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Sanctions appear to be working on the Russian economy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

By David McHugh | Associated PressThe Russian ruble’s wobble in value has exposed a crack in President Vladimir Putin’s fortress economy, a vulnerability quickly plastered over by the Kremlin’s economic team in a move that allowed the currency to regain its footing, at least for now.Yet the patch — an emergency interest rate increase — cannot hide the dilemma at the heart of the Russian economy: how to fund the military while not undermining the national currency and overheating the economy with corrosive and politically embarrassing inflation.Life in Moscow presents a facade of normality despite sweeping sanctions tied to the war in Ukraine and the departure of hundreds of name-brand Western companies.Outdoor seating at restaurants and bars on the popular Bolshaya Nikitskaya street were packed on a recent evening with well-dressed residents enjoying balmy August weather. Loud music from DJs boomed from a nearby courtyard eatery. Malls haven’t changed at firs...

San Jose risks penalties after plan to add more than 60,000 new homes fails to meet state requirements

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

California regulators say San Jose’s proposal to add more than 60,000 new homes over the next decade isn’t up to snuff, leaving the city as still the last of the Bay Area’s three largest metropolises without a finalized state-mandated housing plan.Until San Jose can persuade state officials to sign off on the plan, it risks missing out on valuable affordable housing and transportation funds as well as losing control over the approval process for many new housing projects.In June, when the City Council, in a split vote, agreed to send the plan to the state for approval, a host of pro-housing advocates, tenant activists and construction labor backers voiced concerns. Many were skeptical that city officials had done enough to convince regulators to approve the city’s 239-page “housing element” planning document, meant as a roadmap for the city’s future housing growth.In a letter to the city on Monday, the state housing department wrote that it ...

Oakland man charged with human trafficking of girl he met on Instagram

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

OAKLAND — Weeks before his 22nd birthday, an Oakland man has been charged with trafficking a teen girl after they met on social media, according to court records.Jeremiah Means, 21, was charged Aug. 28 with human trafficking of a minor, pimping a minor and pandering by encouraging. He also faces unrelated charges of brandishing a weapon, according to jail records.The investigation started on July 26, when Oakland police were called to a residence on Holly Street for a report that a runaway teen human trafficking victim was staying there. They made contact with the girl and arrested Means in the backyard of the residence. He was detained, released and re-arrested Aug. 24, in anticipation of the charges being filed, records show.Police say Means met the girl on Instagram and traveled outside of the Bay Area to pick her up and bring her back to Oakland.During the investigation, investigators uncovered text messages between the two that “clearly show a pimp and prostitute re...

Drones strike deep in Russia; Kyiv attack kills 2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

By Susie Blann and Dasha Litvinova | Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine sent waves of drones deep into western Russia in more than four hours of nighttime attacks that struck military assets, Russian officials and media reports said Wednesday.The drones hit an airport near Russia’s border with Estonia and Latvia, causing a huge blaze and damaging four Il-76 military transport planes, the Russian state news agency Tass reported, citing emergency officials.With at least six regions targeted, the barrage appeared to be the most extensive Ukrainian drone attack on Russian soil since the war began 18 months ago, although no injuries were reported. The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Ukraine of cross-border incursions on the Belgorod region of Russia and of launching drones toward Moscow.There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials, who usually don’t claim attacks inside Russia. The Kremlin’s forces, meanwhile, hit Kyiv with drones and missiles during the ...

Call 911 or 311? San Francisco officials explain how to call for help

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Some San Francisco residents are feeling fed up with a perceived lack of response from police and paramedics for handling street safety incidents.In response to frustrations expressed from residents and merchants, the city is launching a new education campaign to help the public know who to call, and who will be dispatched to the scene for a behavioral health crisis. For many incidents, even if you call 911, police officers will not respond. Instead, the city's specialized street response teams will respond to help the person in crisis. Mayor: ‘Homeless coalition has held SF hostage for a decade’ The Coordinated Street Response Program is "focused on helping the public understand what to do when they see someone experiencing a behavioral health crisis on the street. We want people to know what to do, who to call, and how our specialized street response teams work together to meet the needs of the person in crisis," officials with the Department of Emer...

