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‘Omar,’ a unique opera drawn from a slave’s memoirs, comes to SF

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

Jamez McCorkle talks about singing the title role of “Omar” with a mix of awe and admiration.The American tenor has been center stage in the award-winning opera since its inception. Composed by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, “Omar” premiered at the 2022 Spoleto Festival in South Carolina with McCorkle in the title role; he’s returned to it for multiple performances in Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Now he’s heading a large cast as the opera, directed by Kaneza Schaal and conducted by John Kennedy, makes its much-anticipated Bay Area premiere at San Francisco Opera.Awarded this year’s Pulitzer Prize for music, “Omar” is based on the 1831 autobiography of Omar ibn Said, a Muslim scholar born in 1770 in what is now Senegal. Enslaved and transported to the U.S. in 1807, Said spent five decades as a slave on a North Carolina plantation, where he wrote his autobiography — the only known slave narrative written in Arabic.“What really connected me to him was his resiliency,” M...

Deadly attack in Sierra foothills: 12 years ago to the day, suspect was arrested for another stabbing there

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

A deadly stabbing Monday in the Gold Country town of Ione has been blamed on a man familiar to police there: Twelve years ago to the day, that suspect was arrested for stabbing a man in the same neighborhood.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | “Extremely lucky”: Disaster averted at Colorado amusement park after body, guns and bombs discovered Crime and Public Safety | Customer shot coming out of East Oakland liquor store Crime and Public Safety | Man dead in East Oakland shooting; police probe 107th homicide in 2023 Crime and Public Safety | CU Buffs football players have jewelry stolen during game against UCLA in the Rose Bowl Crime and Public Safety | Federal judge blocks California law banning gun shows at county fairs Both attacks occurred shortly after Joseph Stephens Jenkins had been released from prison, police said.Three people were stabbed in Monday’s attacks, the first of which was ...

Bay Area: Who knew there were chestnut orchards right here?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

We’ve all heard the Christmas Song, the one that starts, “Chestnuuuuuts roasting on an open fiiiiire.”But how many of us have actually eaten them?The stewards behind two Bay Area chestnut orchards are on a mission to help more people learn about — and enjoy — these round, prickly-packaged treats. While Weylin and Rose Eng, an 80-year-old Orinda couple, find joy in distributing their farm-grown chestnuts from Winters, Hans Johsens offers visitors willing to trek into the Santa Cruz Mountains a chance to harvest their own from trees that date back to the Gold Rush.In general, Californians are not as familiar with chestnuts — outside holiday song lyrics anyway — as East Coasters, Europeans and people from areas of Asia where chestnut trees are native, Weylin says. Chestnut trees were once so abundant on the East Coast, legend had it that a squirrel could travel from New England to Georgia by scampering through the branches of the trees, never once touching the g...

San Jose man indicted after allegedly failing to disclose foreign bank accounts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

SAN JOSE — A San Jose man was indicted by a grand jury last week on allegations that he falsified tax returns and failed to disclose his Chinese bank accounts, prosecutors said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Juveniles on e-bikes not following rules of the road in Los Gatos Crime and Public Safety | Man threatens to burn down Campbell fire station Crime and Public Safety | Exclusive: Los Gatos ‘party mom’ indicted by grand jury, clearing way for trial Crime and Public Safety | 15-year-old boy arrested in connection to San Jose hit-and-run that killed pregnant preschool teacher, baby Crime and Public Safety | Stanford says it is investigating after hacker group threatens to release confidential information The indictment, which was handed down on Nov. 1, 2022 but unsealed last week, accuses 67-year-old Chunsheng “Jay” Huang of working for Chinese-based companies for six years while a...

