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Retailers offer bigger Black Friday discounts to lure hesitant shoppers hunting for the best deals

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stores stepped up discounts and other enticements on Black Friday to entice shoppers holding out for the best deals. But retailers worry those may not be enough.Consumers are coming under pressure as their savings dwindle and their credit card debt grows. And although they have gotten some relief from easing inflation, many goods and services like meat and rent are still far higher than they were just three years ago.Yvonne Carey, 72, was among the first shoppers at Macy's Herald Square store in Manhattan where she snapped up discounted Michael Kors slippers and a pair of Ugg boots for herself. But Cary said she plans to stick to same budget as last year, about a $1,000, as she shops for gifts for her six grandchildren and her husband. “The prices are crazy on everything food, clothes,” Carey said.Many retailers ordered fewer goods for this holiday season and pushed holiday sales earlier in October than last year to help shoppers spread out their spending. The early ...

Hometown Pride: Quaint Covina offers local flavor, suburban charm

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

In this edition of Hometown Pride, we’re on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County, discovering the allure of one of the San Gabriel Valley’s quaintest gems—Covina. An orange grove town turned bedroom community only 22 miles from downtown L.A., it still retains its suburban charm. The small town’s slogan: "One mile square and all there." Covina is smaller and older than its neighbor West Covina. To the south, the San Jose Hills — to the north, the mighty San Gabriels. Along Citrus Avenue, shops and restaurants make up the downtown in buildings with rich architectural detail from the early 1900s.Grab lunch like a local, browse items with interesting provenance, or pop over to Powell Camera, where you can get a vintage lens and have some analog film developed. You must, though, meet the employee of the month—six years running. Krypto is the chillest shop dog whose customer service is mostly feedback in the form of wags.Downtown, you’ll also find another outpost of SoCal’s Rad Coffee, ...

High school basketball: Season heats up immediately at O’Dowd, Dublin showcases

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

The high school basketball season starts this weekend with two showcases at East Bay schools.Gerry Frietas has put together another superb lineup in his NorCal Tip-Off Classic, held at Dublin High for the past couple of seasons after a long run at Newark Memorial. And like last season, Bishop O’Dowd will have a solid group playing in its Thanksgiving Showcase.Here are the lineups:Thanksgiving Showcase at O’DowdFriday, Nov. 24Moreau Catholic vs. Vanden, 12:30 p.m.Grant-Sacramento vs. Oakland Tech, 2 p.m.Sheldon-Sacramento vs. Dougherty Valley, 3:30 p.m.Modesto Christian vs. Davis, 5 p.m.Beverly Hills vs. Bishop O’Dowd, 6:30 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 25Oakland Tech vs. Moreau Catholic, 12:30 p.m.Torrey Pines vs. Inderkum-Sacramento, 2 p.m.Benicia vs. Beverly Hills, 3:30 p.m.Oakland vs. Bishop O’Dowd, 5 p.m.Campbell Hall vs. Salesian, 6:30 p.m.NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Dublin HighSaturday, Nov. 25Head-Royce vs. Bellarmine, 8 a.m.Ygnacio Valley vs. Lincoln-Stockton, 9:30 a.m.Dublin vs. St. Ign...

475,803 moved to California last year. Which states did they come from?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

California added 475,803 residents from other states in 2022.Only two states had a larger inflow, according to Census Bureau data: Florida with 738,969 and Texas with 668,338.So where did new Californians come from in 2022, a population intake roughly the size of Long Beach or Oakland? And how did that flow change over the year?Location. Location. Location.California’s No. 1 draw is Texas. The Lone Star State lost 42,279 residents to the Golden State last year. Then came Washington (31,866), New York (31,255), Florida (28,557), and Arizona (27,412).At the other end of the relocation spectrum, West Virginia lost only 42 residents to California, yes, 42. Then came North Dakota (291), South Dakota (572), New Hampshire (624) and Mississippi (880).In between these extremes of inbound migration, there were 312,025 fresh faces to the Golden State that came from 39 states and the District of Columbia.WHAT EXODUS? California has 4th ‘stickiest’ population in US, says Dallas...

