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Zeynep Tufekci: One thing not to fear at Burning Man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

The news that thousands of Burning Man festivalgoers were told to conserve food and water after torrential rains left them trapped by impassable mud in the Nevada desert led some to chortle about a “Lord of the Flies” scenario for the annual gathering popular with tech lords and moguls.Alas, I have to spoil the hate-the-tech-rich revelries. No matter how this mess is resolved — and many there seem to be coping — the common belief that civilization is but a thin veneer that will fall apart when authority disappears is not only false, the false belief itself is harmful.Rutger Bregman, who wrote a book called “Humankind: A Hopeful History,” had read “Lord of the Flies” as a teenager like many, and didn’t doubt its terrible implication about human nature. However, Bregman got curious about whether there were any real-life cases of boys of that age getting stranded on an island.Bregman learned of one that played out differently,In 1965, six boys ages 13-16, bored in their school in Tonga...

Battle Creek father faces long recovery after he was struck by car while mowing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

On Sunday, while friends and neighbors were enjoying their Labor Day weekend, Toby Mengistu readied himself, physically and emotionally, to visit his father at Regions Hospital’s intensive care unit. That’s where Gerawork Mengistu, 60, has lived for the past two weeks, kept alive by tubes and wires while undergoing emergency surgeries for broken bones and a severe head injury, ever since a driver jumped the curb of his Battle Creek home on St. Paul’s East Side and sent the elder man hurtling from his lawn and into the street.The family of Gerawork Mengistu, 60, of St. Paul’s Battle Creek neighborhood, has set up an online fundraiser for him on GoFundMe after an Aug. 19, 2023 hit-and-run left him in the intensive care unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Mengistu, a facilities worker for the University of Minnesota and originally of Ethiopia, is shown in this family photo with his wife Olga and their sons Toby and Matthew, who are now both in their 20s. (Cour...

Rescuers find missing climber dead at base of cliff in Summit County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

The body of a 29-year-old man reported missing after he went climbing over the weekend has been found by a rescue group and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.The man, whose name wasn’t released, was found dead Sunday morning at the base of a cliff in Officers Gulch, between Frisco and Copper Mountain.The Summit County Rescue Group said in a statement that a friend of the man contacted authorities Saturday night and said his friend had not returned from his climb. The man told his friend that he was going to be climbing and later called to say he was headed back and expected to return by 6:30 p.m.When the friend didn’t hear from the man, he drove to Officers Gulch and found the man’s car parked there. The friend called 911 to report the man missing.Eight members of the rescue group began looking for the man at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The group searched along a bike path and a climbing trail until 2 a.m. Sunday.The rescue group resumed the search at 6 a.m. ...

Rockies strike out 14 times in opening game loss at Arizona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ postseason hopes got a boost Monday afternoon: A visit from the road-weary Rockies.Colorado arrived in the desert having lost 11 of its last 13 road games, then continued the downward spiral with a 4-2 loss at cavernous Chase Field.Unlike several of the road losses that preceded it, this one didn’t require a bullpen implosion for things to go south.Not with D-backs sinker-ball sorcerer Merrill Kelly in full command (61 of 91 pitches for strikes) before he exited with an apparent injury at the start of the eighth inning.The youthful Rockies struck out 12 times against the right-hander, and 14 times total, in another shaky outing away from Coors Field.“He’s a good pitcher … and he pitched today, he really did. We just couldn’t solve the mix,” Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters in Phoenix. “… (He throws) a lot of pitches at the bottom that have action. Out of the hand they look like strikes and then t...

Broncos CB Riley Moss practices for first time since core muscle surgery: “I’m taking it day by day”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

For Riley Moss, the first few days after core muscle surgery were brutal. The Broncos rookie cornerback struggled to get out of bed and said he moved around the house like his dad after hip replacement surgery.Moss spent his time taking pain medication, sleeping and reviewing the playbook.Five weeks after an aggressive rehab process, Moss returned to practice on Monday. The former Iowa standout is not at 100%, leaving his status for Week 1’s matchup against the Raiders in question, but he is happy to be back practicing.“I’m taking it day by day,” Moss said. “I’m keeping my expectations at ease and coming in every day, doing whatever (the team) tells me to do and make the most of it.”Before surgery, Moss said he felt soreness but thought he was fine and kept playing through the pain. During the fourth practice of camp, Moss felt a tear. He said doctors in Denver didn’t see anything wrong from the MRI but sent it to a specialist in Philadelphia who detected a problem.Moss relaxed for ...

