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Pajaro Valley winter flood victims file claims against local governments

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

WATSONVILLE — Approximately 500 residents of North Monterey County and South Santa Cruz County have filed claims against local governments and agencies over what they view as negligence in preventing the devastating floods that occurred in the area between December and March.The claims were made against Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, the city of Watsonville, the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. They are the first step before a civil lawsuit is filed.The claims argue that the agencies failed “to properly maintain, manage, inspect, supervise, repair and operate Pajaro River, its tributaries and surrounding bodies of water, and all flood control systems, including, but not limited to levees, stormwater pump systems, and other measures that were or should have been put into place to protect against flooding.”One of the claimants was Watsonville resident Sonia Corrales, who was forced to live in her garage with her parents, chil...

Opinion: Court rewrote the law so it could stop student loan forgiveness

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

In striking down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program, the Supreme Court ignored one of the most basic principles of law: When the text of a law is clear, it must be followed unless it is unconstitutional.A federal statute, the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act), explicitly authorizes the Secretary of Education to “waive or modify” student loan obligations. That is exactly what President Biden did in his loan forgiveness program, but the court, ruling 6-3, decided that he lacked authority under the law to take this step, which would have helped more than 40 million people.In the early days of the COVID pandemic, then President Donald Trump used the authority under this statute to suspend the need for most borrowers to repay student loan obligations. Biden, on taking office, continued this relief. He then made it permanent, providing up to $20,000 of forgiveness of student loans for those who qualified.Two lawsuits were ...

California Marine veteran killed while fighting for Ukraine, family says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

While backpacking through eastern Europe, Ian “Frank” Tortorici met a girl and fell in love — both with the Ukrainian woman who would become his fiancée, and her home country.So, when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the former Marine from Lake Forest quit his job with the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement and flew to Kyiv, where he enlisted in the Ukrainian International Legion.Trained as a paramedic, the Orange County native survived more than a year of battles from Irpin to Zaporizhzhia. While on leave from the front, however, Tortorici, 32, was killed last week at a central Kramatorsk restaurant during a Russian missile attack, according to his family.“He never got wounded. He never got hurt on any of the operations, with the exception of one concussion,” his father, Jon Frank, told the Southern California News Group in a phone interview on Tuesday, July 4. Then, “he was killed on leave eating in a restaurant by a Russian collaborator, who called in a (missile) str...

LA County Sheriff’s Department calls video of deputy tackling woman ‘disturbing,’ opens inquiry

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

By STEFANIE DAZIO | Associated PressLOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County sheriff says a bystander’s cellphone footage showing a deputy violently tackling a woman while she filmed a man being handcuffed, then pepper-spraying her in the face, is “disturbing,” and community groups on Wednesday called for the department’s new chief to hold his agency accountable.The June 24 incident in the city of Lancaster follows several cases that have drawn scrutiny to the department amid allegations of excessive use of force by its deputies. It’s also testing the reform efforts of the new sheriff, Robert Luna, a former Long Beach police chief who has vowed to overhaul the nation’s largest sheriff’s department since taking it over in December after defeating incumbent Alex Villanueva.Two involved deputies were pulled off field duty, Luna said during an afternoon news conference, and could face discipline ranging from letters of reprimand all the way up to dismissal if misconduct is found. He didn’t ...

Photos: Disneyland crews install ‘Big Hero 6’ towers on San Fransokyo bridge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

Crews have begun installing the twin towers of San Fransokyo’s Shinto shrine-inspired Golden Gate bridge as Disneyland continues the transformation of the Pacific Wharf dining area into a tribute to the “Big Hero 6” film.Photos show the steel framework of the distinctive San Fransokyo Square bridge taking shape at the entrance to the rethemed food court at Disney California Adventure, according to Disney Geek.More views of the ongoing work on San Fransokyo bridge at #DisneyCaliforniaAdventure. #BigHeroSix#dapsmagic pic.twitter.com/ddTVdLzROd— Daps Magic (@DAPs_Magic) June 30, 2023Disneyland employees signed their names and messages to the steel cross beams before the bridge uprights were installed, according to MousePlanet.“This will all be covered when the bridge is eventually painted, but it’s a nice touch,” according to MousePlanet.Disneyland employees signed their names and messages to the steel supports of San Fransokyo’s Shinto shrine-inspired bridge at Disney California...

