Latest news with #Ralph's
Los Angeles Times
30-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Why You Should Care About Remote Clinical Trials
Most of us don't wake up dreaming about joining a clinical trial. For decades, research was something that happened to other people: the hyper-healthy, the terminally curious, folks with more time on their hands, or even those of us trying to earn an extra buck. So why are 'remote clinical trials' suddenly trending? Clinical trials are one of the foundations of evidence-based medicine and wellness. These types of studies prove what really works, they test which therapies, supplements, or health routines are safe and effective. And every medication you've ever taken, every new wellness product that claims benefits, and nearly every major advance in healthcare have passed through clinical trials first. We need them to separate fact from fiction, and to make sure that breakthroughs aren't just hype. A little secret: you might already be part of the movement, even if you've never set foot in a research hospital. If you use an app to count your steps, check how you slept last night, or even just look up 'why am I tired?' online, you're already doing your own version of data-driven wellness. The big change is that clinical trials, the official way we find out if health products and habits actually work, are finally catching up. They're leaving behind the lab coats and stacks of paperwork, and starting to work more like the apps and tech we use every day. That's a win for everyone. People Science, a health research company focused on making clinical trials more accessible, says traditional clinical trials are slow, expensive, and often disconnected from real-world consumer behavior. 'Even the newer digital trials can be clunky, with lots of different tools and forms that make it hard for people to stick with the process or for scientists to gather clear results.' The research company is trying to unify participant experiences and data infrastructure so that everything you need can be in one place, making the whole process smooth for us regular folk, and much faster for researchers and health brands who want quick, reliable answers about what works. Imagine being able to answer questions like, 'Does this probiotic really help my digestion?' or 'Will this new sleep routine actually work for me?' and get the answers instantly. That's where Chloe comes in. Chloe is an app that allows participants to consent, complete surveys and receive results from their phone or computer. 'This removes the need for physical sites and makes research more inclusive,' says People Science. This means you don't have to drive across town or wait in a clinic before getting the info that you need. You're part of a cutting-edge health study while standing in line at Ralph's. It's not just about accessibility. Remote trials are redefining what it feels like to participate in health science. The Chloe platform is designed to be as user-friendly. That's the whole point, removing the friction that usually turns people off from research in the first place. So what does the typical experience look like? It's refreshingly simple: Maybe you're thinking: 'Sounds cool, but I'm not a scientist. Why should I care?' Well… Making things easier doesn't mean dumbing down the science. 'Everything is managed and administered through the Chloe platform. We integrate eConsent, validated digital surveys, automated reminders, and wearables like sleep and HRV trackers. All data is HIPAA-compliant and encrypted, and researchers can monitor adherence and data quality in real time,' People Science assures. 'While we move faster than traditional models, our in-house scientists and statisticians ensure rigor, credibility, and transparency in every study. AI helps us accelerate aspects like protocol optimization, participant targeting, and real-time monitoring, but it doesn't replace the context, clinical judgment, or methodological expertise our research team brings. Our approach is to combine speed with substance, using AI to enhance, not substitute, scientific rigor.' Chloe's studies span topics like gut health, sleep, stress, cognitive performance, metabolic health, and women's health. 'Brands use our platform to test the real-world impact of probiotics, nootropics, adaptogens, herbs, dietary supplements, and other functional products.' And yes, some surprising findings pop up: 'Some products with strong online followings show little measurable benefit, while others perform better than expected with consistent use. These insights help brands improve products and ground their marketing in evidence.' Every study is tailored to the unique outcomes being explored. 'Each category requires specialized tools. Gut health may involve bowel tracking and GSRS scores; nootropics often use cognitive tasks and focus measures; adaptogens might include stress scales and biometrics. Chloe supports this customization easily. We also support at-home biological sample collection, such as stool samples for microbiome sequencing or dried blood spot collection for exploratory biological age testing, all integrated through the Chloe platform to maintain a seamless participant experience.' People Science says they are combining the scientific standards of clinical research with the speed and flexibility of a consumer-first platform. 'We center and prioritize the consumer at the end of the day, it is their data that they are sharing for scientific exploration and learning.' In plain English, this means they are making their research trustworthy but also easy to use. Click here to learn more about People Science
