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Survey reveals best 'secret beaches' in US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A recent survey asked families which hidden beaches they want to visit most this summer, and more than a dozen states made the list.Familydestinationguide.com surveyed 3,000 adults in the United States across ages, genders, and geography. It's no surprise that a Hawaii beach took the top spot – as well as two other spots in the top 10. Florida and California, with their massive coastlines, were also well represented. Surf’s up! Florida beach named nation’s best in annual ranking Further down the list, inland states were even recognized for their hidden spots. Oklahoma, Iowa, Vermont and Tennessee aren't exactly known as beach destinations, but – according to survey respondents – all have idyllic lakeside beaches worth a visit. The top 25 "secret beaches," according to the poll, are: Hawaii – Awahua BeachFlorida – Shell Key PreserveHawaii – Lanikai BeachHawaii – Kauapea BeachNew Jersey – Sedge IslandFlorida – Lovers Key State ParkCalifornia – Salt Creek B...

If SCOTUS blocks student debt relief, 1965 law could be 'Plan B'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

(NerdWallet) - The Supreme Court might strike down President Joe Biden’s sweeping student debt relief plan in the coming weeks — but the more than 40 million borrowers eligible for up to $20,000 in loan cancellation could still have hope if the White House pursues a “Plan B.”The Higher Education Act, or HEA, could unlock an alternate route for broad student debt cancellation. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, the landmark legislation laid the foundation of the modern U.S. college funding system. It established and governs grants, federal loans and other programs to help students pay for school, and it empowers the secretary of education to “compromise, waive, or release” federal student loans.The HEA “has changed over time to reflect the needs of society,” says Twinette Johnson, a law professor and interim dean at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. But even as the HEA has expanded, Johnson says, it must continue to serve its core purpose: “to make...

Robert Downey Jr.’s “Downey’s Dream Cars” turns classics into EVs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

(Motor Authority) -- Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr. loves cars, especially classic American muscle. However, in an effort to get away from relying on fossil fuels, he is turning some of the cars in his collection into hybrids and electric vehicles.He will soon feature it all on the new series “Downey’s Dream Cars,” which is set to launch on the HBO Max streaming service.A trailer for the series has been released and features cars such as a C2-generation Chevrolet Corvette, a Volkswagen Microbus, and a first-generation Chevrolet Camaro convertible, among others.The trailer also features the crew from The Electrified Garage, a company famous for performing electric conversions on classic cars, and whose co-owner, Rich Benoit, runs the popular YouTube channel Rich Rebuilds. One of Benoit’s many previous builds is a Tesla-powered 1970 Plymouth Satellite.Judging from the trailer, “Downey’s Dream Cars” won’t necessarily focus on the technical aspects of electrifying classic c...

Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2020 Cedar Park shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man pleaded guilty to manslaughter May 8 before his case was given a retrial setting, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.The DA’s office said 40-year-old Kelly Lawrence Schernik's murder case was originally presented to a Travis County jury Feb. 13, but the judge declared a mistrial Feb. 17 when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. PAST COVERAGE: Cedar Park murder trial ends in a hung jury Schernik was arrested by the Cedar Park Police Department in March 2020. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for shooting 39-year-old Jason Sean Robinson. The charge was upgraded to murder when Robinson died three days after the incident.

Heading home, Biden hopes McCarthy ‘just waiting to negotiate with me’ on debt limit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

By ZEKE MILLER and JOSH BOAK (Associated Press)HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that Republicans in the U.S. House must move off their “extreme positions” on the now-stalled talks over raising America’s debt limit and that there would be no agreement to avert a catastrophic default only on their terms.In an effort to get negotiations back on track, Biden was set to call U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from Air Force One on the way back to Washington after a Group of Seven summit in Japan, where world leaders expressed concern about the dire global ramifications if the United States were to be unable to meet its financial obligations.“Let’s find a place where we can find common ground,” McCarthy said a few hours later from the U.S. Capitol, adding he expected to hear from the president by late morning Eastern time.Biden made clear at his closing news conference before leaving Hiroshima that “it’s time for Republicans to accept that there is no deal...

