Home Depot Hiring

Home Depot needs workers. They’re opening a distribution center in Ontario by the end of this year and they need 250 full and part timers. You have to go to http://careers.homedepot.com, click on Distribution Center Hourly and apply. If they like your application they’ll set up a 9/25 phone interview.

Companies hiring full-time

Companies Hiring This Month Who's hiring in September By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer As the economic recovery continues to march on, everyone from the analysts on TV to your neighbor down the street looks for a sign that the worst struggles are behind us. Because no one can guarantee that unemployment will decrease or that stocks will be more bull than bear, the best anyone can do is look for positive signs around them. When all else fails, direct your eyes to the hiring activity of businesses around you. For a period of time a "Now Hiring" sign was a rare sight. Today, with some confidence and consumer demand, companies are hiring again. They need skilled workers who can boost business and help it grow. With that in mind, we have put together a list of companies hiring this very moment. These employers in a variety of industries across the country are looking for good workers right now. Here are the companies hiring in September: Aflac Industry: Sales Number of openings: 500 Sample job titles: Sales associates Location: Nationwide Allied Cash Advance Industry: Credit union, finance, banking Number of openings: 78 Sample job titles: Brand manager, district manager, customer service representative, branch team members, branch assistant manager Location: California, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia, Florida Alpine Access Industry: Customer service Number of openings: 1,000 Sample job titles: Customer service Location: Nationwide and work-from-home Asbury Auto Industry: Sales, automotive, mechanic Number of openings: 100 Sample job titles: New car sales, used car sales, service advisor, auto tech Location: Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri, California, Arkansas Blackboard Inc. Industry: Computer Software Number of openings: 95 Sample job titles: Software engineer, regional sales manager, sales specialist, technical consultant, complex hosting manager, software developer Location: Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Indianapolis Camber Corporation Industry: Defense and aerospace Number of openings: 300 Sample job titles: Acquisition professionals, cyber analysts, applications developers, IA professionals, software engineers, linguist, aviation engineers Location: Alabama, California, Texas, Michigan, Hawaii, Virginia, DC, Florida, Ohio, and Maryland Chesapeake Energy Industry: Oil and gas Number of openings: 496 Sample job titles: Facilities engineer, production engineer, reservoir engineer, director of procurement, field technician, driller, truck driver, rig mechanic, engineering technician, geologist, landman Location of jobs: Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, Pennsylvani, New York, Arkansas Chico's, Soma Intimates, White House/Black Market Industry: Retail Sample job title: Sales associate, store manager Location: Nationwide City National Bank Industry: Banking, financial services Number of openings: 141 Sample job titles: Financial sales advisors, relationship managers, residential lending officers, senior mortgage loan underwriters, operations supervisors, policy and procedures supervisors Location: California, New York Davaco Inc. Industry: Retail, restaurant contract services Number of openings: 500 Sample job titles: Finish-out installers and lead installers, product merchandisers Locations: Nationwide Dendreon Corporation Industry: Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology Number of openings: 700 Sample job titles: Cell processing associates, materials associates, QA and QC associates, human resources, facilities, engineering, IT support and compliance, government affairs, validation, clinical affairs, medical affairs, APH network, product development, marketing Location: Atlanta, Seal Beach, Calif., Seattle, Morris Plains, N.J. Dollar Tree, Inc. Industry: Retail Number of openings: 1300 Sample job titles: Assistant store managers, store managers, distribution center associates Locations: National Edward Jones Industry: Financial investments Number of openings: 400 Sample job titles: Financial advisors, branch office administrators Location: Nationwide Examiner.com Industry: Online media Number of openings: 10,000 Sample job titles: Writers, photographers Location: Nationwide F5 Networks Industry: Network, computer products Number of openings: 115 Sample job titles: Senior software engineer, test engineer, field systems engineer, major account manager, territory account manager Location: Nationwide Glendale Adventist Medical Center Industry: Health care Number of openings: 55 Sample job titles: Business analyst, certified nursing assistant, charge nurse, director of perinatal services, LVN, monitor tech, occupational therapist, physical therapist, physical therapy aide, registered dietitian, registered nurses Location: Glendale, Calif. Humana Inc. Industry: Health insurance Number of openings: 400 Sample job titles: Registered nurses, case managers, pharmacists, pharmacy tech, sales Location: Louisville, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona Infor Global Solutions Industry: Software/hardware solutions Number of openings: 67 Sample job titles: Senior software engineer, business development, product manager, license manager, director of product management Location: Colorado Springs, Tampa, Atlanta, Rancho Cordova, California, Ann Arbor, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Malvern, Pennsylvania, Greenville, S.C. JBFCS Industry: Health care, social services Number of openings: 100 Sample job titles: Social workers, milieu counselors, registered nurses Location: New York The Mergis Group Industry: Accounting and finance, engineering, sales Number of openings: 500 Sample job titles: Lead engineer, tax manager, mortgage professionals, quality engineer, CFO, controller, business development manager Location: Nationwide MRINetwork Industry: Staffing and recruiting Number of openings: 500 Sample job titles: Account executives, search consultants, project coordinators, Internet researchers Location: Nationwide Oak Ridge Associated Universities Industry: Educational and government contractor Number of openings: 1,000 Sample job titles: Postgraduate research associates, evidence control specialist, desktop publishing specialist, health education specialist, health physicist, programmer analyst, property management specialist, administrative clerk, program specialist, administrative assistant Location: Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Ohio, Colorado, Tennessee, California, New Mexico, Georgia. Oldcastle Industry: Sales, construction, manufacturing Number of openings: 500 Sample job titles: Outside sales, plant engineer, skilled labor Location: Nationwide Orkin Pest Control Industry: Pest Control Number of openings: 138 Sample job titles: Pest control specialist, national accounts sales director, security analyst, network engineer, branch manager trainee, administrative assistant, outbound sales specialist Location: Nationwide Ozark National Life Industry: Insurance, sales Number of openings: 100 Sample job titles: Licensed insurance agent Location: Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Nebraska, Iowa Paycom Industry: Internet services Number of openings: 50 Sample job titles: Outside sales representatives Location: Houston, Austin, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, St. Louis, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Irvine, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa Securitas Security Services USA Inc. Industry: Security guard Number of openings: 300 Sample job titles: Security officer, supervisor, EMT Location: Nationwide UPS Industry: Sales, warehouse and transportation Number of openings: 500 Sample job titles: Package handler, driver, accounting, inside sales, mechanic, outside sales Location: 50 URS Industry: Engineering Number of openings: 2,150 Sample job titles: Architectural engineer, chemical engineer, civil engineer, electrical engineer, environmental engineer, geotechnical engineer, construction management, estimating and scheduling, aircraft and vehicle technicians, facilities management, instrumentation and controls, logistics, project controls Location: Nationwide Vestas Wind Systems Industry: Wind energy Number of openings: 50 Sample job titles: Project manager, systems engineer, supply chain specialist, service performance specialist, SCADA systems manager, product manager, transport specialist, technicians Location: Nationwide Waggoner's Trucking Industry: Transportation Number of openings: 100 Sample job title: Truck driver Location: Nationwide

