National Business - The Rapid City Post

This undated combination of photos shows clockwise from top left the company logos for Amazon, Target, Lufthansa Group, UPS, ConocoPhillips, Intel, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Nestle. (AP Photo, file)

Layoffs are piling up, raising worker anxiety. Here are some companies that have cut jobs recently

October 29, 2025

It’s a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs due to U.S.’s new tariffs, while others have redirected money to artificial intelligence investments. Workers in the public sector have also been hit hard. Federal jobs were cut by the thousands earlier this year. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown nears its fourth week.

Celia Keenan-Bolger speaks on the Broadway panel at the Town & Country Philanthropy Summit luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Broadway stars emphasize ‘now is the time’ for all to act philanthropically at Town & Country summit

October 29, 2025

Some of Broadway’s biggest stars emphasized that everyone can donate something of their time, talent or treasure at Town & Country’s annual Philanthropy Summit on Tuesday. Brian Stokes Mitchell, John Leguizamo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff and Celia Keenan-Bolger were all on hand, with Mitchell saying philanthropy, like theater, is “about people working together to make something impossible happen.” Town & Country cast the stakes in stark terms as year-end “giving season” approaches. Between the Trump administration’s federal grant cuts and reports that fewer households are giving charitably, the staff wrote that the onus “is on an ever shrinking number of us.”

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to meet with soldiers and servicemen at the USS George Washington at the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Trump administration moves to overrule state laws protecting credit reports from medical debt

October 28, 2025

The Trump administration is moving to overrule state laws that protect consumers’ credit reports from medical debt. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has drafted an interpretative rule related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This rule suggests that the FCRA should preempt state laws on debt reporting to credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. This repeals Biden-era regulations allowing states to implement their own credit reporting bans. More than a dozen states, including New York and Delaware, prohibit reporting medical debt on credit reports. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates Americans owe roughly $220 billion in medical debt.

FILE - Poet laureate Elizabeth Alexander speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on April 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

The new $50M Literary Arts Fund will support independent publishers and nonprofits

October 28, 2025

A coalition of seven charitable foundations has established a Literary Arts Fund to support independent publishers and nonprofit organizations. The fund will distribute at least $50 million in grants over the next five years. The Mellon Foundation initiated the idea, with president Elizabeth Alexander highlighting literature’s importance. Participants include the Ford Foundation and the Poetry Foundation. The application process begins Nov. 10. Alexander noted that planning for the fund began before recent cuts by the National Endowment for the Arts. The grants will likely support a range of recipients, from poetry festivals to small publishers.

Sasha Gallant, a former employee of the U.S. Agency for International Development and current co-founder of the Project Resource Optimization Initiative, poses for a portrait, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Cockeysville, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Private donors gave more than $125M to keep foreign aid programs going after US cuts

October 27, 2025

Efforts to back fill some of the cuts to U.S. foreign aid by the Trump administration raised over $125 million in eight months. The sum is more than the organizers of the emergency funds had imagined possible, while still falling far short of the tens of billions cut or frozen with the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. A team of former USAID employees launched an effort they called Project Resource Optimization to recommended 80 specific programs for private donors to fund. In September, donors had given more than $110 million in charitable grants. Other emergency funds raised an additional $15 million.

FILE - A Groomsman takes a break after finishing bridal party photos at a wedding on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Newtown, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

Wedding etiquette includes being mindful of how much it costs guests to attend

October 23, 2025

Weddings are meant to be celebrations of love. They also may require invited guests to make a financial commitment that brings them stress. Whether it’s paying for hotels and flights to attend a destination wedding or different outfits and gifts for multiple pre-wedding events, friends and extended family often feel pressure to spend a large amount of money before the couple gets married. A sense of obligation and budget constraints can create resentment, hurt feelings and misunderstandings among friends and family. Experts say there are ways engaged couples can reduce costs for their wedding guests and guests can participate without going into debt.

FILE - A Union Pacific freight train idles on the track as it waits to continue moving, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Red Rock, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Union Pacific reports 7% higher profits as its CEO makes the case for Norfolk Southern merger

October 23, 2025

Union Pacific delivered 7% growth in its third-quarter earnings Thursday as its CEO continues to make the case for the potential benefits of acquiring one of the railroad’s eastern rivals. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said it earned $1.788 billion, or $3.01 per share in the quarter. Union Pacific wants to buy Norfolk Southern in a $85 billion deal that would create the first transcontinental railroad. Norfolk Southern will report its earnings Thursday afternoon. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena wrote a letter to employees reiterating that he thinks the merger is great for America because it would enable the railroad to deliver goods more quickly and help the companies that rely on its deliveries of raw materials and finished products.

