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The federal COVID emergency is ending, but Californians get 6 extra months of free tests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

If your medicine cabinet is low on COVID tests, you only have a few days left to stock up for free from the federal government.And starting Friday, the feds also will no longer protect patients from being billed for their COVID testing.But there’s good news for Californians: The state legislature has given Golden State residents an extra six months of guaranteed coverage of COVID tests and reimbursements from their insurance.Changes are coming next week in much of the country as the federal government’s COVID national and public health emergencies end on May 11, more than three years after they were declared by then-President Trump and the Department of Health & Human Services as the virus was first detected in the United States.File photo of three drops being administered to tan at-home COVID-19 testing device in Fremont in 2022. You only have a few days left to stock up on free COVID tests from the federal government. Starting Friday, the feds also will no longer p...

Editorial: California must get ahead of the deadly fentanyl epidemic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

California needs a multi-prong attack on the rapidly escalating fentanyl scourge devastating families across the state.That should include educating our kids on the deadly risks of the powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, expansion of drug treatment programs and wider distribution of opioid-reversing medications that can save the lives of overdose victims.The Centers for Disease Control reports that fentanyl is responsible for the death of more Americans under 50 than any other cause, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide and accidents. All told, fentanyl killed a record 5,960 Californians in 2021, according to the California Department of Vital Statistics — more than the 4,250 people who died in auto accidents.Yet, students and parents remain largely unaware of the dangers associated with today’s street drugs. Pills sold over the internet or on the streets that are purportedly prescription drugs like Adderall, oxycodo...

‘Spider-Man 2’ prequel issue coming out for Free Comic Book Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

Free Comic Book Day is here, and Insomniac Games and Marvel are teaming up to give Spider-Man fans something special. They’re releasing a special comic book prequel to its upcoming title “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.”The original title and the Miles Morales follow-up are two of the finest Spidey games ever made. That’s partly because the storytelling was so good. The sequel will follow both superheroes and MJ Watson, who are all playable characters in the previous games.The prequel comic is written by Christos Gage, who also worked on “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” and artist Ig Guara’s beautiful artwork graces the panels. In the PlayStation blog entry, narrative director Jon Paquette said the comic delves into a few themes such as the idea of magic, and the Spider-Men and MJ face off against a familiar villain.“Marvel Snap” fans will know who he is. He’s a pretty good card in the game. Fans can pick up the comic at participa...

Opinion: Legal attack on California gig initiative threatens direct democracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

Direct democracy is a part of California’s DNA and is deeply ingrained in our state Constitution. For California voters, the Constitution has long given us the right to legislate directly at the ballot box.Direct democracy was a Progressive-era reform promoted over a century ago by former Gov. Hiram Johnson and designed as a public check on the influence of special interests in the state Legislature. When the establishment of the initiative, referendum and recall were put before voters in 1911, they passed with 76% of the vote. Today, two-thirds of California voters still back direct democracy, according to polling from the Public Policy Institute of California.The long-enshrined right of the people to legislate by initiative has been jealously guarded by our courts again and again. This right is sacred, and it’s one reason I was heartened that the First District Court of Appeal in March upheld the core elements of Proposition 22.In 2020, California voters approved Proposition 22 wi...

As Lakers bemoan officiating, Warriors’ free-throw numbers tell a different story

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

The free-throw disparity in the first two games between the Warriors and the Lakers is going just as expected, with the Lakers having more than double the attempts at the charity stripe than the Warriors.But you’d never know it, based on the feelings and comments after Thursday night.It’s the Lakers who have been expressing their frustration with the officiating, despite the Warriors being called for 20 more fouls (47 to the Lakers’ 27) and Los Angeles shooting 46 free throws compared to Golden State’s 22.Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell told the media, “I’m not trying to go viral tonight,” when asked about the officiating after the game, and Lakers coach Darwin Ham made it clear that he wasn’t happy, though he didn’t want to directly address it.“I have zero thoughts,” Ham said. “I get paid to coach. I’m trying to coach my ass off for my team. Anything officials related, that’s on the league to look at. Try to be as fair and consistent as possible for both teams.”LeBron James als...

