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6 L.A. area Starbucks stores may reopen after feds say they were illegally closed

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

Six Los Angeles County Starbucks stores may soon reopen after the National Labor Relations Board said the coffee franchise closed about two dozen locations to halt union momentum.As reported in the New York Times, a regional NLRB office determined that 23 stores were closed "because its employees engaged in union activities or to discourage employees from doing so." At least seven of those stores had unionized, the Times added.The local affected stores are:8595 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood (the “Santa Monica & Westmount” store)5453 Hollywood Blvd. (the “Hollywood & Western” store)120 S Los Angeles St. (the “1st & Los Angeles (Doubletree)” store)6290 Hollywood Blvd. (the “Hollywood & Vine” store)1601 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica (the “Ocean Front Walk & Moss” store)232 E. 2nd St. (the “2nd & San Pedro” store)In response, Mari Cosgrove, a Seattle Starbucks partner and member of Starbucks Workers United, issued a statement criticizing the company."This c...

Southwest's plus-sized passenger policy debated on social media

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

Southwest Airlines is being praised by some TikTok influencers for its “passengers of size” seating policy. Others are not so fond of it.People who feel that they are unable to comfortably fit in one seat can notify a gate agent who will put them next to an empty seat.The customer can also purchase two tickets in advance, and then get a refund once they get to the airport.As for who qualifies for the extra seat - it's not about weight or body mass index. It is available to someone if any part of their body extends past the armrest.For their part, Southwest says it’s had a policy like this for 30 years, but it only went viral recently when an influencer shared it on TikTok.Of course, some don't love it, and say it's pandering to overweight people, or that it's unfair to tall people.Critics also worry that it will be abused since anybody could just buy two tickets, call up the airline later, and get refunded for the extra seats.

Juvenile arrested for ‘swatting’ hoaxes targeting synagogues, churches

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

A juvenile was arrested by the FBI for a series of “swatting” threats targeting houses of worship across Southern California.The juvenile, who was not identified, is a suspected member of an online swatting ring responsible for a series of threats targeting Jewish synagogues and African-American churches, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.“Swatting” involves a person knowingly providing false information to police regarding a threat at a specific location so that officers respond with a SWAT Team.The swatting ring under investigation is accused of calling in bomb threats and swatting attempts at several Jewish facilities including at least 25 synagogues across 13 states. The incident took place between July 2023 and August 2023, authorities said.The juvenile suspect allegedly created the online server that hosted the swatting network, officials said. The server, which has since been taken offline, included “members who espoused extremist views, to include the glorific...

Local Gifts for the Artsy Ones

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

From the handmade to the heartfelt, ephemeral and functional, experiential and edible, one of a kind and coveted—here are the L.A. Weekly Arts Editor’s picks for last-minute, local gifts for the artsy ones on your list.John Waters Pope of Trash, Trash Can at the Academy Museum Gift ShopEveryone Loves Trash:The landmark John Waters: Pope of Trash exhibition at the Academy Museum has spawned a legion of new fans, a spate of related programs and events, and, inevitably, a gift shop and online store packed with crazy merch. Cockroach dress fabrics, Divine rolling trays, ornaments, clothes, books, decor, keepsakes, memorabilia and in the most meta of merchandising puns—an adorable garbage can dedicated to the Pope of Trash. academymuseumstore.org/collections/john-waters. Handmade with Heart:Ceramics at Tierra del Sol GalleryTierra del Sol’s new West Hollywood location has a gift shop. An early champion for inclusion of people with disabilities in the contemporary arts discourse, bas...

Holiday Cookies: Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

Cranberry lovers will swoon over these shortbread cookies which, thanks to the use of fresh cranberries, actually have the tart pucker and bright, festive color we love.Flavored with a bit of orange zest and pistachio, these cookies are sure to become a holiday favorite. The best part is they are as simple to make as any slice and bake cookie, and the dough can be refrigerated for days, until it’s time to fire up that oven and win that cookie exchange contest. Want even more wow factor? Dip them halfway in dark chocolate and sprinkle them with a splash of color from ground pistachio or zested orange.The flavor of these cookies relies on fresh cranberries, so be sure to seek them out at your local grocery store, as they are abundantly available this time of year. Do not substitute frozen, as they will get soggy and make the dough too wet, and definitely do not use dried cranberries, as they are overly sweet and lack the true, tart cranberry flavor that makes these cookies so distinct...

