Interior designer knows stars' homes inside out

By Lauren Beale, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard is in demand among Hollywood celebrities: Christina Aguilera, Kid Rock...

Sprinkled with smarts

By Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Sprinkles Cupcakes, the Beverly Hills chain beloved by bold-faced Hollywood names such as Tom Cruise and Ryan...

California deems UnitedHealth rate hikes unreasonable

By Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said the nation's largest health insurer, UnitedHealth Group Inc., is imposing unreasonable...

Housing bubble hero

By Ricardo Lopez, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Christopher Thornberg is founding partner of Beacon Economics, a Los Angeles-based economics consulting firm....

Sriracha hot sauce purveyor turns up the heat

By Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times

The gig: David Tran, 68, founded hot sauce company Huy Fong Foods Inc. in Chinatown in 1980 and a few years later...

How I Made It: Eva Franco

By Dalina Castellanos, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Chief executive and creative director of the company that bears her name, Eva Franco designs chic and whimsical...

Todd Tucker is master of Illusion Industries, a movie makeup firm

By DiAngelea Millar, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Todd Tucker, 38, is co-founder and president of Illusion Industries Inc., a special effects makeup company in...

When work is a thrill ride

By Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Tim Burkhart, 54, is corporate vice president of maintenance and construction for Six Flags Entertainment Corp....

Andrew Meieran has ambitious vision for Clifton's Cafeteria

By Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Real estate developer and moviemaker Andrew Meieran, 46, is staking his reputation and millions of dollars on an...

Retirement savings, paying off toxic debt should be priorities

By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I have read tons of books on finance and debt repayment, but I'm having trouble deciding what to do next. My...

How celebrity florist David Jones' career blossomed

By Lauren Beale, Los Angeles Times

The gig: David Jones, who owns a floral studio bearing his name in West Hollywood, has counted some of the world's most...

Yutaka Shimizu dies at 84; longtime L.A. high school basketball coach

By Eric Sondheimer

Yutaka Shimizu, who became a quiet institution among high school basketball coaches in Los Angeles during a career that began in 1959 and...

A star of home staging and design

By Lauren Beale, Los Angeles Times

The gig: Meridith Baer is the founder and force behind the house-staging, furnishing and interior-design company that bears her name....