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Opinion: Americans are sick of major parties, but they don’t vote that way

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

It’s the year before a presidential election, which means it’s once again time for a group to call for a unity ticket of a Democratic and a Republican for president and vice president or for an independent candidate to avoid the dysfunction of the parties entirely.This happens just about every four years. There are lessons to learn from past seasons, especially in these extremely polarized times.The current effort by the No Labels group to get a presidential ballot line in all 50 states for 2024 is being treated as something of a novelty, but we’ve seen something like this in most modern presidential elections. Just four years ago Unite America was proposing a bipartisan unity ticket for 2020, pushing the major parties to commit to having a vice presidential candidate of a party different from their own. (They even floated the idea of a John Kasich/John Hickenlooper ticket.)In 2012, there was Americans Elect, which wanted to use a “nonpartisan, national online presidential primary” ...

Kurtenbach: The Giants’ gut-punch loss to the Dodgers said so much about this team and its future

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — There wasn’t a singular event that did in the Giants Wednesday. You can’t chalk up a loss that bad to one pitcher, one at-bat, or one pitch.No, it was the byproduct of the Dodgers walking through the front door and ransacking the place.The Giants saw it coming, but were incapable of stopping it.And to think, it started so well.The Giants had it made to start the game. They were battering Clayton Kershaw in the early goings, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, while their starter, Alex Cobb, looked formidable, with his two-seam fastball showing serious bite.Yes, it was early, but the vibes were outstanding. The Giants looked good.Then the dream turned into a nightmare.And it’s tough to make the case that it will turn again anytime soon.Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | Why some players believe the SF Giants-Dodgers rivalry could be even better in 2023 San Francisco Giants | Michael Conforto’s eighth-inni...

13-year-old leads Northern California police on chase in stolen car and crashes, leaving 2 dead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

By Rebekah Riess | CNNTwo people were killed and nearly a dozen more were injured after a 13-year-old crashed into two other vehicles while leading police on a chase in a stolen car in California over the weekend, authorities said.One person died at the scene and a 4-year-old girl died Wednesday from her injuries, the Woodland Police Department said.An officer had spotted a vehicle being driven erratically on Saturday afternoon, according to a news release from the police department. Woodland is about 15 miles northwest of Sacramento.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man drives off while being handcuffed, killing his passenger and injuring police chief Crime and Public Safety | Bicyclist hit and killed near Peninsula tourist destination Crime and Public Safety | Pedestrian fatally struck on I-380 early Sunday Crime and Public Safety | Man dies in electric scooter collision in East Bay Crime and Public Safety | ...

Opinion: Tennessee’s conservative Republicans can’t stop progress

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

Across the country, the illogical priorities of the right have become more and more glaring. And nowhere is this worse than in Tennessee, where conservatives have banned books and drag shows but have done nothing to protect kids from what is now their most likely cause of death: gun violence. Instead of addressing this crisis, after the mass shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville on March 27, the Republican-led legislature expelled from its chamber two Black freshman Democrats in their 20s — Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones — for daring to demand commonsense gun control.That this was a partisan act, a racist act and an anti-democratic act is undeniable. But it was also a desperate and ultimately futile act, one that could lead to positive change in the future.Nothing could be more revealing of the fragility of the GOP than these expulsions. Republican legislators could have engaged with Pearson and Jones on the issues, but instead they chose to deploy the one weap...

From Gilroy to the NHL: How a former San Jose Sharks fan came back to bite his childhood team

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

Dustin Wolf was such an active child while growing up in Gilroy that his mom, Michelle, decided that he needed to take skating lessons to help burn off some excess energy.It was the perfect decision.Wolf was enrolled in a learn-to-skate program at Sharks Ice in San Jose, then went on to play goalie for the Santa Clara Blackhawks youth hockey team. He would later star for the Jr. Kings in Los Angeles, the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, and both the Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers of the AHL after he became a full-time pro in 2021.Wednesday night, Wolf made his NHL debut for the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome, playing against the team he grew up cheering for, the San Jose Sharks.Wolf proceeded to make 23 saves for his first NHL win, as the Flames beat the Sharks 3-1.“It’s rewarding,” Wolf said. “You know, you put the work in each and every day and you dream about that as a kid, to get that first game and first win.”Wolf is just the 51st California-born player &#...

