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Lack of funding for road repairs leaves Santa Cruz County struggling to keep up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

(BCN) -- Multiple natural disasters in recent years have caused widespread damage to Santa Cruz County roads, but the biggest threat could be deferred maintenance that is projected to escalate in coming years. Roads damaged by storms in 2017 and 2023, and by the CZU wildfire in 2020, are being repaired and repaved throughout the county. Some of the work is being funded by Measure D, a half-cent sales tax passed by county voters in 2016. But a backlog of work that would cost about $267 million is expected to rise to $479 million in 2028, according to a presentation Thursday to the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission from Steven Wiesner, Assistant Director of Santa Cruz County Public Works. The pavement condition index, or PCI, measures roads on a scale of 0-100, with 100 being a new road and 0 representing a failed road. It does not include storm damage. The county's overall pavement score in 2018 was 48, which is considered "poor." This year's score is projected to...

South Bay pumpkin patch vandalized Tuesday night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

(KRON) -- Authorities are investigating after a South Bay pumpkin patch was vandalized Tuesday night, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to KRON4 Wednesday night.A suspect or suspects stole a tractor at Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch in Morgan Hill and caused damage at the business, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities said that the suspect(s) are wanted for stealing the tractor and for felony vandalism. The pumpkin patch is located at 225 Laguna Avenue.A Facebook post from a Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch account said that the suspected vandals caused “thousands of dollars worth of damage, and even threatened our security guard.” Blue Angels schedule: where to watch, what you need to know The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said this remains an ongoing investigation and no suspect or suspects have been identified. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office.

Matt Gaetz Says He Wants to Negotiate. Democrats Should Take Him Up on It.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

This was originally published as a newsletter from Ryan Grim. Sign up to get the next one in your inbox.Let’s assume for the sake of argument that Matt Gaetz is not serious. At all. About anything. I don’t happen to believe that’s the case, but I can understand why somebody would. But I don’t think it matters. It doesn’t matter, because he’s now the equivalent of a free radical bouncing around the molecular structure of Congress, and nobody quite knows how the drama currently unfolding will end. Including Gaetz, as he conceded even before he launched his successful putsch against Kevin McCarthy, rendering the House speakerless since Tuesday. On Wednesday, taking Gaetz’s grievances about the way the House is run seriously, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna proposed a series of reforms that would reduce the power of big money in politics, ban stock trading by members of Congress, and democratize the functioning of the House.On Thursday, Gaetz responded: “Ok. Let’s negotiate.” G...

On verge of Formula 1 title, Verstappen’s fastest in practice for Qatar Grand Prix

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

LOSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Max Verstappen was fastest on Friday in the only practice session ahead of qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, a day before he can secure his third consecutive Formula One title.The Red Bull driver was .334 seconds faster than Carlos Sainz Jr. and .481 seconds faster than the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez, the only driver still with a mathematical chance of challenging him for the title, was fifth fastest and .588 off the pace.The dust and sand on the circuit made it hard to find grip. “Oh my god, it’s so slippery,” Verstappen told his team over the radio. Qualifying is later on Friday. Verstappen can secure the title with at least a sixth-place finish in the sprint race on Saturday. That contest will have its own separate qualifying session earlier the same day.___AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingSource

Argentina taking a ‘knockout mentality’ into decisive Rugby World Cup match against Japan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

NANTES, France (AP) — Argentina has been under the gun at the Rugby World Cup ever since that opening-weekend loss to England.Playing under that pressure should, according to Pumas coach Michael Cheika, stand his team in good stead heading into the decisive Pool D finale against Japan on Sunday.“In international rugby, you don’t always have games where everything is at stake. We have been doing it since the game against England,” Cheika said on Friday.“There was talk about players who will have their first experience in matches of such importance. This is where you learn, you gain experience. They already got experience with the first important match with England where they did not deliver; I feel very good handling that knockout mentality that we have had since then.”It is essentially a win-or-go-home match in Nantes, with both Argentina and Japan on nine points and vying to finish second behind Pool D winner England.Cheika’s biggest call was who to select at flyh...

