Author: Georgia McKoy

The 99 Cents Only Stores have announced they are closing all 371 of their stores.  Interim CEO Mike Simoncic said, “This was an extremely difficult decision and is not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve.”  Overcoming a Host of Unexpected Challenges Source: Imants Kaziļuns/Unsplash Simoncic explained in a statement that a variety of issues has led to the closure. He said, “Unfortunately, the last several years have presented significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment, including the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, shifting consumer demand, rising levels of shrink, persistent inflationary pressures and other macroeconomic headwinds.”…

Governor Newsom is once again facing criticism after PlumpJack Cafe, a restaurant he co-owns, posted a job advertisement offering $16 per hour, clearly below the state’s new $20 per hour minimum for fast food workers.  The ad that has caused this controversy is for a part-time busser at the Olympic Valley location, part of Newsom’s PlumpJack Group which was founded back in 1992. PlumpJack’s Wage Offer Ignites Discussion Source: PlumpJackInn/Facebook Newsweek reports that a job advert on ZipRecruiter for PlumpJack Cafe reveals the pay for a busser as $16 an hour, plus tips. This role involves assisting food servers to…

New York City is facing an unprecedented challenge with unpaid property taxes expected to reach a record $880 million in the current fiscal year.  This significant increase is attributed to the city’s diminished capacity to enforce penalties for tax delinquency. The offering document for a city general obligation bond sale, obtained by Bloomberg, forecasts a more than 30% jump in unpaid taxes compared to three years ago, signaling a growing issue in tax collection efforts. The Consequence of Non-Enforcement Source: Matteo Catanese/Unsplash The lack of consequences for not paying property taxes is a major concern for city officials.  Preston Niblack,…

Rarely do we witness bipartisan unity in Congress, yet Senators Maria Cantwell and Cathy McMorris Rodgers have bridged the political divide.  Representing Washington state, these lawmakers from opposite parties are confronting a critical issue: safeguarding personal data privacy. Their collaborative proposal stands to revolutionize privacy protection, establishing it as a fundamental right for Americans. Uniting Opposites for a Common Cause Source: Wikimedia Commons Far from a typical partnership, the collaboration between Cantwell and McMorris Rodgers marks a significant moment of agreement in a typically polarized Congress.  They have come together, drafting legislation aimed at protecting personal information from misuse, AP…

Remember when your living room turned into your personal gym? Peloton led that charge, transforming home workouts into a social status during the lockdown.  But as the world opened back up, the glitter of expensive exercise equipment began to fade. It’s a tale of soaring highs and plummeting lows, with Peloton’s shares crashing nearly 98% from their peak.  The COVID Effect: A Boom for At-Home Fitness Source: Brian Wangenheim/Unsplash Lockdowns made fitness enthusiasts of us all, turning spaces between our couches and TVs into makeshift gyms.  Peloton, with its connected fitness devices, became the darling of this era, providing a…

Mike Lindell’s company, MyPillow, is confronting a court-ordered eviction from its warehouse in Minnesota, a situation that has surfaced amidst Lindell’s ongoing legal disputes concerning his claims about the 2020 election and voting machine security. Despite these challenges, Lindell has assured that this situation is a result of a mutual agreement to vacate the property, not financial woes. He confirmed to ABC News that the company is in “great shape,” emphasizing that the eviction is merely a procedural step. An Unfulfilled Agreement Leads to Unexpected Challenges Source: Wikimedia Commons Lindell explained that the eviction stemmed from an arrangement that didn’t…

San Francisco is planning a groundbreaking proposal requiring grocery stores to give a six-month notice before shutting down.  This initiative aims to keep communities informed and prepared, preventing the sudden loss of essential services and ensuring residents are not caught off guard by store closures. Dean Preston and the Grocery Protection Act Source: David Toshiyuki/Facebook City Supervisor Dean Preston is championing the Grocery Protection Act, aiming to eliminate unexpected grocery store closures.  Preston’s legislation is designed to ensure that residents receive ample warning before a store closes its doors, advocating for consumer rights and community stability. Revisiting History for Community…

Small price hikes are easy to miss, right? A few cents here, a couple there—it hardly seems to make a dent. But fast forward through the years and, surprise! Those little increases have turned into a full-on wallet shocker. Welcome to the ultimate throwback challenge: the 1970s edition! Dive into this quiz and see if you can guess the prices from back in the day. How much did a Hershey’s chocolate bar cost in the 70s ? Source: Wikimedia Commons A) 80c B) 99c C) 15c D) 30c Answer: Source: Wikimedia Commons C) In 1974, a Hershey’s chocolate bar cost…

This March, the job market in the United States significantly outperformed expectations, with a staggering 303,000 new jobs created, overshooting economists’ predictions of 200,000.  Such robust growth keeps the unemployment rate steady at 3.8%. Rethinking Monetary Policy After Surprising Job Growth Source: Wikimedia Commons The considerable job growth seen in March could prompt the Federal Reserve to reevaluate its stance on interest rate adjustments.  Initially, there was speculation about potential rate cuts in 2024, but the combination of a strong job market and ongoing high inflation complicates the forecast, presenting a nuanced challenge in economic policy decision-making. Healthcare Dominates Job…

The University of Texas at Austin has recently announced layoffs affecting approximately 60 staff members who were integral to the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.  This decision aligns with the enforcement of Texas’ anti-DEI law, SB17, which restricts public colleges and universities from having dedicated DEI offices. Reports from both the Texas NAACP and the American Association of University Professors highlight the university’s move to comply with this new state mandate. Navigating Through New State Mandates Source: Wikimedia Commons In an effort to comply with SB17, the University of Texas at Austin is undergoing a significant transformation. This…