Each receives $2,000, and will compete for another $1.2 million. See all California students, their schools, and their amazing projects.

Bea Karnes, Patch Staff

|Updated Sat, Jan 18, 2025 at 9:12 am PT

CALIFORNIA — The Society for Science has selected the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025, touted as the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

Each of the 300 scholars, 51 here in California, will be awarded $2,000 and their schools will be awarded $2,000 for each enrolled scholar. Several California high schools have multiple scholars.

The next step in the competition comes Thursday, when the top 40 finalists are announced.

US citizens living abroad are eligible to apply. Nearly 2,500 entrants from 795 high schools across 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 14 other countries entered the competition.

Scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations.

Find out what's happening in Fremontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"Congratulations to the 300 scholars in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search," said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. "With a record-breaking number of applications, these exceptional young scientists and engineers represent the best in the nation. We are thrilled to celebrate their ingenuity, hard work, and passion for STEM."

Now in its 103rd year, past winners have gone on to receive Nobel Prizes, MacArthur Fellowships, National Medals of Science, National Medals of Technology and Innovation, Breakthrough Prize, Fields Medal, and more.

This year, research projects cover topics from Medicine and Health to Computer Science and more.

"Congratulations to the Regeneron Science Talent Search top 300 scholars, who demonstrate the extraordinary potential of nurtured STEM talent," said Christina Chan, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Regeneron. "Our long-standing partnership with Society for Science is a cornerstone of our commitment to elevate these future scientific leaders, and we look forward to seeing how their discoveries will tackle global challenges and help improve our world."

On Jan. 23, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition in Washington, D.C., taking place March 6-12, 2025.

Here are this year's $2,000 winners from California.

Compare that to the costs of owning a dog per year. A look at the costs of food, medical care, and child care and dog day care.

Updated Sat, Jan 18, 2025 at 6:32 pm PT

CALIFORNIA — If you’ve been weighing the costs of having a baby or getting a dog, either is going to cost you in California, and it could break people who decide to do both.

That’s according to an analysis from Consumer Affairs that looked at the availability of child care and other costs of raising a child, and the amount of money Americans are spending to heap luxury on their dogs.

The analysis showed California is the 6th most expensive state to raise a child and the 8th most expensive to raise a dog. It costs about $23,235 a year in California to raise a child and about $2,703 a year to raise a dog.

While a new pet will set consumers back less than having a baby, either could push them to the point they have to borrow money, Consumer Affairs said. Nationally, the analysis showed the expenses associated with owning a dog, an average of $2,491, are less than one-sixth the cost of raising a child, an average of $15,752.

Among other factors used in the research are costs of food, medical care, and child care and dog day care in each of the 50 states.

Consumer Affairs said its analysis showed the expenses associated with owning a dog nationally, an average of $2,491, are less than one-sixth the cost of the annual expenses related to raising a child, an average of $15,752.

Other insights include:

Massachusetts is the most expensive state to raise a child, at an average annual cost of $27,473, while South Carolina is the most affordable state, with an average cost of $8,360 a year.

Massachusetts also had the largest difference in costs between raising a child and a dog, $27.473 versus $2,759 a year. In fact, for the cost of raising one child for a year, a Massachusetts resident could raise 10 dogs.

The most expensive state to raise a dog is Alaska, at $3,540 a year, while Arkansas is the cheapest place, at a cost of $2,262 a year.

Overall, the annual cost of raising a child is $15,752, while the cost of having a dog is $2,491 — a 532 percent difference, meaning that for every dollar it costs to have a dog, it costs $6.32 to have a child.

Child care, which on average costs parents nearly $12,000 a year, is the greatest of the expenses associated with raising a child. Expenses for an occasional pet sitter or boarding at a kennel are just 3.1 percent of that amount annually, Consumer Affairs said, adding that housing and transportation are other significant cost differences between children and dogs.

ALSO SEE:

A discount will also be added for having a third person in the carpool lane.

Bay City News, News Partner

FREMONT, CA — The regional body that sets toll rates for the Bay Area's seven state-owned bridges voted this week to raise tolls by another $1.25 to $3 for two-axle vehicles, starting in 2026, introducing a "tiered" tolling rate.

Changes were also made to carpool lanes known as high occupancy lanes, with a third person per vehicle now required to receive a discount on the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.

The toll increases will affect the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. The carpool lane changes will affect all but the Bay Bridge.

The toll increase, which will be phased in over five years starting in 2026, is on top of a $1 increase that will take effect in January, which will bring the current toll to $8 for drivers with one or two occupants, and $4 with three or more.

