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Tag: Sale

  • Target’s CEO is stepping down as customers turn away

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    Target CEO Brian Cornell, who helped reenergize the company but has struggled to turn around weak sales in a more competitive retail landscape since the COVID pandemic, plans to step down Feb. 1.Minneapolis-based Target said Wednesday that Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran, will succeed Cornell.Cornell said Fiddelke’s appointment followed several years of board vetting of both internal and external candidates. Fiddelke has overhauled Target’s supply network and expanded the company’s stores and digital services while cutting costs. In May, the company announced that he would lead a new office focused on faster decision-making to help accelerate sales growth.Fiddelke is taking over at a time when Target’s sales are in a funk, its stores are messy and understocked, and it’s losing market share to rivals like Walmart.He said he’s stepping into the role with urgency with three priorities: reclaiming the company’s merchandising authority; improving the shopping experience by making sure shelves are consistently stocked and stores are clean; and investing in technology at the company’s stores and in its supply network.“When we’re leading with swagger in our merchandising authority, when we have swagger in our marketing, and we’re setting the trend for retail, those are some of the moments I think that Target has been at its highest in my 20 years,” he said.The change in leadership was announced Wednesday at the same time that Target reported another quarter of sluggish results. The company’s stock was down more than 8% in pre-market trading.Neil Saunders, a managing director at GlobalData Retail, said Wednesday that he had “mixed feelings” about the appointment.“While we think Fiddelke is talented and has a somewhat different take on things compared to current CEO Brian Cornell, this is an internal appointment that does not necessarily remedy the problems of entrenched groupthink and the inward-looking mindset that have plagued Target for years,” he said.Target reported a 21% drop in net income in the quarter ended Aug. 2. Sales were down slightly and the company reported a 1.9% dip in comparable sales — those from established physical stores and online channels. Target has seen flat or declining comparable sales in eight out of the past 10 quarters including the latest period.Target, which has about 1,980 U.S. stores, has been the focus of consumer boycotts since late January, when it joined rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.Target’s sales also have languished as customers defect to Walmart and off-price department store chains like TJ Maxx in search of lower prices. But many analysts think Target is stumbling because consumers no longer consider it the place to go for affordable but stylish products, a niche that long ago earned the retailer the jokingly posh nickname “Tarzhay.”In fact, out of 35 merchandise categories that Target tracks, it gained or maintained market share in only 14 during the latest quarter, Fiddelke told reporters Tuesday.Meanwhile, Walmart gained market share among households with incomes over $100,000 as U.S. inflation caused consumer prices to rise rapidly. Lower-income shoppers have driven customer growth at Target, suggesting it may have lost appeal with wealthier customers, according to market research firm Consumer Edge.“It’s probably not the best sign, especially because higher-income consumers continue to hold up a little bit better” during times of economic uncertainty, said Consumer Edge Head of Insights Michael Gunther.In March, members of Target’s executive team told investors they planned to regain the chain’s reputation for selling stylish goods at budget prices by expanding Target’s lineup of store label brands and shortening the time it took to get new items from the idea stage to store shelves. The moves would help the company stay close to trends, executives said.“In a world where we operate today, our guests are looking for Tarzhay,” Cornell told investors. “Consumers coined that term decades ago to define how we elevate the everything everyday to something special, how we had unexpected fun in the shopping that would be otherwise routine.”Before joining Target in 2014, Cornell, 66, spent more than 30 years in leadership positions at retail and consumer-product companies, including as chief marketing officer at Safeway Inc. and CEO at Michaels, Walmart’s Sam’s Club and PepsiCo America Foods. In September 2022, the board extended his contract for three more years and eliminated a policy requiring its chief executives to retire at age 65.When Cornell got to Target, the company was facing a different set of challenges.Cornell replaced former CEO Gregg Steinhafel, who stepped down nearly five months after Target disclosed a huge data breach in which hackers stole millions of customers’ credit- and debit-card records. The theft badly damaged the chain’s reputation and profits.Cornell reenergized sales by having his team rev up Target’s store brands. It now has 40 private label brands in its portfolio. And even before the pandemic, Cornell spearheaded the company’s mission to transform its stores into delivery hubs to cut down on costs and speed up deliveries.Target’s 2017 acquisition of Shipt helped bolster the discounter’s same-day, store-based fulfillment services. Cornell also focused on making its stores better tailored to the local community.The coronavirus pandemic delivered outsized sales for Target as well as its peers as people stayed home and bought pajamas, furnishings and kitchen items. And it continued to see a surge in sales as shoppers emerged from their homes and went to stores. But the spending sprees eventually subsided.As inflation started to spike, Target reported a 52% drop in profits during its 2022 first quarter compared with a year earlier. Purchases of big TVs and appliances that Americans loaded up on during the pandemic faded, leaving the retailer with excess inventory that had to be sold off.In July 2023, as shoppers feeling pinched by inflation curtailed their spending, Target said its comparable sales declined for the first time in six years.Moreover, Target started losing its edge as an authority on style by focusing too much on home furnishings basics, and not enough trendy items, Fiddelke said.A customer backlash over the annual line of LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise Target stores carried that year further cut into sales.Although Walmart retreated from its diversity initiatives first, Target has been the focus of more concerted consumer boycotts. Organizers have said they viewed Target’s action as a greater betrayal because the company previously had held itself out as a champion of inclusion.

    NEW YORK —

    Target CEO Brian Cornell, who helped reenergize the company but has struggled to turn around weak sales in a more competitive retail landscape since the COVID pandemic, plans to step down Feb. 1.

    Minneapolis-based Target said Wednesday that Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran, will succeed Cornell.

    Cornell said Fiddelke’s appointment followed several years of board vetting of both internal and external candidates. Fiddelke has overhauled Target’s supply network and expanded the company’s stores and digital services while cutting costs. In May, the company announced that he would lead a new office focused on faster decision-making to help accelerate sales growth.

    Fiddelke is taking over at a time when Target’s sales are in a funk, its stores are messy and understocked, and it’s losing market share to rivals like Walmart.

    He said he’s stepping into the role with urgency with three priorities: reclaiming the company’s merchandising authority; improving the shopping experience by making sure shelves are consistently stocked and stores are clean; and investing in technology at the company’s stores and in its supply network.

    “When we’re leading with swagger in our merchandising authority, when we have swagger in our marketing, and we’re setting the trend for retail, those are some of the moments I think that Target has been at its highest in my 20 years,” he said.

    The change in leadership was announced Wednesday at the same time that Target reported another quarter of sluggish results. The company’s stock was down more than 8% in pre-market trading.

    Neil Saunders, a managing director at GlobalData Retail, said Wednesday that he had “mixed feelings” about the appointment.

    “While we think Fiddelke is talented and has a somewhat different take on things compared to current CEO Brian Cornell, this is an internal appointment that does not necessarily remedy the problems of entrenched groupthink and the inward-looking mindset that have plagued Target for years,” he said.

    Target reported a 21% drop in net income in the quarter ended Aug. 2. Sales were down slightly and the company reported a 1.9% dip in comparable sales — those from established physical stores and online channels. Target has seen flat or declining comparable sales in eight out of the past 10 quarters including the latest period.

    Target, which has about 1,980 U.S. stores, has been the focus of consumer boycotts since late January, when it joined rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

    Target’s sales also have languished as customers defect to Walmart and off-price department store chains like TJ Maxx in search of lower prices. But many analysts think Target is stumbling because consumers no longer consider it the place to go for affordable but stylish products, a niche that long ago earned the retailer the jokingly posh nickname “Tarzhay.”

    In fact, out of 35 merchandise categories that Target tracks, it gained or maintained market share in only 14 during the latest quarter, Fiddelke told reporters Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, Walmart gained market share among households with incomes over $100,000 as U.S. inflation caused consumer prices to rise rapidly. Lower-income shoppers have driven customer growth at Target, suggesting it may have lost appeal with wealthier customers, according to market research firm Consumer Edge.

    “It’s probably not the best sign, especially because higher-income consumers continue to hold up a little bit better” during times of economic uncertainty, said Consumer Edge Head of Insights Michael Gunther.

    In March, members of Target’s executive team told investors they planned to regain the chain’s reputation for selling stylish goods at budget prices by expanding Target’s lineup of store label brands and shortening the time it took to get new items from the idea stage to store shelves. The moves would help the company stay close to trends, executives said.

    “In a world where we operate today, our guests are looking for Tarzhay,” Cornell told investors. “Consumers coined that term decades ago to define how we elevate the everything everyday to something special, how we had unexpected fun in the shopping that would be otherwise routine.”

    Before joining Target in 2014, Cornell, 66, spent more than 30 years in leadership positions at retail and consumer-product companies, including as chief marketing officer at Safeway Inc. and CEO at Michaels, Walmart’s Sam’s Club and PepsiCo America Foods. In September 2022, the board extended his contract for three more years and eliminated a policy requiring its chief executives to retire at age 65.

    When Cornell got to Target, the company was facing a different set of challenges.

    Cornell replaced former CEO Gregg Steinhafel, who stepped down nearly five months after Target disclosed a huge data breach in which hackers stole millions of customers’ credit- and debit-card records. The theft badly damaged the chain’s reputation and profits.

    Cornell reenergized sales by having his team rev up Target’s store brands. It now has 40 private label brands in its portfolio. And even before the pandemic, Cornell spearheaded the company’s mission to transform its stores into delivery hubs to cut down on costs and speed up deliveries.

    Target’s 2017 acquisition of Shipt helped bolster the discounter’s same-day, store-based fulfillment services. Cornell also focused on making its stores better tailored to the local community.

    The coronavirus pandemic delivered outsized sales for Target as well as its peers as people stayed home and bought pajamas, furnishings and kitchen items. And it continued to see a surge in sales as shoppers emerged from their homes and went to stores. But the spending sprees eventually subsided.

