Senior Frankie Palacios could never afford to waste her money. Without support from her family, she spent the last five years as a full time college student with a full time job, and the responsibility to pay for the roof over her head. She decided to enroll at CSUN for the unique queer studies program, although there were other universities located at a more convenient distance, adding the cost of commuting on top of groceries, insurance and everyday expenses. Balancing… Read more

The cost of living in Los Angeles County has increased more than 18 percent in the last three years, and 46 percent in the last eight years, according to a new study. “We take deep looks into the costs between counties,” said Jenny Chung Mejia, attorney and program manager for Insight Center for Community Economic Development, the entity that published the study. “Our figures are based on measures that fully encompass all aspects to the cost of living.” Data is… Read more

Only 63 percent of LAUSD high school graduates go on to college, 12 percent less than the state average, according to the California Department of Education. Students in surrounding districts, such as Glendale and Arcadia, go on to college at higher rates, over 75 percent. The national average is 68.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jan Davis, administrative coordinator of LAUSD high school programs, said the data isn’t wholly accurate because it doesn’t factor in nonparticipating institutions…. Read more

Correction: In both the print and online versions of this story, Mr. Benson’s name was spelled incorrectly on first reference.   A petition to bring back Matador football was rejected by the Associated Students judicial court, which decided to temporarily refuse moving the proposal forward due to financial discrepancies. The initiative, which sought to implement NCAA football, women’s lacrosse crew, field hockey and other scholarships, underwent a long process prior to the court’s decision. The proposal sought to charge students… Read more

It’s 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 3, and the alarm on Tom’s watch is blaring. I wake up and bring just enough of myself out of my zero-degree sleeping bag to eat cereal with powdered milk, a meal prepared the night before to save time. “What am I doing?” I think as I realize the scope of today’s endeavor, along with that of the expedition before and after today. That was the morning of the 22nd day in the Waddington Range… Read more

Cellphone users may want to think before ignoring unknown phone numbers; it might be their wireless carrier saving them money. Wireless cellphone companies have agreed to send warning alerts to customers before billing them for unexpected charges, Julius Genachowski, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, said early last week. Genachowski said CTIA, the International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry, will ensure wireless companies alert users before hitting them with overage or roaming charges, a practice called bill shock. “(Bill shock)… Read more