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Climate change means Californians need flood insurance now, too

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

By Todd Woody | BloombergCalifornians know wildfires and earthquakes; hurricanes, not so much. So when Tropical Storm Hilary inundated Southern California in normally bone-dry August, it showed just how exposed homeowners are to a growing financial risk from unpredictable climate-driven flooding.Standard homeowners insurance policies don’t cover flooding and fewer than 2% of California households have flood insurance, even as intensifying winter storms overflow rivers and levees, batter the coast and drench the desert.As Hilary, the first tropical storm to strike the Golden State in 84 years, passed over Palm Springs on Aug. 20, it dumped nearly a year’s worth of rain in a day on the desert community, causing widespread flooding in the surrounding Coachella Valley.RELATED: Home insurer exodus: Are California lawmakers weighing a secret deal to keep Big Insurance from bailing on homeowners?“Nowhere is safe from flooding in California today,” says Firas Saleh, director of product mana...

California religious leaders march with striking writers, actors outside Warner Bros. studios

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

Southern California religious leaders held a rally and prayer service outside Warner Bros. studios in Burbank on Thursday, Sept. 7 in a show of support for striking Hollywood writers and actors.The interdenominational leaders, who numbered nearly 40, marched and wielded picket signs alongside the workers as their strikes continue to drag on.The gathering included representatives from the Hollywood Prayer Network, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice, All Saints Church in Pasadena, Mount Hollywood United Church of Christ and Temple Ner Tamid in Downey, among others.Karen Covell, founding director of the 22,000-member Hollywood Prayer Network and an independent film and TV producer, said she wants to create a bridge between the two worlds.“The Christians don’t like some of the morals and content that come out of Hollywood, and Hollywood doesn’t always understand Christians,” she said.Still, Covell said the strikers appreciated the support shown to them Thursday.“They were ve...

Lawmakers approve 11% tax for guns and ammunition, bill now heads to Gov. Newsom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

By ADAM BEAM | Associated PressCalifornia lawmakers on Thursday voted to raise taxes on guns and ammunition to pay for security improvements at public schools and gun violence prevention programs.The federal government already taxes the sale of guns and ammunition nationwide. The government gives that money to the states, which spend it on wildlife conservation and hunter safety programs.California’s proposed tax, if it becomes law, would be 11% — matching the highest tax imposed by the federal government on guns.“Don’t let politics stand in the way of saving the lives of our children and providing mental health care in our school districts,” Democratic state Sen. Anthony Portantino said. “Fear should not be on the brow of a parent when they send their kids to school.”Most states don’t have a special tax just for guns. Pennsylvania collects a $3 surcharge on gun sales and uses the money to pay for background checks. Fees in California total more than $37 on gun sales, with most of t...

Player of the Week: Hayfield Secondary School’s Ethan Osburn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

Each week, WTOP is picking one student athlete to be featured on air and online as our Player of the Week. This week’s WTOP Player of the Week is Ethan Osburn of Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, Virginia.Osburn is a two-way player for the Hawks varsity football team, playing as a defensive lineman and tight end. During preseason scrimmages, Ethan has shown promise as a starter on the defense.The junior has also excelled as a wrestler, placing first in the Virginia State Freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments to qualify for the USA Wrestling Junior and 16U National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, this past summer.During that tournament, representing Team Virginia’s 16U team at the 182 lbs. class, Osburn competed in both freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments. He took on the top wrestlers in the nation, and earned a 5-4 record. He is also a part of Hayfield’s wrestling team.Osburn has also excelled as a student, earning a 3.7 GPA and taking honors classes. He i...

MATCHDAY: Spalletti makes Italy debut in North Macedonia. Lukaku leads Belgium in Azerbaijan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European Championship qualifying on Saturday:GROUP CNew Italy coach Luciano Spalletti makes his debut when the Azzurri visit North Macedonia. It’s a rematch of the game that North Macedonia shockingly won in Palermo last year to prevent Italy from qualifying for the World Cup. Spalletti, who led Napoli to the Serie A title last season, replaced Roberto Mancini, who unexpectedly left last month and then took over Saudi Arabia’s national team. The Azzurri have three points from their opening two games to trail England (12 points) and Ukraine (6 points), who meet in Wroclaw, Poland, as Ukraine continues to play its home games abroad due to the war with Russia. England has won all four of its matches so far and routed North Macedonia 7-0 in its last match.GROUP FRomelu Lukaku scored an impressive goal while training with Belgium that was shared on social media and now will look to do the same in a visit to Azerbaijan. A win would put Belgium (7 points) atop...

