China to probe Meta’s acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus
“Security has become the top concern for Chinese policymakers.”
Business
Google adds new AI features to Gmail, turning it into a personal assistant
Gmail’s new AI options will only be available in English within the U.S. for now.
Elon Musk’s xAI to build $20 billion data center in Mississippi
xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong says it will house the world's largest supercomputer.
‘Worst in Show’ CES products include AI refrigerators, AI companions and AI doorbells
The “Worst in Show” awards highlighted products seen as invasive, fragile or wasteful.
Budget office expects Federal Reserve to cut rates in 2026
Inflation is expected remain above the Fed’s 2% target in the near term, the CBO...
Average US long-term mortgage rate edges higher but remains near 2025 low
The 10-year yield was at 4.17% at midday Thursday.
Slightly more Americans file for jobless benefits in the last week of 2025, but layoffs remain low
Analysts are expecting Friday's jobs report will show the U.S. added 55,000 non-farm jobs.
Trump bid to ban corporate homebuying blindsides Wall Street
President Donald Trump has pledged to stop institutional investors from buying more homes.
Most of Wall Street drifts as defense companies rally
The S&P 500 dipped 0.1% Thursday, coming off its first loss in four days.
Early birds can begin filing their taxes on Jan. 26
Jan. 26 marks the official start date of the 2026 tax filing season, when the...
Is California’s economy healthier than we think?
A dearth of economic data, thanks to last year's federal government shutdown, makes reading the...
LA wildfire rebuilding effort draws billions in aid, grants
The January 2025 firestorms unleashed a flood of litigation, regulation and ratemaking requests from major...
New year brings big changes for retirement planning
Here’s a roundup of three key changes and some moves to consider.
Bridge financing isn’t the only way to buy a home on contingency
Many home sales are made "contingent" on one or multiple events coming to pass.
Holders of $895-a-year AmEx card rush to spend Saks perk
American Express cardholders are hurrying to spend store credits and gift cards at cash-strapped retailer...
Trump says he wants to ban large investors from buying houses. It’s part of his affordability plan
President Trump says a ban would make it easier for younger families to buy their...
Chat platform Discord files confidentially for IPO
Discord Inc. filed confidentially for an initial public offering, according to people familiar with the...
With most customers gone, Altadena’s Lake Avenue businesses are slow to return
The district has plenty of challenges ahead as it rebuilds from the year-ago fires that...
Job openings slide to 2nd lowest level in 5 years as hiring grows sluggish
The report suggests that the “low-hire, low-fire” job market remains in effect, with workers enjoying...
What is a robo-advisor? How it works, how much it costs, and pros and cons
Robo-advisors now manage hundreds of billions of dollars.
Wall Street’s strong start to the year slows as stocks drift
Gains from Nvidia and other big technology companies countered broader losses.
Warner Bros rejects Paramount takeover again and tells shareholders to stick with Netflix bid
Warner’s leadership has repeatedly rebuffed Skydance-owned Paramount’s overtures.
Prediction markets could change sports betting nationwide, report says
The legal sports betting battle may not be resolved for months, even years.
Automakers face an ‘EV winter’ in 2026 as sales growth slows
While EV policy is deteriorating, the sector’s economics are improving.
State officials recommend approval of controversial solar project near Baker
An alternative design would include a quarter-mile buffer zone to protect desert bighorn sheep habitat,...
On the hook for uninsured residents, counties wonder now how they’ll pay
County health officials nationwide are bracing for an estimated 10 million newly uninsured patients over...
Alaska Airlines pilot who safely landed plane after panel blew out says Boeing unfairly blamed him
He believes the plane maker wrongly tried to blame him and the rest of the...
California tax revenue getting a boost from AI boom — but for how long?
As talk of a possible AI bubble grows, so does uncertainty around an important source...
Musk’s AI chatbot faces global backlash over sexualized images of women and children
Musk pitches his chatbot as an edgier alternative to rivals with more safeguards.
SoCal Edison compensates 82 Eaton fire victims 2 months into program
The utility received 1,500 applications for its Eaton fire compensation program and paid out 82...
Wall Street rises on Big Tech gains and approaches records
Investors will be focused on the U.S. labor market this week.
Why home maintenance deserves a spot in the annual health and budget plans
Experts say home care can affect your health and finances.
Trump Mobile’s golden phone remains nowhere to be found
A golden phone that President Donald Trump’s family business promised to release last year remains...
