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Swiftonomics: California could see big economic boom from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

Taylor Swift is reigniting a “Gold Rush” in California as the final leg of her record-breaking U.S. Eras Tour comes to Santa Clara and Los Angeles with massive fanfare at the sold-out concerts.The cultural phenomenon is on track to boast the highest-grossing musical tour of all time, with more than $1 billion in revenue anticipated — along with a big boost to the economies of the cities in which she sets foot. Over the last several months, the impact of the tour has trickled down from Swift herself to the entire U.S. economy, with one estimate from market research firm QuestionPro predicting her tour could generate $4.6 billion in spending across the country.The preliminary numbers from cities that Swift has already passed through are staggering.Visit Pittsburgh estimated $46 million in direct spending in Allegheny County, while Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s Center for Research and Data and Visit Cincy said the tour brought in more than $90 million to the greater C...

Pregnant woman shot in Oakland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

(KRON) -- A pregnant woman was shot Wednesday night in Oakland, according to the Oakland Police Department.Around 9:30 p.m., officers arrived at the intersection of 73rd Avenue and International Boulevard after receiving reports of a victim who had been shot. A woman, who was nine months pregnant, was suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest, OPD said. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Farm workers demand OSHA issue federal heat rule Both the woman and her unborn baby were listed in stable condition, police said. Officers later located a shooting scene at 77th Avenue and International Boulevard.

Oakland police investigating early morning homicide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred early Thursday morning.Around 5:15 a.m., officers arrived at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and International Boulevard after receiving reports of a person down on the ground. A victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound(s) was located, according to police. Pregnant woman shot in Oakland The victim was pronounced deceased on scene. The circumstances surrounding the victim's death is being investigated by OPD's Homicide Section.Anyone with information is asked to contact OPD at 510-238-3821.

Sideshow promoters sued by city over pollution in Santa Rosa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) -- Thirteen men are being sued by the City of Santa Rosa under the California Fish and Game Code for polluting waterways with tire crumbs after driving recklessly during sideshows. The city says the tire crumbs ended up in storm drains and polluted Colgan and Roseland Creeks, adding that it is unlawful to deposit any petroleum, acid, coal, tar or asphalt, among other, pollutants into waterways. Mayor London Breed signs off on $14.6 billion city budget Once in the waterways, it can be harmful to fish, birds, mammals and plants. The thirteen men allegedly organized, promoted and participated in the sideshows while on public property. Santa Rosa Police Chief John Cregan says his team cracked down on these shows by giving tickets, arresting people and impounding cars. The city’s lawsuit has listed one to 100 John Does. As of now, they are only known by their social media handles, but the city plans to amend the lawsuit once they find the legal names...

As Hollywood Strikes, Sen. John Fetterman Introduces Food Stamps Bill for Workers on Picket Line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

With more than 150,000 actors and writers on the picket line in Hollywood and other labor actions heating up across the country, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., is introducing legislation to ease the financial toll of their strikes. The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2023 would repeal a restriction on striking workers receiving SNAP benefits, protect food stamp eligibility for public-sector workers fired for striking, and clarify that any income-eligible household can receive SNAP benefits even if a member of that household is on strike. “The union way of life is sacred. It’s what built Pennsylvania and this nation. It is critical for us to protect workers’ right to organize, and that includes making sure they and their families have the resources to support themselves while on strike,” Fetterman wrote in a statement. “As Chair of the Nutrition Subcommittee and an advocate for the union way of life, this bill is just plain common sense. I’m proud to introduce this bill that wil...

Senate committee holds briefing on Maryland’s public education system, updates on Blueprint plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Members of the Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee received a lesson Wednesday on Maryland’s education structure and the latest developments on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan.Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City), who chair’s the committee’s education subcommittee, received credit for organizing the briefing she called “governance 101” to review the state’s education structure and assess some laws passed in the last few years.Most of the talking was done by Stacy Goodman, who works for the state Department of Legislative Services and is counsel for the EEE committee.Goodman summarized that the state’s public school system has nearly 890,000 students, 62,593 teachers and almost 3,600 principals and assistant principals.She highlighted responsibilities of the 14-member State Board of Educatio...

‘Chic picnic’ Dîner en Blanc returns to DC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

The last time the event came to D.C. was in 2021, when it was held on lower Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (Courtesy Eric Vitale) The last time the event came to D.C. was in 2021, when it was held on lower Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (Courtesy Eric Vitale) If you are looking for an excuse to wear your best white clothes after Labor Day, you’re in luck.Dîner en Blanc is returning to the District on Sept. 9.The event, described as a “chic picnic” with an all-white dress code, is held annually in various cities worldwide — at secret locations, which are only shared with ticket-holding guests shortly before they begins.This year’s D.C. festivity will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at an undisclosed outdoor ve...

Audit: Maryland corrections department failed to follow overtime policies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn Scruggs. File photo by Bryan P. Sears.This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.State corrections officials failed to ensure compliance with overtime policies and in some cases could not provide documentation for hours worked.The findings are part of a 27-page review of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services released by the Office of Legislative Audits. The review covers the period of April 1, 2018 to June 21, 2022.All the findings in the report occurred during Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s second term.Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs acknowledged the findings.“We appreciate the constructive findings and recommendations that were made as the result of this audit,” Scruggs wrote in a letter included in the audit report.In her...

Soaring labor costs at Southwest Airlines overshadow record revenue as summer travel revs up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines said second-quarter earnings dropped 10% to $683 million as labor costs soared, offsetting record revenue at the start of the peak summer travel season.The airline also warned Thursday that a key revenue ratio will drop and non-fuel costs will rise in the third quarter.The shares fell more than 8% at the opening bell on Wall Street.Southwest said that revenue for every seat flown one mile — a closely watched ratio in the airline business — fell 8.3% in the second quarter and will drop by between 3% and 7% in the third quarter, compared with the same periods last year. That outlook “will amplify concerns around slowing domestic air travel demand,” said Cowen airline analyst Helane Becker.A report earlier this week from Alaska Airlines fanned worries that demand for air travel — especially within the United States — might finally be cooling after recovering strongly from the pandemic. Southwest and Alaska both operate mostly domestic flights, and they ...

July has been so blistering hot, scientists already calculate that it’s the warmest month on record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — July has been so hot thus far that scientists calculate that this month will be the hottest globally on record and likely the warmest human civilization has seen, even though there are several days left to sweat through.The World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service on Thursday proclaimed July’s heat is beyond record-smashing. They said Earth’s temperature has been temporarily passing over a key warming threshold: the internationally accepted goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).Temperatures were 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times for a record 16 days this month, but the Paris climate accord aims to keep the 20- or 30-year global temperature average to 1.5 degrees. A few days of temporarily beating that threshold have happened before, but never in July.July has been so off-the-charts hot with heat waves blistering three continents – North America, Europe and Asia –...