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By Gabrielle Coppola, David Welch and Keith Naughton | BloombergThe threat by President-elect Donald Trump to end tax credits for electric vehicles helped lift sales in the fourth quarter, giving US automakers a much-needed boost after a disappointing year.At General Motors Co., EV sales more than doubled to almost 44,000 in the quarter. Ford Motor Co. saw a 16% jump in the category to about 30,000 vehicles. Overall EV sales gained 12%, pushing the full-year total to a record 1.3 million, according to forecasts from researcher Cox Automotive.Also see:  Biden administration approves California electric car mandateThe strength in EVs helped…

California likely had fewer traffic fatalities in 2024 than in any of the previous five years, nearly returning to pre-pandemic numbers.An estimated 2,824 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the Golden State in the first nine months of 2024, according to new preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — down from more than 3,000 in the same timeframe in 2023.The decrease in California mirrors a national decline, with initial data suggesting a drop in 35 states and Puerto Rico. Across the country, about 29,135 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes between January and September 2024,…

As the Kings compiled the NHL’s best home record, there has been a party at Crypto.com Arena almost every time they have hit the ice this season, and on Saturday they’ll welcome the franchise that has celebrated more than any other during this decade.The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 before reaching the Final in 2022 to nearly become the first team to win three consecutive titles since the New York Islanders captured four straight from 1980 to 1983.Yet the last two seasons have brought first-round exits for Tampa Bay, just as the Kings have…

By Dave Lieber, The Dallas Morning News (TNS)If you’re someone who manages the family’s finances, worries about identity theft and values maintaining a good credit score, The Watchdog has the latest updates for you.Specifically, let’s dive into what credit reports and scores really mean, how you can access them and why staying on top of them is so important.I recently tuned in to a town hall on consumerism sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Much of it was old hat, but my ears perked when I heard one speaker casually mention that you could get a free copy…

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUMPresident Joe Biden began his term in the White House with a broad promise to protect transgender Americans against Republican policies that painted them as a threat to children and sought to push them out of public life.“Your president has your back,” Biden assured trans people in his first State of the Union address in 2021, and he repeated a version of that statement in subsequent speeches.But with President-elect Donald Trump days away from taking office after piling on transgender people throughout his campaign, some worry Biden did not do enough to shield them from what’s likely to…

NEW YORK — South Korean All-Star second baseman Hyeseong Kim and the Dodgers agreed Friday to a $12.5 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press.Kim’s deal includes team options for 2028 and 2029, which must be exercised together and would raise the value to $22 million over five seasons, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.His becomes the latest addition by the World Series champions in their offseason spending spree.Kim’s 30-day posting window expires at 2 p.m. PST and the deal must be finalized by then.Kim,…

By The Associated PressMexican airline Aeromexico had the world’s best record for on-time arrivals in 2024, according to an annual ranking released Thursday. Delta Air Lines scored the highest among U.S. carriers despite a computer outage that caused thousands of flight cancellations in July.Aviation-data provider Cirium said in a report that nearly 87% of Aeromexico flights arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival, a widely used measure of on-time performance among airlines.Saudia, the flagship carrier of Saudi Arabia, ranked second worldwide, with an on-time performance rate of just over 86%, according to Cirium.Cirium has rated airlines for timeliness for…

By MARY CLARE JALONICKWASHINGTON (AP) — New Senate Majority Leader John Thune is kicking off the new session with a promise to preserve the filibuster, saying in his first floor speech as leader that his priority will be to “ensure the Senate stays the Senate.”Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Republicans are taking power on Friday a little more than two weeks before Donald Trump will be inaugurated, cementing a firm GOP hold on Washington. And Thune will have to navigate his new responsibilities along with the new president, who has made clear he expects allegiance from Congress – and has previously…

By Michael Macagnone, CQ-Roll Call (TNS)WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Thursday overturned a Biden administration rule establishing so-called net neutrality for internet providers following years of litigation over efforts to regulate internet speeds for different content online.The ruling likely ends a long-running effort by the Biden and Obama administrations to change regulation of internet providers — requiring them to provide all internet traffic at the same speed and not discriminate against certain sites or services. A similar rule was initially put in place by the Federal Communications Commission during the Obama administration, reversed by Donald Trump in his…

A family-led coalition trying to secure re-sentencing for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are serving life sentences without parole for the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, will meet Friday with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.Friday’s meeting with the Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition will include more than 20 members of Jose and Kitty Menendez’s family, who organizers say are united in their support for a new sentence that “reflects Erik and Lyle’s abuse, trauma, and demonstrated rehabilitation over the last 35 years.”Former District Attorney George Gascón, who was soundly defeated by…