    As inflation started to spike, Target reported a 52% drop in profits during its 2022 first quarter compared with a year earlier. Purchases of big TVs and appliances that Americans loaded up on during the pandemic faded, leaving the retailer with excess inventory that had to be sold off.

    In July 2023, as shoppers feeling pinched by inflation curtailed their spending, Target said its comparable sales declined for the first time in six years.

    Moreover, Target started losing its edge as an authority on style by focusing too much on home furnishings basics, and not enough trendy items, Fiddelke said.

    A customer backlash over the annual line of LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise Target stores carried that year further cut into sales.

    Although Walmart retreated from its diversity initiatives first, Target has been the focus of more concerted consumer boycotts. Organizers have said they viewed Target’s action as a greater betrayal because the company previously had held itself out as a champion of inclusion.

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  • Historic film studio hits the market at top dollar even as filming dips

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    One of the oldest movie studios in Los Angeles is up for sale, perhaps to the newest generation of content creators.

    The potential sale of Occidental Studios comes amid a drop in filming in Los Angeles as the local entertainment industry faces such headwinds as rising competition from studios in other cities and countries, as well as the aftermath of filming slowdowns during the pandemic and industry strikes of 2023.

    Occidental Studios, which dates back to 1913, was once used by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to make silent films. It is a small version of a traditional Hollywood studio with soundstages, offices and writers’ bungalows in a 3-acre gated campus near Echo Park in Historic Filipinotown.

    Kermit the Frog above the Jim Henson Company studio lot in Hollywood.

    (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

    The seller hopes its boutique reputation will garner $45 million, which would rank it one of the most valuable studios in Southern California at $651 per square foot. A legendary Hollywood studio founded by Charlie Chaplin in 1917 sold last year for $489 per foot, according to real estate data provider CoStar.

    The Chaplin studio, known until recently as the Jim Henson Company Lot, was purchased by singer-songwriter John Mayer and movie director McG from the family of Muppets creator Jim Henson.

    Occidental Studios may sell to one of today’s modern content creators in search of a flagship location, said real estate broker Nicole Mihalka of CBRE, who represents the seller.

    She declined to name potential buyers but said she is showing the property to new-media businesses who don’t present themselves through traditional channels such as television shows and instead rely on social media and the internet to reach younger audiences.

    An entrance at Occidental Studios.

    Occidental Studios, which dates back to 1913, was once used by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to make silent films.

    (CBRE)

    New media entrepreneurs may not often need soundstages, “but they like the idea of having the history, the legacy” of a studio linked to the early days of cinema, she said. It might lend credibility to a brand and become a destination for promotional activities as well as being a place to create content, she said. Mihalka envisions the space being used for events for partners, sponsors and advertisers as well as press junkets for new product launches.

    Entertainment businesses located nearby include filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s Array Now, independent film and production company Blumhouse Productions and film and production company Rideback Ranch.

    Neighborhoods east of Hollywood such as Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Highland Park have become home to many people in the entertainment industry, which Mihalka hopes will elevate the appeal of Occidental Studios.

    “We’ve been seeing film and TV talent heading this way for a while,” she said, including executives who also live in those neighborhoods.

    The owner of of Occidental Studios said it’s gotten harder for smaller studios to operate in the current economic climate that includes competition from major independent studio operators that have emerged in recent decades.

    “Once upon a time, you did not have multibillion-dollar global portfolio companies swimming in the waters of Hollywood,” said Craig Darian, chief executive of Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings Inc., citing Hudson Pacific Properties, Hackman Capital Partners and CIM Group. “They are not content producers, but have a long history of providing services for multiple television shows and features.”

    Competition now includes overseas studios in such countries as Canada, Ireland and Australia, he said. “When production was really robust and domiciled in Los Angeles, it was much easier to remain very competitive.”

    Another factor threatening the bottom line for conventional studios is rapidly changing technology used to create entertainment including tools as simple as lighting.

    “You used to know that equipment would last for decades,” Darian said. “The new tools for production are becoming obsolete in far shorter order.”

    Writers' bungalows at Occidental Studios.

    Writers’ bungalows at Occidental Studios.

    (CBRE)

    Nevertheless, Darian said, the potential sale “is not motivated by distress or urgency. Nothing is driving the decision other than the timing of whether or not this remains to be a relevant asset to keep within our portfolio. If we get an offer at or above the asking price, then we’re a seller.”

    Darian said he may also seek a long-term tenant to take over the studio.

    Occidental Studios at 201 N. Occidental Blvd. comprises over 69,000 square feet of buildings including four soundstages and support space such as offices and dressing rooms.

    It’s among the oldest continually operating studios in Hollywood, used by pioneering filmmakers Cecil B. DeMille, D.W. Griffith and Pickford, who worked there as an actor and filmmaker in its early years. She reportedly kept an apartment on the lot for years.

    More recently it has been used for television production for shows including “Tales of the City,” “New Girl” and HBO’s thriller “Sharp Objects.”

    Local television production area declined by 30.5% in the first quarter compared with the previous year, according to he nonprofit organization FilmLA, which tracks shoot days in the Greater Los Angeles region. All categories of TV production were down, including dramas (-38.9%), comedies (-29.9%), reality shows -(26.4%) and pilots (-80.3%).

    Feature film production decreased by 28.9%, while commercials were down by 2.1%, FilmLA said.

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    Roger Vincent

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  • ‘Unfortunately, Altadena is for sale’: Developers are buying up burned lots

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    In the wake of the devastating Eaton fire that tore through Altadena in January, hundreds of signs sprouted up in the ash-laden yards of burned-down homes: “Altadena Not for Sale.”

    The slogan signified a resistance toward outside investors looking to buy up the droves of suddenly buildable lots. But as the summer real estate market kicks into gear, not only is Altadena for sale — it seems to be flying off the shelves.

    Roughly 145 burned lots have sold so far, around 100 are currently listed, and dozens more are in escrow. The identity of every single buyer isn’t clear, since many are obscured by trusts or limited liability companies, but real estate records and local sources suggest that developers are buying the lion’s share of lots.

    It’s far outpacing the Palisades market, where less than 60 lots have sold since the fire and roughly 180 are sitting on the market, sometimes for months.

    Victor Becerra surveys his property on Wednesday, located next to a recently sold property on Wapello Street. Becerra is rebuilding and said he is anxious for the neighborhood to “bloom again.”

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    The roughly 250 lots sold and listed so far in Altadena represent only a small fraction of the 6,000 homes lost in the Eaton fire, but the market will probably get even hotter. Each month has seen an increase in listings and sales, and local real estate agents say the only thing keeping more from selling is the slow process of fire victims navigating insurance claims and wrapping their heads around the reality of rebuilding, which will probably take at least half a decade.

    “In a perfect world, my neighbors and I would all rebuild, and five years from now, Altadena would look the same as it did before the fire,” said one resident who asked to speak anonymously for fear of judgment from community members urging others not to sell. “But it’s just not realistic.”

    She listed the lot in May and had a handful of offers in days. She ended up selling to the highest bidder, a midsize developer that has purchased a few other properties in Altadena.

    “I’ll always love Altadena, but I don’t have the resources for a rebuild that could take half a decade,” she said, echoing a Times report that said fire victims are hesitant to return to the neighborhood over fears that government officials won’t fast-track new development.

    Despite the surge of lots hitting the market, demand has been steady, and lots are selling fast. Through the first four months of the year, the median property in Altadena spent 19 days on the market compared with 35 days over the same stretch last year, according to Redfin.

    Lots have sold for as little as $330,000 and as much as $1.865 million, with most going for somewhere between $500,000 and $700,000. The first lot to hit the market listed for $449,000 and sold for $100,000 over the asking price in an all-cash deal — though with the influx in inventory since then, buyers are typically paying just the full asking price, not more.

    “Everybody in Altadena thought they were going to rebuild, but depending on their situation, a lot of the time it just doesn’t make sense,” said Ann Marie Ahern, an Altadena resident and real estate agent. “We wanted to keep things local, but unfortunately, Altadena is for sale.”

    Ahern currently has a listing on Rubio Crest Avenue for $735,000. She said most of the interest has come from either single developers looking for a project or two, or large developers hoping to buy as many lots as possible.

    “One agent called me and said he has someone looking to buy 100 lots,” she said.

    A sign says Altadena is not for sale

    While many properties destroyed by the Eaton fire are up for sale, some displaced residents proclaim their homes are not.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    Of the sales so far, around half of the burned properties have sold to buyers that have only purchased only one, while half have sold to buyers purchasing multiple lots including Black Lion Properties, Iron Rings Altadena, Ocean Dev Inc., NP Altadena and Sheng Feng.

    Ahern said the shopping spree is causing deep concern among locals that the new builds won’t match the charm and quirks of Altadena, where century-old Craftsmans mingle with Colonial Revivals and English Tudors. New development can also bring gentrification, which is why some nonprofits are attempting to buy up lots to resell them below market value to displaced locals.

    The collective fear? An Altadena ego death, where the community fades into suburban sprawl obscurity. The potential culprits? Developers.

    But some say the vilification of developers is misplaced.

    “The big danger facing Altadena isn’t gentrification. It’s that it won’t get built back at all,” said Brock Harris, a real estate agent who has sold half a dozen burned lots, including some to developers.

    Harris said most developers buying up lots aren’t huge companies looking to turn Altadena into a community of tract homes. Rather, it’s smaller developers capable of taking on 5 to 10 projects per year.

    “If Altadena is going to come back, we need way more developers coming in to help out,” he said. “Otherwise, a decade from now, it’ll look desolate and unwelcoming with one house for every five lots.”

    He said rebuilding is a complex process for an average citizen, and anyone considering that route should be prepared to spend the next three to five years yelling at inspectors and getting ripped off by contractors.