Another oil rig explosion in the Gulf off Louisiana

There's been another oil rig explosion in the Gulf off Louisiana. 13 workers jumped into the water and have now been rescued. The rig isn't an active one, so it sounds like there’s no oil leaking. Details are still coming.

Kindergarten age changing in California

A bill is headed to Governor Schwarzenegger that will raise the kindergarten age to 5. In order to start kindergarten kids will have to turn 5 by 9/1 instead of 12/2. Researchers say when kids start school too young, they struggle to keep up with older kids in the classroom all through their school years.

Some women making more than men now

Women only make about 80¢ for every a man makes. But, some women are making more than men now. Young, single women who don’t have any kids, in metro areas, ages 22-30. On average they're making 8% more than their male peers, double that in some spots. Census data says it’s because female college grads outnumber male grads 3 to 2. And of course college grads earn more money.

Fire in Murrieta

There’s a fire burning along Clinton Keith Rd and the La Cresta Community. The Clinton Fire started yesterday. Hundreds of firefighters were on the ground fighting this fire and air tankers have been trying to keep it away from homes nearby and the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve. Cops are escorting residents to and from their homes.

National "Back To Church Sunday"

National “Back To Church Sunday” is coming up 9/12. It’s a campaign to reach out to un-churched people. On the campaign's website there's an electronic invitation you can send out. backtochurch.com.

Food expiration dates

Are you one of those people who pour the milk down the drain on the expiration date? Expiration dates on food products can protect consumer health, but those dates are really more about quality than safety, and if not properly understood, they can also encourage consumers to discard food that is perfectly safe to eat. A recent poll of more than 2,000 adults showed that most of us discard food we believe is unsafe to eat, which is a good thing, of course, but it is important that we understand what food expiration dates mean before we dump our food -- and our money -- down the drain or into the garbage. On average, in the U.S. we waste about 14% of the food we buy each year. The average American family of four throws out around $600 worth of groceries every year. Which five foods are most often feared as being unsafe after the printed date? According to ShelfLifeAdvice.com, we are most wary of milk, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, yogurt, and eggs, and the site offers these helpful explanations: •Milk: If properly refrigerated, milk will remain safe, nutritious, and tasty for about a week after the sell-by date and will probably be safe to drink longer than that, though there’s a decline in nutritional value and taste. •Cottage cheese: Pasteurized cottage cheese lasts for 10-14 days after the date on the carton. •Mayonnaise: Unopened, refrigerated Kraft mayonnaise can be kept for 30 days after its expiration date or 3-4 months after opening, the company told ShelfLifeAdvice. •Yogurt: Yogurt will remain good 7-10 days after its sell-by date. •Eggs: Properly refrigerated eggs should last at least 3-5 weeks after the sell-by date, according to Professor Joe Regenstein, a food scientist at Cornell University. Note: Use of either a sell-by or expiration (EXP) date is not federally required, but may be state required, as defined by the egg laws in the state where the eggs are marketed. The “Use-By” Date The “use-by” or “best if used-by” date indicates the last day that the item is at its best quality as far as taste, texture, appearance, odor, and nutritional value. The decline after that is gradual. The use-by date refers to product that has not yet been opened. The “Sell By” Date The “sell by” date is not really a matter of food safety, but a notice to stores that the product should be taken off the shelf because it will begin to decline in quality after that date. The Law From the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): “Product dating is not generally required by federal regulations. However, if a calendar date is used, it must express both the month and day of the month (and the year, in the case of shelf-stable and frozen products). If a calendar date is shown, immediately adjacent to the date must be a phrase explaining the meaning of that date such as "sell-by" or "use before." There is no uniform or universally accepted system used for food dating in the United States. Although dating of some foods is required by more than 20 states, there are areas of the country where much of the food supply has some type of open date and other areas where almost no food is dated.” Food-Borne Illness Cross-contamination and unsanitary conditions are a primary cause of food-related illnesses, whether it occurs in the home or in a restaurant, and this is independent of any expiration date. The leading culprits are: •Improper hand-washing prior to food preparation. •Storing food at the wrong temperature. •Cooking food to an inadequate temperature. •Cross-contamination (raw meats that come into contact with salads, for instance). •Improper washing of fresh produce. The Yuck Factor: Common Sense Approach to Food Safety Aside from any expiration date or lack thereof, if a food item is moldy or if it smells and looks spoiled, err on the side of caution. If it makes you say, “yuck,” throw it away. Source: Yahoo Green Living

