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Why do they look like that? The story behind how Texas counties got their shapes

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — With a unique shape crafted over five centuries, Texas spans more than 268,500 square miles, encompassing everything from briny, picturesque coastlands to vast expansive mesas. However, the curious qualities about the regions and areas of the Lone Star State don't stop with its biomes and general shape but go further into the look of its counties. They're kind of funny-looking, aren't they? Both born Texans and new visitors seem to think so. At a glance, many have noted that the shapes of Texas counties appear strikingly inconsistent. In the eastern and central portions of the state, they're stacked in a downward curve in all manner of different shapes. Moving westward the counties shift to be slightly more consistent, and create a straightforward grid pattern around the Panhandle-Plains region, only to spread out again into large and lopsided swathes of land around Big Bend. A map of counties, county seats and major rivers in Texas, published by the Te...

Real World Economics: How foreign policy choices can shape our economy

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

Edward LottermanUkrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy has presented his earnest pleas to Congress and President Joe Biden and is off to Canada. A recent poll reflects our nation’s political dividedness as at no other time since 1861. Some 71% percent of Democrats support more aid to Ukraine while 62% of Republicans oppose it. In a rapid about-face, Donald Trump turned the GOP into the pro-Russia party.Yet there is much cross-party consensus on support for Taiwan against Chinese threats to take it by force. What to make of all this? And how does it affect the economy? Or, how does economics affect such foreign policy issues?Two centuries ago, Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz argued that “war is the continuation of politics by other means.” A century ago, just four months after the armistice ending World War I hostilities, Halford Mackinder, the British geographer who coined the term “geopolitics,” added economics to Clausewitz’s definition.  A recent U.S. Army Wa...

Broncos vs. Dolphins: Live updates and highlights from the NFL Week 3 game

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

Can the Broncos break their slow 0-2 start and win their first game in the Sean Payton era? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.Live updatesPre-game updatesScouting report (9 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Dolphins in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.Game predictionsParker Gabriel, beat writer: Dolphins 30, Broncos 21Denver’s got faith that its season is going to turn for the better. But this weekend? Against this offense? In South Florida? Mike McDaniel’s joking this week about how Miami in September made for a home-field advantage even “pre-global warming.” Now, the Broncos will have to try not to melt down before getting back to autumn at 0-3.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | Broncos Journal: OLBs must show they can stop run consistently, or they’ll keep getting picked on Denver Broncos | Kickin’ It with Kiz: Where can the crazy-rich Waltons get...

1 dead, 2 wounded in shooting outside home in Wilmington 

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

A late-night shooting claimed the life of one man and sent two other people to the hospital. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to the 1000 block of Sanford Avenue in Wilmington around 11:45 p.m. Saturday night. Upon arrival, they found three victims – who were reportedly standing outside of a residence drinking when gunfire erupted – suffering from gunshot wounds. All three were transported to the local medical centers. One of the victims, a 50-year-old man, was pronounced deceased at the hospital after paramedics attempted CPR multiple times, police said.  Video shows SoCal deputy slamming girl on ground in violent brawl The two other victims, only identified as a 36-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, were taken to hospitals in critical and stable condition, respectively. The gunman, described only as a Hispanic man, fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction, authorities said.Neighbors told KTLA 5’s Annie Rose Ramo...

Video shows SoCal deputy slamming girl to the ground during chaotic brawl

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

A teen girl is hospitalized after being thrown to the ground by a sheriff’s deputy during a violent brawl in San Bernardino County Friday night.Authorities responded to a large fight that erupted during a football game at Victor Valley High School around 6:28 p.m., according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.Cell phone video captured the violent confrontation as a deputy body slams the teen girl to the ground before another teen boy gets into a scuffle with deputies.It all started when the first deputy to arrive discovered multiple fights were taking place at the time. Pepper balls were shot into the crowd in an effort to disperse the group. The move, however, was not effective and the crowds began heading toward the deputy, officials said.As additional deputies arrived, another pepper ball round was launched at the group. That’s when 16-year-old Faith Jeffers grabbed the pepper ball launcher from the deputy. A teen girl is hospitalized after being thrown to the...

