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Internal documents reveal the story behind California’s unemployment crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

BY LAUREN HEPLER | CalMattersBy the first COVID summer, no one knew who was who. In Nigeria, an oil company IT engineer was allegedly filing for unemployment in California and 16 other states with a slew of fake Gmail accounts. At a desert state prison in Imperial County, an inmate used personal data bought on the dark web to funnel unemployment money to his wife for a $71,000 Audi and a down payment on a house. Along the Pacific coast in Carlsbad, Danny Ramos was one of millions of real California workers realizing that something was going very wrong, as weeks or months went by without the unemployment benefits they badly needed.“It felt,” Ramos said, “like this was just a big old scam.”As California unemployment claims spiked 2,300% in the early months of 2020, the state’s top labor officials ricocheted from crisis to crisis, internal communications obtained by CalMatters show. Emails and emergency meeting notes detail how the long-troubled California Employment Development Depa...

Kurtenbach: The Strength In Numbers Warriors are back. But are they strong enough to take down the NBA’s best?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

The Strength in Numbers Warriors are back, and they’ve made a clear statement to start this season:This team is a title contender once again.Yes, there’s a long way to go this season — we’re roughly a tenth of the way through the campaign — but you see it, too.Barring injury, the Warriors look like a lock to make the playoffs (remember, that was no guarantee last season) and win more than they did last campaign.These Warriors are deep, smart, led by an MVP-caliber player, and back in the mix.And on Wednesday, they can prove they’re more than a contender when they play a team that’s a true class above — a bonafide title favorite.I rolled my eyes when Nuggets coach Michael Malone said his team would repeat as champions moments after winning the title this past summer.If you did the same, I hope you rolled them back in time to watch this season’s start.These Nugs are not messing around. They look great.After all, they are deep and led by an MVP-caliber player.The season just started, b...

WeWork declares bankruptcy, signs deal with creditors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Ethan M Steinberg and Amelia Pollard(Bloomberg) — WeWork Inc. filed for bankruptcy, capping a tumultuous period that saw the once high-flying startup navigate a failed initial public offering, Covid-19 lockdowns, a blank-check merger and slow return-to-office trends.The company — which at its 2019 peak commanded a $47 billion valuation — listed $19 billion of liabilities and $15 billion of assets in its bankruptcy petition in New Jersey on Monday. The Chapter 11 filing allows WeWork to continue operating while working out creditor repayment terms.WeWork entered bankruptcy after reaching a tentative restructuring deal with longtime backer SoftBank Group Corp. and existing creditors to slash over $3 billion of debt and wipe out most of its shares. It’s also seeking to reject more than 60 leases across North America and will use the court process to renegotiate other contracts, Chief Executive Officer David Tolley said in court papers.WeWork’s real estate footprint sprawled across 777 ...

New music for you: Here are 3 artists worth hearing in November

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Here are some new albums/artists worth checking out this month:Blink-182Having delighted fans with its 2023 reunion tour — which included a sold-out show back in June at the SAP Center in San Jose — Blink-182 now returns with the appropriately named “One More Time…” It’s the band’s ninth studio album overall and the first to feature the signature lineup of Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus since “Neighborhoods” in 2011. The pop-punk trio returns to the Bay Area in 2024 for a July 9 date at Chase Center in San Francisco.Cartoon Jazz OrchestraThe San Francisco outfit, led by clarinetist-saxophonist-flutist Jeff Sanford, has just released the new album “Playland at the Beach” on the Little Village Foundation label. The outing is filled with swinging tunes inspired by the music that is connected to the cartoons of the ’40s and ’50s. It’s highly recommended for old-school Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duc...

Orinda burglary suspect barricaded in home, officers on the scene

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

ORINDA, Calif. (KRON) -- A burglary suspect is barricaded inside a home in Orinda. Units from the Orinda Police Department and Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department are on the scene.A drone has also been deployed overhead. Police are using an audio loop recording to warn the suspect to come out with nothing in their hands or they will be bitten by a canine. Witnesses at the scene say two other suspects were arrested. One of the suspects was reportedly taken away by stretcher after being bitten by a police canine. Series of violent robberies leaves Walnut Creek residents on edge The activity has resulted in the temporary closure of Moraga Way, according to the City of Orinda. The activity is also causing transit delays, according to a tweet from the County Connection transit agency. The activity is impacting buses on Route 6, which cannot enter or exit the Orinda BART Station. Delays are expected. BART itself is not being impacted by the incident and the Orinda Station remains o...

Vallejo woman arrested for stealing over $700 worth of merchandise by Colma PD 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

(KRON) – A 55-year-old Vallejo woman was arrested for petty theft by the Colma Police Department on Oct. 31, CPD announced Monday. Colma officers were dispatched to a business on Colma Boulevard for a report of a theft. According to police, officers were advised that the suspect was a woman who was fleeing on foot in the parking lot. One dead after Oakland shooting involving an officer According to police, officers detained the suspect and received identification confirmation from the store’s loss prevention that the individual was the store’s thief. Subsequently, the suspect was arrested. After police searched that suspect, officers found drug paraphernalia and burglary tools, police said. The suspect allegedly stole approximately $717.22 worth of merchandise. The suspect was arrested for petty theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of burglary tools and received a citation. All merchandise was returned to the business.

Driver hits parked cars before crashing into Oakland home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

(KRON) -- A driver crashed into multiple parked vehicles before crashing into an Oakland home Monday night, according to the Oakland Police Department. The crash occurred just after 9:30 p.m. on the 400 block of Worth Street, police said. Orinda Police searching for residential burglary suspect, school on lockdown Arriving at the scene, officers located an overturned vehicle along with several parked vehicles that had sustained damage. The driver of the overturned vehicle had been removed prior to officers arriving.The driver received treatment at the scene from paramedics before being transported to the hospital, police said. The medical condition of the driver is currently unknown.The overturned vehicle had hit multiple parked cars before crashing into the residence and overturning, according to police. It is not yet known if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick could return to practice this week ahead of a visit from the Packers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick could return to practice this week ahead from a visit from Green Bay.Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday there’s a chance Fitzpatrick could test out the hamstring he injured in the first quarter of a loss to Jacksonville on Oct. 29.“Minkah is improving,” Tomlin said. “We’ll see what the week holds for him and see if there’s a potential for availability of the latter part of the week.”Pittsburgh (5-3) moved veteran Patrick Peterson to safety in Fitzpatrick’s absence and also moved other members of the secondary around. The Steelers did not allow a passing touchdown in a win over Tennessee on Thursday and picked off Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis in the final minute to seal it.Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious left knee injury against the Titans. Tomlin said he will likely lean heavily on Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts with Holcomb out.The three linebacke...

Protected: Washington Gas: Lighting the way to the future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

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Just in time for Thanksgiving — McCormick’s gravy-flavored doughnuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

The Hunt Valley, Maryland-based McCormick has rolled out a limited-edition collection of holiday-themed doughnut bites that include gravy, cranberry and pumpkin. (Courtesy McCormick) The Hunt Valley, Maryland-based McCormick has rolled out a limited-edition collection of holiday-themed doughnut bites that include gravy, cranberry and pumpkin. (Courtesy McCormick) McCormick’s gravy mix envelopes have found their way into doughnuts just in time for Thanksgiving.The Hunt Valley, Maryland-based seasonings and condiments giant has rolled out a limited-edition collection of holiday-themed doughnut bites that include gravy, cranberry and pumpkin.McCormick has partnered with New York-based artisanal doughnut maker D...