Applicants may be turned away by SJ State
SAN JOSE . (AP) — San Jose State may not give preference to Santa Clara County residents, the first time the university would turn away qualified applicants.
The San Jose Mercury News says California State University leaders will decide Friday whether the San Jose campus needs to turn away about applicants who would have previously qualified for admission.
The university has begun sending acceptance notices to about 21,000 applicants.
San Jose State has held back notices for about 3,000 qualified Santa Clara County residents.
University spokeswoman Patricia Harris says grades and test scores are a priority.
Those who are turned away will be able to apply to other Cal State campuses.
Voters decide on Coit Tower preservation
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Voters in San Francisco will decide on a preservation policy for the city's landmark Coit Tower.
The San Francisco Chronicle says the city Department of Elections has certified petition signatures qualifying a measure for a nonbinding declaration of policy to protect the 210-foot tower.
More than 16,000 signatures were submitted and 9,702 valid signatures were needed to qualify for the June 5 ballot.
The Protect Coit Tower Committee, which gathered the signatures, says the tower and 27 historic WPA murals inside the landmark are a priceless treasure needing protection.
The measure would limit commercial activities and private events at Coit Tower and funnel more money from the landmark's concession for maintenance and beautification of Pioneer Park.
SF supervisors set to vote on America's Cup deal
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco supervisors are set to vote on the city's deal to the host the America's Cup.
A Board of Supervisors committee voted 2-1 on Wednesday to advance the agreement to the full board. The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/xsjVwn) that a full board vote is expected on Tuesday.
Race organizers are coming up against deadlines to get waterfront facilities ready before July 2013, when qualifying matches are set to begin.
But some supervisors continue to express concerns that the deal between the city and organizers does not protect San Francisco from financial losses.
It provides for long-term leases and development rights on port-owned property in return for at least $55 million in infrastructure work.
Church vandalized on Ash Wednesday
UNION CITY (AP) — Police say vandals destroyed a cross and spray-painted the word "Satan" and other graffiti at a Union City Catholic church.
Police have classified the vandalism at St. Anne's Catholic Church as a hate crime. It was discovered around 7 a.m. Wednesday, about an hour before services were set for the first day of Lent — the period of fasting and prayer before Easter.
The front of the church was spray-painted in two places with a circled pentagram surrounded by the words "Satan" and the Latin phrase, "Carpe Noctem," or "Seize the Night."
The vandals also destroyed a wooden cross and defaced statues.
Church Pastor Rev. Geoffrey Baraan said he was very disturbed and was still shaking from the vandalism.
