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A California couple bought a house in France for $20,000 without seeing it. Here’s what happened

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill | CNNHer fascination with France began when she spent a summer in the European country while working as an au pair back back in the 1970s.From then on, Ellen, originally from the East Coast of the US, made it her mission to travel to France whenever she got the chance to.She met her now husband Joseph, from the West Coast, in the late 1970s and the couple went on to marry and have three children, continuing to travel to the country as a family once every two years or so.“It’s funny, Joseph and our daughter would tease me, because anytime we were planning a vacation, I always wanted to come to France,” Ellen admits.“They liked France too, but they would say, ‘Can we go somewhere else?’ [I would say,] ‘Yes, as long as we stop in Paris first or something like that.’ So, it was a compromise usually.”‘Half house’They completed extensive renovation work on the home over a period of nearly seven years, replacing the floors and walls, as well as the electrics and p...

Golden State no more? California budget deficit balloons to $68 billion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

California faces a $68 billion deficit in its budget, largely as a result of a severe revenue decline in the current 2022‑23 fiscal year, the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office reported Thursday.“The state faces a serious budget deficit,” the analyst’s office said. “We estimate the Legislature will need to solve a budget problem of $68 billion in the upcoming budget process.”Gov. Gavin Newsom must present a proposed 2023-2024 budget early next month.Typically, the budget process does not involve large changes in revenue in the prior year, the LAO said, because prior‑year taxes usually have been filed and associated revenues collected. But because of federal tax filing extensions this year, the Legislature is now gaining a complete picture of 2022‑23 tax collections after the fiscal year has already ended.The LAO said that 2022‑23 revenue will be $26 billion below budget estimates.“This creates unique and difficult challenges — ...

Annual public menorah lighting is back at SF Union Square

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

(KRON) -- The 48th annual public menorah lighting “Chanukah in Union Square” kicks off on Thursday at 3 p.m. The event will have live music for the gathering. At 5 p.m., the first lighting ceremony will commence.  Globally, Mariah Carey is still dominating Christmas The ceremony will take place at San Francisco's Union Square.This lighting ceremony has been happening in San Francisco since 1975 and is open to everyone. The event is sponsored by the Bill Graham Menorah Project. The initial ceremony garnered support from the late rock promoter and Holocaust survivor Bill Graham.     After Graham’s death, Chabad wanted to honor his memory by dedicating the menorah in his name. 

US Soccer Federation to built training center in Lileth, Georgia, outside Atlanta

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation’s new training center will be built in Triluth, Georgia, about 20 miles from downtown Atlanta and a 30-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.The USSF announced the specific site Thursday after saying on Sept. 15 it intended to construct a complex in the Atlanta area. Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank is contributing $50 million for the project. The complex will be more than 200 acres.The USSF said in 2002 that the complex in Carson, California, would serve as its national training center. While that has been used often for winter training camps, the men’s national team has located training ahead of games at sites more convenient for its matches, such as in Florida ahead of games in the Caribbean and Central America and near the venues of home games. U.S. Soccer also opened a national development center in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2018.The federation’s headquarters was in New York, then mo...

Desperation grows among Palestinians trapped with little aid as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Desperation grew Thursday among Palestinians largely cut off from supplies of food and water as Israeli forces engaged in fierce urban battles with Hamas militants. Strikes in the southern Gaza town of Rafah sowed fear in one of the last places where civilians could seek refuge.United Nations officials say there are no safe places in Gaza nearly a week after Israel widened its offensive into the southern half of the territory. Heavy fighting in and around the city of Khan Younis has displaced tens of thousands of people and cut most of Gaza off from aid deliveries. More than 80% of the territory’s population has already fled their homes.Two months into the war, the grinding offensive has triggered renewed international alarm. U.N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and urged members to demand a cease-fire.Gutteres explicitly cited Articl...

Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith brings much of his Oregon State staff with him to lead Spartans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State hired Jonathan Smith away from Oregon State last week and the coach is bringing much of his previous staff with him.Smith announced his first wave of additions to the coaching and support staff on Thursday, and each person has ties to him and the Beavers.Quickly after Smith left, Oregon State promoted defensive coordinator Trent Bray to head coach.Bray, who also played at Oregon State, had served as the Beavers’ defensive coordinator since midway through the 2021 season.Smith’s first staff at Michigan State will include offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, who will also coach quarterbacks, and assistant head coach Keith Bhonapha, who will also lead the running backs.The Spartans’ secondary will be led by Blue Adams, Jim Michalczik will coach the offensive line, Legi Suiaunoa the defensive line and Brian Wozniak will serve as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.Strength and conditioning coach Mike McDonald, chief of staff...

