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Bay Area cities struggle to balance housing mandates, wildfire risks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

ORINDA — How can cities balance new state guidelines restricting development in high-risk wildfire zones with parallel — and often conflicting — mandates for aggressive housing construction?In vulnerable areas like Orinda, where virtually the entire hillside city is subject to high fire risk, many local leaders say they are doing the best they can. But critics who think they aren’t doing enough to keep the city safe have reached out to the California Superior Court to weigh in on the conflict.Orinda is home to nearly 20,000 residents living across roughly 13 square miles of rolling, dense hills and secluded valleys nestled in between Berkeley and Walnut Creek along Highway 24.In January, the Orinda City Council adopted “Plan Orinda,” a roadmap to meet the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s lofty mandate to build 1,359 new units of housing by 2031. This looming need to boost residential housing development sparked rezoning efforts, including on Orinda’...

U.N. chief warns humanity “on thin ice” as new climate report details urgent need to cut emissions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — U.N. chief warns humanity “on thin ice” as new climate report details urgent need to cut emissions.Source

The Affordable Care Act has significantly reduced disparities in healthcare, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010 by former President Barack Obama, has expanded health insurance coverage across the U.S. and significantly reduced racial and ethnic disparities in access to healthcare, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.Coverage inequities between Black, Hispanic, and white adults have narrowed substantially since 2013. All groups reported improvements between 2019 and 2021. (The Commonwealth Fund)“Since its passage in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped cut the U.S. uninsured rate nearly in half while significantly reducing racial and ethnic disparities in both insurance coverage and access to care — particularly in states that expanded their Medicaid programs,” reads the report.Data shows that prior to the 2013 implementation of the Medicaid expansion — a provision of the ACA that made more families eligible for Medicaid coverage — 40.2% of the Hispanic population, 24.4% of the Black population, and 14.5% of the White...

School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Teri Patrick bristles at the idea she wants to ban books about LGBTQ issues in Iowa schools, arguing her only goal is ridding schools of sexually explicit material. Sara Hayden Parris says that whatever you want to call it, it’s wrong for some parents to think a book shouldn’t be readily available to any child if it isn’t right for their own child.The viewpoints of the two mothers from suburban Des Moines underscore a divide over LGBTQ content in books as Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds pushes an especially sweeping crackdown on content in Iowa school libraries. The bill she’s backing could result in the removal of books from school libraries in all of the state’s 327 districts if they’re successfully challenged in any one of them.School boards and legislatures nationwide also are facing questions about books and considering making it easier to limit access.“We’re seeing these challenges arise in almost every state of the union,” sa...

Speaker of Czech parliament’s lower house to visit Taiwan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — The speaker of the Czech Parliament’s lower house is set to visit Taiwan to boost mutual ties, a step that has angered China.Marketa Pekarova Adamova said Monday she will be heading a large delegation on the March 25–30 trip that focuses on business, trade, research, education, culture and other relations.She will be accompanied by around 150 people, including representatives of some 100 Czech companies as well as academia, lawmakers and others.The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it maintains robust informal contacts. Taiwan’s high-tech companies are also significant investors in the Czech Republic.Pekarova Adamova said she will meet the island’s leaders, including Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and the prime minister, and she will address the Parliament.She said China has warned against the trip.China in recent years has upped its threat to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary, prompting new sales ...

China says deadly 2022 plane crash still being investigated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Experts are still investigating the cause of the crash of a China Eastern Airlines jetliner that killed 132 people one year ago, China’s government said Monday.The March 21, 2022, disaster was a rare failure for a Chinese airline industry that dramatically improved safety following deadly crashes in the 1990s. The Boeing 737-800 en route from Kunming in the southwest to Guangzhou, near Hong Kong, went into a nosedive from 8,800 meters (29,000 feet), appeared to recover and then slammed into a mountainside. Everyone aboard was killed.The Civil Aviation Administration of China said investigators were reviewing the plane’s controls and other debris but gave no details of what they might have found.“Due to the complexity and rarity of this accident, the investigation is still being carried out,” said a six-sentence statement on the CAAC website. “The investigation team will continue to carry out analysis.”The China Eastern crew reported no problems before losi...

Photographer creates list of 100 things to do in Estes Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

ESTES PARK, Colo. (KDVR) -- Whether you want to take a stroll through downtown, grab a slice of pizza or find the best margarita, this Colorado town is filled with endless possibilities.A photography in Estes Park recently wrote a book titled "100 Things To Do In Estes Park Before You Die." 10 breathtaking spring hikes to take in Colorado And even though the book says 100 things, it actually has 208 things you can do in the town.Wilson said she wrote the book to showcase that there is more to Estes Park than it being a basecamp for Rocky Mountain National Park."Estes Park has so much more to offer than just exploring the national park, although that is certainly one of the highlights while in town. I wanted to pull together a wide range of activities for visitors to do when they can't get a reservation and for locals to learn about in their town," Wilson explained. What will spring weather be like for Colorado? Here is a look at some of the photos Wilson has taken:Two bull elk (...

How high are gas prices in Colorado?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — If you are looking for good news on your Monday morning, the cost to fill your vehicle is going down.The average price for a gallon of regular fuel in our state is $3.77, which is down 13 cents from last week, according to AAA.Date/avg.RegularMid-GradePremiumDieselCurrent Avg.$3.771$4.143$4.440$4.489Yesterday Avg.$3.783$4.154$4.460$4.508Week Ago Avg.$3.909$4.270$4.581$4.628Month Ago Avg.$4.103$4.462$4.767$4.820Year Ago Avg.$3.957$4.293$4.597$4.637AAA, 3/20/23The national average for a gallon of regular fuel is at $3.44, which is down 3 cents since last week. What will spring weather be like for Colorado? Where are the cheapest gas prices?Here is a look at the 10 cheapest places to get a regular gallon of fuel in the state as of 7 a.m. Monday, according to GasBuddy:QuickTrip– Parker: $2.17Circle K– Parker: $2.17Love’s Travel Stop– Bennett: $3.13QuickTrip– Bennett:  $3.13Circle K– Bennett: $3.13Quick Stop- Brighton: $3.19Sam’s Club– Evans: $3.23Murphy Express- Parker...

Man shot, killed in Commerce City Sunday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (KDVR) — A man was shot and killed in Commerce City on Sunday night, and the suspect is still on the run. According to the Commerce City Police Department, officers responded to the 5400 block of East 67th Avenue on reports of a shooting. The area is a few blocks west of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Bicyclist shot in Speer neighborhood, suspects wanted When CCPD officers arrived, they located a man who had been shot. He was pronounced dead on scene. CCPD said the suspect in the shooting has not been arrested and that investigators are still working to determine the circumstances around what caused the incident. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Commerce City Police Department's tip line at 303-289-3626.

American citizen held hostage for 6 years in West Africa has been freed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:58 GMT

(CNN) — An American aid worker who was kidnapped in Niger more than six years ago and held hostage by terrorists has been released, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted on Monday.“I’m gratified & relieved to see the release of U.S. hostage Jeff Woodke after over 6 years in captivity. The U.S. thanks Niger for its help in bringing him home to all who miss & love him. I thank so many across our government who’ve worked tirelessly toward securing his freedom,” Sullivan tweeted.Jeffery Woodke is now being offered support and transport. “We are working closely with partners in the region and beyond to ensure safe transport and immediate access to the best medical and psychiatric support we can offer,” a senior administration official told reporters on Monday. “Where exactly Jeff chooses to go will be a bit up to him.”Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger earlier this month.̶...