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Commission approves €6.5 billion German scheme to address carbon leakage risk for energy-intensive companies resulting from national fuel emission trading system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €6.5 billion German scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies to address the risk of carbon leakage from higher fuel prices resulting from the German fuel emission trading system (‘German fuel ETS').The German measureGermany notified the Commission of its plan to support energy-intensive companies exposed to international competition by covering part of the higher fuel prices resulting from the German fuel ETS. The scheme will cover costs incurred between 2021 and 2030. The support measure is aimed at reducing the risk of ‘carbon leakage', where companies relocate their production to countries with less stringent emission rules, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions globally.The measure will benefit companies active in sectors and sub-sectors listed the EU ETS Carbon Leakage List. Those sectors face significant emission costs and are particularly exposed to international competition.The compe...

Santa Cruz County earns age-friendly status amid ‘silver tsunami’ concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — The so-called silver tsunami of aging adults has already arrived at Santa Cruz County’s shores, but local leaders say they’re stepping up efforts to address the escalating crisis.The county was recently named an “age-friendly community” by the AARP , a critical step in its work to support the health and wellbeing of older residents while it continues development of a Master Plan on Aging.“The goal of these two complimentary initiatives is to create a community that promotes healthy aging for all,” Alicia Morales, Santa Cruz County Adult and Long Term Care Division director, said during a presentation to the Board of Supervisors earlier this week. “It is an ambitious county-wide effort and cannot be just a government initiative.”According to Morales, one-third of all county residents will be age 60 or older by 2030, which exceeds the already concerning statewide ratio projecting one out of four residents, or about 10.8 million people, to be 60 or older within the same ti...

Ask Amy: Why did she react that way? It was a compliment!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

Dear Amy: Recently I complimented a woman after her 60th birthday by saying, “You look good for 60.”She grunted, “What is 60 supposed to look like?”Where did I go wrong?– Bewildered BachelorDear Bewildered: I’m going to sidestep my own observations on why you might be a “bachelor,” and head straight to your bewilderment.Where did you go wrong? Oh, let me count the ways.First of all, it’s not necessary to comment on someone’s looks in any context – unless they invite you to.As the woman you damned with faint praise implied through her pointed response, you’ve made an assumption of what 60 is supposed to look like, and – quite simply – we 60-year-old crones have the right to reject your assumption.There is only one context where this comment might be received positively, and that would be on the day of this woman’s 90th birthday.The great news is that you can test-drive this “compliment” again … in 30 years.Dear Amy: My son graduated from high school rece...

Five-bedroom home sells in Danville for $3.2 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

10 Baltana Place – Google Street ViewA 5,177-square-foot house built in 2015 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the first block of Baltana Place in Danville was sold on July 25, 2023, for $3,240,000, or $626 per square foot. This two-story house offers a roomy layout with five bedrooms and seven baths. In addition, the house includes an attached two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The lot of the property covers a substancial area of 7,782 square feet.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:A 4,466-square-foot home on the 100 block of Capari Court in Danville sold in October 2022, for $3,110,000, a price per square foot of $696. The home has 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.On Belarus Street, Danville, in October 2022, a 2,509-square-foot home was sold for $1,780,000, a price per square foot of $709. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In June 2023, a 2,100-square-foot home on Evolene Street in Danville sold for $1,705,000, a price...

Marine charged with sexual assault of missing 14-year-old girl found in Camp Pendleton barracks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

A Marine at California’s Camp Pendleton has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl who was found in a base barracks, the military announced.Military prosecutors charged the Marine with sexual assault of a minor and with violating liberty restriction from an earlier, unrelated case. After a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 17, authorities will decide whether he will face a court-martial, said a statement from Capt. Charles Palmer with the 1st Marine Logistics Group.The Marine’s identity and other details of the case, such as when and how he met the teenager and how she got onto the base, weren’t immediately released.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | GOP donor Anton “Tony” Lazzaro gets 21 years for sex trafficking minors Crime and Public Safety | ‘Disturbing uptick’ of sexual assaults on aircraft, officials say Crime and Public Safety | Man who impersonated search-and-rescue official sex...

