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House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

By Clare Foran and Haley Talbot | CNNThe House voted Thursday to pass a critical defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets the policy agenda and authorizes funding for the Department of Defense annually.The bill will next be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. The Senate passed the bill Wednesday. The House vote was 310 to 118 with 73 Republicans and 45 Democrats opposing the bill.The final negotiated version of the NDAA for fiscal year 2024 authorizes $886 billion in national defense funding, an increase of $28 billion over last year.The sweeping legislation authorizes a 5.2% pay raise for members of the military – the largest raise for service members in more than two decades – as part of a wide range of provisions related to service member pay and benefits, housing and childcare. In a move that sparked anger from some lawmakers, the bill will also include a short-term extension of a controversial law that permits warrantless su...

Larry Magid: 2023 has been a tumultuous year for tech

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to look back on 2023. The word that comes to mind is tumultuous, which, says Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, means “loud, excited, and emotional.”Related ArticlesBusiness | Magid: Turning ordinary small appliances into smart ones Business | Magid: Using a personal computer to read and send texts Business | Larry Magid: Using ChatGPT for holiday gift ideas and cards Business | Larry Magid: Survey sheds light on parent, teen feelings about Generative AI Generative AIThe biggest story of the year has been the rollout of generative AI. ChatGPT was launched on November 30, 2022. By January of 2023, it was the fastest growing tech application in history with 100 million monthly active users.  Shortly after its launch, Google introduced its competing Bard product, and Microsoft, which is a major investor in ChatGPT, rolled out a ChatGPT-powered generative AI version of ...

Wrecked, abandoned car on I-880 in Hayward leads to arrest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

(KRON) -- An abandoned, crashed car was found by California Highway Patrol officers early Tuesday morning blocking a lane of Interstate 880 in Hayward, according to CHP. $10K worth of copper wire found after San Pablo traffic stop The abandoned car was blocking the far-left lane, CHP said, and a photo shared by police shows a white Lexus with exterior damage and deployed airbags. Witnesses told authorities that three young males fled from the vehicle after the crash to nearby city streets.Two CHP officers located three suspects who matched the witnesses’ description, police said, and detained them. One of the males was arrested for being in possession of a stolen firearm, and another was taken to a local hospital for a broken arm.(Photo: CHP Hayward)(Photo: CHP Hayward)Another stolen firearm was found loaded inside the Lexus, CHP said. Authorities said the car was stolen out of Hayward and was tied to a burglary call in San Leandro.

Rain returning to Bay Area this weekend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Rain is returning to the Bay Area this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. A low-pressure system approaching the region will bring a 72-hour window during which we'll see a high likelihood of getting at least 1 inch of rain across much of the region, the NWS said.Rain could begin as early as Saturday morning and continue until Tuesday morning. The NWS said there is a high probability of the Bay Area and coastal regions getting over an inch of rain during this period. New California laws bring changes to housing in 2024 This approaching wet weather event has the potential to become the first big storm system of this winter. Possible impacts include roadway flooding, the NWS warns. Next week's rain could also have an impact on holiday travel.Much of the Bay Area will see at least between 1 to 2 inches of rain during next week's wet weather event. However, the NWS projects the most likely rainfall totals as being between 2 to 3 inches for much ...

Mickey Mouse will soon belong to you and me — with some caveats

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

FILE - An actor dressed as Mickey Mouse greets visitors at the entrance to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, April 18, 2022, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The earliest version of Disney's most famous character, Mickey Mouse, and arguably the most iconic character in American pop culture, will become public domain on Jan. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)(AP/Ted Shaffrey) FILE - An actor dressed as Mickey Mouse greets visitors at the entrance to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, April 18, 2022, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The earliest version of Disney's most famous character, Mickey Mouse, and arguably the most iconic character in American pop culture, will become public domain on Jan. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)(AP/Ted Shaffr...

