America's ‘spot news novelist' takes on the Trump era from Spokane
Spokane sits in eastern Washington, 20 or so miles from the Idaho state line, surrounded by foothills and mountains, nestled in a valley carved by a river. It's the birthplace of Father's Day. Its nickname is Lilac City. Its population is roughly 230,000. And its author and unofficial tour guide is Jess Walter.
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CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
British TikTok influencers shine spotlight on Northern California's unique communities
A British couple took their travel journey across the United States to social media and it just so happened they made a stop in Northern California. We all know Northern California is home to stunning views and hidden gems, but sometimes we take that for granted. The British couple is reminding us of all the beauty that surrounds us. "The location, the activities, it's just so different to anything we've ever experienced," Siana Dennis and Jame Khan said. Over the last six weeks, Dennis and Khan from "across the pond" have been crisscrossing the West Coast, making stops in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and California. "Guys, we are back at South Lake Tahoe. We are here and ready for the Fourth of July, which we're so excited about," Khan said in a TikTok. Their travel journey has garnered the attention of hundreds of thousands of people on TikTok. Recently, the couple showcased their visit to Northern California, checking out the many places that make our community so unique. "Sacramento is amazing, that's one of the places I can see myself living, man," Khan said. "It's so beautiful. It's really nice. Especially the El Dorado Hills. But the malls and the other places in Roseville." Laurel Brent-Bumb, the CEO of the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, said social media influencers like Dennis and Khan are important in bringing tourism back to the region. "It's such an advantage for us because they do realize what a treasure and jewel we have in El Dorado County and they're able to take that information back home and share it with their communities," Brent-Bumb said. Dennis and Khan's travels have led many on social media to consider discovering our hidden gems. "Our message is that the grass isn't always greener," Khan said. "Sometimes you have to appreciate what you got, man, because you live in a beautiful place." The couple said the warm welcome from locals and the charm of Northern California is something they'll never forget. They said they want to plan another trip out soon.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
We moved from Salt Lake City to a small Texas town. The high property taxes shocked us, but the small-town vibe is worth it.
Lance Koster was ready for a career change and believed Texas was the best place to make it happen. In 2024, he and his family left Salt Lake City for a small Texas town, where he found nearby work. While the Kosters admit they miss living in Utah, they say they're happier than ever in Texas. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lance Koster, a 61-year-old Pilot instructor, and his wife, Michelle, who moved to Justin, Texas, in 2024. Justin is a small town about 40 minutes north of Fort Worth. According to recent Census data, its population is 6,197. The essay has been edited for length and clarity. Lance: In my career as a pilot, my family and I moved around the country a lot. In 2010, we ended up in Salt Lake City and lived there for 14 years. We loved Salt Lake City. Its landscape was amazing, especially the mountains. We were always skiing, biking, or camping. And while we didn't have much family there, we made a lot of friends. However, we needed to make a change. The job was getting a little difficult, and my traveling was starting to increase. I was spending a lot of time away from home. My wife and I are getting a little older, and I was ready to slow down — I wanted to be home at night and not on the road. I thought it was best to take a position training up-and-coming pilots, which would give me a more stable schedule. Throughout my career, when I was training, my family and I spent some time in Texas. There are a couple of large jet training facilities in the state, so I knew there would be opportunities for me to become a pilot instructor. My family and I have also always been intrigued by Texas. Every time we've visited, it's been a pleasant experience. When it was finally time for us to make a change, it was the most logical destination. Lance: In June 2024, I got a job as a pilot instructor at a company located at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. In September, we bought a home in Justin, just north of Fort Worth. It's a small town, but it's growing quickly. A lot of the people who live in Justin have lived and worked here their whole lives, so it's actually a little uncomfortable for them that it's growing at such a rapid pace. Still, we've had nothing but pleasant experiences. Our home in Justin is 3,500 square feet and has five bedrooms and three bathrooms — enough space for my wife, me, and our two teenage sons. We live in a new neighborhood developed by homebuilder KB Homes. We really like our neighborhood. It has both larger and smaller homes, which was perfect for us. My wife's