Author: Ben Campbell

California is undergoing a significant overhaul in its electricity billing method. The state lawmakers approved a complex energy bill two years ago with minimal debate, enabling sweeping changes in how most Californians are billed for electricity. This shift was initiated by Pacific Gas & Electric, which had requested such changes from the state public utilities commission. Origin and Approval of the Legislation Source: CAgovernor/X Governor Gavin Newsom introduced this legislation as part of a substantial 2022 budget revision. Within four days, it passed through an Assembly committee hearing without discussion, received approval from both the Assembly and Senate, and was…

A new California law kicking in on July 1 is set to shake up how restaurants do their pricing.  Say goodbye to those extra “junk fees” and surcharges that restaurants often add to your bill to cover various costs, from employee benefits to kitchen upgrades. Rising Fees For Restaurants in California Source: CAgovernor/X Gavin Newsom’s new law, which increased the minimum wage of fast food workers in California, has recently caused controversy within the state. However, it’s not only the minimum wage law that’s garnered backlash from residents of the Golden State.  Governor Newsom Puts an End to Junk Fees…

Every American can tell you that groceries are more expensive than ever. However, those who live in California actually pay more than anyone else in the country. There are essentially six reasons why Californians pay more for groceries than those in any of the other 49 states: High cost of living, state legislation, wages, preferred specialty stores, real estate costs and, of course, inflation. Grocery Prices in California Source: iStock There is no question that grocery prices in California are substantially higher than in many other states. For example, a gallon of milk in San Francisco costs $6.06, but only…

San Francisco has seen a downgrading of their outstanding general obligation and appropriation debt from “stable” to “negative” by S&P Global Ratings. The decision comes as office vacancy in San Francisco hits a record low during the first quarter of the year, pointing to financial challenges the city has yet to recover from since the end of the pandemic. S&P Claims San Francisco is Struggling to Repay Debt Source: Wikimedia S&P’s decisions stem from several factors, including a weakness in the real estate market and lower tourism, which have affected the city’s ability to repay debts. The financial services firm’s…

A couple from California who worked as teachers for many years in the Golden State decided to quit their jobs in 2021 after coming to the conclusion that public schools were indoctrinating children, not educating them. This led the pair to open an Anti-Woke Christian school that aimed to revolt against what they refer to as the extreme left-leaning propaganda being promoted at public schools. Californian Teachers Quit Their Job Source: @kalifontanilla/Instagram Kali and Joshua Fontanilla spent many years teaching English to middle and high-school children in the Salinas district of California before a major epiphany led them to rethink…

US retail giant Walmart has been saying goodbye to self-checkouts in several states as the stores plan to return to traditional checkouts. Stores in Missouri and Ohio will see the removal of many self-checkout desks, which comes less than a year after stores in New Mexico experienced a similar move. Self Checkouts No Longer the Future in Walmart Source: Wikimedia Self-checkouts have once been deemed the future of supermarkets, with experts deeming the machines to be faster and more efficient than regular checkout attendants. However, in recent years, many large retail stores across America, such as Walmart, have begun removing…

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom is facing a new challenge in his state as reports suggest he is losing parents’ faith. A new survey released by the Public Policy Institute of California revealed only around 60% approve of his handling of education. Back-to-Back Problems For Newsom Source: Wikimedia California appears to have a new problem with each passing week; from its budget deficit to rising unemployment and persistent outmigration, Newsom has been under fire recently. Now, the governor has a new problem to contend with: the residents of his state are losing faith in his ability to provide adequate education for…

The state of New York could be set to experience a mass exodus of residents, with reports suggesting millions could flee to neighboring states in the next few years. The news comes after a survey revealed around seven million people are planning to leave the state as residents seek a cheaper lifestyle and a better quality of life. New York’s Decreasing Population Source: Wikimedia The state of New York is one of the most populous in the nation, coming in at fourth with nearly 20 million residents. However, since the pandemic, the state has experienced a very high rate of…

The United States has long had a huge gap between the rich and poor. However, recently this wealth disparity has only seemed to grow more severe.  As a result, many activists and American people have begun to openly discuss the idea of creating a wealth cap. Now, many politicians have also begun to discuss creating this policy — even though many critics have stated it would hurt the American economy.  Tax The Rich Source: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels It’s no secret that several Democratic politicians have argued that capitalism leads to excessive wealth for the 1% of Americans and that a portion…

Popular American fast-food restaurant Wendy’s recently announced that it will give away free French fries every Friday for the remainder of 2024. The decision comes as Wendy’s marks Friday, April 19, FRYday, and the first of many to come. Customers must simply sign up for the Wendy’s App to get their free portion of French Fries. Fresh Never Frozen Source: Wikimedia Wendy’s is a fast food restaurant with an extensive fan base across the nation for various reasons, with their biggest claim being that their beef is fresh and never frozen. In early April, USA Today reported that Wendy’s planned…