3-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray pulls out of clay-court French Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray has withdrawn from the clay-court French Open, organizers said Sunday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The 36-year-old British player lost in the 2016 final to Novak Djokovic and reached four other semifinals at Roland Garros in western Paris.Play begins there May 28 and the tournament will also be without record 14-time champion Rafael Nadal. The 36-year-old Spaniard announced on Thursday that his lingering hip injury still has not healed properly.An earlier report from British broadcaster BBC said Murray is skipping the French Open to prioritize Wimbledon, where he was won two of his majors on grass.Murray lost in the first round of the Italian Open last week and was then beaten 6-3, 6-0 by fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka at an ATP Challenger event in Bordeaux on Wednesday.Wimbledon begins on July 3.Murray reached the No. 1-ranking in late 2016. That stellar year he reached three ma...

Biggest tornadoes in Missouri of the past decade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

Of the 1,600-plus tornadoes that happen around the world each year, the vast majority occur in the United States.A large part of the central U.S.—dubbed Tornado Alley—has become famous for its high number of annual tornadoes; however, even though it has been enshrined in films like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Twister," the storms can happen anywhere. The Southeast experiences tornadoes at a similar frequency, and even seemingly unlikely states like Hawaii have experienced them.Meteorologists use the Enhanced Fujita scale to classify tornadoes' severity. The storms are ranked on a scale of EF0 to EF5 based on wind speed and related damage, with EF5 storms having wind speeds above 200 mph. Most tornadoes in the U.S. have wind speeds below 110 mph—making them primarily EF0 and EF1 storms. Still, even smaller-scale storms can cause significant damage. EF0 and EF1 storms have contributed to more than $900 million in property damage since 2012, averaging $75,000 per storm. EF1 tornadoes are a...

2 killed in Exposition Park hit-and-run crash; witnesses help apprehend driver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

Two people died when a driver slammed into their car as they were leaving a drive-thru in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park neighborhood early Sunday morning. The driver ran from the scene but was arrested a short time later.The collision happened around 12:30 a.m. at 3998 S. Normandie Ave. near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and a half-mile from the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.The victims had just picked up food from the drive-thru of a Burger Factory when the driver of a white Jeep hit them going extremely fast, between 80 or 90 miles per hour, according to Los Angeles Police. The suspect tried to run away from the crash scene but witnesses helped ensure they didn’t get away.The collision happened around 12:30 a.m. at 3998 S. Normandie Ave. near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. May 21, 2023. (KTLA)“There were witnesses that gave chase, followed him, and tried to stay within eyesight of the suspect. Ultimately this led to him being taken into c...

‘He was such a good kid’: Concord man sentenced to life for killing teen to join MS-13

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

MARTINEZ — A 24-year-old Concord man was sentenced Friday to 45 years to life for murdering a 17-year-old boy and shooting a woman weeks earlier, crimes both intended to impress MS-13 members into letting him join the gang.Kristhiam Uceda was sentenced by Judge John Kennedy in a Martinez courtroom Friday, but not until after Uceda heard from family members of his victim, 17-year-old Lawrence Janson. Uceda was convicted in March of second-degree murder and assault with a firearm in the two shootings.“He was such a good kid. He was a really good kid. He didn’t deserve what happened to him,” Janson’s mother said in a courtroom victim impact statement. “He would’ve gone far in this world but you took that from him for no reason at all.”Janson’s father lamented that, “This will never heal for me,” but said he’s happy to never have to return to court to see Uceda again. Glancing toward the defendant, Janson’s father t...

Two men slain in Oakland shootings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:43 GMT

OAKLAND — Two men were fatally shot in East Oakland on Saturday night and Sunday morning, one of them allegedly by another man who had crashed his vehicle into the victim’s parked vehicle, authorities said.A possible suspect was later detained in the crash-related killing, authorities said. The two killings are not related, police said.The names of the men killed have not been released.The crash-related killing happened about 3:22 a.m. Sunday in the 10000 block of C Street.Police said a man driving a vehicle hit some vehicles parked on the block, including one belonging to a  45-year-old man.When the man came outside his home to see what had happened he got into a confrontation with the driver and was shot, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.The suspect fled in his vehicle. Police later detained a man for questioning after a standoff at a residence in the 9800 block of A Street, authorities said.The other fatal shooting, which claimed the life of a 24-year-old Oa...