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Before the big win Tuesday night, there had been 30 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the game’s top prize was on Dec. 8, 2023, when two winning tickets were sold at the same gas station in Los Angeles, splitting the $394 million prize.
Lottery jackpots grow so large because the odds of winning are so small. For Mega Millions, players have a 1 in 302.6 million chance of taking home the top prize.
The jackpot has now reset to its default $20 million.
The next big U.S. lottery drawing will be Wednesday night for an estimated $865 million Powerball jackpot. No one has won that prize since New Year’s Day, making for 36 drawings without a winner.
Last year was quite a journey for the Dodgers’ bullpen. It started the season as one of the worst in baseball and stayed that way deep into June. From there, though, it was one of the best in baseball with Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly arriving to strengthen it and Evan Phillips settling into a largely-the-closer role. It is basically the same group this year with Kelly and Brasier re-signed and Phillips at the back end (though still not in a strictly-the-closer role). Brusdar Graterol emerged as one of the best relievers in the National League last year but will open this season on the injured list with a sore shoulder (the result of a hip flexor issue in spring training, the Dodgers believe). Daniel Hudson has returned from two seasons ended by knee injuries and Blake Treinen is expected back in April after missing last season recovering from shoulder surgery and suffering a bruised lung when he was hit by a line drive in Cactus League play. One potential problem is the lack of a reliable left-hander in the group of options. Alex Vesia has not been particularly effective this spring and Ryan Yarbrough is more suited to a swingman role.
With their best outfielder playing shortstop, the Dodgers will look to get the most out of some moving pieces in the outfield instead. James Outman figures to be the most permanent fixture in center field. His defense improved markedly over the course of last season. Now he needs to make similar progress in smoothing out his offense. The National League Rookie of the Month in April and August, he slipped into deep slumps in other months. A two-time Silver Slugger award winner in Toronto, Teoscar Hernandez is being counted on to lengthen the lineup and provide production particularly against left-handed pitching. Jason Heyward returns to a platoon role in right field. Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernandez will slip in and out, mainly against left-handed pitching.
CATCHER
The catching chores are in good hands once again with Will Smith coming off his first All-Star season. A second-half slump dropped Smith’s overall numbers last year. He still finished with 76 RBIs and a .797 OPS (his first sub-.800 OPS), making him a rarity in baseball these days – a catcher who provides middle-of-the-order offensive production while also handling the defensive demands. Smith needs to recapture his first-half numbers (when his OPS was .880). They are counting heavily on him to contribute, sitting in the lineup behind Betts, Freeman and Shohei Ohtani. Austin Barnes provides a familiar target for the Dodgers’ pitchers in his backup role, but his offensive contributions have all but disappeared the past two seasons.
BENCH
The Dodgers’ preference for multi-position versatility on their bench is well-established. Taylor and Hernandez are back to fill those roles once again. Rojas could become the most important role player with his steady defense a valuable commodity ss Betts adapts to his new position.
MANAGER
A popular preseason narrative has Dave Roberts managing for his job this year. If the Dodgers’ big-money investments this past winter don’t result in a championship, many think it’s Roberts who will take the fall. Don’t read too much into that. He survived the mismanagement of the pitching staff in 2019’s first-round playoff loss and largely escaped blame in 2022 and 2023 when flaws in team-building were more at fault than any in-game decisions. Though Roberts still remains unpopular in many quarters (despite having the highest winning percentage of any manager with more than 1,000 games in MLB history), there has been an evolution over the years. There is more of an awareness now than ever that the Dodgers’ front office has its hands in every aspect of roster planning and game management – and hence more of the blame for failures like the first-round playoff failures each of the past two years. Roberts manages the team largely in line with the front office’s wishes. It wasn’t Roberts who decided to spend $1 billion on players last winter and if that doesn’t pay off immediately in a championship, he won’t necessarily take the blame – even if it might be time for a new voice.
Maddison Kellogg went six-plus innings for the Bulldogs against the Scorpions in a nonleague game. (Photo by Rick Assad)
By Rick Assad
Facing top-shelf nonleague competition is often beneficial when it comes to playing in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
At least the Burbank High softball team hopes this will be the case after taking on Camarillo on Monday afternoon at McCambridge Park.
The Bulldogs proved a worthy opponent because the game was a one-run affair after six innings until the Scorpions broke through for five runs in the seventh and secured a 9-3 victory.
Camarillo produced a dozen hits and collected at least one hit in every inning.
Burbank’s Kara Valencia had a productive day at the plate as she garnered three hits and added two runs batted in.
“I saw a really good game where we had our bats on it for a bit,” said Valencia, a senior right fielder. “I’m proud of us getting a few hits and runs. Overall, it was a good game.”
After the Scorpions, who have scored 10 runs or more in three games and now have a five-game winning streak, struck for two runs in the top of the first inning on a run-scoring triple to left field by senior Jadalynn Sovey and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Cali Howe against junior ace pitcher Maddison Kellogg, the Bulldogs (7-9) tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame.
Eight batters made their way to the plate as senior leadoff hitter Belinda Lujano lashed an opposite-field single to left.
Senior Eliza Bowren, who chipped in with two singles, walked and Valencia walloped a run-scoring base hit to center field.
Sophomore Kayla Orozco then sent a double to left center as the second run crossed the plate.
In the second, Burbank, which finished with nine hits, edged ahead 3-2 as Valencia smashed a one-out, run-tallying single to right field.
“I think spring break was good for the girls,” Burbank coach Melissa Sanchez said of her team. “They came back well rested and feeling good. So happy about how they hit the ball.”
Eliza Bowren collected two hits for the Bulldogs in a game versus the Scorpions. (Photo by Rick Assad)
Sanchez also praised Camarillo.
“That is a great team with a great coaching staff. They have strong hitters. We weren’t able to finish in the end. However, I am happy with the way they played. Eliza and Kara’s bats are getting hot at the right time. Belinda started off the game strong with a hit,” she said. “Can’t sleep on Charlie [Barnett]. Charlie hit the ball nice. Kayla was strong at the plate with a well-placed RBI. We are peaking at a great time. We will continue to make adjustments and get better. We look forward to the rest of our season.”
The Scorpions (12-2) evened it at 3-3 in the third inning as sophomore Laynee Flores lofted a sacrifice fly to center field.
In the top of the fourth, Camarillo pushed in front 4-3 as senior Justice Flores (two hits) delivered a one-out RBI single to center field.
Kellogg went six-plus innings, allowing 11 hits and had nine strikeouts with five walks and two hit batters.
The seventh frame saw the Scorpions send eleven hitters to home plate as junior Alianna Rodriguez clubbed a two-run double to left field and Howe added a run-tallying grounder.
Camarillo had three hits in the inning but the Bulldogs committed three errors that prolonged the stanza.
Senior Sophia Valencia contributed three singles for the Scorpions.
Barnett, a junior, singled to center in the second inning and junior Olivia Orozco doubled to left field in the sixth for the Bulldogs.
BALTIMORE, Md. — A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing it to collapse, sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.
What to know about the collapse
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.”
The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”
A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.
The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.
The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink.
Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for at least seven people in the water, the department said.
Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Curtis Bay and Annapolis have crews deployed to the incident for active search and rescue, according to USCG. A Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders are also en route to the incident.
“An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast is issued regarding the incident and there has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters. Mariners are urged to avoid the area,” USCG said.
The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.
A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.
It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
Aerial view of Baltimore bridge collapse
He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.
The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.
“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” MDTA officials said in a statement at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. “Traffic is being detoured.”
Governor declares state of emergency
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.
“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.
FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.
“We are aware of the incident in Baltimore. The priority is ensuring the safety of those affected as a search and rescue operation is underway. We expect an investigation report will be submitted to IMO in due course,” the International Maritime Organization said in a statement.
In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
There was an excessive heat warning in Lake Elsinore on the August day when 12-year-old Yahushua Robinson — who had been instructed to run — died during P.E. class.
Now, a coroner’s report has reportedly found that the boy died of a heart defect, with heat and physical exertion as contributing factors.
The findings by the Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau were announced soon after the introduction of a Senate bill that would create rules for California schools on what physical activities can be allowed during extreme weather.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said deputies went to Canyon Lake Middle School around 11 a.m. on Aug. 29 after receiving a report of a minor needing medical aid. The child was hospitalized and later pronounced dead.
The coroner’s report said “significant conditions” contributing to but not related to the cause of death included “presumptive environmental heat exposure and recent physical exertion,” the San Bernardino Sun reported.
Yahushua had been sprinting with other students and was seen “bending over and grabbing at his chest,” according to a description of video footage written by Deputy Coroner Myranda Montez, the Press-Enterprise reported.
Yahushua fell and got back up multiple times and was helped by other students and then by an adult, according to the report. At one point, “it appeared Yahushua became unresponsive,” and the teacher carried him into shade off-camera, the outlet reported.
The official cause of death was “coronary artery anomaly.”
The Times reached out to the family’s advocate, Christina Laster, for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
The California Department of Education has no rules on when severe weather should prompt the cancellation or modification of physical education classes. It leaves the decision to local schools and districts, “with the assistance of other local agencies that monitor air quality and weather.”
“Unhealthy air quality, extreme temperatures, high winds, etc. may present conditions where it is appropriate to modify activity levels or move PE instruction indoors,” the Department of Education says on its website.
The California Department of Public Health provides guidance on sports and strenuous activities during extreme heat; however, it’s up to schools to implement the guidance.
Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) has introduced Senate Bill 1248, or Yahushua’s Law, with the aim of bringing uniformity to how California schools respond to extreme weather when it comes to physical activities.
In a news release, Hurtado said the bill would require the California Department of Education to develop guidelines for school districts to implement during weather patterns that are potentially harmful to students’ health.
“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said. “I commend the family of Yahushua Robinson … for lending their emotional strength and compassion for others in order to help ensure that no other student loses their life this way.”
Meet Bobby – The Gentle Senior Lhasa Apso at the Burbank Animal Shelter. Bobby is approximately 15 years old and is currently in a foster home. His foster mom says he’s a real joy to have around. He adores his foster mom so much that he follows her around everywhere. Cuddles and belly rubs are his absolute favorite. Bobby is potty trained and has excellent leash manners, making him a great companion for a relaxing stroll around the neighborhood. He’s not a marathon walker but he does enjoy walking in the fresh air as long as it is at a gentle pace.
If you’re searching for a seasoned companion to add warmth and joy to your home, reach out to our foster coordinator at vbasfosterinfo@gmail.com so we can meet and see if we can create a cozy retirement chapter together.
Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC), a full-service architecture and design firm, welcomes two new hires to its growing West Coast industrial team. Working out of the Los Angeles office, Cory Adams joins as the region’s Industrial Market Leader and Principal, and Michael Gee joins as an Associate Principal, providing leadership and business financial management for LJC’s expanding Industrial market sector.
Adams brings a wealth of experience to LJC. With over 25 years in construction and architectural design, he has successfully led numerous industrial, commercial, residential, office, automotive and retail projects. Notably, he has overseen the construction of several large-scale fulfillment centers for a leading e-commerce company. Prior to joining LJC, Adams served as the Director of an architecture studio at a full-service design firm, where he managed multiple industrial sector projects.
Gee
Gee’s more than 15 years of experience covers industrial, commercial, data center, healthcare, higher education, government and master planning, with a focus on operations and project financial management.
Together, they will play a critical role in expanding LJC’s industrial practice on the West Coast.
Kamon Naddaf recently joined Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, one of the leading law firms in conducting workplace and campus investigations, in Los Angeles, California as an Attorney Investigator. Kamon has practiced law for over 20 years with a unique blend of experience working in the private and public sectors.
Ben Ye has joined J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Pasadena as Vice President and Banker. Ben leverages the strength of his U.S. and international background to connect with like-minded individuals and share the best practices of others who have walked in their shoes. Ben joins the firm from Merrill Lynch.
Land and Houses USA has bought a 176-room, Marriott-branded hotel in Manhattan Beach for $68 million.
The Campbell unit of Land and Houses Public Company, based in Thailand, purchased the Residence Inn Los Angeles LAX/Manhattan Beach at 1700 North Sepulveda Boulevard, the Los Angeles Business Journal reported. The seller was Washington Holdings, based inWestwood.
The price works out to $386,364 per room. Twenty Four Seven Hotelswill manage the property.
“The addition of Residence Inn by Marriott Manhattan Beach to our portfolio continues the expansion of our management footprint throughout California, offering a model that’s flexible and fast on its feet with unparalleled area operational expertise,” Twenty Four Seven Hotels said in a LinkedIn post.
The two-story white hotel, built in 1985 and renovated in 2012, is 4 miles south of LAX and 1.5 miles from Manhattan Beach Pier, according to its website. It includes a fitness center and an outdoor pool. Rooms range from $179 to $375 a night, according to Travel Weekly.
The seller was represented by JLL, based in Chicago.
Land and Houses USA, led by Sith Chaisurote, was founded in 2012 and has invested more than $700 million in apartments and limited-service hotels along the West Coast, according to its LinkedIn page.
The sale comes during a tough season for hotel deals in the Golden State and across Los Angeles.
In California, hotel sales volume has plunged more than 56 percent year over year, according to Atlas Hospitality Group, with the median price per room down 1 percent .
In Los Angeles County, hotel deals declined 55 percent year over year, with the total dollars spent falling nearly 36 percent, Atlas reported.
At the same time, the Cecil Hotel — the Downtown Los Angeles site of mysterious deaths and a Netflix true crime documentary — was listed for an undisclosed price. New York-based Simon Baron Development is selling the ground lease for the 15-story, century-old hotel at 640 South Main Street, which it converted for homeless housing in 2019 for $45 million.
It takes a village to make a movie or television show, and right now, that village is struggling — even four months after the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
Jeff Johnson, president of the Property Masters Guild, an association of some 200 prop masters and houses — estimates that approximately only 20% of his members are currently working post-strikes.
“A lot of our members aren’t working — a lot of property persons in general are not working,” Johnson said. “I’m not currently working; I’ve spent 30 years working show-to-show-to-show.”
According to Film LA, the number of filming permits and shoot days in Los Angeles are down 10% and 12%, respectively, since the beginning of 2024, and that productions are hiring fewer people. People both in front of and behind the camera say studios are cutting back on productions and moving them out of California, causing a domino effect across the state’s economy.
“I can afford to change the tires of my car, I can’t afford to get dry cleaning done,” Johnson said. “There’s a ripple effect that goes to the gardener, to the grocery store, to the local coffee vendor.”
Johnson also says he would like to see California’s tax incentives for productions be more attractive, more available and less complicated — and that avoiding another potentially crippling strike could help avoid complete disaster.
“I think we’re in a kind of a seismic shift in how the local film and TV community is going to be working moving forward,” said Johnson.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the TransLatin@ Coalition commemorated a significant milestone as it marked the launch of its 15th Anniversary Campaign during a press conference held in Los Angeles. The event also served as a platform to unveil the organization’s 2023 Annual Report, shedding light on its journey, accomplishments, and ongoing commitments.
Led by Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, the press conference highlighted the perilous situations faced by transgender and Latinx individuals in their home countries, where they often confront insurmountable violence.
Salcedo emphasized the harsh reality that many flee to cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco seeking asylum, only to encounter further violence and danger, often leading to deportation and, tragically, sending them back to potential harm or death.
A poignant moment of the event was the unveiling of a new logo commemorating the organization’s 15th anniversary, aptly dubbed their “quinceañera.” This symbolizes not only a milestone but also a renewed commitment to advocacy and support for the TransLatin@ community.
In a groundbreaking announcement, Salcedo revealed plans for a $35 million state of the art multiservice and multipurpose space aimed at providing a safe and secure space for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. With $20 million already secured, this initiative underscores the organization’s dedication to addressing the pressing needs of the community.
The TransLatin@ Coalition, founded in 2009 by a group of transgender and gender nonconforming immigrant women in Los Angeles, has evolved into a nationally recognized organization with a presence in 10 states across the U.S. It offers direct services to transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex individuals in Los Angeles, with a focus on empowering and improving the quality of life for its members.
Since its inception, the organization has achieved numerous milestones, including the establishment of the Center for Violence Prevention and Transgender Wellness in 2015, the opening of the first-ever TransLatin@ office in 2016, and the launch of the #TransPolicyAgenda in 2019.
The TransLatin@ Coalition’s advocacy efforts have also extended to legislative triumphs, such as the passage of AB2218 in 2020, which allocates grant funding for transgender wellness and equity programs, and supporting bills like AB1163 and AB 1487, aimed at advancing transgender rights.
With the recent expansion to include the El Monte site and the opening of a new building on Sunset, the TransLatin@ Coalition continues to broaden its reach and impact, reaffirming its commitment to serving the community and creating inclusive spaces where history is made and celebrated.
“Beautiful and amazing people, who are trans, gender non-conforming, or intersex, please know that you are beautiful and amazing and that you are valued. Do not feel alone. There is a whole movement that is fighting for you. Continue to assert your presence within the tapestry of our society. We love you, we see you, we thank you,” Salcedo told the Blade.
As the organization looks ahead to the next 15 years and beyond, its mission to advocate for the specific needs of the TransLatin@ community remains steadfast, guided by values of altruism, respect, transparency, and collaboration.
The logo of cryptocurrency exchange Binance displayed on a smartphone with the word “cancelled” on a computer screen in the background.
Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images
One of two Binance executives detained in Nigeria has escaped custody, while the Nigerian government has filed new tax evasion charges against the global cryptocurrency exchange.
Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Monday announced that four new charges relating to tax evasion had been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to multiple local media reports.
Binance faces charges of alleged non-payment of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and company income tax, failure to submit tax returns and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform, the reports said.
Alongside the company, two senior executives — U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla — were both charged and remanded in custody by Nigerian authorities.
Reports emerged over the weekend that Anjarwalla escaped on Friday from the Abuja guest house where the pair was detained.
“We were made aware that Nadeem is no longer in Nigerian custody. Our primary focus remains on the safety of our employees and we are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to quickly resolve this issue,” a Binance spokesperson told CNBC.
The country is in talks with Interpol to secure an international arrest warrant for Anjarwalla, Reuters reported, citing Nigeria’s national security adviser. The National Security Agency did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.
The families of the two employees declined to comment at this time, but issued statements on March 20, following a hearing at which Nigerian authorities extended their detainment.
Anjarwalla’s wife, Elahe Anjarwalla, said she was “completely heartbroken” that he would not be home in time to celebrate their son’s first birthday.
“Nadeem has no authority to make high level decisions at Binance and I am once again asking from the bottom of my heart that the Nigerian authorities please allow him and Tigran to return home whilst they continue their discussions with Binance. I am also calling on the British and Kenyan governments to do more to get Nadeem back home to us,” she said.
Gambaryan’s wife Yuki said she did not know what to tell their two children about their father’s absence.
“Tigran is globally recognized for his work in law enforcement and many of his peers would say that Tigran’s continuous efforts are what keep crypto currencies safe and clean,” she said.
“Please let him come home to continue this good work. The longer that our husbands are away from our families, the harder it is becoming for us to go about our daily lives.”
Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were taken into custody in Nigeria on Feb. 26, although neither was charged at the time with any crimes. The Abuja government accused their employer of wreaking havoc on the country’s local currency.
The Nigerian naira is one of the worst-performing currencies in the world and has lost nearly 70%of its value to the U.S. dollar over the past year. Locals have flocked to cryptocurrencies in recent years to shelter their savings from the plunging currency and a soaring inflation rate that hit nearly 30% two months ago.
But Binance’s troubles in Nigeria appear to be less about a crypto crackdown and more of an attack on what Abuja sees as a bad actor in the space.
IBADAN, Nigeria – Feb. 19, 2024: Demonstrators are seen at a protest against the hike in price and hard living conditions in Ibadan on February 19, 2024.
Samuel Alabi | Afp | Getty Images
Nigeria has expressed two chief concerns with Binance — the fact that the government doesn’t know where money goes or how it moves through the exchange, and that the exchange was allegedly facilitating speculation on the price of the naira through its peer-to-peer marketplace.
The government alleged that Binance was laundering money and that $26 billion worth of untraceable funds had moved through the exchange.
Authorities in Abuja have also contended that traders using this P2P platform to trade the local currency for U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins, like tether, were colluding on the price to maximize the exchange value. Binance has since shut down its peer-to-peer trading platform in Nigeria.
This is not the first time that Abuja has taken issue with Binance. In July 2023, Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission put out a circular warning people against doing business with the exchange, noting that “any investing public dealing with this entity” was doing so at a “high level of risk” that “may result in total loss of investments.”
— CNBC’s Ruxandra Iordache contributed to this report.
The U.S. Department of Justice and 16 state attorneys general – including California’s – last week filed a far-reaching and dubious antitrust lawsuit against Apple accusing it of monopolizing smartphone markets. The legal action is less an indictment of Apple’s business practices and more of an indictment of the Biden administration’s anti-business philosophy – and its ignorance of how the market economy functions and benefits consumers.
“Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers,” the feds allege in a statement last week summarizing its legal complaint. The government accuses one of the tech industry’s most innovative companies of stifling innovation. The first obvious point is our government doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “monopoly.”
The iPhone has a 60-percent market share in the United States, which hardly makes it a monopoly. Across the globe, Android phones have a much higher share, approximately 70 percent. A monopoly suggests that a company has total control of a commodity or service – not a dominant share. For comparison’s sake, Harley Davidson controls 50 percent of the above-600cc motorcycle market in the United States, but buyers can still choose from dozens of other brands.
Specifically, the complaint claims that Apple charges too high of a price to app developers for access to their Apple App Store. It says Apple blocks companies that offer apps that can be used on other types of smartphones, blocks mobile cloud-streaming services, excludes cross-platform messaging, limits the functionality of non-Apple smartwatches and halts third-party payment processes (digital wallets). As a result, the lawsuit alleges, this harms competition.
But how does this differ from how any business operates? “When I walk into Target, I know I’m going to be presented with a finite number of products that Target bigwigs somewhere have approved for sale,” explains Reason’s Elizabeth Nolan Brown. “Not just anyone can walk into Target and start selling their own stuff. Nor are rival retailers like Walmart or Kohl’s able to set up shop within Target stores.”
That’s exactly right. Apple has every right to determine who sells what products on its device. If it allows payment systems that don’t conform to its security standards, it will upset consumers and undermine the trustworthiness of its iPhones. If it allows its store to be inundated with trashy apps, then its consumers will lose confidence in its system. Consumers have myriad choices in smartphones, so there’s no governmental interest here.
Brown argues that the lawsuit stems from a radical point of view. She’s entirely right, as it assumes that “Apple should be legally obliged to help random developers – including those competing directly with Apple Messages – expand their user base.” Should the feds force Toyota dealers to sell Fords in their showrooms, or Harley Davidson to sell Kawasaki’s? Since there are other choices in the market, this is indeed a radical interpretation of antitrust law.
The Biden administration has long shown a misunderstanding of the tech industry, and its big-government interventions are sometimes supported by Republicans. Politicians from both parties have various grievances with tech firms, which encourages them to pursue such nonsense.
The lawsuit will increase costs for consumers and potentially make iPhones less secure. Once again, the government’s economic ignorance comes at a high price.
In major shakeup of Boeing’s leadership, CEO Dave Calhoun said Monday he intends to leave the beleaguered company by the end of the year. The company’s chairman and head of the commercial airplane unit are also leaving.
Boeing’s chairman, Larry Kellner, will not stand for re-election as a board director. The board has elected former Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf to succeed him.
The company also announced that Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, is retiring. Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s chief operating officer since January, is taking his place effective immediately.
Boeing has been buffeted by more than five years of problems with its airplanes, including two fatal crashes of the 737 Max in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people, and most recently a door plug that blew out of the side of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max in January, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane. The problems have led to multiple groundings for safety issues and more than $31 billion in cumulative losses.
In a letter to Boeing employees Monday, Calhoun called the Alaska Airlines incident “a watershed moment for Boeing.”
“The eyes of the world are on us,” he said in announcing his departure plans. “We are going to fix what isn’t working, and we are going to get our company back on the track towards recovery and stability.”
Calhoun, 66, a longtime board member at Boeing, became chairman of the company in late 2019, when the board stripped his predecessor Dennis Muilenburg of that title. He was tapped as CEO after Muilenburg was ousted in December of that year, starting in the job in January 2020.
Calhoun’s tenure began about halfway through a 20-month grounding of the 737 Max due to a design flaw that was determined to have caused the two crashes; and just before the Covid pandemic broke out globally, causing a near halt in air travel and massive losses for the airlines Boeing depends upon to buy its planes.
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A girl in her late teens died in the lobby of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department station late Sunday after, officials say, she got hold of a deputy’s gun and shot herself.
The department has not released the girl’s name, and officials said late Sunday that it was unclear how she was able to take the deputy’s weapon.
The incident happened around 7:40 p.m., when the teen walked into the lobby of the sheriff’s station at 150 N. Hudson Ave. in the city of Industry, according to a news release.
Officials said she did not have a weapon when she entered the building, and that at some point she caused a commotion, making noise and banging on glass.
Then, the girl allegedly got into “some kind of altercation” with a deputy, took the deputy’s gun and used it to kill herself, officials said.
Authorities said the incident may have stemmed from a family disturbance nearby.
No deputies were injured, officials said. It was not immediately clear whether anyone else was in the lobby at the time.
Neil Young recently put his music back on Spotify, ending a boycott that he began in 2022 to protest the digital streaming platform’s then-exclusive deal with Joe Rogan. Joni Mitchell had also pulled her music from Spotify, in solidarity with Young, and she has now joined Young in his return, as The Guardian notes. Pitchfork has reached out to Mitchell and Spotify’s respective representatives for comment and more information.
Young got his music removed from Spotify after accusing the platform of spreading COVID-19 misinformation by hosting the popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
When she also departed Spotify in 2022, Mitchell wrote, “I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify. Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue.”
Rogan’s podcast is no longer exclusive to Spotify, appearing also on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. As a result, Young is now begrudgingly content with his music being on Spotify because, were he to pull out from all digital streaming platforms, his “music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all,” he wrote.
El Camino Real Charter High School won the California Academic Decathlon in Santa Clara this weekend and will represent the state at the national competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in April, officials announced on Sunday, March 24.
It’s the third state victory for the Woodland Hills school in the last five years. They’ll be defending California’s remarkable 20-year national championship streak next month.
Additional teams moving on to the USAD National Competition include Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Tarzana as a large school representative at the in-person competition in Pittsburgh.
Granada Hills Charter High School — which has won the national competition nine times — also advanced and will represent California in the online USAD National Competition.
The state competition was held Match 22-24 at the Santa Clara Marriott. The USAD National Competition will take place April 25-27.
“The academic decathlon helps students become life-long learners and gain key critical thinking skills,” said George Wong, one of the California Academic Decathlon’s founding members.
The first storm of the spring season was expected to move on from the Southland after Sunday, clearing the way for a cloudy but dry week before heavier rainfall returns next weekend.
National Weather Service forecasters described this weekend’s rain and snow as “a very modest system at best with regard to rainfall amounts.”
However, the weather service issued severe thunderstorm warnings Sunday afternoon for central Los Angeles County, and thunderstorms and hail were reported over Alhambra and near West Covina.
On Saturday, Lancaster Airport set a record for the date with .53 inches of rain, breaking the record of .39 inches set in 1995, according to the NWS.
“A lingering storm system will continue a cold and unsettled weather pattern into Sunday,” the NWS said. “Scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms are possible with snow levels lowering to as low as 3,500 feet. West to northwest winds will continue to strengthen through Sunday evening as a tight northerly pressure difference develops across the state.
“Warmer and drier weather is expected for early week, then another storm system, potentially heavy rainfall, is possible for next weekend.”
A spring storm resulted in LA hail, thunderstorm and first responders saving a woman who somehow ended up in the water of the LA River in Studio City. Anastassia Olmos reports for the NBC4 News on March 24, 2024.
The weather service said rainfall totals through Sunday night will generally be 0.25 inches or less for most areas, but the northern mountain slopes could get near 1 inch.
Wind advisories were in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday in the downtown and west Los Angeles area, and from 4 p.m. Sunday until 3 a.m. Monday in the Santa Clarita Valley, where gusts up to 40 mph were expected. The Antelope Valley was expected to see gusts of 45 mph Sunday afternoon, possibly increasing to 65 mph Sunday night.
Sunday’s highs were in the 50s and lower 60s. Overnight lows were expected to drop into the 30s in the mountains and high desert.
“The very cold air mass for this time of year is supporting snow levels already down to between 3,000 and 4,000 feet per the Vandenberg radar with snow also reported at the Sandberg (4,500 ft elevation) sensor in the northwest LA mountains with a temperature of 34 degrees,” the NWS said.
A woman was safely pulled out of the LA River in Studio City.
