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California’s gas prices fall below $5 for first time since July

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

By Mia Gindis | BloombergCalifornia pump prices fell below $5 a gallon for the first time since July, following national levels lower but still the highest in the country.Regular gasoline costs an average of $4.98 a gallon in the Golden State after topping $6 in September, according to data from the American Automobile Association. An initial drop in prices was prompted by Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to waive an anti-smog rule, allowing for the use of cheaper winter-grade fuel – which can be made from a wider, less costly pool of components – earlier than usual.Related ArticlesEconomy | Ho-hum holiday shopping for California? 12 trends to watch Economy | California gas prices likely to drop by end of the year. Here’s what a gallon might cost Economy | Bay Area inflation cools off in a big way — finally Economy | Consumer inflation continued to ease last month, in welcome news for US households and the Fed Eco...

High school football rankings Week 14, 2023: Bay Area News Group Top 25

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

There are only three weekends left in the 2023 high school football season.For those still playing, every game from here on out is for a trophy.Section championships this weekend, regional championships next weekend, state championships the week after that.This week, we have two top-10 matchups for Division I titles in the North Coast Section and Central Coast Section.Pittsburg, now 12-0 under first-year head coach Charlie Ramirez, has traded spots with San Ramon Valley in the latest Bay Area News Group rankings. The Pirates are third, SRV fourth. They will settle the issue and much more when they meet for the NCS D-I championship on Friday night at Dublin High.In the other top-10 matchup, seventh-ranked Los Gatos will meet ninth-ranked Wilcox for the CCS’s D-I crown on Friday night at San Jose City College. When these league rivals played last month at Wilcox, Los Gatos scored a touchdown in the final 30 seconds to win 24-21.If you have not already, please subscribe here for ...

Ho-hum holiday shopping for California? 12 trends to watch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

It’s a good bet that California’s holiday shopping season won’t be delightful – nor will to be frightful.Sure, there’s a sleighful of worry as the annual gift-giving rush begins. There are economic gyrations and geopolitical uncertainties – domestic and international. Did I mention no easy and final cure for the worst bout of inflation in four decades?It’s the kind of anxiety-building pattern that could let Scrooge-like thinking creep into most Californians’ shopping lists.Curiously, some of that skittishness stems from business strengths. Think of inflation, for example. It’s a by-product of an overperforming economy. Low unemployment has boosted paychecks and employers’ labor expenses, which often are passed on to consumers.So, times are relatively good for numerous folks in the Golden State. That’s enough economic underpinnings for a ho-hum shopping surge surrounding the ho-ho-ho season.However, it’s by no means simple to build an upbeat year-end retail outlook. Take a peek at 12...

California ‘manny’ gets 707 years for sexually abusing 16 children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

A Costa Mesa male nanny who sexually abused sixteen boys and showed pornography to a 17th child was sentenced Friday afternoon to 707 years and eight months to life in prison.The lengthy prison term for Matthew Zakrzewski, 34, came a month after an Orange County Superior Court jury convicted the defendant of 34 felony counts following a nearly month-long trial in a Santa Ana courtroom.Zakrzewski — who described himself as a “manny” — videotaped many of the molestation crimes, footage that prosecutors relied heavily on as evidence during his trial.The sentence means he would have to do at least 707 years before being eligible for parole.Parents described initially being impressed by Zakrzewski and his background, as well as his rapport with their boys. But Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Menninger noted that Zakrzewski took advantage of the parents’ view of him as “perfect, smart, fun and moral” in order to gain unfettered access to the boys and to manipulate them into no...

Open house kicks off holiday season in Saratoga Village

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

Downtown Saratoga kicks off the holidays Friday, Nov. 24, with the Village Open House. It’s a family event with something for all ages. The traditional tree-lighting ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. in Blaney Plaza.Before the tree lighting, kids can find lots to do in the Candy Cane Lane, 3-5:30 p.m. at 14460 Big Basin Way. There will be pictures with Santa and his elves, arts and craft tables, a visit from the Grinch, hot cocoa, food to purchase and live music geared toward children. All this is free thanks to Star One Credit Union and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. www.saratogachamber.orgAfter tree lighting, adults can sip pours from area vintners at the wine stroll. Tickets are $65 at the door. You’ll be able to taste some of the best wines in the area along with small bites courtesy of Saratoga merchants.And throughout the night, music and performances will keep visitors in the holiday spirit. Businesses will extend shopping hours. The Saratoga History Museum will be hosting a sp...

