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How one Napa vineyard might have saved millions of dollars by using birds as pest control

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

NAPA — On a damp and gray Friday at Bouchaine Vineyards, Rebecca Rosen looked up, noticed the handful of ravens circling above her and lobbed an insult.“Jerks!” she yelled.They flew together, swirling and squawking as she walked to the trunk of her Tesla Model S and pulled out the box.There, she hides her ammo: a 6-year-old Harris’ hawk named Rocky, a 17-year-old falcon named E.B. and a 4-year-old spectacled owl named Hootbert, whose only job is to perch himself on a chair and let some tipsy wine tasters snap a photo.Rocky is the real threat. Rosen pulled him out of the box, removed his hood and loosened his strap. Free at last, Rocky soared to the roof of the Bouchaine tasting room and perched high enough to scan the vineyard. His mere existence is enough to irritate the ravens.Armed with long legs, a wingspan of almost 4 feet and an air of unspeakable confidence, Rocky has an aura that demands respect. The raven family knows it; they met one of Rocky’s siblings just last wee...

One dead after Oakland shooting involving an officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

(KRON) – A shooting involving an Oakland Police Department officer that occurred Tuesday is being investigated. Oakland police responded to a ShotSpotter activation on the 300 block of Frank Ogawa Plaza on Nov. 7 sound 4:00 a.m.  One dead after Berkeley police shooting Upon arrival, officers located an individual suffering from a gunshot wound(s), police said. According to police, officers began providing medical treatment to the individual, but the individual was pronounced on scene.The officer involved in the shooting was not physically injured.According to OPD’s preliminary investigation, officers learned the ShotSpotter activation is connected to the officer-involved shooting.The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, per policy, according to OPD. According to OPD, the Oakland Police Department, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and the Community Police Review Agency are all investigating the fatal officer-involved shooting.

Police incidents on BART declined 60% since May, according to data cited by transit agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The number of incidents on trains involving the BART Police Department has declined more than 60% since May, according to data cited by the transit agency Tuesday. The drop, which BART calls "dramatic," occurred between May and October.According to BART:The number of BART PD incidents fell from 374 in May to 295 in OctoberThe number of BART trains impacted by BPD incidents declined from 1,144 to 694 from May to OctoberTotal train minutes lost due to BPD incidents fell from 9,878 in May to 6,380 in October Traffic on SF Bay Bridge will be impacted by APEC summit The decline in police incidents comes amid a new initiative to improve safety on BART. During that time period, BART changed the schedule to emphasize shorter trains to boost safety, boosted patrols and launched other initiatives."These numbers paint a picture of how our commitment to rider safety is paying off," said BART General Manager Bob Powers. "Fewer delays due to BPD incidents not only shows ...

Do Voters Care More About Online Sex Than Abortion Rights?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

A handful of states are holding important elections today — some of which have gotten a bit of media attention, others which are flying under the radar. Here’s what to watch, and, if you’re in any of these states or know people who are, here’s what to look for at the ballot box:OhioThis summer, Ohio Republicans tried to change the rules so that it would take a 60 percent threshold to amend the constitution because a measure to enshrine abortion rights was polling in the high 50s. That effort failed, meaning abortion access — which is on the ballot today — only needs a bare majority, and it should win comfortably. Pot legalization and regulation is also on the ballot and expected to prevail.MaineThe Pine Tree State will vote on a ballot measure that would seize control of the two state utility monopolies and combine them into the publicly owned Pine Tree Power, which would be operated by an elected board. “By Mainers, for Mainers,” as their slogan goes. Advocates are promising lower ...

Carl Torbush, who succeeded Mack Brown at North Carolina and also coached East Tennessee State, dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Carl Torbush, a defensive specialist who succeeded Mack Brown as North Carolina’s head football coach after Brown’s first tenure and later coached at East Tennessee State, has died. He was 72.ETSU said Monday that Torbush died Sunday. His family informed the school but didn’t provide a cause of death.University President Brian Noland said the coach would be remembered as a man of vision and character and praised him for his leadership and nurturing as the school restarted football after a decade-long hiatus.“In Coach Torbush, we found not only a remarkable coach but also a man of unwavering integrity who embodied the spirit of ETSU,” Noland said in a statement.Torbush ascended from Tar Heels defensive coordinator to head coach after Brown departed for Texas in December 1997 and guided them to a 42-3 Gator Bowl rout of Virginia Tech to cap an 11-1 season. UNC was 7-5 the next year with a Las Vegas Bowl victory and Torbush was let go after the 20...

