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California's retail crime task force doubles arrests in 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

The California Highway Patrol taskforce assembled to combat retail crimes had a record-breaking year, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.In the first 11 months of 2023, the CHP task force surpassed milestones across the board, making more arrests, recovering more stolen items and conducting more proactive operations than any year previous.According to data released from the state Tuesday, more than 1,000 arrests were made related to organized retail theft in 2023, more than twice as many from 2022. Additionally, authorities recovered 187,515 items that were stolen from retailers, which was more than 38,000 higher than the previous year.But the biggest leap comes from what the state is calling "proactive" operations, stopping crimes before they happen, which saw a more than 300% increase this year.2023* 2022 202120202019PROACTIVE OPERATIONS215 (313% increase)52******INVESTIGATIONS528 (47% increase)35818013524ARRESTS1,005(109% increase)48219210916STOLEN ITEMS RECOVERED...

Deputy, K9 recovering after collision involving suspected DUI driver

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

A Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deputy and his K9 partner will be back on the job soon after recovering from a collision involving an alleged DUI driver, officials announced Monday.The crash occurred Saturday night when Deputy Castaneda and his K9, Danny, were responding to a call of a possible DUI driver near Neptune’s Net, a popular seafood restaurant along Pacific Coast Highway between Malibu and Oxnard.As they were traveling southbound on PCH, they collided with a white Mercedes sedan that was driving into oncoming traffic, according to the California Highway Patrol.A Ventura County Sheriff's vehicle is seen resting on rocks near the ocean after a crash on Dec. 16, 2023. (VCSO)"Deputy Castaneda saw the Mercedes approaching him and took evasive measures to avoid a crash; however, the front of the Mercedes subsequently struck the patrol vehicle," CHP said in its report.The impact sent the SUV flying off the roadway and down a rocky cliff where it came to rest in a precarious spo...

Home sales in California drop to lowest level in 16 years, report says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

Home sales in California have reached its lowest level in 16 years, according to the latest report from the California Association of Realtors.  The news comes a month after another CAR report showed that only 15% of Californians could afford a home.The latest figures show that home sales during November were down 7.4% compared to October and down by 5.8% compared to November 2022. The decline is the 29th straight drop in home sales statewide but the smallest decrease in over a year, the report said. California to spend $300 million to clear homeless encampments near highways California's November 2023 Sale and Price Report. (California Association of Realtors) “Elevated mortgage interest rates and a persistent shortage of homes for sale hindered home sales in November,” CAR President Melanie Barker said in a statement. “With mortgage rates dropping to the lowest level in four months in recent weeks and the Federal Reserve indicating it plans to cut rates more than previously...

Have yourself a phony little Christmas

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

There'll be more faux in people's ho-ho-ho this year.Sales of fake Christmas trees are on the rise as the price of real trees keeps increasing and as the imitation trees looks more realistic.The American Christmas Tree Assn., a trade group, estimates that more than three-quarters of homes with trees this year are opting for artificial conifers."We are encouraged to see that consumer demand for all types of Christmas trees remains high in 2023," Jami Warner, the association's executive director, said in a statement."Artificial, live, small, tall, flocked, you name it -- there’s no such thing as a bad Christmas tree, and there is no better way to bring cheer to the Christmas season than by celebrating with a Christmas tree."Price is a factor for many households amid ongoing economic uncertainty.A top-of-the-line real tree can run as much as $1,000. A fake one can go instead for $200 or $300.And the artificial ones look more real than ever, with the added benefit of being able to reuse...

Californians could soon be drinking toilet water, sort of

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

When a toilet is flushed in California, the water can end up in a lot of places: An ice skating rink in Ontario, ski slopes around Lake Tahoe, and farmland in the Central Valley.And — coming soon — kitchen faucets.California regulators on Tuesday approved new rules to let water agencies recycle wastewater and put it right back into the pipes that carry drinking water to homes, schools and businesses.It's a big step for a state that has struggled for decades to have a reliable source of drinking water for its more than 39 million residents. And it signals a shift in public opinion on a subject that as recently as two decades ago prompted backlash that scuttled similar projects.Since then, California has been through multiple extreme droughts, including the most recent one that scientists say was the driest three-year period on record and left the state's reservoirs at dangerously low levels.The Silicon Valley Advance Water Purification Center is pic...

