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Walters: California GOP delegation vulnerable after McCarthy’s ouster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

When a handful of uber-right Republicans forced Speaker Kevin McCarthy out, they may have doomed GOP chances of retaining marginal seats in California and thus control of the House.McCarthy, whose district is centered in Bakersfield, made winning seats in his native state a high priority, recruiting candidates and supplying them with whatever money they needed. It paid off last year when Republicans won back four of the seven California districts they had lost during the 2020 presidential election and, by some analyses, provided McCarthy with the narrow margin he needed to become speaker.The current count is 221 Republicans and 212 Democrats with two vacancies, so it wouldn’t take much for the latter to regain the majority they had held for many years prior to 2022.The GOP victory forced long-serving Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco to cede the gavel to McCarthy, her arch-rival from 250 miles to the southeast. However its narrowness compelled McCarthy to make concessions to the...

49ers mailbag: Chase Young’s impact should reverberate into secondary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Tuesday’s trade for Chase Young not only addressed the 49ers’ insatiable appetite for defensive linemen, but that deadline-beating deal also sparked more questions for this week’s social media mailbag:How does this help a secondary that can’t cover anyone? (@BrianPA1841910)The 49ers, since Day 1 under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, insist their defensive line takes top priority. Pressuring (and sacking) quarterbacks makes it harder to pick on good/bad/ugly defensive backs, who simply are set up to fail under the NFL’s pass-friendly rules. Javon Hargrave was this offseason’s expensive addition to bring interior pressure next to Arik Armstead, but there hasn’t been a consistent push or threat.Since picking Bosa No. 2 in 2019, the 49ers have been on a safari, in search of a complementary sack animal: Dee Ford, Kerry Hyder, Jordan Willis, Dion Jordan, Samson Ebukam, Arden Key, Charles Omenihu, Drake Jackson, Clelin Ferrell, Randy Gregory, and, now Young, Bosa’s Ohio State t...

Crisp: The majority of Americans want their country back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

While I was familiarizing myself with Mike Johnson of Louisiana, our new speaker of the House, news arrived of a uniquely American event, another mass shooting, this time in a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston, Maine.The details are characteristic: Kids were having a good time at youth night in the bowling alley when a white male opened fire with an assault-style, semiautomatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine. Despite Maine’s permissive gun laws — concealed carry is allowed without a permit — no good guy with a gun stepped up. At least 18 are reported killed and many more wounded.Which made me wonder: Why can’t we Americans have a society that more closely resembles the one that most of us want?The fact is, polling shows that most Americans favor stricter gun laws in general, and when specific elements of gun policy are assessed, the numbers are persuasive. For example, according to the Pew Research Center, 61% of Americans say that it is too easy to obtain a gun and...

European Commission’s chief tells Bosnia to unite in seeking EU membership

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — The European Commission chief on Wednesday urged Bosnia to speak “with one voice,” regardless of the country’s different ethnic groups, so that it can move forward toward joining the European Union after gaining candidate status last year. The remarks by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen came as she wrapped up her tour of Western Balkan EU hopefuls in Bosnia’s capital of Sarajevo. “My first message is basically re-emphasizing that Bosnia-Herzegovina’s future is in (the) European Union and how much we want to have you as a full member,” she said. “The work you’ve done in your first year … shows that the country can deliver.”As the war rages in Ukraine, EU officials have sought to push the integration process forward and encourage Balkan nations to boost reforms. During her trip, von der Leyen discussed details of the 6 billion-euro ($6.37 billion) package for Western Balkan countries.The six countries — Albania, B...

Trinity Capital: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — PHOENIX (AP) — Trinity Capital Inc. (TRIN) on Wednesday reported third-quarter profit of $16.8 million.On a per-share basis, the Phoenix-based company said it had profit of 40 cents. Earnings, adjusted for investment costs, were 55 cents per share.The results matched Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of 55 cents per share.The business development company posted revenue of $46.4 million in the period, which topped Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $44.4 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TRIN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TRINSource

Live updates | Israeli airstrikes hit refugee camp for a second day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

Israeli airstrikes have hit apartment buildings in a refugee camp near Gaza City for a second day in a row, causing many deaths and injuries, the Hamas-run government said. The toll from Wednesday’s strikes was not immediately known. Meanwhile, dozens of people with foreign passports entered the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt. It appeared to be the first time that foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago. Communications and internet services were gradually being restored after the second major cut in five days, according to Paltel, the main service provider. Humanitarian aid agencies have warned that such blackouts severely disrupt their work in an already dire situation in Gaza.The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has reached 8,525, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 122 Palestinians have been killed in violence a...

Graham Holdings: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Graham Holdings Co. (GHC) on Wednesday reported a loss of $23 million in its third quarter.The Arlington, Virginia-based company said it had a loss of $5.02 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $10.45 per share.The education and media company posted revenue of $1.11 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GHC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/GHCSource

NNN REIT: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — NNN REIT, Inc (NNN) on Wednesday reported a key measure of profitability in its third quarter. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations.The Orlando, Florida-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $148.3 million, or 82 cents per share, in the period.The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for funds from operations of 80 cents per share.Funds from operations is a closely watched measure in the REIT industry. It takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization.The company said it had net income of $106.8 million, or 59 cents per share.The retail real estate investment trust, based in Orlando, Florida, posted revenue of $205.1 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $204.9 million, falling short of Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $205.7 million.NNN REIT expects full-year funds from operations in the range of...

Atara Biotherapeutics: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Atara Biotherapeutics Inc. (ATRA) on Wednesday reported a loss of $69.8 million in its third quarter.The Thousand Oaks, California-based company said it had a loss of 66 cents per share.The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 63 cents per share.The drug developer posted revenue of $2.1 million in the period.The company’s shares closed at $1.30. A year ago, they were trading at $4.66._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ATRA at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ATRASource

Another wave of Israeli strikes hit Gaza refugee camp as crossing opens for foreigners and wounded

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:00 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes hit apartment buildings in a Gaza refugee camp for the second day in a row Wednesday, Palestinian officials said, as the territory’s only functioning border post opened to allow foreign passport holders to leave for the first time since war broke out over three weeks ago.Al-Jazeera television, one of the few media outlets still reporting from northern Gaza, aired footage of devastation in the Jabaliya camp near Gaza City and of several wounded people, including children, being brought to a nearby hospital. The Hamas-run government said the strikes killed and wounded many people, but the exact toll was not yet known.The Al-Jazeera footage showed nearly identical scenes as the day before, with dozens of men digging through the gray rubble of demolished multistory buildings in search of survivors.The toll from Tuesday’s strikes was also unknown, though the director of a nearby hospital said hundreds were killed or wounded. Israel ...