Business

Trader Fred Demarco, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

World shares mostly advance and Japan falls ahead of Lunar New Year holidays

The future for the S&P 500 rose 0.4%.
The race for the No. 4 global ranking using gross domestic product figures in US dollars from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis for California, third quarter 2025, vs. International Monetary Fund, Japan and India, full-year 2025. (Graphic by Flourish)

Why don’t I feel California as world’s 4th largest economy?

The GDPs of California, Japan, India and the UK are only $300 billion or 7%...
Nary Chin deals cards for a Baccarat game at The Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Chin, 55, has worked at the casino since 1999. With her pay and tips, Chin, a single mother, has been able to put her four children through college. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

California cardrooms anticipate thousands of layoffs as gambling rules change

Operators may be forced to drop blackjack and other table games due to new state...
In an aerial view, an Amazon Web Services data center is shown situated near single-family homes on July 17, 2024 in Stone Ridge, Virginia. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images North America/TNS)

With electricity bills rising, some states consider new data center laws

Officials are now scrutinizing how power-hungry projects might affect the electric bills.
California house investor hotspots in 3Q 2025 from BatchData (Graphic by Flourish)

Where are house investors most active in California?

Investors own 1.28 million houses statewide – 17% of California's supply – but where investors...
This photo provided by Subaru shows the 2026 BRZ, a rear-wheel-drive coupe that ensures fun behind the wheel even if it’s not the most practical choice. (Courtesy of Subaru of North America via AP)

Some Valentine’s Day tips for anyone seeking the perfect match on four wheels

Edmunds identified five vehicles with distinct personality traits.
More than 2 in 5 U.S. adults (43%) believe keeping financial secrets is at least as bad as physical infidelity. At the same time, almost half of Americans (45%) in committed relationships (defined in this survey as married, living together or in a civil partnership) admit they don’t know everything about their spouse’s or partner’s finances. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Survey: More than 2 in 5 Americans believe financial secrets are at least as bad as cheating

Bigger secrets can impact relationships — and livelihoods.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold celebrates after a win over the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

What commercial real estate can learn from a Seahawks Super Bowl win

Let's look at the way championship teams are built.
A newly built cross-shaped home, perched on a ridge in Calabasas, is on the market for just under $13 million. (Photo by Open House Foto)

Calabasas ridgetop house shaped like an X seeks $13 million

Recognized with the 2025 award for residential design, the distinctive two-story residence spans 8,953 square...
Tri Pointe Homes CEO Doug Bauer is seen in this 2013 file photo at the company’s offices in Irvine. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register)

Irvine’s Tri Pointe Homes sold to Japanese group for $4.5 billion

The sale, which will take Tri Pointe private again, is expected to close in the...
Pam cooking sprays on a shelf at a grocery store in Bainbridge Twp., Ohio, March 24, 2010. (Amy Sancetta/AP)

Conagra ordered to pay $25 million in lawsuit alleging Pam cooking spray caused lung disease

The verdict found that Conagra did not adequately warn consumers about the potential dangers of...
California’s effort to crack down on organized retail theft has led to more than 29,000 arrests statewide over the past two years, with Los Angeles-area investigations playing a major role in recovering millions of dollars in stolen goods, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced.(iStockphoto)

LA County cases retail theft in spotlight amid statewide crackdown

State officials said several major cases unfolded in Los Angeles County, where sheriff's deputies arrested...
Sheri’s Ranch, a brothel, is shown on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Pahrump, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Sex workers at Nevada brothel fight for the first-ever unionization

Nevada is the only state where people can legally purchase sex.
FILE – A data center owned by Amazon Web Services, front right, is under construction next to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Berwick, Pa., Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

As electricity costs rise, everyone wants data centers to pick up their tab. But how?

Data centers keep spreading fast, and some use as much electricity as a small city.
FILE – A sign stands over a Wendy’s restaurant, Feb. 25, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Wendy’s closes US restaurants and focuses on value to turn around falling sales

Wendy’s plans to emphasize value as it tries to win back inflation-weary customers.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the group chairman and CEO of Dubai-backed port operator DP World.

