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Despite FDA crackdown, unauthorized vapes flood market

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

By Matthew Perrone | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The number of different electronic cigarette devices sold in the U.S. has nearly tripled to over 9,000 since 2020, driven almost entirely by a wave of unauthorized disposable vapes from China, according to tightly controlled sales data obtained by The Associated Press.The surge stands in stark contrast to regulators’ own figures, which tout the rejection of some 99% of company requests to sell new e-cigarettes while authorizing only a few meant for adult smokers.The numbers demonstrate the Food and Drug Administration’s inability to control the tumultuous vaping market more than three years after declaring a crackdown on kid-friendly flavors. Most of the disposable e-cigarettes, which are thrown away after they’re used up, come in sweet and fruity flavors like pink lemonade, gummy bear and watermelon that have made them the favorite tobacco product among teenagers.They are all technically illegal, but their influx h...

Housing and hotel complex might sprout in Palo Alto via “builder’s remedy”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

PALO ALTO — A “builder’s remedy” proposal could create housing, develop a new hotel and launch a wide-ranging lodging renovation at a choice Palo Alto site, city documents show.Chicago-based Oxford Capital filed papers with city officials that sketch out plans to create 185 new residential units, renovate three existing hotel buildings and develop a brand-new hotel at 3400 El Camino Real in Palo Alto.An estimated 20% of the proposed new residences would be affordable units.“Specifically, 38 of the 189 units would be dedicated to low-income households,” a cover letter to the city from Oxford Capital’s legal team stated.The housing would also include townhomes, public documents show.In December 2020, Oxford Capital paid $111 million for a portfolio of hotels, including the Creekside Inn where the Palo Alto project is proposed. The purchase also included a Los Gatos hotel and three hotels in San Francisco.An Oxford affiliate paid $32.7 million ...

Kim Kardashian opening first Skims store in Los Angeles

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

By Kim Bhasin | BloombergKim Kardashian’s underwear label Skims plans to open its first permanent stores next year as it plots retail expansion in the US and abroad.Skims is set to debut its first flagship store in Los Angeles in the first half of 2024, followed by a second opening in New York. The 5,000-square-foot shop will be in West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard near streetwear stores such as Supreme and Kith.“Kim and I can envision a future where years from today there’s a Skims store anywhere in the world you’d find an Apple store or a Nike store,” said Jens Grede, co-founder and chief executive officer of Skims. “It marks the second chapter.”SEE MORE: Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse on Airbnb ahead of movie’s releaseSkims began as a direct-to-consumer business in 2019, but it since has dabbled in physical retail through relationships with department stores such as Nordstrom Inc. and Saks Fifth Avenue. In recent months, Skims has opened temporary pop-ups in locations like London’s ...

Report: FBI, DHS ignored ‘massive amount’ of pre-attack intelligence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

By Mary Clare Jalonick | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security downplayed or ignored “a massive amount of intelligence information” ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S Capitol, according to the chairman of a Senate panel that on Tuesday released a new report on the intelligence failures ahead of the insurrection.The report details how the agencies failed to recognize and warn of the potential for violence as some of then-President Donald Trump’s supporters openly planned the siege in messages and forums online.Among the multitude of intelligence that was overlooked was a December 2020 tip to the FBI that members of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys planned to be in Washington, D.C., for the certification of Joe Biden’s victory and their “plan is to literally kill people,” the report said. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said the agencies were also aware of many ...

Summer weather pattern in place for Bay Area, and first heat wave is coming

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

The calendar marked the occasion last week — summer is officially here.Finally, the weather is catching up.The annual marking of the summer solstice normally is an event predated by a weather pattern of high pressure, escalating temperatures and a reduced marine layer. This year, the usual Bay Area climate for summer has been lagging.“That upper atmosphere low-trough pattern that we’ve had for a long time now is finally being replaced by some high pressure,” National Weather Service meteorologist Dalton Behringer said Tuesday morning. “Now, that high-pressure ridge will build through the weekend.”That ridge will usher in a hot start to the weekend. Temperatures are expected to hit 90 degrees in far East Bay places such as Brentwood in Contra Costa County by Wednesday and Livermore in Alameda County by Thursday. Come Friday, the Santa Clara Valley, San Jose and most of East Bay likely will be in the lower 90s, with coastal areas in Alameda County i...

