Business & Economy

The Federal Reserve is not working for the people but for wealthy individuals and corporations that can afford to have a say in the rules.

from Scheer Intelligence

May 1 is the end of the current contract between Hollywood studios and film/TV writers who are represented by WGA. This week, the two sides started negotiating.

from Greater LA

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates, while juggling dueling issues of banking turmoil and ongoing inflation. What does this say about the health  of the U.S. economy?

Interest rate hike signals Fed’s confidence in jittery US banks

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates, while juggling dueling issues of banking turmoil and ongoing inflation. What does this say about the health of the U.S. economy?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary explains how to claim adult dependents, get deductions for classroom expenses, and find an accountant.

Did you know you can claim an adult dependent? Plus other tax tips

Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary explains how to claim adult dependents, get deductions for classroom expenses, and find an accountant.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Panelists discuss Walgreens’ decision to stop selling medication used to terminate a pregnancy in 21 states, the Supreme Court’s rising popularity, and drawing the line between free…

Walgreens in abortion fight: Private companies can’t evade politics?

Panelists discuss Walgreens’ decision to stop selling medication used to terminate a pregnancy in 21 states, the Supreme Court’s rising popularity, and drawing the line between free…

from Left, Right & Center

Netflix passed on Nancy Meyers’ latest title due to budgetary disagreements. Why did the streamer pull back on a deal with a top filmmaker?

Netflix says ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to pricey Nancy Meyers’ film

Netflix passed on Nancy Meyers’ latest title due to budgetary disagreements. Why did the streamer pull back on a deal with a top filmmaker?

from Hollywood Breakdown

Sidewalk vendors in LA are suing the city for access to no-vending zones as part of a broader push to make vending a viable legal business opportunity.

Sidewalk vendors sue City of LA for access to busiest areas

Sidewalk vendors in LA are suing the city for access to no-vending zones as part of a broader push to make vending a viable legal business opportunity.

from Greater LA

Hundreds of thousands of California rideshare drivers finally have clarity on their job classification — but it’s not the outcome their unions were hoping for.

Uber, Lyft defeat unions in CA Prop. 22 fight

Hundreds of thousands of California rideshare drivers finally have clarity on their job classification — but it’s not the outcome their unions were hoping for.

from News Stories

A California state appeals court has upheld Proposition 22, which defines workers for companies like Uber, Lyft, and Postmates as independent contractors.

Victory for Uber, Lyft: CA court rules gig workers are independent contractors

A California state appeals court has upheld Proposition 22, which defines workers for companies like Uber, Lyft, and Postmates as independent contractors.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly investigating the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Its failure is the latest problem hitting the tech industry.

What’s overall health of tech industry, as SVB fallout continues?

The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly investigating the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Its failure is the latest problem hitting the tech industry.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

There’s no Oscar for Best Location. But if there were, the San Fernando couple who own Majers Coin Laundry, the laundromat used in “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” might win.

Inside the LA laundromat where ‘Everything Everywhere’ was filmed

There’s no Oscar for Best Location. But if there were, the San Fernando couple who own Majers Coin Laundry, the laundromat used in “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” might win.

from Greater LA

President Joe Biden says the American financial system is safe, as regulators rushed to secure two regional banks that failed in the last week.

Silicon Valley Bank collapse. Warning sign for US finance?

President Joe Biden says the American financial system is safe, as regulators rushed to secure two regional banks that failed in the last week.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch defends his company against Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit. Is his justification surprising?

Fox CEO defends company against lawsuit. Is that surprising?

Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch defends his company against Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit. Is his justification surprising?

from The Business

Can stars keep top salaries under current studio’s austerity measures? An agency exec proposes it at the Morgan Stanley TMT Conference.

Stars should keep high salaries, says agency exec at Morgan Stanley Conference

Can stars keep top salaries under current studio’s austerity measures? An agency exec proposes it at the Morgan Stanley TMT Conference.

from Hollywood Breakdown

Illegal gambling venues called “casitas” are popping up around Southern California. The real people making money, though, are members of the Mexican mafia.

Illegal gambling ‘casitas’ rake in millions across SoCal

Illegal gambling venues called “casitas” are popping up around Southern California. The real people making money, though, are members of the Mexican mafia.

from Greater LA

California will not renew a $54 million contract with Walgreens after the chain announced it would not dispense mifepristone in at least 20 states.

Did Walgreens cave to GOP lawmakers’ pressure over abortion pill?

California will not renew a $54 million contract with Walgreens after the chain announced it would not dispense mifepristone in at least 20 states.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The FICO scores of credit card users in the South were lower than anywhere else in the nation, researchers found when reviewing more than 200 million credit cards.

Southern states have different races, cultures. One commonality: Low credit scores

The FICO scores of credit card users in the South were lower than anywhere else in the nation, researchers found when reviewing more than 200 million credit cards.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Students at Dorsey High School learn real-life business skills by creating and marketing an avocado-based sauce. Sales are strong. Maybe it’s the avocado-pit alien logo?

Avocado sauce fuels business experience for South LA students

Students at Dorsey High School learn real-life business skills by creating and marketing an avocado-based sauce. Sales are strong. Maybe it’s the avocado-pit alien logo?

from Greater LA

Now 16 years after the 2007 writers’ strike, friction remains over how much writers should earn when their work appears in non-traditional formats.

Hollywood writers to negotiate new contract. What did industry learn from 2007 strike?

Now 16 years after the 2007 writers’ strike, friction remains over how much writers should earn when their work appears in non-traditional formats.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

For one (very unauthorized) play about Michael Jackson with a performance schedule cut short by COVID-19, the show is back on. But like all of us, it’s changed.

‘For the Love of a Glove’: Michael Jackson play is back on

For one (very unauthorized) play about Michael Jackson with a performance schedule cut short by COVID-19, the show is back on. But like all of us, it’s changed.

from Greater LA