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Spend $20, save $5.
That's the coupon Walgreens is offering shoppers for Friday only. Find the online coupon here. Hit the "print coupon" button.
The deal excludes alcohol, prescriptions and co-pays and some other items, just as many store coupons do.
Need to find a store...
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Comments [2] - Views [50]
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Barack Obama and other Democrats are saying it's time for round two of stimulus checks to prop up the economy, according to a Gannett News Service report.
An advisor to John McCain says it's too early to say if that's a good idea, the Gannett report says.
Would a second check for everyone...
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Comments [35] - Views [165]
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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek. See it here.
No need to grab a map to find Conservatory Court and Harmony Drive (homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you.
The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield April 21 to 27, color-coded by sales...
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Comments [1] - Views [145]
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Do you know what the man to the left did?
Read about his professional accomplishments, and those of several others, in this week's People in Buisness column.
People in Business is the place to announce professional achievements. Want to be in next week's list? It's best to submit to...
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Comments [0] - Views [25]
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Here's a "raw report" press release from the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce:
June 10 Disaster Preparedness & Business Continuity Seminar
Learn about processes that can help continue business functions through operational interruptions when the Chamber’s Business...
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Just about everyone I talk with sounds concerned about money. Gas prices. Mortgages. Cutting back on vacations. You name it.
Today reporter Courtenay Edelhart worked on a story about workers whose compensation comes, at least in part, from tipping, commissions and bonuses. Read all about it...
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Here's some news from reporter Courtenay Edelhart:
Ever wanted to drive a Beamer? For free?
OK, OK, so you won’t be able to take it home, but as part of the BMW Ultimate Drive, you can take a short joy ride in a BMW and help pay for breast cancer research, all without spending a dime....
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Reporter Jenny Shearer brings us this news:
Nine Kern companies will be honored at the New California 100 Conference June 17 at the University of California, Davis.
The inaugural event will recognize business success and aims to spark growth and innovation among the state’s 19-county...
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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek. Check it out here.
No need to grab a map to find Floral Meadow Drive and Pine Borough Court (homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you.
The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield April 14 to 20,...
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Comments [0] - Views [76]
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Do you know what the woman to the left accomplished?
Read about her achievements in the business world and those of others in the weekly People in Business column.
People in Business is the place to announce professional achievements. Want to be in next week's list? It's best to submit to...
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Comments [0] - Views [28]
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Here's a "raw report" press release from Assemblywoman Jean Fuller's office. Each member of the assembly got to honor a local business. Here's Fuller's:
ASSEMBLYMEMBER HONORS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AT CEREMONY IN SACRAMENTO
Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield)...
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Hurry up! We recently reported that the Vons on White Lane is closing for good.
Today? It's nuts out there. Reporter Courtenay Edelhart is there right now, and says there are two lines of people waiting to get into the store. One is 38 people deep.
Some people in line say they've waited five...
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Comments [5] - Views [174]
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A staffer found this How I spent My Stimulus site and urged me to share it.
There are some varied stories there — from the luxurious to the charitable to the meeting-basic-needs kind of stories.
— Christine Peterson
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The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis sent me this nifty set of facts about how much people in the Bakersfield area make.
Click on the blue box to the left to learn more.
Warning: It's pretty depressing — more data on how average incomes here just don't stack up to other parts of the...
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Comments [0] - Views [43]
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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek.
No need to grab a map to find Twin Falls Drive and Little Falls Court (homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you.
The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield April 7 to 13, color-coded by sales price.
We...
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Comments [5] - Views [93]
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Do you know the man on the left? Do you know what he accomplished?
Take a look at this week's People in Business column to find out.
It's the place to announce promotions, new jobs and professional achievements.
Would you like to be in next week's? It's best to submit to...
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Comments [0] - Views [31]
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Get ready to pull a few more dollars out of you wallet if you fly American Airlines this summer.
Beginning with tickets purchased June 15, you'll have to pay $15 to check just one bag — each way.
I can just see it now — people who don't want to pay the $15 will try to lug their...
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So by now you've likely heard the news that come June 1, the Vons on White Lane will be no more.
Read the full story from reporters John Cox and Courtenay Edelhart here.
A spokeswoman said the store just wasn't performing up to expectations.
