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Happy Labor Day, California! You’re ranked best place to be a worker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data.Buzz: As we celebrate Labor Day, let’s note that California was graded as the best state for workers in one new ranking.Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed state workplace scorecards by left-leaning Oxfam, which “tracks how states protect, support and pay workers.”ToplineCalifornia was No. 1 in the Oxfam ranking followed by Oregon, New York, Washington and Massachusetts.Worst places to work? North Carolina, then Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.And California rivals? Texas was No. 45, Florida, was No. 28.DetailsOxfam’s grades came from studying three slices of the workplace.Pay patterns: California ranked No. 2 among the states after Washington. Then came Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Worst? North Carolina, then Indiana, Alabama, Utah and South Carolina. Rivals? Texas was No. 40, and Florida...

‘Dangerous’ man with hands in shackles steals van, last seen on Interstate 5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A man described as “extremely dangerous” managed to commandeer a van from Oregon’s psychiatric hospital and drive away, though his hands were shackled to his waist, the state police said.Christopher Lee Pray, reported as a fugitive from Oregon State Hospital. (Multnomah County Sheriff via Oregon State Police) Christopher Pray, 39, was last seen Wednesday night heading south on Interstate 5 in a white van.An employee of the Oregon State Hospital was injured during the escape, spokesperson Amber Shoebridge said.Pray had just arrived Wednesday at the hospital, in Salem. He had been in custody in Portland on charges including attempted murder and was transferred after being found unfit to proceed with trial.Shortly after he arrived at the Salem facility, he was in an altercation with another patient and was taken elsewhere for medical treatment. As he was being brought back around 10:45 p.m., he was “able to gain control of the van and drive awa...

Los Gatos council allocates remaining ARPA funds to create community center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

Los Gatos is one step closer to getting a new community center.The town council voted unanimously to revamp the town’s Adult Recreation Center (ARC) into a community center to address some of the immediate needs outlined in the town’s senior services roadmap, which was endorsed by the council earlier this year.Councilmembers Matthew Hudes and Rob Moore teamed up to present the idea for the community center to the council, with the goal of building a new senior community center in the future. Some preliminary ideas for the ARC include reconfiguring the building to give space for nonprofit organizations to operate services for seniors, and make the space feel more welcoming and inviting.“It’s recognized that it’s probably going to take 10 years for the roadmap’s dream of a new community center to be developed, and we can’t wait 10 years for some of the improvements and services that are needed,” Hudes said. “So, the idea basically is to focus on reconfiguring the space so ...

Assault in Saratoga leaves victim with concussion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

AUG. 20Vehicle tampering, grand theft: At 3:09 a.m., someone tampered with a vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence in the 18000 block of Devon Avenue and stole a catalytic converter for a loss of approximately $3,000.AUG. 21Battery with serious injury: At 2 p.m., the suspect assaulted the victim, who was walking on Prospect Road at Lawrence Expressway, and punched the victim multiple times in the head, giving the victim a concussion. The suspect is known and at large.AUG. 22Possession of scanning device: At 4:19 p.m., a technician discovered a skimming device in an ATM at Bank of America on Big Basin Way.AUG. 24Residential burglary: At 9:38 p.m., three suspects entered a residence in the 12000 block of Cambridge Drive by breaking a rear sliding glass door and stole jewelry valued at approximately $10,000.AUG. 26Robbery: At 2 a.m., the victims arrived at a residence in the 13000 block of Ferncrest Court after driving there from a casino in San Jose, at which time a vehicle pa...

Gun rights lobby threatens to sue Los Gatos over concealed carry ordinance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

Gun rights activists have threatened to sue Los Gatos over its recent concealed carry ordinance, which prohibits guns in sensitive places like schools and places of worship.Michel and Associates, law firm representing the California Rifle & Pistol Association and the Second Amendment Foundation, recently sent a letter to the town saying the concealed carry ordinance approved this summer infringes on the constitutional rights of gun owners.“Specifically, the ordinance makes it so that firearms are prohibited to be carried – even by those with a permit – in town property, public transit and places of worship,” the letter reads.Town attorney Gabrielle Whelan said the council met in a closed session last week and voted to suspend enforcing the ordinance on those locations until anticipated litigation against the state is resolved.“We’re taking it seriously,” Whelan said. “The town’s ordinance is modeled on pending state legislation.”The ordinance was set to go into effect on Sept. 1...

