Letters: Transit funding | Good faith | Taiwan and UN | Founders’ standards

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Letters: Transit funding | Good faith | Taiwan and UN | Founders’ standards Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Transit needs betterfunding source than tollsRe: “Bridge toll hike plan faces big divide” (Page A1, Aug. 28).As an urban planner, I’m gratified to see this article about an important topic. However, the impact of toll increases on lower-income people is not only about the tolls themselves.Higher tolls are an opportunity cost that impedes families from exploring the Bay Area. Fares for a whole family on BART are prohibitive. Piling into the car and crossing the bridge is probably cheaper. Too many people do not explore outside their neighborhoods because of financial (and other) barriers.Also, tolls are a regressive tax. A more progressive means of raising transit money is needed.Michael CassidyOaklandLafayette making goodfaith housing effortRe: “Places like Lafayette cause gentrification” (Page A6, Sept. 1).Perhaps Valerie Sloven of Pleasant Hill should spend more time worry...

Letters: Suffering in ACC | Land grab | Sites Reservoir | Immigration policy | Pharmaceutical profits

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Letters: Suffering in ACC | Land grab | Sites Reservoir | Immigration policy | Pharmaceutical profits Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Stanford footballwill suffer in the ACCRe: “Greed has led to death knell of college football” (Page A1, Sept. 3).Thank you, Dieter Kurtenbach, for your sage observations of how greed is killing what was great about college football and local college culture.To the ACC leadership, most of us on the West Coast didn’t care about your schools before. Cal and Stanford joining you from 2,500 to 3,000 miles away doesn’t change that.To Cal and Stanford leadership, I wonder what beneficial influence 10- to 12-hour round trip flights could possibly have on your student-athletes (and staff and their families)? How might it influence students’ grades and ability to study well and attend classes? I wouldn’t approve of my student-athlete child joining your teams. Since we won’t be watching, we also won’t notice the absent alumni in ACC stands.In addition, your teams will...

Bay Area home prices could be falling. Here's why:

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Bay Area home prices could be falling. Here's why: (KRON) -- Due to fewer homes being listed for sale and a strengthening labor market, mortgage rates are still hovering near 20-year highs. However, economists say we may be heading toward a more balanced market.Senior Zillow Economist, Orphe Divounguy, details a trend that Zillow says is actually resulting in a growth in home values that has continued through the summer. The combination of high mortgage rates and low inventory across the country is keeping potential homebuyers off the market and sellers in their homes."Zillow research shows that 70 percent of homeowners and sellers end up buying again. And, so a lot of these homeowners are sitting on the sideline, enjoying near-record home equity and choosing not to move," said Divounguy.According to Divounguy, nationwide home values appreciated more than 1.5 percent through the summer, and he expects that number to grow to 6.5 percent by next July.In the Bay Area, Divounguy forecasts prices rising 2.5 percent."A recent Zillow surve...

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect in DC area for the evening, including large hail and flooding

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect in DC area for the evening, including large hail and flooding The storms dumped large hail on Aldie, Virginia. (Courtesy Elizabeth Little) The storms dumped large hail on Aldie, Virginia. (Courtesy Elizabeth Little) A week of extreme heat is followed up by a Friday night and weekend of on-and-off showers. Part of the D.C. region could be seeing severe weather on Friday evening, with flash floods and the potential for hail in some areas. Here’s what you need to know.The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 7:15 p.m. in Northwestern Prince William County, Southeastern Loudoun County and Northwestern Fairfax County in Virginia. This storm includes 60 mph winds gusts and two-inch hail.The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thund...

Missouri constitutional amendment would ban local gun laws, limit minors’ access to firearms

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Missouri constitutional amendment would ban local gun laws, limit minors’ access to firearms COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Democratic stronghold of St. Louis and other cities in the Republican-leaning state of Missouri would be blocked from cracking down on guns under a newly proposed constitutional amendment. A petition for a November 2024 vote on the proposal, filed this week, also would require parents’ permission for minors to use and carry firearms. Missouri currently has no age restrictions on gun use and possession, although federal law largely prohibits minors from carrying handguns.The proposed measure makes exceptions to the parental permission rule in case of emergencies and for members of the military. Each branch of the military requires that people be at least 17 years old in order to enlist.Paul Berry, a suburban St. Louis Republican, filed the proposal with the secretary of state’s office in response to efforts by the city to sidestep the state Legislature and impose restrictions on gun use. “Constitutional rights should apply to all individuals of th...

Novak Djokovic reaches his 10th US Open final by hanging up the phone on American Ben Shelton

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Novak Djokovic reaches his 10th US Open final by hanging up the phone on American Ben Shelton NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic limited big-serving Ben Shelton to five aces and broke him five times. He pushed back when the 20-year-old unseeded American produced a late stand that got the home crowd into the match.And after finishing off a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory to reach his record-tying 10th U.S. Open final and 36th at all major tournaments, Djokovic added a touch of insult to injury by mimicking the kid’s “Hang up the phone!” celebration gesture.Djokovic then pointed to his temple and pounded his fist on his chest, before a stone-faced Shelton met him at the net for the most perfunctory of handshakes. A year after Djokovic could not travel to the United States for the Open because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, the 36-year-old from Serbia is one victory away from a fourth title at Flushing Meadows and 24th Grand Slam championship overall.“These are the kind of matches and occasions that I still thrive on. They still get me going and inspire me to wake up and wo...

