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Newsom signs bill to ban hidden fees in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Hidden fees, which sellers use to mislead customers with an artificially low headline price before imposing additional unavoidable charges later in the buying process, will no longer be allowed in California.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) that will ban hidden fees, or "junk fees," in the state starting on July 1, 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release Saturday.“These deceptive fees prevent us from knowing how much we will be charged at the outset. They are bad for consumers and bad for competition. They cost Americans tens of billions of dollars each year," Bonta said.Bonta added that these fees "hit families who are just trying to make ends meet the hardest." California campsite reservation bill signed by governor. Here’s what changes it makes "And, because a growing list of websites, apps, and brick-and-mortar businesses are using them, they penalize companies that are upfront and transparen...

The future of electric vehicles looms over negotiations in the US autoworkers strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

WAYNE, Mich. (AP) — On the picket lines at a Ford factory west of Detroit, many striking workers don’t think the electric vehicle revolution is coming for their jobs — at least not in the near future.But just in case, they’re backing United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain’s quest to unionize EV battery factories at Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis, matching a breakthrough concession made by General Motors last week.So far, neither Ford nor Stellantis has agreed to the change, which would pull employees at all 10 U.S. battery factories proposed by Detroit automakers into national contracts with the UAW, all but assuring they’ll be unionized.Fain also wants workers at the plants to make top UAW assembly plant wages, which now are $32 per hour. With the UAW strike now in its fourth week, EVs and their potential impact on job security have become central to union negotiations with the automakers. Contract talks are likely to determine whether those plants — mostl...

Finnish president says undersea gas and telecom cables damaged by ‘external activity’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finnish President Sauli Niinistö says damage to an undersea gas pipeline and telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Estonia appears to have been caused by “external activity.”Finnish and Estonian gas system operators on Sunday said they noted an unusual drop in pressure in the Balticconnector pipeline after which they shut down the gas flow.The Finnish government on Tuesday said there was damage both to the gas pipeline and to a telecommunications cable between the two NATO countries.“The damage to the underwater infrastructure has been taken seriously and the causes have been under investigation since Sunday,” Niinistö said. “The state authorities have been kept closely informed of the situation.”“It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the telecommunications cable is the result of external activity,” he said. “The cause of the damage is not yet clear and the investigation is continuing in cooperation between Finland and Estonia.”Niinistö ...

The Supreme Court rejects an appeal from former coal company CEO Don Blankenship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court rejected an appeal Tuesday from former coal executive Don Blankenship, who argued that major news outlets defamed him by calling him a “felon.”The justices left in place an appellate ruling against Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy. He served a year in prison on a misdemeanor charge after he was found guilty of conspiring to violate safety standards at a West Virginia mine before an explosion in 2010 that killed 29 men.Justice Clarence Thomas, while agreeing with the court’s action Tuesday, repeated his call for the court to overturn its landmark 1964 libel ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan.The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s determination that CNN, Fox News and 14 other outlets sued by Blankenship did not act with “actual malice” amid coverage of his unsuccessful 2018 U.S. Senate campaign, even if they failed to meet journalistic standards.The high court had previously turned away Blankenship̵...

Toronto’s alcohol in parks pilot ends with few official complaints. What’s next?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

Toronto’s pilot project that allowed residents to drink alcohol in certain parks has wrapped up with only a few complaints, according to the city.The two-month trial allowing for the consumption of alcohol at a list of 27 city parks began on Aug. 2 and concluded on Monday.Between Aug. 2 and Sep. 24, the city says they only received two complaints related to alcohol in the parks included in the pilot. No charges were laid.“The City has found that people complied with the guidelines set out by the Alcohol in Parks pilot program and the number of complaints received was low,” reads an email from city staff.During the same time period, the city received 28 complaints related to alcohol in non-pilot parks. One person was charged.City council will now direct staff to report the results to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the spring of 2024.“The evaluation will assess the impact of the pilot for park users and the neighbouring communities,” ...

