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Epoch Times
5 days ago
- Epoch Times
10 Charming California Destinations That Feel Like Europe
By John Metcalfe The Mercury News SAN JOSE, Calif.—Not everyone can take a European vacation. Fortunately, there's always California—with its Mediterranean climate, architecture, and wine.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
California Concerns Over New $2.7B Reservoir
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California state officials voiced mounting concern this week over long-standing delays and cost overruns in the proposed Pacheco Reservoir expansion, a multibillion-dollar project that has yet to secure critical permits or water rights, years after initial funding was promised, according to a report by The Mercury News. Why It Matters The Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project, a joint effort by Valley Water, the San Benito County Water District, and the Pacheco Pass Water District, represents a long-term strategy to strengthen the reliability of safe, clean drinking water supplies amid the challenges of climate change. But the project's escalating costs—now estimated at $2.7 billion, nearly triple the original $969 million estimate—and its failure to secure much-needed permits attracted scrutiny, according to the report. Newsweek reached out to the California Water Commission and Valley Water via email for comment. Project rendering of potential dam and expanded reservoir, northwest view toward the City of San José. Project rendering of potential dam and expanded reservoir, northwest view toward the City of San José. Valley Water What To Know Members of the California Water Commission, an agency appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom, expressed dissatisfaction Wednesday with a lack of progress and shifting timelines. The commission had committed $504 million in state bond funding to the project seven years ago, but signaled that funding may be reconsidered if progress stalls further. "This is more about tracking the progress and making sure these projects are all going forward rather than backward," commissioner Jose Solorio said. "Maybe down the road we do have to look at ways of lowering investments if there's not sufficient progress in terms of viability." Commissioner Sandra Matsumoto said, "As we move forward in time, the uncertainties should be decreasing." Matsumoto added: "But I feel like the more we hear from the public, the more additional issues are coming up that make it sound less likely." The proposal calls for a new 320-foot earthen dam on North Fork Pacheco Creek, about two miles north of Highway 152. According to Valley Water's website, the expansion project would boost Pacheco Reservoir's operational capacity from 5,500 acre-feet to up to 140,000 acre-feet, enough to supply up to 1.4 million residents with water for one year in an emergency. It would also reduce the frequency and severity of water shortages during droughts, according to Valley Water. However, The Mercury News reported that the commission was told on Wednesday that the project had yet to obtain the key permits required to begin construction, had not secured the necessary water rights, and had completed just 30 percent of the design. District officials estimated that by next year, they would have spent $132 million and completed 60 percent of the design. Delays were attributed to legal challenges from environmental groups, newly discovered geological complications, and inflation. What People Are Saying Melanie Richardson, Santa Clara Valley Water District's interim CEO, told the commission, per The Mercury News: "An expanded Pacheco Reservoir is an excellent option for our agency and our region... "It would provide a critical source of emergency storage in the event of an earthquake, a levee failure, or any other catastrophe. Having Pacheco as part of our system would improve our agency's operational flexibility allowing for more efficient management of our water resources." Shani Kleinhaus, an advocate with the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, said, per The Mercury News: "Valley Water continues to spend millions of dollars on a project that will cost many, many billions and is not feasible, and encumbers taxpayers and ratepayers with unjustifiable tax and rate increases. Hopefully, you will find a way not to promote this." What Happens Next Officials now estimate that construction will not begin before 2029 and will not be finished until at least 2036. The initial goal was for construction to be completed by 2032.