FILE - Tenderloin steaks are on display at a Sam's Club, Sept. 24, 2025, in Bentonville, Ark. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

US ranchers oppose Trump’s plan to import more Argentine beef and experts doubt it will lower prices

October 21, 2025

President Donald Trump’s plan to cut record beef prices by importing more meat from Argentina is running into heated opposition from U.S. ranchers who are enjoying some rare profitable years and skepticism from experts who say the president’s move probably wouldn’t lead to cheaper prices at grocery stores. Major ranching and farming groups all criticized Trump’s idea because it would likely hurt American ranchers and feedlot operators. And agricultural economists say that Argentine beef accounts for such a small slice of beef imports that even doubling that wouldn’t change prices much.

FILE - A pair of sea otters swim at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, Calif., March 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

A T-shirt worn by Taylor Swift sparks a $2M windfall for sea otters

October 17, 2025

A Northern California aquarium has raised more than $2 million for sea otter conservation in just two days. All it took was Taylor Swift wearing a vintage T-shirt. She wore a vintage Monterey Bay Aquarium otter conservation T-shirt, sparking a fan frenzy to buy the shirt. The aquarium re-released the shirt Thursday to raise $1.3 million for sea otter conservation. They surpassed the goal in less than eight hours, and raised more than $2 million by Friday afternoon. The T-shirt was last produced in the 1990s, and how Swift acquired it remains a mystery. The aquarium and the T-shirt company are thrilled by the unexpected support for ocean conservation.

From Spice Girl to fashion mogul, Victoria Beckham grabs the chance to tell her own tale

October 17, 2025

Sounds hard to believe, but a young Victoria Beckham was put in the back row at theater school for being too heavy. The designer shares this nugget in a new documentary, “Victoria Beckham,” which explores her rise in the fashion world. The three-part Netflix series traces Beckham’s journey from shy teen to Spice Girl to design mogul, culminating in a grand 2024 Paris runway show. Beckham presents her story only two years after her soccer legend husband David presented his own in “Beckham,” also produced by his production company. Victoria Beckham tells The Associated Press she grabbed the chance to tell her tale on her own terms.

FILE - People walk through University of North Carolina campus March 18, 2020, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

Is college worth the cost? Universities work to show the return on investment of a degree

October 15, 2025

For many young Americans, deciding on college has become a complex choice. Increasingly, a main question is whether a degree is worth its cost. Confidence in higher education has dropped due to high tuition, student loans and a tough job market. Colleges are now trying to prove their value. New rankings and reports focus on the financial benefits of degrees. Research shows most bachelor’s degrees still pay off, but not all lead to good salaries. More students are choosing technical schools or trades over four-year universities to avoid debt. In response, colleges are working to align degrees with job market needs.

FILE - This April 3, 2013, file photo shows bitcoin tokens in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

US charges Cambodian executive in massive crypto scam and seizes more than $14 billion in bitcoin

October 14, 2025

The U.S. government has seized more than $14 billion in bitcoin and charged the founder of a Cambodian conglomerate in a massive cryptocurrency scam. An indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses Prince Holding Group chairman Chen Zhi and unnamed co-conspirators of exploiting forced labor to dupe would-be investors and using the proceeds to purchase yachts, jets and a Picasso painting. Federal prosecutors charged Chen with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. U.S. and British authorities also sanctioned Chen’s company, and the Treasury Department declared it a transnational criminal organization. Messages seeking comment were left for a spokesperson for Prince. The company’s website says it “adheres to global business standards.”

Here’s what young Native Americans funded with $720K from Newman’s Own Foundation and Novo Nordisk

October 14, 2025

Young Native Americans are leading efforts to combat food insecurity in tribal communities. Armed with funds from Newman’s Own Foundation and Novo Nordisk, 21 Indigenous leaders crafted criteria and selected finalists as part of a $720,000 grant program. This initiative, organized by Native Americans in Philanthropy, reflects values of self-determination and intergenerational relationship-building that participants want more philanthropists to adopt. And the process has been successful enough that organizers want to increase the pot to $1 million next year.

