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1st lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID, president's results negative so far

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Monday but is experiencing only mild symptoms, her spokeswoman said.President Joe Biden was tested for the virus following his wife's positive test, but his results were negative. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president would continue testing regularly and would be monitored for symptoms.President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are greeted by Col. Tasha Lowery as they arrive at Fort Lesley J. McNair from Camp David, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)Jill Biden will remain at the couple's home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for the time being, communications director Elizabeth Alexander said. The first lady had planned to start the new school year Tuesday at Northern Virginia Community College, where she teaches English and writing. Biden to nominate longtime aide to UNESCO: report Due to her condition, she was working with school officials to arrange substitute teacher...

The 10 most expensive reported home sales in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland the week of Aug. 21

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

A house in Piedmont that sold for $3.3 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland in the past week.In total, 10 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.8 million. The average price per square foot was $852.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Aug. 21 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.1 million, single-family house in the 200 block of Perkins StreetThe property in the 200 block of Perkins Street in Oakland has new owners. The price was $1,050,000. The house was built in 1924 and has a living area of 1,338 square feet. The price per square foot is $785. The house features two bedrooms and one bathrooms.Perkins Street9. $1.3 million, single-family home in the 6800 block of Saroni DriveThe sale of the single family residence in the 6800 block of Saroni Drive in Oakland has ...

Opinion: Bill allows California regulatory boards to meet out of public view

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

In 1958, the Los Angeles Times sued the California Board of Education for holding secret meetings. The Times won that case, and a new law reformed the process for public meetings and decision-making in all state boards and commissions.The 1967 Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act states, “It is the public policy of the state that public agencies exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business and the proceedings of public agencies be conducted openly so that the public may remain informed.” The act requires that these bodies publicly notice their meetings, release agendas, allow the public to attend and accept testimony.Now state Sen. John Laird, D-Monterey, seeks to restrict the public’s ability to attend these meetings in person.His bill, SB 544, would change the Bagley-Keene Act to allow these government bodies to hold half their meetings remotely. There would be a staff member in a room where the public can attend and listen to a speakerphone — no video. No way to see if me...

Should junk food be banned at supermarket checkout? One California city thinks so

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

Perris wants to put healthy eating in reach by putting junk food out of reach at the grocery store checkout.A new law passed unanimously passed by Perris’ City Council earlier this year bans junk food from being sold at supermarket checkout aisles. Instead, no later than 2024, grocers will be limited to selling healthy snacks and drinks near the register.Perris is the second city in the United States to enact rules on what’s sold at grocery checkouts, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. Berkeley was the first.Perris officials hope the ordinance encourages healthy habits.Checkout aisle offerings at Stater Bros. in Perris on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, feature products such as gum, mints and candy. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)Customers check out Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Stater Bros. in Perris. A new city ordinance aims to promote healthier choices near the cash register. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The...

Family thwarts attempted smash-and-grab California jewelry store robbery

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

Family members fought off a man who assaulted them with bear spray in an attempt to rob their jewelry store in El Monte on Saturday afternoon, police and the store owner said.The chaotic scene broke out around 2:20 p.m. at Joyeria Meza, a family-owned jewelry store at 10909 Main Street.The owner said her 70-year-old uncle was sitting outside the store when the suspect, armed with a hammer, sprayed bear spray directly into his eyes. The owner requested that her name not be published out of concern for her safety.The suspect smashed a display case with the hammer before he assaulted the owner’s father, sister, and her two brothers with the bear spray, she said. A customer inside the store who tried to help thwart the suspect also was sprayed.The owner said her father mistook the red bear spray on her uncle for blood and attacked the suspect.“He wasn’t thinking about the gold,” she said. “He was trying to defend his family.”Video footage of the attempted robbery shared by ABC7 shows th...

