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Unemployment insurance: California’s ‘urgent’ $20 billion problem

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

(BCN) -- California's unemployment insurance fund is $20 billion in debt, putting the state in a terrible position in case of a recession.The deep debt -- incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic as millions of people lost their jobs and the state borrowed money from the federal government for unemployment benefits -- is on Gov. Gavin Newsom's mind.He cited it as a factor in his recent veto of a bill that would have allowed striking workers to be eligible for unemployment benefits, mentioning that the state is paying hundreds of millions of dollars of interest on the debt. Los Gatos ‘party mom’ charged with hosting alcohol parties for teens, encouraging sexual assault It's also top of mind for businesses, which face an increase in required contributions toward the state's unemployment insurance fund as a result. And it's on the minds of those who are concerned about whether the state's unemployment system can handle another crisis such as a pandemic or a recession.The unemployment in...

Commanders' DE Chase Young traded to the 49ers: report

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

(KRON) – Washington Commanders' defensive end Chase Young is being traded to the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Network sources. 49ers QB Brock Purdy clears concussion protocol and will start against the Bengals Young played for Washington for four seasons. This season, Young has recorded 12 solo tackles and six forced fumbles.In 2020, he was selected second overall in the NFL Draft and earned NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year for the 2020 season.This is a developing story.

Ceasefire Calls Grow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

More than 3,000 children have been killed in Gaza since Israel began bombarding the enclave three weeks ago. The number of children reportedly killed in the conflict has surpassed the annual number of children killed in conflicts around the world since 2019, according to Save the Children. This week on Intercepted, Murtaza Hussain is joined by Khaled Elgindy, the director of the Program on Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs at the Middle East Institute and author of “Blind Spot: America and the Palestinians, From Balfour to Trump.” Hussain and Elgindy discuss the latest developments in the war on Gaza, the U.S. government’s role in this crisis, and what the future may look like as the violence continues.Transcript coming soon.The post Ceasefire Calls Grow appeared first on The Intercept.

Senate confirms Jacob Lew as US ambassador to Israel, filling a key diplomatic post during the war with Hamas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate confirms Jacob Lew as US ambassador to Israel, filling a key diplomatic post during the war with Hamas.Source

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett says he’s playing ‘for sure’ against Titans despite rib injury

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett plans to play against Tennessee on Thursday night despite a rib injury that forced him to sit out the second half of a loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.Pickett said he “for sure” will be on the field when Pittsburgh (4-3) hosts the Titans (3-4). The second-year starter watched the final two quarters against the Jaguars from afar after getting drilled by Jacksonville defensive end Adam Gotsis.Gotsis hit Pickett in the left side of the chest and then drove him into the ground in the waning moments of the first half. Pickett sat on the soggy Acrisure Stadium turf for several minutes before slowly walking off. He came out to warm up for the second half, but then went back to the training room while backup Mitch Trubisky took over.“(I was) doing what I could to try and go back out there,” Pickett said. “I felt like I couldn’t throw it the way I needed to throw it to win so just listened to what the doctors said.”Asked if...

Has Israel invaded Gaza? The military has been vague, even if its objectives are clear

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

Over the past five days, Israeli ground troops have pushed deeper and deeper into Gaza in their war against Hamas, launched in response to a bloody Oct. 7 cross-border raid by the Islamic militant group. A growing array of units, including naval, air and ground forces, have joined the effort. The army says it has killed scores of militants and damaged Hamas’ strategic tunnel network. Soldiers have taken over abandoned Palestinian homes to stake out positions.Yet even as the operation expands each day, the army refuses to call it an invasion.Its vague choice of words is more than an issue of semantics. It appears to be a deliberate strategy aimed at keeping its enemy off balance and preserving its options as a lengthy war unfolds.Here is a closer look at what Israel is doing inside Gaza.IS IT AN INVASION?In the classic sense of the word, an Israeli invasion appears to be underway.Ground forces have moved into enemy territory and operated continuously since last Friday. While the army...

North Dakota woman accused of fatally poisoning her boyfriend hours after he received an inheritance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

A North Dakota woman is accused of fatally poisoning her boyfriend with antifreeze after learning that he planned to break up with her after he received a large inheritance. Steven Riley Jr., 51, became ill when he met with a lawyer Sept. 3 to get the money, witnesses told investigators, according to Minot Police Department records. The girlfriend, Ina Thea Kenoyer, called 911 the next day, and paramedics found Riley unresponsive. He was hospitalized and died Sept. 5. Kenoyer, 47, has been charged with AA felony murder, the most severe murder charge in North Dakota. She told investigators that she was entitled to some of Riley’s inheritance as his common-law wife and planned to split the money, which she estimated to be about $30 million, with his son, the records show.She is being held without bond at the Ward County Detention Center and is representing herself, court records show. The Associated Press left voicemail messages for her at the center on Tuesday.Source

Big backs are putting their stamp on the Big 12. The league has most 100-yard rushers in Power Five

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

The Big 12 is running all over the other Power Five conferences when it comes to robust rushing attacks.Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II leads the nation in rushing with 135.9 yards per game, and the Big 12 has three other running backs averaging at least 100. The other four power conferences have five 100-yard-per-game rushers combined.The Big 12 is first among its brethren in rushing yards per game (172.8) and second in total yards (421.7).“It’s interesting how cyclical football is in some ways,” said Sonny Dykes, the coach at TCU, where Emani Bailey has three 100-plus yard games, putting him fourth in the conference in rushing yards. “You go back and you look now, and the Big 12 was a running league forever, and then we became a four-wide league, and now it’s back to an emphasis on running the football and playing defense. And so it’s funny how this stuff cycles through.”Big 12 squads are definitely leaning on their ball carriers this season.Jonathon Brooks averages 115 yar...

The FBI director warns about threats to Americans by those inspired by the Hamas attack on Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

FBI Director Christopher Wray warned on Tuesday that Hamas’ rampage inside Israel could inspire violence in the U.S., telling lawmakers that multiple foreign extremist groups have called for attacks against Americans and the West in recent weeks.“We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago,” Wray said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.In his testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Wray gave his most detailed and ominous assessment of potential threats to the U.S. since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli soldiers and civilians. His reference to the Islamic State, a reminder of when the FBI scrambled to disrupt hastily developed plots of violence by people inspired by the group’s ascendancy, underscores the bureau’s concerns that the current Middle East conflict could create a similarly dangerous dynamic.Though t...

Suspect in custody for posting online threats about Jewish students at Cornell University

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:20:44 GMT

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — A suspect was in custody Tuesday for posting threatening statements online about Jewish students at Cornell University, according to officials.The menacing messages, posted over the weekend on a forum about fraternities and sororities, alarmed students at the Ivy League school in upstate New York. The anonymous threats came amid a spike of antisemitic and anti-Muslim rhetoric appearing on social media during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.“We can confirm that a subject has been identified as a suspect in the antisemitic threats made against our Jewish students on Sunday and is currently in custody,” Joel M. Malina, vice president for university relations, said in a statement.New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said an individual identified Tuesday as a person of interest was in the custody of state police for questioning.State police referred questions about the case to Cornell. An email seeking additional information was sent to Cornell.The comments this weekend were...