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A ballot proposition that would have progressively raised California's minimum wage to $18 per hour was narrowly defeated by voters, according to NBC News' prediction on Wednesday. This is the first time since 1996 that a ballot initiative to increase the state minimum wage has failed nationally. The California bill, which was on the ballot as Proposition 32, called for raising the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, making it the highest in the country. With 92% of the vote counted, 50.8% of voters supported the no vote, compared to 49.2% who supported the yes vote. Opponents said that enacting the legislation would have increased costs for firms, which would have likely led to employee terminations, while supporters claimed that it would have benefited workers. The measure's opponents,...

Authorities confirmed Thursday that a Wisconsin man who staged his own death and left a lengthy trail of technological breadcrumbs across the US, Canada, and Europe is still alive. Ryan Borgwardt, a married father of two who was reported missing in August and now seems to be in Uzbekistan, has been contacted by deputies from the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, according to officials. A video discussion between the department and Borgwardt, who was wearing an orange t-shirt and reassured everyone that he was fine, was played by the sheriff. Telling the camera, "Good evening, it's Ryan Borgwardt," "Today is November 11; it is roughly 10 a.m. for you all. My apartment is where I am. I have no issues and am safe and secure. Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll told reporters that Borgward...

Update on November 21, 2024: We made changes to the AirTag's price. Amazon's pricing of $19 is still the lowest it has ever been, while Walmart and Best Buy have raised their prices. We would present an award to the Apple AirTag if we could. Oh, hold on, we have previously done so several times (e.g., a Giftable Tech award and Best Bluetooth Tracker for Travel honors). We have done a thorough study of this excellent Bluetooth tracker. Additionally, the Apple AirTag is available at the lowest price ever. Normally, an Apple AirTag costs $29, but right now, it's 34% off, making it only $19. The versatility of the Apple AirTag is its greatest feature. According to Rabinowitz, I use Apple AirTags for all types of travel, including visits abroad and commuting to work. He has one in his keys, su...

On Thursday, former Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, declared that he will not be running for president-elect Donald Trump's attorney general position. "My meetings with senators yesterday went really well. I value their insightful comments and the amazing support from so many people. Just one week after Trump declared he intended to nominate Gaetz to the role, Gaetz wrote in a post on X, "Even though the momentum was strong, it is evident that my confirmation was unjustly becoming a distraction to the crucial work of the Trump/Vance Transition." "I will be removing my name from consideration to be Attorney General because there is no time to squander on an unnecessary, drawn-out Washington dispute. On Day 1, Trump's DOJ needs to be operational and prepared, Gaetz cont...

Following Wednesday's $6.2 million sale of a single banana, grocery inflation just reached its highest point. The produce, which was duct-taped to a wall, cost cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun more than $6 million. The banana is a component of the artwork "Comedian," which was made by Maurizio Cattelan, an Italian humorist and artist. Naturally, Sun, the creator of cryptocurrency TRON, paid for the results of his efforts in the cryptocurrency world after competing against six other people for the artwork at a Sotheby's auction in New York City on Wednesday. In a statement on X, Sun stated, "I think this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history." "I am honored to be the proud owner of this iconic work and look forward to it sparkin...

Around the holidays, I am frequently inundated with gifting queries in my role as tech reporter for NBC Select. Friends, relatives, and coworkers inquire about what to get their mother, father, brother, sister, uncle, cousin, or best friend. I want to purchase them a fitness tracker, but there's always a catch, like they already have a ton of Apple devices or they generally detest tech. Fortunately, over the years, I have evaluated and tested a wide range of computer items. I've included a range of tech and tech-related gifts in this guide that will appeal to each member of your list, be it your tech-hating dad or your gamer spouse who believes they have it all. SKIP AHEAD: Top-rated tech presents | Tech presents for housewives | Tech presents for vacationers | Tech presents for gamers | T...

According to official records of a police investigation unsealed in California on Wednesday night, a lady informed authorities that she had been sexually assaulted by a man she identified as Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary nominee of President-elect Donald Trump. According to documents made public by the Monterey Police Department, the lady, who is only known as "Jane Doe," first saw Hegseth in 2017 while he was speaking at an event held at a Monterey hotel. Hegseth denied any misconduct and was not charged. When Hegseth acknowledged paying an undisclosed sum as part of a settlement with his accuser, the accusations surfaced last weekend. The police report "confirms what I've said all along, that the incident was fully investigated and police found the allegation to be false, which is ...

I've had the good fortune to travel the world as the daughter of a pilot. I've used every kind of luggage imaginable and visited more than 30 countries. For instance, my preferred bag for a short vacation with friends is a little weekender bag. A larger, checked wheelie is ideal for longer trips, and a wheeled carry-on works in practically any circumstance. Since most of the terrain in Asia wasn't suitable for wheels, I discovered that carrying a duffel bag over my shoulder made the most sense. No matter what kind of travel I do, I've always liked to spend my money on experiences rather than stuffing it into my suitcase. Additionally, several of my favorite items are much under $150 and have endured over time. GO Ahead and SkipHow did I choose the best cheap luggage? | Best cheap luggage o...

Following a strong bomb cyclone that killed two people, took out electricity to half a million people at its height, and brought down trees and power lines, Washington state is in shock. However, this reprieve won't stay long because another storm is approaching. The storm, which erupted off the coast Tuesday, brought severe winds, rain, and heavy mountain snow to Washington, battering the Pacific Northwest. The severe weather caused confusion and road closures, left cities buried in white snow, caused extensive damage, and knocked off electricity to hundreds of thousands of people in Washington, which Puget Sound Energy described as a multi-day outage. According to PowerOutage.Us, more than 320,000 people in Washington were without power as of 10 a.m. ET on Thursday. The storm claimed th...

Even though Black Friday is less than two weeks away, you should start shopping now. If you don't seize a fantastic deal as soon as you see it, it may sell out because many merchants are already advertising their best pricing of the season. You may maximize your budget and spread out your spending by starting to shop Black Friday discounts now. I have five years of experience covering Cyber Monday and Black Friday at NBC Select, so I know how to spot deals that are truly worth checking out. The top early Black Friday offers of 2024 from some of our favorite stores, including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, and REI, are compiled below. Every day before Black Friday, I'll update this list to include the best discounts, new bargains, and other promotions you won't want to pass up. GO Ahe...