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Travel Troubleshooter: Travel Insured International holds up a refund of $12,780

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: Last year, my wife and I booked a cruise with Seabourn Cruises at a cost of $12,780. I also purchased a travel insurance policy through Travel Insured International.Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter In November, my cardiologist found blockages in three coronary arteries. After lengthy consultations with him and other doctors, I ultimately concluded that multiple stents were the best option for me. My doctor recommended that I should not travel until this was done.Regrettably, we had to cancel our trip with Seabourn.I submitted a claim in late December. Travel Insured International responded to my claim, asking for more information. I provided the documentation. From that point on until mid-March, I received several messages that said, “Thank you for your patience.”Then I received a call from Travel Insured International asking for the names of all the physicians who saw me in December. She told me, “With this informatio...

Quick Cook: Make these easy Back to School Energy Bites

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

These little energy bites taste like cookie dough but are packed with fiber, healthy fats and even chickpeas. Sweetened with dates and full of super foods like whole oats, flax seed and cashews, these energy bites give kids and adults alike a healthy burst of fuel to get through the day — without the sugar crash associated with typical snacks full of refined sugar and low in fiber. And best of all, they’re easy to make and store, at the ready for popping into a lunchbox or as an after-school snack.For nut allergies, sub in sunflower seeds for the cashews. You can omit the baking soda, but my kids like how it really gives these a cookie-doughlike flavor. If you’re avoiding sugar, leave out the chocolate chips and add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder when mixing the dough.Back to School Energy BitesMakes two dozen 1-ounce bitesINGREDIENTS1 cup pitted dates1½ cups unsalted cashews½ cup ground flax meal1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon baking soda½...

TasteFood: Roasted sea bass with blistered tomatoes is a late summer treat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

Take advantage of the season’s last cherry tomatoes on the vine with this easy one-skillet stovetop dinner. Begin by roasting the tomatoes until they begin to break down and release their juices. Once this happens, stir in fresh garlic, briny capers and herb sprigs to round out the flavors and mingle with the juices, creating a light and luscious sauce. Then add whitefish fillets to the pan sauce, transfer to the oven and let them roast in the pan juices.Make this recipe with any thick whitefish, such as sea bass, halibut or swordfish. Choose fillets that are center-cut and about 3/4-inch thick. The fish will roast quickly; cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fish. It’s cooked when it’s opaque through the center and easily flakes.Dinner couldn’t be any simpler — or more delicious.Roasted Sea Bass With Blistered Tomato and Caper SauceServes 4INGREDIENTS1½ pounds cherry tomatoes (left on the vine, optional)2 tablespoons extra virgin ol...

Liquid cremation? Human composting? They could be available at Tri-Valley’s cemetery of the future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

Tucked away in eastern Alameda County is a sprawling 47-acre site that will soon be transformed into the cemetery of the future, expected to serve the Tri-Valley and surrounding region for the next 200 years. It would be the first new cemetery in Alameda County in three decades.“Not many people get a chance to do this from scratch,” said Andy Martinez, the cemetery and funeral home consultant for Monte Vista Memorial Gardens, which is set for development in unincorporated north Livermore. “And (it’s) a very pivotal moment with all the changing trends.”Alameda County supervisors approved a conditional use permit for the cemetery and funeral home project, which has been in the planning stages for almost 10 years. It is being developed by Monte Vista Memorial Investment Group.After it acquires licenses and building permits, Martinez said the cemetery could begin accommodating interments, or burials, in the first quarter of next year.Many of the cemeteries in Ala...

Home insurer exodus: Are California lawmakers weighing a secret deal to keep Big Insurance from bailing on homeowners?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

In a state scorched by a series of devastating wildfires, Californians have seen the costs of insuring their homes soar and coverage options evaporate — if they can find a company to issue a policy at all.Now, consumer advocates say lawmakers and the state’s insurance commissioner are secretly working on a deal to free up more coverage in the Golden State — but at the cost of caving to insurers’ demands to loosen regulations and let them charge higher rates.“This would constitute the biggest insurance industry bailout in modern history, rushed through without the public deliberation that placing a burden of this magnitude on policyholders demands,” said Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfield.In a state with the country’s strongest consumer rate protections, big insurers like Allstate, State Farm and Farmers have put the brakes on new policies, leaving many homeowners scrambling for coverage and digging much deeper to pay for it.The companies say th...