Big Tech’s fast-expanding plans for data centers are running into stiff community opposition
Once-sleepy municipal board meetings now feature crowded rooms of angry residents.
Hyundai and Boston Dynamics unveil humanoid robot Atlas at CES
The life-sized robot walked and waved to the crowd.
McDonald’s facing class action lawsuit over ‘deceptive’ McRib meat
McDonald's is facing a class action lawsuit from plaintiffs who allege the fast food chain...
Banks snatch up mortgage bonds that saw best returns since 2002
US banks flush with cash are buying up mortgage bonds and betting that the asset...
IKEA battles Amazon, Temu as market shifts bring pain to flat-pack dynasty
The maker of the much-loved Billy bookcases and products with hard-to-pronounce names is on its third...
Factory malaise continues as manufacturing gauge drops to 1-year low
Producers are drawing down their raw materials inventories at the fastest rate since October 2024.
Will this be the year California makes kindergarten mandatory?
California is one of 32 states that doesn’t require 5-year-olds to attend school.
Could mysterious news site with ties to Orange County influence 2026 election?
The California Courier uses the name of an established paper and doesn’t disclose apparent Republican...
US-based multinational companies will be exempt from global tax deal
Critics say the deal undermines efforts to prevent profit shifting to tax havens.
6 fast ways to simplify your finances in 2026
Managing money doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming.
Pacific Palisades businesses slowly return to work with ‘a lot of people gone’
Fewer than 10% of mom and pop businesses have reopened, while rebuilding the fire-ravaged business...
Are Americans’ household debt levels a major concern for the economy?
Nearly 203 million U.S. shoppers, the highest in nine years, went to retail stores and...
Oil stocks sharply higher after US action in Venezuela
The U.S. action could upend energy markets.
Housing won’t crash because it’s getting a bailout
Everyone talks "affordability" – but elections aren't won by doing what's needed: letting home prices...
This startup’s concept promises to snuff out California’s wildfires with sound
Entrepreneurs with a fire suppression technology developed by a NASA engineer wants to prevent a...
Wall Street gains ground as crude prices and oil company stocks rise after the US raid on Venezuela
Tech shares rose as the industry kicks off its annual CES trade show in Las...
Last year’s odd economy in five charts, and what to watch for in 2026
The economy in 2025 was filled with contradictions, as growth was healthy while hiring slowed,...
7 things you may not know about dividends
There is a lot to know about reinvesting dividends.
New Year reset: Starting 2026 with clarity and a renewed inner compass
A new year doesn’t feel new unless you feel renewed.
US military operation in Venezuela disrupts Caribbean holiday travel, hundreds of flights canceled
Major airlines canceled hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean after the FAA imposed restrictions.
A commercial real estate expert’s predictions for 2026
Pricing expectations are still adjusting in some sectors, and deals that make sense tend to...
Fans mourn closure of cupcake vending machine company Sprinkles Cupcakes
The company was famous for selling sweet treats in vending machines known as 'cupcake ATMs.'
California law gives state more power over workplaces. Trump suing to block it
Backed by California unions, it gives a state board the right to regulate working conditions...
California grant program coming for homeowners in wildfire areas
New Safe Homes grants program, taking effect on Jan. 1, 2026, could begin taking applications...
Let’s hope these California economic dips don’t return in 2026
California had numerous lumps of coal within 2025 business patterns that are better not seen...
Wall Street edges higher in a wobbly start to 2026
Foreign markets fared better and benchmarks in Britain and South Korea hit records.
First homeowners move into Hesperia’s new master-planned Silverwood
The development launched in 2012 is projected to deliver 15,663 homes over the next two...
Should you worry about overfunding your 529 plan?
You can roll over unused 529 dollars into a Roth IRA or ABLE account, but...
Tesla loses title as world’s biggest electric vehicle maker as sales fall for second year in a row
A Chinese rival took the crown from Musk's Tesla.
Forget the gurus: Do your own economic forecast!
Just use our questionnaire to score your outlook.
Asked on Reddit: Can I justify an expensive hobby?
It turns out financial experts think it’s OK to indulge — in a balanced way.
Disney to pay $10 million to settle allegations involving children’s data
The complaint alleged it violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule by failing to properly...
Some Warren Buffett wisdom on his last day leading Berkshire Hathaway
Buffett spent six decades building up the Berkshire conglomerate.
