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As epic snow melts, a California community braces for floods

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

Ron Caetano is packed and ready to go. His family photos and valuables are in the trailer and he’s put food in carry totes. He moved the rabbits and chickens and their automatic feeders to higher ground.He and his family and dogs could get out in less than an hour, they figure, should more heavy rain or hot weather melt so much mountain snow that gushing water overwhelms the rivers and channel that surround their tight-knit, rural Central California community and give it its name, the Island District.“The water is coming this way,” said Caetano, who started a Facebook group to help organize his neighbors. “I am preparing for the worst and praying for the best and that’s all we can do.”After more than a dozen atmospheric rivers dumped record rain and epic snowfall on California, a reservoir that typically stores water upstream is expected to receive three times its capacity. Caetano and his neighbors in the tree-lined Island District, home to a school, pistachio orchards and horse ra...

Why is Biden announcing 2024 bid now, and what will change?

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has formally announced he’s seeking reelection. But he’s also still the president, with roughly 20 months left in his term regardless of whether he wins a second one on Election Day 2024. With Tuesday’s campaign video release, Biden is following through on months of saying he intended to seek reelection. Top Democrats have remained solidly unified behind the president, despite his low approval ratings and many Americans saying they’d rather not see the 80-year-old Biden try for four more years in the White House. But all that has meant Biden faced relatively little pressure to make his 2024 bid official. Here’s a look at why he announced now and how things will, and won’t, change for him going forward:___WHY NOW? A formal reelection announcement means the president is now allowed to raise money directly for his campaign. It’s a change from his speeches at donor events benefiting the Democratic National C...

Millennial Money: How card perks can help pregnant travelers

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

I was 10-weeks pregnant and craving pizza while on vacation in Germany. We picked a well-reviewed restaurant, only to be told that no tables would be available that night. My husband, who meant well, suggested we try our luck at a different restaurant a few doors down. But it didn’t serve pizza, and for me at that moment, nothing but pizza would do.So, naturally, I burst into tears.Thankfully, we swiftly found another option and my highly specific food craving was satisfied. But traveling while pregnant is tricky, assuming it’s safe for you to do so (always talk to your doctor or midwife first). Not only might you be dealing with nausea, fatigue, food cravings you may not be able to accommodate in other countries, and other maladies, but also some travel activities can be unsafe during pregnancy.I traveled a few times while pregnant, both for work and leisure, leaning on a few helpful credit card perks to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Your card’s benefits could smo...

Suspicious object halts trains in Japanese city hosting G-7

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A suspicious object found Tuesday in a paper bag inside a commercial building connected to the Hiroshima train station temporarily suspended the high-speed train service and prompted an evacuation of customers and employees, as the Japanese city steps up security ahead of the Group of Seven summit next month.Hiroshima police said its special unit removed the object from the restroom of the building about four hours after it was first spotted, and continued analyzing the content and investigate whether there was any criminal intent involved. The police dispatched a team of explosives handlers and an anti-terrorism unit after temporarily evacuating all customers and employees and closing down the Ekie commercial building that was crowded with people having lunch and shopping. West Japan Railway Co. suspended the Shinkansen service for about two hours.Police officials said there is a possibility of overreaction to something that may turn out to be harmless. Officials have ...

Farmers rally over first lady’s comments on banning dog meat

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Dozens of dog farmers in South Korea rallied Tuesday to criticize the country’s first lady over her reported comments that support a possible ban on dog meat consumption. Eating dog is a centuries-old Korean practice. But there have been growing calls for outlawing it in South Korea as animal rights campaigns have influenced public perception and eating dog meat has fallen out of favor with most younger people.In late 2021, a government-civilian committee was launched to reach a social consensus on ending dog meat consumption, but no breakthrough has been reported yet. Farmers demand authorities present more concrete compensation steps or allow them to maintain their businesses for about 15-20 years until older people, who are the main source of demand for the meat, die. About 50 dog farmers gathered Tuesday near the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol to protest remarks made by his wife, Kim Keon Hee, during a private luncheon with animal rights activists ea...

Russia convicts ex-police officer over Ukraine war criticism

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A court in Russia convicted a former police officer of publicly spreading false information about the country’s military for criticizing the war in Ukraine to his friends over the phone.The ex-office, Semiel Vedel, was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison under a law the Kremlin adopted days after sending troops into Ukraine and has actively used to stifle dissent. In addition to the prison term, he was barred from working in law enforcement for four years after his release. Authorities accused Vedel of spreading information about Russia’s military actions in Ukraine that deviated from the Defense Ministry’s official statements.During three phone conversations with friends last year, Vedel referred to Russia as a “murderer country,” used “Glory to Ukraine” as a greeting and claimed that Russia was suffering “huge losses” in Ukraine, according to the case prosecutor. Officials deemed the conversations public because Vedel’s p...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps in mid 40s with rain showers

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

CHICAGO — Scattered showers Tuesday with mostly cloudy conditions. Winds: NNE 5-10 G15. High: 46. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly clear tonight with frost possible. Winds: N 5-10 mph G15. Low: 34.Wednesday Forecast: Mostly sunny, cooler lakeside. Winds: ENE 5-10. High: 51/45.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

They graduated during the pandemic. Now they face their 1st student loan payments

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

(The Hill) -- A grace period that let people who graduated college during the coronavirus pandemic avoid paying back their federal loans is about to end, meaning millions of young people are about to take a serious financial hit. Graduates for the last three years all had the grace period, as the Trump and Biden administrations extended a pause on student loan payments amid the national health emergency. Now things are about to change: Payments will begin either 60 days after the Supreme Court rules on President Joe Biden’s student debt forgiveness program or 60 days after June 30, whichever comes first. “It's just a lot of anxiety, I think that's the best way I would describe it. It's something that every time I think about it ... I try to push it away, because I feel like getting worried about it is just going to make me more anxious,” Laura Esteban, who graduated with debt during the pandemic, told The Hill. The payment pause has been extended nine times over ...

How to protest your 2023 property appraisal in Central Texas

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Did you already get your 2023 property appraisal? Disagree with it? Texas property owners have until May 15 to file a protest with their county's appraisal district. This year, Travis County the appraisal roll increased 13%. In Williamson County, appraised values decreased 12% from 2022. In Hays County, appraisal values went up 24% this year.If a property owner disagrees with an appraisal value, they can submit a protest to their county’s appraisal district. Then, the county’s appraisal review board hears the taxpayer's protest and resolves the dispute between the property owner and the appraisal district. The board is a citizen group that determines the outcome of a protest. The board can consider issues like a proposed property value being too high, a property valued unequal to comparable property in the appraisal district, a chief appraiser denying an exemption and other protest issues, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The deadline ...

TxDot to hold hearing on widening RM 2243

Published Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:19:11 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Texas Department of Transportation and Williamson County are holding a hearing on the proposed reconstruction and widening of Ranch to Market Road 2243 between 183A and Southwest Bypass. The hearing will be held virtually Tuesday with an in-person option, according to a county announcement from April 17. The county's announcement said the presentation will be available online starting at 9 a.m.Williamson County said the project would improve roadway design and enhance safety for drivers. The online virtual hearing will have a pre-recorded video presentation and will include both audio and visual components in both English and Spanish, according to the county. People who want to attend in-person can do so from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Parkside Elementary School at 301 Garner Park Dr. in Georgetown, according to the county. The announcement said people attending in-person will be able to view the same presentation delivered in the online public heari...