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Driving like a German has made me safer and more courteous: Roadshow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

Q: A friend in Germany says they describe a merge as a zipper, with alternating cars merging into one lane. I don’t know if it’s a law, or a generally accepted custom, but I occasionally see it used here. Wow, it makes traffic flow so smoothly, and without ruffled feathers.Of course, those clowns who ignore the need to merge and just drive up as far as possible, then push their way into the lane screw this up. But still … the practice has made me a safer, more courteous driver.Claire Lomax, OaklandA: I like the description of merging traffic as a zipper. You’re right, traffic can move more smoothly and safely when two flows of traffic merge this cooperatively.Q: I managed to lose my REAL ID driver’s license. I tried to get a replacement online, but the DMV insists my correct identifying information does not ring a bell with them. Now I need to descend into Dante’s Ninth Circle of Hell with an unscheduled in-person visit to the DMV (I confess that when I got my REAL ID, i...

Will Santa Clara finally rebuild the aging International Swim Center?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

SANTA CLARA — It’s been nearly three months since anyone has swam at the storied George F. Haines International Swim Center — renown pools where world-class Olympic teams once trained daily.As it turns out, a broken heater at the city-owned aquatics facility could keep swimmers sidelined until the end of August or September, said Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Director James Teixeira.Now, there’s a renewed push by groups using the pools and elected officials for the city to rebuild the nearly 60-year-old swim center.Set in a single-family neighborhood off the bustling San Tomas Expressway, the International Swim Center, which was renamed in 2000 to bear the famed U.S. Olympic coach’s name, has been the training grounds for elite swimmers with the Santa Clara Swim Club, like Don Schollander, Donna de Varona and Mark Spitz.The facility’s Olympic lore stretches to the 17-foot-deep diving well where the legendary Santa Clara Aquamaids train. Head co...

Water’s End Leesburg location opens this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

Water’s End Brewery officially opens its fourth location in Northern Virginia, and its first in Loudoun County, on July 12, joining restaurants at the Village at Leesburg.Water’s End is part of the new The Dell Food & Brew Hall, and takes up a significant portion of the food hall, with 1,200 square feet of the 5,800-square-foot space, though much smaller than its other locations.The food hall also includes Paulie’s Italian Kitchen, Lucky Dog, and Colombian’s Place. Nacho Macho, a nacho and wings food stall, also opens July 12.Water’s End was founded by former Fairfax County police officer Zach Mote in 2016 with its first location in Lake Ridge. A second opened in 2020 in Woodbridge at the Potomac Festival Shopping Center and last year it opened a third location in a historic building in downtown Fredericksburg. That location is a partnership with the Woodbridge-based Hot Chickn Kitchn.The Dell Food & Brew Hall originally opened in 2019 as Chefscape by restaurant veteran Arti...

Acusan a Bank of America de abrir cuentas falsas y cobrar comisiones basura ilegales

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

Nueva York (CNN) — Los reguladores federales acusaron este martes a Bank of America de perjudicar a los clientes mediante el doble cobro de comisiones, la retención de recompensas de tarjetas de crédito y la apertura de cuentas falsas.La Oficina de Protección Financiera del Consumidor ordenó a Bank of America a pagar más de US$ 100 millones a los clientes y US$ 90 millones en penalizaciones. La Oficina del Interventor de la Moneda también ordenó a Bank of America pagar US$ 60 millones en multas.Algunas de las acusaciones recuerdan al escándalo de Wells Fargo de la década pasada, que supuso la apertura de millones de cuentas bancarias sin autorización de los clientes.Bank of America lanza advertencia de trabajos en EE.UU.“Bank of America retuvo indebidamente las recompensas de las tarjetas de crédito, duplicó las comisiones y abrió cuentas sin consentimiento”, dijo el director de la CFPB, Rohit Chopra, en un comunicado. “Estas prácticas son ilegales y socavan ...

PGA Tour, European tour unite again for events in Scotland and Kentucky

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

EUROPEAN TOUR AND PGA TOURGENESIS SCOTTISH OPENSite: Gullane, Scotland.Course: The Renaissance Club. Yardage: 7,237. Par: 70.Prize money: $8 million. Winner’s share: $1.44 million.Television: Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel), noon to 3 p.m. (CBS).Defending champion: Xander Schauffele.Race to Dubai leader: Rory McIlroy.FedEx Cup leader: Jon Rahm.Last week: Rasmus Hojgaard won Made in Himmerland and Sepp Straka won the John Deere Classic.Notes: This is the first of two weeks when the PGA Tour and European tour co-sanction tournaments. The field comprises members of both tours. … The field features eight of the top 10 in the world. Jon Rahm at No. 2 is not playing, while Cameron Smith (No. 8) is with LIV Golf. … Xander Schauffele won last year coming off victories in the Travelers Championship and the J.P. McManus Pro-Am exhibition in Ireland. … This is the second straight year for the Scotti...

