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Lahaina residents brace for what they’ll find when they return

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher | Associated PressHONOLULU — Soon after one of Maui’s Japanese Buddhist temples, the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, burned in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, its resident minister was desperate to go back and see what remained.Six weeks later, he’s more hesitant.“Now I feel like I have to have mental preparation to go there,” the Rev. Ai Hironaka said. “I’m kind of afraid.”Hironaka and other Lahaina residents are grappling with a range of emotions as Maui authorities plan next week to begin allowing some on supervised visits back into the areas devastated by the Aug. 8 fire, which killed at least 97 people and demolished thousands of buildings.Lana Vierra is bracing to see the ruins of the home where she raised five children, a house that started with three bedrooms in 1991 and was expanded to six to accommodate her extended family as the cost of living in Hawaii soared.She’s been telling her ...

Berkeley: Former home of beloved ‘Hot Tub Guy’ listed for $899,000

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

A home steeped in Berkeley’s communal, hippie history has hit the real estate market — almost exactly a year after its storied owner passed away taking one final soak.Deward Hastings, a longtime community fixture known to many simply as “the Hot Tub Guy,” opened up the handcrafted tub behind his cozy, brown shingle bungalow as a sanctuary to the outside community — free of charge — for nearly 50 years.This week, the 2-bed, 1-bath home, located at 2133 Essex St., was listed for sale for $899,000. The 3,484-square-foot residence includes the semisecret backyard hot tub, which was encircled by towering Redwoods and always set at a scalding, yet lively, 113.5º using a laboratory-grade mercury thermometer.Tens of thousands of visitors enjoyed a steaming soak at the hidden oasis between 1975 and September 2022, when Hastings died at the age of 78. A guest arrived to find Hastings lifeless in the tub; he was pronounced dead by emergency responders a half hour later. Polic...

Auto workers expand strike to 38 locations in 20 states

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

By David Koenig | Associated PressThe United Auto Workers union expanded its strike against major carmakers Friday, walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts-distribution centers in 20 states.Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, UAW President Shawn Fain said during an online presentation to union members.“We’ve made some real progress at Ford,” Fain said. “We still have serious issues to work through, but we do want to recognize that Ford is showing that they are serious about reaching a deal. At GM and Stellantis, it’s a different story.”GM and Stellantis, he said, have rejected the union’s proposals for cost-of-living increases, profit sharing and job security, and “are going to need some serious pushing.”Instead of targeting more production plants Friday, the UAW went after centers that distribute parts to car dealer...

East Bay mayor, three council members will seek higher office

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

The makeup of city councils in Pittsburg and Antioch could see a shakeup with four members vying for other offices next year.In Pittsburg, Mayor Shanelle Scales-Preston has announced her intent to run for Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover’s District 5 seat if he steps down, while two-term Councilman Jelani Killings has also launched his campaign for the same seat.Shanelle Scales-Preston candidate for Pittsburg City Council. (Courtesy of Shanelle Scales-Preston) Meanwhile, in Antioch, Councilman Mike Barbanica announced on Thursday his intent to seek the same supervisor’s seat, while colleague Monica Wilson this summer announced her bid for the District 15 Assembly seat currently held by Tim Grayson, D-Orinda.Grayson, meanwhile, announced he was running for state senate in August. Glover, a county supervisor since 2000, has yet to make a decision, though he said he would soon.The supervisor’s seat includes Pittsburg, Martinez, Hercules and Rodeo and portions of...

Some older customers are staying away from Olive Garden and Cracker Barrel

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

By Danielle Wiener-Bronner | CNNNew York  — Even the unlimited breadsticks at Olive Garden and wooden rocking chairs at Cracker Barrel can’t seem to lure back the baby boomers.It’s been over three years since many restaurants closed their doors and customers opted to eat more meals at home because of the Covid pandemic. Now, some older customers are still staying away, exacerbating a foot traffic problem faced by restaurant chains.When it comes to customers over 65, “we just have not yet recovered the visits … to the extent we thought we would, really since the pandemic,” said Cracker Barrel CEO Sandra Cochran during a call with analysts earlier this month.Older consumers have been hit by a double whammy, she said. At first, they stayed away because of health concerns. And then, they stayed away due to inflation.“The over-65 group is particularly value-conscious,” she said. “And so we just haven’t seen the recovery of that group.”The dip is coming at a time when Cracker Barrel’s tra...