New York Post
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Slobby Long Island ‘social media prankster' who dumps eggs, beans on himself busted for secretly filming in strangers' houses
He really Punk'd himself. A slobby 'social media prankster' dumped eggs and beans on himself in public restaurants and secretly filmed inside trusting strangers' homes — but the joke was on him when his idiotic videos got him arrested. Wannabe funny guy Kyle Vazquez, 21, left a mess at two local eateries with his boneheaded Instagram stunts that included taking advantage of trusting strangers who let him in their homes to use their bathrooms before 'creating a disturbance,' Suffolk County police said. 4 Social media prankster Kyle Vasquez was arrested after allegedly filming people in their home without permission. news12 4 Vasquez films videos where he pulls stunts like dumping food on himself in Long Island eateries. news12 Vazquez, who has almost 75,000 followers, drew attention to his own head with an April 29 video when he poured eggs on himself outside of a Ralph's Italian Ices in Centereach — saying to shell with the mess he left behind and making a getaway in a car, cops said. Workers said a professional cleaning crew had to come in to deal with the aftermath. One day later, a shirtless Vazquez went into the Centereach Chinese takeout spot Wing Wah and dumped beans all over himself on their floor, the department said. The pranks only got creepier from there, the department added. 4 Vasquez pouring eggs on his head outside of a Ralph's Italian Ices in Centereach on April 29, 2025. news12 4 A cleaning crew had to be hired to clean up the mess Vasquez left at the Ralph's ice cream parlor. Instagram/TommyTuffKnuckles In late May, he had allegedly went into three homes in the town and neighboring Selden after asking to use the bathroom. He started filming the people inside 'without their knowledge or consent while creating a disturbance,' authorities said in a statement. Vazquez was cuffed at a friend's Centereach house on Monday night on charges of unlawful surveillance and criminal tampering and was scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday in Islip court.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Barabak: Antonio Villaraigosa is dying to run against Kamala Harris for governor. Here's why
If Kamala Harris runs for California governor, the job is essentially hers for the taking. So goes the common wisdom. After all, she's a household name, which is no small consideration in a state as vast and politically inattentive as California. She has a coast-to-coast fundraising base and a record of winning statewide contests going back to 2010, when she was first elected attorney general. Who better, supporters say, to engage President Trump than the former prosecutor who whipped him in their one debate and only just lost the popular vote after being thrust overnight into a drastically truncated campaign? Antonio Villaraigosa isn't buying that for a second. Unlike others in the crowded race for governor, who are likely to drop out if Harris jumps in, L.A.'s former mayor said he's not budging. In fact, Villaraigosa insists he wants Harris to run — just so he can beat her and, he says, send an anti-elitist message to those Democrats who have their noses in the air rather than eyes fixed on hard-pressed voters and their myriad frustrations. "I think she's been OK that we've been a party of just people that drive a Tesla and not a Toyota pickup, or ride a bus like my mother did," Villaraigosa said. "I think she has no idea what it means to buy a carton of eggs and spend $12 at Ralph's." Read more: Barabak: For Kamala Harris, it's not just whether to run for California governor. It's why Harris is "the face of that party," he went on, warming to the heat of his smoldering rhetoric. "The party that thinks that people that don't have a college education are stupid. The party that believes that ... people voted for Trump just because he's a great used-car salesman and not because what he was selling resonated with people that work every day. The people who shower after work. Not before." As Harris uses the summer to decide her future — retiring from politics or running again for president being other options — no Democrat has been as brash and bold as Villaraigosa when it comes to assailing the putative front-runner and erstwhile leader of the national