On October 10, 21-year-old Zachary Kennedy was seen by several witnesses on the bridge in California.

His body was later recovered from the water by the US Coast Guard, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Monday at Chelmsford Coroner's Court, coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of suicide, saying Mr Kennedy had deliberately taken his own life.

Mr. Kennedy's body was found in the waters of the bay at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic structure that connects San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

At Monday's hearing, coroner Andre Kimche said: “At the time of his death Mr Kennedy was still living in Maldon.”

“On October 10, he was seen jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

“He was recovered from the water by the Coast Guard and brought to shore.

“American authorities did not take toxicology samples and U.S. medical examiners listed the cause of death as blunt impact injuries.”

Ms Beasley-Murray said: “Given all the evidence presented to this court, I have concluded that this man intended to take his own life.”

“He had the intention and acted consciously, knowing full well that it would cost his life.

“I will conclude that he killed himself.

“Please express my condolences to Mr. Kennedy’s family.”

• For emotional support, please contact the Samaritans hotline on 116 123. This number is free.

The post Maldon man who jumped from Golden Gate Bridge took his personal life, inquest guidelines appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Thousands and thousands taken from distressed owners as CA mortgage aid firm Golden House Companies America accused of criminal activity appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Thousands and thousands taken from distressed owners as CA mortgage reduction firm Golden Residence Companies America accused of criminality appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Hundreds of thousands taken from distressed householders as CA mortgage reduction firm Golden House Providers America accused of criminality appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

For decades, people have been coming to the Skatin’ Place, a closed-off section of Sixth Avenue in Golden Gate Park, to roller-skate and roller-blade along to music.

As David Miles, the founder of the Church of 8 Wheels known as the “Godfather of Skate,” says, “It’s as much a part of the park experience as going to the museum.”

But on Friday morning, after a few extended closures over the past four months, the Skatin’ Place reopened with a new look. A large-scale mural, paying homage to the area’s decades-long history as a meeting space for skaters, now covers the asphalt, defining it as a dedicated spot for the rollerskating community. There’s a new asphalt slab, too, in place of the old one that had experienced years of wear and tear.

“It is an amazing, iconic place and it deserved an amazing makeover,” said Tamara Aparton, a spokesperson for San Francisco Recreation and Park. “It’s just been generations of skaters there, and it’s a really remarkable, welcoming, inclusive community.

“We want to make sure that it’s there for generations to come.”

David Miles (center), “the Godfather of Skate,” and his cohorts gather at the roller skate area in Golden Gate Park to celebrate its new mural.

Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle

The mural was designed by Aimee Bruckner, a San Francisco artist, who has been part of the city’s skate scene for more than a decade. “Psychedelic Golden Gate Skate,” as the piece is called, takes the form of a color-filled 28-by-93-foot oval. The mural, Bruckner says, makes a subtle nod to the Golden Gate Bridge, with lava-lamp-like waves coming in from either side that evoke the city’s countercultural history. Naturally, she also put a roller skate right at the center.

Bruckner said she kept the design “cool and unique” but also “not so crazy that when you’re out there you get disoriented.” And she wanted to be sure the mural didn’t overshadow the community that skates there — over the years people have shown up to skate in furry leg warmers and rainbow sequins and butterfly wings.

“It’s the people and the skaters that bring all the color to this area,” she said. “I don’t want to compete with all the great styles and fashions.”

The park means a lot for Bruckner, in part because she found skating at a time when she was dealing with losing the use of her hand and struggling to figure out how to move forward in her art practice. Skating offered at “alternative creative outlet” — “a bit of an escape back to a simpler time, a funner time.” She’s since found a path forward with her art, and the mural, for her, symbolizes “a really great combination of the two worlds.”

As with most things skate-related in San Francisco, the mural — and the Skatin’ Place, too, really — can be traced back to Miles.

Skating has always had a home in Golden Gate Park — John McLaren, the park’s first superintendent, incorporated a rink into the Children’s Playground in 1891 — but the sport really hit its stride in the ’70s. (So ​​much so that it briefly sparked a public panic.)

By the mid ’80s, though, the number of skaters was declining and Miles saw Sixth Avenue as a place to create a protected home for the community. He says he spoke to the city in 1985 about keeping it a street (rather than tearing it up and planting grass) while also keeping it closed off to cars. What started as a 30-day trial became a 60-day trial and then a 90-day trial, and eventually it stuck. “It’s just become better and better, year after year.”

“It’s the happiest place in Golden Gate Park,” Miles says. “You have the whole mixture of everybody who makes the city great. It’s everything that San Francisco is.”

Skaters show their moves at Golden Gate Park’s Skatin’ Place.

Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle

When Miles heard that the city would be laying down new asphalt, he pitched the idea of ​​the mural. After some public meetings and the blessing of the park department and the city’s arts commission, it was a done deal. (Recreation and Park paid for the concrete; Bruckner donated her time working on the piece.)

At a time when rinks are closing, Miles said, it’s clear the future of skating is outside.

“I believe you should have a spot like this in every city,” he said. “It’s really become a source of pride for people.”

Miles and the park department are planning an event from 11 am to noon Saturday to really celebrate the Skatin’ Place and its new look. But he’s pretty sure it will be full well before that.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @RyanKost.

The post San Francisco’s Skatin’ Place reopens in Golden Gate Park appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO — Supervisors voted Tuesday to ban motorists from a popular road in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, making permanent a closure that started in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic when people needed space to exercise and distance socially.

After a 12-hour meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 for Mayor London Breed’s proposal. The majority sided with supporters who said a car-free promenade was in keeping with the city’s commitment to safer roads and cleaner climate.

Other roads in the park — which sees more than 24 million visitors a year — will stay open to drivers.

Critics argued that permanently closing the 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) portion of John F. Kennedy Drive would cut off park access to people who are disabled, elderly or live farther away while benefiting select bicyclists and runners.

Some people asked for a compromise to keep the road car-free on weekends only, saying drivers needed access during the week.

“To close down portions of the park says to a certain geography, says to a certain class of people, says to a certain race of people here in San Francisco that you weren’t welcome before and you’re still not welcome,” Board President Shamann Walton, who represents one of the most diverse and low-income parts of the city, said during the meeting.

The battle between motorists and pedestrians and bicyclists has raged in San Francisco for roughly two years. In August, Breed announced that a stretch of coastal highway that was closed to cars in 2020 would reopen to vehicles during the week.

The post San Francisco to maintain vehicles off well-liked Golden Gate Park highway appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

After two years of participating in mostly virtual events due to the pandemic, UC San Francisco is rallying its community to come together in Golden Gate Park for AIDS Walk San Francisco on July 17 to raise funds for programs and services that benefit people of the Bay Area .

As an institution dedicated exclusively to health, UCSF has participated in AIDS Walk San Francisco since it started in 1987 as part of its longstanding commitment to the health and wellbeing of the community.

Proceeds raised in the annual 10K fundraising trek this year will go toward the POP-UP program (Positive-health Onsite Program for Unstably Housed Populations). Image by Noah Berger

For the past 35 years, members of the UCSF community have joined thousands of Bay Area residents who have walked, donated funds, and volunteered in AIDS Walk San Francisco in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS, raising more than $90 million for organizations across seven Bay Area counties.

This year, Francesca Vega, vice chancellor of Community & Government Relations, is leading the charge for the UCSF coalition of teams that has set a fundraising goal of $50,000.

“As a world leader in providing pioneering patient-centered care and ongoing research to find a cure, we understand the importance of raising funds that support these efforts in the community we call home,” Vega says. “I encourage faculty, staff, students and their friends and families to join our UCSF team in AIDS Walk San Francisco.”

At UCSF, about a half a dozen teams have formed that are raising money in a friendly competition to see which team brings in the most money. The team with the highest total of donations wins the coveted AIDS Walk Trophy presented by UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood.

Helping Those Living With HIV

Proceeds raised in the annual 10K fundraising trek this year will go toward the POP-UP program at Ward 86 – one of the nation’s first dedicated HIV outpatient clinics – at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and UCSF 360 Wellness Center, which has offered cutting-edge care since 1984, among other Bay Area AIDS-related programs and services.

Launched in 2019, POP-UP (Positive-health Onsite Program for Unstably Housed Populations) aims to reduce health disparities among homeless and unstably housed individuals living with HIV in San Francisco.

AIDS Walk San Francisco funding will be instrumental to assisting Ward 86 achieve its goals of helping patients with HIV and homelessness become healthier and receive tailored HIV care.

Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH

“We are honored here at Ward 86 to be a recipient of AIDS Walk San Francisco funding,” says Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and medical director of Ward 86. “Funds raised will be applied to those living with HIV and homelessness, especially to offer long-acting antiretroviral therapy (ART) to these patients.

“POP-UP has enrolled over 150 of our most vulnerable patients and our low-barrier drop-in care program has managed to increase virologic suppression rates in this population from 0% to 50%, but we still have a way to go to help this population. AIDS Walk San Francisco funding will be instrumental to assisting Ward 86 achieve its goals of helping patients with HIV and homelessness become healthier and receive tailored HIV care.”

