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Opinion: Why Governor Newsom should sign gun violence prevention bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

The decrease in deaths related to smoking and tobacco use is one of the great public health achievements in California history. With smoking rates declining more than 50% since the 1980s, our policies have been credited with saving 1 million lives and $134 billion in health care costs. A key pillar to this success is an excise tax on the tobacco industry, with revenues used to fund a variety of smoking prevention and cessation programs.The idea is simple but powerful: When an industry creates a product that harms society, redirect some of the profits from the sale of that harmful product to programs that will help alleviate the impact.As smoking deaths decline, gun deaths are on the rise in California, and it’s time to borrow from the success of the anti-smoking movement. A bill passed by a supermajority of the California Legislature, AB 28, would do exactly that — place a modest, 11% excise tax on the firearm industry, not consumers, that would generate $160 million annually ...

Water main break recovery expected to take 6 weeks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Public works crews discovered all the pipes on the Fillmore street block in the Cow Hollow neighborhood need to be replaced. The estimated time of this new repair project is expected to take six weeks.Water, sewer and gas pipelines on that block were all found to be outdated and in need of a replacement before the street can fully reopen, the SF Public Utilities Commission said. This comes after a sinkhole formed on Monday as a result of a 70-year-old water main rupturing at Green and Fillmore streets. That sinkhole has since been filled. Fillmore Street is closed off between Union and Green streets and will remain that way through October. Crews are expected to work daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.The San Francisco City Attorney's Office is urging both homeowners and businesses to file claims if they've suffered any damage. The biggest issue some businesses may have is slower foot traffic due to the road closure.

UAE police say they have seized $1 billion worth of Captagon amphetamines hidden in doors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Police in Dubai seized 86 million tablets of the amphetamine known as Captagon hidden in a shipment of doors and decorative building panels, authorities said Thursday, estimating its street value at just over $1 billion.The bust comes as sales of the amphetamine have become a Mideast-wide problem during Syria’s long war.A surveillance video released by the Interior Ministry in the United Arab Emirates shows suspects trying to bring the Captagon tablets through Dubai’s massive Jebel Ali Port. They were hidden in five shipping containers of doors and panels, with the drugs themselves weighing over 13 tons, authorities said.The UAE “stands as an impenetrable fortress against any threat aimed at jeopardizing the security and well-being of the Emirati society,” Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a statement. Authorities did not identify the arrested suspects but described their operation as an “international criminal o...

Who is dressing Miss Virginia for the national stage? Fairfax Co. high schoolers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

Students in the Fashion Careers program at Fairfax Academy are dressing Ashley Williams, this year’s Miss Virginia, for the national stage. (WTOP/Sandra Jones)When Miss Virginia walks the runway at the Miss USA competition later this month, one thing is for sure: No contestants will show up in the same dress.That’s because students in the Fashion Careers program at Fairfax Academy are dressing Ashley Williams, this year’s Miss Virginia, for the national stage.“A lot of people, they outsource their wardrobe for the pageant from well-known and famous designers,” Williams said. “But I’m grateful to be wearing our high schoolers to show them that the world is their oyster.”The project is the result of a collaboration between Williams and Fairfax Academy’s Kendall Barry, who teaches in the program and also owns her own luxury swimwear brand, ISAMEL.“I think it’s really great and I really appreciate how much she is relying ...

No. 8 Washington, Michael Penix head to Michigan State to headline Pac-12 action

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

Here are some things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:GAME OF THE WEEKNo. 8 Washington (2-0) at Michigan State (2-0), Saturday. The Huskies will travel to East Lansing to face either a distracted Spartans team or one that is especially motivated. Michigan State coach Mel Tucker was suspended after USA Today reported he allegedly sexually harassed an activist and rape survivor. This is Washington’s last nonconference game, and though Michigan State is a name opponent, this isn’t a typical Spartans side. Washington is favored by 16 1/2 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, so anything but a convincing victory would be a disappointment for a school with a shot at the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is making an early case for the Heisman Trophy, with a pair of 400-yard passing performances. Michigan State QB Noah Kim was named Big Ten Conference offensive player of the week after completing 18 of 22 passes for 292 yards and three touchd...