party. Earlier this week, he accused Harris and Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra of helping cover up President Biden's decline in office, seizing on the scandal fueled by a new book, "Original Sin," that offered details of Biden's eroding mental and physical state. "She could say she didn't know," Villaraigosa said, elaborating on that initial volley during a lengthy conversation. "They can't prove that she did. But last time I looked, she had lunch with him pretty regularly ... She had to have seen what the world [saw] over time and particularly in that debate. The notion that she didn't? Come on. Who's going to buy that?" That sort of talk is more typical of, say, Fox News than a candidate bidding for the support of fellow Democrats. Villaraigosa, a former labor leader who's gotten crossways with teacher unions among other party mainstays, professed not to care. If anything, he said, he's been encouraged by the response. "For every one of those people" — upset by Villaraigosa's remarks — "there are three of them, maybe not as high up among Democrats, who are saying the same damn thing. That's why this got so much traction ... Since Vietnam, people don't believe in government anymore. They don't believe in their leaders. And every time we lie or misrepresent ... [or] hide the truth from them, their support and their belief in our institutions" diminishes. Read more: Villaraigosa blasts Harris and Becerra for not speaking out about Biden's decline Harris would have plenty of time to push back on Villaraigosa's depiction, should she choose to run. In the meantime, what's notable is his eagerness to take on the former vice president, positioning himself as the most vocal and assertive of her potential gubernatorial rivals. Others have taken a few pokes. 'No one should be waiting to lead," former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter told The Times' Seema Mehta after entering the contest in March. Becerra echoed that sentiment when he announced his candidacy in April. 'Watching what's unfolding before our eyes made it clear this is not a time to sit on the sidelines,' Becerra said. But that's comparatively weak tea. "If she wants to come in the race, she should come in now," Villaraigosa taunted. "Let's debate. What are the challenges facing our state? Where are the opportunities? Where do we meld them together? How do we make this a better state for our kids?" During the 40-minute phone conversation, starting in his car and finishing after Villaraigosa arrived home in Los Angeles, he toggled between criticisms of Harris and statements of good will toward a one-time political ally. The two have known each other, he said, since the mid-1990s, when Villaraigosa was a freshman assemblyman in Sacramento and Harris was dating then-Speaker Willie Brown. He supported her run for attorney general — "I did three press conferences" as L.A. mayor — and was quick to back her as soon as Biden stepped aside last summer and Harris became the Democratic nominee. "I supported her," he said. "I got behind her. Her husband" — former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff — "has thanked me a number of times when he's seen me in person." Read more: Who is running for California governor in 2026? Meet the candidates The disagreement now, Villaraigosa said, is over the direction of a party he sees unmoored from its history as a champion of the middle and working classes and too beholden to interest groups that make up its patchwork coalition. Harris, he suggested, is the personification of that disconnect from Democratic tradition. "At the end of the day, what I'm arguing for is, let's get to the place where we're focused on getting things done and focused on common sense," Villaraigosa said, citing, among issues, his support for Proposition 36, the anti-crime measure that voters overwhelming approved last November. The vice president, he noted, refused to take a position. But don't, he said before hanging up, take his attacks on Harris the wrong way. "This isn't personal," Villaraigosa insisted. It's just politics. Get the latest from Mark Z. BarabakFocusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Antonio Villaraigosa is dying to run against Kamala Harris for governor. Here's why
If Kamala Harris runs for California governor, the job is essentially hers for the taking. So goes the common wisdom. After all, she's a household name, which is no small consideration in a state as vast and politically inattentive as California. She has a coast-to-coast fundraising base and a record of winning statewide contests going back to 2010, when she was first elected attorney general. Who better, supporters say, to engage President Trump than the former prosecutor who whipped him in their one debate and only just lost the popular vote after being thrust overnight into a drastically truncated campaign? Antonio Villaraigosa isn't buying that for a second. Unlike others in the crowded race for governor, who are likely to drop out if Harris jumps in, L.A.'s former mayor said he's not budging. In fact, Villaraigosa insists he wants Harris to run — just so he can beat her and, he says, send an anti-elitist message to those Democrats who have their noses in the air rather than eyes fixed on hard-pressed voters and their myriad frustrations. 