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Monterey County crop gross value totals $4.6 billion, up 13.1% from last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

SALINAS – The value of Monterey County crops increased 13.1% to $4.6 billion in 2022 with strawberries again leading the way with a value of nearly $1 billion.The 2022 Crop and Livestock Report was released Tuesday by Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo at a press briefing with a panel of agricultural leaders. The report lists top crop values and other key agricultural statistics while highlighting the work and programs of the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.“We do not usually see double-digit increases in crop value from year-to-year,” said Hidalgo. “There are many factors that can contribute to double-digit increases. I think one of those things is the continuance to emerge from the pandemic.”The report reflects a production gross value of agricultural commodities grown in Monterey County and pegs it at $4,638,336,000.The 2022 Annual Crop and Livestock Report for the County of Monterey showed a value of more than $4.6B of production gross value for agricultur...

Opinion: If Trump loses the GOP primary, will backers shun the nominee?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

On Capitol Hill and in other Democratic circles, there are many Democrats who believe that Donald Trump would be easier to defeat in the general election than Ron DeSantis.Trump certainly has his weaknesses. Most of the country does not like him, for reasons that are too obvious and numerous to list here. He has also been indicted twice and likely faces further criminal charges between now and the election, although so far that hasn’t seemed to hurt him much.In addition, Trump is seen as the candidate who will most mobilize the Democratic base — and also Democratic funders. And some see DeSantis as more of a threat because he is 44 years old, and Biden’s age has become a concern among a significant share of voters.But Trump is unique in some ways that give him special powers. Ironically, one of these powers is something that stems from a personality trait that almost no politicians, demagogues or even dictators would want to display in public. But Trump seems to flaunt it: his appar...

Marin police arrest 2 East Bay man in connection with armed robbery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

Investigators have identified two East Bay men as the suspects in an armed robbery in Greenbrae three months ago, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.The crime happened at about 8:30 a.m. April 20 at the intersection of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and La Cuesta Drive. A masked robber used a gun to smash a rear window of a vehicle stopped at a red light, then started taking items from inside, the sheriff’s department said.The driver put the vehicle in reverse, injuring the robber. The robber fled in another vehicle with an accomplice.The Marin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with the Berkeley Police Department, the San Pablo Police Department and the Contra Costa County Probation Department. Investigators identified the suspects as Joseph Cardenas, 27, and David Antonio Cardenas, 22, both residents of San Pablo.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Naked motorist arrested following reports of shooting near Bay Bridge toll plaza Crime and P...

10 ‘Haunted Mansion’ movie Easter Eggs from the Disneyland ride

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

Disneyland fans watching the new “Haunted Mansion” movie will be treated to a few extra laughs from the supernatural horror comedy when they spot Easter Egg tributes to the classic dark ride hidden in plain sight throughout the film.Movie trailers and preview screenings offer a host of hints about the visual nods and character references the “Haunted Mansion” film will make to the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland when the new Walt Disney Studios release hits theaters on Friday, July 28.SEE ALSO: This Haunted Mansion Airbnb is just like sleeping inside the Disneyland ride — If you dareThe new movie stars Rosario Dawson as a single mom who moves into a haunted mansion with her son and engages a psychic (Tiffany Haddish), priest (Owen Wilson), paranormal specialist (LaKeith Stanfield), New Orleans tour guide (Winona Ryder) and historian (Danny DeVito) to rid the house of 999 ghosts. Along the way they encounter Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis), the Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto) and Consta...

How many dead trees there are in California might surprise you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

If long droughts and massive wildfires weren’t enough harm to California’s trees, there is massive damage being done by pests and fungi. This could contribute to more acres of record-setting wildfires.Remember the song “It’s not easy being green?” Well, it isn’t for forests up and down California. Many trees are turning brown and dying losing the fight at fending off harmful beetles, borers, moths, weevils and fungi.The California Forest Pest Council released a report earlier this year that shows elevated levels of tree mortality were recorded on more than 2.6 million acres, totaling an estimated 36.3 million dead trees. The majority of trees killed were fir, followed by ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Mortality was particularly severe and widespread in the central Sierra Nevada range.Most of the tree mortality can be attributed in part to drought or bark and engraver beetle attacks that have resulted in more than 200 million trees killed since 2010.You can find the California Pest ...

