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House Republicans pass US debt bill, push Biden on spending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

By LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans passed sweeping legislation Wednesday that would raise the government’s legal debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep spending restrictions, a tactical victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he challenges President Joe Biden to negotiate and prevent a catastrophic federal default this summer.The bill passed by a razor-thin 217-215 margin.Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Democratic Senate in the meantime, and the president has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings to ensure America pays its bills.But McCarthy’s ability to unite his slim majority and bring the measure to passage over opposition from Democrats and even holdouts in his own party gives currency to the Republican speaker’s strategy to use the vote as an opening bid for...

The way of Ukraine to systemic reforms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

The official logo of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of UkraineSince the Russian Federation’s aggression in 2014, the United States and European countries have constantly supported Ukraine. The European Union has allocated money for different programs, starting from social programs, education, healthcare, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and other programs. After the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, the aid from European Union significantly increased. One of the conditions of the European aid’s continuation includes reforms, particularly anti-corruption reforms. During the 24th Ukraine-EU summit in February 2023, the European Council and the European Commission admitted the fight against corruption and particularly welcomed the progress in ensuring the independent and effective work of anti-corruption institutions. However, people in Ukraine and Western countries sometimes wonder whether this fight is truly effective.How much money does the EU give Ukraine?Since ...

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard has a torn meniscus: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic.Leonard did not play in the final three games of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns after suffering the injury during Game 1. The Clippers were eliminated Tuesday night, losing 136-130.The Clippers and Leonard will decide on the course of treatment within the next two weeks, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.Rehabilitation time for a meniscus repair is about 3 to 6 months, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This is the second time in three seasons that Leonard, 31, has suffered a knee injury in the playoffs. He suffered a partial tear in his right ACL during the 2021 West Conference Semifinals and missed the entire 2021-22 season.The Clippers were also hobbled in the playoffs by the absence of forward Paul George who has not played since March 21 due to a right knee sprain.

California's downtown areas were emptied by COVID; some areas are recovering

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

As the COVID-19 pandemic loosens its grip on California cities, many have wondered if popular destinations for residents and tourists alike, such as downtown areas, will ever rebound.Experts with the School of Cities at the University of Toronto compiled foot traffic data based on cellphone data from 62 North American cities from 2019 to November 2022 to see how quickly California's downtown areas are recovering from the stay-at-home orders.The report found that cities like Bakersfield, Fresno and San Diego are recovering or, at times, exceeded its pre-pandemic foot traffic numbers. In contrast, other cities like San Francisco and Oakland haven’t fully recovered. New census estimates show which California counties are losing residents This is how California cities ranked on the study’s downtown recovery analysis:2nd: Bakersfield: 118%, Exceeded pre-pandemic foot traffic levels3rd: Fresno: 115%, Exceeded pre-pandemic foot traffic levels8th: San Diego: 93% of pre-pandemic foot traff...

Woman Killed, 3 Injured in Solo-Car Crash on Sunset Boulevard [Hollywood, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

Woman Killed in Fiery Single-Vehicle Accident near La Cienega BoulevardHOLLYWOOD, CA (April 26, 2023) – Early Monday morning, one woman was killed and three were hurt in a solo-car crash on Sunset Boulevard.The incident happened around 2:30 a.m., at the 8200 block of Sunset Boulevard near La Cienega Boulevard on April 3d.According to reports, the driver of a Tesla X was traveling at a high rate of speed and crashed in the area. Upon impact, the vehicle became engulfed in flames which caused fatal injuries to a female passenger.In addition, medics transported two other female passengers for treatment of various injuries. Another driver then took the driver to a nearby hospital for further treatment.Emergency crews closed off the surrounding area of Sunset Boulevard for a brief time during cleanup and preliminary duties. Those with further information about the solo-car crash on Sunset Boulevard should contact local authorities immediately.Once available, further details will be...

gocoffeego.com: How Passion Drives the Enduring Specialty Coffee Movement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

If you find yourself living life at a rapid pace, and in need of slowing things down, enjoying a good cup of coffee can offer a great start.Brew some coffee. Enjoy the aroma. Take a seat. Pour a cup.Whether you’re starting your day with a first cuppa, taking a mid-afternoon break or winding down with a post-dinner refresher, a coffee, espresso, cappuccino or latte can create a space that’s just for you.The toned-down pace afforded by a cup of caffeine also reflects the origins of the Specialty Coffee Movement.“Specialty Coffee is produced with love and care,”said Elise Papazian, co-founder of San Francisco-based GoCoffeeGo.com. “It can never be rushed.“It’s all about high quality and takes a lot of effort, starting at the farm level with the best product. It is about the best soil, the best climate and how it is handled and sorted. Only the sweetest and ripest coffee cherries are picked. Waiting, caring and babying these plants is essential—and it takes time. The best coffee roaster...

