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Editorial: When it comes to Skittles and kids, better safe than sorry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

Better safe than sorry. When it comes to kids, that should be a no-brainer for the makers of candies such as Skittles, Pez, Sour Patch Kids and Nerds.Those sweets contain five chemicals that have been banned in Europe after they were linked to a range of serious health problems. But despite reformulating the candies in Europe with safer alternatives of similar cost, the candy makers are still selling the potentially harmful versions in the United States.Assembly Bill 418, introduced by Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, would prohibit the sale in California of candy with any of the five chemicals: brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propyl paraben, Red Dye No. 3 and titanium dioxide.The chemicals are used to make the candies’ colors more vivid. But they have been linked to a higher risk of cancer, nervous system damage, hyperactivity and other neurological problems.In 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned Red Dye No. 3 from use in lipsticks, powders, ...

Why the SF Giants scheduled a single-admission doubleheader in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

From the time the Giants first arrived in San Francisco in 1958 all the way through the 1980s, you could expect at least one scheduled doubleheader on the calendar during the summer.But after mostly going away in the 1990s, the Giants are bringing it back in 2024.Oracle Park will host its first-ever scheduled, traditional doubleheader in the ballpark’s 25th season on Saturday, July 27, 2024 when the Giants host the Rockies.In a phone interview with this news organization Thursday evening, Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said that the decision isn’t entirely nostalgia-based, but there’s plenty of it to make it happen.“It all felt right, and it kind of fell into place,” Baer said. “The big thing was for the fans to experience something that a lot of people have asked us about.”It’s one of two traditional doubleheaders on the schedule in 2024, as the A’s will have one against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, May 8. These are the first two since the Tampa Bay Rays hosted ...

California still has an anti-gay marriage law on the books. Voters could remove it in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

By SOPHIE AUSTIN | Associated Press/Report for AmericaSACRAMENTO — California voters will decide in 2024 whether to enshrine the right to same-sex marriage in the state constitution, a chance for them to permanently remove an inactive ban on same-sex marriage that they approved in 2008.The California Senate overwhelmingly passed the proposed constitutional amendment on Thursday, though most of the chamber’s eight Republicans did not take a position. It would repeal a 2008 measure, known as Proposition 8, which voters approved to ban the state from recognizing same-sex marriages.In practice, that law has been void for about a decade. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in the state. But it remains on the books and can only be removed by voters.“What we are doing today is joyous,” said Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco. “What the voters, I believe, will do next year is joyous. This is about recognizing the fundamental humanity o...

Detached house sells for $2.9 million in Palo Alto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

873 Oregon Avenue – Google Street ViewA house located in the 800 block of Oregon Avenue in Palo Alto has new owners. The 1,677-square-foot property, built in 1959, was sold on June 16, 2023, for $2,900,000, or $1,729 per square foot. The layout of this single-story house includes three bedrooms and two baths. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. In addition, the house includes a two-car garage, offering generous space for vehicles and storage requirements. Situated on a spacious 6,490-square-foot lot, the property offers ample outdoor space along with the added bonus of a pool.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:In July 2022, a 1,868-square-foot home on Warren Way in Palo Alto sold for $3,160,000, a price per square foot of $1,692. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Louis Road, Palo Alto, in March 2023, a 1,988-square-foot home was sold for $5,400,000, a price per square foot of $2,716. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 3,415...

Review: Musical theater meets mockumentary in ‘Theater Camp’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

By Jake Coyle | Associated PressAmong the low-hanging fruits of satire, sleepaway theater camps would dangle about as low as social-media influencers and Def Leppard cover bands.But “Theater Camp,” a new comedy by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, energetically wades into the kind of mockumentary territory Christopher Guest would approve of. The spirit of “Best in Show” and “Waiting for Guffman” is often present, for better and worse, in Gordon and Lieberman’s film, which first debuted at Sundance earlier this year.But theirs is a much more earnest, loving lampoon, made by a group of friends with obvious affection for musical theater. Gordon and Lieberman co-wrote the script with Ben Platt and Noah Galvin, expanding their 2020 18-minute short. The result is something too tame for rich parody, but knowing enough to be kind of sweet. “Theater Camp,” at least, has the song and dance part down pat.The upstate New York camp of AdirondA...

