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Ask Amy: A possible stepmother worries about favoritism

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

Dear Amy: My boyfriend “Steve” and I have been together for over two years. He is extremely kind and generous to me. I can see a long-term future with him.Steve is divorced with three children, ages 5 (a son “A”), 7 (a daughter, “B”), and 9 (a son, “C”).He and his ex-wife have an acrimonious relationship, but have a loose agreement regarding the children. He gets the kids every other weekend and also sees them during the weekdays.The issue is this: Steve openly favors the youngest, “A,” and is openly disdainful of the middle child, “B.”I have spoken to him repeatedly of the obvious favoritism and the mistreatment of his daughter, but he then accuses me of favoring her.When we get into arguments about the kids, he will blame the kids for me being upset and will punish them.B recently confided in me that their mother threatened to take him to court if he didn’t change his behavior toward them.B has told both me and her mother about this favoritism, but St...

At UN, Lavrov warns that world is at 'dangerous threshold'

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

UN Sec-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday (24 April) that conflict between world powers is at a "historic high", and Russian Foreign Minster Sergei Lavrov warned that the world had reached a "potentially even more dangerous threshold" than the Cold War.Guterres sat next to Lavrov at the UN Security Council and criticized Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which has caused massive suffering and destruction in the country, and fueled global economic disruptions due to the coronavirus epidemic.Tensions between major powers are at an all-time high. "Conflict risks are also at an historic high, due to miscalculation or misadventure," Guterres said during a meeting of 15 members of the body on multilateralism.Lavrov presided over the meeting as Russia is the rotating monthly presidency of the Council for April.Lavrov stated that we are at a dangerous threshold, perhaps even more so than during the Cold War. "The situation has worsened due to the lack of faith in multilateralism."L...

These popular diets are best for heart health, according to the American Heart Association

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

By Sandee LaMotte | CNNHeart disease is the leading killer of men and women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, but there are ways to significantly reduce your risk.Along with regular exercise and not smoking, a healthy diet is a key way to keep heart disease at bay. But which diet best meets the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association?In a new scientific statement, leading experts in nutrition ranked 10 popular diets on their ability to meet the AHA’s evidence-based dietary guidance for heart health, published in 2021.The winner? The DASH diet, which was 100% aligned with AHA goals for heart-healthy eating. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; high blood pressure is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke.The pescatarian diet, which allows dairy, eggs, fish and other seafood but no meat or poultry, was 92% aligned with the AHA guidelines. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, which allows dairy and eggs, and variations that...

Bay Area lawmakers push feds for disaster recovery package for California farmers

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — Federal lawmakers representing four California districts with pristine farmland penned a letter to colleagues this week urging passage of a bipartisan disaster recovery package for farmers and ranchers devastated by heavy winter storms earlier this winter.“For nearly three weeks, California was hit with storms that brought intense rain and catastrophic flooding. The historic storms caused tremendous damage to thousands of acres of farms and ranches,” wrote Reps. Jimmy Panetta, Salud Carbajal, Zoe Lofgren and Jim Costa.Panetta and Lofgren represent portions of South County heavily reliant on the agriculture industry, while Panetta’s 19th District extends to most of North County as well.“We, therefore, request a disaster recovery package be swiftly put together to allow the rebuilding and recovery process to begin. It is imperative Congress provide much-needed aid to California’s agricultural community to allow for a full and timely recovery,” they wrote.The letter reques...

The 10 most expensive homes reported sold in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland in the week of April 17

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

A house in Piedmont that sold for $2.6 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Alameda, Piedmont and Oakland in the past week.In total, 13 real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.7 million, $859 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of April 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.6 million, detached house in the 5500 block of Proctor AvenueThe 1,717 square-foot single-family house in the 5500 block of Proctor Avenue in Oakland has now been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in March and the total purchase price was $1,550,000, $903 per square foot. The house was built in 1950. The house features 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.Proctor Avenue9. $1.6 million, single-family home in the first block of Clipper DriveThe sale of the single family residence in the first block of Clipper Drive in Alameda has been f...

