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Here’s how California’s electric cars can feed the grid and help avoid brownouts

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

BY ALEJANDRO LAZO | CalMattersAs a historic 10-day heat wave threatened brownouts across California last summer, a small San Diego County school district did its part to help: It captured excess power from its electric school buses and sent it back to the state’s overwhelmed grid.The eight school buses provided enough power for 452 homes each day of the heat wave, and the buses were recharged only during off hours when the grid was not strained.California energy officials have high hopes that this new power source, called bidirectional charging, will boost California’s power supply as it ramps up its ambitious agenda of electrifying its cars, trucks and buses while switching to 100% clean energy.Gov. Gavin Newsom called two-way charging technology a “game changer,” saying “this is the future” during a speech last September, about a week after the heat wave ended.This year, a bill already approved by the state Senate in a 29-9 vote would require all new electric cars sold in Californ...

Larry Magid: Inexpensive speakers for outdoor listening

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

My wife, Patti, likes to listen to music while she gardens in the backyard. She can listen through her phone’s speakers, but even though modern smartphone speakers have gotten better, they’re still not that great, especially at loud volumes. So, to allow Patti to listen to music or audio books while picking blueberries and watering her tomatoes, I decided it was time to get a portable Bluetooth speaker.Related ArticlesBusiness | I joined Threads on Day 1. Here is my experience. Business | Magid: Looking back on 40 years of writing tech columns Business | Magid: Buying a large appliance online vs. local store Business | Magid: Could a smartwatch or fitness device save your life? There are many to chose from, including several high-end products costing $200 or more. Some of these might be the right choice for use in the home, but background music while gardening isn’t exactly critical listening, so I opted to try out some...

Heat Advisory for Bay Area begins Friday

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- If you thought you'd beat the heat for the time being, guess again. Coming hot on the heels of an earlier heat wave this month, another warm-up is on its way to the Bay Area."Inland heat makes a return tomorrow as we start to see high pressure over the desert southwest expand," KRON4 Meteorologist Kyla Grogan explained. "As this happens, our inland temperatures will start to rise."  Graphic: Kyla Grogan What will happen to Santa Cruz’s surfing sea otter? A Heat Advisory for parts of the Bay Area will go into effect Friday morning and last through Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service. Most areas away from the coast are likely to experience temperatures in the 90s.According to Grogan, the warm-up will begin Thursday.Where will it get the hottest?"On Thursday, we will likely see upper 90s to 100 degrees in the inner East Bay but that is just the beginning of the heat headed our way," she said. "I expect the heat to peak Friday and Sat...

Injured Sam Kerr misses Australia’s Women’s World Cup opener and faces longer out

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Captain Sam Kerr missed Australia’s opening Women’s World Cup game against Ireland on Thursday because of a calf injury that wasn’t revealed publicly until about an hour before kickoff.Kerr will also miss the Matildas’ game against Nigeria in Brisbane next week. The striker will be assessed before the last Group B match against Canada.Australia won 1-0 in Sydney thanks to a second-half penalty from Steph Catley, but Kerr’s absence was a massive setback for the tournament co-hosts.Kerr is Australia’s leading scorer and has been the face of a heavy marketing campaign for the World Cup, which is also being co-hosted by New Zealand.The star striker injured a calf muscle during practice on Wednesday but it wasn’t confirmed until Stadium Australia was almost full with expectant fans.“I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came here to achieve,” Kerr wrote in an Instagram post distributed...

As temperatures rise, mosquitos are also on the move. Scientists worry that could mean more malaria

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

As the planet warms, mosquitoes are slowly migrating upward. The temperature range where malaria-carrying mosquitoes thrive is rising in elevation. Researchers have found evidence of the phenomenon from the tropical highlands of South America to the mountainous, populous regions of eastern Africa. Scientists now worry people living in areas once inhospitable to the insects, including the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the mountains of eastern Ethiopia, could be newly exposed to the disease. “As it gets warmer at higher altitudes with climate change and all of these other environmental changes, then mosquitoes can survive higher up the mountain,” said Manisha Kulkarni, a professor and researcher studying malaria in sub-Saharan Africa at the University of Ottawa.  ___EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of a collaboration between The Associated Press and Grist exploring the intersection of climate change and infectious diseases.___Kulkarni led a study published in 2016 that found the habi...

