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Is it a “richcession”? Or a “rolling recession”? Or maybe no recession at all?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

WASHINGTON — The warnings have been sounded for more than a year: A recession is going to hit the United States. If not this quarter, then by next quarter. Or the quarter after that. Or maybe next year.So is a recession still in sight?The latest signs suggest maybe not. Despite much higher borrowing costs, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive streak of interest rate hikes, consumers keep spending, and employers keep hiring. Gas prices have dropped, and grocery prices have leveled off, giving Americans more spending power.The economy keeps managing to grow. And so does the belief among some economists that the United States might actually achieve an elusive “soft landing,” in which growth slows but households and businesses spend enough to avoid a full-blown recession.“The U.S. economy is genuinely displaying signs of resilience,” said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY, a tax and consulting firm. “This is leading many to rightly question whether the long-forecast recess...

The hazy future for Medicaid caregiver payments expanded during the pandemic worries families

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

Nathan Hill started receiving $12.75 an hour from a state Medicaid program to help care for his severely disabled son during the pandemic, money he said allowed his family to stop using food stamps.The program was designed to provide a continuation of care and ease a home health worker shortage that grew worse after COVID-19 hit.But now, with the COVID-19 public health emergency over, he worries that the extra income will disappear. Some states have already stopped payments while others have yet to make them permanent.“The success of this during the pandemic was tremendous … for the first time we were able to pay our own way,” said the Meridian, Idaho, resident. “We’re not relying on charities to help us pay our rent and utilities.”A total of 39 states, with the help of the federal government, either started paying family caregivers or expanded the population eligible for payment during the pandemic, according to a survey last summer by KFF, a non-profit that studies health care iss...

Denver weather: Hot and sunny, ahead of afternoon thunderstorms later this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

Metro Denver residents face hot and mostly sunny weather Wednesday under clear blue skies, ahead of a cooling trend bringing afternoon thunderstorms later this week, according to the National Weather Service.The relatively warm, dry weather — following weeks of heavy rain that boosted vegetation statewide — has raised fire risks. The weather service issued “red flag” fire danger warnings around western Colorado.The high temperature in Denver on Wednesday will be 90 degrees, weather service forecasters said. This will decrease to 82 degrees on Thursday and 74 degrees Friday, forecasters said. At night Wednesday, the low temperature is expected to be 60 degrees.The heat is intensifying elsewhere, raising health concerns. Temperatures around southern Colorado were expected to be the hottest of the year, possibly exceeding 100 degrees in the Arkansas River Valley east of  Pueblo. The weather service issued a heat advisory, effective between noon and 7 p.m., warni...

Industrial giant MMK strengthens ESG focus under guidance of Chairman Viktor Rashnikov

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

Despite ongoing challenging market conditions, global industry leaders continue to meet their ESG commitments, with some even increasing environmental and social spending over the past year. A standout example is Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK), one of the largest industrial enterprises in the CIS. As part of a long-term sustainability programme launched by the company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Viktor Rashnikov (pictured) MMK has increased its financing of environmental and social activities to record levels.Despite deteriorating economic conditions and Western sanctions imposed on Rashnikov over the conflict in Ukraine, the company kept its social investment plans unaltered. MMK’s spending on social investments and charity exceeded €45 million in 2022, more than €30m of which came from the budget of the parent company. A major portion of MMK’s spending – nearly €14m – was earmarked for charitable purposes through the Metallurg corporate charitable foundation, ...

Man tosses lit firework into silent disco crowd in Hermosa Beach, video shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

The Hermosa Beach Police Department is looking for a man who was caught on camera throwing a firework into a crowd, injuring multiple people.The man, who appears to be between 18 and 25 years old, was near a silent disco event at Vista in Hermosa Beach at about 9:45 p.m. on June 17 when he pulled out a firework, lit it and threw it into the crowd, as shown in video shared to Instagram by the HBPD."Fragments of the firework hit multiple people" in the crowd at the restaurant and bar, located at 11 Pier Ave., police said. Their injuries were not life-threatening.The man fled on a gas-powered beach cruiser bicycle after tossing the explosive. The vehicle has a fuel tank under the handlebars and an American flag near the back of the vehicle.He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt with yellow lining, dark pants and a red, white and blue helmet.Anyone with information is asked to call the HBPD at 310-318-0360.

Sick sea lions showing aggression, biting people in SoCal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

Sea lions have been attacking people at the beach in Orange County who get too close and marine wildlife experts believe the mammals may be acting aggressively after being sickened by poisonous algal blooms. At the entrance to Dana Strands Beach in Dana Point is a warning to visitors about an aggressive sea lion in the area, one of at least three beaches where people have been bitten in the last several days.  “We’ve actually seen a number of surfers in the water that have been bit by sea lions and those sea lions are more likely to be sea lions that have had a seizure and are completely unaware of their surroundings, just erratically swimming and then they bump into somebody and bit somebody,” Dr. Alissa Deming of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center told KTLA.  Deming also said the aggression in the sea lions is likely related to the dramatic increase in sick marine mammals needing rescue because of a toxic algal bloom in Southern Californian waters in recent weeks. Through ...

The key thing to know about Amazon's new tablet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

The Amazon Fire Max 11 is Amazon's best tablet yet. It has a premium design, good accessories, and it's fast.Still, there is one notable downside you need to know about.But first, the pros.Hardware wise, you get a lot.The 11-inch screen gives you a lot of space to watch stuff, I just wish text was a bit sharper on it.For the first time there is a fingerprint reader to unlock. I found it to be fast and efficient.There are decent speakers, 64 gigs of onboard storage and even a MicroSD memory card slot, which is a rarity these days.Even the cameras looked sharp in my Zoom tests.The base price is $230 and if you add the keyboard case and stylus, it's still just $330.Now, the problem: the software.This device runs an Amazon specific version of Android called FireOS. It's there to primarily serve up Amazon products and services.Out of the box, there are no Google apps installed. That means no Chrome, no Gmail, no Maps, no YouTube. It's odd for an Android device.There's also no Google Play...

Top Third-Party Tested CBD Topicals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

People use CBD for many different reasons these days, one of the most common being pain. CBD topicals are a popular choice when it comes to pain management. There are a ton of different CBD topicals available, from sports-related topicals to beauty products.If you are considering a CBD topical, whether for pain or something else, finding a high-quality product is key. Let’s take a closer look at what makes a high-quality CBD topical, from third-party testing to type of product.What Is CBD?Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound found in hemp and cannabis plants. There are over 100 naturally occurring compounds in hemp and cannabis plants known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids can be extracted and turned into a number of products.CBD is a major cannabinoid found in abundance in hemp plants. THC is another well-known major cannabinoid. Unlike THC though, CBD is non-psychoactive. CBD can have effects on the mind and body, but it is not intoxicating like THC can be.Through an interaction with t...

Saratogans to celebrate Independence Day at Kevin Moran Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

Independence Day celebrationSaratoga residents can celebrate Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4, 9:30-11 a.m. at Kevin Moran Park, 12415 Scully Ave. Highlights include the McCartysville band, group singing, a parade, ringing of the Liberty Bell, costumed historical figures, and free popsicles and American flags. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/saratogajuly4. Big Basin Way is already decked out in patriotic decorations ahead of the Independence Day celebration, and Saratoga Village business owners are encouraged to keep their storefronts decorating with patriotic themes through the month of July. Longtime Saratoga resident Laurel Perusa, a member of the Saratoga Village Development Council, has helped organize the  “America the Beautiful” decorating project for the past 13 years.Wildfire Protection PlanRelated ArticlesLocal News | Nostalgia, parades dominate Santa Cruz County’s 4th of July schedule Local News | Taking fireworks off San...

Google eliminates jobs at Waze after merging ad services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:25:50 GMT

By Julia Love | BloombergAlphabet Inc.’s Google has cut jobs at mapping service Waze, the tech giant’s latest move to trim its operations amid a drive for efficiency in Silicon Valley.Some positions focused on advertising at Waze were eliminated after the unit began transitioning to using Google’s advertising technology, a Google spokesperson said Tuesday.“As part of this update, we’ve reduced those roles focused on Waze Ads monetization and are providing employees with mobility resources and severance options in accordance with local requirements,” the spokesperson said in a statement.Related ArticlesBusiness | Google, Citigroup among firms tightening return-to-office rules Business | Report on staffing vacancies in Bay Area cities reveals how turnover has left Berkeley in crisis Business | President Biden visits Bay Area, uses social media as cautionary tale to guide AI laws Business | Your boss has a plan to get you back ...