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Opinion: Colorado’s housing crisis demands state intervention, drastic measures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

When firefighters get the call, they need to act fast. It takes just minutes for the flames to take over and the plumes of thick, black smoke to signal that someone’s home has been a casualty of fire.But when your “local” first responders are hours away, how many homes are in jeopardy when a fire can spread through a community in the blink of an eye? The recent fire in Teller County is an ominous, all-to-familiar reality that the first responders keeping us safe can’t afford to live in the communities they protect.The current housing shortage and affordability crisis is tying the hands of local electeds to respond when tragedy strikes.A bill making its way through the Senate, SB-213, is a first-of-its-kind Colorado solution that will jumpstart the building of homes that everyone can afford so our first responders can actually respond instead of sitting in traffic.Adams and Teller Counties don’t have a lot in common, yet, the magnitude of our housing crisis is so severe that we...

Republic of Moldova: EU adopts a new sanctions framework to target actions aimed at destabilizing the country

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

Today (28 April) the Council adopted a new framework for targeted restrictive measures which provides the EU with the possibility of imposing sanctions against persons responsible for supporting or implementing actions which undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the country’s democracy, the rule of law, stability or security.As one of the countries most affected by the fallout of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, we witness increased and continued attempts to destabilise Moldova. The new sanctions regime will give us the possibility to continue strengthening Moldova’s resilience by targeting those who try to destabilise the country. This is an important political signal of the EU’s support to Moldova in the current difficult context. Josep Borrell (pictured), High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security PolicyThanks to this new framework the EU will be able to target for instance individuals who obstruct or undermin...

Meet the cheapest U.S. states to buy a house

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

(The Hill) -- A new study analyzing Zillow data has found that the monthly median sale price of a house last year was over $500,000 in Utah, California and Colorado — and over a staggering $800,000 in Hawaii.The study, conducted by Studio City realtors, found that Hawaii clocked in as the most expensive state in the U.S. for homebuyers. On the island, the average home price was a staggering $805,775 — hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the cheapest state on the list. Studio City realtor Tony Mariotti noted that market turbulence has contributed to a “significant increase” in house prices across the U.S.Home prices went up nationwide in February after months of declines, amid low inventory and a small uptick in demand, and experts have said they expect affordability will continue to be a problem for prospective homebuyers in the months ahead. Here are the priciest and cheapest U.S. states to buy a home:Kelly Slater surfs in the In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave surf contest o...

Granada Hills woman arrested for hit-and-run that left pedestrian dead 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic detectives have arrested the woman accused of fatally hitting a man in Sylmar last Friday.  According to a release from LAPD, 21-year-old Mary Inez Mercado of Granada Hills was arrested and booked on a felony charge of hit and run causing death. She is being held on $50,000 bail.  Mercado is accused of striking a pedestrian pushing a shopping cart while traveling westbound on Hubbard Street west of Adelphia Avenue on April 21 around 12:50 a.m.  Police release surveillance video in fatal Highland Park hit-and-run Mercado’s sedan continued westbound on Hubbard until Dronfield Avenue, where she momentarily exited the vehicle but re-entered shortly after and drove away. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics transported the man to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim has not been identified. 

L.A. County Sheriff’s Department partners with Bureau of Land Management to host wild horse, burro adoption event 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management to find homes for wild mustangs and burros that have been gathered from BLM land. Twenty wild mustangs and 10 burros will be auctioned to the public on Friday and Saturday at Jack Bones Equestrian Center, located at 26983 Tapia Canyon Road in Castaic. The animals are expected to arrive between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and will then be unloaded and sorted in time for the event for viewing and applications which takes place from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. The live auction will start on Saturday at 9 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m.  Horses came to American West by early 1600s, study finds Adopted animals will be loaded into the adopters’ trailer and taken off site. “The Bureau of Land Management gathers wild mustangs and burros each year from public lands to protect the health of the animals and rangelands,” LASD said in a statement. “Currently, over 80,000 horses and burros roam ...