School bathroom sexual assault victim files $30M lawsuit against Loudoun Co. school board

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

The family of a teenage girl who was sexually assaulted in a Loudoun County high school bathroom in 2021 — which set off a firestorm of political controversy — has now filed a $30 million civil rights lawsuit against the county school board for allegedly not following Title IX protocol.On May 28, 2021, the girl was sexually assaulted by a male student in the bathroom of Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia. The lawsuit says school officials told her and her family they were not allowed to talk about the assault nor could they locate the assailant nearly three hours after it occurred.The teen perpetrator was found criminally responsible for two counts of sodomy in the May 28 incident at Stone Bridge High School and a separate incident on Oct. 6 at Broad Run High School after he was transferred to that school. He will remain on supervised probation in a locked juvenile treatment facility until his 18th birthday.According to court documents filed Wednesday, the victim, “...

Colombia dice que está dispuesta a apoyar el “libre retorno” de venezolanos tras acuerdo con EE.UU.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

(CNN) — El presidente de Colombia, Gustavo Petro, dijo que su país está listo para apoyar la repatriación de venezolanos a su país desde Estados Unidos.“Colombia está disponible para colaborar en la creación de un corredor humanitario para el libre retorno a Venezuela”, tuiteó el mandatario este viernes.Petro dijo que el acuerdo firmado entre Caracas y Washington este jueves que permitiría la repatriación legal de ciudadanos venezolanos desde EE.UU. es “muy importante para Colombia”.“Debe ser seguido por el levantamiento del bloqueo”, tuiteó Petro este viernes.Colombia alberga el mayor número de venezolanos en el mundo, con un estimado de 2,9 millones de migrantes venezolanos en el país, según el Banco Mundial.Gobierno de Biden empezará a deportar migrantes venezolanos a su país, lo que marca un cambio de políticaAsí beneficia la extensión del TPS a los venezolanos 2:52El acuerdo entre Venezuela y EE.UU.El gobierno de Venezuela dijo este jue...

CNBC: empresas buscan los derechos deportivos por streaming para captar a la audiencia hispana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

Las plataformas de streaming están buscando obtener los derechos de deportes en directo para hacer crecer sus audiencias. Cada vez más, esas audiencias miran contenido en español.Las compañías de medios que ya estaban orientadas a las audiencias hispanas, como TelevisaUnivision y Canela Media, están aumentando sus derechos y contenido deportivos, mientras que las apps de streaming tradicionales en inglés, como Peacock de NBCUniversal que presenta contenido de Telemundo, ESPN+ de Disney y Prime Video de Amazon están agregando transmisiones simultáneas en español.Es un esfuerzo por diversificar la audiencia y las oportunidades publicitarias, y capitalizar una creciente audiencia hispana de streaming.“Los deportes son el pináculo del contenido premium que realmente puede ayudar a un servicio de streaming”, dijo Shirin Malkani, copresidenta del grupo de la industria deportiva del bufete de abogados Perkins Coie.  CNBC: Latinos con préstamos estudiantiles e...

WTOP’s Beer of the Week: Port City Monumental IPA

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "d58c1e9d-ea28-4fa3-ba62-8a9e98fe060c"}).render("d20fdd2e8b3045b0919f7172751cc7b4"); });A monumental ode to the monument!WTOP’s Brennan Haselton is joined by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Beer Director and Food and Wine Sommelier of the Year Greg Engert to talk about Port City Monumental IPA for the latest edition of WTOP’s Beer of the Week.Brewery: Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VirginiaDescription: This IPA pours bright copper with a floral aroma, flavors of citrus and pine, and hints of toasty malt notes. This IPA shows a balance between hop bitterness and clean malt flavorsABV: 6.7%Pairing suggestions: Indian curries, burritos and chimichangas, steaks or burgers on the grill and spicy barbecueSource

Dolphins acquire wide receiver Chase Claypool in trade with Chicago Bears

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:42 GMT

The Miami Dolphins have finalized a trade deal with the Chicago Bears, acquiring wide receiver Chase Claypool along with a 2025 seventh-round pick. In exchange, the Dolphins will send a 2025 sixth-round pick, pending a physical, the Dolphins said in a news release. Chase Claypool, now in his fourth NFL season, has played in 49 games with 32 starts. Originally drafted as the 49th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Claypool spent two-plus seasons (2020-22) with the Steelers before joining the Chicago Bears on Nov. 1, 2022.Throughout his career, Claypool has notched 171 receptions for 2,235 yards (13.1 avg.) and 13 touchdowns, in addition to 33 carries for 171 yards (5.2 avg.) and two rushing touchdowns. Claypool played collegiately at Notre Dame.