Social Security is a lifeline for many Americans — how does it work?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

It was created in 1935 and typically makes up almost one-fifth of total federal spending.Today, we look at the program 66 million Americans rely on called Social Security.Social Security was created with the goal of providing economic security to the nation’s elderly; it was expanded in the 1950s to include support for the disabled. The program is operated largely on a pay-as-you-go basis: current employers and employees contribute taxes that fund benefits to retired workers and survivors in the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance program, as well as disabled workers and their families under the Disability Insurance program.Social Security is the largest program in the federal budget. The program provides benefits to about 20% of the American population. Nearly 9 out of 10 individuals over the age of 65 receive benefits, and those benefits represent about 30% of total income to older Americans.THEN AND NOWHOW IT IS FUNDED?Social Security is mainly funded through a dedicated payroll tax ...

BeyHive reacts to Diana Ross singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Beyoncé during her show in LA

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

Whether you were one of 70,000 lucky enough to get a ticket or were watching live streams from home, Beyoncé’s birthday show was a night to remember. The R&B singer returned to SoFi Stadium for her third and final concert of the Renaissance World Tour in Inglewood on Monday, Sept. 4.Fans were in awe as Diana Ross took to the stage to perform her song “Love Hangover” during the interlude before part two of the ANOINTED section of the show. The song is typically performed each night by backup singers.ALSO SEE: Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour dazzles diehard fans at SoFi StadiumBeyoncé done brought out DIANA ROSS for an interlude!!!! #BeyDayLA pic.twitter.com/hTIul2unlg— Angel C. Dye (@blkgrlpoet) September 5, 2023THEE DIANA ROSS.#BEYDAYLA#RENAISSACEWorldTour pic.twitter.com/UMOd0ZOV20— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@BeyLegion) September 5, 2023Y’all, Diana Ross is here! #RENAISSACEWorldTour #RWT #BeyDay pic.twitter.com/w3ekcDYUkg— Ashley Marie (@AshaBee09) September 5, 2023OMG D...

Yandle: Looking for love in all the wrong places, or serving the common good?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

Here we go again. Another set of efforts by the Biden administration to protect the U.S. economy from competition and combat climate change. But those looking for hard evidence that it will consistently serve the common good are sure to be disappointed. That, as country singer Johnny Lee sang, is “looking for love in all the wrong places.” Special interests—those influential folks seeking a boost at the expense of others—are the ones finding comfort.Yes, raw election politics seems to trump the public interest, whether it’s a cleaner climate or lower grocery bills, nearly every time. Fortunately, all hope is not lost.Beginning with the pessimistic side, a few days ago, the administration announced a new round of tariffs on solar panels exported to the United States from Southeast Asian countries that have been putting the final touches on Chinese components. After delays meant to give American industry time to adjust, Biden officials have added proverbial rocks to U.S. harbors to li...

Granderson: Nuclear power could save our air quality

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

You know it was a remarkable week when dumping tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean wasn’t even the lead story. That’s right: While much of the globe’s attention was on the former American president’s legal battles and the mug shot seen around the world, Japan started its 30-year plan to release the diluted yet still contaminated water that was stored at the now defunct Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Back in 2011, the most powerful earthquake in Japan’s recorded history led to a devastating tsunami and the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. Damage to the plant led to radiation of a huge volume of water, which the facility has been storing ever since. After two years of research, and the blessings of the International Atomic Energy Agency, authorities are slowly releasing the heavily treated water into the ocean because … well, because Japan is running out of room. The folks behind this plan will tell you that this...

Montgomery Co. Council member calls brawl after high school football game ‘shocking’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

Montgomery County, Maryland, Council member Kate Stewart didn’t see any of the fights that broke out Friday night between groups of students after Friday night’s football game between Walter Johnson and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High schools.But Stewart, who had been on a ride-along with Montgomery County police in Bethesda, said she did see videos on social media afterward and described them as “shocking.”“My first reaction was disbelief,” Stewart told WTOP.She said she was also saddened to see “that young people were the victims of this type of violence and also committing this level of violence.”The fights broke out after the football game, as students gathered around the Bethesda Metro station.“We need to look at what are we doing to make sure that students get from game to home safely,” Stewart said.The safety of students at events and games isn’t just something for the schools to tackle alone.“This is going to take all of us working together,” Stewart said, adding...