President speaks in Iraq tonight

at 5. He’s going to talk details about the end of our combat mission there. Today is the deadline he set months ago for all combat troops to be out of Iraq. Before his speech he’ll be in Fort Bliss Texas visiting soldiers who were hurt in Iraq and thanking them for their service.

More carpool lane stickers available

California carpool lanes are about to get really crowded. Yesterday the governor signed a law allowing tens of thousands more solo drivers to get in the carpool lanes if they drive hybrid and other fuel efficient cars. Thousands of drivers already have the stickers that allow them into the carpool lane, but there was a limit to how many stickers the state could give out. This law bumps that number up by about 40,000.

Hikers missing in Mt. Baldy

Maybe you could pray for a couple of hikers lost in Mt. Baldy. Their families haven’t heard from them since they went hiking on Saturday. Yesterday Sheriff’s Deputies started to look for them, a 20 year old man and 19 year old female.

C-sections in the US are way up

They've doubled since 1996. In 2008 almost 33% of babies delivered were c-sections. The folks that research this stuff say the jump in numbers has to do with impatient mothers and doctors, because most of the women who have c-sections aren’t even fully in labor yet.

Hurricane Earl is making a lot of folks nervous

It’s a category 4 storm with 135 mph winds. It could touch down in the Carolinas by Thursday. Earl could have an impact everywhere from North and South Carolina to Maine. By tomorrow morning Earl will be a few hundred miles outside of Miami with 145mph winds. If you’re traveling or flying during Labor Day weekend you should keep an eye on this one.

Chelsea's Law

Governor Schwarzenegger could be signing Chelsea’s law soon. The law got the ok from the state Assembly yesterday. It cracks down on guys who commit the worst of the worst crimes against children and gives them a one-strike sentence of life without any chance of getting out. It’s named after 17 year old Chelsea King of San Diego whose life was taken by John Gardner this summer.

Flu-shots available at Stater Brothers

If you want to get a jump start on your flu shots, Stater Brothers will have them for you starting tomorrow. Health reps are hoping everyone will get their shots early this year. They say it’ll help keep outbreaks under control this flu season

This season's Dancing With The Stars line-up

The line up for the new season was just announced. We’ll get to see former NFL quarter back Kurt Warner bust his best moves, along with R&B singer Brandy, David Hasselhoff, Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson, Jennifer Grey who played with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing and Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol. You can see the full list at abc.com.

Crews are working on a brushfire near Hemet

It started yesterday in the Sage area. Some folks had to evacuate their homes because it was getting so close. It burned about 125 acres. Riverside County Firefighters say they have it under control right now.

Nintendo dropping prices

It’s kind of early for a Christmas list but if you want to get a head start and your kid’s must have this year, Nintendo is dropping prices on their hand-held video game systems. Nintendo says on September 12th the price on the DSi will drop to 49.99 and the DSi XL drops to 69.99. The price on the lite stays at 30.

The FDA finds nasty stuff on egg farms

Health inspectors found some nasty stuff at those Iowa egg farms that are behind the salmonella outbreak. Stuff like rodents and their droppings, flies, maggots, manure etc. The FDA found violations like this at Wright County Egg Farm and at Hillandale Farms. The farms recalled more than 1/2 billion eggs. 1,500 people have gotten sick from salmonella. The FDA is just starting their investigation so who knows what else they’ll find.

DMV computers down

Hopefully you didn’t get caught in the mess at the DMV. The computers went down for a while yesterday and it made the usually long wait even longer. On top of that, DMV offices were closed Friday for furlough Friday so it was really crowded with folks who had to wait til Monday to take care of business. The computer problems affected all 169 California DMV offices.

Egg Safety Correction

To get the latest info go to eggsafety.ORG not .COM.

Jet Blue plane makes a hard landing

92 passengers and crew members on a Jet Blue plane had to go down the emergency inflatable slides yesterday. The tires caught fire during touchdown at Sacramento International Airport. 15 people were hurt but thankfully they’re all going to be ok.

Still no state budget

It’s furlough Friday. If you have stuff to take care of at the DMV, you’ll have to wait until Monday. You can do some stuff at dmv.ca.gov. State workers were ordered by Governor Schwarzenegger to take 3 days off a month with no pay to try and save the state some money. Yesterday he got together with legislators to talk about the budget. Nothing got done really, we still don’t have a budget. It’s 2 months overdue. The state may have to start paying bills with IOU’s

Misery may love company but happiness does too

A study says happiness is contagious. Not only does it spread from person to person, but friends of friends of friends can have an effect on someone else. Say if your co-worker’s wife’s brother is having a good day, it’s going to spread to her, then to your co-worker and on to you. The guys that did the study say the more happy people you have around you, the happier you’ll be.