Establishing a Model of HIV Care

UCSF’s legacy of leadership in AIDS over the past 40 years began with the emergence of the unknown virus in the early 1980s when San Francisco was the epicenter of the epidemic. At that time, UCSF physicians and allied health professionals and staff rose to the challenge of this public health crisis by working with the partners and patients in the San Francisco community to develop a standard of practice that became known as “the San Francisco Model” of care .

This model of interdisciplinary collaboration among doctors, nurses, social workers, case managers, psychiatrists, addiction specialists, nutritionists and others has yielded innovations in HIV and infectious disease care and served as a model for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, UCSF’s HIV-focused practices and programs, continue to build on the innovative research and clinical care that furthers understanding of the disease and enables HIV-positive patients to thrive.

The post UCSF to Return to Golden Gate Park to Increase Funds in AIDS Stroll San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – The annual 4/20 celebration in Golden Gate Park is returning Wednesday after a two-year hiatus, but San Francisco officials said there would be differences compared to pre-pandemic gatherings on Hippie Hill.

The city announced Monday that regulated and tested cannabis would be sold for the first time at the event. As a result, no one under 21 would be allowed at the celebration.

READ MORE: Over A Century Later, Point Reyes Trail Still Shows Where 1906 Earthquake Left Mark

City officials said the celebration area at Hippie Hill would be surrounded by fences and event staff would check identification and bags.

“This year marks an important moment in the history of 420 at Hippie Hill,” said Nikesh Patel, who directs the city’s Office of Cannabis. “For the first time, regulated cannabis will be available for sale and consumption at this year’s event. This novel opportunity showcases the strength of San Francisco’s vibrant cannabis community and brings new requirements to help create a safe, clean, and enjoyable experience for everyone who attends.”

dr Grant Colfax, the city’s director of health, offered advice to revelers. “Know where the substances you’re consuming come from and only trust reputable vendors. Support yourself and those around you by being on the lookout for signs of breathing difficulty or unresponsiveness,” he said.

READ MORE: San Jose Police Arrest 6 Suspected Members of ‘Prolific’ Smash-and-Grab Jewelry Store Robbery Crew

Mayor London Breed said Monday, “I look forward to another successful 420 in Golden Gate Park, but we need everyone to remember to pick up after themselves, stay respectful, keep things peaceful, and of course, have a good time.”

Officials said 40 park rangers and private security will manage safety of the event. The fire department will be fully staffed, EMS services would be provided and police will have an increased presence outside the venue.

The celebration of all things cannabis has drawn large crowds to Golden Gate Park for years, long before the state legalized recreational use.

An estimated 14,000 people attended the most recent 4/20 celebration at Hippie Hill in 2019. Officials anticipate up to 20,000 for this year’s event.

MORE NEWS: Investigators Identify Mummified Body Found In Former Oakland Convention Center

The celebration, which will include live DJs, comedy and food sales, is scheduled from noon to 5 pm Gates open at 10 am

The post San Francisco 420 Celebration Returns To Golden Gate Park With On-Web site Hashish Gross sales, Solely 21+ Allowed – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO—Staring down the end of their beloved head coach’s career, the Blue Devils refused to quit, and they punched their ticket to the Elite Eight because of it.

The second-seeded Blue Devils traveled to San Francisco for the West Regional, where they topped the third-seeded Red Raiders 78-73 in the Sweet 16 at the Chase Center. After a slow start that saw the Red Raiders dominate for the first few minutes, the Blue Devils rallied in heroic fashion, as the matchup became a tight battle of energized offenses in the second.

“I’ve never played in a basketball game like that. When you’re out there, it’s not like you’re even thinking. You’re just playing to win,” freshman phenom Paolo Banchero—who finished with a team-leading 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals—said after the game.

With four minutes on the clock, the Blue Devils were down one despite four players being in double-digit points. Two Jeremy Roach drives, a Banchero triple and a Mark Williams block later, Duke was up three with one and a half to go. It was then Roach sank yet another clutch jumper to put Duke up five with under a minute to go.

“The resolve of Jeremy Roach was incredible. His drives against that defense were so strong, so determined,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

However, Roach then missed the free throw, and Texas Tech responded with a dunk, cutting Duke’s lead to three with 26 seconds remaining. Then, after being fouled on the inbounds, Wendell Moore Jr. went to the line, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and sunk two free throws to give Duke a five point lead with 25 to go.

The Red Raiders wouldn’t quit, though, and Adonis Arms drained a quick 3-pointer to bring the Red Raiders within two. Thirteen seconds, up two points, Duke had to figure out a way to close out the game.

Chants of “Let’s go Duke” erupted, and Texas Tech once again went for the inbounds foul. AJ Griffin, on yet another hot shooting night, made both, though, and Duke maintained a two-possession cushion with 12.9 seconds left.

