Travis Schlepp
Travis Schlepp is a digital reporter for KTLA focused on breaking news, real estate, transit and travel, and L.A.'s professional sports teams. Born and raised in Montana, he's called Southern California home since 2016. Before joining the team, he worked as a multimedia journalist and producer at KTVQ in Billings, Montana and digital content director at KEYT in Santa Barbara, winning two Emmy Awards for breaking news coverage. Travis is a theme park enthusiast who enjoys playing pickleball, lounging on the beach and drinking craft beer. He is deeply passionate about sports teams from Wisconsin – even though he's never stepped foot in the state. Connect with Travis on Twitter where he tweets regularly about the NBA and infrequently about recent stories. Latest from Travis Schlepp
Biography:
https://ktla.com/author/travis-schlepp/
71%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
86%
Examples:
- The author uses the phrase 'gambling addiction' to describe Ippei Mizuhara’s behavior, which implies that it is wrong and harmful. This language reinforces negative stereotypes about gambling and suggests that those who engage in it are weak-willed or irresponsible.
- The columnist ignored her better instincts fear and an authoritative voice motivating her to do something she swears she never would have done had she been thinking clearly.
Conflicts of Interest
53%
Examples:
- The cost of closing or rebranding those stores is estimated to be around $600 million, according to Dollar Tree Chief Financial Officer Jeff Davis.
Contradictions
90%
Examples:
- Charlotte Cowles received a call from someone claiming to be from Amazon customer service and informed her of unusual activity on her account. She was asked if she had recently purchased $8,000 worth of Apple products which she did not have.
- The title of the article mentions a 4.2 magnitude earthquake when in fact the initial report was that it was a 4.5 magnitude earthquake.
Deceptions
71%
Examples:
- The author claims that bargain shopping will become more expensive due to the closure of 99 Cents Only stores and Dollar Tree raising prices on some products. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that all items at both retailers will be affected by these changes when only a select few have been announced for price increases.
- The author states that food, pet supplies and personal care items will receive a price increase but fails to mention which specific products or how much they will cost. This creates the impression of an across-the-board increase in prices without providing any concrete information.
Recent Articles
15-Year-Old Alison Chao Found Safe, but Her Father is Arrested on Suspicion of Child Abduction
Broke On: Tuesday, 23 July 2024A 15-year-old girl, Alison Jillian Chao, went missing from Monterey Park, CA on July 16 and was found safe on July 23. Her father, Jeffrey Chao, was later arrested for child abduction and falsifying a police report. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Alison's disappearance and reappearance continues. 
Secret Service Agent Robbed at Gunpoint During Biden's California Fundraiser, Suspects at Large
Broke On: Monday, 17 June 2024During President Biden's California fundraiser on Saturday, a Secret Service agent was robbed at gunpoint. The incident occurred near Tustin, and the agent discharged their weapon but the suspect remains at large. Police are searching for a silver Infiniti FX35 in connection to the crime. Biden had returned to his hotel prior to the incident following a fundraiser with Obama, Clooney, Roberts and others. Last year, a Secret Service member was involved in a similar robbery attempt in Washington DC. 
European-Japanese Satellite EarthCARE Launches into Orbit, Providing Valuable Data on Clouds and Aerosols
Broke On: Tuesday, 28 May 2024The European-Japanese climate research satellite EarthCARE was launched into orbit via SpaceX Falcon 9 on May 28, 2024. Equipped with four instruments to study clouds and aerosols' impact on Earth's temperature balance, this ESA-JAXA collaboration will enhance climate forecasting. 
Celebrating National Beer Day: The Legalization of Alcohol and the Rise of Craft Breweries in California
Broke On: Sunday, 07 April 2024National Beer Day commemorates the legalization of beer and wine after 13 years of prohibition. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison act on April 7, 1933 which allowed beers and wines with an alcohol content below 3.2% to be sold legally again. In California, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., is the No.1 craft beer brand known for its Torpedo and Hazy Little Thing IPAs as well as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. 
99 Cents Only Stores to Close All Locations Amid Financial Challenges and Inflation
Broke On: Saturday, 06 April 202499 Cents Only Stores, a discount retail chain that sells everything for 99 cents or less, is closing all its locations across the country due to financial challenges brought on by COVID-19 and inflation. Meanwhile, Dollar Tree announced it would be raising prices on many of its products to $7 in March. 
Shohei Ohtani Addresses Gambling Scandal Involving Former Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara
Broke On: Monday, 25 March 2024Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' star player and MVP of the American League for two consecutive seasons as a pitcher and designated hitter with the Los Angeles Angels, has been at the center of a scandal involving his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. The allegations include gambling addiction, theft from Ohtani's accounts to pay off debts, and placing bets without Ohtani's knowledge. On Monday afternoon, Ohtani addressed the media for the first time since the story broke and denied any involvement in sports gambling or knowledge of Mizuhara's wrongdoings. 
Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi: Avoiding Scams and Protecting Your Information
Broke On: Thursday, 15 February 2024This article highlights the dangers of using public Wi-Fi networks and provides tips for staying safe while connected. It discusses how scams involving government agencies or well-known companies such as Amazon have become increasingly common, and emphasizes the importance of being cautious when providing personal and financial information online. 
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes San Bernardino Area, Close to Fault Line
Broke On: Thursday, 25 January 2024A 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck the San Bernardino area on Wednesday evening, centered almost 2 miles southwest from San Bernardino and felt across Southern California. The location of the quake is very close to the San Jacinto fault, which had a M7 in the 19th century. Small earthquakes like this are often seen below locked segments of faults. Max Streaming Service Reduces Features on Standard Ad-Free Plan
Broke On: Thursday, 02 November 2023Max will no longer offer 4K streaming on its standard ad-free tier from December. The number of devices allowed to stream simultaneously will be reduced from three to two. To regain 4K streaming, users will need to upgrade to the 'Ultimate Ad-Free' tier. The 'Ultimate Ad-Free' plan allows streaming on four devices concurrently and offers up to 100 downloads for offline viewing.