With its predominantly mild climate, the Bay Area’s change in season may be less dramatic than in other climes, but fall has arrived in the fields of the region.
West
Former Colorado police officer gets probation after detaining a woman in a car that was hit by a train
- In 2022, a police officer in Fort Lupton, Colorado, arrested a woman in a road-rage incident and left her in a car that was parked on train tracks.
- The woman, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, suffered a traumatic brain injury after a freight train struck the parked vehicle.
- Former Police Officer Jordan Steinke has avoided jail but was sentenced to serve 30 months on supervised probation.
A former Colorado police officer who put a handcuffed woman in a parked police vehicle that was hit by a freight train, causing the woman to suffer serious injuries, has avoided a jail sentence and must instead serve 30 months on supervised probation.
Jordan Steinke, 29, was sentenced Friday by Weld County District Court Judge Timothy Kerns, who found her guilty of reckless endangerment and assault for the Sept. 16, 2022, crash near Platteville. Kerns acquitted the former Fort Lupton police officer of criminal attempt to commit manslaughter after her bench trial in July.
Kerns said he had planned to sentence Steinke to jail, but he changed his mind after both prosecutors and defense attorneys sought a probationary sentence, The Denver Post reported.
OFFICER PLACED ON LEAVE AFTER TRAIN CRASHED INTO POLICE CAR PARKED ON TRACKS WITH SUSPECT INSIDE
“Someone is going to hear this and say: ‘Another officer gets off,’ ” Kerns said. “That’s not the facts of this case.”
He ordered Steinke to perform 100 hours of community service. And if she violates the terms of her probation, “I will harken back to my original gut response as to how to address sentencing,” Kerns warned.
Steinke, who wept during the sentencing hearing, apologized to Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, who attended the hearing virtually.
“What happened that night has haunted me for 364 days,” Steinke said. “I remember your cries and your screams.”
A freight train barrels toward a parked police car with a suspect inside on Sep. 16, 2022, in Fort Lupton, Colorado. (Fort Lupton Police Department via AP, File)
Steinke said she hoped to fulfill some of her community service by giving educational talks to new police officers about the dangers of railroad tracks and the importance of officers being aware of their surroundings.
Then-Plateville Police Sgt. Pablo Vazquez had stopped Rios-Gonzalez after a reported road-rage incident involving a gun. Steinke took her into custody and locked her in Vazquez’s police vehicle, which was parked on the railroad tracks. A train crashed into the SUV.
Rios-Gonzalez, who suffered a lasting brain injury and is in pain, was conflicted about how she wanted Steinke to be punished, attorney Chris Ponce said.
CO OFFICER WHO PUT WOMAN IN PATROL VEHICLE THAT WAS HIT BY TRAIN CLAIMS SHE DIDN’T REALIZE CAR WAS ON TRACKS
“The conflict that she feels is one where every day she has to feel this pain,” Ponce said. “And she’s had to deal with (doctor) appointments and having her life so radically changed. And feeling upset, very upset about that — angry about that — but on the other hand, feeling for Ms. Steinke, and, I think, truly empathetically feeling sorry for how she lost her career.”
Steinke was fired from the Fort Lupton police department after her conviction. She is expected to lose her Peace Officer Standards and Training certification, her attorney Mallory Revel said, meaning she can never be a police officer again.
During Steinke’s trial, her defense attorneys said she did not know that Vazquez had parked his police vehicle on the tracks.
Vazquez still faces trial for his role in the crash. He has been charged with five counts of reckless endangerment for allegedly putting Rios-Gonzalez, Steinke and three other people at risk, as well as for traffic-related violations, including parking where prohibited.
Rios-Gonzalez has also filed a lawsuit against the police agencies involved.
Read the full article from Here
Continue Reading
West
Newsom claims DeSantis took ‘bait’ in agreeing to debate ‘guy who isn’t even running for president’
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has sparked much speculation about a potential White House bid of his own, claimed Wednesday that Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis took the “bait” in agreeing to debate him, a “guy who isn’t even running for president.”
Newsom attended the second GOP debate of the 20204 cycle in Simi Valley, California, Wednesday on behalf of President Biden’s re-election campaign. Fox News host Sean Hannity is moderating the upcoming 90-minute debate that the Florida governor will be having with Newsom on November 30.
“Why is he doing it? That’s the right question. He’s running – I think, I’m not sure after tonight, but currently he’s running for president of the United States,” Newsom told FOX 11 Los Angeles anchor Elex Michaelson during a sit-down interview Wednesday.
