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Sheldon Jacobson: What’s it like to be an ‘average’ American?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

One of the best ways to get a picture of a nation is through its numbers and, perhaps more importantly, its averages.But Americans like to believe that their nation is exceptional. And in some ways, it is. Yet what transpires on an “average day” for the “average person” tells a story that each of us should listen to.CarsAmericans love their cars. In fact, we drive an average of 32 miles every day, which translates into about one hour per day behind the wheel. Some of that time can be dangerous. More than 14,000 automobile accidents occur each day, with more than 4,000 causing injuries; just under 100 result in one or more fatalities. Taking the time to buckle up has reduced this last number to current levels.TVAmericans spend even more time in front of the television. The average American adult spends nearly three hours per day watching television. Yet when it comes to time spent doing things, the winner is smartphone time, which exceeds three hours per day. ...

A St. Paul church opened six tiny homes for those experiencing homelessness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

Outgoing, chatty and distractable, Allen Xiong, 29, found a semblance of belonging in St. Paul-area homeless encampments, only to grow tired of seeing his friends and neighbors cleared out every few weeks during the pandemic. Without a similar sense of community, he doubts that whatever housing solutions they were offered stuck.“We just end up right back where we started,” he said. “Nothing’s solved.”Resident Allen Xiong sits on the steps of his micro-home at Mosaic Christian Community’s “Sacred Settlement” at the Wheelock Parkway church in St. Paul on Nov, 29. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)David Doren, 54, was equally tired of living out of his rickety recreational vehicle at leased campsites in Lake Elmo, which required him to relocate every 13 days. He previously spent more than a year living in tents in the woods near St. Paul’s Schmidt Brewery off West Seventh Street.“It was hell,” said Doren, who is known around t...

12/10/2023: Strong Storm Today & Tomorrow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

The latest Storm Tracker Forecast from Meteorologist Kevin Appleby:Temperatures are very mild to begin Sunday, making it hard to believe that by Monday morning, widespread accumulating snow is expected across the viewing area!A potent cold front is approaching from the west. Ahead of this front, temperatures spike close to 60.But, rainfall will become steadier and heavier as we head into the afternoon and evening. The cold front will begin to swing through western areas by dinnertime.The best chance for higher rainfall amounts exists to the south and east of Albany, closer to where a secondary low will redevelop offshore. A flood watch is in effect for these areas.Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories have been issued for much of the viewing area as accumulating heavy wet snow will rush in with the cold air behind the front.The changeover will first occur up in the higher terrain out west.By Monday morning, just about everyone can expect heavy, wet snow. Confidence is ...

Road closures in Albany due to water main break

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department announced multiple road closures in the city due to a water main break. Crews from the water department are currently on the scene making repairs. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The I-787 on-ramp at the South Mall Arterial and South Swan Street at Hudson Avenue and Jay Street are closed while the water main is being maintenanced. Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes of travel. Stay with NEWS10 as updates become available. Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!

1 dead, 2 hospitalized after shooting in San Pedro 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

A deadly shooting claimed the life of one man and sent two other people to the hospital, authorities said. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to the 200 block of West 11th Street in San Pedro around 12:20 a.m. Sunday morning on calls of a shooting. Evacuations ordered as wildfire erupts in Ventura County Upon arriving at the scene, they located three victims with gunshot wounds. One of them, only described as a Hispanic man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. A female victim was located and transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, authorities said. She is now said to be in stable condition. Police at the scene of a deadly shooting in San Pedro, CA on Dec. 10, 2023. (OnSceneTV)A third victim was also transported to a hospital in stable condition, police confirmed.  Tennessee residents clean up after severe weekend storms killed 6 people and damaged neighborhoods No information on a suspect or suspects has been rel...

Milpitas makes Dagupan City an official sister city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

Philippines sister cityA delegation from Dagupan City in the Philippines visited Milpitas last month to officially mark the continuation of their sister city relationship. On Nov. 27, representatives from both cities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to solidify their commitment to collaboration and cultural exchange.Visiting dignitaries included Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez; city councilmembers Michael Fernandez, Dennis Canto and Jeslito Seen; several members of Dagupan City’s executive team; student council leaders; and local representatives from the Dagupan City Association of Northern California.Milpitas hosted the delegation from Dagupan for two days. The itinerary included Milpitas city facility tours, information sessions led by the city’s department directors and student interactions at Milpitas High School.New HR directorMilpitas City Manager Ned Thomas has appointed Kelli Parmley as human resources director, effective Jan. 8, 2024. Parmley served as assistan...

Cupertino’s shuttle making stops in Santa Clara

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

Hop over to Santa ClaraSilicon Valley Hopper, the Via-Cupertino on-demand shuttle service, now offers trips to Santa Clara. As of last month, riders can travel from Cupertino to popular destinations such as Westfield Valley Fair, Santa Clara University and Santa Clara Town Center.The Santa Clara expansion will occur in two phases. Phase 1 includes an 8.5-square-mile area south of El Camino Real, and Phase 2 will expand the service area beyond Levi’s Stadium while increasing the number of fleet vehicles. In addition to expanded coverage, Cupertino has upgraded to an environmentally friendly fleet, transitioning to all-electric Kia Niro vehicles.A Silicon Valley Hopper app is available on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. Fares for the expanded service will remain unchanged at $3.50 for a one-way trip, with 50% discounts for seniors, students, low-income individuals and disabled riders. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are also available. For more information, visit svhopper....

Midpen gets $2.1M state grant to help newts get safely to breeding grounds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) was awarded a $2.1 million state grant last month for the Alma Bridge Road Newt Passage Project, aimed at protecting the health of local newt populations and promoting habitat connectivity.The grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board will allow preliminary designs to be completed for newt passage improvements along approximately 5 miles of Alma Bridge Road near the Lexington Reservoir. Santa Clara County owns and maintains the road, and Midpen is working with the county and other partners to help implement the project.Each year during the rainy season, California and rough-skinned newts migrate from their dry-season habitats in Midpen’s Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve to wet habitats beyond the preserve boundaries where they breed and lay eggs. The migration path for this population of newts includes crossing Alma Bridge Road to reach Lexington Reservoir, resulting in high newt mortality due to vehicle strikes. The issu...

Gifts from lavish Murphy family wedding on exhibit in Sunnyvale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

Society wedding exhibitThe Sunnyvale Historical Society is exhibiting gifts from the wedding of Martin Murphy Jr.’s granddaughter, Mary Genevieve, as well as photographs, dinner sets and books the family collected at the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum through February 2024.Mary Genevieve Murphy had a lavish wedding to Henry Ward Wright at her father B. D. Murphy’s opulent residence in San Jose in 1890. The wedding was covered by no fewer than four local newspapers. The San Francisco Bulletin featured a full-length article on the occasion, including a minute description of the many costly gifts the couple received. According to one newspaper’s account, “Society was joyous in the expectancy of an event of such brilliancy as has never been witnessed before and would not again very soon.”This brilliancy was reflected in the wedding gifts. The exhibit includes an old grandfather clock, tapestries and collections of silver and china, including service pieces from famous porcelain manufact...

World champion Almaden Valley team hosts Lego League qualifier

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:54 GMT

Twenty-four First Lego League (FLL) teams from eight Bay Area cities came to Leland High School last month to compete in the FLL Quixilver Qualifier. The event, hosted by the Leland’s FIRST Robotics Competition Team FRC 604 Quixilver, attracted 135 students and their parents and coaches.There are 550 FLL teams in NorCal, the fourth largest region in the US and Canada. The FLL season starts each August when a new challenge is released. The teams build and program robots using the Lego Education robotics kits that have motors, sensors and gyros.Teams could enter their robots in up to 15 “missions” during the competition. In addition, team members worked on a research project based on the year’s theme, “Masterpiece,” showing how STEM and technology are used in the arts. At the competition, teams met with judges who evaluated their robots’ design and programming, their research project and how the students demonstrated the six core values of the FLL program: discovery, innovation, impac...