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FDA plans to allow a second updated COVID booster for vulnerable Americans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration plans to allow older and immunocompromised Americans to get a second updated coronavirus booster shot in the near future, an acknowledgment of the virus’s continuing risks to vulnerable people whose immunity might be sagging months after a previous inoculation.Federal regulators are expected to authorize the additional dose in the next few weeks, according to people familiar with the agency’s planning. Those 65 and older would be able to receive the vaccine free of charge at least four months after their previous updated shot. Those with immune deficiencies would also be eligible.Regulators are expected to authorize the additional dose without explicitly recommending it for those groups, a stance that emphasizes the discretion of patients and their health providers. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is expected to sign off on the decision — a customary step in the regulator...

Supervisor Solis Retracts Proposal To ‘Depopulate’ Jails In L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

Supervisor Hilda Solis pulled back a motion to “decarcerate” and “depopulate” jails in L.A. County after hearing concerns from stakeholders.Solis said Monday, she wanted the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to use its “limited” power to allow the release of some inmates, but will now seek further input on how to improve the proposal.“I introduced the motion as a way to strike a balance with both justice-involved advocates and public safety representatives,” Solis said in a statement. “Since the motion was published, my office has received concerns from a variety of stakeholders — those who feel the motion is not doing enough and those who feel it is doing too much. To that end, I will be referring the motion back to my office so that I can continue to gather input from all stakeholders.”Some of the voices concerned with the motion were those of the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys (LAADD), who cal...

A Look Into The Most Expensive Yoga Class In The World

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

As old as time, yoga has been associated with simplicity, spirituality, and a break from the material world. While this image has attracted many devoted practitioners, it has inadvertently alienated those who don’t fit the traditional yoga mold. Enter Anastasia Fedorina, AKA Anastasia Thriving, a visionary yoga and meditation teacher on a mission to shatter stereotypes and make the practice accessible and appealing to a broader audience. Through her unique and luxurious yoga events, she bridges the gap between material and spiritual, demonstrating that yoga can be both a transformative and a high-end experience.On a recent March day in Bel Air, Fedorina hosted the most expensive yoga class in the world. The scene was breathtaking as over 1,000 roses, hundreds of candles, live violin, harp, and cello music were all set against the backdrop of a stunning mansion with sweeping views. With her high-fashion Mugler attire, Fedorina demonstrated to the world that yoga could be both a...

Dr. Morad Askari Shares the Latest Plastic Surgery Trends and Celebrity Secrets at Revive Surgical Institute

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

We all desire to look young and ageless, just like Jennifer Aniston and JLO in their fifties, who have seemingly mastered the art of maintaining their youthful appearance. Dr. Morad Askari, a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Revive Surgical Institute, understands this desire and offers his expert recommendations and advice.Starting in your 20s, it’s important to work against aging by taking care of yourself both physically and mentally. One of the best ways to do this is by adopting healthy habits, including a daily skincare routine, regular exercise, a nutritious diet, and staying hydrated. Aside from focusing on overall health and wellness, another way to stay youthful is through surgical treatment. Dr. Morad Askari notes that some celebrities start getting facelifts every 5 to 10 years starting around 30 to 35 years old to slow down the aging process without creating a drastic change in their appearance. Dr. Askari emphasizes the importance of consulting with a ...

From Sports to Beauty to Wellness: 7 Perfect Gifts for Every Personality

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

Some of us are natural-born gift-givers … others, not so much. Whether you feel like your “gift to the world” is your ability to pick the perfect present or you struggle to find the right gifts for those special people in your life, finding an item that is both individual and universal may be a difficult task.With a number of exciting, personalizable, and unique gift options out there, we want to highlight a few that will truly leave your recipient feeling cared for, excited, and maybe even in awe. Here are our picks for the best gifts for every personality, ranging from sports to beauty to wellness — and everything in between!1.   Formula 1 Tickets From TickPickFormula 1 tickets from TickPick may not be what you expected to see first in this list, but the sheer thrill of a Formula 1 event just can’t be beaten.Formula 1 tickets make a perfect gift for any personality, whether they are a racing enthusiast or a casual observer. The thrill and excitement of watching some of the fastest...