JetBlue Airways, Semtech rise; Duckhorn, Chewy fall, Thursday, 12/7/2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Thursday: Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (CERE), up $4.58 to $41.51.AbbVie is buying the developer of treatments for schizophrenia and other neuroscience diseases.Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV), down $4.81 to $173.58.Investors were disappointed by the cloud-based software service company’s latest financial update.Chewy Inc. (CHWY), down 34 cents to $19.01.The online pet store trimmed its revenue forecast for the year.Duckhorn Portfolio Inc. (NAPA), down 98 cents $9.24.The wine company’s fiscal first-quarter profit and revenue fell short of analysts’ forecasts.Verint Systems Inc. (VRNT), up $5.12 to $29.15.The maker of software for analyzing intercepted communications reported strong third-quarter financial results.Semtech Corp. (SMTC), $3.22 $19.92.The chipmaker’s third-quarter earnings and revenue beat Wall Street forecasts.JetBlue Airways Inc. (JBLU), up 57 cents to $5.30.Th...

Republicanos de la Cámara Baja presentan resolución para autorizar el juicio político contra Biden

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

WASHINGTON – Los republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes publicaron el jueves el texto de una resolución que autorizaría su investigación de juicio político contra el presidente Joe Biden.La resolución, presentada por la representante Kelly Armstrong, formalizaría la investigación de juicio político en curso que ha sido impulsada por tres comités de la Cámara de Representantes liderados por el Partido Republicano: Poder Judicial, Supervisión y Medios y Arbitrios.Ayudaría a los comités a hacer cumplir las citaciones y permitiría a los presidentes de los paneles designar audiencias abiertas en su investigación sobre la familia Biden. Republicanos votarían la semana que viene la formalización del juicio político contra Biden La Casa Blanca: investigación de juicio político es “ilegítima” y va por el “camino del fracaso” Varios líderes de la Cámara han dicho que se espera que se vote la resolución la próxima semana.Está previsto q...

Bills visiting Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium to resume one of AFC’s best new rivalries

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

BUFFALO (6-6) at KANSAS CITY (8-4)Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, CBS BETTING LINE: Chiefs by 11 1/2 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Bills 4-8; Chiefs 7-5.SERIES RECORD: Bills lead 28-24-1.LAST MEETING: Bills beat Chiefs 24-20 on Oct. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo.LAST WEEK: Bills off; Chiefs lost to Packers 27-19.BILLS OFFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (10), PASS (5), SCORING (5).BILLS DEFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (20), PASS (8), SCORING (5).CHIEFS OFFENSE: OVERALL (8), RUSH (16), PASS (8), SCORING (T11).CHIEFS DEFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (19), PASS (6), SCORING (3).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Bills plus-1; Chiefs minus-6.BILLS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Khalil Shakir is emerging as Buffalo’s No. 2 option behind Stefon Diggs. The second-year player has 17 catches for 335 yards and a touchdown in his past five games while working in the slot and lining up outside.CHIEFS PLAYER TO WATCH: TE Noah Gray had a single catch last week against Green Bay, but it was a short-yardage throw for a touchdow...

Justin Jefferson set to return as Vikings face the Raiders

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

MINNESOTA (6-6) at LAS VEGAS (5-7)Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, FoxOPENING LINE: Vikings by 3, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Vikings 7-5; Raiders 6-6.SERIES RECORD: Raiders lead 9-6.LAST MEETING: Vikings won 34-14 on Sept. 22, 2019, in Minneapolis.LAST WEEK: Both teams were off. Vikings lost to Bears 12-10 on Nov. 27; Raiders lost to Chiefs 31-17 on Nov. 26.VIKINGS OFFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (28), PASS (6), SCORING (16)VIKINGS DEFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (7), PASS (18), SCORING (8).RAIDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (29), RUSH (31), PASS (21), SCORING (27).RAIDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (25), PASS (13), SCORING (15T).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Vikings minus-8; Raiders minus-7.VIKINGS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Justin Jefferson. The 2022 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year is set to return after missing the past seven games because of a hamstring injury. The Vikings managed to win the first five of those. QB Joshua Dobbs will throw to Jefferson for the first time and likely see some ...