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☆ San Francisco Mayor Lays Out Strategy to Jump-Start Downtown
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Jim Carlton | Peter Grant | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

San Francisco Mayor London Breed is aiming to beef up the law-enforcement presence downtown through more foot patrols. SAN FRANCISCO—Mayor London Breed rolled out her plan Thursday to revitalize the moribund downtown office market, the latest city to announce steps to recover from an exodus of workers during the pandemic. Ms. Breed’s “Roadmap to Downtown San Francisco’s Future” includes a mix of tax incentives and a renewed focus on cleaning up the streets.

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Benefits and FeaturesThe Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card comes with a host of benefits and travel perks. You're also not eligible if you already have a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card (not available to new applicants) open, or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months. Within the past 90 days, you've been approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. Within the past 24 months, you've earned a welcome bonus/upgrade bonus for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightThe Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card comes with an increased limited-time welcome bonus and good perks for a no-annual-fee card, but unless paying an annual fee is a dealbreaker for you, other Marriott cards — like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — are a better deal. Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? How to Earn Points With the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardThe Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card doesn't have as generous an earning structure as other Marriott credit cards, but you'll still have the opportunity to earn bonus points when you travel. Generally, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card requires a good to excellent credit score to be eligible, which means a FICO score of at least 670.Who is eligible for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold? You're also not eligible if you already have a Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card (not available to new applicants) open, or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months.

Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Automatic Marriott Gold elite status (room upgrades and late checkout when available, bonus points on stays) Check mark icon A check mark. 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Gold status, which opens the door to perks like free breakfast (food and beverage credit at US hotels), bonus points, and room upgrades. With Gold status, you'll get perks like a 10% points bonus on paid stays, late checkout when available, and access to preferred rooms.

$95 Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Apply now On Citi's website Apply now On Chase's websiteHere are the cheapest ways to get a family to Hawaii on points and miles. HiltonFor the highest Hilton credit card welcome bonus, look no further than the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card . You can also utilize miles from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to cover the cost of activities. Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Pay these rewards with your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and redeem miles toward statement credits.

As a newly minted Airman, I was floored when I first found out about all the credit card perks active duty military members receive. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Review: IHG Rewards Premier credit card reviewBest Discover Cards for Military MembersWhile Discover credit cards don't actually charge any annual fees — it's one of their hallmarks — they've outdone much of the competition by eliminating all over-limit and late fees for active-duty military credit cards. Review: Navy Federal Flagship Rewards credit card reviewBest Credit Cards for Active-duty Military Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Are military credit cards guaranteed approval? Military members will have their credit vetted just as anyone who applies for a credit card.

☆ Decision on Cuts to Colorado River Usage Delayed
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Many farms in the West, along with some residential areas, rely on water from the Colorado River for their survival. The Interior Department said Tuesday it remains committed to working with seven Western states to cut their use of the shrinking Colorado River, despite their failure to come up with an agreement on how to do so by a federally requested deadline of Jan. 31. Six of the seven states—Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, but not California—on Monday submitted a possible framework for an agreement that would call for voluntary cuts and conservation totaling between 2 million acre-feet and 4 million acre-feet annually. An acre-foot is roughly the amount of water used by one family for a year.

☆ California to Provide More Water to Farmers and Residents After Recent Storms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The recent deluge of rain in California will mean increased water deliveries to cities and agricultural regions after years of cutbacks caused by the long-running drought. The California Department of Water Resources said Thursday it expects to deliver 30% of the water supplies requested by agencies that serve 27 million people and nearly a million acres of farmland.

If everyone in the world expertly utilized credit card rewards to travel for free, there wouldn't be such amazing travel opportunities out there. Identify your travel goalsBefore you begin collecting credit card rewards, you should first identify your travel goals. Amex Membership Rewards points Capital One miles Chase Ultimate Rewards points Choice Privileges points Citi ThankYou points Hilton Honors points Hyatt points IHG Rewards points Marriott Bonvoy points Wyndham Rewards pointsYou travel with a large family Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Recommended credit card strategies for beginnersThe best practice for anyone new to credit card rewards is to invest in flexible points. You'll need: An annual fee-incurring Hilton credit card One of the greatest deals in credit card rewards is the free night certificate that comes with select American Express Hilton credit cards.

☆ California Storms Leave Billions of Dollars in Damage to Businesses, Homes and Infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

ANTIOCH, Calif.—Paradise Skate Roller Rink was preparing to host a New Year’s Eve bash when floodwaters poured in from a nearby creek, destroying the wooden floor and leaving the decades-old business in this San Francisco Bay Area suburb out of commission for months. “Mother Nature could have been a little nicer, but I think she has a head of her own,” general manager Bob Bruce said earlier this week, walking carefully on the warped floor as dozens of beach balls intended to drop at midnight Jan. 1 remained suspended in a ceiling net.

☆ California Storms Expected to Return Late Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

California got a brief break early Sunday from its recent parade of storms that have dumped copious amounts of moisture across the state since Christmas before another was forecast to arrive late in the day with potential for more flooding and related problems. The next storm is forecast to be a long-duration event with lower precipitation amounts than the previous storms, most of which are characterized as atmospheric rivers because they direct so much rainfall over a concentrated region, said Colby Goatley, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Still, he said flood watches remain in effect for much of Northern California, where rainfall records have been broken in some cities.

☆ California Prepares for More Storms Late Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ California Storms Destroy a Wharf and Threaten a Way of Life in Beach Town of Capitola
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CAPITOLA, Calif.—The storms that have battered California for the past three weeks have caused floods, mudslides, and blackouts across the state, but few communities have felt their power more than ones such as the oceanside village of Capitola, where an 800-foot wharf that serves as its biggest tourist attraction was torn in half. “We’re used to these storms—the big waves, the swells, the flooding—but this was just heightened,” 45-year-old resident Chad Muller said earlier this week, soon after the Jan. 5 confluence of high tides and giant waves damaged about two dozen homes and businesses.

☆ Watch: Thousands of Flights Delayed After FAA System Outage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

California Beach Towns Contend With Damage as More Storms Loom Waves whipped up by “atmospheric rivers” rolling through California have caused damage in beach towns such as Aptos and Capitola. WSJ’s Jim Carlton reports from the community, where locals are picking up the pieces and bracing for more storms. Photos: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

☆ Northern California Battered Again With Heavy Rain, Snow
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Northern California was battered again Wednesday with heavy rain, as a relentless barrage of rain and snow continued. A series of storms since Christmas has hammered California, causing between $31 billion and $34 billion worth of damage and lost economic output, said Jonathan Porter , the chief meteorologist at AccuWeather Inc. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the storms would continue through Jan. 18.

What are credit card and bank rewards points worth? One great feature of the program is that all points are equal, so any account that earns Membership Rewards points has access to transfer partners. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, you'll earn 25% to 75% more points, depending on how much you have on deposit, but your rewards points are still worth 1 cent apiece. You can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou to JetBlue, but the ratio varies depending on the rewards program. However, those miles expire after 36 months regardless of your account activity, so only transfer miles when you have immediate plans to redeem them.

How to earn Alaska Airlines milesThere are two types of Alaska miles: Elite-qualifying miles and redeemable miles. Earn Alaska miles for car rentalsYou can opt-in to earn Alaska miles when you rent cars through Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, or Thrifty. Redeem Alaska miles for domestic flightsOne of the most popular ways to redeem Alaska miles is for domestic award flights on Alaska and its partner American Airlines. Redeem Alaska miles for flights on partner airlinesUsing Alaska Airlines miles for award flights on partner airlines is perhaps the best way to use your Alaska miles. Donate Alaska Airlines miles to charityYou can donate your Alaska miles to over a dozen different charities, in 1,000-mile increments, and with no maximums or fees.

