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Opinion: California’s power grid leaves state vulnerable to failure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

The Western power grid is going through a major transformation as states and utilities strive to boost reliability and fulfill their clean electricity goals. California legislation that would have been a first step toward enhancing grid collaboration in the West did not advance last month, but that should not stop us from more actively planning for a robust energy future at such a critical juncture.It was encouraging that the governor in May committed to begin working towards greater regional cooperation in sharing energy and upgrading the transmission network. California leadership is essential to achieve a better-connected power grid that would benefit tens of millions of people across the West.Without that leadership, California could be left behind.In a policy brief, the Union of Concerned Scientists laid out the benefits and risks of grid regionalization. Establishing a western grid operator could expand access to renewable energy, reduce overall costs and help to avoid the kin...

Trump’s valet Walt Nauta is set for arraignment in the classified documents case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — A valet for Donald Trump is set to be arraigned Tuesday on charges that he helped the former president hide classified documents that the Justice Department wanted back.Walt Nauta was charged earlier this month alongside Trump in a 38-count indictment filed by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. Trump pleaded not guilty earlier this month to 37 counts related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents kept at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Nauta’s arraignment was postponed to give him time to find a Florida-based lawyer.It was unclear if Nauta would appear in person at his arraignment because he’s not required to be there.The indictment accuses Nauta of conspiring with Trump to conceal records that he had taken with him from the White House. Prosecutors allege that Nauta, at the former president’s direction, moved boxes of documents bearing classification markings so that they would not be found by a Trump lawyer who w...

Netanyahu says China has invited him for a state visit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he has received an invitation for an official visit to China, but did not disclose whether or when the trip would take place. The Israeli leader made the announcement during a meeting with visiting members of the U.S. Congress. The invitation follows several recent overtures by Beijing to increase its diplomatic footprint in the region and comes at a time of heightened friction between the Biden administration and Netanyahu’s ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox government. Netanyahu’s office said the “projected visit” to China would be his fourth as prime minister. It said it notified the Biden administration, which has a rocky relationship with China, about the invitation last month. It declined to comment on possible dates for the trip.China has taken a more strident role in Mideast diplomacy in recent months, brokering a deal to restore ties between Israel’s archenemy, Iran, and Saudi A...

In China, muted reaction to revolt in Russia belies anxiety over war, global balance of power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s muted reaction to the Wagner mercenary group uprising against Russia’s military belies Beijing’s growing anxieties over the war in Ukraine and how this affects the global balance of power. China’s ruling Communist Party called the swift end of the 22-hour revolt Moscow’s “internal affair,” with state media affirming China’s support for Russia. Chinese observers said the incident showed how overblown Western rhetoric was regarding the “Russian internal conflict” and that President Vladimir Putin’s hold on power remains secure. But the uprising also threatens to deepen growing anxieties in Beijing over Russia’s war in Ukraine. China claims to be neutral over the war but has backed Russia in practice, blaming the U.S. and NATO for provoking Russia’s full-on and thus-forth thwarted invasion of the eastern European country while continuing with frequent state visits, economic exchanges and joint military drills with Russia.“Of course, this inciden...

These heroes can’t save you from DC traffic. Marvel movie filming shuts down roads

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

Listen to WTOP Traffic on the 8s for the latest on road conditions.A Marvel movie appears to be filming in D.C. this week, but these heroes won’t save you from problems on the road prompted by the Hollywood production.Road closures and parking restrictions are in place downtown now through Thursday morning, according to D.C. police. Many of the affected roadways are near the White House.It isn’t clear exactly what movie is being filmed.A director in the mayor’s office, Latoya Foster, mentioned that the movie would be filming when discussing upcoming entertainment productions at a meeting in March.“We have Marvel coming to Washington, D.C.,” said Foster. “I can’t give you too much about that but let me tell you we’re going to have a huge Marvel film taking place right in downtown that you won’t want to miss out on.”Where are the closures?You won’t be able to park on these streets from Monday at 12:00 a.m. through Frida...

Lordstown Motors files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

Commercial electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nearly two months after it warned that it was in danger of failing. In early May electronics company Foxconn wavered on a $170 million investment in Lordstown. The Ohio company said in a regulatory filing at the time that it had received notice from Foxconn on April 21 that it was in breach of their investment agreement because it had received a delisting warning from Nasdaq two days earlier.Lordstown said at the time that given the uncertainties, there was substantial doubt it could continue as a going concern. Lordstown was in danger of being delisted from the Nasdaq because its share price closed below $1 on March 7 and continued to falter after that.Foxconn told Lordstown at the time that it may unwind their agreement if Lordstown did not resolve its listing issues. Lordstown said in May that it had notified Foxconn that, among other things, it believed the breach allegation...

LiveOne: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) — WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) — LiveOne, Inc. (LVO) on Tuesday reported a loss of $4.8 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.On a per-share basis, the West Hollywood, California-based company said it had a loss of 6 cents. Losses, adjusted to extinguish debt, were 5 cents per share.The company posted revenue of $25.5 million in the period.For the year, the company reported a loss of $10 million, or 12 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $99.6 million.LiveOne expects full-year revenue in the range of $122 million to $130 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LVO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LVOSource

EU faces a cliffhanger climate vote after its parliament emerged deadlocked on a key nature bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is facing a cliffhanger vote next month that will test its global climate and environmental credentials, after its parliament was again deadlocked on pushing a nature restoration bill onwards on Tuesday. The legislature’s environment committee emerged deadlocked at 44-44 on the plan to beef up the restoration of nature in the 27-nation bloc that was damaged during decades of industrial expansion. It means the full parliament will be asked to reject it. “The fight is not over. We will do our utmost to rally forces throughout the hemicycle behind an ambitious law to the benefit of people and the planet,” said socialist S&D legislator Mohammed Chahim. The parliament’s biggest group, the Christian Democrat EPP, has turned against the plan, arguing it is bad for embattled farmers and puts food security at risk at a time when the war in Ukraine has shown that strategic autonomy on foodstuffs can be essential. The bill is a key part of the...

Un conserje escuchó “alarmas molestas” y apagó un congelador: arruinó 20 años de investigación escolar valorada en US$ 1 millón, dice una demanda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

(CNN) — Un conserje universitario que apagó un congelador después de escuchar múltiples “alarmas molestas” arruinó más de 20 años de investigación, según una demanda presentada contra su empleador por el Instituto Politécnico Rensselaer en norte del estado de Nueva York.El conserje, que no está incluido en la demanda, era un contratista de Daigle Cleaning Systems Inc., que trabajó durante varios meses en 2020 en la universidad privada de investigación en Troy, Nueva York.La escuela busca más de US$ 1 millón en daños y honorarios legales de Daigle Cleaning Systems como resultado del incidente.El congelador del laboratorio contenía más de 20 años de investigación, incluidos cultivos celulares y muestras a los que una “pequeña fluctuación de temperatura de tres grados causaría daños catastróficos”, según la demanda presentada ante la Corte Suprema del condado de Rensselaer.La universidad no cree que el conserje tenga la culpa, sino que culpa a Daigle Cleaning Systems ...

Power pole collapses damaging multiple vehicles in Miramar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:41:44 GMT

A power pole collapsed and landed on multiple cars in Miramar. The incident took place at 3408 West Lake Place on Tuesday morning, prompting a swift response from local firefighters.No injuries were reported at the time. Collapsed power poles seem to be a recurring problem in this area. Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution and avoid any contact with fallen powerlines, as they may still carry electric current. It is crucial to remember that tampering with or touching these powerlines can lead to severe injuries or even prove fatal.Residents are reminded to report any power pole-related concerns to Florida Power & Light.