Reliever Jorge López and New York Mets finalize $2 million, 1-year contract

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Relief pitcher Jorge López and the New York Mets finalized their $2 million, one-year contract on Thursday.López gives the Mets another experienced arm as they rebuild their bullpen depth with low-cost castoffs.The right-hander pitched for three playoff teams last season, going 6-2 with a 5.95 ERA and three saves in 61 relief appearances for Minnesota, Miami and Baltimore.López, who turns 31 in February, moved exclusively to the bullpen in 2022 and was a dominant closer for the Orioles during four breakout months that earned him an All-Star selection. Baltimore traded him to the Twins in early August that year and he finished 4-7 with a 2.54 ERA and 23 saves in 67 games.Besides that, he’s mostly struggled in eight major league seasons. López is 22-40 with a 5.51 ERA and 27 saves in 230 games, including 58 starts, for Milwaukee, Kansas City, Baltimore, Minnesota and Miami. He pitched for the Brewers when their general manager was David Stearns, the Mets’ new president...

Police arrest 3 people in Denmark, 1 in the Netherlands on suspicion of planning terror attacks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Police arrested three people in coordinated actions across Denmark and one person was detained in the Netherlands on suspicion of plotting to carry out “an act of terror,” authorities said Thursday. Danish officials have stopped short of indicating what the suspected terror plots were connected to other than saying the arrests in Denmark had “threads abroad” and were “related to criminal gangs,” singling out the banned, predominantly immigrant gang Loyal to Familia.However, Flemming Drejer, the operative head of Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service, known by its acronym PET, cryptically said Danish police had “a special focus” on Jewish institutions. He did not provide more details.He said that Denmark was not changing the terror threat level, which has been at “serious,” the second-highest level, since 2010. In January that year, a Danish court upheld a nationwide police ban on the gang, saying it should be dissolved as illegal under Denmark’s cons...

3-year-old injured in Longmont drive-by shooting, suspects wanted

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Longmont police are working to identify suspects in a drive-by shooting that sent a 3-year-old to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.According to the Longmont Police Department, officers responded to a drive-by shooting on Wednesday at 8:01 p.m. in the Countryside Village Mobile Park in the 1400 block of South Collyer. The mobile park is near Pike Road and South Main Street.Police said suspects in a dark-colored sedan fired multiple shots into a home.A 3-year-old girl was hit by what police called an "unidentified projectile." She suffered life-threatening injuries to her torso. 5 units destroyed in large overnight fire at Aurora construction site Longmont police treated the girl until she could be transported to a local hospital and into surgery.As of Wednesday night, police said the girl was in stable condition. The hospital staff credited the girl's survival to the treatment provided by officers before emergency personnel arrived. Those who want to dona...

Former Broncos player named Grand Marshal for 2024 National Western Stock Show Parade

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The National Western Stock Show named former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar as Grand Marshal. He will lead the Stock Show Kick-off Parade this year.The stock show parade started in the 1960s to kick off the annual event when longhorn cattle were herded through the Denver streets.Now, you'll be able to see western cattle drive with horses, cowboys, cowgirls, tractors, marching bands and floats. Randy Gradishar receives nomination for Pro Football Hall of Fame It's the first event to kick off the two-week-long stock show. Other events include rodeos, equestrian shows, live music, food, sheep shearing and more. This year, Gradishar will start off the parade by leading the cattle through the streets of Denver.Gradishar was a member of the Broncos' "Orange Crush" defense from 1974-83. This past August, he received a nomination for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which will be announced early next year.The stock show takes place from Jan. 6-21, 2024, in Denver....

Luke Combs apologizes to woman hit with costly legal bill for selling unofficial merchandise

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:47:47 GMT

(CNN) — Luke Combs is trying to do right by a Florida woman who was reportedly ordered to pay $250,000 for using his likeness on unofficial merchandise.“This is not something that I would ever do,” the “Fast Car” singer said on TikTok Wednesday.Combs said he found out about the lawsuit after a news station in Tampa, Florida reported that Nicol Harness had been sued by his representatives for selling merchandise on Amazon that featured the country star. In total, Harness said she sold 18 Combs-themed tumblers for $20 each, and was sued for copyright infringement in Illinois federal court.Combs said that should not have happened.“It’s 7:27 a.m. here in Tennessee. I woke up at 5 a.m. to use the restroom, and the first thing I saw is this, a woman that’s being sued by me for $250,000,” he said, adding that he had been unaware of the lawsuit.Harness said the lawsuit notification landed in her junk folder while she was in the hospital, dealing with heart issues. She had missed the de...