By Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN

New York (CNN) — In New York City, the typical household spends more than half of its income on rent and 100,000 people sleep in homeless shelters every night.

“This is what a full-blown affordability crisis looks like,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in a December report. Median rents in Manhattan have topped $5,400 a month.

The city’s cost-of-living crisis extends to food, child care and other parts of daily life: 1.4 million people, or 15% of the city’s population, is food insecure. A family must earn $334,000 to afford child care for a 2-year old, according to US Census Bureau data.

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s next mayor, faces the enormous task of making it easier to get by in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Mamdani won the most votes of any New York City mayor in 60 years, propelled by his focus on working-class issues. Now he must deliver on his progressive agenda when the city’s economy is slowing, the federal government is cutting the social safety net and the city’s budget gap is growing.

Mamdani pledged to freeze rents and build more affordable housing, but many nonprofit organizations and developers that operate subsidized housing say they already can’t cover their costs.

And he wants to implement free care for every child ages 6 weeks to 5 years and eliminate fares on city-run buses.

But he needs state approval to raise taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents and corporations to pay for these plans, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul has thrown cold water on his plan to make the entire bus network free and make up the $1 billion in fares the MTA may lose from eliminating fares.

His ability to implement his agenda in office hinges on mobilizing his grassroots campaign supporters to push for higher taxes on the wealthy, more housing production and other priorities, said Kim Phillips-Fein, a history professor at Columbia University and the author of “Fear City: New York’s Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics” on the city’s 1970s financial collapse.

His allies recently launched a nonprofit designed to build pressure on city and state lawmakers to pass his agenda in the city and state legislature in Albany. (A Mamdani spokesperson did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.)

“People thought Mamdani’s election was impossible a year ago, but it was accomplished through significant political organizing,” said Phillips-Fein. His success as mayor “will depend upon an alignment of political forces and continued organizing.”

Warning signs in the economy

Before the election, Mamdani’s opponents warned of an exodus of the ultra-wealthy from New York City as well as fiscal collapse if he won.

But the Read more

Media_Photos // Shutterstock

The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey.

Whether you’re a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a list of projects casting right now in Los Angeles, nearby cities, and nationwide, and which roles they’re looking to fill.

Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

‘The Cabin’

– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Loretta (lead, female, 18-50)
— Angel (lead, male, gender-nonconforming, non-binary, trans male, 22-40)
— CABIN Crew (crew)
– Average hourly rate: not available
– Casting locations: Los Angeles, California
– Learn more about the short film here

KinoMasterskaya // Shutterstock

‘Everything, Sooner or Later’

– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Scarlet (lead, female, 18-23)
— Anthony (lead, male, 18-23)
— Production Sound Mixer/Boom Operator (crew)
– Average hourly rate: $25
– Casting locations: Los Angeles, California
– Learn more about the short film here

Dpongvit // Shutterstock

‘Say the Wrong Thing’

– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Lisa (lead, female, gender-nonconforming, non-binary, 20-30)
— Ryan (lead, male, 20-30)
— David (lead, male, 20-30)
– Average hourly rate: $21
– Casting locations: Los Angeles, California
– Learn more about the short film here

muratart // Shutterstock

‘Revenge League’

– Project

Sundry Photography // Shutterstock

In 2025, the U.S. housing market largely continued the sluggish trends that have defined the post-pandemic years: high prices, elevated mortgage rates, and persistent economic uncertainty. Historically few homes sold through November 2025, and as sellers struggled to find buyers, many chose not to list at all. That pullback reduced inventory throughout the year, which in turn kept prices elevated.

Looking ahead to 2026, Redfin expects affordability to gradually improve as the market continues a long, uneven recovery. (Learn more in Redfin’s 2026 housing market predictions.)

However, national trends don’t tell the whole story. Individual markets varied widely, from red-hot metros in the Midwest and East Coast, to quickly cooling cities throughout the South. But how did Los Angeles, CA’s housing market perform?

To answer that question, Redfin Real Estate analyzed six key metrics that reflect market competitiveness and affordability for homebuyers and sellers. All data is an aggregated average from January through November 2025.

Los Angeles’ 2025 housing market recap

• Median sale price: $915,500
• Monthly total home sales: 4,158
• Monthly new construction sales: 149
• Monthly inventory: 17,487
• Months of supply: 4.2 months
• Days on market: 50.2 days

Discover Los Angeles, CA homes for sale

U.S. 2025 housing market recap

• Median sale price: $428,039
• Monthly total home sales: 423,945
• Monthly new construction sales: 69,558
• Monthly inventory: 1,482,760
• Months of supply: 3.5 months
• Days on market: 48.5 days

Please see Redfin’s metrics definitions for explanations of these data points.

This story was
produced by
Redfin Real Estate and reviewed and
distributed by Stacker.

The post Los Angeles' 2025 housing market year in review appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por Anabella González, Krecyte Villarreal y Susana Erazo, CNN en Español

Krystal Ramírez sintió que ya no podía seguir viendo el impacto de las redadas migratorias del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) en su comunidad de Santa Ana, California, sin hacer algo al respecto. Había ido a protestas y apoyado a varias organizaciones, pero para ella no era suficiente.

“Me partía el corazón ver cómo ICE se llevaba a las personas. Estaba enojada y triste, pero eso duró unos minutos. Tenía que salir, protestar y ayudar”, dice a CNN sobre la ofensiva inmigratoria que se intensificó en el último año bajo el Gobierno del presidente Donald Trump.