Logistics giant DP World replaces chairman named in Jeffrey Epstein documents

Documents show years of messages between DP World head Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Epstein.
FILE – A person pushes the doorbell on their Ring doorbell camera, July 16, 2019, in Wolcott, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash

Amazon says no customer video from Ring ever went to Flock.
HOAs imposing a large rental fee could find it is ruled to be an “unreasonable” rental restriction under California law and could be exposed to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and possibly be found liable to pay the homeowner’s legal fees. (iStockphoto/Getty Images)

HOA Homefront: Can a board make decisions without meeting?

The Open Meeting Act in 2012 changed how HOA boards can make decisions.
FILE – A Valentine’s Day box of chocolates is seen on a store shelf Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Falling cocoa prices won’t necessarily mean cheaper Valentine’s Day chocolates

Chocolate prices at U.S. retail stores rose 14% between Jan. 1 and the first week...
The 12 months ending in December 2025 saw a 29% increase in prices across streaming services. (Getty Images)

What is streamflation? (And will streaming prices keep rising?)

Streaming prices are climbing as companies shift toward profits.
James Conti works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Wall Street steadies after its AI-induced sell-off

Stocks got some help from easing Treasury yields.
A shopper looks at produce at a grocery store Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Inflation measure falls to nearly five-year low as gas prices fall and housing costs cool

Friday’s report suggests inflation could be cooling.
The La Jolla Garden Club will hold its Valentine’s Day fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 14, featuring decorated homemade cookies. (Provided by Pam Filley)

Valentine’s Day: A look at dating apps and marriage rates

What's the median age for someone to get married? You might be surprised.
Chief Design Officer of Rivian Jeff Hammoud and Founder and CEO of Rivian RJ Scaringe speak onstage during the Rivian Reveals All-Electric R2 Midsize SUV event at Rivian South Coast Theater on March 07, 2024 in Laguna Beach. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Rivian)

Rivian offers investors hope it can withstand a bleak EV market

The EV automaker based in Irvine reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and its first-ever annual gross...
FILE – Devastation from the Palisades Fire is visible on Jan. 16, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

California boosts mortgage relief to $100,000 for wildfire victims

The state program is opening the grants to higher income households for disasters that date...
FILE – Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

Anthropic hits a $380B valuation as it heightens competition with OpenAI

Renaissance Capital counts Anthropic as third among the most valuable private firms.
Anthropic has set itself apart from rivals, including OpenAI, by pushing for stringent AI regulations. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Anthropic pledges $20M to candidates who favor AI safety

Anthropic has set itself apart from rivals, including OpenAI, by pushing for stringent AI regulations.
FILE – Daphne Dixon’s electric vehicle is plugged into a Level 2 EV charger Oct. 11, 2025, in Norwalk, Conn. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, File)

Trump administration throws new roadblocks at EV charging buildout

The administration is trying to withhold money for charging infrastructure in California, Colorado, Illinois and...
Kim Mestre was prepared to tap her 2025 Hyundai Ioniq to power her coffee pot in Alexandria, but the power held. (Pete Kiehart, Bloomberg)

More EV models offer deluxe backup power features for home blackouts

As ice, snow and bitter cold stressed America’s power infrastructure in recent weeks, EVs have...
iStockphoto/Getty Images

Why a liar loan is one easy option for self-employed homebuyers

Exotic loans require good credit, down payment (or equity) and cash reserves
A person jogs past single family homes, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Average US long-term mortgage rate dips to where it was 3 week ago, just above 6%

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate slipped to 6.09% from 6.11% last week.
Best states for singles if money doesn’t matter. WalletHub rankings, minus economic factors. (Graphic by Flourish)

Where in Southern California does love and money mix best?

We compared "best cities for singles" in Southern California to rankings minus the economic grades.
FILE – A sign promoting 100% financing is displayed outside a model home in the Colony Ridge development in Cleveland, Tx., Oct. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

US homes sales fell sharply in January, even as mortgage rates continued to ease

The National Association of Realtors said that existing home sales sank 8.4%.
Trader Edward McCarthy works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

US stocks drop sharply as investors hunt for losers that will be hurt by AI

The AI worries have hit software stocks particularly hard.
Information about Estate planning and old glasses.

