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My favorite hotels in 2023 — and why they were worth the price

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

By Nikki Ekstein, Bloomberg NewsIf we thought 2023 would be a year of normal travel after a prolonged period of disruption and uncertainty, boy, were we wrong. Still, amid all of this year’s natural disasters, social unrest and geopolitical conflicts, hotels reclaimed their ability to serve as beacons of pure comfort: They largely overcame the labor and supply chain crises and returned to full-service operations.They again became capable of making us feel pampered and truly cared for during challenging times. And in fact, with 2023 also seeing the first-ever editions of the World’s 50 Best hotels list and a similar ranking by La Liste — each recognizing the industry’s global hospitality standard bearers — discussions about hotels this year were often celebratory.We certainly paid a pretty penny for that service, as nightly rates continued to soar to previously unthinkable heights.Related ArticlesTravel | Travel: Taking a superyacht to tour the Galapagos Islands in luxury ...

Ohio’s GOP governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care and transgender athletes in girls’ sports

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

By SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON and JULIE CARR SMYTH (Associated Press/Report For America)COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a measure Friday that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors, casting the action out of step with many in his own party as thoughtful, limited and “pro-life.”He simultaneously announced plans to move to administratively ban transgender surgeries until a person is 18, and to position the state to better regulate and track gender-affirming treatments in both children and adults.The vetoed bill also would have banned transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ and women’s sports.At a news conference, DeWine said he is proposing a hybrid approach to gender-affirming care that he hopes can win the support of legislative Republicans — who have the votes to override his veto, if they choose — as well as serve as a national model to states, as gender-affirming care restrictions enacted ac...

Coastal closures in place amid high surf warning in San Diego County

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- There are several closures in place along the San Diego coastline as the high surf warning across southern California remains in effect through Monday. San Diego and Orange counties are both under a high surf warning and a coastal flood advisory through 2 a.m. Jan. 1, 2024. A small craft advisory is also in effect in the coastal waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexican border, out to 60 NM. Massive waves expected to hit San Diego County beaches Large waves eight to 12 feet, with sets up to 18 feet, are pounding the southern California coastline this weekend, and inexperienced swimmers and surfers are being advised to stay out of the water while the advisories and warnings are in place. There is also a high rip current risk this weekend, according to NOAA. King tides to hit San Diego coast this Christmas Due to the high surf conditions, San Diego Fire-Rescue has closed the Mission Bay Channel through Monday. Boaters can use San Diego Bay as an alternative route, ...

What to expect from 'Las Vegas Countdown to 2024'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- No plans to go out to ring in the new year? No problem!"Las Vegas Countdown to 2024" will bring the party to you at home. It's the only show that counts down to the new year in every time zone in the United States.Michael Yo and Nikki Novak joined FOX 5's Kristina Audencial and Shally Zomorodi on Friday to give a glimpse into what you can expect from the big show. 98 Degrees to headline “Las Vegas Countdown to 2024” TV special "It might be cold in Vegas on New Year's Eve, but we've got 98 Degrees performing for us --exclusively -- their brand new single, it's going to be the world premiere, around midnight Vegas time," Nikki said."But we've got Berlin, we've got Chicago, we've got Ruben and Clay from 'American Idol,' Air Supply, Foghat, we've got Bowling for Soup singing '1985.' The show is going to be incredible," Michael added.The show will be live from the Treasure Island Hotel on the Las Vegas strip and will feature fireworks displays off the roofs of eight hotels...

Two new missing alerts will go into effect in to California next year: What to know

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Two new emergency notification systems will be coming to California in the new year, including a first-of-its-kind program entirely dedicated to help find missing Black youth and women.Similar to AMBER and Silver alerts, California Highway Patrol will have the authority to notify the public about at-risk missing individuals that are either not covered by the existing notifications or those that do not often get the same level of attention when reported as a missing person.The new alerts, called the "Ebony Alert" and the "Endangered Missing Advisory," will be going into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.When either are activated, CHP will be able to disseminate information about them victim to aid in their recovery, including through the use of electronic signs along highways and alerts sent to phones. Broadcast outlets and social media sites will also be encouraged to circulate their information. New traffic laws bringing changes for California drivers in 2024 Here is what you ne...

Floatplane that crashed in N.W.T. was chartered to help with winter roads, TSB says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — A preliminary report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada says a plane that crashed in the Northwest Territories this week was chartered to help with winter road construction in the area. The plane carrying 10 people crashed Wednesday near the Diavik Diamond Mine, about 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife. Everyone on board survived the crash. The TSB report says the Twin Otter, a small floatplane, was travelling from Margaret Lake to Lac De Gras in the territory, but crashed as it was attempting to land on the lake.TSB spokesman Hugo Fontaine says an investigation is to begin today, starting with video interviews with the passengers.He says the TSB will be present at the crash site to investigate sometime next week.A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules search-and-rescue aircraft was dispatched to the site from 17 Wing Winnipeg, and dropped search-and-rescue personnel by parachute Wednesday night.Air Force spokesman David Lavallee says the passengers,...

CP NewsAlert: B.C. court blocks new law against public drug use

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Supreme Court has blocked new provincial laws against public consumption of illegal substances.The ruling in favour of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association imposes a temporary injunction until March 31, with the judge saying “irreparable harm will be caused” if the laws come into force.The Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act was passed by the legislature in November, allowing fines and imprisonment for people who refuse to comply with police orders not to consume drugs in certain public places.More coming.The Canadian Press

Powerful Pacific swell brings threat of more dangerous surf to California

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Bulldozers built giant sand berms Friday to protect beachfront homes in one of California’s coastal cities hit hard this week by extraordinary waves generated by powerful swells from Pacific storms.Dozens of people watched construction of the emergency barriers in the Pierpont area of the city of Ventura, where a rogue wave on Thursday smacked spectators and vehicles as it overran the beach and flowed into a neighborhood.“We have had water down the lane once before but never like this,” said Karris Kutivan, a 9-year resident of the scenic shoreline city about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. “What it has taught me is I want to live by the beach, not on the beach,” Kutivan said.Eight people were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries after the Pierpont incident, according to Ventura County authorities, who closed beaches, piers and harbors through Dec. 31. Similar waves overran beaches elsewhere Thursday on the California coast, fl...

1 injured in 2-alarm high rise fire in Scarborough

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

Toronto fire have rescued one person from a two-alarm high rise fire in Scarborough.Crews were called to 30 Thunder Grove in the area of Finch Avenue and McCowan Road for a two-alarm residential high-rise fire on the 10th floor.One person was rescued from a unit and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No other residents were displaced and the fire has since been extinguished.There’s no word on the cause on the fire at this point.

Burundi’s president claims Rwanda is backing rebels fighting against his country

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:41 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Burundi’s president on Friday accused Rwanda of funding and training rebels behind an attack last week on the village of Gatumba, close to Burundi’s border with Congo, that killed at least 20 people.A Burundian armed rebel group known as RED-Tabara and based in South Kivu, eastern Congo, took responsibility for the attack in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The group, which denied having targeted civilians, claimed to have killed nine soldiers and a police officer.Burundian authorities consider RED-Tabara a terrorist movement. The group first appeared in 2011 and has been accused of a string of attacks in Burundi since 2015.In a national radio broadcast, President Evariste Ndayishimiye claimed the RED-Tabara “are fed, sheltered, hosted and maintained in terms of logistics and financial means by … Rwanda.” Ndayishimiye said Burundi has been unsuccessfully negotiating with Rwanda for two years, seeking the extradition of the rebels. “As long as they have a co...