With a more potent offense and better defense, the Giants look for consecutive playoff berths

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

NEW YORK GIANTS (10-8-1)EXPECTATIONS: The Giants are a better team than the one rookie head coach Brian Daboll led to the playoffs in 2022 for the first time since 2016. The offense is much improved with playmaking receivers to go along with quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. Jones had a career season and Barkley had his best season since his rookie year in 2018. Their average of 21.5 points could go up with tight end Darren Walker and receivers Jalin Hyatt and Parris Campbell in the mix. Defensively, the additions of linemen A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke should help Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence stop the run. Placekicker Graham Gano is among the best in the league. The Giants haven’t made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2007-08. That should end this year.NEW FACES: TE Darren Waller, ILB Bobby Okereke, CB Deonte Banks, C John-Michael Schmitz, WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Parris Campbell, DL A’Sh...

How do Denver voters feel about the mayor, homelessness?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A new poll asked Denver voters how they felt about Mayor Mike Johnston, homelessness and the direction of the city. Overall, Denverites are equally split.The Colorado Polling Institute describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit funded independent of campaigns and political parties. On Wednesday, the CPI released its analysis of how Denver voters feel about a number of issues.Overall view on Denver's directionOverall, Denverites are equally split on the direction of the city. According to the poll, 44% of voters said it's headed in the right direction and 44% said it's on the wrong track. Two-thirds of voters said they feel safe in Denver, but according to CPI, the feeling is soft as a majority say they feel somewhat safe.Among those surveyed, the poll looked at what topics voters prioritized most. You’ve been warned: Don’t drive over solid white lines Those who had a more negative view of the city prioritized crime and safety. Those who prioritized the cost of liv...

CDOT: 68% of pregnant Coloradans wear seat belts incorrectly

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that keeping kids safe while traveling in a vehicle starts before the baby arrives.UCHealth Emergency Medical Services and the Hudson Center for Prenatal Vehicle Safety completed 1,712 prenatal seat belt checks and found that only 32% of pregnant drivers and passengers were using seat belts correctly, according to CDOT. Mental health resources available in Colorado UCHealth said many pregnant people use their seat belts wrong without even knowing it.Car crashes are a leading cause of fetal injury and death in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. CDOT said if all pregnant drivers and passengers wore their seat belts correctly, fetal loss from car crashes could decline by more than 50%.UCHealth EMS said mortality is only part of the issue.“For prenatal patients, motor vehicle crashes lead to higher rates of premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption, prematur...

Caught on camera: Person wanted for derogatory vandalism before pride event

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Deputies in Douglas County are looking for a person of interest in a vandalism case that happened only a few hours before the Douglas County PrideFest.In the late hours of Aug. 25, someone spray-painted derogatory language targeting the LGBTQ community, specifically the word "groomers," on Douglas County Fairgrounds property and vehicles, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.A deputy spotted the graffiti at 7 a.m. the next day, just hours before the PrideFest was scheduled to begin. The sheriff's office called it a "troubling act of vandalism." 2 men, boy accused of rushing field at Colorado Rockies game in Denver Douglas County investigators said they are treating this incident as a bias-motivated crime.“We stand united against all forms of hate speech and bias-motivated actions in Douglas County. We want to reassure the public that we will not tolerate such behavior, and our detectives are working diligently to identify the person behind this reprehen...

Sarah Jessica Parker adopted her ‘And Just Like That’ kitten in real life

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:32 GMT

(CNN) — Just call him nepo kitty.It took a while for Carrie Bradshaw to warm up to the idea of adopting an animal. Sarah Jessica Parker, not so much.In “And Just Like That…” Season 2, there is a new furry friend in Carrie’s life, a scrumptious kitten Che Diaz brings over to her apartment named Shoe.Parker revealed on Tuesday that Shoe, actually named Lotus, now resides in the Parker-Broderick household. They adopted the kitten from the Humane Society, she added, and it joins her two other cats in their West Village brownstone.“If he looks familiar, that’s because he is,” Parker captioned a carousel of pictures of Lotus. “His off-camera name is Lotus.”She continued: “He and his siblings were all given botanical names when they were rescued as newborns by the @cthumanesociety. Adopted officially by the Parker/Broderick family in April 2023. He joins Rémy and Smila who we adopted in May 2022. X, SJ.”Parker’s “AJLT” co-star Kristin Davis wrote “Love [him] so much,” while Jessica Se...