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Here's what to do if no one will insure your home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

Farmers Insurance has become the latest insurance company to back away from insuring homes in wildfire-prone California.It follows Allstate and State Farm in similarly limiting exposure to climate change in the Golden State.Farmers said in a statement that "with record-breaking inflation, severe weather events and reconstruction costs continuing to climb, we are focused on serving our customers while effectively managing our business." California insurance market rattled by withdrawal of major companies As of July 3, it said, "Farmers will limit new homeowners insurance policies in California to a level consistent with the volume we projected to write each month before recent market changes."Which is to say, if you're seeking new coverage for a property, you may be out of luck if you want to do business with one of the top insurers.So what can you do instead?California offers insurance of last resort under a program called the FAIR Plan, which covers up to $1.5 million for a resid...

McDonald's giving out free fries for National French Fry Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

Some could argue that there is nothing better than free food.McDonald’s is giving away free fries this week to celebrate “National French Fry Day” on July 13.On Thursday, customers can order free fries, in any size, through the McDonald’s app. McDonald’s fans can get this popular menu item at Wendy’s No purchase is necessary to redeem the deal, which is only available for one day and can only be used once per person.For those who can’t cash in on the free deal, the company also offers a free medium fry with any $1 minimum purchase every Friday. The offer is only available through the McDonald’s app.Other restaurants like Burger King, Jack in the Box and Wendy’s have previously participated in the national food holiday and are expected to do so this year.

Hand embroidery takes to the streets with Tints

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

“Change is inevitable in the fashion industry, but the speed at which streetwear has transformed from a niche to a mainstream staple is startling,” muses Simmi Sen, the visionary high school senior behind the eco-friendly fashion brand, Tints. Far from your average teenage business venture, Tints is making a bold statement in the $185 billion streetwear industry with a message: high-quality, sustainable fashion is not a passing trend but a lifestyle choice.An Unusual Path to EntrepreneurshipSimmi has been a maverick in the fashion industry from the start. Breaking away from the traditional path of fashion houses and design schools, Simmi carved out her unique journey. “I envisioned Tints as more than just a brand; it’s a beacon, demonstrating to the world that style and sustainability can work hand in hand while also changing lives,” she asserts.Sen’s vision is unlike anything the streetwear scene has witnessed before. The brand combines eco-frien...

Hemanth Kumar: Illuminating the Path to Frictionless Retail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

As our society continues to evolve and embrace digitization, the importance of frictionless retail cannot be overstated. Now more than ever, consumers are looking for speed, convenience, and seamless experiences in their shopping journeys. The rise of omnichannel commerce and changes in customer behavior are transforming traditional retail operations. At the forefront of this shift is Hemanth Kumar, Infovision’s Associate Vice President who is redefining the retail landscape with his three-fold strategy of modernization, mobilization, and revolution.Hemanth explains that many potential problems found in retail, such as managing store traffic during peak hours, improving the management of store inventory, and eliminating ques for checkout, can be solved by leveraging IoT, computer vision, and AI/ML. He has guided retailers to implement today’s technology, ultimately eliminating hassle at every stage – including onboarding, product identification, and checkout – and creati...

Bay Area heat wave coming this week, 114 degrees forecast for Central Valley, 117 for Las Vegas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

After a mild spring, temperatures are expected to steadily heat up later this week across the Bay Area, culminating in a heat wave in the mid-to-high 90s in many Bay Area cities and up to 105 in Livermore and other inland areas by next weekend.“Summer is definitely arriving. It may have been a little late coming to the the Bay Area, but it’s here now,” said Dial Hoang, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Monterey.The warming comes as a series of extreme weather events are unfolding across the United States and the world.Forecasters say Phoenix is likely to break its all-time record for 18 days in a row over 110 degrees this month, with 10 straight already in the books by Sunday, and 115+ forecast for the coming days. Las Vegas is expected to reach 117 next weekend. And California’s Central Valley will to roast in the coming week also, the National Weather Service predicts, with Bakersfield and Redding forecast to hit 114 next weekend, Sacramento 10...

