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Jill On Money: Mid-year money

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

It’s officially summer, which means you might be tempted to shut down and drown out anything financial. Not so fast.Related ArticlesBusiness | Need-based financial aid: What it is and how to qualify Business | Did the pandemic make us worse drivers? Business | What if you can’t afford long-term care? Business | Should you financially support adult kids? Business | Shopping on social media the smart way You may not be able to control inflation, the path of the economy, or the direction of financial markets, but there are many areas where a little attention can reap great benefits.Beware of ‘junk fees’The Biden Administration has called for companies to end “junk fees,” which are designed either to confuse or deceive consumers.They range from bank overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees, credit card late payment fees, hotel resort fees, airline baggage and change fees, service fees added to the...

Alameda County: 1 dead, 2 injured after struggle between law enforcement and alleged car thieves

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

ALAMEDA COUNTY — One man died and two others were injured early Monday morning after a struggle in which an alleged car thief attempted to disarm a law enforcement officer in unincorporated Alameda County, according to the county’s sheriff’s office.In a news conference Monday morning, a spokesperson with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said a CHP officer was responding to a report of a stolen car out of Hayward that was found speeding on eastbound Interstate 580.The officer was following the car when it exited on 164th Avenue and later crashed. Three suspects, all wearing ski masks, then left the vehicle on foot, according to the sheriff’s office.When an Alameda County sheriff’s deputy arrived to assist the CHP officer, they saw the CHP officer on their back, fighting two of the suspects. One of the suspects appeared to be attempting to disarm the officer, the sheriff’s office said.“Shots were fired,” Lt. Tya Modeste said in the ea...

This week in SF Giants baseball: A final home stand before a much-needed All-Star break

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

The San Francisco Giants have battled stomach bugs in a foreign land. They made two separate round trips to the East Coast in the first two weeks of the season. They endured a five-hour rainless delay on getaway day. They will, by the end of the season, have traveled more miles than any team in baseball.This might be their most taxing stretch of the season yet.Because Sunday’s series finale at Citi Field was picked up by ESPN, the Giants weren’t scheduled to arrive home until well after midnight Monday. The first pitch was thrown at 7:10 p.m. ET, and it didn’t help matters that the game moved at a primetime pace: 3 hours, 17 minutes. After arriving around 4 a.m. local time in both cities from their past road trip, it will be more of the same for the Giants to start this home stand, with a 6:45 series opener followed by an Independence Day matinee.“We’ve all got to go get some rest on the plane, as much as we possibly can, and these guys have to rest up ...

Bobcat attacks sleeping camper during youth wilderness program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

A man sleeping in a hammock was attacked by a rabid bobcat during a youth campout at a Connecticut state park.The attack happened around 2 a.m. Friday at Selden Neck State Park, where nine young people and three adults had set up camp for a wilderness program sponsored by a state agency.The man attacked was a staff member for the program. He and the two other adults killed the bobcat; all were taken to a hospital for treatment.None of the youth campers were injured. The outing was cut short, and firefighters used boats to bring them out of the park, which is on an island.The bobcat tested positive for rabies, state officials confirmed on Monday.The Wilderness School is an intervention and transition program for adolescents. It offers year-round wilderness programs ranging in length from one to 20 days that include hiking, camping and canoeing.Selden Neck is on the Connecticut River 3 miles west of Lyme and 10 miles upriver from Long Island Sound.Related ArticlesEnvironment | ...

Black bear bites homeowner and attacks his dog; both are recovering

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

LITCHFIELD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut homeowner was bitten by a black bear after his dog chased it into the yard and attacked the pet, officials said. Both were recovering Monday, though the bear escaped into the woods.The dog spotted the bear as it was inspecting a bird feeder on a porch Saturday in the western Connecticut town of Litchfield and chased it, state environmental officials said. The bear attacked the dog and bit the 65-year-old homeowner on the hand when he tried to intervene, officials said.The man was treated at a hospital, and the dog was sent to a veterinary hospital. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection did not have an update on the dog’s condition.A 74-year-old woman was bitten on her arms and legs in April when she was attacked by a bear while walking her dog in Avon, a Hartford suburb. There were two attacks last year, including one in October in which a 10-year-old boy was mauled in a backyard.Statistics compiled by the environmen...

