Today: September 21, 2024
Today: September 21, 2024

Latest From Nahal Garakani

Economy

California woman picks neighbor’s fruit. Is it OK to pick fruit from someone else's tree?

A summer morning turned unexpectedly tense when a woman picked nectarines from a tree in someone else’s yard without permission, sparking a debate about the ethics and legality of such actions. The story prompted significant reader engagement, with many expressing varying opinions on when, if ever, it is acceptable to pick someone else’s fruit. In a story reported by the Los Angeles Times, located near the sidewalk, the tree was easily accessible, and the owner had envisioned sharing its bounty with passersby. However, the unexpected incident of someone taking fruit without asking challenged this view and raised numerous questions about

June 03, 2024
California woman picks neighbor’s fruit. Is it OK to pick fruit from someone else's tree?
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Can patience and a housing boom ease millennials' homebuying crisis?

Owning a home is proving to be a tough hurdle for millennials. Those born between 1981 and 1996, are facing challenges in purchasing homes. Coming in at 72 million, millennials have now surpassed baby boomers to become the largest generation in the nation. The vast group and high demand for housing has led to inventory shortages and price increases, making homeownership unattainable for many. This tidal wave of demand quickly overwhelmed an already tight housing supply. “Millennials represent a vast pool of new homebuyers at a time when new construction and listings have lagged well behind population growth,” said Ralph

April 18, 2024
Can patience and a housing boom ease millennials' homebuying crisis?
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Car data privacy breach: automakers secretly share driving records with insurers

Do car companies sell your data? A startling revelation has come to light – major automakers and insurance companies have entered into a furtive exchange of consumer driving records. This under-the-radar practice involves car manufacturers discreetly sharing granular details about individuals’ driving habits and vehicle usage patterns with data brokers who cater to the insurance industry’s appetite for such insights. The veil was lifted on this covert data trade when Todd Smith, a software firm owner residing near Seattle, received an eye-opening 258-page dossier from LexisNexis, a global data analytics giant. The document exhaustively chronicled over half a year of

March 22, 2024
Car data privacy breach: automakers secretly share driving records with insurers
Economy|Local|WrittenByLAPost

LA accountant reveals shocking tax deductions IRS accepted from clients

The IRS has approved some shockingly bizarre tax deductions over the years – from breast implants for a stripper to private jets for efficient travel. Even cat food has been claimed as a business expense! While most filers claim basic deductions like mortgage interest, some taxpayers get creative and push the limits with unique write-offs. If they can prove an odd expense was truly essential for their work or medically necessary, the IRS auditors may just accept their questionable arguments. But pursuing fringe deductions is risky business. Without ironclad justification, you could get slapped with penalties and back taxes instead.

March 12, 2024
LA accountant reveals shocking tax deductions IRS accepted from clients
Economy|Local|WrittenByLAPost

California jails grapple with tragedy

California jails face crisis as overdoses skyrocket to alarming levels. Fentanyl flooding the system mainly to blame for the spike in deadly ODs. Early state numbers show at least 59 fatal overdoses last year – more than the prior two years put together. Experts view the dramatic change as a setback following initial progress in enhancing addiction treatment and availability of the overdose rescue medication naloxone. Merely two years ago, a groundbreaking California initiative aimed at reducing overdoses in prisons received recognition nationwide as a blueprint for improvement. The rapid increase of fentanyl, a highly strong synthetic opioid, has surpassed numerous preventative

March 11, 2024
California jails grapple with tragedy
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Will you get a $550 check? Michigan tax rebate payments start arriving soon

Beginning February 13, over 700,000 low and middle-income Michigan families will start receiving tax rebate checks averaging $550 under an expanded state tax credit program. The extra cash comes from $1 billion in tax cuts signed into law last year by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It represents welcome relief for households facing rising costs of living statewide. The payments originate from enhancements to Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which benefits lower wage earners. The state matched the credit to 30% of the federal EITC amount from just 6%. The change created billions in tax savings that officials now return directly

February 06, 2024
Will you get a $550 check? Michigan tax rebate payments start arriving soon
Education|Economy|WrittenByLAPost

