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Americans cutting back on home improvement projects due to rising costs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

U.S. inflation hit a record high back in June of last year, making everything from food to gas more expensive. Although things have slowed down since then, economists predict that high inflation could persist until the end of 2024 or 2025.Despite rising costs, consumers are still carrying on with home improvement projects, according to a survey by Today’s Homeowners. That said, this year’s projects may look different compared to previous years, with many homeowners — particularly millennials and Gen Z — opting for DIY solutions to keep costs at bay.Roughly 50% of Americans are spending less on home improvement projects this yearInflation may be receding, but high costs keep putting a dent into the already stretched budgets of Americans. According to a survey by Today’s Homeowners, nine out of 10 homeowners have home improvement projects planned for 2023. However, roughly 50 percent say they will be spending less on these projects, with 28 percent saying they will spend “significantl...

Kaiser buys a chunk of real estate next to its Gilroy medical offices

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

GILROY — Kaiser Foundation Health Plan has bought a big chunk of property next to a Kaiser building in Gilroy, a parcel that’s large enough to accommodate a potential expansion for the healthcare organization at that location.The healthcare titan paid $3.4 million for 6.9 acres that consist primarily of empty land and a surface parking lot adjacent to Kaiser’s medical office building at 7520 Arroyo Circle in Gilroy, documents filed on July 24 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office show.The just-bought property and the medical offices are both perched alongside a stretch of U.S. Highway 101 between the interchanges with Leavesly Road and State Route 152, according to county real estate records.The Gilroy medical offices occupy 4.6 acres, a significantly smaller parcel than the property Kaiser has purchased.Kaiser has conducted multiple transactions in the Bay Area in recent years to accommodate expansions of its operations.Separately, the healthcare org...

Single-family home sells for $5.5 million in Palo Alto

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

1425 Dana Avenue – Google Street ViewA 2,288-square-foot house built in 1992 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 1400 block of Dana Avenue in Palo Alto was sold on July 11, 2023, for $5,450,000, or $2,382 per square foot. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and five baths. In addition, the house provides a single carport. The lot of the property covers a substancial area of 7,200 square feet, complete with a pool for outdoor enjoyment.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:In March 2023, a 1,932-square-foot home on Southwood Drive in Palo Alto sold for $3,810,000, a price per square foot of $1,972. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, in October 2022, a 1,685-square-foot home was sold for $4,450,000, a price per square foot of $2,641. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 2,493-square-foot home on the 1400 block of Dana Avenue in Palo Alto sold in May 2022, for $4,450,000, a p...

Longtime Smuin Ballet director says she will step down

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

After a three-decade career with one of the Bay Area’s most popular dance companies, Smuin Contemporary Ballet artistic director Celia Fushille announced today she will step down at the end of the company’s 2024 season.Smuin associate artistic director Amy Seiwert, a well-known Bay Area choreographer who runs her own company, Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, will succeed Fushille as artistic director, the company said.Fushille, the last of the 30-year-old Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s founding members, was the company’s principal dancer for more than 12 years and faced a daunting challenge when she was named artistic director 2007 following the sudden passing of founder Michael Smuin.Smuin founded the company in 1994 and led it to fame and popularity with its evocative blending of ballet and contemporary dance styles.Fushille was one of many Bay Area dance talents that Smuin mentored.“I was honored when Michael Smuin approached me in November 1993 as he was forming...

Vikings rookie told trooper he drove his Lamborghini 140 mph because of dog’s emergency

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

A Minnesota Vikings rookie who was clocked at 140 mph on a St. Paul freeway told the trooper who pulled him over that he was speeding because “his dog was having an emergency,” according to a citation. Jordan Addison, the team’s No. 1 draft pick, issued a statement apologizing for the incident in which he was pulled over around 3:15 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 94.“Yesterday morning I made a mistake and used poor judgment,” he said Friday. “I recognize and own that. I am going to learn from this and not repeat the behavior. I am truly sorry.”The Minnesota State Patrol trooper said Addison’s 2021 Lamborghini Urus SUV passed him at “an extremely high rate of speed,” the citation states. A radar readout registered 140 mph, which was 85 mph over the posted speed limit.“Driver stated his dog was having an emergency at his residence, and that was the reason for his speed,” the citation states.The 21-year-old was cited for misdemeanor speeding and misdemeanor reckles...

