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California’s second-largest home insurer, Farmers Insurance, recently announced it will boost the number of home-insurance policies that it writes here this year by 2,500. In a normal insurance market, that shouldn’t even be news. In California it was a major story because it signals the first sign of relief during a crisis that has seen top insurers fleeing our wobbly market.Farmers specifically cited an improved insurance marketplace for its decision. “This is a positive step forward for California homeowners, renters, and businesses who have faced significant challenges accessing coverage,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “While more work needs to be…

One of the great political scandals of the last few years was hammered home in the closing weeks of this year.The Wall Street Journal’s report on Dec. 19th about how Joe Biden’s inner circle managed the cognitively dimished president is well worth reading.“Presidents always have gatekeepers,” reported the Journal. “But in Biden’s case, the walls around him were higher and the controls greater, according to Democratic lawmakers, donors and aides who worked for Biden and other administrations. There were limits over who Biden spoke with, limits on what they said to him and limits around the sources of information he…

SACRAMENTO – Being a writer, I’m fairly confident in the extent of my vocabulary. I was nevertheless surprised to learn a new word in 2024 – and to realize that, according to more than a few pundits, it defined the entire year. The herd of political onlookers might actually be onto something.The word is so arcane my Word document flags it as a misspelling. Whereas an “idiocracy” is a society governed by morons, a “kakistocracy” is one “governed by its least suitable or competent citizens.” In this case, our nation’s overlords aren’t dummies, but might be defined by cunning, self-interest,…

COTTONWOOD, Calif. – A single ticket sold in Northern California matched all six numbers – white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and Mega Ball 6 – to win the $1.22 billion jackpot in Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing, according to lottery officials.The life-changing ticket was sold at Sunshine Food and Gas at 3505 Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, a Shasta County community off Interstate 5 between Red Bluff and Redding, the California Lottery said on its website.“What an amazing present this holiday season,” Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement. “At an incredibly special…

LOS ANGELES — Briskly, Mick Cronin walked away from the media scrum and into Friday’s practice. It was the first of the season without a viewing portion, as the UCLA men’s basketball team was jumping straight into scouting Gonzaga.Back to work, he said, in a matter-of-fact tone. His mood, he explained a day later, had been dampened by the Bruins’ collapse against North Carolina in Madison Square Garden.“I was a miserable human for a couple days,” Cronin said.He remained displeased, even after the No. 22 Bruins (11-2) bounced back and showed a considerable amount of poise in the final moments,…

RIVERSIDE- There will be a new champion at the Ramona Winter Classic girls basketball tournament in 2024 with King opting not to defend its titleMonday’s final will have an all-Inland area flare to it as Valley View and  ancho Cucamonga advanced on Saturday night, with both teams using big runs to propel them to victory.For a quarter and a half in Saturday’s first semifinal, Ramona went step for step with Valley View, trailing by one with 6:45 until halftime. That’s when the Eagles went on a 15-0 run to take a 29-16 lead.Valley View’s Mason Long, who led all scorers…

LOS ANGELES — Three days after their Christmas Day game thriller, the Lakers returned home with an ailing LeBron James, who was still feeling under the weather and did not play Saturday against the Sacramento Kings.It was James’ third missed game of the season.That left the Lakers to face a team in turbulence following the firing of the coach.The Sacramento Kings dismissed Mike Brown on Friday after two-plus seasons and promoted Doug Christie to interim coach after the team floundered in the Western Conference standings.Lakers coach JJ Redick suspected the unexpected move might motivate the Kings, who were looking to…

Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) shoots against Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.) Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost (48) brings the puck upice against the Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.) Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba (65) skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.) Members of the Philadelphia…

A key takeaway from the 2024 election is that, at both the national and state level, Democrats have a “brand” problem.Indeed, even in deep-blue California, Vice President Kamala Harris’ 20-point margin of victory was a 10-point decline from President Biden’s victory four years ago.Additionally, voters in the state rejected left-wing Mayors and District Attorneys in Oakland and Los Angeles, as well as backed a tough-on-crime ballot measure – Prop 36 – repealing 2014’s Prop 47, which had loosened criminal penalties for various offenses.Quite simply, there are clear signs that Californians are unsatisfied with current Democratic leadership.Current Gov. Gavin Newsom’s favorability…

INGLEWOOD — After an interception with less than four minutes left, the Rams leading the Arizona Cardinals by four, safety Kamren Kinchens ran into the end zone he had just successfully defended. His teammates joined him for a celebratory dance, believing they had done enough to leave SoFi Stadium with a win.Instead, the Rams offense, tasked with putting the game away, failed to get a first down for the fourth time in the game. They punted the ball away to the Cardinals before the two-minute warning.And the weary Rams defense, on the field for 36:55 of game time, kept getting…