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Johnson & Johnson’s $8.9 billion baby powder deal faces key test in Oakland trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

By Jef Feeley | BloombergJohnson & Johnson’s first jury trial in nearly two years over allegations that its talc-based baby powder causes cancer could influence plaintiffs weighing the $8.9 billion settlement offer put forth by the company last month.The trial in Anthony Hernandez Valadez’s suit alleging he got mesothelioma from asbestos-contaminated talc in J&J products is scheduled to go before a jury Wednesday in state court in Oakland, California. Due to Valadez’s failing health, the case was allowed to proceed as an exception to the order putting all litigation on hold after J&J sought to wall off all of its talc liability in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy for its LTL Management unit.J&J, which is trying to settle more than 40,000 talc cases in the bankruptcy, must convince 75% of plaintiffs to back its settlement offer. The company is hoping the Chapter 11 halt to most jury trials will help it build support for the deal. But a big award for Valadez could convince more...

San Jose airport soars back to key passenger milestone as rebound extends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

SAN JOSE — San Jose International Airport has just achieved a long-absent milestone for passenger activity in a sign that the Silicon Valley aviation hub’s rebound from its coronavirus-induced ailments has strengthened.The South Bay air travel complex has achieved a benchmark that had eluded the airport since the coronavirus outbreak three years ago caused passenger activity to nosedive by massive amounts.Here’s the milestone: San Jose International Airport has averaged at least one million passengers a month over the most recent one-year period, this news organization’s analysis of the airport’s latest statistics shows.During the 12 months that ended in April, San Jose Airport handled about 12.04 million passengers, which works out to a shade more than 1 million passengers a month.The passenger total for the most recent one-year period was 6.3% higher than the 11.33 million passengers the airport accommodated during the calendar year of 2022, the analy...

Editorial: Sophia Mason investigation looks more like a coverup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

More than a year after the decomposing body of 8-year-old Sophia Mason was found inside a Merced home, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors last week finally authorized an independent investigation into the death of the Hayward girl.Records and reporting by this news organization over the past year show that county social workers ignored at least seven separate warnings in the 15 months before Sophia’s death that she was being abused and in danger.The supervisors’ unanimous decision to authorize the investigation — the first time they had discussed Sophia in a public meeting — comes after months of prodding by this editorial board.But it’s not at all clear that the investigation will get to the bottom of what went wrong and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, this looks more like a coverup than a breakthrough.Newly elected Supervisor Lena Tam of Alameda, with support from newly appointed Supervisor Elisa Márquez of Hayward, deserves cr...

What are Sam Darnold’s chances of winning 49ers’ quarterback job?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

SANTA CLARA – A crescendo of hype ushered Sam Darnold onto the 49ers’ practice field, before he even threw a pass in his new No. 14 jersey.The simplistic rationalization: Darnold can enjoy a career renaissance thanks to the 49ers’ supporting cast, a star-laden roster that is significantly better than those that weighed him down with the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers.One such endorsement came from 49ers legend Frank Gore.“You’ll see,” Gore said back in April, while attending the 49ers’ pre-draft tryouts for local prospects.Darnold, at first blush, creates necessary competition for Trey Lance in the offseason program.What if Darnold offers more? What if he beats out Lance while Brock Purdy rehabilitates his elbow with a throwing program that begins this week?All that is to be determined — by Darnold, by Purdy, by Lance, and, ultimately, by coach Kyle Shanahan.San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Sam Darnold speaks during a press conference at Levi’s Stadium in Santa ...

NorCal softball regionals: Pinole Valley advances while Mitty, California bow out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

Division INo. 3 Central-Fresno 2, No. 6 California 1Saint Mary’s College-bound pitcher Mia Nishikawa fired 3⅔ innings of shutout ball to lead Central (27-5) past California in the CIF-NorCal quarterfinals Thursday.The game was tied 1-1 going to the bottom of the seventh. Central pulled it out when Arissah Garza doubled home Jayden Ramos with the winning run.Nishikawa, who also plays first base, struck out six while allowing one hit. For the season she is 16-3 and has 177 strikeouts in 112⅔ innings.  California ends the season with a 21-9 record.Central meets No. 2 seed St. Francis on Thursday.No. 4 Whitney-Rocklin 9, No. 5 Mitty 3The Monarchs suffered their most lopsided loss of the season in this CIF NorCal quarterfinal contest. The WCAL co-champs (tied with St. Francis) trailed 9-0 after five innings before scoring twice in the sixth. The nine runs by Whitney was a season-high against Mitty.Alyssa Onyeagwa was 2 for 3 for the Monarchs. She drove in a run and also scored.Mitty fini...

