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Even with inflation, these 12 things are getting cheaper

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

Inflation once again dropped a bit last month – though you may not notice it in the grocery store aisles or on restaurant menus. The latest data on consumer inflation showed that prices in some areas — services such as rents, restaurants and auto insurance — continued to rise uncomfortably fast. But in other areas, prices have actually dropped substantially since last year. A detailed breakdown of prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows one of the biggest year-over-year price drops is fuel. Fuel oil is about 25% cheaper now than it was last year, and gas prices at the pump are about 10% down. Utility gas service, piped into homes and apartments is also about 10% cheaper. These major retailers went out of business in 2023 Another commodity that's seen a big price drop: eggs. The grocery staple was expensive all through 2022 because of a devastating nationwide bird flu outbreak, but prices have now dropped 22% since November of last year. Food prices overall are up about ...

Man Fatally Struck in Wrong-Way Collision on North Shepherd Drive [Houston, TX]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

One Man Pronounced Dead after Wrong-Way Accident near West 7th StreetHOUSTON, TX (December 12, 2023) – One man died Friday night in a wrong-way crash on North Shepherd Drive and West 7th Street. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m.An inquiry is ongoing to determine the causes behind a wrong-way incident involving a 33-year-old female SUV driver on Shepard Drive. The SUV collided head-on with a white Volkswagen, leading to severe injuries. Medics declared a man inside the Volkswagen dead at the scene, although authorities have yet to disclose his identity.The woman involved did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Presently, investigations are actively taking place. Individuals possessing additional information about the wrong-way collision are urged to promptly reach out to local law enforcement.In this sorrowful time, the Sweet James team would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim. May you find comfort and strength during this d...

Letters: Fighting homelessness | Mideast war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.We must bring all tobear on homelessnessBehind the beautiful dome of San Jose City Hall is the short walking strip on Fifth Street featuring Recovery Café & the Urban Sanctuary. This has been my walk twice a week from the San Jose State University campus to Starbucks located on Fifth Street.Walking through this strip, I’ve come to realize the severity of homelessness and drug use. There is no doubt that San Jose is facing a huge epidemic that needs to be addressed. We need more programs that will help these individuals as it’s clear they are facing mental illness, medical impairment and substance abuse.California’s economy has become the fifth-largest in the world, yet we have more than 170,000 of our people unhoused. It is our responsibility as an entire city to not just bring temporary homes, but to provide things such as rehabilitation, employment and housing navigation for them....

Santa Clara County supervisors back direct access to non-police mental health team

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

SAN JOSE — Santa Clara County leaders are supporting a proposal to simplify access to a community-led mental health response team, which advocates say would serve a growing population of people who experience psychiatric emergencies but don’t seek help for fear that police will be sent out to them.With a 4-0 vote, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ordered the county administration to produce a report by Feb. 27 outlining how they can implement a direct line to the Trusted Response Urgent Support Team, or TRUST. The program dispatches four teams — for each quadrant of the county — consisting of a behavioral health professional, a medic and a community member with “lived” experience to provide peer support.Currently, someone who wants a response from TRUST has to call the 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline and be triaged by a call taker, or in some cases, navigate a phone tree. Supervisor Otto Lee, who authored the direct-line proposal, and supporters contend th...

SF Giants ink Korean center fielder to $113M contract: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

A day after Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers became official, the San Francisco Giants reportedly made their first major move of the offseason.Adding a young, contact-hitting center fielder from Korea, the Giants came to agreement with Jung-Hoo Lee on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.The contract, first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, reportedly includes an opt-out clause after four years and not been officially announced by the club, though president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi had a previously scheduled media availability at 4 p.m.The scale of the deal, with an additional $19.275 million posting fee going to Lee’s KBO club, the Kiwoom Heroes, doubling most projections, signified not only the Giants’ need but the popularity of Lee’s services as a 25-year-old left-handed hitter with the capability to play center field.While the Giants missed out on their top target when Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with their ...

