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California less likely to have blackouts thanks to solar, big batteries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

By Josh Saul and Tope Alake | BloombergCalifornia’s risk of blackouts has fallen as more renewable energy and batteries are added to its power grid, reducing the need to import electricity from other regions, industry regulators said Wednesday.The grid has been designated “elevated risk,” which means it has enough energy for normal conditions but could fall short in extreme weather, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said in its latest long-term reliability report. That’s actually an improvement over last year’s designation of “high risk,” meaning shortfalls were more likely and additional power sources were needed.Related ArticlesTechnology | Deadly Southern California wildfire triggered by sagging electrical line, Cal Fire report says Technology | PG&E customers face higher bills — yet again — after new company request Technology | Elias: California utility bills to rise for decades after PUC’s solar move...

Danes say 3 arrested in Denmark, 1 in the Netherlands suspected of planning terror attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Three people were arrested in coordinated actions across Denmark and one person in the Netherlands on suspicion of plotting to carry out “an act of terror,” Danish police said Thursday. Flemming Drejer, operative head of Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service, known by its acronym PET, said that Denmark was not changing the terror threat level, which has been at “serious,” the second-highest level, since 2010. He added that the case had “threads abroad” and “was related to criminal gangs,” singling out the banned gang Loyal to Familia. In January 2020, a Danish court upheld a nationwide police ban on the gang, saying that the LTF should be dissolved as illegal under Denmark’s constitution.The gang had been behind gang feuds, violence, robberies, extortion and drug sales in the Danish capital and “had used violence and illegal means to achieve its goal,” the Copenhagen District Court said then. In September 2018, police in Denmark issued a tempor...

Rising stock markets around the world in 2023 have investors shouting ‘Hai’ and ‘Buy’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been a great year for stock markets around the world.Wall Street’s rally has been front and center, with the U.S. stock market the world’s largest and its clear leader in performance in recent years. The S&P 500 is on track to return more than 20% for the third time in the last five years, and its gangbusters performance has brought it back within 2% of its record set at the start of 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high Wednesday.Even in Japan, which has been home to some of the world’s most disappointing stocks for decades, the market marched upward to touch its highest level since shortly after its bubble burst in 1989. Across developed and emerging economies, stocks have powered ahead in 2023 as inflation has regressed, even with wars raging in hotspots around the world. Globally, inflation is likely to ease to 6.9% this year from 8.7% in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund. The expectation ...

Stock market today: After Dow hits unprecedented heights, Wall Street points still higher

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

Wall Street pointed toward gains early Thursday following a powerful rally that sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a record high as the Federal Reserve indicated that interest rate cuts are likely next year. Futures for the S&P 500 rose more than 0.3% before the bell as did futures for the Dow. Lower rates can ease pressure on the economy and goose prices for all kinds of investments. Markets have been rallying since October on hopes not only that the Fed’s aggressive series of rate hikes were over, but that cuts may be on the way.The Federal Reserve held its main interest rate steady at a range of 5.25% to 5.50% Wednesday as was widely expected. That’s up from virtually zero early last year. And inflation has retreated sharply from its peak of 9% while the economy has remained solid. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the benchmark rate is likely already at or near its peak while acknowledging that inflation remains too high. Powell said Fed officials don’t...

5 units destroyed in large overnight fire at Aurora construction site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora firefighters battled a large fire that engulfed several residential buildings that were under construction early Thursday morning.At 12:11 a.m., Aurora Fire Rescue responded to a third-alarm fire near the 7300 block of South Addison Court. The area is next to the Red-tailed Hawk Park in the Heritage Eagle Bend neighborhood. Arson suspect wanted in large downtown Littleton fire Photos provided by Aurora Fire Rescue show the extent of the fire.Aurora Fire Rescue battled a large fire in a neighborhood under construction on Dec. 14. (Aurora Fire Rescue)Viewer photo of Aurora Fire Rescue battling a large fire on Dec. 14. (Viewer: Oscar)Aurora Fire Rescue battled a large fire in a neighborhood under construction on Dec. 14. (Aurora Fire Rescue)Aurora Fire Rescue battled a large fire in a neighborhood under construction on Dec. 14. (Aurora Fire Rescue)Since the fire started at residential buildings under construction, crews said they ran into several obstacles, inc...