Toyota Corolla amd Matrix recall

Toyota is officially recalling some Matrix and Corollas. More than 1 million of them are being recalled because there’s a chance the engine could stall out. If you want to find out more you can go to Toyota.com.

West Nile Virus hot spots in the IE

You might want to get some bug repellant and spray yourself and your kids down if you’re going to be outside in the evenings. Health reps just announced some West Nile Virus hot spots. Chickens and mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus in and around Frisbee Park in Rialto Shandin Hills in San Bernardino and around Sierra Avenue and Arrow Highway in Fontana.

Using email to make a phone call

Yesterday google launched a new service for people with gmail accounts. It lets you make free calls to the US and Canada. 1 million people placed phone calls using it.

Frozen fruit bars recalled

A company out of Santa Fe Springs is recalling a bunch of frozen fruit bars because there may be a link to an outbreak of Typhoid Fever. Fruit Pops Inc is recalling mamey frozen fruit bars sold at stores, ice cream trucks and vending machines in California, Arizona and Texas.

California and Nevada eggs recalled

More eggs are being added to the huge recall of more than 1/2 billion eggs. These eggs were sold at specialty stores only in California and Nevada. They were sold at Cardenas Markets. If you shop there or know someone who shops there, you can go to eggsafety.com for the latest recall info.

Anthem/Blue Shield health inusrance rate hike

If you have Anthem Blue Cross, your rates are about to go up by almost 14%. A few months ago Anthem wanted to raise rates by more than 3 times that. But regulators said no. They did give the ok to the lesser amount yesterday though. If you have Blue Shield of California your rates are going up 19%.

President to speak on Iraq troop withdrawal

You might want to set your TiVo for the President’s big speech on Iraq. It’s going to be next Tuesday evening. That’s August 31st, the deadline he set for ending the US’s combat role in Iraq. Even though all of the combat troops pulled out a few days ago, around 50,000 support troops are still there to help train Iraqi forces. Violence has erupted since US troops left.

Wal-Mart Deli Meat REcall

Recall [Nationwide U.S.]: Zemco Industries, a Buffalo, N.Y., establishment, recalls approximately 380,000 pounds of deli meat products New York Firm Recalls Deli Meat Products for Possible Listeria Contamination Recall Release CLASS I RECALL FSIS-RC-049-2010 HEALTH RISK: HIGH Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113 Joan Lindenberger WASHINGTON, August 23, 2010 - Zemco Industries, a Buffalo, N.Y., establishment, is recalling approximately 380,000 pounds of deli meat products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. These products were distributed to delicatessens where they were further processed into sandwiches. The products subject to recall include: •25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches BLACK FOREST HAM With Natural Juices Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17800 1300. •28.49-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches HOT HAM, HARD SALAMI, PEPPERONI, SANDWICH PEPPERS" with the number 17803 1300. •32.67-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches VIRGINIA BRAND HAM With Natural Juices, MADE IN NEW YORK, FULLY COOKED BACON, SANDWICH PICKLES, SANDWICH PEPPERS" with the number 17804 1300. •25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches ANGUS ROAST BEEF Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17805 1300. The packages also bear vendor number "398412808" and the USDA mark of inspection. The meat products were produced on various dates from June 18 to July 2, 2010, and have various "Use By" dates ranging from August 20 to September 10, 2010. The products were distributed nationwide to a single retail chain. The problem was discovered as a result of a retail sample collected by the State of Georgia that confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at www.fsis.usda.gov/ FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. Media questions about the recall should contact Gary Mickelson at (479) 290-6111. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Willie Barber at (479) 290-4714.

Feds looking into more Toyota cars

More than 1 million Matrix and Corollas this time. Some owners are reporting that the engines are stalling out. It could be faulty electronics. This is on the 05's, 06's, and 07's. If you have any questions you can go to Toyota.com.

CA unemployed outnumber Phoenix residents

As of July, 2,251,000 Californians were out of work. If those folks got together and formed a city, it would be the 5th largest in the country right behind Houston, and just ahead of Phoenix. If you could please keep these families in your prayers.

Get a break on checked baggage fees

Next time you fly you may get a break on your checked baggage fees. Not from the airlines though. Some hotels are offering to pay those fees for you in order to get your business. Kimpton Hotels, they run the Holiday Inn chain, and some others are trying it out. They’ve gotten a good response so far. This is something you may want to ask about when you book your hotel room.

Your grocery bill may be go up

because of the egg recall. 550 million eggs have been recalled due to a salmonella outbreak. The money guys say egg prices usually go up this time of year when kids go back to school. But, because so many eggs are being pulled from stores, demand is going up and prices could go up by almost 40%.

Gas prices going down after Labor Day

The guys that track this stuff say once all the kids are back in school and family summer vacations are over, demand for gas starts to fall. Thankfully so will prices at the pump. They could fall as much as 15¢ gallon.

California schools out of the race

$700 million slipped right through our fingers. That’s how much money California was hoping to get from Obama’s Race to the Top competition. It’s a $4.35 billion grant set aside to improve schools. States have to apply for a piece of it. California’s application was accepted and we made it through the first round of eliminations. We didn't make it past round 2. There might be another round of competition next year. If so the state Superintendant of Schools says we’re definitely going to try again.

