December 16 - December 22, 2012
Friday, Dec. 21
With super-majorities in both the state Assembly and Senate and a fiscal situation that's improving but still iffy, a number of Democrats are introducing legislation that would increase borrowing and make taxing easier.
House Speaker John Boehner sounding desperate in efforts to break budget impasse, consumer sentiment takes a big drop in December, cheap gas in the L.A. area, and Midwest snowstorm complicates travel plans.
The state unemployment rate fell to 9.8 percent in November. It's the first time in almost four years it's dropped below 10 percent.
Thursday, Dec. 20
It's put out a video dated December 22, 2012 that explains why the end didn't happen yesterday the 21st.
Listening to the candidates yammer these past few weeks, you'd be hard-pressed to know that L.A. faces deficits of more than $200 million over the next several years - and that there's really no great way of raising the money.
About half of the 9,744 paid malpractice claims between 1990 and 2010 involved surgeons leaving an object inside the patient.
She's Jill Osiecki, a longtime Amgen employee who wore a recording device under her clothes during a 2005 sales meeting in which a manager quipped, "I hope no one is taping this."
Another upward revision for U.S. economy, L.A. developing from within, Herbalife shares skidding on charges that the company is run like a pyramid scheme, and questionable selection for city ethics panel.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Billings have been up for four consecutive months, and the industry's index is at its highest level in three years.
More bickering in fiscal cliff talks, U.S. to unload its 32 percent stake in GM (but at a loss), L.A. Assessor Noguez to keep receiving salary, and Ovation channel could be the first of several that Time Warner Cable drops.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
Within a few years, it's a good bet that solid growth and smaller deficits will be restored. The question is what happens then?
Cerberus Capital Management looked at Freedom Group, one of the nation's biggest makers of guns and ammunition, as more than an investment. Stephen Feinberg, Cerberus's co-founder and CEO, is an avid hunter.
Clear Channel Outdoor is required to remove 79 digital signs in the city of L.A. But rather than go quietly, the company claims that removing the billboards will greatly hurt public safety.
Washington budget talks might be nearing a breakthrough, private equity firm to sell its stake in riflemaker, Nielsen to buy Arbitron in $1.26-billion deal, and options considered for rail route to LAX.
Monday, Dec. 17
The senator from Hawaii, who has died at the age of 88, broke racial barriers on Capitol Hill and played a key role in the Senate Watergate investigation. But what's sometimes forgotten is his experience in World War II.
Actually, it's the California State Teachers' Retirement System. It invested $500 million into a $7.5-billion fund that helped bankroll the firearms company that makes Bushmaster rifles.
The Santa Monica-based company that's behind the "Call of Duty" franchise would be front and center of any discussion about whether violent video games can lead to violence in real life.
The results for each port were noticeably different: L.A. was down 16 percent, while Long Beach was up 20.8 percent.
Investors believes that Washington will reach a budget compromise, economy expected to grow at a moderate pace in 2013, former IndyMac CEO agrees to pay $1 million as part of a settlement with regulators, and holiday parties are back in business.
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The funeral for Mark Lacter will be held Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 noon at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Reception to follow.
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