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Are presidential elections good or bad for California’s economy?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

Welcome to another presidential election year in which political theater will, no doubt, impact California’s economy.It’s a given that the quadrennial battle for control of the White House injects uncertainty into spending plans for corporations and consumers alike.Yet, you can also assume that the political parties in power will do what they can to keep the economy humming in an election year – with pocketbook issues usually heavy on the minds of voters.The mystery is what matters more: the uncertainty about future economic policy or economic gifts provided in election years?So I filled my trusty spreadsheet with the annual average performances of eight economic yardsticks, seeking to see how business conditions changed during the past 11 election years dating to 1980. The focus was on how growth rates of certain business metrics fared in election years.Basically, did the economy improve or regress as the national political debate reached its four-year pinnacle?DetailsP...

Sports on TV for Sunday, Jan. 7

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSunday, Jan. 7COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)12 p.m.BTN — Michigan vs. Penn St., Philadelphia1 p.m.ESPN2 — UMass at DaytonESPNU — Wichita St. at Temple3 p.m.ESPN2 — Drake at BelmontESPNU — Tulsa at East Carolina5 p.m.ESPN — SMU at Memphis5:30 p.m.BTN — Maryland at Minnesota7:30 p.m.BTN — Michigan St. at NorthwesternCOLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)12 p.m.ACCN — NC State at Virginia TechCBSSN — George Mason at DuquesneCW — Duke at VirginiaSECN — Kentucky at Tennessee1 p.m.ESPN — Mississippi St. at South Carolina2 p.m.ACCN — Georgia Tech at PittsburghBTN — Indiana at NebraskaCBSSN — VCU at DavidsonPAC-12N — Utah at ArizonaSECN — Georgia at Arkansas3 p.m.ESPN — LSU at Mississippi4 p.m.ACCN — Florida St. at ClemsonCBSSN — Fresno St. at San Diego St.PAC-12N — Oregon St. at UCLASECN — Auburn at Texas A&M5 p.m.ESPN2 — North Carolina at Notre Dame6 p.m.ACCN — Boston College at SyracuseSECN — Alabama at MissouriCOLLEGE FOOTBALL2 p.m.ABC...

Today in Sports – The New England Patriots set an NFL record with 10 straight postseason victories

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

Jan. 71920 — Joe Malone of Quebec scores two goals to become the NHL’s career leader with 59 and leads the Bulldogs to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Arenas.1925 — Harry Broadbent of the Montreal Maroons scores five goals in a 6-2 triumph over Hamilton.1972 — The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Atlanta Hawks 134-90 for their 33rd straight victory, an NBA record.1979 — The Pittsburgh Steelers win their third AFC championship by beating the Houston Oilers 34-5 in a cold, steady rain at Three Rivers Stadium.1981 — Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings scores his 1,000th point with a goal in a 5-3 triumph over the Hartford Whalers.1987 — Gary Bossert of Niagara sets an NCAA record by hitting 12 of 14 three-point shots, including 11 straight, against Siena.1992 — Pitchers Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Seaver receives the highest percentage of votes in baseball history.1997 — Rutgers-Camden ends its NCAA-record 117-game losing streak with a 77-72 v...

Defense Secretary Austin has been hospitalized since Jan. 1, but the Pentagon kept the news quiet

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)(AP/Maya Alleruzzo) U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)(AP/Maya Alleruzzo) WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said, in the Defense Departm...

Emma Maltais’ short-handed goal helps Toronto spoil New York’s PWHL home opener, 3-2

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Emma Maltais’ short-handed goal in the third period spoiled New York’s first home game in the Professional Women’s Hockey League as Toronto secured a 3-2 victory on Friday night.New York posted a 4-0 win on New Year’s Day in Toronto and was looking to become the first PWHL team to win at home through four games.Maltais, who set the career scoring record at Ohio State with 206 points in 169 games while also playing for the Canadian national team, had a team-high five shots on goal for Toronto, which fired 37 shots at Abigail Levy of Congers, New York.New York got off to a strong start, getting a first-period goal from Abby Roque while Levy kept Toronto scoreless for a fourth-straight period. But that ended quickly in the second. Natalie Spooner tied the game 38 seconds into the period — for the first goal in Toronto history — and Alexa Vasko scored a go-ahead goal just before the five-minute mark.Alex Carpenter scored her second goal i...

