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Review: ‘Game Show’ in San Jose packed with charm (almost too packed)

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

In the opening moments of San Jose Playhouse’s revival of “Thanks for Playing! The Game Show Show,” we meet the gallant Frankie, a kindly and eager woman who prances around the stage preaching the gospel of game shows.We are talking about the 1950s after all, when television was in its infancy and game shows delivered real-life melodramas attached to some hefty cash prizes. Those with hulking television consoles tuned in nightly to live vicariously through commoners whose lives were transformed in front of millions.It’s all so thrilling for Frankie, who is madly in love with shows of the quiz, deal, spin or bet variety. Frankie has surpassed queen for a day — she’s shooting for an eternal monarchy. If there can be Rice-a-Roni thrown in for good measure, even better.There is much that is charming about the Playhouse’s latest offering. However, the abundance of unfocused energy that lies within the play’s laborious book, as well as a nearly three-hour run time that could be chop...

Preseason all-Bay Area News Group high school football 2023: Offensive line

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

Preseason all-BANG high school football 2023Offensive linemen(listed in alphabetical order)Bennett Anderson, Bellarmine,  6-5, 270, seniorYale commit. Had 11 offers, including every Ivy League school but Dartmouth. Several Power 5 schools showed interest, among them Cal, Stanford, UCLA, Oregon State. Will likely play OT at Yale. Excellent long-snapper. 247sports 3-star recruit.Alex Bleszynski, Archbishop Mitty, 6-3, 285, juniorListed as OG on the Monarchs’ roster. One of only six starters back from last season’s 9-4 team. Brought up midway through season. Started at center. Will play mostly on OL this season, but expected to help out on DL.Julian Cambra, San Ramon Valley, 6-2, 225, juniorFirst-team all-EBAL in two sports during sophomore year: left tackle in football, designated hitter in baseball. Besides his LT duties, will get some playing time on the DL. As good as he is on the gridiron, baseball might be his best sport.Kamani Fifita, Arroyo, 6-5, 310, seniorTennyson coach John ...

What’s California’s hottest hotel market? You’ll never guess

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

“Numerology” tries to find reality within various measurements of economic and real estate trends.Buzz: California’s hottest hotel market, when it comes to the growing demand for rooms, is much-maligned San Francisco.Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed hotel performance data for 45 counties for 2023’s first six months, distributed by Visit California.Fuzzy math: Is a big city tourism revival in the works?Top LineSan Francisco County, the state’s fourth-largest hotel market, had demand for 3.9 million room nights in the first half, up 14.5% from 2022’s first six months.Despite all the headlines about San Francisco’s urban ugliness, no other California had double-digit gains in hotel demand. Santa Cruz came in at No. 2 with its 7% gain.Despite the jump, San Francisco County hotels were only 62% filled  – a middling No. 23 ranking among the 45 counties. And it’s still a pricey place to stay with room rates at $251 per night (No. 2 statewide) after a 13.7% jump in a year, the second ...

PG&E’s CEO wants electric vehicles to save California’s power grid

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

By Nadia Lopez | BloombergPG&E Corp. Chief Executive Officer Patti Poppe has an unconventional idea for California’s fragile power grid as climate-related disasters, wildfires and heat waves further strain it. She envisions a future where electric vehicles come to the rescue, feeding excess power back during peak demand to stave off blackouts.To achieve this, she’ll need the auto industry’s help to pioneer a technology that has yet to be scaled up.RELATED: PG&E faces questions amid wildfire prevention strategy shift from tree trimming to grid techPG&E, California’s largest utility, is pushing General Motors Co. to expand on a pilot program from last year and install bi-directional charging software across its current fleet of electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. has been promoting its mighty F-150 Lightning electric truck as a backup power source on wheels, capable of re-energizing homes during an outage, and Tesla Inc. has plans to introduce two-way charging in ...

