Mattress

Manufacturers can say all they like about the attributes of their mattresses, but there's one test that matters most. And your intrepid reporter took on the tough job of lying down. Here's what my husband and I found: Palmpring: I can't help it. I am a sucker for organic, green substances and an Asian aesthetic, so the coir and latex foam of Palmpring appealed. The coir "spring" layer is ingenious and deliciously firm and even. Topped with the organic latex, the mattress feels both sturdy beneath (you actually can feel the firm under-layer)

SACRAMENTO -- A compromise bill that would make California the first state in the nation to require recycling of old mattresses easily passed the state Senate. The proposal could help keep an estimated 2 million used mattresses and box springs from being dumped on city streets, vacant lots and rural lands, said supporters, who include bedding manufacturers and environmentalists. Quiz: How well do you remember 2012? The bill, SB 254, now goes to the state Assembly.

Tempur-Pedic International Inc. is getting into bed with rival Sealy Corp. for $2.20 a share, the companies said Thursday. Together, the mattress-makers will become a bedding giant  worth $2.7 billion in an industry already crowded with competitors such as Serta Inc. and Simmons Bedding Co. Lexington, Ky.-based Tempur-Pedic has been around since the early 1990s and is known for its pressure-relieving memory foam products, which according to...

SACRAMENTO - A key state Senate committee has blessed a compromise among bedding manufacturers, environmentalists and local governments about how best to keep about 2 million used mattresses a year from being dumped on California streets or into landfills. Still to be determined is exactly what kind of consumer fee or tax would be levied on mattress and box spring purchases, which manufacturers have estimated might be around $25. The money would create a first-in-the-nation "recovery and recycling" program that would be run by the mattress industry and overseen by California regulators.

SACRAMENTO -- A compromise bill that would make California the first state in the nation to require recycling of old mattresses easily passed the state Senate. The proposal could help keep an estimated 2 million used mattresses and box springs from being dumped on city streets, vacant lots and rural lands, said supporters, who include bedding manufacturers and environmentalists. Quiz: How well do you remember 2012? The bill, SB 254, now goes to the state Assembly.

SACRAMENTO - A key state Senate committee has blessed a compromise among bedding manufacturers, environmentalists and local governments about how best to keep about 2 million used mattresses a year from being dumped on California streets or into landfills. Still to be determined is exactly what kind of consumer fee or tax would be levied on mattress and box spring purchases, which manufacturers have estimated might be around $25. The money would create a first-in-the-nation "recovery and recycling" program that would be run by the mattress industry and overseen by California regulators.

The gig: Larry "Or your mattress is freeee!" Miller is the self-styled mattress impresario of Southern California. As chief executive of the Sit 'n Sleep mattress chain, Miller oversees a company with 240 employees, 28 stores and annual sales of $100 million. Miller, 62, is best known for starring in numerous TV and radio ads over the years, some of which feature his imaginary accountant Irwin, a thrifty fellow who bemoans low-price promotions and shouts, "You're killing me, Larry!"

It was the second-wettest day on record Wednesday in the Las Vegas area. So, naturally, there were some who wanted to ride an air mattress down a flood channel. Yes, said the National Weather Service's Andrew Gorelow, "there were three kids who decided to jump on an air mattress and ride it. " That got the attention of a police helicopter, the Las Vegas-based meteorologist told the Los Angeles Times in an interview Thursday morning. All three were shirtless, according to an Associated Press report, and waving to a TV camera crew as they rode the mattress down a flood canal in Henderson, Nev. The police helicopter reportedly caught up with them and ordered them out of the fast-moving water, which can be dangerous.

I enjoyed Valli Herman's article "Grab More Than Just the Towels" [April 19]. My wife and I recently stayed at Marriott's Grand Chateau in Las Vegas. Both of us have arthritic backs, and we were amazed at the comfort of the mattress in our room. We contacted Marriott and were told that we slept on a memory foam mattress made by Jamison and that we could purchase one through marriott. It cost $1,900. Jamison mattresses are made on the East Coast and are not easily available in California.

As part of a new marketing campaign, Sit 'n Sleep has launched a mattress buyback program to encourage customers to trade in their old mattresses toward the purchase of a new one. The promotion is available at all 22 Sit 'n Sleep stores and ends Aug. 23. Any old mattress will qualify, and customers do not need to bring the mattress to the store -- it just should be ready to be picked up when the new one is delivered. The Gardena company said it would use a "sliding scale" to determine the worth of the old mattress.