Michaelson asked Newsom whether he thinks DeSantis will still be a candidate by November 30.
DESANTIS SUGGESTS ONE-ON-ONE DEBATE WITH TRUMP: ‘YOU OWE IT TO THE VOTERS’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom talks to reporters in the spin room following the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on September 27, 2023 in Simi Valley, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“That’s an open-ended question. Part of me wonders,” Newsom said. “The fact that he took this debate. The fact that he took the bait in relation to this debate shows that he’s completely unqualified to be president of the United States. That’s my humble, first, personal opinion.”
“You’re baiting him with the debate offer?” Michaelson asked.
“Of course. I mean why is he debating a guy who’s not even running for president when he’s running for president?” Newsom asked. “He’s showing up at the Reagan Library, hallowed ground, and he puts out an ad today not for his presidential campaign, to promote a debate against the governor of California. I mean this guy’s distracted, so I don’t know that he has it in his heart. I think – here’s my personal opinion about Ron DeSantis – he regrets running for president.”
Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis prepares to talk to reporters in the spin room at the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on September 27, 2023, in Simi Valley, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“He made a huge mistake. He listened to his consultants. He bought his own hype. He had this little God complex,” the California governor added of DeSantis. “I mean, look at the ads themselves . . . literally, God created . . . I mean he bought into all this stuff, and he quickly regretted it, but he’s stuck. And here’s the problem, you get one chance at first impressions – he’s belly flopped. He’s down 30-plus points from where he started. So it’s a terrible situation for him.”
Reached for comment Thursday, DeSantis’ campaign referred to a message shared on X, formerly Twitter.
“You’re so vain, you probably think this debate is about you. See you in Georgia.” DeSantis War Room wrote.
Newsom faced some criticism online over the running-for-president remark, as many doubted that he wouldn’t enter the 2024 race if 80-year-old Biden were to opt out for some reason.
“This is Gavin Newsom walking back that he stabbed Kamala Harris in the back. Gosh, golly, why would he debate little old me who is totally super not running for president, swear,” Fox News contributor Karol Markowicz posted on X.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom talks to reporters in the spin room following the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on September 27, 2023, in Simi Valley, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Writing to his more than 732,000 followers, Craft Ventures general partner David Sacks mocked, “‘Who’d want to debate an idiot like Gavin Newsom?’ — Gavin Newsom.”
“So — just to clarify — according to Newsom, assuming good faith, taking someone at their word, and being willing to engage in meaningful debate with fellow leaders renders one unqualified for office. Yeah, that tracks,” writer AJ Kay wrote on X to her nearly 60,000 followers.
In the spin room after Wednesday’s debate, Hannity also pressed Newsom on whether the California governor would accept the Democratic nomination to run for president in 2024.
“Of course not,” Newsom finally said. “It’s a hypothetical. It’s ridiculous. Joe Biden’s our president.”
Read the full article from Here
Gone are the summer days of cherries, peaches, nectarines and pluots, but there’s still time to catch the tail end of berry season and harvest the bounty of fall, which offers more than just pumpkins. Local farms throughout the Bay Area are continuing “U-pick” fruit days, with opportunities to pluck crisp apples, bite into juicy berries and gather beautiful sunflowers.
Here’s a sampling of what’s fresh.
READ MORE: Here’s Where To Find the Best Pumpkin Patches in San Francisco and Beyond
To find farms near you, check out the chart and map below. As Mother Nature can be unpredictable, we recommend also checking out these growers’ websites and social media for updates—or calling ahead.
Strawberry season usually lasts from January to July and typically peaks in March, but you can still find juicy berries at Blue House Farm down the coast in San Gregorio.
“Our strawberry season is certainly slowing down now, but we typically leave our strawberry U-pick open through October,” Blue House’s Farmstand & Farmer’s Market Manager Claire Pinkham wrote in an email to The Standard. “As the month wears on, it becomes more of a treasure hunt, but as of now there are still plenty of ripe and delicious berries out there.”
Rough winter weather and late rains have extended the season, but Blue Farm also credits its location along the coast for helping the strawberries flourish late into the fall.
“Being so close to the ocean means that temperatures are mild all summer long, and this is weather in which strawberries thrive!” Pinkham wrote.
U-pick hours run from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. No reservations or fees are required for the first-come, first-served experience—you just have to pay for what you pick. Strawberries cost $7 per pound. Pumpkins ($3 to $30, depending on size) are also available to pick from the farm’s organic patch through Oct. 29.
Coastal explorers can also find sunflowers ripe for the harvest in Half Moon Bay.
Andreotti Family Farms’ field, which also hosts a pumpkin patch and corn maze starting in October, is now open seven days a week for folks looking to pluck posies or fill their Instagram feeds with floral photos.
Holding photoshoots in the field is a popular pastime, notes Andreotti Farms’ Terry Andreotti, who says that models from as far afield as Los Angeles and New York City flock to the multiacre field of flowers. Local photographers also hold portrait sessions in the field for those looking to commemorate pregnancies, engagements and more.
While you may be tempted to pick sunflowers in full bloom, Andreotti recommends picking buds about to flower.
“A lot of people want them open, but you can pick them closed, and they’ll open in water,” Andreotti said.
The entrance fee is $18 per person, which allows you to take home up to 10 flowers (each additional blossom costs $1), and children under 5 get in free.
For the first time, the farm is also offering zinnias in all different colors for sale: $2 per flower or $5 per bunch. Reservations are not required, and the sunflower field, pumpkin patch and corn maze will be open through the end of October.
Chileno Valley Ranch in Petaluma is open for apple picking on Sunday mornings by appointment only and closes as soon as it runs out of apples. Ripe varieties include Senshu, Mutsu, Pinova and Candy Crisp, and the farm also offers pears.
The farm’s dwarf trees are the perfect size for children to pick from, says the ranch’s Sally Gale, and nature walks and farm tours are also available.
The next sign-up for reservations opens at 9 a.m. Monday at Chileno Valley’s website. The entrance fee is $10, cash only.
Sebastopol’s Earthseed Farms’ next U-pick days for apples are Oct. 7 and 8, with reservations opening at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The entry fee is $35 per group of four and $7.50 for each additional person; apples cost $4 a pound. Asian pears are also currently available in the farm’s store for $6 a pound. Persimmons and guava are expected to ripen in November. Reservations open on Tuesdays prior to Saturday U-pick days.
Ratzlaff Ranch, also in Sebastopol, opens its Apple-a-Day orchards on Sunday, and will remain open until all its apples are harvested. No reservations are required, and the farm is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Thursdays and Saturdays.
Apples cost $2.50 per pound, and Golden Delicious and Rome Beauty varieties are available. The stand also sells cider and juice made from apples on its farm as well as breads and caramels from its stands.
A range of seasonal fruits and vegetables are still available at Cloverfield Organic Farm in El Sobrante. What’s ready for the picking might be a bit of a surprise this time of year, says farmhand Michael Lancaster, but that’s part of the beauty and fun of exploring the 4.5-acre farm.
You can check the farm’s website to see what’s expected to ripen soon, but some autumnal varieties include figs, quinces, walnuts, pears, persimmons, olives, mandarins and jujubes.
In addition to growing an array of produce, Cloverfield offers private and group tours, U-pick and picnicking events as well as “healing sessions” where visitors can commune with its horses. The farm is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Finally, this weekend is the last call for raspberries at Boring Farm in Sebastopol. The berry farm holds its last U-pick event of 2023 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Purchasing a parking pass ahead of time is recommended, so make a beeline to Boring Farm’s website as soon as you can.
The farm’s owner and namesake Rachel Boring recommends picking berries that are deep red and round—as well as taking enough home to feast on for later.
“We always say pick enough that you want to freeze, and try all the flavors while you’re out here,” she said, noting that the farm has three varieties left this season.
Raspberries from the farm go for $11.99 a pound.
The Denver Broncos (0-3) face the Chicago Bears (0-3) Sunday in Week 4 NFL action. Kickoff from Soldier Field is at 1 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Broncos vs. Bears odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
There are just 4 winless teams remaining in the NFL and their fanbases are starting to panic. After Sunday, provided they don’t tie, only one of these teams will remain without a victory.
Denver lost 70-20 as a 6-point underdog at the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. QB Russell Wilson threw for 306 yards, nearly the same as Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa‘s 309 yards, but the defense allowed 10 touchdowns, resulting in the most points allowed in a single game since 1966. Miami averaged 8.1 yards per carry and totaled 350 yards on the ground while Denver had just 69 yards with a 3.5 yards per carry average.
The Broncos started their season as favorites against both the Las Vegas Raiders (-3) and the Washington Commanders (-3.5) but they lost those games by a combined 3 points.
