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Late California loan payments at 15-month high. Should you worry?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

The “Looking Glass” ponders economic and real estate trends through two distinct lenses: the optimist’s “glass half-full” and the pessimist’s “glass half-empty.”Buzz: Californians are missing bill payments at the fastest rate in 15 months. However, there’s a “but” that bears some explaining.Source: My trusty spreadsheet peeked at the New York Fed’s third-quarter report on how consumers are paying their debts nationwide and in 11 big states. The research studies borrowing and debt payments among people with credit histories tracked by Equifax – roughly 90% of Americans.Debate: Should we worry about growing skipped payments?Glass half-fullThis summer, as the economy cooled, 1.13% of California consumer debts were tardy by 90 days or more, the highest level of skipped bills since 2022’s second quarter.And here is the “but” – that slow payment rate is the best among the 11 states and is well below the U.S. level of 1.62%.Related ArticlesHousing | Huge revamp of San Jose retai...

Vallejo suspect crashes in car chase, is shot by police

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

Police activity swarmed around Sonoma Boulevard and Tennessee Street on Monday after a car chase ended with Vallejo police shooting a robbery suspect.The suspect’s injury “appears not to be life threatening,” according to authorities.Authorities responded to a report of an armed robbery on the 3400 block of Sonoma Boulevard around 11:43 a.m., the Vallejo Police Department said in a press release. The suspect’s car reportedly crashed into an uninvolved vehicle near Nation’s Giant Hamburgers.“A foot pursuit took place after the collision and an officer-involved shooting took place soon thereafter,” police said.A gas station clerk who declined to give his name said he heard the sound of the crash from inside his store.“I’m here with (the) cashier. I hear the accident – big accident, you know?” the clerk said. He then heard the sound of “maybe four gunshots.”Near Tennessee and Sonoma on Monday afternoon, glass and debris lay scattered near a white Toyota Yaris that was missing its back ...

Thanksgiving: Holiday beverage pairings are for the birds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

Every year about this time, the so-called “experts” offer their insights on holiday pairings. Typically, we see a different pairing with every single course. And when you start thinking about volume, even with just a half glass of wine with every course (appetizer, salad/soup, entrée and dessert), that leaves you with just about three full glasses of wine (3/4 of a bottle in most cases) per person. That’s a lot! Pairing cocktails with courses is even more problematic because distilled spirits are both anesthetic in nature, as well as analgesic. Meaning that they not only kill germs, but they also dull your senses. And last time I checked, taste was a sense. Pairings are also particularly problematic because not everybody likes the same things.But one of the great things about a Thanksgiving meal is that it’s almost universal in its construct. Unlike a Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa meal, which can break several different ways depending upon depth of commitment and/or persuasion, not to ...

For 60 years, JFK’s assassination haunted Rob Reiner. Now he thinks he’s solved it

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

According to director Rob Reiner, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, has been a wound on the American psyche for 60 years.“I was a junior at Beverly Hills High School,” Reiner says on a recent video call. “I was 16, and yeah, I will never forget it.“I remember a student coming in and talking to my physics teacher,” he says. “Mr. Crean. I remember his name. And he turns to us and he says, ‘I have some terrible news,’ and he told us. And then we all got sent home.”“Who Killed JFK?” is a new podcast from filmmaker Rob Reiner and journalist Soledad O’Brien. The first of 10 episodes arrived on Nov. 8, 2023, with new episodes every Wednesday. This Nov. 22, 1963 file photo shows President John F. Kennedy riding in motorcade with first lady Jacqueline Kennedy before he was shot in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo, file)“Who Killed JFK?” is a new podcast from filmmaker Rob Reiner and journalist Soledad O’Brien. The first of ...

Federal agents seize $9M worth of cryptocurrency linked to cyber scam group

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

(BCN) -- Federal agents seized $9 million worth of cryptocurrency linked to a cyber scam organization that has exploited more than 70 victims, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said Tuesday.Before the seizure, the Justice Department and the U.S. Secret Service's field office in San Francisco traced the Tether cryptocurrency, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar, to addresses allegedly linked to a group that scammed its victims through romance and cryptocurrency confidence schemes, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.Court documents showed that members of the cyber scam organization convinced their victims to make cryptocurrency deposits by deceiving them that they were making investments with trusted firms and cryptocurrency exchanges. The victims then found out late that these so-called firms and cryptocurrency exchanges are non-existent platforms. Sam Altman returns as CEO of OpenAI "These scammers prey on ordinary investors by creating websites that t...

