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Real World Economics: Grains of truth about U.S. ag trade

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

Edward LottermanIs U.S. agriculture losing out globally? Yes and no.Global grain and oilseed markets are in flux because of a sort of quadruple witching hour of short- and long-term factors: currency exchange rates, global unrest, changing political alliances, technologies and land use priorities.All this affects Minnesota because agriculture remains a major economic sector in our state and is the primary one for economic conditions in most communities outside of the Twin Cities and other metro areas.We grow large volumes of internationally traded commodities. We are home to two major commodity-trading businesses, Cargill and CHS. Storage of crops and their transport by truck, rail, barge and ocean shipping employs many thousands. Supplying and maintaining farm inputs — from million-dollar tractors and combines, seed and fertilizer, and data services — employs thousands more.So world agricultural trade is very much a local issue.So what is going on?Concerns center on whe...

PHOTOS: St. Charles Veterans Day parade

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

St. Charles -- The City of St. Charles celebrated Veterans Day this year with a parade and ceremony at the Lewis and Clark Boathouse. St. Charles Salutes included a full day of recognizing and celebrating veterans and their service.  The day began with a parade at 10 a.m. The parade started at the Lewis and Clark Boathouse Parking Lot and traveled down Boone’s Lick Road to Fifth Street.  After the parade returned to the Lewis and Clark Boathouse parking lot, a ceremony was held at the Veteran's Memorial.  Photo by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto ...

Atmospheric river heading for Southern California: When will it start raining? 

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

Although SoCal is expected to see sunshine through the start of the week, an offshore Pacific storm will bring steady rain to the area for several days. There is a “100 percent chance” of rain Wednesday through Saturday for all of Southern California, according to the National Weather Service. The Southland is forecast to receive anywhere from one to three inches of rain during this period, NWS said.  State of emergency declared after fire shuts down 10 Freeway Potential flooding may occur, and high surf is forecast due to strong southerly winds. “[It will be] much cooler mid to late week with increasing rain chances and possible heavy rain as a Pacific storm system affects the region,” weather officials said. The rain forecast for Southern California for Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.According to KTLA 5 meteorologist Kacey Montoya, the trough will start to move off the coast of San Francisco by Monday, which will lead to cooler temperatures and increased cloud cover.  Loca...

America’s Support for Cannabis Legalization Hits 70%

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

On the heels of Ohio’s big cannabis win on election night, Gallup announced a record 70% of Americans now support the legalization of marijuana. The number has been climbing for years. In the mid-1990s when Prop 215 passed, less than 30% of Americans were on board with legalization. But once the ball started rolling, it was off to the races. Support would break 30% in 2000. Then as more and more medical states came online in the 2000s, eventually support would hit half of Americans in 2011. The next big catalyst for support was the first couple states to legalize. With the exception of a 2% dip in 2017, more Americans have supported cannabis legalization every year since Colorado and Washington decided to be the canaries in the coal mine. But the sky has not fallen, and now a little less than a decade later, we’ve hit 70%!The nation’s oldest marijuana reform organization, NORML, was thrilled with the news. “There’s no ‘buyer’s remorse’ among the public when it come...

Sunnyvale public safety officer wins advocacy award

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

Officer wins advocacy awardAt the 30th annual Domestic Violence Conference on Oct. 13, Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer James Pine received the Melinda “Mindy” Zen Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Award. Pine was recognized for his efforts in supporting a domestic violence victim during an extensive investigation. He obtained a gun violence restraining order, recovered a firearm and safely apprehended the perpetrator. He was able to create a strong rapport with the victim and supported her throughout the investigation and court process.Pine is currently assigned to the patrol division as a field training officer and is a sniper on the SWAT team.New traffic signal at WolfeConstruction at the intersection of South Wolfe Road and Dartshire Way has begun. This project is intended improve pedestrian safety by tightening the corners, installing new curb ramps, installing crosswalks and allowing protected vehicular left turns. Dartshire Way will be slurry sealed and striped in December. Tr...