1 dead, 2 injured when car going 100 mph slams into Southern California garage, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

One person was killed and two others were critically injured when their car slammed into a garage and became wedged underneath a parked vehicle inside in South Pasadena Saturday morning, Aug. 12, authorities said.South Pasadena officers believe the driver of an Infiniti sedan, identified as 21-year-old David Silva of Sun Valley, was speeding southbound at about 100 mph on Orange Grove Avenue and lost control as he approached Oliver Street, sending the car careening into the garage in the 300 block of Orange Grove Avenue, officials said.“The impact was significant enough to push a vehicle parked in the garage through the back wall,” Sgt. Craig Phillips said.Silva and his front seat passenger were taken to a hospital with moderate to severe injuries, Phillips said. The back seat passenger suffered major trauma and died at the scene.He was identified as Oscar Bejarano Jr., a 21-year-old resident of North Hills, the medical examiner’s office said.No one inside the home was injured, Phil...

California teacher on leave after ‘Angels in America’ controversy hopes to return to class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

If there’s going to be drama, Greg Bailey prefers it happen inside his classroom.Instead, the 46-year-old Temecula Valley High School drama teacher is unwillingly at the center of a culture-war drama, vilified as a groomer and unable to teach his life’s passion while in investigatory limbo.In May, Temecula resident Tracy Nolasco complained that her 15-year-old daughter became distressed after being forced to read the play “Angels in America” in Bailey’s class.Bailey, a Menifee resident and Temecula Valley Unified School District employee since 2018, has been on paid leave ever since.Greg Bailey, a Temecula Valley High School drama teacher, directs a rehearsal of “Hamlet” at Baily Winery & Vineyard in Temecula Valley Wine Country on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. He has been on paid leave since May after a parent complained about her daughter reading the play “Angels in America” in Bailey’s class. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Greg Bailey works w...

California man arrested after attacking and injuring 2 women with a shovel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

Two women were injured in Long Beach on Saturday night after a man hit them with a shovel, police said.The attacks occurred shortly before 9 p.m. when the suspect, a 28-year-old Claremont man, began swinging a shovel at bystanders while walking northbound on Atlantic Avenue near First Street, police said. According to a preliminary investigation, he chased multiple people with the shovel before striking two women on the upper body. One was transported to a hospital.Another woman and two men were chased but were not injured, according to police.The 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault, and police said they found the shovel at the scene. No motive for the man’s behavior was known.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Death toll rises to 96 in Maui with estimated loss of $5.6 billion. Follow live updates Crime and Public Safety | Marine charged with sexual assault of missing 14-year-old girl found in Camp Pendleton barracks Crime and ...

Dozens of thieves ransack Nordstrom at California mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

Shoppers at the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park were in for quite a shock when dozens of thieves ransacked the Nordstrom inside the mall on Saturday, Aug. 12, smashing displays and stealing an estimated $60,000- $100,000 worth of merchandise, authorities said.The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the mall at around 4 p.m. after hearing reports that between 20 and 50 people ran through the Nordstrom grabbing merchandise, leaving some on the ground and taking armfuls with them.Police said that no arrests were immediately made. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene for a report of an assault, but no one was transported to a hospital.Videos from the scene show thieves clad in black, most wearing face coverings, grabbing clothes and running out of the store.Another video of the Topanga Mall smash and grab pic.twitter.com/mzULJBtpMy— Downtown LA Scanner (@DowntownLAScan) August 13, 2023The investigation is ongoing. The LAPD found that an estimated $60...

Harriette Cole: She walked through a closed screen door. Is it our problem?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:40 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My family is renting a home from friends for the summer. We had guests arrive this week, and as soon as one of them showed up, she walked through the screen door, destroying the frame. She did not get hurt, but the door is busted.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I’m ashamed to tell people I forgave my childhood friend Advice | Harriette Cole: I’ve worked hard, and my poor siblings resent my success Advice | Harriette Cole: I want to move to a big city but I’m scared of driving Advice | Harriette Cole: My husband won’t help with the baby, and I’m considering divorce Advice | Harriette Cole: My boyfriend’s teenage secret has made me really nervous We don’t have a contract with our friends, but I’m wondering who is liable. Do we need to pay for the door replacement, given that this happened on our watch?We would like to stay here again,...