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“Not for beginners!”: Santa Cruz’s big swell collides with high tide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

PLEASURE POINT — High temps, high surf and high tide collided in a flurry of water rescues around noon Wednesday.“We’re busy,” Central Fire Protection District Division Chief Scott Cullen was quick to summarize while parked out at East Cliff Drive and 36th Avenue between back-to-back calls.Nearby, cliff spectators nearly outnumbered surfers taking their chances against monster waves in the distance. The day was the first of a projected minor two-day heat wave, where coastal Bay Area and Central Coast areas were forecast to see daytime temperatures in the upper 80s to mid-90s through Thursday.In advance of what is expected to be a long four-day swell, the National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement stretching from Point Reyes south to Big Sur, warning those hitting the beaches of an increased threat of sneaker waves and current activity. Out on the water, powered by a west-northwest swell, large breaking waves in the 12-foot range were expected to peak Thursday and Frida...

Thieves ram Sunglass Hut store at Marin County mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

Thieves used a vehicle to ram a storefront at a Corte Madera mall early Wednesday, authorities said.Central Marin police were called around 4:23 a.m. to Sunglass Hut at the Village at Corte Madera, according to a statement from the agency.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Northern California mother, two sons plead guilty in $600 million nationwide catalytic converter theft scheme Crime and Public Safety | Letters: More flexibility | Theft not so bad | Advancing diversity | Corporations not covered | U.S. support Crime and Public Safety | Here’s how San Jose’s smash-and-grab prevention funds will be spent Crime and Public Safety | Crime isn’t the full story: What else is affecting retailers in urban areas, in 4 charts Crime and Public Safety | One arrested, four others sought in San Jose smash-and-grab robbery at Gucci store Police said the suspects drove the vehicle from the parking l...

20 scary books and horror novels to read this Halloween

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

You may have stocked up on treats, inflated the giant skeleton in your front yard, and dusted off your old “Monster Mash” seven-inch, but if you’re a book lover, your Halloween planning isn’t complete until you’ve shored up your spooky reading list.Luckily, you still have time. There’s no greater Halloween pleasure than reading a scary horror novel in between trips to the front door to give candy to trick-or-treaters. You can’t go wrong with the classics or the suggestions from a horror master, but if you’re looking for something a little more contemporary, there’s more than enough to choose from.This year, authors have wasted no time bringing the scares to readers whose favorite part of the seat is the edge. Here are 20 horror books from 2023 to read under a blanket at home (or, if you’re really brave, at that abandoned amusement park near the old cemetery that the locals prefer not to talk about). Isabel Cañas, “Vampires of El Norte” (Berkeley)Cañas’ follow-up to her well-received...

California man who killed woman, 5 dogs in pursuit crash gets 49 years to life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

A Los Angeles man was sentenced to 49 years to life in state prison Wednesday, Oct. 18, for killing a woman and five dogs in a violent crash while fleeing police in the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach in 2019.Javier Olivarez Jr., 48, was convicted by jury of second-degree murder, fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle causing death, driving or taking a vehicle without consent and six counts of animal cruelty for fleeing police and causing the crash that killed Jessica Bingaman, 41, of Long Beach on May 7, 2019.Bingaman’s mother, Don-Ann Lawson, felt relief after hearing the total sentence.“Praise God,” she said outside the courtroom. “Our prayers have been answered. We didn’t want him out in society to hurt anyone else.”Lawson and Bingman’s daughter, Reagan, flew from Pennsylvania for the hearing, which came four months after they gave victim impact statements in June.“I needed him to see me,” Lawson said. “I needed him to know (Jessica Bingaman) was loved.”Duri...

26% payment spike pushes US housing affordability to record low

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

American house hunters continue to bend under the weight of soaring mortgage rates and sticky house prices.The National Association of Realtors affordability index decreased to 91.7 in August, marking the lowest level in data back to 1989, according to data out Friday. A level below 100 means a household with a median income doesn’t earn enough to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home.Ponder the plight of the typical American house hunter over the past year through August …Median price: Rose 3.7% to $413,500.Mortgage rates: 7.15% from 5.29%.Estimated payment: Up 26% to $2,234 a month, assuming 20% downpayment.Payment share of incomes: 27.3%, up  from 22.6%.Qualifying income: Up 26% to $107,232.“The highest mortgage rate in two decades is detrimentally limiting the homeownership opportunity for many middle-class households,” Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said in an emailed statement. “Unintentionally, no doubt, the Federal Reserve is widening social inequality with on...

