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PG&E electric bills soar far faster than brutally high inflation: state report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

OAKLAND — PG&E electric bills have soared far faster than the already brutally high inflation rate in the Bay Area, an ominous trend that has jolted the company’s customers with increasingly burdensome utility costs.Even worse, an array of proceedings before the state Public Utilities Commission could result in decisions that shove PG&E monthly bill for electricity and gas services even higher.The forbidding prospect of higher utility bills arrives at the same time that the Public Advocates Office at the state PUC has released a report detailing the rise in electricity bills for the three major investor-owned utilities in California, including PG&E.Over a roughly three-year period, PG&E bills for the average residential customer have hopped higher by 38%, or an average of 12.7% in a year, the PUC public advocates reported.Yet over that same approximately three-year stretch, the Bay Area inflation rate, as measured by the consumer price index, rose by 11.7...

Stagecoach 2024 passes are sold out, but here’s how to get on the waitlist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

The remaining passes for the 2024 Stagecoach Country Music Festival are officially sold out, according to the festival’s official Instagram account.The event, which will feature Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Morgan Wallen, Willie Nelson & Family, Leon Bridges, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Elle King and more, will return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio April 26-28, 2024.Tickets for the three-day country festival initially went on sale Sept. 15, with prices for three-day general admission passes starting at $429 and VIP packages starting at $1,499-$2,999.Although passes are no longer available, fans can still sign up for the official Stagecoach waitlist with the option to select certain pass types. Waitlist orders are filled on a first come, first served availability. There is also a deposit of $15 for signing up for each waitlist item type per order. For more information, visit stagecoach.com/waitlist.Additionally, EDM star Diplo will curate the Late Night in Palomino once again for...

Secret menu hacks: In-N-Out Burger fan favorites

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

Long-time fans of the In-N-Out Burger are likely familiar with the “not so secret menu.” According to the Southern California-based fast food chain’s website, these unofficial items include Double Meat, 3×3 or “Triple Triple”, 4×4 or “Quad Quad”: all options for how many patties you can get added to your burger. Additionally, it includes a Grilled Cheese: a vegetarian friendly option of a cheeseburger and toppings but without the burger, Protein Style: a lettuce wrapped burger without the buns, and an Animal Style burger: a cheeseburger with a mustard grilled patty, pickles, grilled onions and extra sauce.In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder says the popular term “animal style” is named after rowdy customers. In her new book, “The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger: The Inside Story of California’s First Drive-Through and How it Became a Beloved Cultural Icon,” she talks about how one night in 1961, a customer spotted Theo Roberts, a then third manager at Store Number 1, prepping a burger with a ...

Man pleads guilty to driving into crowd while shouting slurs at California ‘Stop Asian Hate’ rally

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

A Diamond Bar man pleaded guilty on Thursday, Oct. 26, to a federal criminal civil rights charge for disrupting a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in March 2021 when he ran a red light and drove through a crowded crosswalk of peaceful demonstrators as he shouted racial slurs.Steve Lee Dominguez, 57, pleaded guilty on the third day of trial to one felony count of bias-motivated interference with federally protected activities, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.In March 2021, a “Stop Asian Hate” rally was held in Diamond Bar to raise awareness about the increase in hate crimes and incidents against members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community following the murders of six Asian American women five days earlier in Atlanta.Demonstrators assembled for the rally at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Grand Avenue carrying American flags and large signs in support of their cause, and lawfully crossed the streets using the pedestrian crosswalk when they had the right of wa...

San Jose officials reluctantly agree to fund major housing operator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

(BCN) -- A San Jose housing operator is receiving millions in funding to address homelessness, despite growing concerns by city officials about the nonprofit's performance and racial profiling allegations.The San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to allocate $6.2 million to HomeFirst to continue operating four interim housing sites through next June. Several councilmembers shared frustrations over the nonprofit's latest woes but ultimately admitted they lacked alternative solutions that would allow them to end that relationship without major consequences. Cruise to pull all of its driverless vehicles off streets nationwide The momentum stems from a memo submitted by Councilmember Omar Torres ahead of council that asks the city to "closely" monitor HomeFirst's performance in all city contracts moving forward, including its treatment of staff members.Torres said his original recommendation was to cut off HomeFirst entirely from city funding, but the housing department a...

Standard Motor Products: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. (AP) — LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. (AP) — Standard Motor Products Inc. (SMP) on Friday reported third-quarter net income of $6.7 million.On a per-share basis, the Long Island City, New York-based company said it had profit of 30 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $1.11 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 99 cents per share.The auto parts maker posted revenue of $386.4 million in the period, which fell short of Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $390.7 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SMP at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SMPSource

The Washington International Horse Show returns to Upper Marlboro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

The Washington International Horse Show is galloping around Showplace Arena through the rest of the weekend, as it returns to Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for the second year in a row.The annual event draws about 10,000 people and $9 million to the Prince George’s County economy, with riders coming from all over the world to compete and people coming to see the horses.“This is one of the major, major championships,” said Vicki Lowell, president of the WIHS. “This is, in fact, the only indoor, five-star level competition in the country.”This year, riders have come from as far away as Germany, the Netherlands, Israel and Australia. But Caitlyn Hill only had to travel from Baltimore to compete again.“It’s very special,” Hill said. “I worked all year long and I look forward to it every year. My horse feels really great in this ring and it’s so well done.”(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c45...

Arbor Realty Trust: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Arbor Realty Trust (ABR) on Friday reported third-quarter profit of $88.3 million.On a per-share basis, the Uniondale, New York-based company said it had profit of 41 cents. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs and non-recurring costs, were 55 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 48 cents per share.The real estate investment trust posted revenue of $336.5 million in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $327.9 million.Arbor Realty Trust shares have decreased almost 3% since the beginning of the year. The stock has dropped 3% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ABR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ABRSource

Exxon profit falls compared record-setting numbers last year, but sector consolidation in full swing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

Exxon Mobil’s third-quarter profit declined compared with last year when the oil giant put up record numbers as oil prices soared, but net income jumped 15% compared with the previous quarter. It also raised its quarterly dividend.Those lofty crude prices have fueled a shopping spree this year as Exxon acquired pipeline operator Denbury, the beneficiary of changes in U.S. climate policy, for $4.9 billion in July, and then a few weeks ago the company said that it would buy Pioneer for $60 billion. Exxon isn’t alone. Earlier this week, Chevron said it would spend more than $50 billion to acquire Hess. Exxon Mobil Corp. earned $9.07 billion, or $2.25 per share in the period. That compares with $19.66 billion, or $4.68 per share, a year earlier.Removing certain items, earnings were $2.27 per share.Analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research predicted higher earnings of $2.36 per share, but Exxon does not adjust its reported results based on one-time events such as asset sales as ...

Pope orders Vatican to reopen case of priest accused of adult abuse but allowed to keep ministering

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican to reopen the case of a well-known priest-artist accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing adult women, and removed the statute of limitations on their claims, the Vatican said Friday. The announcement marked a major turnaround for the Holy See and followed an outcry among victims and their advocates over the handling of the case of the Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik, a former Jesuit whose mosaics grace churches and basilicas around the world.The scandal has been a headache for the Jesuits, the Vatican and Francis himself due to suspicions that Rupnik received favorable treatment from the Holy See, where a Jesuit is pope and other Jesuits head the sex crimes office that investigated Rupnik and declined to prosecute him because the claims against him were deemed too old.A Vatican statement said Francis’ abuse prevention commission had flagged “serious problems” in the way his case was handled initially, particularly in...