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Contra Costa Times

Hayden takes Sonoma SuperBike win

Last updated Monday, May 16, 2011 - 3:57pm

SONOMA -- Josh Hayes led the most laps in the AMA West Coast Moto Jam's SuperBike race on Sunday but wasn't completely happy with how he was riding. All he could hope for was that Tommy Hayden was having the same kind of trouble.

No such luck.

Hayden stalked Hayes throughout the middle portion of the race, passed Hayes on lap 17 and led the final five laps to earn his sixth career SuperBike win and his first at Infineon Raceway. Hayes finished 1.925 seconds back in second, Blake Young was well back in third, and Steve Rapp was fourth.

Sports, Auto Racing Read more Comments

Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga cap off week of season finales

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Sunday, May 15, 2011 - 2:15pm

Best bets

* After 30-plus days of living without cell phones, iPads and toilet paper, the remaining castaways of "Survivor: Redemption Island" finally reach the end as a winner is declared. Jeff Probst hosts the season finale and live reunion show. 7 p.m. today, KUTV Channel 2.

Features, Around the Remote, Osama Bin Laden, Season finales, TV Read more Comments

Suspected serial killer had more than 4,000 racy photos of women

Contra Costa Times, Matthias Gafni, Robert Salonga

Last updated Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 9:14am

RENO, Nev. -- Investigators searching the home of serial killing suspect Joseph Naso found more than 4,000 photographs of lingerie-clad or naked women, often posed to look lifeless, sources say.

Many of the hundreds of women appear unconscious and in unnatural poses, sometimes in bondage, and they include all age groups and races.

Detectives have spent the past year correlating the photos with Naso's extensive handwritten notebooks and other documents detailing fantasies of torturing women. Fewer than half the women have been identified, but most of them have been found alive.

Investigators believe that Naso, a self-employed photographer who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades, snapped the photos himself. Some prints date back to the 1960s, but most were taken fairly recently, sources say.

Crime, Murder, Courts, Serial killer, National Read more Comments

Man of Steel soars to destiny on 'Smallville' finale

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Monday, May 9, 2011 - 11:33am

Don't miss:

"Smallville" -- The 10 seasons that this superhero saga spent on the air seemed to have passed faster than a speeding bullet. And now, it's time to bid farewell via an epic two-hour series finale in which young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) moves closer to fulfilling his destiny as the Man of Steel. Series producers are promising plenty of big moments and surprise twists. Longtime fans, of course, are most excited over the return of Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor, who hasn't been on the show since May 2008. No amount of kryptonite could keep us away. 7 p.m. Friday, The CW.

Features, Around the Remote, TV Read more Comments

'Justified' cliffhanger expected, aloha Springfield

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Monday, May 2, 2011 - 6:07am

Don't miss:

"Justified" -- Season 2 of this electrifying crime drama sadly comes to an end this week as Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) finds himself wading into a war between Boyd (Walton Goggins) and the Bennett clan. If this closer is anything like last season's, it will feature a hailstorm of gunfire and a high body count. We don't know exactly what to expect this time around, but don't be surprised if you find yourself hanging from a really steep cliff at the end of it all. 8 p.m. Wednesday, FX.

Features, Around the Remote, TV Read more Comments

Are sports worth it? It's open to debate

Contra Costa Times, Gary Peterson

Last updated Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 9:26pm

The actual financial benefit generated by a professional sports team for its host city is open to debate. Typically, flinty-eyed economists fall on one side of the argument ("There is none"), with fans and entrepreneurs on the other ("Oh lighten up, you cold fish").

There is no argument over the psychic benefit. You can reach out and touch it. We witnessed it here with the San Francisco Giants last fall. You can see it at work in Green Bay where the Packers are a civic institution.

This week we saw it in Montreal.

NHL, Ice Hockey, Sports Read more Comments

'Everwood' stars reunite in drama, 'Glee' goes Gaga

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Sunday, April 24, 2011 - 2:16pm

Best bets

* Former "Everwood" co-stars Emily VanCamp and Treat Williams reunite in "Beyond the Blackboard." It's a Hallmark Hall of Fame drama based on a true story about a first-time teacher struggling to educate homeless children in a makeshift classroom. 8 p.m. today, KUTV Channel 2.

Features, Around the Remote, Glee, TV, Utah Read more Comments

Ready for some meltdowns and royal hoopla?

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Sunday, April 17, 2011 - 2:06pm

Best bets

* "The Celebrity Apprentice" has raised the bar when it comes to fiery meltdowns (See: Meat Loaf vs. Gary Busey). Must the dissension continue? We can only hope. 8 p.m. today, KSL Channel 5.

Features, Around the Remote, Royal wedding, TV Read more Comments

Judds and some comedy tonight; Mad about Paul Reiser?

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Sunday, April 10, 2011 - 2:07pm

Best bets

* The inaugural "Comedy Awards" promises to be a regular laugh riot. Humorous achievements in film, TV and the Internet are celebrated, and Eddie Murphy is honored with the first "Comedy Icon Award." 7 p.m. today, Comedy Central, Spike, TV Land, CMT & VH1.

Features, Around the Remote, TV Read more Comments

US should build early-warning system for quakes, scientists say

Contra Costa Times, Mike Taugher

Last updated Wednesday, April 6, 2011 - 9:09am

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Earthquake researchers say an early warning system in Japan saved lives and that a similar system should be built on the West Coast.

Earthquake, Warnings, National Read more Comments

Zac Brown primed to sweep country music awards

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Sunday, April 3, 2011 - 2:12pm

Best Bets:

* Zac Brown might need a pickup truck to haul away his prizes from "The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards." He leads the field with nine nominations, but Miranda Lambert is hot on his tail with seven. 7 p.m. today, KUTV Channel 2.

Features, Around the Remote, Country Music Awards, TV Read more Comments

Tycoon on skid row, a look at royal wedding, past presidents gather

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Sunday, March 27, 2011 - 1:45pm

Best bets

* On "Secret Millionaire," Internet tycoon John Ferber makes do with a welfare-level income for six days while living on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Some homeless people are in for a big, happy surprise. 7 p.m. today, KTVX Channel 4.

* Brace yourself for a mind-numbing onslaught of programs pegged to April's royal wedding. For starters, there's "William & Kate: Inside the Royal Wedding," an hourlong special that promises a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for the big event. 8 p.m. today, TLC.

Features, Around the Remote, TV Read more Comments

Chloe Sevigny as Nicki on "Big Love," which ends its series run tonight on HBO.

'Big Love'; ends; Barney meets dad; ciao Snooki

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Sunday, March 20, 2011 - 2:05am

Best bets

* It's a big ending for "Big Love." In the series finale, Bill (Bill Paxton) worries about planning for his family's future just in case he lands in jail. 10 p.m. today, HBO.

Features, Around the Remote, TV Read more Comments

Bachelor must decide; Trump roasted

Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times

Last updated Monday, March 14, 2011 - 1:38pm

Don't miss:

"The Bachelor" -- It's decision time for Brad Womack and you know what happened the last time the hunky Texan was in this position: He couldn't pull the trigger. We're told that he does, indeed, hand out a final rose in the finale, but who will it go to -- Emily or Chantal? As usual, a retrospective special will follow, looking back on all the highs and lows of a crazy season. 7 p.m.

Features, Around the Remote, Brad Womack, TV Read more Comments

Hockey violence doesn't need government intervention

Contra Costa Times, Gary Peterson

Last updated Friday, March 11, 2011 - 5:32pm

Government's forays into the wide world of sports are almost always about the former to the eye-rolling dismay of the latter. Congressional calls for BCS reform, for example. Or periodic threats to strip baseball of its antitrust exemption.

Oakland's attempt to keep the Raiders by invoking eminent domain was inspired theater. But it didn't stop the team from moving to Los Angeles.

NHL, Sports, Hockey Read more Comments