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California's six-figure earners can fall behind on bills each month, study finds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Earning a six-figure income has long been a sign of success and financial stability for American workers. However, with high inflation and cost of living expenses, families who reach that yearly income could still be struggling financially — especially in California.A new study from Lending Tree analyzed just how far $100,000 goes for a family of three in 100 of the largest metros in the U.S. This is how much people need to earn to ‘live comfortably’ in California Researchers found that in 16 of those cities, families with a six-figure income could still struggle to pay their monthly bills; eight of those cities were in California.  San Jose was considered to be the “most expensive” city to live in for six-figure earners. Average monthly expenses in the city are more than $9,000, primarily due to high housing and transportation expenses.California cities where basic expenses are higher than the monthly income of a family earning $100,000 yearly:CityMonthly IncomeMonthly Expen...

The new Tinder? Striking writers look for love on the picket line

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

As striking Hollywood writers protest working conditions and pay, some are also looking for love while on the picket line. This week, the two collided outside Universal Studios. An event called "Strike Up a Romance" was organized by "Family Guy" writer Jaydi Samuels Kuba, who also runs a matchmaking business. The event doubled as a picket line for members of the Writers Guild of America and as a singles' mixer."We get to go out, picket like we're supposed to, and maybe meet the love of our lives," writer Matt Altman told Now This News. He added. "Isn't every story about love in the end?""For us, this was just a fun opportunity for writers just to meet each other without the pressures of having to have crazy work hours," organizer Kuba told Reuters.The singles' mixer was allegedly inspired by married couples who met during the last WGA strike. The WGA has been on strike since May 2, after contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer...

Can CBD Give You Wings? — Is It OK To Mix CBD Into Energy Drinks?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

A large percentage of people reading this blog probably consume pre-packaged energy drinks. The current global market cap for the energy drink market is already at $53 billion, and that’s only expected to rise to ~ $90 billion before 2030. Brands like Red Bull and Monster have become household names, and it’s increasingly common to find these cans in stores (and streets!) throughout the nation.Although adding CBD oil to energy drinks may seem counterintuitive, a few beverage brands are making CBD-infused products. Many customers have also begun experimenting with adding CBD to their favorite energy drinks. Does this mean CBD can enhance the effectiveness of energy-boosting beverages?Why Would People Add CBD To Energy Drinks?Anecdotally, the top reason people mix CBD into energy drinks is to counteract caffeine’s side effects. According to some customers, CBD’s anti-anxiety properties seem to reduce the risk of “caffeine jitters.” For people who feel extra anxious after a cup of coff...

History Park San Jose hosts first SJMADE Fest May 20-21

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

SJMADE FestThe first-ever SJMADE Fest is set for May 20-21 at History Park San Jose, featuring more than 300 local creative small businesses and seven themed areas within the event.These areas include a Kitty Carnival, with cat-themed carnival games designed by SJMADE in collaboration with Dollgirls, Goyangii and Panty Cat, a kitten lounge by Mini Cat Town and cat-themed artist and maker vendors; K-Pop Plaza, produced by K-Pop-Up and featuring live K-Pop dance performances, K-Pop-themed vendors and activities, photocard trading and a K-Pop DJ; a Maker Marketplace and an Artist Avenue; and food trucks and stalls offering noodle dishes, spicy food and sweets.SJMADE will distribute free door giveaways to the first 1,000 attendees each day. For a list of giveaway items, visit https://www.instagram.com/sjmade.The free fest runs 11 a.m.-6 p.m. both days at History Park San Jose, located at 635 Phelan Ave. For more information, visit https://www.sanjosemade.com/pages/sjmade-fest-2023.Neigh...

