Author: admin
President President Trump has threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. It would be a terrible decision. It is critical to the trust Americans have in the management of our economy, and the stability of international finance as well, that United States monetary policy be crafted by independent experts, without political pressure. If he wanted to do it, nevertheless, could Trump get away with firing Powell—and the other Federal Reserve officials who decide on monetary policy? In a case challenging Trump’s firing of two members of other independent agencies, Trump v. Wilcox, the Supreme Court allowed their dismissals to…
Relatively speaking, California is not a hot spot for housing investors. That’s a conclusion from my trusty spreadsheet’s review of data on investor activity across the nation from BatchData, a small data tracker that digs deeper into property records than many traditional real estate analysts. BatchData reviewed California ownership records to identify the state’s owner-occupied residences compared to houses controlled by investors. This study included properties for short-term or long-term rentals, second homes, and vacation retreats but did not follow condos or build-to-rent single-family-home projects. By this math, 19% of California houses were owned by investors, ranking No. 36 among…
A federal charge has been dropped against a Studio City man accused of making a video without permits in which fireworks were shot from an in-flight helicopter at a Lamborghini in a dry lakebed, according to court papers obtained Monday. Suk Min Choi, 25, known as Alex Choi, pleaded not guilty one year ago to causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft. The charge was permanently dismissed earlier this month by U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. after the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office confirmed that Choi had complied with all conditions of his…
In California, thanks to a number of state-level interventions in recent years, building an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is easier than ever. Still, construction projects, even of a tiny home, are a major undertaking for the average homeowner. Before lining up contractors and breaking ground, a property owner might spend thousands of dollars and wait weeks just to get architectural plans drafted and approved by a local permitting agency. Now, though, California is trying to reduce those up-front barriers as part of a broader push to address its housing crisis. In an effort to make it easier and cheaper…
The Lakers will use their pair of vacant two-way roster spots to bring back a familiar face and sign a collegiate defensive standout. Seven-foot big man Christian Koloko and 6-foot-5 guard/forward Chris Manon will sign two-way NBA contracts with the Lakers, ESPN first reported on Monday. Koloko originally joined the Lakers on a two-way deal last September, averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 37 games (9.2 minutes per game). He was a restricted free agent after the Lakers tendered him a two-way qualifying offer last month. Koloko also played 12 games for the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G…
In a July 14 meeting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Trump announced he was sending more missiles to the Ukrainian military. And he said, if Russia doesn’t end the war within 50 days, he would impose “secondary sanctions” of 100% on countries that trade with Russia. Neither action will have any effect on the Russian military juggernaut that already has won the war. But the actions take him even further from his promise during his campaign, still absurdly reiterated by him, that he’s a peace president. He also keeps saying it’s “Joe Biden’s War,” even…
By LEAH WILLINGHAM and MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s campaign of arresting and deporting college faculty and students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations violates their First Amendment rights, lawyers for an association representing university professors argued in federal court. The lawsuit, filed by several university associations, is one of the first against President Donald Trump and members of his administration to go to trial. U.S. District Judge William Young heard closing arguments Monday in Boston. He did not say or indicate when or how he would rule. But he had some sharp words when talking about Trump.…
A soundbite from In-N-Out Burger’s owner and president Lynsi Snyder caught the world’s attention on Friday, July 18. In an episode of the podcast “Relatable,” Snyder told host Allie Beth Stuckey her family will be moving to Tennessee, where In-N-Out is building an office in Franklin, a suburb of Nashville, and several restaurants in the “Agriculture and Commerce” state. “There’s a lot of really great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” Snyder said. The episode, which is on YouTube. is called, “After 77 Years, In-N-Out Is Moving to Tennessee.…
Investigators served a search warrant on Monday morning, July 21, on the 13900 block of Marquesas Way in Marina Del Rey in connection to an explosion that killed three deputies at a Sheriff’s Department facility on Friday, July 18, authorities said. That stretch of Marquesas Way holds apartment complexes and some businesses. Serving the search warrant were sheriff’s homicide investigators, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Los Angeles Police Department. On Thursday, July 17, items that appeared to be grenades were found on the 800 block of Bay Street in Santa Monica by the sheriff’s Arson…
By BILL BARROW, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has released records of the FBI’s surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureate’s family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination. The release involves an estimated 200,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration. King’s family, including his two living children, Martin III and Bernice, were given advance notice of the release and had their…