Sprinkles Cupcakes closing all stores New Year’s Eve
Founder Candace Nelson was surprised by the closures, which come without explanation from the company's...
Average US long-term mortgage rate falls to the lowest level of the year at 6.15%
It's an encouraging sign for prospective home buyers.
Wall Street falls in light trading on the final day of 2025, another banner year for markets
2025 was a banner year for markets was driven by both optimism and uncertainty.
How to build an emergency fund, pay off debt and make a plan for your money in 2026
As many start writing their New Year’s resolutions, financial goals are also making the list.
California owners lost $33,000 in home equity in a year
Californians have plenty of equity left despite $33,000 slip: $603,000, No. 2 in US.
Trump made lots of tariff threats in 2025. Here’s some that never materialized
While many threats led to a barrage of new import taxes, others never materialized.
US applications for jobless benefits fell below 200,000 last week with layoffs historically low
Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as a proxy for layoffs.
Meta buys Singapore startup Manus in latest move to advance its artificial intelligence efforts
Meta reportedly closed the deal at more than $2 billion.
Delete Act: How to request personal information be purged in the New Year
California legislative analysts concluded that data brokers offer valuable services, but also threaten people's rights...
New California law requires working fridge in all apartments. LA landlords fought it
Beginning Jan. 1, landlords will be required to provide all apartments with a working stove...
New law streamlines housing development for California’s coastal universities
The bill, which began as a collaboration between UC Santa Cruz and UC San Diego...
Samsung’s first trifold phone is expensive and half-baked
Nearly seven years in, the foldable smartphone era has been a letdown — but you...
December interest rate cut was a close call for some Fed officials, minutes show
Minutes released Tuesday underscore the divisions and uncertainty permeating the central bank.
Nearly 3,000 pounds of ground beef recalled for E. coli risk
The recall involves 16-ounce packages labeled “Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef.”
Did California finish 2025 with booming confidence?
Rising confidence, no matter the reason, is an economic positive.
Judge blocks White House’s attempt to defund the CFPB, ensuring employees get paid
This decision comes days before the bureau would have run out of money.
Stocks waver as 2025 winds down while gold and silver rise
The more notable action was again in the commodities markets.
Without pennies, should retailers round up or down? States offer their 2 cents
Businesses and states are grappling with the fallout of the federal government’s quick elimination of...
America’s ‘missing middle’ and the struggle for affordable housing
State and local governments are rethinking how and where Americans can live by changing the...
HOA Homefront: Court decision denying ADU supports board’s discretion
The case stemmed from a couple's effort to build an accessory dwelling unit on their...
California couple creates one of the most sustainable homes in the nation
The Sebastopol couple have made their 1980s home ultra-energy- and water-efficient and outfitted it with...
Big Tech blocks California data center rules, leaving only a study requirement
A new law orders regulators to study the cost impacts of fast-growing, energy-hungry AI data...
New California laws rewrite car-buying rules with return policy, pricing reforms
California lawmakers let automakers opt out of recent changes to the state’s lemon law and...
The 11 big trades of 2025: Bubbles, cockroaches and a 367% jump
From bond desks in Tokyo and credit committees in New York to currency traders in...
Struggling to set 2026 financial goals? Get an AI assist
Here’s how to get the most out of AI tools.
Nvidia, Lenovo and Samsung to test consumer appetite for AI at CES
At CES, the annual consumer technology conference happening in Las Vegas next week, the biggest...
Stocks slip on Wall Street as 2025 winds down
The losses have little impact on the broader annual gains for major indexes.
Should you make charitable gifts in 2025 or 2026?
It's the season of giving, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be tax savvy about...
From Craftsman style to modern and minimalist, a year into post-fire rebuild a vision emerges
Housing options vary from relocating condemned houses, craning in factory builds and shopping plans from...
More thrifting and fewer returns, the early trends that defined shopping this holiday
Here are the trends that defined the holiday shopping season so far.
Why Sears’ last great hope was a promise that never materialized
A decade after an investment firm was created to help save Sears from its inevitable...
New California law requires tortillas to include folic acid
Starting Jan. 1, California tortillas will contain folic acid to help prevent birth defects —...
Nvidia strikes a deal with Groq, an AI chip startup
Nvidia, the maker of artificial intelligence chips and the world’s most valuable public company, agreed...
Target jumps after FT reports activist Toms Capital took stake
Target Corp. shares rose on Friday after the Financial Times reported that an activist investor...