An attorney who admitted to improperly obtaining green cards for wealthy Chinese investors as part of a multi-million dollar immigration fraud scheme was sentenced Thursday to three years of supervised release. Victoria Chan was sentenced to one day in prison – but given credit for time served – along with federal probation after admitting to […]
Western homebuilder confidence hit 4-month low
Confidence among homebuilders in the Western U.S. slipped in January to a four-month low. This gauge of builder sentiment fell to 92 from December’s reading of 96, National Association of Home Builders data showed. Last year, the index hit a record 98 in November six months after bottoming at 32 as the coronavirus first hit […]
Walnut Creek restaurants, bars can receive thousands in COVID-19 relief grants
WALNUT CREEK — To help out restaurants that have been hammered by the prolonged pandemic shutdown, the city will be handing out grants of $5,000 and $10,000. The City Council has set aside $1 million to pay for the grants, which will be awarded to businesses that have lost at least a quarter of their […]
Straw Hat’s new Pizza Grille concept (with burgers, full bar) opens in Milpitas
For Californians, it’s the Straw Hat Pizza they grew up with — and then some. The company’s new-concept restaurant, Straw Hat Pizza Grille, has made its Bay Area debut in Milpitas, with an expanded menu of pasta, burgers and sandwiches and a full bar. Franchisee Raj Nayyar and a Straw Hat regional manager, Fred Tovar, […]
Inauguration looks: From Lady Gaga’s ‘Hunger Games’ to Bernie’s Vermont grandpa to coveted Dior 1 Air Jordans
The fashion of Joe Biden’s inauguration day made a big splash on social media. Watchers took notice of everything from Lady Gaga’s “Hunger Games” look to Bernie Sanders’ sensible “Vermont grandpa” winter wear to a rare unicorn of sneakers sighting. this is giving me the hunger games vibes but i love it pic.twitter.com/rCQlk78JCm — RINA. […]
Real estate: Big north San Jose office complex eyes biotech amid COVID
SAN JOSE — The owners of a big office complex in north San Jose are now actively marketing the project to life sciences companies amid a surge in demand for space by biotech firms and companies in related fields. Assembly at North First, located at a choice San Jose site, is being offered as a […]
10 notable Trump pardons include Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, ex-Google engineer
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump issued a flurry of presidential pardons and commutations for 143 people on Wednesday, his last day in office, including his former campaign adviser Steve Bannon. The people he granted clemency to ranged from rappers to financiers and lobbyists. The list includes: STEVE BANNON Bannon, 67, was a key adviser […]
Joe Biden’s COVID plan: It looks something like California’s
President-Elect Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled a massive new COVID-19 attack plan that comes closer than ever before to aligning the federal pandemic response with that of the Golden State. In fact, for Californians, Biden’s $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” may seem a little like déjà vu. The strategy, which includes more stimulus checks, a […]
Despite pandemic crisis, financial optimism “uncharacteristically high:” survey
Despite an intensifying job crisis nationwide, many say they remain optimistic their finances will take a turn for the better this year, according to a new survey. Forty-four percent of Americans said in December that they were confident not only that they wouldn’t lose income this year, but that they’d be better off financially in […]
Disneyland cancels annual passholder program due to overcrowding concerns
Disneyland has canceled its annual passholder program out of concern that demand by fans using the popular membership program could overwhelm Disney’s capacity-constrained Anaheim theme parks once an extended coronavirus closure eventually comes to an end. Disneyland will start issuing prorated refunds to annual passholders starting Thursday, Jan. 14, according to Disney officials. Disneyland officials […]