NWSL commish: Bay Area star owners ‘earned their seat’ in the league

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

National Women’s Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman touted the newest addition to the league on Tuesday morning, with some star power added in the ownership ranks.Berman and the NWSL awarded expansion rights to the league’s 14th franchise to the San Francisco Bay Area and an ownership group led by four former U.S. women’s national team players – Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner.In an exclusive interview with Bay Area News Group after Tuesday morning’s announcement, Berman said she was thrilled to welcome the ownership group that is financially fronted by Sixth Street, a global investfirm firm led by Bay Area-based CEO Alan Waxman, and also includes others with Bay Area ties former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, former Warriors president Rick Welts.“This is a massive market of people who are thirsty for great sports,” Berman said. “Being able to witness professional women’s soccer on a consistent basis is something we’...

Magnitude 4.7 earthquake rattles South Bay, Central Coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck Tuesday afternoon south of Hollister, rattling communities across the South Bay and the Central Coast.The quake struck at 3:23 p.m. about one mile from Tres Pinos, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter appears to have been about 5.7 miles underground, the agency said.Light shaking could be felt throughout the Bay Area and the Central Coast, according to reports that streamed into the USGS’s website in the minutes after the quake. Some people reported feeling the earthquake as far south as Big Sur and as far east as the Sierra Nevada foothills, east of Merced. Others reported light shaking in the Modesto area as well.The temblor ranks among the strongest to shake the Bay Area or the surrounding region since a 5.1 quake hit eastern Santa Clara County in late October. It also comes just a few days after a series of smaller quakes — all ranging in magnitude from 3.0 to 2.7 — rattled the Oakland Hills and the East Bay o...

Sharks update: Nieto talks trade, prospect has surgery, and are some players’ seasons over?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

SAN JOSE – Matt Nieto watched last year as Andrew Cogliano raised the Stanley Cup over his head just a few months after he was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche from the San Jose Sharks.Now Nieto wants to experience that same feeling, as he’s fit right back in with an Avalanche team that fully expects to go on another deep playoff run this spring.“That’s the goal for sure,” said Nieto, who also played with the Avalanche from 2016 to 2020. “Right when I got traded here and conversations I had with staff and players, everyone wants to repeat that again. Just watching the work that we do every day, guys are really committed to succeeding and making sure that happens.”Both Nieto and Cogliano were back in San Jose on Tuesday for the first time since they were each traded by the Sharks to Colorado. The Avalanche acquired Cogliano from the Sharks for a draft pick at the trade deadline last year, and picked up Nieto and defenseman Ryan Merkley on Jan. 25 for forward Martin Kaut and d...

Tracy man arrested in 2021 Oakland shooting, allegedly identified by his Raiders hat and surveillance footage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

OAKLAND — A Tracy resident has been arrested and charged in the death of a 55-year-old man who was shot and killed in Oakland more than a year ago.Efrain Martinez, 48, was charged Monday with murder in the death of 55-year-old Dennis Brown, as well as assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a 33-year-old man, and shooting at an occupied motor vehicle. The charges contain enhancements alleging the use of a firearm, despite a recent policy by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office to drastically scale back the use of enhancements.Martinez was identified as a suspect from surveillance footage of the shooting and witnesses who noted the suspect was wearing a Raiders hat. Martinez later reviewed the footage with police and identified himself in it, according to police.Martinez was arrested on March 29 at his home in Tracy, where police say they recovered clothing he wore during the shooting.The shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2021, on the 1400 block of 8...

Creator of hugely popular Catan board game dies at 70

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:14 GMT

Associated PressKlaus Teuber, creator of the hugely popular Catan board game in which players compete to build settlements on a fictional island, has died after a brief illness, according to a family statement. He was 70.The board game, originally called The Settlers of Catan when introduced in 1995 and based on a set of hexagonal tiles, has sold tens of millions of copies and is available in more than 40 languages. It has spawned dozens of spinoffs and new editions, including electronic versions, not to mention products related to the game.“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that the Teuber family announces their beloved husband and father Klaus Teuber passed away at the age of 70 on April 1, 2023 after a short and serious illness,” said the statement posted on the German-language Catan website. The family requested privacy.A statement from the Catan studio team on social media noted that “While Klaus’ contributions to the board gaming industry are i...