Authorities ask for the public’s help locating man missing for 1 month 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit is asking the public for assistance in locating 58-year-old Matthew Lawrence Gray. Gray was last seen on around 7 p.m. March 28 in the 2300 block of Canyada Avenue in Altadena. He may be driving a gold 1999 Toyota Corolla with a California license plate with the plate number 4FVH262. Authorities list the City of Gardena as Gray’s possible destination. Gray was last seen on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, around 7 p.m. in the 2300 block of Canyada Avenue in Altadena. (LASD)Gray is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. He has balding black hair, brown eyes and a light mustache. Anyone with information on Gray’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 

Hermosa Beach considering change in parking meter start time

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

The City of Hermosa Beach will consider a plan to change the start times of parking meters by two hours next month. The start time to pay to park is 10 a.m. but under the new plan, drivers would have to start paying at 8 a.m. Some surfers against the motion say that they will most likely end up finding parking on residential streets.  Secure parking lot for unhoused people coming to Los Angeles County City officials believe that starting the parking meter pay time two hours earlier will help free up parking spaces in the small 1.4 square mile city where parking is always a challenge. The city is expected to make $1.8 million from a parking rate increase approved earlier this year. The City Council will vote on the issue on May 9. 

One Injured in Pedestrian Accident on Day Street [Moreno Valley, CA]

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

1 Hospitalized after Pedestrian Collision near Box Springs RoadMORENO VALLEY, CA (April 28, 2023) – Late Friday night, one victim sustained injuries in a pedestrian accident on Day Street.Police responded to the scene around 11:22 p.m., on the eastbound lanes of the street just south of Box Springs Road on April 14th.Investigators say the driver of a white Volkswagen Passat struck a pedestrian that was running along the eastbound lanes. Officers later determined that the driver attempted to avoid a collision, but was unable to do so.America Medical Response personnel arrived and transported the pedestrian to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Although, authorities have not yet released their identity.Following preliminary duties, police were unable to determine if drugs or alcohol played a factor. Once available, further details will be provided.When driving, it is vital to always be alert for pedestrians and other vehicles. This is especially true when you a...

Joe Alvarez and Analiea Alvarez Killed in Head-On Collision on Highway 180 [Fresno County, CA]

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

Two Pronounced Dead after Wrong-Way Accident near Alta AvenueFRESNO COUNTY, CA (April 28, 2023) – Late Tuesday morning, Joe Alvarez and Analiea Alvarez were killed in a head-on collision on Highway 180.Authorities responded to the scene around 11:20 a.m., near Alta and Frankwood Avenue.Per reports, the driver of an eastbound Jeep Liberty crossed the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic. As a result, the Jeep collided head-on with a westbound Chevrolet pickup-truck.The impact ejected the 33-year-old driver of the Jeep, Joe Alvarez, onto the road. Officers say he was not wearing a seat belt at the time. Due to the extent of injuries sustained, authorities pronounced him dead at the scene.Meanwhile, medics airlifted his 13-year-old daughter, Analiea Alvarez to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.First responders also rushed the driver of the Chevy, 44-year-old Christopher McAlster of Woodlake, to a hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. McAlster’...

2 Killed in Three-Vehicle Crash on Highway 20 [Sutter County, CA]

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:20 GMT

Multi-Vehicle Collision near Wyncoop Road Left Two FatalitiesSUTTER COUNTY, CA (April 28, 2023)  – Tuesday afternoon, a three-vehicle crash on Highway 20 left two people dead and two others injured.According to the CHP, the deadly collision happened around 12:50 p.m. along westbound Highway 20, near Wyncoop Road.Investigators said that a Jeep Wrangler driven by an 88-year-old man was traveling west on SR-20 and crossed the solid double yellow lines.Subsequently, the Jeep side swept a Mercedes C300 going east and crashed head-on into a Lincoln MKT traveling behind the Mercedes.Responding emergency personnel said the Jeep driver died at the scene. Meanwhile, rescue units extricated a 66-year-old male passenger and a 63-year-old female driver from the Lincoln.Paramedics rushed the man to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment of significant injuries. Meanwhile, the woman was transported to Adventist Health and Rideout where she succumbed to her injuries.In addition, the Mercedes&#...