Costco’s CEO Craig Jelinek stepping down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

Costco Wholesale Corp. said Chief Executive Officer Craig Jelinek is stepping down Jan. 1 and will be succeeded by Chief Operating Officer Ron Vachris.Jelinek has been at the helm of Costco since 2012, and before that served as president and COO. The company’s shares have grown by more than 500% over his 11-year tenure, and revenue has more than doubled.Vachris, who was elevated to the COO role in February 2022, was considered a leading candidate for the CEO role. He started at the company 40 years ago as a forklift driver and has subsequently served “in every major role related to Costco’s business operations and merchandising activities,” Costco said in a statement.Related ArticlesBusiness | Bay Area maker of Jelly Belly jelly beans sold to Chicago based firm Business | 31 stores in California on Rite Aid closure list Business | Rite Aid files for bankruptcy, will close more stores Business | Head into shopping season read...

Atlantic Union: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (AUB) on Thursday reported third-quarter net income of $54 million.The Richmond, Virginia-based bank said it had earnings of 68 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 80 cents per share.The holding company for Atlantic Union Bank posted revenue of $274.3 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $182.8 million, which topped Street forecasts.Atlantic Union shares have decreased 17% since the beginning of the year. The stock has fallen 14% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AUB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AUBSource

Stock market today: World shares follow Wall Street lower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares tumbled Thursday following a retreat on Wall Street after big U.S. companies delivered mixed profit reports and Treasury yields added pressure on stocks. Worries about war in the Middle East also are dragging on markets. Germany’s DAX edged 0.1% lower to 15,181.00 and the CAC 40 in Paris gave up 0.4%, to 6,936.76. Britain’s FTSE 100 declined 0.7% to 7,538.99. The future for the S&P 500 was up less than 0.1% while that for the Dow industrials was almost unchanged. Japan reported its exports swung into positive territory in September as vehicle shipments surged. Exports rose 4.3% while imports sank 16.3% in September and the trade balance swung to a surplus of 62.4 trillion yen ($410 billion). Exports to the U.S. were up 13% while those to the rest of Asia declined 4.3%. Imports fell as the price of oil moderated for a short time before surging once again with the start of fighting following the Oct. 7 surprise attack by the militant group H...

Ashleigh Buhai shoots 10-under 62 to take 1st-round lead at LPGA tournament in South Korea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Ashleigh Buhai shot a bogey-free 10-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead Thursday after the first round of the LPGA tournament in South Korea.Buhai, the 2022 Women’s British Open winner from South Africa, took advantage of calm morning conditions on the newly-renovated Seowon Valley Country Club course outside Seoul. But it was a day for low scores — only 10 players in the 78-player, no-cut field were over par.American Alison Lee was in second place after a 63, followed a stroke back by Ayaka Furue of Japan and Minjee Lee of Australia with 64s.Defending champion and South Korean-born New Zealander Lydia Ko shot 67. Brooke Henderson had a 68 and No. 1- ranked Lilia Vu shot 69.“My wedge play was really solid today. Just about every time I had a wedge in my hand, I hit it to a couple feet,” Buhai said. “So, I didn’t have to think too hard on those putts.”Lee’s 63 was a career low. She is comfortable in Korean events, finishing in the top 10 in both p...

Insteel Industries: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:00 GMT

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — Insteel Industries Inc. (IIIN) on Thursday reported earnings of $5.6 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.On a per-share basis, the Mount Airy, North Carolina-based company said it had net income of 29 cents.The maker of steel wire reinforcing for the concrete and construction industry posted revenue of $157.5 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $32.4 million, or $1.66 per share. Revenue was reported as $649.2 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on IIIN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/IIINSource