These Associate majors hit $100K

New research reveals associate degree holders in specific lucrative fields like physical science technologies or radiation therapy out-earn the average bachelor’s graduate just a few years after finishing cheaper, shorter two-year programs. Analysis by former Department of Education expert Michael Itzkowitz’s HEA Group spotlights 17 specific majors where mid-career pay surpasses typical four-year degree incomes, defying stereotypes about vocational credentials’ diminished value. Findings emphasize that college major factors as heavily as institutional prestige for many careers, informing cost-benefit calculations amid spiraling university tuition rates. “With associate degrees, oftentimes the major matters more than the institution itself,” Itzkowitz explained of the

January 30, 2024
These Associate majors hit $100K
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

First In-N-Out to close permanently

For the first time in its 75-year history, the iconic West Coast burger chain In-N-Out announced it is permanently closing one of its restaurants – the lone Oakland, California location – on March 24 due to rampant crime plaguing the area. In a statement, In-N-Out Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick cited the alarming frequency of “car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies” victimizing customers and employees as leaving them “no alternative” but to shutter entirely. He confirmed that despite being a busy and profitable venue, the company refuses to “ask [customers or staff] to visit or work in an

January 23, 2024
First In-N-Out to close permanently
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

How an Affordable Beachside Neighborhood Transformed into Billionaire's Row

For decades, Paradise Cove embodied the spirit of a modest middle-class mobile home community. With scenic views attracting families more interested in beach living than gated prestige, neighbors left their doors unlocked, and kids wandered freely to play. There was a real sense of community, where people looked out for each other and appreciated the simple pleasures of beachside living. However, over time, as word spread of this hidden gem, outsiders took interest, and the once under-the-radar park transformed from an affordable offbeat neighborhood to a celebrity battleground saturated with seven-figure wheeled mansions and non-stop drama among rich and famous

January 10, 2024
How an Affordable Beachside Neighborhood Transformed into Billionaire's Row
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

New Visa program offers relief, but leaves families behind

A new pilot program by the State Department enabled H-1B visa holders to extend their work authorizations within the United States, which will conspicuously omit their dependents. This primarily affects the spouses and children of these skilled foreign workers, a significant aspect that has yet to be disclosed. Despite businesses and advocates viewing the pilot as a crucial initial move towards modernizing an antiquated visa renewal system, there is disappointment regarding the necessity for family members to undergo overseas travel, often incurring substantial expenses and causing disruption. The H-1B program has evolved into a crucial avenue for American businesses to

December 20, 2023
New Visa program offers relief, but leaves families behind
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Supreme Court Rejects Outdoor Exercise for Solitary Confinement Prisoners

The Supreme Court made a controversial decision on Monday by choosing not to consider the case of an Illinois inmate who has been kept in solitary confinement and without outdoor exercise for nearly three years. The court’s brief order rejecting the case gave no rationale, as is customary. But three dissenting liberal justices penned a forceful rebuttal, decrying the appalling mistreatment suffered by inmate Michael Johnson. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, described the harrowing conditions imposed on Johnson at Pontiac Correctional Center. “Throughout that period, Johnson occupied a cell without windows, constantly illuminated,

November 16, 2023
Supreme Court Rejects Outdoor Exercise for Solitary Confinement Prisoners
Business|Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Inside the Coordinated Effort to Roll Back State Child Labor Laws

When Iowa legislators voted in April to allow 14-year-olds to work overnight shifts, they advanced an agenda stealthily coordinated by a major conservative advocacy group. The Foundation for Government Accountability has orchestrated a systematic state-level push to weaken child labor regulations, achieving remarkable success in rolling back protections. This lobbying effort comes as the Biden administration scrambles to enforce federal child labor laws amid surging violations. The FGA notched its biggest win in March, playing a key role designing a new Arkansas law eliminating work permits and age verification for workers under 16. The legislation’s sponsor openly acknowledged it “came

November 13, 2023
Inside the Coordinated Effort to Roll Back State Child Labor Laws
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Flight Takes Off With Two Missing Windows at London Airport

A commercial plane departed London’s Stansted Airport and climbed past 10,000 feet before anyone realized two window assemblies were missing, according to a special bulletin from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The October 4 incident involved an Airbus A321 charter flight heading to Orlando, Florida carrying 21 people. Shortly after takeoff, passengers noticed the cabin seemed colder and noisier than normal, said the AAIB report. The plane continued climbing to 10,000 feet altitude before the seatbelt sign was switched off. At that point, the loadmaster at the rear noticed a loud noise that could “damage your hearing.” He

