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Only 15% of Californians can afford a home, new data shows

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

Only 15% of California households could afford to buy a home during the third quarter of 2023, according to new figures released by the California Association of Realtors.The new figures represent the lowest home affordability rate since 2007, a news release said.The latest figures show that California’s housing affordability rates continue to decrease. The figures released during the third quarter are down from 16% in the second quarter of 2023. These California cities have seen the largest population declines For comparison, about 56% of California home buyers could afford a home during the first quarter of 2012, the index’s peak high, a news release said.However, house affordability rates have dropped significantly since then, thanks to high housing costs, low inventory, and increasing interest rates.Prospective homeowners currently in the market would need to make $221,200 annually to qualify to purchase a median-price, single-story home in California, typically costing $843,6...

Caltrans provides update on world's largest wildlife crossing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

Steady progress is being made on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Cross in Agoura Hills, according to a recent update provided by the California Department of Transportation.Last week, crews worked overnight to pour "hundreds of tons" of wet concrete for the foundation of the bridge wall next to the southbound lanes of Highway 101, Caltrans said.Photos of the project shared by Caltrans show the area where concrete was poured as part of the integral bridge wall that will eventually suspend the largest wildlife crossing ever constructed.An aerial photo taken at night showing where crews are placing hundreds of tons of wet concrete for the foundation of the abutment, or bridge wall, next to the southbound lanes of US Highway 101 near Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills, California, to build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. (Caltrans)An aerial photo taken at night showing where crews are placing hundreds of tons of wet concrete for the foundation of the abutment, or bridge wall, nex...

Dean Melavic Pronounced Dead after Workplace Accident at Former Holly Sugar Plant [Tracy, CA]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

53-Year-Old Man Killed in Sugar Plant Accident on Holly DriveTRACY, CA (November 10, 2023) – Dean Melavic lost his life Sunday night in a workplace accident at the former Holly Sugar Plant. At approximately 10:20 a.m., emergency units from the South San Joaquin County Fire responded to the plant located on Holly Drive’s 20500 block.Per reports, a worker fell into a sizable silo within the facility, plunging about 80 feet into the machinery.Rescue operations involved a rope pulley system and a team of at least sixteen individuals to retrieve the man’s body from the silo. Despite the efforts of first responders, Dean Melavic was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as the 53-year-old worker from Elk Grove by the San Joaquin Medical Examiner.Presently, a Cal/OSHA representative is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the workplace accident. The former Holly Sugar Plant now operates under the name Spreckels Sugar Co. Inc., par...

Concord brewery will release new Veterans Day beer at taproom event

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

For the fifth year, Epidemic Ales in Concord has brewed a special beer as a tribute to U.S. military veterans — with input from veterans.It’s named DD-214 in honor of the release form that signifies a move from military service to veteran status, and veterans from various branches of the military take part by selecting the blend of hops used.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | 25+ Bay Area beer and wine events to enjoy this winter Restaurants, Food and Drink | Oakland’s Ale Industries shuts down, blames ‘rising rate of crime’ Restaurants, Food and Drink | How to pick the perfect beer to pair with your pizza Restaurants, Food and Drink | Brewery Day Trip: San Francisco’s Great American Beer Festival winners This year’s brew, a citrus-forward, unfiltered IPA with a 6.7% ABV, will be formally released on Veterans Day and celebrated at a daylong gathering of veterans at th...

Florida judge keeps Trump’s May 2024 documents trial date

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

By Eric Tucker | Associated PressWASHINGTON — A federal judge in Florida on Friday declined to delay Donald Trump’s classified documents trial, calling a request by the former president’s defense lawyers to postpone the date “premature.” But she pushed back other deadlines in the case and signaled that she would revisit the trial date later.The ruling from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon means that the trial, for now at least, remains scheduled to begin on May 20, 2024 despite efforts by the Trump team to postpone it until after next November’s presidential election.Trump’s lawyers had argued that they needed more time to review the large trove of evidence with which they’d been presented and also cited scheduling challenges resulting from the other legal cases against Trump, including three additional criminal prosecutions for which he is awaiting trial. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team had vigorously opposed that position in urgin...