Kurtenbach: Bob Myers went from the upper deck to the Warriors’ front office. His passion for the team showed in his title-winning work

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — If you want to know what made Bob Myers such a great shepherd for the Golden State Warriors organization over the last decade-plus, note where he first choked up in his farewell press conference Tuesday.It wasn’t talking about the titles, the players, or his peers in the front office.No, it was when he was talking about Warriors fans.Professional sports are filled with mercenaries — you go where you’re drafted, traded, or where the money is.But never forget that Myers turned down big money as a superagent and followed his dream to the Warriors, his childhood team.Returning the Dubs to prominence was the goal. To create an era of dominance was overwhelming in the best possible way. Those emotions broke through Tuesday.“To feel like I had helped give this fan base and this community [joy],” Myer said “I’m so thankful.”That level of care was evident throughout the years — amid all the ups and downs.“Thank you for your supp...

Opinion: Medicare creating unprecedented barriers to Alzheimer’s treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

Just months after my diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s at age 56, I found myself standing in front of my classroom of college freshmen, unable to talk to my students. An abrupt, early retirement followed. Now I, along with millions of others living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, am fighting for more time.Imagine you are me.Imagine knowing while one U.S. government agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has approved a treatment for this devastating disease that another agency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is keeping that treatment out of reach for patients who don’t have the financial means to pay the estimated annual cost of $26,500 out of pocket. That’s the harsh reality Alzheimer’s patients like me face every day.In January, the Alzheimer’s community rejoiced — a second treatment, Leqembi, which slows Alzheimer’s progression when taken in the early stages, received FDA approval under the FDA’s acce...

2 dead, 1 injured in Highway 1 crash on Peninsula

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

(KRON) -- Two people were killed and another remains in critical condition after a crash in San Mateo County on Tuesday evening, California Highway Patrol's Redwood City division confirmed. The crash was a head-on collision involving a Tesla and a Subaru SUV on Highway 1 at Bean Hollow Road near the town of Pescadero, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said. Preliminary information indicates one of the vehicles crossed over into the opposing traffic for unknown reasons. Two vehicles were pulled from a nearby lagoon after the wreck. The crash was called in to police at about 6:40 p.m. Rescue teams from multiple agencies were deployed at about 7:30 p.m. to rescue the occupants from both vehicles.Image from California Highway Patrol. There is no information regarding how many occupants were inside the involved vehicles. Two males were declared deceased at the scene. A woman in her sixties was transported to a local hospital with major injuries and remains in critical condition, CHP ...

CAE: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

ST-LAURENT, Quebec (AP) — ST-LAURENT, Quebec (AP) — CAE Inc. (CAE) on Wednesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $72.8 million.On a per-share basis, the St-Laurent, Quebec-based company said it had profit of 23 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 26 cents per share.The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of 26 cents per share.The civil and military flight simulator company posted revenue of $929.3 million in the period, topping Street forecasts. Nine analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $899.6 million.For the year, the company reported profit of $164.7 million, or 52 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $3.11 billion.CAE shares have increased 14% since the beginning of the year. The stock has decreased 12% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Resea...

Tara Reade, la mujer que acusó a Biden de agredirla sexualmente en 1993, abandona Estados Unidos y llega a Rusia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:59 GMT

(CNN) — Una mujer que acusó a Joe Biden de agresión sexual abandonó Estados Unidos y llegó a Moscú, donde habló con los medios estatales rusos en una conferencia de prensa que duró varias horas.Tara Reade acaparó titulares durante la carrera presidencial de 2020, cuando acusó al entonces candidato presidencial Joe Biden de acosarla y agredirla sexualmente cuando trabajaba en su oficina del Senado en 1993.Biden negó rotundamente las acusaciones de Reade, y ningún exmiembro del personal de Biden se ha presentado para decir que alguna vez presenció u oyó hablar de algún tipo de conducta sexual inapropiada en su oficina del Senado.En una entrevista con MSNBC en 2020, Biden dijo que estaba “diciendo inequívocamente, que nunca, nunca sucedió. No ocurrió. Nunca sucedió”.Biden niega acusación de agresión sexual: “Eso nunca sucedió”Biden niega denuncia de agresión sexual 2:00Reade se enfrentó más tarde a dudas de credibilidad, incluyendo sobre su educación y otr...