Amazon faced skepticism from some privacy advocates and members of Congress last year when it introduced its first kid-oriented voice assistant, along with brightly colored models of its Echo Dot speaker designed for children. Now those advocates say the kids' version of Amazon's Alexa won't forget what children tell it, even...
San Francisco to Join List of Those Banning Cashless Stores
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco is about to require brick-and-mortar retailers to take cash as payment, joining Philadelphia and New Jersey in banning a growing paperless practice that critics say discriminates against low-income people who may not have access to credit cards. The Board of Supervisors will take up the issue at...
If California Stopped Giving Away Billions, It Wouldn’t Need New Taxes
You'd think that California, which boasts the world's fifth-largest economy, would have ample tax revenue for schools, roads, and a public safety net. But, in some people's eyes, the taxes and fees generated by our $2.75 trillion economy aren't sufficient to cover the Golden State's needs. Thus, on the 2020...
Janz Takes Swings at Brand in 2020 Mayoral Opening Round
The gloves are off in the 2020 Fresno mayoral race, and it’s only the opening bell. Surrounded by 60 or so supporters, Andrew Janz officially announced his entry into the race for the city’s top leadership job. He called himself a fresh breath of air, hoping to defeat the current occupant...
Amazon to Bring 1-Day Delivery to Prime Members
NEW YORK — Two-day delivery is going out of style. Amazon, which hooked shoppers on getting just about anything shipped in two days, said this week that it will soon promise one-day delivery for its U.S. Prime members on most items. The company hopes that cutting delivery times in half...
Newsom Signs Internet Sales Tax into Law
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law requiring companies like Amazon and eBay to collect sales taxes on behalf of some out-of-state sellers. The law comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year states can collect sales taxes from companies even if the company is based outside...
Google's Wing Aviation Gets FAA OK for Drone Deliveries
WASHINGTON — Google affiliate Wing Aviation has received federal approval allowing it to make commercial deliveries by drone. It's the first time a company has gotten a federal air carrier certification for drone deliveries. The approval from the Federal Aviation Administration means that Wing can operate commercial drone flights in...
As Cashless Stores Grow, So Does the Backlash
NEW YORK — Hembert Figueroa just wanted a taco. So he was surprised to learn the dollar bills in his pocket were no good at Dos Toros Taqueria in Manhattan, one of a small but growing number of establishments across the U.S. where customers can only pay by card or...
How’s the Economy? Count the Cranes to Find Out.
By C.J. Hughes To determine the health of the economy, you could scrutinize the minutes of Federal Reserve meetings, pore over the latest economic data and scour trade publications. Or you could simply look up. The towering cranes that rise above development sites can be a useful financial indicator, like consumer...
Walters: Sales Tax Bite Looms for Internet Consumers
There’s nothing new about ordering merchandise from the comfort of one’s home and having it delivered to the doorstep. Generations of Americans — especially those living in isolation on farms and ranches — pored over the inches-thick catalogs that Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Ward and other retailing behemoths issued each...