So with Vons pulling out of that location, a...
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Comments [18] - Views [275]
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Do you know what the man to the left did?
Check out our weekly People in Business column here.
People in Business is the place to announce professional achievements. Want to be in next week's list? It's best to submit to bakersfield.com/yourwords.
You can also mail contributions to The...
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Comments [0] - Views [34]
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Someone let me know about daily specials at the IHOP just off Buck Owens Boulevard.
For example, Tuesday is crepe day and for about $5.99 you can pick any crepe off the menu — and get an ice cream sundae.
I don't think any meal on the "specials" list hits $7, and some days...
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Comments [2] - Views [65]
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It's nearly graduation time. Know a grad? What are you spending to say "hey, good job!"
Some numbers to ponder:
• The average American who is buying grad gifts this year will have two lucky recipients.
• The givers are spending an average of $55.12 on each gift.
That's...
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Comments [17] - Views [306]
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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek.
No need to grab a map to find Otto Lane and Kent Drive (Homes on those streets recently sold.) We’ve done the work for you here.
The map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield March 24-30, color-coded by sales price.
We regularly...
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Comments [0] - Views [88]
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If stay-at-home Moms were paid for all the incredible work they do — raising children, doing laundry, shuttling kids to sports and activities, offering counseling — they'd make $116,805 annually.
A lot of that pay is driven by overtime, says the study released by Salary.com and...
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Comments [4] - Views [76]
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Do you know the person to the left?
Find out what she accomplished in this week's People in Business column.
Want to be in next week's list? It's best to submit to bakersfield.com/yourwords.
You can also mail contributions to The Bakersfield Californian, business editor, P.O. Bin 440,...
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Comments [0] - Views [22]
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Sometimes you just can't tell why large companies do the things they do, as we witnessed in Linens 'n Things' big announcement Friday.
That's the day the home furnishings and bedding retailer said it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (that's the one where the company gets to...
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Comments [0] - Views [45]
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What did they used to say about movies during the Great Depression? Can't remember just now (we weren't there), but maybe it was something about how people spend their money on forms of escapism when times get tough.
Ready for a little escapism? And world domination?
Kern's got you covered....
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Comments [7] - Views [71]
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Fed officials are considering tighter restrictions on credit card companies.
Namely, according to several wire service reports, the Office of Thrift Supervision and the National Credit Union Administration (now there's a mouthful) seek to prevent the companies from boosting interest rates...
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Comments [1] - Views [32]
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Do you know the person to the left?
Find out what she achieved in our weekly People in Business column.
It's the place to announce promotions, new jobs and professional achievements.
Want to be in next week's? It's best to submit to bakersfield.com/yourwords.
You can also mail contributions...
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Comments [0] - Views [19]
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Two museums will receive grant money Friday in an effort to boost the number of out-of-county visitors, according to Dave Hook, marketing coordinator at the Kern County Board of Trade.
Bakersfield Museum of Art will receive $22,500 for two efforts — a regional marketing campaign, and to...
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Comments [0] - Views [18]
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So today we in the newsroom received what we call a budget line, which basically is a preview of a story we haven't seen yet. It read like this:
"In a sign that the economic downturn is hitting hard among Latino immigrants, more than 3 million of them (sic) stopped sending money to families...
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Comments [2] - Views [78]
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Mexicana Airlines is suspending its flights to Guadalajara for 30 days to re-evaluate its service, reporter John Cox writes.
Read the full story.
The culprit? High fuel costs.
And ever since the flights began, the airline has struggled to fill seats, an airport spokeswoman told John....
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A new shop called Tilly's — meant to appeal to the surfer and skater crowd — is set to open at Valley Plaza this May.
Read reporter Courtenay Edelhart's story for all the details.
Are you going?
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Comments [0] - Views [47]
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Our latest home sales map is ready for a peek.
No need to grab a map and figure out where to find Pebble Beach Drive and Anchor Island Court. (Homes on those streets recently sold.)
We’ve done the work for you here.
This map is updated with homes that sold in Bakersfield from March 10 to...
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Comments [13] - Views [139]
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A business consultant named Mark Hovind thinks it is, along with Prescott, Ariz.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Grand Junction, Colo.; Bend, Ore.; Valdosta, Ga.; and Morgantown, W.Va.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Hovind, who is the president of JobBait.com, came up with a formula with...