After Hamas Attack, Israeli Politicians Want to Empower Military Tribunals to Execute Palestinians

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

A national security committee hearing in the Israeli Parliament spiraled out of control this week as family members of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 squared off with the most far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. The uproar was caused by a bill that the coalition’s right-wing members have long sought to pass that would make it easier for Israel to execute Palestinians on Israeli soil. The resurrection of the death penalty is a long-standing goal of Israel’s far-right politicians past and present, whose efforts intensified at the beginning of this year with the introduction of a bill that would mandate the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of terrorism in Israeli courts. The bill, which garnered preliminary approval from Netanyahu’s government, defines terrorism as “the purpose of harming the State of Israel and the rebirth of the Jewish people in its homeland,” suggesting it will be applied largely toward Palestinia...

These Colorado cities are some of the most luxurious in the country

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A recent study named the most luxurious cities in the United States, and five Colorado cities made the list.Architectural Digest found 115 major cities with increasing population growth. It then compared the cities based on activities, properties, dining, annual income, diversity and safety.Here's how these Colorado cities ranked throughout the U.S. for the most luxurious cities.ThorntonThornton made it close to the top of the list at No. 19. While Thornton's property diversity and safety ranking were average compared to the other cities, Thornton is in the top five best cities in the country for luxurious activities. Architectural Digest specifically states Thornton is known for arts and performing arts. What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Denver? Thornton also ranked in the top 20 for classy dining options.LakewoodLakewood was also rated high and placed 29th in the country.It's also known for having some of the best activities in the country, as it lined...

I-70 express lanes will be open longer for these holidays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The mountain express lanes on Interstate 70 will now be open for longer around Thanksgiving and Christmas, thanks to a request from Gov. Jared Polis. Beginning Wednesday, the westbound I-70 mountain express lanes will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the eastbound lanes will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Wednesday, Nov. 22 to Sunday, Nov. 26.According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the I-70 mountain express lanes are technically known as "peak period shoulder lanes." Under a policy established with the Federal Highway Administration, the lanes can only be open for a limited number of days per year. The rest of the time, the lanes serve as shoulders for emergency breakdowns, because the lanes are not as wide as regular highway lanes. No more warnings: Drive over the line, pay the fine Under the current policy, CDOT said the eastbound lanes can be open no more than 100 days a year and no more than 1,168 hours a year. The westbound lanes can be ...

South Florida man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill law enforcement officers in video posted on social media

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

A 25-year-old Hollywood man was arrested by detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Fort Lauderdale Police Department for allegedly threatening to kill law enforcement officers.According to investigators, on Monday, Nov. 20, Judah Lion Sealy, a passenger in a vehicle, recorded himself filming a Broward Sheriff’s Office marked patrol car with his phone. In the video, he reportedly displayed a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine on his lap and turned the camera to show his face. Authorities said the footage was posted on social media with Sealy using slang to declare his intention to shoot the deputy. Detectives later revealed he repeated the same action that day, this time targeting a Fort Lauderdale marked patrol vehicle.On Tuesday, Nov. 21, Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Sealy and recovered the firearm. He is currently held at BSO Main Jail, facing one count of written threats to kill, with additional charges pending.

Police arrest 15-year-old for alleged false bomb threat on social media

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:30:51 GMT

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for making a bomb threat towards a Florida sheriff’s office on social media, officials said.Maycol Matute is facing charges of making a false report concerning planting a bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction.The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation began when Matute sent a direct message to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Instagram account, claiming, ‘I sent a bomb to your police station.’Detectives from Pinellas County collaborated with their counterparts in Miami, leading to the identification of Matute as the suspect.During questioning, authorities revealed that Matute confessed, and thought that law enforcement would not take the threat seriously.