Man convicted in Oakland Chinatown attack charged in assault on Asian woman in San Francisco

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — A man convicted of assaulting an Oakland Chinatown community leader in 2021 has been charged in a violent attack July 21 on an 88-year-old Asian woman in San Francisco, according to authorities and court records.James Lee Ramsey, 27, was arrested the day of the attack and has been charged with three felonies: elder abuse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and battery causing serious bodily injury. He is also charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly attacking a witness to the woman’s assault who held Ramsey until police arrested him.According to authorities the woman was assaulted about 11:16 a.m. July 21 on Ellis Street. Authorities said the woman was allegedly kicked to the ground in an unprovoked attack before the witness detained Ramsey.The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. It was not known if she is still hospitalized.“The crimes that Mr. Ramsey is accused of are horrific,...

Former Stanford goalkeeper in US players' hearts at the Women's World Cup

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Sophia Smith pretended to zip her lips closed as she celebrated her second goal against Vietnam during the United States’ opening match at the Women’s World Cup. It was a tribute to former Stanford teammate Katie Meyer, who died by suicide last year. Smith and teammate Naomi Girma decided on the tribute for Meyer, the goalkeeper star of Stanford's 2019 NCAA championship. She stopped two penalty shots in the title game. An ebullient California girl known for her animated celebrations, Meyer made the gesture after her first penalty save as a way to silence anyone who doubted Stanford. 49ers training camp to begin this week Girma was one of Meyer’s best friends. She penned a tribute to Meyer published by The Players' Tribune at the start of the World Cup.“Na (Naomi) and I talked about it before the game, and we were like 'What can we do for Katie?'” Smith said. “And it was pretty iconic: what she did in the College Cup. We just wanted to honor her in ever...

Man who smelled of 'burnt marijuana' arrested on firearms charges in Vallejo

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

(KRON) -- A man who police described as having "the odor of an alcoholic beverage and burnt marijuana" was arrested on weapons charges last week, according to the Vallejo Police Department. On Tuesday, July 18, officers saw a black 2017 Chevrolet Malibu with tinted windows do a U-turn at the intersection of Redwood Street and Tuolumne Street, police said.The officers pulled up behind the Malibu and the driver quickly pulled over, parked, and got out with his hands up. He then started walking toward the officers' vehicle, which police said caused concern, since they hadn't activated the emergency lights. San Jose suspects with nearly $1M in illegal drugs and guns arrested It was then that officers made contact with the man and noted that be smelled like alcohol and burnt cannabis. Further investigation revealed a loaded, unregistered firearm in plain view inside the Malibu.A records check was conducted on the driver and officers learned he had prior felony convictions. Officers imm...

Former Tennessee police officer sues after department rescinds job offer because he has HIV

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

A former Memphis police officer of the year has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Nashville Police Department, claiming it violated federal law by rescinding a job offer after learning he has HIV.The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Nashville, said the officer presented a letter from his health care provider showing that his HIV status should not disqualify him from employment. The officer, identified only by the pseudonym John Doe, has successfully suppressed the virus with medication and that his viral load is undetectable, according to the letter.“Undetectable means un-transmittable,” the letter states. It adds that, “He remains in great health and this virus will not and has not ever effected his job performance or duties.” Nashville’s legal department has not yet been served with the lawsuit and declined to comment on the case, associate director Allison Bussell said in an email Tuesday. The department previously defended the decision to rescind Doe̵...

Ohio officer put on paid leave amid probe into police dog attack on surrendering truck driver

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:24 GMT

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio officer was put on leave while he’s investigated for releasing his police dog on a surrendering truck driver even after state troopers told the officer to hold the dog back.Officer Ryan Speakman was placed on paid administrative leave, Circleville Police Chief G. Shawn Baer in a statement Tuesday. The move is standard procedure in cases where use of force is investigated, Baer said, adding that there would be no further comments until the town’s civilian Use of Force Review Board completes its investigation.Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said the recent events in Circleville “should be a lesson, a wake-up call to everyone, that police training in the state of Ohio is not equal.”The governor told reporters Tuesday that he will propose the state build a “scenario-based training facility” as part of the upcoming capital budget. He also will ask state lawmakers to “explore” permanent funding for the facility so departments of all sizes could use it at no co...