Author: Alex Trent

California’s minimum wage increase for many fast-food employees is set to take effect in April of this year. Previously, the fast food minimum wage was set at $16. This means a worker making minimum wage could see up to a 20% increase on their take-home checks. However, many business owners in the state are worrying about how they are going to pay for these forced wage hikes, with some threatening to cut worker hours or raise menu prices to compensate. Gavin Newsom’s Bill Source: Office of the Governor of California/Wikimedia In September 2023, Governor of California Gavin Newsom signed a…

mohela.com Navient, a servicer of student loans, is transferring the loans of nearly 2.7 million borrowers to MOHELA. The move has generated some controversy because MOHELA has been previously punished by the Education Department of the US government for its failure to promptly send bill statements to student loan borrowers in the past. While Navient will still retain ownership of these loans, some are worried about how this massive transfer will affect the future of student loans in America. The Announcement Source: AbsolutVision/Unsplash On January 30, Navient published a news release, outlining what they called “strategic actions” to outsource student…

A recent survey from BetterUp shows the consequences for workers on mandatory return to in-person work directed by many of their employers. Remote roles have been declining at an increasing rate, with companies touting the benefits to their employees. Companies have taken the mission to return workers to the office seriously, resorting to threats of disciplinary action for those who refuse. However, it’s unclear how these corporate demands are significantly benefiting anyone, workers and companies alike. What the Survey Says Source: Redd F/Unsplash Researchers Christine Carter, Erin Eatough, Kristi Leimgruber, and Khoa Le Nguyen from Better Up Labs recently wrote…

America’s iconic mission to the moon was supposed to be the start of mankind’s adventures into space. However, since the first moon landing of American astronauts in 1969, not much progress has been made in perfecting moon landing since then. In fact, it feels like we have somehow gotten worse at landing on the moon in the proceeding years since Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Neil Armstrong planted the American flag on our moon’s soil. Latest Moon Landing Attempt Source: Pixabay/Pexels The moonlander craft Peregrine attempted a landing on the moon in early January of this year. While the launch seemed…

A recent victory in court by E. Jean Carroll against former United States President Donald Trump has given many of his detractors cause to celebrate. Her $83 million win is sure to harm and distract the former president as he continues his reelection campaign. Carroll, for her part, seems keen to rub it in as much as possible, with plans to spite-spend the earnings on something she thinks Trump would hate. Causing Donald Trump Some Pain Source: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Carroll expressed her desire to use the money she will receive from her…

“Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban is promising to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to promoting workplace diversity. In a reply on the social media platform X, he said he would compete against or short the stocks of firms that do not value diversity in their workplace and hiring. Cuban is an outspoken advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion in business. In his own business, he insists that he never hires on the basis of race, gender, or religion. Cuban’s Controversial X Post Source: Mark Cuban/X A back and forth between Mark Cuban and several users…

Recent moves by California and big oil companies are putting an end to the once iconic relationship between the state and its history as a fossil fuel producer. Californians are coming to grips with the consequences of climate change right on their doorstep. It feels like the end of the era of classic Americana and the freedom that gas vehicles offered previous generations on America’s highways. California a Century Ago Source: TUBS/Wikimedia California was once synonymous with the oil industry and the interest of big oil companies. A century ago, it was the fourth-largest crude producer in the U.S., rising…

U.S. department store giant Walmart has announced a recent round of store closures. These closures seem to be caused by the rising cost of leasing properties, with Walmart and property owners unable to reach a pricing agreement. Walmart’s store closures come in the context of several different retailers deciding to close stores to relocate them away from certain areas in big cities in states like Chicago and California. What Locations Are Affected? Source: Pixabay/California Walmart announced two store locations are being added to the list of recently closed stores from last year that affected over 20 stores. These newly closed…

The internet is buzzing with news of Mark Zuckerberg’s latest antics involving cows and beer at his infamous ranch in Hawaii. The Meta CEO is reportedly building a 1,400-acre compound with features that extend multiple layers underground, complete with its own energy sources and food supplies. This facility is going to be built on Zuckerberg’s Ko’olau Ranch in Hawaii. Raising Cattle on Ko’olau Ranch Source: Pixabay/Pexels In an Instagram post, Zuckerberg outlined his method for raising cattle, which raised eyebrows for some. “Started raising cattle at Ko’olau Ranch on Kauai, and my goal is to create some of the highest-quality…

Bank of America is the latest company to try to crack down on office workers who got too comfortable working from home during the pandemic. The company issued letters to their employees, sternly encouraging them to properly return to work. This effort is shared by many companies and Wall Street institutions that have been struggling with workplace attendance, as workers have mixed opinions on the necessity of showing up to the office. Letters of Education Source: Acroterion/Wikimedia Bank of America is sending warning letters to its employees that it calls “Letters of Education.” The Financial Times reportedly saw one of…