    “Professionals will be the ones rebuilding the city,” he said, since they’re more equipped to handle the “bureaucratic mess” of building a house in L.A.

    He’s not surprised at the booming speculative market. In the midst of a housing crisis — where home prices soar and empty land is scarce — a flat, buildable lot is a rare opportunity.

    Harris expects the new builds in Altadena to match the ones that burned down — to a degree. One developer client told him they plan to replicate whatever style was there before. If a Tudor burned down, build a Tudor. If a Craftsman burned down, build a Craftsman.

    Locals say replication brings pros and cons. One downside is that no matter what style developers opt for, the level of craftsmanship from a century ago can’t be copied due to the expensive process of building a house in the modern market and the thin margins developers have to make a profit. But modern building codes are much more fire-resistant, which could protect the neighborhood from fires in the future.

    Initially, some speculators were concerned that homebuyers would be hesitant to purchase in an area that recently burned. However, in a state plagued by earthquakes, landslides and rising seas, Californians have consistently shown that they’re fine living and buying in disaster-prone areas. As offers pour in for lots in the burn zone, and with excessive lead levels found in the homes that survived, it’s clear that the fires haven’t diminished demand for Altadena real estate.

    The same can be said for the surrounding foothill communities, such as La Cañada Flintridge or Sierra Madre, where a dry, windy day could put them at the same risk for disaster. In the months after the Eaton fire, both markets are surging.

    To the west, the area of La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta-Montrose saw 92 home sales in the first five months of the year compared with 70 during the same stretch last year. To the east in Sierra Madre, 40 homes sold in the first five months of the year compared with 28 in 2024.

    Fire victims shopping for new homes are partly responsible for the mini boom, said real estate agent Chelby Crawford. She said 10% of buyers at her open houses are people who lost their homes in the Eaton fire.

    Crawford listed a house in the foothills of La Cañada Flintridge in April, and it went under contract a month later. In March, she sold a home high along Angeles Crest Highway to a displaced fire victim, who had no problem with the fire-prone location.

    “Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge are benefiting the most,” she said. “Fire victims are just excited to find their next home. It’s selling season.”

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    Jack Flemming

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  • Which L.A. neighborhoods have paid the most ‘mansion tax’?

    Which L.A. neighborhoods have paid the most ‘mansion tax’?

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    Los Angeles is roughly a year and a half into its so-called “mansion tax,” levying charges on high-end property sales to raise money for affordable housing and homelessness initiatives.

    Measure ULA charges a 4% fee on all property sales above $5.1 million and a 5.5% fee on all sales above $10.3 million. Now, thanks to a new dashboard, Angelenos can see exactly where and how that money is being raised.

    Named the ULA Revenue Dashboard, the interactive data hub was released by the Housing Department in late August. It breaks down numbers based on which types of properties have sold and where.

    So far, 670 sales have been subject to the tax, raising just over $439 million as of Oct. 31.

    It’s a large sum, but still far short of original projections, which promised $600 million to $1.1 billion per year. But monthly data show that the mansion-tax market is heating up.

    August was the biggest month so far for Measure ULA, raising $39.6 million. October was the second-biggest month, raising $35.9 million.

    The data also show that the majority of properties subjected to the mansion tax have, indeed, been mansions. Of the 670 total sales, 388 were single-family homes, accounting for roughly 58% of the total and raising $178.3 million.

    Commercial properties — office buildings, retail buildings, warehouses, etc. — accounted for 135 sales, making up 20% of the total and raising $117.4 million.

    Multifamily residential buildings made up the third-largest share, with 72 sales accounting for 11%, followed by uncategorized properties at 8%, vacant properties at 3% and mixed-use properties at 0.3%.

    Westside neighborhoods accounted for nearly half of all “mansion tax” sales. Unsurprisingly, the 5th City Council District — which holds neighborhoods such as Bel-Air and Beverly Crest — raised the most at $83.3 million across 138 sales.

    District 11 — which includes Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Marina del Rey — raised the second most at $73.9 million across 174 sales.

    District 4 — home to the Hollywood Hills as well as San Fernando Valley neighborhoods such as Encino and Sherman Oaks — raised the third most at $59.4 million across 127 sales.

    “We believe in transparency and accountability, and it’s important for folks to know how ULA is manifesting and performing,” said Greg Good, director of strategic engagement and policy for the Housing Department.

    Good said the ordinance, which took effect in April 2023, includes rigorous provisions for data collection, and the Housing Department has beefed up its data team to make sure the funding is transparent.

    “The reality is, it’s a lot of money. People made the choice to approve this measure, so it’s important to daylight the impacts,” Good said. “That way, we see how things are working and evolve the program to ensure we achieve the goals of ULA.”

    It’s the second dashboard that the Housing Department has launched related to Measure ULA. Earlier this year, the department released data on the ULA Emergency Renters Assistance Program, which funnels money to low-income renters at risk of homelessness.

    According to that dashboard, the program has received 31,380 applications and paid out a total of $30.4 million to 4,302 households.

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    Jack Flemming

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  • I Found On Cloud Sneakers on Sale for as Low as $63—Here Are the 30 Best Deals

    I Found On Cloud Sneakers on Sale for as Low as $63—Here Are the 30 Best Deals

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    All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

    It’s hard to find a shoe brand that checks off all the boxes. Are its sneakers comfortable, supportive, durable, responsive, tech-forward, and sustainable? Not many can answer yes to all of the above, but one that can is On. It’s been paving the way in innovative, comfortable, sleek sneaks since it launched in 2010. Now, it has a cult following as well as plenty of celebs who have been spotted in its kicks—think Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, and Gisele Bündchen, among others.

    If you, too, count yourself as a fan, you might be wondering where On Cloud sneakers are on sale right now. In my search for the best On running deals, I was surprised to find that they’re discounted at five major online retailers, including Nordstrom, Zappos, and more. Diving deeper, I discovered 30 On deals, which is still a decent amount compared to the 95 Hoka sales I found. This shoe brand is in high-demand for good reason, and you’re going to want to pick up the pace in snatching up these On Cloud steals while you can.

    Best On Cloud Sales at a Glance:

    • Best On Cloud 5 Deal: REI, $100 (originally $150)
    • Best On Cloudgo Deal: Zappos, $105 (originally $150)
    • Best On The Roger Deal: Nordstrom, $152 (originally $190)
    • Best On Cloudrunner Deal: Dick’s Sporting Goods, $101 (originally $150)
    • Best On Cloudsurfer Deal: Zappos, $112 (originally $160)
    • Best On Cloudvista Deal: Zappos, $105 (originally $150)
    • Best On Cloud X 3 Deal: REI, $112 (originally $150)

    Zappos wins for sheer amount of discounts, since I included eight in this roundup (there are even more on the site!). As for the best deals, it’s pretty evenly spread out across the five retailers, with Zappos having a slight edge. So whether you prefer shopping at Nordstrom, Zappos, or REI, you should most definitely be able to find a pair (or three!) in your size, colorway, and style. This list has it all, from the Cloud 5 and Cloudrunner for just $100 each to the Cloudsurfer and Cloud X 3 for only $112 each.

    Keep reading to browse the 30 best On Cloud sales that are running (*wink, wink*) as we speak. Unfortunately, On doesn’t have an official Amazon storefront (since it’s Prime Big Deal Days), so these discounts are the best you’re going to find on the market right now.

    On Cloud 5 Sneaker
    On.

    Nordstrom

    On Cloudsurfer Sneaker
    On.

    Zappos

    On Cloudrunner Sneaker
    On.

    REI

    On Cloud X 3 Sneaker
    On.

    Bloomingdale’s

    On Cloudrunner Sneaker
    On.

    Dick’s Sporting Goods

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    Katie Decker-Jacoby

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  • This Is Not a Fever Dream: Madewell Has Jeans Starting at Just $5

    This Is Not a Fever Dream: Madewell Has Jeans Starting at Just $5

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    All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

    If you have yet to grace your legs with a pair of Madewell jeans, you’re missing out. As someone’s who has owned a few pairs, I can’t sing their praises enough for being high-quality, durable, and stylish. Above all, Madewell makes jeans you don’t have to worry about. Once you find the perfect fit, your daily outfit decisions become 1,000 times easier because you can always count on your trusty Madewell denim. But for those who are still missing out, you’ll he happy to know that Madewell is having a jeans sale ahead of Labor Day.

    It’s not just any old sale, though. I have never ever seen such big discounts on Madewell denim. An extra 50% off with code LONGWEEKEND is all you need to take advantage of these deals. I sorted the offerings from low to high price and found that the cheapest pair is down to $15. Yup, $15 for Madewell-quality jeans. Mic dropped. Jaw dropped. Wallet dropped. Everything dropped. It’s rare to find $15 jeans at any brand or retailer, let alone Madewell.

    Best Madewell Jeans Deals at a Glance

    Not sure where to start or don’t have time to dig through the deals? There’s no need to stress, dear reader, because I’ve gathered my top 10 picks. Continue reading for a shopping editor’s favorite Madewell jeans deals—from a wide-leg pair that’s giving off-duty model to capris that are perfect for summer.

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The ’90s Straight Jean

    On Sale 46% off

    Sizes: 23-34
    Colors: 7

    Calling all ’90s-obsessed fashion girlies, these straight jeans are about to become part of your year-round uniform. Just be sure to size up since the brand notes this style runs small.

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The Curvy Emmett Wide-Leg Jean

    On Sale 84% off

    Sizes: 23-34
    Colors: 1

    These jeans are best-sellers for a reason. They have slouchy legs, unique front pockets, body-hugging stretch, and a contoured waistband. This pair really pulls out all the stops to offer comfort and a flattering fit.