State recognizes Los Gatos, Saratoga high schools for ‘Edible Learning’

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

Award for ‘Edible Learning’The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District won a 2023 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for its food service program.In 2019, Los Gatos High School assistant principal Kristi Grasty worked with chef Paul Boundas, owner of Country House Kitchen, to create a plan that would improve the school cafeteria model while enhancing student nutrition and providing a pathway for nutrition-related education. The resulting program, “Edible Learning: Transforming School Cafeterias into Wellness Communities,” was successfully replicated at Saratoga High School.Serving over 1,000 meals a day, both schools’ cafeterias offer breakfasts and lunches created entirely from scratch, ditching the traditional heat-and-serve method. Because fresh ingredients are more cost-effective than their frozen counterparts, the district also went from spending 55% of its cafeteria budget on food to spending 33% in the 2022-23 school year.“The cafeteria tran...

Montalvo, museum host holiday happenings in Saratoga

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

Montalvo’s Yuletide BoutiqueMontalvo Arts Center is hosting its annual holiday pop-up boutique on Nov. 17-18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Nov. 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Local vendors will display holiday art and decorations, collectibles, photography, clothing, crafts and specialty gourmet food items for purchase. Handmade items created by members of the Montalvo Service Group will be for sale, and collectibles will be available in the Vintage Treasures Shop. The shop will hold a clearance sale on Nov. 19, when all remaining items will be half off.For vendors and more information, visit www.montalvoarts.org/yuletide.Museum open houseThe Saratoga History Museum, located at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, is hosting an open house Nov. 24, 1-8 p.m., with holiday readings, a sing-along and light refreshments. Visitors can tour the new blacksmith exhibit and check out the museum’s holiday décor. For more information, visit saratogahistory.com or call 408-867-4311.Let’s Work SaratogaResidents ages ...

‘Our family hasn’t been the same since she’s been gone’: Pair receive life sentences for killing popular East Bay restaurant owner

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

OAKLAND — Two men have been given life sentences with differing chances for parole in the 2018 murder of a popular restaurant owner killed outside one of her businesses during an attempted robbery.Paul Paez, 43, was sentenced to 25 years to life, while Donte Holloway, 45, was sentenced to 50 years to life, court records show. Both men were convicted in April of murdering 61-year-old Cindy Le during an April 2018 attempted robbery in Alameda.Prosecutors say the pair followed Le from the Pho Anh Dao restaurant in Oakland to a second location of the restaurant in Alameda, then attempted to rob her. During the fracas she was knocked to the ground and assaulted. Though witness testimony disputed whether both men physically attacked her, prosecutors argued they were both culpable for murder under the law.At the sentencing hearing last August, Le’s daughter, Jennifer Nguyen, submitted a written letter stating that after five years, Le’s family is relieved the court proces...

Milpitas Library has ‘Things’ to check out

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

The Milpitas Library recently launched a pilot program called “The Library of Things.” The program allows patrons to use their library card to borrow a variety of items including kitchen equipment, hobby kits, health and wellness items, technology items and cool things for kids.“The Library of Things allows patrons to discover new tools and devices to help them learn, create and connect,” said Milpitas Community Librarian Kelly McKean. “Perhaps you only want to try something once, or you want to try something before you buy; these things can save you money and space.”Popular items include a hot pot with grill, sous vide equipment, Go Pro 11, Tonieboxes, and kits for birdwatching, sewing and making music. The collection may be modified at a later date to meet the community’s needs.Milpitas Library staff reached out and worked with libraries all over the Bay Area to find their best practices regarding Libraries of Things. Staff also attended conferences and webinars, learning from oth...

Vehicle vandalized at Saratoga open space preserve

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:08:24 GMT

Oct. 30Assault: At 2:34 p.m., deputies responded to a prior assault at a residence in the 13000 block of Upper Hill Court. An investigation revealed the suspect slammed a door into the victim. The case is being submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review.Possession of drug paraphernalia: At 12:23 a.m., deputies stopped a motorist at Saratoga Avenue and Prospect Road for an equipment violation. An investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of drug paraphernalia.DUI, unlicensed driver: At 4 a.m., deputies stopped a motorist at Cox and Saratoga avenues for equipment and traffic violations. An investigation revealed the suspect was unlicensed and driving under the influence of alcohol.Nov. 1Vehicle burglary: Between 9 p.m. and 11:10 p.m., someone vandalized a vehicle parked at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve on Prospect Road. The suspect broke the vehicle’s windows, spray-painted the vehicle, broke its lighting equipment and opened all the doors so that the hinges...