Latest news with #Bay-area
USA Today
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Golden State Valkyries' new mascot has landed: Meet Violet the raven
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's ... Violet the raven. The Golden State Valkyries unveiled (or should we say unhatched) their new mascot on Birdwatchers Night at Chase Center during Monday night's game against the Connecticut Sun. Violet confidently strutted onto the court in front of a sold-out crowd at halftime to "Best Friend" by Bay-area artist Saweetie. Violet donned a white and black cheerleader outfit that featured the Valkyries' logo on the front and her name on the back as she executed a perfect cartwheel to much applause. Violet's outfit was complete with a pair of yellow glasses, striped socks and a pair of white sneakers. "heyyyyy besties," Violet wrote on her new social media account. The @valkyries introduce their mascot, Violet 👀 WHAT IS A VALKYRIE? Everything to know about Golden State Valkyries WNBA expansion team Violet just so happens to be named after the team's official color, Valkyrie Violet, which "symbolizes power, ambition, nobility, and women's empowerment, much like purple has been used symbolically in modern history," the team previously announced. 'Something's hatching' Golden State hinted at Violet's arrival and dropped Easter Eggs leading up to Monday's announcement on Birdwatchers Night. A mysterious violet egg was first spotted outside of the Chase Center on Aug. 7 and a wildlife expert hired by the team predicted there's a "bird species" inside. Violet feathers also turned up near the egg. "I got called by the Valkyries to come and take a look at this big egg that showed up on campus. It's a violet color which we don't usually see and it's got very bright gold speckles on it," wildlife management expert Kenny Elvin said in a video shared on social media. "It's far larger than anything else that I've seen before. ... "There are violet feathers. I don't know any birds that are quite that color. We'll see as it evolves. This egg could hatch very soon." Something's hatching. Better keep your eyes open. 🪺🔭👀 Elvin was on to something. The Valkyries brought the egg inside Chase Center for closer inspection and even built a nest for the egg to feel at home. Each fan in attendance for the Valkyries' matchup against the Connecticut Sun even received a pair of Valkyries Binoculars to spot the egg's hatching. Leading up to tipoff on Monday, the Valkyries released a video showing the mysterious violet feathers all over Chase Center as forward Monique Billings warmed up, another clue hinting at Violet's color and origin. Violet is sure to have a cult following. The Valkyries, the league's first expansion team since 2008, have sold out every game at Chase Center this season. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
CCS Facility Services Expands Presence in Silicon Valley Delivering Top-Tier Service and Innovation
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CCS Facility Services, an acclaimed nationwide commercial cleaning and facility engineering company, is proud to announce its continued growth and expansion in the Bay Area. Since establishing a presence in San Jose in 2024 at the request of clients, the company has rapidly built a diverse portfolio of work across multiple industries, reinforcing its commitment to best-in-class cleaning and facility maintenance services. The company has opened a larger office space in closer proximity to customers and a location that better serves its growing base of employees. We're bringing our expertise across all our markets into a concentrated region where we thrive—working with major customers who expect the best. Share 'The Bay Area is home to sophisticated businesses that align with our premier brand,' said Cameron Hall, CCS Facility Services' regional vice president, West Coast Region. 'We are proud to consistently deliver operational excellence through technology innovations. Our value proposition aligns well with Bay Area businesses. We're bringing our expertise across all our markets into a concentrated region where we thrive—working with major customers who expect the best.' Over the past year, CCS Facility Services has secured partnerships with multiple Bay-area industries, including commercial offices, semiconductor fabrication facilities, corporate headquarters, educational institutions, and municipalities. Notably, the company now provides facility services for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, which manages the region's critical water resources, flood protection, and environmental stewardship efforts. Servicing these accounts underscores CCS' ability to support complex and high-traffic environments. Additionally, CCS expanded its portfolio of education clients to include the Student Union of San Jose State University and multiple private schools across the region. The company also recently announced the implementation of cutting-edge technology innovations