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Home sales in California drop to lowest level in 16 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

Home sales in California have reached its lowest level in 16 years, according to the latest report from the California Association of Realtors.  The news comes a month after another CAR report showed that only 15% of Californians could afford a home.The latest figures show that home sales during November were down 7.4% compared to October and down by 5.8% compared to November 2022. The decline is the 29th straight drop in home sales statewide but the smallest decrease in over a year, the report said. California to spend $300 million to clear homeless encampments near highways California's November 2023 Sale and Price Report. (California Association of Realtors) “Elevated mortgage interest rates and a persistent shortage of homes for sale hindered home sales in November,” CAR President Melanie Barker said in a statement. “With mortgage rates dropping to the lowest level in four months in recent weeks and the Federal Reserve indicating it plans to cut rates more than previ...

As seen on TV: LA’s iconic ‘General Hospital’ to become hotel, housing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

The vision of transforming the vacant yet iconic L.A. County General Hospital building in Boyle Heights into housing and healthcare facilities for working-class and homeless residents took a giant step toward reality Tuesday, with the county’s selection of a developer.Centennial Partners, consisting of Primestor and Bayspring Development, was chosen by the Board of Supervisors to build between 800 and 1,000 housing units, new retail space, a hotel, medical offices and laboratories in the architecturally significant building — and on its surrounding 25 acres.“This is a historic moment for our community,” said First District L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who has worked on the project since 2017. “The need for affordable housing in Los Angeles County, especially the Eastside, is greater than ever. I am proud to take this next step to repurpose a historic county landmark to meet our greatest need.”A year ago, the county hosted 55 developers at the site in hopes of attracting a pri...

Rite Aid’s ‘reckless’ use of facial recognition got it banned from using the technology in stores for 5 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

By Jordan Valinsky | CNNNew York — Rite Aid has agreed to a five-year ban from using facial recognition technology after the Federal Trade Commission found that the chain falsely accused customers of crimes and unfairly targeted people of color.The FTC and Rite Aid reached a settlement Tuesday after a complaint accused the chain of using artificial intelligence-based software in hundreds of stores to identify people Rite Aid “deemed likely to engage in shoplifting or other criminal behavior” and kick them out of stores – or prevent them from coming inside.But the imperfect technology led employees to act on false-positive alerts, which wrongly identified customers as criminals. In some cases, the FTC accused Rite Aid employees of publicly accusing people of criminal activity in front of friends, family and strangers. Some customers were wrongly detained and subjected to searches, the FTC said.Rite Aid said in a statement that it’s “pleased to reach an agreement” with the FTC but add...

High school boys soccer rankings Dec. 20, 2023: Bay Area News Group Top 20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

Bay Area News Group boys soccer Top 15(Mercury News & East Bay Times)(Records through Monday)No. 1 BERKELEY (9-0)Previous ranking: Not rankedSince last ranking: Beat Oakland Tech 2-0, Monte Vista 1-0, Tennyson 3-0, Alameda 2-1, San Ramon Valley 3-0, Encinal 13-0, Arroyo 7-0, Clayton Valley 1-0, Liberty 4-0Up next: Friday at San Lorenzo, 3:15 p.m.No. 2 ST. FRANCIS (5-0)Previous ranking: 6Since last ranking: Beat North Salinas 1-0, Hollister 3-1, Palo Alto 2-0, Burlingame 2-1, Burlingame 4-1Up next: Thursday at Harbor, 6 p.m.No. 3 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (4-0-1)Previous ranking: 3Since last ranking: Beat Greenfield 4-1, Branham 4-0, Alisal 3-1, Prospect 3-1, tied Cathedral-Los Angles 2-2Up next: Dec. 28 at Lincoln-San Jose, 1 p.m.No. 4 DE LA SALLE (2-0-1)Previous ranking: 5Since last ranking: Beat St. Mary’s-Stockton 2-0, tied Warren-Downey 1-1, beat Branham 3-0Up next: Dec. 27 vs. Loyola-Los Angeles, 9 a.m., site TBANo. 5 MOUNTAIN VIEW (7-1)Previous ranking: 1Since last ranking: Beat Mi...

Watch: A Conversation on the Horrors in Gaza With Jeremy Scahill and Sharif Abdel Kouddous

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

Israel is barring international reporters from entering Gaza — and systematically killing the Palestinian journalists who are the eyes and ears of the world, reporting from this Israeli-enforced killing cage.Intercept co-founder Jeremy Scahill hosted a live conversation with independent journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous on Tuesday about the U.S. role in Israel’s scorched-earth campaign to annihilate Gaza, the future of Palestinian resistance, and the urgent need for journalism that tells the truth about this crisis.Kouddous has reported from inside Gaza; his work has appeared on Al Jazeera, Democracy Now!, and more. He’s also a co-producer of the Palestine Festival of Literature. His George Polk Award-winning documentary “The Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh” helped expose the White House’s efforts to avoid a U.S. investigation after the prominent Palestinian American journalist was shot dead by Israeli forces.The post Watch: A Conversation on the Horrors in Gaza With Jeremy Scahill and ...