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The ’90s Straight Crop Jean

    On Sale 25% off

    Sizes: 23-33
    Colors: 3

    I’m a firm believer that everyone should have a black or faded black pair of jeans in their closet. Darker washes dress up jeans just a tiny bit, but they’re also easier to match with tops. This particular pair has a distressed hem that creates a worn-in feel.

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The Curvy ’90s Straight Jean

    On Sale 71% off

    Sizes: 23-33
    Colors: 4

    The cross-tab waistband is still going strong and I’m here for it. I love how these straight jeans have a baggier fit in the legs but feature a higher rise in the back to make your bum look sooooo good.

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The Garment-Dyed ’90s Straight Cargo Pant

    On Sale 86% off

    Sizes: 23-34
    Colors: 2

    Your perfect summer pants have been unlocked. While not technically denim, these cargo pants have such a laidback vibe and fit—two things anyone would want in their summertime rotation!

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The ’90s Capri Jean

    On Sale 84% off

    Sizes: 23-33
    Colors: 2

    I’ll keep saying it until I finally cave, but I need to buy myself capri jeans like these. They have a retro edge that I think is absolutely perfect for the warmer months.

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The Emmett Wide-Leg Crop Jean

    On Sale 65% off

    Sizes: 23-33
    Colors: 2

    These high-waisted jeans with wide legs couldn’t be more comfy and versatile. Just be sure to opt for the Kieran wash if you want a more vintage feel.

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell Superwide-Leg Jeans

    On Sale 57% off

    Sizes: 23-33
    Colors: 1

    If you, like me, think wide-leg jeans are superior to all other styles, you’ll be happy to find a pair that takes wide to the extreme. (It’s literally in the name.)

    Madewell Labor Day Sale 2024: Shop Denim for as Low as $15

    Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean

    On Sale 46% off

    Sizes: 23-33
    Colors: 1

    For those who usually go for tapered legs on jeans, this pair has a vintage flair that would look great with anything from a plain white tee to a strapless bodysuit or oversized button-down shirt.

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    Katie Decker-Jacoby

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  • Sale of massive Skid Row homeless housing portfolio approved by judge

    Sale of massive Skid Row homeless housing portfolio approved by judge

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    The sale of one of Los Angeles’ largest collections of homeless housing was approved by a judge Wednesday, marking a final step in averting a catastrophic loss of permanent shelter in Skid Row.

    Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephen Goorvitch said the $10-million purchase price for 17 buildings to be paid by Beverly Hills developer Leo Pustilnikov was in the best interest of formerly homeless tenants and L.A. taxpayers who had been financing the portfolio’s maintenance and repairs for 16 months.

    “This is a solution that is the product of collaboration, hard work and checks and balances,” Goorvitch said. “Only time will tell whether this will be a success story, but I am optimistic.”

    Goorvitch on Wednesday approved the sale of an additional building, the New Genesis, to KE Ventures, an entity affiliated with a Washington D.C.-based multifamily developer, for $2.1 million. Both deals are scheduled to close next month. Along with the earlier transfers of 11 other properties to nonprofit landlords, all 29 buildings previously controlled by the Skid Row Housing Trust have found new owners.

    The trust was once considered a national model for taking old single-room occupancy hotels and small apartment complexes in Skid Row and rehabilitating them into supportive housing for homeless residents. But in February 2023, the nonprofit announced it could no longer pay its bills after years of leadership problems and financial challenges. The decision left its 2,000-unit portfolio in disarray as tenants, many of whom were elderly, disabled or dealing with drug addiction, faced broken plumbing and heating, vermin infestations and other terrible conditions.

    Mayor Karen Bass, City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto and other city leaders pushed for a court-ordered receivership last year to oversee the portfolio and search for new owners. Without urgent action, they said at the time, more than a thousand people could be forced to the streets and a critical source of homeless housing would be abandoned.

    The process has been costly and faced missteps. The first receiver chosen, Mark Adams, resigned under pressure after just three months after struggling with financing and management. The Times reported that the city did not fully vet Adams — who had hosted a political fundraiser for the city attorney and had a history of problems in other receiverships involving low-income tenants — before recommending him for the role.

    The city’s bill for the receivership is at least $37 million, though some of that amount is expected to be repaid once the sales approved Wednesday close.

    Identifying new owners has been challenging, for some of the same reasons that the trust failed. Many buildings are aging and need extensive repairs; federal housing subsidies haven’t covered growing monthly costs to operate them; the tenant population has grown more difficult as leasing practices prioritize those with mental health and addiction needs. Kevin Singer, the current receiver, said in recent court filings that some of the properties had such negative value that they couldn’t be given away.

    Because of these problems, city leaders had originally pitched taking on the most troubled buildings and spinning them off to nonprofits that would demolish them and build new homeless housing in their place.

    But that plan faltered in the spring as city and state budgets dried up. A deal for some of the remaining buildings with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation broke down in April amid concerns about the charity’s track record in Skid Row, disputes over providing tenants with social services and the foundation’s assertion that conditions in the buildings were worse than they had believed.

    Pustilnikov, who had long been interested in the properties, emerged as a buyer in the aftermath. The developer is better known for his plans to leverage a state law to build 3,500 new apartments in Beverly Hills, Redondo Beach and other wealthy Southern California communities. His attempt to amass a large downtown portfolio alongside two wealthy investors a decade ago fell apart amid litigation.

    Pustilnikov has said that he’s stepping in to prevent worsening conditions in Skid Row and that he’s learned the complexities of financing and managing affordable housing in the neighborhood. He’s committed to maintaining social services for tenants, a key demand of Bass and the city.

    “I would like to thank the city, county and state for their efforts in protecting this vulnerable population and I look forward to continuing to work with the mayor, City Council and County Board of Supervisors in turning around these challenging and neglected properties,” Pustilnikov said in a statement.

    No formal opposition emerged to the sale, which Goorvich said was a significant factor in his approval following a 90-minute hearing in which he questioned city lawyers and the receiver. Goorvich said he was persuaded this decision would avoid an outcome that would threaten vulnerable tenants’ housing and that the city had sufficient regulatory authority to ensure the new owners would improve the properties.

    “To put it in colloquial terms, something is better than nothing,” the judge said. “But I think this is a good something.”

    Ann Sewill, general manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department, said after the hearing that she’s been impressed with Pustilnikov’s attention to the properties since he’s been engaged in the deal. She said he’s attempted to visit tenants units across the portfolio, asked detailed questions about building operations and has worked collaboratively with the city.

    “We have a clear-eyed view of how to put these buildings back into financial and physical viability,” Sewill said.

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    Liam Dillon

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  • Announcing – Mommy’s Time Out Back to School Sale

    Announcing – Mommy’s Time Out Back to School Sale

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    Press Release
    •

    Jul 26, 2024 09:15 EDT

    Are you prepared for Back to School?


    EAST HANOVER, N.J., July 26, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    School opening is just around the corner. As Mommy makes the stressful preparations along with the many responsibilities of being a mother, she also needs to kick back and relax. While Moms are shopping for backpacks, sneakers, and notebooks, Mommy’s Time Out Wine announces a Back to School Sale just for Moms, who deserve something special for themselves now and then.

    Mommy’s Time Out wine comes in four types – Pinot Grigio (delle venezie DOC), Moscato (Terre Siciliane), Delicious Red (Tantrum Red), and Delicious Pink (Vino Rosato). These four wines are from Italy and are well-balanced with fruity undertones. Mommy’s Time Out comes in 750-ml and 1.5-L sizes. The suggested retail price is $11.99 for the 750ml size and $16.99 for the 1.5L size (Mommy’s Time Out Pinot Grigio only). MOM’S CAB CABernet Sauvignon is from southern France and comes in the 750ml size. The suggested retail price is $13.99.

    Mommy’s Time Out also has a lemon flavored Hard Iced Tea which is refreshing and flavorful and is brewed using straightforward ingredients resulting in a delicious finish. The suggested retail price is $14.99 per four pack of 12oz cans.

    Adults over the age of 21 should enjoy MOM’S CAB and Mommy’s Time Out responsibly. 

    For more information on Mommy’s Time Out, please visit www.mommystimeoutwine.com. 

    ###

    *Mommy’s Time Out is a registered trademark of Selective Wine Estates, Inc.

    ** For editorial samples, please contact media@mommystimeout.net

    Source: Selective Wine Estates, Inc.

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  • Humble’s Heatwave sale is the perfect excuse to stay inside

    Humble’s Heatwave sale is the perfect excuse to stay inside

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    The mercury is rising, but Humble is providing the ideal way to beat the heat.

    Through July 25, Humble is offering discounts on a variety of AAA and indie games with its Heatwave of Hits sale. Titles include Dragon’s Dogma 2, Cult of the Lamb, Resident Evil 4, and more. There are dozens of games to choose from, but if you need some suggestions, we’ve highlighted some of our favorites below.

    Image: Ironwood Studios

    If you ever wondered what it might be like taking a road trip through the Upside Down from Stranger Things, you should definitely check out Pacific Drive. Pacific Drive is currently on sale for $17.99 at Humble (was $29.99).

    A screenshot from Against the Storm

    Image: Hooded Horse

    A bold title that blends elements of city-building and real-time strategy with roguelite elements, Against the Storm distills the typical marathon of management sims into two-hour sessions. This title is currently on sale for $18.99 from Humble (was $29.99).

    A screenshot from Children of the Sun

    Image: Devolver Digital

    Sniping a bunch of unsuspecting targets can get a bit tricky when you only have one bullet. Children of the Sun lets you artfully string together headshots by curving your bullets, allowing you to eliminate several foes with one sublime shot. Children of the Sun is on sale for $11.99 at Humble (was $14.99).

    A screenshot from Pepper Grinder

    Image: Devolver Digital

    Pepper Grinder combines a vivid, and deliciously chunky aesthetic with innovative and fluid movement to produce what is easily the best platformer of 2024. You can pick up this title for just $11.99 at Humble right now (was $14.99).

