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Lowry: Ron DeSantis is down, but hardly out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

The Ron DeSantis presidential campaign sure was good while it lasted.The conventional wisdom has turned so decidedly against the Florida governor that he’s getting buried a couple of months before he even announces.Rumors of his political death are not just greatly exaggerated they are absurdly overwrought, although that’s what a bout of bad national polling will do.To listen to the pundits, DeSantis has gone from the political force who steamrolled his way to a historic reelection victory in a large, diverse former swing state to a socially awkward stumblebum who would stay out of the 2024 race if he knew what was good for him.It’s wrong to characterize the last couple of months as a loss for DeSantis. His book was a success and he’s in the process of racking up an impressive string of victories during the current session of the Florida legislature. But there’s no doubt that he’s hit turbulence. He, in effect, walked back the line in his statemen...

Dear Abby: Dad ends contact with son over lifestyle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

Dear Abby: Our son “Victor” and his wife have informed us that they are “polyamorous.” They have been married for nine years, and were together for five years before they married. They have agreed to this arrangement, and their partners know they are married. They love each other, own a home together and plan to be together forever. They are “safe,” and no one is getting hurt.Because of their lifestyle, my husband, “Del,” has not communicated with them for more than 16 months. He says if I die first, he’ll make sure they get nothing in his will. I have visited them alone (we live over 800 miles away) and plan to do so in the future. Our other married son, “Mike,” tried to talk to his father about this, but Del still refuses to budge. When Mike said this means we will never be together as a family again, his father had no response.I have told Del this is breaking my heart. I have considered leaving him over this. Howev...

Bub's at the Beach to close after 25 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It will be the end of an era for a longtime Pacific Beach staple after 25 years of service.Bub's at the Beach, located at 1030 Garnet Ave, will be closing its doors, the bar and grill announced Tuesday via Instagram."25 years in Pacific Beach is coming to an end. Come celebrate with us as we say thank you to PB and everyone who has supported us over the years!! We will be closing our doors at the end of the month so there's a short window to hit your favorites on Bub's menu and give some love to our amazing staff," the restaurant said. California’s Mission-style Burrito among most difficult US fast foods to give up: study Opening in 1998 in Pacific Beach, Bub's then branched out to downtown San Diego, according to its website. Bub's, which is notably known as a big Padres hot spot, is also the official Pittsburgh Steelers' bar in San Diego and home to watch parties for the Virginia Tech Hokies.Talk about tradition, the bar and grill has been serving tater tots since a...

La Jolla Cove fencing in need of fixing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Years of rot from storms and neglect have resulted in a fence standing on the edge of the La Jolla Cove with a little more than paint holding it together in spots. “It’s finally come down to, we need to get it done,” said Bob Evans, the president of La Jolla Parks and Beaches INC. After years of complaining about the issues to the city, The La Jolla Parks and Beaches INC, an association of locals, are vowing to fix the fencing without the city’s help. Passengers react to Southwest Airlines issues at San Diego airport “I can stand here and pound my fists and scream. We deserve, we are owed, the community needs this now, but that’s not going to get it done,” Evans said. The city has agreed to meet with the group and discuss what services might be accomplished by the community group on Thursday. Evans hopes to raise $100,000 to revitalize roughly two miles of fencing from Goldfish Point to Whale Viewpoint.  

House Republicans ready border enforcement push after delays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans for months have railed against the Biden administration’s handling of the U.S. border with Mexico, holding hearings, visiting border communities and promising to advance legislation to clamp down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking.But so far, they have failed to unify behind a plan, delaying efforts to pass legislation.Now they are hoping to change that. Republicans on Wednesday are jumpstarting work on an immigration and border enforcement package that would remake immigration law to make it more difficult to apply for asylum and easier for the federal government to stop migrants from entering the U.S.Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican who is chair of the Judiciary Committee drafting the legislation, said he expected Wednesday’s markup of the bill to go “well.”The undertaking comes as Washington is putting renewed focus on border security, and the plight of thousands of migrants who show up seeking entry into the U.S., with a looming May de...

