Sacramento

Dog food recalled in 7 states for salmonella risk after puppy litter gets sick, FDA says

Olivia Lloyd | (TNS) The Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C.— A pet food company based in North Carolina is recalling puppy mix sold in seven states after a batch tested positive for salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. The contamination came to light when a litter of puppies got sick after consuming Blue Ridge Beef’s Puppy Mix, and the customer reported it to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to the FDA. The FDA said it notified the company that the food tested positive for salmonella on Nov. 27, and Blue Ridge Beef issued a voluntary recall on its 2-pound plastic-wrapped logs sold in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. The recall affects puppy mix sold from Aug. 6 to Aug. 23 with logs labeled with lot numbers 08/06/N25 and 08/16/N25, with UPC 854298001696. It’s not the company’s only recall in the past year. In January, Blue Ridge Beef expanded a December 2023 recall of its puppy mix, as well as some of its kitten food, due to possible salmonella and listeria contamination, FDA records show. “Pets

San Diego

Carlsbad names Geoff Patnoe as next city manager

Carlsbad Assistant City Manager Geoff Patnoe was named Carlsbad’s new city manager Tuesday to succeed Scott Chadwick, who announced Nov. 21 he is leaving to become the president and CEO of the Port of San Diego beginning in January. Mayor Keith Blackburn announced the decision after a City Council discussion in closed session. He said Patnoe’s contract is expected to be approved at the council’s Dec. 10 meeting, and he will start the new job Dec. 19. “We’ve seen Geoff in action and have been impressed by his strategic thinking and leadership,” Blackburn said in a news release. “In Geoff, we get continuity for the organization while tapping into his legislative background and experience overseeing the prudent use of taxpayer resources.” Carlsbad hired Patnoe in March 2020 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he helped coordinate the city’s response to the health crisis. In 2022, when the City Council declared a local emergency in response to a sharp increase in bicycle collisions, Patnoe oversaw increased traffic safety measures that reduced the accidents. Before coming to Carlsbad, he was San Diego County’s director of

Sacramento

White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign

By AAMER MADHANI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden has been briefed on the findings and that the White House “has made it a priority for

San Diego

Warming trend expected into the weekend due to weak Santa Ana winds 

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Dry and warm weather should stick around for the rest of the week and make for a warmer than normal December weekend. Morning clouds cleared up Wednesday with the exception of the immediate coastline early into afternoon. The low clouds and fog will return early Thursday morning but look to stay more confined to the coast for early Friday morning. After Wednesday afternoon, temperatures will take on a warming trend thanks to weak Santa Ana winds on Friday and Saturday. Northeast winds along and near the coastal mountain slopes could gust up to 35 miles-per-hour. Thursday’s daytime highs will top out in mid 60s for the coast, low 70s for inland valleys, upper 60s for the mountains, and low 80s for the deserts. The region will feel much warmer than normal for this time of year heading into the weekend as some areas like El Cajon could get 80-degree weather on Saturday. These temperatures will be as much as 10 to 15 degrees above average for the valleys.

San Diego

Top songs and artists in San Diego: Spotify Wrapped 2024

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — If you don’t use Spotify, you may feel a little left out this week as users begin sharing their top listening moments of 2024. Released annually in December since 2016, a campaign spearheaded by the platform — called Spotify Wrapped — allows users to view a compilation of data about their music activity over the past year. Social media typically buzzes with Spotify Wrapped recaps, which include details like what songs and artists were most played, as well as how many minutes of music were listened to in total for the year. 5 unique experiences in San Diego to gift this holiday season The music streaming service provider is also narrowing down the top plays for city’s across the national, including San Diego. For those who are curious, a recap of the top songs, artists and genres for listeners in America’s Finest City can be found below. San Diego’s Top Artists of 2024 on Spotify: Taylor Swift Drake Peso Pluma Kanye West Kendrick Lamar San Diego’s Top Songs of 2024 on Spotify: “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”

San Diego

Report ranks 50 largest U.S. cities by household bills. Where does San Diego rank?

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A recent report looked at the largest 50 U.S. cities and ranked them based on the costs of household bills. Four California cities landed in the top 10 for highest household spending, including San Diego. The report, released by bill payment company Doxo, focused on the ten most common household bills: mortgage, rent, auto loan, utilities, auto insurance, cable/internet/phone, health insurance, mobile phone, alarm and security, and life insurance. New laws going into effect in California in 2025 According to the company, the total cost for the ten most common household bills across the U.S. amount to $3.35 trillion, with people spending the most on mortgage costs. However, the total market size for U.S. household bills is $4.46 trillion per year, with $1,488 billion spent in the “other” category that includes credit card payments, taxes and fees for health care and tolls. Data showed San Jose, Calif. topped the list for most expensive household spending at $3,695 per month. 5 unique experiences in San Diego to gift this holiday season Meanwhile, San Diego landed in the No. 5 spot with

San Diego

Two elderly people seriously injured after being struck by vehicle

CHULA VISTA, Cali. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Two pedestrians, an 82-year-old man and a 77-year-old woman, were sent to the hospital Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle in Chula Vista, authorities said. According to the Chula Vista Police Department, officers responded to the 600 block of J Street shortly before 9:30 a.m. after receiving several calls reporting the incident. The Chula Vista Fire Department also arrived on scene and provided life-saving efforts to the pedestrians. Chula Vista middle school student arrested for possession of a firearm Police said both were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. They are reported to be in stable condition at this time. Based on their preliminary investigation, police say it’s believed that the pedestrians were not in a crosswalk while crossing the roadway. The driver of the involved vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this collision, police said. The Chula Vista Police Traffic Bureau is investigating the incident. Anyone that witnessed the collision or has additional information is asked to call (619) 409-5833.

Los Angeles

IKEA to open first small format store in L.A. County in December

IKEA is set to open its first small format store in Los Angeles County this month. The IKEA Arcadia small-format store will feature over 1,000 products that will be refreshed each season, allowing guests to shop for the most popular items without navigating a giant warehouse. The smaller store is part of an expansion of the IKEA Arcadia Planning Studio, where customers can get support for more complex purchases. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season “Our expansion goal is simple: to be where people are, whenever and however they want to experience IKEA,” Javier Quiñones, CEO and chief sustainability officer of IKEA U.S., said in a statement. “IKEA Arcadia represents a key milestone in this exciting journey towards a more connected and accessible IKEA experience for everyone.” The store, located in the Santa Anita Center in Arcadia, is set to open on Dec. 9. The retail giant has been opening smaller versions of its warehouse locations worldwide as part of its initiative to be accessible to every type of customer. In addition to shopping at traditional warehouse locations, customers can shop online

Los Angeles

Spotify Wrapped: These are L.A.’s top songs of 2024

Every year, Spotify users wait for the day the streaming service tells them something they already know: who they like to listen to. On Wednesday, Spotify dropped its 2024 Wrapped, which provides each user a detailed breakdown of their most often played artists, songs and podcasts, as well as how their listening habits stack up with other users. In the hours that followed, social media feeds were filled with screenshots from friends, family and acquaintances who had definitive proof they, in fact, like Taylor Swift. It’s the tenth year that the streaming company has released its popular campaign, which Spotify exec Marc Hazan says is a “thank-you to fans around the world.” While each person’s Spotify Wrapped is crafted by their specific listening experience over the past 12 months, Spotify says streaming habits are “largely shaped by the people and places around us.” Spotify Wrapped Map 2024 With that, Spotify has also released the 2024 Wrapped Map, which shows the top songs streamed throughout the year in some of the most populous cities in the world, including locally in Southern California. These were the most-streamed

Los Angeles

What is Caitlin Clark’s value to WNBA? A huge chunk of its $200-million revenue, expert says

The champagne hadn’t even dried after the New York Liberty won the WNBA championship when the players association announced it would opt out of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, which was set to expire in 2027. A dramatic increase in revenues due primarily to the emergence of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and other marquee rookies prompted the players to recognize they aren’t getting what they believe to be a fair share. The CBA now ends after the 2025 season, blowing up a pay scale that set average salaries at about $120,000, with rookie minimums at $64,154 and veteran maximums at $241,984. Clark’s four-year rookie contract under the CBA was for $338,056 — including $76,535 in 2024 — laughably low numbers given the revenue she helped generate. Clark broke almost every WNBA rookie record, but more impressive was her off-the-court impact. “The numbers are so staggering,” said Ryan Brewer, associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus, who was asked by the Indianapolis Star to put a price tag on Clark. “They don’t even seem real.” The numbers, as crunched by Brewer: Clark was responsible

Inland Empire

San Bernardino County sells 1,253 acres in Rancho Cucamonga for housing

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has approved the sale of 1,253 acres in Rancho Cucamonga, four years after the city annexed the Etiwanda Heights area for housing and land conservation. At its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 3, the board agreed to sell the land to residential homebuilder Frontier Communities. The company plans to purchase the land in phases over a five-year period, with a maximum purchase price of $93 million plus interest, according to county officials. Show Caption 1 of 5 Expand Previously, the land was managed by the San Bernardino County Flood Control District to mitigate stormwater runoff from the San Gabriel Mountains, a purpose it no longer serves. Initially set aside by the county in 2009 as surplus land, the large parcel remained in limbo until 2018, when Rancho Cucamonga included it in the Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan. In 2020, the city annexed the property, along with another 3,000-plus acres identified for conservation. The city conducted launched a citizen outreach effort to get feedback on the plan. Top concerns identified by residents involved high-density housing and commercial development in the former

Far North

Still Tied: Blue Lake City Council Race Heading to Random Selection

As the old adage goes, every vote counts, something two candidates locked in a tie for a third open seat on the Blue Lake City Council now know all too well. The final cumulative report from the Nov. 5 election released by the Humboldt County Elections Office on Tuesday shows hopefuls Adelene Jones and Kat Napier locked in a dead heat with 245 votes each. That’s the same total as last week’s post election results, when each gained two additional votes from the previous week’s update, which had them tied at 243 votes. So the question becomes: What happens next in Blue Lake? Under state Elections Code, the answer is “to determine the tie by lot,” meaning the luck of the draw or the drawing of straws or a flip of the coin, basically a means by which each candidate has an equal chance of winning. Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Juan P. Cervantes was not immediately available for comment but in an interview with Lost Coast Outpost last week pointed to the same state Elections Code, which outlines having the outcome determined by a

Los Angeles

5 reasons to invest in 1-ounce gold bars before 2025

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. There are a few big reasons to add 1-ounce gold bars to your portfolio before the new year rolls around. Bjoern Wylezich/Getty Images When it comes to diversifying portfolios and building long-term wealth , there is one precious metal in particular that investors turn to: gold. These and the other unique benefits that gold offers have made the previous metal a sought-after asset decade after decade, but gold’s remarkable price performance over the past year, in particular, has helped to boost the allure for both new and experienced investors.  Starting the year at about $2,000 per ounce , gold prices spent much of 2024 on an upward trajectory, eventually landing at today’s price of about $2,650 per ounce — while hitting numerous new records along the way. That type of swift, short-term price growth is unusual for gold, as the precious metal has historically grown in value over the long term . As a result, investors have been flocking to a range of gold assets

Los Angeles

What’s known about the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect

What’s known about the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect – CBS News Watch CBS News Officials are searching for the suspect in the New York City shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Crime and public safety senior coordinating producer Anna Schecter breaks down what’s known about the assailant. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

3 mistakes to avoid if your CD matures in 2024

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Don’t fall into the trap of letting your CD automatically roll over without exploring alternatives. Getty Images/iStockphoto A certificate of deposit (CD) account has historically been a smart way to protect your money – both against economic headwinds and the personal temptation to overspend. In recent years, however, it’s also been a key way to protect against inflation and higher borrowing costs. With interest rates on these accounts exponentially higher than they were in 2020 and 2021, it made sense for savers to open an account to take advantage of the higher rate climate. And, if you opened a CD in 2023 or earlier in 2024, you may have earned hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest, depending on the account interest rate and the opening deposit amount.  But with the end of the year quickly approaching, and CD maturity dates in 2024 on the calendar for many savers, it helps to know which steps to take now to continue earning big returns. It

Los Angeles

Man arrested in Thanksgiving Day kidnapping in East Los Angeles

A man suspected of kidnapping a woman in East Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day has been arrested and charged, authorities announced Wednesday. Deputies responded to the 1200 block of Dickson Avenue on Nov. 28 after witnesses reported seeing a woman being physically assaulted. Officials obtained surveillance video that showed an apparently distressed woman exiting a white-colored SUV moments before a man approached and threw her to the ground. “The suspect then picked up the female and forcibly placed her back into the vehicle where he proceeded to physically assault her,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated. “The vehicle then drove off with both the suspect and victim in it.” Detectives later identified the suspect and arrested Ivan Cruz at his residence in Santa Fe Springs without incident. “The female adult victim observed on video surveillance being assaulted was identified as his girlfriend,” the Sheriff’s Department stated. She was located in East Los Angeles and was treated for minor injuries by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Cruz was ultimately arrested and on Monday he was charged with felony kidnapping and domestic violence. He remains

Los Angeles

Florida man arrested in connection with decades-old Southern California child molestation cases 

A Florida man has been identified as the suspect in multiple child molestation cases in Orange County dating back to the 1990s and 2000s.  According to the Huntington Beach Police Department, a victim of a child molestation case from the 1990s contacted detectives in October 2024.   The subsequent investigation revealed three additional child molestation victims, ranging from 12 to 16 years old.  As authorities continued their probe into the allegations, they were able to identify a suspect: 54-year-old George Philip Foord, who also goes by “Phil” and currently resides in Ridge Manor, Florida, a community about 60 miles west of Orlando.  Foord lived in Huntington Beach at the time of the reported offenses, HBPD said.  Beverly Hills teacher claims she was fired for anti-Trump FB post “The case was submitted to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and an arrest warrant was issued for Foord,” police stated in a media release. “In November, our detectives collaborated with the Special Victims Unit at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, and acting on HBPD’s investigation, detectives contacted and arrested Foord near his residence.”  54-year-old George