UK wages are rising at a record pace. That makes higher interest rates more likely

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Wages in the U.K. are rising at a record high rate amid stubbornly high inflation, official figures showed Tuesday, bolstering expectations that interest rates will increase again — to the worry of homeowners who are seeing their mortgage payments spike to levels not seen since the global financial crisis 15 years ago.The Office for National Statistics said wages, excluding bonuses, rose by 7.3% in the three months to May, matching the highest rate since records began in 2001. The private sector was the main driver behind the increase.For months, workers have been seeking pay that keeps pace with high inflation, which is running at 8.7% despite declines in energy prices and a series of interest rate hikes from the Bank of England.The central bank has been raising rates since late 2021 to get a grip on rising prices, which were first stoked by supply chain problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic and then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sent energy and food price...

Best early Prime Day deals for $100 or less

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. DetailsCATCH THESE EARLY PRIME DAY BARGAINS BEFORE THEY DISAPPEAR If you are like many Amazon shoppers, you are eagerly counting down the days until Prime Day 2023 arrives. This year, the epic sales extravaganza will take place on July 11 and 12, but many deals are already live. From inexpensive personal care items to state-of-the-art tech, literally anything can be available at marked-down prices before and during Prime Day. However, many top-selling small appliances, home items, unique gadgets, essential beauty products and more fall into the $100 or less price range when they are on sale for the big event. Now is the perfect time to save on popular items at deeply discounted prices. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the best early deals of 2023 that are available now and cost less than $100, including a favorite of the BestReviews Testing Lab.Shop this a...

48-year-old Ohio man charged with battery; escorted off United Airlines flight at FLL airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

An Ohio man was charged with battery and was escorted off a flight at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport.Shawn Levan, 48, was accused of being a problem passenger on a United Airlines flight to South Florida. 7 News spoke with another passenger, Claudia Mondelo who was on the same flight, Saturday. Claudia Mondelo captured the video of the man, who was escorted off of the flight before deputies took him to the Broward County jail.Mondelo said Levan had been a less-than-ideal passenger.“He didn’t want to go back to his seat, he didn’t want to put on his seatbelt, he just wanted to cause a scene,” said Mondelo. Mondelo said the drama began at the counter in Washington DC, where she was waiting for her Fort Lauderdale flight.“He was screaming at the ticket counter lady, pretty much everyone heard him because he was extremely loud, so I was surprised when I saw him on the flight,” she said. Mondelo said during the commotion on the flight,...

Parkland victim’s family launches ‘Guac’s Magical Tour’ to combat gun violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

The family of Joaquin Oliver, who lost his life in the Parkland school shooting, is hitting the road to demand action on gun violence. In honor of their son’s memory and with a determination to effect change, Manuel and Patricia Oliver have embarked on a nationwide tour called “Guac’s Magical Tour.” The gunman responsible for Joaquin’s death and the deaths of 16 others now faces a lifetime behind bars. However, after the Parkland massacre, there continues to be numerous shootings nationwide.Manuel Oliver, Joaquin’s father, reflects on the devastating aftermath of the Parkland tragedy and subsequent shootings, highlighting the lack of political action to address the pervasive issue of gun violence.“After Parkland, we learned our lesson, and then Santa Fe came, and they learned a lesson, and then many other shootings happened, and a lot of people who are not here learned a lesson, but the political inaction was still there,” said Manuel ...

Murder suspect who escaped from California medical center recaptured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:32 GMT

(CNN) — A murder suspect who escaped police custody in the Sacramento area over the weekend has been found and taken into custody, according to the Placer County Sheriff, who shared the update via social media.Eric J. Abril, who escaped Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Placer County early Sunday morning, was discovered after a homeowner walking his dog alerted deputies when he noticed his dog barked at some movements in a nearby brush area, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said Monday.“When he was taken into custody, he was clothed in only his jail boxers and he still had the belly chains around his waist, although his hands were no longer affixed in the handcuffs,” Woo said. Abril also had numerous abrasions on his body, Woo added.California authorities had launched a manhunt after the 35-year-old escaped early Sunday morning.Abril was facing numerous charges, including “murder, kidnapping causing bodily harm, and attempted murder of a police officer,” related to a shooting in Apr...