Judge to decide whether leak suspect should remain jailed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts Air National Guardsman charged with leaking highly classified military documents is due back in court on Wednesday for a hearing to decide whether he should remain behind bars while he awaits trial. Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested by heavily armed tactical agents at his Massachusetts home last week and charged, under the Espionage Act, with unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. During his first court appearance in Boston’s federal court Friday, a magistrate judge ordered him to remain in custody until Wednesday’s detention hearing. Teixeira is accused of sharing highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues in a chat room on Discord, a social media platform that started as a hangout for gamers. The stunning breach exposing closely held intelligence has sparked international uproar and raised fresh questions about America’s ability to safeguard i...

Kim says North Korea’s 1st spy satellite is ready for launch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country has completed the development of its first military spy satellite and ordered officials to go ahead with its launch at an undisclosed date, state media reported Wednesday. Establishing a space-based surveillance system is one of Kim’s key objectives to advance his military capability to pressure the United States to abandon what he called its hostile policies, such as its military drills with ally South Korea and international economic sanctions on North Korea. Previous missile and rocket tests have demonstrated North Korea can send satellites into space, but many experts question whether it has cameras sophisticated enough to use for spying from a satellite because only low-resolution images were released after past launches. During his visit to the country’s aerospace agency Tuesday, Kim said that having an operational military reconnaissance satellite is crucial for North Korea to effectively u...

Stock market today: Asia trading mixed ahead of earnings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Wednesday, as investors took a wait-and-see attitude ahead of earnings reports and possible moves by central banks. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.2% in morning trading to 28,590.40. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1% to 7,370.70. South Korea’s Kospi gained less than 0.1% to 2,573.12. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.6% to 20,521.13. The Shanghai Composite shed 0.3% to 3,383.18. News that China’s economic growth accelerated in the latest quarter, to 4.5%, did not have much of an impact on share prices. While consumption and retail sales have grown, other indicators, such as industrial output and fixed-asset investments, were weaker and indicate an uneven recovery. “It may still be a worst-is-over story, but recovery has shown to be more gradual than a one-shot wonder,” said Yeap Jun Rong, market analyst at IG.Wall Street closed little changed after a day of meandering trading. The S&P 500 edged up 0....

9 Indonesian fishermen feared dead, 11 rescued off Australia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Nine Indonesian fishermen are feared drowned and another 11 have been rescued after spending six days without food or water on a barren island off the northwest Australian coast in the aftermath of a powerful tropical cyclone, authorities said Wednesday.Two primitive wooden Indonesian fishing boats were caught in the path of Cyclone Ilsa, which on Friday became the most powerful storm in eight years to cross the Australian coast, with winds gusting at an apparent record of 289 kilometers (180 miles) per hour.One of the boats, Putri Jaya, sank in “extreme weather conditions” on April 11 or 12 while Ilsa was gathering strength over the Indian Ocean as it tracked southeast toward the coast, Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a statement, citing survivors.The other boat, Express 1, ran aground with 10 men aboard in the early hours of April 12 on Bedwell Island, a sandy outcrop some 300 kilometers (200 miles) west of the Australian coastal tourist tow...

Minnesota House passes government/elections bill that calls for redesigning state flag and seal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:56 GMT

Minnesota is taking another step closer to redesigning its state flag and committing its Electoral College votes to presidential candidates who win the national popular vote.Members of the House on Tuesday voted to approve those and other changes in a $1.5 billion state government and elections package. The 182-page bill boosts spending for the state government agencies, the Legislature and government IT by $400 million in the next two-year budget. It also retools how Minnesota defines “major” political parties — a move that will make it harder for third parties to get on the ballot.Past that, the bill also boosts funding for the public election subsidy, something backers say will encourage more candidates to take state campaign cash and reduce the influence of special interests.Major legislative packages called “omnibus bills” are the norm at the Minnesota Capitol, where lawmakers often lump spending and other policies into big bills. The state government package contains many appr...