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Opinion: Land use, TABOR, taxes, guns — a look at the most consequential legislation from 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

It was fine. Whew, that was an easy opinion. OK, a few more words might be helpful to understand how average citizens think through legislative sessions.If you are a political activist, a dear friend of a state legislator, lobbyist, or trade association staff member there were a few bills that were critical and you spent the last five months yelling: “WE MUST STOP IT (or PASS IT) RIGHT NOW!”For the average citizen just paying the mortgage or rent, and trying to enjoy time with family and friends — this was a session, with its over 600 bills, that likely could be missed. And that’s a good thing. If the legislature is making big news it is most often not good.There were a few notable exceptions that are essential for all of us to consider: property tax relief, local land use control, and gun control.Senate Bill 303 Property Tax Relief was an unsatisfactory way for the governor and legislature to introduce and refer to the voters a ballot issue this November. Yes, if ...

Plane that crashed off San Clemente Island was involved in Navy training, aviation company says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

Three people who died when a jet crashed off California’s San Clemente Island this week were taking part in a U.S. Navy training exercise, their employer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.The victims, Eric Tatman, Spencer Geerlings and Shane Garner worked for Georgia-based Phoenix Air, a company with clients in the private sector and government, according to its website.The three men perished when the Phoenix Air Learjet 36 went down roughly one-mile southwest San Clemente Island, which is the southernmost of California's Channel Islands, Wednesday morning, officials said.San Clemente Island is owned and managed by the Navy, and the plane was one of two Phoenix Air Learjets participating in a military training exercise, the company said.The other jet landed safely.U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection crews located a debris field in the water, but it was unclear if the remains of the victims were found.The National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation ...

3 Chicago-area men arrested in connection with Beverly Crest triple slaying, North Hollywood killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

The shooting deaths of three women in a January attack in Beverly Crest and of a man in North Hollywood in December were all perpetrated by gang members from Chicago, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a press conference Friday.The Beverly Crest victims, Iyana Hutton, 33, from Chicago, Nenah Davis, 29, from Bolingbrook, Illinois, and Destiny Sims, 26, from Buckeye, Arizona, were killed while sitting in a car in the 2700 block of Ellison Drive on Jan. 28. 3 victims identified in Beverly Crest shooting; still no arrests Six other people were wounded, though their identities are not being released to protect their safety, the LAPD said.On Dec. 16 in North Hollywood, Julian Bynum, 30 and also of Chicago, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting in the 6800 block of Simpson Avenue.While the victims were unrelated outside of their shared connections to the Chicago area, they were all killed by the same group of men, according to LAPD Capt. Jonathan Tippet.Daries Stanford,...

Photo Slideshow: LA Weekly and Geojam’s Desert Parties 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

The desert came alive last month with throngs of music enthusiasts, creatives and celebrities looking to kick-off festival season with days spent frolicking in the sun and vibe-filled nights that stretched ’til the crack of dawn. LA Weekly and Geojam made sure to bring the heat with parties that kept the bass bumpin,’ the drinks flowing and the gifts on-the-ready for a mass of guests destined to live out their best party lives.Read all about it in our Desert Parties Recap.Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.The post Photo Slideshow: LA Weekly and Geojam’s Desert Parties 2023 appeared first on LA Weekly.

SAFE Banking Fight Back on for 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

The SAFE Banking Act is back, and the once common-sense approach to support cannabis businesses is slightly less controversial this year. The SAFE Banking Act’s general idea is to provide legitimate financial services to cannabis companies that fully comply with state law. The actual mechanism to make it happen is essentially creating a way for financial institutions to work with the cannabis industry without the threat of feeling the wrath of the feds. In a sense, the language around the safe banking act is more about protecting banks than opening doors for cannabis businesses. Once you create the protections offered in the SAFE Banking Act, the banks can open their doors. The protections as described by the bill’s sponsors this year, won’t allow federal banking regulators to:       Prohibit, penalize or discourage a bank from providing financial services to a legitimate state-sanctioned and regulated cannabis business, or an associated business (such as a lawyer or landlord p...

