California

USA: California governor, lawmakers near deal on gas tax rebate

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Most California taxpayers would get hundreds of dollars in cash to help offset the high price of fuel and other goods under a tentative budget compromise being discussed by legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The plan would return a portion of California’s record-setting $97 billion budget surplus to taxpayers — but the money would only go to people who made below a certain income level.

After year of violence, US schools try to tame tensions

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The first week of school was supposed to mark a triumphant return to classrooms at San Francisco’s Everett Middle School after more than a year of distance learning.

But as computer science teacher Yesi Castro-Mitchell welcomed a class of sixth graders last fall, a student started punching her, again and again.

USA: Elon Musk's child seeks name change to sever ties with father

June 20 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's transgender daughter has filed a request to change her name in accordance with her new gender identity and because "I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."

The petition for both a name change and a new birth certificate reflecting her new gender identity was filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa Monica in April. It came to light recently in some online media reports.

US violence: Three injured in knife attack at San Francisco International Airport; attacker detained

SAN FRANCISCO, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An attack on passengers inside a San Francisco International Airport terminal on Friday left three with cuts and scrapes before the suspect was arrested, authorities said.

The attacker tried to injure travellers at around 6pm in the pre-security public area of the International Terminal, airport officials said.

The passengers were treated for minor injuries before continuing on their travels and other airport operations weren’t affected, officials said.

USA: SpaceX reported to fire employees critical of CEO Elon Musk

HAWTHORNE, Calif. (AP) — SpaceX, the rocket ship company run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has fired several employees involved in an open letter that blasted the colorful billionaire for his behavior, according to media reports.

The reports published Friday cited an email from Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president, saying the company had terminated employees who put together and circulated the letter. The letter writers denounced Musk for actions that they said are a “frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us, particularly in recent weeks.”

US shooting violence: Two policemen and a suspect dead after California shooting

LOS ANGELES, June 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A shooting in the southern California city of El Monte left two police officers and a suspect dead, authorities said late on Tuesday, adding that the officers were shot in the line of duty while responding to a report of a possible stabbing.

“The El Monte Police Department responded to a possible stabbing at the Siesta Inn and officers immediately took gunfire upon arrival,” police said in a statement.

“The city of El Monte is saddened and shocked by tonight’s tragic shooting that killed two of our own police officers.”

USA: So long, Internet Explorer. The browser retires today

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Internet Explorer is finally headed out to pasture.

As of Wednesday, Microsoft will no longer support the once-dominant browser that legions of web surfers loved to hate — and a few still claim to adore. The 27-year-old application now joins BlackBerry phones, dial-up modems and Palm Pilots in the dustbin of tech history.

IE’s demise was not a surprise. A year ago, Microsoft said that it was putting an end to Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, pushing users to its Edge browser, which was launched in 2015.

USA: California lawmakers OK budget over governor’s objections

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Monday passed a $300 billion operating budget over the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, highlighting disagreements among Democrats about how to spend a record-breaking surplus that, by itself, is more than most other states spend in a year.

Biden visiting LA port as high inflation persists as threat

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Port of Los Angeles is a testament to President Joe Biden’s unrewarded efforts to address what he calls his top economic priority: inflation.

Biden will speak at the port, America’s busiest, on Friday with inflation persisting as a problem that has eluded his policy tweaks, deals brokered with the private sector, infrastructure spending and regulatory actions.

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