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Comments [9] - Views [113]
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Yesterday I was at a department store to buy some shoes for summer. Specifically, I have been planning to buy some decent sandals to wear with skirts or shorts.
The ad in the Sunday paper had what I wanted — quality sandals for good prices — $19.99 or $29.99 or $49.99, depending on...
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In a tough economy, what do you say to kids? How do you explain to them that there won't be a fancy vacation this summer, or the cheap shoes rather than name-brand will have to do this summer?
Reporter Courtenay Edelhart delves into the topic in this story.
And she has plenty of tips for...
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Before I gave up on Los Angeles and its obscene cost of living, money was really tight. More than half of my take home pay went to rent (buying a house was out of the question) and I had an hour and a half commute every day, fueled by gas that cost nearly $4 a gallon. Almost every penny of what...
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Comments [0] - Views [26]
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Did you catch Jenny Shearer's report on a proposal to revitalize Oildale?
See it here.
Officials are exploring the creation of a redevelopment agency that could work on economic development issues in the area.
County Supervisor Mike Maggard, who is spearheading the effort, told Jenny,...
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Comments [3] - Views [40]
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Food prices are going up, up and up while people are trying to keep their hard-earned money in their pockets for as long as possible.
Reporter Courtenay Edelhart found that schools are trying to control costs while keeping their commitment to healthy meals. Read more here.
And read her story on...
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Comments [29] - Views [226]
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With rising food, gas and everything else prices, our Money Talks blog wonders what you're doing to save on expenses during these tough times.
And if that economic news isn't dampening your spirits enough, how about this fact: If 99 people read this blog post, three of them will be in...
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Comments [3] - Views [50]
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Here's a "raw report" press release from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Read it and weep.
Want more? Click here for the full report and fact sheets on every state.
Or click on the funky blue rectangle to the left for the PDF sheet on California.
Washington, D.C. — One in...
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Reporter Courtenay Edelhart is working on a story today about the rising cost of food, and how that's hitting people in the pocketbook.
What are you doing to save money on food? Are you going to restaurants less? Shopping at discounters rather than the grocery store you used to visit?
If...
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Comments [9] - Views [93]
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So says the Fed this morning.
I found this description from Associated Press reporter Jeannine Aversa, who regularly covers the national economy.
"Even Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke recently acknowledged for the first time that a recession was possible. That was a rare utterance of the...
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Eric Turner, a 43-year-old Bakersfield man, recently won $1 million in the California lottery, $750,000 after taxes. He and his wife won't be making any extravagant lifestyle changes, though. They're going to pay off debt and invest the rest after buying a new car and maybe a fifth-wheel camper....
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Comments [47] - Views [350]
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No excuses! The Franchise Tax Board has extended phone service hours for procrastinators. (My word, not that of the FTB!)
Call (800) 852-5711 for help in English and Spanish.
The hours:
• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 12
• 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday, April 14
• 7 a.m. to...
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The big R word — recession.
It's looming large, many economists say, and it's hitting college students hard. Many lenders are tightening standards, raising rates and making it otherwise difficult for students (or their parents) to get their hands on money to pay for school.
Some lenders...
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Comments [4] - Views [27]
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It's a fortuitous time for pawn brokers. Gold prices are hovering at or near record highs at the same time that the economy is softening and gas prices are soaring. All retailers have their regulars, but pawn brokers say a surge in first-time customers is a telling reflection of the economy.
And...
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Comments [5] - Views [290]
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Okay, real estate and econ junkies.
On Tuesday, I interviewed Los Angeles economist Christopher Thornberg, who spoke at yesterday's county economic summit. Excerpts of our conversation were printed in the Californian.
But if you're interested in hearing everything from our interview —...
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The Bakersfield business big shots were out in force this morning for the annual Kern County Economic Summit, held at the Doubletree Hotel near Rosedale Highway and Highway 99.
Recession was much-talked about, which I cover in a piece for tomorrow's paper.
Some other tidbits from the event:...
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America will work three days less to pay taxes in 2008 than in 2007.
That day will be April 23 this year.
But Californians will have to work longer — until April 30 — for their Tax Freedom Day.
That's according to the Tax Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has monitored...
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