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Franks: Joe Biden’s shameless use of Kamala Harris

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

The good news for President Joe Biden is that his approval rating, as reported by a recent AP-NORC poll, stands at 38%. This is his second worst rating in his presidency, slightly better than his 36% in July 2022. Yes, that is his “good” news. It should be worse.Vice President Kamala Harris’s approval numbers are even lower.If it were not for Black Americans, Biden and Harris would have far worse scores.Let’s see a poll that does not include Black Americans or one that separates suburban and rural voters from urban voters – the results would be extremely poor for Biden.Many would say that he picked Harris as vice president to motivate and lock in the Black women vote, while also helping to guarantee that once elected, no one would want to push him out of office.The normal and generally accepted prior experience for a U.S. vice president are the following: congressman, senator, governor, ambassador, Cabinet or sub-Cabinet member. Being a state’s top lawyer/attorney general is not som...

Dear Abby: Daughter nixes leaving nest, facing reality

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

Dear Abby: My 28-year-old daughter moved back home when COVID hit. She works as an influencer and also has a part-time job as a content creator. She doesn’t pay bills. My husband doesn’t want her to pay rent, etc. I feel it’s important for her to do so. She does pay for her groceries and gas.She stays in her room day and night. She used to go out with friends, but now doesn’t do anything. She says she has cyber friends. We have asked her to come out with us at times, but she refuses. Another problem is, she hasn’t gone to the doctor or dentist in a very long time. I talked with her about it, and she blamed me for not taking her. I offered to go with her, but she doesn’t do anything about it.My husband doesn’t think there is a problem, but I feel there is. I feel we have enabled her, although we didn’t mean to. Should we be charging her rent? How do we get her to become more social? How do we get her the right help so she can move forwa...

Padres drop Opening Day game to Rockies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — C.J. Cron homered twice and drove in five runs for the Colorado Rockies, who beat San Diego 7-2 on Thursday to dampen opening night of the most anticipated season in Padres history at chilly, wet Petco Park.Cron hit a go-ahead, three-run homer with one out in the fifth inning and added a leadoff shot in the seventh for his 17th career multi-homer game. Elehuris Montero followed with another homer off reliever Domingo Tapia. The Rockies had 17 hits, with the heart of the order collecting 10 — four by Cron and three apiece by Kris Bryant and Charlie Blackmon.Expectations are so high for the superstar-laden Padres, who made a stirring run to the NL Championship Series last year, that some in the sellout crowd of 45,103 booed when left fielder Juan Soto let Bryant's fly ball fall in for an RBI single in the sixth. There were more boos when Cron and Montero went back-to-back in the seventh.Xander Bogaerts, who signed a $280 million, 11-year free agent deal in December, w...

Hear what music Padres players have chosen as their walk-up songs

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The 2023 Padres walk-up music playlist is out, with homerun-worthy songs sure to keep the Friar Faithful moving and grooving all season long.The players have carefully selected tunes that will help to identify them as they walk to home plate as batter up. For pitchers, their song will also blare through stadium speakers as they take the mound in hopes of striking out the opposing batter. Padres announce regular season broadcast schedule Whether it's a song that helps them focus on the strike zone or simply reflects their personality as an athlete and beyond, each player has chosen their tune for a reason.Here are the Padres players' walk-up songs for their strides to the plate and mound this season.-- Jose Azocar (right fielder): Azukita by Steve Aoki & Daddy Yankee; Pa' Que Retozen by Tego Calderon-- Jake Cronenworth (second baseman): Keep Their Heads Ringin' by Dr. Dre-- Luis Garcia (pitcher): Superacion by Miky Woodz-- Josh Hader (pitcher): Every Chan...

New taproom coming to Petco Park

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Padres fans will be able to try out a new selection of brews at Petco Park this year.Alpine Beer is opening up its new taproom inside the Padres' ballpark, the company said in a release Thursday. Located in section 309, the craft brand's taproom offers scenic views of San Diego Bay and Coronado Bridge at its rooftop bar and patio. Hear what music Padres players have chosen as their walk-up songs “We couldn’t be more excited to open an Alpine Beer taproom at iconic Petco Park in the brand’s hometown of San Diego, California. Fans have waited all winter for the return of baseball, and we are proud to welcome them on opening day with a cold pint of our refreshing, hop-forward beers,” said Ty Gilmore, President, U.S. Beer, Tilray Brands, Inc.Alpine Beer's most popular brews include Nelson IPA, Duet IPA and the new Infinite Haze Hazy IPA. But that's not at all, the taproom's menu features house-made smoked hot links and smoked choripan sausage sandwiche...

Asian stocks follow Wall St up ahead of US inflation update

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher Friday ahead of a United States inflation update traders hope might prompt the Federal Reserve to ease plans for more interest rate hikes.Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney advanced. Oil prices declined.Wall Street rose Thursday as worries about the global financial system eased following the collapse of two U.S. banks and one in Switzerland.Traders hope a measure of U.S. inflation due out Friday that is closely watched by the Federal Reserve will show upward pressure on prices easing. That might prompt the Fed to postpone plans for a possible rate hike at its May meeting.A softer inflation reading would be a “signal to continue with the risk-on theme,” said Tim Waterer of Kohle Capital Markets in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.3% to 3,269.83 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 1.1% to 20,532.33.The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo advanced 1% to 28,046.75 after government data showed factory output rebounded and re...

Taiwan leader scrambles for allies in Central America visit

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — As Taiwan’s diplomatic partners dwindle and turn instead to rival China, Taiwanese President President Tsai Ing-wen is aiming to shore up ties with the self-governing island’s remaining allies during a trip this week to Central America. In a speech addressed to leaders of Guatemala and Belize shortly before departing, Tsai framed the trip as a chance to show Taiwan’s commitment to democratic values globally. “External pressure will not obstruct our resolution to go on the world stage. We will be calm, self-confident, we will not submit but also not provoke,” said Tsai, who will also meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a stopover in the United States.But the trip also is aimed to solidifying ties in Latin America as China funnels money into the region and pressures its countries to break off relations with the self-governed democratic island.In Guatemala and Belize, Tsai is expected to bring an open checkbook. But in a region under growing Chinese influe...

Shadowy brokers walk off with billions in Venezuelan oil

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — One startup lists as its address a small home in a working-class district in Venezuela’s capital whose owner has never heard of the firm. Another is a Hong Kong-based shell company created in 2020. Yet another belongs to a Spanish commodities trader indicted in the U.S. for allegedly helping Russian oligarchs launder ill-gotten profits.They are among the dozens of obscure middlemen and go-betweens at the center of a new crackdown in Venezuela on corruption in the state-run oil industry that has government insiders scurrying for cover. At the same time, regular Venezuelans are asking how more than $20 billion in proceeds from oil shipments seemingly vanished.The purge began this month when authorities arrested 21 people, including business executives, senior officials and a lawmaker, as part of an investigation into missing payments for oil shipments. In a sign of the government’s desire to promote its anti-corruption crusade, state media this week wer...

Trump indictment throws 2024 race into uncharted territory

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The historic indictment of former President Donald Trump thrust the 2024 presidential election into uncharted territory, raising the remarkable prospect that the leading contender for the Republican nomination will seek the White House while also facing trial for criminal charges in New York.In an acknowledgment of the sway the former president holds with the voters who will decide the GOP contest next year, those eyeing a primary challenge to Trump were quick to criticize the indictment. Without naming Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the move “un-American.” Former Vice President Mike Pence, whose life was threatened after Trump incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, told CNN the charges were “outrageous.”That posture speaks to the short-term incentives for Republicans to avoid anything that might antagonize Trump’s loyal base. But the indictment raises profound questions for the GOP’s future, particularly as Trump faces the possibility of a...

Big weather change loom for Chicago as a powerful spring storm takes aim on the Midwest with the potential for a significant outbreak of severe weather late Friday into Friday night

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:20:16 GMT

BIG WEATHER CHANGE LOOM FOR CHICAGO AS A POWERFUL SPRING STORM TAKES AIM ON THE MIDWEST WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK OF SEVERE WEATHER LATE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT----THEN A CLASSIC, NON-STORM HIGH WIND RISK BEGINNING IN SATURDAY'S PRE-DAWN HOURS AND CONTINUING INTO SATURDAY. 50+ MPH WIND GUSTS THREATEN AT THAT TIMEA northbound warm front sweeps across the Chicago area overnight Thursday nightStrengthening south/southwest winds send a flood of milder tropical air into the area and begins a surge in dew points which by late Friday going into Friday night will introduce the most humid air to the city (low 60° dew points) in more than 5 months—since October 11.Low 60-degree dew points bring with them a 'WARMER FEEL" to the air.  Combined with the mid to upper 60° temps predicted Friday, it means Chicagoans are in for the WARMEST FEELING AIR of 2023.But the POWERFUL SPRING STORM responsible for the south winds and warming brings with it growing prospects for clust...