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California shoppers get 4% less for their money after inflation’s bite

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 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: California consumers are getting less for their money this year as inflation trims already cooling shopping habits.Source: My trusty spreadsheet sought to quantify how the rising cost of living eroded buying power and cash register activity. So state-by-state retail sales were matched against the inflation rate from the Consumer Price Index. Then we looked at how 2023’s first half spending compared with recent history.ToplineCalifornia retail sales in the first half of the year grew 0.9% vs. 2022’s first six months. Meanwhile, inflation averaged 4.9% in this period.So shopping, adjusted for the bite of a significant cost of living hike, suffered a 4% one-year drop.MORTGAGE NEWS: What’s up with rates? Who’s lending? CLICK HERE!That was a middle-of-the-road result. California ranked 25th in this buying...

Close call: Serra gets a challenge from Valley Christian but survives

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

It’s rare for a team to go through an entire season playing at its best in every game, even one as strong as Serra.The Padres had rolled to an 8-0 record, winning each game by an average of 35 points.In five West Catholic Athletic League wins, the average score was 51-8.But against Valley Christian on Friday, the margin wasn’t anything like that as Serra survived on the road 24-13.With less than two minutes left in the third quarter, Serra clung to a 14-13 advantage. Then quarterback Maealiuaki Smith threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kyon Loud, making it 21-13 with 1:27 left in the period.That was followed by a 31-yard field goal by Thomas Gooch with 8:18 left in the game.Serra is 9-0 with one game remaining next Friday at home against St. Ignatius.No matter the outcome, the Padres will be the No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section Open/Division I playoffs.While Serra might not have played its best game Friday, Valley Christian is a prideful program that has traditionally pla...

Vehicle slams into divider along I-280, killing one

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

(BCN) -- At least one person is dead after a vehicle slammed into the center divider along Interstate Highway 280 in Los Altos Hills early Saturday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.As of 5 a.m., all southbound lanes of Interstate 280 north of El Monte Road were still blocked as a result of the collision, officers said.The crash, first reported at 3:33 a.m. Saturday, occurred just south of the El Monte Road offramp on Interstate 280 in Los Altos Hills. The driver of the vehicle was confirmed dead on the scene, according to the CHP.Information about the crash victim and the circumstances of the accident were not immediately available. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Brentford beats Chelsea 2-0 to win at Stamford Bridge for 3rd straight season in Premier League

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Even after spending $1 billion on players, Chelsea still cannot get a point off Brentford at Stamford Bridge.It’s now three straight Premier League wins for Brentford in away matches against Chelsea after a 2-0 victory on Saturday, secured by second-half goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo.Pinnock headed in a cross from Mbeumo in the 58th minute for a goal that was against the general run of a play.Mbeumo added the second in the fifth minute of stoppage time, tapping into an empty net at the end of a fast break with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez having gone up for a corner and unable to get back in time.Chelsea also lost to its London rival last season (2-0) and the season before (4-1), which was the first year Brentford played in the Premier League.Despite its unprecedented and wild spending spree over the last three transfer windows, Chelsea is in the bottom half of the standings and is now behind Brentford, whose signings are mostly cut-price and bas...

Maine official says police had twice “cleared” recycling center where mass killing suspect’s body was found Friday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Maine official says police had twice “cleared” recycling center where mass killing suspect’s body was found Friday night.Source

Israeli defense minister says the Gaza war has entered a new stage with an expanded ground operation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Palestinians inspect the damage of destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)(AP/Abed Khaled) Palestinians inspect the damage of destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)(AP/Abed Khaled) JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Saturday expanded its ground operation in Gaza, sending in tanks and infantry backed by massive strikes from the air and sea. Israel’s defense minister said that “the ground shook in Gaza” and that the war against the territory’s Hamas rulers had entered a new stage.The bombardment, described by Gaza residents as the most intense of the war, also knocked out most communicat...

Saturday is the day to get rid of old drugs cluttering your medicine cabinet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Have some some old or expired prescription drugs that are cluttering your medicine cabinet? Don’t just toss those bottles in the trash or flush the medication down the toilet. Instead, take them to one of dozens of DEA sponsored National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.According to the DEA, old prescription drugs left in medicine cabinets helped fuel the opioid crisis and that a majority of people who become addicted to opioid drugs obtain medication from a family member or friend.While some drugs are flushable, according to the FDA, and there are protocols to properly trash your medications, the DEA says it is best to bring the unused drugs to the designated take back days.The federal agency is hosting the 25th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event at thousands of sites across the country on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.You can see a full list of events on the DEA website. Below are some events in the D.C. area.D.C.MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital1...

Maryland launches nation’s first state-funded ‘service year’ option for high schoolers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore at the service year option kickoff event at the University of Maryland on Friday. (Courtesy Gov. Wes Moore's office) Maryland Gov. Wes Moore at the service year option kickoff event at the University of Maryland on Friday. (Courtesy Gov. Wes Moore's office) Maryland high school students can now participate in a “service year” where they will be placed in jobs throughout the state to help jump-start their careers while giving back to the community.Gov. Wes Moore says the program is the first of its kind in the nation.Moore launched the service year option program for high school graduates at a kickoff event at the University of Maryland, College Park, on Friday.Those high school ...

Police: Mother assaulted during attempted child kidnapping in Prince George’s Co.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

A Maryland woman was walking outside with her newborn on Thursday when a group of four people attempted to kidnap her child, according to Greenbelt police.Officers said they responded to the 9100 block of Edmonston Road at 6:35 p.m., where they met with the victim. A news release outlines how two dark colored vehicles pulled up and four suspects had gotten out, attempting to take her child from a stroller.The mother said she grabbed the infant and ran away while being punched repeatedly, according to police. The suspects fled the scene and police say they searched the area.Fox 5 reported that the suspects were traveling in a dark sedan, and that the baby and mother are now staying with relatives after fearing for their safety.One suspect was described by police as “a tall black female with braids.” Police did not provide the physical description of the three other suspects.The approximate location of the incident is below. Source

Luna de cazador: qué es y a qué hora será visible hoy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:02 GMT

Mientras termina el mes de octubre y se acerca halloween, los amantes de los fenómenos celestes podrán disfrutar este fin de semana de una luna llena especial.La luna del cazador o el Hunter’s moon llenará el cielo el sábado 28 de octubre y será la última luna llena del mes.¿POR QUÉ LA LUNA LLENA SE LLAMA LUNA DE CAZADOR?Según el Old Farmer’s Almanac, se llama la luna del cazador porque se utilizaba como señal para que los cazadores se prepararan para el invierno. La luna que se produce más cerca de la fecha del equinoccio de otoño, que es el 23 de septiembre, es la que adopta el nombre de luna del cazador en lugar de su nombre tradicional.La luna del cazador también se conoce como luna sanguinaria o de sangre, porque se asocia con la sangre de la caza o el color de las hojas cambiantes del otoño.“Como los campos habían sido desbrozados recientemente bajo la luna del cazador, los cazadores podían divisar fácilmente ciervos y otros animales que habían salido en busc...