Disneyland’s ‘World of Color’ platform sinks and tilts from power of 1,200 fountains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

A new season of a Disney TV show that takes viewers behind the scenes of Disneyland nighttime spectaculars reveals the challenges and limitations Disney Live Entertainment faced while developing the “World of Color” water show at Disney California Adventure.“You start to learn things very quickly,” Disney Live Entertainment Parades and Spectaculars Executive Steven Davison said. “Like if you turn on all the fountains, you’re going to sink the platform.”The second season of “Behind the Attraction” debuts Wednesday, Nov. 1 on the Disney+ streaming service with episodes dedicated to Disney nighttime spectaculars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure and Disneyland food.SEE ALSO: Disney reveals secrets behind Indiana Jones Adventure boulder scene“World of Color” projects high-definition digital imagery onto mist screens and synchronizes a musical soundtrack to 1,200 dancing fountains and fire effects in Paradise Bay at Disney California Advent...

Suspect who is prohibited from owning weapons arrested in armed San Jose burglary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

(KRON) -- A man who is prohibited from owning weapons was arrested in an armed burglary and had several weapons seized, the San Jose Police Department said Tuesday. The incident occurred on April 2 when detectives with the SJPD Burglary and Financial Crimes Unit began investigating a residential burglary in San Jose.The suspect, police said, committed a residential burglary while armed with a firearm. During the robbery, the suspect was confronted by a neighbor and fled before police arrived. THC gummies found in candy stash at Bay Area elementary school During the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as Steven Florentino, a 52-year-old San Jose resident. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Florentino and a search warrant for his residence.SJPD Covert Response Unit officers located Florentino and arrested him in San Jose on Oct. 25. Officers executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered a cache of weapons that included:Numerous unregistered fire...

Novato man arrested for starting fire with bottle rocket

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

(KRON) – A man who allegedly lit a bush on fire has been arrested for unlawfully starting a fire by the Novato Police Department.Novato police officers were alerted of a man lighting a bush on fire and were dispatched to the area of Redwood Boulevard around 12:34 p.m. on Oct. 28. The Novato Fire Migitation Ranger officers also responded to the scene.  Police looking for owners of dog found in Novato Upon the officers' arrival, the fire was extinguished. Officers made contact with 53-year-old Novato resident Cary Newman at the scene. Officers determined Newman utilized a self-made device that resembled a large bottle rocket that caused the fire.  Newman was booked into the Marin County Jail for unlawfully starting a fire, possession of controlled substances, and possession of illegally manufactured fireworks.

Stock market today: Wall Street headed for 3rd straight losing month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is drifting Tuesday following some mixed earnings reports from big companies.The S&P 500 was 0.1% higher in afternoon trading, a day after clawing back a big chunk of its loss for October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 9 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 12:39 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was virtually unchanged. All three indexes were bouncing between small gains and losses. Most big U.S. companies have been reporting stronger profit for the summer than expected, and Caterpillar joined them. But the heavy machinery maker’s stock sank 5.6% after analysts focused on a slowdown in orders and growing inventories at dealers.JetBlue Airways tumbled 13.7% after it reported a worse loss for the summer than expected. It said demand for travel is still strong during peak periods, but the industry has too many seats chasing after too few passengers during off-peak times. It also called the magnitude of air-traffic control and weather-rel...

A friend of Manny Ellis and a breathing expert expected to testify in trial against Tacoma officers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Five weeks into the trial against three Tacoma, Washington, police officers charged in the death of Manny Ellis and prosecutors will build upon their case by questioning one of the man’s lifelong friends as well as a breathing expert in court Tuesday.On Monday, Cedric Armstrong, the man who ran the sober-living home where Ellis lived, said Ellis was happy earlier on the night he died, adding, “he didn’t seem like he was off in any way.”Also Monday, a lieutenant with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged that his agency failed to find or collect witness cellphone videos before ending their investigation into Ellis’ death.The videos and witness statements are critical pieces of evidence in the case. They show Ellis with his hands up in a surrender position as the officers shoot a Taser at his chest and wrap an arm around his neck. The officers later told investigators that Ellis attacked them and was violent, something not shown i...

Bears acquire Montez Sweat from the Commanders for a 2024 2nd-round pick, AP source says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat (90) taking the field to begin the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat (90) taking the field to begin the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) The Chicago Bears acquired pass rusher Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders for a 2024 second-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because neithe...