Man to serve 20 years after Santa Cruz County CHP chase, shooting

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — A man who shot at California Highway Patrol officers in a residential Scotts Valley neighborhood while fleeing police last year is facing a 20-year prison term after accepting a plea deal Wednesday.Kristopher Payopay, 42, of Lathrop, appeared before Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Nancy de la Peña to plead no contest to charges that are expected to result in a 20-year prison term. Per terms of the deal struck with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, seven felony charges, including two counts of attempted murder, were dropped. Payopay pleaded to two felony counts of assault on a peace officer and one count of evading a peace officer, plus a special allegation for discharging a semiautomatic rifle — a charge that alone will carry a 10-year term, authorities said Wednesday.“We wanted to come to a resolution which, in our mind, both recognized the incredible danger that our two young Highway Patrol officers were placed in when they were simply doing the...

Rainbow flag at California Buddhist Temple burned

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

Police are investigating the burning of a rainbow flag at the Pasadena Buddhist Temple earlier this week as a possible hate crime, authorities said on Wednesday, April 26.“It was an act of hate, and it was arson,” said Gregory Gibbs, the temple’s resident minister.The temple, at 1993 Glen Ave., had two rainbow or pride flags and two Black Lives Matter flags, all four created by local artists and displayed on the gates.“We are opposed to bullying — that’s why we have the flags,” Gibbs said.Gibbs described the burned rainbow flag, reduced to blackened shreds, had been about two feet tall and three feet wide with an estimated value of $1,000.Officers went to the temple Tuesday after the reported vandalism, said Lt. Monica Cuellar, spokeswoman for Pasadena police. They had not yet identified a suspect.A neighbor saw the rainbow flag burning around 7 p.m. on Monday and put it out, Gibbs said: “But she didn’t see the perpetrator.”The flags had been up for several years. Until recently, no...

Proposed California law would increase school teacher pay 50 percent by 2030

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) seeks to tackle the statewide teacher and school staff shortage by increasing their salaries by 50% in the next seven years.Muratsuchi, who chairs the Assembly Education Committee, introduced Assembly Bill 938 on Wednesday, April 26. The bill would set annual targets for the state’s Local Control Funding Formula – which determines how much money is allocated to districts and charter schools – with a goal of reaching a 50% increase by 2030.“Schools across the state are facing a workforce shortage, with many teachers and school employees unable to afford to live in the communities they work in,” said Muratsuchi in a press conference on Wednesday. “I introduced AB 938 … to not only pay them what they deserve, but also to get more young people to aspire to become educators.”The bill comes with a strong recommendation — but not a requirement — that school districts spend this additional state funding on salaries.“It is intentionally drafted as ‘i...

Henry Winkler advises find a passion and stick with it, no matter the stage of life

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

Henry Winkler, actor, producer and director, has played many roles since his iconic turn as “The Fonz,” and each time, he said, he finds something new inside with which to bring the most current character to life.Winkler, 77,  said it’s all about the passion and joy he gets from his art and the experiences he’s lived in the 50 years since landing his role in the 1970s sitcom “Happy Days,” which started with six lines, an Italian accent and some imagination and turned into a 10-year run that aired in countries around the world.Henry Winkler meets theater students from Aliso Niguel High School in Laguna Niguel, CA, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)Henry Winkler at Crestavilla in Laguna Niguel, CA, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)Henry Winkler talks with seniors at Crestavilla in Laguna Niguel, CA, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)Henry ...

Man, woman found dead in impounded van

Published Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:24:06 GMT

A man and a woman were found dead inside of a van that had been impounded in Irwindale on Wednesday, April 26, and their cause of death was under investigation.The van had been towed in the morning hours from a gas station parking lot in the 100 block of east Longden Avenue, according to Irwindale Police Sgt. Diego Cornejo. Authorities were called around 12:30 p.m. after employees with the towing service discovered the two victims in the back seat.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Attorney demands Alameda DA Pamela Price’s dismissal from manslaughter case against former San Leandro officer Crime and Public Safety | Death of man in Oakland’s Chinatown being investigated as homicide Crime and Public Safety | Teacher was fatally shot in Dunkin’ drive-thru by a hitman hired by romantic rival, DA says Crime and Public Safety | Man arrested in ‘demonic’ murder and dismemberment of missing Uber Eats driver ...