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Niles: Lack of new attractions coming to California theme parks in 2024 is COVID’s legacy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

Next year is shaping up to be an unusual one for California theme parks and their fans. It also shows that — nearly four years after its start — the theme park industry continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.The spring and summer of 2024 promise the thinnest line-up of major new rides at California theme parks in more than a decade. We won’t have one open until Tiana’s Bayou Adventure premieres at Disneyland sometime late in the year. The only new coaster that fans will be getting will be a kiddie coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm when its revamped Camp Snoopy debuts Memorial Day weekend.At least preschoolers and early-elementary-aged theme park fans will have a good summer vacation in 2024, with the new Camp Snoopy and a rethemed Dino Valley land scheduled to open at Legoland California in the spring. For older fans, though, the biggest thing happening in the first half of the year will be a corporate merger — as the parents of Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mou...

12 Christmas and holiday gifts for the gardeners in your life

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

By Jessica Damiano | The Associated PressThe best holiday gifts for gardeners are the ones that keep their minds in the dirt, even during the off-season.These gardening and garden-themed gifts will sow the seeds of anticipation for greener days to come and spread a little sunshine just when it’s needed most.Smart video camera bird feederThis device not only feeds your feathered friends but also identifies and records them as they visit. Mount it outdoors, then download the free app to your iPhone (iOS 11 or later) or Android (OS 5.0 or later) and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. When a bird lands on the solar-charged feeder, AI identifies its species and sends alerts, ultra-wide HD images, live stream video with sound, and species details to your smartphone. Includes 8 GB memory card. $219.99 at sharperimage.com.Hydroponic smart growerThis award-winning grow system allows you to grow fresh food indoors year-round without sunlight or soil. The 16-plant unit has 86 LED lights and 10 ...

NFC playoff picture: Can the 49ers stay NFC’s No. 1 seed?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

Now comes the part nobody on the 49ers will talk about.How to best navigate the last four games of the season to get into the postseason not only with the home-field advantage, but as healthy as possible?Kyle Shanahan will tell you publicly there is nothing to navigate. You take each week as it comes, those cleared medically will play and that’s the end of the story.He probably even believes it.But with four weeks to go, and the 49ers talented enough to win all four, there’s also a priority placed on getting their best players into what he calls “the tournament” at somewhere close to their peak.That means being careful with defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who has ankle and knee issues and who probably isn’t needed when the 49ers (10-3) visit 3-10 Arizona Sunday. Or cornerback Charvarius Ward, who departed a 28-16 win over Seattle early and didn’t return.Then there are the statistical dilemmas of getting some rest for guys such as Christian McCaffr...

California city makes list of world’s top destinations for 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

By Maureen O’Hare | CNNParis has once again been named the world’s most attractive city destination, according to an annual report by global market research company Euromonitor International.The Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023, produced in partnership with data company Lighthouse, looked at leading cities from around the world and ranked them on criteria including tourism, sustainability, economic performance and health and safety.Europe reigned supreme, with seven out of the top 10 cities and 63 countries in the top 100. The only non-European cities in the top 10 were Dubai at No. 2, Tokyo at No.4 and New York at No. 8.Madrid came third, while Amsterdam, Berlin and Rome were at Nos. 5, 6 and 7 respectively. Barcelona and then London rounded out the top 10.Asia did well in the top 20 as Singapore (11), Seoul (14), Osaka (16) and Hong Kong (17) all made the list.The report attributes Europe’s success to “fast-paced urbanization and widespread technology adoption.” Traveler...

Campbell sees rash of vehicle thefts, break-ins

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

Dec. 41:20 p.m. in the 100 block of Hollis Avenue: Someone broke into an apartment and took items.7:35 p.m. at Camden Avenue and White Oaks Road: A passenger in a vehicle stopped for a vehicle code violation had a warrant for theft.7:47 p.m. in the 800 block of Sobrato: A man, 29, grabbed the victim around the neck during an argument, pulled her hair and threatened to kill her with a knife.9:20 p.m. in the 1800 block of South Bascom Avenue: Someone entered a store and stole purses.11:38 p.m. at San Tomas Expressway and Payne Avenue: A man, 27, was stopped for a vehicle code violation and found to be DUI.Dec. 59:54 a.m. on the Los Gatos Creek Trail behind the 1800 block of South Bascom Avenue: A man, 40, was contacted during another investigation and had methamphetamine in his pocket.2:35 p.m. in the 00 block of Cherry Lane: Someone called the victim claiming he was a Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputy. He told the victim she had a warrant and demanded money. The victim did not send ...