New Twitter rules expose election offices to spoof accounts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tracking down accurate information about Philadelphia’s elections on Twitter used to be easy. The account for the city commissioners who run elections, @phillyvotes, was the only one carrying a blue check mark, a sign of authenticity.But ever since the social media platform overhauled its verification service last month, the check mark has disappeared. That’s made it harder to distinguish @phillyvotes from a list of random accounts not run by the elections office but with very similar names.The election commission applied weeks ago for a gray check mark — Twitter’s new symbol to help users identify official government accounts – but has yet to hear back from the Twitter, commission spokesman Nick Custodio said. It’s unclear whether @phillyvotes is an eligible government account under Twitter’s new rules.That’s troubling, Custodio said, because Pennsylvania has a primary election May 16 and the commission uses its account to share important information with vote...

El príncipe Harry asiste a la ceremonia de coronación mientras las tensiones con la familia aumentan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

(CNN) — El príncipe Harry asistió a la coronación del rey Carlos III este sábado, la primera vez que se lo ve en público con su familia desde el lanzamiento de sus explosivas memorias “Spare”.El duque de Sussex estuvo entre el primer grupo de miembros de la realeza en ingresar a la Abadía de Westminster, llegando junto a sus tíos, el príncipe Eduardo y el príncipe Andrés, y dos de sus primas, la princesa Beatriz y la princesa Eugenia.Harry se sentó con Andrew, su tío, en la tercera fila del servicio. Ambos son miembros de la realeza que no trabajan y no desempeñaron ninguna función durante la ceremonia.El hijo menor del rey regresó a Londres sin su esposa, Meghan, y sus hijos, el príncipe Archie y la princesa Lilibet. Están de regreso en California, ya que también es el cuarto cumpleaños de Archie.El príncipe Harry, uno de los dos hijos del rey, camina frente a la Abadía de Westminster antes de la coronación. Aceptó la invitación a la coronación de su padre, pero e...

King Charles III’s coronation in pictures

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

King Charles III’s coronation in picturesA look at the crowning of the British monarch.King Charles III after being crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, 2023 | Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charles III was crowned at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday. The coronation was attended by members of the king’s family as well as global leaders, and watched by people across the United Kingdom and many others worldwide. The following photos offer a glimpse into the coronation, the first of a British monarch in almost 70 years.An army contingent marches across Westminster Bridge | Sgt Donald C Todd/EPA-EFEMounted police on the Mall | Jon Super/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesSpectators gather to watch the coronation procession | Yara Nardi/WPA pool via Getty ImagesPeople sit in Hyde Park to watch coverage of the coronation | Ian Forsyth/Getty ImagesWell-wishers along the procession’s route | Niklaas Halle’n/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charl...

Sunny and milder weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

7Weather – After a dreary and damp weekend, it’s all about the nice weather this weekend! We get more sunshine and mild temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s both days.This morning was the coolest we’ll be all weekend as a more mild airmass takes over. High pressure will be around and bring us a northwest breeze. It will be strong enough to push all the way to the coastline both days, preventing a sea breeze from developing from the North Shore to South Shore. Temperatures will be slightly lower for the Cape and Islands with a southwest breeze coming off the cool ocean water. Those temperatures you see below are in the towns, so it’ll feel cooler if you’re walking on the beach.Patio or grilling plans this evening? It’ll be comfortable out around sunset.We’ll stay mainly clear with a slight breeze overnight. Temperatures drop to the mid 40s for our coolest towns tomorrow morning and near 50° on the coast and southeast Mass.From there, tempera...

Prince Harry attends coronation ceremony as tensions with family run high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:42 GMT

(CNN) — Prince Harry attended the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday — the first time he has been seen in public with his family since the release of his explosive memoir “Spare.”The Duke of Sussex was among the first group of royals to enter Westminster Abbey, arriving alongside his uncles, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew, and two of his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.Harry sat with Andrew, his uncle, in the third row of the service. Both are non-working royals and did not perform any duties during the ceremony.The King’s youngest son returned to London without his wife, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. They are back in California as it is also Archie’s fourth birthday.There was widespread speculation in the build-up to Saturday’s celebrations over whether Harry would have a role in proceedings — and if his return might suggest the family has moved on from the rift that...