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The Supreme Court's biggest decisions are coming. Here's what they could say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

The Supreme Court is getting ready to decide some of its biggest cases of the term. The high court has 10 opinions left to release over the next week before the justices begin their summer break. As is typical, the last opinions to be released cover some of the most contentious issues the court has wrestled with this term including affirmative action, student loans and gay rights. Here's a look at some of the cases the court has left to decide from the term that began back in October:AFFIRMATIVE ACTIONThe survival of affirmative action in higher education is the subject of two related cases, one involving Harvard and the other the University of North Carolina. The Supreme Court has previously approved of the use of affirmative action in higher education in decisions reaching back to 1978. But the justices' decision to take the cases suggested a willingness to revisit those rulings. And when the high court heard arguments in the cases in late October, all six conservative justices on...

Supreme Court lets lawsuits over team doctor's sexual abuse proceed against Ohio State

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday left in place a decision that allows more than 230 men to sue Ohio State University over decades-old sexual abuse by a university doctor, the late Richard Strauss.Two cases involving the abuse were on a list of many cases the court said it would not hear. And, as is typical, the court did not comment in saying it would not hear the cases.Ohio State University had urged the court to review a ruling by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that revived lawsuits that had been dismissed. The men who sued are among hundreds of former student-athletes and other alumni who say they were abused by Strauss, who worked at the school from 1978 to 1998. They say university officials failed to stop him despite complaints raised as early as the late 1970s. Many of them allege Strauss abused them during required physicals and other medical exams at campus athletic facilities, a student health center, his home and an off-campus clinic.Strauss killed h...

Louise Post Crosses Abbey Road

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

The BeatlesAbbey Road (Apple Records)Louise Post Crosses Abbey Road: Louise Post, formerly of alt-rock trailblazers Veruca Salt, told us about her love for a Beatles classic.(Apple Records)Louise Post: Abbey Road is my favorite record of all time.  Ever since I heard the needle drop on “Come Together” at age seven, I have wanted to write songs and make music, to have my own band and strive to achieve that kind of magic. And since hearing that song, I have never heard anything cooler. It is heavy without having the heavy guitars and screams and production we came to know in the 90s. It is breezy, sexy, effortlessly cool without trying. It feels fresh and clean in production, but it is deceptively complicated. And that’s just the beginning.Boldly, the Beatles follow this mind-blowing album opener with the ultimate love song-ballad, “Something in the Way”. Just as its predecessor and everything that follows, this song is timeless, authentic, yearning, aching and heartbreaking. “Maxwell...

Can CBD Be A Helping Paw for Dogs with Behavioral Issues?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of wellness, we’re discovering more about the potential benefits of natural compounds. One such compound that has recently made its way into the pet wellness world is cannabidiol (CBD).Extracted from the hemp plant, CBD has been explored for its potential calming effects in humans and, interestingly, also in our four-legged friends. More and more dog owners are turning to CBD for its possibilities with dogs that have aggression or behavioral problems. As we explore the potential of CBD for dogs dealing with behavioral issues, aggression, and anxiety, it’s important to keep in mind the range of factors that could influence its effectiveness.Let’s dive in.Understanding CBD and its Potential Benefits for DogsFirst, let’s make sure you understand CBD.Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-intoxicating compound found in the hemp plant. Unlike its more famous cousin, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce a “high”....

This week in SF Giants baseball: Reunions with Brandon Belt, Kevin Gausman in Toronto

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

It’s reunion week.Kevin Gausman will be on the mound, and Brandon Belt should be penciled in at designated hitter. No, this isn’t 2020 or 2021 at Oracle Park; it’s the Blue Jays’ expected configuration Tuesday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, where the Giants will see their longtime first baseman and shorter-lived ace for the first time since their departures.“It’s playful. That’s how I see it,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of the prospect of seeing Belt this week. “He’s one of the funnier guys that I’ve been around. Very quick-witted. Even reading his quotes over the last few days, it’s been a lot of fun for me and I think everybody around here. Other than that, he’s just going to be another player in another uniform that we’re trying to get out.”The week aheadWinners of 12 of their past 14 games, the Giants will look to take their hot play to the East Coast, with three games apiece against the Blue Jays and Mets. With only 23 all-time...

An ’emotional’ moment: Demolition of first Klamath River dam begins

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

Demolition began this week on the smallest dam on the Klamath River, Copco No. 2 in Oregon. Crews have removed gates, a walkway and two of five bays down to the spillway.Organizers who advocated for the removal said that seeing pictures of the demolition finally made the decades-long fight to undam the Klamath a reality.“It’s hard to explain how emotional all of us all are,” said Craig Tucker, a natural resources policy consultant for the Karuk Tribe.Copco No. 2 would be in the way when the much larger Copco No. 1 is dismantled next year, so it goes first.The deconstruction of Copco No. 2 was done to direct waters around the dam, rather than over it, which will allow construction crews to do work through the summer months, according to a news release from the nonprofit Klamath River Renewal Corporation, which is overseeing the removal of the dams and restoration of the area.The deconstruction of Copco No. 2 is set to be completed by September, according to a KRRC dam removal documen...

What animal is stealing the soap from an Aptos backyard shower, and what are they doing with it?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

DEAR JOAN: I have an outdoor shower in my backyard. Until recently, I always kept a bar of soap in the shower. Lately, the bar of soap has been disappearing.I’ll put a new bar out, and in a day or two, it will be gone. Any idea what is taking the soap and what they are doing with it? Not eating it, I hope!— Stephanie Beck, AptosDEAR STEPHANIE: No need to envision tiny little bathtubs and showers. They’re eating it. The most likely culprits are rats, but skunks, opossums, foxes, raccoons and squirrels have all been known to chow down on a bar of soap, which also dispels the common belief that a bar of Irish Spring will keep critters away.Animal fats — lard or tallow — once was a standard ingredient in soaps, although many soaps these days are made with synthetic ingredients. If you see the words “sodium tallowate” or “sodium lardate” on your soap label, it contains animal fats.Many animals can detect the aroma of the fat, even over perfume-y scents, and ...

TasteFood: Make a squash blossom and chile pepper pizza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

Don’t miss the fleeting season for zucchini flowers or squash blossoms. These floppy flowers are easy to spot at farmers markets in the summer. Sunny orange in color and delicate as tissue, they are hard to overlook. The fragile blossoms are best when fresh and unpackaged, so they’re less commonly found in supermarkets.If you are lucky to access squash blossoms, there are many ways to prepare them. A traditional Italian method is to stuff them with a soft cheese, such as mozzarella, ricotta or goat; a few aromatics, such as chopped herbs and garlic; and a pinch of seasoning. The flowers are then deep-fried in oil or pan-fried in a skillet. The results are crisp, golden and oozing with melty cheese.A lighter, easier option is to simply saute them in butter or olive oil and serve with pasta, or layer them in cheesy quesadillas and egg dishes. The blossoms can also be served raw; their flavor is mild and vegetal. Toss them into salads, or chop and sprinkle as a garnish over...

Wish You Were Here: Atop Sugarloaf on a Brazilian cruise

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

Globetrotting readers have been exploring the far corners of the world this year, taking in such sights as the Azores,  Northern Ireland’s spectacular Giant’s Causeway and Kauai’s Napali Coast. And they’ve been sharing practical travel tips and memorable experiences along the way.Today, a San Jose professor shares his recent shipboard travels in Brazil.Wish You Were HereRelated ArticlesTravel | Wish You Were Here: A trek through Portugal BRAZIL: This spring, San Jose State professor emeritus of history Michael Conniff and his wife, Anne Fountain, traveled from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro on Seven Seas Voyager, where Mike served as destination lecturer for the cruise. Rio’s legendary Sugarloaf was among the many sights they enjoyed — Mike, right, is seen here with fellow passenger Trip Kloser and Botafogo Bay and Corcovado mountain in the background.TRAVEL TIPS: “Rio has greatly improved cruise ship facilities since my last...

Travel Troubleshooter: My brother died. Can I get a refund for my airline tickets?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:44 GMT

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I had tickets on United Airlines to fly from San Jose to Anchorage, Alaska, last summer. In August, my brother died unexpectedly, so we canceled our travel plans.I reserved my airline flights through Booking.com and followed all their instructions regarding a refund. I sent my brother’s death certificate and obituary. Booking.com asked for more proof that we were related, and finally, they asked for his birth certificate. They kept asking for more documentation. Then, they denied our claim.Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter I appealed to United Airlines, and it graciously agreed to refund our tickets, even though we booked through a third party. Shortly after that correspondence from United, Booking.com also agreed to refund our tickets.As of now, I still have not received the refund to my credit cards, even though they say they have refunded me. I have sent numerous emails to all the people listed on your consumer advocacy site, an...