Stories

Two directors of Epic Games, Tencent resign amid antitrust investigation

The US Department of Justice says it expressed concerns directors' positions on two company boards violated Clayton Act.

6abc - Dec 18th, 2024

Former Delaware bank teller accused of stealing $81K from customers' accounts

Investigators say the suspect stole $78,000 from one victim alone, and smaller amounts from two other victims, totaling $81,350.

Yardbarker - Dec 18th, 2024

Race to the Tank: Breaking Down Kasparas Jakucionis

As the 2024-25 season approached, many Chicago Bulls fans agreed that the front office needed to focus on retaining its 2025 draft pick, given the lack of potential stars on the current roster.

Yardbarker - Dec 18th, 2024

Score 8.0

Jamal Murray returning to form as Nuggets face skidding Blazers

The Denver Nuggets are confident Jamal Murray is back to his best as they take their three-game winning streak to Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

Score 8.0

Theathleticuk - Dec 18th, 2024

Canadiens acquire Alexandre Carrier from Predators for Justin Barron

The defenseman swap helps Montreal in the present and potentially helps Nashville in the future.

The Mirror Us - Dec 18th, 2024

Police search for Colorado 'grinch' who stole baby Jesus from Fort Collins nativity scene

The Fort Collins Police Department in Colorado are looking for a suspect who was caught on camera stealing a figurine of baby Jesus from a nativity scene in the city

Mcall - Dec 18th, 2024

Flyers’ rally falls short in loss to Red Wings

Flyers tie it with two goals in third period but can't stop Red Wings in 6-4 loss

Zerohedge - Dec 18th, 2024

Score 6.4

California's Regulations Causing Truck Shortages, Rising Costs, Industry Says

California's Regulations Causing Truck Shortages, Rising Costs, Industry Says Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),California’s zero emission regulations are causing truck shortages and rising costs, according to the trucking and heavy-duty vehicle industry.State officials plan to end traditional combustion truck sales by 2036.A tow truck removes destroyed cars from an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Edwardsville, IL on Dec. 11, 2021, after it was hit by a tornado. Tim Vizer/AFP via Getty ImagesCalifornia’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation requires manufacturing companies to gradually increase the percentage of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) they sell on the market—such as electric or hydrogen—and reduce the number of gas and diesel trucks.Anthony Bento, chief legal officer for the California New Car Dealers Association, said dealers in the state have seen dramatic decreases in available trucks for the 2024 model year as a result of the new rules.“These rules are decreasing product availability, and when there’s less product available, there’s increasing costs,” Bento told The Epoch Times. “The on-the-ground reality is that California consumers and businesses are going to be paying more, because there’s not an adequate supply of new product available that meets customers’ demands.”California’s goals include reducing tailpipe emissions and requiring the progress and adoption of advanced clean trucks. By the end of the 2024 model year, 5 to 9 percent of sales in California must be ZEVs.The ACT regulation was adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2020 and approved by the state Office of Administrative Law in March 2021.Industry representatives say the rules are forcing businesses to drive out of state to purchase trucks and parts that are non-compliant, leave the state of California, or close up shop altogether. They also say truck business owners are delaying upgrading their fleet so as to not deal with the requirements.Mark Baatz, owner of Tow Industries in Los Angeles, which supplies trucks to emergency roadside services, told host Siyamak Khorrami on EpochTV’s “California Insider” in an interview published on Dec. 15, that the towing industry doesn’t yet have any available ZEV options.“In our industry, regardless of cost, there isn’t an electric truck that works for us at this time,” he said. “That next technology hasn’t arrived for us yet.”As a result, the number of diesel trucks available has been reduced dramatically, he said. Last year, his company sold around 600 trucks, and next year, only around 30 to 50 trucks are expected to be available. He said this will heavily impact the emergency towing industry.Meanwhile, CARB representatives have said the state’s ACT regulations may not be the problem, citing a nationwide downturn in the market, supply chain issues carrying over from previous years, and manufacturers not being sufficiently prepared to comply with other emissions regulations.“Inconsistencies in communication have led dealers and fleets to believe that the ACT regulation’s requirements are leading to the product shortages in the medium- and heavy-duty space which, upon discussions with all affected parties, is not backed by the data available,” Steven Cliff, executive officer for CARB, wrote in a memo on Sept. 25.“Additionally, some vehicle upfitters producing specialty vehicles, including tow trucks, have reached maximum production capacity thresholds nationwide and cannot increase production levels, which affects the manufacturers’ ability to accept new orders.”Cliff also said California zero-emission trucks have increased in price by an average of $86,512 since 2021–22, while such European trucks have decreased in price by an average of $12,641 during that same time period.“There appear to be no clear reasons for this disparity between regions,” he wrote.On Dec. 6, the board published a “Myth vs. Fact” fact sheet to address concerns raised about the ACT rules, stating for example, “The ACT regulation does not have any provisions prohibiting or restricting the types of diesel-powered vehicles that can be registered or operated in California.”CARB did not reply to The Epoch Times’ request for comment by publication time.A separate major regulation facing the California trucking industry is the Heavy-Duty Low NOx rule, which went into effect in 2021 and requires a 90 percent reduction in certain emissions for new heavy-duty vehicles compared to traditional diesel engines by 2031.ZEV Compliant TrucksAt a CARB board meeting on Oct. 24, Bento said data suggests that the magnitude of declines in available trucks are significant—over 80 percent for Class 8 heavy-duty trucks weighing more than 33,000 pounds—and the scale of these declines is unique to California. Therefore, he said they cannot be attributed to national or economic factors.If the supply of new combustion trucks does not increase, businesses that rely on these vehicles will be left with a couple of choices, Bento said.“Continue to operate their older, more polluting vehicles for longer or purchase vehicles from out of state that do not comply with CARB requirements,” he said. “Both options undermine our state’s environmental goals and will harm air quality.”Brian Banks, owner of Action Towing and Road Service in the San Francisco Bay Area, said that while he supports clean energy and wants his children to live in a world with clean air, he also wants to support his 200 workers and their families.“Unfortunately at this point, there is no application that will work in our industry. I ask the board to please reconsider the regulations and continue to make amendments to allow us to run our businesses until there is a solution,” he said.Other commenters suggested emergency tow trucks be exempt from the ACT regulation or postpone the regulation altogether until the technology catches up.Ashley Porter, sales manager for Oakland-based Tec Equipment, said she has seen many of their large truck customers leave California or pass the costs of updating their fleet onto customers.She said it has been heart-wrenching to walk her clients through the ACT and other regulations and noted that certain businesses don’t have the resources to meet the requirements.“The impact of these regulations as it is written today will impact the California economy negatively for years to come,” Porter said. Tyler DurdenWed, 12/18/2024 - 22:30

