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San Jose nonprofit launches free concert series to revitalize St. James Park downtown

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San Jose nonprofit launches free concert series to revitalize St. James Park downtown


If you’re looking for music and food on a Sunday afternoon, St. James Park in San Jose is where you may find it. For the next three weekends, a non-profit organization is sponsoring a free, spring concert series to bring people back to the park. 

In recent years, St. James Park has dealt with issues of crime and people sleeping in the park, but Levitt San Jose says they’re using music to make this park welcoming again for everybody. 

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Sunday afternoon just off East St. John Street, dozens of people gathered at St. James Park in San Jose for music, food and a good time.  

“Bring your lawn chair, bring your blanket. We always have a beer garden, we always have a food truck, we always have kids’ activities, and we’ve got amazing music that just makes you feel the pulse of the community,” said Laura Wolford, Levitt Pavilion San Jose board member.  

Illustration, from a souvenir album (published by BF Conway) of Southern California scenes, shows a view along a tree-lined street in St James Park, San Jose, California, 1907. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)

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St. James Park has faced challenges with drug and criminal activity in recent years. It also became a place where unhoused people would find shelter. Levitt San Jose, the nonprofit group sponsoring concerts and working to revitalize the park, says it wanted to bring back family fun activity.    

“They’re all welcome here. If you look around right? There are definitely unhoused folks here, and I hope they’re enjoying it, and they’re tapping their toes and feeling the joy that everybody else is feeling too. So this park is for everybody,” Wolford said.   

With sounds of music pumping through the air and people dancing in the park, one San Jose native says she loves the downtown area and is happy to be able to enjoy St. James Park again. 

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“There have been some issues with the homeless, and it’s a problem that we’re dealing with. So, I’m glad that they’re trying to solve the issue and have music out here,” said Patricia.

SAN JOSE, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: (L – R) Mike Watt, Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton, and James Williamsonof Iggy and the Stooges perform as part of C2SV Music Festival Day Three at St. James Park on on September 28, 2013 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mo

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Still, the Saint Claire Historic Preservation Foundation filed a lawsuit to force San Jose to maintain the park’s historic designation. That could complicate revitalization efforts. The city won the lawsuit, but the Foundation is appealing. In the meantime, people say they’ll continue to enjoy the free concerts at St. James Park. 

“I think it’s what you make of it right? I think you just come out here and make it yours. Everyone will have their own perspective, but I think it’s a great park,” said Shirin Amiri, a San Jose native.   

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The free concert series will be at St. James Park on Sundays until June 18 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. KTVU reached out to the Sainte Claire Historic Preservation Foundation for comment and have yet to hear back.



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California Shelves Repeal of 1950 Housing Law That Stoked Racial Tension | KQED

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California Shelves Repeal of 1950 Housing Law That Stoked Racial Tension | KQED


“While SCA 2 was one of many efforts to help address the housing crisis, the November’s ballot will be very crowded, and reaching voters will be difficult and expensive,” Allen said in a statement. “In addition, the legislature recently passed my SB 469, which substantially addresses some of the most significant concerns about how Article 34 might be impacting housing production.”

SB 469 clarifies that the use of state affordable housing dollars does not trigger Article 34’s requirement for voter approval. Allen said his focus is on determining whether these efforts are “making a significant dent in addressing the problem,” adding that quickly building more affordable housing is a priority.

Backed by the California Real Estate Association, the forerunner to the current California Association of Realtors, Article 34 was first adopted by voters in 1950. Realtors played on voters’ fears that affordable housing would lead to greater racial integration of exclusively white neighborhoods.

CAR issued a formal apology in 2022 for its past support of Article 34, with association President Otto Catrina condemning the actions and vowing to address the legacy of its “discriminatory policies and practices.”

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The organization “remains a strong supporter of the repeal of Article 34 … which adds unnecessary hurdles and costs to the creation of affordable housing,” CAR spokesperson Sanjay Wagle said in a statement.

Wagle noted that a majority of Californians support repealing the provision but cited research showing a voter education campaign would be needed to explain the article’s effects.

“The cost of such a campaign in an election year with so many initiatives on the ballot made this campaign more costly and difficult, thus making it more logical to pursue a repeal on a future ballot,” Wagle wrote. “We thank Sen. Allen and Sen. Wiener for their efforts on this repeal effort and look forward to working [with] them and other stakeholders on this issue in the future.”





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California Quarterback Commits to Penn State’s 2026 Recruiting Class

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California Quarterback Commits to Penn State’s 2026 Recruiting Class


Though Penn State has been busily filling its 2025 recruiting class in June, the program hasn’t stopped looking ahead. The Nittany Lions on Tuesday received a commitment from 4-star California quarterback Troy Huhn, who became the second player in Penn State football’s 2026 recruiting class.

Huhn (6-4, 205 pounds) will be a junior at Mission Hills High, just north of San Diego. He threw for 1,623 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. Huhn quickly built a strong offer sheet that included Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Auburn and Notre Dame, among many others. Huhn took an unofficial visits to Ohio State and Penn State in June, committing to the Nittany Lions two weeks after his trip.

Huhn is the 2026 recruiting class’ 10th-rated quarterback prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite, and a top-15 player in California. On3 ranks Huhn highest among the major recruiting services, slotting him at No. 60 nationally and sixth at quarterback.

Huhn, who committed to Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien, spent time with head coach James Franklin during his unofficial visit. He told Sean Fitz of Blue-White Illustrated that Franklin made an impression.

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“Coach O’Brien was great, but really my main thing when I was getting out there was to have more time with coach Franklin. They definitely gave that to me,” Huhn said in his interview with Blue-White Illustrated. “I really felt the love from coach Franklin. He’s very business, he’s awesome, he’s a funny guy. My mom loves him, he loves my mom. That relationship with him is now a lot better and I’m glad I got to spend that time with him.”

Huhn joins Harrisburg athlete Messiah Mickens on the ground floor of Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class. Mickens committed to Penn State in August 2023. Penn State had been recruiting several 2026 quarterbacks alongside Huhn. One of their targets, Dia Bell, recently committed to Texas.

Huhn’s commitment continued a prolific stretch for the Nittany Lions. Franklin and his staff have received commitments from five players in a four-day stretch. Four of them committed to Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class.

The most recent 2025 commitment belonged to Max Granville, a 4-star prospect from Texas and first-team all-state honoree as a junior. Granville, who will be a senior at Fort Bend Christian Academy, is rated as a 4-star linebacker according to the 247Sports Composite. However, the 6-3, 220-pound Granville projects at defensive end and was recruited by Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes. Granville chose Penn State after making an official visit to State College earlier in June. He also visited USC, Texas A&M and Oklahoma in June and took an official visit to Baylor in April.

Penn State opens the 2024 football season Aug. 31 at West Virginia. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff on FOX.

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.





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Butte County issues evacuation orders for Apache wildfire

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Butte County issues evacuation orders for Apache wildfire


(FOX40.COM) — An evacuation order is in effect for areas of Butte County amid a wildfire, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, BCSO issued an evacuation order for the Apache Fire on the south side of Grubbs Road between Crossa Country Road and Alta Arosa Drive in zones 884 and 885. Shortly after, evacuation orders were also issued for all of zone 884, 865, 866, 868, and 869. For information about zone locations click or tap here.

An evacuation warning was also issued for zones 867 and 883.

At 9:45 p.m., the Apache Fire has burned through 466 acres, according to Cal Fire. By 10:30 p.m. it reached more than 650 acres.

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For more information visit www.buttecounty.net, or call (833) 512-5378.



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