'I think she's been OK that we've been a party of just people that drive a Tesla and not a Toyota pickup, or ride a bus like my mother did,' Villaraigosa said. 'I think she has no idea what it means to buy a carton of eggs and spent $12 at Ralph's.' Harris is 'the face of that party,' he went on, warming to the heat of his smoldering rhetoric. 'The party that thinks that people that don't have a college education are stupid. The party that believes that ... people voted for Trump just because he's a great used-car salesman and not because what he was selling resonated with people that work every day. The people who shower after work. Not before.' As Harris uses the summer to decide her future — retiring from politics or running again for president being other options — no Democrat has been as brash and bold as Villaraigosa when it comes to assailing the putative front-runner and erstwhile leader of the national party. Earlier this week, he accused Harris and Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra of helping cover up President Biden's decline in office, seizing on the scandal fueled by a new book, 'Original Sin,' that offered details of Biden's eroding mental and physical state. 'She could say she didn't know,' Villaraigosa said, elaborating on that initial volley during a lengthy conversation. 'They can't prove that she did. But last time I looked, she had lunch with him pretty regularly ... She had to have seen what the world [saw] over time and particularly in that debate. The notion that she didn't? Come on. Who's going to buy that?' That sort of talk is more typical of, say, Fox News than a candidate bidding for the support of fellow Democrats. Villaraigosa, a former labor leader who's gotten crossways with teacher unions among other party mainstays, professed not to care. If anything, he said, he's been encouraged by the response. 'For every one of those people' — upset by Villaraigosa's remarks — 'there are three of them, maybe not as high up among Democrats, who are saying the same damn thing. That's why this got so much traction ... Since Vietnam, people don't believe in government anymore. They don't believe in their leaders. And every time we lie or misrepresent ... [or] hide the truth from them, their support and their belief in our institutions' diminishes. Harris would have plenty of time to push back on Villaraigosa's depiction, should she choose to run. In the meantime, what's notable is his eagerness to take on the former vice president, positioning himself as the most vocal and assertive of her potential gubernatorial rivals. Others have taken a few pokes. 'No one should be waiting to lead,' former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter told The Times' Seema Mehta after entering the contest in March. Becerra echoed that sentiment when he announced his candidacy in April. 'Watching what's unfolding before our eyes made it clear this is not a time to sit on the sidelines,' Becerra said. But that's comparatively weak tea. 'If she wants to come in the race, she should come in now,' Villaraigosa taunted. 'Let's debate. What are the challenges facing our state? Where are the opportunities? Where do we meld them together? How do we make this a better state for our kids?' During the 40-minute phone conversation, starting in his car and finishing after Villaraigosa arrived home in Los Angeles, he toggled between criticisms of Harris and statements of good will toward a one-time political ally. The two have known each other, he said, since the mid-1990s, when Villaraigosa was a freshman assemblyman in Sacramento and Harris was dating then-Speaker Willie Brown. He supported her run for attorney general — 'I did three press conferences' as L.A. mayor — and was quick to back her as soon as Biden stepped aside last summer and Harris became the Democratic nominee. 'I supported her,' he said. 'I got behind her. Her husband' — former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff — 'has thanked me a number of times when he's seen me in person.' The disagreement now, Villaraigosa said, is over the direction of a party he sees unmoored from its history as a champion of the middle and working classes and too beholden to interest groups that make up its patchwork coalition. Harris, he suggested, is the personification of that disconnect from Democratic tradition. 'At the end of the day, what I'm arguing for is, let's get to the place where we're focused on getting things done and focused on common sense,' Villaraigosa said, citing, among issues, his support for Proposition 36, the anti-crime measure that voters overwhelming approved last November. The vice president, he noted, refused to take a position. But don't, he said before hanging up, take his attacks on Harris the wrong way. 'This isn't personal,' Villaraigosa insisted. It's just politics.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Reasons to Buy Kroger Stock Like There's No Tomorrow
