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More restaurants are tacking sneaky fees onto bills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

You've probably heard about "tipflation" -- restaurants prodding customers to leave higher tips for servers and staff.Now there's another trend to watch for: Restaurants adding sneaky fees to bills.These surcharges, which typically range from 3% to 5%, are often intended to cover higher inflation, employee healthcare costs or credit-card processing charges.And to be sure, all businesses are entitled to recover their operating costs.But this isn't how you do it.These fees are intended solely to mislead customers by keeping menu prices lower, even though the total cost of a meal will be more expensive.Moreover, customers may not be aware of the added fees until the end of the meal, when the bill arrives.That is, to put it mildly, a deceptive business practice.Worse, at least tips go to underpaid servers. These surcharges almost always go to the establishment (yes, the same establishment that had the chutzpah to run a bait-and-switch on pricing).The National Restaurant Assn. says about...

New data shows California has the most people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

New data released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam on Monday indicates that California has more Alzheimer’s patients than any other state. The numbers were found through the first-ever estimates of Alzheimer’s dementia prevalence at the county level, with data being collected from all 3,142 United States counties. According to the AAIC, one of the highest prevalence rates in the country lies in Imperial County, with a rate of 15 percent. New data released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam on Monday indicates that California has more Alzheimer’s patients than any other state. (Alzheimer's Association) More restaurants are tacking sneaky fees onto bills Los Angeles and Orange counties had prevalence rates as high as 13.2 percent and 11.6 percent respectively. Overall, the study found that the east and the southeastern parts of the country had the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s. For more informat...

Pasadena grapples with how to handle coyote conflicts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

Some Pasadena residents are looking for a more humane alternative to curbing the coyote population in the area, opposing a plan to begin trapping and killing the animals to keep them out of neighborhoods. The only other city in Los Angeles County that uses coyote snare traps is Torrance, and according to PETA officials, sightings there have gone up since they were put into use. “In Pasadena, sightings of coyotes this year have gone down 22 percent,” said Lisa Lange, PETA Vice President. “In Torrance, once they started trapping, they went up 14 percent. It doesn’t work.” PETA described trapping coyotes as “painful” and “barbaric” and noted that several parts of Pasadena, like the Arroyo neighborhood, are long known for their wildlife.  Timelapse video shows Riverside County wildfire explode Following concerns from residents regarding the coyotes encroaching on to their properties, the health department in Pasadena conducted a field study and came up with five op...

Underground group helps nab suspected child predator

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

An underground group that targets online child predators helped Fullerton Police arrest a man accused of trying to lure a 14-year-old boy into having sex, authorities said.The minor turned out to be a decoy.John Wheeler, 39, was arrested last Wednesday on two felony charges and was being held on $100,000 bail.Video obtained by KTLA shows members of the Creep Catchers Unit, or CC Unit, confronting Wheeler outside a Walmart where he was working on July 9.Members of the CC Unit confront John Wheeler, who is accused of soliciting a minor, in Fullerton, California. July 9, 2023 (CC Unit)“Ghost,” the founder of the group who conceals his identity, shows Wheeler paper copies of an online conversation that included lewd photos and graphic descriptions of sexual activity that Wheeler allegedly intended to engage in with the minor.Wheeler claims he never intended to follow through with the sex acts and also claimed he “has mental issues,” the confrontational video shows.When officers arrived ...

Places to cool off in Southern California during the latest summer heat wave

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

With another summer heatwave in the forecast, many Southern California residents will be looking for ways to cool off and beat the intense heat.In addition to the beaches, the county has many public cooling center locations to help shield residents from the summer sun. Death Valley sizzles as brutal heat wave continues Here is a roundup of public cooling centers in the southlandLos Angeles CountyGlendora Public LibraryClifton Brakensiek LibraryVan Nuys Branch LibraryLeon H. Washington Jr. Memorial Branch LibraryVassie D. Wright Memorial Branch Library  Lincoln Heights Branch LibraryPalisades Branch LibraryPanorama City Branch LibraryRoy Campanella ParkGeorge Lane Park 5 places to cool off in L.A. County during the coming heat wave Riverside CountyAnza Valley Community LibraryBanning Senior CenterColorado River Senior Center inPalo Verde Valley Transit AgencyCoachella Senior CenterHome Gardens LibraryDesert Hot Springs LibrarySalvation ArmyGlen Avon LibraryMead Valley Librar...