More kids passing the exit exam

Something good must be going on in your kid’s classroom mom and dad. More high school kids are passing the California High School Exit Exam or the CAHSEE. Almost 95% of the kids who took it in May passed it. Minority kids are making the biggest improvements.

The new Miss Universe was crowned last night.

Jimena Navarrete, Miss Mexico, took the crown last night in Las Vegas and ran on a platform of family values. This is the second time that Mexico has won the pageant. She was congratulated immediately on Twitter by Mexico’s president and his wife.

Drink 2 glasses of water before eating a meal

and you may lose weight. Obese dieters who drank two glasses of water before breakfast, lunch and dinner lost five pounds more than those who didn’t drink it. You can check out the report at www.health.com.

Tiger Woods and his wife finalized their divorce

yesterday after nine months of drama.

We are getting confirmation of more bad eggs in Southern California

due to a salmonella outbreak. Fourteen states including California and Nevada are among those affected. To find out more, visit www.eggsafety.org.

Welcome home soldiers!

A group of National Guard soldiers came home today. They have been overseas in Afghanistan helping local farmers learn to farm.

Gas prices should go down soon.

One expert says that It could go down as 15 cents per gallon here in Southern California where residents are currently paying as much as $3.54 per gallon. To find out where to get the cheapest gas near you, visit www.gasbuddy.com.

Egg recall expanding

Hundreds of people in 3 states have gotten sick from salmonella. 266 people in California have gotten sick. The recall involves 380 million eggs now sold under the brands Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp. You can go to eggsafety.com for more info.

America's most stressful cities

Stress can have a lot do with where you live. Forbes put together a list of the most stressful cities in America. They looked at stuff like unemployment rates, traffic, etc. #1 Las Vegas, #2 Los Angeles #3 Houston #4 Tampa #5 Riverside, Ca.

Combat soldiers out of Iraq

Think of how good it feels to be home after a long vacation. That’s probably how our troops are feeling right now. The last of the US combat brigade in Iraq headed home last night. 7½ years after the war there started, Iraqi forces are taking over for operation “new dawn”. About 56,000 non-combat US troops will stay behind for support.

Watching TV on your own schedule

If you’ve never TiVo’d your favorite shows you are living in the stone ages. Apparently that’s how most people watch TV these days; on their own schedule. A survey says 62% of Americans record their shows on TiVo, DVR , or on the internet, and watch them later.

Jamba Juice has a deal for you today

On 16 oz sizes of flavors like Coffee Craze, Chili-icious Chai, Mocha Mojo and Match Green Tea Blast. Check with the Jamba Juice you go to just to make sure they’re participating because not every location is.

You could be in some hot water mom and dad if your kid skips school

A state truancy bill is making it’s way through Sacramento and if it passes, parents could get jail time and have to pay a fine. It would make truancy a misdemeanor for serious offenders. Other states like Florida and Texas already have laws like this.

Hundreds of National Guard troops report to the US/Mexico border

Governor Schwarzenegger got an up-close look at the US/Mexico border in San Diego. He was there yesterday with about 220 California National Guard troops who are trained and ready to help border patrol. They’re part of the 1,200 National Guard troops the President promised border-states.

Careful where you wreck, you could get a "crash tax"

More and more California cities are charging people a “crash tax”. If you are from out of town and you cause a wreck in Costa Mesa or Santa Ana, expect a clean-up bill in the mail. Huntington Beach just ok’d it yesterday. Sacramento was supposed to vote on it yesterday, but the vote’s been put on hold until September 14th.

More California colleges make the "Best" list

Of course you want your kids to go to the best college possible, and they don’t have far to go. Once again UC Berkeley was picked as the #1 public University, not just in California but in the Country. US News & World report looked at 1,400 accredited 4 year schools. UCR was #94 on the list of 100.

CHP kicks off "zero tolerance"

Time to put the phone down if you text and drive. CHP kicked off their “zero tolerance” campaign this week. The hands free law took effect 2 years ago, and since then 16 people have lost their lives and 850 others have been hurt in crashes caused by someone on their phone.

The kids starting college this fall

have never had a phone with a cord. Very few of them know how to write in cursive, most have never worn a wristwatch and they’re turning away from email because it’s too slow. These are just a few things on a list college kids put together for teachers every year, just to remind them of the generation gap.

3.1 quake near Wrightwood

If you felt some shaking yesterday, you were not imagining things. There was a small quake near Wrightwood. It was a 3.1 at about 12:30 in the afternoon. It wasn't strong enough to do any damage.

29 Palms soldier fatally wounded in Afghanistan

Maybe you could keep the Bock family in your prayers. Staff Sergeant Michael Bock of 29 Palms lost his life in Afghanistan. He was on his 4th tour of duty to the Middle East and was only 26 years old.

ipods causing teen hearing loss

Tell your teenager to turn down that ipod mom and dad. The ear buds are damaging their hearing. A study out says 1 in 5 American teenagers has hearing loss because of those ear buds.

Home sales in the IE dropped last month

26% from July of last year. The real estate guys say it’s because that federal tax credit for new home buyers expired. The IE had the lowest number of home sales in our state.

Doggone distractions in the car

AAA says 60% of Americans admit to driving while distracted by our dogs jumping around in the car. Only 1 in 6 of us uses an animal restraint. That can lead to a serious crash. The American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty says if you’re going to take your dog in the car get a seatbelt or some other type of restraint. And they say dogs should never ride on your lap in the car.

