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Major 405 Freeway expansion project coming to a close

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

One of the busiest roadways in Southern California will look a little different in December once a major improvement project is completed.The I-405 Improvement Project is expected to be completed on Dec. 1, and with it, two new regular lanes and new Express Lanes will open in Orange County.The project, which was overseen by the Orange County Transportation Authority, has been in the works since 2018.The project was born out of the notion that population, employment and housing would continue to bloom along the 16-mile segment of which the project spans, and OCTA expects that these improvements will have a major impact on traffic and travel times.Each side of the freeway between the 605 Freeway in Seal Beach and Euclid Street in Fountain Valley will have a new regular lane beginning Dec. 1. Additionally, Express Lanes will be opened between the 605 and Highway 73 in Orange County.Those lanes are tolled for solo drivers, free for vehicles with two occupants during non-peak hours, and ...

James Hill: LA’s Local Geologist at the Forefront of Europe’s Energy Transition with MCF Energy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

Image credit: California Geologist, James Hill in Germany, working on a domestic energy project as CEO of MCF Energy.Far removed from the geopolitical tumult of Eastern Europe, James Hill, a local to California and residing just outside of LA, has embarked on a quest that could change the energy landscape for an entire continent. Europe, for the longest time, has depended heavily on Russian gas, a reliance that has not only rendered it vulnerable but has also stymied its domestic energy production initiatives.However, with the recent tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the focus on domestic energy production has sharpened. And who better to take the reins than California local James Hill? Having earned his Master’s of Science in Geology from California State University and boasting of an illustrious career spanning 40 years in the energy sector, Hill is poised to be the driving force behind Europe’s shift from energy reliance to energy independence. In fact, he cu...

Artist Focus: Meet Alexia Gardner – the British jazz artist whose fresh interpretation of old-school standards is turning heads.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

Alexia Gardner’s new album, Feeling the Love, Songs of My Mother, Songs of My Father, is a love letter to the music that inspired her incredible voice. Lead single ‘Great Day’ is a richly rewarding treat.Jazz singer Alexia Gardner has shared her new album with the world as she continues demonstrating why she’s one of the genre’s best artists.Feeling the Love, Songs of My Mother, Songs of My Father was released earlier in 2023 and features ten tracks from across the jazz, soul, and gospel music canon. Gardner’s cover selections are interesting in and of themselves, with everyone from Quincey Jones to Miseducation-era Lauryn Hill covered here. With each track chosen, there’s an apparent effort to mold the music to Alexia’s incredible voice. Alexia’s journey has been exciting and varied for those who haven’t followed the artist’s career. As a British singer with Jamaican roots, Alexia began her career in her teens by touring with the British Cabaret Circuit in England and W...

Robert Garett Sustained Major Injuries in Two-Vehicle Collision on 50th Street [Lubbock, TX]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

Vehicle Crash on Avenue U Left 60-Year-Old Rider Suffer WoundsLUBBOCK, TX (October 23, 2023) – Sunday evening, a two-vehicle collision on 50th Street caused Robert Garret to sustain major injuries.Just after 7:46 p.m. on October 1st at 2100 Block of 50th Street, the accident occurred.According to the police, a pickup going north and turning when a motorcycle struck.Authorities identified the motorcycle rider as 60-year-old Robert Garrett. He suffered major injuries and was transported to University Medical Center. While the pickup driver was identified as 28-year-old Edilio Fuentes-Lopez. It is unknown if Fuentes-Lopez sustained injuries or not.In addition, police closed off 50th Street for investigation and advised motorists to avoid the area. However, the roadway has since been reopened.No further information has been released by Lubbock authorities at this time. Anyone with additional information about the accident is asked to contact Lubbock Police.Sincere sympathies to th...

Decisions Driven by Data: How Estaga Leverages Analytics for Optimal Property Management

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

IntroductionIn today’s digitized vacation rental landscape, intuition alone no longer cuts it—precision is key. Enter the transformative power of data analytics, revolutionizing the way property management decisions are made. From anticipating guest preferences to setting optimal rates, data-driven insights are the game-changer. Estaga, always a pioneer, recognizes this shift. Embracing a holistic approach, Estaga harnesses the rich potential of data analytics, ensuring every decision, big or small, is backed by robust evidence. This commitment not only sets Estaga apart but positions it at the vanguard of vacation rental management, ever-ready to navigate the evolving demands of the industry.The Foundation of Data-Driven Decision MakingIn the intricate dance of vacation rental management, setting the right price is arguably the most pivotal step. It’s not just about ensuring profitability but also about capturing the guest’s attention and ensuring they see value. ...