Alec and Stephen Baldwin escape injury after their vehicle hits a tree in New York

October 14, 2025

Alec Baldwin and his younger brother Stephen escaped injury when their vehicle struck a tree in New York. In a video posted to Instagram late Monday, Alec Baldwin said he was driving his wife’s Range Rover in East Hampton on Monday when he was cut off by a garbage truck “the size of a whale.” The 67-year-old actor and his 59-year-old brother were in the vehicle on their way back from attending the Hamptons International Film Festival. Alec Baldwin said that neither he nor his brother were injured, but the vehicle they were in had extensive damage.

FILE - International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

IMF upgrades US growth outlook as Trump’s tariffs cause less disruption than expected

October 14, 2025

The U.S. and global economies will grow a bit more this year than previously forecast as the Trump administration’s tariffs have so far proved less disruptive than expected, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday, though the full impact of those policies is still emerging. While the U.S. and world economies have fared better than expected, it’s too soon to say they are fully in the clear, the IMF said, as Trump has continued to make tariff threats and it can take time for changes in international trade patterns to play out.

A gray seal swims, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, off the coast of Brunswick, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Republicans try to weaken 50-year-old law protecting whales, seals and polar bears

October 11, 2025

One of the U.S.’s longest standing pieces of environmental legislation, credited with helping save rare whales from extinction, is the subject of an effort for cutbacks from Republican lawmakers who now feel they have the political will to do so. The Marine Mammal Protection Act, enacted 1972, protects whales, seals, polar bears and other sea animals, and it places restrictions on commercial fishermen and shippers. The legislation has long been a target of conservatives and industry members who now seek to remove key pieces of it. A GOP-led bill is in the works to do just that. Conservation groups adamantly oppose the changes and say they will erase years of hard won gains for jeopardized species

FILE - A shopper shops at a retail store in Arlington Heights, Ill., Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

How ‘The Great Lock In’ can help achieve your financial and wellness goals

October 8, 2025

A viral TikTok trend called “The Great Lock In” is helping people achieve their wellness goals. It encourages participants to focus on their life goals from September 1 through December 31. There are no set rules, and the trend can be applied to various goals, including exercise, healthier eating, or financial objectives. Participants like Julissa Mercedes are using it to build savings and improve personal habits. Experts suggest reviewing finances, setting attainable goals and finding community support to succeed.

Workers replace the sand washed away by recent hurricanes along the gulf Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Florida county battered by 2024 hurricanes spends $125M on beach restoration

October 7, 2025

The white sandy beaches along a swath of Florida’s Gulf Coast were battered by three hurricanes last year, leading to a multimillion-dollar effort to repair a coastline that is the region’s economic engine. Crews are working with dredges, trucks and pipelines along the 35-mile stretch of beach in Pinellas County that includes cities such as Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Beach and Redington Beach. It’s a prime tourist destination that is still recovering from hurricanes Helene, Milton and Debby. In past years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played a major role in beach restoration, but not this time. So Pinellas County is spending more than $125 million in tourism tax revenue to cover the costs.

Silicon Valley leader who navigated the internet’s boom and bust sees another wild ride with AI

October 3, 2025

Former Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers learned all about technology’s volatile highs and lows as a veteran of the internet’s early boom days during the late 1990s and the ensuing meltdown that followed the mania. And now he is seeing potential signs of the cycle repeating with another transformative technology in artificial intelligence. Chambers is trying take some of the lessons he learned while riding a wave that turned Cisco into the world’s most valuable company in 2000 before a crash hammered its stock price and apply them as an investor in AI startups. He recently discussed AI’s promise and perils during an interview with The Associated Press.

Apple TV+ extends its deal to be the exclusive streaming home for ‘Peanuts’ until 2030

October 1, 2025

Apple TV+ has announced a five-year extension to remain the exclusive streaming home for “Peanuts.” This deal will last until 2030 and includes the classic “Peanuts” library, along with new original series and specials. Apple TV+ first obtained these rights in 2020, including the beloved “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” As part of a holiday tradition, Apple TV+ will offer non-subscribers free streaming of favorites like “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” The platform’s “Peanuts” library continues to grow, featuring shows like “Snoopy in Space” and “The Snoopy Show.”

