Category: Sacramento

Choosing a bottle of wine can be a stressful task. Especially when that wine is meant for someone else. If you’re daunted by trying to decide what wine to bring to a party, the perfect bottle for a hard-to-please mother-in-law or something to entice a prospective paramour, consider some tried-and-tested tips from Chicago wine experts. Surefire party hits When selecting a wine to bring to a party, Chasity Cooper, a communications strategist and wine and culture writer, turns to trusted favorites. “Pinot noir from Oregon always delivers,” says Cooper, who recently published the “Wine Convo Generator,” a mix-and-match guide to describing wines like a sommelier. You’ll find pinot noir with this “twist of brightness” from cool-climate regions such as the Willamette Valley, she says. It’s an effortless, juicy choice that appeals to both novice wine drinkers as well as connoisseurs, whether you’re at a dinner party or a summer cookout, Cooper explains. For a go-to white wine, “it’s fine to keep hanging out in sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio-land,” Cooper says. But if you’re looking for something “a bit more next level” Cooper likes to

John T. Bennett | (TNS) CQ-Roll Call WASHINGTON — Joe Biden’s aviator sunglasses likely won’t be far away Saturday night when the president cracks some jokes at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. But not everyone will be laughing during Washington’s yearly spectacle — even if “Dark Brandon” makes another appearance. That’s Biden’s political alter ego, his team’s attempt to flip the conservative slogan “Let’s Go Brandon” on his foes. Biden ended his comedy set last year by slipping on his signature shades and pretending to morph into his edgier persona. Official Washington will do the same Saturday evening, with reporters and officials trading their wrinkled business attire of comfortable shoes and coffee-stained shirts and blazers for sleek tuxedos and shimmering gowns. As thousands of dinner attendees fill the Washington Hilton’s massive ballroom, the sound of the clinking of glasses and plates will be matched only by the polite — and sometimes boozy — chitchat around hundreds of round tables with bright white tablecloths. Much will be at stake as business deals are floated and potential sources are wooed. But the same will be

The NHL Draft Lottery, perhaps the biggest event on the San Jose Sharks’ calendar this year, will be held on May 7, the league announced Friday. The lottery will take place at the NHL Network’s studio in Secaucus, N.J., and will be broadcast in the U.S. on ESPN, and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada. The NHL said a specific time for the lottery will be announced next week. The lottery determines the selection order for the first 16 picks in the first round of this year’s draft. The teams in the lottery are the ones that did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs or the teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams. The NHL uses a lottery to determine the first and second overall selections. A team can move up to 10 spots in the draft, so only the top 11 seeds are eligible to receive the first overall selection. The Sharks (19-54-9), by finishing with the fewest points in the NHL with 47, have a 25.5% chance of winning the first lottery and selecting No. 1

By Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump’s tough week showed as well as any to date why he is facing a new and unprecedented reality as a presidential candidate — as he ping-ponged among a dizzying array of court appearances, judicial rulings, competing allegations and subsequent grievances. By Thursday, he was complaining about the overlap in his busy legal schedule, railing that Judge Juan M. Merchan, who is presiding over his hush-money case in New York, wouldn’t let him leave that trial to attend a Supreme Court hearing in Washington, D.C., over whether he can face criminal prosecution for trying to overturn the 2020 election. That decision also could affect Trump’s classified-documents case in Florida. “I should be there!” Trump fumed about the Supreme Court. “He wouldn’t allow it to happen. He puts himself above the Supreme Court.” Related Articles National Politics | Holdout states consider expanding Medicaid — with work requirements National Politics | Rural jails turn to community health workers to help the newly released succeed National Politics | Will Supreme Court make Trump immune from Jan. 6 prosecution? National Politics |

By Shalina Chatlani, Stateline.org In Humphreys County, Mississippi — about 70 miles north of the state capital, in the heart of the fertile Delta region — a third of the residents live in poverty. In Belzoni, the county seat, there are just a handful of health care clinics. The town’s only major hospital closed more than a decade ago, around the same time its catfish industry collapsed. Jobs in the area are scarce, said Wardell Walton, who was mayor of Belzoni from 2005 to 2013. But even if there were jobs, he said, a lot of Belzoni residents wouldn’t be able to get to them — they don’t own cars, and there is no public transportation. Many people in Belzoni, and Humphreys County, would get free health care coverage if the state expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But for a decade, Mississippi and nine other states have declined to do so. Republican opponents have long derided expansion as a government handout. They also have warned that the federal government would someday renege on its promise to cover nearly all of it. Related Articles

Rachel Goldberg-Polin tells CBS News’ Debora Patta that she didn’t listen to what her son Hersh was saying in a new video released by Hamas, she was just glad to hear his voice.