Walters: Pandemic closures weakened low-achieving California schools

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

Gov. Gavin Newsom is fond of rattling off statistics that prove, he claims, California’s enviable status as a national, or even global, leader in all things wonderful.He tends, however, to cherry pick his numbers rather than provide a full picture, as a recent Sacramento Bee analysis of his economic assertions on national television demonstrates.However, there’s one aspect of California society – perhaps its most important – that Newsom excludes from his episodes of braggadocio: how the state is educating nearly 6 million public school students.The sad fact is that California’s students fare poorly vis-à-vis those of other states when it comes to basic skills in language and mathematics, as underscored in a newly published report by the Public Policy Institute of California.California kids were lagging behind even before Newsom and other officials shut down schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and, the PPIC studies show, educational proficiency plummeted during the closures.When sta...

‘Pokemon Go’ marks 7th anniversary with a run-it-back celebration

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

“Pokemon Go” is in a weird place on its 7th anniversary. A few controversial moves have led some veteran players to leave the game, while at the same time, it’s looking to regain momentum that it has lost as its pandemic boost fades.Right now, it feels as if “Pokemon Go” has been treading water while the developer, Niantic, closes studios, reshuffles staff and closes projects such as “NBA All-World” and cancels others games. In a letter sent to staff, Niantic CEO John Hanke said, “The top priority is to keep Pokémon GO healthy and growing as a forever game.”Perhaps, that will begin with the game’s 7th anniversary party. The event mainly focuses on Kanto region Pokemon that were released at the game’s launch. Players will have a chance of encountering the original starters — Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander, all with party hats. Pikachu will have a cake hat from the previous year. Each day will feature a differ...

Forget the unpacking, it’s summer party time

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

A brand new home means summer weekends can be even brighter and happier than ever before. All that’s needed for unforgettable weekends in the new-home community is some willingness, a little creativity and openness to meeting the neighbors.Whether you want to host indoor-outdoor events to meet the neighbors, birthday parties for the kids or quiet couple’s nights by the fire pit, the new home is the place to be.In advance of the first get-together, don’t worry if you haven’t yet finished decorating the new home. Avoid the temptation to make everything look perfect just because it’s new.In fact, some people might feel relieved to be hosted by another new owner who’s not afraid to leave things a bit undone. Neighbors might even ask each other for tips on decorating, furniture configurations or indoor-outdoor entertaining arrangements.Block parties or park outings  Start with the builder and the homeowners association (HOA), if applicable, to learn how easy it can be to get neighbors to...

Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist system gets closer look as US seeks details on recent changes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

FILE - A Tesla Supercharger is seen at Willow Festival shopping plaza parking lot, Aug. 10, 2022, in Northbrook, Ill. On Monday, May 15, 2023, Delaware’s Supreme Court overturned a judge’s ruling upholding a decision by state officials to prohibit electric vehicle maker Tesla from selling its cars directly to customers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)(AP/Nam Y. Huh) FILE - A Tesla Supercharger is seen at Willow Festival shopping plaza parking lot, Aug. 10, 2022, in Northbrook, Ill. On Monday, May 15, 2023, Delaware’s Supreme Court overturned a judge’s ruling upholding a decision by state officials to prohibit electric vehicle maker Tesla from selling its cars directly to customers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)(AP/Nam Y. Huh) ...

Is that a Jolly Ranger or something else? Feds crackdown on cannabis-infused products that can fool kids

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:43:32 GMT

Federal authorities are responding against cannabis-infused snack foods that resemble popular snacks marketed for children.The Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration have sent cease and desist letters to six 6 companies, stating that the sale of edible cannabis products packaged to appear as popular snacks is deceptive and illegal.“Companies must ensure that their products are marketed safely and responsibly, especially when it comes to protecting the well-being of children,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement.Products under scrutiny include Stoneos, which resemble Oreo cookies, plus others resembling Doritos, Cheetos, Jolly Rancher and Nerds candy.The FTC and FDA stress that children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of THC and instances of illness and hospitalization have been reported after consuming such products.“That’s why we’re issuing warnings to several companies sel...