FILE - A cotton picker moves through Chris Hopkins' cotton field, Dec. 6, 2024, near Lyons, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Georgia farmers will get $531M in Hurricane Helene aid, but the deal’s not done yet

September 30, 2025

Georgia farmers are still waiting for aid after Hurricane Helene, even as other states finalize agreements. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Georgia officials announced $531 million for Georgia farmers on Tuesday. However, unlike South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, Georgia hasn’t completed an agreement on distributing the funds. Officials are still ironing out administrative details. The delays have frustrated farmers, who have faced financial stress and low crop prices. The September 2024 storm caused significant damage across several states, with Georgia’s poultry industry being a major target for additional aid.

A Waymo vehicle drives past a No U-Turn sign in San Bruno, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

California police pull over a self-driving Waymo for an illegal U-turn, but they can’t ticket

September 30, 2025

Police in Northern California pulled over a self-driving Waymo taxi after it made an illegal U-turn. But without a driver behind the wheel, they could not issue a moving violation ticket. The San Bruno Police Department wrote up the weekend encounter in social media posts that have gone viral. Police said that their “citation books don’t have a box for ‘robot’.” State law requires moving violations be issued to drivers or operators. A new state law that kicks in next year will allow law enforcement to report moving violations to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Waymo is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet.

FILE - Chat GPT app icon is seen on a smartphone screen, Aug. 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, file)

OpenAI’s ChatGPT now lets users buy from Etsy, Shopify in push for chatbot shopping

September 30, 2025

OpenAI is transforming ChatGPT into a virtual merchant to boost online commerce revenue. Users can now buy directly from Etsy sellers through the chatbot and will soon be able to do the same with Shopify sellers. Competing with Amazon and Google for purchase fees could provide a new income stream for OpenAI, which hasn’t yet turned a profit. The company is collaborating with Stripe on technical standards for its “Instant Checkout” system. OpenAI says ChatGPT won’t favor specific items, considering factors like availability and price.

Leslie Beninato, river cleanup logistics manager of MountainTrue, removes a PVC pipe from the French Broad River on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

On North Carolina’s rivers and streams, the cleanup of Helene’s fury seems never-ending

September 25, 2025

It’s been only a year since Hurricane Helene hammered the southeast U.S. from Florida to the Carolinas. Some of the heaviest damage came from flooding in the North Carolina mountains, where some 30 inches of rain turned gentle streams into walls of water that swept away anything in their path. The worst wreckage has been cleared away, but cleanup crews are still at work plucking smaller debris from waterways throughout the region. In the understandable haste to rescue people and restore their lives to some semblance of normalcy, some fear the recovery efforts compounded Helene’s impact on the ecosystem. Contractors hired to remove vehicles, shipping containers, shattered houses and other large debris from waterways sometimes damaged sensitive habitat.

FILE - Barbie-themed merchandise is displayed in a special section at Bloomingdale's, in New York, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

How to navigate social media trends without derailing your budget

September 25, 2025

From coastal grandma to clean girl aesthetic, microtrends are everywhere on social media, and you’re often encouraged to spend money to participate. Experts warn that while trends can bring happiness, they can also derail financial goals and lead to debt. But there are ways to navigate social media trends without overspending. First, you might want to pause for a set amount of time before making a purchase and make sure it’s something you really want. Removing credit card details from your browser and disabling Apple Pay on your phone can also help ensure you think before you spend.

MacKenzie Scott gives $70 million to UNCF to financially strengthen HBCUs

September 22, 2025

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $70 million to the UNCF, the largest private provider of scholarships to minority students. This donation is part of UNCF’s ongoing effort to raise $1 billion to support its 37 historically Black colleges and universities. Scott’s gift is one of her largest and among the first publicly disclosed in 2025. The donation will be used for a pooled endowment, aiming to create a $370 million fund for UNCF member HBCUs that can use the annual proceeds for budgetary needs. The broader fundraising effort seeks to address funding disparities between HBCUs and other universities.

FILE - A waiter delivers food to patrons at a restaurant, Jan. 21, 2022, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)

Who qualifies for ‘no tax on tips’ and what counts as a tip? Here are the new rules

September 19, 2025

The Treasury Department is moving closer to implementing President Trump’s “no tax on tips” promise. New guidance released Friday outlines which tipped workers can benefit. The provision, part of a tax law signed by Trump, eliminates federal income taxes on tips for certain jobs and allows deductions up to $25,000 annually from 2025 to 2028. However, it phases out for those earning over $150,000. Only tips from qualified occupations and reported to employers will qualify. The Yale Budget Lab estimates about 4 million workers are in tipped occupations. The provision could increase the deficit by $40 billion through 2028.

