Kate Brumback, Associated Press Updated 2:47 pm PDT, Wednesday, September 18, 2019 FILE - This undated booking photo released by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, shows Ed Kramer. A grand jury has indicted a Georgia judge, along with Kramer a co-founder of DragonCon, and two others, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, after prosecutors accused them of illegally accessing a courthouse computer network. (Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office via AP) less FILE - This undated booking photo released by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, shows Ed Kramer. A grand jury has indicted a Georgia judge, along with Kramer a co-founder of DragonCon, and two others, on ... more Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 FILE - This undated booking photo released by the Gwinnett … [Read more...] about Judge, Dragon Con co-founder accused of criminal trespass
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Carcinogen scare sets off global race to contain tainted Zantac
Drugmakers and global public-health regulators are taking steps to remove supplies of Zantac, a popular heartburn medication, from the market because it may have become tainted with a cancer-causing agent.Novartis AG’s Sandoz unit said Wednesday that it was halting worldwide distribution of generic versions of the stomach drug, just days after regulators in the U.S. and Europe began investigating the discovery of a likely human carcinogen called NDMA, or N-Nitrosodimethylamine, in the medication. Some versions of Zantac, which is also known by the generic name ranitidine, have also been recalled in Europe and Canada.The moves are the latest in a series of actions aimed at getting drugs tainted with potentially deadly contaminants off pharmacy shelves. Since last year, the U.S. Food and Drug administration has been overseeing a recall of a type of generic blood-pressure pills that originated in China and India and were contaminated with NDMA.Until last week, concerns had mostly … [Read more...] about Carcinogen scare sets off global race to contain tainted Zantac
Should we pay off our mortgage early if we can afford it?
Q. I am 60 and my wife 56. We plan to move in four or five years. At that time, I will retire and our adjusted gross income will drop by 60 percent. We plan to buy a home without a mortgage. We currently earn $200,000, and our 15-year mortgage is about $250,000 with a 2.99 percent rate. We paid $7,000 in interest last year. The mortgage would be paid off in 2030. Based on an accelerated payment of $1,000 per month, we’d have the mortgage paid off in 2025 with an interest savings of $30,000. In all, we’d pay $60000 more to save $30,000 in interest. Is it worth it? — Almost retiredA. Paying off a mortgage isn’t always a slam dunk.It might seem to provide peace of mind and be a no-brainer if you can afford it, but there’s more to consider, said Ken Van Leeuwen, a certified financial planner with Van Leeuwen & Company in Princeton.Pre-paying the mortgage would eliminate five years of tax deductions of mortgage interest, he said.The tax deductions could be … [Read more...] about Should we pay off our mortgage early if we can afford it?
WeWork’s Head of Real Estate Partnerships Departs Amid IPO Delay
WeWork’s global head of real estate partnerships, Sarah Pontius, has left the company. Sasha Maslov/for Commercial Observer As the We Company continues struggling to reach the Nasdaq, its IPO woes are also coinciding with a number of key players stepping down.This week marked the latest departure of a top executive at WeWork, with the company confirming its global head of real estate partnerships, Sarah Pontius, is leaving the position. As the Real Deal reported on Tuesday, the exit was a result of a “mutual agreement” between Pontius and the We Company.SEE ALSO: 5 Ways WeWork Makes Money Other Than Renting OfficesPontius leaves the scandal-ridden unicorn after being there for less than a year, having come on board in December from real estate firm CBRE. The hire was part of WeWork’s mission to grow its newly-launched real estate partnership division. In a June interview with Commercial Observer, Pontius spoke of her effort to help WeWork contend with commercial … [Read more...] about WeWork’s Head of Real Estate Partnerships Departs Amid IPO Delay
Gov. Newsom signs AB5, making gig-work reform bill law
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed AB5, California’s landmark gig-worker bill that could turn thousands of independent contractors into company employees with protections and benefits. “The hollowing out of our middle-class has been 40 years in the making, and the need to create lasting economic security for our workforce demands action,” Newsom said Wednesday, in a signing statement released by his office. Newsom, who signed the bill in a private ceremony with lawmakers and staff, said the misclassification or workers has eroded basic labor protections like minimum wage, paid sick days and health insurance benefits. Lawmakers approved the bill, written by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, last week, in the final days of their annual session. It would reclassify gig workers such as Lyft and Uber ride-hailing drivers, along with many other independent contractors. “As one of the strongest economies in the world, California is now setting … [Read more...] about Gov. Newsom signs AB5, making gig-work reform bill law