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Presents for Being Present: 15 Holiday Gifts To Help Reduce Stress and Encourage Self-Care

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

Photo Source: Adobe StockAs the holiday season approaches, the air is filled with excitement and anticipation. It’s a time of celebration, reunions, and joyful moments with loved ones. However, it’s also a season notorious for its stress-inducing qualities. Between the gift shopping, family gatherings, and end-of-year work commitments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.That’s why we’re here to help you discover a selection of 15 holiday gifts that can make a world of difference in promoting self-care. These thoughtful presents are designed to help you and your loved ones unwind, relax, and prioritize your well-being during this bustling time of year.1. Jones Road Beauty: Effortless BeautyPhoto Source: Jones Road Beauty In a world filled with beauty standards and high expectations, there’s a growing movement that champions the simple and authentic beauty that resides within all of us. Enter the captivating trend known as no makeup makeup from brands li...

Raye and Her 21st Century Blues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

Raye and Her 21st Century Blues: English pop & soul artist Raye wrote songs and produced for other artists (Beyonce, Rihanna, Little Mix and many more) before she decided to take her own steps into solo stardom. Like Cat Power, Raye’s latest album was recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall in London — My 21st Century Symphony. Hence this is her My 21st Century Blues World Tour. “Raye has performed My 21st Century Blues as direct support for SZA, Kali Uchis, and Lewis Capaldi’s respective sold out 2023 world tours,” reads the press release. “The second installment of her headline world tour continues with 45 dates across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia including upcoming stints in Nashville, Atlanta, St. Louis, Seattle, Vancouver, and more before wrapping in Los Angeles on November 7th.” The opening act is Absolutely.“A No. 2 album in the UK, My 21st Century Blues was a decade in the making and marked RAYE’s debut as an independent artist,” it continues. ...

At-home DMV test now available for California teens applying for a driver’s license

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

With online options extended to under-18 applicants, teens no longer have to go to a California DMV office to take the knowledge test.The online knowledge test, formerly available only to adults, can now be selected by teenagers filling out the online driver’s license application, the Department of Motor Vehicles said. The option has also been extended to people moving from out of state who need to take the test.The consent of a parent or guardian is required for online test interactions with an under-18 applicant. The test is proctored, so it requires a computer with a webcam — not a tablet or a phone — and it can only be taken between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.The test for under-18 applicants is 46 questions, and a passing score is 38 or better. An applicant is allowed three tries; anyone who fails the at-home test twice must go to a DMV office for the final try.Once the online application is filed and the test is passed, the applicant must go to a DMV office to...

Donald Trump at least gets big hands in disputed courtroom sketch, quips Fox News host

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

It looks like the Trump family and their allies have learned something from Harvey Weinstein about how to put on the best defense possible in a high-profile court battle: Beg the courtroom sketch artist to make you look more attractive and, in Trump’s case, to give you “sizable hands.”The disgraced Hollywood mogul asked artist Jane Rosenberg to give him more hair as she covered his rape trial in 2020, and Donald Trump Jr. recently asked the same artist to “make me look sexy” at his family’s civil fraud trial, which is taking place in New York City, as Insider reported.Now, a Fox News host is urging former President Donald Trump to demand that a better sketch artist draw him as he appears at the trial, saying that the image produced Monday by artist Elizabeth Williams for the Associated Press, and disseminated to the media, was “a travesty.”The GOP's frontrunner for president was in court again today.(Sketch by Elizabeth Williams &#...

Oakland police officer shoots and kills person near City Hall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

OAKLAND — An Oakland police officer shot and killed a person early Tuesday morning near City Hall, according to authorities.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Berkeley officers shoot, kill person during response to reported car burglary Crime and Public Safety | Police release video of fatal September shooting at Toyota service center in Albany Crime and Public Safety | Police fatally shoot woman who they said had BB gun at California bus stop Crime and Public Safety | Leaked video shows Antioch cops fire dozens of shots at man as he runs away Crime and Public Safety | Driver who crashed into Chinese consulate in SF tried to stab a responding officer before being fatally shot Kim Armstead, a public information officer with the department, confirmed that police responded to the 300 block of Frank Ogawa Plaza after receiving a gunshot-detection alert just before 4 a.m. Tuesday. Upon arrival, the off...