Hurricane Lidia takes aim at Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta resort with strengthening winds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Lidia took aim Tuesday at Mexico’s Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta, and forecasters said it could have winds up to 105 mph when it hits land later in the day or early Wednesday.The hurricane is expected to sweep over a spit of land before hitting the bay where Puerto Vallarta is located, which could cushion the blow somewhat.Local authorities cancelled classes in communities around the coast. The expected impact comes one day after Tropical Storm Max hit the southern Pacific coast, hundred of miles away, and then dissipated. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Lidia had winds of about 85 mph (140 kph) early Tuesday, but was expected to strengthen to about 105 mph (170 kph) before making landfall. Lidia was centered early Tuesday about 235 miles (380 kilometers) west-southwest of Puerto Vallarta, and was moving east-north-east at about 13 mph (20 kph).The hurricane center warned of possible flash flooding and storm surge from the hurricane.The...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill expanding conservatorship law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — More Californians with untreated mental illness and addiction issues could be detained against their will and forced into treatment under legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.The new law, which reforms the state’s conservatorship system, expands the definition of “gravely disabled” to include people who are unable to provide themselves basic needs such as food and shelter due to an untreated mental illness or unhealthy drugs and alcohol use. Local governments say current state laws leave their hands tied if a person refuses to receive help.The law is designed to make it easier for authorities to provide care to people with untreated mental illness or addictions to alcohol and drugs, many of whom are homeless. Local government said their hands are tied if a person refuses to receive help under existing law.The bill was aimed in part at dealing with the state’s homelessness crisis. California is home to more than 171,000 homeless people — abo...

Chris Colfer’s new book series for young people will launch in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The hero of Chris Colfer’s next book series is no ordinary boy.Little, Brown Books for Young Readers announced Tuesday that the actor and million-selling author is working on “Roswell Johnson Saves the World,” which the publisher calls a space fantasy that “combines the heart-pounding action of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’” and “thrilling real-world science.” The title character is an 11-year-old named for the city in New Mexico where mysterious debris found in 1947 led to conspiracy theories about alien life, which the boy himself will learn about first-hand.“Roswell Johnson Saves the World” is scheduled for publication on June 4, 2024.“I’ve never had so much fun writing a book,” Colfer said in a statement. “These characters had me laughing out loud and I spent hours researching everything from astronomy to entomology. After reading about Roswell’s adventures through space, I hope my young readers are as fascinated by science and our...

Bears will reportedly catch a break facing the Vikings on Sunday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — After earning their first win of the 2023 season on Thursday evening, the Bears are going to catch a break in their efforts to get a second this weekend.That's because one of the most dynamic receivers in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, is likely going to be out of the lineup when the Vikings come to town Sunday.Per numerous reports, the first from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year is going to be placed on injured reserve by Minnesota due to a hamstring injury. Jefferson suffered it in the fourth quarter during a loss to the Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. By going on injured reserve, he'll miss at least the next four games, starting with the match-up against the Bears on Sunday.Both teams enter the game with a 1-4 record after less-than-ideal starts to the year, but this is a major blow to the Vikings' hopes for a turnaround.The reigning NFC North champions are losing a receiver who has 36 catches for 571 yards and thr...

3 robberies involving rifles conducted in 15 minutes on NW Side, West Loop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:14:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Three robberies involving rifles were conducted by the same crew in a span of 15 minutes Monday night on the Northwest Side and in the West Loop.The first robbery happened at around 10:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of West Thomas. Police believe a 29-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk when a white KIA sedan approached.Four young males exited the sedan, two armed with rifles, two armed with handguns and robbed the man of his property, according to police.Around two minutes later, three men on a sidewalk in the 2900 block of North Albany were robbed by the same crew using rifles and handguns.The final robbery happened at around 10:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of West Warren. A female security guard entering a residential building was struck in the face and robbed by the group.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.