mother was living with us in Salt Lake City, and when we moved to Texas, we wanted to find a home with a mother-in-law suite, but we weren't having much luck. So, we decided to buy a larger home that would fit the four of us, and a smaller home for my mother-in-law, also in the same neighborhood. She now lives about a quarter mile from us and is fully independent. Lance: Salt Lake Valley, where Salt Lake City sits, has a population of almost 2 million people, so even though we lived in a suburban area, it still felt pretty busy. Life is a lot slower in Justin. The town has a little downtown, with a small grocery store and a couple of restaurants. We have to drive about 15 or 20 minutes toward Fort Worth to do most of our shopping at places like Costco or Walmart. Our younger son likes living in Justin. He works at the grocery store, which is about half a mile from our house. However, it's taken our older son a little more time to adjust. The biggest change we've noticed since moving is the culture — it's a lot different. Justin is a lot more diverse. Utah has a large Mormon population, and when you're not part of that, it doesn't always feel like you're included. The weather is a lot different in Texas, too. Salt Lake City was a lot cooler, and while it does get warm in the Summer, it's nowhere close to how hot it gets in Justin. We started building a pool in December and finished it a couple of months ago, so we have our own little oasis in the backyard to beat the heat. Michelle: Another big difference in Texas is that you do not have to pay income tax. But the property taxes are high. Our house in Salt Lake City was 1,000 square feet larger than our home in Justin, but our property taxes here are three times the amount. Everything here is also so spread out compared to what we were used to. We lived at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley and it would take us 25 minutes to get downtown. If we go to Dallas from Justin — almost 40 miles away — it can take us anywhere from an hour to two. Michelle: We do miss our friends in Salt Lake City — we made some very good, lifelong friends — but we don't plan on moving back. They all come out to visit us, and we see them when we go back. Our son misses the mountains in Utah, especially in the south. We had really nice views everywhere, and based on the mountains, you could always tell if you were facing north, south, east, or west. Everything about it was beautiful. That said, we've accepted our new home, and the locals have accepted us, too. We've already started making friends. We've even hosted parties at our house on cool nights, and it's been great. It's hard for us to quantify, but we all agree, we enjoy it here more. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tutor Perini chosen for $1.87bn Midtown Bus Terminal Redevelopment Program
Tutor Perini has received a $1.87bn contract to construct key components of the Midtown Bus Terminal Redevelopment Program in New York City. The project, commissioned by the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, includes a new seven-floor storage and staging facility and an innovative ramp structure. The new facility, located between 9th and 10th Avenues and West 39th and 40th Streets, will provide indoor storage for up to 350 buses and serve as a temporary bus terminal during the construction of a new main terminal. The ramp structure, encompassing the block bounded by 10th and 11th Avenues and 39th and 40th Streets, will facilitate bus movement to and from the Lincoln Tunnel. Construction is set to commence in late 2025, with the completion of the currently scheduled and funded work expected by late 2028. The contract value will be incorporated into the company's backlog in the second quarter of 2025. Tutor Perini CEO and president Gary Smalley said: 'We are excited to be a part of this transformational project, which will significantly improve the quality of life and regional transportation for commuters throughout the New York City metropolitan region. 'Tutor Perini has a long and successful track record of partnering with the Port Authority to deliver large, complex transportation infrastructure projects, including most recently Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal A. We look forward to continuing to partner with this important customer to successfully deliver this latest project.' In addition, Tutor Perini's subsidiary, Tutor Perini Building, has secured a $220m contract for the Eagle Mountain Casino Phase 2 Expansion in Porterville, California. The project includes a new 193-room hotel tower, a rooftop restaurant, a central warehouse with offices, an expanded restaurant, a 2,000-seat events centre with convention space, and new hotel amenities such as a spa, arcade, and resort pool. Work on the casino expansion is set to begin in mid-2025, with substantial completion expected in 2027. The contract value will be added to the company's backlog in phases, starting with the preconstruction phase award booked in the second quarter of 2025. In February this year, the Tutor Perini-Nan joint venture was awarded additional scope options valued at approximately $232m for the Apra Harbor Waterfront Repairs Project in Guam. "Tutor Perini chosen for $1.87bn Midtown Bus Terminal Redevelopment Program" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