Castro Valley man killed in head-on crash near Modesto

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

A Castro Valley man was one of two people killed in a head-on crash Tuesday night in Ceres.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Woman killed, two people injured in Oakland traffic collision Crashes and Disasters | East Bay hit-and-run victim from January dies; police seeking harsher charge against suspect Crashes and Disasters | Man fatally hit by BART train near Richmond station is identified Crashes and Disasters | Teen driver was involved in collision that killed San Jose pedestrian Crashes and Disasters | Pedestrian hit, killed by driver in South San Jose The crash was reported at 8:19 p.m. on Hatch Road near Ceres River Bluff Park. A westbound Toyota Prius and an eastbound Chrysler 300 collided on the two-lane road, and all three occupants were trapped in the cars, Ceres police said. They were extricated by Modesto firefighters.The Castro Valley man, 89-year-old Leroy Don Smith, was a passenger i...

Hawaii Bowl an unexpected holiday gift for San Jose State QB Cordeiro

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

SAN JOSE — Chevan Cordeiro was as curious as the rest of his teammates when they were summoned for an “emergency team meeting” on a day off earlier this month.The Spartans were still angry and disappointed they had been left out of the Mountain West championship game, the odd-team out of a three-way tie for first place. They also were catching up on rest and schoolwork during the rare break.Then head coach Brent Brennan, shirtless and carrying a surfboard, burst into the team auditorium to announce the Spartans had been invited to the Aloha Bowl.It was a particularly satisfying reveal for Cordeiro, the Spartans’ senior quarterback, who jumped from his seat as if it was Christmas morning.SJSU’s Dec. 23 bowl game against Coastal Carolina will put the bow on Cordeiro’s illustrious college football career.The Honolulu native, who played four seasons for the University of Hawaii before transferring to SJSU in 2022, will play his final game in a place he called home and where his love for...

House passes sweeping defense policy bill that includes 5.2% pay raise for members of the military

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

By Clare Foran and Haley Talbot | CNNThe House voted Thursday to pass a critical defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets the policy agenda and authorizes funding for the Department of Defense annually.The bill will next be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. The Senate passed the bill Wednesday. The House vote was 310 to 118 with 73 Republicans and 45 Democrats opposing the bill.The final negotiated version of the NDAA for fiscal year 2024 authorizes $886 billion in national defense funding, an increase of $28 billion over last year.The sweeping legislation authorizes a 5.2% pay raise for members of the military – the largest raise for service members in more than two decades – as part of a wide range of provisions related to service member pay and benefits, housing and childcare. In a move that sparked anger from some lawmakers, the bill will also include a short-term extension of a controversial law that permits warrantless su...

Larry Magid: 2023 has been a tumultuous year for tech

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to look back on 2023. The word that comes to mind is tumultuous, which, says Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, means “loud, excited, and emotional.”Related ArticlesBusiness | Magid: Turning ordinary small appliances into smart ones Business | Magid: Using a personal computer to read and send texts Business | Larry Magid: Using ChatGPT for holiday gift ideas and cards Business | Larry Magid: Survey sheds light on parent, teen feelings about Generative AI Generative AIThe biggest story of the year has been the rollout of generative AI. ChatGPT was launched on November 30, 2022. By January of 2023, it was the fastest growing tech application in history with 100 million monthly active users.  Shortly after its launch, Google introduced its competing Bard product, and Microsoft, which is a major investor in ChatGPT, rolled out a ChatGPT-powered generative AI version of ...

Wrecked, abandoned car on I-880 in Hayward leads to arrest

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:24:59 GMT

(KRON) -- An abandoned, crashed car was found by California Highway Patrol officers early Tuesday morning blocking a lane of Interstate 880 in Hayward, according to CHP. $10K worth of copper wire found after San Pablo traffic stop The abandoned car was blocking the far-left lane, CHP said, and a photo shared by police shows a white Lexus with exterior damage and deployed airbags. Witnesses told authorities that three young males fled from the vehicle after the crash to nearby city streets.Two CHP officers located three suspects who matched the witnesses’ description, police said, and detained them. One of the males was arrested for being in possession of a stolen firearm, and another was taken to a local hospital for a broken arm.(Photo: CHP Hayward)(Photo: CHP Hayward)Another stolen firearm was found loaded inside the Lexus, CHP said. Authorities said the car was stolen out of Hayward and was tied to a burglary call in San Leandro.