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Letters: Polarizing takes on America’s disappointing World Cup loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

U.S. out of the FIFA World CupSo the ladies lost their match. Congratulations on a game well played but fell short of a victory.  At least they exhibited true sportsmanship by accepting their defeat and congratulating their opponents. Hopefully, they won’t spend the next four years saying that Sweden cheated, that they really won the match, and trying to get World Cup referees to say that USA won the match.Candy London, DenverThey were too arrogant to sing the National Anthem, but at least they can now sing the blues.John Shupe, CentennialPrincipal punished for safety effortsRe: “Fired principal defends room,” Aug. 9 news storyI can’t believe that principals are fired or put on leave for the use of a seclusion room in a Denver Public School. These principals are already stressed out, having to deal with sometimes very unruly or even dangerous students that disrupt other students’ learning. Firing or putting a principal on leave is extreme. And this was trigge...

Walters: Ballot measure, population decline complicate housing war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

The political war between state and local government officials over who has the last word on land use – particularly for housing – is entering a new and perhaps even more caustic phase.Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature, through new laws and directives from the state housing agency, are leaning hard on local governments, particularly cities, to make more land available for housing and eliminate zoning, design criteria, setbacks, parking requirements and other local rules that impede construction.State officials say California needs to build 2.5 million new housing units by 2030, more than double the previous 2025 goal that isn’t close to being met.“More than just being a high number or an aspirational goal, the new housing need … target is a legal obligation that cities and counties must abide by,” the state’s housing plan declares.“Through the implementation of a number of meaningful accountability reforms passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in recent years,” it...

Opinion: Finding a path to healthy conflict amid toxic arguments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

Spencer Cox, the new chairman of the National Governors Association, is promoting the idea of “healthy conflict.” The Utah governor has become concerned about the growing problem of toxic arguments in society. As the Washington Post reports, Cox wants people to learn how to “disagree better.”We should all try to think of ways we can join him in his quest because this is not just a political issue; it is a problem that permeates our society. Almost any disagreement these days escalates into an angry confrontation. We are better than that. Our disagreements are genuine, but the way we disagree can change.We have to start somewhere. I recommend that we begin by banishing all ad hominem arguments. What are these? Ad hominem is a Latin phrase that means “to the person.” I’m sure you have seen this kind of arguing. It is all around us. What it describes is an argument where instead of actually addressing what someone has said, we insult the person. We call that person’s character into que...

Disneyland attendance rises and visitor spending increases thanks to higher ticket prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

Disneyland saw attendance rise during the spring and early summer months and visitor spending increase thanks in part to higher ticket prices, according to the latest Disney quarterly report.Disney Parks, Experiences and Products revenues increased 13% to $8.3 billion during the company’s third quarter of 2023 that ran from April 2 to July 1, according to the company’s earnings call on Wednesday, Aug. 9.“Results at Disneyland resort were up modestly compared to the prior year quarter,” according to the quarterly report.Increased visitor spending at the Disneyland resort was primarily due to an increase in average ticket prices, according to the quarterly report.Higher attendance and visitor spending at the Disneyland resort were largely offset by higher costs driven by inflation, according to the same report.Disneyland has driven attendance and visitor spending throughout the year with the opening of the reimagined Mickey’s Toontown and the 100th anniversary celebration of the Walt ...

Fight breaks out in car on California street, leaving 1 dead and 2 injured and arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

A fight broke out among three men who knew one another in a vehicle in Long Beach that left one dead and the other two arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said on Wednesday, Aug. 9.The altercation, which occurred about 7:20 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6, and involved a shooting and a stabbing, possibly stemmed from a marijuana deal that turned into a robbery, police said.Robert Mallard, 23, and John Nelson II, 19, both of Los Angeles, met up with the victim, Kelvin Montoya, 20, of Long Beach at an undisclosed location.The three men traveled throughout Long Beach and then the fight erupted, authorities said.“The fight escalated into a shooting and stabbing, near 29th Street and Chestnut Avenue, which resulted in Montoya’s death,” police said.All three men were hospitalized, but Montoya died.Officers detained Mallard and Nelson at the hospital for questioning and later arrested them after officers found a firearm that was tossed in the area of the shooting and gathered other evidenc...

