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SANDAG board votes to remove 'mileage tax' from 2025 Regional Plan

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The SANDAG Board of Directors voted 15-4 Friday to approve a motion to remove a controversial "mileage tax" from any consideration for the 2025 Regional Plan.San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones led a protest before the board meeting. She was joined by other board members calling for the removal of the regional road user charge -- also known as the "mileage tax" -- from the plan.In December 2021, a regional plan was approved without the 4-cents-per-mile tax. The tax proposal was met with tremendous blowback from people across the county.Before Friday's vote, public comment was overwhelmingly against the tax."No to the road user charge, no matter what you call it, no matter what you name it, no matter how you try to fund it," one resident said."I say 'no' to any road charge at any level, and I do not believe in being tethered as an American, being controlled in my driving habits," another speaker said.SANDAG staff had estimated the mileage tax would raise around $34 billion th...

'Ready, hit it!': What it's like flying with the Blue Angels

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- “Ready, hit it!” is the cue to tightly tense every muscle in your lower body and core and violently exhale in short bursts to avoid passing out.It’s the technique U.S. Navy pilots master while flying the Blue Angel F-18 pilots, and the same technique taught to guest riders lucky enough to secure a backseat ride ahead of the Miramar Air Show.FOX 5 Weather Anchor Megan Healy was selected as the Blue Angel media rider alongside Rikki Betancourt, assistant principal of Coronado High School, who was selected as the “key influencer” rider. Miramar Air Show returns this weekend: What to know Betancourt was honored for her work as an educator for 13 years and mentor for the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being extremely nervous, Megan took a temperature check on how Nikki was feeling ahead of the wild ride.“I'm probably sitting comfortably at 8, maybe a 7,” Betancourt said. “I’ll probably feel better once I’m in the cockpit and then after...

'Bruno,' MCRD's bulldog mascot, promoted

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Marine Corps Recruit Depot's bulldog mascot, "Bruno," earned a well-deserved promotion Friday.The eleven-month-old English bulldog was pinned as Private First Class during a morning ceremony on the military base.As MCRD's mascot, Bruno stays busy participating in recruiting and community relations events such as family day, motivational runs and graduation ceremonies. Miramar Air Show returns this weekend: What to know Bruno was named after Maj. Gen. Bruno Hochmuth, the first General Officer killed during the Vietnam War. He was the commanding general of MCRD from 1963 to 1967.

Bassitt shines as Blue Jays grind out victory against Rays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

Backed by a clutch performance from starter Chris Bassitt, the Toronto Blue Jays picked up a big late-season 6-2 win against their division rival Tampa Bay Rays.Bassitt battled a formidable Rays lineup and pitched 6 2/3 innings, scattering six hits with two earned runs and eight strikeouts. The Rays took an early 1-0 lead courtesy of former Blue Jays prospect Harold Ramirez, who hit an RBI single.Toronto got on the board in a big way in the top of the sixth inning when Bo Bichette knocked in a run with an RBI single. Alejandro Kirk walked with the bases loaded, and a Glasnow pitch plunked Matt Chapman to give the Jays a 3-1 lead before an RBI single from Daulton Varsho extended it.Rays third baseman Curtis Mead would cut the lead to 4-2 before reliever and closer Jordan Romano were able to limit any further damage. Varsho would add insurance with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, with George Springer adding an RBI of his own. Romano would then shut the door en route to...

Zelenskyy, accompanied by Trudeau, greets large crowd of supporters in Toronto

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

TORONTO — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is greeting a large crowd of supporters at a Canadian Armed Forces facility in Toronto. About 1,000 people have gathered in the Fort York Armoury to show support for Zelenskyy, who is visiting Canada for the first time since Russian troops began a full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022.Zelenskyy arrived at the venue accompanied by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland.The Ukrainian president thanked Canada and Canadians earlier today during an address to Parliament in Ottawa for standing with his country and his people in the war against Russia.Trudeau has announced that Canada is extending its financial support to Ukraine with a $650-million commitment to give the country more predictable and stable support over the next three years.Canada has already contributed more than $8 billion in support to Ukraine, including providing air defence systems, armoured vehicles a...

Critics of North Carolina school athletics governing body pass bill ordering more oversight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators have ordered additional oversight of the chief nonprofit body that manages high school sports, finalizing legislation Friday that seeks to leave more rule-making in the hands of state education leaders. In separate House and Senate votes, the General Assembly passed a bill that for months had focused solely on changes to state insurance laws. But the final measure negotiated by Republicans and unveiled Thursday tacked on more than a dozen pages addressing high school athletics that largely came from a separate bill that passed the Senate earlier this year. A 2021 law that sought more rigorous government supervision of interscholastic sports among public schools led the State Board of Education to enter a memorandum of understanding with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, which began in 1913. That agreement laid out how the association, which serves more than 400 schools, would administer and enforce requirements for h...

Incoming CPD superintendent meets with Police and Fire Committee

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

CHICAGO – The head of Chicago Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau, tapped by Mayor Brandon Johnson to become the city’s next top cop, is officially one step closer to taking over the position.Chief Larry Snelling appeared at the City Council’s Committee on Police and Fire meeting Friday afternoon as aldermen voted unanimously to confirm his nomination.Snelling needed to attend a public hearing, which he did earlier this month, and be approved by a City Council vote before he can officially take the reins. The next step in the process will come on Wednesday, when the full City Council is expected to come together at a special meeting to cast its vote, confirming Johnson’s pick to lead the department.“It truly is an honor to sit before you today in this position,” said Snelling.Chief Snelling gave praise to interim superintendent Fred Waller, who came out of retirement to fill the role during the nationwide search and transition process. Members of the committee also thanked h...

Missing Park Forest girl found safe

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

PARK FOREST, Ill. — A missing middle school student from Park Forest has been safely located after she was reported missing on Friday, according to police. Fall arrives in Chicago on a warm note Park Forest police say the girl has returned home and thanked those who assisted in the search.

Colorful Lakeside home keeps recreation in mind

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

CEDAR LAKE, Ind. — A lakeside home in Indiana could be the perfect getaway for someone as unique as the house itself. The lake lover's dream features plenty of activities for someone looking for fun on and off the water.Credit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiLocated along Lake Shore Drive in Cedar Lake, Indiana, the home boasts uniquely colorful walls and ceilings and offers plenty of room for those looking to park their boat or jet ski.The listing describes the home's open-concept design as one that blends luxury and functionality.While the home sits right across from Cedar Lake, those who would rather be golfing can head inside to find a family room that doubles as a four-hole indoor putting green.With an asking price of $579,000, the 1,624 square foot home has one bedroom and one eye-catching bathroom.The home, which is located an hour-and-a-half...

LIVE: Westlake leads Lake Travis 10-7 at halftime of Battle of the Lakes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's one of the most anticipated games on the high school slate in Texas, and this year it's a showdown with two of the Lone Star State's top 10 teams.Westlake and Lake Travis face off in the Battle of the Lakes at 7:30 p.m. from Cavalier Stadium, and whoever comes out on the short end of it will do so for the first time this season. Westlake enters the game No. 4 in the Dave Campbell's Texas Football/Associated Press Class 6A Top 25 and Lake Travis is No. 8.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteThe Chaparrals (3-0, 1-0 District 26) have had two weeks to prepare for the game with a bye last week while the Cavaliers (4-0, 2-0) dispatched Akins 37-0 in district play.The Cavs last won the Battle of the Lakes in 2019 by one point, 26-25. The game wasn't played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Westlake has picked up the la...