March 13 - March 19, 2011
Friday, Mar. 18
The suggested cuts and transfers are only for the current budget year. Next year the city will start off with a deficit of $350 million.
The Texas congressman tells it like it is on NPR funding and getting out of Afghanistan.
The Reporter is said to be losing a bunch of money - not a huge surprise given the tens of millions of dollars that investors have been spending.
The cost and complications of big public works projects make such a line way more trouble than it's worth.
The biggest bargains are the toppings - stuff like walnuts, almonds, gorgonzola crumbles and croutons.
CA legislators finish budget slashing for now, CEO bonuses are taking off, THR is reportedly up for sale (again), and more Borders stores to close.
Thursday, Mar. 17
An average gallon of regular in the L.A. area is $3.971, up about three pennies from last week.
Contractors will be required to use union labor on $1.5 billion in port construction projects over the next five years.
Wall Street has been headline-driven this week, and today's headlines have been generally reassuring.
The airline was all set to begin flights in two weeks, but traffic to Tokyo has taken a dip.
It's the first time that Ford's luxury brand made it to the top spot of the Westlake Village research firm's widely followed list.
That's according to the Japanese government, and if true, it could help inject water into the facility's cripple reactors.
Positive news about nuclear plant, L.A. inflation shoots up, Californians support public pension rollback, and NYT announces pay wall plan.
Wednesday, Mar. 16
The mayor of Sacramento has said that a move to Socal is likely.
"American Idol" is in the top spot of the Forbes survey, bringing in $7.1 million every half hour.
Housing and unemployment remain trouble spots, but the area's overall economic activity is improving.
The Dow wound up losing 242 points - and much of the session was influenced by information that may or may not be reflecting the full picture.
It would have come on top of two other hefty rate hikes in October and January.
Since the information from Japan is so muddled or contradictory, the financial markets are jumping on most anything bad.
Spike in wholesale prices, Field Poll shows support for Brown's plan, GOP lawmakers want to trash state environmental laws, and narcs raid marijuana businesses.
Tuesday, Mar. 15
Still no sign that Gov. Jerry Brown has made any headway in convincing a few Republican lawmakers to support his plan.
Since L.A. area ports handle about 40 percent of the nation's container activity, the sluggish numbers would suggest a slowdown in export activity.
Perhaps it's not that surprising to see confusing and often contradictory comments from Japanese officials.
This week's chat with Steve Julian looks at the effects of the Japanese earthquake on U.S. business and the economy.
Nothing much happened in February, as buyers and sellers keep biding their time.
The company we all love to hate has come up with a free download that allows customers to watch live TV on their iPad.
Quick video showing earthquakes in Japan between March 9 and March 14.
Today's radiation scare is likely the last draw for countless numbers of expats.
Stocks getting hammered, supply shortages due to quake, Calpers corruption is alleged, and bleak picture for Brown.
Monday, Mar. 14
But, er, didn't Japan just experience an 8.9 quake?
How much further will prices increase if refineries in California decide it's more lucrative to increase their shipments to Japan.
Emergency efforts to pump seawater into one of the reactors has failed, increasing the risk of an uncontrolled release of radioactive material.
The L.A. billionaire unloaded his full-floor Fifth Avenue apartment for $8 million after originally asking $15 million more than two years ago.
Key point: That state and local pension funds are underestimating their liabilities, and that some funds could run out money within the next few years.
That's what Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway said this morning on radio station KMJ.
Stocks remain shaky, no break in CA budget talks, Borders plans to exit bankruptcy by fall, and KCET ratings are plummeting.
In the first hour of trading the Dow is down about 50 points, which is not too bad considering that the Tokyo market plunged 6 percent today.
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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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