to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency designed to streamline workflows, improve transparency, and elevate customer experience. The company sees significant opportunities to leverage this technology in the Bay Area region's innovative environment. General manager of CCS' Northern California branches Jaime Jacobo adds: 'Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We're proud to provide stable employment in the region and to be a company that values our team members as much as we value our customers.' Looking ahead, CCS Facility Services aims to expand further across the Bay Area, bringing 40 years of experience across key industries such as commercial real estate, medical, chip fabrication, and cleanroom manufacturing, corporate campuses, education, and data centers. The company remains committed to providing premier facility solutions while embracing the region's high standards of excellence and sophistication. 'Our growth in the Bay Area is driven by the trust and support of our long-standing clients,' said Ryan Bunn, vice president of business development at CCS Facility Services. 'Many of our partners encouraged us to bring our expertise to Silicon Valley, and we're proud to deliver high-quality service and innovative facility solutions to the entire region.' As CCS Facility Services continues to expand, the company remains dedicated to delivering superior service, leveraging innovative solutions, and fostering a strong workplace culture that supports both employees and customers alike. CCS Facility Services is an integrated facilities provider, delivering top-tier commercial janitorial and building engineering services to customers nationwide, spanning multiple industries. With a foundation built on trust and expertise, we are dedicated to creating clean, healthy workplaces for our customers while fostering growth and professional development for our valued team members. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to serve with excellence, integrity, and care.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the Seahawks' 2025 home games easiest to hardest
Ranking the Seahawks' 2025 home games easiest to hardest The NFL released its 2025 season schedule on Wednesday evening in a league-wide coordinated event. The Seattle Seahawks will play eight home contests, having the road-game (nine) disadvantage this year. Having analyzed the upcoming schedule, we've ranked the Seahawks' eight home games easiest to hardest. New Orleans Saints (Week 3) The New Orleans Saints are early favorites for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Starting quarterback Derek Carr recently announced his retirement due to a shoulder injury. The Saints will be deciding between Tyler Shough, Jake Haener, and Spencer Rattler at quarterback. Getting them early in the schedule should be a gift-wrapped victory. Indianapolis Colts (Week 15) The Indianapolis Colts are hosting an uninspiring battle at quarterback this offseason. Will the Seahawks see Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones in Week 15? Richardson is creeping towards bust territory, so the Seahawks should like their chances either way. Arizona Cardinals (Week 10) The Seahawks have dominated the Arizona Cardinals in recent memory, sweeping the regular-season series last year. The Cardinals could be sneaky-good this season, so Mike Macdonald must have a good plan in place to continue asserting that dominance. Houston Texans (Week 7) The Houston Texans are a tricky inter-conference opponent. They've qualified for the postseason in consecutive seasons, but have failed to go from good-to-great. Still, Macdonald's defense will be in for a tough assignment against franchise quarterback CJ Stroud. Minnesota Vikings (Week 13) The Minnesota Vikings were dominant last season, but Seahawks QB Sam Darnold will be fired up for this #RevengeGame opportunity. Making the switch from Darnold to J.J. McCarthy makes the Vikings unpredictable, but they likely won't be as effective as they were last season. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 5) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished third in yards (399.5/game) fourth in scoring (29.5) last season. Baker Mayfield enjoyed an MVP-like season at quarterback. The Buccaneers lost their offensive coordinator Liam Coen to the Jacksonville Jaguars, so we'll see if Mayfield can sustain that success under a third play caller in as many campaigns. San Francisco 49ers (Week 1) The Seahawks open the season against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field in Week 1. Macdonald's squad defeated the 49ers on the road in 2024, but have lost three consecutive home contests to the Bay-area based club. Defeating San Francisco to begin the campaign would represent a terrific start. Los Angeles Rams (Week 16) The NFC West could partially be decided in Week 16. Defeating the Rams at home would greatly increase the Seahawks' chances of winning the division title. The Seahawks were defeated 26-20 by the Rams in overtime at Lumen Field in 2024.
