the Journal of Gender Studies , characterized the harms of the gender reveal party like this : “ It allows adults to recuperate what they have learned from their own gendered constructions , reinscribing expectations and assumptions onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propelling these ideals into the digital , social , public world.
” As for Karvunidis ’ s daughter , the focus of that pinnacle pink cake in 2008 , she ’ s “ a girl who wears suits !
” Karvunidis wrote — meaning to highlight the futility of celebrating these gender norms .

The woman best known for popularizing gender reveal parties has a message for the world: Please stop.
This week, as more than 7,000 acres in California were burned after a gender reveal led to a massive wildfire in San Bernardino County, blogger Jenna Karvunidis — who is largely credited for creating the gender reveal party — took to Facebook to condemn the over-the-top events.
Related Articles Crashes and Disasters | A gender reveal party caused California wildfire, now at 7,050 acres
A gender reveal party caused California wildfire, now at 7,050 acres Crashes and Disasters | 5 gender reveal disasters: wildfires, fatal explosion, plane crash “Stop having these stupid parties. For the love of God, stop burning things down to tell everyone about your kid’s penis. No one cares but you,” she wrote.
This isn’t the first time a gender reveal party has led to catastrophe, and yet the celebrations have only grown in popularity.
Here’s how we got here.
How these parties became deadly
Karvunidis had her own gender reveal party back in 2008, before they became a Thing. She and her husband went what is now the more traditional route, though: cutting a cake that revealed an inside of pink frosting. A girl.
“I just thought it would be really fun for everybody in the whole family to find out,” Karvunidis told NPR last year.
She wrote about it on her blog, High Gloss And Sauce, and at the time it garnered some local attention.
But since 2008, these celebrations of life have turned into risky endeavors. Though many still opt for the classic blue or pink cake reveal, others have taken more extreme routes.
The current wildfire in California is massive, but it’s just small potatoes compared to a 2017 reveal in Arizona that led to a wildfire spanning 47,000 acres. It all happened when members at the party shot a makeshift target scrawled with the words “Boy” and “Girl.”
When the target — packed with the highly explosive Tannerite — exploded, a blue cloud poofed upward and immediately ignited the surrounding brush.
It was a boy, and the party ended up costing the guilty patrons more than $8 million in restitution.
Just this April, a gender reveal party in Florida also led to a 10-acre brush fire, after similarly using “Tannerite and a weapon” in the reveal, according to fire officials at the time.
If the damage done by huge wildfires isn’t enough, such gender reveal parties have also led to property damage (like the plane crash last year in Texas, or the car that burst into flames in Australia).
And, ironically, this celebration of life has also led to at least one death.
Last October, in Iowa, an idea for a fun gender reveal party went south when the family unintentionally built a pipe bomb. When the device went off, it wasn’t just blue or pink gun powder that exploded, but the entire pipe did as well, sending shrapnel flying.
A piece of metal hit a grandmother, who was standing about 45 feet away, and killed her.
Parties uphold gender norms, critics say
Danger aside, there’s also overwhelming criticism of the parties as a system that upholds the gender binary — that is, it’s either a boy, or a girl.
Karvunidis herself has hinted at this criticism as well.
In 2019, she wrote that “assigning focus on gender at birth leaves out so much of their potential and talents that have nothing to do with what’s between their legs.”
Studies have backed up this same notion.
Related Articles Crashes and Disasters | Map: Lightning fires prompt evacuation order west of Yreka
Map: Lightning fires prompt evacuation order west of Yreka Crashes and Disasters | Evacuations ordered as Northern California fire roars through forest near site of 2022 deadly blaze
Evacuations ordered as Northern California fire roars through forest near site of 2022 deadly blaze Crashes and Disasters | Did powerlines cause Maui fire?
Did powerlines cause Maui fire? Crashes and Disasters | Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds
Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds Crashes and Disasters | Cadaver dogs are in Maui to help find the dead. Here’s how it works and why it’s difficult One such study, published in 2017 by Carly Gieseler in the Journal of Gender Studies, characterized the harms of the gender reveal party like this: “It allows adults to recuperate what they have learned from their own gendered constructions, reinscribing expectations and assumptions onto the unwritten body of the unborn and propelling these ideals into the digital, social, public world.”
As for Karvunidis’s daughter, the focus of that pinnacle pink cake in 2008, she’s “a girl who wears suits!” Karvunidis wrote — meaning to highlight the futility of celebrating these gender norms.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-09-08--Video shows USPS mail being dumped in a California parking lot. A postal union says USPS employees w

