April 22 - April 28, 2012
Friday, Apr. 27
Sorry for sounding a bit cynical, but examining the economic ups and downs of urban L.A. should not be based on how many years it's been since the riots. I mean, is all this reflection just a pro-forma rehash we'll be carrying out every five or 10 years? Where is everybody the rest of the time?
Who knows what investigators will come up with as they sift through Walmart's alleged bribery activity in Mexico. But as a rule companies have been able to slide by.
But here's another Arkansas-based company that had been accused of similar payoffs and coverups
The first-quarter drop was nearly 21 percent, bringing down the inventory supply to 4.7 months. One likely explanation is that not enough homeowners are willing to put their properties on the market.
No offense, but this guy must really love seeing his name in print. California's lieutenant governor has penned a piece for THR on the new Current TV show (also being careful to make mention of his upcoming book).
Netflix users are discovering old episodes of shows like "Mad Men," and that has prompted them to watch new episodes on cable.
Economy slows in first quarter, L.A. gas prices are down 17 cents a gallon from a month ago, consumers will receive rebates as part of health care law, and huge pre-bankruptcy payday for Lehman executives.
Thursday, Apr. 26
A total of 114 players in the league, according to data cruncher Patrick Adler, followed by Miami (73), New York (55), Houston (44), and Chicago (39). We lead in quarterbacks too. When it comes to NFL player production per 100,000 people, it's quite a different story.
We take you to the North African nation of Wadiya, where General Haffaz Aladeen (aka Sacha Baron Cohen) changed over 300 Wadiyan words to "Aladeen," including positive and negative. Let's just say that created a little confusion.
Folks like Atlantic writer Conor Friedersdorf, who feels funny about receiving an interest rate subsidy to cover his loan payments. I'd feel funny too.
The case involves Matthew Korenberg, a San Francisco-based investment banker, and whether he illegally tipped off a now-defunct hedge fund called the Galleon Group.
Jobless claims still worrisome, state deficit could be getting bigger, Gov. Brown's plan to raise taxes receives lukewarm support, and Wilshire Grand holds liquidation sale.
Wednesday, Apr. 25
They allegedly received up to $2,400 in exchange for allowing large drug shipments to pass through checkpoints. One drug courier is in custody and another is expected to surrender tomorrow.
MTA wants the stop at Constellation Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars. But a group of Beverly Hills elected officials and activists say that the subway would have to run under Bev Hills High, which they argue is a bad idea for all sorts of seismic reasons.
Actually, the elegant NY property has another claim to fame: It was the home of Peter Bacanovic, the Merrill Lynch broker who spent five months in prison as part of the Martha Stewart insider trading scandal.
"Millions of miles" of testing are still ahead, but Google is talking to car companies about potential partnerships that could bring self-driving vehicles to market within the next decade.
The central bank's short statement raised concerns about the financial outlook overseas and pulled back slightly in assessing the U.S. job market. But the basic message was unchanged.
Good luck getting your civil suit on the Superior Court docket. Plans to shut down 56 courtrooms and lay off 350 workers are certain to delay cases for months, possibly years.
Also the assessor's downtown L.A. headquarters and the Phoenix home of consultant Ramin Salari. It was Salari who received large tax reductions for his clients - and who, along with Noguez, are at the center of an influence-peddling investigation.
Britain could be slipping into recession, Walmart steps up damage control, feds investigating Hollywood dealmaking in China, and smog still bad in L.A. - but it's getting better.
Tuesday, Apr. 24
This one centers on efforts by the L.A. County Museum of Art to have the Fairfax station located at the corner of Wilshire and Orange Grove, just a few steps from the museum.
First the stock continued its free fall. Then the company announced its quarterly earnings results, which were stupendous. Finally, in after-hours trading, the stock was once again soaring.
Bribes? What bribes? The finance minister said there wasn't enough information to launch an investigation, the attorney general said her office didn't have jurisdiction, and the economy ministry said it's a state and local matter.
Since January, 2000, the price of a typical L.A. home has appreciated by 59.5 percent, topped only by Washington, D.C. (75.7 percent) and NY (59.6 percent). Of course, there is a catch to those numbers.
A lot more older people, a lot more younger people, and not as many folks in between. That's among the findings of a new USC study on California demographics, and it points up some important social and economic adjustments facing the state.
Initial filings fell to their lowest level in almost five years, suggesting that fears of another wave of foreclosures appear to have been wrong. Oh, and those "toxic mortgages" that were supposed to bring down the economy are holding up pretty well.
These are the 20 extra weeks that had been provided under a federal program and which raised the maximum amount of unemployment benefits to 99 weeks. But the state no longer qualifies for the program.
Report says feds investigating Walmart, L.A. home prices keep dropping, lawsuit could delay downtown stadium, and Mexican immigration at standstill.
Monday, Apr. 23
One of the perks of being really rich: You get money you don't need for work you never did.
The late-night shows will have a field day on this one. An OC company has come up with a contraption that will sell pot at all hours - except you need a registration card and a PIN number. Payment can be made with cash or credit card.
City National CEO Russell Goldsmith says it tells him a lot about the applicant. "If you have questions but are too intimidated to ask, then you're in the wrong company. If you have no curiosity, then you are in the wrong company."
The SEC is accusing Fred Buenrostro, who was chief executive of California's giant pension fund from 2002 to 2008, along with former board member Alfred Villalobos with falsifying letters that defrauded a private equity firm into paying $20 million in fees.
This is a real nightmare for the retail giant. Its stock is down nearly 5 percent today, federal authorities will no doubt launch an extensive investigation, and many senior executives, including perhaps the CEO, will be out.
The new date for the retirement and disability trust funds is 2033, three years earlier than previously projected. It's another reminder that the system is under stress.
Walmart shares slide, construction is coming back in Socal, prime-time ratings are down, and California job gains revised upward.
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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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