A man with a reported grudge against corporate pharmacies walked into a California Walgreens and fatally shot employee Erick Velasquez before surrendering to police. Authorities say the suspect, Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, drove over 80 miles to the store and fired at other employees as they fled, though no other injuries were reported. Walgreens expressed deep sadness over the tragedy and is offering support to employees, while a GoFundMe was launched to assist Velasquez’s grieving family. [USA Today]
Retail Employers Must Comply with the Los Angeles County Fair Workweek Law Starting July 1, 2025 Starting July 1, 2025, retail employers in unincorporated Los Angeles County with 300+ employees will need to dance to a new tune called the Fair Workweek Ordinance. This ordinance is all about giving hourly retail workers a better work-life balance with advance scheduling, predictability pay, and rest between shifts. Employers will need to provide work schedules 14 days in advance, offer additional hours to current employees before hiring newbies, and keep detailed records for three years. [JD Supra]
Walmart's CEO on what store managers making $600,000 does for business Walmart’s decision to significantly increase store manager pay, including stock grants and bonuses, has led to higher engagement and improved financial awareness among its leadership, according to U.S. CEO John Furner. While the company continues investing in store management and hourly worker wages, it has scaled back some benefits for corporate staff. Looking ahead, Walmart anticipates slower growth in 2025 and is strategizing around new tariffs, potentially shifting costs to Chinese suppliers to minimize consumer impact. [Yahoo Finance]
Retail leaders sound off on AI’s use-cases At Shoptalk's spring conference in Las Vegas, AI was the hot topic, with retailers buzzing about its potential to revolutionize the industry. Mandeep Bhatia summed it up best: "Humans with AI will replace humans without AI." Toys R Us jumped on the AI train with a viral video, while Meta and Google are using AI to enhance ads and shopping experiences. Foot Locker and Tapestry are also embracing AI to streamline operations and improve customer service. It's clear that AI is the new frontier in retail, and those who embrace it early are likely to gain a competitive edge. [Retail Dive]
Retail, E-Commerce Merchants Lose $4 for Every $1 in Fraud: Report Fraud is like that uninvited guest who not only crashes the party but also eats all the snacks and leaves a mess. According to the 2025 LexisNexis True Cost of Fraud Study, for every $1 of fraud, U.S. merchants lose $4.61, and Canadian merchants lose $4.52, thanks to the sneaky costs of fraud that go beyond just financial losses. Fraudsters are getting craftier, with mobile payments and QR codes being their new playgrounds, and merchants are struggling to keep up, often relying on manual systems that are about as effective as using a spoon to dig a swimming pool. The study warns that gaps in identity verification are like leaving the back door open for fraudsters, and while businesses try to balance security with customer experience, fraudsters are busy turning generosity into a profitable business model. [ECommerce Times]
Consumer Reports Warns: Popular AI Voice Cloning Tools Lack Proper Safeguards
Tom Meehan, CEO CONTROLTEK comments@talklpnews.com
An extensive investigation conducted by Consumer Reports has revealed that several readily accessible artificial intelligence voice cloning programs offer virtually no meaningful protections against fraud and impersonation. The study examined voice cloning programs from six companies: Descript, ElevenLabs, Lovo, PlayHT, Resemble AI, and Speechify. It found that only Descript and Resemble AI offer any protection.
Voice cloning has practical uses, but its potential for abuse keeps consumer advocates up at night.
The remaining methods mostly rely on a simple checkbox or self-attestation, allowing users to replicate voices with little supervision. According to Grace Gedye, a policy analyst at CR, this lax approach could "supercharge" impersonation scams and make it significantly easier for AI to be used in fraud, misinformation, or manipulation.
This report serves as a wake-up call for consumers. Voice cloning technology is becoming more widespread and accessible, bringing a heightened risk of misuse. The ability to clone one's voice is not just a novelty—CR's findings suggest that even seemingly harmless applications could contribute to a new wave of identity theft and financial fraud.
As AI continues to advance, so does the potential for its misuse, particularly in voice cloning. AI voice tools can generate highly realistic impersonations, posing a significant security risk.
