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California tries to eliminate 'junk fees'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

Hidden fees, which sellers use to mislead customers with an artificially low headline price before imposing additional unavoidable charges later in the buying process, will no longer be allowed in California.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) that will ban hidden fees, or "junk fees," in the state starting on July 1, 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release Saturday.“These deceptive fees prevent us from knowing how much we will be charged at the outset. They are bad for consumers and bad for competition. They cost Americans tens of billions of dollars each year," Bonta said. Biden says the FTC’s proposed ban on junk fees will help families and ‘honest’ businesses Bonta added that these fees "hit families who are just trying to make ends meet the hardest.""And, because a growing list of websites, apps, and brick-and-mortar businesses are using them, they penalize companies that are upfront and transparent with their prices...

This is how much money is needed to 'retire comfortably' in California, study says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

With high inflation and cost of living expenses, it can be hard to feel financially secure, especially for Golden State residents planning to retire soon.A new study from Go Banking Rates breaks down how much money a retiree in California would need to live comfortably. This is how much people need to earn to ‘live comfortably’ in California Researchers used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to estimate food, shelter, transportation, health care and utility costs. A 20% “buffer” was also added to ensure the retirees had enough money to be comfortable.  Social Security payouts, potential pension income or interest earned on savings were not included in the study since that can differ for everyone.A retiree in California would need $90,399 annually to live comfortably during retirement. The annual retirement expenses would be $72,320, while the 20% comfort buffer adds an extra $18,080.While it costs nearly six figures to have a comfortable retirement in California, it costs even ...

Initial US intel indicates Iran was surprised by Hamas attack

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

By Zachary Cohen, Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and Jeremy Herb | CNNThe United States has collected specific intelligence that suggests senior Iranian government officials were caught by surprise by Saturday’s bloody attack on Israel by Hamas, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence.The existence of the intelligence has cast doubt on the idea that Iran was directly involved in the planning, resourcing or approving of the operation, sources said.The sources stressed that the US intelligence community is not ready to reach a full conclusion about whether Tehran was directly involved in the run-up to the attack. They continue to look for evidence of Iranian involvement, which caught both Israel and the United States by surprise.And since the attack, government officials have noted that Iran has provided longstanding and significant support for Hamas, including weapons and financing, that unquestionably contributed to Hamas’s ability to pull off such a massive ...

Tasting House in Los Gatos reboots with new chef, menu

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

The owners of the Tasting House, a Wine Spectator award-winning Los Gatos bistro, have refreshed the restaurant and are reopening Friday with a new chef, a new menu, live music nightly and sommeliers to suggest food-and-wine pairings to diners.Chef Julian Silvera brings an impressive resume to the venture, having cooked at the Michelin-starred Knife and Spoon in Orlando, Florida, and with chefs Wylie Dufresne and Nahid Ahmed in his native New York City. He’s a self-described “fermentation enthusiast” with a focus on seasonal, local and sustainable ingredients.Among the dishes on his inaugural menu are an anise-glazed Roast Duck with wild plums, blackberries and baby turnips that was inspired by Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and a Fort Bragg Sea Urchin with popcorn grits and toasted yeast.Sommelier Enrique Leon is leading the service team.The evocative look remains. Founder and proprietor Denise Thornberry had originally remodeled the longtime restaurant and wine bar space w...

NBA GM survey gives Warriors slim title odds, but shows Steph Curry love

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

Top NBA executives still view Steph Curry as the league’s biggest threat, but don’t believe the Warriors are a true championship contender.In the NBA’s anonymous GM survey released on Tuesday, a poll of 30 executives chose the Boston Celtics and reigning champion Denver Nuggets as the teams most likely to win a championship with the new-look Milwaukee Bucks as third most likely, followed by the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.“I don’t care. It makes no difference,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Tuesday. “It never did anything for me when people picked us. It doesn’t do anything for me when they don’t. It’s just interesting stuff for fans to read. Nothing helpful or harmful to us. It’s definitely not any bulletin board material. We’re not posting that on the locker-room wall, ‘No GMs picked us to win the title. How does that make you feel, fellas?’ I don’t think anybody cares.”The poll has Golden State finishing fourth in the Western Conference with an 11...