How to face down estate planning paralysis

Estate planning can feel emotional and overwhelming.
FILE – A sign with information about employment is displayed during a job fair in Dallas, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

US applications for jobless benefits fall to 227,000 last week, remaining at recent healthy levels

Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 7 fell from the previous week.
FILE – A WhatsApp icon is displayed on an iPhone, Nov. 15, 2018, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

WhatsApp says Russia has tried to fully block the messaging app

Russia has already blocked major platforms like Facebook since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
FILE – U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino walks through a Target store Jan. 11, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Gray, File)

Protesters in multiple states press Target to oppose the immigration crackdown in Minnesota

ICE Out Minnesota called for sit-ins and other demonstrations to continue for a full week.
Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, arrives in court to testify in a landmark social media case that seeks to hold tech companies responsible for harms to children, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Instagram chief says he does not believe people can get clinically addicted to social media

The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case.
The longtime Coto de Caza estate of late real estate magnate William Lyon and his wife, Willa Dean, has been relisted for $59 million. (Composite by Sandra Barrera, Southern California News Group; Inset: Janine Swiatkowski, Orange County Register/SCNG: House: Gavin Carter)

Lyon Estate in Coto de Caza relists for $59M after a 64-acre reduction

The Agency, one of the real estate firms marketing the estate, says the seller is...
FILE – The Kraft logo outside of the company’s headquarters in Northfield, Ill., March 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Kraft Heinz pauses plans to split into 2 companies, says its problems are ‘fixable’

The split was expected to occur in the second half of this year.
California house investor hotspots in 3Q 2025 from BatchData (Graphic by Flourish)

California house investors target most-affordable counties

Investors owned 30% more houses in the state's least-expensive counties as of 2025's third quarter...
Specialist John McNierney, center, and trader Mathias Roberts, right, work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

US stocks wobble after feeling both the upside and downside of a strong jobs report

The Labor Department said employers added 130,000 jobs to their payrolls last month.
The sun sets behind the U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

CBO: Federal deficits and debt to worsen over next decade

Worsening federal deficits are driven by increased spending on Social Security, Medicare, and debt service...
More than 3,000 workers with the UFCW union locals join the 31,000 registered nurses and health workers striking against Kaiser Permanente in Downey on Monday, February 9, 2026. The union said that workers plan to return to work on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

3,000 Kaiser pharmacy, lab workers will end their strike this week

Their return to work still leaves the bulk of the healthcare giant's 31,000 registered nurses...
A fourth tier of cards— upper-middle-class cards, if you will— has been introduced to fill the gap between mid-tier cards with annual fees around $100 and premium cards with annual fees of $500 and more. (Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS)

Credit card trends to watch for in 2026

Credit card interest rates remained high, hovering around an average of 22% all year.
Hiring sign is displayed in front of a restaurant in Chicago, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Surge of 130,000 US hires last month is a stark contrast to the weak hiring of 2025

The report included major revisions that reduced the number of jobs created last year.
The Laguna Beach home on a blufftop promontory in Three Arch Bay is on the market for just under $30 million. (Photo by Toby Ponnay)

Laguna Beach estate on 2-acre blufftop in Three Arch Bay listing for $30 million

A Coastal Commission document states the bluff 'stretches seaward' from the building pad in 'an...
Homes fill the hills west of the 241 tollway in Anaheim Hills in October (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

First-gen California homebuyers can soon apply for $150,000 down payment loans

The state's third round of Dream for All has a pool of up to $200...
A model poses near a Honda HR-V car during the Indonesian International Motor Show in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Honda profits take a 42% hit from Trump’s tariffs and EV moves

Honda reported Tuesday a 42% drop in profit for the nine months through December, compared...
iStock/Getty Images

California housing advocates still waiting for state-ordered stair report

Fire safety regulators were asked to study whether mid-rise apartments can go with a single...
The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) offices in Sacramento on Feb. 6, 2026. (Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters)

