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

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 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...

Brady: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brady Corp. (BRC) on Tuesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $49.4 million.On a per-share basis, the Milwaukee-based company said it had net income of $1. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs, were $1.04 per share.The identification and security products maker posted revenue of $345.9 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $174.9 million, or $3.51 per share. Revenue was reported as $1.33 billion.Brady expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.85 to $4.10 per share.Brady shares have risen almost 8% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 12% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BRC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BRCSource

Las especies invasoras le cuestan al mundo US$ 423.000 millones al año y provocan el caos medioambiental, según un informe de la ONU

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:51 GMT

(CNN) — Las especies invasoras cuestan al mundo al menos US$ 423.000 millones anuales, ya que provocan la extinción de plantas y animales, amenazan la seguridad alimentaria y agravan las catástrofes medioambientales en todo el planeta, según un importante informe de las Naciones Unidas.La actividad humana —a menudo a través de los viajes o el comercio mundial— está propagando estos animales, plantas y otros organismos en nuevas regiones a un “ritmo sin precedentes”, con 200 nuevas especies exóticas registradas cada año, según los principales científicos.De las 37.000 especies exóticas que se sabe han sido introducidas en todo el mundo, 3.500 se consideran dañinas y suponen una “grave amenaza mundial” al destruir cultivos, acabar con especies autóctonas, contaminar cursos de agua, propagar enfermedades y sentar las bases de catástrofes naturales devastadoras.Las 17 especies animales que están en peligro crítico de extinciónBarqueros navegan entre jacinto...