Flying to Los Cabos? The government would like $18 from you, but you can say no
Travelers arriving at Los Cabos International Airport will be asked for about $18 (350 pesos) each starting Saturday. But local officials say this isn’t a tax. It’s a request for a voluntary contribution to benefit a new Fund for a Sustainable Baja California Sur. Under the new program, officials said, San José del Cabo airport…
Splashy KAOS club at Las Vegas resort is shutting down
What’s going to happen to that towering nude Damien Hirst sculpture now that the KAOS club at Palms Casino Resort has shut? The 60-foot-tall headless “Demon With Bowl” (2014) will continue to reign over the pool area at the Las Vegas resort, even though the splashy KAOS has vanished. Parent company Red Rock Resorts Inc.…
Alphabet is investigating how it handled sexual-misconduct allegations against execs
Alphabet Inc.’s board is investigating how the company dealt with accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against some of its executives. “As has already been confirmed in public court filings, in early 2019, Alphabet’s board of directors formed a special litigation committee to consider claims made by shareholders in various lawsuits relating to past workplace…
UAW’s acting president aims to root out corruption and dodge a federal takeover
Job one for acting United Auto Workers President Rory Gamble is rooting out rot in the union to steer clear of federal oversight. Gamble took over leadership of the country’s largest auto labor group on an interim basis on Saturday when his predecessor stepped aside amid a Justice Department probe that has metastasized over the…
Fixer-Uppers: What $650,000 buys right now in three L.A. County communities
Here’s a look at fixer-upper homes you can buy right now for $650,000 in Altadena, Sylmar and Long Beach in L.A. County. ALTADENA: One of the 160 historic “Janes Cottages” built by E.P. Janes in the 1920s, this architectural gem could use an exterior renovation to restore its former glory. Address: 198 W. Altadena Drive,…
At SoftBank, blind spots threaten Masayoshi Son’s $100-billion Vision Fund
One year ago, the global business elite deserted a Saudi Arabian investment summit in droves after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents. But the founder of Japan’s SoftBank slipped into Riyadh for a discreet meeting. Masayoshi Son and his chief lieutenant, Rajeev Misra, were there to see Mohammed bin Salman, the crown…
One-Step Makeover: The transformational power of wallpaper
In its five-century history, wallpaper has come and gone from the spotlight too many times to count. But whether loved or loathed, it always inspires strong emotions. The Victorians were so obsessed they covered every wall and ceiling with wallpaper — to such an extreme that it occasionally poisoned them. (Color-enhancing arsenic was an unfortunate…
Back-seat confidential: How ride hailing is changing the social lives of L.A.’s millennials
A few weeks ago, Sam Lim, the cofounder of Hipdot, a vegan makeup line, ordered an UberPool to get from her home in West Hollywood to a meeting in Venice. She found herself sharing the ride with not one but two companions. “It was crazy,” she recalled. “I was in the car with two other…
Barneys New York's store-closing sale: What you need to know before you go
Five days after Authentic Brands Group won bankruptcy court approval to become Barneys New York’s new owner, the store-closing sale at the storied retailer’s Beverly Hills flagship was well under way, with huge signs in the windows fronting Wilshire Boulevard that read, “Everything MUST be sold!, Goodbuys then good goodbye!” and smaller signs posted throughout…
Chris Erskine: It'd be nice to be in love again by Christmas. But what's the rush?
SAN FRANCISCO — I don’t want to be our village’s lonely monk forever. Been almost a year since we lost my wife, and there are whispers that maybe I should get out there and date a little. Gasp! Bartender!! Medic!!! I come with more baggage than a failed French king: gobs of grief, a snarky and…