Fiji picks Tela to replace injured Muntz for opening Rugby World Cup pool game against Wales

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

BORDEAUX, France (AP) — Fiji selected Teti Tela at flyhalf in place of the injured Caleb Muntz for its opening Rugby World Cup pool game against Wales on Sunday. Muntz arrived in France as Fiji’s first-choice No. 10 but was ruled out of the tournament on Wednesday, two days after sustaining a knee injury in training in a big blow to a Pacific Island team tipped to be one of the surprise outsiders.Tela should feel at home in the team as he will play alongside scrumhalf Frank Lomani, a teammate with the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby. Nine in the matchday 23 announced on Friday play for the Drua, including the second-row pairing of Isoa Nasilasila and Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.Fiji, which hasn’t reached the quarterfinals since 2007, has beaten Wales once in their 13 meetings — and that was at the 2007 World Cup in a famous 38-34 win in the pool stage. They’ve also had one draw, 16-16 in Cardiff in 2010.However, Fiji goes into this match in seventh place in the world rankin...

Vigil held after body believed to be missing DC-area photographer found

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

An emotional vigil was held in Southeast D.C. Thursday night — to honor the memory of popular D.C. photographer Joseph Shymanski.Shymanski, 51, was reported missing from his Calvert County, Maryland, home on Labor Day by a family member. Law enforcement has since arrested a Pennsylvania man of a murder charge in connection to his disappearance.An investigation into his disappearance is still ongoing.Human remains were discovered by police shortly before the vigil. In a Facebook post, detectives said they believe the remains may be linked to Shymanski’s murder.“While we have yet to formally identify the remains discovered, we do believe they are associated with our ongoing investigation,” the post read.But friends, family, colleagues and others who gathered Thursday said the night wasn’t about the “senseless loss” of Shymanski.For good friends of his like Anneli Werner, it was about celebrating his life, and his vigil saw the community come togethe...

Serbia runs past Canada 95-86 and reaches the gold medal game at the Basketball World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — No Nikola Jokic, no problem. Even with its best player sitting out this summer, Serbia is going to play for gold at the Basketball World Cup.Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 23 points and Serbia defeated Canada 95-86 in the World Cup semifinals on Friday. Ognjen Dobric and Nikola Milutinov each scored 16 for Serbia, the best-shooting team so far in the tournament — making 55% of its shots coming into the day, then connecting on 62% to end Canada’s hopes of gold.Serbia (6-1) is in the World Cup final for the second time in the last three tournaments. It lost to the U.S. in the 2014 final, and will face either the Americans or Germany on Sunday night in the title game at Manila.RJ Barrett scored 23 for Canada (5-2), which was bidding to make the World Cup final for the first time. It’ll face the Germany-U.S. loser for the bronze on Sunday, when the Canadians will try for their most significant international medal since winning silver at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.Dill...

Denver weather: Warm and sunny end to the week ahead of rain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will stay warm and sunny Friday into the start of the weekend ahead of rain and cooler temperatures on Sunday. Weather today: Sunny, warmOn Friday, sunshine and a southerly breeze will help boost high temperatures back to 90 degrees. Pinpoint Weather forecast in Colorado on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (KDVR)Weather tonight: Mainly clearFriday night will stay mainly clear. Lows will fall down to the mid-50s, which is close to normal for this time of year. Pinpoint Weather forecast in Colorado on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (KDVR)Looking ahead: Warm Saturday ahead of rain and cooler temperatures On Saturday, sunshine will keep temperatures climbing up to the mid to upper 80s, which is about 5 degrees warmer than usual. This will be followed by increasing afternoon clouds and a slight chance for an overnight shower ahead of a cold front. Pinpoint Weather 7-day forecast for Denver on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (KDVR)This front will move through the area on Sunday, n...

Sept. 8-10: Things to do in Denver this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The first of the fall leaves are starting to appear and technically summer is over, but the festivals aren't even close to done. The weather's looking sunny and warm for the most part, but there is a chance for rain on Sunday.All weekend:Holey Moley Launch PartyFrom Thursday until Sunday, Holey Moley is hosting a launch weekend "par-tee" that welcomes pro golfers and mini golf connoisseurs to the opening weekend. There are 27 holes with pop-culture references and childhood memories. Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar FestivalFrom Friday through Sunday, guitar performances, classes and guitar demos will take place in public coffee shops, outdoor stages and at the Hilton Garden Inn. 5 places to see fall leaves in Denver Dog Man: The MusicalOn Saturday and Sunday, the family-friendly musical is coming to town. The musical is about a person with the head of a dog and the body of a police officer who tries to be a good boy while fighting crime. Rocky Mountain National Park...