The $1 increase in January marks the third installment of a $3 increase that was approved by voters as part of Regional Measure 3 in 2018. The toll was first increased in 2019, then again in 2022.

Find out what's happening in Fremontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The vote Wednesday by the Bay Area Toll Authority, which is controlled by the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission, marks a new increase that will leave drivers with tiered rates starting in 2027.

All rates will increase by 50 cents in 2026, except for carpoolers, who receive half-off and will see an increase of 25 cents. After that, the rates diverge.

Drivers with FasTrak will see steady increases of 50 cents per year until the toll is set at $10.50 in January 2030. High occupancy rates for vehicles with three or more people will still be 50% of those rates, increasing 25 cents each year until they are set at $5.25 starting in 2030.

The Toll Authority voted to standardize the three-occupant requirement to receive the high occupancy discount on all bridges. The Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges currently allow the discount with two occupants.

But vehicles with two occupants will be able to access the high occupancy lanes on the approach to the bridges on all but the Bay Bridge starting in 2026.

The tiers are created by a bump starting in 2027. Drivers with registered license plate accounts will see an additional increase of 25 cents, which will then continue increasing by 50 cents until the rate is $10.75 in 2030. Drivers who rely on an electronic invoice will see an additional $1 on their bill in 2027, which will ultimately set the rate at $11.50 for such drivers. The state went to an all-electronic toll system in 2021 after initially removing toll booth operators because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vehicles with more than two axles will see higher increases, with three-axle vehicles seeing tolls rise from $18 starting in January to $25.50 in 2030, increasing by $1.50 each year. The number ranges for vehicles with additional axles with rates in 2025 between $22 and $37, which will increase to a range between $33 and $55.50. The money raised from the toll increases will go towards bridge maintenance and repairs, according to the MTC.

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

What is the best internet provider in Fremont, California?

AT&T Fiber is the best internet provider in Fremont. It’s the only fiber provider in the area, meaning it’s the only one that offers symmetrical upload and download speeds -- ideal for remote workers and online gamers. Plans start at $55 and go up to $245 a month for the 5-gig plan. AT&T Fiber also includes equipment at no extra cost, and its prices don’t automatically increase after a year or two.

If you’re looking for the lowest prices possible, Xfinity has the cheapest internet in Fremont. Plans start at just $20 per month for 150Mbps speeds, but there are some caveats. You’ll have to commit to a time-bound contract, equipment isn’t included and prices increase significantly after the first year.

Verizon 5G Home Internet is another good option for smaller households. The wireless provider’s speeds top out at 300Mbps, but that’s plenty for homes that will connect only a few devices at a time.

Best internet in Fremont, California

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Fremont

The best internet deals and top promotions in Fremont depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Fremont internet providers, such as Xfinity and Verizon 5G Home internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Fremont

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Fremont FAQs

FREMONT, CA — Stargazers who want to catch the Geminids meteor shower, which NASA says is the best shooting star show of the year, should plan to get as far away from Fremont's city lights as possible for the peak Friday and Saturday.

Dark skies improve any stargazing experience, but this year could mean the difference in seeing a good number of the bright, fast meteors because the moon will be nearly full for most of the hours between 2 a.m. and dawn, when meteors are most likely. Under ideal conditions, up to 120 yellowish meteors are visible per hour.

The National Weather Service forecast is discouraging, with cloudy skies and rain expected.

Check the moonset time to make sure the sky is as dark as possible.

Produced by debris left behind by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, the Geminids began appearing in the mid-1800s, but the shower wasn’t particularly noteworthy and produced only 10 or 20 meteors an hour, according to NASA. They have grown in intensity to become one of the major meteor showers of the year, the agency said.

Find out what's happening in Fremontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The year closes out with the Ursid meteor shower, which runs Dec. 17-26 and peaks Dec. 22-23. The moon will still be bright at about 54 percent illumination, and that may interfere with viewing after midnight until dawn. At their peak, the Ursids produce about five or 10 shooting stars an hour. The shower is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 8P/Tuttle, discovered in 1790.

Shooting star seekers, take note: 2025 starts with another stunner, the prolific Quadrantids, which under perfect conditions can produce as many as 200 meteors an hour at their Jan. 4 peak. The shower runs Dec. 26-Jan. 16.

Most meteor showers have a two-day peak, but the peak of the Quadrantids is only a few hours, according to NASA, which calls it “one of the best annual meteor showers.” The Quadrantids are rich in bright fireballs, larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak.