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Winners and losers of the second GOP presidential debate

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

Seven GOP presidential rivals tangled Wednesday night on a Simi Valley, Calif., stage, arguing over who is the best to take on President Biden next fall.  It was a rambunctious night filled with personal attacks by candidates battling for survival, culminating in a clash over curtains between Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and his state’s former Gov. Nikki Haley. None of the contenders are within spitting distance in polls to former President Trump, who for a second time didn’t bother showing up for the debate.  That added to the sense of desperation for some of the would-be contenders, who know the time for catching up to Trump is running out. Here are the winners and losers. WINNERS Former President Trump Former President Trump without a doubt felt like the biggest winner on Wednesday night.  He wasn’t on stage, and instead appeared at an event in Michigan that signaled he’s already moving his focus to a November 2024 general election against Presi...

Missouri restaurant among TripAdvisor's 25 best 'hidden gems'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – TripAdvisor has revealed its top-rated “hidden gem” restaurants in the United States, highlighting 25 relatively unknown eateries that consistently earn praise from the platform’s users.These top-rated “hidden” restaurants (which likely won’t stay hidden for much longer) were announced Wednesday as part of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards, an annual ranking of the site’s top-rated dining destinations across seven different categories. The origin of toasted ravioli the subject of major debate The honorees in this year’s “hidden gem” category include plenty of no-frills, under-the-radar restaurants serving up everything from lobster rolls and fries to tikka masala and whoopie pies. But only one restaurant can take the No. 1 spot — and this year, that honor goes to a burger-and-shake joint in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.Cookie Dough Monster, located in an unassuming strip mall just a few miles from Dollywood, earned high marks for its food, service, val...

Rapids Takeaways: Colorado comeback falls short as Vancouver Whitecaps equalizes late

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

COMMERCE CITY — Already out of the playoff picture after last weekend’s loss in Portland, the Colorado Rapids could only play the role of spoiler Wednesday night.The Rapids stormed back from a 1-0 first-half deficit with two second-half goals, only to give up a late equalizer in a 2-2 tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.Diego Rubio scored his second goal in as many games for Colorado (4-15-11, 23 points), while Cole Bassett added a fourth goal contribution in his last four, as he found the back of the net in the 68th minute. However, Vancouver scored on a pair of corner kick goals, including a Triston Blackmon 78th-minute equalizer.Here are three takeaways from the tie:Sitting back and slipping upBassett was perplexed as to why the Rapids haven’t been able to hold onto leads as the team slipped to 0-6-2 when giving up two goals in a game. For him, there has to be a better commitment to find a third goal rather than be comfortable...

Woman hit by car in Aurora dies Tuesday night

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

A woman crossing Chambers Road in Aurora Tuesday night died after a driver hit her with a car.The crash happened near Chambers Road and Pheasant Run Parkway, Aurora police reported at 11:17 p.m. on X.#APDAlert Officers are responding to a fatal vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on S. Chambers and E. Pheasant Run Pkwy. A silver sedan was driving northbound towards Pheasant Run when an unidentified woman crossed the roadway eastbound. The two collided. The woman was transported… pic.twitter.com/B1we2QnmhH— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) September 28, 2023The driver was headed north on Chambers and the woman crossed the road headed east.The woman was taken to a hospital and died a short time later.The driver stayed on scene and is cooperating, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man arrested in connection to fatal Littleton hit-and-run crash Crime and Public Safety | One person hit, killed on I-25 near Castle Rock Crime and Public Safe...

Powerball ticket worth nearly $800K sold in California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- The Powerball Jackpot for Wednesday night's drawing was set at $850 million, and while nobody in California matched the five winning numbers with the Powerball number, a player in San Jose still won big money. At a Quick Stop located at 5 Stewart Ave, one player drew the five winning numbers, but not the Powerball number. That ticket is worth $796,425, according to the California Lottery website. ‘No turn on red’ signs could be going up all over San Francisco No other lottery players in California drew all five numbers. Five people matched four winning numbers with the Powerball numbers. Those tickets are worth $23,318.The winning numbers are 47, 63, 1, 46, and 7, with a Powerball number of 7. The $850 million jackpot is the second-largest jackpot of the year. In July, a California lottery player hit a $1.08 billion jackpot.