FILE - A woman walks past a personal finance loan office Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, in Franklin, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Gen Z’s credit scores are dropping. Here’s what to do if yours is too

September 19, 2025

Gen Z has seen its credit score drop more than any other generation over the past year, largely because of student loan debt. That’s according to a new report out this week. The report from credit scoring company FICO found that the total national average credit score dropped two points this year to 715. But Gen Z’s average score dropped three points to 676. That’s the largest year-over-year decrease among any age group since 2020. A credit score is a mathematical formula that helps lenders determine how likely you are to pay back a loan.

American Express Platinum Card gets pricier and adds new perks, including a $400 dining credit

September 18, 2025

American Express’ latest update to its high-end Platinum Card, unveiled Thursday, comes with a lot more perks and a lofty annual fee of $895. The card now includes a $400 dining credit and a $600 hotel credit, up from $300, among other benefits. The $200 increase in the annual fee may pressure cardholders to decide whether to keep the Platinum Card or another high-fee card like Chase’s Sapphire Reserve. The Platinum Card remains popular, but faces competition from other high-reward cards. AmEx emphasizes the value of its perks, totaling roughly $3,500, and aims to offer benefits that exceed the annual fee.

Anthony Roth Costanzo, who introduced $11 tickets, brings opera with a difference to Philadelphia

September 17, 2025

Anthony Roth Costanzo, who introduced $11 tickets to Opera Philadelphia, aims to surprise audiences again with the company’s new season as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Things kick off with Rossini’s “Il viaggio a Reims,” set in an art gallery where portraits come alive. Upcoming performances include a multimedia piece by Sarah Ruhl and a world premiere with a libretto by Michael R. Jackson. Costanzo’s “pick your price” policy helped the company raise $7 million, retiring debt and selling out the 2024-25 season. The initiative attracted many first-time attendees and new donors, boosting the company’s financial outlook.

After Charlie Kirk’s death, workers learn the limits of free speech in and out of their jobs

September 14, 2025

In the days following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, numerous workers have been fired for their comments on his death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd. It’s not the first time workers have lost their jobs over social media posts. Laws can vary across states, but overall, there’s very little legal protections for employees who are punished for speech made both in and out of private workplaces. And the prevalence of social media has made it increasingly common to track employees’ conduct outside of work.

FILE - High-voltage transmission lines provide electricity to data centers in Ashburn in Loudon County, Virginia, on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers could be bumped off grids during power emergencies

September 12, 2025

As Big Tech’s data centers continue to grow threatening to overload U.S. electricity grids, policymakers are considering bumping the energy-hungry data centers off grids during power emergencies. Texas moved first to try to protect residents in the data-center hotspot from another deadly blackout like the winter storm in 2021 when dozens died. Lawmakers there passed a bill in June that orders up standards for power emergencies when utilities must disconnect big electric users. Now the concept is emerging in the 13-state mid-Atlantic grid and elsewhere as massive data centers are coming online faster than power plants can be built.

Sisters Clara Hetland, 4, left, Haddie Hetland, center, 9, and Audra Hetland 6, of Surprise, Ariz., spend time at a makeshift memorial set up at Turning Point USA headquarters after the shooting death at a Utah college on Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of the organization, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Kids and current events: How to help them deal with what they see around them

September 11, 2025

In hardly any time at all, the footage of the horrifying moment when a bullet hit conservative activist Charlie Kirk in the neck ricocheted across the internet. Whether seeing it inadvertently or seeking it out, onlookers far from the crowd at a Utah college could be exposed to disturbingly close and potentially bloody glimpses of his shooting and the resulting chaos. It’s the product of a digital-first world. And, of course, among those seeing it were kids, teens and other young people — those who live with their phones practically attached. It raises a question that modern-day parents are sadly having to ask more frequently: How do you talk to your kids about what’s going on?

In this photo released by the Cape May Police Department N.J., a damaged Humpty Dumpty statue is seen in the back of a truck on Sept. 7, 2025, in Cape May, N.J., after vandals stole it from a miniature golf course and dumped it nearby. (Cape May Police Department via AP)

Humpty Dumpty caper at New Jersey minigolf course sparks police investigation

September 11, 2025

Humpty Dumpty took a big fall, and now police are hoping to crack the case. A colorful statue of the nursery rhyme icon was forcibly removed from a structure at a miniature golf course in Cape May, New Jersey, on Sunday and dumped down the street. Police say they’re looking for two men who are seen on video stopping at Ocean Putt Golf at around 4 a.m. Video shows one of them grabbing and rocking the statue back and forth and pulling it off its foundation before walking off with it. Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the two men.