Top 13 Online Slots and Casinos 2023: Elevate Your Gaming with the Best Platforms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

If you spend even a few days on the internet you’ve encountered an online casino. Maybe not the direct web establishment, but an ad or a recommendation. Today, online casinos are engraved in our internet presence and society as a whole. If you gamble responsibly, web-based casinos are one of the best pastimes there is. Have you tried one by now?  If you didn’t, maybe the reason is one of the most common reasons why people avoid online gambling. You do not know who to trust. Safety, security, and trust are the main issues most individuals fear or care for in the internet domain. Once you know who you can trust, things become much easier. But it is hard to gain someone’s trust. Luckily you have outlets such as ours that will point you in the right direction. The Internet is a nice place when you have friends and trusted associates. In this article, we are going to point you in the direction of a few respectable online casinos that could potentially become your gambling house in the fu...

6 Killed in 2-Car Accident on State Route 509 [Tacoma, WA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

Six Pronounced Dead after Two-Vehicle Collision near Alexander AvenueTACOMA, WA (July 17, 2023) – Late Sunday morning, six victims were fatally injured in a 2-car accident on State Route 509.Around 11:17 a.m., dispatchers responded to the scene near Alexander Avenue after receiving multiple calls in the area.Officers say the driver of a gray 2021 Kia Forte hatchback with six passengers was heading east on Alexander Avenue.For reasons under investigation, the Kia then collided with a BMW SUV that was traveling north on SR 509. Upon impact, the Kia veered off the right side of the road before coming to rest in an embankment and catching fire. Meanwhile, the BMW came to rest blocking the intersection.Medics arrived and pronounced six occupants from inside the Kia dead at the scene. Authorities say they were all Arizona residents aged 19 to 25-years-old. Police are unsure if they were wearing seat belts at the time.The 42-year-old male driver of the BMW and his 40-year-old female ...

Top 12 Online Blackjack Casinos 2023: Where Fortune Awaits Roulette Enthusiasts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

With the rapid evolution of technology across the globe, various businesses thrived and continue to develop over the course of years. One niche that has stood out to gain a lot from these circumstances is definitely online gambling. In the sea of games you can enjoy on the internet, blackjack has become extremely popular, and as per various analyses, over thirty percent of players are focused on blackjack games.This astounding rate of expansion does not come as a surprise by any means. It is a thrilling game that gets the players’ blood pumping, as its fast pace is sure to entertain different caliber of players. With that said, it is only logical that numerous online gambling platforms are now offering players the option to play blackjack.The good news for everyone who enjoys this particular game is that it is a great moment to play it, especially on the territory of the United States. Even though some people argue that the thrill of gambling has disappeared with the implementation ...

1 Killed in Hit-and-Run Car Crash on West Base Line Street [San Bernardino, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

One Pronounced Dead after Three-Vehicle Collision near Arrowhead AvenueSAN BERNARDINO, CA (June 21, 2023) – Saturday morning, a hit-and-run crash on West Base Line Steet claimed the life of one person.Initially, a possible altercation between two vehicles started when an eastbound Dodge Ram tried to overtake a BMW coupe.At around 10:40 a.m., reports said the Dodge clipped the side of the BMW and caused the Dodge to crash into an oncoming minivan.The impact of the crash sent the two vehicles to a front yard of a house at 350 W Base Line Street. However, the Dodge truck driver fled the scene before the authorities arrived.First responders arrived and rushed the minivan driver to a hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. Their identity remains undisclosed to the public, pending notification from the next of kin.A passenger inside the minivan was hospitalized and remains in critical condition. Meanwhile, the BMW driver stayed at the site of the incident and cooperated wit...

3 Injured after Pedestrian Crash near 83rd Avenue [Phoenix, AZ]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:49 GMT

20-Year-Old Woman and Two Children Injured after a Pedestrian Crash near McDowell RoadPHOENIX, AZ (July 17, 2023) – Wednesday night, a pedestrian crash near 83rd Avenue left three people injured.The incident happened on June 7th, outside of a Sam’s Club.According to Phoenix Police, a woman in her 20s was walking in the parking lot with two young children, a boy and a girl. Meanwhile, a vehicle was traveling in the area at low speed and struck the three of them.Emergency crews were dispatched to the site of the crash shortly after. First responders then transported the three victims to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. Officials report that all three of the victims are in stable condition.No additional information has been released regarding the pedestrian crash near 83rd Avenue. Further investigation into the incident is currently underway.When driving, it is vital to always be alert for pedestrians and other vehicles. This is especially true when you are...