Inter midfielder Frattesi has his underwear revealed in wild celebration during 2-1 win over Verona

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

ROME (AP) — It’s only the season’s midpoint and Inter Milan may already have its lasting image of what is looking more and more like a Serie A title run.The moment came when Davide Frattesi leaped on top of a yellow fence lining the field and erupted in celebration toward the San Siro crowd as his teammates mobbed him so wildly that they pulled down his shorts and exposed his black underwear.Frattesi’s stoppage-time winner proved decisive in a frenetic finish, Lautaro Martinez marked his return from injury with his league-leading 16th goal of the season, and Inter beat relegation-threatened Hellas Verona 2-1 on Saturday to secure the mid-season lead in Serie A.“I would have done much worse but I didn’t want to get another yellow card for celebrating,” said Frattesi, who came on 10 minutes before he scored.The game wasn’t won, though, until a penalty kick 10 minutes into added time from Verona striker Thomas Henry hit the post.Then it was back to celebrating as Inter move...

Md. authority supports overhaul of horse racing industry, starting with complete rebuild of Pimlico

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

Horses compete during an undercard dirt track race ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)(AP/Julia Nikhinson) Horses compete during an undercard dirt track race ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)(AP/Julia Nikhinson) An overhaul of Maryland’s horse racing industry is needed, a new report concludes, and the Preakness could find itself at a new state-of-the-art home in the next few years.The report released Friday from the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, which was established last year, suggests that the state sho...

Winter programs and safety tips from the Rocky Mountain National Park rangers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful all year, but many love to explore the area the most during the winter season. The park is less crowded than in the summer, although weekends are still much busier than weekdays, and there are plenty of wonders to see. However, it's also a dangerous time of year in the park.A great way to explore the snowy park is by snowshoeing, and the Rocky Mountain National Park rangers are hoping to get more participants for their ranger-led snowshoe walks. Keystone Resort unveils 6-person chairlift, access to 555 acres of alpine terrain Each walk is two hours long and the experiences are offered from January through mid-March, depending on snow and weather conditions. Snowshoes are not provided, but rentals are available in Estes Park and other nearby communities.Anyone is welcome to join, whether they're a long-time snowshoe lover or are brand-new to the sport. The most important aspect to keep in mind is that RMNP sits at 8,700-9,...

Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in Belgian elections: La Libre

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in the Belgian elections, local media La Libre reported on Saturday.Claise, an investigating judge who recused himself in mid-2023 from the European Parliament corruption probe, may join the federal list of Défi, a French-speaking centrist party with two seats in Belgium’s federal parliament. Claise declined to comment when contacted by La Libre, according to the report.The Défi party’s first candidates for the federal and region of Brussels elections are set to be officially announced on January 10. Meanwhile, the Belgian liberals in the MR party including European Council President Charles Michel and EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders will meet on Sunday and are expected to decide on their list for the European election.BELGIUM NATIONAL PARLIAMENT SEAT PROJECTION All 3 Years 2 Years 1 Year 6 Mo...

EU, US warn against Israel-Hamas war expanding into regional conflict

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:50 GMT

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, both on trips to the Mideast, warned on Saturday against the Israel-Hamas war escalating into a regional conflict as hostilities increased following the killing this week of a top Hamas official. “It is absolutely imperative to ensure Lebanon is not drawn into a regional conflict,” Borrell told a press conference in Beirut, according to Reuters and Agence France-Presse. “I’m also sending this message to Israel: No one will win from a regional conflict,” he said,. Blinken met on Saturday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as part of a new diplomatic tour of the Middle East. Blinken “emphasized the need to prevent the conflict from spreading, secure the release of hostages, expand humanitarian assistance and reduce civilian casualties,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in comments to Reuters.Borrel...