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F.D. Flam: Useless decongestants are just the tip of the iceberg

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

With cold and flu season ramping up, you may soon be heading to the pharmacy in search of relief. When you do, you might remember that Sudafed has long been considered an effective decongestant. So you grab a box of oral decongestant that says Sudafed. You may or may not notice that the brand name is now followed by two letters: PE.But Sudafed PE is a completely different drug from the original Sudafed, which can be purchased only from behind the counter. Other oral decongestants on drugstore shelves are very likely to be made with the same ingredient as Sudafed PE — phenylephrine. And it’s not effective. A few weeks ago, an FDA advisory panel confirmed what some patients, pharmacists and doctors have long suspected: that oral decongestants based on phenylephrine don’t decongest.Decongestant pills with phenylephrine are so ubiquitous and so cleverly packaged that they were worth about $1.8 billion in sales last year. And they aren’t the only over-the-counter ...

10 Freeway shut down in downtown L.A. due to massive storage fire 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

A large storage fire shut down part of the 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning, and the closure is expected to last at least 24 hours, officials said.The blaze was first reported around 1:46 a.m. at a storage yard near East 14th and Alameda streets, preliminary indication from the Los Angeles Fire Department indicated. Fire had engulfed both sides of 14th Street underneath the 10, and the heat was so intense that it melted some of the freeway's steel guardrails, according to LAFD Public Information Officer David Ortiz. "Firefighters mounted a very heroic defense against this fire, and they saved three buildings they were looking to protect," Ortiz told KTLA 5's Erin Myers. "But the flame lengths were to the point where...steel was melted [and] concrete is falling."More than 160 firefighters and a helicopter were brought out to battle the blaze, which erupted near a pallet yard underneath the freeway. A large pallet fire closed part of the 10 Freeway ...

Photos: Bay Area high school football playoffs Week 12, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

San Ramon Valley 38, Campolindo 31See a photo you like? Click Here to see these and more and to purchase high-quality prints or a keepsake photos on mugs, buttons, greeting cards, and more.San Ramon Valley’s Dylan Deitsch (19) breaks up a pass intended for Campolindo’s Joe Revelos (1) securing a win for San Ramon Valley in overtime during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. San Ramon Valley defeated Campolindo in overtime 38-31. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) San Ramon Valley’s Matthew Garibaldi (24) scores the game winning touchdown in overtime against Campolindo during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. San Ramon Valley defeated Campolindo in overtime 38-31. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) San Ramon Valley’s Kevin Spears (33) intercepts a pass and runs it back for a touchdown against Campolindo in the first quarter of their game at San Ramon V...

Why San Jose’s “Bulb Guy” may soon become the “Sock Guy”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

For years, Rich Santoro gained famed as “The Bulb Guy,” opening the backyard bulb garden in his San Jose home to the public so people could take in the view of thousands of colorful flowers. He never charged admission but eventually used the annual weeklong viewing to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Santoro sunsetted the tradition after 2021 — but his mind never stops thinking of ideas or ways to raise money for St. Jude’s. When he and I caught up with each other recently, he shared his newest idea: novelty socks that play sound at the push of a button.As Santoro tells it, he was wearing Santa socks a couple of years ago when a co-worker at Central Concrete walked by and started humming “Jingle Bells.” He went out and bought a Christmas card that played the song, ripped out the sound device and put it in the socks, which he christened “Jingle Socks.” To his surprise when...

Q&A: Designer Helen Pierce on what makes a school “green” — and why it matters

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Helen Pierce has spent her life creating buildings for the future. As the design director of LPA, an architectural firm based out of California and Texas, Pierce has focused on bringing sustainability to the forefront of her designs, incorporating off-grid, net-zero and green infrastructure to 57 educational projects throughout her three-decade career.That includes the designing of Menlo Park’s TIDE Academy — a science, technology and engineering-focused school in the Sequoia Union High School District that won a top award for its architecture earlier this year — among other award-winning projects spanning the Bay Area, including the Los Medanos College student union and kinesiology complex in Pittsburg, and the Agnew K-12 Campus in San Jose. Pierce spoke with the Bay Area News Group about why this type of design matters, and how green design can benefit students throughout the region.Pierce’s answers were edited for clarity and brevity:Q: What is a green school?A:...

