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Vengeance or self-defense?: Trial opens for man accused of beheading woman with sword in San Carlos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

REDWOOD CITY — Did Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta act out of pure vengeance when he took a sword to the neck of his child’s mother and beheaded her on a quiet San Carlos street as passersby looked on in horror?Or was he acting out of “imperfect self defense” — a paranoid schizophrenic who was off his medication and fearful for the lives of his brother and mother?Those dueling narratives emerged Tuesday in the opening day of testimony in Solano’s first-degree murder trial, where he faces 26 years to life in prison for the Sept. 8, 2022, killing of Karina Castro, 27. Tuesday’s proceeding began without Solano seated in the courtroom after he refused to come out of his cell, Judge Lisa A. Novak said.Displaying a picture of the large sword used to cut down Castro, prosecutor Josh Stauffer said Solano seemed to be “punishing or harming someone in return for what they have done to you” — the very definition of vengeance, he saidStauffer pointed ...

Single family residence in Milpitas sells for $1.6 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

341 Spring Valley Lane – Google Street ViewA 1,186-square-foot house built in 1971 has changed hands. The property located in the 300 block of Spring Valley Lane in Milpitas was sold on Oct. 26, 2023, for $1,600,000, or $1,349 per square foot. This single-story home provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Additionally, the home provides a two-car garage, granting ample space for parking and storage purposes.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:A 1,186-square-foot home on the 1800 block of Golden Hills Drive in Milpitas sold in October 2023, for $1,640,000, a price per square foot of $1,383. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Carl Avenue, Milpitas, in November 2022, a 1,210-square-foot home was sold for $1,265,000, a price per square foot of $1,045. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In January 2023, a 1,584-square-foot home on Ellis Avenue in Milpitas sold for $1,391,000, a price per square foot of $878. The home has 3...

Why Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay is unlikely to interview for any other managerial openings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay interviewed for the managerial opening with the New York Mets, A’s general manager David Forst confirmed.But the Mets ultimately hired Carlos Mendoza, the former New York Yankees bench coach, on Monday. And on Tuesday, the A’s announced that they picked up an option on Kotsay for 2025, ensuring he would be the A’s manager for at least two more seasons.On a conference call on Tuesday afternoon, Forst was asked if the A’s move to pick up the option would limit Kotsay from interviewing for any other managerial jobs. There are still four openings: the Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers are still looking for a manager.“He will be here going forward,” Forst responded, indicating that Kotsay would not be interviewing for other jobs.Forst said he almost always grants permission to his employees who want to interview for jobs with other teams.“As long as I’ve been here it’s always been our policy that we leave that...

Samurai sword beheading: Landaeta refuses to attend own murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KRON) -- A man accused of beheading his ex-girlfriend with a samurai sword in San Carlos refused to attend his own murder trial Tuesday morning for opening statements.Jose "Rafa" Solano Landaeta, 34, of Hayward, is charged with murdering Karina Castro. The 27-year-old victim and her accused killer had a baby together before their relationship turned "toxic," a defense attorney told the jury. San Mateo County Judge Lisa Novak said Landaeta is welcome to attend his trial at any time, or not attend. "This is his choice," the judge said.Three horrified witnesses said they saw Landaeta slash Castro's head off with the sword on Sept. 8, 2022. Her arm was also nearly slashed off. She had attempted to run away from Landaeta along on a sidewalk outside her apartment at 400 Laurel Street, prosecutor Josh Stauffer told the jury.Karina Castro (Images via Facebook) For opening statements, the defense and prosecution outlined what the jury will see during the trial as witnes...

Nextdoor to lay off 25% of its staff as part of cost reduction plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco-based Nextdoor will lay off 25% of its staff, the company announced in a financial report posted Tuesday. The job cuts are part of a broader cost reduction plan that targets reducing the neighborhood network social media company's personnel expenses by $60 million."This reduction in our team is the hardest decision we have had to make at Nextdoor," said Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar. "While our opportunity and belief in the transformative power of community remains unwavering, and our business is financially strong with a healthy balance sheet, we must follow through on our commitment to our shareholders." Series of violent robberies leaves Walnut Creek residents on edge "This means right sizing our business and aligning our team and other expenses with our near term revenue expectations," Friar continued. "We expect that these actions will position us to reach quarterly free cash flow breakeven by the end of 2025."In the financial report, the comp...

PlayAGS: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — LAS VEGAS (AP) — PlayAGS Inc. (AGS) on Tuesday reported a third-quarter loss of $156,000, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier.The Las Vegas-based company said it had a loss of less than 1 cent on a per-share basis.The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 1 cent per share.The gaming industry supplier posted revenue of $89.4 million in the period, surpassing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $88.1 million.PlayAGS shares have increased 62% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Tuesday, shares hit $8.27, a rise of 16% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AGS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AGSSource

Griezmann and Morata lead Atletico to 6-0 rout of 10-man Celtic in Champions League

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata have come through for Atletico Madrid again.The red-hot duo scored two goals each in a 6-0 rout of 10-man Celtic on Tuesday, leaving Atletico top of Group E in the Champions League.It was Atletico’s biggest win in a UEFA club competition since its first-ever European match, when it beat Irish team Drumcondra 8-0 in the first leg of the preliminary round of the European Cup in 1958.The home victory left Atletico with eight points from four matches, one point ahead of Lazio and two in front of Feyenoord. Winless Celtic stayed last with one point. Lazio beat Feyenoord 1-0 at home in the other group match.“It will be a fight until the end, it will be tough,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “The group is very tight.”Celtic, seeking its first win in the group stage of the Champions League since 2017, played a man down after forward Daizen Maeda was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul in the 23rd minute. The Japan internati...

SoundThinking: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

FREMONT, Calif. (AP) — FREMONT, Calif. (AP) — SoundThinking, Inc. (SSTI) on Tuesday reported a loss of $1.9 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Fremont, California-based company said it had a loss of 15 cents. Losses, adjusted for costs related to mergers and acquisitions and non-recurring costs, were 9 cents per share.The results did not meet Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 4 cents per share.The maker of gunfire detection systems posted revenue of $24 million in the period, surpassing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $23.8 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SSTI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SSTISource

Amid controversy, the Portland Timbers introduce Phil Neville as their new head coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Phil Neville was introduced as the new head coach of the Portland Timbers amid concerns from the Major League Soccer team’s fan base over some of his past posts on social media, as well as his coaching record. Neville, who has apologized before for sexist Twitter posts from more than a decade ago, addressed them during a press conference Tuesday.“The tweets that I put out were wrong in 2011 and they’re wrong today,” the former Manchester United and Everton defender said. The tweets have since been deleted. Neville, who coached Inter Miami before his dismissal in June, signed a deal with Portland that will keep him as the head coach through the 2026 season. When word of his hiring leaked last week, fans of the team were critical. The Timbers Army supporters group issued a statement asking the club to reconsider. “We are deeply disappointed that the club has reportedly settled on a finalist for head coach who has a history of sexist public statements that r...

Smart Sand: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

SPRING, Texas (AP) — SPRING, Texas (AP) — Smart Sand, Inc. (SND) on Tuesday reported profit of $6.7 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Spring, Texas-based company said it had profit of 18 cents.The company posted revenue of $76.9 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SND at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SNDSource