November 08, 2023
Flight Takes Off With Two Missing Windows at London Airport
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Luxury Brands Develop Digital IDs to Combat Booming Counterfeit Market

High-end fashion houses are turning to new technologies like digital IDs, AI detection, and blockchain tracking to help combat the explosion of counterfeit goods sold online and normalized by social media. But human expertise remains essential as “superfake” knockoffs become harder to distinguish from originals. Powerful AI-driven apps like Entrupy and Ordre’s Authentique system can purportedly spot fake bags and shoes by analyzing a few images. Ordre’s technology creates a unique digital “fingerprint” for each item based on minute manufacturing details. The fingerprint is then registered via blockchain, making it secure yet traceable across an item’s lifecycle. The Aura Blockchain

November 07, 2023
Luxury Brands Develop Digital IDs to Combat Booming Counterfeit Market
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

The End of 5%? Landmark Case Could Reshape Real Estate Commissions

A federal jury in Missouri delivered a $1.8 billion verdict against the National Association of Realtors and three major real estate brokerages on Tuesday, finding them guilty of illegally inflating commissions by conspiring to require home sellers to pay the buyer’s agent. This landmark antitrust case could reshape how homes are bought and sold in America by potentially changing the traditional compensation structure, where seller’s agents split a 5-6% commission with the buyer’s agent. For decades, it has been standard practice for home sellers to pay their listing agent a commission, typically around 3% of the sale price, which is

November 06, 2023
The End of 5%? Landmark Case Could Reshape Real Estate Commissions
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Airbnb Sues New York City Over New Law That Restricts Short-Term Rental Listings

New York City implemented one of the most stringent rules on temporary rentals in the nation this week, effectively prohibiting Airbnb and similar platforms from functioning as they previously did. Local Law 18, which became effective on Tuesday, mandates that all hosts of short-term rentals must register with the city. Only those residing in the unit they rent, and present during a guest’s stay, can qualify. Listings are also limited to having a maximum of two guests. The new rules spell the end of the sleek downtown apartments, two- and three-bedroom homes near museums, and weekend rentals that fueled Airbnb’s

November 02, 2023
Airbnb Sues New York City Over New Law That Restricts Short-Term Rental Listings
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Realtor Association Employees Call for CEO Goldberg's Resignation

The National Association of Realtors continues to confront demands for sweeping changes following sexual harassment and discrimination allegations reported in The New York Times. Internal critics say meaningful reform is still lacking. This week, NAR informed members it was bringing in a third-party HR reporting system and law firm to investigate complaints. Te moves align with proposals from the NAR Accountability Project, a group seeking reforms. “It has been an amazing week,” said group founder Jason Haber. He noted NAR adopted two of their four recommendations, including outside investigations and reporting channels. But NAR still faces skepticism that leadership changes

November 02, 2023
Realtor Association Employees Call for CEO Goldberg's Resignation
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Hackers Ready to Unlock $235 Million Bitcoin Fortune, If Owner Cooperates

A team of hackers says they have developed a method to decrypt a long lost Bitcoin wallet containing 7,002 bitcoins worth about $235 million. But the wallet’s owner remains reluctant to let them try, despite potentially losing access forever. The Bitcoin are stored on an encrypted USB drive known as an IronKey built by the company Kingston. Its owner, San Francisco crypto entrepreneur Stefan Thomas, lost the password years ago after too many failed password attempts. Now hackers at a startup called Unciphered believe they can crack Thomas’ decade-old IronKey model. After reverse engineering the hardware, they found flaws that

November 02, 2023
Hackers Ready to Unlock $235 Million Bitcoin Fortune, If Owner Cooperates
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Hairdressers Are Burning Out From Listening to Clients' Problems All Day

A new study in the hairdressing business has found that many hairdressers are experiencing a significant psychological burden from listening to clients discuss their personal concerns during appointments. The study by L’Oreal Professionnel found that 65% of the 1,750 hair professionals surveyed have experienced anxiety, burnout or depression during their careers, in large part due to spending hours each day serving as impromptu therapists for clients. Typically, hairstylists dedicate around 2,000 hours year to listening to customers discuss a wide range of topics, including difficult relationship endings and health challenges. This amounts to approximately 9 therapy sessions per workday. Yet