Israeli media say Hamas has released 13 Israeli hostages

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released the first batch of hostages under a cease-fire deal that began Friday, including 13 Israelis who have been held in the Gaza Strip since the militant group staged a raid on Israel nearly seven weeks ago, according to officials and media reports.Twelve Thai nationals were also released, according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. An Israeli official confirmed that the Thai captives left Gaza and were en route to a hospital in Israel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to discuss the releases with the media.In all, 50 captives had been expected to be freed during a four-day truce. It was not clear if the Thai hostages were included in that.Israel is set to release 150 Palestinians under the deal. Thirty-nine — 24 women, including some convicted of attempted murder for attacks on Israeli forces, and 15 teenagers jailed for offenses like throwing stones — were expected to be freed Fr...

Black Friday: Americans expected to spend up to $966 billion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Black Friday is still the busiest shopping day of the year. Americans are expected to spend up to $966 billion, which is about $30 billion more compared to last year.The National Retail Federation says 130 million shoppers are expected to be in stores today and through the weekend. Including online shoppers, there is an expected 182 million shoppers, which has increased 15.7 million compared to last year.  Police identify victims of fatal Rainbow Bridge crash at US-Canada border “The Thanksgiving holiday weekend marks some of the busiest shopping days of the year, as consumers enjoy the tradition of shopping for the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Retailers have been preparing for months for this occasion. They are stocked and ready to help customers find the gifts and other items they want at great prices during the entire holiday season.”Cyber Monday, the second-largest shopping day, the National R...

Sports on TV for November 25 – 26

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSaturday, November 25AUTO RACING3:30 a.m.FS1 — FIM World Supercross: Championship, Melbourne, Australia5:25 a.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates8:55 a.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCOLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)12 p.m.FS2 — Jackson St. at Georgetown7 p.m.BTN — South Alabama at MarylandCBSSN — Emerald Coast Classic: TBD, Championship, Destin, Fla.FS2 — Holy Cross at St. John’s9 p.m.FS2 — N. Illinois at DePaulCOLLEGE FOOTBALL12 p.m.ABC — Kentucky at LouisvilleACCN — Pittsburgh at DukeBTN — Indiana at PurdueCBSSN — Miami (Ohio) at Ball St.ESPN — Texas A&M at LSUESPN2 — Navy at SMUESPNU — Troy at Southern Miss.FOX — Ohio St. at MichiganFS1 — Houston at UCFSECN — Texas A&M at LSU (Command Center)2 p.m.CW — Wake Forest at SyracuseNBC — Southern U. vs. Grambling St., New OrleansPEACOCK — Southern U. vs. Grambling St., New Or...

Israeli media say Hamas has released 13 Israeli hostages after nearly 7 weeks in captivity in the Gaza Strip

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli media say Hamas has released 13 Israeli hostages after nearly 7 weeks in captivity in the Gaza Strip.Source

Live updates | Israel-Hamas truce begins with a cease-fire; 12 Thai hostages released

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

A four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war began Friday in Gaza as part of an agreement that Qatar helped broker. The deal also includes the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, which was to begin later Friday. Separately, 12 Thai hostages were freed from Gaza and taken to Israel.With the truce deal comes increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza — though still only enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, according to aid groups. Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters (34,300 gallons) of fuel a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian needs for the duration of the truce. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza after a dayslong pause in its casualty report, which it attributed to the health system’s collapse in northern Gaza making it impossible to provide a detailed c...

Surreal, a ‘whimsical’ all-day restaurant, opens in Crystal City

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:19:24 GMT

An indoor-outdoor-themed restaurant named Surreal will be opening at JBG Smith’s new Dining in the Park development in Crystal City, Virginia. (Courtesy JBG Smith)Award-winning D.C. chef Enrique Limbardo and his team at Seven Reasons Group will open an indoor-outdoor-themed restaurant named Surreal at JBG Smith’s new Dining in the Park development in Crystal City, Virginia, by the end of the month.No hard opening date has been announced.Limbardo is the first U.S. Michelin-starred Venezuelan chef for his D.C. restaurant Imperfecto.Surreal is in a newly-constructed restaurant space set in a one-acre park. Limbardo’s restaurant in on 2121 Crystal Drive was announced more than two years ago.Limbardo’s team at Surreal also includes partner Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger, head chef Daniel Lozano and sous chef Kelvin Gomez.The restaurant, designed by Seven Reasons creative director Valentina Story and OOAK Architects, is laid out around a center island of plants. The bar was ...