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Alaska debuts new 'Mickey’s Toontown Express' plane

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

Usually, the worst part about a trip to Disneyland is the time it takes to get there. But now, travelers planning on making a trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth" can get into the Disney mindset long before they pass through those turnstiles, smell those churros and turkey legs and feast their eyes on that iconic castle.Alaska Airlines has officially unveiled a new themed aircraft that's inspired by Disneyland's newest reimagined land. "Mickey's Toontown Express" is your average Boeing 737-800, but its design is anything but ordinary.Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals, Pluto, Donald and Daisy, are featured on the plane's exterior imagery, welcoming passengers to their official home at Disneyland, "Mickey's Toontown."Alaska Airlines 'Mickey’s Toontown' Disney Livery launch from Spokane, Washington on Oct. 31, 2023. (Joe Nicholson/Alaska Airlines)The plane's design took artists more than 400 hours and 20 days to paint by hand from nose to tail, Alaska said.It's the newest Alas...

ESPN announces launch date for sports betting app

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

ESPN will officially enter the world of sports betting with the debut of ESPN Bet, Walt Disney Co., ESPN’s parent company, announced Thursday.Penn Entertainment is transforming its Barstool Sportsbook into ESPN Bet. The two companies inked a $2 billion deal in August, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The app will make its official debut on Nov. 14.Official odds for sports games provided by the new app will also be used across editorial and other content, a news release said. Would you pay $35 a month to stream ESPN? ESPN’s "Daily Wager" program will also be rebranded into "ESPN Bet Live" beginning on Nov. 10. The last episode of "Daily Wager" will air on Nov. 6.ESPN Bet will go live in 17 states on its initial launch date, subject to final approvals, a news release said.The app is scheduled to debut in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia...

Big 12 football schedule matrix delivers for Arizona, ASU, Colorado and Utah

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

The breakup of the Pac-12 forced three conferences to revamp their schedule format for the 2024 season and beyond.The Big Ten was first, unveiling a new matrix earlier this month stocked with marquee matchups for the new West Coast members.The ACC followed earlier this week with a rotation that impressively limited bicoastal travel for Stanford and Cal.On Wednesday, the Big 12 went public with a four-year rotation that perfectly reflects the realities of a conference that welcomes Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah next season.The matrix covers four seasons (2024-27). Each team will play every other team at least twice. And thankfully, the Big 12 will stick to its nine-game conference schedule.Two fabulous rivalries, Utah vs. Brigham Young and Arizona vs. ASU, have been preserved.Colorado’s schedule features several antagonists from its previous life in the Big 12.Excessive travel is limited.Competitive balance is abundant.Nothing feels forced.The revamped conference in...

San Carlos sword-beheading defendant drops insanity plea ahead of trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

REDWOOD CITY — With a trial moving forward as early as next week, the defendant accused of a brutal daytime killing — allegedly attacking the mother of his child with a sword — has withdrawn a plea of insanity and will instead proceed with a traditional defense, according to attorneys in the case.Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33 of Hayward, faces one count of murder after he allegedly the mother of one of his children, 27-year-old Karina Castro, on Sept. 8 last year. Solano allegedly used a sword to brutally kill Castro, essentially beheading her in the shocking crime..Witnesses said in a March preliminary hearing that they could see Castro’s body after the incident, in a fetal position with her hands in a defensive location near her neck.In previous court hearings, Solano’s attorney, Robert Cummings, had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. However, this week, as the case entered jury selection, came a new strategy: Cummings will pursue a traditional defense, fo...

San Jose auditorum hall is bought, could become future housing site

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

SAN JOSE — A public hall in San Jose that’s near a future BART station site has been bought by a busy developer who envisions the possibility of high-density housing on the property.Nova Alianca Hall is the building that has been bought by Intelli, an affiliate headed up by San Jose-based business executive Do Van Tron, according to public property documents filed in Santa Clara County.Intelli paid $2.4 million for the building, which is located at 37 North 27th Street and also fronts on North 26th Street.The property is a block or two from the location of a future BART station that would be built near North 28th Street and East Santa Clara Street in San Jose.“In the future, this could be developed,” Tron said. “It could become high-density housing.”Sociedade Filarmonica Nova Alianca sold the property to Intelli, the county documents show. The organization is a Portuguese marching band that was founded in San Jose in 1974.“There’s pote...

Celebrity choreographer can sue over Fortnite avatars who do his dance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

A celebrity choreographer’s lawsuit over a little dance done by Fortnite avatars has been revived by a federal appeals court.Related ArticlesEntertainment | What to play: ‘UFC 5’ is a change of pace if you’re tired Halloween fare Entertainment | Halloween video game roundup: ‘Alan Wake II’ and ‘Dead Space’ bookend a horror-filled year Entertainment | ‘Hardhat Wombat’ is a puzzle game focused on a marsupial’s unique trait Entertainment | How toy and game companies are winning back their grown-up former customers Entertainment | What to play: Mario, Sonic and Spider-Man highlight a packed week in gaming Kyle Hanagami, a Los Angeles choreographer known for his work with the K-pop bands Blackpink and Red Velvet, had alleged copyright infringement when moves from a dance he created showed up as part of a Fortnite “emote” — a s...

Woman accused of laundering money to San Francisco drug dealers' Mexican bank accounts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Union City woman is accused of secretly working with San Francisco drug dealers and using her position as a money services teller to wire money to bank accounts in Mexico. Investigators became suspicious of Yessenia Margarita Barrientos-Lainez, 42, after Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested a Tenderloin drug dealer on June 1. Investigators said they found text messages exchanged between the dealer and the teller discussing a conspiracy for laundering drug dealing profits into foreign bank accounts. The money services business where Barrientos worked is located in the Tenderloin, a neighborhood plagued by rampant open-air drug markets and fatal drug overdoses.San Francisco police are cracking down on Tenderloin drug dealers. During one recent arrest, officers seized nearly $2,000 in drug money on Eddy Street. (Image courtesy SFPD)This week, the United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of California charged Barrientos with conspiring to la...

Surfer pulled from water at Ocean Beach in San Francisco

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A surfer was pulled from the water at Ocean Beach near the Great Highway and Ortega Street, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.San Francisco FD coastal rescue crews are trying to revive the surfer, the fire department said at 12:20 p.m. Wildfire in Canyon prompted evacuation warning overnight Thursday Emergency vehicles are stationed on the Great Highway, and drivers in the area are advised to use caution.This is a developing story.

Dumbarton Bridge repaving work completed 2 days early

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

(BCN) -- Repaving work on the eastbound lanes of the Dumbarton Bridge wrapped up two days early, according to Caltrans. The work was scheduled to happen during the overnight hours from Monday through Friday this week and resulted in complete closures of the eastbound lanes from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. while crews were on the bridge. Jewish parents pen letter to Berkeley school district demanding better student protection Since the work was completed early, the lanes will reopen to nighttime traffic Thursday and Friday, two days ahead of schedule, Caltrans officials said. The bridge is part of state Highway 84 and spans the Bay between Menlo Park in San Mateo County and Fremont in Alameda County.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

BART recovering after major delays due to equipment problem

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:52 GMT

(BCN) -- BART service is recovering on the Antioch line Thursday morning after an equipment problem between the Orinda and Rockridge stations caused major delays.The transit agency issued an alert shortly before 10:45 a.m. about the delays, which were for trains in both directions, but did not specify the nature of the problem.About an hour later, BART officials said service is recovering but there are still delays of up to 20 minutes.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.