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Homeowners are axing insurance amid rising premiums

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

Just as high healthcare costs have prompted millions of Americans to forgo health insurance, now some homeowners are skipping home coverage because of rising premiums.The national average for home insurance has risen 20% this year to just over $1,400. Obviously, you can pay a whole lot more in well-heeled places like Southern California.While lower-income homeowners blame high annual costs for ditching coverage, wealthier people say they have enough cash on hand to handle rebuilding, so there's no need to pay a monthly insurance fee.That's bad thinking."It is a risky proposition to go without home insurance, and you need to fully understand the financial consequences if you lose your home," Noah Damsky, a financial adviser in Los Angeles, told the Wall Street Journal.Forgoing home insurance is literally playing with fire.If your residence burns down, you might lose not just your home and all your possessions, but you'll also be on the hook for carting away your home's remains. And t...

Man Dies in Head-On Motorcycle Crash on Highway 165 [Merced, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

35-Year-Old Rider Pronounced Dead after Head-On Collision near August AvenueMERCED, CA (August 28, 2023) – Wednesday night, one man was fatally struck in a head-on motorcycle crash on Highway 165.The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m., near August Avenue and South Oslo Street.Officers say the 35-year-old male rider of a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle was heading north on the highway at around 45-50 miles per hour.Meanwhile, a woman driving a southbound 2013 Audi SUV attempted to pass a big-rig towing a trailer and a pickup-truck. In doing, so she moved into the rider’s oncoming lane.Once the rider noticed the Audi in his lane, he veered right onto the shoulder while the driver did the same. As a result, the two vehicles collided head-on.Medical personnel arrived and pronounced the 35-year-old male rider dead at the scene. Although, authorities have not yet released his identity.In addition, the 33-year-old woman from Newman and her 12-year-old male passenger remained uninjur...

President of National Association of Realtors resigns amid misconduct allegations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

The president of the National Association of Realtors has resigned three days after a New York Times investigation exposed allegations of sexual misconduct by the leader of real estate’s most powerful trade group.Three women, who worked at the Chicago-based group, said they were sexually harassed by Parcell. They and others at the nonprofit described a pattern of behavior that included improper touching and lewd photos and texts.See more: Where are all the home listings? Some are selling before hitting MLSThe Times’ expose recounted complaints from 29 employees and former leaders who told the newspaper that even after years of complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination and retribution by Parcell and other leaders, little changed.NAR, with 1.5 million dues-paying members, has more than $1 billion in assets and controls access to nearly every American home listing.Kaki Lybbert, 69, a Texas Realtor who served on NAR’s leadership board last year, told the Times that har...

Three-bedroom home in Los Gatos sells for $1.9 million

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

A house located in the 200 block of Barbara Drive in Los Gatos has new owners. The 1,375-square-foot property, built in 1963, was sold on Aug. 11, 2023, for $1,940,000, or $1,411 per square foot. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and two baths. Inside, there is a fireplace. Additionally, the house is equipped with a two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:In July 2023, a 1,375-square-foot home on Kensington Way in Los Gatos sold for $2,125,000, a price per square foot of $1,545. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Barbara Drive, Los Gatos, in March 2023, a 1,486-square-foot home was sold for $1,900,000, a price per square foot of $1,279. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,461-square-foot home on the 200 block of Thomas Drive in Los Gatos sold in March 2023, for $2,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,711. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Santa Clara County asks judge to increase fines owed by San Jose church for violating COVID orders

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

In the latest development in the lengthy legal between Santa Clara County and Calvary Chapel, a judge rejected a Santa Clara County bid to increase the $1.2 million court ordered fines owed by the San Jose church for ignoring public health mandates at the height of the pandemic.During a court hearing last Thursday, the county argued the earlier dollar amount was reached in error. The county began fining the Hillsdale Avenue church in August 2020 for holding indoor services with maskless congregants — a violation of public health orders at the time.But the church refused to pay the fines, which in 2022 the county said had amassed to nearly $3 million. In April, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Evette D. Pennypacker ordered Calvary Chapel to pay $1.2 million, reducing the fines to a specific period — November 2020 through June 2021 — when the church didn’t follow the mask mandate.But last week, the county’s attorneys argued that number fell short o...