Catastrophe losses double at Travelers as insurance industry, states hit by more severe events

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

Travelers, considered a bellwether for the insurance industry due to its size, said catastrophe losses doubled in its most recent quarter and the company swung to a loss as severe wind and hailstorms in a number of regions led to rising coverage claims. The increasing frequency of extreme weather from hurricanes and wildfires to high winds and hail, are leading to disruptions in the insurance industry with some companies pulling out of states that are getting hit hard, such as Florida and California. Catastrophe losses at Travelers jumped to $1.48 billion for the three-month period ending on June 30, up from $746 million in the same period last year. Insurers have retreated from regions that have been hit repeatedly by severe weather, even after raising premiums for years to cover those losses. State Farm and Allstate have pulled back from California’s home insurance market, saying that increasing wildfire risk and soaring construction costs mean they’ll no longer write ...

Watch: Denver DA Beth McCann will not run for reelection

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver District Attorney Beth McCann will not seek reelection in 2024, her office announced on Thursday.She's set to address the media at a 10:30 a.m. news conference. Casa Bonita employees demand answers, start petition “It has been the honor and privilege of my life to head up the Denver District Attorney’s Office and the amazing team of committed dedicated employees for the past several years," McCann said in a statement. "This was the most difficult decision I have made about my career and future, and it came with a great deal of thought, weighing of options, and consideration for the future of the Denver District Attorney’s Office."McCann was elected in November 2016 and sworn in the following January. She was elected for a second term in 2020, which is set to end in January 2025.Denver District Attorney Beth McCann (Credit: Denver District Attorney's Office)McCann was a four-term state House representative before she became DA. She said she has since achieved...

Amazon rolling out pay-with-palm technology at all Whole Foods stores

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

(The Hill) -- Amazon announced Thursday it is rolling out its pay-by-palm services in Whole Foods Market stores across the country, making it possible for customers to use their palm for purchases without a wallet or phone.  The palm recognition service, called Amazon One, will be available for payment and Prime membership benefits in all Whole Foods Market locations by the end of this year. Instead of traditional payment methods, Amazon One allows customers to hover their palm over an Amazon One device. Customers who link their Prime membership with their Amazon One profile will also automatically receive savings once their palm is registered, according to the Seattle-based retail giant.  Casa Bonita employees demand answers, start petition Launched in 2021, Amazon said the technology "uses the information embedded in your palm to create a unique palm signature that it can reach each and every time you use it.”Technology experts have expressed concerns in the past over Amaz...

3 arrested in connection to shooting at Florida City Walmart

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

A dispute between two groups led to a shooting at a Walmart in Florida City leaving one person dead and another injured. On Thursday, Miami-Dade Police took three suspects into custody. The shooting suspect was identified as 25-year-old Steve Lestin.Also taken into custody were Jimari Hodge and Roberto Acevedo. They were charged with battery and are believed to have instigated the fight that ultimately led to the shooting. The incident occurred just before 3 p.m. at a nail salon located inside the retail giant at 33501 S. Dixie Highway. Upon arrival, police found two individuals with gunshot wounds and immediately transported them to Jackson South Medical Center for urgent medical attention. Wednesday night, police identified the deceased victim as 23-year-old Nathaniel Baez. Officials said he was one of the six people involved in the altercation.The surviving victim, a bystander during the shooting was identified as Alan Donla, 72, he is OK and was released from the hospital. ...

Florida teen accepts 14-year prison sentence in fatal DUI crash that claimed 4 lives

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:02 GMT

After an investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office, justice has been served in the fatal crash that took place on January 1, 2021, at the intersection of West Flagler Street and 78 Avenue. On Thursday, Alex Garcia, who was 16 years old at the time of the incident, accepted a plea deal of 14 years in prison, followed by two years of house arrest and eight years of probation.Garcia faced multiple charges in connection with the crash, including four counts of Vehicular Homicide, four counts of DUI Manslaughter, and two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury. He was held at the Juvenile Detention Center for 21 days before being transferred to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for trial as an adult. Despite losing his appeal for release from prison pending trial, Garcia has remained incarcerated since February 2, 2023.The FHP expressed gratitude to Corporal Christine Gracey and the Traffic Homicide Unit, as well as the M...