Sale closed in San Jose: $1.9 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

3073 Westfield Avenue – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 3000 block of Westfield Avenue in San Jose was sold on June 16, 2023 for $1,890,000, or $1,117 per square foot. The house, built in 1956, has an interior space of 1,692 square feet. The layout of this single-story home includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the house features a two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The property occupies a sizable 6,510-square-foot lot which provides abundant outdoor space, including a pool.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:On Castlemont Avenue, San Jose, in July 2022, a 1,446-square-foot home was sold for $1,560,000, a price per square foot of $1,079. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In April 2023, a 1,491-square-foot home on Greentree Way in San Jose sold for $1,530,000, a price per square foot of $1,026. The home has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,283-square-...

Analysis: Musk is the best thing to happen to Zuckerberg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

By Clare Duffy | CNNAt the start of last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in the hot seat.Revelations from hundreds of internal company documents, known as the Facebook Papers, had drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers, users and civil society groups in late 2021 and forced company executives to appear before Congress. Zuckerberg’s plan to rebrand Facebook as Meta and pivot to the so-called metaverse was met with broad skepticism. And the company’s core ad business was under significant pressure from privacy changes made by Apple.But then, the attention of lawmakers, media and the tech world writ large abruptly shifted to another tech billionaire: Elon Musk.Musk early last year criticized Twitter, then nearly joined its board, then agreed to buy the company before launching a monthslong and ultimately unsuccessful fight to get out of the deal. The saga, which only continued after Musk completed the deal and pushed through numerous controversial changes, often dominated news cycles....

Man dies of apparent overdose on BART train Monday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

(BCN) -- A man died of an apparent drug overdose on an Antioch-bound BART train Monday morning, according to transit agency officials. At about 11:15 a.m., someone called to report the apparent overdose victim while the Yellow Line train was at or near the Concord Station. Family contracts COVID on board Ruby Princess cruise Attempts were made to resuscitate the man, according to BART spokesperson Chris Filippi. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Dog kills beloved cat in San Jose, owner demands accountability

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

(KRON) — A San Jose man is grieving the death of his cat after it was fatally mauled by an aggressive dog outside his home over the weekend.Chris Fowler said his 9-year-old cat, named Tootie Pootie, "was my everything. She was all I had. It’s traumatizing." The dog appeared to be a pit bull, he said. On Saturday afternoon, Fowler returned home from work and let his cat out of his apartment to get some fresh air. Tootie Pootie was sitting outside the apartment on Magliocco Drive when a man, girl, and large dog approached. The girl was walking the dog on a long leash, but the dog easily overpowered the girl as it lunged toward the cat. Tootie Pootie  (Image courtesy Chris Fowler)Surveillance cameras recorded the dog charging, dragging the girl by the leash, and attacking the cat. Neither dog owner was able to free Tootie Pootie from their dog's jaws, surveillance video shows. It wasn't until Fowler stepped in that the cat finally broke free. "The dog overpowered the daughter and ...

Victims in deadly San Rafael plane crash identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:25 GMT

(KRON) -- The victims in a deadly plane crash in San Rafael on Saturday have been identified by the Marin County Sheriff's Office. Just after 10 p.m. Saturday, the San Rafael Police Department received a call regarding a bright flash of light in the sky and a power outage near San Rafael Airport.Additional reports came in that a plane had struck power lines near the airport. An initial investigation revealed that one person was deceased while another was in critical condition. Family contracts COVID on board Ruby Princess cruise The investigation also determined that the plane's tailfin had struck power lines prior to touching down on the ground. Power lines were wrapped around the plane and across the crash site, which was a wetlands area, making it difficult to access the plane.Once PG&E had deactivated the lines, San Rafael Fire Department responders extricated the pilot, who was later identified as Kirk Harford of San Rafael. He was transported to John Muir Medical Center ...