SACRAMENTO - California has lumber taxes, tire taxes, Internet sales taxes and insurance taxes. Now some companies are losing sleep over a proposed mattress tax. Two bills making their way through the Legislature would make the Golden State the first in the nation to charge a recycling fee on new mattresses. The idea is to require the industry to reclaim the springs, wood and fiber from millions of old mattresses that plug landfills and clutter Southern California streets every year.

The JourneyBee Travel Crib changes from a nearly flat 32-inch-diameter half-disc into a 60-inch-long by 41-inch-wide by 24-inch-tall lightweight crib/playpen with the release of a strap. (Clear the immediate area of kids before you unleash this thing.) A built-in nylon framework pops up and out. Lay in the included 1-inch-thick mattress and fleece sheet, both of which fasten to the crib bottom with via Velcro tabs, then plunk the little one in. Mesh side panels let you see what junior is up to. (An inch-thick mattress isn't much cushioning, but do not substitute your own, because this could be a safety hazard.)

Tempur-Pedic International Inc. is getting into bed with rival Sealy Corp. for $2.20 a share, the companies said Thursday. Together, the mattress-makers will become a bedding giant  worth $2.7 billion in an industry already crowded with competitors such as Serta Inc. and Simmons Bedding Co. Lexington, Ky.-based Tempur-Pedic has been around since the early 1990s and is known for its pressure-relieving memory foam products, which according to...

It was the second-wettest day on record Wednesday in the Las Vegas area. So, naturally, there were some who wanted to ride an air mattress down a flood channel. Yes, said the National Weather Service's Andrew Gorelow, "there were three kids who decided to jump on an air mattress and ride it. " That got the attention of a police helicopter, the Las Vegas-based meteorologist told the Los Angeles Times in an interview Thursday morning. All three were shirtless, according to an Associated Press report, and waving to a TV camera crew as they rode the mattress down a flood canal in Henderson, Nev. The police helicopter reportedly caught up with them and ordered them out of the fast-moving water, which can be dangerous.

After the coffee. Before checking the All-Star game ratings. The Skinny: That was a snooze of an All-Star game but it was interesting to see that AMC had bought an ad attacking satellite broadcaster Dish for dropping its channel that ran during the game. Speaking of dropped channels, Wednesday's headlines include the latest on the fight between Viacom and DirecTV, a look at DC Comics and a loss of confidence in TV news. Daily Dose: Money is not the only thing keeping Viacom's cable channels off of DirecTV (see below)

Manufacturers can say all they like about the attributes of their mattresses, but there's one test that matters most. And your intrepid reporter took on the tough job of lying down. Here's what my husband and I found: Palmpring: I can't help it. I am a sucker for organic, green substances and an Asian aesthetic, so the coir and latex foam of Palmpring appealed. The coir "spring" layer is ingenious and deliciously firm and even. Topped with the organic latex, the mattress feels both sturdy beneath (you actually can feel the firm under-layer)

Simmons Co., the maker of Beautyrest mattresses, said it planned to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a move that would put new owners in charge of the bedding unit and significantly lower the Atlanta company's debt. Sales have slumped for mattress makers as consumers pull back on their spending during the recession, especially on big-ticket items.

A 69-year-old Cypress man was in serious condition Tuesday, suffering from dehydration and pneumonia after being pinned under a mattress in his home for 4 days, police said. Chester Rasmussen, a widower who lived alone, apparently fell out of bed and accidently pulled the mattress on top of himself while trying to get up, Cypress Police Lt. John Schaefer said. Officers were called to the home in the 5300 block of Cumberland Drive on Monday by neighbors and a postal carrier who became concerned about Rasmussen's well-being when he did not pick up his mail for several days.

When I can't sleep, I blame red wine, lack of exercise, caffeine after noon or being stressed out. My mind never goes to my mattress. Still, it is an alluring fantasy to believe that with the right mattress it wouldn't matter how much wine I drank, how little I exercised or how stressed out I was -- I would still sleep like a baby. My mattress could be the acupuncture, spa treatment and Ambien of my sleep world. Not likely, sleep experts say. "There is zero research to support claims that mattresses promote sleep or better sleep," said Dr. Alon Avidan, associate professor of neurology and director of UCLA's Sleep Disorder Center, a new state-of-the-art sleep laboratory.

The gig: Larry "Or your mattress is freeee!" Miller is the self-styled mattress impresario of Southern California. As chief executive of the Sit 'n Sleep mattress chain, Miller oversees a company with 240 employees, 28 stores and annual sales of $100 million. Miller, 62, is best known for starring in numerous TV and radio ads over the years, some of which feature his imaginary accountant Irwin, a thrifty fellow who bemoans low-price promotions and shouts, "You're killing me, Larry!"