Oil prices creep higher, raise inflation concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are creeping higher and raising concerns about the impact on inflation’s cooling trajectory, consumers’ wallets and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.U.S. crude oil prices started rising in early summer after slipping or holding relatively steady for most of the year. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. measure, is up 8% for the year and approaching $90 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard is up 5% for the year and has already breached the $90 mark.Higher oil prices trickle down to everything from gasoline prices to transportation and production costs for consumer goods. The unwelcome pressure on inflation comes as prices have been generally cooling throughout 2023.Investors, economists and consumers are all hoping for the cooling trend to continue so the Federal Reserve can consider a longer pause after more than a year of aggressive interest rate hikes.Gasoline prices are among consumers’ biggest concerns, as it remains a ...

ESPN College GameDay coming to Boulder for Rocky Mountain Showdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — ESPN College GameDay is coming to Boulder for the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The University of Colorado Buffaloes will face rival Colorado State University this weekend.College GameDay is a pregame show on ESPN that highlights a different game each week, and it's visiting the Buffs for the first time since 1996. 4 things you need to know about CU Buffs football It's proof that a team can rise to the top of the college football conversation immediately after a season in which their only win was from a disputed touchdown in overtime.The No. 18 Colorado Buffaloes are gaining popularity thanks to new coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders who has overhauled the program since he was hired in 2022. As a result, the team has already broken last season's record with two back-to-back wins.Season tickets sold out months in advance, more people are betting on the Buffs than any other team, and last week's game broke viewership records, becoming the most viewed Pac-12 regular season ...

Adam Sandler to perform at Ball Arena during national tour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The one and only Adam Sandler has announced a massive North American tour, and he's making his way to the Mile High City.On Wednesday, Sandler posted "Let's have some fun" in an Instagram post accompanied by the announcement of his "The I Missed You Tour."The actor and comedian is heading to 25 cities. This tour follows the success of the "Adam Sandler LIVE" tour that sold out earlier this year. Red Rocks announces ‘Sessanta’ tour dates, Riley Green concert in 2024 Sandler is hitting the road in just a few days with the first show kicking off in Vancouver on Oct. 12.The comedian will close out his tour in Denver and perform at Ball Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 12. So get your credit cards ready, tickets go on sale in just a few hours.Tickets go on sale ThursdayLive Nation is holding a presale on Sept. 14 at 12 p.m.Tickets will be sold on Ticketmaster with additional venue and official platinum presales going on sale on Thursday, as well.For the general public, tickets wi...

Surfer recounts terrifying shark bites him in face New Smyrna Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) — Mark Summerset, the surfer who encountered a shark off New Smyrna Beach, is now sharing his account of the incident. Speaking out for the first time since the attack, Summerset described the terrifying moment when a shark bit him in the face and the subsequent fight for survival.“It felt like a bear trap. It was definitely a fight or flight situation,” Summerset recounted. Summerset had been out surfing earlier this week and was about to reposition himself on his board when the unexpected incident occurred.“When he closed in, he closed in like this,” Summerset explained, gesturing to the area near his face where he sustained injuries. “He came in like this, as you can see, I got the abrasion on the bottom, and on here I got a gnarly battle wound.”The surfer’s recollection of the attack provides a firsthand glimpse into the intensity of the encounter with the shark.Following the attack, a quick-thinking woman o...

Dolphins’ defense hoping to adjust, stop the run after poor performance against Chargers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:46 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jevon Holland didn’t want to make excuses after the Miami Dolphins’ defense gave up 234 rushing yards in a season-opening win over the Los Angeles Chargers.“We need to be better,” the third-year safety said. “Plain and simple.”Growing pains were expected as the Dolphins transition to the scheme of new coordinator Vic Fangio. They struggled to get pressure with their front four in the opener and were gashed on the ground after finishing 2022 with the league’s fourth-best run defense.Coach Mike McDaniel praised the defense for ultimately sealing the win with two timely sacks of Justin Herbert on the Chargers’ final drive, but said he wants to see a “constant mode of progression” from the unit this week as the team prepares to face New England Sunday night.“I think there’s a lot of people with the right motivations that were trying to independently make plays and not thinking about technique and fundamentals,” McDaniel said.Miami made ...