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This Bay Area city launched its own ride share app — with 4 new Teslas

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

PALO ALTO — No need to call Uber or Lyft next time you want to take a weekday trip to Stanford Shopping Center, California Avenue restaurants or anywhere else in Palo Alto — the city now has a fleet of Teslas waiting to swoop in at a moment’s notice. Yes, Teslas.Palo Alto Link is this tech city’s foray into the ride-share space, seeking to disrupt titans that have struggled in recent years to keep a base of happy riders and drivers, and offering anyone a brand new Tesla — or, if a minivan is needed, a Toyota Sienna — to pick up and drop off anywhere in the city, whether it’s the hospital, a trip to the mall, a jaunt in the park or for the simple curiosity of riding in a Tesla.The ride-share app is easy to use, works much like Uber or Lyft and is the city’s answer to residents’ clamor for the return of a popular shuttle service that was shut down at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Rides are free until April 7, but fares won’t break the ba...

March Madness top teams bring talent and, for some, baggage

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

Kansas and Alabama are no strangers to playing for national championships.For the Jayhawks, another high-expectations trip to March Madness is a rite of spring. For the Crimson Tide, well, this path to glory travels through some unfamiliar ground — the basketball court.Alabama rolls in as the top overall seed in an NCAA Tournament that feels both familiar and foreign this season. Yes, there are plenty of heartwarming stories and unbelievable upsets to come when the action begins Tuesday with the first of four play-in games. But this was also a season clouded with police blotters at Alabama and Texas, injuries at Houston and UCLA, some unsightly losses at Kansas, and enough twists and turns at the top of the field to make this as unpredictable a bracket as ever. “I’m not sure we would’ve predicted this,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said of the top seeding that belongs to the Crimson Tide for the first time.Alabama’s ability to set aside distractions — namely, the inevit...

Crowd at U.S.-Mexico border stopped by barricades at bridge

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A large number of migrants in Mexico who were “posing a potential threat to make a mass entry” into the United States were prevented from cross a bridge leading to El Paso, Texas, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said. Physical barriers were put up to restrict entry at the Paso Del Norte International Bridge on Sunday afternoon, spokesperson Roger Maier said in a statement. Barricades also were used for a short time Sunday afternoon at an El Paso crossing at the Bridge of Americas and at one in Stanton, Maier said. Traffic was reopened and flowing in both directions as of Sunday evening, he said. Maier said the Office of Field Operations Special Response Team and U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted Customs officers. It wasn’t immediately known what caused the attempted mass crossing. A message seeking comment was left with the mayor’s office in El Paso. Source

Netanyahu allies in Israel plow ahead on legal overhaul

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political allies pressed ahead Monday with their plan to overhaul the judiciary, advancing a bill that would protect the long-serving leader from calls that he be removed from office over his corruption charges.The steps were the latest in a series of legislation seen by critics as concentrating power in the ruling coalition’s hands. The government has pledged to plow ahead with the legal changes despite widespread opposition. Since taking office in December, Netanyahu and his far-right coalition have advanced a raft of legislation seeking to overhaul the country’s judicial system and further entrench the power of the executive. These have prompted widespread protests by a large section of Israeli society, with demonstrations drawing tens of thousands of people taking place weekly for the past two months. Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and religious coalition allies say the judicial overhaul aims to r...

UN seeks extension of key Ukraine-Russia wartime grain deal

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Senior U.N. officials hosted Russian envoys in Geneva on Monday in a bid to extend an export agreement amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and prevent a potential new spike in world food prices.Despite being at war, Ukraine and Russia struck a deal last July that allows Ukraine — one of the world’s key breadbaskets — to ship grain from its Black Sea ports and permits Russia to export food and fertilizers.The 120-day agreement, which helped take some of the sting out of rising global food prices, was renewed last November. That extension expires on Saturday.Moscow has been frustrated that a parallel deal to allow exports of Russian ammonia, which is used across the globe for fertilizer, hasn’t taken effect.As part of the arrangement, Moscow wants Russian ammonia to be fed through a pipeline across Ukraine to reach Black Sea ports for possible export. Russian officials also say banking restrictions and high insurance costs have hurt their hopes of exporting fer...

