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LOS ANGELES — When their sons were just beginning middle school, Sheva and Renee Branch brought their boys to a sporting goods store at Pier 39 in San Francisco.“Let’s do a commitment video right now,” father Sheva told his burgeoning youth football players.And so Zachariah and Zion Branch each sat at a table, Sheva laying out a spread of collegiate program hats in front of them, as each pretended to pick up a USC hat and announce his decision to commit to the Trojans.Improbably, as Sheva once reflected, that decision became real, sitting in the stands at the Los Angeles…

What are those rectangular shaped scooters seen on test tracks in the Rose Bowl parking lot?They are called Motocompactos, designed to replace the gas-guzzling ones powered by internal combustion engines that were used during past Rose Parades.Made by Honda, the new battery-electric scooters are zero-emission scooters. They will be ridden by more than 100 volunteers who will guide the floats along the 5.2-mile route of the 2025 Rose Parade on Jan. 1.Volunteers are receiving training and demonstration rides to get ready for parade day, said Jennifer Symington, assistant vice president of marketing for America Honda in an emailed response.A Motocompacto…

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (VVNG.com) — In an ongoing effort to bolster public safety across California, Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a new operation involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in the city of San Bernardino. This initiative aims to provide additional CHP personnel to address property theft and violent crime, including incidents of gun violence. “We are sending additional CHP support to help local law enforcement aggressively suppress criminal activity and provide this community with a new level of safety and accountability. Whether in the Bay Area, the Central Valley, or Southern California — we are monitoring and stand ready…

By CHRIS MEGERIANWASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris on Tuesday urged anyone who is disappointed by her defeat in last month’s election to “stay in the fight” as Donald Trump prepares to take office, hinting that she won’t be stepping off the political stage anytime soon.The vice president’s remarks to students in the Maryland Corps service year program were her most extensive since her concession speech. She did not disclose her own plans for after her term ends, but she spoke about “our shared commitment to the work ahead.”The speech was something of a pep talk as Trump returns to the…

PALISADES TAHOE SKI RESORT — At midnight, a slender moon hangs above the snowy Sierra Nevada, casting only a faint glow on a sheer cliff and the dark canyon below.But snowcat operator “Bandit” Ferrante has laser-guided vision, measuring snow depth 150 feet ahead and to each side to sculpt the slopes with precision. By dawn, crowds will start arriving to ski and ride the weekend’s fresh powder.“These advancements are changing the way we do things,” said Ferrante, 36, who drives a new $400,000 German-made PistenBully rig with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to prepare the trails. “I see exactly…

SUGGESTED COVERAGE: 6 people found dead in remote desert in San Bernardino County An investigation is underway in San Bernardino County near the small desert community of El Mirage where six people were found dead Tuesday night, according to officials. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new California Highway Patrol operation with the city of San Bernardino to address the city’s higher crime rates and gun violence.  The operation, which will be similar to others currently operating in Oakland, San Francisco, and Bakersfield, will add special law enforcement units on the ground and in the air —…

John T. Bennett | (TNS) CQ-Roll CallMuch Sturm und Drang has surrounded some of Donald Trump’s picks for national security and foreign policy positions, but the president-elect has made clear that all matters of war and diplomacy will run through him.President Joe Biden, who huddled with other G7 leaders Friday morning, has had a message for Trump since he won a second term last month: Resist your instinct to turn away from America’s allies.John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser, described Friday’s G7 session as focused on the leaders’ “shared support to Ukraine,” including the use of a World…

Angel City Football Club boosted its forward group with the signing of Julie Dufour.Dufour, from France, joins Angel City on a three-year contract through the 2027 season. She spent the previous two seasons with Paris FC, where she scored 19 goals in 41 appearances.Dufour, 23, will occupy an international roster spot, the team announced Tuesday.“Joining Angel City FC is an incredibly exciting opportunity, and everything has been done to make me feel welcome from the very beginning,” Dufour said. “Playing in a packed BMO Stadium, in front of such passionate fans, will be a unique experience. I can’t wait to…

Donald Trump weighed in on the dock workers’ dispute that is affecting a variety of East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, taking sides on behalf of the longshoremen’s union. Although union members ended their strike after management agreed to a 62-percent wage boost, the two sides still are at odds over automation. Further work stoppages are likely if the issue isn’t resolved by mid-January when the current contract expires.The union wants to ban ports from using automated systems to open gates and unload containers as well as automated systems to track and manage cargo. According to Freethink, the International Longshoremen’s…

By MARIA DI MENTO of The Chronicle of PhilanthropyThe Chronicle’s annual list of the biggest charitable donations from individuals or their foundations totaled nearly $6 billion in 2024, with half of that coming from three contributions of $1 billion or more each. Two of those three gifts went to medical schools to provide financial aid. Altogether, four of the top donations on the list, totaling $2.3 billion, went to support financial aid.Three contributions were made to donors’ own foundations, and those gifts totaled $2.3 billion as well. Three other donations supported medical research or treatment, and one gift each went…