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49ers report card: Coaching under further fire amid three-game skid

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Here is how the 49ers (5-3) graded in Sunday’s 31-17 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals (4-3):San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals’ Jordan Battle (27) in the first quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) PASS OFFENSE: DInterceptions on back-to-back throws ruined the 49ers’ comeback bid, even if Brock Purdy did rally for a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey. Interception No. 1 was the death knell, for it came on first-and-goal from the 8 and it came about because of a failed handoff between Purdy and … Elijah Mitchell? McCaffrey (NFL TD leader) had gone in motion as a lead blocker (??) and Mitchell ended up being Purdy’s desperate target on a pass that 6-foot-3 Germaine Pratt snared at the 10-yard line. The 49ers still had a full quarter to rally, but Purdy’s next pass also was intercepted on a p...

Santa Cruz Warriors select 6-3 guard Marcus Burk, 6-9 forward Arinze Chidom in 2023 NBA G League Draft

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

The Santa Cruz Warriors selected 6-foot-3 guard Marcus Burk and 6-9 forward Arinze Chidom in the 2023 NBA G League draft on Saturday.Burk was chosen with the 16th overall pick. A former standout at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), he appeared in 46 games, 30 of which were starts, with the Grand Rapids Gold from 2021-23. He averaged 10.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game, while shooting 37.9% from the field for the Gold.He started his collegiate career at Campbell University (2016-18) before transferring to IUPUI (2018-21). During his senior year, Burk averaged 21.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 34.1 minutes per game, while shooting 48.1% from the field.Chidom, a 2015 graduate of Bishop O’Dowd High in Oakland, was selected 27th overall. He appeared in 77 games and made 46 starts split between Washington State (2017-19) and UC Riverside (2019-21). He averaged 8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game, while shooting 46.5% from the field...

Truck filled with thousands of pounds of marijuana crashes into California fire station’s gates, police say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

A U-Haul truck filled with boxes of marijuana crashed into the gates of the Sierra Madre Fire Department’s headquarters after the driver got shot in the arm — prompting his arrest and that of his passenger, authorities said.The truck was carrying an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana, sheriff’s Lt. David Kearney said. The marijuana was in vacuum sealed packages.The U-Haul truck was driving in the unincorporated community of north San Gabriel when someone in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle shot at the truck, he said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Former California planning official tailored child porn to LAUSD teacher’s liking, police allege Crime and Public Safety | Police fatally shoot woman who they said had BB gun at California bus stop Crime and Public Safety | Will pilot’s bad trip be sobering setback for California quest to legalize psychedelic mushrooms? Crime and Public Safety | Baby P...

He climbed Disneyland’s Matterhorn mountain 300 times with Mickey and Goofy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

During his 50-year career at Disneyland, Jimmie Payton was the first to climb Matterhorn mountain with Mickey Mouse and scaled the man-made peak more than 300 times — including during the 50th anniversary of the park when he planted a flag at the top.Disneyland honored Payton and eight other employees this week for more than 50 years of service each with a ceremony in the Golden Horseshoe restaurant and a cavalcade along Main Street USA.Disneyland cast member Jimmie Payton in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2023. (Disney) Payton got his start at Disneyland in 1973 as an atmosphere performer and stage production dancer.Starting in the character department, the 19-year-old worked with some of the biggest names at Disneyland — including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Dopey, Robin Hood, Mr. Smee and Scrooge McDuck.At 4 feet, 9 inches tall, Payton was about the same height as Mickey Mouse and could even do the famous high-pitched falsetto of the Di...

Siskel & Ebert changed the way we talked about movies. A new book shows how.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

I have a distinct childhood television-watching memory of watching two schlubby Chicago film critics talk about a movie about a fictional British rock band in freefall from their arena-filling heyday.The reviewers were, of course, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert; the film was of course, “This is Spinal Tap.” This being 1980s Billings, Montana, I had to wait a full calendar year to rent Spinal Tap on VHS, but there is no hyperbole when I say that five-minute TV review permanently altered my cultural awareness and future professional life.Related: Sign up for our free Book Pages newsletter about bestsellers, authors and moreScreencrush editor Matt Singer’s new book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever” tells the duo’s story, from a disastrous 1975 public television debut through the show’s successful syndication years, a plethora of memorable David Letterman appearances, and a rotating cast of co-hosts after Siskel died of brain cancer in 1999 at the age of 53....