Video shows USPS mail being dumped in a California parking lot. A postal union says USPS employees weren’t involved

Bags of mail were dumped in a parking lot in Glendale , California , last week , according to surveillance footage obtained by CNN .
The September 3 video shows a Budget rental vehicle backing into the lot of 7Q Spa Laser & Aesthetics .
A person is seen exiting the vehicle and tossing numerous bags off the back of the truck into the lot .
Minutes later , the person gets back into the vehicle and drives away — leaving the bags of mail in the lot .
“ It was completely unusual , ” 7Q owner Lilia Serobian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon closer inspection of the bags , she noticed they were filled with hundreds of unopened envelopes and packages from the US Postal Service .
“ It ’ s suspicious .
You start thinking , ‘ OK , something is going on , ’ because no one has access to all those boxes and packages.
” US Postal Service employees weren ’ t involved in the dumping of bags , Omar Gonzalez , the Western Regional Coordinator for the American Postal Workers Union , told CNN .
Gonzalez said the person seen on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of a Budget rental truck was a contractor and after watching the surveillance tape , Gonzalez said the bags appeared to be bulk shipment mail .
“ We wanted to make sure it wasn ’ t a bargaining employee , ” Gonzalez told CNN .
“ We talked to the Glendale supervisor and the Glendale manager and asked from where the contractors would have received the bags .
That ’ s when they responded , telling us the Union should not speak about it.
” For companies that ship in bulk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bearing a USPS logo to bring to the bulk shipping department at the dock .
It was unclear if the bags were being delivered to or departing from the Glendale post office but if it was incoming mail , the bags are supposed to be placed into USPS trucks and taken to a processing center , Gonzalez said .
“ If it ’ s outgoing , we don ’ t know how it got into the Budget truck , ” Gonzalez said .
Gonzalez said the Postal Inspectors Office and local police are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Glendale Police and the USPS have not been returned .
The recovered mail , which appeared to be “ viable , ” will go through a verification process and be delivered , Gonzalez said , though it will possibly be delayed .

Bags of mail were dumped in a parking lot in Glendale, California, last week, according to surveillance footage obtained by CNN.
The September 3 video shows a Budget rental vehicle backing into the lot of 7Q Spa Laser & Aesthetics. A person is seen exiting the vehicle and tossing numerous bags off the back of the truck into the lot. Minutes later, the person gets back into the vehicle and drives away — leaving the bags of mail in the lot.
[vemba-video id=”us/2020/09/08/usps-mail-dump-parking-lot-california-orig-mg.cnn”]
“It was completely unusual,” 7Q owner Lilia Serobian told CNN affiliate KCBS/KCAL. She said upon closer inspection of the bags, she noticed they were filled with hundreds of unopened envelopes and packages from the US Postal Service. “It’s suspicious. You start thinking, ‘OK, something is going on,’ because no one has access to all those boxes and packages.”
US Postal Service employees weren’t involved in the dumping of bags, Omar Gonzalez, the Western Regional Coordinator for the American Postal Workers Union, told CNN.
Gonzalez said the person seen on surveillance video tossing the bags of mail out of a Budget rental truck was a contractor and after watching the surveillance tape, Gonzalez said the bags appeared to be bulk shipment mail.
“We wanted to make sure it wasn’t a bargaining employee,” Gonzalez told CNN. “We talked to the Glendale supervisor and the Glendale manager and asked from where the contractors would have received the bags. That’s when they responded, telling us the Union should not speak about it.”
For companies that ship in bulk, Gonzalez said they are given plastic bags bearing a USPS logo to bring to the bulk shipping department at the dock.
It was unclear if the bags were being delivered to or departing from the Glendale post office but if it was incoming mail, the bags are supposed to be placed into USPS trucks and taken to a processing center, Gonzalez said.
“If it’s outgoing, we don’t know how it got into the Budget truck,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said the Postal Inspectors Office and local police are both investigating. CNN requests for comment from Glendale Police and the USPS have not been returned.
The recovered mail, which appeared to be “viable,” will go through a verification process and be delivered, Gonzalez said, though it will possibly be delayed.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-09-08--East Bay couple arrested at North Bay Walmart after fight, brandishing of BB gun

