In a race decided by just nine votes this month, Jose Moran was re-elected as mayor of Livingston – a razor-thin victory in a city with a population of less than 15,000 people. Moran's win over Councilmember Jason Roth highlighted the fierce political competition in Livingston, a city known for...
Welding is a Way Back to School for California Kids Who Regularly Ditch Classes
Brent Tuttle has taught welding for 24 years to more than 3,000 students. He says California high schools should offer more classes like his, training students in trades rather than steering them all toward college. Shop courses can help turn around students who are absent or disengaged from school, he...
This Kitty Wants to Be Your Christmas Angel
Meet Angel, our stunning calico queen with a heart as beautiful as her coat. Angel is a people-loving charmer who adores affection — she’ll nuzzle up to you for pets and even gently guide your hand to where she wants it. She’s particularly fond of being held close, savoring scratches...
Religion Has Been in Decline. This Christmas Seems Different.
Opinion by Ross Douthat on Dec. 21, 2024. In March, I drove with my family up from Rome into the mountains of southeastern Umbria, to reach the town of Norcia and the monastery — now an abbey; it’s been promoted since our visit — of St. Benedict on the Mountain,...
California Limits Junk Fees: New Law Blocks Fines for Declined ATM Withdrawals
Californians who try to withdraw money but don't have enough in their bank accounts won't fall deeper into a financial hole from having to pay a fine, thanks to a new state law. The law covers instances in which banks charge customers when their withdrawals are declined instantaneously, such as...
Research Finds Vaccines Are Not Behind the Rise in Autism. So What Is?
When President-elect Donald Trump mused in a recent television interview about whether vaccines cause autism — a theory that has been discredited by dozens of scientific studies — autism researchers across the country collectively sighed in frustration. But during the interview, on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Trump made one passing...
New ‘Superman’ Trailer Is Most Watched for Warner Bros., DC Comics Online
The first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated "Superman" film premiered all over the internet on Thursday, Dec. 19. According to director and DC Studios co-chairman/co-CEO James Gunn on X: "With over 250 million views and a million social posts, Superman is officially the most viewed and the most talked...
Elon Musk Is Creating His Own Texas Town. Hundreds Already Live There.
Over the past few years, Elon Musk has expanded his footprint in Texas, moving his companies from California and building offices, warehouses and manufacturing plants across a growing number of Texas counties. Now Musk is trying to do something that few, if any, titans of industry have done in a...
Amazon and Starbucks Workers Are Striking. What Does It Mean for Labor Under Trump?
Striking Amazon and Starbucks workers are on picket lines instead of delivering last-minute presents or handing customers Christmas-themed drinks, as their unions pressure the companies during the holidays — and before a less union-friendly president is sworn into office. The workers accuse their employers of refusing to recognize their unions...
CalFire Shares 2024’s Top Images. See Highlights of Intense Wildfire Season.
CalFire took to social media Tuesday to showcase its most viewed images of 2024, offering a poignant reminder of the year’s challenging wildfire season. The agency reported managing 7,994 wildfires that scorched approximately 1,049,956 acres across the state. The fires took a heavy toll on structures, with 2,077 affected. Of...