mercurynews--2020-01-19--Horoscopes: Jan. 19, 2020: Dolly Parton and Katey Sagal share advice

Happy Birthday : Venture down paths you ’ ve never been down .
Revive old ideas , and give them a makeover .
It ’ s time to expand your interests and put your energy into matters that will bring a high return emotionally , financially and physically .
An enthusiastic attitude and well-thought-out schedule will help you reach your destination of choice .
Romance will enhance your life .
Your numbers are 6 , 18 , 23 , 28 , 31 , 38 , 45 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : Look back , and you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Use intelligence to outsmart someone trying to take advantage of you .
Don ’ t feel you have to make an impulsive move because someone else does .
Do your own thing .
3 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : A partnership looks promising .
Talk over your financial expectations , legalities , contracts and commitment , and find out exactly how well you measure up .
Be careful not to act in haste .
Time is on your side .
Romance will improve your day .
3 stars GEMINI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own thing .
Working alone will help ward off interference .
Learn from mistakes , and channel your energy into activities and events that offer valuable information .
Don ’ t take part in someone ’ s mind games or high-pressure tactics .
3 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : Don ’ t feel uneasy ; embrace what ’ s available , and use your imagination to come up with ways to make the most of whatever situation you face .
Romance someone you love , and it will improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your face .
3 stars LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22 ) : Sit tight , look over what you have to work with , and focus on stability and security .
Do not make unnecessary changes or impulsive purchases .
Someone envious will try to mess with your mind .
Be honest , genuine and in control of the situation .
2 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : Participate in something you enjoy .
Getting together with friends or relatives will lead to a change in the way you view your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to someone you miss having in your life .
Proceed with caution .
2 stars LIBRA ( Sept. 23-Oct. 22 ) : Plan a trip or touch base with someone who inspires you to do and be your very best .
Don ’ t worry what others think , say or do .
It ’ s up to you to make decisions that will bring the results that make you happy .
4 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : A positive attitude will lead to favorable outcomes .
Talk to someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change your life .
Discuss how you want to move forward and the part you would like him or her to play .
Romance is encouraged .
3 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : A dark matter will cause a problem for you .
You are best to be honest and clear yourself of any connection to someone who tends to exaggerate or manipulate situations to suit his or her needs .
Protect your reputation .
3 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : Take matters into your own hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for it .
Don ’ t wait for someone to beat you at your own game .
Plan something romantic or use your power of persuasion to get someone more involved in your life .
4 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Keep your emotions under control when having personal discussions that can influence your quality of life .
Gather information and take care of matters personally .
Don ’ t let someone speak or act on your behalf .
Make your position clear .
2 stars PISCES ( Feb. 19-March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously , and do something to bring about change .
You will learn something new if you get into an emotional discussion with someone close to you .
Be true to yourself and honest with others .
5 stars Birthday Baby : You are classy , imaginative and realistic .
You are a leader and a negotiator .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Shawn Johnson, 28; Drea de Matteo, 48; Katey Sagal, 66; Dolly Parton, 74.
Happy Birthday: Venture down paths you’ve never been down. Revive old ideas, and give them a makeover. It’s time to expand your interests and put your energy into matters that will bring a high return emotionally, financially and physically. An enthusiastic attitude and well-thought-out schedule will help you reach your destination of choice. Romance will enhance your life. Your numbers are 6, 18, 23, 28, 31, 38, 45.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look back, and you’ll find the answer to a dilemma. Use intelligence to outsmart someone trying to take advantage of you. Don’t feel you have to make an impulsive move because someone else does. Do your own thing. 3 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A partnership looks promising. Talk over your financial expectations, legalities, contracts and commitment, and find out exactly how well you measure up. Be careful not to act in haste. Time is on your side. Romance will improve your day. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do your own thing. Working alone will help ward off interference. Learn from mistakes, and channel your energy into activities and events that offer valuable information. Don’t take part in someone’s mind games or high-pressure tactics. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t feel uneasy; embrace what’s available, and use your imagination to come up with ways to make the most of whatever situation you face. Romance someone you love, and it will improve your relationship and put a smile on your face. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Sit tight, look over what you have to work with, and focus on stability and security. Do not make unnecessary changes or impulsive purchases. Someone envious will try to mess with your mind. Be honest, genuine and in control of the situation. 2 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Participate in something you enjoy. Getting together with friends or relatives will lead to a change in the way you view your heritage. A reunion will reconnect you to someone you miss having in your life. Proceed with caution. 2 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Plan a trip or touch base with someone who inspires you to do and be your very best. Don’t worry what others think, say or do. It’s up to you to make decisions that will bring the results that make you happy. 4 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A positive attitude will lead to favorable outcomes. Talk to someone who can be instrumental in helping you change your life. Discuss how you want to move forward and the part you would like him or her to play. Romance is encouraged. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A dark matter will cause a problem for you. You are best to be honest and clear yourself of any connection to someone who tends to exaggerate or manipulate situations to suit his or her needs. Protect your reputation. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take matters into your own hands. If you want something, ask for it. Don’t wait for someone to beat you at your own game. Plan something romantic or use your power of persuasion to get someone more involved in your life. 4 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep your emotions under control when having personal discussions that can influence your quality of life. Gather information and take care of matters personally. Don’t let someone speak or act on your behalf. Make your position clear. 2 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take what concerns you seriously, and do something to bring about change. You will learn something new if you get into an emotional discussion with someone close to you. Be true to yourself and honest with others. 5 stars
Birthday Baby: You are classy, imaginative and realistic. You are a leader and a negotiator.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--Ask Amy: She’s traveling hundreds of miles to have dinner with my boyfriend

DEAR AMY : Should I be concerned that my boyfriend ’ s ( female ) work friend , whom he would only see twice a year at conferences ( and has recently gotten divorced ) , is driving four hours to visit our town ?
She says she wants us all to go to dinner .
Here is the problem : We live in a very small and unassuming place .
No one ever just vacations here .
It ’ s obvious to me that she ’ s coming to town just to see my boyfriend .
He is oblivious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jealous .
He and I have a very solid relationship .
Am I just being crazy ?
DEAR JEALOUS : Jealousy isn ’ t always a bad thing , but it is often flung in a partner ’ s direction like an accusation , instead of it being the reasonable and justified response to a specific situation .
• Ask Amy : Our neighbor is luring these uncute animals to our yard • Ask Amy : My houseguests left in a huff .
Was I wrong ?
• Ask Amy : He shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Ask Amy : Am I a jerk for finding their stories unpleasant ?
• Ask Amy : I found my birth family , and they threatened me You might as well cop to feeling this way : “ Jealous ?
You bet I am , buster.
” This doesn ’ t mean that he has done anything wrong ( or that she has ) , but that he is a desirable guy , and she is a newly single woman taking a four-hour road trip just to say hi .
The real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ) insisted on excluding you .
Neither of them has .
Attend this dinner , behave like a sophisticated and confident person , laugh at all of their inside jokes , ask pointed questions about work and family , think of people you could fix her up with — and suss this out .
Your Spidey sense should tell you whether you ’ ve got a real problem , or whether this is perhaps a case of someone ( her ) exploring a new territory , only to find that there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DEAR AMY : In the early ’ 30s , my uncle attended college in North Carolina .
He met a girl and they fell in love .
When he graduated , he moved back to his home state , and she stayed in North Carolina .
They exchanged letters through 1933 or so , but the long distance doomed the relationship .
He apparently was devastated at the breakup and saved all of her letters .
My uncle died in 1979 and I inherited all of his estate , including all of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other small items she had sent to him .
In trying to decide what to do with them , I found her family on the internet .
She passed away in 2002 but has a large extended family .
I composed a respectful letter to her oldest son ( who is in his late 70s ) , telling him what I have .
I specifically apologized at the beginning of the letter if he thought this was an intrusion into their family ’ s life , but on the other hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and would love to know all about their family ’ s history .
I have not sent the letter .
My family is pretty split over this .
Some say to just throw this stuff out , while others agree that I should contact the family .
I don ’ t want to upset them over their grandmother ’ s love affair with someone they ’ ve likely never even heard of .
What do you think I should do ?
DEAR CONFLICTED : Do NOT throw out these letters and photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , accurately describe what you have , and offer to send the collection to him .
I detect an undercurrent of scandal or embarrassment over this collection .
I fail to see why you are hesitating .
Your uncle and his correspondent were young people who loved one another .
Their tender story is beautiful , and universal .
As far as I can tell , there was no taboo to their love affair .
These letters — and especially the photos — would most likely be treasures to her family members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ child of an older dad — a man who people assumed was my grandfather .
I simply corrected people and let them be embarrassed all by themselves .
“ K In Colorado ” is an older dad who should be a lot more worried about keeping himself healthy , so he can be vibrant through all his son ’ s life , than about a stranger ’ s assumptions .
Letting ignorant people bug him is not good for his health .
I completely understand the frustration this dad must experience to frequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s grandfather , but this assumption was a likely outcome when he chose to have his first child at the age of 57 .
Good and happy parents embrace the joys of parenthood , while tolerating its many frustrations .
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy @ amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy , P.O .
Box 194 , Freeville , NY 13068 .
You can also follow her on Twitter @ askingamy or Facebook .