Juez rechaza pedido de exjefe de Gabinete de Trump de mover su caso a una corte federal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Juez rechaza pedido de exjefe de Gabinete de Trump de mover su caso a una corte federal WASHINGTON – Un juez rechazó este viernes la petición de Mark Meadows, exjefe de Gabinete del expresidente Donald Trump, de mover de un tribunal estatal a uno federal el caso por el que está imputado en Georgia por injerencia electoral.Meadows compareció el pasado 28 de agosto en ese estado para defender su petición y recibió la respuesta este viernes.Trump, Meadows y otras 17 personas están imputadas en Georgia por intentar revertir los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales de 2020 allí, donde el demócrata Joe Biden se impuso por un estrecho margen de dos décimas (49.5%), el más estrecho de todo el país. Exjefe de Gabinete de Trump se declara no culpable de injerencia electoral en Georgia Gran jurado en el caso de Trump en Georgia recomendó acusar al senador Lindsey Graham y a otros republicanos Meadows está acusado en concreto de solicitar a un funcionario público que incumpliera su juramento al cargo y por violación...

Ascension Charity Classic Par Scores

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Ascension Charity Classic Par Scores FridayAt West CourseSt. LouisPurse: $2 millionYardage: 6,992; Par: 71First RoundBilly Mayfair34-30—64-7Timothy O’Neal31-33—64-7Kevin Sutherland32-32—64-7Y.E. Yang34-30—64-7Brian Gay34-31—65-6Wes Short34-31—65-6Alex Cejka33-33—66-5Ken Duke32-34—66-5Steve Flesch33-33—66-5Retief Goosen32-34—66-5Joe Durant34-33—67-4Kenny Perry32-35—67-4Tim Petrovic34-33—67-4Kirk Triplett34-33—67-4Charlie Wi32-35—67-4Billy Andrade35-33—68-3Notah Begay33-35—68-3Jason Bohn33-35—68-3David Branshaw36-32—68-3Scott Dunlap34-34—68-3David Duval35-33—68-3Ernie Els34-34—68-3Paul Goydos35-33—68-3Richard Green35-33—68-3Simon Griffiths33-35—68-3Bernhard Langer33-35—68-3Tom Lehman35-33—68-3Rocco Mediate32-36—68-3Dicky Pride34-34—68-3Brett Quigley35-33—68-3Ken Tanigawa35-33—68-3David Toms34-34—68-3Shane Bertsch34-35—69-2Olin Browne34-35—69-2Darren Clarke37-32—69-2Jay Delsing35-34—69-2Chris DiMarco33-36—69-2John Huston36-33—69-2Jeff Maggert37-32—69-2Scott McCarron33-36—69-2Jose Maria Olazabal36-33—69-2Paul Stankow...

Ascension Charity Classic Tour Scores

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

Ascension Charity Classic Tour Scores FridayAt West CourseSt. LouisPurse: $2 millionYardage: 6,992; Par: 71First RoundBilly Mayfair34-30—64Timothy O’Neal31-33—64Kevin Sutherland32-32—64Y.E. Yang34-30—64Brian Gay34-31—65Wes Short34-31—65Alex Cejka33-33—66Ken Duke32-34—66Steve Flesch33-33—66Retief Goosen32-34—66Joe Durant34-33—67Kenny Perry32-35—67Tim Petrovic34-33—67Kirk Triplett34-33—67Charlie Wi32-35—67Billy Andrade35-33—68Notah Begay33-35—68Jason Bohn33-35—68David Branshaw36-32—68Scott Dunlap34-34—68David Duval35-33—68Ernie Els34-34—68Paul Goydos35-33—68Richard Green35-33—68Simon Griffiths33-35—68Bernhard Langer33-35—68Tom Lehman35-33—68Rocco Mediate32-36—68Dicky Pride34-34—68Brett Quigley35-33—68Ken Tanigawa35-33—68David Toms34-34—68Shane Bertsch34-35—69Olin Browne34-35—69Darren Clarke37-32—69Jay Delsing35-34—69Chris DiMarco33-36—69John Huston36-33—69Jeff Maggert37-32—69Scott McCarron33-36—69Jose Maria Olazabal36-33—69Paul Stankowski34-35—69Stuart Appleby34-36—70K.J. Choi36-34—70Robert Damron36-34—70Marco Dawso...

United jet engine broke up over Denver after inadequate inspections: NTSB report

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:27:51 GMT

United jet engine broke up over Denver after inadequate inspections: NTSB report WASHINGTON (AP) — An engine on a United Airlines jet broke up over Denver in 2021 because of wear and tear on a fan blade that was not adequately inspected for signs of cracking, federal investigators said Friday.The National Transportation Safety Board said manufacturer Pratt & Whitney did not call for inspections to be done frequently enough, which allowed tiny cracks to grow undetected until the fan blade broke. Trump lawyers move ‘insurrection’ clause lawsuit to federal court The NTSB said the design and testing of the engine inlet contributed to the severity of the situation, and other factors made the engine fire worse than it should have been.The right-side engine of the Boeing 777 broke apart shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport, raining parts over suburban neighborhoods. The pilots declared an emergency and landed the plane safely 24 minutes after takeoff.Pieces of the engine inlet, fan cowls and thrust reversers broke off and fell on a public park ...