Docs: New details in shooting deaths of Accomack Co. store clerks
ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — In a 13-minute span between the time two Accomac Store Stop employees unlocked the doors and the time Accomack County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the store at 23135 Lankford Hwy. in the pre-dawn hours of March 20, a man had pulled up, gone inside and shot the two people — a father who died at the scene and a daughter who was “unconscious but breathing,” court documents state.
She later died at a Norfolk hospital.
And the man who allegedly shot them both was found soon after the shooting, about two miles from the store.
To avoid a ban, ByteDance has until Saturday to sell the U.S. segment of TikTok. While many interested parties have emerged in recent months, Amazon is reportedly the latest bidder looking to take control of the short-form video app.
Supposedly, Amazon sent an offer letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to people familiar with the matter.
The dollar amount purportedly presented by Amazon has not been revealed, nor have any other deal specifics.
Employers still on hook despite halt of OSHA’s heat rulemaking: Experts
Safety experts warn that employers should still prepare to manage workplace safety conditions during extreme temperatures this summer despite the Trump administration’s freeze on rulemaking that took effect in January.
“The likelihood of (the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) moving forward with a final heat rulemaking in the current administration appears remote, given that OSHA has removed the previous references to the heat injury and illness prevention rulemaking from its website,” said Andrew Brought, a Kansas City, Missouri-based attorney with Spencer Fane LLP.
The Operational Risk Group Manager is accountable for management of complex/critical/large professional disciplinary areas. Leads and directs a team of professionals. Requires a comprehensive understanding of multiple areas within a function and how they interact in order to achieve the objectives of the function. Applies in-depth understanding of the business impact of technical contributions.
Prolific Shoplifter Harry Wong Arrested
SAN FRANCISCO—On March 27, 2025, the San Francisco Police Department reported that the Defend Against Retail Theft (DART) Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force started an investigation involving prolific retail theft suspects, including adult and juvenile suspects. During the course of the investigation, investigators identified the suspects and developed probable cause to place them both under arrest.
The SFPD reported on March 17, investigators arrested Harry Wong, 44, of San Francisco for organized retail crime incidents that occurred from May to October 2024.
Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Mayor’s Retail Theft Task Force Meeting
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much and you know the other day I was at a town hall where we were listening to a group of residents and they talked about some of the concerns that they had in the city. At the end of the town hall there was a gentleman sitting in the back with his daughter and he raised his hand and I said before we leave let's hear what his question was.
And he stood up and stated that he has four children and he lived in a homeless shelter and he was able to get one of our vouchers, our thefts vouchers, and he was able to move out of the shelter and find an apartment. But he lost his job.
Trio charged in $28K sneaker theft spree across Philadelphia and New Jersey
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Three Philadelphia men have been arrested in connection with a months-long string of organized retail thefts that targeted shoe stores across Philadelphia, surrounding counties, and New Jersey, police announced.
Between February 3 and March 22, the suspects allegedly carried out 22 thefts, stealing an estimated $28,500 in merchandise. Investigators with the Philadelphia Police Department’s Retail Theft Initiative said the coordinated operation included 10 thefts within Philadelphia city limits.
UPDATE: 2 charged after shooting inside Walmart in Lancaster
LANCASTER, SC – A judge denied bond Wednesday for two suspects involved in a shooting inside the Walmart in Lancaster on Tuesday.
The suspects are 18-year-old Lareakus Cunningham, Jr., and 19-year-old Na’Rickio Mickle. Both are charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature.
A third suspect is still in the hospital being treated for injuries from the shooting. He will be arrested once he’s released.
Police have warrants out for the arrests of a fourth and fifth suspect, and a juvenile petition for the arrest of a sixth person, who is under age.
Rocklin Police take down organized retail crime suspect
The Rocklin Police Department’s community-oriented police and problem-solving team took down an organized retail crime suspect earlier this week.
Police said the suspect is responsible for various thefts throughout multiple northern California counties with a high volume of loss.
According to RPD, the man had returned to Rocklin to steal again and officers tried to arrest the suspect.
Suspect detained after barricading in vehicle in Citrus Heights
The man ran away but was arrested with the help of a police truck and a drone. He was booked on multiple charges including theft, resisting arrest and aggregated felony theft from the prior Rocklin cases combined.
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