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Why some California beaches are always considered 'dirty'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

California’s famous coastline is a popular destination for residents and tourists alike, especially during the summer; however, not everyone enjoys the ocean water.From multiple oil spills to floating debris, the Pacific Ocean off California's coastline has endured much hardship. The consequences of these events have left some people hesitant to even step foot in the water at some Golden State beaches. California could lose up to 70% of its beaches by 2100, study finds Experts with Heal the Bay recently published their annual Beach Report Card, which measures the cleanliness of California’s coastal waters. For more than three decades, Heal the Bay has assigned A-F letter grades for more than 700 beaches across the U.S., with 500 of those locations being in California, according to the organization’s website.Some locations with failing grades, like those in San Mateo and Los Angeles counties, have been named on the organization's “Beach Bummer” list multiple times.The “Beach Bummer...

Four wounded in three separate Oakland shootings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

OAKLAND — Four people were wounded in three shootings that happened within two hours Friday night and early Saturday in different areas of the city, authorities said.All of the victims were in stable condition Saturday.The shootings are not related, police said.About 12:10 a.m. Saturday two men, one a 36-year-old Richmond resident and the other a 39-year-old Oakland resident, were shot near the intersection of 76th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard in East Oakland. Police said the two injured men knew each other.The younger man was sitting in a parked vehicle and the other man was standing outside, authorities said. They told police they heard multiple gunshots and realized they had been wounded. The men got a ride to a hospital from another person.The shooting activated a gunshot detection system and police found multiple shell casings in the area.Police are trying to determine a motive for the shooting and if the men were the intended targets. No arrests have been made.About 10:10 p....

Food price inflation slows down for July 4th cookouts, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

As the time for Fourth of July cookouts rolls around, a new report suggests that although grocery store prices continue to rise, they are going up at a slower rate than they did last year.A new report from the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute revealed some trends about the price of food as people prepare for Independence Day cookouts.The price for a sirloin steak is $10.75 a pound, which is a 2.9% increase from last year when there was a 14% price inflation, the report said. Ground beef is $5.36 a pound, with the price up less than 1% from last year when there was a 16% inflation.Kenrick Thomas, a senior communications consultant at Wells Fargo, said that people should take advantage of the favorable meat prices and go for the classic hamburger for the celebration.For those who prefer chicken breast, those prices have fallen almost 2% from last year, selling at $4.24 a pound, the report said.Despite the favorable changes in meat prices, some side items and desserts are increasing in ...

Alcaraz reaches the Queen’s Club final to close in on reclaiming the top ranking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz reached his first ATP final on grass and moved one win away from reclaiming the top ranking by taking out Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 at the Queen’s Club Championships on Saturday.Alex de Minaur stands between Alcaraz and the trophy and No. 1 ranking.Alcaraz and Korda played their firs career semifinal on grass.Korda, the first American to reach the Queen’s semifinals in 11 years, served nine aces but also double-faulted six times. His slice was regularly punished by Alcaraz’s heavy forehands.Alcaraz won the only break point of the second set and held on.Victory would give the U.S. Open champion his fifth title of the year, his 11th tour title overall and move the 20-year-old Spaniard above Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings — meaning he would also enter Wimbledon next month as the No. 1 seed.The second-seeded Holger Rune also came to London never having won a tour-level match on grass, like Alcaraz.De Minaur knocked out Rune 6-3, 7-6 (2), saving the three ...

Avalanche acquire center Ryan Johansen in a trade with the Predators

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche have filled their second-line center void by acquiring Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators on Saturday.Colorado sent pending free agent Alex Galchenyuk to Nashville in a trade that essentially amounts to a contract dump but could help the 2022 Stanley Cup champions get back on top of the NHL.“Ryan is a talented, veteran center who helps our top six (forward group),” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said. “He gives us size in the middle of the ice and brings leadership and experience to our roster. We look forward to adding him to our team.”The move is a big splash for the Avalanche, who lost in the first round of the playoffs to Seattle this past season. They recently learned captain Gabriel Landeskog would miss the entire 2023-24 season while recovering from cartilage replacement surgery in his right knee.Johansen, who turns 31 in July, steps into the role previously filled by Nazem Kadri, who left after Colorado won t...

The welcomes for Wembanyama continue in San Antonio as the focus shifts to what’s next

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The first dinner that Victor Wembanyama had in his new home city was filled with San Antonio royalty. Gregg Popovich was there, of course. So were Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili and Sean Elliott.NBA champions, all of them.Wembanyama now starts his quest to join their club.The process of getting him ready for his first NBA season will start quickly, with summer league practices starting in the next few days and his first game in a Spurs uniform, albeit just the summer kind, coming in early July at either Sacramento or Las Vegas.“These are exciting times,” Spurs CEO R.C. Buford said.The welcomes for Wemby continued Saturday, first with a party on the Riverwalk — not coincidentally, in the spot where the Spurs’ championship celebrations are centered — followed by a visit to his new home arena.It was part of a whirlwind first 20 hours or so in San Antonio for Wembanyama, who flew in from the NBA draft on Friday and had dinner with Popovich and s...

The governor of the Moscow region has suspended mass events outdoors and at educational institutions until July 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — The governor of the Moscow region has suspended mass events outdoors and at educational institutions until July 1.Source

Bublik is to play Rublev in the Halle Open final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

HALLE, Germany (AP) — Alexander Bublik will play Andrey Rublev in the final of the Halle Open after straight-sets semifinal wins on Saturday.Bublik defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-5 and Rublev beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4 on grass.The 48th-ranked Bublik hit 14 aces and saved the only break point he faced from 22nd-ranked Zverev.“The job is not finished, there is one last match,” the Kazakh player said. “I am happy but I try to stay focused.”Zverev reached the Halle final in 2016 and 2017. He was aiming for his first title since 2021.Bublik is looking for his second career trophy after winning in Montpellier last year, while Rublev will be looking for his second of the season after triumphing in Monte Carlo in April. The seventh-ranked Russian seeks his 14th title altogether and his first on grass.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

NYPD shows respect to 9-year-old Texas boy after getting bullied for wearing cop costume

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (WSVN) – A 9-year-old boy in Texas showed up to school dressed like a police officer, then a school bully threw him from his wheelchair.That scary moment gave Michael Martinez a trip he’ll never forget — A tour of the Big Apple with the help of the New York Police Department. Michael has cerebral palsy and was dressed as a police officer on career day when he was pushed off his wheelchair by the bully.The Blue Lives Matter NYC and Vigilance Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club heard about what happened and flew Michael and his mother up from Houston.“To hear about Michael’s story, about how he was bullied in Houston, Texas and for us officers in New York to fly him out to show Michael and his family how important he is to the law enforcement community,” said an NYPD officer. Michael’s mom said special trips like this mean the world to her son and family, but she wishes Michael didn’t have to deal with bullies simply because he...

Live blog: Wagner Group ‘turning back’ as mutiny nears Moscow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:16:51 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday raised the specter of civil war after embittered warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin seized control of key parts of the south of the country. Prigozhin, who has long lambasted Russia’s top brass for their handling of the war in Ukraine, has seized the large strategic city of Rostov-on-Don, a crucial command center for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, some 1,000 kilometers south of Moscow. His Wagner Group mercenary forces also appear to have a foothold around Voronezh, about 500 kilometers from the capital. Putin has condemned the insurrection as “treason” and Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov has said his fighters have already been dispatched to take the battle to Wagner — raising the prospect of imminent civil conflict inside Russia. Britain’s Ministry of Defense has called Prigozhin’s uprising “the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times.” Follow the latest developments on POLITICO’s live blog here: