California News from KTLA 5 News https://ktla.com Los Angeles news and live streaming video Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:26:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.3 https://ktla.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/01/favicon.png?w=32 California News from KTLA 5 News https://ktla.com 32 32 In-N-Out among the 'best' places to work, according to Glassdoor https://ktla.com/news/california/in-n-out-among-the-best-places-to-work-according-to-glassdoor/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:54:15 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2800088 In-N-Out seemingly isn’t just a great place to grab dinner after the Golden Globes or pick up a hot chocolate on a rainy day; the beloved California-based company is also a great place to work, according to a new study from Glassdoor.

In-N-Out took the sixth spot on Glassdoor’s 2024 “Best Places to Work” list of large, United States-based companies. The ranking was created based on Glassdoor users’ reviews.

In-N-Out employees cited pay, benefits and flexibility as some of the top reasons the company is a great workplace. However, reviews regarding poor management styles and favoritism dominated the negative reviews.

In-N-Out was the only fast-food restaurant that ranked within the top 100 "best” places to work and ranked higher than companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple.

About 85% of In-N-Out employees who left Glassdoor reviews would recommend the job to a friend and 92% approved of the company’s CEO Lynsi Snyder.

The complete study can be viewed here.

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2024-01-17T22:57:22+00:00
Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević has died https://ktla.com/sports/golden-state-warriors-assistant-coach-dies-of-heart-attack/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:51:54 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2799820 SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević has died after suffering a heart attack at a private team dinner in Salt Lake City Tuesday night, the team announced on Wednesday. Despite life-saving efforts, the 46-year-old coach passed away late Wednesday morning.

"We are absolutely devastated by Dejan's sudden passing," said Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr. "This is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him. In addition to being a terrific basketball coach, Dejan was one of the most positive and beautiful human beings I have ever known."

"We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa," said the Warriors in a post to X, formerly Twitter.

Milojević was in his third season as an assistant coach with the Warriors. He was a member of the team's coaching staff during the Dub's run to the 2022 NBA Championship. Milojević is from Belgrade, Serbia. He played professional basketball internationally for 14 years prior to becoming a coach.

The news of Milojević's passing was first reported in TMZ and in a tweet from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Warriors away game Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz has been postponed. A date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later date, the NBA said.

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2024-01-17T23:17:02+00:00
Brightline West seeks construction workers for California to Las Vegas rail project https://ktla.com/news/california/brightline-west-seeks-construction-workers-for-california-to-las-vegas-rail-project/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:20:39 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2799888 Construction on the highly anticipated rail service from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas is expected to begin soon as trade unions seek out construction workers.

The Department of Labor recently met with Nevada and California trade unions to discuss possibly hiring 11,000 workers to begin construction, the Daily Press reported.

Workers in California will begin construction at multiple sites, while workers in Nevada will begin construction at the rail service’s stop in Vegas and continue their work toward the state line.

Eventually, workers from both states will meet and work together on the project, according to the publication.

Job postings related to the project have popped up on the Brightline West website.

The project’s advancement comes after the Biden administration approved $3 billion in funding for the project in December.

The Brightline West high-speed rail will travel 218 miles between the Inland Empire and Las Vegas. The company says the trains will be fully electric and emission-free.

The project also aims to significantly reduce CO2 emissions by eliminating the need for 3 million cars to travel to Las Vegas. Company officials hope the project will eliminate 400,000 tons of CO2 from roads annually and relieve traffic on Interstate 15.

Developers aim to complete the project by summer 2028, just in time for the summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

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2024-01-17T21:52:51+00:00
Is Los Angeles due for another major earthquake? https://ktla.com/news/local-news/is-los-angeles-due-for-another-major-earthquake/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 20:22:24 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2799738

On January 17, 1994, the ground under Los Angeles violently shook as a magnitude 6.7 earthquake centered in the San Fernando Valley hit the region.

Damage was catastrophic as tens of thousands of buildings cracked or collapsed entirely. Freeways buckled and at least 57 people lost their lives in the immediate aftermath of what became known as the Northridge Earthquake.

At the time, L.A. hadn’t experienced an earthquake of that magnitude in 23 years, and it has now been 30 years since the Northridge quake.

Does this mean Southern California is overdue for another major earthquake?

The U.S. Geological Survey says the probability of a magnitude 6.7 quake hitting the L.A. area again within 30 years is 60%. There’s a 46% chance of a magnitude 7.0 and a 31% probability of a magnitude 7.5, USGS says.

So the likelihood of another Northridge-sized quake happening in the coming decades is, unfortunately, strong.

  • 1994 Northridge Earthquake
  • Urban Search and Rescue team members carry Salvador Pena away from the collapsed garage at Northridge Fashion Center where he had been trapped after a structure fell on him during the 1994 earthquake.
  • 1994 Northridge Earthquake
  • 1994 Northridge Earthquake
  • 1994 Northridge Earthquake
  • 1994 Northridge Earthquake
  • 1994 Northridge Earthquake
  • 1994 Northridge Earthquake

The 1994 earthquake occurred along a small, previously undiscovered fault. The greater concern, says world-renowned seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, is the 800-mile-long San Andreas Fault, which has already been responsible for many of California's largest quakes.

“[Northridge] wasn’t ‘The Big One,’” Jones recently told KTLA 5 News anchor Frank Buckley. “When the San Andreas [Fault] goes, we're going get that level of shaking instead of over just the San Fernando Valley … It will be a ten, 20, 50 times larger area that will receive the strongest level of shaking. That's the difference with a bigger earthquake is a longer fault.”

Both the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and 1989's Loma Prieta quake occurred along the San Andreas Fault and had devastating impacts on the Bay Area.

In Southern California, where it terminates at the Salton Sea, experts say the San Andreas Fault produces quakes at an interval of roughly every 150 years – only there hasn’t been one in at least 300 years.

Despite the gap, Dr. Jones doesn’t believe this means there is imminent danger.

“We have a much better understanding of the physics of earthquake faults today,” she said. “It's a much more random process over time. If we went 10,000 years without an earthquake then yes, we'd have to have one. But at just twice the average [of 300 years], that's just the random distribution that we see.”

California Faults
A map showing fault sections and earthquake probabilities in California. (USGS)

Dr. Jones says Southern California is better prepared for a large earthquake today than 1994 due to seismic retrofitting and improvements in building and road construction. If or when “The Big One” occurs, she says most people will survive.

Her greater concern is the economic and social fallout.

“We have seen communities really destroyed by these types of disasters. People leave and go elsewhere ... Whether our community comes out on the other end okay is much more debatable.”

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2024-01-17T20:22:24+00:00
California Gov. Newsom promises to veto ban on youth tackle football https://ktla.com/news/california/newsom-promises-to-veto-ban-on-youth-tackle-football/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:28:28 +0000 https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/newsom-promises-to-veto-ban-on-youth-tackle-football/ California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has promised to veto a California bill that bans youth tackle football.

Assembly Bill 734 would ban youth sports organizations from letting children 6 or younger play tackle football beginning next year. In 2027, the bill would raise the age on the ban to 10, and in 2029, it would raise it to 12.

“I will not sign legislation that bans youth tackle football. I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of our young athletes, but an outright ban is not the answer,” Newsom said in a statement emailed to The Hill on Wednesday. “My administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children.”

“As part of that process, we will consult with health and sports medicine experts, coaches, parents, and community members to ensure California maintains the highest standards in the country for youth football safety,” Newsom continued.

A study published about two years ago in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found no link between youth tackle football and cognitive or behavioral problems, despite recent concerns about head injuries in the sport.

But in 2017, another study published in JAMA came to the conclusion that 21% of high school football players had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a notable brain disease linked to traumas to the head.

Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre has said in a public service announcement that children should be kept out of tackle football at least until their mid-teens.

“Having kids play before high school is just not worth the risk,” Favre said in a statement. ​​​​​”CTE is a terrible disease, and we need to do everything we can to prevent it for the next generation of football players.”

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2024-01-17T17:31:31+00:00
Potentially heavy rain in the forecast for Southern California https://ktla.com/weather/national-weather-service-socal-to-not-see-the-sun-for-a-while/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:30:06 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2799104 After a sunny start to the week, weather officials are now advising Southern California residents to not expect to see the sun “for a while.” 

According to the National Weather Service, a weak storm system will bring breezy winds and light rain to much of the area on Wednesday; communities that don’t experience rain will still see mostly cloudy skies and temperatures hovering in the high 60s to low 70s. 

The chance of rain will only increase as the weekend gets closer. 

“Periods of rain, potentially heavy at times, will be possible across most of the area late Friday through Monday,” NWS said. “Don’t expect to see the sun for a while as Southern California enters into a cloudy and increasingly wet period.” 

There is a five to 15% chance of thunderstorms on Sunday, weather officials said, with snow levels remaining around 7,000 feet. 

National Weather Service: SoCal set to not “see the sun for a while”
A series of storms is expected to move through SoCal beginning on Friday and lasting through Monday. (National Weather Service)

Local preliminary rainfall projections range from just over half an inch in Lancaster to 2.7 inches in Ojai, with over three inches of rain expected in parts of San Luis Obispo County and over four inches in Santa Barbara County. 

Minor flooding of small streams and in urban areas is possible, weather officials said.

Air quality is also deteriorating, with many in SoCal urged to limit their outdoor activity.

"Usually, [we can get] an idea as to why we are seeing this poor air quality ... it might be a consistent ridge of high pressure that sits on top of us for days and traps pollutants," KTLA 5 meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said. "Oftentimes it could be from recent fires or an ongoing fire, but we just have some poor air quality going on and it's worth mentioning because if you do any type of [outdoor] physical exercise, you need to be aware of that."

To view the most up-to-date forecast for your community, click here.

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2024-01-18T00:26:33+00:00
Warning over raw oyster consumption expands to more parts of Southern California https://ktla.com/news/local-news/warning-over-raw-oyster-consumption-expands-to-more-parts-of-southern-california/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 01:31:47 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2798192 Residents in Orange County are being warned about possible illnesses linked to the consumption of raw oysters, joining Los Angeles and San Diego counties which received similar warnings last week.

Last Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration warned about an outbreak of norovirus in San Diego County linked to oysters that were imported from a specific December harvest in Sonora, Mexico. As many as 41 people have been identified as possible connections to that specific outbreak.

Days later, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said it was investigating a "cluster" of gastrointestinal illnesses that were linked to four unnamed restaurants where people had eaten raw oysters. Public Health did not specifically state whether the illness was norovirus or if it was connected to the same San Diego County outbreak traced back to Mexico.

Now Orange County health officials are issuing their own warning about consuming raw oysters, aligning with its neighbors to the north and south.

Officials believe the specific oysters linked to the San Diego outbreak were only available through restaurants, including some in Orange County, and wholesalers. The product has been identified as "Rocky Point oysters," packed by GOLPAC, which is located in Bahia Salina in Sonora.

This undated photo shows a packing slip for oysters harvested in December 2023 in Sonora, Mexico that have been linked to an outbreak of norovirus. (Orange County Health Care Agency)
This undated photo shows a packing slip for oysters harvested in December 2023 in Sonora, Mexico that have been linked to an outbreak of norovirus. (Orange County Health Care Agency)

Restaurants or others who purchased these oysters are urged to throw them out. If ordering them from a restaurant, customers should ask restaurant staff where the oysters originated from before eating them.

Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever and body aches which usually develop within 48 hours after consuming contaminated food. The illness typically lasts between 1-3 days, officials said.

The California Department of Public Health is investigating the L.A. County cases to confirm the source of the cluster of gastrointestinal illness.

“Until the source is confirmed, consumers should be cautious before eating raw oysters,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, Orange County Health Care Agency Chief of Public Services and Health Officer. “If you are sick, avoid further contamination from occurring in your home by washing your hands frequently and cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and kitchen countertops.”

Eating raw oysters already comes with inherent risks and outbreaks of bacterial infections, in addition to norovirus, that have been reported in the past.

Orange County residents, particularly those most vulnerable, including young children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, are discouraged from consuming raw oysters at this time.

If you believe you've been sickened by eating or drinking something, you should contact your primary healthcare provider and file a report with the OC Health Care Agency Environmental Health Division via email or by calling 714-433-6418.

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2024-01-17T01:31:48+00:00
Scammer convinces elderly man to withdraw cash for 'courier' to pick up, sheriff says https://ktla.com/news/california/scammer-convinces-elderly-man-to-withdraw-cash-for-courier-to-pick-up-sheriff-says/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:52:27 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2798128 An Inland Empire man was arrested after he allegedly convinced an elderly man to withdraw an undisclosed amount of cash and set it aside for a "courier" to pick up later.

Kayvaughn Omaryeades Larry, 19, of Apple Valley was arrested Saturday after employees at a bank called the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department regarding a customer who they believed was the victim of a scam.

The victim, a 77-year-old man, received a phone call the previous day from a person claiming to be an employee at his bank informing him that his account had been hacked. The scammer, believed to be Larry, directed the elderly man to withdraw cash from his account to "keep it safe," he then told him to put the money in a box, wrap it with brown paper and then wait for a courier to arrive.

Later that day, a person showed up at the man's home and picked up the box and departed.

The following day, the scammer tried his luck again, calling the same victim and attempting to pull the scam again.

The victim went to his bank where employees recognized the ruse and called a family member which led to authorities being called.

Deputies responded to the victim's home where they awaited the arrival of the person posing as the "courier" who planned on making that day's pickup. When Larry arrived at the victim's home he was taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of obtaining money by false pretense and accessory to a crime.

He was transported to High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto where he is being on $15,000 bail. According to jail records, he is due in court Wednesday.

The Sheriff's Department says this arrest is an important reminder about the rampant problem of phone scams, which are responsible for stealing millions from citizens across the country every year.

"Always verify any information a caller gives you by hanging up, calling whatever business, agency or institution the caller claims to be with and asking questions. Financial institutions will not ask anyone to withdraw money and package it for a courier to pick up," the Sheriff's Department said in a news release.

If you have been the victim of a scam, you are urged to report it to the FTC.

Anyone with information about this specific investigation is asked contact SBSD Deputy Belvin with the Apple Valley Sheriff's Station at 760-240-7400. Anonymous tips can be submitted online or by calling 1-800-782-7463.

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2024-01-17T00:52:29+00:00
Cats 'not suited' for indoor life ready for new homes more than a year after rescue https://ktla.com/news/local-news/cats-not-suited-for-indoor-life-ready-for-new-homes-more-than-a-year-after-rescue/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 23:54:26 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2798022 Several cats rescued more than a year ago are seeking new homes, but animal rescuers say they'll need special arrangements to fit their unique needs.

The cats were part of an October 2022 seizure at an animal rescue facility in Littlerock, a small community located about 11 miles southeast of Palmdale.

During that operation, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control served a search warrant that resulted in more than 200 animals being removed from the facility due to the organization's "failure to comply" with state and county animal care laws, including exceeding the number of animals allowed and neglecting to provide proper medical care for the animals.

One of the cats rescued in October 2022 deemed "not suited" for indoor life is shown in this undated photo. Los Angeles County officials are attempting to find new homes for of these 20 cats.
One of the cats rescued in October 2022 deemed "not suited" for indoor life is shown in this undated photo. Los Angeles County officials are attempting to find new homes for of these 20 cats.

The dozens of animals were dispersed among the County's seven animal care centers and were evaluated, treated and held as evidence as the case advanced through the court system.

Gradually, the court has released some of the animals to be adopted. This month, 80 cats were released after more than 14 months in holding and are now available for adoption.

While DACC officials have been awaiting this day for months, they stress that many of the cats are, unfortunately, not suited for the average cat owner.

"Some of the recently released cats may be unsocialized and require special homes," officials said in a news release.

In total, 20 cats are considered to be "not fully domesticated" and are not suited to life as an indoor cat. But DACC says they are still "full of character" and would thrive as barn cats, warehouse cats or family cats whose primary living arrangements are outdoors.

The cats will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and medically cleared prior to adoption and are ready to provide companionship (and rodent control) for their new families (or employers).

"Finding placement for unsocialized cats is particularly difficult,” said DACC Director Marcia Mayeda. "We are compelled to ask for the public’s help for these cats, who have endured long confinements and neglect, and deserve a second chance at a fulfilling life."

Officials hope that these cats can find new places to live out purposeful lives with love and care in an environment that suits their unique needs.

If you are interested in adopting, you can email your nearest DACC animal care center:

For more information about the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, click here.

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2024-01-16T23:54:27+00:00
Study: California is the hardest state to open a restaurant in the U.S.  https://ktla.com/news/california/study-california-is-the-hardest-state-to-open-a-restaurant-in-the-u-s/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:08:58 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2797340 Opening a restaurant is hard in and of itself, but doing so in California is especially challenging, according to new research. 

A recent study by Restaurant Furniture, which, as its name implies, is an online marketplace that manufactures and sells furniture to restaurants, analyzed the various costs that an entrepreneur would incur in one year to run a restaurant, including rent, licenses and tax rates, to calculate which state was the most expensive to open up shop. 

The data was then turned into scores from one to ten, with the highest scores meaning better results. Thus, the lower the total score out of 100, the more expensive it would be to open and maintain a restaurant in that state, researchers explained. 

In first place is California due to “a combination of factors,” the study found, including high rent and food service permit costs, as well as high corporate tax rates. 

Finishing in a close second is New York; Empire State entrepreneurs pay even more rent than the average California restauranteur and have to fork over $4,352 per year for a liquor license, the second-most in the nation. 

The full list of most expensive states to open a restaurant can be viewed in the table below: 

RankStateFood service permit costLiquor license costState sales tax rateState corp. tax rateMinimum wageRent per sq. foot per yearScore out of 100
1.California$809/yearN/A3%9%$16/hr$45.7428.04
2.New York$280/year$4,352/year5%7%$15/hr*$69.6028.39
3.Colorado$385/year$500/year8%5%$14.42/hr$25.9540.02
4.Illinois$450/year$750/year5%10%$14/hr$28.4240.15
5.Arizona$585/year$2,000/year6%7%$14.35/hr$24.7040.44
6.Alaska$400/year$600/year8%9%$11.73/hr$23.2841.88
7.New Jersey$100/year$1,375/year3%9%$15.13/hr*$25.7545.14
8.New MexicoN/A$5,525/year4%8%$12/hr$21.5946.66
9.Hawaii$300/year$300/year1%6%$14/hr$66.7250.05
10.Washington$632/year$1,600/year4%0%$16.28/hr$25.3252.23
Source: Restaurant Finder via taxfoundation.org, tax-rates.org, dol.gov and cityfeet.com
NOTE: Nine counties in New York have a minimum wage of $16/hour and the minimum wage for seasonal and small businesses with six or less employees in New Jersey is $13.73/hour

“Generally, the states listed in this top ten present a mix of high living costs, competitive markets and unique challenges contributing to the overall expense of establishing and maintaining a restaurant business,” researchers said. 

California and New York are the most difficult for entrepreneurs due to them being two of the most populous and “economically active” states in America, according to Nick Warren, Restaurant Furniture’s Head of E-Commerce. 

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2024-01-16T20:08:59+00:00
'Danger': Schiff's latest campaign ad capitalizes on Trump's Iowa win https://ktla.com/news/california/danger-schiffs-latest-campaign-ad-capitalizes-on-trumps-iowa-win/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:10:57 +0000 https://ktla.com/news/california-politics/danger-schiffs-latest-campaign-ad-capitalizes-on-trumps-iowa-win/ (KRON/NEXSTAR) -- Congressman Adam Schiff's campaign for the U.S. Senate capitalized on former President Donald Trump's decisive Iowa Republican Caucus win Monday with a digital campaign ad titled "Danger."

The ad highlights Rep. Schiff's role in the two impeachment proceedings, successfully carried out against the former president in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The ad, which features footage of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in 2021, calls the possibility of a second Trump term "an even greater danger."

"When our democracy was in danger, he stood up," a voiceover in the ad says. "Adam Schiff took on a corrupt president. He fought to protect our values and the rule of law. Now we face an even greater danger. We need Adam Schiff more than ever."

Trump's victory in the Iowa Republican Caucus "likely cements his position as the clear frontrunner for the GOP nomination," Schiff's campaign said in a statement accompanying the ad. Along with the ad, Schiff's campaign has rolled out a new policy plan, "Defending Democracy."

The plan, according to the campaign, outlines Schiff's plans for protecting reproductive rights, expanding voting rights, and reforming the U.S. Supreme Court. The release of "Danger" follows last week's rollout of a TV spot titled "Results."

Recent polls have seen Schiff maintain his status as the front runner in the race to fill the seat held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. This week, the Burbank representative picked up a weighty endorsement from the Los Angeles Times.

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2024-01-16T19:12:47+00:00
30-year-old Irish whiskey sells for record-breaking $2.8M https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/30-year-old-irish-whiskey-sells-for-record-breaking-2-8m/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 22:34:38 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2795788 A rare bottle of whiskey — and all the the luxury items that come with it — is now the most expensive ever sold.

The extremely rare bottle of The Emerald Isle was sold at auction to American whiskey collector Mike Daley for $2.8 million, beating out the previous record-setter by $100,000.

The 30-year-old single malt Irish whiskey is the "rarest triple-distilled single malt in existence," according to the Craft Irish Whiskey Co., which produced only seven bottles and encased each in a designer box as unique and exorbitant as the spirit itself.

But Daley didn't just buy the liquor. His bottle comes with a decanter, a bespoke Fabergé egg containing an actual emerald gem, a custom timepiece and a pair of Cohiba cigars, all contained within a custom walnut case.

The whiskey itself was aged for three decades in a "variety of casks" which has given the liquor an "unrivalled intensity of flavour," the makers say.

Daley is one of the world's most prolific whiskey collectors, with several thousand bottles to his name, from the Americas to the British Isles.

Daley has one of the largest private collections of whiskey in the United States.

While Scotch whisky often gets much of the attention by connoisseurs of the product, the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. says its mission is to restore Ireland's reputation as one of the world's distilling leaders.

"The rebirth of Irish whiskey is relatively new, so I feel like I'm getting in on the ground floor," Daley said. "Luxury scotch, to me, is already a crowded type of market. But we're only just starting to see luxury Irish make a name for itself. I guarantee you that in the years to come, it will get to where scotch is today."

The previous title holder for most expensive whiskey/whisky ever sold was a bottle of The Macallan 1926. The Scotch whisky sold at auction last November for $2.7 million.

Only 40 of those bottles were ever produced, including only 12 which featured labels designed by Italian painter Valerio Adami.

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2024-01-15T22:34:39+00:00
L.A. Times endorses Schiff in California Senate race https://ktla.com/news/california/l-a-times-endorses-schiff-in-california-senate-race/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 21:27:34 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2795706 The Los Angeles Times editorial board has endorsed Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) in the highly competitive race to be California's next senator.

Schiff, whose 30th Congressional District includes the communities of West Hollywood, Pasadena, Echo Park, Glendale and Burbank, is among a crowded field of candidates seeking to replace current Sen. Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to the position following the death of Dianne Feinstein.

Schiff has been in Congress for more than 20 years and served as the chair of the House Intelligence Committee between 2019 and 2023. He frequently battled with conservatives and then-President Donald Trump, spearheading Trump's first impeachment for allegedly withholding aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigating his political rival Joe Biden.

He was the lead prosecutor in that impeachment trial and later served on the Jan. 6 committee to investigate Trump and his allies' efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

In 2023, a new-look majority Republican U.S. House censured Schiff for his actions while Trump was president, something Schiff has worn as a badge of honor.

With the growing possibility of Trump securing the GOP presidential nomination, the Times board argued that Schiff is needed in the Senate now more than ever.

"Given the increasingly authoritarian statements from Donald Trump, the possibility he could return to the White House and the Republican Party’s lockstep loyalty to him, the Senate needs Schiff, a battle-tested and thoughtful leader who has demonstrated he can rise to the moment," they wrote.

Schiff's appointment to those critical roles shows that he is respected and trusted as a leader in the party, the Times says, adding that his colleagues describe him as "a team player, practiced in the art of compromise and someone who, despite the vilification from Trumpland, has the respect of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle."

While Schiff has 60% support in the California House delegation, including Sen. Nancy Pelosi, the Times states, he's not the only candidate staking a claim for the seat once held by Feinstein for more than 30 years.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) is considered by many to be Schiff's closest competitor in the race. Porter is a progressive favorite and her use of visual aids and unapologetic and pointed lines of questioning makes her a regular viral sensation.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) has served in Congress for 25 years and was the lone dissenting vote against the War in Afghanistan — a decision that was considered controversial at the time, but has since been heralded as an example of her fearlessness to vote with her conscience.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey and attorney Eric Early are among the conservative candidates hoping to do the unthinkable and steal an upset win in deep-blue California, which hasn't elected a Republican senator since Pete Wilson was re-elected in 1988.

Latest polls show Porter and Garvey trailing Schiff ahead of the March 5 California Primary. The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party, will head to the November General Election to determine who will be named California's next senator.

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2024-01-15T21:32:17+00:00
Storm headed to Southern California may change your weekend plans https://ktla.com/news/california/storm-headed-to-southern-california-may-change-your-weekend-plans/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:41:00 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2795608 A couple of storms will make their way to Southern California over the next seven days, one of which is expected to bring a significant amount of rain and could impact your weekend plans.

The first system is forecast to move over the region on Wednesday but doesn't look very impressive.

“Weak, weak system coming up on Wednesday. Maybe we get a little drop out of this but not much to be concerned about,” KTLA Meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said.

The National Weather Service is calling for fair skies and seasonal temperatures to return Thursday and Friday, but they won't last long.

“Then we get to Saturday and we have rain … Overnight Saturday into Sunday, maybe even into Monday as well, we’re going to get periods of rain,” Henry said.

The National Weather Service posted this forecast image for a storm arriving over the weekend. (NWS)
The National Weather Service posted this forecast image for a storm arriving over the weekend. (NWS)

Early estimates call for a half-inch to an inch of rain in most areas, with the possibility of some mountain and foothill locations receiving more than two inches.

“Most everywhere will see rain during the 3-day period, but there will be dry instances as well,” according to the NWS.

This will not be a cold weather system and will not have a significant impact on temperatures, Henry said.

“Not big snow producers for us, but definitely the possibility of some areas getting an inch to two inches over that time frame,” he said.

Snow levels are expected to remain rather high, around 7,000 to 8,000 feet, according to the NWS.

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2024-01-15T19:47:07+00:00
2 L.A. museums among ‘most Instagrammable’ in America, study finds  https://ktla.com/news/local-news/2-l-a-museums-among-most-instagrammable-in-america-study-finds/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 18:18:26 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2795525 American museums hold some of the best exhibits in the world, but certain museums get more love than others on social media, according to a new study. 

Research by Storyboards, a photo wall tiles company, examined the number of public Instagram posts that feature hashtags for popular museums across the country. 

The total number of hashtags was calculated by combining the two most popular hashtags for each museum, researchers said. 

In first by a wide margin is New York’s Museum of Modern Art, which houses contemporary art and pieces by Vincent van Gogh and Salvador Dalí. 

MoMA received 2.9 million hashtags on Instagram when combining #moma with #museumofmodernart, the study found. 

In second and third are Wynwood Walls in Miami and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York with 984,063 and 967,717 hashtags, respectively. 

In fourth is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art with 916,965 total hashtags. The Western United States’ largest art museum, LACMA is home to a wide variety of art from over 6,000 years across history. 

The two most common hashtags for the museum are #lacma and #losangelescountymuseumofart with 901,477 and 15,488 posts respectively. 

After LACMA is The Broad, located in downtown Los Angeles. The Broad, which houses pieces from the 1950s onwards by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, garnered more than 491,000 hashtagged Instagram posts when the hashtags #thebroad and #thebroadmuseum were combined, according to Storyboads. 

The top 10 “most Instagrammable” museums in the U.S. can be viewed in the table below: 

RankMuseumLocationTotal # of posts
1.Museum of Modern ArtNew York2,917,787
2.Wynwood GardensMiami984,063
3.Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumNew York967,717
4.Los Angeles County Museum of ArtLos Angeles916,965
5.The BroadLos Angeles491,709
6.Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York449,310
7.The Art Institute of ChicagoChicago213,165
8.Field MuseumChicago146,133
9.Museum of Fine ArtsBoston128,787
10.Chihuly Garden and GlassSeattle128,202
Source: Storyboard

Other California museums ranked amongst the "most Instagrammable" in America include:

  • #13: The Getty, Los Angeles (109,973 posts)
  • #15: De Young Museum, San Francisco (100,711 posts)
  • #18: Exploratorium, San Francisco (84,847 posts)
  • #20: California Science Centre, Los Angeles (66,588 posts)
  • #21: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (51,113 posts)
  • #22: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (40,295 posts)
  • #23: USS Midway Museum, San Diego (37,218 posts)
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2024-01-15T18:26:56+00:00
These are the unhealthiest states in U.S. https://ktla.com/news/california/these-are-the-unhealthiest-states-in-u-s/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:29:54 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2793768 A new study has identified the region with the unhealthiest population in the United States.

Forbes Advisor conducted the analysis and ranked each state based on several factors, including rates of drug abuse, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and chronic disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases are health conditions that last a year or longer and require ongoing medical treatment.

The CDC notes that these illnesses – such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes – are the nation’s leading causes of death and disability.

As for the unhealthiest state in America, West Virginia claims the No. 1 spot. The Mountain State, considered ground-zero for America’s opioid crisis, stands out with the highest drug overdose death rate in the U.S., according to the Forbes Advisor analysis. Lately, the use of fentanyl and the so-called “zombie drug” xylazine has fueled the state’s epidemic, NewsNation reported.

West Virginia also has the highest percentage of adults who smoke (21%), the highest percentage of adults who are obese (41%), and the second shortest life expectancy nationwide (73.9 years).

Mississippi, deemed the second unhealthiest state, has the shortest life expectancy at 73.63 years, the study found. The Magnolia State faces elevated rates of chronic diseases, including the highest cancer mortality rate in the country (17.37 deaths per 100,000 state residents).

The data also shows that Mississippi has higher rates of diabetes and hypertension, with 43.9% of adults in the state diagnosed with high blood pressure and 13.7% diagnosed with diabetes.

Aside from West Virginia and Mississippi, six other southern states are among the top 10 unhealthiest:

  1. West Virginia
  2. Mississippi
  3. Tennessee
  4. Arkansas
  5. Kentucky
  6. Alabama
  7. Louisiana
  8. Oklahoma
  9. Ohio
  10. Indiana

Hawaii, one of the most beautiful states in the U.S., has the best health profile. The Forbes Advisor study found that residents in the Aloha State have the highest life expectancy in the country (80.87 years), and the prevalence of chronic diseases is notably lower compared to other states.

Minnesota is the only Midwest state listed among the top 10 healthiest. Five East Coast states also made the list, while the others are scattered across the West:

  1. Hawaii
  2. Utah
  3. Connecticut
  4. Minnesota
  5. Massachusetts
  6. Colorado
  7. New Jersey
  8. New Hampshire
  9. Washington
  10. New York

As you can see, California didn't make the top ten on either list. Forbes ranks the Golden State as the 38th unhealthiest in the U.S.

For its analysis, which you can view in full here, Forbes Advisor analyzed data from the CDC, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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2024-01-15T17:29:56+00:00
Health department issues warning after 27 sickened by raw oysters https://ktla.com/news/california/health-department-issues-warning-after-27-sickened-by-raw-oysters/ Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:03:16 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2786168 The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning the public about a "cluster" of gastrointestinal illnesses potentially linked to raw oysters consumed at local restaurants.

So far there have been 27 identified cases connected to four unidentified restaurants.

Public Health says it's working with the California Department of Public Health to investigate and confirm the source of the illnesses.

In the meantime, L.A. County residents, particularly those most vulnerable, including young children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, are discouraged from consuming raw oysters.

“Until the source is confirmed, consumers should be cautious before eating raw oysters due to the potential risk of foodborne illness,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “If you are sick, avoid spreading illness by washing your hands frequently and cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and kitchen countertops.”

Public Health is working to identify other possible instances of gastrointestinal illness that may be linked to raw oysters. If you have recently consumed raw oysters and experienced symptoms, you are urged to file a report with the Department of Public Health.

To file a report online, click here.

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2024-01-13T03:03:17+00:00
New Clippers arena rumored to be site of 2026 NBA All-Star Game https://ktla.com/sports/new-clippers-arena-rumored-to-be-site-of-2026-nba-all-star-game/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 23:29:38 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2790903 The new home of the Los Angeles Clippers is set to host one of the NBA's premiere events shortly after it opens to the public, according to multiple reports from league insiders.

As first reported by Shams Charania of the Athletic, the Intuit Dome in Inglewood is expected to be awarded the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend.

