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Los Angeles Times •

Lavender for love, salt for cleansing: A day in the life of an L.A. astrologer and witch

Gogo Akopyan’s coffee order has a way of confusing people.

“I ask the barista to put an intention in it and sometimes they’ll give me a weird look,” she says. “Stirring clockwise will bring in your intention and stirring counterclockwise will get rid of certain intentions.”

That’s one of many rituals that punctuate a regular workday for the astrologer and provider of occult readings.

Akopyan’s job is to interpret your past, present and future. She simply needs the time, date and place of your
Los Angeles Times •

Fearing economic disaster, Maui wants tourists to return. But feelings are complicated

The line at Paia Fish Market usually extends so far down the main drag that staffers can’t see the end of it through their front window.

But that hasn’t been the case as of late, with tragedy on Maui slowing foot traffic in typically busy spots to a trickle.

“Today is the lowest it’s been so far,” said Lehua Jimenez, 21, a cashier at the popular restaurant in Paia — a windsurfing destination on Maui’s North Shore. “It’s continually decreasing.”

Paia is half an island away from Lahaina, where
Los Angeles Times •

Elon Musk says X will get rid of blocking

Elon Musk says users will no longer be able to block other accounts on X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter.

The block tool on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, will be removed, according to owner Elon Musk.

“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs,” Musk wrote in a post to X on Friday. “It makes no sense.”

The block button allowed users to prevent others from seeing or responding to any of their content. Leaving blocking intact for di
Los Angeles Times •

$30 water bottles. $20 for paper. The sticker shock is real this school shopping season

Shauna McDonnell and her daughter Willow shop for back-to-school items at a Burbank Target on Aug. 6. McDonnell had to say “no” to Willow’s request for a $30 water bottle.

Despite hopes that , Americans are expected to spend a record amount on school supplies this year, and many families in Los Angeles are feeling the squeeze.

At Target and Walmart stores over the weekend, children and their parents perused the aisles for their back-to-school essentials, such as pencils and glue sticks. For so
Los Angeles Times •

Strike hits dozens of L.A. hotels as tourism industry expects lift from Taylor Swift's SoFi concerts. Here's what to know

Striking hotel housekeepers called on Taylor Swift to support their fight for better wages and benefits at a rally July 27 at the Hyatt Regency LAX in Los Angeles.

If you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles in the next few days — particularly if you’re visiting to see Taylor Swift — there’s a chance a strike by hotel workers could affect your stay.

A group of housekeepers, front desk workers, cooks and other hotel employees represented by Unite Here Local 11 has been urging the pop star to postp
Los Angeles Times •

California attorney general investigating Tesla on Autopilot safety, false advertising

The California attorney general’s office is reportedly asking customers and former Tesla employees for more information regarding the safety of the company’s driver assistance program Autopilot, according to a CNBC report.

Tesla is under investigation by the California attorney general concerning the safety of its Autopilot feature and complaints of false advertising, according to a CNBC report.

CNBC obtained materials from Greg Wester, a 2018 Tesla Model 3 owner, who filed a complaint with th
Los Angeles Times •

Dangerous heat wave during 'hot labor summer' — how picketing workers brave the sun

Los Angeles fast-food workers armed with umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun rallied on Thursday outside the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

It is shaping up to be a “hot labor summer” — literally.

As the region plunges into a record heat wave, Southern California workers across multiple industries are hitting steamy sidewalks and scorching asphalt to picket in front of iconic Los Angeles hotels, fast-food restaurants and major Hollywood studios — to name a few. It’s sweat-inducing an
Los Angeles Times •

Sega of America employees vote to unionize

Paramount Pictures and Sega of America released the movie “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” in 2022. Workers at Sega sought to unionize to seek higher base pay and improved benefits, among other demands.

Sega of America workers voted to unionize Monday, creating what they say is the largest multi-departmental video game union in the U.S.

Workers at the company’s Burbank and Irvine locations voted 91 to 26 in favor of unionizing under the banner Allied Employees Guild Improving SEGA, represented by the Co
Los Angeles Times •

Kamala Harris touts the small-business side of 'Bidenomics' at Santa Monica restaurant

Vice President Kamala Harris, second from left, along with Isabella Casillas Guzman, administrator of the Small Business Administration, and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), listen to Andrew Arrospide and Dan Londono, far right, the co-founders of Santa Monica restaurant Alfalfa.

As President Biden leans into pitching voters on economic progress made under his watch ahead of the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris is on a mission to highlight how small businesses have fared under “Biden
Los Angeles Times •

SoCal submarine tour business motors on in shadow from Titan disaster

Passengers look out the portholes of the Nautilus, a semi-submersible that operates out of Avalon on Santa Catalina.

As they do on any other sunny day, people packed into the narrow cabin of the bright yellow Nautilus, a semi-submersible owned and operated by Catalina Adventure Tours, on Friday to experience an under-the-sea adventure off the shores of Avalon, Calif. — but not too deep.

But this wasn’t any other day. Just 24 hours earlier, after days of dramatic headlines, the U.S. Coast Guard
The Nevada Sagebrush •

BREAKING: Police respond to ‘swatting’ hoax at UNR – The Nevada Sagebrush

Around 20 police cars and SWAT were present at the north end of University of Nevada, Reno campus on April 9 around 8:40 p.m.

According to Joshua Reynolds, deputy chief of the University of Nevada, Reno Police Department, they were responding to a “potential threat” on campus which was ruled out as a “hoax.”

“We received information tonight about a potential threat to campus and out of an abundance of caution, there was a large police presence,” said Reynolds in an email correspondence.
Medium •

“There’s very much that threat…” the Jewish experience at UNR

“There’s very much that threat…” the Jewish experience at UNR

Elizabeth Kaminsky walked into their temple during Jewish High Holy Days and was met by an armed guard.

“There’s very much that threat,” said Kaminsky.

The Jewish community at the University of Nevada, Reno is often ignored according to its members, and others don’t often realize the severity of anti-semitism.

In recent years, UNR has had multiple instances of blatant antisemitism which have been publicized.

In 2017, then UNR sen
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Las Vegas nonprofit’s latest project aims to help street vendors

The Eros Project, formed by Make the Road Nevada, helps provide resources for local street vendors such as banking access and care packages.

Vendors set up shop on the streets each day as a means to provide for their family, but it’s not an easy job. One Las Vegas-based nonprofit is trying to ease their stress.

Make the Road Nevada started offering support services to street vendors since early this year through a new initiative dubbed “Eros Project.”

The name comes from the Spanish translati
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Boulder City home of late fantasy novelist Terry Goodkind asking $4.75M

Jeri Goodkind is reluctantly saying goodbye to the Boulder City home she shared with her late husband, fantasy novelist Terry Goodkind, behind the best-selling epic fantasy series “The Sword of Truth.”

Jeri Goodkind is reluctantly saying goodbye to the Boulder City home she shared with her late husband Terry Goodkind, the fantasy novelist behind the best-selling epic fantasy series “The Sword of Truth.”

“It’s just a lot for me right now,” said Jeri Goodkind, who is looking to downsize.
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Higher coffee prices pinching Las Vegas coffee shops, customers

Southern Nevada coffee lovers are getting an unwelcome jolt with their morning cup of joe.

Customers who frequent local coffee shops say they’ve been noticing higher prices.

While consumer prices eased slightly last month, reaching 8.5 percent from a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week the overall food index increased 10.9 percent year over year with categories such as milk rising by 15.6 percent and coffee prices for consumers up more than 20 percent.
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Katy Perry and Kristin Cavallari draw crowd at MAGIC Las Vegas

Katy Perry and Kristin Cavallari spoke about their business while giving advice at fashion trade show MAGIC Las Vegas.

Hundreds of MAGIC Las Vegas attendees flooded into the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Tuesday to see pop star Katy Perry, the keynote speaker for the biannual fashion trade show.

Perry was greeted with cheers as she entered the room, while her most popular songs like “California Gurls” and “Dark House” played in the background.
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

As inflation rises, more folks donating plasma to earn extra cash

With rising inflation, locals have been turning to plasma donation centers to put extra cash in their pockets.

Facing rising costs for everyday needs due to inflation, more people in the Las Vegas Valley are turning to plasma donation to put some extra cash in their pocket while helping others.

“Year to date, we are seeing an increase overall across our network of centers,” Vlasta Hakes, senior director of corporate affairs at Grifols Biomat USA, said. “We’ve seen about a 20 percent increase.”
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Gas prices in Las Vegas Valley continue to fall

Since late June, pump prices have continued to drop locally and nationally because of a decrease in demand and an increase in production.

Gas prices have continued to drop locally and nationally since late June, providing much needed relief to Nevadans and motorists across the country.

The national average remains at $4.46 per gallon, a 50-cent dip from last month, according to AAA.

Nevada gas prices also have decreased, with the state average per gallon now at $5.22, an over 40 cent drop fro
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Nonprofit SafeNest finds new way to perk up fundraising efforts

Nonprofit SafeNest has started a new program for shelter residents to earn up $1,500 by working for SafeNest Coffee.

Starting this week, people across the valley can “Sip for Survivors” with SafeNest’s new program for shelter residents, SafeNest Coffee.

Since 1977, SafeNest has been providing domestic and sexual abuse survivors with a safe place to live through its shelter. Now, residents can begin to gain financial independence and can build a cushion for when they leave the shelter through t
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Korean Air re-establishes airways to Las Vegas

Flights to and from Seoul, South Korea are reopening in Las Vegas after being suspended since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Korean Air is reopening the Las Vegas route to and from Seoul, South Korea starting Sunday, after being closed since March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Korea has been periodically easing its COVID-19 restrictions for international tourism since April, allowing for Korean Air to re-establish services to Las Vegas.

“We were always hoping to bring
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Las Vegas pastors, churchgoers react to abortion ruling

On Sunday, some pastors and churches praised the abortion decision made by the Supreme Court while other pastors admonished the vote.

Churchgoers packed into Hope Church on Cactus Avenue on Sunday to hear their weekly sermon, eagerly waiting for the opening prayer.

Almost immediately, the room filled with praise and cheers of “amen” as the pastor addressed the decision made by the Supreme Court Friday, ending a constitutional right to choose abortion and allowing states to make their own laws
Las Vegas Review-Journal •

Las Vegas vintage clothing shop keeps it ‘Neon’

Inside the store, known as Neon Cactus Vintage, shoppers are greeted by co-owners and married couple Negar Hosseini-Nasab and Alicia Avery.

Tucked inside the downtown Las Vegas shopping center Fergusons Downtown is a colorful vintage store with a doormat that says “gayest place in town.”

Inside the store, known as Neon Cactus Vintage, shoppers are greeted by co-owners and married couple Negar Hosseini-Nasab and Alicia Avery.

Unique and bold clothing and accessories wrap around the space while
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