Sports on TV for Thursday, December 21

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsThursday, December 21COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)3 p.m.ESPNU — The Diamond Head Classic: Nevada vs. Temple, Quarterfinal, Honolulu5 p.m.ESPNU — The Diamond Head Classic: TCU vs. Old Dominion, Quarterfinal, Honolulu6 p.m.ESPN — Kentucky at Louisville6:30 p.m.BTN — Jacksonville at Purdue7 p.m.PAC-12N — Utah Tech at ColoradoPEACOCK — LeMoyne at Penn St.SECN — Abilene Christian at Arkansas8 p.m.ACCN — Stonehill at Miami8:30 p.m.BTN — North Alabama at Indiana9 p.m.CBSSN — Stanford at San Diego St.ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: Georgia Tech vs. UMass, Quarterfinal, HonoluluPAC-12N — Kent St. at OregonSECN — Lamar at LSU11 p.m.PAC-12N — Boise St. vs. Washington St., Spokane, Wash.11:30 p.m.ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: Portland at Hawaii, QuarterfinalCOLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)2 p.m.PAC-12N — N. Colorado at Colorado6 p.m.ACCN — W. Michigan at Notre DameCOLLEGE FOOTBALL8 p.m.ESPN — The Boca Raton Bowl: South Florida v...

La frontera entre Estados Unidos y México se acerca al “punto de quiebre” a medida que aumenta el número de migrantes, dicen funcionarios

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

(CNN)– La situación en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México se acerca a un “punto de quiebre”, le dijeron a CNN funcionarios actuales y anteriores de Seguridad Nacional, mientras miles de migrantes continúan cruzando a Estados Unidos, llevando los recursos federales al límite.La llegada de miles de migrantes a través de la frontera sur de Estados Unidos y la falta de capacidad y recursos para abordarlos equivale al tipo de escenarios que los funcionarios estadounidenses alguna vez planearon pero que esperaban que no se hicieran realidad.El sector ferroviario de EE.UU. pide a la Oficina de Aduanas reabrir inmediatamente el paso de trenes en la frontera surBajo la administración Biden, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional consideró múltiples escenarios y planeó aumentos en la frontera sur de EE.UU. de hasta 16.000 a 18.000 llegadas por día, antes del levantamiento de una restricción fronteriza de la era covid que a los funcionarios les preocupaba que provocara un aumento. ...

Maury Povich unveils father of baby orangutan at Denver Zoo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

DENVER, Colo. (WSVN) — The identity of a baby orangutan’s father at the Denver Zoo was revealed in dramatic fashion with the assistance of retired talk show host Maury Povich. In a much-anticipated announcement on Tuesday, Povich, adorned in a tuxedo and fresh from receiving the Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement honor, disclosed the paternity results for Siska, the 4-month-old Sumatran orangutan. “Is Siska’s father 30-year-old Berani or 16-year-old Jaya?” the Denver Zoo wrote on X on Friday.Povich made the big announcement in his signature style: “When it comes to the orangutan, 4-month-old Siska, Berani…” With flair, Povich opened a large manila envelope, revealing, “Berani, you are the father!” reminiscent of his famed paternity reveals on his daytime talk show. https://twitter.com/denverzoo/status/1737155961649770563?s=46&t=vjOsLNjN7FwM86SZdUwR8gThe video captured zoo staff applauding upon hearing the resu...

Llama therapy at Portland airport eases holiday travel stress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (WSVN) — Navigating airports during the holidays can be chaotic, but if you’re passing through Portland, expect a unique stress-busting surprise in the form of therapy llamas.Meet Prince and Benny, two 400-pound fluffballs serving as therapy animals stationed at Portland International Airport earlier this week. Travelers, in need of a calming moment, found solace in these gentle llamas.“It’s the most fun to see everyone’s reactions because you go from stress and concentrated trying to get to your gate on time to looking up and just seeing these 400-pound fluffs walking right by you,” shared Shannon Joy with Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas.Not stopping at llamas, the airport is also employing therapy dogs, ensuring that passengers experience a moment of joy and relaxation amid the holiday rush.

EU countries reach deal on national spending rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:10 GMT

BRUSSELS ― EU finance ministers on Wednesday clinched a deal to overhaul the bloc’s spending rules and allow countries more time to rein in spending, according to five officials.After weeks of fraught negotiations, governments finally agreed to the reformed framework that will set out a laxer pace of debt and deficit reduction than had previously been the case.  The decision was taken at a virtual meeting and followed a dinner between the French and German finance ministers in Paris on Tuesday night. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential.The so-called Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) was put on hold at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to allow governments to increase spending in the wake of the worst recession since World War II. The European Commission proposed changing the old rules because of concerns that they were outdated, inflexible and barely enforceable. The new format is designed to offer more gradual and ta...