DEAR AMY: Should I be concerned that my boyfriend’s (female) work friend, whom he would only see twice a year at conferences (and has recently gotten divorced), is driving four hours to visit our town? She says she wants us all to go to dinner.
Here is the problem: We live in a very small and unassuming place. No one ever just vacations here. It’s obvious to me that she’s coming to town just to see my boyfriend.
He is oblivious, and says I’m being jealous. He and I have a very solid relationship. Am I just being crazy?
Jealous?
DEAR JEALOUS: Jealousy isn’t always a bad thing, but it is often flung in a partner’s direction like an accusation, instead of it being the reasonable and justified response to a specific situation.
Related Articles Advice | Ask Amy: I found the videos she posted about me, with all the demeaning comments
Ask Amy: I found the videos she posted about me, with all the demeaning comments Advice | Ask Amy: My fiance wants me to stay home. Should I bolt?
Ask Amy: My fiance wants me to stay home. Should I bolt? Advice | Ask Amy: Why did she react that way? It was a compliment!
Ask Amy: Why did she react that way? It was a compliment! Advice | Ask Amy: I’ve told them they need therapy, and they refuse to do it. What now?
Ask Amy: I’ve told them they need therapy, and they refuse to do it. What now? Advice | Ask Amy: The man I love is my grandchild’s uncle, and things have gotten messy You might as well cop to feeling this way: “Jealous? You bet I am, buster.” This doesn’t mean that he has done anything wrong (or that she has), but that he is a desirable guy, and she is a newly single woman taking a four-hour road trip just to say hi.
The real concern would be if she (or he) insisted on excluding you. Neither of them has.
Attend this dinner, behave like a sophisticated and confident person, laugh at all of their inside jokes, ask pointed questions about work and family, think of people you could fix her up with — and suss this out.
Your Spidey sense should tell you whether you’ve got a real problem, or whether this is perhaps a case of someone (her) exploring a new territory, only to find that there is a sturdy flag already planted there.
DEAR AMY: In the early ’30s, my uncle attended college in North Carolina. He met a girl and they fell in love. When he graduated, he moved back to his home state, and she stayed in North Carolina.
They exchanged letters through 1933 or so, but the long distance doomed the relationship. He apparently was devastated at the breakup and saved all of her letters.
My uncle died in 1979 and I inherited all of his estate, including all of her letters (about 120), pictures, and other small items she had sent to him.
In trying to decide what to do with them, I found her family on the internet. She passed away in 2002 but has a large extended family.
I composed a respectful letter to her oldest son (who is in his late 70s), telling him what I have. I specifically apologized at the beginning of the letter if he thought this was an intrusion into their family’s life, but on the other hand many people these days do genealogy research, and would love to know all about their family’s history.
I have not sent the letter. My family is pretty split over this. Some say to just throw this stuff out, while others agree that I should contact the family. I don’t want to upset them over their grandmother’s love affair with someone they’ve likely never even heard of.
What do you think I should do?
Conflicted
DEAR CONFLICTED: Do NOT throw out these letters and photos. Contact the woman’s son, accurately describe what you have, and offer to send the collection to him.
I detect an undercurrent of scandal or embarrassment over this collection. I fail to see why you are hesitating. Your uncle and his correspondent were young people who loved one another. Their tender story is beautiful, and universal.
As far as I can tell, there was no taboo to their love affair. These letters — and especially the photos — would most likely be treasures to her family members.
Want Ask Amy delivered to your inbox for free on weekdays?
DEAR AMY: I’m the child of an older dad — a man who people assumed was my grandfather.
I simply corrected people and let them be embarrassed all by themselves.
“K In Colorado” is an older dad who should be a lot more worried about keeping himself healthy, so he can be vibrant through all his son’s life, than about a stranger’s assumptions.
Letting ignorant people bug him is not good for his health.
Summer
DEAR SUMMER: Your dad raised a practical and resilient child. Good job, Dad!
I completely understand the frustration this dad must experience to frequently be mistaken for his adolescent son’s grandfather, but this assumption was a likely outcome when he chose to have his first child at the age of 57.
Good and happy parents embrace the joys of parenthood, while tolerating its many frustrations.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--Dear Abby: I’m dreading nosy questions about our unusual family situation

DEAR ABBY : My husband and I recently gained custody of my younger half-brother after a nasty legal battle with my father and stepmother .
While we abhor what led to this , we are delighted my brother is in our home and our lives .
With the exception of his parents , so is everyone else in our families .
My brother will be coming with us to family gatherings that include my dad and stepmother .
Most of the family is not privy to the circumstances that led to this situation , and I ’ m sure questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PTSD from it , and talking about it right now is difficult for him .
He ’ s in therapy and receiving help , but how can we dissuade potentially upsetting questions without things being weird ?
• Dear Abby : A picture of my birthday gift would make him feel bad • Dear Abby : I ’ m starting to wonder if I ’ m his side chick • Dear Abby : I ’ m angry that my parents never sued over my childhood injury • Dear Abby : I can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that DEAR PROTECTIVE : A way to accomplish it would be to have a private talk with your relatives before these events .
Explain what happened and that your brother is receiving help but is in too much pain right now to answer any questions , which is why you prefer the subject not be mentioned .
DEAR ABBY : My husband and I relocated to a warmer climate a few years ago , putting us more than 1,000 miles away from my adult children .
The kids all seem to think this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to ask me to “ come home.
” All three of them are busy with their own well-rounded lives , and the last few years we were there , their visits became less frequent and shorter .
We are now in a state that is much more economical than our home state , and our health and well-being have greatly improved .
How do I let them know , once and for all , that I am home ?
DEAR LOVING THE SOUTHWEST : A way to let them know would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a positive experience for you and your husband , so much so that your health has improved .
Tell them the added bonus is that your living expenses have gone down , and with them , any stress about finances .
Let them know they are welcome to visit when it ’ s convenient for all of you .
But do NOT make it about the fact that when you lived close by , their visits became fewer and shorter , which would be regarded as a guilt trip .
If you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live , it ’ s likely you may be visiting that area occasionally , too .
DEAR ABBY : I ’ m responding to “ Not Just Mary , in the South , ” the lady whose name is Mary Lou but is continually called only Mary , even though she prefers being called by her full name .
I had the same problem .
My name is Mary Ann , but I was constantly called Mary , which I hated .
To solve the problem , I combined the names and started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryann .
Since then , I have never again been called Mary .
By the way , when I also had to give the initial of my middle name , because the “ A ” was no longer available , I started using “ B , ” which is the first letter of my maiden name .
Mary Lou should try this , and I hope it is as effective for her as it was for me .
DEAR MARYANN : I ’ m printing your letter because it included the most frequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also because it makes perfect sense .
Thank you for sharing .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I recently gained custody of my younger half-brother after a nasty legal battle with my father and stepmother. While we abhor what led to this, we are delighted my brother is in our home and our lives. With the exception of his parents, so is everyone else in our families.
My brother will be coming with us to family gatherings that include my dad and stepmother. Most of the family is not privy to the circumstances that led to this situation, and I’m sure questions will come up. My brother has PTSD from it, and talking about it right now is difficult for him. He’s in therapy and receiving help, but how can we dissuade potentially upsetting questions without things being weird?
PROTECTIVE IN CALIFORNIA
Related Articles Advice | Dear Abby: Is it weird that I think this actress could be my sister?
Dear Abby: Is it weird that I think this actress could be my sister? Advice | Dear Abby: Why are people so rude to me lately? I’m a nice guy.
Dear Abby: Why are people so rude to me lately? I’m a nice guy. Advice | Dear Abby: My financial adviser won’t listen to me, but he insists he’s not sexist
Dear Abby: My financial adviser won’t listen to me, but he insists he’s not sexist Advice | Dear Abby: Our teen’s messy breakup has had awkward repercussions for us
Dear Abby: Our teen’s messy breakup has had awkward repercussions for us Advice | Dear Abby: I was annoyed to discover why our friends picked this restaurant DEAR PROTECTIVE: A way to accomplish it would be to have a private talk with your relatives before these events. Explain what happened and that your brother is receiving help but is in too much pain right now to answer any questions, which is why you prefer the subject not be mentioned.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I relocated to a warmer climate a few years ago, putting us more than 1,000 miles away from my adult children. The kids all seem to think this trip was just for fun, and continue to ask me to “come home.”
All three of them are busy with their own well-rounded lives, and the last few years we were there, their visits became less frequent and shorter.
We are now in a state that is much more economical than our home state, and our health and well-being have greatly improved. How do I let them know, once and for all, that I am home?
LOVING THE SOUTHWEST
DEAR LOVING THE SOUTHWEST: A way to let them know would be to explain that the move has been a positive experience for you and your husband, so much so that your health has improved. Tell them the added bonus is that your living expenses have gone down, and with them, any stress about finances.
Let them know they are welcome to visit when it’s convenient for all of you. But do NOT make it about the fact that when you lived close by, their visits became fewer and shorter, which would be regarded as a guilt trip. If you have other friends and relatives where your children live, it’s likely you may be visiting that area occasionally, too.
DEAR ABBY: I’m responding to “Not Just Mary, in the South,” the lady whose name is Mary Lou but is continually called only Mary, even though she prefers being called by her full name. I had the same problem.
My name is Mary Ann, but I was constantly called Mary, which I hated. To solve the problem, I combined the names and started writing my name as one word — Maryann. Since then, I have never again been called Mary.
By the way, when I also had to give the initial of my middle name, because the “A” was no longer available, I started using “B,” which is the first letter of my maiden name.
Mary Lou should try this, and I hope it is as effective for her as it was for me.
MARYANN IN TENNESSEE
DEAR MARYANN: I’m printing your letter because it included the most frequently mentioned suggestion by other readers, and also because it makes perfect sense. Thank you for sharing.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--Walters: An uber-complex presidential primary