California union pushes work-from-home bill as Newsom readies back-to-office

The legislative proposal by the California union known as PECG would require state agencies to...
Rental homes are seen in an American Homes 4 Rent (AMH) subdivision in Dallas, Georgia, U.S., on Friday, February 6, 2026. (Elijah Nouvelage, Bloomberg)

This city is challenging big landlords without waiting on Trump

Around Atlanta, institutional buyers like Blackstone, Progress Residential and Amherst Holdings own more than 30%...
FILE – The Warner Bros. water tower is seen at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif., Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Paramount sweetens offer for Warner Bros. shareholders in hostile takeover fight

Warner's leadership has continued to back its deal with Netflix.
Trader Michael Milano works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

US stocks drift to a mixed finish as yields fall after a discouraging report on US shoppers

The action was stronger in the bond market, where Treasury yields fell.
President Donald Trump said recently a weaker dollar is “great.” (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Is a weaker U.S. dollar a good thing?

"All things considered, the negatives outweigh the positives," said one San Diego economist.
How much home sellers made or lost Median gap between purchase price and what was received when sold, by Attom. (Graphic by Flourish)

Typical 2025 California home seller made $265,000 vs. $107,000 for US

The typical Californian home seller made the big bucks by buying at a median $422,000...
Coffee is for sale at a grocery store Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Retail sales unchanged in December from November, closing out year on a lackluster tone

Retail sales were flat in December from November. Economists were expecting an increase.
Bill Pavlacka, known by many as the Sandcastle Man, stands next to three small mounds of sand that once were castles he created on the beach with the Hotel Del Coronado in the background. After nearly 19 years of creating the sculptures, he was told by the hotel to pack his tools and leave the property.  (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Hotel del Coronado boots Sandcastle Man from his yearslong spot on the beach

The sand sculpture artist was informed by the resort he had been involved in an...
More than 3,000 workers with the UFCW union locals join the 31,000 registered nurses and health workers striking against Kaiser Permanente in Downey on Monday, February 9, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Kaiser, nurses union spar over workers as strike enters 3rd week

Kaiser says more than 35% of 31,000 striking nurses have returned to work, a figure...
This is the 1.5 mg starter dose of Wegovy’s new weight-loss pill. Novo Nordisk said it’s suing Hims & Hers Health for making knock-offs of its obesity medicines, even as Hims scrapped plans to sell a copycat version of the Wegovy pill. (PRNewsfoto/NOVO NORDISK INC.)

Novo says it’s suing Hims to halt obesity GLP-1 drug copycats

The lawsuit attacks a copycat pill and shots that mimic Wegovy and its sister drug...
A board above the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange displays the closing number for the Dow Jones industrial average, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

What you need to know before making financial gifts

Whether you’re giving cash or investments, be aware of the logistics and tax implications.
FILE -A Meta logo is shown on a video screen at LlamaCon 2025, an AI developer conference, in Menlo Park, Calif., April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

New Mexico lawsuit accuses Meta of failing to protect children from sexual exploitation online

It's unclear whether Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify at trial.
OC million-dollar ZIPs,  3 months to November 2025. (Graphic by Flourish)

Orange County has 60 million-dollar ZIP codes, up 4 in a year

New to the club: Tustin 92780, Midway City 92655, Anaheim 92808, Placentia 92870 and Garden...
Nurse Raquel Tinoco holds her 2-year-old son, Frankie, as she and 31,000 healthcare workers strike against Kaiser Permanente. Dozens of Irvine workers demonstrated outside the hospital on Monday, January 26, 2026.“We want more staffing to protect our patients,” she said. “You can’t be in 10 places at once.” (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kaiser strike expands with 3,000 pharmacy, lab workers joining nurses

Pharmacy and lab workers with the United Food and Commercial Workers union in Southern California...
Specialists, from left, Dilip Patel, Glenn Carell, and Michael Pistillo work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