    A screenshot from Shadow Gambit: The Cursed crew, showing an overview of the Dreadvine Cove Island, highlighting the vine covered skull that sits at the center of the map.

    Image: Mimimi Games

    Take control of an undead crew of pirates as you attempt to stealthily shank and shiv your way across the Caribbean. This stealth tactics game is witty, charming, and full of interesting tactical puzzles for your to dissect. You can pick up Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew from Humble for $29.99 (was $39.99).

    A screenshot of Ultros

    Image: Hadoque

    With every frame looking like a living blacklight poster, Ultros is perhaps the artistic antithesis of Hollow Knight. If you’re hunting for another awesome Metroidvania to tide you over until we get more Hollow Knight: Silksong news, you should take Ultros for a spin. You can pick up this title from Humble for $14.99 (was $24.99).

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    Alice Jovanée

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  • Epomaker Launches Prime Week Event for Beloved Fans and Supporters

    Epomaker Launches Prime Week Event for Beloved Fans and Supporters

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    Press Release
    •

    Jul 16, 2024 09:00 EDT

    Half of 2024 has passed already, and during the past few months, Epomaker has released so many intriguing products. Therefore, to give back to their customers, Epomaker prepared a prime week sale event.


    NEW YORK, July 16, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Epomaker is dedicated to bringing top-notch products and the best after-sale services to keyboard enthusiasts and customers who are supportive of their products. In light of Amazon Prime Day, Epomaker is offering generous discounts on products in its Amazon store and on its official website during this mid-year event.

    Epomaker is committed to seeking ways of giving back to its supporters. At this time, Epomaker is launching a Prime Week Sale Event alongside the Amazon Prime Day deal. The overall event runs from July 8th to July 21st. Specifically, the Amazon Prime Day deal starts from July 16th to July 17th. Following this, the official shopping fiesta begins from July 16th to July 21st.

    For esteemed customers, Epomaker has prepared a variety of special offers, including daily flash deals, mystery boxes, and discounts on best-selling products available on the Epomaker website. Exclusive products have been automatically discounted to save customers from complex calculations. Additionally, prize vouchers can be stacked and used with discounted products, providing customers with a joyful and seamless shopping experience.

    Aiming to enhance the Prime Day experience for customers and provide even greater value, the Epomaker Amazon store offers discounts of up to 50% on a wide range of mechanical keyboards and accessories. Epomaker is dedicated to creating extraordinary experiences for fans and keyboard enthusiasts, and this exclusive promotion event is no exception.

    For more information, please visit:

    Epomaker Prime Week Giveaway

    Epomaker official website

    Epomaker Amazon.US

    Contact us:

    agnes@epomaker.com

    Source: Epomaker INC

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  • The 45 Best Prime Day Style Deals to Grab Before They’re Gone

    The 45 Best Prime Day Style Deals to Grab Before They’re Gone

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    Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!

    The wait is over . . . it’s officially Amazon Prime Day! While we can’t wait to shop home and beauty deals during the two-day sale, we’re also swooning over the trendy style deals that are up for grabs. Sundresses, sandals and accessories only scratch the surface of the style deals that will be marked down. It’s a dream come true for Us fashionistas!

    Related: Almost Time! Amazon Prime Day 2024: Best Early Deals and More

    Have you heard? Amazon Prime Day 2024 is quickly approaching! If you’ve ever shopped the two-day sales over the past 10 years, then you know how massive it is. Big ticket items like household appliances and viral hair stylers are marked down to some of their lowest prices. Think Black Friday-level discounts, but in the […]

    So get ready for a major fashion glow-up. You can channel viral aesthetics from tenniscore to office siren or you can stock up on warm-weather essentials like maxi dresses, jumpsuits and rompers . . . whatever suits your fancy! All are courtesy of Amazon Prime Day style deals. Check out our top picks ahead!

    The Best Prime Day Sundress Deals on Sale

    Zesica Spaghetti Strap Ruffle A Line Maxi Dress Amazon
    Amazon

    Ready, set, glow! This dreamy, ruffled maxi dress is on sale! We love all of the accents like the smocked style and bow-strap design. Not to mention the breezy flowy fit! This dress ultra-stylish is beyond comfy, too!

    The Best Prime Day Jumpsuit Deals on Sale

    jumpsuit
    Amazon

    Hey there, trendy queen! Lightweight and airy jumpsuits are totally in right now, so get ready to nail the look with this loose and flowy outfit that’s perfect for travel. Dress it up with sandals or down with sneakers!

    Hurry! These Are the 21 Best Early Prime Day Bra Deals

    Related: Hurry! These Are the 21 Best Early Prime Day Bra Deals

    It’s that time of year again! The Fourth of July is in our rearview and Amazon Prime Day is finally here. From July 16-17, the e-tailer is offering massive discounts on all of your needs. If you’re on the hunt for new bras to add to your intimates collection, you can snag bra deals on […]

    The Best Prime Day Accessory Deals on Sale

    Sojos Retro Oval Sunglasses Amazon
    Amazon

    When we see designer-style sunglasses on sale, we automatically grab our credit cards — especially when it’s a crowd favorite like this oval pair! These sunglasses have gold detailing, a sleek style and are now 20% off.

    The Best Prime Day Shoe Deals on Sale

    The Drop Monika Flat H-band Slide Sandal Nordstrom
    Nordstrom

    There’s nothing better than a pair of slip-on sandals during the summertime. These comfy slides will be your new go-tos! Grab them in white, brown, black or beige.

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    Olivia Hanson

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  • Target’s ‘buy 2, get 1 free’ sale is the perfect Prime Day aperitif

    Target’s ‘buy 2, get 1 free’ sale is the perfect Prime Day aperitif

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    While Amazon’s Prime Day doesn’t kick off until next week, Target is hosting an excellent sale on board games, movies, books, and more that you’ll definitely want to check out. Through July 13, Target Circle members can get a third item free when they purchase two other eligible items of equal or greater value. While this deal is restricted to members, joining Target Circle is free, and grants you access to free two-day shipping, in addition to exclusive discounts and promotions.

    There are literally hundreds of eligible products included in this sale, but we’ve picked out some of our favorites from different categories and listed them below.

    Board Games



    Battletech Essentials

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    The Battletech Essentials kit has everything you need to start playing the Battletech tabletop game. Each box comes with a pair of assembled mechs, a double-sided game map, quick-start rules booklet, and more.



    Mice & Mystics

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    • 1-4 players, age 7+

    • Playtime: 60-90 minutes

    Books and Graphic Novels



    Dune Hardcover Trilogy

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    A striking hardcover collection of the first three books in the Dune saga, featuring amazing cover art in addition to an illustrated poster inside each dust jacket.

    The deluxe hardcover version of the first book in the Dune: The Graphic Novel collection is currently on sale at Target for $27.99 (was $50). The standard version of the second book is available for $13.99 (was $24.99). The third volume isn’t due to launch until July 16, but it’s currently available for pre-order for $25.99.

    The Illustrated version of the Lord of the Rings illustrated edition includes 30 color illustrations, in addition to removable maps and sketches detailing Frodo’s journey and the greater geography of Middle-Earth. You can currently pick up a copy at Target for just $38.99 (was $74.99).

    The pocket-sized, leatherette-bound box set featuring The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy is also on sale at Target for $34.99 (was $59.99).

    Movies



    Starship Troopers (25th Anniversary)

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    The 25th-anniversary edition of Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi satire Starship Troopers has been re-released for 4K UHD formats, complete with unique steelbook box art.



    The Warriors

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    Walter Hill’s gritty New York odyssey The Warriors has been remastered for 4K UHD formats, complete with collector’s edition packaging. Can you dig it?



    Ghost in the Shell (1995)

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    The 1995 anime cyberpunk classic Ghost in the Shell is now available on 4K UHD formats, and comes packaged in a collector’s edition steelbook.



    Aliens

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    Undeniably the most quotable movie in the Alien franchise, James Cameron’s classic 1986 action-horror movie Aliens is now available as a 4K Blu-ray.

    Video Games



    Dragon’s Dogma 2 standard edition

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    Capcom’s open-world fantasy RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers spectacular vistas, a massive world to explore, and monsters to slay. It’s dangerous to go alone, but Dragon’s Dogma 2 also features a unique take on cooperative gameplay by allowing you to recruit characters other players have made, turning them into NPCs.



    Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth standard edition

    Prices taken at time of publishing.

    Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth builds on the foundation of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, taking Cloud Strife and the rest of his crew beyond Midgar to regions filled with new minigames and quests — some of which were not present in the original 1997 version.

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    Alice Jovanée

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  • For sale: A piece of California’s country music history

    For sale: A piece of California’s country music history

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    The famed Buck Owens Crystal Palace, where music legends including Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Garth Brooks and a young Taylor Swift have played, is up for sale, with the foundation that runs the Bakersfield venue planning to list it for $7 million on Monday.

    The nightclub, museum and steakhouse was owned by its namesake Buck Owens, the country music trailblazer who bucked the slick commercial melodies of Nashville for a distinctly West Coast twang. Owens opened the Crystal Palace in 1996, watching it become a premier venue for the biggest names in country music, including himself. Buck and the Buckaroos played there every Friday and Saturday night until his death in 2006.

    Jim Shaw, a member of the Buckaroos and a director of the Buck Owens Private Foundation, said that after 28 years of running the famed venue, the Owens family plans to step back and find new owners amid a challenging business climate. The foundation said in a statement that “since Buck’s passing in 2006, we’ve tried to maintain the excellence that he expected, even as it became more and more difficult during these challenging times of increasing food and labor costs.”

    The venue is not closing and scheduled events will continue as planned, Shaw said.

    “It’s business as usual for now,” Shaw said. “Ideally, someone who wants to keep it exactly as it is will come forward.”

