By JOHN RABY (Associated Press) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — For Derrick Evans, being part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol wasn’t enough. The former West Virginia lawmaker wants to make his path to the halls of Congress permanent. On the other side of the metal barricades that day, Police Officer Harry Dunn couldn’t stand what he saw as he defended the Capitol and its inhabitants from rioters on Jan. 6, 2021. Ultimately, the Maryland resident watched lawmakers he had protected vote to acquit former President Donald Trump and deny the violence and trauma that led to the deaths of some of h ..read more

By Sally French | NerdWallet For folks planning July Fourth vacations, prepare for crowds. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record number of passengers in 2023, and those records are likely to be broken in 2024. In fact, in the first two months of 2024, travel volumes were roughly 6% higher than the same period in 2023, according to the TSA. With the expected big crowds in mind, are some days better for air travel than others? In 2024, July Fourth falls on a Thursday, which puts a wrench in predicting travel crowds. Will folks take the Friday after off to enjoy the l ..read more

California, we have a job-loss problem. All the noise about rising California layoffs – especially at technology companies – is adding up to real pain. Consider a Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis of household employment surveys that shows 482,700 Californians lost their jobs in the year ending in the first quarter. My trusty spreadsheet found California job losses are No. 1 in the nation, though the state was followed by other economic heavyweights. Texas was No. 2 at 274,900, then New York at 220,600, Illinois at 155,700, and Florida at 141,900. And these job cuts were California’s worst ..read more

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Missy Franklin, 29; Kenan Thompson, 46; Bono, 64; Donovan, 78. Happy Birthday: Discipline and desire can help you improve your life. Make personal decisions that encourage better health and well-being. Get your finances in order and lower your stress. Put your happiness at the top of your list, and don’t settle for less than what makes you happy. Take control, and you’ll discover the path that leads to personal contentment and satisfaction. Love and romance are in the stars. Your numbers are 7, 13, 20, 24, 32, 39, 47. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t share persona ..read more

Hawaii may be famous for its crystalline waters, multi-hued beaches, lush rainforests and Polynesian vibe, but its cowboy culture is not to be missed. Heaps of delicious food and dancing usually translate to a luau in Hawaii, but on the Big Island, it can also mean the Paniolo Sunset BBQ dinner in the rolling green pastures of Waimea. The weekly dinner and dancing event at Kahua Ranch is inspired by the Hawaiian Islands’ long history of cattle ranching, which reaches all the way back to King Kamehameha I. The view from Kahua Ranch stretches across rolling green pastures all the way to the ocea ..read more

First, there’s something about Vienna. Then Spain, followed by Bohemia. After a break, the action moves to the Mississippi River, then to Rick’s Cafe Americain in Casablanca, where the world will always welcome lovers as time goes by, and finally to a familiar, rousing and patriotic statement about Old Glory. The above-mentioned action is musical in nature and serves as a brief summary of the Solano  Symphony’s annual season-ending Pops concert. It begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, Mother’s Day, in the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre. Longtime symphony conductor Semyon Lohss will lead the orches ..read more

In an attempt to reverse the release of public records, The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) has filed a reverse California Public Records Act (CPRA) lawsuit to intervene in Shelton v. Napa Valley Unified School District regarding a former public school teacher’s alleged sexual abuse of students. Matthew Joseph Shelton, the defendant in the case and a former public school teacher who was previously charged with sexual misconduct while working in the Napa Valley Unified ASchool District and is currently facing similar charges from his time teaching for Benicia Unified School District and also ha ..read more

The Vallejo NAACP is seeking reform in its city. On Thursday afternoon it took its concerns to a national level. The NAACP — along with Vallejo community members and officials — met with members of the United States Department of Justice Attorney’s Office, including U.S. Attorney Phil Talbert and U.S. Community Outreach Specialist Hate Crimes Task Force Coordinator Sean W. Vassar to discuss police, safety and unsheltered issues. It was the first in what Vallejo NAACP President Patricia Hunter hopes will be many meetings. “To have a semi open session with key community members, we do take a lot ..read more

Caltrans will begin work a 55-hour Eastbound State Route 37 (SR-37) closure at the SR-37/SR-121 interchange near Sears point (Sonoma County) starting Friday at 10 p.m. and scheduled to last until Monday morning at 5 a.m. During the 55-hour weekend full highway closures, Caltrans will perform major pavement repair work on eastbound route 37 between Solano and Sonoma counties. One traffic direction on SR-37 will be worked on at a time. Detours on eastbound SR-37 will be in effect. Westbound SR-37 will remain open at all times. Detours will be in effect. All work is weather dependent. The final w ..read more

Legends, they say, are made in the playoffs, and Vacaville Christian High School senior Nicko Meadows secured a great start to his tale Wednesday night. As the Falcons defeated the Gustine Reds 5-3 in the first round of the Division VI CIF Sac Joaquin Section Playoffs, Meadows made the better part of the difference between the two sides. He led off the game with a single, recorded seven outs from shortstop, smacked a triple and was brought home to score another run in the fifth. Then, he came in the game to pitch for the Falcons’ last eight outs, three of which were strikeouts. If leading a pl ..read more