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California cities named among 'least safe' nationwide, study says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

Whether it be protection from crime, dangerous weather, or financial instability, safety is a top concern for many when finding a new city to call home.WalletHub, a personal finance company, updated its “Safest Cities in America” list by comparing 182 cities in the U.S. across 41 safety-related metrics. Some of the metrics used in the study included the number of mass shootings, assaults per capita and traffic fatalities.The 41 safety metrics were compiled into three categories: home and community safety, natural disaster risk and financial safety. They were graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the “safest” city. These California cities named as the ‘safest’ for trick-or-treating, study says Cities from the Golden State ranked low on the list.  The highest-ranked California city on the list was Irvine in Orange County, earning the 33rd spot and scoring 79.86 overall. The city of Fremont, which was ranked 17th last year, went down to 49th place in the updated stu...

Tom Emmer withdraws bid for House speaker hours after winning nomination, leaving new cycle of chaos

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. Tom Emmer abruptly abandoned his bid to become House speaker Tuesday, withdrawing within hours of winning the internal party nomination after Donald Trump objected and hardliners refused to support him for the gavel.Emmer becomes the third House Republican to fall short in what has become an almost absurd cycle of political infighting since Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as GOP factions jockey for power. Refusing to unify, far-right members won’t accept a more traditional speaker and more moderate members don’t want a hardliner. Three weeks on, the Republicans are frittering away their majority status — a maddening embarrassment to some, democracy in action to others, but not at all how the House is expected to function.“Pretty sad commentary on governance right now,” said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark. “Maybe on the fourth or fifth or sixth or 10th try we’ll get this thing right.”Emmer briskly left the building where he had been meeting priva...

Quarterback Josh Allen says his new ‘low positive’ approach might be behind Bills sluggish starts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — With so many chiming in on why the Buffalo Bills offense has been so sluggish of late, and blame being placed on everything and everyone from jet lag to coordinator Ken Dorsey, quarterback Josh Allen came up with a reason of his own on Tuesday.It just might be him.Revealing he made the conscious decision last month to keep his emotions in check — “low positive,” the quarterback called it — following a season-opening dud and Week 2 domination, Allen wondered whether he’s reined himself in too much.“I’ve been trying to find a zone where I get myself into throughout the game to try to stay as low as possible, because I feel like I perform better that way,” Allen said.“If I could limit myself and my energy and my heart rate, I felt like I could maybe think a little bit more,” he added. “But, who knows, maybe I need to think a little bit less and play football.”While Allen has no intention of returning to his reckless, defender-hurdling, squeezing passes into do...

Louis Vuitton returns to America’s Cup as title partner and challenger series sponsor

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Luxury goods brand Louis Vuitton is returning to the America’s Cup in 2024 in Barcelona as both title partner and sponsor of the challenger selection series known as the Louis Vuitton Cup.Louis Vuitton sat out the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, when the challenger series was known as the Prada Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand defended the America’s Cup in home waters against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team of Italy and then decided to stage the next defense in Barcelona, saying the move was necessary for its financial survival.The Louis Vuitton Cup was awarded to the challenger selection series winner from 1983 to 2007.The five challengers who will compete for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the right to face Team New Zealand in the 37th America’s Cup match are Ineos Britannia, Alinghi Red Bull Racing of Switzerland, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic and Orient Express Racing of France.The overall competition will run from ...

Shooting of off-duty Housing Authority officer in Northeast DC closes stretch of New York Avenue

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

An off-duty D.C. Housing Authority officer has been shot in Northeast, and the ensuing police investigation has closed a stretch of New York Avenue.Police said it happened on New York Avenue near the intersection with Montana Avenue. A “secondary scene” involved in the shooting is located a short distance away in the 1600 block of Walt Lincoln Way NE in the Ivy City neighborhood, according to police.The officer is conscious and breathing, police said.Police said they are looking for a silver two-door Honda Accord with Maryland tags and heavily tinted windows, which was last seen on New York Avenue going toward Montana Avenue.Both inbound and outbound lanes of New York Avenue were closed Tuesday evening between Montana Avenue and Bladensburg, leading to jammed traffic on a key route in and out of D.C.While police were investigating the shooting on the inbound lanes, a car caught on fire in the outbound lanes, the WTOP Traffic Center reported.“So lots of hurdles to c...

