The post California’s Next Insurance Commissioner Will Have ‘Brutal’ Balancing Act appeared first on edhat.

CNN

By Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN

(CNN) — Annual inflation was unchanged last month at 2.4%, according to the latest Consumer Price Index, released Wednesday.

On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.3% in February, a faster pace than January’s 0.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The February inflation data was gathered before the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran. The two-week conflict has already pushed up energy costs and raised prices at the pump for Americans. Those increases could begin to show up even more in inflation data in the coming months.

“These inflation numbers provide some comfort, but this month’s spike in energy prices make them a relic of the past,” David Russell, global head of market strategy at TradeStation, said in a note Wednesday. “Investors and the Federal Reserve are in uncharted territory right now, taking their cues from crude oil and tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The waterway, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is the only way to ship crude from the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the rest of the world. Iran controls its northern side. Oil tankers have been unable to safely travel through it.

Already, last month, energy prices were up 0.6%. Within that category, the biggest monthly jump was fuel oil prices, which were up 11.1%. Fuel for heating rose 3.1% and gasoline prices were up 0.8%. Meanwhile, electricity prices fell by 0.7% last month.

The monthly headline inflation data is in line with economists’ forecasts for a 0.3% monthly increase and lower than the annual rate of 2.5% they predicted.

Stripping out food and energy prices, which tend to be more volatile than other categories tracked, core inflation was unchanged from January on an annual basis at 2.5%. On a monthly basis it rose 0.2%, a slower pace than January’s 0.3%.

Tariffs showing up at the checkout

The impact of President Donald Trump’s tariff continued to show up in the prices consumers pay for highly imported goods. Among those, apparel prices rose 1.3% last month and household furnishings increased by 0.3%.

While the Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s most sweeping tariffs toward the end of last month, businesses have yet to receive any refunds for overpayments.

Though the administration recently promised to have a new system up and running to process refunds next month, businesses are unlikely to lower prices once they ultimately receive money back from the government. But it’s unclear exactly how long that could take.

Additionally, Trump enacted a broad 10% tariff after the Supreme Court ruling, using a different trade law. Various other sectoral tariffs, including a 25% tax on imported furniture, remain in place

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - San Marcos girls beach volleyball continued to dominate the Channel League with a 5-0 sweep over rival Santa Barbara.

The Royals are 7-0 in league and 14-1 overall.

No. 1 team of Cora Loomer and Evyn Miller defeated Lola Heckman and Kira Elliott 21-16, 21-16.

(UCLA-bound Cora Loomer scores the point. Entenza Design).

No. 2 team of Reese Paskin and Alina Stapf defeated Blake Saunders and Paylin Marillac 21-17, 21-18.

(#14 Alina Stapf helps the Royals to a season sweep over the Dons. Entenza Design).

Other Royals winners were from the teams of Paige Hoadley/Charlotte Hastings, Jeannie Johnson/Kelsey Rowe, amd Lila Westmacott/Isla McClintock.

The post Fun day on the beach for San Marcos volleyball appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por CNN

Varios barcos fueron blanco de ataques este miércoles en el estrecho de Ormuz, la principal ruta para el envío de crudo desde países ricos en petróleo como Arabia Saudita y Kuwait al resto del mundo.

El Cuerpo de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica (CGRI) informó que había atacado dos buques, uno con bandera de Tailandia y otro con bandera de Liberia, según el reporte de la agencia de noticias semioficial iraní Fars.

El granelero de bandera tailandesa “Mayuree Naree” fue atacado tras “ignorar las advertencias e intentar con insistencia cruzar ilegalmente el estrecho de Ormuz”, informó el CGRI, según Fars. Otro buque de bandera liberiana, llamado “Express Rome”, también fue alcanzado por proyectiles iraníes en la mañana del miércoles tras ignorar las advertencias de la Armada del CGRI, agregó la agencia.

Más temprano, la Oficina de Operaciones Comerciales Marítimas del Reino Unido había reportado tres ataques contra barcos cerca del estrecho.

Un portavoz del cuartel general del comando militar Khatam al-Anbiya de Teherán declaró el miércoles que Irán “nunca permitirá que ni un solo litro de petróleo pase por el estrecho de Ormuz en beneficio de Estados Unidos, los sionistas o sus socios”.

“Cualquier buque o cargamento de petróleo perteneciente a Estados Unidos, al régimen israelí o a sus socios hostiles será considerado un objetivo legítimo”, afirmaba el comunicado. “Seguiremos una política de ataque tras ataque hasta que sean completamente castigados y se arrepientan de sus acciones”.

El martes, las fuerzas de EE.UU. afirmaron haber destruido varios buques de guerra iraníes, incluidos 16 minadores, cerca del estrecho de Ormuz, en medio de reportes de que Irán había comenzado a poner minas en el estrecho, según dos personas familiarizadas con los informes de inteligencia estadounidenses sobre el tema.