Pro-Palestine rally at Meta Headquarters in response to alleged shadow banning 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

(KRON) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area is sponsoring a rally outside Meta headquarters in Menlo Park on Tuesday at 3 p.m.The CAIR-SFBA is rallying against reports of alleged shadow banning on Meta’s Instagram and Facebook platforms.  Workers at Oakland coffee shop at center of antisemitic graffiti incident slam owners The organization says its purpose of “Let Palestine Speak: End Meta Censorship” is for Meta “to end its practices of suppressing and restricting content from the Palestinian perspective.”  "As advocates for justice, we are deeply concerned about the reports of 'shadow banning' affecting Palestinian voices on Meta's platforms,” said CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo on Monday. “Tomorrow's rally is a collective call to end censorship and ensure that the Palestinian perspective is not stifled. We urge all those who stand for free expression and human rights to join us in making our voices heard outside Meta headq...

Two candidates enter early race for Santa Clara County education seat

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

(BCN) -- Two candidates have jumped in early to run for a seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Education. Jorge Pacheco Jr., a teacher and Oak Grove School District board member, and Tomara Hall, a middle school special education teacher and San Jose Unified Equity Coalition member, have announced their run to replace Trustee Joseph Di Salvo in Area 4 when his term ends in December 2024. Scott Fisher charged with murdering San Francisco tech worker Area 4 includes the majority of San Jose Unified and portions of Oak Grove and East Side Union High school districts. Di Salvo, who is retiring after 16 years, expressed surprise with the early candidacy announcements. "I think it's going to be competitive," he told San Jose Spotlight.Di Salvo, a lifelong educator, has been a passionate advocate for vulnerable children. He taught at juvenile hall, in group homes, at a children's shelter and community school, in addition to being a principal."I was always advocating... for the least a...

US Navy serviceman sentenced to 6 years in prison for deadly DUI crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

(BCN) -- A U.S. Navy serviceman was sentenced to six years in state prison on Monday for a deadly DUI crash in Monterey last May, according to prosecutors.U.S. Navy Petty Officer Christopher Witherspoon, 25, killed Seaside resident Luis Hernandez, 69, in a collision on state Highway 1 on May 6, the Monterey County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. Charges against Khazar Momeni discharged following DUI bust Around 3:45 a.m. that day, Witherspoon was driving a Toyota Camry sedan on Highway 1, just north of the interchange with Highway 68 in Monterey. At the same time, Hernandez was driving a Mitsubishi Mirage compact car on the southbound lanes. Due to his intoxication, Witherspoon failed to realize he was driving on the wrong side of the highway and crashed into Hernandez's car head-on, investigation had showed.Hernandez, who was on his way to work, was declared dead on scene.Witherspoon was contacted by officers, who noted that he smelled like alcohol and appeared to...

Early, often and unequivocally: How Whitmer’s fight for abortion rights helped turn Michigan blue

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Ten years ago, as Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature was on the verge of passing one of the nation’s most restrictive anti-abortion laws at the time, a 42-year-old state senator from East Lansing took to the Senate floor to speak out against what she knew was about to happen.Minutes into her speech, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer tossed aside her prepared remarks and revealed for the first time publicly that she had been raped while attending college. Had she become pregnant, Whitmer said, she would not have been able to afford an abortion under the proposed law.The bill, which Whitmer had derisively called “rape insurance” because it required women to declare when buying health insurance whether they expected to receive an abortion, passed anyway. But Whitmer, now in her second term as Michigan’s governor after winning reelection by nearly 11 percentage points in 2022, this week removed the requirement from state law with the stroke of a pen after Michigan...

Tiger and son return to PNC Championship. Q-school returns on the PGA Tour

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:36 GMT

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONSPNC CHAMPIONSHIPSite: Orlando, Florida.Course: Ritz-Carlton GC. Yardage: 7,106. Par: 72.Prize money: $1,085,000. Winner’s share: $200,000.Television: Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. (Peacock), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Peacock), 12:30-1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 1:30-4:30 p.m. (NBC).Defending champions: Vijay and Qass Singh.Last week: The United States won the World Champions Cup.Notes: Tiger Woods plays for the second time in the last three weeks with his son, Charlie. The PGA Tour Champions sanctions the tournament, so he will be able to ride in a cart. … Newcomers to the 36-hole event that began as the Father-Son Challenge include Steve Stricker. He will be playing with his youngest daughter, Izzi, a Wisconsin state high school champion. His other daughter will be caddying. … Lee Trevino has played in every PNC Championship since it began in 1995. … Padraig Harrington returns, this time playing with his younger son, Ciaran....