Home

12 gifts to help California’s languishing economy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

California’s economy could use some holiday cheer.Yes, like the nation, the state avoided a recession in 2023 despite numerous challenges, including a Federal Reserve throttling business opportunities with high interest rates to chill a nasty bout of inflation.In fact, the state economy’s 3.4% growth, as measured by Gross Domestic Product for 2023’s first half, might seem miraculous, all things considered. But let’s note that 11 states fared even better.So, what might it take for California to rekindle its once nation-topping, eye-catching growth? After all, sizable but sluggish isn’t a great mission statement.Let me offer an economic gift list for California. Below are 12 business needs for the coming year – complete with a sprinkling of trusty spreadsheet input on why each one comes with challenges ahead.More arrivals: 1.2% of California residents in 2022 were relocations from other states – the worst attraction rate in the nation. California’s ...

Pac-12 MBB preview: Arizona on top (and it’s not close) as CU, USC, Utah and others fight for tourney berths

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

The Pac-12’s postseason fate won’t be sealed for three months, but decades of data allow us to sketch a gloomy outlook.A clear correlation exists between the Pac-12’s performance in non-conference games and the number of NCAA Tournament bids secured on Selection Sunday.Only six times this century has the Pac-12 received fewer than four NCAA bids; each time, it won less than 70 percent of its non-conference games.Meanwhile, the Pac-12 has received at least five NCAA bids on 10 occasions; in nine of those instances, it won at least 70 percent of the non-conference games.The current win rate? A paltry 66 percent.So start preparing for a modest bid total on Selection Sunday, regardless of the specific order of finish in the conference race.To the projections …(NET rankings through Friday)1. Arizona (9-1)NET ranking: No. 2Coach: Tommy Lloyd (third season)Top scorer: G Caleb Love (15.5 ppg)Comment: The results to date — both in Tucson and across the conferenc...

High school district gets new maintenance and operations building

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

Three campuses in the Fremont Union High School District saw construction of new buildings and/or classroom modernizations this fall, and the district got a new maintenance and operations building.Designed by McKim Design Group and Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and built by Blach Construction, the projects include a new wellness center and classroom modernization at Cupertino High School, a new science building at Lynbrook High School and classroom modernization and a new library quad at Homestead High School.Cupertino High SchoolThe new wellness center at Cupertino High School addresses the emotional well-being of students. After receiving a grant to hire personnel, the school realized an opportunity to renovate two classrooms. Designed by McKim, the updated spaces include dedicated therapy and counseling rooms and areas for students to decompress and implement calming techniques throughout the day. A variety of furnishings such as group table seating, bean bags and privacy tents all...

Sunnyvale green energy nonprofit names new CEO

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

Monica Padilla has been named the next chief executive officer of Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE). Padilla has worked at SVCE for five years leading power policy, planning, procurement, regulatory, operations and compliance as the chief operating officer and director of power resources.Padilla’s selection by the SVCE Board of Directors follows the announcement of current CEO Girish Balachandran that he plans to retire on March 31, 2024. Padilla’s appointment will start her new role with the Sunnyvale-based green energy aggregator on April 1, 2024.“I am excited to expand my role and help lead SVCE’s efforts to decarbonize our communities,” said Padilla in a statement.“Monica encompasses two characteristics that are critical for successful leadership: genuine caring for people and bottom line value,” said Balachandran. “She is constantly asking, ‘How does this make sense for customers?,’ and that shows through in every decision she makes.”In her current role as COO, Padilla has led...

Saratoga High School seniors develop fact-checking app

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

Saratoga High School seniors Grant Hough and Yanis Herne took first place in the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for the 18th Congressional District with their entry Aletheia. Honored earlier this month by Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, the competition’s founding co-chair, Grant and Yanis competed against middle school and high school entries from throughout Eshoo’s 18th Congressional District.Their app, Aletheia, is a real-time, browser-integrated fact-checker that allows users to validate news statements. While reading any article, users can highlight and right-click a passage to have Aletheia fact-check it. Aletheia’s research emulates the many steps that journalists would go through to fact-check a statement.This is the second Congressional App Challenge honor for Grant Hough after coming in second last year with his SpeakEasy app, a personal digital writing assistant that detects potentially offensive content in real-time and suggests alternative wording that can be easily and i...

Sports on TV for Sunday, December 24

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSunday, December 24COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)1:30 p.m.ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: Temple vs. Portland, Seventh-Place Game, Honolulu4 p.m.ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: Old Dominion vs. UMass, Fifth-Place Game, Honolulu6:30 p.m.ESPN2 — The Diamond Head Classic: TCU vs. Hawaii, Third-Place Game, Honolulu9 p.m.ESPN — The Diamond Head Classic: Nevada vs. Georgia Tech, Championship, HonoluluIIHF HOCKEY (MEN’S)12 p.m.NHLN — Exhibition: Canada vs. U.S., Gothenburg, SwedenNFL FOOTBALL1 p.m.CBS — Regional Coverage: Seattle at Tennessee, Washington at NY Jets, Cleveland at HoustonFOX — Regional Coverage: Indianapolis at Atlanta, Detroit at Minnesota, Green Bay at Carolina4:05 p.m.CBS — Jacksonville at Tampa Bay4:25 p.m.FOX — Regional Coverage: Arizona at Chicago, Dallas at Miami8:15 p.m.NFLN — New England at DenverSOCCER (MEN’S)8 a.m.USA — Premier League: Chelsea at WolverhamptonTENNIS9 a.m.TENNIS — Ultima World Tennis Lea...

Today in Sports – Marshall Faulk breaks Emmitt Smith’s NFL record for touchdowns in a season with 26

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

Dec. 241950 — Cleveland’s Otto Graham throws four touchdown passes, despite icy footing in Municipal Stadium, and Lou Groza kicks a 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds left to give the Browns a 30-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and the NFL title in their first year in the league.1961 — George Blanda’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Billy Cannon gives the Houston Oilers a 10-3 victory over the San Diego Chargers for their second AFL title.1967 — New York’s Joe Namath becomes the first player to throw for 4,000 yards in a season. Namath passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Jets to a 42-31 win at San Diego. Namath finishes the year with 4,007 yards.1997 — In one of the biggest upsets in college basketball, Division II American-Puerto defeats the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks 64-59 in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.2000 — Marshall Faulk breaks Emmitt Smith’s NFL record for touchdowns, scoring three times to give him 26 for the St. Louis Rams. Faulk’s three touchdowns and 2...

Tennis players Moore and Gatica cleared in doping case. Contaminated meat blamed for positive tests

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Tennis players Tara Moore and Barbara Gatica were cleared of doping allegations Saturday after investigators ruled that their positive tests for steroids stemmed from contaminated meat they ate while competing in Colombia, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said.Both women had been provisionally suspended after their samples taken at a WTA tournament in Bogotá in April 2022 were positive for boldenone. Moore’s sample also contained nandrolone.The ITIA said an independent tribunal determined that Moore and Gatica “ bore no fault or negligence for their adverse analytical findings and are therefore not subject to a period of ineligibility.”The tribunal found that “contaminated meat consumed by each player in the days before sample collection was the source of the prohibited substance(s).”“The ITIA has issued, and will continue to issue, information concerning the risks of meat contamination in certain parts of the world to all players,” the organ...

Man United’s scoring woes continue with 2-0 loss at West Ham in Premier League

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Manchester United’s scoring woes continued in a 2-0 loss at West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus netting second-half goals.United has now failed to score in its last four games in all competitions — that hasn’t happened since 1992 — and in five of its last six matches. Rasmus Hojlund, the club’s $82 million offseason signing, was hauled off in the 57th minute as his Premier League drought extended to 14 games.What United would give to have a player in the scoring form of Bowen, who exchanged passes with Lucas Paqueta and bundled in a finish — at the second attempt — past goalkeeper Andre Onana to give West Ham the lead in the 72nd minute with his 11th goal in the league this season.Kudus then pounced on a mistake by Kobbie Mainoo before being played through by Paqueta to drive home the second goal in the 78th. It was the Ghana international’s fourth goal in as many games.The late goals spoiled a composed debut for...

Pronto podrías recibir una carta del IRS sobre deuda. Esto es lo que debes saber, según CNBC

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:01:28 GMT

Tras un periodo de inactividad de dos años en relación con los avisos automáticos de cobro, el IRS ha comunicado que pronto reanudará el envío de este tipo de cartas, y los expertos ofrecen consejos en caso de recibir una.En febrero de 2022, la agencia suspendió los avisos de cobro automatizados para dedicar recursos a su acumulación de correspondencia y declaraciones sin procesar.Pero a partir del próximo mes, los avisos se reanudarán y el IRS enviará una “carta especial de recordatorio” que cubrirá la responsabilidad de los contribuyentes, las formas de pagar el saldo y el posible alivio de multas, dijo la agencia esta semana. El IRS anuncia que no aplicará multas por pagos atrasados de los impuestos de 2020 y 2021 Llega la época de preparar impuestos; el IRS detalla qué debes considerar CÓMO FUNCIONAN LOS AVISOS DE COBRO DEL IRSNormalmente, el CP14 es el primer aviso del IRS por un saldo de impuestos impagados, segu...