5-time convicted bank robber sentenced to 11 years in prison

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

SAN MATEO COUNTY — A five-time convicted bank robber was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Tuesday after a San Mateo judge dismissed his prior convictions from sentencing consideration despite requests for a life sentence from prosecutors.San Pablo resident Cleophas Kirksey, 55, was convicted of robbery and felony commercial burglary on Aug. 23, marking his fifth conviction for robbing banks, and sixth felony conviction overall. The August conviction was in connection to an incident at the Wells Fargo inside the Lucky supermarket at 6843 Mission Street in Daly City on Feb. 10, 2022.According to prosecutors, Kirksey entered the bank and handed the teller a note reading “give me all of your large bills; I don’t want 20s.” The teller handed him a stack of cash totaling $4,000. He then fled the store on foot.Kirksey was not armed during the burglary.He was on federal probation at the time of the robbery and was arrested five days later. He pled not guilty to the charges at an arraignme...

Bay Area arts: 8 great live shows and concerts to see this weekend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

From Alonzo King LINES Ballet to a musical satire about Disney princesses, there are a lot of great live shows to take in this week in the Bay Area. Here is a partial roundup.King revisits rich catalogAlonzo King has established himself as one of the dance world’s most innovative and distinctive choreographers over the years, with a series of works that explore a mind-blowing array of themes and incorporate musical styles from around the world and from a variety of eras.This season King and his LINES Ballet will reprise some of his memorable works, beginning with a program being offered today through Sunday.On tap are revivals “Following the Subtle Current Upstream,’ a work originally commissioned by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which King describes as a “piece about how to return to joy,” set to music by Bay Area tabla master Zakir Hussain and South African singer Miriam Makeba.The lineup also includes King’s delicate “Dust and Light,” set to co...

White House condemns crash into Chinese Consulate in SF

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

By Olga R. Rodriguez and Aamer Madhani | Associated PressSAN FRANCISCO — A U.S. official said Tuesday the government believes the driver who crashed into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco the day before did so “with malign intent,” but police haven’t shared details about the driver’s identity or motive for what the Chinese government has branded a “violent attack.”A witness waiting his turn to submit his visa documents at the consulate Monday described seeing the car barrel through the main doors at full speed before striking a wall. The driver was bleeding from his head as he exited the vehicle yelling about the C.C.P., an abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party, Sergii Molchanov said.San Francisco police arrived on scene and shot the driver, who died later in a hospital.“We condemn this incident and all violence perpetrated against foreign diplomatic staff working in the United States,” White House National Security Council...

Police identify Oakland man shot and killed outside local hotel

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

OAKLAND — Police here have identified a man who was recently shot and killed outside of a hotel on International Boulevard.Walter Mancia Menjivar, 25, of Oakland, was fatally shot on shortly before 1 a.m. on Sept. 27, on the 5700 block of International Boulevard. The shooting occurred just feet from a hotel on that block, police said.No arrests have been made, and police haven’t publicly identified a suspect, nor released a suspected motive.After being shot, Menjivar flagged down a passing motorist and got a ride to Highland Hospital. He died there later that morning, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man convicted of murder on BART train Crime and Public Safety | South Bay man charged in fatal stabbing of 63-year-old Union City woman Crime and Public Safety | Vacant Oakland warehouse damaged in previous fire gutted by new blaze Crime and Public Safety | Oakland man gets 11 years for killing t...

Governor signs bill to prevent vehicles from blocking driver view at crosswalks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:58 GMT

(BCN) -- A bill designed to increase visibility at crosswalks in California was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Assembly Bill 413, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose, prevents parking or stopping a vehicle along a curb at least 20 feet from a marked crosswalk, a safety measure known as daylighting. The regulation only applies to the side of the road of the vehicle's approach to the crosswalk. Woman who fell from SF rooftop at Fleet Week Blue Angels party ID’d Restricting vehicles stopped or parked all the way up to the crosswalk can increase visibility for approaching drivers and drivers stopped in traffic by allowing them to see if someone is entering the crosswalk with more notice. Crosswalks with curb extensions will need a 15-foot buffer. "AB 413 will save lives and make our streets safer for everyone," Lee said in a statement. "The signing of the legislation represents a simple, but important step forward to improving California's road safety. Cal...