Así nació Trenzas Amigas, un proyecto que lleva adelante junto a Chelsea Salazar desde junio. Por donaciones de US$ 1 hacen peinados con trenzas a niñas, adolescentes y mujeres. No se trata solo de una ayuda para la comunidad sino también de una forma de protesta que expresa la identidad y la cultura hispana, dice Ramírez.

“Creemos que es nuestra forma de protesta y que demuestra resiliencia, empoderamiento (…) y también produce nostalgia, porque siempre hemos llevado trenzas desde que éramos niñas y seguimos haciéndolo, pero de una manera diferente para mostrar nuestra postura de que estamos con la comunidad y que lo que está pasando en nuestra comunidad no está bien”, dice la joven.

El significado de las trenzas, para ella, es mucho más que un simple peinado. “En nuestra guerra mexicana nuestras madres indígenas usaban trenzas para enseñar su identidad” y ahí radica su poder, explica Ramírez mientras trenza con paciencia y dedicación el pelo de una niña pequeña.

Lo recaudado con las donaciones de la jornada se destina a personas afectadas por operativos de inmigración. Su tienda, temporal e itinerante, se une en distintas fechas a otros negocios que les permiten usar el espacio en la acera de la puerta de sus locales para impulsar las ventas y colaboraciones.

Desde que el presidente Trump asumió su segundo mandato en enero y hasta el 15 de octubre pasado, alrededor de 220.000 personas fueron arrestadas por ICE, según datos del Proyecto de Datos de Deportación, un grupo de investigación asociado con la facultad de derecho de UC Berkeley. Si bien las autoridades insisten en que se trata de criminales condenados por delitos graves, cerca de 75.000 personas que han sido detenidas en esos casi nueve meses no tenían antecedentes penales, agrega el reporte.

Ramírez afirma que aunque muchos hispanos son ciudadanos estadounidenses, como ella, igual tienen temor de transitar por las calles y ser detenidos. Varias mujeres presentes en el local de Trenzas Amigas dijeron a CNN que, a pesar de sentir miedo, han participado en protestas anteriores contra las redadas migratorias de ICE.

Otras, quienes dijeron no haber participado, coinciden con Ramírez y sienten que sus trenzas son una forma de protesta y apoyo a su comunidad. Les da orgullo sumarse a esa iniciativa.

Así lo vive María Arenas, descendiente de inmigrantes del estado mexicano de Oaxaca: “Para mí esto me acerca a mis ancestros, enseña a mi comunidad que yo soy hispana y estoy muy alegre de ser hispana. (…) Con esto enseño que no me importa si me llevan, o no me llevan, aquí siempre voy a estar con la gente”.

Una amiga muy cercana de su mamá fue detenida y vio cuánto sufrió su familia con eso, cuenta esta joven estudiante de enfermería, que viajó desde Long Beach. “En momentos como este se

CNN

By Martin Goillandeau, Laura Sharman, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN

(CNN) — New Year celebrations turned to tragedy in Switzerland on Thursday, with dozens of people presumed dead and around 100 others injured in a fire at an Alpine ski resort, police have said.

Authorities said the blaze broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Day at Le Constellation lounge bar in Crans-Montana, one of Switzerland’s most exclusive locales.

Here’s what we know.

What happened?

Gaetan Lathion, spokesperson for police in the canton of Valais, said the “fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. at Le Constellation lounge bar in Crans-Montana.” He said about 100 people were inside the venue at the time.

The bar lies at the very heart of the Crans-Montana luxury ski resort, just a short walk from the bottom station of the lift that takes skiers up into the mountains. It has a capacity of 300 people, with terrace space for 40, according to its website.

The devastating fire that ripped through the crowded venue caused what witnesses initially described as an “explosion,” a state council member said Thursday.

“Witness accounts and investigation show that it was the fire that caused the air in the venue to burst into flames,” Valais State Council member Stephane Ganzer said alongside officials during a press briefing Thursday morning.

Ganzer, identified as a former firefighter, said: “The fire spread and, as it developed, caused a widespread explosion.”

Large crews from the emergency services immediately responded. Operations are still ongoing and the area has been closed off, with a no-fly zone in place over Crans-Montana, police said.

How many people lost their lives?

Swiss authorities have not yet given an exact number for those killed, saying it was “too early.” Police said in the press briefing Thursday that “dozens” were presumed dead and that the victims were likely of different nationalities.

Italy’s foreign ministry said approximately 40 people died in the blaze, citing Swiss police. The foreign ministry added in a statement that the victims could not be immediately identified due to severe burns.

While the investigation is in its early stages, police have ruled out a terror attack, saying the tragedy is being treated as a fire. Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared by the State Council of Valais.

State Council president Mathias Reynard described how the New Year’s Eve celebration became a “nightmare” as the incident unfolded, speaking during a joint press conference.

“This event, which should have been a moment of celebration and togetherness, turned into a nightmare. A tragic event that gravely injured and took the lives of a number of people,” he said.

Where is Crans-Montana?

The Crans-Montana resort is popular with foreign tourists. According to its official website, it welcomes around 3 million visitors a year, with roughly a fifth coming from abroad – most from France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.

It is famed for its year-round sunshine, which it owes to its position on a south-facing plateau in the Rhone Valley. The area – 1,