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Niles: Can SeaWorld’s Pipeline inspire a new wave of coaster innovation?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

Can stand-up roller coasters make a comeback?More than a dozen stand-up roller coasters once ran at theme parks across the United States. But no parks have installed a new model since Six Flags Over Georgia’s Georgia Scorcher in 1999. Six Flags Magic Mountain continues to run its Riddler’s Revenge, but California’s Great America converted its Vortex from stand-up trains to sit-down floorless ones in 2017, renaming the coaster Patriot.That was just one of several examples of parks abandoning stand-up train designs over the years. Why? Ultimately it’s just easier — and more comfortable — to accommodate roller coaster riders of varying heights and builds in some form of a seated position. When guests no longer want to ride something, parks are going to follow the market and make changes.SeaWorld and coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard are trying to bring back the stand-up, starting in Orlando. Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is a next-generation stand-up coaster, with a unique bou...

BART train hits wayward pickup truck on tracks; operator hospitalized, 45 evacuated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

OAKLAND — A BART train operator was hospitalized, a passenger injured and 45 passengers evacuated Monday after a train hit a wayward truck on the tracks, officials said.The collision between the train and truck happened around 11:35 p.m. and shut down service between the Coliseum and Lake Merritt stations until early Tuesday, according to BART spokesperson Jim Allison.The damage from the crash was repaired overnight, and trains were expected to run normally Tuesday, Allison said.The truck driver remained at the scene and was given a field-sobriety test, according to Allison. Oakland police were investigating the incident, and they did not say immediately whether an arrest was made.Allison said the driver was operating the truck on 8th Street near Park Way and crashed onto the track. A Daly City-bound train then smashed into it.One passenger suffered an injury but it was not known whether he went to a hospital, Allison said.The train operator went by ambulance to a hospital, he...

Planning to go camping this summer? Here’s what to know after all those California winter storms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

All those winter storms made for a lot of lingering snow in parts of the Golden State that are typically dry and ready for campers by May. But plenty of places remain for camping this spring and summer, if you know where to look.How do I book a campsite?California State Parks campground reservations can be made six months in advance, and early booking is often essential for popular locations. Go to ReserveCalifornia.com or call (800) 444-7275Some State Parks campgrounds are first-come, first-served, although they may have primitive facilities or require hiking in. Backup plans are advised in case they’re full.RELATED: Huge Sierra snowpack throws frozen wrench into campers’ plansEven at popular State Parks campgrounds, sites may open up because of cancellations. Call a park directly to see if you may be able to show up that day and snag a site.I’ve heard some campgrounds are closed because of residual snow, storm damage and possible flooding. Which areas have been a...

Huge Sierra snowpack throws frozen wrench into campers’ plans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

Emily and Jeremy Cross from Scotts Valley are planning to travel with their two boys to a family reunion in July at a Sierra Nevada campground. But a big, frozen question hangs over the trip: Will California’s near-record snowpack melt in time?“We’re just going to keep an eye out — we’ll probably call the ranger station and find out updates on what is the status of the snowpack,” said Emily Cross, 43, who homeschools her two sons, 6 and 8, while Jeremy teaches elementary school in the South Bay.Persistent snow around the planned reunion site at Clark Fork south of Lake Tahoe and in the backpacking paradise of Emigrant Wilderness nearby, where the family intends to go after the gathering, could mean a pivot to a Mendocino County coastal getaway and hiking in the Lost Coast south of Eureka, Cross said.Emily Cross of Scotts Valley talks about her family camping plans for this year on May 9, 2023, while staying at the New Brighton State Beach campgrou...

The Bay Area’s most pothole-riddled highway finally getting repaired: Roadshow

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

Q: Once again, please remind this reader (and probably others who are also interested) when El Camino Real from San Antonio Road up through Palo Alto is scheduled to be repaved?  The drive through that stretch is a challenge.Lydia Cooper, Menlo ParkA: Hallelujah! The Bay Area’s most pothole-riddled highway is finally going to get repaired.Beginning Tuesday, May 16, Caltrans maintenance crews will perform two consecutive overnight lane closures of southbound El Camino Real between Hansen Way and Military Way, in Palo Alto. Lane closures will be part of the process in order for Caltrans maintenance crews to safely repave portions of the road.  Then the state will begin repairing Highway 82 south toward Interstate 880. Work should take several weeks to be completed by the end of the summer.Q: I go through the Caldecott Tunnel several times a week and the right eastbound lane remains very wet, well into the middle of the tunnel. Water is seeping through the walls and/or floor. I i...

