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New York Post
02-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
Multiple explosions at fireworks facility rocks California community forcing some to evacuate just days before Fourth of July
Several huge explosions rocked a California fireworks facility just days before the Fourth of July, sparking 'numerous spot fires' that forced locals to evacuate, officials said. Multiple blasts were reported from the facility in Esparto in Yolo County Tuesday evening, with fireworks detonating amid the flames that engulfed several structures, according to KCRA. 4 Explosions at a fireworks facility rocked a northern California community ahead of Independence Day. CBS News Sacramento Advertisement 'All we felt was everything shake,' Esparto resident Bryan Sandoval, who was at his home when he heard the first explosion, told the Sacramento Bee. Explosions were still seen hours later, with the thick smoke creating an acrid smell throughout the one-mile evacuation zone, The Bee reported. The initial explosion, which was first reported from a warehouse on the property around 5:50 p.m., caused 'numerous spot fires' in the area, Advertisement 4 A mandatory evacuation order was issued to residents near the warehouse. CBS News Sacramento 4 The blasts happened Tuesday night at a facility in rural Yolo County. CBS News Sacramento 4 'All we felt was everything shake,' said resident Bryan Sandoval. Hudson Sheats via REUTERS Advertisement Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence told reporters at a press conference. That collective blaze, dubbed the Oakdale Fire, had spread to over 78 acres before its progress was halted around 7:30 p.m., officials said.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
41% of California households ‘cost burdened' — some making six figures now even qualify for low-income housing
California is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. And whether you are renting or buying, 'the salaries that people once strived for often are no longer enough,' reporter Steve Large with CBS News Sacramento said. Household income levels — based on the latest data from California's Department of Housing and Community Development — are used to determine eligibility for certain housing assistance programs. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Some of those income levels at which people qualify for low-income housing assistance are 'mind-boggling,' Chelsea Carmack, who recently moved to California, told CBS News Sacramento. In the Bay Area, for instance, the low-income threshold for individuals is $111,700 in Santa Clara and $109,700 in San Francisco and San Mateo counties. 'I love the weather,' Carmack told Large, adding that when it comes to finding housing, 'it's been very challenging to adapt to the higher cost of living.' Now her California dream is simply 'to survive.' That applies to many Californians. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers homeowners cost-burdened if they spend more than 30% of their monthly income on housing, including utilities. They're severely cost-burdened if that figure tops 50%. These households 'may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care,' according to HUD. In California, where homes cost about twice as much as the typical U.S. home, 41.1% of households were cost-burdened in 2023 — the highest proportion in the country, according to California's Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) housing affordability tracker. LAO also found that the annual household income needed to qualify for a mortgage on a mid-tier California home in March 2025 was about $234,000 — more than double the state's 2023 median household income of $96,500.' If you're looking for a starter home, you'll likely need to earn at least $142,000. And if you're eyeing a two-bedroom place, your monthly payments could be nearly double what you'd pay in rent. While the situation in California is severe, affordability is an issue across the country. In 2023, 41.8 million people — or 32.8% of all households — were cost-burdened. That includes just over half of renters (51.8%) and nearly a quarter of homeowners (23.3%). Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Lenders generally require that your payments for principal, interest, taxes and insurance don't exceed 25% to 28% of your gross monthly income. Combined with long-term debt, your total obligations usually shouldn't exceed 33% to 36%. These are useful limits, but it's a good idea to stay well below them if you can. Consider your lifestyle and other financial goals. For example, are you willing to skip dining out to afford a bigger home? Do you want enough room in your budget to max out your 401(k) and save for retirement? Start with your take-home pay. Build a budget that accounts for your lifestyle, fixed costs and priorities, then decide what you can comfortably afford in housing costs each month. Factor in not just your mortgage but utilities, insurance and maintenance. Make sure you have wiggle room in case rates or costs increase. Also consider upfront costs like legal fees, moving expenses and renovations. If you're a first-time buyer, you may also need new furniture and household basics. Saving for a larger down payment can help reduce your monthly costs. Paying down other debts could free up more income and improve your credit score, which may lower your mortgage rate. And don't forget an emergency fund — aim to cover three to six months of expenses. That way, if you lose your job or face a financial setback, you can stay afloat without piling on more debt. If you're already house-poor, start by creating a budget and cutting unnecessary spending. You might need to boost your income with a new job, side gig or second job. To ease housing costs, consider getting a roommate or renter. Downsizing, refinancing or relocating could also make a big difference. A move to another state might be worth considering if your job and lifestyle allow it. Some states have high rates of cost-burdened homeowners — like California (31.9%) and New York (28.2%) — while others, such as North Dakota (15.6%) and West Virginia (14.6%) have much lower rates. That said, avoid frequent moves, which come with added costs. And try to resist lifestyle creep — upgrading your home every time your income rises can trap you in a cycle of spending. You need a place to live — but you also need to live. Make sure your housing costs align with your overall financial plan so you can still meet your other life goals. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. 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
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Daughter in iconic Vietnam War photo "Burst of Joy" reflects: "It's still very fresh in my heart"
Daughter in "Burst of Joy" Vietnam War photo reflects on iconic moment frozen in time Daughter in "Burst of Joy" Vietnam War photo reflects on iconic moment frozen in time Daughter in "Burst of Joy" Vietnam War photo reflects on iconic moment frozen in time The iconic photo taken at Travis Air Force Base in 1973 of a family running towards their father, Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, after he was freed from being a prisoner of war in Vietnam is known as "Burst of Joy." Stirm's then-15-year-old daughter Lorrie, seen with her arms outstretched in the photo, still lives within driving distance of Travis AFB five decades later. With the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon approaching this week, CBS News Sacramento talked to Lorrie to reflect on that moment frozen in time during the Vietnam War. "Burst of Joy" AP Images/Slava Veder "It is just a glorious moment of time of my dad coming home to his family," Lorrie Kitching said. Her first words to her father in that famous moment? "Nothing profound," Lorrie said. "Just, 'Oh daddy, oh daddy." Now married with children of her own, Lorrie's father remains her hero. She saved the letters he wrote from the prison camp, which feature heartbreaking and heartwarming messages – always with perfect penmanship. "I'm so proud of my teenage girl," Lorrie read from one of the letters. Kitching also has Stirm's prison uniform carefully packed in the suitcase issued him upon his release. "They were released in order of their shoot-down date," Lorrie said. "The Vietnamese told him that these sandals were made out of the tires of the aircraft that he was flying." Lorrie reading one of the letters written by Stirm. One of his prison mates was John McCain, who was shot down a day before Stirm. The two pilots shared a wall in solitary confinement and communicated in a tapping code. "And so John McCain was tapping a joke to my dad, through the wall … and my dad said that's the first time he laughed when he was in jail," Lorrie said. Kitching's father never did tell her the joke. This milestone anniversary of the Fall of Saigon is a time for reflection for Kitching. "It's still very fresh in my heart, in mind, in my life," Lorrie said. It was a war that created a deep divide in a country – a country her father served to protect. "There were a lot of people who were just against the United States being involved at all," Lorrie said. Kitching says reflecting on that time has helped her to seek understanding. "I hope that I'm more empathetic," Lorrie said. "Burst of Joy" was taken by AP photographer Slava Veder and won the 1974 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.