Campbell locales host fundraisers for housing, Huntington’s research

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Heartfelt fundraiserLife Services Alternatives is holding its fourth annual Home is Where the Heart is fundraiser May 20, 4-7 p.m., at the Campbell Community Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about housing and programs for adults with developmental disabilities in Santa Clara County.“American Idol” finalist James Durbin will play a live set, and comedian Regina Stoops will emcee.For free event registration or to make a donation, visit https://bit.ly/givelsa2023.Team Hope fundraiserCampbell Park is the site of Team Hope, a fun run fundraiser for Huntington’s disease research, set for Saturday, June 17th at 9:30 a.m. and hosted by the  San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). All proceeds from the 10k timed run and 5k walk support HDSA’s mission to improve the lives of people affected by Huntington’s disease and their families.Team Hope, the HDSA’s largest national grassroots fundraising event, takes place in over 100 cit...

County Connection: MedAssist program helps cover cost of lifesaving medications

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Lifesaving drugs shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. If you need an EpiPen, an asthma inhaler or diabetes medications, you already know that. You need the meds. They’re not nice to have; they’re must-haves. But they cost too much.To help combat high prescription drug costs, I proposed Santa Clara County’s new MedAssist effort, a program that helps cover the cost of lifesaving medications for qualifying residents who have been diagnosed with diabetes, asthma or severe allergies. In September 2022, the program was expanded to include an even fuller range of medications for diabetes care.MedAssist provides monthly grants to help cover the high out-of-pocket cost of prescription medications like anti-diabetics (including insulin), asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors. The program is designed so that the majority of adults and children in our county meet income eligibility requirements. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you’ll receive a grant payment to offset paid medical...

Sunnyvale nonprofit awards $3.2 million in clean energy grants

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Clean energy grantsSilicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) awarded $3.2 million in demonstration grants to six member cities and the Sunnyvale School District.The grants are designed to help local agencies install electric building technologies that the public can see and experience. Sunnyvale-based SVCE distributed $3.2 million between the city of Sunnyvale and the Sunnyvale School District, as well as the cities of Campbell, Los Altos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill and Mountain View.Projects include an array of installations such as heat pump water heaters, heat pump space heaters and induction stoves. Community members will have access to these projects and will be provided with educational materials about how the technology works within the building.Sinks appointed to school boardFormer Cupertino Mayor Rod Sinks has been appointed as a Fremont Union High School District trustee to fill the vacancy created by the death of trustee Roy Rocklin. The district’s board of trustees approved Sink...

Latest line: A good week for Humane Society, a bad week for Oakland kids

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

Humane SocietyIn a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds Proposition 12, passed by California voters in 2018 to ban the sale of eggs or meat from hens, pigs or calves kept in confined cages and pens.    Oakland kidsA teachers’ strike in 2019 kept kids out of class. They endured more than a year of virtual instruction due to COVID. Now, with finals and graduations looming, another strike has upended their learning.   Linda YaccarinoNBCUniversal ad sales chief is named new CEO of Twitter, a high-profile tech job. But she’ll report to the mercurial Elon Musk, and the company has suffered mass layoffs and tech glitches. 

‘They’re showing us who they are’: Racist text messages expose deep divides, ethnic tension in Antioch

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

ANTIOCH — When Kathryn Wade moved to Antioch in 2007, she thought she’d finally get her little slice of the American dream.Better schools. Safer neighborhoods. Room to breathe. A town where Friday nights are for high school football, an appropriate suburban ending to weekdays spent on hours-long commutes under tunnels and across bridges.Just 45 miles from her native San Francisco, Wade saw it as the perfect place to build a life away from the poverty, crime and violence of the city, and keep her teenage sons out of trouble.“I was looking for calmness,” said Wade, who is Black. “I wanted a place where the neighbors greet you, they look out for you — like country people.”But Wade’s dreams quickly soured. She said her family endured years of trauma, including the beating of her son Malad Baldwin by Antioch police in 2014, and his premature death six years later.So when she saw the racist messages sent by Antioch officers — including texts mocking Baldwin and the injuries he suffered af...

They said it: DA prosecutor exodus

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:42 GMT

“That’s fine. Have a nice life.”— Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, on the two dozen prosecutors who have resigned since she took office after campaigning for criminal justice reform and sought to reduce prison sentences for accused murderers.