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At Florida climate change summit, Harris stresses optimism

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday there is renewed cause for optimism given major U.S. laws enacted recently to tackle the global problem of climate change on multiple fronts.Harris was the star attraction at the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, now in its second year in Miami Beach. The event drew about 2,300 participants including other politicians, corporate CEOs, climate activists, entrepreneurs, artists and many others. Harris appeared with Miami singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan in an interview setting on stage.The thrust of the conversation revolved around the Inflation Reduction Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in August 2022. Despite its name, the measure is considered the biggest climate change legislation ever passed in the U.S. with some $370 billion directed to tackling the problem over 10 years. A major infrastructure bill also has numerous climate-related provisions.The overarching goal is for a 50% reduction in greenhou...

Man at large after armed robbery at Farm Store in Hialeah

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

Police are asking for the public’s help in their search for a man who, they said, robbed a convenience store at in Hialeah at gunpoint.According to Hialeah Police, the subject entered the Farm Store in the area of West 29th Street and Sixth Avenue, at around 9:30 p.m., Tuesday.Once inside, police said, the subject was captured on surveillance video as he pointed a gun at the sales clerk and demanded money. The subject, seen wearing a black hoodie, also demanded that the employee hand over her cellphone.Detectives said the clerk complied with the robber’s demands and placed the money in a plastic bag.The subject exited the business and fled eastbound on West 29th Street.No one was hurt.If you have any information on this robbery or the subject’s whereabouts, call Hialeah Police at 305-687-2525 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Boston City Council approves rent control proposal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

Efforts to institute rent control in Boston cleared a hurdle Wednesday as the City Council approved a bill to cap annual rent hikes. The bill, which is part of a key campaign promise by Mayor Michelle Wu, passed 11-2. The measure won’t go into effect yet, though, as it now needs approval from state leaders. “This is affecting everything from how our businesses and economy can recover to our school enrollment and the stability of every part of our neighborhoods,” Wu said. The bill caps rent increases as six percent, plus the consumer price index to account for inflation, with an overall cap of 10 percent in high inflation years. Wu has said the legislation will protect families from rent gouging and displacement. “We need to keep it up until Boston is a place where people from every income level know they can not just survive here but thrive here,” she said. Not everyone is on board. “We’re disappointed, but we’re not surprised,” Greg Va...

Hundreds gather for International Women’s Day breakfast

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

Hundreds of women came together in Boston Wednesday morning to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event was held at Simmons University, marking the 25th annual breakfast to ring in the day. Different organizations partnered to host the event with the goal to celebrate the past and plan for the future.During the event, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a former city councilor and the city’s first woman elected mayor, took the microphone. “When I first started coming to these events early on as a young councilor, there weren’t that many shoutouts to give to women in elected office and women leading institutions in various spaces,” Wu said. “Today, we are nowhere near where we need to be, but we’ve come a long way as a city and as a commonwealth.”This year’s event was the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that this breakfast group met in person. 

Celtics stop bleeding with blowout victory over Blazers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

As the Celtics processed their third consecutive agonizing loss on Monday night, they tried to thread a balance. They didn’t want to overreact to their struggles, but still wanted to act with a sense of urgency, knowing they have issues to iron out as the playoffs loom.“Winning cures all,” Malcolm Brogdon said Monday in Cleveland.For one night, it did.A typically inconsequential home game against the struggling Blazers suddenly became more important for the reeling Celtics in the face of some late-season adversity. After Monday’s loss, Brogdon said he told Blake Griffin it was one they needed to win to get back on track before a six-game, 16-day road trip against winnable teams.The Celtics stopped the bleeding and never let their foot off the gas in a wire-to-wire, 115-93 over the Blazers at TD Garden. Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Derrick White added 20 points and seven assists, and behind a strong early shooting and defense, the C’s earned a double-digit and didn’t let it go for ...