How one Napa vineyard might have saved millions of dollars by using birds as pest control

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

NAPA — On a damp and gray Friday at Bouchaine Vineyards, Rebecca Rosen looked up, noticed the handful of ravens circling above her and lobbed an insult.“Jerks!” she yelled.They flew together, swirling and squawking as she walked to the trunk of her Tesla Model S and pulled out the box.There, she hides her ammo: a 6-year-old Harris’ hawk named Rocky, a 17-year-old falcon named E.B. and a 4-year-old spectacled owl named Hootbert, whose only job is to perch himself on a chair and let some tipsy wine tasters snap a photo.Rocky is the real threat. Rosen pulled him out of the box, removed his hood and loosened his strap. Free at last, Rocky soared to the roof of the Bouchaine tasting room and perched high enough to scan the vineyard. His mere existence is enough to irritate the ravens.Armed with long legs, a wingspan of almost 4 feet and an air of unspeakable confidence, Rocky has an aura that demands respect. The raven family knows it; they met one of Rocky’s siblings just last wee...

One dead after Oakland shooting involving an officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

(KRON) – A shooting involving an Oakland Police Department officer that occurred Tuesday is being investigated. Oakland police responded to a ShotSpotter activation on the 300 block of Frank Ogawa Plaza on Nov. 7 sound 4:00 a.m.  One dead after Berkeley police shooting Upon arrival, officers located an individual suffering from a gunshot wound(s), police said. According to police, officers began providing medical treatment to the individual, but the individual was pronounced on scene.The officer involved in the shooting was not physically injured.According to OPD’s preliminary investigation, officers learned the ShotSpotter activation is connected to the officer-involved shooting.The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, per policy, according to OPD. According to OPD, the Oakland Police Department, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and the Community Police Review Agency are all investigating the fatal officer-involved shooting.

Police incidents on BART declined 60% since May, according to data cited by transit agency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The number of incidents on trains involving the BART Police Department has declined more than 60% since May, according to data cited by the transit agency Tuesday. The drop, which BART calls "dramatic," occurred between May and October.According to BART:The number of BART PD incidents fell from 374 in May to 295 in OctoberThe number of BART trains impacted by BPD incidents declined from 1,144 to 694 from May to OctoberTotal train minutes lost due to BPD incidents fell from 9,878 in May to 6,380 in October Traffic on SF Bay Bridge will be impacted by APEC summit The decline in police incidents comes amid a new initiative to improve safety on BART. During that time period, BART changed the schedule to emphasize shorter trains to boost safety, boosted patrols and launched other initiatives."These numbers paint a picture of how our commitment to rider safety is paying off," said BART General Manager Bob Powers. "Fewer delays due to BPD incidents not only shows ...

Do Voters Care More About Online Sex Than Abortion Rights?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

A handful of states are holding important elections today — some of which have gotten a bit of media attention, others which are flying under the radar. Here’s what to watch, and, if you’re in any of these states or know people who are, here’s what to look for at the ballot box:OhioThis summer, Ohio Republicans tried to change the rules so that it would take a 60 percent threshold to amend the constitution because a measure to enshrine abortion rights was polling in the high 50s. That effort failed, meaning abortion access — which is on the ballot today — only needs a bare majority, and it should win comfortably. Pot legalization and regulation is also on the ballot and expected to prevail.MaineThe Pine Tree State will vote on a ballot measure that would seize control of the two state utility monopolies and combine them into the publicly owned Pine Tree Power, which would be operated by an elected board. “By Mainers, for Mainers,” as their slogan goes. Advocates are promising lower ...

Carl Torbush, who succeeded Mack Brown at North Carolina and also coached East Tennessee State, dies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:43 GMT

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Carl Torbush, a defensive specialist who succeeded Mack Brown as North Carolina’s head football coach after Brown’s first tenure and later coached at East Tennessee State, has died. He was 72.ETSU said Monday that Torbush died Sunday. His family informed the school but didn’t provide a cause of death.University President Brian Noland said the coach would be remembered as a man of vision and character and praised him for his leadership and nurturing as the school restarted football after a decade-long hiatus.“In Coach Torbush, we found not only a remarkable coach but also a man of unwavering integrity who embodied the spirit of ETSU,” Noland said in a statement.Torbush ascended from Tar Heels defensive coordinator to head coach after Brown departed for Texas in December 1997 and guided them to a 42-3 Gator Bowl rout of Virginia Tech to cap an 11-1 season. UNC was 7-5 the next year with a Las Vegas Bowl victory and Torbush was let go after the 20...