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These are the least affordable U.S. cities for 2023-2024: report

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) – It is no secret that San Diego can be pretty pricy for residents, but cost of living has catapulted the city to the top spot in a U.S. News & World Report ranking of most expensive places to live in the country.Rounding out the top five were Los Angeles; Honolulu; Miami; and Santa Barbara, California.In one of the magazine's real estate rankings for 2023-2024, America's Finest City was deemed the most unaffordable metro area in the country to live, earning a "value score" of 3.3 in their data analysis to help figure out the best cities to settle down.According to the magazine, the Value Index measures how comfortably the average resident of a metro area can afford to live within their means. Specifically, it looks at housing affordability, as well as federal data on the parity between regional prices and national averages. Netflix raising prices ‘starting today,’ company confirms in letter Home prices were one of the factors that pushed San Diego – and many ...

More bed bugs found at Las Vegas Strip hotels over the summer: records

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Thousands are expected to travel to Las Vegas in the coming weeks for Formula 1 and the Super Bowl, but there is concern about what some of these guests could leave behind in their hotel rooms.In August, Nexstar's KLAS obtained records from the Southern Nevada Health District showing bed bugs had been found at seven hotels along the Vegas Strip since early 2022: Circus Circus, Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, Palazzo, Tropicana, MGM Grand, and Sahara.Newly obtained records from health officials show bed bugs were found at two more Las Vegas Strip resort hotels in July and August. Previous Coverage: Inspectors find bed bugs at several Las Vegas Strip hotels According to a report, a guest staying at the Venetian complained about finding bed bugs on July 29 and was moved to another suite. An inspection three days later discovered the insects.Weeks later, a guest at Park MGM reported bed bugs to managers there on Aug. 14. The next day the room was inspected, and it...

Have you been tipping wrong at restaurants? What experts advise

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Are you a pre-tax tipper or do you use the total bill to figure out gratuity? While most people have a mental math trick (or a cellphone) to figure out the tip, diners are divided on what amount on the bill actually deserves one.Some will only tip on the pre-tax subtotal, maintaining that any state and local taxes that are tacked onto the bill shouldn't be part of the equation when considering how much to give to restaurant employees. While doing that math might seem tedious with a smaller bill, one diner on Reddit said their approach changes to pre-tax when it's a large party or expensive restaurant: "It's no big deal, until you get into triple digits. Then it starts to matter." 40% won’t tip at food trucks – but should you? Another factor, of course, is the tax rate. The combined state and average local sales tax rates for 2023 were well above 8.5% in California, Oklahoma, Alabama, Washington, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, while Alaska, Oregon, New Hampshire, ...

Real World Economics: America’s natural bounty became its destiny

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

Edward LottermanBefore his disastrous invasion of Russia, Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Geography is destiny!”And even today, this assertion prompts useful thinking about how geography influences development of economies over time and why apparently similar countries can have quite different outcomes.Such effects can be very broad, as on settlement or cropping patterns, but also on very micro levels such as the evolution of the modern agricultural tractor.Start with introductory geopolitics. The U.S. has prospered politically in geographic “splendid isolation.” Thousands of miles of ocean separate us from Europe or Asia. Attacking across these distances, over history, has been virtually impossible. Our neighbor to the north has the same language and similar culture, politics and values. That to the south is also friendly despite having been mostly sinned against rather than sinning, with tensions lingering to this dayNot so for nations on the great northern European plain, stretching fr...

Crash on I-90 involving tractor trailers closes two lanes

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An early morning crash on I-90 involving two tractor trailers caused the closure of two lanes for several hours on Sunday. The crash occurred westbound near Exit 25A in Schenectady, and Thruway officials later confirmed that one of the drivers was taken to Albany Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The center lane has since reopened, however the right lane remains closed while debris continues to be cleared from the roadway. Stay with NEWS10 as updates become available.Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!