October 30, 2023
Hairdressers Are Burning Out From Listening to Clients' Problems All Day
Economy|Local|WrittenByLAPost

Disney Parks Spread Cheer with $50 Ticket Deal for Kids

The Walt Disney Company announced new discounts on children’s tickets at its U.S. theme parks in an effort to boost attendance, according to a company blog post. The temporary price reductions come as Disney parks grapple with signs of slowing foot traffic. Beginning October 24, Disneyland Resort in California will offer $50 per day tickets for children ages 3-9 valid for use between January 8 and March 10, 2023. Meanwhile, Florida’s Walt Disney World will roll out a vacation package deal on November 14 including reduced kids’ tickets and dining plans. That offer can be used for travel from March

October 24, 2023
Disney Parks Spread Cheer with $50 Ticket Deal for Kids
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Texas Congressman's Terrifying Gunpoint Carjacking

Henry Cuellar, a renowned figure in Texan politics, experienced a harrowing carjacking incident outside of his home in the Washington, D.C area. The incident took place on Monday night, when three gunmen approached the Texan representative as he parked his car near. Cuellar’s top aide, Jacob Hochberg, claims that the car was stolen and fortunately, the 68-year-old legislator emerged from the encounter unscathed. Cuellar’s staff instantly notified local law police after the event and investigators from the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC collaborated on the case, allowing the car to be located. Thank goodness he

October 03, 2023
Texas Congressman's Terrifying Gunpoint Carjacking
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Task Force Confronts Rising Trend of Flash Mob Thefts in Los Angeles Retail Sector. See the Video.

There has been a disturbing uptick in organized retail crime, including flash mob thefts, in Los Angeles County during the past several weeks. The perpetrators of these types of crimes are commonly a big group of people who enter a business at once, swiftly overpower the personnel, and steal as much product as they can before making a hurried getaway, frequently using numerous vehicles. The retail business in Los Angeles has been shaken and law enforcement officials have been forced to face a difficult new issue. There has been a disturbing uptick in organized retail crime, including flash mob thefts,

September 28, 2023
Task Force Confronts Rising Trend of Flash Mob Thefts in Los Angeles Retail Sector. See the Video.
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Sriracha Shortage: The Impact of Climate Change on Your Favorite Hot Sauce

It’s undeniable that climate change is influencing several parts of our lives; one obvious effect is the modification of our food distribution networks. Sriracha, a spicy sauce made in Thailand with a distinctive combination of chile, garlic, vinegar, and sugar, is now in short supply and serves as an excellent example. This dearth of the so-called “red gold” has left fans wanting more, highlighting the severe effects of climate change on food distribution networks. The terrible drought in Mexico, the primary source of the chili peppers used to make the sauce, is mostly to blame. The supply of chilies, a

September 26, 2023
Sriracha Shortage: The Impact of Climate Change on Your Favorite Hot Sauce
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Crisis or Catalyst? Florida’s Economy Teeters as Disney Scraps Billion-Dollar Move

Disney’s recent decision to cancel its proposed $1 billion move has undeniably shaken Florida’s economy. The move, which was set to relocate 2,000 Cast Member jobs, including most of Walt Disney Imagineering, from California to Florida, was expected to significantly boost Florida’s economy. However, Disney’s change of plans has left the state grappling with the repercussions. The cancellation of Disney’s planned shift was projected to result in an expenditure close to $1 billion within the state. This missed opportunity for Florida’s economy to receive such a substantial financial boost is indeed a major blow. Beyond its monetary implications, this decision

September 25, 2023
Crisis or Catalyst? Florida’s Economy Teeters as Disney Scraps Billion-Dollar Move
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Behind the Billion-Dollar Feud: Disney vs. Governor DeSantis

The current spat between Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis and media conglomerate Disney has resulted in a catastrophic financial blow for the state, amounting to a billion dollars and resulting in the loss of prospective employment possibilities. This article investigates the origins and effects of the current conflict. As tensions rose with Governor Ron DeSantis, Disney took a calculated decision to scrap plans for a huge office facility in Orlando that would have created over 2,000 high-paying jobs. The state of Florida’s projected revenue dropped by one billion dollars as a result of this action. The conflict between Disney and DeSantis

September 20, 2023
Behind the Billion-Dollar Feud: Disney vs. Governor DeSantis

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