Rafa Benítez says he had more than 20 offers before taking coaching job with Celta Vigo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

VIGO, Spain (AP) — Rafa Benítez was introduced as Celta Vigo coach on Monday, saying he accepted the Spanish club’s offer because he wanted to be back in a top league and closer to home.Benítez, who last coached Everton in England, said he received more than 20 offers from clubs in Spain and abroad.“There is a lot of money being offered out there,” the 63-year-old Spaniard said. “I wanted to be in a top league and closer to family, and with a project that allows me to grow. This offer was the most attractive. I am proud to be the club’s coach in its centennial.”Benítez coached some of the top clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli. He won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.Benítez had a stint in China before taking over Everton and after coaching Newcastle.Celta finished 13th last season in the Spanish league.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Encuentran vivo a un hombre de Texas que desapareció hace 8 años, cuando era adolescente

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

(CNN) — Un hombre de Houston que desapareció cuando era adolescente hace más de ocho años fue encontrado a salvo, dijo el Centro de Desaparecidos de Texas. Rudolph “Rudy” Farias IV llevaba desaparecido desde el 6 de marzo de 2015, según un folleto de personas desaparecidas.Alguien llamó al 911 después de encontrarlo inconsciente fuera de una iglesia, con cortes y moretones, dijo la madre de Farias a KTRK, afiliada de CNN. Ella cree que fue maltratado y golpeado, informó KTRK.Esta niña de Illinois desapareció hace 6 años con su madre. Acaban de encontrarla en Carolina del Norte“Después de 8 largos años, Rudy fue localizado a salvo”, decía este domingo un tuit del Centro de Desaparecidos de Texas.“Por favor, sigan manteniendo a su familia en sus oraciones mientras Rudy se recupera en el hospital”.Farias, que entonces tenía 17 años, estaba paseando a sus dos perros en el noroeste de Houston cuando desapareció, informó KHOU, afiliada de CNN.Segú...

An ex-OceanGate employee once sent an ominous email raising safety concerns about the doomed Titan submersible, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

(CNN) — A former OceanGate Expeditions employee emailed another ex-associate of the company years ago with concerns about the potential failings of its Titan submersible and an ominous warning about its CEO, who was killed last month with four others when the vessel imploded on a dive in the North Atlantic.“I don’t want to be seen as a Tattle tale but I’m so worried he kills himself and others in the quest to boost his ego,” David Lochridge wrote about OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, according to The New Yorker. The company hosted $250,000-a-ticket tourist excursions to the 111-year-old remains of the Titanic.Lochridge worked as an independent contractor for OceanGate in 2015, then as an employee between 2016 and 2018, CNN has reported. He soon became tangled in litigation with OceanGate, claiming he was wrongfully terminated for raising concerns about the safety and testing of the Titan.“I would consider myself pretty ballsy when it comes to doing things that are dangerous, but t...

Ukraine warns of nuclear disaster as Russia orders staff to leave power plant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

KYIV – Ukrainian officials and intelligence officers warned Russia could be preparing to blow up a nuclear power station, leading to a radioactive environmental disaster. After the Kakhovka dam destruction last month, Kyiv fears the Kremlin plans to organize an explosion at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — the largest in Europe — located in the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar.According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian workers have been told to leave the power station by July 5. “There is a serious threat. Russia is technically ready to provoke a local explosion at the plant, which could lead to the release of dangerous substances into the air,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said to Spanish journalists in Kyiv over the weekend. “We are discussing all this with our partners so that everyone understands why Russia is doing this and put pressure on the Russian Federation politically so that they don’t even think about such a thing.” L...

Barbie movie banned in Vietnam over South China Sea dispute

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:36 GMT

Vietnam has banned the upcoming Barbie movie because of a scene featuring a map that shows territory in the South China Sea claimed by China.According to local media in Vietnam, the film has a map featuring the “nine-dash line,” a representation of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.The U-shaped line represents areas that China has claimed. This includes territory that Vietnam considers its continental shelf, and in which it was awarded oil concessions.“Barbie” — starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling — was slated to open in Vietnam on July 21.In 2019, the Vietnamese government pulled DreamWorks’ animated film “Abominable” and last year it banned Sony action movie “Unchartered” for the same reason. Ken was unavailable for comment.