El presidente Donald Trump declaró el martes en Truth Social: “Si Irán ha colocado minas en el estrecho de Ormuz y no tenemos informes de que lo estén haciendo, queremos que las retiren INMEDIATAMENTE!.

El Ministerio de Transporte de Tailandia informó más temprano que 20 tripulantes habían sido rescatados después de que un proyectil alcanzara el buque “Mayuree Naree”, pero tres siguen desaparecidos.

El granelero de bandera tailandesa “Mayuree Naree” partió de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos con 23 tripulantes a bordo, según el viceprimer ministro y ministro de Transporte, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn.

Al atravesar el estrecho, se produjo una explosión en la popa que provocó un incendio en la sala de máquinas, donde se cree que estaban de servicio los tres marineros desaparecidos.

Por orden del capitán, la tripulación abandonó el barco y se evacuó a botes salvavidas. Posteriormente fueron rescatados por la Armada de Omán y trasladados a la ciudad de Khasab, según el Ministerio de Transporte.

La Armada Real Tailandesa está monitoreando de cerca la situación y coordinando las labores de rescate con las agencias pertinentes para garantizar la seguridad de los ciudadanos tailandeses en la región, declaró el ministro.

Según la Oficina de Operaciones Comerciales Marítimas del Reino Unido (UKMTO), se han producido al menos 13 ataques contra buques en el golfo Pérsico, el estrecho de Ormuz y el golfo de Omán desde que comenzaron los ataques estadounidenses e israelíes contra Irán, y los ataques de represalia de Teherán el 28 de febrero.

Irán controla la orilla norte del estrecho. Alrededor de 20 millones de barriles de petróleo, o aproximadamente una quinta parte de la producción mundial diaria, fluyen por el estrecho cada día, según la Administración de Información Energética de Estados Unidos (EIA), que lo califica como un “cuello de botella petrolero crítico”. Según la EIA, “existen muy pocas alternativas para sacar el petróleo del estrecho si este se cierra”.

El estrecho también transporta apro

By CNN Meteorologist Chris Dolce, CNN’s Hanna Park, Holly Yan

(CNN) — Dangerous storms with tornadoes and giant hail tore across the Central US overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, killing at least two people.

The storm threat isn’t over. Over 90 million people from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic could experience severe storms today. And the tornado threat, while less significant than Tuesday, isn’t over, either.

Here’s the latest:

• Tornado kills two: An elderly man and woman in Lake Village, Indiana, died after a tornado hit the rural community around an hour south of Chicago, the Newton County, Indiana, coroner said. Several others were hospitalized. First responders said there was “total devastation” in the small community.
• Several tornadoes reported: At least 10 tornadoes have been reported so far from Tuesday’s storms in three states: Texas, Illinois and Indiana. A long-lasting supercell spawned multiple tornadoes as it tracked across Illinois and Indiana, including one that ripped through Kankakee, Illinois, causing damage to several homes and buildings there. Several people were injured, but no one died, the city’s mayor said.
• Storm threat continues: Strong storms were ongoing Wednesday morning, prompting a tornado watch in parts of Illinois and Indiana again, this time south of the areas hit Tuesday night. Kentucky and Ohio were also in the watch. Storms will continue pushing east early Wednesday, but will get a new burst of energy in the afternoon that could intensify the threat.
• Monster hail: The storms also produced softball-sized or larger hail that crushed cars and caused damage in Illinois. One hailstone measured 6 inches in diameter, twice the size of a baseball, and may have set a new state record.

‘Total devastation’ in Indiana

Lake Village, in northwest Indiana, was one of the small towns in the state and neighboring Illinois at the epicenter of the tornado damage.

“Right before 7 p.m. (Tuesday), a large tornado hit our community, and it hit us hard,” Lake Village Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson Lori Postma said.

When first responders made an early assessment overnight, they found “total devastation,” Lake Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rob Churchill said.

“There were houses that were collapsed. There were people trapped in houses. There’s livestock loose,” he said.

“[There is] a lot of damage. Please do not come here. Do not try to help,” Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran said in a video post from Lake Village late Tuesday night, where the tornado appeared to have reduced at least one home to rubble behind him.

Injuries and widespread damage were reported in other parts of Indiana and Illinois, according to officials.

Drone video from Kankakee County, Illinois, showed buildings torn apart and debris scattered across neighborhoods after the tornado moved through. Emergency crews navigated the wreckage overnight with flashlights, stepping over splintered lumber and fallen trees as they searched damaged homes.

Brandy Peppin said she had only minutes of warning before the storm reached her house. Her brother called to say he could see the tornado heading straight toward her home.

“Thank God,” Peppin told CNN. “And I ran, grabbed my dog who was already in the closet where we go down into the crawl space and. Literally pulled the door open. He fell into the crawl space, and I went down there and we rode the tornado out. It was so loud.”

“There would be little ‘bang bangs’ and then big ones,” she said. “You could just tell that there was debris hitting the house