COVID-struck California healthcare workers rally for staff increases, higher pay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

On Labor Day, more than a thousand people gathered in Oakland’s Mosswood Park to march for higher wages and staffing increases for California healthcare workers who say not enough is being done to remedy the ongoing turmoil and stressful working conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Among the crowd were Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and the mayors of Oakland, Berkeley and other Bay Area cities. The rally was staged by SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, and two sister rallies occurred simultaneously in Los Angeles and San Diego.Dave Regan, SEIU UHW president, specifically called out healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente, saying it has until Sept. 30, when the union contract expires, to meet the workers’ demands, or face a possible strike. Elena Perez, a union representative, confirmed that the current contract ends on Sept. 30, and said “members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are taking strike authorization votes n...

Shooting near Lake Merritt leaves innocent bystander injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

(KRON) -- A shooting near Lake Merritt in Oakland left one female injured Monday afternoon, the Oakland Police Department confirmed to KRON4.The shooting happened in the 1900 block of Madison Street just before 12:30 p.m., according to OPD. Police said they received multiple calls reporting a shooting. Officers investigating the reports located a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound or wounds. The female was an innocent bystander in the shooting, police said. The age of the victim has not yet been released by officials. Oakland youth football team moves game to Santa Rosa for safer environment Medical assistance was provided by the Oakland Fire Department and a Falck ambulance. The victim was transported to an area hospital, authorities said.The victim’s condition is currently unknown. No further information was made available. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Felony Assault Unit at (510) 238-3426.

'Burners' stuck in the Nevada mud finally allowed to leave

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

(KRON) -- After being asked to shelter in place all weekend due to a torrential downpour, thousands of people attending Burning Man were finally allowed to leave Monday. Buses, trucks and RVs were finally given the all-clear Monday afternoon, but the Burning Man organization is still advising that people should delay leaving until tomorrow to avoid congestion."As of 2 p.m. Mon 9/4, Exodus operations have officially begun in Black Rock City," read a tweet from the Burning Man organizers Monday. "The driving ban has been lifted.""The playa is still muddy in some areas. Stay on hard-packed roads and out of standing water," the tweet added.All weekend, the more than 70,000 festivalgoers in attendance were left to deal with deep, murky mud. Anyone who did try to leave the playa got stuck in the mud and cars even caught on fire, according to those who are there. Iconic SF drag bar to reopen in new location One person died over the weekend, but it’s still not clear if that death was weat...

Iconic SF drag bar to reopen in new location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Stud, one of San Francisco's most iconic and long-serving LGBTQ+ venues is reopening in a new SoMa location to be officially announced Tuesday, according to a press release. The famous venue was closed three years ago due to the pandemic and has remained shuttered.On Monday, the Stud Collective, a worker cooperative that owns the Stud, announced a planned unveiling for the venue's new location and plans for its new place. The unveiling will take place at the storefront for the new place, located at 1123 Folsom Street, just a few blocks from the Stud's former location at 399 9th Street. Bay Area resident among thousands left stranded at Burning Man festival Speakers lined up for the occasion include SF Mayor London Breed, California Assemblymember Matt Haney, State Senator Scott Weiner, Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Rafael Mandelman, and San Francisco Drag Laureate.The Stud Collective President Rachel Ryan will also be present at the event, which will be h...

Westbound I-80 on track to reopen Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

(KRON) -- The full highway closure of westbound Interstate 80 between I-780 and State Route 4, including the Carquinez Bridge, is set to reopen Monday between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., according to Caltrans. The section of roadway was closed following major pavement repair work during Labor Day weekend.Caltrans has made significant progress throughout the long weekend and the roadway is opening a day earlier than previously expected.FridayCrews began ripping the highway's old pavement in preparation for a concrete pour.Photo: CaltransSaturdayCrews completed the concrete pour on the number three lane and worked to rip out the old concrete from the number one lane.CA Department of TransportationCA Department of TransportationCA Department of TransportationCaltrans crews also performed vegetation management work along the westbound lanes.CaltransCaltransCaltransThe full highway closure for westbound I-80 began Thursday at 9 p.m. "The roadway has become worn and in need of major repairs due to...