A new poll of California voters finds a virtual tie among Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden just a couple of weeks before mail voting begins for the March 3 Democratic presidential primary .
Sanders crept ahead of long-time leader Biden among Democratic voters in the Public Policy Institute of California poll , jumping 10 percentage points over the last two months to 27 % .
Biden ’ s and Warren ’ s shares were unchanged at 24 % and 23 % respectively , meaning Sanders gained supporters from second- and third-tier candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California Sen. Kamala Harris , or have faded .
Were election results to match the PPIC polling , Sanders would claim a victory of sorts , but it ’ s not quite that simple .
Under the Democratic Party ’ s uber-complex rules , coming in first in the primary doesn ’ t necessarily generate a trove of delegate votes .
As Paul Mitchell , California ’ s premier political number-cruncher , points out in a Capitol Weekly article , “ California ’ s Democratic primary isn ’ t won at the ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the ‘ statewide poll ’ level .
It ’ s won through a complicated , proportional delegate-allocation procedure that affects campaign strategy and could muddy the final election results.
” California will send 495 delegates to the Democratic National Convention , Mitchell continues .
“ Of those , 416 will be pledged delegates ( meaning that they are committed to a candidate ) , while 79 will be the unpledged ‘ superdelegates .
… ‘ “ The bulk of those pledged delegates will be allocated at the congressional level , with four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s 53 congressional districts , for a total of 272 .
In addition , there are an additional 144 delegates awarded based on the statewide results.
” Well , that doesn ’ t sound too complicated , but Mitchell adds , “ there ’ s a catch , ” and explains it thusly : “ To win any delegates within a congressional district requires the candidate to obtain the support of a minimum of 15 % of that district ’ s voters .
And the state result is subject to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets 15 % statewide , that person could win all 144 statewide delegates , but if five candidates reach 15 % they would divide the delegates among themselves .
“ Given the method of calculating delegates at the congressional district level , the ‘ winner ’ might only get 20,000 votes more than the closest competitor but receive just one more delegate .
Or , if the winning contender was the only one to reach 15 % , he or she could win by a mere 1 % margin yet capture 100 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And to make it even trickier , counting the votes and applying the formula district by district could take weeks and by the time California ’ s final result is known , the race might have already been decided elsewhere .
The likelihood of a close finish among the three frontrunners , the complexity of the delegate allocation system and the inevitable delay in counting votes could essentially make our primary a non-factor in choosing the Democratic candidate to challenge President Donald Trump , undercutting the contention that advancing the election from June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The system that Mitchell describes in excruciating detail poses another question : If California ’ s Democratic politicians are enamored of a proportional primary election , rather than winner-take-all , why do they insist that November ’ s electoral votes all go to the winner of the popular vote , rather than being allocated by congressional district , as a couple of other states do ?
• Walters : It ’ s obvious that Gavin Newsom wants to be president • Walters : Where political action is — and isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five issues that should top California ’ s 2020 agenda • Walters : New year brings old issues to California • Letter : How can we vote or buy online without accurate information ?
• Letter : Housing crisis is due to too many rich people

A new poll of California voters finds a virtual tie among Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden just a couple of weeks before mail voting begins for the March 3 Democratic presidential primary.
Sanders crept ahead of long-time leader Biden among Democratic voters in the Public Policy Institute of California poll, jumping 10 percentage points over the last two months to 27%.
Biden’s and Warren’s shares were unchanged at 24% and 23% respectively, meaning Sanders gained supporters from second- and third-tier candidates who either dropped out, such as California Sen. Kamala Harris, or have faded.
Were election results to match the PPIC polling, Sanders would claim a victory of sorts, but it’s not quite that simple.
Under the Democratic Party’s uber-complex rules, coming in first in the primary doesn’t necessarily generate a trove of delegate votes.
As Paul Mitchell, California’s premier political number-cruncher, points out in a Capitol Weekly article, “California’s Democratic primary isn’t won at the ‘national poll’ level, or even at the ‘statewide poll’ level. It’s won through a complicated, proportional delegate-allocation procedure that affects campaign strategy and could muddy the final election results.”
California will send 495 delegates to the Democratic National Convention, Mitchell continues. “Of those, 416 will be pledged delegates (meaning that they are committed to a candidate), while 79 will be the unpledged ‘superdelegates. … ‘
“The bulk of those pledged delegates will be allocated at the congressional level, with four to seven delegates awarded in each of California’s 53 congressional districts, for a total of 272. In addition, there are an additional 144 delegates awarded based on the statewide results.”
Well, that doesn’t sound too complicated, but Mitchell adds, “there’s a catch,”and explains it thusly:
“To win any delegates within a congressional district requires the candidate to obtain the support of a minimum of 15% of that district’s voters. And the state result is subject to the same rule: If only one candidate gets 15% statewide, that person could win all 144 statewide delegates, but if five candidates reach 15% they would divide the delegates among themselves.
“Given the method of calculating delegates at the congressional district level, the ‘winner’ might only get 20,000 votes more than the closest competitor but receive just one more delegate. Or, if the winning contender was the only one to reach 15%, he or she could win by a mere 1% margin yet capture 100% of the delegates.”
Got that? And to make it even trickier, counting the votes and applying the formula district by district could take weeks and by the time California’s final result is known, the race might have already been decided elsewhere.
The likelihood of a close finish among the three frontrunners, the complexity of the delegate allocation system and the inevitable delay in counting votes could essentially make our primary a non-factor in choosing the Democratic candidate to challenge President Donald Trump, undercutting the contention that advancing the election from June to March would make California more relevant.
The system that Mitchell describes in excruciating detail poses another question: If California’s Democratic politicians are enamored of a proportional primary election, rather than winner-take-all, why do they insist that November’s electoral votes all go to the winner of the popular vote, rather than being allocated by congressional district, as a couple of other states do?
Just asking.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--Saturday Night Five: Payton Pritchard is ridiculous, Stanford collapses, WSU’s three days for the ag

Saturday Night Five: Payton Pritchard is ridiculous, Stanford collapses, WSU’s three days for the ages and more

*** Instant reaction to developments on and off the field , and court .
( For a subscription to the free Hotline newsletter , click here . )
… 1 .
Player of the Year ?
No doubt .
We had planned to devote the first item in Saturday Night Five — a prime piece of real estate in the Hotline ’ s world — to a football item .
If you missed his latest … Pritchard led Oregon back from a 16-point deficit midway through the second half at Washington , then hit the game-winner with 3.4 seconds left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , step-back , 30-footer from the right wing — watch it here — to cap another stellar performance .
All he did was score 22 of Oregon ’ s 64 points , hit 6-of-12 from 3-point range and contribute a few rebounds and assists — all while playing the full 45 .
The whole shebang … the comeback and the shot and the win … got the Hotline wondering : Pritchard is having the best season for a Pac-12 point guard since … ?
2 .
Point guard of the Century ?
Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to the turn of the century , and Pritchard ’ s play thus far stands with the best we ’ ve seen .
He ’ s averaging 19.4 points per game ( fourth in the conference ) , but that figure doesn ’ t rise and fall with the competition .
Against Memphis ( with James Wiseman ) , Seton Hall ( with Myles Powell ) , Gonzaga , North Carolina ( with Cole Anthony ) , Michigan , Colorado and Arizona , Pritchard averaged 18.2 points .
He has been terrific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a season worthy of first-team All-American honors .
Overall , he ’ s shooting 49 percent from the field , 40.2 percent from 3-point range and 75.9 percent from the line .
He ’ s also averaging 4.5 rebounds , 5.9 assists and 35.4 minutes ( tops in the conference ) .
He plays stellar defense , scores from everywhere — good luck keeping him out of the lane — and makes his teammates better while hauling them to victory at the same time .
Did we mention he ’ s 6-foot-2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research staff compiled a list of 12 point guards who produced elite seasons this century .
Again , this isn ’ t a discussion of the most talented lead guard to come through the conference in the past two decades .
It ’ s about which point guard has produced the best season .
These 12 were terrific for at least one year in college : — Fultz posted ridiculous numbers ( 23.3 ppg , 5.9 apg , 5.7 rpg ) but didn ’ t help his team win .
— Ball only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on UCLA and the conference was momentous .
— Gutierrez was named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year , a feat not matched before or since .
We could go on with flattering stats or facts about all the guards mentioned above , but we ’ ll spare you .
With a strong finish , Pritchard ’ s season will be the best for a Pac-12 point guard since Ridnour and comparable to what we saw from the top players of the 1980s and 90s .
But don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for it .
“ I think it ’ s trending toward all-time great , ” Pac-12 Networks analyst Don MacLean , the leading scorer in conference history , said of Pritchard ’ s year .
“ And if Oregon wins the league , then it ’ s in the conversation of best ever.
” 3 .
So close .
Now , how far ?
Stanford was thisclose to taking early control of the conference race .
After home wins over Cal and the Washington schools and then whacking UCLA around at Pauley Pavilion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USC with 13 seconds left .
Let that sink in : Five-point lead with 13 seconds left to take a two-game lead in the standings .
And then came an epic meltdown .
Yep , the Cardinal committed two turnovers in the final 13 seconds of regulation , and the Trojans converted both .
The 3-pointer , by Elijah Weaver , would have been the shot of the day if not for Pritchard ’ s dagger .
Stanford played well enough for 79 minutes and 45 seconds to leave L.A. with a ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stunning ) two-game lead in the loss column over USC , Oregon , Arizona and Colorado .
Instead , the Cardinal heads home with a crushing loss and the toughest portion of its schedule still to play .
How long this loss sticks … how quickly the Cardinal recovers … will define the season .
4 .
Three days of the Cougar .
Washington State just completed a stretch for the ages .
Thursday afternoon : The Cougars introduced new coach Nick Rolovich and nailed it with the news conference .
Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its first win over a top-10 team in 13 years .
Saturday afternoon ( approx 2 p.m. ) : The Cougars retired Klay Thompson ’ s jersey ( with Steph Curry in attendance ) .
Saturday afternoon ( approx 3 p.m. ) : The Cougars finish off Oregon State to complete their first home sweep in conference play since 2013 .
We like the Rolovich hire , but Mike Leach set a remarkably high standard .
We like what first-year basketball coach Kyle Smith has done with the Cougars , but WSU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge for a top-tier finish .
We like the messaging — both the football news conference and the basketball ceremony — but momentum is fleeting .
Despite the uncertainty moving forward , the present benefits are unmistakable .
The conference wins whenever one of its schools experiences a run of success on/off the field .
When that success unfolds at a school with what we could call second-level resources , it ’ s that much more significant .
With ( presumably ) all the Pac-12 football coaching changes complete for the offseason , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlay on a comparative basis .
Chris Petersen made $ 4.6 million in 2019 , per the USA Today salary database , while Mike Leach collected $ 3.75 million .
Their replacements in Seattle and Pullman , Jimmy Lake and Nick Rolovich , respectively , are due to make approximately $ 3 million each next season .
Meanwhile , the Mississippi schools , fortified by SEC revenue , went the other way .
Ole Miss was paying Matt Luke $ 3.1 million and reportedly will hand over to Lane Kiffin an average of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid Joe Moorhead $ 3.05 million last season and is giving Leach a big , fat raise : He ’ ll make $ 5 million per year , reportedly .
The state of Washington cut compensation for its head coaches by about $ 2.35 million , while the state of Mississippi bolstered compensation for its head coaches by $ 3 million .
Granted , our figures don ’ t account for what the coaches would have made in 2020 had they remained in place .
And it ’ s a small sample size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined .
But it ’ s also representative of the broader financial picture in the two conferences .
Support the Hotline : Several Hotline articles will remain free each month ( as will the newsletter ) , but for access to all content , you ’ ll need to subscribe .
I ’ ve secured a rate of $ 1 per week for a full year or — introductory offer alert !
— just 99 cents for the first month , with the option to cancel anytime .
Click here .
And thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , comments and tips ( confidentiality guaranteed ) to pac12hotline @ bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716 *** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference , and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference .

*** Instant reaction to developments on and off the field, and court. (For a subscription to the free Hotline newsletter, click here.) …
1. Player of the Year? No doubt.
We had planned to devote the first item in Saturday Night Five — a prime piece of real estate in the Hotline’s world — to a football item.
But then Payton Pritchard happened. Goodness, gracious.
If you missed his latest …
Pritchard led Oregon back from a 16-point deficit midway through the second half at Washington, then hit the game-winner with 3.4 seconds left in overtime.
But it wasn’t a typical game winner.
It wasn’t a lay-up or put-back.
It wasn’t a floater or corner 3.
It was a Curry.
Pritchard hit a closely-guarded, step-back, 30-footer from the right wing — watch it here — to cap another stellar performance.
All he did was score 22 of Oregon’s 64 points, hit 6-of-12 from 3-point range and contribute a few rebounds and assists — all while playing the full 45.
The whole shebang … the comeback and the shot and the win … got the Hotline wondering:
Pritchard is having the best season for a Pac-12 point guard since …?
2. Point guard of the Century? Perhaps.
We went a long way back, to the turn of the century, and Pritchard’s play thus far stands with the best we’ve seen.
He’s averaging 19.4 points per game (fourth in the conference), but that figure doesn’t rise and fall with the competition.
Against Memphis (with James Wiseman), Seton Hall (with Myles Powell), Gonzaga, North Carolina (with Cole Anthony), Michigan, Colorado and Arizona, Pritchard averaged 18.2 points.
He has been terrific against the bad and against the good — a season worthy of first-team All-American honors.
Overall, he’s shooting 49 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from 3-point range and 75.9 percent from the line.
(You’re almost better off fouling him.)
He’s also averaging 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 35.4 minutes (tops in the conference).
He plays stellar defense, scores from everywhere — good luck keeping him out of the lane — and makes his teammates better while hauling them to victory at the same time.
Did we mention he’s 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds?
The crack Hotline research staff compiled a list of 12 point guards who produced elite seasons this century.
Again, this isn’t a discussion of the most talented lead guard to come through the conference in the past two decades.
(Pritchard isn’t even the most talented this season. That would be Arizona’s Nico Mannion.)
It’s about which point guard has produced the best season.
These 12 were terrific for at least one year in college:
Washington’s Markelle Fultz
UCLA’s Aaron Holiday
UCLA’s Lonzo Ball
Oregon’s Joseph Young
Cal’s Jorge Gutierrez
Arizona State’s Jahii Carson
Washington’s Isaiah Thomas
Cal’s Jerome Randle
UCLA’s Darren Collison
Oregon’s Aaron Brooks
Arizona’s Jason Gardner
Oregon’s Luke Ridnour
(If so inclined, you could include Arizona State’s Eddie House on the list. In our view, House wasn’t a pure lead guard — he was more of a combo — but this is purely subjective territory here.)
It’s an interesting debate:
— Fultz posted ridiculous numbers (23.3 ppg, 5.9 apg, 5.7 rpg) but didn’t help his team win.
— Ball only averaged 14.6 points, but his impact on UCLA and the conference was momentous.
(Ball, not Oregon’s Dillon Brooks, should have been Player of the Year in 2017.)
— Gutierrez was named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, a feat not matched before or since.
We could go on with flattering stats or facts about all the guards mentioned above, but we’ll spare you.
Our conclusion:
With a strong finish, Pritchard’s season will be the best for a Pac-12 point guard since Ridnour and comparable to what we saw from the top players of the 1980s and 90s.
But don’t take the Hotline’s word for it.
We asked an expert.
“I think it’s trending toward all-time great,” Pac-12 Networks analyst Don MacLean, the leading scorer in conference history, said of Pritchard’s year.
“And if Oregon wins the league, then it’s in the conversation of best ever.”
3. So close. Now, how far?
Stanford was thisclose to taking early control of the conference race.
After home wins over Cal and the Washington schools and then whacking UCLA around at Pauley Pavilion, the Cardinal had a five-point on USC with 13 seconds left.
Let that sink in:
Five-point lead with 13 seconds left to take a two-game lead in the standings.
And then came an epic meltdown.
Stanford turnover
USC basket
Stanford turnover
USC 3-pointer
Overtime
USC victory
Yep, the Cardinal committed two turnovers in the final 13 seconds of regulation, and the Trojans converted both.
The 3-pointer, by Elijah Weaver, would have been the shot of the day if not for Pritchard’s dagger.
Stanford played well enough for 79 minutes and 45 seconds to leave L.A. with a (rare) road sweep and a (stunning) two-game lead in the loss column over USC, Oregon, Arizona and Colorado.
Instead, the Cardinal heads home with a crushing loss and the toughest portion of its schedule still to play.
(It includes five games against Oregon, Arizona and Colorado.)
How long this loss sticks … how quickly the Cardinal recovers … will define the season.
And it’s a crucial season for coach Jerod Haase.
4. Three days of the Cougar.
Speaking of all-time stuff …
Washington State just completed a stretch for the ages.
Thursday afternoon: The Cougars introduced new coach Nick Rolovich and nailed it with the news conference.
Thursday night: WSU toppled No. 8 Oregon for its first win over a top-10 team in 13 years.
Saturday afternoon (approx 2 p.m.): The Cougars retired Klay Thompson’s jersey (with Steph Curry in attendance).
Saturday afternoon (approx 3 p.m.): The Cougars finish off Oregon State to complete their first home sweep in conference play since 2013.
We like the Rolovich hire, but Mike Leach set a remarkably high standard.
We like what first-year basketball coach Kyle Smith has done with the Cougars, but WSU doesn’t have the personnel to challenge for a top-tier finish.
We like the messaging — both the football news conference and the basketball ceremony — but momentum is fleeting.
Despite the uncertainty moving forward, the present benefits are unmistakable.
The conference wins whenever one of its schools experiences a run of success on/off the field.
When that success unfolds at a school with what we could call second-level resources, it’s that much more significant.
5. Salary stuff.
With (presumably) all the Pac-12 football coaching changes complete for the offseason, the Hotline was curious about the total outlay on a comparative basis.
Chris Petersen made $4.6 million in 2019, per the USA Today salary database, while Mike Leach collected $3.75 million.
Their replacements in Seattle and Pullman, Jimmy Lake and Nick Rolovich, respectively, are due to make approximately $3 million each next season.
Meanwhile, the Mississippi schools, fortified by SEC revenue, went the other way.
Ole Miss was paying Matt Luke $3.1 million and reportedly will hand over to Lane Kiffin an average of $4.2 million annually.
Mississippi State paid Joe Moorhead $3.05 million last season and is giving Leach a big, fat raise: He’ll make $5 million per year, reportedly.
In other words …
The state of Washington cut compensation for its head coaches by about $2.35 million, while the state of Mississippi bolstered compensation for its head coaches by $3 million.
Granted, our figures don’t account for what the coaches would have made in 2020 had they remained in place.
And it’s a small sample size: Four schools out of the 26 combined.
But it’s also representative of the broader financial picture in the two conferences.
Support the Hotline: Several Hotline articles will remain free each month (as will the newsletter), but for access to all content, you’ll need to subscribe. I’ve secured a rate of $1 per week for a full year or — introductory offer alert! — just 99 cents for the first month, with the option to cancel anytime. Click here. And thanks for your loyalty.
*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716
*** Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline
*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--UFC 246: Conor McGregor stops Cowboy Cerrone in 40 seconds