The discovery of drug-resistant bacteria in two dogs prompted a probe by the CDC and New Jersey health authorities.

Dreams come true at the 2024 NFL Draft. Find out how and when to watch or stream this year’s draft tonight.

Follow live updates as former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial continues in New York.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — One man has died following a late-night crash in northwest Fresno. It happened just before 1 am Friday at Shaw and Teilman. Officers say only one vehicle was involved and the driver died at the scene. It appears his car hit a tree on the north side of Shaw. Bystanders told Action News they recovered parts from a Lexus vehicle. There’s no word yet on what led up to the crash, and the driver has not yet been identified. Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

HOUSTON, Texas — In celebration of the 100th anniversary of National Coin Week, U.S. Coins & Jewelry launched a treasure hunt. The store’s co-owner, Kenny Duncan Jr. said they decided to go all out, “We came up with an idea to take five coins and place them with five local businesses. We are giving out clues daily on Instagram and that clue will lead you to that business.” The week-long treasure hunt started April 22nd and ends April 27th. The first five customers at each store who uses the special password will receive a vintage coin. Those winners are then qualified for grand prize drawing at U.S. Coins and Jewelry on April 27th, where approximately $10,000 worth of gold and silver coins are being awarded.

LONDON — King Charles III is back. The 75-year-old monarch will resume his public duties next week following a three-month break to focus on his treatment and recuperation after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer, Buckingham Palace said Friday. Charles will mark the milestone by visiting a cancer treatment center on Tuesday, the first of several public appearances he will make in the coming weeks, the palace said. One of his first major engagements will be to host a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June. The palace didn’t provide an update on the king’s treatment, but said his medical team is “very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the king’s continued recovery. Charles continued his state duties, including reviewing government documents and meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after his diagnosis was disclosed on Feb. 5. “As the first anniversary of the coronation approaches, their majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year,”

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Two Alabama families welcomed babies named Johnny Cash and June Carter, both on April 10 and at the same hospital. Moms Sophie Clark and Nicole Davis told “Good Morning America” they couldn’t resist meeting when they both learned of the amazing coincidence — that their babies were named after the late Grammy-winning country singer-songwriters, who were married from 1968 till their deaths in 2003. “I was very shocked. I was so excited when I found out,” Clark, 22, recalled. Davis added, “I thought it was a bizarre coincidence. And I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ When I realized they named her June Carter and we named our baby Johnny Cash, and that (they were born the same day), it got a little bit more intensified at that point.” Nicole Davis and Sophie Clark both welcomed their babies – Johnny Cash Davis and June Carter Clark – on April 10 at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children in Huntsville, Ala. Courtesy Nicole Davis Davis and her husband Johnny Lee Davis Jr. are parents of 12, and baby Johnny Cash Davis

HOUSTON — A 4-year-old girl was discharged from Texas Children’s Hospital on Thursday after waiting on the organ transplant waiting list for 1,025 days, or nearly 3 years. The staff at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston lined the halls on April 18 to give 4-year-old Arctura, who received a donor heart on March 29, a celebratory send-off parade. “I like my new heart,” Arctura said ahead of her discharge, adding that she was looking forward to seeing “the ducks and the turtles” at the local park. Arctura, 4. Credit: Savanna Schultz Arctura’s journey has been a long one. According to her parents and doctor, the 4-year-old was born with a congenital heart defect, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes is the most common type of birth defect. In Arctura’s case, her heart’s tricuspid valve didn’t form as it should, causing issues with blood flow through the heart. Her heart was also dilated, causing it to be enlarged and impacting her lungs. Arctura’s parents Madelyn and Joshua Nowak told “Good Morning America” that learning of their daughter’s condition at their 20-week anatomy scan

Sam’s Club is offering yearly Club memberships for just $14 this April. Here’s how to score the deal.