Coloradans pay this much in taxes on average

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — If you haven't looked at your gross income before taxes -- don't. Coloradans pay thousands of dollars in total taxes even in the lowest income tax bracket.According to Colorado Department of Revenue data, the average Coloradan pays about $25,000 in yearly taxes.These include state, local and federal taxes. Local and state taxes go towards products like gasoline, alcoholic beverages and registration fees to residential property and specific ownership. Meanwhile, federal taxes go towards things like social security. IRS announces 2024 income tax brackets – see where you fall Federal taxes are the same in every state, while state and local taxes are specific to where you live.Here's how much the average Coloradan is taking home after state, local and federal taxes.Average total taxes paid by incomeIncomeAverage taxes$0 to $15,000$3,342$15,000 to $29,999$5,439$30,000 to $39,999$7,987$40,000 to $49,999$10,207$50,000 to $69,999$13,945$70,000 to $99,999$20,290$100,000 to ...

FDA recalls soda in 3 states after foreign material found in cans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated a recall of approximately 2,000 cases of Diet Coke, Sprite, and Fanta due to potential foreign material. The affected products are being removed from shelves in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.As of now, the FDA has not disclosed details about the nature of the foreign material. Consumers in these states are advised to check their purchased products and promptly discard any impacted items.

Police release mugshot of man who shot mother, daughter in Miami

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

Alexander Travieso, 48, is now behind bars, accused of a double shooting in the city of Miami. The victims, identified as 50-year-old Irisbel Cartalla and her daughter, 22-year-old Isbelsy Olivera, were allegedly targeted by Travieso, who, according to police, was the daughter’s ex-boyfriend.The shooting occurred Wednesday morning at an apartment complex along Eighth Street and Northwest 47th Avenue; both women were found dead in their apartment complex. Authorities said that Travieso turned himself into the police later that day.As the investigation continues, Travieso faces two counts of first degree murder.

Woman accuses Boston fertility doctor of secretly inseminating her with his own sperm in lawsuit spurred by DNA kit discovery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

(CNN) — More than 40 years after a couple sought the help of a Boston, Massachusetts, fertility specialist, their daughter discovered through a purchased DNA kit that the doctor is her biological father, according to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts.The suit alleges Dr. Merle Berger secretly used his own sperm to inseminate the mother, Sarah Depoian, in 1980.“This is an extreme violation,” Depoian said in a statement released by her attorney, Adam Wolf. “I am still struggling to process it. I trusted Dr. Berger fully. We thought he would act responsibly and ethically. I will never fully recover from his violation of me.”At the time, Depoian was told by Dr. Berger — one of the founders of Boston IVF and a former Harvard Medical School professor — that the sperm used in the insemination would be from a medical resident “who resembled her husband” and “whom she did not know,” according to the ...

Illinois NAACP conference president under fire for video saying migrants are ‘like savages’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:10:48 GMT

(CNN) — Teresa Haley, the top official of the Illinois NAACP is under fire from the state’s governor and others after a leaked video call with NAACP leaders around the state appears to show her comparing recent migrant arrivals to “savages” and saying “they’ve been raping people.”Asked about the recording Tuesday, Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called the comments “reprehensible remarks, I would hope that she would apologize for the remarks. I also think that people should recognize that immigrants to this country are all around us,” according to CNN.In a recording of the Oct. 26 call released by Patrick Watson, the former DuPage County, Illinois, branch president for the NAACP, Haley, complains that incoming migrants are being treated more favorably than Black residents in need. She made the comments after another caller began discussing the topic of migrants.“Black people have been on the streets forever and ever, and no...