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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump — not trans athletes — is the real threat to women's sports
Despite what you may hear in conservative media or from the White House, it's Donald Trump — not transgender athletes — who poses a true threat to women's sports. Trump, who threatened to 'protect' women 'whether the women like it or not,' has weaponized hatred toward transgender people for political gain, borrowing a bigoted strategy used by other extremist movements (like Nazi Germany, for example). And this week, Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from the state of California because it's allowing a trans woman to participate in high school track-and-field finals. Trump has also announced a Title IX probe into the state for allowing trans participation in sports more broadly. As NBC 4 Los Angeles reported: The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday announced an investigation into whether a California law that allows transgender athletes to compete in girls high school sports violates the landmark Title IX federal civil rights law. The DOJ said it sent letters of legal notice to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the state's high school sports governing body, and the Jurupa Unified School District, which the agency said is a target of the investigation. The investigation will determine whether California's School Success and Opportunity Act, or AB 1266, conflicts with Title IX, the federal law that bans sex discrimination in schools or educational programs that receive funding from the U.S. government. For the record, Trump and the Republican Party's insistence that trans women's participation in women's sports constitutes a threat to the sanctity of women's sports is not supported by reputable science. Back in 2022, I wrote about a Harvard University panel that featured multiple experts on women's sports, who all pointed to things like patriarchal leadership structures, poor equipment and lack of media coverage as the real source of woe for women's sports programs and athletes. None of them mentioned trans competitors as a concern. So there's a deep irony in Trump using Title IX rules, which are designed to prohibit gender-based discrimination, to crusade against trans athletes. That's because, as ESPN reported in March, Trump's attempts to close down the Department of Education threatens the existence of the very sports he's claiming to defend. Specifically, the outlet reported, the closure threatens the department's Office for Civil Rights, with a purview that includes enforcing Title IX rules that provide support for girls' and women's sports programs: The Office for Civil Rights determines how K-12 schools and colleges and universities are supposed to provide equal opportunities for female athletes, which includes equitable financial aid, promotion, coaching salaries, equipment and travel, among other factors. The Trump administration has shut down the Education Department's regional Office of Civil Rights in California and fired all of its staff. Attorneys who remain at the agency have complained about their office being used as a weapon to wage right-wing culture wars. If one were truly concerned about making sure women's sports programs survive and thrive, it simply doesn't make much sense to fire the officials whose jobs are dedicated, in part, to that goal. Nonetheless, Trump's gutting of the Department of Education undermines the federal agency most responsible for supporting women's sports programs — all while he launches bogus investigations that allow him to pay lip service to defending women. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Ending the cycle': Los Angeles DA touts success of new state law cracking down on ‘smash-and-grab' offenders
Like many major cities, Los Angeles is not immune to crime — but incidents of store theft have increased in recent years. Crosstown LA, citing LAPD data, says that in 2023, there were 11,945 reported cases of shoplifting in the city, compared to 6,585 the year before. There's been a notable uptick in 'smash-and-grab' robberies, where a criminal smashes a window, grabs items on display, and makes a run for it. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) But now, California lawmakers are cracking down on theft with a new set of guidelines outlined in Proposition 36. And so far, it seems to be having good results. Proposition 36, or Prop 36, enacts new laws for drug and theft offenses. It went into effect on Dec. 18, 2024, and states that theft-related crimes can be charged as a felony, a more serious offense with harsher consequences, or a misdemeanor, a more minor offense. One major change under Prop 36 is that prosecutors can combine the value of various thefts to arrive at a felony charge for criminals. Prior to Prop 36, theft in the amount of $950 or less allowed criminals to receive a minor penalty that, as the bill said, was basically the equivalent of a traffic ticket. That allowed thieves to effectively steal an unlimited amount of goods with minimal punishment as long as each individual theft did not exceed $950. Now that Prop 36 is in effect, the value of a string of thefts can be combined for a greater charge. To put it another way, a $500 theft and a $1,000 theft by the same person can be combined to exceed the $950 mark so the crime can be treated more seriously. This means serial criminals could face harsher consequences for their actions. The goal, of course, is not just to punish criminals, but to deter them from theft in the first place. As NBC4 Los Angeles reported, LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman says Prop 36 is working. "Since Dec. 18, we have had over a thousand Proposition 36 arrests for thieves alone," he said. His hope is that the threat of harsher penalties will serve as a warning to potential criminals. "Our goal is not to fill our prisons with these thieves," Hochman said. "If anything, that will be the failure of our efforts. Our goal is to deter these criminals from committing these crimes in the first place, thus saving a whole lot of victims." Jawad Ursani owns the 7-Eleven in the 8500 block of West Olympic Boulevard and has been the victim of theft on multiple occasions. "Communities have been targeted repeatedly by same individuals coming back over and over knowing that there were no real consequences," Ursani told NBC4 reporters. "My store was targeted not once, but twice, by a smash-and-grab by about over 50 teenagers and a repeat shoplifter who is now detained and will be held accountable by this DA's office as we speak." Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) says that since Prop 36 went into effect, prosecutors have filed "thousands of new felony drug and theft charges." During the second half of February, prosecutors filed around 1,500 theft cases with felony charges, the PPIC says, citing data from the Judicial Council of California. Findings from Sicuro Data Analytics, meanwhile, tell a different story — during the first 90 days since Prop 36 went into effect, there were 3,500 theft cases filed. All told, the PPIC says that Prop 36 felony cases comprise 10% to 15% of the 15,000 or so felony cases filed statewide in a typical month. Hochman is pleased with the impact of Prop 36 on LA. In a mid-May statement, he said, 'Ending the cycle of catch-and-release that sent serial retail thieves back on the streets to reoffend is a top priority." LA businesses are also being supplied with decals warning criminals that those who steal will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Of course, this begs the question: Will more states implement harsher penalties for theft? The Council on Criminal Justice says that between 2019 and 2023, New York and LA had the biggest increases in shoplifting across major cities at 64% and 61%, respectively. On a broad level, the rate of shoplifting incidents across major cities fell between January of 2018 and June of 2023. But that doesn't mean it's not a problem. The National Retail Federation says that in 2023, there was a 93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents compared to 2019. There was also a 90% increase in dollar loss from shoplifting in that same timeframe. Cracking down on theft is something lawmakers should therefore consider on a more national scale to protect business owners and consumers alike. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
LA business owner plays ‘Baby Shark' on repeat to deter homeless encampments
In downtown Los Angeles, a business owner resorted to an unconventional method to prevent homeless people from camping near his property: playing the children's song 'Baby Shark' continuously through a loudspeaker aimed at the encampment. Tracy, who lives in a nearby encampment at the corner of West 11th and Main streets, described the experience to NBC4 Los Angeles, saying, 'They played 'Baby Shark' all night long. They're doing everything they can to make us move or drive us crazy. But it's doing the latter. It's driving people crazy.' She added that the persistent noise had kept her and others awake throughout the night. 'This is ridiculous. We can't get any sleep. We can't get housing. We can't eat. And now they're trying to drive us crazy with children's music,' Tracy said. Also read: 'No jobs in USA for international students': Founder says honeymoon period is over Shalom Styles, owner of Styles Barber Lounge located nearby, defended the decision, emphasising that business owners are simply trying to survive in challenging circumstances. 'It's not always about being kind, because when people are taking away from business, and all the stores are going out of business, we're still here surviving, trying to put up for our family,' Styles told the outlet. The situation unfolds against the backdrop of California Governor Gavin Newsom's ambitious plan to tackle the state's homeless crisis. Last week, Newsom unveiled details of a multi-billion-dollar initiative designed to prompt cities and counties into immediate action. On Monday, Newsom introduced a model ordinance urging local governments to 'immediately address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services.' 'There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,' the governor said in a news release. The proposed ordinance is supported in part by $3.3 billion in new funding from Proposition 1, with Newsom's office stressing the urgency for local authorities to respond swiftly. In addition to financial support, Newsom is encouraging municipalities to exercise their legal authority—affirmed by the US Supreme Court—to manage homeless encampments effectively. 'The Governor is calling on every local government to adopt and implement local policies without delay,' his office stated. Newsom's administration has actively held communities accountable when state laws addressing homelessness are ignored. For example, in 2024, the state sued the City of Norwalk over its unlawful ban on homeless shelters. While national homelessness increased by nearly 7% last year, California's rise was a comparatively modest 0.45%, lower than that of 44 other states. 'Governor Newsom is the first governor to actively address this issue in our state, and he is reversing a crisis that was decades in the making,' Newsom's office said. Also read: 'Real Engineering' YouTuber says 'won't praise India again' after incorrect map controversy
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Los Angeles business owner blasts ‘Baby Shark' on repeat to ward off homeless encampments
