California
Fast-Food Pay Raises Will Affect California Menus
California fast-food workers are set to receive a significant pay hike in April—and chain owners say they’re preparing to cover the bump in operational costs by raising the prices on their burgers and burritos. The Wall Street Journal reports that minimum wage for this group will rise to $20 an hour, 25% more than the state’s current $16 hourly minimum. (That rate will remain the same for workers in other industries, per Cal Matters, but health care workers will also see a wage increase). KTLA notes that the change spurs from a new law that aims to help the state’s 762,000 fast-food workers weather inflation and rising living costs.
“They’re seeking a living wage,” per KTLA consumer reporter David Lazarus, who notes that more older workers are joining the fast-food ranks. “That’s what the California law is meant to address.” Consulting firm Revenue Management Solutions estimates that for every dollar in wage increases, chains must increase prices by 2% to stay in line with their profit margins.
- McDonald’s franchise group the National Owners Associate says the pay hike will cost restaurants up to $250,000 per each year. The chain is still figuring out price increases.
- Over at Chipotle, where menus have seen several recent price increases, the company plans to bump them up again by 5% to 9%. “Everyone is going to have to pay more,” says CFO Jack Hartung.
- Marcus Walberg, whose family owns four Fatburger franchises in Los Angeles, tells Business Insider prices will go up 8% to 10%.
“What you will lose—the kids getting their first job at McDonald’s,” says Walberg. Other companies vowed to invest more in automation. The Journal notes that a study by the Congressional Budget Office found that boosting the federal minimum wage to $15 would have both pros and cons. While it would bring scores of people out of poverty, there’s also the risk that companies would raise prices and cut up to 1.4 million jobs. Financial planner Justin Rush says there could be a downstream effect in raising labor costs, but it can also spur economic growth. “If low-wage workers experience an increase in income due to a minimum wage hike, they may have more disposable income to spend.” (AI may be taking orders at fast-food chains soon enough.)
California
4.2 magnitude earthquake shakes off Northern California coast
The earth continues to shake off the coast of Northern California days after a 7.0 quake rocked the area, with the latest temblor registering a 4.2 magnitude early Tuesday.
The earthquake centered in the Pacific Ocean about 46 miles southwest of Eureka in Humboldt County struck at 5:01 a.m. Tuesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
It’s just one of several moderate earthquakes centered in the same general area over the past several days after a 7.0 magnitude quake triggered a tsunami warning along a large portion the Pacific Coast last Thursday.
That shaker also set off hundreds of aftershocks in the ensuing days, including dozens with moderately strong magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.3, USGS data shows.
In a 24-hour span as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, at least 18 earthquakes had registered 2.5 magnitude or higher, peaking with the 4.2 shaker at 5:01 a.m.
Are you prepared for the next big one?
California
Red flag warnings issued with powerful winds expected to batter Southern California
Thousands of people could be without power due to the strong winds that are expected to batter Southern California in coming days as a new Santa Ana wind movement closes in.
The National Weather Service issued a “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” that went into effect at 8 p.m. Monday evening and was expected to last at least through 2 p.m. on Tuesday for regions that include the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains and Calabasas, along with the San Gabriel, Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys and the Malibu coastline.
This is the second PDS Warning that weather officials have issued in two months time, the last coming the week that the devastating Mountain Fire erupted in Ventura County, torching nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed almost 250 structures.
Read more: What is defensible space and how to protect your home from wildfires
A standard red flag warning will then remain in effect until Wednesday at 6 p.m., NWS officials said.
Peak winds could reach temperatures up to 65 miles per hour in some of the most wind-prone areas, while typical gusts are expected to range between 25 and 40 miles per hour.
“Some of the windier foothills and mountains will likely see wind speeds of 30 to 50 mph with damaging wind gusts in the 60 to 80 mph range during the peak of the event into Tuesday,” NWS officials said. “Some of the highest wind areas will likely be the San Gabriels, Santa Susanas, western Santa Monica into Malibu, Ventura county valleys (especially Simi Valley and Moorpark) and western San Fernando Valley (especially Highway 118/210 corridors from Porter Ranch to San Fernando).”
Paired with the low humidity levels, which could reach just 5% in some areas, weather officials note that the conditions bare a concerning similarity to those in early-November.
Local fire departments have already started preparations. The Los Angeles County Fire Department says that they have “implemented its augmented staffing plan by ordering additional staffing plan by ordering additional staffing and pre-deployment of ground and aerial resources throughout the county.”
Residents have been advised to have evacuation plans in place, especially if they live in more fire-prone areas. They’re urged to report any signs of smoke or fire immediately.
Southern California Edison is monitoring the situation and has already advised thousands of customers that they could be subject to having their power supply turned off in order to prevent electrical equipment from sparking fires during the winds.
California
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