HGTV guest passes away during a hike in Sequoia National Park
A contractor from Fresno, Kalem Peter Kazarian, age 52, passed away on Monday while hiking Mount Whitney, according to local news reports. The Tulares County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death but indicated it actually occurred in Sequoias National Park, which is a significant distance away from the mountain itself. Kazarian, who lived in Fowler—a small […]
Effects of the 2027 FEHB premium hike on federal workers and retirees
Federal employees and retirees will be facing a third consecutive year of significant increases in Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums, with a projected average rise of 10.9% in 2027. This uptick, while less severe than previous years, is attributed by the Office of Personnel Management to escalating costs within the healthcare sector. Notably, there’s […]
Warsh Takes a Hike
Warsh’s Death March Hiking Trip Happy Friday! Today marks the start of the world’s key conference on monetary policy, rounding off a week steeped in discussions about bond markets, interest rates, and Federal Reserve strategies. We wish we could share that we’re writing this while fishing, hoping for Teton trout to bite our lines. Unfortunately, […]
Japanese Yen rises as Tokyo core CPI inflation increases likelihood of BoJ rate hike
The USD/JPY exchange rate has slipped to about 159.30 during the early hours of the Asian market on Friday. This movement comes as the Japanese Yen (JPY) gains ground against the US Dollar (USD), bolstered by fresh inflation data from Tokyo’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) that strengthens speculation about a possible rate hike from the […]
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti suggested a DEI position along with a tax hike.
Scranton Mayor’s DEI Initiative Faces Budget Challenges Paige Cognetti, the Democratic mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a candidate for the 8th Congressional District, previously suggested increasing taxes to fund a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staff. In 2023, the city added eight new hires, which included a position for a “DEI coordinator.” The proposed budget […]
Price of USPS Forever stamp to increase to 82 cents following regulator’s approval of rate hike
US Postal Service Price Increases Coming This Summer The cost of sending letters is set to rise again this summer, as federal regulators have approved additional rate hikes for the United States Postal Service (USPS). One notable change is a 4-cent increase for Forever stamps. This decision, made by the Postal Regulatory Commission on Wednesday, […]
British Pound retains weekly gains as uncertainty around Fed rate hike increases
The British pound (GBP) remained strong against the US dollar (USD) on Friday, with expectations of over a 1% gain for the week. This shift comes as many investors are beginning to doubt that the US Federal Reserve will implement an interest rate hike during its September meeting. Currently, the GBP/USD exchange rate is around […]
Arvin City Council puts a 1% sales tax hike on the ballot
Arvin May Introduce Sales Tax Increase Residents of Kern County might see higher prices at stores if voters endorse a proposed 1% sales tax rise this November. This potential increase was unanimously supported by the Kern County City Council last week, paving the way for it to appear on the ballot. Mayor Olivia Calderon has […]
Californians Facing Rising Health Insurance Costs Alongside Suggested Tax Hike
California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Protect Medicaid Funding On Thursday, California legislators approved a bill aimed at securing federal funding for the state’s Medicaid program. The move comes amid worries that this proposal might lead to a significant increase in private health insurance premiums. This bill responds to a recent federal directive mandating California to […]
Tourist from California goes missing in Costa Rica following flash floods during hike
Hawaii Experiences Severe Flash Flooding Over 5,500 residents on Oahu’s North Shore have been ordered to evacuate due to severe flash flooding that nearly led to the collapse of the 120-year-old Wahiawa Dam. Meanwhile, a California tourist has gone missing while hiking in Costa Rica amid dangerous weather, prompting a frantic search that has now […]