Powell to face Capitol Hill hearing at a time of rising uncertainty over Fed’s interest-rate plans

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

Powell to face Capitol Hill hearing at a time of rising uncertainty over Fed’s interest-rate plans WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will begin two days of hearings before Congress on Wednesday that will likely focus on the question that consumed the central bank last week: How far and how fast will the Fed raise its key interest rate from here? The hearings, beginning with the House Financial Services Committee, follow a Fed meeting last week that produced a muddled picture of its likely next steps. The 18 members of its policy committee predicted two more interest rate hikes this year — one more than analysts had expected — to fight inflation, which they now think will be higher next year than they previously forecast. Despite that dour forecast, the Fed’s policymakers agreed last week to forgo a rate hike for the first time in 11 meetings dating back to March 2022. And at a news conference, Powell explicitly said no decisions had been made about whether to raise the Fed’s benchmark rate at its next meeting in late July. Still, most economists in...

Summer Solstice Wednesday. Air Quality Alert Issued. Heat Building for The Weekend

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

Summer Solstice Wednesday. Air Quality Alert Issued. Heat Building for The Weekend SUMMER SOLSTICE—the astronomical beginning of summer—occurs at 9:57 a.m. Wednesday.  On this day, the sun appears at its highest altitude, casting the least amount of shadow at noon. It's our longest day of the year with 15 hours, 13 minutes and 41 seconds of possible sunshine. Wednesday picks up one second more daylight (compared to Tuesday)—then we start losing daylight—BUT VERY SLOWLY. We'll lose only 2/100's of second of daylight the day after tomorrow (Thursday) and another 6/100s of a second Friday. Park an air mass over the area for a week and trap it in an atmospheric blocking pattern while producing a temp inversion each day with cooler breezes off Lake Michigan and you're bound to develop air quality issues. It's just such a weather set-up which has led to the AIR QUALITY ALERT issued for the Greater Chicago area by the Illinois EPA and agencies in surrounding states as well.WIDER VIEW of AIR QUALITY predicted WednesdayAIR QUALITY FORECAST Wednesday. An AIR QUALITY ALERT h...

'Underwater noises' detected in search for missing sub

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

'Underwater noises' detected in search for missing sub BOSTON (NewsNation) — The five people onboard a missing submersible that was headed for the Titanic shipwreck on Sunday have approximately "40 hours of breathable air left," the U.S. Coast Guard estimated Tuesday afternoon.So far, search and rescue teams have been unable to find the vessel, which is believed to be about 900 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. "You're dealing with a surface search and a subsurface search and frankly that makes it an incredibly complex operation," Capt. Jamie Frederick with the First Coast Guard District said at a news conference Tuesday. How many times have submarine rescues succeeded? Now, rescuers are in a serious race against time. As of 1 p.m. Eastern Tuesday, the five people in the sub have about 40 hours before they run out of air.Late Tuesday night, the U.S. Coast Guard said "underwater noises" were detected by a Canadian P-3 aircraft. Remotely-operated vehicles were relocated to investigate, but nothing was found.Finding the sub is just ...

Napheesa Collier powers Lynx to another win over Sparks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

Napheesa Collier powers Lynx to another win over Sparks Napheesa Collier continues to be the best player on the court.She continued her dominating stretch of play with 26 points and 14 rebounds and the Lynx beat Los Angeles 67-61 Tuesday night.It’s the third time in five games Collier has at least 25 points.Three of those led to wins over the Sparks in a 10-day span. The wins were by a combined 16 points. It marked the ninth time in 10 games Minnesota has topped the Sparks, including five straight in Los Angeles.Up by one, Collier scored on a jumper with 1:26 left for a 64-61 lead. The bucket came after an offensive rebound by Tiffany Mitchell. Nikolina Milić forced a bad Los Angeles shot at the other end, but Collier missed in the lane with 25 seconds to play, giving the Sparks a chance.Mitchell made a steal with 15 seconds left — Minnesota’s fifth straight defensive stop — and Collier iced the game with a free throw with 8.7 ticks to go. Los Angeles did not score in the final 2:47.Mitchell finished with five of Minnesota’s season-high ...

Juvenile arrested in connection with homicide in Greeley

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

Juvenile arrested in connection with homicide in Greeley Greeley police made an arrest after a juvenile died in a shooting on Friday afternoon.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Judge sees “reasonable belief” that Denver school board’s closed-door meeting violated law, will review recording Crime and Public Safety | Police shoot and kill man who fired at officers in Windsor, investigation launched Crime and Public Safety | Club Q survivors among the grand marshals for Denver Pride Parade Crime and Public Safety | Family of 14-year-old killed by Aurora police calls for answers, chief’s resignation Crime and Public Safety | Denver school board’s closed-door meeting after East High shooting did not violate law, DPS tells judge On Friday at 3:44 p.m., officers with the Greeley Police Department responded to a home along the 400 block of 35th Avenue after receiving a report of a shooting.When officers arrived at the scene, they ...

Video captures looters ransacking McDonald's in South Los Angeles

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

Video captures looters ransacking McDonald's in South Los Angeles Video shows chaos breaking out as a group of looters overtook a McDonald’s store in South Los Angeles.On Monday night, Los Angeles police officers responded to reports of shots fired on the 4200 block of Crenshaw Boulevard shortly around 8 p.m.A group of looters was captured on camera overrunning the fast food restaurant as terrified workers ran into a back room for safety, with some using chairs as a shield against the hostile crowd. Video shows chaos breaking out as a group of looters overtook a McDonald’s store in South Los Angeles on June 19, 2023. (@zyerahhhhh_)Looters were seen running around and destroying furniture before workers behind the main cash register were eventually confronted.Stolen food and products were being thrown at the workers while a glass display case was knocked down, shattering into pieces. Some looters stood on top of counters while more workers retreated to the back for safety.Loud screams and yelling were heard throughout the restaurant when at one poi...

U.S. Coast Guard looking for person who fell overboard near Long Beach 

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

U.S. Coast Guard looking for person who fell overboard near Long Beach  The United States Coast Guard is searching for a person who fell overboard from a bulk carrier ship 14 miles off the coast of Point Conception on Tuesday.At approximately 5 a.m., Los Angeles Coast Guard personnel received a report of a crewmember who had fallen overboard from the African Cardinal, according to a U.S. Coast Guard news release. Authorities launched a helicopter rescue and small boat crew to begin the search. The search remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call the Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles at 310-521-3801. 

SF Giants erase another deficit to beat Padres, extend winning streak to 9 games

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

SF Giants erase another deficit to beat Padres, extend winning streak to 9 games SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants trailed the Padres after six innings Tuesday night. They were down heading into eighth, too.Yet, a strong Tuesday night crowd of 32,060 wasn’t filled with dread. They were pregnant with anticipation. The energy was palpable: These fans had been paying attention as the Giants reeled off win after win, despite trailing in the late innings. The home team was losing, and the home fans still fully expected a win.Joc Pederson paid them off, not once but twice.After tying the game with a solo shot in the eighth, Pederson came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs against Padres closer Josh Hader. The at-bat ended after seven pitches. Pederson took ball four outside, flipped his bat and yelled. After tying the game with a solo homer in the eighth, Pederson drew the walk-off walk, forcing home rookie Luis Matos, to beat the Padres, 4-3, and extend their winning streak to nine games after erasing yet another deficit.Related ArticlesSan Francisco Gian...

Antisemitic and white nationalist callers again criticize Walnut Creek City Council

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

Antisemitic and white nationalist callers again criticize Walnut Creek City Council (BCN) -- Two members of the Walnut Creek City Council said Tuesday night the council should consider eliminating online callers from the public comments portion of council meetings, after two men made white supremist, antisemitic comments criticizing councilmember Kevin Wilk, who is Jewish. Two weeks earlier, a man who identified himself as "Scottie, resident of Walnut Creek," said "I'm calling today to address some irrational statements made by certain council members who know who they are, regarding the pro white banners that they cried about on the news probably about six months back." "Scottie" called again Tuesday, specifically criticizing the council for cutting off his antisemitic statements two weeks ago. He didn't show his face or use a last name on either call. He directly addressed Wilk, who asked for "Scottie" to be cut off at the June 6 meeting. "Scottie" was one of four callers making antisemitic remarks that night. ‘They are doing it wrong’: Ron DeSant...

Collier helps Minnesota beat Los Angeles for 3rd time in 9 days

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:15:14 GMT

Collier helps Minnesota beat Los Angeles for 3rd time in 9 days LOS ANGELES (AP) — Napheesa Collier had 26 points and 14 rebounds, Bridget Carleton added 14 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 67-61 on Tuesday night.Minnesota (4-8) won its third game in nine days against Los Angeles, with the two previous wins coming by five-points apiece.Collier sank a jumper from the free-throw line, following an offensive rebound, to give Minnesota a 64-61 lead with 1:26 left. Neither team would score again until Collier’s free throw with 8.7 seconds left for a four-point lead.Trailing 64-61, Los Angeles called a timeout with 24.1 seconds left to set up an offensive play. Tiffany Mitchell intercepted a pass and raced the other way, and Minnesota secured it at the stripe. Mitchell finished with five steals to go with eight points for Minnesota, which had a season-high 12 steals. Diamond Miller, averaging 10.4 points per game, did not play due to an ankle injuryMinnesota was 1 of 10 from behind the arc in the first half, while Los An...