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Can the 14th Amendment solve the debt-limit crisis?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

Republicans walked out of debt-limit negotiations Friday, charging Democrats with being "unreasonable" in the face of the GOP's threat to crash the global economy.This renewed calls from some Democrats for President Biden to invoke the 14th Amendment as a way of doing an end-run around Republicans' brinkmanship.What is that? And would it work? Let's take a look.Section 4 of the 14th Amendment says: "The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned."Some, including constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe, say this provision empowers the president to take charge of debt management."This is a guarantee that the U.S. will always be good for all its debts, period," Tribe says.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce countered that using the 14th Amendment in this fashion "would be as economically calamitous as a default triggered by a fail...

After 2 deadly shootings, Serbia rethinks ‘political culture’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

By Christian Edwards | CNNTwo weeks after mass shootings shook their country, Serbians have surrendered more than 15,000 weapons, more than 2,500 explosive devices, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, as part of a month-long amnesty announced by the government.Eighteen people were killed and 21 injured in May in two shootings in as many days. At the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in Belgrade, a 13-year-old boy opened fire on his classmates – allegedly using two of his father’s pistols – killing seven girls, a boy and a security guard. A 10-year-old girl injured in the attack died Monday, bringing the toll to 10.The next day, a 21-year-old gunman wielding an automatic weapon killed eight people and injured 14 in the village of Dubona, south of the capital. Despite having one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world, mass shootings like this are extremely rare in Serbia. Many could scarcely comprehend the consecutive tragedies. “It’s never happened like ...

Fremont Burger & Brew Fest: 12 craft breweries, plus international burger booths

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

Fremont’s Burger & Brew Fest will return Saturday to the Downtown Event Center Plaza with craft beers from a dozen NorCal breweries, a burger throwdown, a new international array of burgers and live entertainment.The eighth annual event, sponsored by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, will also feature live music and community and crafts booths. More than 7,500 attendees are anticipated.In the burger throwdown, four local celebrity teams will have one hour to create the best burger they can. There’s just one rule: It has to be between two buns.Competing at noon for charity bucks and bragging rights will be Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert and a co-chef, entrepreneur Jesse Schaa (grilling for Room Redux); Fremont Police command staff John Harnet and Capt. Matt Snelson of the Fremont police command staff (grilling for Tri-City Volunteers); Vincent Ta and Jerry Short of Fremont firefighters Local 1689 (grilling for the Firefighters’ Burn Foundation); and Mike...

Sale closed in San Jose: $1.5 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

2648 Skylark Drive – Google Street ViewA house located in the 2600 block of Skylark Drive in San Jose has new owners. The 1,572-square-foot property, built in 1969, was sold on May 1, 2023. The $1,500,000 purchase price works out to $954 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, and one parking space. It sits on a 6,100-square-foot lot, which also has a pool.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:In February 2023, a 1,949-square-foot home on Sunbonnet Loop in San Jose sold for $1,490,000, a price per square foot of $764. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Denise Way, San Jose, in October 2022, a 1,735-square-foot home was sold for $2,102,000, a price per square foot of $1,212. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 2,666-square-foot home on the 1100 block of Koch Lane in San Jose sold in August 2022, for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $788. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. 

Newsom looks to spend $180 billion on infrastructure, speed through lawsuits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced plans to spend $180 billion over the next decade on infrastructure for transportation, water, green energy and broadband internet, while cutting red tape and slashing the time opponents can fight the government in court.Newsom, unveiling the plan at a press conference in Stanislaus County on Friday morning, signed an executive order that promised the work would create more than 400,000 jobs. The infrastructure investments, using federal and state funds, would eclipse those of the 1950s and ’60s, “that helped build the great middle class in the state of California and America,” Newsom said.“We’ve got to do more and we’ve got to do better,” Newsom said, surrounded by union leaders and workers. “The question is, ‘Are we going to screw it up by being consumed by paralysis and process?'”But the governor’s plans to expedite certain projects drew immediate blowback, including from the Si...

Bay to Breakers' street closures for this weekend, special BART service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Bay to Breakers race returns to San Francisco this weekend. The iconic and colorful race will take place Sunday, May 21 beginning at 8 a.m. As one of the largest running events in the world, the Bay to Breakers race attracts thousands annually, many of whom wear colorful costumes and takes runners through nine of the city's most notable neighborhoods. Beginning at the bay and ending on the Great Highway, where the breakers crash onto the beach, the race will result in many street closures from the starting line at Main and Howard streets on the east side of the city to the finishing line on the Great Highway. Bay Area city drops out of Top 10 in most-populous US cities BART is offering special early service to accommodation for the race. Below is also a complete list of expected street closures, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority. BART Special Sunday ScheduleTrain service for BART on Sundays typically starts at 8 a.m. However, t...

3 killed in Antioch crash Monday ID'd

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

(BCN) -- Three people who died in a crash in Antioch on Monday night have been identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office.Misty Green, 46, Ramell Jenkins Sr., 45, and Brandon Compton, 28, all Antioch residents, died in the crash reported to Antioch police at 10:23 p.m. Monday in the 4100 block of Lone Tree Way.Police said officers responded and found a vehicle had hit a tree with the three people inside. They were all pronounced dead by emergency medical personnel. Security guard who shot Banko Brown felt ‘on edge’ before Walgreens killing Investigators determined the car was speeding east on Lone Tree Way when it hit another vehicle, causing it to lose control and hit the tree off of the roadway. The occupant of the second vehicle was not injured in the collision, police said.Antioch police ask anyone who witnessed the crash or who has information about the case to contact Officer Egan at [email protected] or (925) 204-1587. People can also text an anonymous tip to ...

Microsoft says China approves its plan to buy video game-maker Activision Blizzard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

Microsoft said Friday that China has unconditionally approved its plan to buy video game company Activision Blizzard, even as the deal still faces antitrust opposition in the U.S. and United Kingdom.China’s approval is complicated by the fact that Activision Blizzard stopped offering many of its games in mainland China earlier this year because of a dispute with its local publishing partner.China and the European Union are the two biggest economies to have approved Microsoft’s planned $69 billion takeover of the California game publisher behind popular titles such as World of Warcraft, Call of Duty and Candy Crush.European regulators representing the 27-nation bloc approved the deal Monday on condition that Microsoft make some promises meant to boost competition in the emerging cloud-based gaming market. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation cleared it without conditions, according to Microsoft, though as of late Friday the agency’s website didn’t ment...

Connecticut governor looking to bring NHL’s Coyotes to Hartford

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday he’s planning to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about the possibility of moving the Arizona Coyotes to Hartford. Lamont told reporters during a news availability that he has reached out to the NHL and hopes the meeting can take place sometime next week.“This is a great hockey state and a great hockey town,” Lamont said. “It’s evidenced by the passion we have for the Whalers going back years — still one of the best selling jerseys. I think we can guarantee them a very strong market right here, and a government that’s ready to come and be their partner.”Talk of a relocation for the Coyotes has taken on steam since voters in Tempe, Arizona this week rejected referendum for an $2.3 billion entertainment district that would allow the franchise to build a new arena there.Connecticut has not had an NHL team since the Hartford Whalers left for North Carolina in 1997. The state has just one top-tier professional sp...

Montgomery County school bus crash sends 2 to hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:10 GMT

One adult and one child have been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a Friday morning crash involving a school bus in Gaithersburg, Maryland.RT @mcfrsPIO7 East Village at Plum Creek, serious collision. Road closure, motorists should avoid the area. @MCFRSNews @mcfrsPIO @DavidPazos15 https://t.co/tGmhRibxtQ pic.twitter.com/TgBatVRh6m— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 19, 2023School leaders at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland, confirmed in an email to WTOP that the accident involved a member of their senior class and his younger brother, and that both are “in critical condition.”A Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service official said both victims were in a car that collided with the bus at the intersection of E Village Avenue and Plum Creek Drive.A Montgomery County Public Schools spokeswoman said that six children were aboard the bus at the time of the crash, and they suffered minor injuries.The school bus was heading to Forest Oak...