Once an Economic Engine For The Region, The Inland Empire’s Warehouse Industry Enters a Downturn | LAist – NPR News for Southern California

Once an Economic Engine For The Region, The Inland Empire’s Warehouse Industry Enters a Downturn

The Inland Empire’s once booming warehousing industry is experiencing a significant slowdown. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the area quickly recovered lost jobs, outpacing other sectors like entertainment and tech. However, in the past year, warehousing and transportation jobs have declined for the first time in decades, with industrial vacancies increasing and rents decreasing. Nationally, logistics businesses are cutting back due to declines in freight volume, with companies like United Parcel Service announcing layoffs, potentially affecting tens of thousands of workers in California. Joining us to discuss is William Lee, chief economist with the Milken Institute and Paul Granillo, president and CEO of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, which develops initiatives to improve regional issues such as transportation, human capital, and business development.

Why Hollywood Is Once Again Turning To Faith-Based Films And Content For Growth And Investment

While The Sound of Freedom from Angel Studios certainly took the entertainment business by storm in 2023, it was just one of the success stories in the genre last year that has been having a resurgence among moviegoers. The background: Angel Studios also succeeded, albeit on a smaller scale with a documentary After Death in late 2023, and has another film sure to garner attention in a few weeks with Cabrini, timed to hit theaters as Easter begins to approach. However they’re not the only player in town, with the Kingdom Story company achieving great success in early 2023 with Jesus Revolution, which garnered over $50 million at the U.S box office, plus limited theatrical runs for their series The Chosen, which has cleared over $20 million at the U.S. box office in early 2024 so far. Amazon is also looking to establish a foothold in the genre, in a partnership with a new company called the Wonder Project, which was created to specifically create films and TV series in the genre.

With files from Sean McNulty and the Entertainment Strategy Guy at The Ankler. Read the full story here.

First-time Directors Christopher Sharp And Moses Bwayo Share What It Means To Have An Oscar-Nominated Documentary

First-time directors Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo were both born and raised in Uganda. It’s what would ultimately draw them back home to make the documentary Bobi Wine: The People’s President. The documentary centers on Ugandan singer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, as he attempts to topple Yoweri Museveni’s oppressive 35-year regime during the 2021 Ugandan presidential election. Making the film, however, also put the filmmakers on the frontlines of the resistance. The film won best feature documentary at the 2023 International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards and is nominated for best documentary feature at the 96th Academy Awards.

The film is available to stream on Hulu and Disney +

From 213 To 310 To…738? As LA Gets Set To Dial Up A New Area Code In 2024, We Explain Their Importance To Southern Californians’ Identity

Los Angeles is getting a new area code this year: 738. It will be an “overlay” around downtown, where 213 and 323 numbers currently get assigned, starting in November. An overlay is when more than one area code is used for the same geographic area. When an overlay happens, current phone holders there still keep their existing area code and phone number. But as many Southern Californians know, we rep our area codes hard. They may just be three numbers, but they’ve become a badge of identity, tying you to a place and time. 213? Congrats, you have an OG California area code and may have lived in L.A. a long time. (Or you just got lucky in the phone store in which case, we salute you). 626? SGV folk, you’re so invested they named a night market after it.

Today on AirTalk, LAist’s L.A. Explained Reporter Caitlin Hernández is with us to share their reporting on the history of Los Angeles’ various area codes, and how they’ve become part of many peoples’ identities. And we want to hear from you — what does your area code mean to you? Whether you’re in one of the many Los Angeles area codes like 323, 310, or 818, in the OC with a 714 or 949, repping Santa Barbara or Ventura with an 805 or 747, or out in the Inland Empire with 909, 951 or 949, give us a call at 866-893-5722.

With files from Caitlin Hernández at LAist.com. Read their full story here.

TV-Talk: 5 TV Shows To Watch Including ‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 3 and ‘Will Trent’ Season 2

Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching with Inkoo Kang, tv critic for the New Yorker, and Cristina Escobar, tv critic and co-founder of LatinaMedia.Co.

This week’s shows/topics include:

• New Item: Episode counts & return of written network TV
• Abbott Elementary [Season 3] (ABC & Hulu next day)
• Will Trent [Season 2] (ABC & Hulu next day)
• Jenny Slate: Seasoned Professional (Amazon Prime Video)
• One Day (Netflix)
• The Traitors [Season 2] (Peacock)