Tax breaks

The Franchise Tax Board made its yearly adjustments yesterday and they bumped up allowable deductions and personal exemptions. Renter's credit went up, and the standard deduction for head of household also went up. You can check out their website if you want to see even more of the changes they made.

Correction: 8/13 New Pit-Bull Law

The fine for non-compliance is 00. not 00

Nationwide recall on eggs

The FDA says Wright County Eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can cause fever, nausea, stomach pain, etc and for some folks it can be fatal. The eggs were sold in 8 states including California under the names Lucerne, Albertsons, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. For more info go to eggsafety.org.

High school in Ontario on lock-down

Cops got word that a student may have a firearm on campus. There’s a huge police presence at the school right now. Students have to stay in their classrooms until they get the all clear. The name of the school isn’t being released yet.

1 million kids misdiagnosed with ADHD

Researchers say these kids really don’t have behavior problems, they’re just the youngest in their class. Kids who are the youngest in class are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD because they’re a little more active and less mature than the oldest kid in class.

In-N-Out 2nd best burger?

Zagat Surveys says 5 Guys Burgers takes the top spot for the Best Burger in America. In-N-Out was 2nd in this online survey and Wendy’s was 3rd. McDonald’s won for best fast-food french fries. KFC won for best fast food chicken, Chick fil-a was #2.

Prop 8 update

Yesterday the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals says same gender marriages will be on hold during the appeals process. The week of December 6th, is when a 3 judge panel will start hearing arguments as to whether or not California’s ban on these marriages is constitutional.

Jet Blue brings back all-you can fly pass

$699 bucks will get you an all-you can fly in one month pass. They did this last year and it was pretty popular. There are 2 different pass options this year to suit your travel needs. The passes sold old in 2 days last year, so if you’re interested you may want to check out their website asap. It's jetblue.com.

Dog treats recall

Merrick Pet Care is recalling their “Texas Holdems” Beef filet squares because of possible salmonella. For more info you can call 800-664-7387.

President Obama takes heat over Mosque comments

He gave a speech Friday night at a Ramadan dinner at the White House and he said Muslims have a right to worship anywhere they want just like everyone else in this country. Then he referenced the Mosque being built near Ground Zero. Some groups who are against the Mosque are wondering why the President waded into the controversy, and why that Mosque has to go up so close to the site of the September 11th attacks. The President spent part of the weekend explaining his comments.

Quake in the Pacific Ocean

We had a little bit of shaking in California this morning. A 4.4 quake hit the Pacific Ocean this morning just west of Eureka. No one’s reporting any damage or anything, it was just a little reminder to have your family’s emergency plans ready in case we get someting bigger.

Tragedy at an off-road show in the Mojave Desert

There was a horrible tragedy at the California 200 in the Mojave Desert in Lucerne Valley. A truck took a jump and plowed right into the crowd. 12 people were hurt and 8 people lost their lives. Some of the people who were hurt were airlifted to Loma Linda Hospital.

President Obama’s coming to California today

He’ll be in LA to raise some money for Barbara Boxer and other democrats. The fundraiser is at John Wells’ house, he’s the guy who produced West Wing and ER. All the big name celebs will be there of course, Steven Spielberg, Barbara Streisand, etc. It's $30 grand per couple to get in.

Claremont McKenna College in the top 10

If you want your kid to go to one of the top 10 colleges in the country, they don’t have far to go. Claremont McKenna College in Claremont is ranked by Forbes at #9. Last year it was #27. Forbes looked at more than 600 colleges, looked at the education you get at each one, career development, the experience of the students etc. to come up with that list.

China close to having 2nd largest economy

China is breathing down our necks. The money guys say by the end of this year China’s economy will pass Japan. That'll make China the 2nd largest economy in the world. If they keep going at this pace, they’ll catch up to the US by the year 2035.

kids and drowning

Since Memorial Day, more than 300 kids in the USA have drowned. Drowning is the #2 leading cause of accidental death for kids under 15 in this country. Half of all drawings happen with 1-5 other swimmers present. Experts say t’s because most of us don’t recognize the signs when someone’s drowning. If you want to know the signs to watch out for, there’s a video at abcnews.com.

Jerry Brown ahead in the polls.

A new poll shows 43% of Californians are going to vote for Jerry Brown, 41% for Whitman. As far as the race for the senate. Carly Fiorina is ahead of Barbara Boxer by 5 points right now.

Americans mad at government

The Wall Street Journal just did a poll and less than half of Americans like how President Obama's leading the country. 47% approve, 51% are not happy with him. People just aren’t happy with government period right now. Support of congress is at an all time low. People are equally as unhappy with democratic and republican leaders.

Tax credit for new home buyers expiring

There’s not much time left for you to get in on a tax break California has for first time buyers. Applications have to be in by midnight Sunday. There’s 00 million is set aside for these tax breaks.

West Nile

If you’re going to be outside in the evenings maybe watching the kids practice sports or taking a walk, you may want to spray you and your kids with bug repellant first. Health reps say they’re findong more mosquitoes and birds infected with West Nile Virus. They want to hear from you if you notice any deceased birds or squirrels so they can be tested for the virus. You can got to westnile.ca.gov.

Some wireless video baby monitors recalled

Circus World Displays are recalling their Levana Wireless Video Baby Monitors because there could be a problem with overheating. If you have one of these, they want you to stop using it right away. You can see a picture of these monitors and find out more about the recall at CPSC.gov.