Score 6.4

New York Post - Dec 18th, 2024

Score 2.4

Miranda Devine: If Joe Biden can pardon his son Hunter, why can’t he do the same for ‘best friend’ Devon Archer?

The shamelessness of the first family was writ large at the White House this week as the president’s final whirl of Christmas parties attracted social media “influencers” whose biggest thrill was posting selfies with celebrity nepotist Hunter Biden.

Score 2.4

New York Post - Dec 18th, 2024

Davante Adams making his biggest Jets impact at practice

Aaron Rodgers said Davante Adams’ biggest contribution to the Jets since the October trade with the Raiders has come on the practice field.

Huffpost - Dec 18th, 2024

California Man Who Messaged Wisconsin Shooter And Planned Own Attack Ordered To Surrender Guns

A California judge has ordered a man to surrender his guns and ammunition after police learned he messaged the teen who carried out a school shooting in Wisconsin.

Abc7 New York - Dec 18th, 2024

Thousands of Amazon workers set to walk off job Thursday as part of Teamsters strike, union says

The union says thousands of Amazon workers will walk off the job at 6 a.m., right in the middle of the busy holiday shipping season.

Tmj4 News - Dec 18th, 2024

AP report: California man who messaged Wisconsin shooter and planned own attack ordered to surrender guns

A California judge has ordered a man to surrender his guns after police learned he messaged the teen who carried out a school shooting in Wisconsin about his own plans to target a government building.

New York Post - Dec 18th, 2024

Score 4.4

Rangers’ biggest problem can’t be solved with a roster makeover

This has become a war inside the Rangers’ heads more than anything. Every day seems to bring another negative headline to creep into the team’s psyche and mess with it further.

Score 4.4

Espn - Dec 18th, 2024

Score 7.2

Sources: Mets add another arm with Canning deal

The Mets and right-hander Griffin Canning have agreed on a one-year, $4.25 million contract, pending a physical, a source confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Score 7.2

Abc 13 - Dec 18th, 2024

4 juveniles arrested, another at large after leading police on chase, HPD says

A chaotic chase ended with three juveniles arrested and a fourth who got away after jumping into a church security guard's vehicle. Then, surveillance video revealed a fifth was hiding out while officers were busy before ultimately getting caught, too.

Raw Story - Dec 18th, 2024

Abc7 - Dec 18th, 2024

Score 8.4

What's behind Southern California's dry start to December?

While Northern California has seen plenty of moisture this year, very little has made its way to the southern part of the state.

Score 8.4

'Total incompetence': GOP senator unleashes tirade on Mike Johnson over ticking time bomb

A Republican senator unloaded on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Wednesday night on Fox News, accusing Johnson of saddling Donald Trump with a ticking time bomb set to explode in March.Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) unleashed a tirade on the right-wing network, demanding to know, "Why would you saddle Donald Trump with this terrible spending bill before he even gets into office?""It dumps it right back in his lap in March," he said.ALSO READ: It’s time to decimate the Republicans’ standing with the public — and the pressHawley is referring to Johnson's now ill-fated temporary spending bill, which would've funded the federal government through mid-March — a fact that didn't sit well with Hawley."In March, under this bill, they'd shut down the government again, have to do this all over again, have to raise the debt ceiling again later, the same year. It's ridiculous. It's a horrible plan. I can't believe that Republican leadership ever cooked it up. Clearly they didn't talk to Trump about it."Hawley said his party needs to seriously consider new leadership in Congress."If this is the best they can do, I mean it's just, it's total incompetence. This is a disaster," he said.Among the inclusions in the funding bill: About $100 billion in hurricane relief and $10 billion in assistance for farmers. It also includes provisions to hand over control of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium to Washington, D.C. and enable the city to negotiate to return the Washington Commanders back to the nation's capital.The bill imploded Wednesday afternoon following intense pushback from tech billionaire and "first buddy" Elon Musk — tasked with cutting trillions from the budget — and Trump.Watch the clip below or at this link."We need to have a serious look at who's leading this Congress, because if this is the best they can do, it's complete incompetence. This is a disaster" -- Josh Hawley suggests Mike Johnson needs to go[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) December 18, 2024 at 7:26 PM