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Opinion: Bay Area food bank demand rises as residents struggle to pay bills

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

Bay Area food banks are stepping up to fill the gap for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. We have always supported the community during times of crises and need — that’s what we were designed to do.But the prohibitive cost of living in the Bay Area coupled with the government’s rollback of pandemic-era support has magnified our role. Food banks have become the safety net for many Bay Area families, seniors, veterans and students.Across the Bay Area, reliance on food banks and our partner distribution sites has increased and, in many cases, returned to the same level it was at the peak of the pandemic.Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is serving an average of half a million people every month in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. In Alameda County, an estimated 1 in 4 residents is struggling to afford sufficient food. Alameda County Community Food Bank is on pace to provide more food than ever.Half the people we serve are children and seniors. Most of the other client...

Taco Bell staple Baja Blast is coming to a store near you

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

For 20 years, Taco Bell has been the to-go place for Mountain Dew Baja Blast. But customers will have more options this year, according to PepsiCo, makers of the soft drink.The beverage will be sold in bottles and cans throughout 2024 to mark its 20th anniversary, the New York-based company announced in a news release.PepsiCo is marking the “Bajaversary” with a contest at bajablast.com and a “first-ever onscreen appearance” during Super Bowl LXII on Feb. 11. Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | New at Starbucks: Customers may use their own cups for mobile, drive-thru orders Restaurants, Food and Drink | Bay Area breweries: Here’s what to look for in 2024 Restaurants, Food and Drink | Quick Cook: Baked Cumin-Lime Sweet Potatoes with Radish Slaw Restaurants, Food and Drink | If you’re looking to eat better in 2024, focus on your snacking habits Restaurants, Food and Drink | High-end Oakland Mexic...

Language for California parental notification ballot measure sparks lawsuit

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

A battle is brewing over an effort to have voters decide whether all California schools should notify parents if their child may be transgender.From the steps of the Capitol Wednesday, the first day of the 2024 legislative session, the Protect Kids California group announced a lawsuit challenging Attorney General Rob Bonta’s title and summary language he gave to their proposed ballot initiative.If passed by voters, the measure would require schools to notify parents if their student, under the age of 18, requests to be treated as a gender different from school records. It would also revoke the California education code that allows students to play on sports teams that align with their chosen gender identity, and it would ban gender-affirming health care for minors.Bonta’s office did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.Dubbed parental notification policies, these mandates for how schools must inform parents if their child may be transgender have already been adopted by sev...

Gov. Newsom urges California voters to support Proposition 1

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

Gov. Gavin Newsom made a stop Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Los Angeles General Medical Center in Lincoln Heights to encourage constituents to vote yes for Proposition 1, a $6.38 billion bond measure on the March ballot that supporters say will open thousands of mental health treatment beds and build housing across the state.Newsom said the proposition would transform California’s mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems and help address the state’s deteriorating homelessness and addiction crises.“You’ve got to support an initiative that will create 11,000 new units of housing (and) 27,000 new treatment slots in outpatient opportunities that promotes not just solutions but promotes spending billions of dollars specifically for veterans,” said Newsom.He was surrounded by a group of nearly 30 mental health workers, physicians, veterans, public safety officials, and firefighters. Elected officials included Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Soli...

Private security guard released without charges after shooting 88-year-old California homeowner

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

A private security guard responding to an alarm at a home in Encino on New Year’s Eve shot the 88-year-old homeowner, sending her to a hospital where she was recovering this week, police said.The 34-year-old guard employed with ACS Security arrived at the home in the 5200 block of Encino Avenue at around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31 after an alarm had been tripped there, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and the guard’s attorney.The guard saw someone inside the home and fired once, hitting the elderly woman, LAPD said. Police did not know the woman’s current condition.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Teen shot in Oakland attempted robbery Crime and Public Safety | 10-year-old Northern California boy held on suspicion of killing another child with his father’s gun Crime and Public Safety | Armed man breaks into Colorado Supreme Court building, causes “significant and extensive” damage Crime and Public Safety | ...

Rage Against the Machine drummer says band won’t play live again

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk dashed the hopes of all of the fans who were optimistic the band would make its long waited return to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2024.“I know a lot o people are waiting for us to announce new tour dates for all the canceled RATM shows,” he wrote on Instagram on Wednesday, Jan. 3. “I don’t know want to string people along any further. So while there has been some communication that this may be happening in the future … I want to let you know that RATM (Tim, Zack, Tom and I) will not be touring or playing live again. I’m sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this to happen. I really wish it was…”He captioned the post: “Bottom of my heart … Thank you to every person who has ever supported us.”Shirley Manson of rock band Garbage weighed in on Instagram, replying, “Oh Brad. I am crushed to hear this. I hope you are all ok. Sending you much love and gratitude for the incredible music. I shall look forward to whatev...

Nadal comeback from long layoff reaches Brisbane quarterfinals. Sabalenka, Rybakina also progress

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — When Rafael Nadal faced three break points while serving for a commanding first set, a voice in the crowd at the Brisbane International yelled out to Jason Kubler: “You’ve got him worried now!”It was a fleeting concern for the 22-time major winner on Thursday in his second match back from a year-long injury layoff.Nadal won the next five points to seal the set, broke at love to open the second set and consolidated by holding his own serve easily to put him on course for a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kubler and a spot in the quarterfinals.“Every day is an adventure,” Nadal said. “I take every day like an opportunity, and tomorrow is another one.”The 37-year-old Spaniard is playing on a wild card after his ranking slipped into the 600s as he recovered from hip surgery, and he’s desperate for match time ahead of the Australian Open this month.Regaining the mental and muscle memory of navigating the difficult game scenarios is on his must-do list this we...

Simply Good Foods: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

DENVER (AP) — DENVER (AP) — The Simply Good Foods Co. (SMPL) on Thursday reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $35.6 million.On a per-share basis, the Denver-based company said it had profit of 35 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 43 cents per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 41 cents per share.The nutritional foods company posted revenue of $308.7 million in the period, which missed Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $309.2 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SMPL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SMPLSource

Walgreens: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) — DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) on Thursday reported a loss of $67 million in its fiscal first quarter.The Deerfield, Illinois-based company said it had a loss of 8 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 66 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 63 cents per share.The largest U.S. drugstore chain posted revenue of $36.71 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $34.92 billion.Walgreens expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.20 to $3.50 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WBA at https://www.zacks.com/ap/WBASource

Former midfielder Ivan Hašek returns as the Czech Republic coach

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:49:14 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — Ivan Hašek was appointed as the Czech Republic’s new coach for the European Championship on Thursday.Hašek was hired to November 2025 with an option to extend his contract to the 2026 World Cup if the team qualifies, said Petr Fousek, the Czech Football Association head.“It’s a great honor for me,” Hašek said, He returns as coach after taking charge for five games in 2009-10.Hašek, aged 60, replaces Jaroslav Šilhavý, who resigned on Nov. 20 after the final game in Euro 2024 qualifying, a 3-0 victory over Moldova. The result secured an eighth straight qualification for the Euros for the Czechs.Šilhavý took over as coach in 2018 but was under fire for the team’s poor performances in qualifying. The Czechs completed Group E in second place behind Albania.Under Šilhavý, the Czechs reached the quarterfinals of the 2020 European Championship.Hašek was a midfielder who played 56 times for the Czechs from 1984–94. He coached in France, Japan and the Middle East. His last...