☆ 10 best credit cards for elite status travel benefits
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Ariana Arghandewal | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Best credit card for Delta SkyMiles elite status perksGetty ImagesElite status: No automatic elite status; however, you’ll earn up to 60,000 MQMs per year with Status Boost. Best credit card for United MileagePlus elite status perksGetty ImagesElite status: No automatic elite status; however, card holders can earn up to 8,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) per calendar year toward elite status. The best credit card for IHG One Rewards elite status perksIHGElite status: Complimentary Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a card holder. The best credit card for Hilton Honors elite status perksHiltonElite status: Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond elite status. Frequently asked questions about credit cards with elite status benefitsIf you travel frequently enough, elite status can be worth it.

☆ California Battered Again by Heavy Rains as Flooding Risk Rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Heavy rains from California’s fifth storm since Christmas pushed through the state Monday, raising the risk of floods and landslides in the already saturated state. Another storm rolled in on Sunday night as the state was still cleaning up from previous storms that Gov. Gavin Newsom said had killed 12 people. The storms have been generated by “atmospheric rivers,” or plumes of moisture that forecasters said would unleash trillions of gallons of rainfall.

☆ California’s Torrential Rains Don’t Mean the Drought Is Over
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Christine Mai-Duc | Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

One of the wettest two-week periods on record in California brought much-needed water to its reservoirs and snow to its mountains, but researchers and officials said it would take several more winter storms to make a dent in the drought that has sapped reservoirs, fallowed farmland and forced homeowners to let lawns turn brown. California has been drenched in the past few weeks by heavy rains and, at higher elevations, snow, caused by an atmospheric river, a flowing column of condensed water vapor in the atmosphere that produces significant levels of rain and snow. Swaths of the state received 15 or more inches of rain over the past two weeks, according to the National Weather Service.

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express card the best credit card for you? With the launch of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card (and its new sibling card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card ), there are now a whopping six Marriott credit cards available to new applicants. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, with a $250 annual fee, is positioned as a mid-tier card between the popular Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) and premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee). On other Marriott Bonvoy cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, the free anniversary night certificate is one of the best perks, so its absence on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card really sticks out. If have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from JPMorgan, J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days, you won't be eligible for the $250.

Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. $95 Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Learn More Apply now On Chase's websiteHow to earn points with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers a straightforward earning structure, earning bonus points at eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties and in other useful categories. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant card fees and costsThe Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a $650 annual fee. You also aren't eligible for the welcome bonus offer on this card if any of the following apply to you: You are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card from JPMorgan or J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit CardYou've opened the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card in the last 90 daysIn the last 24 months, you've received a new cardmember bonus offer or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ CardIs the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card worth it? There are also two new mid-range Marriott cards to consider (Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card) which both have a $250 annual fee).

Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it Check mark icon A check mark. Very high annual fee Highlights Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Annual companion certificate can help you recoup most, if not all, of the annual fee Check mark icon A check mark. $325 annual travel and dining credit can offset most of the $400 annual fee Check mark icon A check mark. Statement credits can help you recoup the annual fee Check mark icon A check mark.

The best hotel credit cards all have one outstanding benefit that gives cardholders the incentive to renew year after year: free night certificates and/or bonus points that are worth more than the annual fee. 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through 12/31/23, then your top two categories each quarter. Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Show more Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 20.24% - 27.24% Variable Editor's Rating 4.4 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.4 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. Credit Cards With Annual Free Nights Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)How do I use a free night certificate?

☆ Chef José Andrés and his daughters go on a Spanish food tour in new TV show
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

On his new TV show, celebrated chef José Andrés goes into a restaurant kitchen in Spain and confronts a massive moray eel. “Nothing can be more simple and more sophisticated at the same time.”That eel is just one delicious moment in Discovery+’s “José Andrés and Family in Spain,” which follows the chef, restaurateur and humanitarian on a food tour through his homeland with his three American-raised daughters, Carlota, Inés and Lucia Andrés. The elder Andrés — who has drawn attention to Spanish food and helped put a spotlight on humanitarian disasters with his World Central Kitchen — can hardily contain himself. “Happiness happens when you mix different people and different colors and different places all in one plate,” José Andrés says onscreen. “Spain is the excuse,” says José Andrés.

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