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The price of the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ just hit a record high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

By Alicia Wallace | CNNMinneapolis (CNN) — Your True Love’s lavish — and stunningly bird-laden — holiday gift-giving ritual is more expensive than ever before.But at least this time around, inflation’s not as piping hot.The cost of the dozen gifts outlined in the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song rang in at an all-time high of $46,729.86 this year, according to PNC Financial Services’ 2023 Christmas Price Index, which measures the average change in prices for the solo partridge, two turtle doves, seven swans, 12 drummers and other presents in the classic Christmas carol.That price tag is up 2.7% from a year ago, representing a far more palatable increase than the eye-popping 10.5% leap seen last year.The holiday index also is running a touch cooler than its traditional counterpart, the Consumer Price Index, which was up 3.2% for the 12 months ended in October and 7.7% this time last year.Something to feel (turtle) dovish about: Even festive and unofficial inflation gauges appear to be...

This trick from Jacques Pepin’s mother makes souffles weeknight easy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

By Meredith Deeds, Star Tribune (TNS)Yes, sometimes necessity is the mother of invention, and sometimes mothers are the mother of invention. Such is the case with this Easy Cheddar, Bacon and Scallion Soufflé, a recipe inspired by French chef Jacques Pépin’s mother, who accidentally streamlined one of France’s most iconic dishes.As a young bride who was an inexperienced cook, but fearless in the kitchen, she wanted to make her new husband his favorite dish. And while she didn’t know exactly how a cheese soufflé came together, she did know its basic components were béchamel, cheese and eggs.The traditional version, painstakingly labored over by French chefs in fancy kitchens for a couple hundred years or so, starts with the béchamel, the famous French white sauce made by cooking flour and butter together, before whisking in milk. A copious amount of cheese (usually Gruyère) is added to the sauce, along with egg yolks, before the mixture is gently folded into perfect...

Santa Clara County moves forward with 100% affordable downtown San Jose development

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

As the region struggles to meet the demand for affordable housing, Santa Clara County is one step closer to putting shovels in the ground at a site in downtown San Jose to benefit residents who now are priced out of the Bay Area’s hot housing market.The county-owned site at 675 E. Santa Clara St is being developed by the Core Companies and Eden Housing and includes 64 units of senior affordable housing, 113 units of multi-family affordable housing and 36 for-sale, below-market-rate townhomes.But some local housing advocates say the project isn’t ideal, citing height concerns and a reduction in the scope of the project.Over the last five years, the county has worked to create a vision for the site, which originally called for two four-story buildings and one 13-to-16 story building. The most recent plans, though, have been downsized to an eight-story building, a five-story building and a three-story building.Consuleo Hernandez, the director for the county’s office of supp...

Contra Costa County Health offering mental health help 24/7

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

(BCN) -- People in Contra Costa County can get support during a behavioral health crisis 24/7, beginning Friday.Contra Costa Health said Tuesday that its A3 program will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People facing a behavioral health, mental health or substance use crisis can call the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center 24/7 at (844) 844-5544 for care over the phone and have an in-person team dispatched to them if needed."Using our new Measure X sales tax funds to make immediate mental health crisis response available anytime to all Contra Costans will improve quality of life and reduce the harm caused by mental health challenges," John Gioia, chairperson of the county Board of Supervisors, said in a statement. "Having round-the-clock mental health services available throughout Contra Costa has been a long-time need and we are proud that we can now provide these vital services at any time."The county said the need for A3's robust, immediate response is evident, with behavi...

Berkeley father arrested after allegedly abducting child

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

(BCN) -- A 35-year-old Berkeley man was arrested this week after he allegedly abducted his child from the mother, police said.Around 10 p.m. Monday, Berkeley police advised Hercules officers that a Berkeley resident who has ties to an address in Hercules had abducted his 3-year-old child. According to Hercules police, the biological mother has been granted sole custody of the child and has a custody order in place.Hercules police said they were requested to conduct a welfare check for the child and to detain the father if he was contacted at a specified address. San Leandro barbershop murder suspect arrested after Maserati chase in Oakland Following contact, the father was arrested without incident, while the child was located safe and uninjured, Hercules police said.Berkeley police then took custody of the father while Hercules officers remained on the scene until the mother arrived to take custody of her child, Hercules police said.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Comunidad indígena en Ecuador gana batalla legal para reclamar tierras ancestrales después de más de 80 años