Prop8 update

Same gender couples will have to wait to get married but not for long. Yesterday, Judge Walker announced that his stay on the marriages will be in effect until 5pm on August 18th, next Wednesday. He says that’ll give supporters of Prop8 time to file an appeal which has already been done.

San Bernardino’s new pit-bull law kicks in today

If you have a pit or pit-mix you have to have it fixed by the time it’s 4 months old. If not, you could get a citation and have to pay a 00 fine.

Free entry into state parks this weekend

All state parks are letting you in for free this weekend. It’s usually $20 to $25 bucks to get into Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and other popular spots. The freebie is good tomorrow and Sunday.

Hybrid HOV lane sticker extension

If you have one of those carpool lane stickers on your car because it’s a hybrid, you may be able to keep using it until 2015. A bill is headed to Governor Schwarzenegger that would give you an extension. Other types of low emission, alternative fuel vehicles would be able to use the HOV lane during heavy commute times too.

Perseid meteor shower tonight

If you didn’t catch the natural fireworks show in the sky last night, you still have time. The Perseid meteor shower happens every year when earth passes through debris from an ancient comet. It's something cool for the kids to see and maybe learn a little something. You’ll be able to see it tonight and until just before dawn on Saturday.

Same gender marriages may resume today

In just a few hours the judge handling the Prop8 case is going to announce whether or not same gender couples can start getting married immediately. His decision should be announced before noon today.

Fresh-Express Salad recall

Fresh Express Salads out of Salinas, is recalling thousands of bags of it’s Veggie Lover’s Salad because it may pose a Listeria health risk. The bags have the product code number I208, and a use by date of August 10th.

Did you feel it?

There was a light aftershock of the July 7th earthquake on the Riverside-San Diego County line yesterday afternoon. The 3.4 shaker was felt it in Anza, the San Jacinto Mountains and parts of the Coachella.

Taking the "happy" out of happy meals

Another California city is about to take some of the “happy” out of kid’s happy meals. San Francisco is considering a ban on the toys in kid’s meals at all restaurants and fast-food places. Toys would be banned if the meal has too much fat, sugar or salt. No word on who gets to decide how much is too much, but it's doubtful that it’s you mom and dad. The toy can only be included if the meal has fruits and veggies in it. Santa Clara just passed this kind of ban a few months ago, so a trend may be starting in California.

You may have a refund coming from Wells Fargo

If you bank with Wells Fargo, you may have some pay-back coming – a judge in San Francisco just ordered Wells Fargo to pay back California customers $203 million bucks for unfair overdraft fees – the judge said Wells Fargo manipulated the way it processes overdraft fees in an "unfair and deceptive way" for the purpose of maximizing fees – Wells Fargo is going to appeal.

Toxic bounce houses?

You may want to re-think the bounce house at your kid’s next birthday party. Attorney General Jerry Brown thinks the inflatable bounce houses may be giving kids lead poisoning. He filed a law suit against a few companies that rent them out for parties, local events and festivals after a report came out showing the lead in the vinyl material tested way above the federal limit. He says he’s not trying rain on your party, he just wants companies to use a different kind of vinyl to make those bounce houses.

Mortgage help for the jobless

Maybe you lost your job and you’ve been struggling to keep your mortgage paid. The President just pumped $3 billion into a program to help you out. It’s called the “Hardest Hit Fund” and Housing Finance Agency programs in 17 states will get the money. You can get in touch with the Department of Housing and Urban Development if you want some more info.

Tough news on the job scene and the for housing

this morning. Last week the number of Americans filing for unemployment for the first time was the highest since February. And more than 300,000 families got foreclosure notices on their homes. Maybe you could just all of these families and everyone struggling to find a job in your prayers.

Ground beef patties recall info

valleymeat.com or call 1-800-safeway for more info.

Kohl's hiring for new store in Riverside

If you’re looking for a job, or know someone who is, Kohl’s is opening a new store in September, in Riverside, they have positions to fill from customer service, department service, cash register, early morning stocking, truck unloading, housekeeping and evening signage/pricing updates. If you go to kcal9.com they have a link to Kohl’s website.

Furlough Friday’s are on hold for now

To save our state some money, Governor Schwarzenegger ordered 150,000 state workers to start taking 3 unpaid furlough days a month, that’s about a 14% pay cut, starting this Friday. But a judge blocked the order. Governor Schwarzenegger’s filing an appeal this morning.

Jamba Juice/McDonald's Fruit Smoothie smackdown

McDonald’s new fruit smoothies are selling like crazy this summer. Jamba Juice wants a piece of that action. Some of their California stores are going to accept McDonald’s Smoothie coupons. The deal starts August 15th.

Honda recall

Almost 400,000 Accords and Civics are being recalled because something’s going on with the ignition switch. On some cars you can take the key out while the motor’s still running and your gear’s not in park. Certain versions of the Honda Element are affected too. Check out Honda.com.

Huge turn out at this weekend's Harvest Crusades

118,000 people came out to Angel Stadium this weekend for the 21st annual Harvest Crusades. Almost 12,000 people gave their lives to Christ.

Girls in America

are transitioning into womanhood younger and younger. At 7 years old now a lot of girls are going through the change. They say it has a lot to do with the obesity problem. Overweight girls develop faster. They say it may also have to do with the chemicals in plastics that are released when you heat food in the microwave in a plastic container. Plastic water bottles can be a problem too.

