Data on COVID-19 case and death rates indicate that we are entering a “new normal” where infections are not only declining but leading to less deadly results. The onset of the Omicron variant in early December last year resulted in a sharp spike in cases. On December 1, the 7-day moving average of total cases…
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An unemployment scam operated out of California prisons sought a record $25 million from the state and U.S. governments, netting more than $5 million that went for vehicles, furniture, handbags and jewelry, federal authorities said Friday. The $25 million is the largest known single intended haul in California, said former U.S. attorney McGregor Scott, who…
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Years ago, it was relatively common for radio stations to give away special radios that tuned only to one station: theirs. The novelty radios were essentially transistor radios with the normal tuning knob removed and special circuitry that locked on to a single frequency. Something similar is happening to certain radios in the Seattle area:…
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Eileen Gu is China’s Olympic megastar. Here’s what her San Francisco grandmother says about that In Beijing, Eileen Gu is called the Snow Princess. Her fresh face and highlighted tresses grace billboards and glossy ads for Louis Vuitton and Tiffany. Her gold medal performance in the Winter Olympics women’s big air freestyle ski event crashed…
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Government at every level works best when there are checks and balances in place to ensure programs funded with taxpayer dollars provide the best bang for our buck. Those checks and balances also include ensuring employees – whether they are public or private sector employees – involved in these programs are able to raise concerns…
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By Kim Cook Houseplants have been keeping a lot of us company during the pandemic, and the good news is there’s a plant for any home, big or small, well-lit or not. There’s also a virtual jungle of stylish containers in which to show them off. “I love incorporating plants into our interior spaces,” says…
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Mexico has acknowledged that the U.S. government has suspended all imports of Mexican avocados after a U.S. plant safety inspector in Mexico received a threat. The surprise, temporary suspension was confirmed late Saturday on the eve of the Super Bowl, the biggest sales opportunity of the year for Mexican avocado growers — though it would…
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If it weren’t for the fact that Gov. Gavin Newsom is in bed with the California prison guards union, I would credit him a lot more in these pages for his mostly right stances on criminal justice reform, including on the death penalty. Before I get into defending Newsom going against the will of the…
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Seniors in assisted living and nursing facilities around Orange County got a heartfelt surprise for Valentine’s Day: handmade cards to wish them a happy holiday. Volunteers – including Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, local students, Laguna Beach attorney Meldie Moore and her staff, and a resident who happened to hear about it on Nextdoor…
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From a thrilling late touchdown drive that gave the Los Angeles Rams a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, to Eminem taking a knee and Meadow Soprano driving an electric Chevy, here are the highlights from Sunday’s Super Bowl. How the Rams won the Super Bowl Down 20-16, the Rams went on a 15-play drive…
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