    Owens’ youngest son, Johnny Owens, wrote on Facebook that the family’s hope “is that a buyer steps forward with a vision for the future and a reverence” for his father and the Bakersfield Sound.

    The Crystal Palace, located on Buck Owens Boulevard, is a major tourism staple for Bakersfield. The 18,000-square-foot venue is next to the city’s downtown entrance.

    “It’s the No. 1 tourist attraction in Bakersfield,” Shaw said. “There are people stepping forward and we are waiting to see what happens. I am getting a lot of phone calls. I’m anxious to see what happens.”

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    Melody Gutierrez

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  • Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium, ‘Carnegie Hall of the West,’ goes up for sale

    Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium, ‘Carnegie Hall of the West,’ goes up for sale

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    The storied Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, which was long considered one of the region’s top classical music venues, is for sale after being owned by a local church for the last two decades.

    Harvest Rock Church is asking $45 million for the 1,200-seat auditorium near the Old Pasadena district that has also hosted jazz greats including Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck and Dizzy Gillespie. It has been called “the Carnegie Hall of the West” by fans.

    The evangelical Christian Harvest Rock Church is based on the property and uses the auditorium for services. It also rents the venue to the Pasadena Symphony and the Colburn Orchestra as well as other performers that the church finds compatible with its religious mission.

    The church recently paid off its mortgage on the property, Pastor Che Ahn said, and decided to sell it to make a move to a bigger facility somewhere in the Los Angeles region.

    The lobby of the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena includes a chandelier composed of 100 custom bulbs and 1,390 crystals in three tiers of polished bronze.

    (Ambassador Foundation of Pasadena)

    “We’re hoping that someone will buy it to really restore it to the original purpose and intent of that building,” he said.

    The Ambassador Auditorium was intended to be a showplace for live performances when it opened in 1974. The Times called it “A new Taj Mahal for the arts.”

    It was also the centerpiece for Ambassador College, operated by the Worldwide Church of God on a 40-acre campus near the intersection of Colorado and Orange Grove boulevards that has been largely redeveloped in recent years.

    Harvest Rock Church and Maranatha High School bought a 13-acre portion of the campus site with five buildings including the auditorium from Worldwide Church of God in 2004 for an undisclosed amount. The auditorium controlled by Harvest Rock Church is assessed at $13.5 million, public records show.

    Ambassador College founder Herbert W. Armstrong was a televangelist who set out to call attention to his ministry by building a lavish auditorium where he could broadcast services and host high-profile nonreligious events, including an opening performance by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra on April 7, 1974.

    The auditorium made a big impression on local music aficionados, said Donna Perlmutter, who was a music critic at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner newspaper when it debuted.

    “We were, at the time, bowled over by the presence of it,” she said. “It was to compare with any marvelous auditorium in Europe.”

    That it had been created by a bombastic radio and television evangelist known for making dark end-times prophesies seemed unusual, she said.

    “It was almost comical to think of who it was who erected this magnificent place,” Perlmutter said of Armstrong. “It was such a weird juxtaposition.”

    The stage of the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena.

    Jazz greats who have performed in the 1,200-seat Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena include Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck and Dizzy Gillespie.

    (Ambassador Foundation of Pasadena)

    The acoustics are “optimal,” she said. “It bears a bright, undistorted sound. No singer could want more.”

    The hall’s design by the architectural firm Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall (DMJM) strived for a mid-century version of glamour, with a main lobby chandelier composed of 100 custom bulbs and 1,390 crystals in three tiers of polished bronze.

    Finishes include walls of Brazilian rosewood and rose onyx, African shedua wood railings and ceilings adorned with hand-rolled 24-carat gold leaf.

    The auditorium is set in a 500,000-gallon water pond that holds a 37-foot solid bronze egret sculpture designed by British sculptor David Wynne, who also famously made a bronze sculpture of the Beatles’ busts in 1964 and is said to have introduced them to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

    Potential buyers of the auditorium include the city of Pasadena, private investors, or a group of investors seeking “to acquire a landmark with profound historical significance,” said real estate agent Isidora Fridman of Compass, who has the listing with Lauren Rauschenberg. The property at 131 S. St. John Ave. will officially go on the market July 9, Compass said.

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    Roger Vincent

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  • The Celtics Sale, USMNT’s Flop, Lakers Hail Marys, and ‘The Bear’ Season 3 With Rob Stone and Van Lathan

    The Celtics Sale, USMNT’s Flop, Lakers Hail Marys, and ‘The Bear’ Season 3 With Rob Stone and Van Lathan

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    The Ringer’s Bill Simmons updates his NBA tier list after the latest free agent moves and then discusses what he thinks Danny Ainge’s plan is with Lauri Markkanen, why the CBA is broken, and the thought process behind Wyc Grousbeck’s decision to sell his stake in the Celtics (02:06). Next, Bill is joined by Fox Sports’ Rob Stone to discuss the disappointing USMNT loss to Uruguay, debate whether Christian Pulisic is good enough to be the best player on a team, talk about the lost opportunities to capitalize on soccer interest in the country, and more (31:39). Bill is also joined by Van Lathan, and they talk through the drafting of Bronny James, the hope they have for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F to be decent, what will happen with Joe Biden, the Kendrick Lamar–Drake beef, and their thoughts on Season 3 of FX’s The Bear (55:24).

    Host: Bill Simmons
    Guests: Rob Stone and Van Lathan
    Producers: Steve Ceruti and Jessie Lopez

    Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / RSS

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    Bill Simmons

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  • Step Into Summer With Coach Outlet’s Shoe Sale—Grab Sandals for Up to 70% Off

    Step Into Summer With Coach Outlet’s Shoe Sale—Grab Sandals for Up to 70% Off

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    All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

    ICYMI, we’ve been writing multiple stories about Coach Outlet’s Fourth of July sale because the deals are just that good. Up next: shoe deals. While you might not automatically think to visit Coach Outlet’s site for footwear, allow me to share my top picks from the holiday sale event.

    First, let’s talk about the Coach Outlet Fourth of July sale itself. When is it? The sale runs from June 21 through July 9, so you have a little over a week to fill up your cart. What are the discounts? Just a casual 15% off of the entire site, which by the way, already has steep markdowns. You’re scoring designer bags, wallets, shoes, accessories, and more for up to 70% off, which is the kind of news any fashion lover wants to hear.

    Coach Outlet Shoe Sale at a Glance

    • Best Coach Outlet Platform Sandal Deal: Eloise Sandal, $129 (originally $228) – 43% off
    • Best Coach Outlet Flat Sandal Deal: Harley Sandal, $89 (originally $168) – 47% off
    • Best Coach Outlet Espadrille Deal: Connie Espadrille, $109 (originally $178) – 39% off

    Lastly, what’s included in the shoe sale? That’s for you to find out by scrolling down to see a shopping editor’s favorite sale offerings. I will say, they’re all summer-ready picks that you can wear while traveling, to the beach, to a festival, or to whatever fun plans you have on the calendar. Just make sure to finish shopping by the time the Fourth of July sale ends on July 9.

    Coach Outlet Eloise Sandal
    Coach.

    You’ve got to love a little slip-on sandal moment, and this one is unbelievably chic with the soft leather and gold hardware on the front. It’s the perfect shoe to sport to a beach club or on a boat trip.

    Coach Outlet Harley Sandal
    Coach.

    If you believe in comfort over everything, this flat sandal has you covered. Its man-made leather lining and footbed mixed with Coach’s signature jacquard is a match made in heaven.

    Coach Outlet Fraser Sandal
    Coach.

    If you, like me, own too many black sandals, it’s high time you switch things up with this light khaki and chalk pair. I also much prefer chunkier shoes that give me a little extra height, so these definitely fit the bill.

    Coach Outlet Connie Espadrille
    Coach.

    I’m a sucker for shoes that tie up because it adds a feminine, almost balletcore, flair. I also love the contrast between the light-colored jute footbed and Coach’s signature monogram print in black.

    Coach Outlet Eloise Sandal
    Coach.

    The Eloise Sandal in Signature Jacquard reminds me of Bridgerton with its light pink and blue colorways. There’s something regal about this style of shoe, this classic print, and these soft shades.

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    Katie Decker-Jacoby

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  • The Viral Nap Dress I’ve Coveted Since 2020 Is Finally 20% Off—BRB, Shopping It Before It Sells Out

    The Viral Nap Dress I’ve Coveted Since 2020 Is Finally 20% Off—BRB, Shopping It Before It Sells Out

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    If you don’t already own an OG Ellie Nap Dress, we must rectify this immediately (IMO). Soft and perfectly long enough, details like the fluttery sleeves and ruching at the bodice gives this maxi dress some flare. Bonus: Most folks (including myself) find that they don’t need to wear a bra with it, either. Snag it patterns like the Navy Peony Bouquet Cotton Sateen (above).

    Sizes available: XXXS-XXXL
    Colors & patterns: 32 (not all eligible for promo)

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    Gina Vaynshteyn

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  • Best Deals to Pick Up During the Steam Summer Sale 2024

    Best Deals to Pick Up During the Steam Summer Sale 2024

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    It’s that time of year again, and the Steam Summer Sale has discounted thousands of games – so, we’ve taken the time to scour the site for the best deals! It’s as if Christmas, Black Friday, and the Boxing Day sales came together in one period for PC gamers! The Steam Summer Sale runs until July 11, 10 am Pacific Time.

    From Twinfinite’s favorite games of the last year to Valve’s own featured discounts, we have you covered.

    Multiple chart-topping franchises have deep-cut discounts running for the length of the sale, and Valve has even put their LCD models of the Steam Deck on sale!

    But, what are the best deals to pick up this year during the Steam Summer Sale?

