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New bill seeks to limit housing sprawl in fire- and flood-prone areas of California

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

Over the past half-century, new housing has spread into ever more far-flung parts of California – from luxury estates perched on remote hillsides to tightly packed subdivisions stretched over rural flatlands.The sprawl has allowed people to live closer to nature and buy homes in more affordable parts of the state where it’s cheaper and easier to build. But it’s also left millions vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires and flooding.And as destructive natural disasters have become more frequent in recent years, state and local officials have felt increasing pressure: How does California find ways to ease a dire housing shortage without ignoring the harsh reality of climate change?Now, an unlikely coalition of environmentalists and housing advocates is backing a bill that seeks to slow growth in many parts of the state at high risk of fires and floods while encouraging more multifamily housing in existing population centers.The proposal wouldn’t outright ban new housing...

Analysis: What’s ‘digital blackface?’ And why is it wrong when White people use it?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

Analysis by John Blake | CNNMaybe you shared that viral video of Kimberly “Sweet Brown” Wilkins telling a reporter after narrowly escaping an apartment fire, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”Perhaps you posted that meme of supermodel Tyra Banks exploding in anger on “America’s Next Top Model” (“I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!”). Or maybe you’ve simply posted popular GIFs, such as the one of NBA great Michael Jordan crying, or of drag queen RuPaul declaring, “Guuuurl…”If you’re Black and you’ve shared such images online, you get a pass. But if you’re White, you may have inadvertently perpetuated one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism.You may be wearing “digital blackface.”What is digital blackface?Digital blackface is a practice where White people co-opt online expressions of Black imagery, slang, catchphrases or culture to convey comic...

SJSU vision may revamp downtown San Jose campus, add housing towers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

SAN JOSE — Housing towers, new dining spots and hundreds of residences for San Jose State University students are in the works as part of a wide-ranging plan to dramatically revamp the college’s downtown campus.University officials are eyeing new development projects both on the campus and about a block from the college, according to plans on file with the school.“San Jose State University is undertaking a renewed campus master plan to guide the physical development of the Main Campus, South Campus and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories,” said Michelle Smith-McDonald, senior media relations director with the university.The campus master plan’s primary focus is to create plenty more places for students to live, according to university officials.Reimagined areas at San Jose State University along San Fernando Street near South Fourth Street, concept. (San Jose State University)“The university is prioritizing the creation of housing for students, ...

Twitter hunts Github user who posted company’s source code online

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO | Associated PressNEW YORK — Some parts of Twitter’s source code — the fundamental computer code on which the social network runs — were leaked online, the social media company said in a legal filing that was first reported by The New York Times.According to the legal document, first filed with the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California on Friday, Twitter had asked GitHub, an internet hosting service for software development, to take down the code where it was posted. The platform complied and said the content had been disabled, according to the filing.Twitter, based in San Francisco, noted in the filing that the postings infringe on copyrights held by Twitter.The company also asked the court to identify the alleged individual or group that posted the information without Twitter’s authorization. It’s seeking names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media profile data and IP addresses associated with the user account “FreeSpeec...

Travel Troubleshooter: Budget charges $250 for calibrating a camera. Is that legit?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I rented a car from Budget last summer in Jacksonville, Florida. I noticed several dents and scratches, which I planned to point out during the walk-around inspection. But the attendant told me that they “don’t do inspections” because they keep records of any damage that happens to their vehicles. That didn’t seem right, so I took photos of the damage.Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter When I returned the vehicle, there was also no inspection. The next month, I received a letter from Budget telling me it would charge my credit card $250 for damages. They claim that the damage involved a windshield camera — not any of the dents or scratches I had photos of.I assured Budget that nothing had happened to the vehicle while I had possession of it, and I asked for paperwork on the damage. Budget never produced any evidence of the damage.My credit card company told me that the time for a dispute had expired and there...