3 East Bay homeless housing projects move forward with millions in state Homekey grants

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Three homeless housing projects planned for the East Bay are moving forward after winning millions in state grants to put a roof over the heads of hundreds of residents.The state announced this week it awarded $34.5 million from its Homekey homeless housing program for the new facilities expected to open in Oakland, San Leandro, and a joint project in Hayward and Union City, as the region continues ramping up efforts to bring thousands of unhoused residents off the street.The grants include:– More than $15.5 million to the city of Oakland to buy and covert the Imperial Inn at 490 West MacArthur Blvd. into 48 units of permanent supportive housing.– About $9.3 million to San Leandro to buy and convert the Nimitz Motel at 555 Lewelling Blvd. into 29 shelter units for short-term stays.– Almost $9.7 million to Hayward and Union City to buy up to seven single-family homes throughout the two cities to create 37 permanent housing units.“This new grant award brings Oa...

Despite privacy concerns, Morgan Hill embraces web of surveillance cameras

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Every time someone drives in or out of Morgan Hill, an automated camera takes a swift snapshot of the license plate. A web of 50 cameras form a virtual net around the city, and their use has been accompanied by a string of arrests and a marked drop in some property crimes, according to the South Bay city’s police department.Morgan Hill was among the first cities in the Bay Area to adopt such a complex network of license plate readers, and — according to statistics provided by the police department — it’s among the most successful. But as the technology is set to spread through the region, privacy experts worry that the cameras also function as a surveillance system hiding in plain sight, even as the threat they pose goes under the radar.The police department’s interest in the license plate readers began in 2020 after a suspect fired fatal shots from one vehicle into another. When the department couldn’t immediately find the shooter, they began looking f...

Philippines joins Japan-led naval drills as brushes with China rise in the disputed South China Sea

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

ABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON (AP) — Japan led an annual multinational naval exercise that included the Philippines as an observer for the first time, as Filipino coast guard vessels are increasingly harassed by China in the disputed South China Sea. The Annualex exercises that began Saturday off Japan’s coast also included the United States, Australia and Canada. Their aim is to demonstrate and increase ways the navies can work together, and show their presence and commitment to defend a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, which the allies say is hampered by China’s growing ambitions that include sweeping territorial claims. On Saturday, a selected group of journalists, including The Associated Press, flew on an V-22 Osprey aircraft to the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to observe takeoffs and landings of F-35C “Lightning” stealth fighters, as well as F/A-18 Super Hornet jets and E/A-18 Growlers. The Japanese destroyer Hyuga showed its presence next to the carrier. The exercis...

Fort Belvoir hosts Veterans Day observance on 50th anniversary of all-volunteer force

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Dozens of veterans, family members, supporters and Fort Belvoir leaders gathered Thursday to express gratitude for the sacrifices made by veterans.Hosted at the Cold War Memorial on the base’s Long Parade Field, the invocation was performed by Chaplain Maj. Marlon Brown, and Col. Joseph Messina, the garrison’s commander, presented the opening remarks.“Soldiers made the choice to serve their country. It was not forced upon them. The strength of our force is reflected in the quality and professionalism of our people,” Messina said. “This year marked the 50th anniversary of the all- volunteer force, and if you are a veteran who served our country, I want to personally thank you for your commitment to keeping our country safe and for being part of the world’s greatest army.”In his remarks, Messina acknowledged the Army’s strengths and the necessity to continue supporting veterans after their service.“Our greatest asset is our people are al...

Emma Hayes cites family in decision to leave Chelsea. No comment on US women’s national team job

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Emma Hayes says she’s focused on Chelsea and her young son — not the United States women’s national team.Hayes plans to leave the Women’s Super League club after this season and said the reason is to spend more time with her 5-year-old son.“There’s still a lot of work to be done in the women’s game for people with children,” Hayes said ahead of Sunday’s game at Everton. “This is actually not a selfish decision, this is a selfless decision. This is about putting first some other things in my life and I’m ready for that.”U.S. Soccer is closing in on naming Hayes as the new coach, a source familiar with the negotiations has told The Associated Press.A week ago, Chelsea announced that Hayes will leave at the end of the season to “pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football.”Hayes was asked about the U.S. job at a press conference Friday.“You know what my answer is going to be. I’m not going to comment on that,” she said. “I’m...