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Editorial: Beacon Hill keeps taxpayers in the dark

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

Transparency is a four-letter word on Beacon Hill.The state Legislature’s closed-door dealings are an open secret, as its actions reveal lawmakers prefer doing the people’s business as far away from the people as possible.This storied secrecy prompted Auditor Diana DiZoglio to launch the first audit of the state Legislature in over a century.“We hope this will increase transparency, accountability and equity in an area of state government that has been completely ignored. Historically, the Legislature has been a closed-door operation, where committee votes have been hidden from the general public, and legislation has been voted on in the dark of night,” DiZoglio said in a statement.DiZoglio isn’t alone in aiming a slingshot at Goliath. This week Gloucester state Sen. Bruce Tarr offered an amendment to the upper chamber’s fiscal 2024 spending plan in a bid to increase transparency by requiring every one of the state’s at least 42 public adjacent agencies to post the...

Dining outside? Here’s how to keep your stuff safe

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

The weather’s nice and tables are filling up once again on sidewalks, streets, and patios. All smiles and happiness. Well, almost all smiles and happiness. Let’s take a moment for a quick refresher about safety. Stuff happens, unfortunately everywhere.Most crimes involving restaurant patrons involve theft — a handbag snatched from the back of a chair or a phone lifted from a jacket pocket.The following tips are mostly common sense. Some are from lessons learned.Before you go outConsider traveling lightly.Make an inventory of your bag and keep this list at home, with a copy in a file or in the Notes app on your phone.If you have an iPhone, set up “Find My iPhone” and make sure you have access to your iCloud from another device.Photocopy both sides of your IDs and credit/debit cards. Stash this at home, but do not keep this information on a phone file or app that is not password-protected. Anyone who gains access to your phone would then have your information i...

McCaughey: Shoplifters hurt us all – time to lock them up

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

Brazen shoplifting is hurting all of us.I’m brushing with bubble gum-flavored children’s toothpaste because it takes too long to get a clerk at the pharmacy to unlock the adult toothpaste. Before the shoplifting scourge, shoppers could actually browse and read product labels.Target, Home Depot and other retailers announced last week that they are taking big hits to their profits because of double-digit increases in theft nationwide.That’s after hiking prices on consumers. When the guy next to you loads a bag with whatever merchandise isn’t locked up and walks out without paying, keep in mind that you’re paying for his stolen stuff.Stores are fleeing San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and Portland, cities that soft-on-crime mayors and district attorneys have made into shoplifter’s paradises. Downtown San Francisco is slated to lose Nordstrom and Saks OFF 5TH. Anthropologie and Whole Foods have already fled. That means lost jobs and ...

Lucas: The grass & cash is greener for immigrants in America

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

The U.S. should do what the British do – pay migrants to go back home.Instead, the U.S. pays migrants to stay.Why not? In addition to all the free stuff migrants get after crossing the border — free food, free clothes, free health care, free transportation, free housing, free schools, free phones — California now wants to pay immigrants without work authorization $300 a week.Soon they will be casting ballots.So, sending people back with cash might not work out so well since everything is free in America.But it is still worth a try since nothing else seems to work in stemming the immigrant surge in the U.S., especially as Commander in Chaos Joe Biden does not want anything to work.Besides, nobody who fled Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, China or other countries wants to go back.Under a deal worked out between the UK and Albania to “deter and disrupt illegal immigration,” the Brits are paying Albanians living illegally in the UK the equivalent of $1,864 to return home on free depo...

Dive into summer in great swimsuits

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

Where did the time go – it’s bathing suit season already. This year, finding a suit that fits just right and looks great is easy. I’ve rounded up some of the most flattering suits out there, from tankinis and one-pieces to one-shoulder designs and yes, even a couple of bikinis. Because while looking good is nice, it’s really about feeling good.One-piece suitsSupported and sexy: Color blocking is a huge swimwear trend this season, and The Marina ($95 on summersalt.com) is right on-point. With built-in cups in a slight V-neck design and adjustable straps, it provides comfortable structure and makes you look like a million bucks. The higher-cut hip line elongates legs, and the diagonal seaming accentuates waists. Meanwhile, the material is thick and tight, so you feel snug and properly held in.Softly nautical (and sustainable): Ookioh is a terrific brand for simple and sweet designs. They also source their fabrics from an Italian mill that uses 100% regenerated materials “l...