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

(CNN) — Una comunidad indígena ganó una batalla judicial para recuperar la propiedad de su tierra ancestral en la Amazonia ecuatoriana, más de 80 años después de que fueron desplazados debido a la guerra.Un tribunal de apelaciones ecuatoriano respaldó el reclamo de la nación Siekopai sobre Pë’këya, un territorio biodiverso en el noreste de Ecuador a lo largo de la frontera con Perú, según un fallo judicial proporcionado a CNN por Amazon Frontline, una organización sin fines de lucro que trabaja con pueblos indígenas para defender sus derechos territoriales.Los Siekopai fueron desplazados durante la guerra Perú-Ecuador en la década de 1940.En septiembre pasado, la comunidad, que tiene unos 800 miembros, presentó una demanda contra el Estado ecuatoriano, alegando violaba su derecho a la propiedad ancestral, dijo Amazon Frontline.En su fallo del viernes, la Corte Provincial de Sucumbíos dio al Ministerio de Medio Ambiente de Ecuador 45 días para entregar un título de propie...

Julia Roberts comparte una rara foto de sus gemelos en honor a su cumpleaños número 19

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

(CNN) — El tiempo vuela rápido incluso para Julia Roberts.La actriz publicó una foto de sus gemelos Hazel y Phinnaeus cuando eran bebés en las redes sociales este martes para conmemorar su cumpleaños número 19.“19”, dice el título de la foto de Roberts con sus hijos en su regazo. “No hay palabras para la alegría, la diversión y el alboroto salvaje de la vida juntos”.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Julia Roberts (@juliaroberts)Roberts ha mantenido a sus hijos fuera del centro de atención a lo largo de los años. Comparte a los gemelos con su esposo Danny Moder, junto con su hijo Henry, de 16 años.El año pasado habló con “CBS Sunday Morning” y dijo que actuar era “un sueño hecho realidad”, al tiempo que agregó algunos de sus otros sueños que se han hecho realidad.“La vida que he construido con mi marido. La vida que hemos construido con nuestros hijos”, dijo. “Y eso es lo mejor. La cuestión es volver triunfante a casa al final del día”.The-CNN-Wire™ & ©...

A special court has cleared France’s justice minister in an unprecedented conflict of interest case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

PARIS (AP) — A special court has cleared France’s justice minister in an unprecedented conflict of interest case.Source

Mediators aim to extend Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza ahead of last planned hostage swap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

CAPTION CORRECTION CORRECTS LOCATION: People holding an Israeli flag watch the arrival of a helicopter transporting Israeli hostages released by Hamas at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Tuesday Nov. 28, 2023. Hamas and Israel released more hostages and prisoners under terms of a fragile cease-fire that held for a fifth day Tuesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)(AP/Leo Correa) CAPTION CORRECTION CORRECTS LOCATION: People holding an Israeli flag watch the arrival of a helicopter transporting Israeli hostages released by Hamas at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Tuesday Nov. 28, 2023. Hamas and Israel released more hostages and prisoners under terms of a fragile cease-fire that held for a fifth day Tuesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)(AP/Leo Correa) ...

Take home a piece of the Denver Nuggets championship court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Even with the new season underway, the Mile High City will never forget the summer of 2023 when the Denver Nuggets turned the city upside-down and won their first NBA championship in franchise history.Just this summer, crowds flooded the streets for the parade, "Go Nuggets" was heard across town, and Nikola Jokic was named MVP. Denver got a taste of the championship win after the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 at home on June 12 in Game 5. Photos: Denver Nuggets drop new City Edition uniforms Now, you can take a piece of that winning game home.A piece of the Denver Nuggets' championship court, sold by Artsman. (Courtesy of the Denver Nuggets)Artsman is selling blocks of wood from the Denver Nuggets Ball Arena court. These pieces of wood are where the Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Championship.The Nuggets posted on X, formally known as Twitter, about the pieces of the court up for sale."Own your own piece of Nuggets history," the team tweeted.The blocks of wood co...