The Gophers are happy with good health and a full roster after 2 painful seasons

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The first two years for Ben Johnson as head coach at his alma mater Minnesota were a struggle in many ways, with myriad injuries that made program development all the more challenging given the impact of the transfer portal and growing pains for a young team.After going 22-39 overall and 6-33 in the Big Ten, there is pressure this season on Johnson to shepherd measurable progress even with external expectations never lower. They were picked to finish last in the preseason poll of media covering the conference.For now, with the opener on Nov. 6 against Bethune-Cookman coming up, Johnson and his staff can start by relishing the fact that they finally have a full roster.“Music to my ears,” Johnson said.For the first time since he was hired to replace Richard Pitino, Johnson saw forwards Parker Fox and Isaiah Ihnen running five-on-five drills at the beginning of fall practice. Fox and Ihnen both suffered a torn ACL in an offseason workout in each of the last two years...

What role should Congress play in regulating artificial intelligence?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

AI is primed to quickly transform much of everyday life from jobs, the economy, homeland security and equity.“The top concern is fear of job loss,” said Milan Kordestani, an entrepreneur in AI startups and author.On Tuesday night, Kordestani will moderate a public roundtable with Maryland Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey and and Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions at the Capitol Visitor’s Center on “intricate waters” of AI.In a WTOP interview, ahead of a 25-city tour, entitled “The Civil Conversations on AI Tour: From Economic Disruption to Social Stability,” Kordestani said public concerns about the technology require legislation by Congress.“What we’re going to see with AI is a very quick transition in the job market,” Kordestani said. “The skills that a lot of people have aren’t going to be relevant any more,” he said, including that of computer scientists, who went to school to learn how to code.“Now y...

Senate votes 98-0 to confirm Biden’s nominee to run the Federal Aviation Administration

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted 98-0 to approve President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday, ending a span of nearly 19 months in which the agency was without a Senate-confirmed chief.Michael Whitaker is a former deputy FAA administrator and most recently served as chief operating officer of a Hyundai affiliate that is developing an air taxi.Whitaker will take over an agency that faces many challenges, including a surge in close calls between planes at major airports, a shortage of air traffic controllers, and aging technology that resulted in a brief nationwide halt in flights in January.Whitaker’s confirmation seemed assured last week, when members of the Senate Commerce Committee endorsed him unanimously.On the Senate floor Tuesday, committee chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Whitaker’s priorities will be to “build a strong safety culture, attract new talent and keep pace with technology transformation.”Whitaker was ...

Denver Nuggets NBA championship rings unveiled

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets received their well-deserved championship rings Tuesday, and each ring is packed with symbolism.The rings were created by Jason of Beverly Hills, a firm that has created multiple championship rings for several professional sports teams over the years.Symbolism in the Nuggets ringsOne of the most unique elements of the ring is a lever that changes the color of the background on the top from blue to white."Using the lever at the top of the ring to change 1967 to 2023 switches the color of the ring top background from blue to white," a release from Jason of Beverly Hills said.A hidden retractable compartment that includes the championship banner is included on the side of the rings.Hidden compartment on the side of the championship ring (Credit: Jason of Beverly Hills).The 2023 Denver Nuggets Championship ring is packed with symbolism, according to the firm that designed it (Credit: Jason of Beverly Hills).Side of the Denver Nug...

Bear attacks security guard at Aspen hotel

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:41 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A bear attacked a security guard in the kitchen at the St. Regis Resort in Aspen late Monday night, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.CPW said the security guard had gone to investigate after reports of a bear inside the hotel. The bear had entered the hotel through a series of doors near the courtyard. While he was searching the kitchen, the security guard surprised the bear when he went around a corner. What to know about the big weather change this weekend The bear responded by attacking the guard, swiping at him and knocking him down to the ground, according to CPW. The guard was able to get away and called 911. He was taken to a local hospital and received care for scratches on his back. He was released from the hospital early Tuesday.CPW officers arrived on the scene just after midnight to investigate and search for the bear. Witnesses gave a description of the bear, including markers that would help CPW officers locate and identify it. Download the...