Discovering the Magnificence Within: Lessons from “Go Be Brave”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

Have you ever wondered how you would survive a journey across the country with no money, no food, and only the kindness of strangers to rely on? It’s a daunting task, but it’s just another adventure for Leon Logothetis. The global adventurer, host of the popular Netflix & Discovery+ series The Kindness Diaries, motivational speaker, and best-selling author has traveled to over 100 countries with nothing but his beat-up Beetle, a few articles of clothing, and the generosity of strangers. His work has been featured on Good Morning America, Rachel Ray, Tamron Hall Show, and New York Times.In his latest book, Go Be Brave, Leon shares his incredible mission and teaches children and teens how to become fearless, deeply connected, and braver humans. He aims to help them live without anxiety and fear, even in uncertainty. He teaches parents and their children life-saving tools that can start to make a change in bringing voices back to so many that have felt so silent.But Leo...

Kurtenbach: My seven-round 49ers mock draft (featuring way too many trades)

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

The 49ers finally started taking my advice.After years of doing the dumb thing and drafting in the first and second rounds, the Niners traded away all those early picks and are solely focused on the good stuff: late-round picks only nerds like me care about.Yes, I’m talking about the picks they let a zoo animal, a face-painted fan, or the owner’s third cousin twice removed announce on TV — if the pick is announced at all. AKA, the good stuff.Thing is, the Niners might have overdone it on all those Day 2 and Day 3 picks. With seven compensatory selections, the Niners boast 11 picks in this week’s draft, which starts Thursday in Kansas City.That’s too many picks, so I traded away a bunch of them in my Niners’ Mock Draft.So here you go, a bunch of names you probably don’t know (good for you) with numbers attached. I watched all these players, so you don’t have to, and if I get even one of these picks right, I expect a parade to be thrown in my ...

Q&A: The “King” of cocktail bitters talks foraging ingredients in West Marin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

Lawrence Batterton is a medicinal herbalist by trade who a decade ago stumbled, quite successfully, into the bitters business.“I started making cocktail bitters for holiday gifts. I’d play around with different recipes, like ‘Winter Blend’ or ‘Silk Road,’ type up my own labels and give them away to people like Christmas cookies.”His pungent creations – twice as strong as bar versions, thanks to his herbalist training – got such a popular reception that in 2017 he founded King Floyd’s Bar Provisions. The Novato-based company kicked off with “Aromatic Bitters,” an original recipe with 10 spices and herbs like gentian, cacao and black walnut. It’s since grown a nationally distributed product line with “Green Chili” and “Scorched Pear and Ginger” bitters, flavored salts and sugars, and deals with Williams-Sonoma and New York celebrity bartender Sother Teague.Batterton, the CEO and self-titled “chief bottle washer” of King Floyd’s, recently...

We Build The Wall founder imprisoned for fraud

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:25 GMT

By Jake Offenhartz | Associated PressNEW YORK — The co-founder of a fundraising group linked to Steve Bannon that promised to help Donald Trump construct a wall along the southern U.S. border was sentenced to four years and three months in prison on Wednesday for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors.Brian Kolfage, a decorated Air Force veteran who lost both of his legs and an arm in the Iraq War, previously pleaded guilty for his role in siphoning donations from the We Build the Wall campaign.A co-defendant, financier Andrew Badolato, was also sentenced to three years for aiding the effort. He had also pleaded guilty. A third man involved in siphoning funds from the wall project, Colorado businessman Tim Shea, won’t be sentenced until June.Kolfage and Badolato were also ordered to pay $25 million in restitution to the victims.Absent from the case was Bannon, Trump’s former top political adviser. He was initially arrested aboard a luxury yacht and faced f...