via CNN:
Sam’s Club store closings are a PR mess on Walmart’s big day:
It started as a good day for Walmart.
The company announced that it will raise its minimum wage to $11, hand out bonuses of up to $1,000 and expand its parental and maternity leave policy, partly as a result of the new lower corporate tax rate.
Ivanka Trump tweeted that “America is on a roll,” and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin thanked Walmart from the White House briefing room.
Trump decries immigrants from ‘shithole countries’ coming to US:
One of the sources briefed on the Thursday Oval Office meeting with lawmakers confirmed Trump asked, “Why do we want all these people from ‘shithole countries’ coming here?”
A person familiar with the meeting said Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham brought a plan to Trump that involved cutting the visa lottery in half and, at the behest of the Congressional Black Caucus, the rest would go to underrepresented countries in Africa and Temporary Protective Status nations, including Haiti. The person said the language was salty on both sides.
California mudslides: Search ‘for a miracle’ enters 3rd day:
Rescuers plan to search several areas for a second time, hoping to find victims in structures previously searched in the immediate aftermath of the mudslide.
The mudslide killed at least 17 people and destroyed dozens of homes. Those killed were between ages 3 and 89, and all lived in Santa Barbara County, authorities said.
Dozens remain unaccounted for despite days of frantic searches by rescuers after rivers of mud and boulders flooded through communities in Montecito, demolishing homes and leaving roads impassible.
Michelle Williams is the last straw — Hollywood needs a new system:
While Wahlberg was reportedly paid $1.5 million, Williams made less than $1,000. Though she did agree to be paid a per diem of $80 for re-shoots, she may not have been aware that Wahlberg’s agent had negotiated a significantly better deal for him — and both Williams and Wahlberg are represented by the same talent agency, William Morris Endeavor.
Ironically, the shocking disparity happened because director Ridley Scott was trying to fight sexual misconduct. He decided to re-shoot scenes of the movie to replace actor Kevin Spacey, who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault.
Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Bridges among those impacted by mudslides:
Weeks after fires devastated the area, floodwaters and mudslides have destroyed homes and officials said at least eight people are missing.
Ellen DeGeneres, who lives in Montecito, spoke emotionally on her show Wednesday about what has been happening in her community.
She said she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, had to evacuate their home on Sunday, just 10 days after returning from a previous evacuation for wildfires.
CLICK HERE to read story