Bay Area resident among thousands left stranded at Burning Man festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

(KRON) -- Heavy rains have left thousands of people stranded at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert, including one resident from the Bay Area. Thick, ankle-deep mud from heavy rains have made it difficult for festival goers to drive out of the site, including San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford. "I was going to leave yesterday. I hoped I was going to leave today, but it rained again this afternoon so I'm probably not going to get out of here until tomorrow night maybe,” Ford said. CHP motorcycle officer, sedan driver injured in crash in SF The desert was hit with about two to three months worth of rain in the span of 24 hours between Friday and Saturday morning.Event organizers closed the roads, but some people still tried to leave on foot or by large vehicle. Those who stayed were told to shelter in place and conserve food, water and fuel."We're conserving a little bit. We're not eating as many snacks today as we may have. We're conserving our water...

Verbal altercation leads to shooting in Safeway parking lot in San Rafael

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

(BCN) -- Police are in search of four suspects said to be involved in a Sunday morning shooting at a Safeway parking lot that left one man injured in San Rafael's Terra Linda neighborhood. Officers from the San Rafael Police Department first responded to reports of a shooting at 1:01 a.m. at a Safeway parking lot on 950 Gallinas Ave. Police said they found a 30-year-old Novato man suffering from serious injuries. He was later transported to a local hospital. Detectives determined that a group of people were gathered at the parking lot when they were approached by another group. Oakland youth football team moves game to Santa Rosa for safer environment An altercation occurred, then one person began shooting, said police. Police said the victim was hit by two bullets, and another bullet hit the bedroom window of a nearby home. All four suspects fled the scene eastbound after the altercation, said police. An officer said they saw one of the suspects on the Redwood Highway ...

Suspected drunk driver causes power outage after crashing into pole in Concord

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

(BCN) -- Residents in the area of Birch Avenue and Hemlock Avenue in Concord were without power early Sunday morning after a suspected drunk driver crashed into a power pole, the Concord Police Department said. At 2:27 a.m. Sunday, Concord police announced on social media that they arrested a driver whom they suspect of driving under the influence of alcohol after crashing into a power pole. Oakland youth football team moves game to Santa Rosa for safer environment The crash knocked out power in the area of Birch Avenue and Hemlock Avenue, police said. PG&E personnel were on the scene making repairs, but they also indicated that it might take several hours before power is restored, according to police. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Ferrari has its fighting spirit back after intense tussle between Sainz and Leclerc at Monza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

MILAN (AP) — Ferrari has got its fighting spirit back. And it couldn’t have found it at a better place.While the cars are clearly off the pace of the all-conquering Red Bull, Ferrari thrilled the passionate fans at its home track with an intense tussle for third place at the Italian Grand Prix.In the end it was Carlos Sainz Jr. who edged Charles Leclerc for the final spot on the iconic Monza podium, behind runaway Formula One leader Max Verstappen — who claimed a record 10th straight victory on Sunday — and Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez.“It was tough. It was tough, hard racing. It’s always been a pleasure to race Charles whenever we’ve had the chance. And today was the same.” Sainz said. “A great racer, same as Max and Checo (Pérez). We had fun out there today and I hope you guys enjoyed it.”It was the first podium for Sainz this season to cap a great weekend for the Spanish driver, who turned 29 on Friday. Sainz was fastest in two of the three practice sessions and qualified in po...

Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg among European team’s captain’s picks for Ryder Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

Ludvig Aberg’s rapid rise in just three months as a pro was capped Monday when the 23-year-old Swede was selected as one of the European team’s captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup against the United States outside Rome this month.Luke Donald filled out his team by picking Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose along with three rookies — Aberg, Sepp Straka and Nicolai Hojgaard.Straka and Hojgaard got the call ahead of Adrian Meronk in what was widely seen as Donald’s toughest decision, but it’s the presence of Aberg that will most excite European golf fans.He turned pro in June when ranked as the world’s No. 1 amateur and after being named the best college player in the United States for a second straight year at Texas Tech. Aberg posted four top-25 finishes in his first two months on the PGA Tour, then headed back to Europe in a bid to convince Donald he deserved a Ryder Cup call-up.Winning the European Masters in Switzerland on Sunday by reel...