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor stopped Donald Cerrone with a head kick and punches 40 seconds into the first round at UFC 246 on Saturday night , announcing his return to mixed martial arts with his first victory since 2016 .
The Irish former two-division champion returned from a three-year stretch of inactivity and outside-the-cage troubles with a performance that echoed his greatest fights during his unparalleled rise .
McGregor ( 22-4 ) floored Cerrone ( 36-14 ) only 20 seconds into the bout with a perfectly placed left kick to the head , and he mercilessly finished on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd at T-Mobile Arena .
McGregor ’ s hand hadn ’ t been raised in victory since November 2016 , when he stopped lightweight Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts simultaneously .
With his fame and fortune multiplying , McGregor fought only his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017 , and he lost a one-sided UFC bout to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in late 2018 .
After a year of inactivity and trouble outside the cage , McGregor vowed to return to elite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UFC veteran and stoppage specialist .
This dramatic victory over Cerrone indicated he ’ s on his way , and McGregor has vowed to fight multiple times in 2020 .
Cerrone is the winningest fighter in UFC history with 23 victories , a mark that reflects both his durability and commitment to an uncommonly busy schedule .
Cerrone , who also holds the UFC record with 16 stoppage wins , had fought a whopping 11 times since McGregor ’ s win over Alvarez , and he was in the cage for the 15th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title shot in December 2015 .
But Cerrone ’ s last two fights were stopped when he took too much damage , and he couldn ’ t block McGregor ’ s decisive kick or recover from the punishment on the ground .
McGregor believes he can recapture the fearsome form he showed during his meteoric rise to unprecedented MMA success .
He won 15 consecutive fights during a five-year run from low-profile shows in Dublin to the world ’ s biggest MMA events , stopping five straight elite UFC opponents with punches on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cage with the Irish flag wrapped around his shoulders .
The bearded fighters touched gloves beforehand in an extension of this bout ’ s unfailing sportsmanship — not always a hallmark of McGregor ’ s previous bouts .
After the referee stopped the bout , McGregor peeled away briefly to celebrate , but quickly returned to comfort his disoriented opponent .
When Cerrone ’ s grandmother , Jerry , entered the cage after the fight to hug her grandson , McGregor also hugged Jerry and got a kiss on the cheek .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe because of it — McGregor ’ s return is expected to be a huge seller on pay-per-view .
An eager sellout Vegas crowd showed up in person , with celebrities including Matthew McConaughey , Jeremy Renner and Dave Bautista , along with NFL stars Tom Brady , Christian McCaffrey , Baker Mayfield , Myles Garrett and Jon Gruden .
Former bantamweight champion Holly Holm beat Raquel Pennington by unanimous decision in the penultimate bout of UFC 246 .
The 38-year-old Holm ( 13-5 ) had lost five of her seven fights since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 2015 .
On the undercard , 37-year-old flyweight Roxanne Modafferi pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history with a one-sided decision victory over previously unbeaten 21-year-old Maycee Barber , the UFC ’ s top 125-pound prospect .
Barber ( 8-1 ) injured her left knee during the bout , but Modafferi ( 24-16 ) was already dominating with the superior jiu-jitsu she has been practicing for Barber ’ s entire life .
Modafferi was the biggest betting underdog on the UFC 246 card , facing 10-to-1 odds at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 42-year-old heavyweight who made his pro debut in 1996 , also beat Maurice Greene by submission in the second round .

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor stopped Donald Cerrone with a head kick and punches 40 seconds into the first round at UFC 246 on Saturday night, announcing his return to mixed martial arts with his first victory since 2016.
The Irish former two-division champion returned from a three-year stretch of inactivity and outside-the-cage troubles with a performance that echoed his greatest fights during his unparalleled rise.
McGregor (22-4) floored Cerrone (36-14) only 20 seconds into the bout with a perfectly placed left kick to the head, and he mercilessly finished on the ground to the delight of a sellout crowd at T-Mobile Arena.
McGregor’s hand hadn’t been raised in victory since November 2016, when he stopped lightweight Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts simultaneously. With his fame and fortune multiplying, McGregor fought only his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017, and he lost a one-sided UFC bout to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in late 2018.
After a year of inactivity and trouble outside the cage, McGregor vowed to return to elite form in this bout against a fellow UFC veteran and stoppage specialist. This dramatic victory over Cerrone indicated he’s on his way, and McGregor has vowed to fight multiple times in 2020.
Cerrone is the winningest fighter in UFC history with 23 victories, a mark that reflects both his durability and commitment to an uncommonly busy schedule. Cerrone, who also holds the UFC record with 16 stoppage wins, had fought a whopping 11 times since McGregor’s win over Alvarez, and he was in the cage for the 15th time since he lost his only UFC title shot in December 2015.
But Cerrone’s last two fights were stopped when he took too much damage, and he couldn’t block McGregor’s decisive kick or recover from the punishment on the ground.
McGregor believes he can recapture the fearsome form he showed during his meteoric rise to unprecedented MMA success. He won 15 consecutive fights during a five-year run from low-profile shows in Dublin to the world’s biggest MMA events, stopping five straight elite UFC opponents with punches on the way up.
McGregor walked to the cage with the Irish flag wrapped around his shoulders. The bearded fighters touched gloves beforehand in an extension of this bout’s unfailing sportsmanship — not always a hallmark of McGregor’s previous bouts.
After the referee stopped the bout, McGregor peeled away briefly to celebrate, but quickly returned to comfort his disoriented opponent. When Cerrone’s grandmother, Jerry, entered the cage after the fight to hug her grandson, McGregor also hugged Jerry and got a kiss on the cheek.
Even after his prolonged absence — or maybe because of it — McGregor’s return is expected to be a huge seller on pay-per-view. An eager sellout Vegas crowd showed up in person, with celebrities including Matthew McConaughey, Jeremy Renner and Dave Bautista, along with NFL stars Tom Brady, Christian McCaffrey, Baker Mayfield, Myles Garrett and Jon Gruden.
Former bantamweight champion Holly Holm beat Raquel Pennington by unanimous decision in the penultimate bout of UFC 246. The 38-year-old Holm (13-5) had lost five of her seven fights since she memorably knocked out Ronda Rousey in November 2015.
On the undercard, 37-year-old flyweight Roxanne Modafferi pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history with a one-sided decision victory over previously unbeaten 21-year-old Maycee Barber, the UFC’s top 125-pound prospect.
Barber (8-1) injured her left knee during the bout, but Modafferi (24-16) was already dominating with the superior jiu-jitsu she has been practicing for Barber’s entire life. Modafferi was the biggest betting underdog on the UFC 246 card, facing 10-to-1 odds at some sports books.
Aleksei Oleinik, a 42-year-old heavyweight who made his pro debut in 1996, also beat Maurice Greene by submission in the second round.


mercurynews--2020-01-20--Tired of waiting, homeless advocates build unsanctioned village of tiny homes

For many of Oakland ’ s at least 4,000 homeless people , the promise of housing has been elusive .
But on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend , advocates and volunteers took matters into their own hands , constructing an unsanctioned village of 8-by-12-foot wooden homes on a public street median behind a Burger King on East 12th Street at 16th Avenue , their guerilla solution to the city ’ s epidemic of homelessness .
“ This was an unused piece of land with no real value — we gave it value , ” said Anita De Asis Miralle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Village , which has built two other unsanctioned encampments in Oakland in recent years .
“ We are saving the city money , it helps businesses , it helps the city of Oakland.
” Mayor Libby Schaaf and city officials did not respond to requests for comment Sunday .
Oakland officials , who have cleared out two other village encampments set up by the group , did not intervene in this weekend ’ s construction effort , but have in the past have pointed to health and safety problems , like fires and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearing encampments .
Miralle said the village is an interim solution for people who are tired of waiting for affordable housing to be built and frustrated with the city ’ s efforts to add emergency housing .
Miralle , who has been homeless for two years and lives in a camper with her daughter , added that they “ are going to keep building ” because the city ’ s homelessness problem “ is going to get worse.
” The homes are simple , with insulation , a door , window , paneling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electricity or plumbing , but organizers hope to eventually install solar panels and composting toilets .
They also want to add a garden , communal outdoor kitchen and gathering space to the strip of land .
East 12th street is lined with tents and RVs parked along the road , whose occupants often stop by the Burger King for water and to use the bathroom , which are locked except for customers .
The restaurant ’ s bathrooms Sunday were out of service .
The area has had a history of encampments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean and clear ” operations citing problems including fires , illegal electrical taps of street lamps and unstable , makeshift “ tree houses ” that required the city to remove trees , according to a document filed in court by the city .
Miralle ’ s group filed a court injunction ahead of two clean-up operations last year , arguing the city hasn ’ t followed its own policies for the encampment sweeps .
In a court declaration , city attorney Barbara Parker said the city did not remove personal property as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street , volunteers on Sunday were working on the frame of a home for Derek Cain .
Cain , 40 , had lived for a decade with his wife and son in an Oakland apartment near the Burger King , but became homeless after their landlord increased rent from $ 900 to $ 1,400 .
Cain ’ s wife moved to Sacramento to live with her father , and his son to live with grandparents , leaving Cain alone in Oakland .
Now he sleeps , unsheltered , on the ground outside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his home .
While a rent increase was what pushed him out of housing , Cain said the stress and distractions of being homeless — constant vigilance over one ’ s belongings , being unable to sleep at night , and the depression — is what has kept him homeless .
“ It blocks you from being able to focus on what you need to , ” said Cain , who hopes the new home , however modest , will offer him enough stability to get a job and reunite with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first of three sanctioned “ safe parking ” sites for RVs on a city lot at 71st Avenue and San Leandro Street .
It has also housed dozens of homeless residents in converted garden sheds , and in 2018 launched a $ 9 million program aimed at preventing homelessness by providing financial and other resources to at-risk residents .
Last week , Gov .
Gavin Newsom unveiled a project to house homeless families in 15 state-owned trailers on a vacant city-owned lot next to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum .
Newsom also announced $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homelessness for Alameda County .
Oakland has already received $ 19.7 million in state funding to combat homelessness , such as rapid re-housing programs , converting hotels and motels into housing , and rental assistance for people struggling to find housing .
For the past few years , homeless advocates have mobilized on the weekend of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday , said Miralle , inspired by the Poor People ’ s Campaign , a movement led by King before his assassination , which called for initiatives like guaranteed income and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death , organizers with the movement constructed a tent city at the National Mall , a demonstration that Miralle said her group is continuing .
“ He was talking about human rights , not just Black rights , but poor people , ” said Miralle .
“ What could be a more appropriate day ?
” While the city has launched new emergency housing initiatives in the past two years , Miralle says those programs come with too many rules and don ’ t meet the needs of the people they serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s clearing of encampments citywide , including two unsanctioned encampments built by volunteers affiliated with her group .
One of those encampments , on Edes and Elmhurst avenues , called “ Housing and Dignity Village ” was a drug-free , women ’ s encampment of about 13 people .
It was established in late October 2018 and weeks later the city issued notices for people to leave the property .
The group took the city to court to stop the eviction , but a judge ultimately decided the city could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city also provided shelter beds .
The city also allowed the group to camp on a Fruitvale property at east 12th Street and 23rd Avenue for more than a year , with the understanding that the group would eventually have to vacate the property for a retrofitting project for the 23rd Street bridge .
Organizers , despite the city forbidding it , built a fence and some housing structures at the site , one structure which was moved to the site behind the Burger King when the city eventually cleared the encampment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has three occupied homes , and volunteers hoped to erect five new ones by the end of the holiday weekend .
Ellie Hwa Brumbaum , 25 , painted a mural Sunday on the side of one of the new homes .
She hopes the mural will help people look more positively at the village , a contrast to images of encampments that often show heaps of trash around tents .
Her father Paul Brumbaum , a carpenter , was among the skilled volunteers building homes behind the Burger King .
He also helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the 23rd street site .
“ There ’ s trim , there ’ s paint , the idea is , if you make something beautiful enough , they can ’ t tear it down , ” Brumbaum said .
As organizers put up the homes Sunday , there was still uncertainty about how long it would be allowed to remain .
Cain said the village is a major improvement to what was in its place before .
“ Instead of a shantytown and garbage , this could be a place where someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cain said .
“ It ’ s hard out here .
”

Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device.
For many of Oakland’s at least 4,000 homeless people, the promise of housing has been elusive.
But on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, advocates and volunteers took matters into their own hands, constructing an unsanctioned village of 8-by-12-foot wooden homes on a public street median behind a Burger King on East 12th Street at 16th Avenue, their guerilla solution to the city’s epidemic of homelessness.
“This was an unused piece of land with no real value — we gave it value,” said Anita De Asis Miralle, founder of a group known as The Village, which has built two other unsanctioned encampments in Oakland in recent years. “We are saving the city money, it helps businesses, it helps the city of Oakland.”
On Monday, Mayor Libby Schaaf said the city would follow its established procedure on dealing with encampments.
“The city of Oakland has an encampment management policy. We assess each camp based on our criteria of safety, of health, of size and location,” she said.
“We have been brought to court on five occasions to defend that policy, and every time we have prevailed. The courts have found that the city of Oakland’s policy is fair, reasonable and lawful. And we will not treat this encampment any differently than we would treat any other encampment. We will assess it based on that criteria and move forward accordingly,” the mayor continued.
Oakland officials, who have cleared out two other village encampments set up by the group, did not intervene in this weekend’s construction effort, but have in the past have pointed to health and safety problems, like fires and trash accumulation, as the rationale behind clearing encampments.
Miralle said the village is an interim solution for people who are tired of waiting for affordable housing to be built and frustrated with the city’s efforts to add emergency housing. Miralle, who has been homeless for two years and lives in a camper with her daughter, added that they “are going to keep building” because the city’s homelessness problem “is going to get worse.”
The homes are simple, with insulation, a door, window, paneling and trim. The site has no electricity or plumbing, but organizers hope to eventually install solar panels and composting toilets. They also want to add a garden, communal outdoor kitchen and gathering space to the strip of land.
East 12th street is lined with tents and RVs parked along the road, whose occupants often stop by the Burger King for water and to use the bathroom, which are locked except for use by customers. The restaurant’s bathrooms Sunday were out of service.
The area has had a history of encampments, and Oakland has stepped in with “clean and clear” operations citing problems including fires, illegal electrical taps of street lamps and unstable, makeshift “tree houses” that required the city to remove trees, according to a document filed in court by the city.
Miralle’s group filed a court injunction ahead of two cleanup operations last year, arguing the city hasn’t followed its own policies for the encampment sweeps. In a court declaration, city attorney Barbara Parker said the city did not remove personal property as part of the cleanup.
On East 12th Street, volunteers on Sunday were working on the frame of a home for Derek Cain.
Cain, 40, had lived for a decade with his wife and son in an Oakland apartment near the Burger King, but became homeless after their landlord increased rent from $900 to $1,400.
Cain’s wife moved to Sacramento to live with her father, and his son to live with grandparents, leaving Cain alone in Oakland. Now he sleeps, unsheltered, on the ground outside, near where volunteers on Sunday were working on his home.
While a rent increase was what pushed him out of housing, Cain said the stress and distractions of being homeless — constant vigilance over one’s belongings, being unable to sleep at night and the depression — is what has kept him homeless.
“It blocks you from being able to focus on what you need to,” said Cain, who hopes the new home, however modest, will offer him enough stability to get a job and reunite with his wife.
Oakland last year opened the first of three sanctioned “safe parking” sites for RVs on a city lot at 71st Avenue and San Leandro Street. It has also housed dozens of homeless residents in converted garden sheds, and in 2018 launched a $9 million program aimed at preventing homelessness by providing financial and other resources to at-risk residents.
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a project to house homeless families in 15 state-owned trailers on a vacant city-owned lot next to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Newsom also announced $38 million in new state funds for homelessness for Alameda County.
Oakland has already received $19.7 million in state funding to combat homelessness, such as rapid re-housing programs, converting hotels and motels into housing, and rental assistance for people struggling to find housing.
For the past few years, homeless advocates have mobilized on the weekend of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, said Miralle, inspired by the Poor People’s Campaign, a movement led by King before his assassination, which called for initiatives like guaranteed income and more low-income housing.
Weeks after King’s death, organizers with the movement constructed a tent city at the National Mall, a demonstration that Miralle said her group is continuing.
“He was talking about human rights, not just black rights, but poor people,” said Miralle. “What could be a more appropriate day?”
While the city has launched new emergency housing initiatives in the past two years, Miralle says those programs come with too many rules and don’t meet the needs of the people they serve.
She’s also critical of the city’s clearing of encampments citywide, including two unsanctioned encampments built by volunteers affiliated with her group.
One of those encampments, on Edes and Elmhurst avenues, called “Housing and Dignity Village” was a drug-free, women’s encampment of about 13 people. It was established in late October 2018 and weeks later the city issued notices for people to leave the property. The group took the city to court to stop the eviction, but a judge ultimately decided the city could evict the encampment’s residents if the city also provided shelter beds.
The city also allowed the group to camp on a Fruitvale property at east 12th Street and 23rd Avenue for more than a year, with the understanding that the group would eventually have to vacate the property for a retrofitting project for the 23rd Street bridge.
Organizers, despite the city forbidding it, built a fence and some housing structures at the site, one structure which was moved to the site behind the Burger King when the city eventually cleared the encampment.
The east 12th street property currently has three occupied homes, and volunteers hoped to erect five new ones by the end of the holiday weekend.
Ellie Hwa Brumbaum, 25, painted a mural Sunday on the side of one of the new homes. She hopes the mural will help people look more positively at the village, a contrast to images of encampments that often show heaps of trash around tents.
Her father Paul Brumbaum, a carpenter, was among the skilled volunteers building homes behind the Burger King. He also helped build some of the homes that were at the 23rd street site.
“There’s trim, there’s paint, the idea is, if you make something beautiful enough, they can’t tear it down,” Brumbaum said.
As organizers put up the homes Sunday, there was still uncertainty about how long it would be allowed to remain.
Cain said the village is a major improvement to what was in its place before.
“Instead of a shantytown and garbage, this could be a place where someone could get back on their game.” Cain said. “It’s hard out here.”


mercurynews--2020-01-20--Jimmy G, Erin Andrews put ‘Feels great, baby’ to rest before NFC Championship Game

A spur-of-the moment response from the 49ers ’ charming quarterback turned into a rallying cry for the team ’ s faithful fans , and now it ’ s come full circle .
Way back on Halloween after the 49ers beat the Cardinals , Fox ’ s Erin Andrews asked Jimmy Garoppolo how the team ’ s 8-0 record felt .
Garoppolo responded with “ Feels great , baby ” and a mantra was born .
Some took it as flirtation , but Garoppolo appeared to send an apologetic wave Andrews ’ way as he fled the field .
A flood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slogan appeared throughout the 49ers Faithful , and some notable San Francisco players jumped on the bandwagon .
Andrews sat back down with Garoppolo for an interview this week ahead of the 49ers ’ appearance in the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers .
• Here ’ s why Chiefs ’ AFC Championship victory may be good news for us all • AFC Championship : Chiefs head to Miami for Super Bowl LIV ; will 49ers join them ?
• Live playoff updates : 49ers grab 7-0 lead over Packers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Moseley starts at CB ; Lott loves pass rush ; Woods to Browns ?
Towards the end of the piece , Andrews saw an opportunity to smooth over any lingering weirdness from the prior interview .
“ They are all-in on the Jimmy G vibe here , right ?
, ” she started .
“ I mean , how does that feel ?
Feels great , right ?
” Journalist and interview subject then shared a laugh and a high-five , signifying any strangeness , intended or otherwise , was water under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t posted the clip online yet , but an apparent 49ers/Jimmy G fan captured the moment and tweeted it .

Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device.
A spur-of-the moment response from the 49ers’ charming quarterback turned into a rallying cry for the team’s faithful fans, and now it’s come full circle.
Way back on Halloween after the 49ers beat the Cardinals, Fox’s Erin Andrews asked Jimmy Garoppolo how the team’s 8-0 record felt. Garoppolo responded with “Feels great, baby” and a mantra was born.
Some took it as flirtation, but Garoppolo appeared to send an apologetic wave Andrews’ way as he fled the field.
The QB of the UNDEFEATED San Francisco @49ers! Jimmy Garoppolo joined @ErinAndrews after the TNF win! pic.twitter.com/eJTdw3WzeJ — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 1, 2019
A flood of t-shirts and fan-made signs bearing the slogan appeared throughout the 49ers Faithful, and some notable San Francisco players jumped on the bandwagon.
Andrews sat back down with Garoppolo for an interview this week ahead of the 49ers’ appearance in the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers.
Related Articles San Francisco 49ers | 49ers training camp: Talanoa Hufanga’s interception spoils Brock Purdy’s solid day
49ers training camp: Talanoa Hufanga’s interception spoils Brock Purdy’s solid day San Francisco 49ers | 49ers appear to have job openings among NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense
49ers appear to have job openings among NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense San Francisco 49ers | 49ers mailbag: Are rookie Moody’s kicking misses cause for concern?
49ers mailbag: Are rookie Moody’s kicking misses cause for concern? San Francisco 49ers | 49ers: Shanahan sees bright side of Trey Lance’s performance vs. Raiders
49ers: Shanahan sees bright side of Trey Lance’s performance vs. Raiders San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: What’d I miss? A summer’s worth of takes on the Warriors, Giants, Niners, and Pac-12 Towards the end of the piece, Andrews saw an opportunity to smooth over any lingering weirdness from the prior interview.
“They are all-in on the Jimmy G vibe here, right?,” she started. “I mean, how does that feel? Feels great, right?”
Journalist and interview subject then shared a laugh and a high-five, signifying any strangeness, intended or otherwise, was water under the bridge.
Fox Sports hasn’t posted the clip online yet, but an apparent 49ers/Jimmy G fan captured the moment and tweeted it.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--Photos: Jerry Rice runs routes in suit before NFC Championship game

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having trouble viewing the media on a mobile device .
Former San Francisco 49ers @ @ @ @ @ linebacker Patrick Willis greeted fans ahead of the team ’ s NFC Championship game against @ @ @ @ @ Levi ’ s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday .
Rice was seen running routes @ @ @ @ @ the end zone — in a suit — before the 49ers-Packers game .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ icons were in attendance , including Barry Bonds , Steve Young , Rickey Watters , @ @ @ @ @ .
Also heard and seen inside Levi ’ s Stadium before the game Sunday were @ @ @ @ @ north end zone as the Green Bay Packers took the field , followed by chants @ @ @ @ @ emerged from the tunnel in the south end zone sporting his ‘ HOT BOYZZ ’ @ @ @ @ @ up and greeted fans as well as Fred Warner :

CLICK HERE if you’re having trouble viewing the media on a mobile device.
Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice and linebacker Patrick Willis greeted fans ahead of the team’s NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday.
Rice was seen running routes and a 100-yard sprint to the end zone — in a suit — before the 49ers-Packers game. Meanwhile, several other Bay Area sports icons were in attendance, including Barry Bonds, Steve Young, Rickey Watters, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Former @49ers WR @JerryRice in sharp suit warms up with the team before they take on the @packers innthe NFC championship game at @LevisStadium. Stay tuned for our coverage @mercnews @BayAreaSportsHQ pic.twitter.com/cbLwDtqV0u — Ray Chavez (@rayinaction) January 19, 2020
Also heard and seen inside Levi’s Stadium before the game Sunday were plenty of boos from the north end zone as the Green Bay Packers took the field, followed by chants from fans when Kwon Alexander emerged from the tunnel in the south end zone sporting his ‘HOT BOYZZ’ shirt.
Willis also showed up and greeted fans as well as Fred Warner:


mercurynews--2020-01-19--Here’s why Chiefs’ AFC Championship victory may be good news for us all

Hearing the Chiefs players and coaches talk over the next couple of weeks about what it ’ s like to make it to the team ’ s first Super Bowl in 50 years sure beats the alternative had Kansas City lost Sunday .
The Chiefs ’ 35-24 victory over the Titans in the AFC Championship spared us all from the inevitable Super Bowl week questions posed to Tennesee coach Mike Vrabel about the unkindest cut of all .
Vrabel , in case you hadn ’ t heard , joked that he ’ d have his … um , private parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to their first Super Bowl and win .
Patrick Mahomes helped us all avoid any embarrassing repartee between Vrabel and reporters after the Chiefs quarterback led Kansas City to another come-from-behind playoff victory .
Despite falling behind 10-0 Sunday , the Chiefs quickly rebounded as Mahomes wound up throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns .
Mahomes threw a pair of touchdowns to speedy receiver Tyreek Hill , who ’ ll be a load to deal with for either the 49ers or Packers , who are meeting this afternoon in the NFC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As one reporter noted , there may be added incentive throughout the country for the 49ers to win Sunday .
Should the 49ers advance to their first Super Bowl appearance since 2013 , they would also be facing Kansas City in a game that counted for the first time since last year when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo torn his ACL in a 38-27 loss in Kansas City on Sept. 23 , 2018 .
Whether the Chiefs face the 49ers or Packers , they ’ ll already have a little more recent familiarity with each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the preseason .
The 49ers beat Kansas City 27-17 in Week 3 while the Packers knocked off the Chiefs 27-20 in Week 4 .
Super Bowl 54 will thus mark the first time in six years — when the Broncos and Seahawks met in the preseason before Seattle won 43-8 on Feb. 2 , 2014 — teams met in the big game after playing in an otherwise meaningless preseason game .

Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device.
Hearing the Chiefs players and coaches talk over the next couple of weeks about what it’s like to make it to the team’s first Super Bowl in 50 years sure beats the alternative had Kansas City lost Sunday.
The Chiefs’ 35-24 victory over the Titans in the AFC Championship spared us all from the inevitable Super Bowl week questions posed to Tennesee coach Mike Vrabel about the unkindest cut of all.
Vrabel, in case you hadn’t heard, joked that he’d have his … um, private parts removed if it meant the Titans could get to their first Super Bowl and win.
Patrick Mahomes helped us all avoid any embarrassing repartee between Vrabel and reporters after the Chiefs quarterback led Kansas City to another come-from-behind playoff victory. Despite falling behind 10-0 Sunday, the Chiefs quickly rebounded as Mahomes wound up throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns.
Mahomes threw a pair of touchdowns to speedy receiver Tyreek Hill, who’ll be a load to deal with for either the 49ers or Packers, who are meeting this afternoon in the NFC Championship at Levi’s Stadium.
As one reporter noted, there may be added incentive throughout the country for the 49ers to win Sunday.
Looks like Chiefs will represent the AFC, which means the 49ers MUST win today to save America from two weeks of hurried updates of those stupid Rodgers-Mahomes insurance commercials — Phil Barber (@Skinny_Post) January 19, 2020
Should the 49ers advance to their first Super Bowl appearance since 2013, they would also be facing Kansas City in a game that counted for the first time since last year when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo torn his ACL in a 38-27 loss in Kansas City on Sept. 23, 2018.
Whether the Chiefs face the 49ers or Packers, they’ll already have a little more recent familiarity with each as Kansas City played both teams during the preseason. The 49ers beat Kansas City 27-17 in Week 3 while the Packers knocked off the Chiefs 27-20 in Week 4.
Super Bowl 54 will thus mark the first time in six years — when the Broncos and Seahawks met in the preseason before Seattle won 43-8 on Feb. 2, 2014 — teams met in the big game after playing in an otherwise meaningless preseason game.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--No. 3 Stanford women return to winning ways — but barely

Click here if you ’ re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device .
Lacie Hull hit a tie-breaking three-point shot and No .
3 Stanford recovered from an early 11-point deficit to defeat No .
8 Oregon State 61-58 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis , Oregon .
The Cardinal , coming off an 87-55 loss Thursday night at No .
5 Oregon , missed six of its first seven shots and committed three turnovers in the first 4:48 of the game to fall behind 13-2 .
Stanford ( 16-2 , 5-1 in the Pac-12 ) trailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon State ( 16-2 , 4-2 ) led 51-46 when Stanford went on a 9-1 run to go ahead 55-52 on a 3-pointer by Lexie Hull .
Her twin , Lacie , hit her 3 after OSU had restored the tie at 55 .
They were the only points of the game for Lacie .
Kiana Williams led the Cardinal with 17 points .
Lexie Hull had 14 and nine rebounds .
Freshman Ashten Prechtel had 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench .
Stanford returns home to play Friday against Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Utah ( 9-8 , 2-4 ) .
• A decade in the making : Bay Area ’ s top hoop stars face off for first time in Stanford-Oregon showdown

Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device.
Lacie Hull hit a tie-breaking three-point shot and No. 3 Stanford recovered from an early 11-point deficit to defeat No. 8 Oregon State 61-58 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Oregon.
The Cardinal, coming off an 87-55 loss Thursday night at No. 5 Oregon, missed six of its first seven shots and committed three turnovers in the first 4:48 of the game to fall behind 13-2. Stanford (16-2, 5-1 in the Pac-12) trailed by only 36-34 at the half.
Oregon State (16-2, 4-2) led 51-46 when Stanford went on a 9-1 run to go ahead 55-52 on a 3-pointer by Lexie Hull. Her twin, Lacie, hit her 3 after OSU had restored the tie at 55. They were the only points of the game for Lacie.
Kiana Williams led the Cardinal with 17 points. Lexie Hull had 14 and nine rebounds. Freshman Ashten Prechtel had 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
OSU got a game-high 26 points from Destiny Slocum.
Stanford returns home to play Friday against Colorado (13-4, 2-4) and Sunday against Utah (9-8, 2-4).


mercurynews--2020-01-19--AFC Championship: Chiefs head to Miami for Super Bowl LIV; will 49ers join them?

Click here if you ’ re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device .
For the second straight week , the Kansas City Chiefs dug a hole for themselves , but Patrick Mahomes and their high-powered offense found a way out .
With a 35-24 win , the Chiefs punched their ticket to Super Bowl LIV in Miami , their first Super Bowl appearance in a half-century .
Whether the 49ers will join them remains to be seen , as they take on the Green Bay Packers this afternoon at Levi ’ s Stadium .
The Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second quarter on the strength of bruising runs from star tailback Derrick Henry and a tricky touchdown pass to tackle Dennis Kelly .
But from that point , the Chiefs took over , scoring two touchdowns in the last 4:03 of the first half to take a lead into the break .
A Mahomes-to-Tyreek Hill pass capped the first speedy drive , and Mahomes scampered 27 yards down the left sideline to give the Chiefs a 21-17 lead .
• Here ’ s why Chiefs ’ AFC Championship victory may be good news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 49ers grab 7-0 lead over Packers in first quarter • 49ers vs. Packers pregame : Moseley starts at CB ; Lott loves pass rush ; Woods to Browns ?
• 49ers vs. Packers : Fearless predictions , odds , and a guarantee : Somebody ’ s going to get it right A short touchdown from running back Damien Williams 10 seconds into the fourth quarter stretched Kansas City ’ s lead to 28-17 .
Mahomes ’ 60-yard touchdown pass to Sammy Watkins sealed the win halfway through the fourth quarter .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end Anthony Firkser narrowed the margin , but there simply wasn ’ t enough time for the Titans to complete a comeback .
Mahomes went 23-of-35 for 294 yards and three touchdowns , plus that rushing score .
Henry , Tennessee ’ s workhorse , finished the day with 69 yards on 19 carries after rushing for at least 180 yards in each of his last three games , including two playoff upsets over the Patriots and Ravens .

Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the photo gallery on a mobile device.
For the second straight week, the Kansas City Chiefs dug a hole for themselves, but Patrick Mahomes and their high-powered offense found a way out.
With a 35-24 win, the Chiefs punched their ticket to Super Bowl LIV in Miami, their first Super Bowl appearance in a half-century. Whether the 49ers will join them remains to be seen, as they take on the Green Bay Packers this afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans built a 17-7 lead in the second quarter on the strength of bruising runs from star tailback Derrick Henry and a tricky touchdown pass to tackle Dennis Kelly.
But from that point, the Chiefs took over, scoring two touchdowns in the last 4:03 of the first half to take a lead into the break. A Mahomes-to-Tyreek Hill pass capped the first speedy drive, and Mahomes scampered 27 yards down the left sideline to give the Chiefs a 21-17 lead.
Related Articles San Francisco 49ers | 49ers training camp: Talanoa Hufanga’s interception spoils Brock Purdy’s solid day
49ers training camp: Talanoa Hufanga’s interception spoils Brock Purdy’s solid day San Francisco 49ers | 49ers appear to have job openings among NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense
49ers appear to have job openings among NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense San Francisco 49ers | 49ers mailbag: Are rookie Moody’s kicking misses cause for concern?
49ers mailbag: Are rookie Moody’s kicking misses cause for concern? San Francisco 49ers | 49ers: Shanahan sees bright side of Trey Lance’s performance vs. Raiders
49ers: Shanahan sees bright side of Trey Lance’s performance vs. Raiders San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: What’d I miss? A summer’s worth of takes on the Warriors, Giants, Niners, and Pac-12 A short touchdown from running back Damien Williams 10 seconds into the fourth quarter stretched Kansas City’s lead to 28-17. Mahomes’ 60-yard touchdown pass to Sammy Watkins sealed the win halfway through the fourth quarter.
A 22-yard strike from Ryan Tannehill to tight end Anthony Firkser narrowed the margin, but there simply wasn’t enough time for the Titans to complete a comeback.
Mahomes went 23-of-35 for 294 yards and three touchdowns, plus that rushing score.
Henry, Tennessee’s workhorse, finished the day with 69 yards on 19 carries after rushing for at least 180 yards in each of his last three games, including two playoff upsets over the Patriots and Ravens.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--Governor: 2 police officers die after Hawaii shooting

HONOLULU — Hawaii ’ s governor says two police officers have died after a shooting in Honolulu on Sunday .
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that officers had responded to an assault call when they encountered a male with a firearm , who then opened fire , striking two officers .
“ Our entire state mourns the loss of two Honolulu Police officers killed in the line of duty this morning , ” Governor David Ige said in a statement .
The neighborhood where the shooting occurred is at the far end of the Waikiki Beach between the Honolulu Zoo and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The area would be packed with tourists and locals , especially on a weekend .
“ It sounded like a slot of shots , or a lot of popping , loud noises going on , ” said Honolulu resident Peter Murray .
“ So hope everybody is all right .
Some people got hurt today.
” “ We grieve with HPD and other first-responders who put their lives on the line to keep us safe , ” said Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine .
A home the suspected gunman was believed to be inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flames .
The fire at the home has since spread to two neighboring homes and a parked police vehicle .
The Honolulu Fire Department was battling the blazes .
No arrests have been made .
• Nearly 5 years after fatal nightclub shooting , ex-LAPD officer who pulled trigger goes on trial Police have closed several streets nearby .
The public has been asked to avoid the area .
Associated Press freelance photographer Marco Garcia contributed to this report .

By Caleb Jones | Associated Press
HONOLULU — Hawaii’s governor says two police officers have died after a shooting in Honolulu on Sunday.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that officers had responded to an assault call when they encountered a male with a firearm, who then opened fire, striking two officers.
“Our entire state mourns the loss of two Honolulu Police officers killed in the line of duty this morning,” Governor David Ige said in a statement.
The neighborhood where the shooting occurred is at the far end of the Waikiki Beach between the Honolulu Zoo and the famed Diamond Head State Monument. The area would be packed with tourists and locals, especially on a weekend.
“It sounded like a slot of shots, or a lot of popping, loud noises going on,” said Honolulu resident Peter Murray. “So hope everybody is all right. Some people got hurt today.”
“We grieve with HPD and other first-responders who put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” said Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine.
[vemba-video id=”van/ns-acc/2020/01/19/WE-011SU_CNNA-ST1-100000000597a5ef”]
A home the suspected gunman was believed to be inside caught fire and was quickly engulfed by flames. The fire at the home has since spread to two neighboring homes and a parked police vehicle.
The Honolulu Fire Department was battling the blazes.
No arrests have been made.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Oakland nonfatal shooting suspect hit with federal gun possession charges
Oakland nonfatal shooting suspect hit with federal gun possession charges Crime and Public Safety | Man shot in East Oakland early Monday
Man shot in East Oakland early Monday Crime and Public Safety | DA: Northern California teen admits fault in shooting death of 13-year-old friend
DA: Northern California teen admits fault in shooting death of 13-year-old friend Crime and Public Safety | Three people wounded in East Oakland shootings
Three people wounded in East Oakland shootings Crime and Public Safety | Redwood City drug deal ends in double shooting Police have closed several streets nearby. The public has been asked to avoid the area.
Associated Press freelance photographer Marco Garcia contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-01-19--National Archives says `wrong’ to blur anti-Trump signs

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. — The National Archives said Saturday it made a mistake when it blurred images of anti-Trump signs used in an exhibit on women ’ s suffrage .
The independent agency is charged with preserving government and historical records and said it has always been committed to preserving its holdings “ without alteration.
” But the archives said in a statement Saturday “ we made a mistake.
” The archives ’ statement came one day after The Washington Post published an online report about the altered images .
The archives said the photo in question is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but rather was licensed for use as a promotional graphic in the exhibit .
“ Nonetheless , we were wrong to alter the image , ” the agency said .
The current display has been removed and will be replaced as soon as possible with one that uses the original , unaltered image , the archives said .
The exhibit about the 19th Amendment , which gave women the right to vote , blurred some anti-Trump messages on protest signs in a photo of the 2017 Women ’ s March in Washington .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ private parts , which also were widespread during the march , which was held shortly after Trump took office , also were altered .
The archives said it will immediately begin a “ thorough review ” of its policies and procedures for exhibits “ so that this does not happen again.
” T he American Civil Liberties Union called on the archives to issue a more detailed , explanation .
“ Apologizing is not enough , ” Louise Melling , the organization ’ s deputy legal director , said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public why it took the Orwellian step of trying to rewrite history and erasing women ’ s bodies from it , as well as who ordered it.
” Archives spokeswoman Miriam Kleiman told the Post for its report that the nonpartisan , nonpolitical federal agency blurred the anti-Trump references “ so as not to engage in current political controversy.
” References to female anatomy in the signs were obscured in deference to student groups and young people who visit the archives , Kleiman told the newspaper .
Kleiman did not respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
The public affairs office at the archives emailed the statement .
The archives issued the apology as thousands again gathered in Washington and in cities across the country Saturday for Women ’ s March rallies focused on issues such as climate change , pay equity and reproductive rights .

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The National Archives said Saturday it made a mistake when it blurred images of anti-Trump signs used in an exhibit on women’s suffrage.
The independent agency is charged with preserving government and historical records and said it has always been committed to preserving its holdings “without alteration.”
But the archives said in a statement Saturday “we made a mistake.” The archives’ statement came one day after The Washington Post published an online report about the altered images.
The archives said the photo in question is not one of its archival records, but rather was licensed for use as a promotional graphic in the exhibit.
“Nonetheless, we were wrong to alter the image,” the agency said.
The current display has been removed and will be replaced as soon as possible with one that uses the original, unaltered image, the archives said.
The exhibit about the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, blurred some anti-Trump messages on protest signs in a photo of the 2017 Women’s March in Washington.
Signs that referred to women’s private parts, which also were widespread during the march, which was held shortly after Trump took office, also were altered.
The archives said it will immediately begin a “thorough review” of its policies and procedures for exhibits “so that this does not happen again.”
T he American Civil Liberties Union called on the archives to issue a more detailed, explanation.
“Apologizing is not enough,” Louise Melling, the organization’s deputy legal director, said in a statement. “The National Archives must explain to the public why it took the Orwellian step of trying to rewrite history and erasing women’s bodies from it, as well as who ordered it.”
Archives spokeswoman Miriam Kleiman told the Post for its report that the nonpartisan, nonpolitical federal agency blurred the anti-Trump references “so as not to engage in current political controversy.”
References to female anatomy in the signs were obscured in deference to student groups and young people who visit the archives, Kleiman told the newspaper.
Kleiman did not respond to an emailed request for comment Saturday from The Associated Press. The public affairs office at the archives emailed the statement.
The archives issued the apology as thousands again gathered in Washington and in cities across the country Saturday for Women’s March rallies focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity and reproductive rights.