When Arms missed his next 3-point attempt and Banchero made one of two free throws with under five seconds to go, they had done it. The Blue Devils were going to the Elite Eight.

“I think all year, in the biggest moments, we always stepped up, and there’s no bigger moment than this,” Banchero said.

After a hotly contested first half that saw Duke trail by four entering the locker room, the Blue Devils began the second with a little more skip in their step, scoring on each of their first four possessions, though they couldn’t stop Texas Tech from doing the same.

Roach, who ended with 15 points, 11 in the second half, and five assists, continued his fiery play from the opening period with one of the slick drives to the basket he’s been pulling out more and more in the postseason. Meanwhile, Williams grabbed a quick eight points in the first five minutes with three makes from under the basket and two free throws, and graduate transfer Theo John got on the board with a put-back layup. Finally, a wing three from Griffin dotted the “i” on a Duke run that knotted the score at 47 with 12 to go.

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Then, after not leading since midway through the first half, Duke gained two points on the Red Raiders with a dextrous pullup jumper from Banchero, sending the sea of ​​Blue in the Chase Center into a frenzy.

“Great players just go. The moment and the need take them to a place that a great player would love to be in. And that’s where he was,” Krzyzewski said of how Banchero stepped up.

Still, the Red Raiders would not be outdone, going on a 4-0 burst, before another drive from Roach, plus the and-one, continued an exciting back-and-forth half of basketball.

While Duke’s offense seemingly found its footing, moving the ball to break Texas Tech’s defensive scheme, the Red Raiders were efficient at capitalizing on Duke mistakes.

However, a corner three from Banchero—his second triple on three attempts—and a pair of free throws from Mark Williams put the Blue Devils right back on top.

Though Bryson Williams sank a three to catch the Red Raiders up, a drive from Moore and an and-one kept the Blue Devils’ narrow one-point lead. For a matchup billed as a battle of defense, with under seven minutes on the clock, it sure looked like a shootout. Sure enough, a spin-move and a layup from Banchero then grabbed Duke his largest lead of the game, up three, but Bryson Williams responded quickly with his own for Texas Tech.

The crowd reached deafening levels after a Banchero-assisted slam dunk from Mark Williams, but the Blue Devils found themselves briefly their own enemy, as two turnovers in under 30 seconds gave the Red Raiders the chance to once again tie up then lead the game.

Texas Tech came out to start the game on fire, forcing three turnovers and subsequent fastbreaks to gain a 10-2 lead in the first four and a half minutes. The Red Raiders’ signature stifling defense gained them opportunities on the other side of the court, exacerbated by Duke’s early shooting woes, with the Blue Devils going 1-of-5 through their first six attempts.

“Obviously, we weren’t ready for that level of expertise on defense,” Krzyzewski said. “The end of the half was critical. They had a seven-point lead, and we were able to score and not let them score, so all of a sudden you’re looking at a four-point [game] and we have the ball.”

However, Duke got back into it just a few minutes later, after consecutive makes from Griffin and Moore put the Blue Devils within three, a steal and an and-one layup from Banchero tied up the game at the 13:15 mark.

From there on, Duke and Texas Tech traded baskets, with the Blue Devils unable to take the lead away from the Red Raiders, but the challengers in red also unable to build a lead of more than four at the half.

Next, the Blue Devils will take on Arkansas in the Elite Eight Saturday.

Sasha Richie

Sasha Richie is a Trinity junior and the Blue Zone Editor of The Chronicle’s 117th volume.

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California will drop the mask requirement inside K-12 schools. The new indoor mask policy will take effect on March 12.

gov. Gavin Newsom announces the state will continue to adjust its policies based on the latest data and science. According to the California Department of Public Health, nearly 3% of all of the state’s COVID-19 tests in the past two months were positive.

“We cannot predict the future of the virus, but we are better prepared for it and will continue to take measures rooted in science to keep California moving forward,” Newsom said.

San Francisco Unified School District, however, will continue the indoor mask mandate for public schools.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends wearing masks inside schools by students and staff.

SFUSD’s press release states that masking is “one of the least burdensome policies on schools.”

“It helps prevent infections among students and staff and their families, and reduces missed school days,” San Francisco Unified School District Public Relations Manager Laura Dudnick said in an email.

San Francisco Board of Education President Gabriela López in an email said the district agrees to keep the “important safety tool” and will keep the mandate in place until the end of the school year.

Cassondra Curiel, president of the United Educators of San Francisco, a teachers union, said that there is a need for students to have high quality masks since many elementary school students are not eligible for the booster vaccine. When asked if teachers prefer masks, Curiel said it’s more nuanced than a yes or no.

‘Do we all love wearing masks?’ said Curiel. “The answer’s probably no, it’s not a loved thing but it is a necessary thing.”

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