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Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza tapped to lead West Valley College

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

West Valley College has named Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, PhD as its 13th president. Taylor-Mendoza comes to the Saratoga community college from the College of San Mateo, where she served as president; her first day on the new job is Aug. 24.“West Valley College is the destination for upward economic mobility for generations of Santa Clara County residents,” said Taylor-Mendoza in a statement. “I pay tribute to the great work of my predecessors by continuing to focus on strategic planning, policy reform and professional development to enhance student access and achievement.“Leadership matters, and I realize my role during this pivotal time in our nation as we work towards a more just society for our communities, no matter the political winds,” she continued. “I am excited to work collectively with the chancellor and board of trustees to move the district forward as we continue the great work in considering new directions, innovations and opportunities.”A communi...

Looming thunderstorms could threaten efforts to battle York Fire in California and Nevada

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

By TY O’NEIL and STEFANIE DAZIO | Associated PressJEAN, Nev. — A brief but heavy downpour Tuesday helped firefighters battling a massive blaze in California and Nevada, but meteorologists warned of the potential for sudden and erratic wind shifts that could endanger crews later on.The York Fire was partially contained by Tuesday morning after igniting last week in the Mojave National Preserve in California and spreading into Nevada, while flames scorched tens of thousands of acres of desert scrub, juniper and Joshua tree woodland.Now the largest wildfire of the season in California, the blaze was mapped at roughly 125 square miles (323.7 square kilometers) on Tuesday, with 23% containment.While the 15-minute downpour early Tuesday helped firefighting efforts, thunderstorms could pose problems if they pass over the area, said Clay Morgan, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Las Vegas.If the storms miss the flames entirely, crews could face unstable wind conditions — with gust...

Tesla is under investigation again after 12 drivers complain of steering problems

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

U.S. auto safety regulators have opened yet another investigation into safety problems with Tesla vehicles.This time the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into a dozen complaints about loss of steering control or loss of power steering in the 2023 Models 3 and Y electric vehicles.The probe covers an estimated 280,000 vehicles. Five drivers alleged in complaints they couldn’t steer the vehicles at all. Seven more cited a loss of power steering that required increased steering effort.There was one report of a crash but no complaints of any injuries.Related ArticlesBusiness | Automakers unite to build EV charging network Business | Fatal Tesla crash in Lake Tahoe draws federal investigators to site of head-on collision Business | A heat wave will cook your electric car battery, if you let it Business | Musk v. Zuck: Meta’s Twitter challenger Threads goes live The agency says in a document post...

Taste-Off: The dreamiest chocolate “milk” on the market — and the yuckiest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

Cold, refreshing and sweet, a gulp of chocolate milk sparks childhood memories of spooning chocolate powder into tall glasses overflowing with milk — and turning the kitchen into a sticky mess.Today, drinkable chocolate continues to appeal to kids and grownups alike, and luckily, comes in tidier packages. Store shelves are stacked with shelf-stable, lunchbox-friendly liquid chocolate of every ilk. Some are made with cow’s milk; others are made with soy, nuts, peas, whey, flax and oats.Sadly, what’s inside a lot of these little boxes and bottles is often watery, insipid and nothing like the chocolate milk that makes children smile. The worst are nearly taste-free, save for a massive dose of sugar.The best chocolate drinks taste like liquid dessert. They are smooth and creamy, with bold chocolate flavor, and a satisfying dash of sugar. And great chocolate “milk” can be made from a range of base ingredients — cow’s milk is entirely optional.Among the things to know about chocolate “mil...

Whether it’s required or not, using blinker is safer for turns: Roadshow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

Q: I read the letter you responded to last week about the woman who got a warning for not using her signal in a dedicated left turn lane. I agree that it should not be an infraction, but I think drivers need to consider not just other cars, but pedestrians, as well, in the use of turn signals. Pedestrians may not be aware of lanes that are dedicated for left or right turns, but if they see a car with a turn signal activated, it could help prevent an accident.Margie Williams, RichmondA: You’re right, that could prevent an accident or injuries.Q: My biggest complaint is drivers not using their signals. When I took driver’s ed in high school from Mr. Story (he was hot and all the girls had a crush on him!), he taught us to always use our signals: whether changing lanes, entering or exiting, driving with or without a turn arrow. He said it was the law in Indiana, where we lived, and that it was a good life-long habit to develop. I blame California for giving drivers the option. It...

Do homelessness prevention programs work? Santa Clara County-based study says yes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

The adage “prevention is better than cure” applies not just to health, but to homelessness, too.A new study suggests that relatively modest financial efforts to prevent homelessness have been remarkably successful at keeping people off the streets. Specifically, it found the delivery of emergency financial assistance to at-risk families in Santa Clara County reduced the risk of homelessness: vulnerable residents receiving such assistance were 81% less likely to become homeless within six months and 73% less likely within 12 months.“Our study shows that financial assistance almost totally reduces the chance of somebody having the really severe outcome of becoming homeless,” researcher David Phillips said. The study, conducted by the University of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, was published earlier this month.The research focused on two groups: families receiving financial support through the county’s Homelessness Prevention System...

‘We may be the last maskers’: California COVID cases are rising. Here’s why health experts are masking indoors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

While much of the world has moved on from the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody and her colleagues still wear protective masks to work and in other crowded indoor settings. And if you’ve noticed a lot of people you know coming down with COVID lately, you’ll understand why.Thrust into the national spotlight three years ago as an early voice of caution and protective orders as the then-deadly COVID pandemic took hold, Cody admits she and her public health colleagues stand out now among the mostly unmasked masses. But with cases rising again, and her own recent bout with the disease still in mind, she urges others to consider masking indoors.“Every single one of us masks every day, because we look at the data,” Cody said. “We may be the last maskers, but that’s what we do. I’d highly recommend people going to indoor gatherings with a lot of people mask. The chances you’d be exposed are very high....

Family displaced in Santa Rosa apartment fire, $150K in damages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

(KRON) -- Thirty firefighters contained a two-alarm apartment fire Tuesday night on Kenton Court, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department. Just before 9 p.m., fire crews arrived at the scene four minutes after receiving reports of an apartment building on fire. Fire was coming from two windows of a two-story apartment that had extended into the attic, according to SRFD.As crews worked to extinguish the fire through the front door, firefighters climbed to the roof and cut ventilation openings to allow for smoke and heat to escape from the building. Firefighters conducted a search and found no occupants inside at the time, according to officials. Fast food workers to stage rallies across San Jose over low pay, other issues It took fire crews around 20 minutes to contain the blaze.One man suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to a local hospital. The fire displaced a family of three adults and two children. The Red Cross is assisting that family, SRFD said. Occupants...

Ferrari: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

MARANELLO, Italy (AP) — MARANELLO, Italy (AP) — Ferrari NV (RACE) on Wednesday reported second-quarter net income of $363.6 million.On a per-share basis, the Maranello, Italy-based company said it had net income of $1.99.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.77 per share.The luxury sports car maker posted revenue of $1.6 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RACE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RACESource

Body found along highway on-ramp in Prince George’s Co.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:43:50 GMT

A body was found along a highway on-ramp in Prince George’s County Tuesday afternoon, according to Maryland State Police.The body was found on the grass along the on-ramp from Woodyard Road to southbound Branch Avenue (Maryland Route 5) in Clinton at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, state police said. Emergency medical personnel from Prince George’s County pronounced the person dead at the scene.The person has not been identified.Troopers from the Crash Team are assisting Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and Criminal Enforcement Division Central South Region with the investigation, which is ongoing.The road was temporarily closed while investigators examined the scene, but has since reopened.Below is a map of the approximate area where the body was found. Source