San Jose Jazz opens its Break Room for fall concert series

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

After kicking off its new fall music series earlier this month, San Jose Jazz is again opening its SJZ Break Room on Sept. 29 for the next intimate performance.The series opened Sept. 1 with a show curated by Needle to the Groove, a local DJ-run record store, and headlined by Bay Area producer Teeko.For the series, San Jose Jazz is bringing national touring artists and emerging jazz, soul and hip-hop artists to the SJZ Break Room, a popup located inside San Jose Jazz’s downtown San Jose offices. A group work space by day, the office can be transformed into a 100-seat venue in just two hours and boasts cabaret and lounge seating, a bar and state-of the-art video that is both livestreamed and projected on a 35-foot bank of windows to allow passersby to experience the music. Unless otherwise noted, doors open at 7 p.m. and shows start at 8 p.m.Visitors to the SoFA District on Sept. 29 may see and hear bassist Michael Feinberg’s release party set for his 10th album. Feinberg has been he...

Sunnyvale names new assistant city manager

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

Sarah Johnson-Rios has been named Sunnyvale’s new assistant city manager, effective Oct. 23.“Sarah impressed everyone on our interview panels with her range of experience and personable nature,” said city manager Kent Steffens in a statement. “I know she’ll be a great fit for our organization.”Johnson-Rios has more over 15 years’ experience in municipal government management in the areas of financial management, affordable housing and economic development, public works and city administration. She most recently served as assistant city manager for the cities of Morro Bay and Paso Robles.Prior to that job, she served as a housing administrator for the City of Raleigh, NC, and as public works administrative services officer for the City of Santa Monica.As Sunnyvale’s assistant city manager, Johnson-Rios will oversee operational issues and provide guidance on projects such as replacing the city’s enterprise resource planning software. Her starting salary will be $359,000. She will be t...

Milpitas nonprofit swears in 22 advocates for foster youth

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

Volunteers from Morgan Hill to Mountain View were sworn in Sept. 19 as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) through Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, a Milpitas-based nonprofit.The swearing-in ceremony, presided over by Judge Shawna Schwarz, capped a training process where 22 volunteers from nine South Bay cities learned how to serve as the go-between for children in the foster care system and court officials. Milpitas residents Kelly Rose and Luis Saavedra are among the new CASA volunteers.“My goal as a CASA volunteer is to help kids and their families thrive,” new graduate Jorden Young of Morgan Hill said in a statement. “It won’t always be smooth sailing, but with our training and the support from our incredible CASA community, I am confident that we can make a real impact for foster youth.”Volunteer training consisted of 30 hours of self-paced courses and presentations, both online and in person, that covered topics like child development, the dependency court system and in...

New Museum Los Gatos names new executive director

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

New NUMU leaderNew Museum Los Gatos announced that Kimberly Snyder will take on the role of executive director. The longtime employee was serving as interim director following the departure of former director, Ami Davis.Snyder will focus on advancing several initiatives at NUMU, like opening the Collections Prep Lab, making the museum’s art and history collections accessible to the general public and celebrating the 13th anniversary of the ArtNow high school exhibition and competition.Wine walkThe Los Gatos Wine Walk is back for visitors and residents to stroll, sip, shop and savor their way through town Saturday, Oct. 14.More than 30 local wineries will offer tastings for guests as they walk through downtown Los Gatos and check out the shops and restaurants. Tickets for the event, which will be held rain or shine, are $50 ahead of the event and $60 at the door, and include a wine glass and wrist band. They can be purchased at Eventbrite.com.Check in begins at 12:30 p.m. at 10...

Saratoga city commissions look to fill vacancies

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:11:20 GMT

Commission recruitment openSeveral Saratoga city commissions are looking to fill vacancies. The Heritage Preservation Commission is accepting applications until Nov. 17, while the deadline to apply for the Parks and Recreation, Public Art, and Library and Community Engagement commissions is Dec. 31.For more information and to apply, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/comvac.Council meeting infoSaratoga residents can stay on top of city council happenings by subscribing to meeting previews and post-meeting summaries through the City of Saratoga’s Hamlet GovCenter at https://gov.myhamlet.com/ca/santa-clara-county/saratoga.Hamlet is an independent communications platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to review and post agenda information online.Residents can also sign up at https://www.saratoga.ca.us/list.aspx to receive city newsletters and notifications when council and commission agendas are posted online.Conference on ‘Aging Well’Saratoga Federated Church is hosting “Aging Well: Plan...