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There were two recipients of the 2024 Democracy Works Award from the League of Women Voters of Woodland for their efforts to inspire political and individual change. Receiving the recognition from among six nominees countywide were Brown Issues and newly elected Woodland School Board Trustee Laura Brubaker. Brown Issues is a local group founded to “cultivate the next generation of Brown leaders through civic engagement, healing, and narrative change.” The youth development organization is nonpartisan and has 20 chapters statewide, including one in Yolo County. Brubaker, who was elected unopposed earlier this month to represent the 2nd Trustee Area in Woodland, successfully spearheaded a grass roots efforts to recall Emily MacDonald that led to her resignation on March 12 after she was removed during the March 5 election. In June 2023, the Woodland school board adopted a resolution supporting LGBTQIA+ students. MacDonald, however, read a statement dismissive of those students. During the award ceremony held Tuesday evening at Yolo Veterans Post 77 in Woodland, Brubaker said she started the recall because “I was really upset when someone who was supposed to represent me used their podium to try and divide us. “I realized I wasn’t the only one upset by that. So a small group of us started the recall effort and that grew into hundreds of us who believe in bringing democracy to the doorsteps of our community and offering voters the chance to vote again on who would represent them,” she said. “I’m really proud of that.” Brubaker said the point of the recall was that “we didn’t turn our backs on marginalized community members. We can’t do that. There’s going to be a lot of attempts to divide us as a country and we need to remember that no matter your race or gender, who you love, your immigration status, your language or economic status, education or ability, we cannot leave anybody behind.” Of Brown Issues, local organizer Marco Osorio and Sacramento representative Carlos Molina credited the group with developing leadership skills among young persons who might otherwise turn to gangs or violence. Osorio said he and others went into a Sacramento High School which had seen plenty of violence and discovered over the course of trying to reduce that violence, there was “leadership potential.” “We knew we had to build civic engagement so they could have agency and ownership in their communities,” Osorio said. He credited Yolo County Superintendent of Schools Garth Lewis with bringing Brown Issues to Yolo County after an incident at Woodland High School. He also gave thanks to those students and others who had stepped up to make a difference. “When I was growing up, I was a broken person with a virus that was inflicting pain on others and spreading it,” Osorio said, acknowledging his past. “Brown Issues was one of the biggest turning points in my life and I will never forget it.” The organization’s advisers work with youth at schools across Yolo County including Cesar Chavez Community School, Pioneer, Woodland, Cache Creek high school and UC Davis. In December, Brown Issues will be working with student delegates who will be installed in the Sacramento Legislature to practice the art of legislating. From that it’s hoped those participating will learn not only how to enact laws but how to lead. Brown Issue and Brubaker also received certificates acknowledging their efforts from U.S. Representative Mike Thompson. The Democracy Works Award has been presented by the League of Women Voters of Woodland since 2006. The local league is now celebrating its 50th anniversary and will complete its merge with the League of Women Voters of Davis in early 2025 to become League of Women Voters of Yolo County. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots, national organization dedicated to local voter education and empowering citizens to shape better communities for more than 100 years.In recent days, speculation has been swirling around the future of Son Heung-Min, the talented South Korean forward currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Rumors began to circulate that Son may be on the verge of a surprise move to the Turkish Super Lig, catching many fans and football pundits off guard.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, lashed back at Vice President Sara Duterte’s latest rant, which he described as a diversionary tactic to stifle Congress’ search for truth on her office’s use of confidential funds. This time the President did not let Vice President Duterte’s rant pass unlike the latter’s past tirades. The President, said, in a video statement, he would not tolerate such “criminal threats” against him. “As the head of the executive department, as well as all other public servants, I have a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution and the laws. As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law,” he said. READ MORE: Sara Duterte’s kill remark vs Marcos is ‘active threat’ – Palace DOJ warns Sara of criminal liabilities for Marcos kill threat “It is not right to stifle elected leaders’ search for the truth. It should not be subjected to ‘tokhang,’” the President said in Filipino, referencing the deaths of thousands of drug suspects during the antidrug strategy employed by the previous administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father. The President issued the statement in response to the remarks made by the younger Duterte in a live-streamed video conference in the wee hours of Saturday, with mainly Duterte diehard supporters (DDS) as her audience. “Don’t worry about my security because I have already contracted an individual, and told him/her that if I am killed, you should also kill BBM (President Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino, responding to a question from a DDS viewer. “I have given instructions that if I die, do not stop until you kill (the three personalities), and then he said ‘yes,’” she added. The President referred to Duterte’s pronouncements as “troubling,” citing how these were “laden with brazen expletives coupled with a threat to kill some of us.” “If that is how easily they can make plots to kill a President, how about the ordinary citizens?” “As a democratic country, we need to uphold the rule of law,” Marcos noted. The President also defended the congressional investigations that zeroed in on Duterte’s use of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as secretary. “For 12 years, I have been a legislator in both the lower and upper chambers of Congress; I recognize the mandate given to them by the citizenry and our Constitution,” he said. “As such, I respect their duty as an independent branch of our republic.” He said all agencies of government, including those in the executive branch, cannot escape the oversight power of Congress to scrutinize the use of public funds. “This matter should not have ended up with all this drama if only questions raised by the Senate and House of Representatives were amply answered,” Marcos said, but without making direct reference to Duterte. The issue would have been resolved had public officials lived up to their sworn duty of stating and not suppressing the truth, the President said. “But instead of giving direct answers, the issue is being diverted toward ‘kwentong chicheria’ (nonsensical tales),” referring to the findings by the Commission on Audit that the OVP had signed dubious names such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” supposedly patterned after a popular restaurant and a chips and snacks brand. Marcos said he was unperturbed by all the criticisms hurled at his administration. “Despite all the criticisms, I remain focused on governance. But we cannot compromise the rule of law, which should prevail under whatever circumstances and whoever gets stung by it,” he pointed out. “I will not allow others to succeed in dragging the entire country into the mud pit of politics,” the President added. Duterte has since backtracked from her earlier statements, saying in an open letter released on Monday that her remarks about the assassination plot on the President were “maliciously taken out of logical context.” In a talk with reporters at the House of Representatives also on Monday, Duterte was also unfazed, promising to get payback for whatever the Marcos administration did to her. Responding to the video message of the President, Duterte even recalled the assassination of former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in 1983 during the regime of the President’s father, which she alleged was plotted by the Marcos family. She said she had yet to see the entire statement of Marcos, but said, “I will also fight back for what they are doing to me now,” referring to the ongoing House investigations. Duterte was at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday to join her staff summoned by the House panel, where she finally took oath, a move that she still argued was “unconstitutional.” During the hearing, Duterte made it seem as if the entire lower chamber was against her and the OVP. “We don’t trust anyone anymore in this country,” Duterte said, in response to queries if she has plans to take up her concerns at the Supreme Court. “We don’t expect justice anymore in this country. This is clear political harassment. This is clear political persecution. When it comes to threats against them, it’s a matter of national security, but when it comes to us, it’s as if it’s nothing,” she stressed. The Presidential Security Command (PSC) is not taking Duterte’s statements lightly, saying on Monday it was doubling the security detail of the President and would undertake tighter measures during his public appearances. Maj. Nestor Endozo, PSC civil military operations officer, said the PSC was seeking augmentation from the Philippine National Police. “The instruction of doubling the security of the President is an offshoot of the current situation, of what was mentioned by (Vice President Duterte),” he said. He said the PSC was awaiting instructions about proposals to put in place additional protection during the President’s public appearances, including making him use a bulletproof shield on the podium during speeches or letting him wear a protective vest. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. also reminded soldiers not to be rattled by the “myriad of events that transpired in our country” and stay professional amid a widening rift between the President and the Vice President. “As soldiers, we should not be shaken by this,” he said in a speech during the flag-raising ceremony that coincided with the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women 2024 kickoff event at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday. Brawner told the troops to follow the chain of command and to stay “professional and competent.” —with a report from Frances Mangosing

The decision to lower the asking price by 25 million Hong Kong dollars has raised eyebrows among industry experts, who view it as a strategic move to attract potential buyers in a competitive real estate market. With the current economic uncertainties and evolving property trends in Hong Kong, the couple's decision to adjust the price reflects their willingness to adapt to market conditions while ensuring a fair and transparent sales process.The parents, displaying remarkable composure, calmly listened to both drivers' accounts of the incident. They then mediated a constructive dialogue between the parties involved, aiming to reach a fair and amicable resolution. It was a heartening sight to see individuals coming together to seek understanding and find a solution in the midst of adversity.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. People are also reading... Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

CJ 4DPLEX and Cinema West Sign Multi-Theater Deal To Launch 270-Degree Panoramic ScreenX and Multisensory 4DX Auditoriums Across CaliforniaIsrael launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah

NoneIn conclusion, China Life Insurance's robust performance in accumulating original insurance premium income of approximately 644.3 billion RMB in the first 11 months, with a year-on-year growth of 4.8%, underscores its resilience, adaptability, and strategic focus on innovation and customer-centricity. As a leader in the Chinese insurance industry, China Life Insurance continues to set high standards for excellence and remains committed to serving the financial protection needs of individuals and families across the country.BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Capitola City Council backtracks on Bay Avenue intersection configuration

Pundit slams Hibs star Elie Youan for ‘not acceptable’ red card reaction – but fans insist ‘it’s not that deep’