This 11-year-old just got a bill passed in Sacramento. Here’s why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

When he returns to school next week, Zacky Muñoz of Pasadena can write an impressive essay on what he did during his summer vacation.“You’re 11 and you got a bill passed, that’s a big deal and you did all the work,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the youngster’s hometown. “I’m so proud of your commitment to creating a better future for students.”Zacky’s Bill, or Assembly Bill 2640, requires the California Department of Education to make the California Food Allergy Resource Guide available to all school districts. The online guide distills information on state and federal guidelines, lists contact information for resources and helps affected families learn how to initiate strategies in schools to minimize risk. Barger introduced a motion in 2022, putting the Board’s support behind the bill in the state Legislature. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law in January.The Pasadena sixth-grader was honored in a ceremony at the Hahn Hall of Adminis...

RNC will hold second Republican presidential debate Sept. 27 at Reagan Library

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

A statue of Sally Ride is unveiled during the 4th of July Celebration at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Tuesday, July 4, 2023. To celebrate the Nation’s 247th birthday, the Reagan Library hosted a day of family-fun activities and an unveiling of the Sally Ride statue. Ride is the first American woman to fly in space.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)Patriotic visitors look on during the 4th of July Celebration at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Tuesday, July 4, 2023. To celebrate the Nation’s 247th birthday, the Reagan Library hosted family-fun activities which include a statue unveiling of Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)Mayor Francis Suarez, the 43rd Mayor of Miami, speaks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Suarez announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination during the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute’s A Time for...

Conservative law firm to defend California school district’s critical race theory ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

A nonprofit Murrieta law firm with a reputation for defending Christian conservatives will represent the Temecula Valley Unified School District in a lawsuit challenging the district’s ban on critical race theory.In a special meeting, a divided Temecula school board Wednesday night, Aug. 9, accepted an offer from Advocates for Faith & Freedom to defend the public school district against the lawsuit announced Wednesday, Aug. 2, by Public Counsel’s Opportunity Under Law project, which is suing on behalf of the Temecula teacher’s union and eight students in the district, among others.The lawsuit, filed in Riverside County Superior Court, alleges the critical race theory ban “hinders Temecula educators’ ability to teach state-mandated content standards, prepare for the coming academic year, and support rather than stifle student inquiry.”The Temecula school board’s conservative majority — Joseph Komrosky, Danny Gonzalez and Jen Wiersma — enacted the ban the same December night it to...

Swifties react to Taylor Swift dropping ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ news during The Eras Tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

Just like all the diehard Swifties predicted, pop superstar Taylor Swift announced the release date of the next album in her re-recorded series, “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” during her final stop on The Eras Tour at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Wednesday, Aug. 9.Swift took up residency at the new football stadium, selling out a record-setting six shows on Aug. 3-5 and 7-9. The show is an over three-hour musical marathon that takes fans through nine of her 10 albums, including her latest, 2022’s “Midnights.”On Wednesday evening, after teasing fans with tons of Easter eggs throughout the evening, Swift finally addressed the crowd, sporting a very new blue dress on the tour, and pointed them to the jumbo screen behind her which revealed that “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” would be available on Oct. 27.https://twitter.com/Thevaleriecisne/status/1689519317677731840Throughout The Eras Tour, Swift has peppered in the songs “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” “Bad Blood” and shortened versions of “Styl...

There’s new life in the new kitchen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

The kitchen is still the heart of the home. In fact, since 2020, it’s become even more the center of the home, as has al fresco dining and indoor-outdoor flexibility from the kitchen.And when it comes time to outfit the kitchen for the way buyers live and the way they want to express themselves, Northern California builders bring in design experts who showcase the latest offerings for people’s varying needs.How have design styles changed since the pre-pandemic days? Significantly, some might say.In late 2019, we covered how a design arm of Interior Logic Group — a California-based company that partners with many of our Northern California builders and has showrooms across our region — presented three primary design styles.Back then, in addition to Traditional and Transitional options, the three primary design collections were known as Modern Minimalist, Farmhouse Chic and Contemporary Coastal.And currently, the experts showcase three primary design collections known as Contemporary ...