Author: Stephanie Bontorin

A once deserted island with a strange name from locals, Beer Can Island, has just listed for an eye watering $14 million. Located just off the coast of Tampa Bay, the island was purchased by a group of smart investors who could see a new vision for the deserted space. The History of Beer Can Island Source: Jacques Philippe/Pexels Although the name “Beer Can Island” was dubbed by the local community a long time ago, the island’s true name is Pine Key. The name was given to it after the beaches had become a local party spot for young people…

A bad situation for a landowner in Hawaii has only gotten worse in recent weeks. Annaleine (Anne) Reynolds purchased a one-acre lot on the Big Island of Hawaii for roughly $22,500 at a county tax auction a few years ago. What she thought was her good luck has now turned into a troubling legal battle. Plans for the Lot Source: Luis Soquetti/Getty Images When Anne bought her dream property in the Hawaiian Paradise Park, she thought she would one day move there to build her dream. She had plans of building a meditative healing women’s retreat on the land to…

Robert Irvine, a celebrity chef well known TV persona of saving restaurants on the brink of collapse, has a lot to say about the new minimum wage in California. After helping hundreds of restaurants survive from insurmountable issues, he now worries about the fate of eateries in the Golden State. Big Hit to Fast Food Eateries Source: Wikipedia Commons California’s new $20 minimum wage has meant that a lot of small businesses have taken a large hit to their bottom line. After the new law was imposed on April 1st, fast food chains like Burger King and McDonalds have had…

Tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed concerns that wealthy nations rely on immigration to boost the population, instead of focusing on birth rates. Musk recently sent out a series of posts on his platform X discussing his thoughts on “demographic suicide” in high GDP nations. Sharing Concerns Regarding Low Birth Rates Source: Wikipedia Commons The South African born entrepreneur has been known in the past to raise concerns over immigration rates. In early March of this year, he accused President Joe Biden of “importing voters” in order to secure the presidency. Nations With a High GDP Often…

A group of already upset neighbors say that the situation in their California area is only getting worse. More complaints have come in about a house in the Fairfax neighborhood in Los Angeles just steps away from Melrose Avenue. Neighbors Concerned About the Health Issues Source: Muhammad Sahrul Setiwan/Getty Images Calls to complain about the “trash house” have brought attention to local officials. As reported by ABC affiliate KABC, they note that a once idyllic property in Fairfax has been overturned by garbage bags surrounding the home. Aerial Footage Is Striking Source: Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images During the investigation by local…

The Costco Executive team continues to stand up for the iconic hot dog as one of their best products for decades.  A new decision from leadership has changed the terms of who is able to walk in and buy the affordable meal. Usually, any non-members are allowed to visit the food court to buy the famous $1.50 hot dog combo, but not anymore.  The Beloved Hot Dog Meal Will Remain Unchanged Source: Wikipedia Commons Although food costs, employee wages, and transportation have all increased in recent years, Costco is still unwilling to change the cost of their most beloved item. …

A condominium in downtown San Francisco sold for half the amount the previous homeowner paid for it back in 2019. The two-bedroom, two-bath condo on Market Street saw its value plummet as problems in the city worsened. A New Kind of Housing Crisis Source:Jordi Vich Navarro/Unsplash While San Francisco used to be a hub of prosperity, making it one of the most overvalued metropolitan areas in the country, housing prices have dropped dramatically. This is a result of several factors coming into play to correct the housing market crisis that California found itself in. Prices Plummet in Some Cities…

In recent years, the number of people living out of their cars, vans, or campers as nomads has grown for a number of reasons. In Florida, a new group of people living out of their vehicles is due to a surprisingly high cost: homeowners insurance. Increasing Costs of Homeownership Source: Gustavo Zambelli/Unplsash In early March, NBC2 News published a story about the amount of homeowners camping out in their cars after being devoted homeowners for years. Due to the costs associated with mortgage rate hikes, inflation, and insurance, many people simply can’t afford to keep a roof over their head…

Susan Hodgson came back from a vacation to a waking nightmare when she found her beloved house razed to the ground.  Hodgson, a resident of Atlanta, received a panicked phone call from a neighbor while away on vacation. They knew something was wrong and rushed to ask her if she knew her home was being torn down by a construction crew.  Big Mistake by Construction Company Source: USGirl/Getty Images The construction company claimed they received the wrong address by mistake and were meant to tear down a different home that day.  Although the home did have boards on the windows,…

The rental crisis, cost of living increases, and stagnant wages have all contributed to a growing epidemic in the country: homelessness.  For many local, state, and federal government agencies, affordable housing is one of the top priorities to quell the dramatic increase in people experiencing homelessness in the U.S.  California’s Method to Spearhead the Issue Source: Malcolm Garret/Pexels Although homelessness remains a prevalent issue in every state in the U.S., California has faced the brunt of the issue.  Due to the warm climate and populous downtown cores, the state has often been a safe haven for houseless individuals to take…