South Korea sets record with 22-2 rout of China at WBC

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Kunwoo Park and Ha-Seong Kim hit grand slams in consecutive innings, and South Korea set a World Baseball Classic scoring record with a 22-2 rout over China on Monday night in a game between already eliminated teams.South Korea broke the runs record that had stood since Japan beat China 18-2 in the first round of the initial WBC in 2006.In the earlier Group B game, Australia defeated the Czech Republic 6-3 and reached a quarterfinal against Cuba on Wednesday. Japan plays Italy the following day in the second quarterfinal.South Korea (2-2) finished third in Group B and failed to advance past the first round for the third straight WBC. The South Koreans finished third in the initial tournament in 2006 and were runner-up in 2009.China (0-4) has never advanced past the first round. The last-place finish in the group means it will have to go through qualifying to reach the 2026 tournament.The South Koreans took a 4-2 lead with a two-run second, then broke open the game with ...

Bank stocks plunge at the open on Wall Street following failures of two banks; investors seeking safety rush into bonds

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bank stocks plunge at the open on Wall Street following failures of two banks; investors seeking safety rush into bonds.Source

Biden: Los estadounidenses pueden tener “confianza en que el sistema bancario es seguro”

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

(CNN) — El presidente Joe Biden afirmó este lunes que los estadounidenses pueden tener “confianza en que el sistema bancario es seguro” y añadió que los directivos de Silicon Valley Bank y Signature Bank serán despedidos tras la quiebra de ambos bancos.“Hoy, gracias a la rápida actuación de mi administración en los últimos días, los estadounidenses pueden tener confianza en que el sistema bancario es seguro, sus depósitos estarán ahí cuando los necesiten, las pequeñas empresas de todo el país que tienen cuentas depositadas en estos bancos pueden respirar tranquilas sabiendo que podrán pagar a sus trabajadores y pagar sus facturas”, comenzó Biden sus declaraciones.Biden repitió que los clientes pueden “estar tranquilos” porque este lunes tendrán acceso a su dinero.“La dirección de estos bancos será despedida. Si la FDIC se hace cargo del banco, las personas que lo dirigen ya no deberían trabajar allí”, dijo Biden, añadiendo que lo...

Japanese stars Ohtani, Sasaki turn Czech players into fans

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Players become fans, collect souvenirs, chase autographs and cherish memories — some painful.That’s a common thread running through the World Baseball Classic when opponents face Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani and his Japanese teammates.Take the case of Czech Republic teammates William Escala and Ondrej Satoria, whose team was eliminated from the WBC on Monday in a 6-3 loss to Australia.Escala crumbled to the ground writhing in pain on Saturday when Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki thumped his left leg with a 100 mph fastball.The 21-year-old Sasaki is a top pitching prospect in Japan, and threw 21 pitches at 100 mph or more against the Czechs.Escala crawled on his hands and knees after being hit, rolled over to his back, grabbed his left leg and cried out.He said it was all worth it.Escala kept the ball that hit him and wound up getting it signed when Sasaki met him on Monday to apologize.Yes, apologize.“He gave me some goodies, and a bunch of different c...

$50K reward for information on robbery of USPS letter carrier truck

Published Sun, 15 Dec 2024 23:01:36 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 to anyone with information on a recent robbery of a U.S. Postal Service truck.According to the USPIS, an unknown suspect allegedly robbed a USPS letter carrier truck on Jan. 28 at around 3:09 p.m.The USPS truck was near the intersection of Kearney Street and 19th Avenue in the South Park Hill neighborhood when it was robbed. USPIS said the suspect fled eastbound on East 19th Avenue in a silver Honda sedan. 12 shot in 7 separate shootings in metro over weekend USPIS said the suspect is described as the following:Hispanic manWore a grey hooded sweatshirt and red jacketDrove away in silver Honda sedanUSPIS urged anyone who sees the suspect to not apprehend them and instead call local law enforcement or the USPIS line at 1-877-876-2455. All information reported will be kept confidential.Anyone who offers information that leads to an arrest and conviction is eligible for a reward of up to $50,000.