Supernatural powers or not, some animals are Halloween symbols

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

Halloween is the season for ghosts, ghouls, goblins… and animals! As the Halloween décor takes over our neighborhoods, you’re likely to see some furry, hairy and feathered creatures among the jack-o-lanterns and skeletons.Have you ever wondered why certain animals are associated with this spooky holiday? Here are a few of the most iconic Halloween animals and their origins.BatsBram Stoker’s “Dracula” (1897) may have popularized the image of a vampire shapeshifting into a bat, but the association between bats and vampires has been around for much longer. The appropriately named vampire bat drinks the blood of other animals (though, unlike Dracula, does not commonly feed off people).Luckily for us SoCal humans, our local bats eat only insects, such as moths and mosquitoes. Bats, as nocturnal pollinators, also play an important role in our ecosystem. But, this doesn’t mean you should get too friendly with them.The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions that bats are th...

Photos: 49ers’ third straight loss, 31-17 fall to the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

SANTA CLARA – A home game disappointing third straight loss for the 49ers is the first loss at Levi’s Stadium in 12 games, dating back to Oct. 23, 2022.  The 49ers (5-3) are now in second place in the NFC West behind Seattle (5-2).Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | Say goodbye to ‘Brocktober’: Purdy turnovers costly for 49ers against Bengals San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: Coaching, QB failures have 49ers sliding down NFL pecking order San Francisco 49ers | What the 49ers are saying after losing to Bengals San Francisco 49ers | Instant analysis of 49ers’ third straight loss, a 31-17 stinker vs. Bengals San Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ Studs and Duds: Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is giving the Niners no chance to win Purdy finished 21-of-30 passing for 324 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked twice, including that fumble on the final play of the 49ers’ la...

Here’s what Americans fear the most in 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

Our fears and how they’ve changedWith Halloween days away, we thought we’d take a look at Chapman University’s Survey of American Fears.The surveyThe goal of the Chapman University Survey of American Fears is to collect annual data on the fears, worries and concerns of Americans, and how those fears are associated with other attitudes and behaviors. There were 97 topics, ranging from government, health and environmental matters to disaster preparedness, the paranormal and personal anxieties. This year’s survey was conducted by SSRS research online via the SSRS Opinion Panel and invited adults ages 18 and older to participate. There were 1,014 participants and the data was collected from March 27 to April 4.Biggest fearSkepticism of government is baked into America’s political culture and fear of corrupt government officials has remained the No. 1 fear in America since first topping the chart in 2015. However, the percentage of respondents who are very afraid or afraid of corrupt gov...

Former California planning official tailored child porn to LAUSD teacher’s liking, police allege

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

A Los Angeles high school teacher caught up in the child pornography case against a former Redlands planning commissioner allegedly sent suggestive photos taken of girls on campus and asked the commissioner for pornographic images in return that fit the same look, according to a search warrant affidavit.Rene Gregorio Estrella, a now-banned teacher at the School of Business and Tourism at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex near downtown Los Angeles, was arrested Oct. 18 based on data collected from the cellphone of Steven Frasher, who resigned from the Redlands Planning Commission two days after his arrest Oct. 3.Estrella also is identified as “Greg” in the affidavit, as that was the name that appeared in Frasher’s phone contacts when San Bernardino police scrubbed it for evidence, according to the affidavit obtained by the Southern California News Group.The affidavit alleges the two men “exchanged multiple photos of adult and child pornography,” and cites a conversation they had cons...

Word Game: Oct. 30, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:57 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — AMPUTATE (AMPUTATE: AM-pyuh-tate: To remove by cutting, especially a body part.)Average mark 16 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 20 or more words in AMPUTATE? The list will be published tomorrow.SATURDAY’S WORD — STABILITY sail salt salty sibyl silt silty slab slat slaty slay slit stab stably stat stay stilt tail tastily tasty tibia tilt ability ably alibi alit atilt bail bait basil batty bialy bias bitsy bitt bitty blast blat ibis laity last listTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wor...