Buying the Porterfield Hotel in downtown Bakersfield was already a challenging undertaking for Fresno-based Bitwise Industries. But an arguably harder task — finding new homes for the dozen or so long-term tenants who call the hotel home — is about to begin now that the property has officially changed...
Home Prices Will Continue to Rise, Forecast Shows. But by How Much?
Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year over year by 20.2% in May 2022 compared with May 2021, according to an analysis by the industry website CoreLogic. The trend of rising prices appears poised to continue, though the scale of increases appears to be abating, the site's data...
Loitering for Prostitution No Longer an Offense Under California Law
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed controversial legislation Friday that bans police officers from arresting people for loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution. Sen. Scott Wiener authored the change with support from groups like ACLU California Action. Proponents argue that loitering laws are frequently used to discriminate against women,...
West Coast Port Labor Contract Expires, Raising Stakes for Economy, Biden
The union and employers negotiating a new labor contract for more than 22,000 U.S. West Coast port workers said high-stakes talks that are being closely watched by industry and the White House would continue after the agreement expired late on Friday. The agreement covers 29 Pacific Coast ports stretching...
Taliban Splits Emerge Over Religion, Power and Girls’ Schools
After remaining largely united during its insurgency against the United States, Taliban leaders are now at odds over ideology. At issue: how to interpret Islamic law and how strictly to enforce it, including in schools. Rival factions are also feuding over power and the limited spoils of their victory....
Economists Sour on US Outlook After Spending Stumbles
An influx of data showing softer consumer spending, sagging sentiment and subdued manufacturing suggest a US economy with a more fragile foundation, prompting several forecasters to lower their estimates for growth. The weakness in consumer spending, which is by far the biggest contributor to US gross domestic product, compounded...
‘Do Not Flush’ Law Takes Effect in California. Here’s What Else is New
Laws that impact everything from toilet use in California to gun sales and when schools can start in went into effect on July 1. Among the new regulations is a requirement that requires specific labeling of some bathroom products. Read more from KCRA
Zakaria: Biden Needs to Score in the Culture Wars
Fareed Zakaria says he continues to be puzzled by President Joe Biden’s poor approval ratings. He is an affable man, clearly decent, and many of his policies and proposed policies are popular, Zakaria says. So what explains his astonishingly low approval ratings, which are adding to the sense of doom felt by Democrats...
Ian Bremmer: How Depoliticizing the US Health Response Will Save Lives
We're not done with the pandemic — yet. Although COVID will likely become endemic sometime this year in some parts of the world, the virus will still rage on everywhere else. On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer catches up on the pandemic's state of play with former CDC chief Tom Frieden,...
Chevron to Sell California Offices, Move Some Staff to Texas
Chevron Corp. plans to sell its campus in the San Francisco Bay area and give employees the option of moving to Houston in the latest business migration to Texas. The second-largest US oil explorer will lease new office space and maintain its corporate headquarters in the Golden State, but the...