    Deals on Twinfinite’s Top Titles of 2023

    Image Source: Larian Studios

    Similar to other widespread discount periods, like Black Friday and the Boxing Day sales, it’s best to go in prepared. Many gamers will already have a laundry list of titles they’re on the lookout for. However, if you’re looking for recommendations then we have you sorted!

    While 2024 has been a superb year for video game software, let’s not forget the stunning titles that 2023 gifted us with. As such, we’ve searched for appropriate deals corresponding to our staff picks for the 2023 Game of the Year contender list.

    3. Resident Evil 4

    Capcom has been on a runaway train of success with their recent ground-up remakes of classic Resident Evil titles. Besides the obvious graphical upgrades, these remakes went so far as to reimagine classic scenarios and modernize gameplay for a new generation of players.

    As such, when it was announced that – arguably the best Resident Evil title in the franchise – Resident Evil 4 would be getting this treatment, fans were ecstatic.

    As were we, when we played it. Giving it a well-deserved 4.5 out of 5, and a glowing recommendation for fans old and new, it’s definitely one to pick up!

    Resident Evil 4 (2023) has a discount of -24%, and a price point of only $29.99!

    2. Spider-Man 2

    Touted as a truly next-generation title for the PlayStation 5, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the poster child for a sequel done right. Keeping the heart of the original Insomniac title, Spider-Man 2 expands on nearly every other facet of the original.

    However, while we gave Spider-Man 2 a glowing 5 out of 5 in our review, unfortunately, the title is not available on Steam as of the time of writing.

    If more web-swinging action is something you would like to get into, then you are not completely at a loss. The remastered original, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, is available on the Steam store at a 40% discount – at a price point of $35.99!

    Insomniac’s side-story, which launched alongside the PS5 and is incorporated into Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 story, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is available on the Steam store at a 40% discount – at a price point of $29.99!

    Spider-Man: Miles Morales can be found on Steam here, whereas Spider-Man Remastered can be found here!

    Game of the Year 2023 Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3

    We are not the only ones to have loved Baldur’s Gate 3 as much as we have. However, when a title is as groundbreaking as Larian Studios’ breakout hit is, and sets a “new benchmark for what RPGs can be” then we’d be foolish to not recommend it.

    “Baldur’s Gate 3 is a once in a generation kind of game, and we’d be crazy not to give it the credit it’s so rightfully due as the best game of 2023.”

    Keenan McCall, ‘Twinfinite’s Game of the Year 2023’

    Especially when, along with everything else discounted during the Steam Summer Sale, it’s on sale for as low as it is!

    Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on the Steam store at a 20% discount from its already reasonable price – at a new price point of $47.99!

    Baldur’s Gate 3 can be found on Steam here!

    Featured Deep Discounts

    humankind fame
    Image Source: Amplitude Studios

    When you first enter the Steam Store page this sale season, you’ll be thrown immediately into the thick of thousands of deep-cut savings. So, if you’re anything like me, then you’ll simultaneously be hit with an overwhelming wave of optional paralysis.

    Valve has you sorted though – they’ve done everything in their power to segregate all their savings into appropriate sections. The first of which you’ll see, are Steam’s ‘Featured Deep Discounts’. From 4X strategy behemoths to former Xbox Live Arcade exclusives, Steam has congregated some “especially great deals on some of the all-time greats” all in one place.

    Have a peruse – you might be in luck; something you’ve been looking for could be here, or maybe some of these price cuts are just too good to pass up.

    Steam’s featured deep discounts can be found here!

    • Bloons Tower Defence 6 (-90%) – $1.39
    • Euro Truck Simulator 2 (-90%) – $1.99
    • Battlefield V: Definitive Edition (-93%) – $3.49
    • Battlefield 2042 (-90%) – $5.99
    • Humankind (-90%) – $4.99
    • Batman: Arkham Knight (-90%) – $1.99
    • Arma III (-90%) – $2.99
    • Prison Architect (-90%) – $2.99
    • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint (90%) – $5.99
    • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands (90%) – $4.99
    • Frost Punk (-90%) – $2.99
    • Celeste (-90%) – $1.99
    • Assetto Corsa (-90%) – $1.99
    • Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (-90%) – $3.99
    • Sid Meyer’s Civilization VI (-95%) – $2.99
    • Total War: Shogun 2 (-90%) – $2.99
    • Jurassic World Evolution 2 (-90%) – $5.99
    • Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (-95%) – $2.49
    • American Truck Simulator (-90%) – $1.99
    • The Witcher III: Wild Hunt (-90%) – $3.99
    • Castle Crashers (-90%) – $1.49
    • Borderlands 2 (-85%) – $3.00

    Steam Deck Discounts

    Is a Steam Deck Worth It? Opinion
    Image Source: Valve Corporation

    Only a couple of years ago, the Steam Summer Sale was a purely software-related affair. All that changed with Valve’s handheld foray into the console space with the Steam Deck.

    The Steam Deck’s sales performance has proven to be a slow burn, but the hardware itself is that which many gamers stand by. Since the release of the OLED model of the Steam Deck last year, Valve has been slowly prioritizing its newest model.

    This has manifested itself in the Summer Steam Sale through some deep discounts on the LCD models of their portable hardware. As Valve details on the Steam Deck’s Steam page: “The 64GB and 512GB Steam Deck LCD models are being phased out, and will only be available while supplies last.”

    So, while you’re loading up your Steam library with new titles to play, why not consider picking up a Steam Deck to play them on the go?

    Valve’s Steam Deck discounts can be found here!

    • 64GB LCD (-15%) – $296.65
    • 512GB LCD (-15%) – $381.65

    Featured Franchises

    Image Source: Capcom

    To help gamers with the obscene amount of Steam Sale discounts available, Valve has sectioned off many of its store’s available discounts. Discounts on many notable series’ current and back-catalog of games have been funneled into an easy-to-navigate ‘Featured Franchises’ subsection.

    Not all game discounts have been listed in our article. However, some of the most notable deals have been listed – along with the 23 series they correspond to.

    Steam’s featured franchise discounts can be found here!

    Role-Playing Games

    • The Elder Scrolls Series:
      • The Elder Scrolls Online (-70%) – $5.99
      • The Elder Scrolls Summer Bundle (-71%) – $21.75
    • Final Fantasy Series:
      • Final Fantasy VII REMAKE: Intergrade (-50%) – $34.99
      • Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition (-60%) – $13.99
    • The Witcher Series:
      • The Witcher III: Wild Hunt (-90%) – $3.99
      • The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director’s Cut (-85%) – $1.49
    • Fallout Series:
      • Fallout Collection (-75%) – $4.99
      • Fallout 76 (-75%) – $9.99

    Shooters

    • Tom Clancy’s Series:
      • Splinter Cell Franchise Bundle (-78%) – $13.46
      • Rainbow Six Bundle (-78%) – $21.54
    • DOOM Series:
      • DOOM Franchise Bundle (-75%) – $28.29
    • Hitman Series:
      • HITMAN World of Assassination (-90%) – $2.99
    • Battlefield Series:
      • Battlefield V: Definitive Edition (-93%) – $3.49
      • Battlefield 2042 (-90%) – $5.99
    • Far Cry Series:
      • Far Cry Bundle (-86%) – $39.29
      • Far Cry: New Dawn (-90%) – $3.99
    • Halo Series:
      • The Master Chief Collection (-75%) – $9.99
      • Halo Wars: Definitive Edition (-75%) – $4.99
    • Borderlands Series:
      • Borderlands Collection: Pandora’s Box (-93%) – $48.59
    • Call of Duty Series:
      • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) (-35%) – $45.49
      • Call of Duty: Black Ops III (-67%) – $19.79

    Strategy

    • Total War Series:
      • Total War: Warhammer III (-50%) – $29.99
      • Total War: Three Kingdoms Collection (-70%) – $45.20
    • Sid Meier’s Civilization Series:
      • Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Anthology (-88%) – $24.15
      • Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (-95%) – $2.99
    • Company of Heroes Series:
      • Company of Heroes 3 (-50%) – $29.99
      • Company of Heroes 2 (-70%) – $5.99
    • Warhammer Series:
      • Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (-35%) – $32.49
      • Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (-35%) – $14.29

    Action

    • Monster Hunter Series:
      • Monster Hunter 20th Anniversary Complete Pack (-71%) – $56.19
      • Monster Hunter World: Iceborne – Master Edition (-67%) – $19.78
    • Star Wars Series:
      • STAR WARS Complete Collection (-66%) – $98.71
      • STAR WARS Jedi Knight Collection (-66%) – $12.08
    • Assassin’s Creed Series:
      • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (-80%) – $11.99
      • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (-85%) – $8.99

    Miscellaneous

    Twinfinite is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

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    Connor Wright

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  • State recalls vape many months after it was told of contamination

    State recalls vape many months after it was told of contamination

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    SACRAMENTO — 

    California cannabis regulators on Tuesday issued the state’s first recall of a pesticide-tainted weed product following a Los Angeles Times investigation disclosing dangerous contamination in the state’s legal cannabis supplies.

    The product ordered pulled from sale is an “Orange Cookies”-flavored West Coast Cure vape cartridge produced in September. The state recall said the vape exceeded safety limits for a single chemical, the insecticide chlorfenapyr.

    The Department of Cannabis Control did not immediately disclose how many of the vapes remained on store shelves, but posted online a list of 169 locations throughout the state where the product had been sold. The product’s safety certificate came from a lab whose license has since been suspended. That lab, Verity Analytics, reported the batch consisted of nearly 5,000 vapes.

    It was among a dozen West Coast Cure batches manufactured in September — consisting of more than 62,000 vapes in assorted flavors — that private lab Infinite Chemical Analysis tested last fall and reported to state regulators as containing pesticides that exceeded state limits. All had been certified as safe by other labs.

    Infinite reported the Orange Cookies batch in a complaint to the state in November. In addition to chlorfenapyr, the lab identified two additional chemicals in that batch: paclobutrazol, a growth hormone not allowed at any level, and trifloxystrobin, which showed up at four times what California deems safe.