Correction: Child Killed-Noise story

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — In a story published Aug. 7, 2023, about a Chicago girl who was shot and killed while riding a scooter, The Associated Press, based on information from Chicago police, erroneously reported her age. She was 9, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, not 8.Source

DeSantis replaces campaign manager as he continues reset of static presidential bid

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is replacing his campaign manager as the Florida governor continues to reset his stagnant presidential campaign. The Florida governor is bringing on James Uthmeier, his chief of staff from his state office, to serve as his campaign manager, replacing Generra Peck, who led DeSantis’ reelection campaign last year before jumping into the same role on his presidential bid.Peck will stay on as a strategist.The changes come after DeSantis made two big staff cuts in the past few weeks, laying off about a third of his staff in late July as the campaign faced financial trouble.“James Uthmeier has been one of Governor DeSantis’ top advisers for years, and he is needed where it matters most: working hand in hand with Generra Peck and the rest of the team to put the governor in the best possible position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden,” campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said in a statement.DeSantis is also hiring an op...

Total US Open prize money and player compensation hits a record $65 million

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

Total prize money and player compensation at this year’s U.S. Open tennis tournament will reach a record $65 million, the U.S. Tennis Association said Tuesday, noting that the number is boosted by increases in the amount of expenses covered.Last year’s total payout was about $60 million.Play in the main draws for singles begins on Aug. 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and closes with the women’s final on Sept. 10 and the men’s final on Sept. 11.This is the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open becoming the sport’s first event to pay women and men the same, and both singles champions will get $3 million in 2023. That represents a jump of about 15% from last year’s $2.6 million but remains below the pre-pandemic paycheck of $3.9 million that went to each winner in 2019.Players losing in earlier rounds do get a bump: Those exiting in the first round of singles, for example, will receive $81,500 — up from $80,000 in 2022 and from $58,000 in 2019.In doubles, the champio...

Winfrey, Maddow and Schwarzenegger among those helping NYC’s 92nd Street Y mark 150th anniversary

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey, Rachel Maddow and Arnold Schwarzenegger will be among those appearing this fall at the 92nd Street Y, a New York City cultural institution and community center marking its 150th anniversary. Winfrey will appear with co-author Arthur C. Brooks to discuss their new book, “Building the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier,” and Maddow will examine the roots of far-right extremism in the U.S., the subject of her upcoming book “Prequel.” Schwarzenegger will give a talk about his book “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life.” Founded in 1874 as the Young Men’s Hebrew Association, the 92nd Street Y has been based on Manhattan’s Upper East Side since 1900. Some of the most notable public figures in the arts, politics and culture have spoken and performed there.The 92nd Street Y will also host events — many of them streaming online — featuring such acclaimed fiction writers as Helen Garner, John Edgar Wideman, Richard Ford, Sandra Cisneros and Viet Th...

Kansas officer wounded in weekend shootout that killed a car chase suspect has died of injuries

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City police officer who was wounded in a shootout that killed a car chase suspect has died, authorities said.Police in Fairway, Kansas, announced late Monday in a news release that Officer Jonah Oswald died of injuries suffered in the Sunday morning shooting at a QuikTrip store in neighboring Mission, Kansas. The 29-year-old was a four-year veteran of the police force and leaves behind a wife and two young children. Police said the family has asked for privacy.“We will remember him as a warm-hearted individual whose hard work and passion touched the lives of many,” Chief J.P. Thurlo said.Police in the nearby suburb of Lenexa, Kansas, said it all started when Shannon Wayne Marshall, 40, from the town of Ashland City, Tennessee, near Nashville, fled from police along Interstate 35 in what officers believed was a stolen car. When officers initially found the vehicle, police said the driver struck a patrol car and fled.Police from multiple agencies...

AUTO RACING: Buescher wins back to back at Richmond and Michigan, outlasting points leader Truex

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:28:21 GMT

All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES Verizon 200 at the BrickyardSite: Indianapolis, Indiana.Schedule: Saturday, practice, 11:35 a.m., and qualifying, 12:35 p.m.; Sunday, race, 2:30 p.m. (NBC).Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.Race distance: 82 laps, 200 miles.Last year: Tyler Reddick won from the pole position.Last race: Chris Buescher led 52 of the 200 laps and outran Martin Truex Jr. to win the rain-delayed Monday finish at Michigan, his second consecutive Cup Series victory.Fast facts: Buescher is one of six multiple winners — he had two career wins before the past eight days — but stands 11th in points. … Truex’s lead over Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin is now 57 points and he leads William Byron by 96. … Truex had won twice in races completed on Mondays this year and has won four such races overall. … Ford has won nine straight at Michigan, the longest winning streak by a manufacturer at a track that has hosted Cup races since 1969. ...