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Inflation may be easing, but it's still hitting home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

At a macro level, the news on the inflation front is encouraging.As expected, the inflation rate in February ran 6% from a year before. That's a smidge better than the 6.4% rate we saw in January.But for many households, things aren't getting much easier. The cost for housing, for example, was up by 8.1% from a year ago.Overall food prices rose by 9.5%. And when you look more closely, you see that some staples and expenditures remain astronomically expensive.Eggs, for instance, were 55% pricier last month compared with a year ago.Butter and margarine were up by 27%.Air fares rose 26.5%.Bread 16%.Car insurance 14.5%.Electricity 13%.And pet products rose in cost by 11%.Stir all that together and it's clear many working families are still feeling the pinch -- which is why an expected ninth rate hike is expected next week from the Federal Reserve.There had been speculation Monday that the current difficulties in the banking sector could prompt the Fed to take a breather and wait until M...

Coors Light is releasing a non-alcoholic beer-flavored popsicle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

During the dog days of summer, there's just nothing quite like cracking open an ice-cold adult beverage to beat the sweltering heat. If you're under the age of 21, the closest you can (legally) get to that feeling is opening up the fridge and grabbing a refreshing popsicle.But what if you could have the best of both worlds? That's exactly what Coors Light is hoping to accomplish.The macro-brewery giant Molson-Coors announced Tuesday it would be releasing a new item that will bridge the gap between beer lovers and popsicle enjoyers: the "Coors-icle."The Coors-icle is a non-alcoholic beer-flavored popsicle in a tube, similar to Otter Pops or Freezies, depending on which side of the country you hail from.Coors Light has announced a new product to bridge the gap between beer lovers and popsicle lovers: the Coors-icle (Coors Light)The popsicles will be on sale for a limited time to celebrate the NCAA March Madness Tournament. The Coors-icles will be sold in six-packs, like their beer cou...

Makeup-free Selena Gomez upstages glam ‘mean girl’ Hailey Baldwin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

Even though Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber haven’t directly said they’re feuding, it’s easy to think that Gomez had some Bieber-directed strategy in mind when she posted photos of herself, sans makeup, that instantly became popular Monday.Several hours earlier, Bieber, pop culture’s latest “mean girl,” shared a video of herself on Instagram Story, getting the full beauty treatment to attend the Vanity Fair Oscar party Sunday night — her first public appearance since her social media drama with Gomez began, fueled by her perceived attacks on the hugely popular singer and actor who used to date her husband Justin Bieber.BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Hailey Bieber attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair) Bieber began her Oscars dress-up video donning a ...

High school baseball rankings: Bay Area News Group Top 20

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

Bay Area News Group Baseball Top 20(Mercury News & East Bay Times)(Records through Monday)No. 1 DE LA SALLE (3-0)Preseason ranking: 1Update: Defending NCS and NorCal Division I champions are off to a strong start, with wins over Clayton Valley, Folsom and Woodcreek.Up next: Wednesday vs. Amador Valley, 4 p.m.No. 2 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (6-1)Preseason ranking: 5Update: The Monarchs beat West Catholic Athletic League rival Valley Christian to win the Wilcox tournament. Have split two games against Palo Alto.Up next: Friday at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 4 p.m. No. 3 VALLEY CHRISTIAN (5-1)Preseason ranking: 2Update: The Bay Area powerhouse is off to another sizzling start, its only loss through six games coming at the hands of Mitty.Up next: Wednesday vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral, 4 p.m.No. 4 SERRA (4-0)Preseason ranking: 15Update: The San Mateo school’s unbeaten start includes victories over Palo Alto and Los Gatos.Up next: Tuesday at Bellarmine, 4 p.m.No. 5 PALO ALTO (4-2)Preseason ra...

Single-family residence sells in Saratoga for $4.3 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

20778 Russell Lane – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 20700 block of Russell Lane in Saratoga has a new owner. The 2,801-square-foot property, built in 1964, was sold on Feb. 27, 2023. The $4,300,000 purchase price works out to $1,535 per square foot. The property features five bedrooms, three baths, a garage, and two parking spaces. The unit sits on a 0.6-acre lot.Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include:A 3,181-square-foot home on the 13500 block of Mandarin Way in Saratoga sold in August 2022, for $5,055,000, a price per square foot of $1,589. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In September 2022, a 3,674-square-foot home on Verde Vista Lane in Saratoga sold for $5,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,497. The home has 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.On Toni Ann Place, Saratoga, in September 2022, a 2,995-square-foot home was sold for $5,295,000, a price per square foot of $1,768. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

SF Giants cut Kyle Harrison, 3 others from MLB camp: Why they could all contribute in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The San Francisco Giants whittled their spring roster by four more players Tuesday, and it is reaching that point in camp that, while no major surprise they didn’t make the Opening Day roster, all four could be contributors this season.The most notable cut was 21-year-old left-hander Kyle Harrison, the Giants’ top pitching prospect who was given a non-roster invitation to train with the big leaguers for the first time. Harrison, regarded as the top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball, entered camp with high expectations, and while he flashed the tremendous potential of his lethal arsenal, he too often struggled to locate it, something he will have to refine at Triple-A Sacramento, where he is expected to start the season.A graduate of De La Salle (Concord), Harrison made three Cactus League appearances, tossing 3 ⅔ innings while allowing eight runs (a 19.64 ERA) and walking nearly as many batters (three) as he struck out (four). In 113 innings b...

Rolly Crump dies at 93; theme park designer had huge hand in shaping Disneyland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

The self-described “worst” artist ever hired by Walt Disney who went on to help create three of Disneyland’s most beloved attractions and shape Knott’s Berry Farm has died after a kooky, whimsical and fearless career as a theme park designer.Rolly Crump died Sunday, March 12 in his Carlsbad home at the age of 93, according to the Walt Disney Company.Rolly Crump shows off his vision for the Haunted Mansion that included a “Museum of the Weird” during a 1965 episode of the “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” television show. (Disney) Crump helped design It’s a Small World, Haunted Mansion and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room — three of Disneyland’s most enduring attractions.“I wasn’t that much of an illustrator,” Crump said in the 2016 documentary “The Whimsical Imagineer.” “I think Walt liked my imagination.”Influenced by comic strips and comic books, Crump began drawing as a child in the 1930s while trying to imagine the mental pictures painted in his head by radio serial...

Suspected catalytic converter thief crushed to death in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

OAKLAND — The investigation is continuing into the Friday morning death of a suspected catalytic converter thief who was fatally crushed under a vehicle when a car jack he was using apparently malfunctioned, authorities said.The name of the man, who authorities said was a 35-year-old Vacaville resident, has not yet been released.The fatality occurred about 3 a.m. Friday in the 400 block of Lagunitas Avenue, a residential area south of Interstate 580 and a few blocks from Lake Merritt.Police were called to the street by a resident who thought someone might be trying to steal a catalytic converter from a parked Toyota Prius.When officers arrived they found the 35-year-old crushed under the vehicle. Despite life-saving efforts from police and paramedics, he was pronounced dead there.Authorities said the preliminary investigation indicates that a car jack the man was using malfunctioned causing the vehicle to slip and crush him. A backpack containing cutting tools was found near h...

Oakland A’s getting more than just power bat from former All-Star Aguilar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

MESA, Ariz. — The Oakland A’s signed veteran first baseman Jesús Aguilar to a $3 million, one-year contract this winter looking to add power to a lineup that severely lacked it in 2022.The 32-year-old former All-Star has certainly proven he is capable of that to this point in his nine-year major-league career, but he offers the A’s much more than just power at the plate. A bright personality, a palpable sense of humor, and, perhaps most importantly, an undeniable ability to lead made Aguilar such an integral part of the five teams he was a part of since 2014.Now, the A’s get to experience all of his shining qualities.“He holds court in the morning on the couch, that’s for sure,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay quipped about Aguilar Tuesday. “I think he’s taken on that role really nicely. We do have a few younger Latin players, which is nice to have someone who is a veteran presence in there that has been in the states and been in the big leagues and can translate, can communicate, can...

Bay Area atmospheric river updates: Shelter in Place ordered due to falling glass in SF

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:50 GMT

(KRON) -- Heavy rain and strong winds that disturbed Tuesday's morning commute have led to hazardous conditions across the Bay Area. The excessive rainfall from the latest storm could bring the potential for heavy flooding as well as downed trees and power lines. The rain is expected to dry up by Wednesday and Thursday before some more showers for St. Patrick's Day weekend, according to KRON4 meteorologist John Shrable. Walmart big rig overturns on Richmond-San Rafael bridge, causes lane closures The National Weather Service also issued a High Wind Warning for the entire Bay Area effective Monday night through Wednesday morning. Peak gusts in the valleys are expected to reach between 40 and 50 miles per hour while coastal gusts are expected to reach between 55 to 70 miles per hour.Tuesday, March 142:55 p.m. -- Water rising on Highway 37 near VallejoVideo shot from Highway 37 on the way to Vallejo showed waves from the Bay crashing up along the roadside. 2:50 p.m. -- Eme...