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Innovative backcountry ski area near Kremmling will close 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

Bluebird Backcountry, an innovative ski area without lifts that was designed to expose beginners to backcountry skiing and educate them on how to enjoy it safely, is closing permanently after three seasons for financial reasons.Located 30 miles north of Kremmling at Bear Mountain near the east side of Rabbit Ear’s Pass, Bluebird had ideal terrain for teaching introductory backcountry skills, but it was 125 miles from Denver. It was situated on 1,200 acres of land leased from a private landowner.“The business hasn’t been profitable,” said Jeff Woodward, co-founder and CEO. “We’ve been able to fundraise for it historically, but we haven’t been able to raise money for it this year to keep going. The first challenge was that Bear Mountain is far from the Front Range, and a little over 60% of our guests come from the Front Range. It’s a very long drive for them.“When we talk to our customers, they absolutely love it. The thing that pr...

A record number of Americans are living alone

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

(The Hill) - Nearly 30 percent of American households comprise a single person, a record high. Scholars say living alone is not a trend so much as a transformation: Across much of the world, large numbers of people are living alone for the first time in recorded history. “It’s just a stunning social change,” said Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist at New York University and author of the book "Going Solo." “I came to see it as the biggest demographic change in the last century that we failed to recognize and take seriously.” (Getty Images)Homo sapiens is a social animal. Historians tapped ancient census rolls to show that our species has lived in groups for as long as such records have existed, stretching back at least to 1600.  The U.S. Census shows that "solitaries" made up 8 percent of all households in 1940. The share of solo households doubled to 18 percent in 1970 and more than tripled, to an estimated 29 percent, by 2022. The solo-living movement intersec...

Read this before you buy a boat or RV – tax laws have changed

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

After everything we’ve been through in the past couple of years, doesn’t it feel like the whole country needs a vacation?What if you could take that vacation anytime you wanted? Imagine escaping to the great outdoors or enjoying our oceans and lakes whenever you desire while still enjoying the comforts of home.That is the appeal of a mobile vacation haven, be it a boat or RV. It goes beyond just the freedom to explore — it’s a tangible investment in unforgettable experiences.But before you set sail or hit the open road, it’s crucial to consider the tax implications of this investment decision. The tax breaks that reduce the cost of your investment have changed and will now depend on how you intend to use your mobile vacation home.Second home on wheels or on waterAccording to the IRS, if your boat or RV has sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities, it can qualify as a second home for taxes.However, it might be a surprise that the write-offs in 2023 are more limited than in the past. (...

Missing 14-year-old California girl found at Camp Pendleton; Marine taken into custody

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

By Chris Boyette, Haley Britzky and Raja Razek | CNNA United States Marine has been taken into custody for questioning after a 14-year-old girl who was reported missing was found at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California, last month, authorities said.The girl was reported missing by her grandmother on June 13, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.On June 28, she was discovered in the barracks at Camp Pendleton. A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group has since been taken into custody for questioning by Naval Criminal Investigative Services, according to Capt. Charles Palmer, spokesperson for 1st Marine Logistics Group.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Redwood City man charged in rape of 16-year-old Crime and Public Safety | San Mateo Boys and Girls Club supervisor arrested in child sex abuse investigation Crime and Public Safety | East Bay couple get decades ...

Southern California landslide destroys 12 houses

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

A massive landslide in Rolling Hills Estates this weekend destroyed 12 houses, officials said on Sunday, July 9, further underscoring the lurking danger of continually shifting earth on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.All the homes were evacuated by Saturday night. At least three of the houses, said Rolling Hills Estates Councilmember Frank Zerunyan, won’t make it through Sunday night — and will fall into the canyon below.“It’s devastating,” Zerunyan said in a Sunday afternoon interview. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”The “land shift,” as officials are calling it, occurred in a gated community on Peartree Lane.Residents initially called the Los Angeles County Fire Department to report a water leak around 4 p.m. Saturday, Zerunyan said. When the firefighters arrived, they noticed cracks in the ground — and quickly realized the potential danger.The county Fire Department ordered evacuations shortly after, multiple officials said.Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose Fourth D...

