Saturday Afternoon News Roundup

Several San Francisco bus routes will be rerouted Saturday afternoon to make room for San Francisco Lowrider Council’s car show and cruise along Mission Street.

Between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., some stops on the 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid, 27 Bryant, 48 Quintara/24th Street, 49 Van Ness/Mission, and 67 Bernal Heights will be rerouted to avoid the area of the festivities.

The lowriders will gather on Mission Street, between Cesar Chavez and 22nd streets.

Details about specific bus routes and live updates can be found at www.sfmta.com.

The Monterey Regional Airport will get $25 million to boost its improvement efforts, airport officials said this week.

The funding was award through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program ($22 million) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ($3 million), airport officials said in a news release.

The new funding is one of the largest grants the airport has been awarded.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who announced the federal grants, said the funding for the airport is “necessary to continue providing its stellar services for travelers and businesses.”

The Monterey Regional Airport, the county’s only commercial airport, caters to over 400,000 passengers annually, according to airport officials.

Marin County’s COVID-19 cases have returned to “low” levels following a surge in infections over the summer, health officials said this week.

Levels of community virus transmission monitored from wastewater across the county have subsided for the first time in nearly three months, the Marin Health and Human Services said in a news release Friday.

The COVID level is based on the extent of coronavirus detected in six wastewater collection sites in the county and the number of patients in Marin County hospitals who have tested positive for the respiratory disease, according to the health agency.

Although COVID infections have dwindled, Marin County health officials warned that in the past years, cases have risen during October.

Residents were advised to be vaccinated ahead of a potential winter surge.

Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area will be receiving more than $42 million in funding to combat climate change by planting trees and creating urban spaces, among other projects, California lawmakers said this week.

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, D-California, said the funding is part of the $102.8 million grant awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. It comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, according to Padilla’s office.

Based on data from Padilla’s office, the San Francisco Public Works-Bureau of Urban Forestry will receive $12 million while the city-county’s Recreation and Parks Department will get $2 million for tree planting, environment maintenance, and other projects.

The following Bay Area cities and government agencies will also receive grants: Berkeley ($1 million) Concord ($1 million), Fremont ($383,472), Hayward ($500,000), Oakland ($8 million), Petaluma ($1 million), Pittsburg ($2 million), San Jose ($6,644,300), Santa Cruz ($1 million), Vallejo ($1,734,070), Walnut Creek ($100,000), Napa County Resource Conservation District ($1,560,761), and Watsonville Wetlands Watch ($3,275,191).

Feinstein stressed the importance of the funding since a lot of California’s urban areas lack sufficient tree canopies as the effects of climate change continue to batter the state and the country.

San Mateo County Sheriff is warning residents to be alert and upgrade security systems following a string of robberies in San Carlos, Atherton and Redwood City.

On Friday, at approximately 9:08 p.m., three suspects attempted to break into a residence on Los Vientos Way in San Carlos. The homeowners successfully scared off the intruders, who were described as wearing masks, hooded sweatshirts, gloves and speaking Spanish.

The suspects fled in a black SUV, possibly a BMW or Mercedes, according to deputies.

Deputies suspect a connection between these suspects and a string of burglaries in Atherton and Redwood City, given the striking similarities in timing and vehicle.

County Sheriff Department urges residents to enhance home security by installing home security systems, illuminating outdoor areas, securing valuables in a safe, reporting suspicious activity and preserving evidence.

Individuals that have any information related to the robberies are strongly encouraged to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office at (650) 363-4911.

A San Rafael man and woman were accused of possessing a concealed weapon when their vehicle was searched in connection with a theft from a shoe store, Petaluma police said Friday.

Officers were dispatched about 3 p.m. to Factory Brand Shoes in the Petaluma Factory Outlets on a report that several people had just stolen merchandise, police said.

A short time later, Taylor Jones, 31, Jaewon Hwang, 43, and three others who weren’t arrested were found in a vehicle pulling into the Gateway Shopping Center, police said.

During a search of the vehicle, officers located the stolen merchandise. Jones was found with 23.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and an unregistered firearm and ammunition was found where Hwang had been seated, police said.

Hwang and Jones were booked into the Sonoma County Jail on accusations of petty theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle.

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Copyright © 2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.