A couple has been arrested at American Canyon Walmart after a fight and the brandishing of a BB gun , police said Monday afternoon .
On Monday at approximately 1 p.m. , American Canyon police were dispatched to a “ large fight ” at the WalMart Supercenter .
Prior to the officers arriving , the call was updated to include information that one of the people had a gun , that there were “ shots fired ” and multiple people involved .
Officers arrived within two minutes and came upon a chaotic scene with shoppers running out of the store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parking lots .
Several shoppers pointed toward one of the subjects involved and identified him as the person with the gun .
Officers then went to detain 44-year-old Cornelius Reynolds of Alameda , who denied any involvement or possession of a gun .
His wife , 32-year-old Chandra Vincent of Richmond , immediately interfered with officers , who were attempting to safely detain Reynolds .
As more officers from ACPD , Napa County ’ s Sheriff ’ s Office , California Highway Patrol , and Napa Police Department arrived , ACPD officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VIncent , along with searching the area to confirm there were no shooting victims at the store , nor any evidence of shots fired from a firearm .
Officers did find a black colored BB gun that resembled a firearm , in the trash can next to Reynolds ’ vehicle .
Reynolds later admitted to his involvement in the fist fight and that he retrieved the BB gun with from his car , using it inside to confront the other shopper , then getting rid of it in the trash can next to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misdemeanor charges related to causing a disturbance and by fighting in public and brandishing a replica firearm .
Vincent was arrested for obstructing peace officers in the course of their duties as they attempted to make the scene safe .

A couple has been arrested at American Canyon Walmart after a fight and the brandishing of a BB gun, police said Monday afternoon.
On Monday at approximately 1 p.m., American Canyon police were dispatched to a “large fight” at the WalMart Supercenter. Prior to the officers arriving, the call was updated to include information that one of the people had a gun, that there were “shots fired” and multiple people involved.
Officers arrived within two minutes and came upon a chaotic scene with shoppers running out of the store in all directions to their cars in the parking lots. Several shoppers pointed toward one of the subjects involved and identified him as the person with the gun.
Officers then went to detain 44-year-old Cornelius Reynolds of Alameda, who denied any involvement or possession of a gun. His wife, 32-year-old Chandra Vincent of Richmond, immediately interfered with officers, who were attempting to safely detain Reynolds.
As more officers from ACPD, Napa County’s Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and Napa Police Department arrived, ACPD officers were able to detain both Reynolds and VIncent, along with searching the area to confirm there were no shooting victims at the store, nor any evidence of shots fired from a firearm.
Officers did find a black colored BB gun that resembled a firearm, in the trash can next to Reynolds’ vehicle. Reynolds later admitted to his involvement in the fist fight and that he retrieved the BB gun with from his car, using it inside to confront the other shopper, then getting rid of it in the trash can next to his car.
Reynolds was arrested on misdemeanor charges related to causing a disturbance and by fighting in public and brandishing a replica firearm.
Vincent was arrested for obstructing peace officers in the course of their duties as they attempted to make the scene safe.