Buzzwords: Fake News
Although “fake news” seems to have emerged from today’s political climate, it’s hardly a new concept. Some American newspapers were printing fabricated information back in the 17th century. What’s new is how “fake news” is now used as a weapon to discredit real news with an intent to deceive. It also now has the power to gain traction via social media.
How For-profit College Bills Could Affect California
Jeanny Morris had a 1-year-old baby and a resume of dead-end retail jobs when she enrolled in the Marinello Schools of Beauty cosmetology program in 2012. She used her welfare benefits to pay for transportation to and from school where, she says, staff pressured her to take out student loans to pay for supplies they had previously promised to provide, such as books, drapes and combs.
Charting the Next Course
Capital Region educators weigh in on what should change with California’s charter school law
Grace Kampmeinert has to fire off a lot of emails before the bell rings, signaling the end of fourth period. The eighth-grader at Natomas Charter School, along with two of her peers, handles quality control for a website of stock media, a seven-month-long legacy project in her technology class.
Loopholes & Violations
Much of the concern over the loophole that allows a site-based charter school to locate outside of the geographic area of its authorizing district relates to oversight: How can a district provide adequate oversight if the school isn’t located in its own backyard?
All Aboard for a MegaRegional Economy
Ever since the Golden Spike was driven into the ground, 150 years ago this month, trains have played a critical role in Sacramento’s growth and identity.
The 2-Step Process to Conduct a Personal Brand Audit
Many of us can easily identify the corporate brands of companies we’re familiar with even if we aren’t loyal consumers of their products. The fruit-shaped Apple and swoosh Nike logos are so well-recognized they’ve become iconic. Businesses know the importance of establishing a clear brand identity to set themselves apart in the marketplace.
Dilemma of the Month: Cutting Employee Pay
How to cut labor cost during tough times.
Startup of the Month: HealthSherpa
Guiding customers to health insurance coverage
When HealthCare.gov — the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchange website — went live in 2013, it was slow, buggy and hard to navigate — a digital mess. Two weeks later, three programmers in the Bay Area launched HealthSherpa.com, an alternative website to help online shoppers understand their options under the ACA and see plans and prices quickly.
Lost in the Block
Blockchain is poised to oust middlemen across industries — here’s how it works
Bitcoin’s value in the real world derives in part from the fact that it runs on a blockchain, a distributed and transparent online accounting register
Friend or Foe?
Zillow and websites like it are valuable tools — but they don’t tell a full story
My wife loves Zillow, which she sometimes apologizes to me for — she worries that her love for the website somehow disrespects me as an appraiser. Truth be told, I like Zillow too. But I do question whether consumers trust it and other similar sites too much, and in doing so, make pricing mistakes.