The San Jose Sharks’ top prospect is starting college today. Here’s when he could turn pro

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

Will Smith, the San Jose Sharks’ top prospect, is officially a college student.Smith, 18, is starting classes at Boston College this week, roughly two months after the Sharks selected him fourth overall at the NHL Draft in June.The question now is how long Smith will stay in Chestnut Hill. Could he turn professional after his freshman year, or perhaps stay for an additional season, chase a national title in 2025 if he hasn’t won one already with BC, and sign with the Sharks in two years?Boston College’s standout freshman class also includes fellow first-round picks Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard, and Sportsnet draft analyst Sam Cosentino speculated that the college careers of those three players, who were linemates with the U.S. National Development Team, might be tied together to some extent.“I look at Will likely as a one-year college player,” Cosentino told this news organization before the draft in June. “What’s unique about their situation is that the whole line is going...

Judge: Peter Navarro’s testimony is ‘weak sauce’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

By Devan Cole | CNNThe federal judge overseeing Peter Navarro’s contempt of Congress criminal case on Monday called his defense arguments “pretty weak sauce,” injecting last-minute uncertainty into how the former Donald Trump adviser will be able to defend himself during his upcoming trial.Navarro, Trump’s one-time trade adviser, testified Monday in his defense during a key pre-trial hearing in his case. He’s facing charges for defying subpoenas issued to him by the House select committee that investigated the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, claiming he did so because Trump asserted executive privilege in the matter.But during the nearly three-hour hearing before US District Judge Amit P. Mehta in Washington, DC, the judge appeared highly skeptical of Navarro’s testimony, noting it’s from one side of the conversation.“I still don’t know what the president said,” Mehta told Navarro’s attorney Stanley Woodward, referring to a February 20, 2022, call during which Navarro said it ...

Family disturbance leaves father dead, SJPD investigating as homicide

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

(KRON) -- The San Jose Police Department is investigating a fight between a father and his adult son that left the father dead as a homicide. SJPD responded on Saturday, Aug. 26 at around 8:27 p.m. to a reported family disturbance in the area of Donnington Drive and Lockhaven Way.At the scene, officers located the father unresponsive. He was transported to a hospital and was pronounced deceased. Another man remained at the scene and was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail. Police did not specify what his relationship to the deceased was, but said he would be identified in the coming days. VIDEO: Fight after 49ers game at In-N-Out near Levi’s Stadium leads to stabbing The victim's identity will be released by the Santa Clara County Coroner's Office after it's been confirmed and pending notification of next of kin, SJPD said.The motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, police said. The incident marks San Jose's 25th homicide of 2023.

Pedestrian reportedly struck by car in Walnut Creek

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

(KRON) -- A pedestrian was struck by a car in the area of South Main Street and Botelho Drive, KRON4 has confirmed. Earlier, road closures were in effect in the area, but roads have since reopened, according to the Walnut Creek Police Department. VIDEO: Fight after 49ers game at In-N-Out near Levi’s Stadium leads to stabbing A male pedestrian was crossing South Main Street in the crosswalk when he was struck by a black car coming out of the garage. He suffered a cut on his head, but was coherent. He was with his wife at the time he was struck.The pedestrian who was struck has been transported to John Muir Trauma Center. The vehicle involved in the crash was towed to the police station.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Senate candidates visit Stockton to support Rep. Josh Harder reelection campaign

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:51 GMT

The three leading candidates vying for retiring Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat appeared in Stockton over the weekend to support Rep. Josh Harder's reelection campaign. Harder said that though Representatives Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff were at his event at Lindley House, it was also a chance for voters to speak to the candidates. “This isn’t about me," Harder said. "This is a tremendous opportunity for these three candidates, one of whom will almost certainly become the next U.S. senator from California, to hear exactly what they need to hear from the Valley.” A conversation with Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon All three candidates had similar answers when it came to what issue voters were talking about.“Mostly concerns about the high cost of housing,” Schiff said.“The top issue in California is the cost of housing,” Porter said.“Who in the world can afford to live in California on 15 dollars an hour?" Lee said. "That’s a shame and a disgrace!” The representat...