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Bad driving and weather blamed for rising rates, Insurance Council of Texas says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Insurance Council of Texas said multiple factors have contributed to a steady climb in the price of home and car insurance in the years since the pandemic.Rich Johnson, the council's community director of communications and public affairs, said insurance companies have slowly been raising rates since 2021.He said there was a 20% increase going into 2021, and an additional jump of 10-15% going into 2023. Johnson said that change in price is in an effort for companies to recoup losses seen during the pandemic."Those COVID years where there was pressure to keep rates down are kind of catching up to us now. So for the most part, most insurers are going to be raising premiums," Johnson said.Johnson said since the COVID-19 lockdowns, drivers have returned to the road with bad habits like speeding and distracted driving which has caused more accidents and insurance claims.He said those repairs are made even more expensive for insurance companies because of how much tech...

Men’s hockey: Rocky first period dooms Tommies in 3-1 loss to Lake Superior State

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

One bad period of hockey was enough to put an end to the St. Thomas men’s hockey team’s five-game winning streak on Saturday night at St. Thomas Ice Arena.The Tommies (7-6-1 overall, 5-3-0 CCHA) were unable to overcome a 3-0 first-period deficit and fell 3-1 to Lake Superior State.“Give them credit, they were hungry,” St. Thomas coach Rico Blasi said of the Lakers (6-7-0, 3-4-0). “We talked about some things that they might do, and they certainly did that right off the bat.”While Blasi and his assistants did their best to prepare the Tommies for what was sure to be an inspired opponent at start to the game, the Tommies were not able to match the Lakers’ intensity.“We’re still in the start of Year 3,” Blasi said. “They’ve got to learn, they’ve got to feel it. They’ve  got to feel it because we’re going to be in these situations quite a bit the rest of the year. I don’t think anybody in the locker room is happy about what happened.“But nothing we can do about it now. We ha...

Authorities search for missing L.A. County teen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

Authorities are searching for a missing teenager who disappeared in Palmdale on Friday.The critically missing teen was identified as Alaia Elizabeth Wheat, 17, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Wheat was last seen in the 6300 block of Posada Court around 3:50 p.m.She has a mental health disorder and her loved ones are concerned for her well-being. She is described as a female standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 168 pounds. She has brown eyes and short hair with red-colored dreads. She was last seen wearing a yellow hoodie and black leggings while carrying a brown backpack.Alaia Elizabeth Wheat, 17, in a photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.A “critically missing person” is defined as:-A person in critical need of medical attention-A person who has no pattern of running away or disappearing-The victim of a crime or foul play-The victim of a kidnapping or parental abduction-A person who is mentally impaired to the extent that such person ...

Stanford no match for Notre Dame in lopsided loss to No. 17 Fighting Irish

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

STANFORD – Stanford finished a winless season at Stanford Stadium with one last blowout loss.The Cardinal allowed touchdowns on seven of No. 17 Notre Dame’s first nine offensive possessions in a 56-23 defeat Saturday night.Stanford finished 3-9 under first-year coach Troy Taylor, matching its record in each of David Shaw’s final two seasons.That includes an 0-7 mark at Stanford Stadium, making the Cardinal the only FBS team without a victory at home.It also marked the team’s fifth loss by at least 33 points. The Cardinal lost 56-10 at USC, 62-17 at Oregon State, 42-6 to Oregon and 42-7 against UCLA.Audric Estime led the Fighting Irish (9-3) with 238 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries.The Cardinal had only forced seven turnovers entering Saturday, the second-lowest total in the country, but it had three takeaways in the first half to keep the game close.JShawn Frausto-Ramos stripped Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman, Che Ojarikre intercepted Hartman, and Ese Dubre forced a fumble ...

5-year-old girl who was swept out to sea in Half Moon Bay rescued

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

(KRON) -- San Mateo Fire rescued a 5-year-old girl who was swept out to sea Saturday afternoon at Martins Beach in Half Moon Bay, officials said. Rescue teams are still searching for a 54-year-old man.A call about two people being swept out to sea came in around 1:20 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard officials said. A helicopter and a rescue boat were deployed to help with the search. They were able to recover a 5-year-old girl. She was airlifted to Stanford Hospital. Her condition is unknown.The Coast Guard has taken over the search. The USCG Cutter Hawksbill will be on scene around 11:30 p.m. to continue the search. The Cutter Hawksbill is an 87-foot search and rescue boat that patrols the coast from its homeport in Monterey. SF Fire rescues 3 from sailboat drifting towards rocks Officials are warning people of the dangers of the ocean due to the weather during this time of year.This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Anthony Davis scores season-high 32 points, Lakers beat the Cavaliers 121-115

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Anthony Davis scored 23 of his season-high 32 points in the second half and grabbed 13 rebounds, LeBron James had 22 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-115 on Saturday night.James added six rebounds, six assists and two steals in beating Cleveland for the 18th time in 21 career games. The 39-year-old attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in nearby Akron and spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers, leading them to the 2016 NBA championship.Austin Reeves had 15 points and 10 assists, Christian Wood scored 13 points and Max Christie had 12 for the Lakers, who won their third straight on the road. Los Angeles shot 52.2%, with Reaves, Wood and Jaxson Hayes combining to make 14 of 20 shots off the bench.Donovan Mitchell, who missed the previous four games with a right hamstring strain, went 4 of 18 from the field and had 22 points and six assists for Cleveland. Jarrett Allen added 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Evan Mobley finished with 18 ...