Marin Water considers 20% rate increase for service

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) -- Marin Water is considering a 20 percent rate increase for water service. If the new water rate is approved, it could affect 200,000 customers.The increase could start showing up on people's bills July 1 and get higher every year until 2026.This would mean for single family homes, if your bimonthly bill is currently $138, by July 1, it would go up to $170. And by 2026 you’d be paying $218 bimonthly.The district said the last rate update was in 2019. Since then, it's experienced a reduced demand for water along with record inflation.This new plan will allow for updates to aging infrastructure, attempt to reduce wildfire risk and enhance forest health. It will also strengthen water supply resiliency replenishing reserves for future emergencies and keep up with inflation for its rising operating costs and capital expenses.The board is set to vote on this Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. during an open board meeting which the public can attend through Zoom or in ...

Fate of Arizona Coyotes arena project in the hands of voters

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

The Arizona Coyotes are about to learn the fate of a proposed entertainment district that would include a new home for the team, which has crisscrossed the city searching for a permanent place to play. Residents in Tempe are voting Tuesday on a referendum that will determine whether plans for the $2.3 billion Tempe Entertainment District will move forward.The vote is taking place after the city of Phoenix and Sky Harbor International Airport expressed concerns about the residences that would be built as part of the project in the high-noise area under the airport’s flight path.If the arena is built, the Coyotes would finally be able to settle down after playing in three different venues since moving to Arizona. The franchise shared a downtown Phoenix arena with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns after relocating from Winnipeg in 1996 then moved to Glendale’s Gila River Arena in 2003. But the Coyotes’ had a troubled tenure in the Phoenix suburb.Then-owner Jerry Moyes took the Coyotes into ...

PGA Championship returns to a restored Oak Hill with strong field

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

PGA OF AMERICAPGA CHAMPIONSHIPSite: Pittsford, New York.Course: Oak Hill (East). Yardage: 7,394. Par: 70.Prize money: TBA ($15 million in 2022).Television: Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ESPN+), 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ESPN+), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ESPN), 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (CBS).Defending champion: Justin Thomas.Notes: The second major of the year returns to Oak Hill for the fourth time. … Oak Hill is among five courses that have hosted a PGA Championship, a U.S. Open and a Ryder Cup. … The East course has gone through an extensive restoration under Andrew Green. … Justin Thomas will try to join Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Brooks Koepka as the only back-to-back winners since the PGA switched to stroke play in 1958. … Thomas has not won since the PGA at Southern Hills last year. … Will Zalatoris, who lost in a playoff at Southern Hills, is the only player from the top 100 not playing. Zalatoris is out the rest...

Stock market today: Wall Street opens lower as Home Depot weighs on retailers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ticking lower after Home Depot warned of flagging sales, the latest discouraging signal for an economy under pressure. The S&P 500 was 0.3% lower early Tuesday. The Dow was down 0.4% while the Nasdaq slipped 0.2%. Home Depot said its revenue fell by more than expected in the latest quarter. Other big retailers are scheduled to report their results later this week, including Target and Walmart. A lot of attention is being focused on how they fare because resilient spending by households has been one of the main positives keeping the economy from sliding into a recession. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Wall Street tipped lower Tuesday after data showed China’s economy is weaker than expected, while Home Depot cut its profit and sales outlook for the year, signaling a spending shift by Americans strapped by inflation and anxious about a possible recession.The Dow Jones industrial Average lost 0.3% and the S&P 50...

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou strikes deal with PFL

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:00 GMT

Francis Ngannou’s reign as one of the top heavyweights in MMA will continue in the Professional Fighters League following the former champion’s contentious split with UFC.Ngannou was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract talks collapsed once the African fighter said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were rejected. UFC President Dana White stripped Ngannou of the belt in January.The 36-year-old Ngannou will fight exclusively for PFL in its pay-per-view super fight division. Ngannou, who defeated Stipe Miocic in 2021 to win the UFC crown, also will serve as chairman and equity owner in PFL Africa.Terms of the deal were not announced.“I believe in the PFL’s ‘fighter first’ culture and global vision including developing the sport in Africa,” Ngannou said Tuesday in a statement. “With that, I am also proud to announce that I will serve as Chairman of PFL Africa which will be the leading MMA organization on the continent providing great African fighte...