Datadog, Planet Fitness rise; Sanmina, Emerson Electric fall, Tuesday, 11/7/2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Tuesday:Celanese Corp. (CE), down $2.76 to $117.27.The chemical company gave investors a weak profit forecast.TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP), up $1.59 to $17.70.The travel website operator reported strong third-quarter financial results.Hims & Hers Health Inc. (HIMS), up 94 cents to $7.22.The telehealth consultation company’s third-quarter subscription growth beat analysts’ forecasts.Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO), up $2.18 to $27.04.The precision manufacturing equipment maker handily beat Wall Street’s third-quarter earnings forecasts.Sanmina Corp. (SANM), down $7.23 to $45.58.The electronics manufacturing services company gave investors a disappointing profit forecast. Datadog Inc. (DDOG), up $23.33 to $102.88.The data analytics and cloud monitoring company raised its profit forecast for the year.Planet Fitness Inc. (PLNT), $6.90 to $62.07.The fitness center operator raised its profi...

US envoy flies to Beirut in a surprise visit, says Washington doesn’t want Gaza war to expand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

BLIDA, Lebanon (AP) — A top U.S. envoy said in Beirut Tuesday that Washington doesn’t want the ongoing war in Gaza to expand to Lebanon after a Lebanese woman and her three granddaughters were killed in an Israeli strike two days ago.The comments from Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden come during a previously unannounced visit to Beirut to discuss the volatile situation with Lebanon’s parliament speaker and caretaker prime minister. Hochstein told reporters after meeting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that restoring calm along Lebanon’s southern border is of “utmost importance.”Hochstein said he heard Berri’s concerns over the tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border where fighters of the militant group Hezbollah and their allies have been exchanging fire with Israeli troops for about a month, after the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct.7.“The United States does not want to see conflict in Gaza escalating and expanding into Lebanon,” Hochstein sa...

Steinbrenner questioned players over whether Boone should return as Yankees manager

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner questioned current and former players along with staff on whether to keep Aaron Boone before deciding the New York manager will return next year.“We had a winning season. … That’s not an accomplishment, that’s a requirement,” Steinbrenner said Tuesday during an online news conference.Boone replaced Joe Girardi before the 2018 season. New York faded from contention by mid-August and finished 82-80, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.“He’s extremely intelligent. He’s hardworking. The players respect him,” Steinbrenner said. “He’s able to take all the information we throw his way.”Boone is entering the final season of his contract. Steinbrenner said he typically does not consider early extensions.New York fired hitting coach Dillon Lawson at the All-Star break and his replacement, Sean Casey, left after the season.Steinbrenner said the team is relying heavily on a pair of former general m...

Victor Wembanyama’s NBA education is underway. The French teen is passing the early tests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

Here’s some of what San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has experienced so far in the NBA: Scoring 38 points in a game, playing in a back-to-back for the first time, being part of two 40-point losses, wasting a huge lead and losing, overcoming a huge deficit and winning.It’s been an education.And by all accounts, the French rookie who stands nearly 7-foot-4 is passing the tests.Wembanyama’s numbers so far — 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. The last player to have such averages over the first seven games of his career was Shaquille O’Neal in 1992. Back then, the consensus was O’Neal was one of a kind. The refrains are familiar today.“We’ve never seen anything like this,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said.It’s a different game now, but it’s hard to argue what Carlisle is saying when factoring in the inside-outside game that Wembanyama possesses. There’s never been a rookie who averaged so many points and rebounds along with one 3-pointer made per game. Larry Bird was the ...

Area of deadly Park Hill shooting has a history of violent crime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:50 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A day after a shooting that left two people dead and five others injured, there were still remnants of the chaos that broke out at a place Denver Police described as the Hells Lovers Motorcycle Club.The shooting took place Sunday around 3 a.m. and, in addition to the seven people who were shot, bullets also entered nearby businesses. 73-year-old man found shot to death in Lone Tree Police described the place as an after-hours club located at 5514 E. 33rd Ave., a notable crime spot according to the Denver Police Department."There have been incidents in this block of 33rd and Hudson. We've had several homicides and several shootings," Denver police commander Matt Clark said.While investigators were at the scene Monday morning, surveillance cameras were visible on the sidewalk where the shooting occurred. It's not clear if a nearby HALO camera operated by the city captured the shooting.Neighbors talking to FOX31's Vicente Arenas said they are concerned."Violence ther...