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Killer whales are hanging around SoCal, and tour guides are loving it

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

Southern California’s loveable dolphins are finding themselves on the wrong end of the food chain as a pod of killer whales continues to hunt them right off the coast - a natural event that is delighting whale watchers and tour guides.The Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas were first spotted about two weeks ago by tours out of Long Beach and Newport Beach. Experts assumed the pod of about 10 killer whales would soon return to the warmer waters of Mexico where they are typically found.Midway through last week, they were spotted in San Diego and appeared to be headed south of the border. Instead, they turned around and returned to the waters off Orange County.A killer whale chases a dolphin off Laguna Beach, California on Dec. 24, 2023. (Newport Coastal Adventures)Orcas are seen off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula on Dec. 16, 2023. (Capt. Tyler Askari/Harbor Breeze Cruises)An orca is seen off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula on Dec. 16, 2023. (Capt. Tyler Askari/Harbor Bree...

Los Gatos leaders look forward to 2024

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

The new year sparks optimism and hope in many, including our town leaders. Here is a look at what some had to say about their plans for Los Gatos in 2024.Los Gatos Mayor Mary Badame says, “Los Gatos is a special place we call home. We cherish the defining characteristics of our surroundings while embracing the relationships that connect us.“As Los Gatos continues to evolve, we must adapt to change. State-mandated housing laws bring new challenges limiting local control in decision-making. We must step up collectively and constructively to ensure growth is balanced and blends within the character of our town. I am grateful for the trust in my leadership as we navigate the challenges ahead.”Jennifer Lin, relatively new executive director of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, says, “In 2024, my priorities for the Chamber include building stronger partnerships with community organizations such as our service groups and schools; better serving and supporting all the business districts of...

California homebuying crashed in 2023. What’s next?

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

Let me make one prediction about California’s housing market in 2024.The number of purchases will increase.Could sales go any lower after crashing into history’s basement this year?My trusty spreadsheet reviewed various homebuying metrics that the California Association of Realtors has published dating to 1990. We tossed in some broader economic yardsticks kept by various government agencies, too.This look at the annual average swings during those 33 years – including the 12 months that ended in November 2023 – shows California homebuying has never been slower.The 259,100 pace of existing single-family home sales in 2023 broke the previous bottom of 290,500 in 2007 as that bubble burst into the Great Recession.Consider that 2023’s homebuying crash was the result of a 42%, two-year drop in sales. The main culprit was the Federal Reserve, which rapidly boosted mortgage rates from historic lows to battle pesky inflation.ECONOMIC NEWS: What’s the big trend? Should I be...

Most unfortunate airplane incidents of 2023

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

By Maureen O’Hare | CNNThere’s a reason so many of us regularly put up with cramped seats, delayed bags, long security lines and short tempers: the ability to fly across the world is a daily miracle that’s not to be taken for granted.An estimated 34.4 million flights were scheduled to take off this year and most of them went entirely smoothly. But here are a few that didn’t:Did you pack this bag yourself?We should all know the drill by now: no flammable items, no long blades, no liquids over 3.4 ounces. However, there continue to be passengers who flout the luggage rules for carry-on and checked bags – some more extravagantly than others.Why get caught with a regular knife or firearm when you can be stopped with a Irish shillelagh club or a multi-use, self-defence “vampire straw”? Or, for weaponry with wow, there was the US woman arrested in Sydney with an undeclared 24-carat gold-plated handgun in her luggage.Contraband animal matter, alive or otherwise, is another obvious no...

Michigan Supreme Court rejects ‘insurrectionist ban’ case and keeps Trump on 2024 primary ballot

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

By Marshall Cohen | CNNWashington — The Michigan Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot based on the US Constitution’s “insurrectionist ban.”The outcome, which was generally expected, is a victory for the former president, though an effort to remove him could be renewed for the general election. Wednesday’s decision contrasts with the recent ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court, which kicked Trump off its primary ballot because of his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. That decision has been paused pending an appeal.RELATED: Can California really keep Trump off the ballot?With these dueling decisions, the expected appeals to the US Supreme Court become even more critical, especially as the nation races toward the start of the 2024 primaries. Unlike in Colorado, the Michigan lawsuit never reached a trial and was dismissed early on in the process. An intermediate appeals court upheld the decision to toss the case o...