Dear Abby: Narcissist dad getting worse with age

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

Dear Abby: My narcissistic father feels entitled to do whatever he pleases. He has always insisted that since he makes the money, far more than my mother’s income, he should be waited on and cleaned up after. If he stays in my home, he leaves messes everywhere. He’s 70, but he acts like a 4-year-old.He loves attention and will do anything to be the center of it, whether it’s wearing a kilt or showing off his intellectual prowess. I have no relationship with him, and I’m OK with that. Mom complains constantly about him, and then defends him. It’s emotionally exhausting.My husband, our kids and I are appalled at his lack of self-awareness, empathy or caring. He makes going on vacation a nightmare. He feels that if he does all the driving, then he’s done his part and refuses to help with anything else. He is difficult and manipulative.He’s getting worse as he gets older, and I no longer want to subject my family to this. My mother doesn’t...

Coronado High School employee placed on paid administrative leave

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

CORONADO, Calif. -- A Coronado High School employee was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, according to education officials.The Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) confirmed in a statement that "the investigation does not involve any CUSD student/s." "Administrative leave is a normal procedural step to protect both the integrity of an investigation and due process," CUSD's statement read. "We are working in cooperation with the Coronado Police Department to ensure that a thorough and timely investigation is completed." Carlsbad High assistant principal shares opposition to district ‘diversity, equity, inclusion’ efforts The school acknowledged the announcement "raises more questions than we are able to answer at this time." "Please be assured that the wellbeing of our students is our priority and the dedicated professionals at our schools remain focused on ensuring student success as we finish the school year," CUSD said.School officials did not iden...

New Build-A-Bear workshop opens in San Diego

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- An updated Build-A-Bear Workshop has relocated within the Fashion Valley Mall.The new store can be found on the upper level between Macy's and JCPenney, the local mall said on its website.“We’re so excited to be opening a newly updated store at Fashion Valley Mall and joining this popular trendy shopping destination,” said Chris Hurt, Chief Operations and Experience Officer. “For the past 25 years, the Build-A-Bear experience has had the power to add a little more heart to life in a unique way, and we are so excited to see it continue to come to life at Fashion Valley.” Here’s the scoop: Salt & Straw opening new store in San Diego The Fashion Valley Build-A-Bear location provides kids, teens and adults with a variety of furry friends, accessories and products, along with the iconic heart ceremony that allows guests to choose a satin heart, make a special wish and place the heart inside their new stuffed animal.The Build-A-Bear Make-Your-Own experience involves cus...

20 richest countries account for over half of 50 million people in ‘modern slavery,’ report says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The world’s 20 richest countries are fueling forced labor and account for over half the estimated 50 million people living in “modern slavery,” according to a report released Wednesday.The report by the Walk Free foundation, a rights group that focuses on modern slavery, said six members of the Group of 20 nations have the largest number of people in modern slavery – either in forced labor or forced marriage. India tops the list with 11 million followed by China with 5.8 million, Russia with 1.9 million, Indonesia with 1.8 million, Turkey with 1.3 million and the United States with 1.1 million.“Most of the countries with lowest prevalence of modern slavery — Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Japan, and Finland — are also members of the G20,” the report said. “Yet, even in these countries, thousands of people continue to be forced to work or marry, despite their high levels of economic development, gender equality, soc...

Friends to foes: How Trump and DeSantis’ relationship has deteriorated over the years

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:09 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — It wasn’t always this way.Before Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis were leading rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, they were allies.Trump gave DeSantis’ gubernatorial bid an early boost by tweeting his support even before DeSantis formally entered the race. In his 2018 victory speech, DeSantis made sure to thank the president, saying, “I think we’ll have a great partnership.”Here’s how DeSantis and Trump’s relationship has evolved — and broken down — as the two face off to take on Democrat Joe Biden:‘UNITE BEHIND THE REPUBLICAN TICKET’During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-congressman DeSantis said he wouldn’t make an endorsement in the crowded field but would support the eventual nominee.When that ended up being Trump, DeSantis issued a statement calling on fellow Republicans to back the celebrity businessman.“It is now clear that Donald Trump will accumulate the delegates necessary to be nominated by the Republican P...