FBI seizes NYC Mayor Adams’ phones as part of probe

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

By Kara Scannell | CNNFBI agents seized the cell phones of New York City Mayor Eric Adams as part of a federal investigation into campaign fundraising, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.The agents seized the phones and an iPad earlier this week pursuant to a court authorized search warrant, the person said.The New York Times first reported the search.The seizure is a dramatic escalation of the federal probe, bringing it directly to the mayor.The investigation is being handled by the FBI and the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York.This is a breaking story and will be updated.

‘From the river to the sea’: Why those words spark controversy

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

By Laurie Kellman | Associated PressThe Jordan River is a winding, 200-plus-mile run on the eastern flank of Israel and the occupied West Bank. The sea is the glittering Mediterranean to its west.But a phrase about the space in between, “from the river to the sea,” has become a battle cry with new power to roil Jews and pro-Palestinian activists in the aftermath of Hamas’ deadly rampage across southern Israel Oct. 7 and Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip.“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” pro-Palestinian activists from London to Rome and Washington chanted in the volatile aftermath of Israel’s bloodiest day. Adopting or defending it can be costly for public figures, such as U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who was censured by the House on Tuesday.But like so much of the Mideast conflict, what the phrase means depends on who is telling the story — and which audience is hearing it.Many Palestinian activists say it’s a call ...

As retooling continues, have San Jose Sharks found a goalie to build around?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

The San Jose Sharks brought in a handful of players this offseason whose long-term futures with the organization are murky at best.Early indications are, though, that goalie Mackenzie Blackwood might be someone the Sharks can build around.Blackwood was again solid on Thursday night, making 39 saves to help the Sharks earn a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, giving San Jose its second victory of the season after 11 straight losses. Blackwood had 38 saves in San Jose’s 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.Against the Oilers, Blackwood was calm and collected as he covered up some mistakes by his teammates and helped kill off two third-period penalties as the Sharks won back-to-back games for the first time since late last season.“He’s so confident,” San Jose center Tomas Hertl said of Blackwood. “It’s easy to play in front of him because if we make a mistake, he’s here for us. The games we lost, that wasn’t on him. He’s been ri...

APEC traffic, wet storms, protests: San Franciscans brace for rough week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Traffic gridlock in San Francisco is about to become atrocious. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit -- which begins on Saturday and continues through next week -- will draw in a crowd of 20,000 and trigger a massive number of city street closures. On top of the APEC summit, Mother Nature has big plans on deck. A wet November storm is forecast to drench the Bay Area on Tuesday and Wednesday. Drivers will be funneled around road closures while simultaneously navigating on rain-slick pavement.The Moscone Center and Fairmont Hotel will be ground zero for APEC events, inconvenient road closures, protests, VIPs requiring high security, and traffic. The Embarcadero and Nob Hill will also be a mess.The city created a confusing road closure and security zone map for the public on its website.Before drivers can even reach SF from Marin County or the East Bay, the will likely be snarled in heavy bridge traffic. That's because Caltrans is closing some lan...

Four real estate professionals indicted on $55M fraudulent loan application scheme

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:34:35 GMT

(KRON) – Four real estate professionals in the Bay Area were charged in a years-long mortgage fraud scheme. Tjoman Buditaslim (also identified as Joe Lim), Travis Holasek, Jose Alfonso Tellez, and Jose De Jesus Martinez were all indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a years-long mortgage fraud scheme, United States Attorney Ismael J. Ramsey and Special Agent in Charge Herminia Neblina announced. Pool worker treated for chemical burns following possible explosion in Alameda According to the indictment, between May 2019 and Aug. 23, 2023, Buditaslim, 51; Holasek, 51; Tellez, 26; and Martinez, 58, obtained more than $55 million in residential mortgage loans for homebuyers in Northern California by creating fraudulent documents that they submitted to residential mortgage origination companies. The fraudulent documents were used to qualify buyers for residential mortgage loans in connection with the fraud scheme.The d...