The weekend festival is held every February and includes a full slate of events, including the All-Star Celebrity Game, Three-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest.

But the biggest event falls on Sunday evening during the NBA All-Star Game. The annual competition pits 24 of the league's biggest stars in an East-versus-West exhibition game for charity.

In 2026, it appears the games are coming to the Intuit Dome.

The 18,000-seat arena located at the intersection of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue will be the home of the Clippers beginning next season as L.A.'s other team looks to carve out its own legacy in its own arena.

Clippers New Arena
Members of the media tour the Los Angeles Clippers' Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. The arena is expected to be completed in time for the 2024-25 NBA season. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The team has called the Crypto.com Arena, aka, Staples Center, its home since 1999, but the team has only been a tenant of the space. Crypto.com Arena is owned by AEG, which also has an ownership stake in the crosstown rival Lakers.

The Intuit Dome, like the Clippers, will be owned entirely by Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, and the richest owner in the NBA.

Ballmer said when he purchased the team that building them a dedicated arena was a high priority. He's promised that the $2 billion arena will be the most technologically advanced arena in the NBA upon its completion.

Rendering of interior of the Intuit Dome and the massive Halo Board and "The Wall." (Los Angeles Clippers)
Rendering of interior of the Intuit Dome, the massive Halo Board and "The Wall." (Los Angeles Clippers)

The Intuit Dome features a 51-row section called "The Wall" that's inspired by European soccer stadiums that puts fans closer to the court and create a literal wall of sound. There's a massive two-sided "halo board" comprised of 44,000 square feet of LED lights.

Unsurprisingly, Ballmer said the new arena will have no shortage of technological advancements that are geared toward making the best experience for fans.

The seats are wider and are implanted with chips that provide data that could improve the overall experience, some sections offer climate control options and Ballmer says there are three-times as many toilets and urinals compared to other NBA arenas.

“We do not want people to wait in line, we want them to get back to their damn seats," Ballmer told reporters during a tour of the construction site in 2022. The enthusiastic tech billionaire says he visits the site once a month to check on the construction progress, which is creeping ever closer to completion.

Rendering of the main lobby of the Intuit Dome. (Los Angeles Clippers)
Rendering of the main lobby of the Intuit Dome. (Los Angeles Clippers)

The 2026 NBA All-Star game is another in what is becoming a jam-packed decade for sporting events in the Los Angeles area.

Super Bowl LVI in 2022 was held at the nearby SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and last month the NFL announced the Super Bowl would return to the venue again in 2027. In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will be played in North America, and it’s widely believed Los Angeles will be among the host cities, either at SoFi Stadium or elsewhere.

The city will also be the site of the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The World Rugby Championships will come to town in 2031 and 2033.

Rendering of the exterior of the Intuit Dome in Inglewood seen from above. (Los Angeles Clippers)
Rendering of the exterior of the Intuit Dome in Inglewood seen from above. (Los Angeles Clippers)

Los Angeles County is rapidly expanding and improving its public transportation services in anticipation of the Summer Games in what is being referred to by County leaders as “Vision 2028.

A $1.8 billion “people mover” project is set to break ground in Inglewood next year, transporting up to 11,000 people per hour and providing easier and improved connectivity between L.A. Metro’s K Line, the KIA Forum, SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome.

That project, however, is not expected to be operating until 2028, barring any accelerated timelines to accommodate the millions of visitors to the Inglewood area for those upcoming events.

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game is slated to be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana followed by the 2025 NBA ALL-Star Game at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

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2024-01-12T23:29:39+00:00
This is what a $1,700 rental budget will get you in California https://ktla.com/news/california/this-is-what-a-1700-rental-budget-will-get-you-in-california/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:30:35 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2789145 California renters looking for the perfect apartment that meets their space and location requirements may have to shell out more money in order to have the best of both worlds, according to a November study from RentCafe.

Researchers at RentCafe and Yardi, a California-based real-estate website and property management software company, analyzed how much apartment space a $1,700 monthly rental budget would get prospective renters in the 50 largest U.S. cities.

Researchers looked at 1,600 different zip codes within the 50 largest cities in the country to find out where people can get the most bang for their buck.

In California, the results vary.

In some neighborhoods, like the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw area in Los Angeles County, prospective renters can get a 704-square-foot apartment, but in San Francisco’s Marina District, $1,700 would only equate to a 294-square-foot apartment.

However, a fixed rental budget won’t go far in New York. The study found that $1,700 could only afford a tiny studio less than 300 square feet in size.

Nationwide, researchers found that prospective renters would get the most bang for their buck in Memphis, Tennessee; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and San Antonio, Texas; where a $1,700 budget could afford apartments well over 1,000 square feet.

On average, the study found that a monthly $1,700 budget would afford an apartment of about 944 square feet in size.

The complete study can be viewed here.

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2024-01-12T21:19:58+00:00
Homeownership now 'unaffordable' in these California counties: study https://ktla.com/news/california/homeownership-now-unaffordable-in-these-california-counties-study/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:55:51 +0000 https://ktla.com/?p=2790192 Most of us know we can't afford a home in Beverly Hills or Cape Cod, but it's not just wealthy enclaves where the prospect of owning a home has grown out of reach.

As home prices have skyrocketed over the past few years, locals – who haven't seen their wages skyrocket to match – are finding it harder and harder to enter the housing market.

Personal finance site MoneyGeek analyzed the rising cost of real estate in metro areas around the country and compared home appreciation between 2021 and 2023 to changes in income over the same period. They compiled a list of 57 counties where homeownership has recently become unaffordable for the typical family.

As you would expect, California is well-represented.

New to the list are the exurbs of San Francisco and several Sacramento-area counties. People priced out of the core Bay Area have flocked to other Northern California locales, and now those places, like Placer, Solano and San Joaquin counties, are seeing home prices spike out of reach.

Further north along the West Coast, 10 counties in Oregon and Washington are facing the same problem. In Clackamas County, just outside Portland, home prices have grown 33% in two years, according to MoneyGeek's analysis.

Another area seeing rapid growth and gentrification is Travis County, Texas, home to the state capital of Austin. MoneyGeek found home prices there rose by nearly 50% since 2021 to a new median price of $610,000.

For their analysis, MoneyGeek only looked at counties with populations larger than 250,000 that are experiencing population growth higher than the national average.

See the full list of 57 counties where the cost of owning a home has grown "unaffordable" below:

RankCountyMetro areaMedian household incomeMedian home priceHome price growth in last 2 years
1Placer County, CaliforniaSacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA$105,445$740,06825.9%
2Norfolk County, MABoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$115,969$740,96734.0%
3Washoe County, NVReno, NV$80,125$568,84733.9%
4San Joaquin County, CAStockton-Lodi, CA$86,056$553,13329.7%
5Clackamas County, ORPortland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$97,419$639,34933.4%
6Solano County, CAVallejo-Fairfield, CA$92,959$633,44227.6%
7Lane County, OREugene, OR$64,069$461,42140.5%
8Contra Costa County, CASan Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA$120,061$875,18340.7%
9Washington County, ORPortland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$98,906$598,21325.8%
10Essex County, MABoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$92,413$650,95930.2%
11Sacramento County, CASacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA$84,211$550,42228.3%
12Larimer County, COFort Collins, CO$88,403$639,70944.0%
13Denver County, CODenver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$88,213$681,24341.1%
14Marion County, ORSalem, OR$71,022$439,91937.6%
15Ada County, IDBoise City, ID$87,774$572,81242.1%
16Essex County, NJNew York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$74,994$543,64829.2%
17Travis County, TXAustin-Round Rock, TX$95,259$609,62549.9%
18Riverside County, CARiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$86,748$609,29942.8%
19Merced County, CAMerced, CA$66,164$430,76638.2%
20Plymouth County, MABoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$103,173$578,53535.9%
21Fresno County, CAFresno, CA$69,571$424,91534.2%
22Snohomish County, WASeattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$101,532$759,09047.9%
23Worcester County, MAWorcester, MA-CT$86,258$464,54136.7%
24Kitsap County, WABremerton-Silverdale, WA$94,775$565,13433.4%
25Salt Lake County, UTSalt Lake City, UT$91,924$588,71343.8%
26Spokane County, WASpokane-Spokane Valley, WA$69,070$470,27956.1%
27Arapahoe County, CODenver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$93,784$605,75936.8%
28Dane County, WIMadison, WI$84,831$432,64338.7%
29Clark County, NVLas Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV$70,797$479,98841.8%
30Charleston County, SCCharleston-North Charleston, SC$80,401$557,57951.0%
31Utah County, UTProvo-Orem, UT$95,338$609,39849.8%
32Clark County, WAPortland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$91,248$543,16535.0%
33Thurston County, WAOlympia-Tumwater, WA$88,853$533,15241.2%
34Fulton County, GAAtlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$90,346$538,76538.3%
35Collier County, FLNaples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL$80,815$657,62363.8%
36Pierce County, WASeattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$93,420$575,63946.4%
37Davidson County, TNNashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$72,473$489,82954.7%
38El Paso County, COColorado Springs, CO$82,389$501,12838.1%
39Broward County, FLMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$70,978$500,48052.9%
40Cumberland County, MEPortland-South Portland, ME$89,345$526,85257.7%
41Williamson County, TNNashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$129,275$862,33361.9%
42Buncombe County, NCAsheville, NC$68,019$464,93556.0%
43Palm Beach County, FLMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$76,592$524,91854.7%
44Alachua County, FLGainesville, FL$58,354$338,83442.8%
45Williamson County, TXAustin-Round Rock, TX$101,323$520,95354.6%
46Hays County, TXAustin-Round Rock, TX$88,617$464,99154.3%
47Manatee County, FLNorth Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL$72,108$476,59258.4%
48Canyon County, IDBoise City, ID$70,818$439,22660.3%
49St. Lucie County, FLPort St. Lucie, FL$62,705$397,52259.2%
50Orange County, FLOrlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$72,324$445,50354.5%
51Maricopa County, AZPhoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ$83,747$516,44253.5%
52Sarasota County, FLNorth Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL$78,341$508,65867.1%
53Mecklenburg County, NCCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$80,365$471,82358.6%
54Osceola County, FLOrlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$63,271$396,31158.3%
55Lee County, FLCape Coral-Fort Myers, FL$71,072$440,05664.0%
56Durham County, NCDurham-Chapel Hill, NC$80,089$452,38171.4%
57Hillsborough County, FLTampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL$74,308$436,72360.3%

See more data on each of the 57 counties from MoneyGeek here.

One thing that's made homeownership unrealistic for many over the past two years has been climbing interest rates. However, housing economists expect that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will decline this year. Don't expect anything drastic — forecasts generally see it moving no lower than 6%.

Despite mostly falling since October 2023, the average rate on a 30-year home loan remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was 3.22%. That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market by discouraging homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates from selling.

“While lower mortgage rates are welcome news, potential homebuyers are still dealing with the dual challenges of low inventory and high home prices that continue to rise,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2024-01-12T16:55:51+00:00