Chicago has failed to cover in every game so far, most recently a 41-10 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs as 13-point favorites in Week 3. The Bears trailed by just 7 points after the 1st quarter but the Chiefs scored 27 points in the 2nd quarter to take a 34-0 lead. Chicago scored its only points in the final quarter, connecting on a 21-yard field goal just 86 seconds in and a 9-yard TD pass to WR DJ Moore with 4:20 remaining.
The Bears’ defense has been a liability this season, giving up 27 or more points in their 3 games, which combined with QB Justin Fields playing as a pocket passer instead of a running quarterback, have put the Bears in a tough position.
FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+
Broncos at Bears odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 9:23 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Broncos -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Bears +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Against the spread (ATS): Broncos -3.5 (-105) | Bears +3.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 46 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Broncos at Bears key injuries
Broncos
- LB Frank Clark (hip) out
- C Lloyd Cushenberry (illness) questionable
- LB Josey Jewell (hip) out
- DL Mike Purcell (ribs) out
- S Justin Simmons (hip) questionable
Bears
- CB Josh Blackwell (hamstring) out
- CB Eddie Jackson (foot) out
- CB Jaylon Johnson (hamstring) out
Broncos at Bears picks and predictions
Prediction
Broncos 22, Bears 17
Moneyline
It’s difficult to bring up stats on the Denver Broncos after last week’s horrendous loss since giving up 70 points in 1 of the 3 games you play skews everything.
The Bears rank 31st in passing yards per game (148.3), 30th in offensive sack percentage (12.87) and 29th in completion percentage (57.95). They have just a 1% sack rate on defense, the worst in the NFL, and allow 8.7 yards per pass, which is 31st.
Despite playing in Chicago I think it’s a tough ask to beat a Denver that will look to bounce back from an historical loss in Week 3.
PASS on the moneyline and look to the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
Home ‘dogs this year are 7-10-1 against the spread. This line opened at Bears +2.5 before moving to +3.5, so the money coming in is on the Broncos.
With the injuries the Bears have in the secondary, there will be plenty of opportunities for Wilson to throw deep and pad Denver’s score.
BET BRONCOS -3.5 (-105).
Over/Under
Both teams have struggled to score this season. The line is surprisingly high for this matchup, most likely because both defenses seem to be significant liabilities for their team.
However, I still like the Under. The Bears are 25th in 3rd down conversions (34.21%) and the Broncos are just as bad (34.29%). Combine that with Denver’s 45% red-zone touchdown percentage (25th in the NFL) and it seems prime for a low-scoring matchup.
LEAN UNDER 46 (-110).
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Ethan Matthew on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
Access more NFL coverage:
TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
Movie Reviews5 mins ago
Cobweb Blu-ray Review: Lizzy Caplan & Antony Starr Horror Movie Intrigues
Uncategorized9 mins ago
Dokotoo Womens Ribbed Knit Textured Drop Shoulder Long Sleeve Crew Neck Pullover Sweaters
World13 mins ago
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku burned on face, arm in home accident while lighting fire pit
Politics19 mins ago
Live Vote Count: House Stopgap Measure as Shutdown Looms
Health29 mins ago
Andrew Walker Is Hallmark Royalty: 23 of His Best Movies, Ranked
Colorado1 year ago
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Midwest1 year ago
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
South10 months ago
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
South1 year ago
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
South10 months ago
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Politics50 mins ago
Georgia indictment: First Trump co-defendant pleads guilty in Fulton County court
World1 hour ago
More than 80 percent of ethnic Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24965345/merlin_2998899.jpg)
News2 hours ago
October 2023 general conference: Announcements, talk summaries and session highlights
Politics7 hours ago
Prosecutors cite Trump’s ‘death’ comment about Milley in repeat request for gag order
World8 hours ago
Brussels, my love? Poland rocks the boat of support to Ukraine
-
Politics1 week agoTrump says he will carry out the ‘largest domestic deportation operation in American history’ if elected
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoBrightwood (2022) – Movie Review
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Jaane Jaan’ movie review: Jaideep Ahlawat shines next to Kareena Kapoor and Vijay Varma in this hillside thriller
-
Education1 week agoChanges Bring Friction, and Lawsuits, to Florida College Targeted by DeSantis
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoMovie review: A star-making turn for Eve Hewson in the feel-good ‘Flora and Son’
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24939649/1691134113.jpg)
Technology1 week agoHollywood’s writers’ strike might come to an end soon
-
Politics1 week agoTop conservative group exposes how both parties contributed eye-popping amount to debt: ‘Suffering worse’
-
Culture1 week ago
Interview: Lawrence Wright