CBS News
28-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
UC Davis psychologist shares how she and her family escaped the Fall of Saigon
50 years after the Fall of Saigon: UC Davis psychologist shares her story 50 years after the Fall of Saigon: UC Davis psychologist shares her story 50 years after the Fall of Saigon: UC Davis psychologist shares her story DAVIS - This week will mark 50 years since the Fall of Saigon. The end of the Vietnam War resulted in hundreds of thousands of refugees arriving in the U.S. seeking a better life. Dr. Carolee Tran, a trained psychologist who lives in Davis, was among that group. Tran was eight years old during the Fall of Saigon, the day the North Vietnamese army took over the city - forcing the U.S. to abandon its embassy, evacuating personnel and thousands of South Vietnamese. "These were the most precious pictures in the bag she carried," Tran said as she showed CBS News Sacramento the images. Her maternal grandfather, who worked for the American embassy, knew of the imminent danger. "He had my family and my grandparents, aunts and uncle go to Phu Guoc Island so that we would be close to the ocean so that could get out more easily," Tran said. Carolee's father, a South Vietnamese army major, stayed behind. For the next three weeks, they waited on the island. On the morning of April 30, 1975, they spotted a white Naval ship. "My grandfather knew that that was an American ship that was picking up refugees. So we started like 8 a.m. in the morning trying to get out. And for several hours, none of the fishermen would take us out," Tran said. Desperate measures then called for desperate actions. "Finally, my mom had this huge sack of money, and she was on her knees begging the different fishermen and told them, 'If you take us out, you can have all this money,'" Tran said. They soon boarded a fisherman's boat and when they saw the ship, Carolee managed to get on a barge. "Once I got onto the boat and stood on the scow, my mom told me to jump, jump onto the scows. And there were just people being trampled," Tran said. Carolee reluctantly made the jump and got separated. "And at that point, I was being thrown around like a rag doll and I was suffocating," Tran said. A stranger then grabbed her hand and she boarded the ship. Carolee felt alone. "I stood at the edge of the ship and I could see my sister down below with my grandparents," Tran said. "Then I heard the loudest orchestra of humans, human suffering, people wailing and crying and yelling." Carolee would eventually find her family on the ship, but the fear and misery never faded. "My baby sister, who was 18 months at the time, we had no milk for her. So three days into the journey, we could tell that she was fading and she was dying," Tran said. Her mother again taking matters into her own hands. "My mom went around the ship and begged people to give her baby some milk or else she would die. And luckily, a mother of like four children shared the little milk that she had," Tran said. The Naval ship finally made it to Guam. There, Carolee, her family, and thousands of refugees found shelter at a makeshift camp known as Tent City. At one point while at the camp, a young family member told Carolee that her father was there. "I thought he was joking, so I was so mad at him. I chased him down and hit him. And so then I look and I see that my dad was indeed there walking towards the tent with my mom," Tran said. Carolee and her family then headed for Camp Pendleton in San Diego - and would make a new life in Northern California. Carolee would excel in school and become the first Vietnamese woman to earn a PhD in clinical psychology in the U.S. She also wrote a book called "The Gifts of Adversity," describing her harrowing escape from Vietnam. Today, the married mother of two counts her blessings and knows the sacrifices made by refugees coming to America. "We need to shine a light on the beauty of our country as a mosaic of all different people coming together. That's what makes our country beautiful." Dr. Tran specializes in treating war and refugee trauma. She's an associate professor of psychology at UC Davis.
CBS News
26-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Sacramento affected by large Comcast/Xfinity internet outage across the city
SACRAMENTO – A massive internet outage has affected thousands of Sacramento residents and a number of businesses on Saturday. Comcast customers first started reporting internet problems around noon. According to the outage page on the Comcast website, the estimated time of restoration was originally around 5 p.m. Now, Comcast is estimating that service won't be restored until around 10 p.m. Saturday. The outage appears to be affecting people all over the city. Sacramento businesses like Beers Books have also posted their frustrations, since they were in the middle of their Independent Book Store Day event when the outage took down their point-of-sale software. "Words can't express how frustrating and deleterious this is for an independent bookstore like ours. We've invested many hours and dollars into bringing Sacramento quality and affordable books, and these weekend sales often make or break our ability to make ends meet," Beers Books wrote in an Instagram post. The Comcast outage page lists the outage as being due to network damage, but no further details were given. CBS News Sacramento has reached out to Comcast for a statement.