A Los Angeles business owner has found a novel way to keep homeless people from camping near his building: playing a children's song on an annoying loop. 'They played 'Baby Shark' all night long,' Tracy, a woman who lives in an encampment next door to the building at the corner of West 11th and Main streets, told NBC4 Los Angeles. 'They're doing everything they can to make us move or drive us crazy. But it's doing the latter. It's driving people crazy.' Advertisement The building owners began playing the song through a loudspeaker pointed directly at the encampment, which Tracy told the outlet had 'kept her and others up all night.' 'This is ridiculous. We can't get any sleep. We can't get housing. We can't eat,' she said. 'And now they're trying to drive us crazy with children's music.' Shalom Styles, who owns the barbershop Styles Barber Lounge, around the corner from the business playing 'Baby Shark' told the outlet that they aren't trying to be mean or insensitive to the homeless, but have businesses to run and are 'just trying to survive.' 'It's not always about being kind, because when people are taking away from business, and all the stores are going out of business,' Styles said. 'We're still here surviving, trying to put up for our family.' Advertisement 5 A loudspeaker pointed towards a homeless encampment hangs on the side of a business in Los Angeles. NBC4 5 The homeless encampment is set up on the sidewalk near the business. NBC4 California Gov. Gavin Newsom released details last week about his multi-billion-dollar plan to tackle the homeless crisis in the Golden State and is pushing cities and counties to take 'immediate action.' On Monday, Newsom shared a model ordinance for cities and counties to 'immediately address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services.' Advertisement 'There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,' Newsom said in a news release. The ordinance is backed in part by $3.3 billion in new Prop 1 funding, Newsom's office announced, adding that the governor is 'calling on all local governments to act without delay.' 5 NBC4 5 Tracy, a resident of the encampment, speaks out against the 'Baby Shark' blasting building. NBC4 Advertisement Newsom is also encouraging local leaders to use their authority, affirmed by the US Supreme Court, to address homeless encampments. 'The Governor is calling on every local government to adopt and implement local policies without delay,' Newsom's office said. Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the governor has 'actively held communities accountable who do not follow state law to address homelessness', sharing an example of when the state sued the City of Norwalk in 2024 for 'its unlawful ban on homeless shelters.' 5 Shalom Styles, who owns the barbershop Styles Barber Lounge, around the corner, says the owners aren't trying to be mean or insensitive to the homeless, but have businesses to run and are 'just trying to survive.' NBC4 The governor's office added that, while national homelessness went up by nearly 7% last year, California's increase was only 0.45% and was lower than those of 44 other states. 'Governor Newsom is the first governor to actively address this issue in our state, and he is reversing a crisis that was decades in the making,' Newsom's office said.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
L.A. Residents Gear Up for Potential Tariff Effects
As President Donald Trump's trade war with China continues, buyers across Southern California are heading to stores and stocking up on household fear tariffs will cause prices to continue to increase and imports to slow down, which could have negative effects on the supply of essential items. Some say the increase in stocking up on items is reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic's 'panic buying.' Instead, shoppers can't get the same amount of items due to high costs of products such as food and clothing.'Ever since Covid, it's [been] a trauma response that I was stocking up. I felt like I needed it and I got it,' said Brenda Orozco to NBC4 Los Angeles. Unlike 2020, due to the higher cost of items, some consumers don't have the extra money to spend on products today. 'Now, I don't have that option to stock up because I don't have the funds for it,' said Orozco. According to the Port of Los Angeles, the shipping volume coming to the U.S. from China is expected to drop 35% next week.'According to our own port optimizer, which measures the loadings in Asia, we'll be down just a little bit over 35% next week compared to last year,' said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, to CNBC. Shipments from China make up roughly 45% of the business for the Port of Los Angeles.'Until some accord or framework can be reached with China, the volume coming out of there — save a couple of different commodities — will be very light at best,' said raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%. This is not an isolated incident, however, hours after being sworn in, the President announced he would implement 25% tariffs on items from Canada and Mexico beginning Feb. 1. He then imposed 25% tariffs on Colombia — and raised them to 50% in one week — after their government turned back planes carrying U.S. on Chinese imports went into effect starting at 10% on Feb. 4, with an additional 10% going into effect on March 4 'as scheduled.'China then began imposing tariffs on farm products from the U.S., including an additional 15% on products such as corn and 10% on soybeans and fruit. This later rose to 34% on imports beginning April days later, Chinese goods were subject to a 104% tariff. China responded with an additional 50% tariff on U.S. goods. Despite backing down on his reciprocal tariffs, China was not included and on April 9, Trump raised tariffs on its exports to 125% with the White House clarifying that this was in addition to a 20% tariff Trump had already imposed on tariffs continue to fluctuate, some experts believe retailers will see effects in five to seven weeks.'I don't see a complete emptiness on store shelves or online when we're buying,' said Seroka. 'But if you're out looking for a blue shirt, you might find 11 purple ones and one blue in a size that's not yours. So we'll start seeing less choice on those shelves simply because we're not getting the variety of goods coming in here based on the additional costs in place.'