    State regulators would not say why they did not flag the product for the additional chemicals. The state also did not immediately respond to questions about why it took seven months to recall a product reported for safety concerns.

    “It’s a symbolic recall,” said Elliot Lewis, owner of the 27-store Catalyst dispensary chain. Twenty-three of his stores carried the recalled vape. They sold out months ago, he said.

    Lewis posted news of the recall on social media, provoking heated comments that left him flustered.

    “Getting slammed,” he said. “First time I can remember going home unplanned [in the] middle of the day.”

    The owner of another large dispensary chain said its stores had two of the products still in inventory but pulled them from shelves last week after their inclusion in an investigation by The Times, in conjunction with industry newsletter WeedWeek, that found alarming levels of pesticide contamination in cannabis products available to consumers, including some of the most popular brands.

    That June 14 report showed 25 out of 42 products bought from licensed stores exceeded either state safety limits or federal tobacco standards. The results mirrored 85 contamination complaints filed with California regulators since October by Infinite and another whistleblower, Anresco Laboratories.

    Before Tuesday, regulators had issued pesticide-related recalls for only two of the products that were the subject of the complaints.

    West Coast Cure is California’s fourth-top-selling cannabis brand. Its parent company, Shield Management Group, this year was fined $3.2 million by California regulators after a surprise inspection found it had failed to guard against product tampering, such as storing cannabis products in parking lot containers without video surveillance. The company also could not produce state-required footage proving products had not been tampered with before lab testing or distribution.

    West Coast Cure co-founder Logan Wasserman did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the recall.

    A statement to The Times on Tuesday by a public relations firm on behalf of the company said: “We have passing test results from state licensed labs for every product we put on the market. Our dedication to excellence and doing what’s right for our customers and our community is at the core of our values. We remain steadfast in our mission to provide fully tested, exceptional products and uphold the trust placed in us.”

    In federal court Monday, Infinite and Anresco filed a lawsuit against 13 independent labs that test cannabis products for the weed industry, accusing them of manipulating test results in order to win business, while putting consumer health at risk. The civil suit cites product safety certificates issued by some of the labs for products later found to be contaminated, as well as Department of Cannabis Control findings cited in disciplinary reports.

    Infinite also provided the testing behind a proposed class-action lawsuit filed June 14 in Orange County Superior Court against West Coast Cure, seeking redress for 23 vape flavors alleged to be contaminated with pesticides, including the Orange Cookies product recalled Tuesday.

    “Whereas competition used to be healthy and revolved around quality, turnaround time and customer service, it has now devolved into a free-for-all, in which brands and laboratories agree, jointly, to ignore ‘safety fails’ … in an effort to hide the presence of dangerous chemicals, which otherwise would prevent the sale of these tainted goods,” the consumer complaint alleges.

    Both cases were handled by Arkansas class-action attorney David Slade, whose litigation cases include filings against Apple, Best Buy stores, Target and Hobby Lobby.

    Other weed industry leaders called for a crackdown on alleged “persistent testing fraud” by the private labs California relies upon to screen cannabis for harmful substances.

    “The state’s continued failure to enforce against those who fail to comply — both inside and outside of the regulated market — has put the credibility of the entire adult-use market in peril, and now threatens the very consumers we aim to serve,” the California Cannabis Industry Assn. said in response to the report by The Times and WeedWeek.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office voiced confidence in his cannabis agency’s handling of contamination issues, saying it “supports DCC in developing innovative policies and effective implementation that advances and facilitates a well-regulated, legal, and safe market that benefits all Californians.”

    California has struggled since creation of the recreational cannabis market in 2018 to set up a state lab to enforce limits on pesticides in weed products.

    In 2021, the cannabis agency signed an $11-million, five-year contract with UC San Diego’s cannabis research program to create a state lab “in order to confirm that licensed testing laboratories are accurately and reliably testing cannabis goods,” budget filings and contract records show. Those documents describe the lab as intended to run tests for regulators with results available within five days.

    Four years and $9 million in payments later, the San Diego lab is not certified to check pesticide levels, its accreditation record shows.

    With consolidation of cannabis-related regulation under a single agency in 2021, the Department of Cannabis Control took over a cannabis lab in Richmond that had been run by the Department of Public Health. In the ensuing years, that lab has gained accreditation to test for potency levels and microbial contamination, but is not certified to measure pesticides.

    In the interim, cannabis regulators are constrained by the limitations of other state labs that have sometimes agreed to test weed. The Agriculture Department lab, for instance, tested cannabis flower to identify the presence of smuggled Chinese-label pesticides. But the lab cannot assess the safety of vaping oils, in which contamination problems appeared greatest.

    With state safety certificates called into question, one of California’s largest weed retailers, Catalyst, announced it would start its own shelf testing program. Lewis, its owner, voiced mixed feelings about what consumers would make of that. He said that he remained convinced that products sold on the illicit market are worse, and that lessening public confidence in the legal market would hurt brands producing clean products.

    In an email, he said vape sales have dropped since the June 14 article. “I suspect more folks now see no benefit of shopping for legal products,” he wrote. “The customer’s thought process is, ‘It’s all dirty.’”

    It is not good timing for a loss of faith in the legal market. Sales of licensed products have been in slipping in California since peaking in 2021 at $5.3 billion, according to monthly sales reports posted by the Department of Cannabis Control. The most recent data show reported sales of $4.9 billion for 2023.

    The desire to convince California residents and tourists to purchase their cannabis in licensed and taxed shops has driven state marketing and data collection campaigns since 2020, including the $5-million “Real CA Cannabis” campaign that kicked off in February, featuring social media messages on Facebook, Instagram and Reddit targeted at key demographics.

    “[F]or public health purposes, the state has an interest in seeing consumer behavior shift more swiftly to the legal and regulated market,” the cannabis control agency wrote in a 2022 budget request, citing deaths and injuries two years prior from dangerous substances in cannabis and tobacco vaping products.

    In California alone, some 250 people were hospitalized and five died when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019 linked a rise in lung-related injuries to vaping products, the cannabis agency wrote in its budget request.

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    Paige St. John

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  • Hailey Bieber & I Both Use This Kosas Setting Powder—& It’s on Sale for 20% Off

    Hailey Bieber & I Both Use This Kosas Setting Powder—& It’s on Sale for 20% Off

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    All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

    If you’re chronically online on TikTok, you likely can’t go a week without spotting a Kosas makeup product in your FYP (I know I can’t). There’s always a buzzy launch or bestseller that users are raving about, and I’m here to say that Hailey Bieber and I understand the hype. After all, we use the same setting powder, which, along with everything else on Kosas’ site, is 20% off during the summer sale.

    The beauty brand has been cranking out hit after hit ever since it launched in 2015, and it’s garnered support from celebrities, TikTokers, and shoppers alike. As a shopping editor who’s covered almost every makeup product Hailey Bieber has used, I can tell you that she’s previously reached for Kosas’ Revealer Concealer, Cloud Set Setting Powder, DreamBeam Sunscreen, Glow I.V. Skin Enhancer, and Air Brow. I can also tell you that Generation Alpha TikToker Katie Fang is a longtime Plump + Juicy Vegan Collagen Spray-On Serum fan. As for me, I’ve tried the cult-fave Revealer Concealer and Cloud Set Setting Powder, and the latter has become a daily go-to.

    That’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding Kosas’ impressive lineup. Below, learn more about a handful of the brand’s noteworthy formulas, including Hailey Bieber-used and editor-approved picks. Whether you’re restocking everyday faves or trying new products to channel your inner “clean girl,” remember to place your order before Kosas’ Summer Sale ends June 25 (no code needed!).

    Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder
    Kosas.Kosas.

    Kosas says this powder “sweeps away shine (not glow),” and they couldn’t be more right. Trust me, as an oily gal, this product vanishes my greasiness without completely mattifying my complexion or removing any glow. Take it from another stan: Hailey Bieber. “This is just really for any of the areas I feel like I get a little oily, which is mostly the T-zone area,” she explains in a TikTok GRWM.

    Kosas Blush is Life
    Kosas.

    Don’t skip out on Kosas’ newest arrival, its powder blush. The baked formula gives you a natural-looking, radiant touch of color, making it a perfect addition to your summer makeup routine. Swirl your brush into the two different tones to achieve a sunkissed glow. I’m feeling like a peachy pink summer is upon us, so I’m eyeing shades Blissed, Hype, and Thrill.

    Photo: Kosas

    Hailey Bieber revealed to Vogue in her date night GRWM that in addition to applying the concealer on blemishes and under her eyes, she also applies the product along her jawline for a “lifted” and “sculpted look.”

    “I just love that it’s like creamy and hydrating and leaves just this dewy finish on the skin,” she gushed.

    Kosas DreamBeam Sunscreen
    Photo: Kosas

    Kosas’ rolled out its first suncreen in April, and it has instantly become a staple. DreamBeam is a mineral SPF 40 formula that protects against UV rays while hydrating the skin with plumping peptides, skin barrier stregthening ceramides, and moisturizing hyaluronic acid.

    Photo: Kosas

    Through a powerful blend of AHAs (shikimic, mandelic, and lactic), the alumium-free Chemistry Deodorant pulls triple duty, treating BO, preventing ingrown hairs, and brightening armpits.

    Photo: Kosas

    Keep your brows in line with this lightweight tinted brow gel. Essential hair care ingredients infused in the formula—think castor oil, panthenol provitamin B5, and Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1—condition each strand, supporting your current brow health and promoting future growth.

    Photo: Kosas

    If you want a flawless complexion, add this product to your cart immediately. The sister of the famous Revealer Concealer, this foundation plumps skin with hylauranic acid and peptides. Plus, its available in 36 shades.

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    Abby Dupes

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