Opinion: Medicaid expansion is hurting the mental health of the needy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

The signs of America’s mental health crisis are everywhere. In response, policymakers have continued to focus on a popular strategy: expanding health coverage through safety net programs, especially Medicaid. Increasing the number of insured Americans, we are told, will ensure access to care, yet it is becoming increasingly clear that record Medicaid enrollment has not prevented the brunt of the mental health crisis from falling on society’s most vulnerable. In fact, our new research indicates this is not coincidence and that instead, spreading coverage out among more people may be part of the problem.Other recent studies bear out the ways in which vulnerable populations are struggling to receive mental health treatment. Among children of low-income parents — a group Medicaid was originally created to help and for whom research finds the most positive impacts — only half of emergency room visits for mental health crises get adequate follow-up care, and nearly two-thirds of victims o...

Water at tip of Florida hits hot tub level and may have set world record for warmest seawater

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) two days in a row. And meteorologists say that could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured, although there are some issues with the reading. Just 26 miles (40 kilometers) away, scientists saw devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida — devastating coral bleaching and even some death in what had been one of the Florida Keys’ most resilient reefs. Climate change has been setting temperature records across the globe this month.Weather records for sea water temperature are unofficial, and there are certain conditions in this reading that could disqualify it for a top mark, meteorologists said. But the initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit 101.1 degrees (38.4 Celsius) Monday evening, according to National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto. On Sunday night the same buoy showed an online reading of 100.2 (37.9 Celsius) degre...

Boeing loses $149 million in Q2 as the plane maker is pushing ahead with production increases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

Boeing flipped to a $149 million loss in the second quarter despite higher revenue, as the plane maker struggled with higher costs in both its airline and defense business.Boeing said it is beginning to increase production of its two most popular airline planes.The company plans to raise production of the 737 Max from 31 to 38 planes a month to take advantage of demand for newer, more fuel-efficient planes. Boeing is also boosting output of the larger, two-aisle 787 Dreamliner from four to five per month by year end.CEO David Calhoun said the company has “more work ahead” but is “making progress in our recovery,” including improving stability in its factories and among suppliers. Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has been beset by supply-chain problems that continued during the second quarter, including a temporary delay in 737 deliveries because of fittings on the Max and regulators’ questions about Dreamliner inspections. The company recorded charges of $257 million re...

Vatican prosecutor seeks 7 years in jail for cardinal, confiscation of $460 million from 10 people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican prosecutor asked a court Wednesday to convict 10 people, including a cardinal, of a range of financial crimes, sentence them to three to 13 years in prison and order the confiscation of some 415 million euros ($460 million) to pay the Holy See back for bad investments and financial losses over the past decade.Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi ended six days of aggressive closing arguments with his requests for a verdict and sentencing. After a summer pause, the defense and civil parties in the Vatican’s “trial of the century” will deliver their closing arguments, with Judge Giuseppe Pignatone’s court expected to deliver a verdict before the end of the year.Diddi justified the substantial requests for prison time, fines and confiscation of assets based on what he called the “many crimes against the patrimony of the Holy See.” He has estimated the combined losses at between 139 million and 189 million euros ($154 million and $210 million).“Up until now, no on...

1 crew member killed in a fire on a cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 cars in the North Sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:32 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A fire on a freight ship carrying nearly 3,000 cars was burning out of control Wednesday in the North Sea, and the Dutch coast guard said one crew member had died, others were hurt and it was working to save the vessel from sinking close to an important habitat for migratory birds.Boats and helicopters were used to get the 23 crew members off the ship after they tried unsuccessfully to put out the blaze, the coast guard said in a statement. The cause of the blaze wasn’t immediately known, and it wasn’t clear how the crew member died.Some of the crew members jumped off the ship’s deck into the sea and were picked up by a lifeboat, the lifeboat’s captain told Dutch broadcaster NOS. Some of the crew suffered broken bones, burns and breathing problems and were taken to hospitals in the northern Netherlands, emergency services said.“Currently there are a lot of vessels on scene to monitor the situation and to see how to get the fire under control...