Brit Vicious: The Struts raise hell with fourth album

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

Brit Vicious: British rock ‘n’ rollers the Struts have been based here in Los Angeles since the tail end of 2019 and, even accounting for the fact that COVID put a stop to everything shortly after that, it’s clear when speaking to the four chaps over Zoom that they’re thriving. The Southern Californian sun suits them, as they gush about being able to drive with the top down (a novelty in England) and wild nights out.“It was my friend Taylor Hawkins who really pushed the idea, for at least me anyway, to make the initial move, at a Thanksgiving that he was kind enough to invite me to,” says frontman Luke Spiller. “I think we all saw ourselves as very much a British-based band for quite some time. Taylor explained to me that this is a great time for me to be in the thick of it and we could be doing so much more. It was a little lightbulb moment basically. I remember I was at the Rainbow with the rest of the guys, and I said, ‘Hey, I’m really considering a move to L.A. I think it would ...

Bay Area high school football 2023: Week 6 preview, schedule

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

Any time there are four Top 10 matchups in one weekend, it has the makings of a pretty special week.That’s what we have in Week 6.On Friday, it’ll be Pittsburg — ranked fourth by the Bay Area News Group — traveling to the South Bay to play No. 6 Los Gatos and No. 2 De La Salle playing host to No. 8 McClymonds.On Saturday, the West Catholic Athletic League takes the stage as No. 10 St. Francis visits No. 1 Serra and No. 5 Valley Christian plays at No. 7 Archbishop Riordan.The Bay Area News Group will have complete coverage this weekend and all season. If you have not already, please sign up for a digital subscription. Your contributions keep us going.Here are this week’s top matchups and schedule:FridayNo. 8 McClymonds (2-1) at No. 2 De La Salle (3-2), 7 p.m.: This one could be over in a hurry as neither side passes much. Both are physical. Both have storied traditions. Both played in upper-division state championship games last season. But De La Salle is the ...

California gunmakers fear their ‘expiration date’ in a state that doesn’t want them

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

BY ALEXEI KOSEFF | CalMattersHUNTINGTON BEACH — There are two decisions about the future of gun rights in California that the employees at Rifle Supply are closely watching these days.Like many firearms enthusiasts, they anticipate the imminent end of California’s ban on “large-capacity magazines” capable of holding more than 10 rounds, a potential boon to their business. U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego overturned the law on Friday, with a brief stay to give the state a chance to appeal.Weeks before the ruling, Rifle Supply, a gun manufacturer and retailer, began thinning out the inventory stocked in its suburban Orange County store, which is already decorated with witch hats and cobwebs for Halloween. A rifle magazine engraved with a sanctified image of Benitez, who has also tossed several other California gun regulations for violating the constitutional right to bear arms, is among its top sellers.Plastic bins of standard 30-round magazines, not yet pinned to make t...

Bay Area Halloween 2023: Where to find spooky treats, best bets & good scares

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

Halloween isn’t just for Oct. 31 anymore.Indeed, it’s no longer just an October thing, what with theme parks launching their spooky celebrations in September. And some would say that’s actually a late start, when you could observe the occasion basically all year long. (Yes, we’re looking at you, horror movie fans.)Looking for ways to get in on the ghastly fun in the Bay Area (and beyond)?REALTED: 30+ Bay Area Halloween happenings, haunts and festivals for 2023We’re here to help with some cool recommendations on spooky good times, tricks and treats, big scares and other Halloween-related events to enjoy now through Oct. 31.7 spooky Bay Area adventuresGet your spooky going by taking cemetery tours, hanging with creepy crawlies and visiting haunted lakes in the Bay Area. Can you complete all seven of these ghastly adventures by Oct. 31?A layer of fog surrounds the old cemetery at Antioch’s Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Grou...

7 incredible Bay Area things to do this weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:43 GMT

From the amazing Hardly Strictly Bluegrass to a buzzworthy AI thriller and an all-out Oreo snack attack, there is a lot of see, do and savor this weekend. So let’s get busy, shall we?But please be sure to double check websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.1 SEE & HEAR: A fabulous festivalHardly Strictly Bluegrass remains one of the Bay Area’s best events — three days of great tunes in Golden Gate Park. The lineup features scores of acts ranging from music legends to stars on rise — here are 11 performers you should not miss.2 PLAY: Treat yourself to a good scareOne of the best things about Halloween (besides keeping winter holiday decorations from going up even earlier) is that it reminds us we can have a blast spooking ourselves all year, li...