Investors seeking to generate positive returns through the stock market turbulence should take a close look at Kroger (NYSE: KR). Shares of the grocery store giant are trading at an all-time high price, up 16% year to date, in sharp contrast to the 10% decline in the S&P 500 index over the period. Strategic initiatives implemented in recent years are now translating into robust growth and solid earnings for Kroger. With its recession-resistant business model, the stock is well-positioned for further upside over the long run. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Here are four reasons to buy Kroger stock for your portfolio right now. Kroger is one of the largest supermarket chains in the U.S., operating nearly 2,800 stores under a banner of brands, including King Soopers, Ralph's, and Smith's. While it trails Walmart in total locations and by revenue, Kroger stands out as a pure-play grocery stock, largely unaffected by discretionary retail categories. This focus on consumer staples could prove advantageous amid concerns regarding the possibility of a broader economic slowdown. People may cut back on spending on products like electronics and household goods during a recession, but food is a necessity. Kroger ended fiscal 2024 strong and is poised to build on its momentum. In its last reported quarter, identical sales (the company's version of same-store sales) -- excluding fuel -- rose 2.4% year over year for the period ended Feb. 1, reversing the prior year's 0.8% decline. The company benefits from several growth drivers, including a positive customer response to its expanding private label portfolio, which added over 900 new items last year. Kroger's digital strategy is also gaining traction, with e-commerce delivery sales up 18% in Q4. Additionally, a companywide cost savings initiative is boosting the gross and operating margins. Looking ahead, Kroger expects identical sales growth of 2% to 3% in 2025, with EPS guidance of $4.40 to $4.80, representing a 3% increase from 2024 at the midpoint. Kroger's outlook for steady, profitable growth, supported by strong fundamentals, underscores its appeal as an investment. Less recognized but increasingly vital are Kroger's alternative profit streams, particularly its advertising and data monetization efforts, which have become a cornerstone of its recent success. Using proprietary data from serving more than 11 million customers per day and an even larger loyalty program, Kroger delivers targeted ads across digital platforms, in-store displays, and connected television opportunities. In 2024, Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) media sales surged 17%, generating $1.4 billion in operating profit and accounting for over 25% of the company's total. These high-margin, tech-driven capabilities, now enhanced by AI-powered insights, have diversified the business and strengthened Kroger's long-term earnings potential. Kroger is also a great stock to own due to its attractive dividend growth profile. It has doubled its quarterly payment over the past five years to $0.32 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 1.9%. Recent comments from management suggest further dividend growth is likely, supported by an ongoing share repurchase authorization targeting an annual shareholder cash payout yield of 5% to 6%, providing a tailwind for stock price gains. Perhaps the best reason to buy Kroger shares now is that, despite its strengths, the valuation remains compelling. The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15, based on consensus 2025 EPS. That represents a significant discount to the broader market and peers like Walmart, with a forward P/E of 35, and Costco Wholesale, with a ratio closer to 55. A strong case can be made that Kroger deserves a wider earnings premium, given its growing media business and digital sales, as well as its rising profitability margin. As company results over the next few quarters reaffirm Kroger's resiliency in a challenging economic environment, shares should continue to perform well. Ultimately, investors will be hard-pressed to find a stock that combines Kroger's value, growth, and operating stability in today's market. Before you buy stock in Kroger, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Kroger wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $566,035!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $629,519!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 829% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 155% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 21, 2025 Dan Victor has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Kroger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 4 Reasons to Buy Kroger Stock Like There's No Tomorrow was originally published by The Motley Fool