Opinion: Stop California’s abusive Disabilities Act lawsuits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990 with the goal of providing access to public places for those with disabilities. It was the most sweeping affirmation of rights for the disabled in the nation’s history.While the spirit of the law is wholeheartedly embraced, the legislation has serious loopholes that have made California business owners the victims of predatory “gotcha” lawsuits, with little relief in sight.In California, penalties for ADA violations are much higher because state law provides for a fine of $4,000 per violation, a fine other states do not have, plus attorney’s fees. In 2021, 5,930 claims were filed in California — more than half of the 11,452 claims filed nationwide.Serial litigants and a small band of law firms have found a way to “game” the system and make matters worse. They are filing 30 to 40 boilerplate lawsuits per day against California businesses, attacking marginalized neighborhoods with limited access to justice.Aaron Hic...

Highway 92 in San Mateo reopens after HazMat spill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

(KRON) -- The eastbound lanes of Highway 92, just before the 101 interchange, in San Mateo reopened early Friday morning after HazMat crews worked through the night cleaning up a hazardous liquid spill, officials confirmed. The HazMat spill shut down eastbound lanes after reportedly being dumped onto the freeway around 11 a.m. on Thursday. The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department advised drivers to avoid the area if possible. Public safety officials for the California Highway Patrol, San Mateo Police Department and San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department were at the scene on Thursday. Majority of people arrested for drugs in SF not from the city, according to mayor The source of the spill was a large flatbed truck that dumped unknown liquid on the roadway. The liquid, which was later identified as sodium bisulfite, has spread across all lanes. San Mateo County Fire units are on the scene. A school in the affected area is relocating students to a different campus, according to Sa...

Traffic fatality on I-880 in Oakland: CHP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

(BCN) -- The California Highway Patrol is reporting a fatal traffic collision occurred Friday morning on southbound Interstate Highway 880 in Oakland. Highway 92 in San Mateo reopens after HazMat spill The collision, which was first reported at 1:44 a.m., occurred near the 66th Avenue off-ramp, according to the CHP. KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }The CHP reported at 2:19 a.m. three southbound lanes of the highway were closed and a Sig-alert was issued. As of 4 a.m., the lanes were still closed, according to the CHP. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Women’s World Cup warm-up game between Ireland-Colombia abandoned after 20 minutes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — A warm-up game between Ireland and Colombia ahead of the Women’s World Cup was abandoned after only 20 minutes Friday because of what the Irish said was the “overly physical” nature of the match.Ireland said in a statement the behind-closed-doors game in Brisbane was called off after consultation with match officials, and the team then held a full training session on the field instead.British media reported that Ireland player Denise O’Sullivan was taken to the hospital with a shin injury sustained during the match, and that two Colombia players received yellow cards in the opening 19 minutes.No match details were immediately available. Media were reportedly not allowed to attend the game. The World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand starts July 20.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

JPMorgan second quarter profit jumps 67% with a boost from First Republic takeover

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:33 GMT

JPMorgan’s second-quarter profits rose by 67% as the nation’s largest bank made more loans to customers, took advantage of higher interest rates, and got a boost from its recent acquisition of First Republic Bank. The bank earned $14.5 billion in the three months ended June 30, compared with $8.65 billion in the same period last year. On a per share basis, the bank earned $4.75, easily outpacing Wall Street expectations for $3.97, according to a survey of analysts by FactSet. Revenue rose to $42.4 billion, from $31.6 billion a year ago. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has been one of the benefactors of the banking crisis that came after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank. The bank saw billions of dollars of deposits flow into its vaults, mostly from well-to-do customers, and was able to buy First Republic Bank after it failed. In the deal, JPMorgan acquired 84 First Republic branches, brining it $92 billion in deposits and $203 billion in...