Latest news with #S.B.
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Motormouth: Fix it or risk it?
Q: I have a 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet with 72,000 miles. It's a beauty, in perfect condition and fun to drive. I hear the IMS bearing can go out and ruin the engine. It can cost as much as $5,000 to replace the bearing. Should I bite the bullet and fix it now, wait till the clutch needs replacing and save money doing them both at the same time, or gamble and buy $5,000 of Tesla stock? When it doubles, I can fix it on Elon's dime! R.N., Los Altos, California A: Not replacing the intermediate shaft bearing is a big gamble. If your risk tolerance is high, your car may go well over 100,000 miles. Bearing replacement is expensive, so many owners wait for some other repair to take advantage of overlapping labor costs. Like any auto technician, I make mistakes occasionally. Do-overs are, unfortunately, part of the repair business. My knowledge of the securities industry is next to zero. You don't get do-overs in the stock market. Bottom line? It's a crap shoot and the dice are in your hand. Q: I have a 2025 CX-50 that I enjoy, however every once in a while, after going over potholes or train tracks, I get a brief wind chime tone in the car. My wife and I have heard this many times, however we couldn't get the dealer to reproduce. Any ideas? R.K., Chicago A: Mazda issued a technical service bulletin to fix rattles in the sunroof, but I am not aware of any others. The carmaker recommends removing the trim pieces and checking if all the bolts and plastic clips are properly installed. Dealers may also add sound-deadening material in some other places to eliminate rattles. Q: I read your reply to S.B. regarding his Kia Optima, and I was shocked that 1,000 mile loss of a quart of oil is accepted. Is this what is considered acceptable industry standard for Kias, for most automobiles, or what? I have a 2015 Honda Accord with 126,000 miles. I typically change the oil when the reminder hits 30% oil life left. I check my oil every time I fill up, which is usually around 400 miles. Rarely do I need to add any oil between changes. Is what I experience exceptional? H.R., Hanover Park, Illinois A: Although being down a quart of oil at 1,000 is an acceptable industry standard, it doesn't happen commonly. What you, and most motorists enjoy, is the norm. Q: I recently purchased a 2022 Ford Escape SEL with a 1.5-liter engine with 10,000 miles on it (leased vehicle). At lower speeds, mostly under 25 mph, it jerks quite a bit. Took it to the dealership and they said everything checked out. Any answer to why it does this? C.W., Red Wing, Minnesota A: Nope, but it sounds like they may have given your car the "sunshine treatment." Q: have a 1995 Chevy Cruze and have power steering warning lights showing up on the dashboard. The steering angle sensor is defective. GM has stopped making and stocking this part. Any suggestions on what to do? Thanks for your help. B.W., Chicago A: I am not in the business of locating obsolete parts, but in your case, I made an exception because I was curious and had time on my hands. I usually turn to auto parts recycling centers (formerly called junk yards when I was a kid). I may not have dug deeply enough in recycling places, but did discover one new part at Genuine Chevrolet Parts, Stingray Chevrolet. Google it. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voting rights groups sue over proof of citizenship law in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Several voting rights groups in Louisiana are suing over a new law that requires people to show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. The lawsuit claims the law breaks the National Voter Registration Act. Senate Bill 436 went into effect on Jan. 1. It says that every voter registration application must include 'proof of United States citizenship.' Some organizations say the law doesn't clearly define what counts as proof of citizenship or how individuals should submit it. The plaintiffs, which include the League of Women Voters of Louisiana, NAACP Louisiana State Conference, Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), and the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, argue that the law is unclear, unnecessary, and unfair. 'S.B. 436 was rushed through the Louisiana Legislature despite no evidence of alleged voting by ineligible noncitizens and Defendant Landry's own admission that the State has successfully relied on the attestation of the voter to confirm citizenship. Although it solves no problems, S.B. 436 creates many. S.B. 436's vague terms pose a threat to eligible voter registrants and those who assist them,' the lawsuit said. The plaintiffs say it makes it harder for many eligible voters to register. This includes young people, low-income voters, and those affected by the criminal justice system. They also said Louisiana has no real problem with non-citizen voting. Secretary of State Nancy Landry admitted during a hearing that the state doesn't have evidence of non-citizens voting. Baton Rouge anti-violence programs at risk of federal funding cuts The groups fear the law will disrupt voter registration efforts, especially at events or in jails where people often don't have documents with them. They say this might create big hurdles for voter registration, making groups spend resources on getting people the right documents instead of focusing on registration. 'The League needs to plan for voter registration activities well in advance—including allocating funds or other necessary resources, organizing and training volunteers, and purchasing or otherwise procuring voter registration equipment—and it is unable to make these key decisions when it does not know when or how Louisiana will implement or enforce S.B. 436,' the lawsuit said. They're asking a federal judge to block the law and declare it unconstitutional. So far, Louisiana officials have not responded to the lawsuit. The Secretary of State and other officials are named as defendants in the case. 01Download Social Security COLA increase in 2026 projected to be lowest in years, advocacy group says Louisiana OMV investigates Baton Rouge driving school Bad blood: Trump takes new swipe at Taylor Swift Voting rights groups sue over proof of citizenship law in Louisiana Louisiana law enforcement agencies searching for 10 Orleans Parish jail escapees Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Restrictions on wind, solar unpopular among Texas Republicans: Poll
Most Texans — including a new majority of Republicans — support the state's booming renewables industry and oppose the idea of state moves to quash it, a new poll has found. The polling by Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation comes out amid a multifront push by suburban Texas Republican legislators to hamstring the growth of wind and solar in the state. Texans 'understand what is at stake,' CTEI state director Matt Welch said in a statement, supporting a wide range of common sense, market-driven solutions,' said Matt Welch, state director of CTEI. 'By getting this right, Texas will remain a national leader in energy production and job creation.' The survey of 1,000 likely voters with about a 4 percent margin of error was completed March 22-30. It found that 91 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' landowners' ability to use wind and solar on their own land, or lease it to utilities. And 51 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' that right, per the survey. The findings come as the Texas renewable industry comes under legislative assault. The Texas Senate has passed two bills — S.B. 819 and S.B. 388 — that would restrict landowners' ability to put wind and solar energy on their land, and require every new watt of renewable power to be accompanied by a watt of power from coal or natural gas. Backers of these bills argue that the state's renewables boom is ultimately bad for the state. Texas is 'number one in wind, number one in solar,' Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R), who represents the suburbs of Houston and sponsored both S.B. 819 and S.B. 388, told KXAN. 'I'm not sure that's something to brag about,' Kolkhorst added. The CTEI survey suggests that opposition to renewables — and in particular restrictions on landowners' ability to install them — are not popular positions, even among Republicans. The CTEI poll found that 80 percent of Texans supported more government action to increase development of renewable energy — with more than 40 percent strongly supporting such state intervention. The poll found that 75 percent of Republicans — and 90 percent of independents — also favored 'government action to accelerate clean energy.' Nearly identical numbers of Texans also supported the use of energy efficiency measures to cut total use of power — a proposal that the pollsters found was especially attractive to Republicans. While self-described 'very conservative' Texans were the most opposed to renewables of any group, 56 percent of such respondents still supported it — a jump from the 49 percent who responded that way in 2023. And a more than three-quarters of men without college degrees also support renewables — up from less than two-thirds in 2023. These findings don't imply blanket support for green policies or renewable energy. A plurality of Texans — 45 percent — want to see the state develop more gas resources. In statements to the press, Kolkhorst has insisted that her measures wouldn't meaningfully harm renewables, but would 'places guardrails to ensure every inch of Texas is not covered' by windmills and turbines. 'I have no doubt that with SB 819, Texas will be able to build the generation it needs to keep up with growth while also protecting Texas land,' she said. The renewable energy industry disagrees. The bill 'will kill renewable energy in Texas,' Jeff Clark, CEO of Texas Power Alliance, said during public testimony on the bill earlier this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Restrictions on wind, solar unpopular among Texas Republicans: Poll
Most Texans — including a new majority of Republicans — support the state's booming renewables industry and oppose the idea of state moves to quash it, a new poll has found. The polling by Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation comes out amid a multifront push by suburban Texas Republican legislators to hamstring the growth of wind and solar in the state. Texans 'understand what is at stake,' CTEI state director Matt Welch said in a statement, supporting a wide range of common sense, market-driven solutions,' said Matt Welch, state director of CTEI. 