AP Top 25 Takeaways: Back door to the College Football Playoff is likely to be blocked this season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

The back door to the College Football playoff is unlikely to be open for Ohio State or anybody else this championship weekend.A season defined by almost-upsets and favorites finding a way continued during rivalry weekend with a couple of College Football Playoff contenders withstanding unranked in-state foes Saturday.No. 4 Washington and Michael Penix Jr. used a bold fourth-and-1 call and walk-off field goal to beat Washington State in the Apple Cup and stay unbeaten heading into the Pac-12 title game.That was easy compared to what No. 8 Alabama needed to escape Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Jalen Milroe and Isaiah Bond connected for a touchdown in the final minute on fourth-and-goal … from the 31! And the Crimson Tide stayed in CFP contention as they prepare for the Southeastern Conference championship game against No. 1 Georgia.As for the second-ranked Buckeyes, make it three straight losses to Michigan. The third-ranked Wolverines, without coach Jim Harbaugh (or Connor Sta...

Caitlin Clark scores 21 and No. 5 Iowa makes 20 3s to roll past Florida Gulf Coast 100-62

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Caitlin Clark moved another couple of spots up the all-time scoring list, Lisa Bluder reached a coaching milestone and Iowa picked up more than a win.It got a school record — and a rematch with Kansas State.Clark scored 21 points, Bluder got her 500th victory at Iowa and the fifth-ranked Hawkeyes beat Florida Gulf Coast 100-62 in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Saturday night.The key: 20 made 3s, the most ever by the Hawkeyes.“I was happy with the way we passed the ball and shot it,” said Bluder, now 500-250 at Iowa. “But I’m almost more happy with the way we defended and rebounded.”The Hawkeyes will get a rematch with Kansas State for the tournament title on Sunday night; the Wildcats won 65-58 in Iowa City on Nov. 16, topping the Hawkeyes for the second consecutive season.“It’ll be fun,” Kansas State guard Serena Sundell said. “Iowa’s a good team and we had to fight every possession at their place to get that win. So, I’m just excited to prep...

Baylor RB Richard Reese returns 2 kickoffs for TDs against West Virginia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

WACO, Texas (AP) — Baylor sophomore Richard Reese returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, going 96 and 93 yards in a span of just more than 3 1/2 minutes in the first half of the Bears’ game against West Virginia on Saturday night. Only three FBS players had two kickoff returns for TDs all season before Saturday’s games. The Bears hadn’t had one since Trestan Ebner’s 98-yarder against Iowa State on Sept 25, 2021, which came a year after he had two returns for scores against Kansas — a 100-yard kickoff return and an 83-yard score off the free kick after a safety. After West Virginia kicked a field goal for a 10-0 lead, Reese took the ensuing kickoff at the 4 on the left side of the field, ran to his right and broke a tackle near the 20 before streaking down the right sideline with 13:55 left in the second quarter. The Mountaineers responded with quarterback Garrett Greene’s 23-yard touchdown run, but Reese again returned the kickoff all the way. Reese rece...

Paige Bueckers scores 22 to lead No. 6 UConn over Kansas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:10:30 GMT

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Paige Bueckers scored 22 points and Aubrey Griffin added 20 as No. 6 UConn beat Kansas 71-63 on Saturday at the Cayman Islands Classic.Griffin grabbed a team-best eight rebounds and Nika Muhl had six assists for the Huskies (4-2).A day after falling to No. 2 UCLA in their tournament opener, the Huskies allowed unranked Kansas to hang around until late in the game. The Jayhawks cut it to a four-point lead after S’Maya Nichols’ 3-pointer, but the Huskies responded by going on a 13-4 run and Griffin’s layup with 7:02 remaining gave UConn a 60-47 lead, their largest of the game.The Jayhawks then cut it to 64-59 on Jackson’s layup with 1:44 remaining but Bueckers responded with a spinning layup to push the Huskies’ lead to six and that’s as close as Kansas would get.Taiyanna Jackson led Kansas (2-3) with 16 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Wyvette Mayberry and Nichols each scored 14.Bueckers scored just two points on a p...