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Wish You Were Here: Adventures on the Aran Islands of Ireland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

Readers have spent the last year hiking, biking and exploring vacation destinations around the world, from Kauai’s Napali Coast to Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Guatemala’s astonishing ruins. And they’ve been sharing their adventures — and practical travel tips — with us along the way. Here’s the latest:Wish You Were HereIRELAND: In June, Oakland residents Gordon and Joyce Teekell visited Inis Oirr, one of Ireland’s Aran Islands, which sit at the mouth of Galway Bay. “Inis Island has 260 permanent residents. Many residents are born there and stay there!” Joyce says.Related ArticlesTravel | Wish You Were Here: Tokyo adventures Travel | Wish You Were Here: Oklahoma City from museums to Bricktown Travel | Wish You Were Here: Roasting marshmallows atop a Guatemala volcano “A main attraction was the shipwreck of the MV Plassy, a cargo ship which ran onto rocks during a huge sto...

Mold, roaches, security issues at San Jose homeless housing heighten broader concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

After five years of living on the streets of San Jose, Cecilia Martin couldn’t believe her luck in landing an apartment at the city’s first long-term homeless housing site. But it didn’t take long for the new facility, which opened in 2019, to fall into disrepair.Flooding, fires and cockroaches have since inundated the property, but her biggest worry is the intruders who stalk the hallway to her studio, said Martin, 53, a San Jose native. “I gotta watch my back all the time because you never know,” she said.A few miles away, Laura Laform, a resident at a former motel north of downtown now used for homeless housing, fears a mold infestation in the aging city-owned building is threatening her health. Laform, 63, is desperately searching for another place to stay.“It seems like I’m being ungrateful, but I’m watching myself deteriorate so bad,” she said.Laura Laform becomes emotional while talking about her living situation while out...

Bay Area LGBTQ seniors aging without traditional families build their own

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

Aging can be isolating. Especially if you belong to a historically marginalized group that doesn’t fit into a traditional family structure.When 68-year-old Alex Baccaro and his wife were thinking of moving to senior adult community Rossmoor in Walnut Creek 14 years ago, Baccaro was not yet out as a transgender man. The two had been living as a lesbian couple for several years. But that was in the progressive cities of Oakland and Berkeley. Now, they were moving to a senior community they assumed would be more conservative.“We thought we wouldn’t be able to be ourselves and be accepted. It was a big concern for us,” he said.Cut to 2023. Baccaro has recently come out as transgender and received a surprisingly positive response. He says he never dreamed he’d one day be able to be himself. He heads the LGBTQ Alliance at Rossmoor, which has more than 240 members and serves as a signal to prospective LGBTQ residents that they can be part of a vibrant community.Alex Baccaro, right, p...

Credit card skimmer found at 7-Eleven in Santa Rosa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

(KRON) -- Santa Rosa police officers found a credit card skimmer at a 7-Eleven store Saturday afternoon. The skimming device was found on a pin pad at the front register. The store is located on Piner Road. Police say it was installed by three suspects when the employees were distracted. Woman's body found at Golden Gate Park The device was on the pin pad for around 24 hours before it was discovered. The store is working to notify any cardholders who may have been skimmed.

Steamy and stormy start to DC region’s workweek

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

The Monday afternoon commute in the D.C. area could be clouded over with heavy rain, thunderstorms and possibly even an isolated tornado. Here’s what you need to know about the forecast.Be on the lookout for severe weather watches and warnings Monday afternoon as an approaching front is making for a “slight risk” of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.“We could see some pockets of heavy rain also thunder lightening, damaging winds and hail,” said 7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan.Isolated flooding is also possible, particularly in Western Maryland, said 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson.The chance for rain or storms ramps up at around 3 p.m., Whelan said.Storms that include tornado risk are expected from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Johnson said.The rain is expected to last overnight but the risk of severe weather should fade by midnight. Johnson said not all parts of the D.C. region will be impacted by the sto...

Ford lures Apple executive to run new unit that will sell software subscription services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ford-Apple ExecutiveFord has hired away a key Apple executive to run a new business unit that will sell software-related subscription services to vehicle owners.The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker said Monday it hired Peter Stern, who was Apple’s vice president of services. He’ll run Ford Integrated Services, a unit that will combine software and hardware into services.At Apple, Stern oversaw Apple TV plus, iCloud storage, Apple Books, the arcade and fitness operations and other businesses, Ford said in a statement Monday. Stern started Monday and reports directly to CEO Jim Farley. Stern also will expand Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free partially automated driving system, as well as productivity and safety and security services, the statement said. Source

Stock market today: Wall Street slips ahead of a big week in retail, US Steel soars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is slipping in early trading ahead of a week of reports showing how strong U.S. shoppers remain, amid hopes their spending can keep the economy out of a recession. The S&P 500 was 0.2% lower in the early going Monday, the latest step back in August’s lull following what had been a gangbusters year so far. The Dow edged down 25 points and the Nasdaq composite was off 0.4%. U.S. Steel jumped 25% after saying over the weekend that it rejected a buyout offer from Cleveland-Cliffs and that it’s heard multiple offers. Trading was relatively quiet otherwise. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Wall Street inched toward small gains before the opening bell ahead of a raft of data this week that may provide more insight into the health of U.S. retailers.Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked up a little more than 0.1% Monday. The government on Tuesday will release its retail sales report for July, wh...

Federal student loan pause ends next month, some borrowers expect budgets to take a major hit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

Interest on those federal student loans picks back up next month and payments will be due in October, marking the end of a more than three-year pause on payments.The unprecedented suspension provided relief for millions of borrowers faced with the financial fallout of the pandemic. Now, the transition to repayment is highlighting the financial hardships many borrowers face.A recent survey by Credit Karma showed about 45% of borrowers expect to go delinquent on their student loan payments once forbearance ends. About 53% said they struggle to pay other bills, including mortgages, credit cards and car loans.When repayment starts, households with incomes under $50,000 report that they will have to choose between student loans and other expenses like groceries and rent. Another 75% of borrowers said they are also responsible for providing for families and will face tough financial choices once payments resume.For those borrowers who have managed to find financial security since payments...

Big Rock: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Big Rock Brewery Inc. (BRBMF) on Monday reported a loss of $253,000 in its second quarter.The Calgary, Alberta-based company said it had a loss of 4 cents per share.The craft beer maker posted revenue of $9.5 million in the period.The company’s shares closed at $1.21. A year ago, they were trading at $2.42._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BRBMF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BRBMFSource

Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. is approaching a new power-and-speed frontier – the 30-60 club

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:36 GMT

Ronald Acuña Jr. is on pace to create an entirely new club for baseball’s top power-and-speed threats.Acuña stole his 55th base Sunday night in Atlanta’s 7-6 loss to the New York Mets. The star outfielder also has 26 home runs. No player has ever reached 30 homers and 60 steals in the same season.Rickey Henderson came close to starting the 30-60 club. He had 28 homers and 87 steals in 1986 with the New York Yankees, then 28 homers and 65 steals when he won MVP honors with Oakland in 1990.Two players are in the 30-50 club: Eric Davis had 37 homers and 50 steals in 1987 and Barry Bonds had 33 homers and 52 steals in 1990, when he won his first of seven MVPs. Davis also had 27 homers and 80 steals in 1986, joining Henderson as the only members of the 20-80 club.If Acuña can finish strong and reach 40 homers, that would open another frontier. Nobody has ever had 40 homers and 50 steals in a season. There have been four 40-40 players: Jose Canseco in 1988, Bonds in 1996, Alex...