US stocks drift higher as gold, silver and bitcoin stabilize

Potentially market-moving economic reports are coming later this week.
FILE – In this June 17, 2009, file photo, shoppers are reflected in the window as they walk past an Eddie Bauer store, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Retail operator of outdoor sportswear pioneer Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy

The operator of roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
FILE – Young people use their phones to view social media in Sydney, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

Landmark trial accusing social media companies of addicting children to their platforms begins

Meta and Google’s YouTube face claims their platforms deliberately addict and harm children.
FILE – Construction equipment is seen near new homes on July 11, 2025, in Happy Valley, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Voters are worried about the cost of housing. But Trump wants home prices to keep climbing

“I don’t want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up...
The mobile app “Made O’Meter”, developed to help shoppers to identify and boycott American goods, is shown on a smartphone in a grocery store in Copenhagen, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

Apps to boycott US goods gained traction in crisis over Greenland

“Maybe we can send a signal and people will listen and we can make a...
(AP Illustration / Peter Hamlin)

Co-workers of different generations mentor each other to reduce workplace misunderstandings

Co-workers can at times feel like generations speak different languages.
Today, about half of U.S. adults are married, a significant decline from the 1980s, when roughly two-thirds were married. (iStockphoto/Getty Images)

‘Should we get married?’ A question for every couple on the cusp

Today, about half of U.S. adults are married, a significant decline from the 1980s, when...
A “For Rent” sign for apartment displays outside apartment building during a cold day in Chicago, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Renters use ‘rent now, pay later’ services to manage monthly payments, but fees raise concerns

Consumer advocates warn the products often act like short-term loans with high fees.
iStockphoto/Getty Images

When a buyer needs time in a strong market vs. a weak one

The answer depends on the market.
Moltbook, a social network built exclusively for AI agents, is shown on a computer screen Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kaitlyn Huamani)

Security concerns and skepticism are bursting the bubble of Moltbook, the viral AI social forum

Many experts have expressed security concerns about the platform.
A Tesla is driven through the Vegas Loop under the city on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Musk’s underground tunnels in Las Vegas face scrutiny over safety, environmental concerns

The Musk-founded Boring Company has been under the microscope after complaints and alleged violations.
FILE – Bourbon barrel rack houses sit on a hillside at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ky., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley).

California’s Gallo buying Four Roses bourbon in $775 million deal with Kirin

The wine giant said it plans to add a prominent Kentucky bourbon brand to its...
Laylah Rivers shows a photo on her phone from a 2016 training mission in Italy during her time as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, in Culver City on Jan. 29, 2026. (Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters)

California wants colleges to count work experience for credit. How’s it going?

California has a goal of rapidly expanding access to work credits, though tracking progress on...
Once Upon a Farm co-Founder Jennifer Garner and son Sam Affleck pose for photos on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Actress Jennifer Garner’s Once Upon a Farm snack company debuts on Wall Street

The trading gives the Berkeley company a market value of $845 million, based on the...
Construction in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles CA on Friday March 21, 2025.  (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

White House weighs antitrust probe into homebuilders

One potential focus is on how information is shared through an industry trade group called...
FILE – The Uber logo appears above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Aug. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Uber found liable in sexual assault case and ordered to pay $8.5 million

Uber plans to appeal the jury's decision.
FILE – President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

FACT FOCUS: Trump says tariffs have created an economic miracle. The facts tell a different story

The proof Trump offers is often off-base or wrong altogether.
Traders Edward McCarthy, left, and Edward Curran work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

US stocks soar to their best day since May as the Dow tops 50,000 and bitcoin stops plunging

Chip companies helped drive the widespread rally.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

HOA Homefront: How can we tell if these minutes are correct?