'By getting this right, Texas will remain a national leader in energy production and job creation.' The survey of 1,000 likely voters with about a 4 percent margin of error was completed March 22-30. It found that 91 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' landowners' ability to use wind and solar on their own land, or lease it to utilities. And 51 percent of Texans 'strongly supported' that right, per the survey. The findings come as the Texas renewable industry comes under legislative assault. The Texas Senate has passed two bills — S.B. 819 and S.B. 388 — that would restrict landowners' ability to put wind and solar energy on their land, and require every new watt of renewable power to be accompanied by a watt of power from coal or natural gas. Backers of these bills argue that the state's renewables boom is ultimately bad for the state. Texas is 'number one in wind, number one in solar,' Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R), who represents the suburbs of Houston and sponsored both S.B. 819 and S.B. 388, told KXAN. 'I'm not sure that's something to brag about,' Kolkhorst added. The CTEI survey suggests that opposition to renewables — and in particular restrictions on landowners' ability to install them — are not popular positions, even among Republicans. The CTEI poll found that 80 percent of Texans supported more government action to increase development of renewable energy — with more than 40 percent strongly supporting such state intervention. The poll found that 75 percent of Republicans — and 90 percent of independents — also favored 'government action to accelerate clean energy.' Nearly identical numbers of Texans also supported the use of energy efficiency measures to cut total use of power — a proposal that the pollsters found was especially attractive to Republicans. While self-described 'very conservative' Texans were the most opposed to renewables of any group, 56 percent of such respondents still supported it — a jump from the 49 percent who responded that way in 2023. And a more than three-quarters of men without college degrees also support renewables — up from less than two-thirds in 2023. These findings don't imply blanket support for green policies or renewable energy. A plurality of Texans — 45 percent — want to see the state develop more gas resources. In statements to the press, Kolkhorst has insisted that her measures wouldn't meaningfully harm renewables, but would 'places guardrails to ensure every inch of Texas is not covered' by windmills and turbines. 'I have no doubt that with SB 819, Texas will be able to build the generation it needs to keep up with growth while also protecting Texas land,' she said. The renewable energy industry disagrees. The bill 'will kill renewable energy in Texas,' Jeff Clark, CEO of Texas Power Alliance, said during public testimony on the bill earlier this month.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mexican Mafia associates in Los Angeles murdered federal inmate
Four Mexican Mafia-connected gang members from Pomona were found guilty on a slew of charges, including murder and drug trafficking late last week, federal prosecutors announced. According to evidence presented during the 20-day trial, 68-year-old Michael Lerma, also known as 'Pomona Mike' and 'Big Mike,' a member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang ordered the murder of a federal inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles more than four years ago, prosecutors said in a news release announcing the verdict. In June 2020, three other inmates, 41-year-old Carlos Gonzalez, 33-year-old Juan Sanchez and 44-year-old Jose Valencia Gonzalez, carried out the fatal hit of the inmate identified only as S.B. in court documents. 'The defendants murdered S.B. in retaliation for S.B. failing to pay drug theft debts deemed owed to Lerma's cell of the Mexican Mafia prison gang,' the release noted. Authorities added that for more than eight years, from Feb. 2012 to June 2020, Lerma controlled Latino street gangs in and around Pomona, as well as Latinos in Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County, and extorted drug proceeds from them. 'Members of Lerma's criminal enterprise also engaged in robberies, identity theft and fraud, drug trafficking and other acts of violence,' prosecutors said. All four men, who have been in federal custody since 2018, were found guilty by a jury of racketeering, conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering, murder and first-degree murder. Cause of death determined for 3 young U.S. women found dead at Belize resort Lerma and Valencia Gonzalez were also found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances at MDC and in the Pomona area. Both Gonzalez and Valencia Gonzalez were found guilty of being felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition, while Sanchez was found not guilty of the same charge. 'This case makes it clear that gang violence by Mexican Mafia members and associates has not only been directed from the streets, but also from prisons in California,' said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. 'This lengthy investigation exemplifies the commitment by agencies at the federal, state and local level who've collaborated for several years on a task force to arrive at justice in this case.' This is the 16th conviction in the case, including the conviction of 62-year-old Pomona resident Cheryl Perez-Castaneda, a high-level associate of Lerma's and 'señora' who used her power on the street to solicit murder. She is serving a 12-year prison sentence. A 43-year-old woman from La Verne was also sentenced to more than seven years in prison for her role as Lerma's 'secretary,' where she facilitated a 2013 armed robbery and was involved in extortion and narcotics distribution. A sentence hearing for the four men is expected to be scheduled in the coming months, at which point the defendants will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison, prosecutors said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
