2 months ago
California's legislature this week approved a bill to let renters opt out of bulk-billing arrangements that force them to pay for Internet service from a specific provider. ArsTechnica: The bill says that by January 1, a landlord must "allow the tenant to opt out of paying for any subscription from a third-party Internet service provider, such as through a bulk-billing arrangement, to provide service for wired Internet, cellular, or satellite service that is offered in connection with the tenancy." If a landlord fails to do so, the tenant "may deduct the cost of the subscription to the third-party Internet service provider from the rent," and the landlord would be prohibited from retaliating.
The bill passed the state Senate in a 30-7 vote on Wednesday but needs Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature to become law. It was approved by the state Assembly in a 75-0 vote in April. Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, a Democratic lawmaker who authored the bill, told Ars today that lobby groups for Internet providers and real estate companies have been "working really hard" to defeat it. But she expects Newsom will approve. "I strongly believe that the governor is going to look at what this bill provides as far as protections for tenants and sign it into law," Ransom said in a phone interview.
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msmash
2 months ago
Climate change? No worry - we can solve that later, argues Doug Burgum
You would think that the government official responsible for safeguarding the US' natural resources would be opposed to abandoning climate change mitigation pledges in favor of firing up fossil fuels to power AI development. …
Brandon Vigliarolo
2 months ago
Top AI chipmakers count on faster, denser, more efficient memory to boost training
AMD and Nvidia have already announced their next-gen datacenter GPUs will make the leap to HBM4, and if SK Hynix has its way, it’ll be the one supplying the bulk of it.…
Tobias Mann
2 months ago
An anonymous reader shares a report: European Union countries have shelved plans to approve a new climate change target next week, after pushback from governments including France and Germany over plans to quickly land a deal, three EU diplomats told Reuters on Friday. Countries are discussing a legally-binding target to cut net EU greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels - with a share of this covered by buying foreign carbon credits.
The European Commission has said this would offer investors certainty and keep Europe on track for net zero emissions by 2050. Climate change has made Europe the world's fastest-warming continent, unleashing deadly heatwaves and record-breaking wildfires. But EU governments are divided over how ambitious to be in tackling global warming, as governments also try to increase defence spending and support struggling industries.
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msmash
2 months ago
Officers took to the radio immediately after the shooting at a Utah Valley University event and spoke of various people they believed to be connected with the case.
2 months ago
The pair and an accomplice stole an e-bike and a car
Laura Fidler
2 months ago
US colleges face a prolonged enrollment decline beginning this fall as high school graduating classes shrink for the first time since the Great Recession. The incoming freshman class marks the start of a 13% drop in high school graduates through 2041, falling from 3.9 million to 3.4 million students. The decline stems from reduced birth rates during the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent years.
Regional four-year institutions in the Northeast and Midwest states face potential applicant pool contractions of 15% or more. Small liberal arts colleges, comprising 40% of the higher education market, are particularly vulnerable. 40% of private colleges posted financial losses in 2023. Top-ranked schools in the US News top 50 are expected to experience minimal impact due to sustained national demand for limited seats.
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msmash
2 months ago
Kate, 43, was visiting Marina Mill in Cuxton, Kent, a British family business that specialises in hand-designing and screen-printing furnishing fabrics, on Thursday afternoon.
2 months ago
Charlie Kirk's alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, is said to have scrawled the lyrics to the Italian folk-song Bella Ciao on bullet casings.
2 months ago
A similar vuln on Apple devices was used against 'specific targeted users'
Samsung has fixed a critical flaw that affects its Android devices - but not before attackers found and exploited the bug, which could allow remote code execution on affected devices.…
Jessica Lyons
2 months ago
Mr Wynne, who joined the broadcaster in October 2000, became a familiar face to millions as a regular forecaster on BBC News at Ten.
2 months ago
Robinson was taken into custody on Thursday night in southern Utah after having allegedly confessed to his father.
2 months ago
During the girl's nightmare three-day ordeal, she was plied with a cocktail of drugs including crystal meth and amphetamine and subjected to three days of sexual assaults and rapes.
2 months ago
US retail coffee prices surged 21% year-over-year in August, the largest annual increase since October 1997, according to Thursday's Consumer Price Index. The monthly 4% jump marks the steepest rise in 14 years. Trump administration tariffs on major coffee exporters -- 50% on Brazil, 20% on Vietnam, and 10% on Colombia -- are driving costs higher as 99% of US coffee consumption relies on imports.
J.M. Smucker plans its third price increase this winter for Folgers and Cafe Bustelo brands after raising prices in May and August. New Orleans chain French Truck Coffee has implemented a 4% tariff surcharge. Starbucks expects peak cost impacts in 2026 due to its advance purchasing practices. KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk predicts prices will exceed historical records as Brazilian tariff effects reach retail shelves.
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msmash
2 months ago
Engravings found on the bullets used by Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin Tyler Robinson, 22, reveal disturbing political messages.
2 months ago
The huge event will close some local roads
Jodie Bradley
2 months ago
Trump administration health agencies like the FDA have announced plans to link Covid vaccines to the deaths of over two dozen children, sources familiar with the matter have revealed.
2 months ago
Families of victims of the 1994 RAF Chinook disaster on the Mull of Kintyre are going to court in a bid to force the UK Government to order a public inquiry.
2 months ago
Erika Kirk waved to the her supporters through an open window, fighting back tears as she held a rosary in her hand. She is a devout Christian and has leaned into her faith after Charlie's assassination.
2 months ago
Smart glasses development has expanded beyond Meta, Google and Apple to include dozens of manufacturers across three distinct categories, UploadVR reports. HTC launched its Vive Eagle glasses in Taiwan this month at $550, while Solos' AirGo V2 arrives in Q4 2025 for $300.
The market segments into displayless models featuring cameras and AI assistants, heads-up display glasses providing contextual information overlays and true AR glasses capable of spatial object positioning. Chinese manufacturers dominate the sub-$100 segment. Snap plans consumer AR glasses for 2026. Amazon is reportedly developing two HUD models targeting delivery drivers and consumers for mid-2026 release.
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