Another suspect arrested over alleged armed carjacking in September

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

(BCN) -- Another suspect in an armed carjacking in San Mateo in September has been arrested, police said Monday.The suspect was identified as Julio Villalobos, 18, a resident of Antioch. He was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County on Nov. 16 on suspicion of carjacking and second-degree robbery, the San Mateo Police Department said in a statement.Around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 15, police learned a man was held at gunpoint while someone stole his white Chevrolet van near 42nd Avenue and Edison Street. Verdict reached in San Carlos samurai sword murder trial Hours later, a description and license plate number were broadcast to other police agencies and Brisbane police found the stolen van traveling north on U.S. Highway 101. They gave chase, continuing into San Francisco and through several city streets until it ended near the intersection of Market Street and Octavia Boulevard, police said.A suspect, identified as Jose Ramirez Marquez, 18, attempted to flee on foot...

Protected: Congress must act on chemical security before terrorists do

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

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South African leader accuses Israel and Hamas of violating law at meeting attended by Putin and Xi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of war crimes and acts “tantamout to genocide” in Gaza during a virtual meeting of leaders of developing countries including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Ramaphosa also condemned Hamas for its attack on Israeli civilians that sparked the conflict and said both sides were guilty of violating international law.“The collective punishment of Palestinian civilians through the unlawful use of force by Israel is a war crime,” Ramaphosa said at the start of the meeting of leaders and top diplomats from the BRICS bloc of countries. “The deliberate denial of medicine, fuel, food and water to the residents of Gaza is tantamount to genocide.”“In its attacks on civilians and by taking hostages, Hamas has also violated international law and must be held accountable for these actions,” Ramaphosa said.Also joining the meeting were officials from BRICS members Brazil and In...

El presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, dice que en Argentina ganó la extrema derecha neonazi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

(CNN Español) — El presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, se pronunció sobre la victoria del presidente electo de Argentina, Javier Milei.El mandatario evitó nombrar específicamente al ganador del balotaje argentino, pero calificó como “extrema derecha neonazi” al Gobierno entrante y advirtió que es una “tremenda amenaza la llegada de un extremista de derecha con un proyecto absolutamente colonial, arrodillado al imperialismo norteamericano”.“Ayer hubo elecciones presidenciales y, como ya se preveía con las estadísticas de las encuestas, ganó la extrema derecha neonazi en Argentina, es una extrema derecha que viene con un proyecto colonial para la Argentina pero que pretende liderar un proyecto colonial en toda América Latina y el Caribe.“Desde Venezuela siempre vamos a decir la verdad, siempre vamos a decir nuestra verdad, nosotros respetamos el voto del pueblo argentino, quisieron darse ese Gobierno, bueno, a los argentinos y a las argen...

Both sides appeal ruling that Trump can stay on Colorado ballot despite insurrection finding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Both a liberal group that sought to disqualify Donald Trump and the former president himself on Monday night appealed a judge's ruling that Trump “engaged in insurrection” on Jan. 6, 2021, but can stay on the state's primary ballot.The appeals were filed with the Colorado Supreme Court. The ruling by Colorado District Court Judge Sarah Wallace on Friday — which said Trump is not covered by the constitution’s ban on insurrectionists holding office — was the latest in a series of defeats for the effort to end Trump's candidacy with Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.The constitutional provision has only been used a handful of times since the years after the Civil War. It was created to prevent former Confederates from returning to government positions. Judge rules Trump can appear on Colorado 2024 Republican primary ballot The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filing on behalf of a group of Republican and unaffiliated Colorado voters, argued that...