From CAAMP to Alice Bag — the New LA Weekly playlist is Live

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

From CAAMP to Alice Bag: The 156th LA Weekly playlist, reviewing the musicians that we’ve been writing about all week, is live now. There’s electronic music from Tangerine Dream, R&B from Journey Montana and Jacob Banks, punk from Alice Bag, metal from Autopsy and Fozzy, electro-pop from M83 and Empire of the Sun, and so much more.Find us on Spotify here,or on Soundcloud here.Don’t forget to “Like” the playlists and “Follow” the profiles.Empire of the Sun (Jodi Steele)From CAAMP to Alice BagAlso this week:Luke Steele of print stars Empire of the Sun told us that, “I just figured the other day I think it was 2016, the last record, and that’s getting a bit too long now. Just before the pandemic, the band just felt so tired. We’d been to Japan a couple of times, we’d been recording a lot of stuff. And we record so much material with Empire – we’re really quite choosy about which songs make it onto the record. I basically just said I’d had enough, and I’ve got to go and make a solo ...

A Prom Do-Over for Gay Grlz Only

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

Things are changing, but milestone moments like high school proms have historically been missed by queer women in their youth, either due to conservative school policies, peer judgment or personal fears. Grlz Only wants to “create the Prom experience they should’ve had and deserve.” Prom Do Over, happening this Saturday, is a chance for gay gals to get gussied up (in formal femme attire or dapper suits and ties, as they choose) and dance the night away with girlfriends and pals, as out and proud adults. Grlz Only has been curating these kinds of queer women gatherings for a while now, providing safe spaces for women by women at various L.A. venues with thematic vibes and music from ranging hip-hop to Top 40 pop. Female DJ’s provide the dance floor energy. There will be a red carpet entrance, limo pull up zone, official prom photos, two stages, and a performance by Erica Mason. And of course, it’ll all culminate with the announcement of Queen and Queen (making it a fun alternative to...

Mother’s Day: How to pick flower gifts that match your mom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14, and flowers are one of the most popular gifts. Here’s a look at what some symbolize.The flowers and their meanings — and some of them have multiple — are from several sources. Many are from Iowa State University Horticulture Department’s “Flowers and their meanings: The Language of Flowers.” These books are great resources to learn more about the language of flowers:Darcey, Cheralyn. “Flowerpaedia: 1000 Flowers and their Meanings.” 2018Dietz, Theresa. “The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History.” 2020Heilmeyer, Marina. “The Language of Flowers: Symbols and Myths.” 2001Flowers, cards, food, and callsMother’s Day is the third largest card-sending occasion in the year behind Christmas and Valentine’s Day.Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year for eating out and for long-distance phone calls.A few mom factsRelated ArticlesLifestyle | Why Mother’s Day is the most hated day in the restaurant indust...

Southwest pilots authorize strike in sign of frustration with negotiations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

By Mary Schlangenstein | BloombergSouthwest Airlines pilots voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike, a sign of frustration over what they view as a lack of progress in contract negotiations.Leaders of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association called an early end to voting after 98% of pilots at the Dallas-based carrier cast ballots, with 99% of those voting in favor. The airline has more than 10,000 aviators.While the vote doesn’t mean pilots will strike immediately, it gives union leaders approval to call for a walkout if one is authorized by the National Mediation Board. That can only occur after a multi-phase process outlined in the Railway Labor Act, which governs airline labor relations.Related ArticlesBusiness | California travel industry edges closer to a full recovery Business | New rules would have US airlines paying passengers if flights canceled, delayed Business | Larger crowds, less chaos: Why summer travel may be less b...

Taylor Swift fans made a mysterious book a best-seller. Then they found out what it really is.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:24 GMT

(CNN) — An unpublished, as-yet-untitled book by an unnamed author shot up the U.S. bestseller lists this week, thanks to preorders from Taylor Swift fans who believed it to be her memoir.But sadly for Swifties, the book previously listed as “4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023” has now been named: “Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS,” written by the musical juggernaut themselves, K-pop superstars BTS, according to updated listings on some booksellers’ websites.BTS have written the memoir with journalist Myeongseok Kang. Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan, will publish it on July 9.So what convinced Swift’s fans to fork out $45 for a mysterious 544-page hardback?It all comes down to numerology. First, the number of pages. When the individual digits in the number 544 are added together (5 + 4 + 4), the total is 13. In an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, “the “Shake It Off” singer confided...