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Letters: The truth is Biden’s administration abandoned Afghan allies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

Don’t downplay Biden administration’s role in abandonment of  Afghan alliesRe: “Biden review of chaotic Afghan withdrawal blames Trump,” April 7 news storyThe White House released a 12-page summary of U.S. policies around the end of the war in Afghanistan. No, this wasn’t an independent review but rather a review by Biden’s National Security Council with input from himself. Of course, the review laid blame where this administration and the media lays all blame — it’s Trump’s fault.I would encourage anyone interested in the truth to read “Operation Pineapple Express” by Lt. Col. Scott Mann, US Army Special Forces (retired). In his book, he details the work of a contingent of special operators with some unsanctioned government help to secure the evacuation of Afghanis who confronted death every day in order to help the U.S. military with their mission. Our government promised these Afghanis safe refuge, but Biden abando...

Beau Jo’s Pizza owner wants to give every worker a slice of the equity pie

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

Chip Bair, the owner of Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza, wants to make sure all his employees, from managers to servers, receive a generous slice of ownership as he plans his exit from the iconic restaurant group he has headed for five decades.“I have had different people talk to me about buying the restaurants,” he said, adding his refrain would go something like this: “I am more than willing to talk to you, but I have to take care of my people.”At a 50th anniversary celebration held at the flagship store in Idaho Springs on April 1, Bair rolled out a succession plan he had been mulling over for several years, one that he believes will take care of his people and keep the distinctive Colorado restaurant group going for generations to come.He and his family will retain 30% of the company, with the remaining 70% of the ownership in the restaurant group, famous for its “mountain pies,” going to the company’s 252 employees. Future profits ...

No wonder you had such a hard time making camping reservations last summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

Avid campers are painfully aware of how challenging it has become to secure camping reservations over the past three years. Now we know just how much.Getting a spot was five times harder in 2022 than before the pandemic, according to an annual survey conducted by The Dyrt, a popular camping website and app with 30 million visitors annually.The Dyrt’s 2023 Camping Report, which is based on a random survey of 3,000 Dyrt users and a separate survey of camping property managers in all 50 states, found that sleeping under the stars is more popular than ever. The Dyrt says an estimated 80 million people went camping in the U.S. last year, 7.2 million for the first time. More than 15 million went camping for the first time in the past two years.More than 58.4% of respondents said they had a hard time finding campsites in 2022. That number was only 10.6% in 2019.“The thing that strikes me the most is the continued uptick of camping, which makes me really happy because I truly be...

High profile property at Federal Center in Lakewood finally gets a buyer after years of delay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

A prominent piece of ground near the Federal Center in Lakewood has finally changed hands, purchased by a developer this month for $30 million after nearly a decade of on-again-off-again negotiation, a failed land swap and multiple court rulings on its future.The 59-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Union Boulevard and U.S. 6 was bought last week by Lakewood Land Partners LP, which posted the winning bid in an auction held by the U.S. General Services Administration, the agency that manages federal government property.“This has been a long process but GSA is hopeful this land will have a positive impact on the area, like the previous sale that brought the hospital and transit system which has been beneficial to the community,” said GSA spokesman Rich Stebbins, referring to another nearby plot of former federally owned land that is now home to Centura St. Anthony Hospital and a W-Line rail stop.Lakewood Land Partners, which formed on March 27, lists a Dallas address ...

Here’s how Colorado Democrats ranked their spending priorities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

Colorado lawmakers have millions of dollars worth of decisions to make in the closing weeks of the legislative session, spread among dozens of bills that far surpass the budget allotted to themTo guide the decision-making process, the Democratic majority in each chamber secretly ranks the bills to gauge members’ priorities for the limited funds. The result does not guarantee a bill’s passage or failure and, leaders contend, isn’t a vote. It is instead a data point lawmakers use in weighing the policies, leaders said — and gives a peek into the majorities’ overall feelings as the end of the session approaches. Democrats have a supermajority in the House of Representatives and a near-supermajority in the Senate.How the individual lawmakers rank the bills is kept secret, opening the process to criticism that it lacks transparency and accountability. Defenders say it’s a more open process than years past, when prioritization decisions were largely made in backrooms and witho...