Michelin honors 7 California restaurants as ‘new discoveries’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

Seven California restaurants received early holiday gifts Tuesday.The dining world’s prestigious Michelin Guide has named them as “new discoveries” — in a very early prelude to the release of its coveted California stars and Bib Gourmand honors in 2024.The finds include three restaurants in San Francisco and four in Southern California.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Michelin 2023 results: Which Bay Area restaurants won stars, which lost them? Restaurants, Food and Drink | Map: All the Michelin-starred restaurants in the Bay Area Restaurants, Food and Drink | San Jose’s acclaimed Adega plans its final Michelin-style meals, including an 11-course NYE menu Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, said in his announcement that he hopes this early reveal will strengthen ties to food lovers and give the industry a boosti. “We hope that these regular revelations and updates to the selection throu...

Kanye West had North, 10, on stage when he donned a black KKK hood and disparaged a Jewish woman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

It will be interesting to see if or how Kim Kardashian reacts after Kanye West’s latest noxious stunt — donning a black KKK hood while having their 10-year-old daughter North on stage with him, as he performed the title track from his new “Vultures” album.During the performance of the track early Tuesday morning, the controversial rapper wore what clearly resembled a KKK hood, and he used the song to hit back at complaints about his past antisemitic behavior. With North a few feet away, as a video shared by Page Six shows, West rapped that he had just had sex with a Jewish woman, whom he referred to with a vulgarity. “How I’m antisemitic? I just (expletive) a Jewish (expletive),” West said, repeating the second line.US rapper Kanye West, husband of US reality TV star Kim Kardashian, carries their daughter North, following a reported baptism ceremony at the Armenian St. James Cathedral in Jerusalem’s Old City on April 13, 2015. (AHMAD GHARABL...

Bay FC adds former NWSL Best XI center back, three others in series of trades

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

Bay FC made a flurry of trades Tuesday ahead of the NWSL expansion draft, adding defenders Emily Menges and Ellie Jean, as well as midfielder Dorian Bailey and forward Scarlett Camberos.In each of the trades, Bay FC offered protection in the expansion draft to the players’ former teams, which means they will not select a player from the Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit Gotham FC or Angel City FC in Friday’s draft.In addition to the protection, the club will send $75,000 in allocation money to Portland in exchange for Menges, an NWSL Best XI selection in 2016 (and Second XI three times since). It will also send $50,000 to Angel City in the trade that brought in Camberos.Bay FC also received $130,000 in allocation money from Louisville as part of the three-team trade to acquire Jean from Gotham FC.The additions bring the roster to six players Bay FC acquired former Santa Clara captain Alex Loera from Kansas City and signed defender Caprice Dydasco last month.Menges, 31, ...

Above average rainfall could impact Bay Area during holiday travel season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Above average rainfall could be headed for the Bay Area in the second half of the month, potentially impacting holiday travel, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. An eight-to-14-day precipitation outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows a 70% chance of above-average rainfall for San Francisco from Dec. 20 through Dec. 26.Above average rainfall possibleThe NOAA outlook also predicts at least 50% chance of above-average precipitation for the same time period. A U.S. winter weather outlook issued by the NOAA earlier this year also predicts above-average precipitation for the San Francisco Bay Area throughout the winter months of December, January and February. Stories that shaped the Bay Area in 2023 NOAA predictions forecast a 40 to 50% chance of seeing above-average rainfall this winter."Wetter-than-average conditions are most likely in Northern Alaska, some areas of the West from parts of Califo...

Giants reportedly sign Korean star Jung Hoo Lee for $113 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:22:03 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The San Francisco Giants made a splash in free agency on Wednesday, reportedly agreeing to terms with Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee. According to MLB reporters from the New York Post and The Athletic, the Giants gave Lee $113 million over six years. Lee has been playing in South Korea's KBO League since 2017 and has not played in Major League Baseball. The 25-year-old outfielder won the KBO's Most Valuable Player award in 2022. 49ers raise season ticket prices for 2024 Lee debuted for the KBO's Kiwoom Heroes at age 18 in 2017. Over seven seasons, he hit for a .340 batting average in the KBO and slugged 65 home runs. According to reports, Lee will be able to opt out of his contract with the Giants after four years. Lee's father, Jong Beom Lee, was also a star in the KBO. Jong Beom Lee was nicknamed "Son of the Wind," and Jung Hoo Lee was in turn nicknamed "Grandson of the Wind." The news comes days after Shohei Ohtani announced his decision to sign with th...