Mother Nature can ‘fool’ DC region with April 1 weather

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

Just as we flip the calendar to April early this weekend, we are reminded just how much Mother Nature can “fool” D.C. residents with the weather.Transition seasons such as fall and spring provide D.C. with an array of weather with temperatures bouncing around, rain, thunderstorms and even snowflakes in the mix. April 1 presents its own challenges for meteorologists.Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.Weather forecastWhile the past six years have been consistent with highs in the 50s and 60s, you don’t have to look too far back to see highs in the upper 40s in 2004. It can get as hot as 88 degrees like it did in 1978 and as frigid as 15 degrees in 1923.However, a frosty morning in D.C. is more of the exception than the rule. The last time April Fools’ Day dropped below freezing was 1987.April Fools’ Day weather statistics and latest spring freeze data for Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of NOAA)As a matter of fact, Monday is the average d...

Así es la polémica reforma judicial de Israel que ha desembocado en protestas masivas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

(CNN) — Durante meses, cientos de miles de israelíes han salido a las calles de todo el país para protestar contra los cambios de gran alcance en el sistema jurídico que, según algunos, amenazan los fundamentos democráticos del país.Las tensiones aumentaron aún más este fin de semana cuando el primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu despidió abruptamente al ministro de Defensa, Yoav Gallant, por su oposición a la reforma prevista, lo que desató protestas callejeras masivas y huelgas generalizadas.Protestas en Israel: última hora y noticias en vivoEn esencia, la reforma judicial daría al Parlamento israelí, la Knesset (y por tanto a los partidos en el poder), un mayor control sobre el poder judicial de Israel.Desde cómo se selecciona a los jueces hasta sobre qué leyes puede pronunciarse el Tribunal Supremo, pasando incluso por otorgar al Parlamento el poder de anular las decisiones de esta corte, los cambios supondrían la mayor remodelación del poder judicial israelí desde su fundac...

Huazhu Group: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

SHANGHAI 201103, China (AP) — Huazhu Group Limited (HTHT) on Monday reported a loss of $19 million in its fourth quarter.The Shanghai 201103, China-based company said it had a loss of 6 cents per share.The hotel operator posted revenue of $537 million in the period.For the year, the company reported a loss of $264 million, or 85 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $2.01 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HTHT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HTHTSource

Harris visits Ghana’s president, promises aid, investments

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday praised Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo for his “democratic principles” during a visit with the West African leader, who’s facing rising discontent over inflation and fresh concerns about regional security.Harris is just beginning a weeklong trip to the continent that will also take her to Tanzania and Zambia, part of a concerted effort to broaden U.S. outreach at a time when China and Russia have entrenched interests of their own in Africa.On Monday, the vice president was welcomed into the Ghanaian presidential palace, called the Jubilee House, where she promised assistance with security in the nation and increased investments there.“As president of Ghana, you have been very courageous and forward in terms of standing for democratic principles,” Harris said to Akufo-Addo. “I thank you for the friendship you have offered the United States”Akufo-Addo oversaw one of the world’s fast-growing economies...

Sicilian swordfish cooks gently in rustic tomato-caper sauce

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:43 GMT

From May to August each year, the turbulent waters between Sicily and Calabria erupt with fishermen searching for what’s known as the king of the strait, swordfish. Once on land, the massive fish is cut into succulent steaks for one of Southern Italy’s most emblematic summertime dishes, pesce spada alla ghiotta.The name, which means “swordfish in glutton’s style,” is a reference to the wealth of delicious ingredients that flavor a rustic tomato sauce. Rife with briny capers, olives, garlic, red pepper flakes and basil, it’s something like a saucy, seafood version of puttanesca.In the version from our book “Tuesday Nights Mediterranean,” which features weeknight-friendly meals from the region, swordfish steaks are browned in olive oil and finish cooking in the garlicky tomato sauce. Capers and basil infuse the dish with bold Mediterranean flavors.To make it a complete one-pan meal, we add Yukon Gold potatoes. Cutting the potatoes into small, ½-inch pieces ensures they cook completely...