The New York Times sues OpenAI, Microsoft over use of its stories used to train AI chatbots

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, seeking to end the practice of using its stories to train chatbots.In the suit filed Wednesday in the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, the Times said OpenAI and Microsoft are advancing their technology through the “unlawful use of The Times’s work to create artificial intelligence products that compete with it” and “threatens The Times’s ability to provide that service.”OpenAI and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Media organizations have been pummeled by a migration of readers to online platforms and while many publications have carved out a digital space online as well, artificial intelligence technology has threatened to upend numerous industries, including media.Artificial intelligence companies scrape information available online, including articles published by media organizations, to train generative AI chatbots. Those companies have attracted bi...

Convicted felon with loaded ghost gun arrested after Richmond traffic stop, police foot pursuit

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

(KRON) -- A man who was pulled over for vehicle code violations on Christmas Eve in Richmond attempted to flee from police officers on foot before being placed under arrest, according to the Richmond Police Department.The traffic stop took place at around 9 p.m. on Dec. 24 in the 700 block of 23rd Street. The driver of the stopped vehicle “immediately exited” the car and “refused to follow officers’ directions,” police said, before taking off on foot. After a short foot pursuit, the driver was taken into custody.(Photo: Richmond Police Department)(Photo: Richmond Police Department)Richmond police said a loaded ghost gun and additional magazines were found in the possession of the driver. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up another firearm, more high-capacity pistol magazines and marijuana, authorities said.According to police, the driver was a convicted felon. The man was booked into jail for weapons violations.

CHP San Jose issued 314 citations over Christmas Maximum Enforcement Period

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

(KRON) -- The California Highway Patrol ran a Maximum Enforcement Period over the past holiday weekend in an effort to address the main factors of collisions, including speeding and driving under the influence. The CHP San Jose division issued the highest number of citations, according to the agency.The Christmas 2023 Maximum Enforcement Period in San Jose resulted in 314 citations being issued, CHP said, and 223 verbal warnings. The citations were issued for speeding, distracted driving and other forms of reckless driving. Calm before the storm: Officials urge storm prep as wet, unsettled weather returns Forty arrests were made by CHP San Jose for driving under the influence, according to a summary released by the agency. There were 172 speeding tickets issued for driving under 100 miles per hour and 22 issued for driving over 100 miles per hour. Fifty-four citations were issued for distracted driving, and 10 were handed out for seatbelt violations.Across California, CHP made 909...

Injury blow for Tottenham as defender Cristian Romero ruled out for four or five weeks

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham defender Cristian Romero will be out of action for four or five weeks with a hamstring injury, manager Ange Postecoglou said on Wednesday.The Argentina international, who only returned from a three-match suspension at the start of this month, sustained the injury during Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Everton.On the eve of fourth-place Tottenham’s Premier League game at Brighton on Thursday, Postecoglou told reporters: “Not so great with Romero. He had a scan the other day and has got a hamstring strain. We are looking at probably four or five weeks for him.“Disappointing to lose him, for sure. We obviously missed him with the suspension and now we’ve just got him back and he steadied things up. Now he will be missing again for quite a chunk of time.”However, Romero’s centre-back partner Micky van de Ven should be ready to return soon after his own hamstring injury.“We will see him some time in January,” Postecoglou said. “I...

No. 14 Arizona to face No. 12 Oklahoma in Alamo Bowl two years after a one-win campaign

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:46 GMT

Arizona will be in unfamiliar territory at the Alamo Bowl.The Wildcats — two seasons removed from winning only one game — face traditional power Oklahoma on Thursday in San Antonio.Jedd Fisch, the third-year head coach who has directed Arizona’s turnaround, said just eight of his players have competed in a bowl game, and those are all transfers.“This is a brand-new experience for a majority of our team,” Fisch said. “It’s a brand new experience for our players. We want to make sure that our players understand it is a privilege to play in a bowl game. It is a celebration of a job well done.”The 14th-ranked Wildcats (9-3) take a six-game win streak into the matchup with No. 12 Oklahoma (10-2). Four of those victories came against teams that were ranked at the time they played — Washington State, Oregon State, UCLA and Utah.“There’s nobody in college football right now that’s playing better football the last half of the season than the University of Arizona,” Oklahoma coach Brent...