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Take a Pet-Friendly Foodie Day Trip to Bodega Bay
Kate Bradshaw The Mercury News Sure, Bodega Bay's known as the seaside hamlet where Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 avian horror-flick was filmed, but when you're not worried about a repeat attack by domoic acid-addled birds, it's downright charming. Unfortunately, word's gotten out about that, and overnight prices can run steep in the peak season. Instead, why not day-trip it the scenic way, sampling some of the North Bay's tastiest hotspots as you go? Hop in the car—dogs are invited—and choose your own adventure with these delightful food (and drink) options. You can snack as you go, or collect items for a picnic-style feast once you hit the beach. Whether you're coming from the East Bay, South Bay, or Peninsula, by the time you've reached Point Reyes Station, you've likely worked up an appetite. You may not be as ravenous as the gaggles of cyclists you've likely passed along the way, but it's definitely snack time. Follow the smell of fragrant carbs to Brickmaiden Breads, where you'll find an abundant display of freshly baked delicacies. Feeling like an extra-special treat, I went for the almond cardamom cake ($6.50)—because when in doubt, cake for breakfast is always the right choice. That said, the dried apricot-and-pecan scone looked dang tasty too, as did the bergamot-and-rose snickerdoodle. The menu changes frequently, so check for the latest updates. Meanwhile, for lunch later, I picked up a ficelle sandwich with bulgogi tofu, chile oil, and peanutty slaw ($9). Looking to extend your pit stop? Head toward Point Reyes Books for some browsing. This cozy bookshop is carefully curated, with an especially strong nature and environment section. Pick up a beach read for later, maybe? Heidrun Meadery, Point Reyes Station Just north of town in Point Reyes Station, you'll find Heidrun Meadery, a bucolic tasting room and shop serving sparkling mead, or honey wine, including variants made with local wildflower honey. You're welcome to stop and sit a while—the tasting room invites lingering on a sunny day—but there are more destinations ahead, so it may be wise to just pick up a bottle and continue on your way. Related Stories 5/15/2025 5/15/2025 The Marshall Store, nestled between Highway 1 and Tomales Bay, specializes in oysters from the Tomales Bay Oyster Co. -- it serves them six different ways. Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group Next, you'll drive along Highway 1, rolling along the waterfront edge of Tomales Bay until you arrive at The Marshall Store. If you're visiting on a weekend, prepare for a line—but don't be alarmed. It moves quickly. Grab a table at the outside waterfront patio and dining area. Oysters are what the Marshall Store is best known for—they're from the owners' family farm, Tomales Bay Oyster Co., and come prepared six ways: raw, barbecue, Rockefeller, Kilpatrick, chorizo-style, or smoked. But there's something for everyone. Seafood avoiders can chow down on the tri-tip, pulled pork (braised in Guinness), or Cajun sausage sandwiches, or a baked brie wheel made with roasted garlic and cheese from the Nicasio Valley Cheese Co. Oysters Rockefeller and smoked oysters are two of the six styles of oyster preparations available at The Marshall Store overlooking Tomales Bay. Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay From Marshall, it's a little over a half-hour to get to Bodega Bay's Doran Regional Park. You've finally made it to your destination! Grab a blanket to sprawl out for the afternoon at this dog- and family-friendly beach, and set out your collected goodies—bread, mead, pastries, or oysters—or your DIY picnic. It's still the Sonoma coast, so bring a sweatshirt, but the active breezes on a recent spring visit didn't seem to deter tots or pups from playing in the water—and in fact, the conditions made for excellent kite-flying. One lovely feature of Doran is that the park sits along a spit, and on the inlet side, the water is flat enough for activities like stand-up paddle-boarding or kayaking. The park also has campgrounds if you're not ready to leave yet. Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay is home to a two-mile beach, and is dog- and family-friendly. Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group Captain Davey's, Bodega Bay By the time you've played at the park for a while—and eaten all your other snacks, you might be feeling in need of caffeine or something sweet. Satisfy both by heading over to Captain Davey's, a quaint ice cream and coffee shop in town. Affogato, anyone? Re-energized for the drive back, you can skip the scenic route, ditching Highway 1 for the faster U.S. 101. Two cats observe visitors at Morti's Used Book Nook & Cat Adoption Lounge in Petaluma. Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group Should you be inclined to make a pit stop for some out-of-the-ordinary shopping on your return trip, the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets are home to not one but two pet-oriented bookshops. Morti's Used Book Nook and Cat Adoption Lounge is a cat cafe open weekends that also sells used books, and the Word Horde Emporium of the Weird and Fantastic shares its space with a charming pet shop. Captain Davey's, a tiny storefront in Bodega Bay, serves up coffee, ice cream and affogatos to visitors. Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group If You Go Brickmaiden Breads: Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, 40 Fourth St., Point Reyes Station; The Marshall Store: Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday and Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday with limited menus at 19225 Highway 1, Marshall; Doran Regional Park: 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, $7; Captain Davey's: Open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Monday at 537 Smith Brothers Road, Bodega Bay; Copyright #YR@ MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Epoch Times
The Best US Trains for Stargazing Trips
By John Metcalfe The Mercury News Light pollution is the bane of a stargazer's existence. The glow emanating from cities tends to wash out everything interesting happening above our head—comets, meteor showers, the (until recently) floating astronaut prison that is the International Space Station. But there's a way to lose the washed-out skies, and it involves one of the world's most romantic forms of travel: riding a train on a historic railway. So says National Geographic, which has put out a list of '10 of the dreamiest stargazing trains in the U.S.' including two in the Bay Area. 'A variety of stargazing trains roll through rural landscapes and protected dark-sky preserves where the Milky Way still shines bright, sometimes with a telescope or astronomer on board or an open-air carriage for looking up at the night sky,' writes travel journalist Megan Eaves. 'A train ride offers the perfect chance to slow down and enjoy the universe overhead.' In the Bay, travelers wishing for unimpeded views of the heavens can try out the Napa Valley Wine Train, with its sky-facing windows and seven-course menu with wine pairings. There's also the famous Skunk Train in Mendocino County, where visitors either take an open-air freight flatcar or propel themselves with pedal-powered rail carts. National Geographic Dreamiest Stargazing Trains in the U.S. 1. Santa Fe Sky Railway (New Mexico) 2. Nevada Northern Star Train (Nevada) Related Stories 1/6/2015 5/10/2025 3. Verde Canyon Starlight (Arizona) 4. Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (Oregon) 5. Catskill Mountain Railroad (New York) 6. Napa Valley Wine Train (California) 7. Wanamaker, Kempton, and Southern Railroad (Pennsylvania) 8. Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway (New York) 9. Skunk Train (Mendocino County, California) 10. Allentown and Auburn Railroad (Pennsylvania) Copyright 2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Secret to hunky California cop's good looks is revealed as he stands trial for shocking crime
A blond-haired, blue-eyed California cop may have cheated on his way to a uniform-busting physique as he is currently standing trial for allegedly taking part in a cross-country steroid-distribution ring. Devon Wenger, a former police officer in the Bay Area city of Antioch, appeared in the Oakland federal courtroom on Monday for the first day of his trial on charges of conspiring to illegally distribute anabolic steroids shipped in from Florida, KQED reported. 'I need some test[osterone] or growth s*** in my life,' read a text message from Wenger to a fellow former officer Daniel Harris, who testified against Wenger in court on Monday. 'I'm tired of being lean bro,' the message continued. 'I just want to be a f***ing animal.' Wenger has maintained his innocence, after previously defending himself in a federal courtroom two years ago when he was arrested by the FBI on allegations of corruption and violence. During opening statements, Assistant US Attorney Eric Cheng labeled Wenger as 'a sworn police officer who agreed to distribute anabolic steroids to someone else, and when he got caught, he destroyed the evidence.' On the stand, Harris admitted that he would buy the drugs from 'an underground lab' in Florida and distribute them to 'clients' across state lines - many of whom were former or current law enforcement officers. 'People love the stuff I get from you so there are no complaints,' Harris testified to emailing his dealer, KQED reported. One of those 'clients', Harris said, was Wenger - a newcomer to the world of illegal performance-enhancing drugs, The Mercury News reported. In the text messages presented on Monday, Wenger approached Harris in 2022 - just as he was training to become a Green Beret in the Army's Special Forces - and asked about 'some growth s***,' referring to testosterone and human growth hormone. In response to Wenger's hope to 'become an animal', Harris replied: 'Well you are an animal. We can just make you a bigger, more vascular animal. Lol'. That February, Wenger met up with Harris - confirmed via a $290 Venmo payment sent to Harris, labeled 'Nutrition program, workout program. GET HUGE BRO', The Mercury News reported. Days later, Wenger messaged Harris expressing how 'stoked' he was about the results, claiming he 'felt f***ing juicy bro' and should have asked for the drugs even sooner. 'Welcome to the anabolic club!' Harris responded, while also suggesting Wegner keep the deal under wraps to avoid being 'blacklisted' by the department. Prosecutors alleged that Wenger was so enthusiastic about the results that he went as far as to connect a friend to his dealer just days after his first injection. On March 1, 2022, a package was intercepted by US postal inspectors on its way from Florida to California after an inspector noticed a fake name linked to a single-family residence. Though addressed to a 'Danny Moore,' the package was actually intended for Harris, who was allegedly set to distribute it to Wenger so he could deliver it to the new client he had just introduced, KQED reported. After authorities uncovered text messages between the two, federal agents showed up at Wenger's home. Initially, Wenger ignored a phone call from authorities, and instead texted with FBI agents claiming he believed he was caught up in a potential scam, prosecutors said. However, the ex-cop agreed to meet with agents at a nearby parking lot nearly an hour later, where Wenger surrendered his phone - already wiped of incriminating text messages and suspicious Venmo transactions, prosecutors said. 'This was not a case about someone who just bought steroids for his own use,' Cheng said Monday, according to The Mercury News. Wenger's attorney, Dena Young, questioned the government's motives, claiming that 'there is no evidence that Mr. Wenger was in possession of steroids' and 'no evidence that he distributed steroids to anyone else.' Harris pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to distribution and possession of anabolic steroids with intent to distribute, as well as destruction, alteration and falsification of records, KQED reported. Wenger is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids as well as destruction, alteration and falsification of records in a federal investigation. Wenger's steroid allegations is just the latest revelation in a widespread investigation into misconduct, racism and another alleged conspiracy launched by the US Department of Justice and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office Though the court intended to rest it case on Tuesday, Wenger is scheduled to be retried on violation of civil rights charges in July - just months after a judge declared a mistrial in the case, East Bay Times reported. Wenger' alleged steroid use is just the latest revelation in a widespread investigation into misconduct, racism and another alleged conspiracy launched by the US Department of Justice and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office. The alleged three-year conspiracy involved three cops - including Wenger - planning to assault people while on duty, The Mercury News reported. 'They planned to hurt people, they encouraged each other to hurt people. Then they went out to hurt people who didn't deserve it,' Assistant US Attorney Alexandra Shepard said in court last month, KQED reported. 'The acts in this trial were criminal, unreasonable, unjustified and unlawful,' she added. 'And as you will see, they were planned.' The crimes ranged from obtaining fake college degrees to inflate salaries to terrorizing residents using police dogs and foam-bullet launchers - acts reportedly done for amusement. A night before Wenger and another man injured someone, he allegedly sent a text message that read: 'we need to get into something tonight bro!! Lets go 3 nights in a row dog bite,' according to The Mercury News. In addition to the text messages between Wenger and two other men that described graphic 'gore' and clear instances of excessive force, the ex-cop was also among at least 14 Antioch officers and supervisors found to have exchanged racist texts. After resigning in 2023, Wenger wrote to the then-Chief Steven Ford (pictured): 'I have continuously been the victim of this department's sexual harassment, unfair treatment, retaliation, work place bullying and exploitation' After resigning in 2023, Wenger wrote to the then-Chief Steven Ford: 'I have continuously been the victim of this department's sexual harassment, unfair treatment, retaliation, work place bullying and exploitation.' The judge declared a mistrial in Wenger's case last month after his former attorney told the court she needed more support from her firm to properly represent him. Experts believe that during Wenger's drug trial, the defense will likely emphasize that Harris took a plea, as juries often find police officers to be credible witnesses. 'Cops may have more credibility even if they did something wrong, but it's not a happy thing for a cop to testify against a cop,' Stanford law professor Robert Weisberg told KQED.