5 easy ways to protect your new home

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

Whether it’s a first-time home purchase, a vacation home purchase, a multigenerational family home purchase or a downsize to luxury for ages 55+, choosing and building a new home marks a significant investment.Besides basic homeowners insurance, which is described in more detail below and which lenders require for financing, other easy steps can help you protect your new-construction home for decades.Meet the neighborsBy purchasing a home in a brand new community, buyers join a group of people who have at least a few things in common, including that everyone is new to everyone else.When people know each other, they look out for one another. Ask the sales office in the new-home community if neighborhood interest groups have been formed. Then build community by getting outside for walks, introducing yourself to others or stopping by neighbors’ homes — even during construction if some have already moved in.Exchange phone numbers and share what you’ve learned about the local area and yo...

Infosys: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

BANGALORE, India (AP) — BANGALORE, India (AP) — Infosys Limited (INFY) on Thursday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $744 million.On a per-share basis, the Bangalore, India-based company said it had net income of 18 cents.The results did not meet Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 19 cents per share.The business consulting services provider posted revenue of $4.55 billion in the period, which also missed Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $4.73 billion.For the year, the company reported profit of $2.98 billion, or 71 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $18.21 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on INFY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/INFYSource

Fastenal: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — WINONA, Minn. (AP) — Fastenal Co. (FAST) on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings of $295.1 million.On a per-share basis, the Winona, Minnesota-based company said it had profit of 52 cents.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 49 cents per share.The maker of industrial and construction fasteners posted revenue of $1.86 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Eight analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.84 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FAST at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FASTSource

First image of a black hole gets a makeover with AI

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The first image of a black hole captured four years ago revealed a fuzzy, fiery doughnut-shaped object. Now, researchers have used artificial intelligence to give that cosmic beauty shot a touch-up.The updated picture, published Thursday in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, keeps the original shape, but with a skinnier ring and a sharper resolution.The image released in 2019 gave a peek at the enormous black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy, 53 million light-years from Earth. A light-year is 5.8 trillion miles. It was made using data gathered by a network of radio telescopes around the world, showing swirling light and gas. But even with many telescopes working together, gaps remained in the data. In the latest study, scientists relied on the same data and used machine learning to fill in the missing pieces. The resulting picture looks similar to the original, but with a thinner “doughnut” and a darker center, researchers said. “For me, it feels like we’re reall...

Un meteorito aterrizó en EE.UU. la semana pasada, y ahora hay una recompensa por encontrarlo

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:20:11 GMT

(CNN) — Cazadores de meteoritos, prepárense para adentrarse en el bosque.Un museo de Maine ofrece US$ 25.000 por los restos de una roca espacial que surcó el cielo la semana pasada antes de aterrizar cerca de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y Canadá.La bola de fuego, visible a plena luz del día y que provocó un estampido sónico, fue detectada por radar, lo que permitió al Laboratorio de Investigación de Astromateriales y Ciencia de la Exploración (ARES, por sus siglas en inglés) de la NASA calcular el “campo esparcido” -donde podrían encontrarse fragmentos del meteoro- cerca de Calais, Maine.Darryl Pitt, jefe de la división de meteoritos del Museo de Minerales y Gemas de Maine, dijo que estaba deseoso de estudiar cualquier fragmento del meteorito, que podría contener información valiosa sobre el sistema solar. La recompensa de US$ 25.000 es para la primera pieza de meteorito encontrada que pese 2,2 libras (1 kilogramo) o más. Sin embargo, dijo que el museo estaría...