Employees speak out against proposed Kroger/Albertsons merger – Daily News

Southern California grocery workers who fiercely oppose a planned $24.6 billion Kroger/Albertsons merger vented their concerns Friday, Jan. 26 in a virtual press conference. They say a union of the two mega supermarket chains would undermine competition, hike prices and result in job losses and store closures. But Kroger says opponents of the plan are … Read more

Inland Empire is California’s top job creator – Daily News

”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations, while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data. Buzz: The Inland Empire was California’s top job creator during the past four years. Source: My trusty spreadsheet looked a state employment stats for 29 regional job markets – … Read more

Breeze Airways flight attendants file for union election – Daily News

Just two weeks after announcing their campaign to unionize with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, Breeze Airways flight attendants have filed for an election with the National Mediation Board. Flight attendants with the low-cost airline have long complained of constantly-changing work rules, low wages for time on the job, substandard hotel accommodations, insufficient work … Read more

8.19 million at work in Southern California – Daily News

Southern California’s job market finished 2023 with record-high employment. My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found 8.19 million at work in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties in December – up 13,000 in a month – just off the local hiring average of 14,640 for December in 2015-19. November 2023 saw … Read more

California’s down payment assistance lottery reopens for first-time homebuyers – Daily News

By Felicia Mello | CalMatters California will dole out $250 million more in down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers this spring, while making changes to its 1-year-old program aimed at reaching a more diverse group of borrowers across the state. Last year frenzied homebuyers hoovered up nearly all $300 million budgeted for the California Dream … Read more

Clippers are enjoying a moment – can they capitalize?

Clippers forward Paul George dunks as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Clippers forward Paul George celebrates after dunking during the second half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. … Read more

Lakers begin homestand with victory over Thunder – Daily News

Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams defends during the first half on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, top, shoots as Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt defends during the first half on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark … Read more

California’s 7-year housing push has yet to boost building, experts say – Daily News

Despite passage of at least 140 housing bills, California has made little progress in solving its 2.5-million-home shortfall, a panel of experts told Realtors last week. California’s municipalities issue fewer than 120,000 new home permits each year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. But economists estimate the state needs to build 180,000 to … Read more

Where are California’s rent bargains? They’re not cheap – Daily News

“How expensive?” tracks measurements of California’s totally unaffordable housing market. The pain: Even California’s “bargain” rents look expensive on a national scale. The source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed 2023 average rent statistics from ApartmentList for 518 larger markets across the US – including 75 in California. ApartmentList’s figures combine pricing from landlord listings and Census … Read more

Young Rams aren’t just ‘happy to be here’ in the playoffs – Daily News

THOUSAND OAKS — The common narrative when a young team makes the postseason is that the players are just happy to be there. They aren’t supposed to be here, they’re in the playoffs ahead of schedule, so they’ve already overachieved. So here the Rams are, in the postseason, ahead of schedule after winning 10 games … Read more