January 9 - January 15, 2011
Friday, Jan. 14
Laying off 500 people can't be a pleasant experience, but CEO Mike Jones is getting trashed by some of the now former employees.
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones had asked for a 60-day delay on the latest increase, which takes effect March 1 and averages 15 percent.
Nothing captures the insanity of Hollywood quite like the annual Golden Globes show, and this lawsuit alleges a lot of what many folks had suspected.
A Sacramento radio station reported that Ducks owner Henry Samueli met recently with the Maloof brothers about relocating the NBA Kings.
Consumer sentiment takes unexpected dip, Baca helps pal away from his jurisdiction, Brown getting hit on budget, and corruption claims involving Golden Globes.
Thursday, Jan. 13
Many of them get paid absurd amounts and yet celebrity endorsers often do little to enhance a product.
They expect growth of better than 3.2 percent in each quarter this year, according to a WSJ survey.
The three big van lines - United, Atlas and Allied - say that California had more inbound moves in 2010 than departures.
December finished off 2010 with an 8.8 percent increase in container traffic from a year earlier.
Rise in CA foreclosures, council signs off on garage leasing plan, state tax credits not being used, and Jack Kyser tribute.
Wednesday, Jan. 12
Pretty lively council session today on whether to proceed with the scheme to raise $53 million by privatizing the garages.
For all the bluster about too much cutting and too many taxes, Brown's budget is getting generally favorable reviews among the clear-thinkers.
Despite growth in nine of the last 10 months, the state's unemployment rate, now at 12.4 percent, won't fall below 10 percent until the end of 2012.
Federal judge says, "This will be a remarkable trial." But why does Mattel keep it going?
Big opposition to debt-ceiling hike, Brown orders 48,000 cell phones turned in, Demand Media prices IPO, and Colony Capital bets on Nazarian.
Tuesday, Jan. 11
They'll be reviewing the decision by officials at the Port of L.A. to nix a proposal to reopen the old Southwest Marine shipyard.
A few thousand flights have already been canceled due to the snow, and the storm hasn't even hit the Northeast yet.
Telemarketers had a 34.8 percent jobless rate in 2010, while the rate for locomotive engineers was a mere 0.4 percent.
Fourth-quarter feature production was up 28.1 percent from a year earlier and TV was up 49.9 percent.
Owners Kirk Pasich and Pamela Woods say they can no longer compete with Amazon - and a sour economy hasn't helped.
Biz chat looks at whether higher gas prices will put the brakes on the recovery, and the struggles L.A. is having with the electric car business
With little fanfare, Canyon Partners has become the 9th-most profitable hedge fund in the world.
They do not create jobs that wouldn't otherwise be created. Oh, and they cost quite a bit.
Verizon connects with iPhone, borrowing woes continue, council committee deadlocked on budget, and more reaction to Brown's budget.
Monday, Jan. 10
If the city can't proceed with a plan to lease city-owned parking garages, it means scrounging around for an extra $53.2 million in a budget that's already tight.
For the fifth week in a row, L.A. gas prices have risen, though this week's increase was only a couple of pennies or so.
Capitol Alert has a nice roundup.
Brown's budget plan pretty much falls apart without voter approval of tax extensions. But first he has to get the measure on the ballot.
Forget about an early deal - Gov. Brown told reporters this morning that a budget would be predicated on voters approving a 5-year tax extension.
Intrade has her chances at about 11 percent, down from 20 percent a couple of days ago.
That, plus $12 billion in tax extensions due to expire this year, should plug up most of the state's $25.4 billion deficit.
Brown announces budget, Zine pooh-poohs conflicts, Hefner to take Playboy private, and MySpace layoffs are set.
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The funeral for Mark Lacter will be held Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 noon at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Reception to follow.
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