At least 13.9 million of the nation’s small businesses are at serious risk of shuttering their doors by April 1, a recent industry report found. Forty-four percent of the country’s 31.7 million small businesses are at risk of closing by the end of the first quarter, according to small business group Alignable . Small businesses on the brink of closure expect to earn less revenue than their owners estimate is needed to stay afloat. “Customer confidence in their future cash flow is low right now,” a surveyed small business owner said, according to Alignable. “And so discretionary spending, which our business is based on, is significantly restricted. We need customer confidence to elevate to bring them back and make them feel comfortable spending their money.” “My income has dropped to zero,” another small business owner said. (RELATED: Nation’s Top Small Business Group Doubles Down In Minimum Wage Fight) A woman in a face mask walks by a sign posted on a boarded … [Read more...] about ‘My Income Has Dropped To Zero’: About 45% Of Small Businesses Risk Closure Within Months
San francisco news
Players On Rams, Chargers Opt To Skip Voluntary OTAs Over COVID-19
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Players on five more NFL teams will be skipping in-person voluntary workouts because of the pandemic: the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. The players posted through their union that they are joining 11 other groups who previously said they would not be on hand for the sessions. READ MORE: LA County’s COVID Positivity Rate Hits Record Low; 600K Vaccine Doses Available Next Week FILE — Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Sam Tevi during training camp on Aug. 31, 2020, at Jack Hammet Sport Complex in Costa Mesa, Calif. (Getty Images) This weekend players from the other 16 clubs are expected to announce plans. The offseason sessions begin Monday, and on Wednesday the league sent a memo to all 32 teams saying the first four weeks of the voluntary program will be virtual. The plan is to then transition to in-person work at team facilities. Last year, the offseason programs were all done … [Read more...] about Players On Rams, Chargers Opt To Skip Voluntary OTAs Over COVID-19
Tensions rise in US amid police shootings, Chauvin trial
Tensions have increased in the U.S. over the past week amid new reports of fatal police shootings and in anticipation of the verdict in former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin 's murder trial. Ongoing protests broke out across the country this week over police shootings of Daunte Wright , a 20-year-old Black man, and Adam Toledo , a 13-year-old boy. In addition, cities are preparing for unrest as the nation waits for the verdict of Chauvin, who faces multiple charges in the killing of George Floyd , a Black man who died in police custody in May of last year. ADVERTISEMENT The city of Minneapolis as well as several major U.S. cities have called for an increased police presence, and the deployment of National Guard troops. Protests erupted in Minnesota earlier this week after the police killing of Wright in the city of Brooklyn Center on Sunday. Former police officer Kim Potter , a white woman, shot Wright during a traffic stop. Local police said … [Read more...] about Tensions rise in US amid police shootings, Chauvin trial
Rockies’ bullpen teetering entering Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Mets
The last line of defense is letting the Rockies down. Entering Saturday’s snow-induced doubleheader against the New York Mets at Coors Field, the Rockies’ bullpen is teetering. The relievers’ 5.84 ERA, .283 batting average against and 1.72 WHIP all rank as the worst marks in the National League. The bullpen’s 4.93 walks per nine innings are the fourth-highest in the NL. Colorado is coming off a gut-punch, 7-5 loss at Los Angeles late Thursday night. The Rockies took a 5-3 lead into the seventh inning, but right-hander Yency Almonte’s control deserted him with two outs and the Dodgers’ Max Muncy hit a go-ahead three-run homer. “We’re playing good defense, the starting pitching is hanging in there,” manager Bud Black said Thursday night. “The bullpen has been the variable, right? There’s been a couple of games where we’ve had leads in the middle part of the game — the sixth or seventh inning — and a big blow has hurt us. The big home run by (Brandon) Crawford in San Francisco, the … [Read more...] about Rockies’ bullpen teetering entering Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Mets
Rockies’ losing streak hits five games with loss to Dodgers, manager Bud Black ejected
Randy Newman’s 1983 ditty — “I Love L.A.” — blares out of the speakers at Dodger Stadium after every Los Angeles victory. The Rockies must hear that song in their dreams. Or nightmares. The Dodgers beat them again Wednesday night, winning 4-2, and sending the Rockies to their fifth consecutive loss. Since Sept. 9, 2018, the Rockies have dropped 32 of 40 games against Los Angeles, including 18 of 21 at Chavez Ravine. “Obviously, right now, we are not playing the baseball we want to play,” all-star shortstop Trevor Story said of his 3-9 team. “Guys feel that. But each day that we show up, we feel we’re going to win. We feel confident in that. “Obviously this road trip hasn’t been great and we just have to get the process going a little better and execute better.” Frustation boiled over in the third inning. Rockies manager Bud Black blew up at home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi and got ejected for the 32nd time in his career, his seventh time with the Rockies. Black was, … [Read more...] about Rockies’ losing streak hits five games with loss to Dodgers, manager Bud Black ejected