Tragedy involving Cal Baptist University

If you get a minute today, maybe you could pray for everyone at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, especially for the families who lost a loved one. Last night there was a car crash on hwy 395 near Bishop involving a caravan of vehicles taking their cross country team to training in Mammoth. We’re hearing, 6 students injured and in the hospital and 6 fatalities. Their cheerleading coach Wendy Rice was one of the fatalities.

Cancer fighting foods

A professor at Stanford says the best way to beat cancer, is to stop it before it starts. He co-teaches a class called “The Best Diet Ever”. He recommends working these 5 cancer fighting foods into your diet every day. Soy - 8-10 grams tofu, soy nuts, soy milk or edamame a day to help prevent breast and prostate cancer. Berries, one cup per day for antioxidants, Broccoli, 1/2 cup of cooked broccoli, Onions, 1/4 cup of onions, garlic, leeks or shallots for several anti-cancer agents, and Tomatoes, 1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw tomatoes three times a week to help prevent prostate cancer.

The house voting on a jobs package

today. The $26 billion package is supposed to keep 160,000 teachers around the country from losing their jobs. It’ll help some police officers keep their jobs too.

Before you cook your ground beef from your freezer today

you better check it. Look at who distributed it as one million lbs of ground beef are being recalled made by Valley Meat of Modesto, CA.

We need to pray for our missionaries.

Specifically there is a group in Afghanistan where 6 American missionaries have been identified. They were fatally wounded in gunfire last week as they had just completed a two-week mission providing medical care to family in a poor village there.

Our favorite breakfast foods are going to cost more soon.

Cereal, coffee, bacon and orange juice are all going up in price in the next few weeks. The Smucker company just raised its Foldgers brand, Duncan doughnuts, an Millstone brands by 9%. You can expect the same from Kraft in a very short time. Companies are blaming the increase on bad weather.

KSGN artist Matthew West is turning personal stories shared by fans into songs

on his new album. Earlier in the year West asked fans to send stories that he could use for this project and spent two months in a cabin outside of Nashville, TN and turned some of the stories into songs. The new album, Story of Your Life, comes out October 5th.

Our troops need all of the encouragement they can get,

so why not a game of basketball? President Obama put together an informal Dream Team yesterday which included basketball superstars Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Magic Johnson to entertain those troops who have been wounded. After the game there was a barbeque to culminate the President’s 49th birthday celebration.

Gas prices

$3.07 is the average for a gallon of regular in the IE right now.

New lane coming to the 57 freeway

If you commute into Orange County you know how clogged up that freeway gets. The new lane will be a northbound lane between Anaheim and Brea. Construction starts in a few months and it should be ready by 2014.

Prop8 decision

A judge in San Francisco overturned it yesterday, even the majority of Californians voted for it. Same gender couples can't walk down the aisle just yet though. The judge put a hold on that until Friday, possibly until the fight goes all the way to the Supreme Court.

Making it illegal to charge debit card fees

You probably hate paying extra fees to use your debit card. Some gas stations charge an extra 45¢ to pay with a debit card. It could be against the law soon. A state senator came up with a bill to make it illegal to charge a fee for debit or credit charges. Some small business owners say they count on those extra fees to pay employees and they may have to fire people if the bill passes.

Gubernatorial debate set

November will be here before you know it, and maybe you’re still deciding who you want to vote for, Meg Whitman or Jerry Brown. You might want to set your TiVo for October 12th. They're debating at Dominican University in San Rafael. Tom Brokaw’s going to moderate. He covered Jerry Brown’s first run for election 41 years ago.

Hilton's Hemet call-center closing

On October 6th Hilton Hotels is closing their call center in Hemet. More than 300 employees may be out of a job. The company says they will try and find jobs for these employees within the company in another city. But, this is just one of several companies lately closing their call centers in the IE. It’s putting a total of about 1,800 people out of work.

Judges decision on Prop8 today

We’re waiting to hear how a judge is going rule on Prop 8, California’s ban on same gender marriage. The majority of Californians voted for the ban in 2008, but 2 couples filed lawsuits against the ban. The judge will send out an electronic ruling (email) sometime between 1 pm and 3 pm today.

Iams/Eukanuba Pet Food Recall

because it may be contaminated with salmonella. You can go to iams.com for more info or go to pg.com.

National Night Out

Maybe you plan to lock your doors tonight, turn on your porch light and spend some time outside with your neighbors. It’ National Night Out and folks all over the country will be out talking to the people in their area about how to prevent crime in their neighborhoods and support local police. Some cities are celebrating with movies and picnics in the park. If you want to find an event in your city you can go to nationalnightout.org.

Agree or disagree with the war in Iraq

Since the war in Iraq started about 8 years ago, we have lost 4, 417 soldiers and we’ve spent a few trillion dollars on it. A poll says 55% of Americans think the war hasn't been worth it. Yesterday President Obama gave a speech at a convention of disabled vets and he promised to keep his promise to pull our combat troops out by the end of this month.

Maybe we're making healthier food choices

because for the first time ever in America, wheat bread is outselling white bread. A report says most shoppers these days are looking for labels that say whole wheat, whole grain, or natural.

Lock up your Escalade

apparently thieves in America have high end taste these days. The Escalade is now the top stolen car in the US. Ford’s F-250, large pickup, is next on the list, followed by the Infiniti G37 two-door midsize luxury car, and the Dodge Charger with a hemi engine.