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Editorial: Inflation Reduction Act will add billions to the deficit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

Massive government spending programs typically cost more than projected. At some point, one might even call it a pattern.The latest example is the ill-named Inflation Reduction Act, which Democrats rammed through last August. The main thrust of the legislation was to push a radical green agenda. It included consumer tax credits for electric vehicles and roof-top solar. The bill gave corporations access to hundreds of billions in tax credits for clean energy projects. It also provided the U.S. Department of Energy $12 billion to craft a new loan program for replacing and upgrading energy infrastructure.Democrats wanted to convince the public that massive subsidies for otherwise unattractive renewable energy projects would reduce the nation’s debt. The bill also boosted funding for the IRS. In theory, increased enforcement would increase tax collections. That was supposed to net the government $130 billion over 10 years. The legislation raised corporate taxes by more than $200 billion...

Dear Abby: White husband buys copy of Green Book, offends wife

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

Dear Abby: I am a Hispanic-American woman who has been married to my husband for three years. He was born and raised in North Carolina. He’s a wonderful person. We both share a passion for antiques, and we love researching and learning about the past. My husband is white, and he grew up in times of segregation. He feels comfortable sharing and showing stuff from that time.A year ago, we watched the movie “Green Book” about the travel guide published from 1936 to 1966 for African American travelers to use when discrimination was widespread. After that, he became obsessed about buying a copy of an actual Green Book and, regardless of my concerns, he did.We recently bought a Victorian house built in 1900 and have been excited about renovating it and keeping it as close as possible to the original style. We have also enjoyed buying antique furniture to recreate that time in our home.My husband bought an old wall phone and hung the Green Book on it. I expressed to him h...

Cesarina team to open traditional Roman pizzeria in Ocean Beach

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- While its in Rome that you "do as the Romans do," a new restaurant opening this summer is looking to bring a taste of the eateries in Italy's bustling capital to Ocean Beach.The ex-pats behind one of the city's most popular Italian spots, Cesarina, will be opening the new restaurant later this summer. Called "Elvira," the osteria and pizzeria will center authentic Roman cuisine, rooted in simplicity and family tradition.Elvira will take over the vacant venue on 4996 Point Loma Boulevard that once housed the eatery, BO-beau kitchen + bar -- remedying an absence felt in the neighborhood since the café closed during the pandemic. This Hillcrest bar is one of the last of its kind Centered in the culinary traditions of the "Eternal City," the restaurant group -- consisting of married couple, chef Cesarina Mezzoni and Niccolò Angius, and friend Giuseppe Capasso -- promises an "ode to cucina Romana" with the spot's renovation that emulates the old-world charm of the city's f...

Israel’s air force attacks Syria and Syrian air defense missile explodes over northern Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Israel carried out airstrikes on areas near the central Syrian city of Homs early Sunday causing material damage but no casualties, the Syrian military said in a statement.Syrian state media quoted an unnamed military official as saying the air defenses shot down some of the missiles fired by Israeli warplanes flying over neighboring Lebanon. Israeli authorities did not comment on the airstrike on Homs but said one of the Syrian air defense missiles exploded over northern Israel without causing any damage.Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee later said that Israel’s military retaliated for the firing of the air defense missile that exploded over the country’s north by attacking Syrian air defense batteries from where the missile was fired.“The warplanes also attacked other targets in the area,” Adraee tweeted without elaborating. Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment next door, has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets in government-con...

Lotto 649 winning numbers for Saturday, July 1, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

TORONTO — The winning numbers in Saturday’s Lotto 649 draw for an estimated $5 million: 10, 21, 30, 32, 35 & 49.Bonus: 41The winning number for the guaranteed $1 million: 06142226-01In the event of any discrepancy between this list and the official winning numbers, the latter shall prevail. The Canadian Press

Transgender woman challenges societal norms by applying to compete in Miss Venezuela pageant

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan’s enthusiasm for beauty pageants is unparalleled, and Miss Venezuela — the crown jewel of them all — may be the only event able to unite the deeply divided country. Once a year, class, race and politics are put aside as the South American nation tunes in to see who will represent Venezuela on the global stage.Behind the cheers and claps for the women vying for the coveted title is a deeply conservative society with little to no tolerance for any defiance of heteronormative standards. Sofia Salomón is ready to challenge that.The influencer and Instagram model has applied to take part in this year’s Miss Venezuela contest. If accepted, she will be the first transgender woman to participate. “I think it is a great platform to bring visibility to my community, echo the positive things, and show people the reality of transgender women,” Salomón said.With no end in sight for the protracted crisis that has pushed millions of Venezuelans into poverty and...

After fall of Roe, emboldened religious conservatives lobby to restrict abortion in Africa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Nowhere in the world has a higher rate of unsafe abortions or unintended pregnancies than sub-Saharan Africa, where women often face scorn for becoming pregnant before marriage.Efforts to legalize and make abortions safer in Africa were shaken when the U.S. Supreme Court ended the national right to an abortion a year ago. Within days, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio declared that his government would decriminalize abortion “at a time when sexual and reproductive health rights for women are being either overturned or threatened.”But some U.S.-based organizations active in Africa were emboldened, especially in largely Christian countries. One is Family Watch International, a nonprofit Christian conservative organization whose anti-LGBTQ+ stance, anti-abortion activities and “intense focus on Africa” led to its designation as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.In April, Family Watch International helped to develop a “family values and sovereig...

Cardinals split doubleheader with Yankees after several weather delays

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader had a first-inning sacrifice fly in his return to St. Louis, rookie Anthony Volpe hit a go-ahead triple as part of his fifth straight multihit game and the New York Yankees beat the Cardinals 6-2 Saturday night for a doubleheader split.St. Louis won the rain-interrupted opener 11-4 behind Paul Goldschmidt's go-ahead, three-run homer off Luis Severino in a five-run third. Jack Flaherty pitched six shutout innings, Goldschmidt had four RBIs and Nolan Gorman also homered for the Cardinals, who reached double-digit runs for the first time since May 21.Volpe has raised his average from .193 to .220 in his last six games. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits in the second game as the Yankees won for the fifth time in their last seven.Lars Nootbaar homered for St. Louis, which fell to a 34-48, its worst 82-game start since 1990 Nootbar hit a first-inning homer off opener Ian Hamilton as the Yankees went with a bullpen game because of Friday's rainout.Michael Ki...

Colorado Rapids look threatening, lack finishing in 2-0 loss to St. Louis City as scoreless stretch drags to four games

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser saw his side put out a stronger second-half performance after a brutal first 45 minutes Saturday against Western Conference leaders, St. Louis City.His side had more possessions and six second-half corner kicks to go along with threatening passages of play. Fraser thought his team had shown enough to get back into the game.“I did feel like (a comeback) was going to happen. The energy felt right, the mentality was clearly much better, and … we got into some pretty good spots,” Fraser said.The final scoreline from the MLS’ newest stadium and expansion team: St. Louis City 2, Colorado 0, as the Rapids were kept off the scoreboard for the fourth consecutive game, and are winless in their last nine games across all competitions.“But we still don’t turn those into real, real chances,” Fraser continued. “I was smiling as you were making the comment about what I’ve said about needing to be more pre...

Rockies lose to Tigers in 10 innings on Zach McKinstry’s three-run homer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:48 GMT

The Rockies lived by their bullpen all night. And lived well.But the feel-good story ended in the 10th inning when the Tigers ripped right-hander Pierce Johnson for three runs en route to a 4-2 victory at Coors Field before a sellout fireworks crowd of 48,108.With ghost runner Jonathan Schoop on second to open the 10th, Eric Haase singled off Johnson, advancing Schoop to third. Up stepped Zach McKinstry, who hammered Johnson’s 1-0 fastball 400 feet and into the Rockies’ bullpen for a three-run homer.“That was a well-pitched game by both sides and it came down to a couple of pitches in the 10th,” manager Bud Black said. “They got us … they got the big hit from McKinstry.”The Rockies made some noise in the bottom of the frame against right-hander Alex Lange. Jurickson Profar drew a two-out walk and Kris Bryant delivered a broken-bat, RBI single to left to score ghost runner Coco Montes. But Lange struck out Ryan McMahon to end the game. Colora...