A new “48 Hours” investigation is looking into the death of a Kansas woman after she was found dying from a gunshot wound in 2019. The coroner initially ruled Kristen Trickle’s death a suicide, but the local prosecutor said evidence on the scene didn’t add up. “48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty has the story.

“I am happy to debate him,” President Biden said during an interview with Howard Stern.

“How expensive?” tracks measurements of California’s totally unaffordable housing market. The pain: Twenty U.S. cities with the highest home-price-to-income ratios are all in California. The source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed a housing affordability yardstick by Construction Coverage, which tracked median home prices divided by the median annual household income for 384 cities including 79 from California. The pinch If going 20 for 20 at the top of this “unaffordability” ranking wasn’t painful enough, look at California’s share of this city-by-city scorecard this way … 93% of the 30 costliest cities were from the Golden State 83% were in Top 40. 78% were in the Top 50. 69% were in the Top 75. 61% were in the Top 100. 51% were in the Top 150. Or ponder the statewide pain like this: A California home costs 8.4 times income ($765,197 vs. $91,551) compared with 4.7 times nationally – $347,716 price vs. 74,755 income. Pressure points Here are California’s Top 20 … No. 1 Newport Beach: Cost ratio of 25.4 times – $3.2 million price vs. $127,353 income. No. 2 Palo Alto: 19 times – $3.4 million

SANTA CLARA — In selecting Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night at No. 31 overall, the 49ers created a further level of intrigue as to the status of incumbents Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. In the meantime, they bypassed players at perceived positions of need — namely edge rushers, defensive tackles, cornerbacks and offensive tackles. Coach Kyle Shanahan said things aren’t always as they seem, and saw Pearsall as a fit to the wide receiver corps even with Aiyuk and Samuel still around. Pearsall, Shanahan believes, has the versatility to play outside or in the slot, plays with the physicality the 49ers demand from their wide receivers and can also return punts. “There’s like four positions we were interested in being the right pick at No. 31, and we had arguments for every single one,” Shanahan said. “When it gets there, you’ve got to take the one that makes the most sense and it’s as simple as what’s totally obvious right now . . . you package these guys, two wideouts, one wideout, three, sometimes four .

SAN FRANCISCO — The solution to the Blake Snell-sized hole in the Giants’ rotation may exist just up the I-80 corridor. At Triple-A Sacramento, Mason Black is off to a sizzling start. The 24-year-old right-hander was one of the final cuts in spring training, and in four starts to begin the season in the minor leagues has allowed a run in only one of them. With 20 strikeouts to only four walks, that has produced a 1.53 ERA for the 2021 third-round pick from Scranton, Pennsylvania. In the difficult pitching conditions of the Pacific Coast League, only one pitcher with as many innings has a lower ERA. Black, rated the Giants’ No. 7 prospect by MLB.com, was slated to take the mound Thursday night at Sutter Health Park, but could his next start come in the major leagues? Thanks to a set of favorable off days, the Giants don’t have to cover Snell’s turn through the rotation until the first week of May, when they are in Philadelphia. “He would definitely be one of the options,” manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday. “It seems like every

As warmer weather arrives, Californians are thinking about the next live sporting event or outdoor concert with family and friends. But what used to be a straightforward experience of getting tickets has morphed into a complex and costly endeavor, all thanks to the Live Nation and Ticketmaster stranglehold over consumers. Since the two companies merged in 2010, Live Nation Entertainment has built a monopolistic empire controlling the management of venues for live sports and concerts, and also the process for buying tickets. The monopoly now controls an estimated 80% of primary ticket sales nationwide, and holds contracts with 78% of the top-grossing arenas. The monopoly is also the dominant player in the secondary resale market, with upwards of two-thirds of the market share, according to reports. Who loses because in all this? You, the consumer. Our wallets have been hit hard: Ticket prices have more than doubled since Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged, surging by an alarming 140% even when adjusted for inflation. The monopoly is finally facing scrutiny from government watchdogs. Last week, the federal Justice Department revealed plans to file an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment for