Many questions to sort out after Friday's unexpected announcement that "Iris" will shut down "Iris" on Jan. 19.

Republicans don't want taxes raised on the upper class and Democrats don't want entitlements lowered on the middle class. In other words, both sides want what they want.

About those studies that link foods to cancer? Many of the connections are tenuous at best. Guess we can all eat parsley again.

As port activity shuts down, labor talks resume, Socal Edison electricity rates to go up, consumer spending dips in October, and L.A. Auto Show opens to the public.

But you still hear questions - and criticism - about where and how the money is used.

The potential impact of a full-scale strike would be serious to the local economy (a 10-day lockout in 2002 resulted in billions of dollars of losses), but it seems unlikely things will reach that far.

Not that long ago, $300 a night used to be considered high end. Then it was $500. Now? Well, you can easily shell out $700 for a not-so-wonderful room.

That's if they can't resolve Washington's budget stalemate. About 400,000 Californians might be affected.

November was weakish month for retailers, third-quarter growth revised upward, walkout spreads at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and Jeff Zucker officially gets CNN job.

For some reason, the market is encouraged about the prospects of a deal. Don't believe it - Hollywood's classic "Nobody knows anything" line really seems apt here (except Hollywood has nicer-looking players).

Namely the fact that California has come off several years of massive cost cutting - and these are not temporary cuts. That money is basically gone.

As part of the agreement, Brookfield Homes will pay more than $250 million for the remaining 110 acres of undeveloped land.

California gas spikes revisited by senators, UCLA hospital gets F grade on preventing medical errors, Anthem plans rate hike for individual policyholders, and picket line at the Port of L.A.

This highly creative two-minute ad for The Guardian is worth a look. Adweek named it the best commercial of the year.

Another jump in L.A. home prices, consumer confidence reaches a 4-year high, U.S. regulators bar Intrade bettors, and local gas prices are 90 cents a gallon cheaper than in early October.