Chicago Bears free-agent tracker: Fullback Khari Blasingame is returning on a 2-year extension

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of salary-cap space to rework a roster that finished 3-14 in 2022.As the NFL’s new league year approaches, allowing free agents to begin signing with new teams, the Tribune will track all of the Bears’ arrivals and departures and provide insight into what they mean.The free-agency negotiation window will open across the league at 11 a.m. Monday. Unrestricted free agents can finalize deals when the new league year begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday.Here’s the latest.TuesdayThe Bears are bringing back veteran fullback Khari Blasingame on a two-year extension, according to his agency.What it means: Blasingame joined the Bears on a one-year deal last season. And while he didn’t receive an offensive touch, he remains well-regarded inside Halas Hall for his intelligence, work ethic and toughness.As a blocker, Blasingame contributed to a Bears offense that averaged a league-best 177.3 rush...

Chicago Bulls must find their clutch gene to make the postseason: ‘We can’t think about how it’s been. You just fight.’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

Last season, the Chicago Bulls were at their best with a thin margin and a waning clock.The Bulls had the fourth-best record in clutch games, going 25-16 while shooting 48.4% in such situations. DeMar DeRozan became indomitable down the stretch, knocking down game-winning shots with an air of inevitability.But this season, the result of a close game feels like a foregone conclusion. The Bulls entered their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night with the second-worst record (11-22) in clutch games — ones with a margin of five or fewer points in the final five minutes.It’s enough to give a team whiplash. But DeRozan feels the cause is still a confusion — even with less than five weeks left in the season.“The tide just isn’t turning for us when we’re in those positions,” DeRozan told the Tribune. “Last year, we had everything going our way.”At least on paper, the Bulls don’t look like that bad of a clutch team. The...

La Jolla-based crypto company to liquidate bank

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Silvergate Capital Corporation, a La Jolla-based financial establishment that focuses on cryptocurrency, will be winding down operations and voluntarily liquidating its bank, the company announced Wednesday."In light of recent industry and regulatory developments, Silvergate believes that an orderly wind down of Bank operations and a voluntary liquidation of the Bank is the best path forward. The Bank’s wind down and liquidation plan includes full repayment of all deposits," Silvergate stated on its website. California woman misses $2.04B Powerball jackpot by one number, still lands $1.15M prize The company said its decision was made in response to "recent industry and regulatory developments," adding that it is "considering how best to resolve claims and preserve the residual value of its assets, including its proprietary technology and tax assets."Last Friday, Silvergate Bank decided to discontinue the Silvergate Exchange Network.All other deposit-related servi...

Hollywood's Backlot: Movies that you might not have known filmed in San Diego

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO – San Diego has a long history of television and movies that have set their stories in “America’s Finest City” – from blockbusters like Top Gun to shows like The Fosters. But San Diego has a number of other movie and TV credits that might surprise some locals.From recent hits like Avatar: The Way of Water and Pirates of the Caribbean to classics including Citizen Kane, San Diego has been used as a backlot for Hollywood films that take place outside of the region for over a century, hosting hundreds of movie and TV productions at locations across the area.“Los Angeles is famous for filming, because – year round weather, beaches, mountains, desert – you can get anything within about 45 minutes,” Guy Langman, filming program manager with the City of San Diego’s Special Events and Filming Department, said to FOX5SanDiego.com. “San Diego offers the exact same thing.” ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ filming spots in San Diego As early as 1898, San Diego was one of the premiere locations a...

Cuba tobacco farmers recuperate after ruinous Hurricane Ian

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:16:24 GMT

SAN LUIS, Cuba (AP) — A neighbor lent him a house to dry leaves, and he had a little fertilizer saved, so he plucked up the courage to plant. Now, Hirochi Robaina can hardly believe the resulting miracle.Robaina, one of the most recognized tobacco producers in Cuba, marvels as he walks through the intense green of plants that have grown more than a meter (three feet) high in the Pinar del Rio region.Six months after Hurricane Ian devastated 80% of the region’s tobacco infrastructure, farmers are trying to recuperate from the disaster. And though they’ll produce less than in past seasons, they say they’ll still be able to harvest the leaves for premium hand-rolled cigars, one of the Caribbean nation’s key exports.“Not a single tobacco house was left standing. There were no warehouses, there was no tree left,” Robaino told The Associated Press, remembering how the storm left the region at the end of September. “Everything broke and at that moment I did not believe it was possibl...