Celebrate The Holidays With a Buffet Brunch at Yamashiro

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

Yamashiro Hollywood celebrates Christmas with a buffet brunch on the 23rd of December. The best way to celebrate the holidays is by spending quality time with family. With schools and work on break, many families finally have time to spend with their loved ones. That being said, the holidays can also be stressful. Planning get-togethers with family and friends takes a lot of effort because many want their events to be full of joy in order to fuel the magic of the holidays. As a result, many families look for excursions and restaurants they can visit that inspire Christmas cheer without all the prep and hard work.Located in the heart of Los Angeles, atop the Hollywood Hills, Yamashiro is a luxury Japanese-American fusion restaurant. With stunning views of the city, Yamashiro is a must visit any time of the year, but especially during the holidays.This year, Yamashiro Hollywood is taking on the responsibility of bringing Christmas to life so that families can enjoy their time together...

Rudy Mawer, Celebrity Marketer, Takes on Hollywood with a New TV Show

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

In an exciting turn of events, the renowned business influencer and celebrity marketer Rudy Mawer is set to make his big splash in Hollywood. Famous for his distinctive red brand and as the brain behind numerous successful marketing campaigns for large A-list celebrities and Billion dollar brands, Mawer took to social media last week to tease his followers about a new TV show. Though he kept the details close to his chest, there’s mounting speculation that the show might debut on live team or one of the major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV or HBO Max.As stated on his Instagram post @RudyMawerLife, this move marks Mawer’s first official step into the Hollywood scene, a not-so-surprising shift, given his extensive network of celebrity friends, partners, and high-profile clients, paired with his powerful and unique red clothing and head turning fashion statements.Rudy Mawer Spotted in Philadelphia at the start of December with his film crew for The Rocky...

Man Pronounced Dead after Head-On Collision on Roblar Road [Petaluma, CA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

Male Driver Killed in Two-Vehicle Accident near Stony Point RoadPETALUMA, CA (December 19, 2023) – One man died early Saturday in a head-on collision on Roblar Road near Stony Point Road. The incident occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m.According to reports, the operator of a westbound Volvo SUV unexpectedly swerved into oncoming lanes, resulting in a head-on collision with an eastbound Toyota. Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and declared the Toyota driver deceased; however, authorities have not disclosed the individual’s identity at this time.Simultaneously, paramedics conveyed the female Volvo driver to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for the treatment of injuries deemed non-life-threatening. Subsequently, the unidentified woman was apprehended for driving under the influence (DUI) after displaying signs of intoxication.Additional details concerning the fatal head-on collision on Roblar Road will be provided by Petaluma officials as soon as they become ava...

Zelenskyy says he’s confident Ukraine will get more US aid

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

By Illia Novikov | Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday he’s certain the United States will make good on its promise to provide billions of dollars in further aid for Kyiv to continue its fight against Russia, and he bluntly replied “No,” to a question about whether his country might lose the war.Speaking at an end-of-year news conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy also dismissed suggestions that Moscow’s forces have come out of 2023 on top after mostly beating back Ukraine’s counteroffensive and stepping up its military production.“Russia failed to achieve any of its goals” this year, he said, although he conceded Ukraine still faces “lots of challenges” after expending Western military hardware in the counteroffensive that failed to make an impression on the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.The U.S. Congress has left town for the holidays without a deal to send some $61 billion ...

The top 10 most expensive home sales in San Jose, reported the week of Dec. 4

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:53 GMT

A house that sold for $3.2 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in San Jose in the past week.In total, 33 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2 million, $1,008 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Dec. 4 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $2 million, single-family house in the 1600 block of Grizilo DriveThe sale of the single-family home in the 1600 block of Grizilo Drive, San Jose, has been finalized. The price was $2,025,000, and the new owners took over the house in November. The house was built in 1963 and has a living area of 2,191 square feet. The price per square foot was $924. The house features five bedrooms and three bathrooms.Grizilo Drive9. $2.1 million, single-family home in the 1600 block of Don Ave.The property in the 1600 block of Don Ave. in San Jose has new owners....