Want a part of the Warriors? 10% of the ownership stake — for about $700 million — reportedly is up for sale

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

A portion of the NBA’s most valuable franchise is up for sale.A small group of Warriors minority investors are exploring the possibility of selling their roughly 10 percent stakes in the most successful NBA franchise over the last decade, Bloomberg reported Friday morning.The Warriors were assessed as being worth $7 billion last October and took the top spot on Forbers’ rankings of NBA teams by franchise valuation last October, and that’s the figure that’s reportedly been floated to possible interested parties. Some potential investors, though, have balked at that valuation, according to Bloomberg.That said, a sale at the $7 billion mark would make the Warriors one of the world’s most valuable sports teams. The Dallas Cowboys are valued at $9 billion and the New York Yankees at $7.1 billion, according to Forbes.Related ArticlesGolden State Warriors | Golden State Warriors: The pros and cons of Dwight Howard Golden State Warriors | ...

DC area braces for rain, wind from powerful weekend storm; Virginia declares state of emergency

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

The D.C. area is bracing for a powerful coastal storm that expected to drench the region starting Friday night and last through the weekend. Here’s what you need to know.The National Hurricane Center said that the tropical cyclone is approaching the East Coast toward North Carolina and it will affect the D.C. region.Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm. The declaration allows the commonwealth to mobilize resources and equipment needed for response and recovery efforts.A news release from the governor’s office stated: “This is an unusual storm, which has been difficult to accurately forecast, approaching large population centers with many at-risk communities.”Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.Current traffic conditionsWeather forecastClosings and DelaysSign up for WTOP alerts7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said the storm system is expected to bring widespread mino...

AP Week in Pictures: Global | September 15-21, 2023

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

SEPTEMBER 15- 21, 2023Auto workers strike against three U.S. car manufacturers, migrants watch a golfer in Texas, and President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by Associated Press photographers in North America.The selection was curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison in New York.Follow AP visual journalism:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnewsAP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_ImagesAP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.comSource

Megan Rapinoe’s legacy with US team is bigger than soccer

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

Whether she was advocating for equal pay and racial justice or just scoring a rare goal off a corner kick, Megan Rapinoe was always unabashedly authentic during her soccer career. As she prepares to step away, the 38-year old Rapinoe is showing a more vulnerable side, too.Rapinoe sobbed following the U.S. loss to Sweden at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, knowing it would be her final tournament with the national team. She was emotional again last weekend, playing her final rivalry match between her NWSL team, OL Reign, and the Portland Thorns.“I’ve just loved every moment of my career,” she said through tears at the World Cup last month in Australia. “I’ll just miss it to death, but it also feels like the right time. And that’s OK.”On Sunday, Rapinoe will play her final game in a U.S. jersey when the United States faces South Africa at Chicago’s Soldier Field at 5:30 p.m. EDT on TNT. She’ll have a few more regular-season games for the Reign, including a send...

Ten Hag questioned about Man United player unrest and transfer dealings with his agent

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erik ten Hag’s second season at Manchester United is not going to plan. Three defeats in the Premier League already have left his team a long way off the pace at the top of the standings, while United’s return to the Champions League ended in a 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Burnley, Ten Hag has had to deal with reports of unrest among some players and on Friday faced questions about the influence of agent Kees Vos in terms of the club’s transfer dealings. Vos is Ten Hag’s agent, and his Sports Entertainment Group also represents Rasmus Hojlund, who was an $82 million signing from Atalanta in the offseason, and negotiated Sofyan Amrabat’s deadline day loan move from Fiorentina. Reports this week claimed there were concerns from some United staff about Vos’ involvement in deals, but Ten Hag dismissed suggestions that there could be a conflict of interest. “For player decisions, t...