The story of 'Missouri French' in the heart of America

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Did you know that there's a unique type of French exclusively found in eastern Missouri? It's called "Missouri French," and it's one of the dialects of the language that developed in the United States.Missouri French, also known as "pawpaw" French, named after a local fruit tree, is native to the upper Mississippi River region in the Midwest, spanning Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Speakers of Missouri French may be descendants of Louisiana French settlers who migrated to Missouri and Illinois. How many malls are still open around the St. Louis area? The first wave of French speakers arrived in the 1730s, establishing Ste. Genevieve as one of the earliest settlements. It became the first French community west of the Mississippi River. The United States acquired the territory that would later become the state of Missouri through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.Over the years, several cities in Missouri, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and St. Joseph, were established...

FivePoint Amphitheatre abruptly closes permanently after Saturday night concert 

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

The curtains have closed one final time at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine. The amphitheatre suddenly shut down after one last concert – put on by the Zac Brown Band – on Saturday night.  LiveNation made the announcement just hours before the band took the stage.  Del Amo mall increases security to crack down on crime, violence FivePoint Amphitheatre was opened in Great Park in Irvine in 2017 and was always meant to be a temporary venue, with tentative plans between LiveNation and the City of Irvine to construct a permanent venue at the location. However, city officials rejected the entertainment company’s construction proposal over concerns about the location's size and loud noise. According to LiveNation, they are now looking for other sites in Orange County to build a permanent venue.  

Del Amo mall increases security to crack down on crime, violence

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

The Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance is taking action amid increased mayhem, fights, and brawls involving young people. Local authorities are swarming the Del Amo mall this weekend with the intent to crack down on crime for the sake of businesses and keeping frightened families safe. “For us, I have kids and you’re worried,” said Susan Sisay, Torrance resident. “Am I going to go to the store and somebody’s gonna grab my wallet or something like that? Very concerned.”Aside from frequent smash-and-grabs across Los Angeles County, there’s been an increase of fights breaking out at the mall. In August, video captured a large group of teens chasing a young boy through the Del Amo mall before knocking him to the ground. The teens surrounded the boy before beginning to kick and punch him. “I just have to make sure it’s safe for me and my kids to go to the mall, so I’m always looking around to make sure there’s no suspicion,” Sisay added. “I feel sorry for the businesses be...

L.A. prop store struggling to stay open as actors strike drags on

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

As the SAG-AFTRA strike stretches past day 100, small businesses are struggling more than ever to keep their doors open. Hollywood production remains at a standstill and the owner of a prop store is speaking out about the impacts the ongoing strike is having on businesses like his. Marc Meyer, the owner of Faux Library Studio Props, says he’s been helping studios create Hollywood magic for decades, but fears that his business may not survive much longer if striking actors and studios can’t reach an agreement soon. Over the course of 30 years, Meyer has collected a warehouse of period piece treasures that he uses to dress film and television sets. The Hollywood strike has slammed his business to a screeching halt. "We usually have 15 or 20 trucks a day come through here and they would pick different set dressings or desks and furniture and books,” Meyer said. “The landlord keeps saying, ‘what am I gonna do, what is he going to do, because he’s not getting any inco...

Campbell gets $500k from state for ADA improvements

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:31:16 GMT

ADA improvementsState Assemblymember Marc Berman presented the City of Campbell with a check for $500,000 from the state of California for ADA improvements to city hall at the Oct. 17 city council meeting. Berman secured the funding in the 2023-24 state budget.The funds will be used for renovations to public counters and public meeting spaces in Campbell’s city hall, as well as accessibility improvements to the main entrance, which has long sloping ramps that would be improved to meet current standards.Other areas of city hall in need of accessibility upgrades include the community development, planning and building, public works, engineering, and finance and administration departments.This project would also remove the fixed seating in the council chambers and provide for better access to the dais and related spaces.Fruit fly quarantineSome areas of Campbell are within a portion of Santa Clara County that the California Secretary of Agriculture has placed under quarantine for the o...