‘We lost 6 wonderful souls’: Southern California plane crash victims are mourned

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

A moment of silence was held on Sunday during an early morning sermon at the Rolling Hills Covenant Church for the families of the six people killed in a fiery plane crash near French Valley Airport.Clyde LaGue, chairman of the Elder Board, broke the news to congregants and shared a message from Rod Lenders, a fellow church elder who lost his 25-year-old son Riese Lenders of Rancho Palos Verdes in the crash.“Yesterday, the Lord took our beloved son Riese in a plane crash. We are grieving deeply, but our hope is in the Lord,” LaGue shared on behalf of the Lenders family.Lenders received his commercial pilot certificate in April, records from the Federal Aviation Administration show. He was piloting the Cessna C550 business jet along with co-pilot Manuel Vargas-Regalado at the time of the crash, said Michael Morris, the plane’s owner. Lenders’ 31-year-old girlfriend, Huntington Beach resident Lindsey Gleiche, also died in the accident.“We lost six wonderful souls (who) unfortunately l...

Fabulous views 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

Live in this sun-drenched and spacious top-floor corner unit with fabulous views of the Oakland-Alameda Estuary, San Francisco and Mount Tamalpais. This elegant one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo is in Phoenix Commons, a 55+ cohousing community.The unit comes with a washer and dryer or you can use the community laundry room at no charge. The combination living-dining room features modern soaring ceilings framed by floor-to-ceiling windows with Hunter Douglas automated blinds and a large balcony overlooking the estuary. The kitchen’s oversize breakfast bar opens to the home’s living space.This property is located across the bridge from iconic Alameda with local shops, restaurants and a beautiful stretch of beach along the S.F. Bay. It’s close to public transit, airport and freeway.Location: 340 29th Ave. #414, OaklandOffered at: $699,000Listing agent: Steve Cressy, Realtor DRE #00765911 (510) 918-9018 [email protected] provided by: Berkshire Hathaway HomeSe...

Reportan seis muertos tras ataque con cuchillo fuera de un jardín de infantes en China

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

(CNN) — Seis personas murieron y una resultó herida en un ataque con cuchillo a primera hora de la mañana [de este lunes] frente a un jardín de infantes en el sur de China, según la policía de la ciudad de Lianjiang y los medios estatales chinos.El incidente tuvo lugar alrededor de las 7:40 a.m. de este lunes en la ciudad de Hengshan dentro de Lianjiang, en la provincia de Guangdong, dijo la policía en un comunicado, que calificó el ataque de “lesión intencional”.El tabloide estatal Global Times dijo que el atacante había usado un cuchillo y que la policía aún estaba confirmando las identidades de las víctimas. Citando testigos, dijo que las víctimas incluyen un maestro, dos padres y tres niños.La policía arrestó al sospechoso, un hombre de 25 años de apellido Wu, poco después alrededor de las 8 a.m. hora local. El caso ahora está bajo investigación, según el comunicado.Ataque químico en jardín de infantes en China hiere a 51 niños (2019)Las imágenes de video de la...

Liz Weston: Saving for retirement just got more complicated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

The Secure Act 2.0 legislation that passed late last year added new retirement savings options but also has a few potential catches for unsuspecting savers. Understanding these possible pitfalls may help you make better decisions, or at least be prepared for what’s to come.In my last column, I covered one set of these changes: new exceptions to the 10% federal penalty for tapping retirement money early. For this column, I’ll cover what you need to know about Secure 2.0’s changes to catch-up contributions and company matches for workplace plans.A POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC CATCH-UP PROVISIONCatch-up provisions have long allowed older workers to put more money into retirement plans. In 2023, for example, people 50 and older can contribute an additional $7,500 to 401(k)s and 403(b)s, on top of the standard $22,500 deferral limit for all employees in those plans.Contributions that go into a plan’s pre-tax option are deductible. But starting next year, people who earn $145,000 or more will ...

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will leave politics after election, marking the end of political era

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:07 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest serving premier, said Monday he will leave politics after an early general election sparked by a dispute over migration that led to his government’s resignation.His decision means the end of nearly 13 years in power for the conservative leader sometimes called ” Teflon Mark ” because scandals that plagued his four different administrations did not stick to him.Rutte, the 56-year-old leader of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, announced his decision at a hastily arranged parliamentary debate to discuss the fall of his latest governing coalition.“Yesterday morning I made a decision that I will not be available again as a leader of the VVD. When a new Cabinet takes office after the elections, I will leave politics,” he said.Rutte called it a “personal decision, regardless of the developments in recent weeks.” There was no immediate indication who might replace Rutte a...