Committees that meet typically don’t keep minutes because they have no decision-making power.
HRL Laboratories opens a new 60,000-square-foot research and manufacturing facility in Camarillo, California. This new facility supports advanced infrared hardware development to strengthen the national supply chain. On Feb. 3, 2026, Malibu-based HRL announced 376 layoffs, effective April 3, 2026 — including four workers at the Camarillo lab. (Photo by Business Wire)

Malibu’s HRL Labs cuts 376 jobs after losing government work

Malibu-based HRL Laboratories LLC is laying off roughly a third of its 1,000-employee workforce.
Only 30% of Americans would pay a $1,000 emergency expense from savings, a recent Bankrate survey found. (Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS)

How to start saving — even if you’re starting from scratch

If you don’t have a healthy emergency fund, you’re not alone.
Where did wage hikes top rent growth in 2019-24? (Graphic by Flourish)

California rent hikes often outpace pay raises

A 9-metro median 5.4%-a-year wage gain outpaced California's 4.8% rent hikes in 2019-24.
FILE – The icon for the TikTok video sharing app is seen on a smartphone in Marple Township, Pa., Feb. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

EU accuses TikTok of ‘addictive design’ that harms children, seeks changes to protect users

The European Commission believes TikTok should change its service's basic design.
FILE – This photo shows Novo Nordisk headquarters in Bagsvaerd, Denmark, on Feb. 5, 2025. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)

Hims & Hers launches copy of Wegovy pill

The off-brand version comes just weeks after Novo Nordisk launched its reformulation of the blockbuster...
A for sale sign is shown on a house in Clairemont on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in San Diego. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Why economists see the housing market flattening in 2026

“People don’t buy homes when they are worried about the job market,” says Mark Vitner,...
The mid-century Idyllwild home, owned by British actor Emrhys Cooper and listed for $1.4 million, integrates indoor and outdoor living. (Photo by Craig Bernardi Photography)

British actor Emrhys Cooper lists revamped Idyllwild retreat for $1.4M

Cooper and husband Donal Brophy reimagined the house, which they describe as a 'James Bond...
FILE – This Dec. 15, 2016, file photo shows a Pizza Hut restaurant in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Pizza Hut closing 250 US stores as parent company considers selling the brand

Pizza Hut has more than 6,000 locations in the U.S.
A Hyundai Ioniq 6 at an Electrify America charging station in Oakland on Feb. 27, 2024. (Photo by Camille Cohen for CalMatters)

California’s instant EV rebates would require automakers to match state funds

New budget language lays out how Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to structure a $200 million...
An westbound Metro A Line train runs through Azusa towards Long Beach on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. The light rail line’s Azusa to Pomona extension opens on Friday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

New transit housing bill revives California’s divisions over local control

A bill to close a loophole in a landmark housing law to make it clear...
Unions are trying to push the governor, who has hesitated to regulate AI, to take a stronger stand against the technology. Flanked by labor advocates, former Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions AFL-CIO, addresses the media during a press conference on the impact of AI on labor in Sacramento on Feb. 4, 2026. (Fred Greaves for CalMatters)

Union leaders’ message for Newsom: Regulate AI if you want to be president

Leaders from the AFL-CIO, representing 2.3 million nationwide members, say Gov. Gavin Newsom needs to...
Workers get Levi’s Stadium ready for Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Anthropic, OpenAI rivalry spills into new Super Bowl ads as both fight to win over AI users

This rivalry began when OpenAI leaders left to form Anthropic in 2021.
FILE – An aerial view of the Boar’s Head processing plant, Aug. 29, 2024, in Jarratt, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Boar’s Head reopens Virginia deli meat plant tied to deadly listeria outbreak

The company's plant in Jarratt, Virginia, resumed limited operations on Feb. 2.
FILE – Bitcoin tokens are seen on April 3, 2013, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Bitcoin price falls below pre-Trump second term levels, now hovering below $67,000

The original cryptocurrency has lost 46% of its value since Oct. 6.
FILE – A sign is posted for a new home for sale in Ambler, Pa., Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Average US long-term mortgage rate barely budges, holding near 6%

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate edged up to 6.11% from 6.1% last week.
The 20,000-square-foot, lagoon-style pool at Ranch Cove adjacent to Ranch Camp in Rienda. Mark Rightmire — Staff Photographer

Real estate news: 175 new homes coming to 2 Orange County communities

Trumark Homes says construction on model homes is underway in Irvine and Rancho Mission Viejo.
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