Compared and reviewed the 5 Top Online Delta 8 Stores 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

Nowadays, cannabinoid vape pens are everywhere.  These convenient, user-friendly vaping systems make it easier than ever to enjoy the effects of our favorite cannabinoids on demand, without any real maintenance required whatsoever.  But, while vape pen technology, along with the hemp industry, have evolved a lot over the years, there are still a lot of companies whose pens don’t cut it, either because the technology doesn’t work well, the vape oil doesn’t deliver satisfying results, or the company itself is known for letting customers down.If you’re looking for the ultimate vape pen in terms of performance, effectiveness, purity, and overall satisfaction, allow us to review the most in-demand pens on the hemp market and see how they compare to one another.What is a Cannabinoid Vape Pen?First, for those who don’t know: Cannabinoid vape pens refer to all-in-one, disposable vape pens that arrive with a fully charged, sometimes rechargeable battery.  They’re pocket-friendly, and require...

The race for a better battery: Stanford, SLAC and Silicon Valley join forces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

As the nation moves to an all-electric future, demand is growing for cheaper, better, safer and more sustainable batteries.A new SLAC-Stanford Battery Center, launched on Thursday, aims to spur research — combining the power of a national lab, top university and Silicon Valley’s tech companies to accelerate the transition away from the fossil fuels that are causing climate change.“We are looking to make battery technology more robust, with an enhanced life, at an affordable price,” said Jagjit Nanda, the battery center’s executive director, at a conference of scientists and engineers gathered for the announcement.The center’s three partners — the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University and private industry – “will work together for the grand challenge in energy storage,” he said. “This is a very unique ecosystem.”Each partner will contribute something different. Stanford will provide education and training in chemistry...

Bay Area News Group boys athlete of the week: Lucas Dennis, Saratoga baseball

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

Saratoga baseball player Lucas Dennis has been named the Bay Area News Group’s boys high school athlete of the week for April 3-8 after he had 49.81% of the vote at the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.Antioch baseball player Cristian Bajjalieha (38.72%) finished second and Los Gatos baseball player Donovan Freed placed third.Congratulations to all the candidates for this week’s recognition.Dennis, a senior pitcher bound for Pomona-Pitzer, threw a perfect game, retiring all 21 batters as Saratoga won at home over Lynbrook 4-0. Dennis struck out seven and also went 2 for 2 with a triple, two RBIs and a walk. Last season, he pitched back-to-back no-hitters.To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email [email protected] by Monday, April 17, at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results.We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps.com by coaches/team statisticians for consideration.Winners are announced each Friday on the Mercury News & East Bay Times...

Farhan Zaidi: Sean Manaea has ‘earned’ rotation spot, Stripling to bullpen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

DETROIT — Despite making his Giants debut out of the bullpen, Sean Manaea will make his second start of the season Friday against the Tigers, and it appears that the rotation is where he will remain for the foreseeable future as the club manages its glut of starting pitching.President Farhan Zaidi said Thursday on KNBR that Manaea had “earned the right” to start every fifth day, while fellow free-agent addition Ross Stripling will primarily pitch out of the bullpen as the homer-prone right-hander works through his early season struggles.“For the time being,” Zaidi told hosts Tom Tolbert and Adam Copeland, “I think we will see Manaea making regular starts and Stripling will be slotted in there when it helps to give guys an extra day.”It was an open question how the Giants would manage a group of capable starters that numbers seven with the inclusion of Jakob Junis. The Giants gave Stripling the nod in their third game of the season, while Manaea an...

Vast San Jose ranch owned by China-based firm may land local buyers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:03 GMT

SAN JOSE — A vast San Jose ranch is on the verge of being bought by local investors in a deal that offers fresh evidence that the Bay Area real estate empire of a China-based firm is being steadily disassembled.A preliminary deal has been reached for the purchase of Richmond Ranch, which is nestled on about 3,654 acres of pristine hills, vales and fields in southeast San Jose, according to documents filed on April 12 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.Z&L Properties, a China-based real estate and development firm with a local office in Foster City, is the current owner that has struck a deal to sell the Richmond Ranch, the county documents show.Terrascape Ventures, a San Jose-based real estate firm whose principal executives are Tony Arreola and Mark Lazzarini, has agreed to purchase the property.Open fields along San Felipe Road on the Richmond Ranch property in San Jose. (Google Maps)In 2017, Z&L paid $25 million to buy the ranch. As has been th...