$10,000 reward offered for solving Oakland flower delivery homicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department released surveillance photographs Tuesday of two people who were seen in the area of a homicide scene moments before a deadly shooting. The homicide victim, Matheus Gaidos, killed on the 400 block of 26th Street on June 21 just before 6:30 p.m. Gaidos, 27, worked as a florist and was delivering flowers in the Koreatown neighborhood when he was slain. OPD and CrimeStoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case."The Oakland Police Department is releasing these pictures in hopes the community can help identify these individuals who were walking in the area prior to the homicide of Matheus Gaidos," OPD wrote.The Oakland Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify these two people. Surveillance video obtained by KRON4 shows Gaidos was delivering flowers in front of Telegraph Apartments Wednesday when a man and woman strolled past him while walking a dog. The couple stop...

Armed robbery, shooting suspects arrested by SFPD

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Two suspects have been arrested in connection to separate but connected incidents involving an armed robbery and a shooting, the San Francisco Police Department announced Tuesday. Joseph Tagoilelagi, 34, and Bryant Gray, 35, were identified by the SFPD Night Investigations Unit and Major Crimes Robbery Detail as suspects connected to an armed robbery in the Taraval District and a shooting in the Tenderloin last month. San Jose smash-and-grab spree caught on video In the Taraval incident on May 11, officers responded to the 2300 block of 20th Avenue on a report of an armed robbery. Two victims officers met with said that two unknown suspects brandished firearms at them, stole a necklace and then fled in a getaway vehicle.In the Tenderloin incident, officers from Tenderloin Station responded on May 22 to the 300 block of Golden Gate Avenue to investigate a shooting report. Officers found two victims with gunshot wounds. Both were transported to the hospital w...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Damaging winds, ‘quarter-size’ hail

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

Pedestrians dodge rain in Bethesda, Maryland. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)(WTOP/Dave Dildine) Pedestrians dodge rain in Bethesda, Maryland. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)(WTOP/Dave Dildine) Listen to WTOP for weather updates on the 8s.The D.C. area can once again expect severe thunderstorms.The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for D.C., northern Virginia and Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland.Current traffic conditionsWeather forecastClosings and DelaysSign up for WTOP alertsThe warning is in effect through 3 p.m Tuesday.Severe Thunderstorm Warning for DC, Columbia and Fairfax counties until 3p.Radar indicated hail of 1″ and winds up to 60 mph moving into the District...

Former captain Ryan Getzlaf named player development coordinator by Ducks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Former captain Ryan Getzlaf is now the player development coordinator for the Anaheim Ducks. Getzlaf served as Anaheim’s captain for 12 seasons (2010-22). He is also the all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 1,019 points, including 737 assists, and played in a team-record 1,157 games.In his new role, Getzlaf will assist Director of Player Development Jim Johnson in preparing prospects in Anaheim’s system for a career in professional hockeyGetzlaf played 17 seasons for the Ducks after being the 19th overall pick in the 2003 NHL draft.“I am so excited to be back in a role where I feel I can help our young players, who are the focal point of both the future and present of our hockey club,” Getzlaf said in a statement. “This opportunity will give me the chance to help them in the critical years of their development and share the many years of experiences that I have had.”___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP...

Parents, religious groups to protest Montgomery Co. schools’ use of some books

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:59:22 GMT

Protesting the lack of an opt-out policy for certain materials in Montgomery County, Maryland, public schools, several parental and religious rights groups say 500 people are expected to rally outside Tuesday’s school board meeting.The rally against Montgomery County Public Schools will mainly focus on the county’s use of certain books in schools.Coalition of Virtue, a Muslim parent’s group and one of the parties that has helped organize the rally, put out a news release that stated its reasoning for the protest:“MCPS recently introduced a new curriculum to indoctrinate students from pre k-eighth grade on a specific and highly opinionated view of sexual morality and gender ideology. The curriculum lesson plans attempt to eliminate dissent by correcting/silencing students with differing opinions, whether based on religion or science.”The group claims MCPS originally planned that parents would be able to opt out of such lessons but that hasn’t happened.Three families have ...