Letters: Boxy buildings | Pac-12 sports | Democrats’ blame | Trump’s betrayal | Funding request | Art of compromise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Hotel promises to beanother boxy buildingRe: “Hotel project near mega malls advances” (Page C7, Oct. 18).I was sorry to see the rendering of the proposed hotel across from Santana Row, next to One Santana West, which resembles a cold glass box — and now a hotel to match it.What a shame that none of the new buildings in this area honor the history and beauty of the Winchester House, which is beginning to seem like a forgotten afterthought. This criticism includes the cold, unattractive apartments built where the mobile home park used to be. There are examples of newer builds that honor our rich historic region, such as mission styles, and some that resemble the beautiful architecture of our century-old buildings, such as some that Julia Morgan designed.The flat roof lines and boxy glass structures are everywhere now. Too bad.Diane McQuillenSan JosePac-12 sports shouldfight for conferenceRe: &#...

Leaked video shows Antioch cops fire dozens of shots at man as he runs away

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

 ANTIOCH — New video taken by a civilian shows four Antioch officers firing dozens of shots at a 30-year-old man as he runs from them, adding new flame to the city’s most recent police controversy.The video of the Oct. 1 police shooting, taken from a nearby balcony, shows Antioch officers fire several times at Antioch resident Daniel Mackin as he runs from them. After Mackin runs out of the frame, the officers fire more than a dozen shots at Mackin. Police have said that Mackin pointed a gun at the officers when they shot.The video does not show Mackin pointing a gun at the officers when they fire the initial shots. He runs with one hand visible and another one tucked in or near his hoodie, and several officers and two dogs run behind him.The video shows Mackin run from a van away from the pursuing officers, one of whom stumbles and falls during the pursuit. As the first few shots are fired, two of the pursuing officers slow down, possibly to avoid being caught in t...

Dust collected by Apollo 17 mission shows moon’s true age

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

By Ashley Strickland | CNNLunar dust collected by Apollo 17 astronauts in the 1970s has revealed that the moon is 40 million years older than previously believed.After landing on the moon on December 11, 1972, NASA astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt collected rocks and dust from the lunar surface. A new analysis of that sample detected zircon crystals and dated them to 4.46 billion years old. Previous estimates put the moon, formed by a massive celestial collision, at 4.425 billion years old.The findings were published Monday in the journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters.“These crystals are the oldest known solids that formed after the giant impact. And because we know how old these crystals are, they serve as an anchor for the lunar chronology,” said senior study author Philipp Heck, Robert A. Pritzker Curator for Meteoritics and Polar Studies at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, in a statement.The early days of our solar system — when Earth was still for...

How to get (almost) free fries at McDonald’s every Friday for the rest of 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

McDonald’s, the gold standard of fast-food fries, is giving them away (well, practically) every Friday for the rest of the year.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | 7 new food-centric shows you should be watching right now Restaurants, Food and Drink | Downtown San Jose economy shows signs of rebound Restaurants, Food and Drink | Tico Coffee Roasters CEO growing an environmental legacy Restaurants, Food and Drink | McDonald’s releases 2023 Boo Buckets Restaurants, Food and Drink | 23,000 people attend In-N-Out’s 75th anniversary festival in Southern California How can you take advantage of the offer?First, download the McDonald’s mobile app if you haven’t already and sign up for the rewards program.Then, on any one or all of the next 10 Fridays, go to the deals tab on the app, select the Free Fries Friday deal, then tap the “Add Deal to Mobile Order” button, the rul...

Report: Trump told club member about calls with foreign leaders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:50 GMT

By Marshall Cohen | CNNMar-a-Lago member and Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt said then-President Donald Trump told him about his private calls with the leaders of Ukraine and Iraq, according to reports published Sunday about private recordings of Pratt, a key prosecution witness in Trump’s classified documents case.The reports from The New York Times and “60 Minutes Australia” revealed previously unknown recordings of Pratt candidly recalling his conversations with Trump – and build on existing allegations that Trump overshared sensitive government material.In the tapes, Pratt says Trump shared insider details about his phone calls with world leaders during his presidency. Pratt also offers searing critiques of Trump’s personal ethics.CNN previously reported that Pratt gave an interview to special counsel Jack Smith, who charged Trump with mishandling national security materials by hoarding dozens of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. (Trump pleaded not guilty.) Pra...