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House expels GOP Rep. George Santos. It’s just the sixth expulsion in the chamber’s history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

By KEVIN FREKING | Associated PressWASHINGTON  — The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. He was just the sixth member in the chamber’s history to be ousted by colleagues.The vote to expel was 311-114. Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a blistering House Ethics Committee report that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive.Santos fought the expulsion effort leading up to the vote, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews.“I will not stand by quietly,” Santos declared as lawmakers debated his removal the evening before the vote. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”Of the previous expulsions...

Here's where San Francisco ranks in terms of population loss in the past 5 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

When a city's population declines -- whether birth rates go down, deaths increase, or people simply move to another area -- it can affect the housing market, small businesses, employment and other factors. Paying attention to demographic changes can help residents, governments and businesses understand new trends and inform how to best position themselves.With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 344 of the largest U.S. cities based on the largest population declines over five years between 2017 and 2022.  How did a man get into the Transbay Tube on Wednesday? Key findingsParadise, Nevada lost 22% of its population despite population growth across the Southwest. Many cities in Nevada, Arizona and Texas topped the list for the highest population growth between 2017 and 2022, but Paradise bucks that trend. The latest population count was 183,321, down from 235,123 residents in 2017. This rate of decline is almost double that of second-place Jackson, Mississippi (-12.7%).California c...

Cost of living in California is comparable to this European country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

While the Euro has long been more valuable than the American dollar, the cost of living in the United States is significantly higher than across Europe on average. Basic expenses for a single adult with no children in the U.S. is $2,508 per month, compared to an average of $1,746 per month in Europe. However, individual states and nations run the gamut in terms of costs. Here’s where San Francisco ranks in terms of population loss in the past 5 years With this in mind, SmartAsset examined the cost of living across all 50 states and the 38 countries in Europe to get a sense of how they compare on a one-to-one basis. SmartAssetKey findingsThe cost of living gap is wider in Europe than the U.S. While the median cost of living in the U.S. ($2,508) is higher than Europe ($1,746), there is a wider gap between the most expensive European countries and the most affordable ones. Switzerland, which has Europe's highest monthly cost of living ($4,059), is 4.5 times more expensive than B...

Aston Villa files complaint to UEFA over Legia Warsaw conduct and fan violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa filed a complaint with UEFA on Friday over the conduct of Legia Warsaw officials and the “unprecedented violence” of the Polish team’s fans outside Villa Park.Police arrested 46 Legia supporters after “ 90 minutes of sustained violence ” Thursday night when 1,000 Polish fans arrived to the stadium but weren’t given their tickets to the Europa Conference League game.“This shocking behavior followed Legia club officials’ complete lack of cooperation with West Midlands Police, Aston Villa and UEFA throughout the day,” the Birmingham club said in a statement Friday.The Warsaw club had been upset that local officials who license all stadium events required the ticket allocation be reduced from 1,700 to 1,000 in response to disorder by Legia fans at an Oct. 5 game against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.At a standard pre-match meeting Thursday morning, “Legia Warsaw refused to confirm if they would accept their allocation of tickets f...

Should you think about rebalancing your 401(k)?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

The markets have been volatile over the past few years.And while that may have resulted in significant gains in U.S. stocks, it may have your retirement plan out of whack.So how do you know when the right time to rebalance your 401(k) or Thrift Savings Plan is?Financial contributor Barry Glassman, president of Glassman Wealth Services, joined WTOP anchors Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer to explain how the volatile market is affecting retirement plans.Read the full conversation, which has been lightly edited for clarity, below: toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer speak with financial contributor Barry Glassman $(function () { ...

House expels Republican Rep. George Santos of New York in a bipartisan vote after critical ethics report on his conduct

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., faces reporters at the Capitol in Washington, early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. After a scathing report by the House Ethics Committee citing egregious violations, Santos could be expelled from Congress this week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., faces reporters at the Capitol in Washington, early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. After a scathing report by the House Ethics Committee citing egregious violations, Santos could be expelled from Congress this week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — House expels Republican Rep. George Santos of New York in a bipartisan vote after critical ethics report on his conduct...

New US rules aimed at curbing China could make it harder for EV buyers to claim a full tax credit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government proposed new rules Friday that could make it harder for electric vehicles to qualify for a full $7,500 federal tax credit, complicating efforts to meet President Joe Biden’s goal that half of new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. run on electricity by 2030.Plans outlined by the departments of Treasury and Energy would limit EV buyers from claiming the full tax credit if they purchase cars containing battery materials from China and other countries that are considered hostile to the United States. The new rules, required under Biden’s signature climate law approved last year, are likely to slow consumer acceptance of electric vehicles just as Biden is trying to ramp up sales to help meet his goal to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. EV sales have tripled since Biden took office, but the U.S. still depends on foreign sources, especially China, for many of critical minerals needed to produce EV batteries. It’s still no...

Pakistan’s supreme court hears petition against forceful deportation of Afghans born in the country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s top court opened a hearing Friday on a petition by human rights activists seeking to halt the forceful deportation of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and those who would be at risk if they were returned to Afghanistan. The deportations are part of a nationwide crackdown by the government in Islamabad that started last month on Afghans who are in Pakistan without papers or proper documentation. Pakistan claims the campaign does not target Afghans specifically, though they make up most of the foreigners in the country. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. In addition, more than half a million people fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power in August 2021, in the final weeks of U.S. and NATO pullout. Since Islamabad launched the crackdown in October, giving Afghans until the end of the month to go back or face arrest, hundreds of thousands have returned home, many in Pakistan-or...

New traffic pattern for SR-836 eastbound to I-395

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

In a move to improve traffic flow, a new traffic pattern will be introduced for drivers on State Road 836 heading to eastbound Interstate 395 starting Friday. The change involves diverting drivers onto a new connector bridge, with specific lane assignments for those heading to northbound I-95, southbound I-95, or exiting at Northwest Eighth Street.To implement the new pattern, roads were closed on Thursday. Motorists are advised to follow electronic message boards and signage to navigate the new traffic pattern. A video demonstration of the changes is available here. For detailed detour maps and more information, visit the official project website.

Renewed Israel-Gaza war crowds out climate at COP28

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The war in Gaza crashed into the United Nations climate summit on Friday, as furious sideline diplomacy, blunt censures of violence and an Iranian boycott shoved global warming to the side.It was a sharp change in tone from the COP28 opening on Thursday, which ended on an upbeat note as countries promised to support climate-stricken communities. The mood darkened the following day as news broke that the week-old truce between Israel and Hamas was collapsing. Israeli President Isaac Herzog spent much of the morning in meetings telling fellow leaders about “how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements,” according to a post on his X account. He ended up skipping a speech he was meant to give during Friday’s parade of world leaders.There were other conspicuous no-shows. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was absent, despite being listed as an early speaker. And Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, also disappeared...