AI technology lets you talk to Jesus or Satan. What do they say?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

By AJ Willingham | CNNIn his 2013 hit “Beer With Jesus,” country singer Thomas Rhett imagines a barstool meeting with his Christian lord and savior.“If I could have a beer with Jesus …I’d be sure to let him do the talkin’Careful when I got the chance to askHow’d you turn the other cheekTo save a sorry soul like meDo you hear the prayers I sendWhat happens when life endsAnd when you think you’re comin’ back again?”Similar pontifications — albeit without the beer — have occupied the Christian imagination for centuries. It’s no surprise, then, that the explosion of AI technology has capitalized on fulfilling such wishes. Several apps now offer the faithful, or perhaps the bored, a way to summon the voices of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and even Satan through the wonders of language modeling programs.What would Jesus do? You can ask him yourself, but there are a few caveats. For one, the answer won’t actually be divine, and it may not be thorough enough to satisfy.“These chatbots are only as...

San Jose hosting first inaugural Lowrider Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

(KRON) -- City leaders in San Jose will join Mayor Matt Mahan Friday afternoon in the first inaugural Lowrider Day in celebration of the one year anniversary of the city's lowriding ban being lifted. Over 300 vehicles and around 60 car clubs are expected to join in on the festivities. City councilmembers Peter Ortiz and Omar Torres will be hosting the celebration along with the United Lowrider Council of San Jose. Major weekend closure on westbound I-80 through Tuesday The event starts at 1 p.m. at San Jose City Hall on Santa Clara Street. Street parking is first come, first serve for lowriders and roll-in will start at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Street closures are in effect along Santa Clara Street between 4th and 7th streets. San Jose's ban on cruising was lifted last year for the first time in about 40 years.

Ryan Preece cleared to race Darlington after scary Daytona crash last week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Ryan Preece has been cleared to race in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway after his frightening crash at Daytona a week ago.Preece announced his status Friday on social media, posting a video that included shots of the crash underneath the words, “See you at @TooToughToTame,” one of Darlington’s nicknames.“I’ll see you at Darlington,” Preece said in a video posted by his Stewart-Haas Racing team. “I’m sitting right here, I’m completely fine. I feel good and, obviously, I’m ready to get to Darlington.”The Stewart-Haas Racing driver went airborne last Saturday night and rolled over more than 10 times before coming to rest. He then got out of the damaged machine and walk off without any apparent injuries.Preece spent the night in a hospital after the accident and was checked again during the week to make sure there was no lingering damage.NASCAR will start its playoff run at Darlington on Sunday night. Preece is not among the 1...

USA Basketball rallies to beat Montenegro 85-73 at the World Cup, reaches quarterfinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Everything had looked so easy for the U.S. at the Basketball World Cup. Points were coming in bunches, final scores were blowouts and stress wasn’t a problem. Until Friday.If the Americans were waiting for a serious test at the World Cup, they can wait no more. Facing a 26.5-point underdog in Montenegro in a second-round opener for both teams, they trailed by a point at the half, didn’t take the lead for good until midway through the third quarter and still had a contest on their hands until the final minutes.They found a way in the end, winning 85-73 to remain unbeaten. And that result, combined with Lithuania’s win later Friday over Greece, sent the Americans to the quarterfinals regardless of what happens Sunday against Lithuania.“These games are going to happen,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “And you have to be able to fight through them. I thought our guys did a great job of that.”Anthony Edwards scored all of his team-high 17 p...

Players in Spain’s women’s soccer league to strike for better pay and conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:19 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Players in the Spanish women’s league are going to strike for better pay and conditions during first two rounds of the upcoming season, Spain’s main players’ union said Friday.The announcement comes amid a crisis in Spanish soccer caused by the forced kiss of a Spain women’s player by the head of its soccer federation at the Women’s World Cup final.The AFE union said in a statement that the strike seeks “fair and just treatment for the players” including a reduction in the salary gap with men players of La Liga. The minimum salary for men in the first division is 182,000 euros ($197,000) but for women, just 16,000 euros ($17,400).The strike was called after negotiations for a new collective bargaining deal broke down with Liga F, the revamped women’s league that started last season.The strike will impact games to be played on Sept. 8-10 and Sept. 15-17.AFE said it had the backing of other unions, including FUTPRO, which is representing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso after...