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The Book Club: “Demon Copperhead,” “Small World” and other short reviews by readers, staff | Opinion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. Sure, you could read advertising blurbs on Amazon, but wouldn’t you be more likely to believe a neighbor with no skin in the game over a corporation being fed words by publishers? So in this new series, we are sharing these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email [email protected].“The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley,” by David Waldstreicher (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)“The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley,” by David Waldstreicher (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)Part biography and part literary analysis, this book focuses on the life, times and writing of Phillis Wheatley, who is considered the first African-American author to publish a book of poetry. Wheatley was born in West Africa around 1750, kidnapped and sold into slavery. Her owners in Boston taught her to read and wri...

Colorado prisons must reform use of restraints on mentally ill inmates under new law

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

Colorado’s prisons must reform their use of metal restraints on mentally ill inmates in the coming four years under a new bill signed into law Tuesday regulating a practice that one lawmaker likened to torture.The bill — HB23-1013 — requires the state Department of Corrections to conform with the “gold standard” regulations of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care on the use of restraints. That would institute regulations in Colorado that either don’t exist or are looser than national benchmarks: Critics had accused the department of chaining inmates to beds for hours at a time, with little medical oversight and unclear guidelines for initiating or ending seclusion.There were 219 “restraint events” involving inmates in five Colorado prisons between 2020 and 2022, according to a state fiscal analysis of the bill. One former inmate told the Denver Post in October that he was chained at the wrists and ankles for 20 consecuti...

Why this yoga studio is worth getting out of bed for | Opinion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).I’ve never been much of a morning person, let alone someone who wakes up early to work out. Neon lights, cardio machines, loud music and people screaming at you first thing in the morning have never been my thing.But The River Yoga has completely changed my reluctance to start my day with a sweat.I first joined The River Yoga (which has three locations throughout Denver) because I got a free membership through my last job. I’d attend a few classes after work, but never made it a firm commitment, mainly because I wasn’t paying for it.When that membership ended, I realized how much I missed the workout, so I joined again on my own ($120 a month for unlimited classes at every location). Since morning classes work better for my schedule, I fo...

Fiery crash on 57 Freeway leaves 2 vehicles damaged in San Dimas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

A fiery crash on the 57 Freeway in San Dimas left two vehicles damaged Monday morning.The incident was reported around 1 a.m. on the southbound side of the freeway just before the 10 Freeway. Video from the scene showed a Mercedes had crashed into the center divider before catching fire. Arriving firefighters were seen attacking the blaze and putting out the flames. A second vehicle, a Toyota, crashed into a light pole on the side of the freeway while swerving to avoid the Mercedes.Rescue crews had to free the trapped driver in the Toyota. No major injuries were reported as a result of the crash. An investigation is underway into the cause of the initial crash.

Trump escalates attacks on criminal case as history-making court appearance nears

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

Donald Trump and his allies are escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests as the former president braces for a history-making federal court appearance this week on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified information.Trump's Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time in as many months facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Department's first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardized national security and that involves Espionage Act charges carrying the threat of a significant prison sentence in the event of conviction.Ahead of his arraignment, Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Jack Smith “deranged" and his team of prosecutors “thugs" as he repeated without any...

Affordable San Jose homes near Google village advance with real estate deal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

SAN JOSE — A housing development that would bring well over 100 affordable homes to a site near the footprint of Google’s transit village in downtown San Jose is pushing ahead after a key real estate deal.The project would produce 154 units, of which 153 would be affordable. The remaining residence would be the manager’s unit.Danco Development, acting through an affiliate, sold the development site to Santa Clara County, according to public documents filed on June 9. The county then immediately leased back the property to Danco, a procedure often followed with affordable housing projects in California.Elevated view of an affordable housing development totaling 154 units located at 266 and 270 Sunol Street in San Jose, concept. (SPGA Architecture and Planning)The development site has addresses of 266 and 270 Sunol Street and also has a frontage on West San Carlos Street. This location is a few blocks from the footprint of Google’s proposed transit-oriente...

Police identify person of interest in mass shooting that wounded 9 during San Francisco block party

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO  — San Francisco police searched Sunday for a person of interest in a mass shooting during a block party in San Francisco Friday night in what investigators said appeared to be a “targeted and isolated” incident.The person of interest is a man believed to be a member of a street gang who detectives have tied to a Mercedes sedan recorded on surveillance video speeding from the scene of the shooting, police said.The man has outstanding firearm warrants from San Mateo and Alameda counties, as well as an outstanding arrest warrant for homicide in Oakland, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.RELATED: One dead, six injured after gunfire breaks out at teen birthday party in East Bay Gunfire erupted shortly after 9 p.m. Friday during an anniversary party hosted by the clothing store Dying Breed near the intersection of 24th Street and Treat Avenue in the Mission District. Among the victims were eight men and one woman, the Chronicle reported. They range in age from 19 to 35.T...

Northern California skate park named for Black motorist fatally beaten in police traffic stop

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

SACRAMENTO — Officials dedicated a California skate park Sunday in honor of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who spent much of his youth in the state and was killed last January in what prosecutors said was a fatal beating by police in Tennessee during a traffic stop.An avid skateboarder, Nichols spent much time as a youth at the park on the outskirts of Sacramento. City officials and others held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated skate park now named for Nichols.Nichols moved to Memphis, Tennessee, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic and lived there with his mother and stepfather. He enjoyed photography — especially taking photos of landscapes and sunsets.Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, right, consoles Tyre Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells, left, at the ribbon cutting celebration for the Tyre Nichols Skate Park, named in honor of the former Sacramento resident who was fatally beaten by Memphis police officers following a traffic stop in January, on Sunday...

Big Sur Marathon voted No. 1 in California

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

One of the more challenging and scenic marathons in the world gathered a prestigious honor as the Big Sur Marathon was named the top marathon in California.RaceRaves announced the top marathon in each state based on votes from across the nation, with Big Sur running away as the 2023 runners’ choice for the Golden State.Related ArticlesOther Sports | Bay to Breakers brings bananas, astronauts, and faux crossing guards to San Francisco’s streets Other Sports | Bay to Breakers: Early BART trains, road closures planned for Sunday race Other Sports | BART to offer special, early morning service for Bay to Breakers race Big Sur was rewarded by voters for its production, race-day support, community involvement and the beauty and character of the race for its region.Big Sur is considered one of the premier bucket-list events in the country, with the world renown Bixby Bridge a part of the course, along with redwoods, Hurricane Point and ...

How our increasingly changing weather can impact your trees

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:10 GMT

Trees are all around us, standing tall and silent, doing their important work. As the biggest plants on Earth, they give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilize the soil and provide a home to wildlife. They also provide food, shade and can help reduce energy use. They do all this year in and year out, withstanding whatever Mother Nature throws at them. And this year, they were doozies!Sunburn injury to bark increases susceptibility to wood-boring pests. Courtesy of Regents, University of CaliforniaConsider – a year ago we were in the third year of drought after one of the driest winters in history. By September, high temperatures in central Marin reached 110 degrees, with triple digits lasting five days, blistering the environment. December ushered in the first of a dozen atmospheric rivers, causing flooding and standing water in many gardens. Late February brought snow to our hilly peaks and freezing temperatures to low-lying areas. An extraordinary March included more rain and cyc...