Even Christmas trees aren’t immune to the pandemic-induced shortages and inflation plaguing the economy. Extreme weather and supply chain disruptions have reduced supplies of both real and artificial trees this season. American shoppers should expect to have fewer choices and pay up to 30% more for both types this Christmas,...
Trump was COVID-Positive Before Debate, Ex-Aide Says in Book
Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 three days before his first presidential debate in September 2020 with Joe Biden and days earlier than that diagnosis was previously disclosed, according to a new book by Trump's former chief of staff. In “The Chief's Chief,” obtained by The Guardian before its Dec. 7 release,...
California Officially Loses Tesla HQ, Likely Thousands of Workers, to Texas
Tesla says it has officially moved its corporate headquarters from Silicon Valley to a large factory under construction outside of Austin, Texas. The company made the announcement late Wednesday in a filing with U.S. securities regulators. CEO Elon Musk had said at the company's annual meeting in October that the move was...
State: No Water for Farmers, Minimal Supplies for Health & Safety
SACRAMENTO — California water agencies that serve 27 million residents and 750,000 acres of farmland won’t get any of the water they've requested from the state heading into 2022 other than what's needed for critical health and safety, state officials announced Wednesday. It's the earliest date the Department of Water...
Californian ID’d as 1st Case of COVID-19 Omicron Variant in US
A person in California became the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the COVID-19 omicron variant, the White House announced Wednesday as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new strain of the virus. The Biden administration moved late last month to restrict travel...
Death Toll Rises to 4 in Latest School Shooting. Suspect ‘Not Talking’
A 15-year-old sophomore opened fire at his Michigan high school, killing three students Tuesday, including a 16-year-old boy who died in a deputy’s patrol car on the way to a hospital, authorities said. A fourth student, a 17-year-old boy, died Wednesday from his injuries. Seven other people were hit by...
CNN Suspends Chris Cuomo for Helping Brother in Scandal
CNN said Tuesday it was suspending anchor Chris Cuomo indefinitely after details emerged about how he helped his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he faced charges of sexual harassment. The network said that documents released by New York's attorney general Monday indicated a greater level of involvement...
‘Nothing Progressive About Unbridled Gun Violence,’ Says Oakland Mayor
In a reversal of plans to divert funding from police to social services, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said Monday that she'll push to reverse planned cuts to the city's police department and seek to quickly hire more officers amid a spike in violence and homicides that has left some residents...
California Ban on High-Capacity Magazines Upheld by Full Appeals Court
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned two lower court judges and upheld California’s ban on high-capacity magazines Tuesday in a split decision that may be headed for the U.S. Supreme Court. “The statute outlaws no weapon, but only limits the size of the magazine that may be used...
Congresswoman Refuses to Apologize to Colleague for Anti-Muslim Remarks
Days after firebrand conservative Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado was harshly criticized for making anti-Muslim comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat whom she likened to a bomb-carrying terrorist, the two spoke by phone. By both lawmakers' accounts, it did not go well. Monday's conversation, which Boebert sought after...