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a human smuggling news conference Thursday Sept. 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Agents seize hundreds of thousands of illegal vapes smuggled from China in nationwide crackdown

September 10, 2025

Federal agents have seized illegal vaping products nationwide as the Trump administration cracks down on items often used by teens. On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted the seizures in Illinois, which included over 600,000 products from a distributor near Chicago. Many of these products were smuggled from China. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FDA, and the U.S. Marshals Service also conducted seizures in several states. The Justice Department filed civil actions against distributors and retailers. Vaping among teens has declined recently, partly due to stricter enforcement.

Armen Kirakosian, Global Senior Manager, Learning & Development TTEC poses in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

AI shakes up the call center industry, but some tasks are still better left to the humans

September 7, 2025

Artificial intelligence is transforming call centers by streamlining tasks and improving customer service. Armen Kirakosian, a call center agent in Greece, now uses AI to access full customer profiles and anticipate issues before speaking to callers. This technology is helping agents focus more on customer service. However, AI’s role in call centers is complex. While AI can handle routine tasks, it struggles with more intricate issues, like identity theft. Companies like Klarna have found that relying solely on AI can save money but also hurt customer satisfaction. The future may involve AI handling simpler tasks, with human agents managing complex ones.

Powerball play slips are seen Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.7 billion after another night without a big winner

September 3, 2025

The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion after yet another drawing passed without a big winner. The numbers selected Wednesday were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22. Since May 31, there have been 41 straight drawings without a big winner. The next drawing will be Saturday night, with the prize expected to be the third-largest in U.S. lottery history. Powerball tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

FILE - In this image taken from video provided by C-SPAN, the final vote count on President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan is displayed, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in the Senate in Washington, D.C. (C-SPAN via AP)

C-SPAN announces deal for its service to be carried on YouTube TV, Hulu

September 3, 2025

C-SPAN’s three public affairs networks will be carried beginning this fall on YouTube TV and Hulu’s live television package, according to a deal announced on Wednesday. Cord-cutting has reduced the number of homes with access to the networks that have traditionally been carried on all cable and satellite systems. But the new streaming services with live TV packages hadn’t been carrying C-SPAN. Representatives in Congress who provide much of the Washington-based network’s programming passed a resolution urging parent companies Alphabet and Disney to include C-SPAN on their services. C-SPAN says the companies would pay the same fee charged to cable and satellite companies, roughly 87 cents per subscriber each year.

Amazon ends a program that lets Prime members share free shipping perk with users outside household

September 2, 2025

Amazon is ending a program that allows members of its Prime membership subscription program to share their free shipping benefits with people who don’t have the same primary address. The online behemoth said it will eliminate the sharing on Oct. 1 and is encouraging users outside the household of the account holder to sign up for their own Prime subscription. Amazon is replacing the so-called Prime Invitee program with Amazon Family, which lets account holders share the free two-day shipping perk as well as a broad range of other perks like exclusive deals and movies with only one other adult in their household, up to four teens (who were added before April 7) and up to four profiles for children, according to Amazon’s website.

Roslyn Jefferson makes her lottery ticket selections on a self-serve terminal inside a gas station ahead of Saturday's Powerball drawing offering of $1 billion, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Powerball jackpot rises to an estimated $1.3 billion after no winning ticket sold

September 2, 2025

The Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated $1.3 billion after the winning numbers failed to appear. The numbers drawn Monday night were 8, 23, 25, 40, 53 with the Powerball 5. There have been no jackpot winners since May 31. That long winless streak has allowed the prize to swell to the fifth-largest in the game’s history. The $1.3 billion jackpot is for winners who opt for an annuity. Most people prefer cash and that value is now $589 million. The odds of matching all six numbers are astronomical: 1 in 292.2 million.

FILE - Pharmaceuticals are seen in North Andover, Mass., on June 15, 2018. AP Photo/Elise Amendola, file)

Trump plans a hefty tax on imported drugs, risking higher prices and shortages

September 1, 2025

President Donald Trump has plastered taxes on products from almost every country on earth. He’s targeted specific imports, too. But he isn’t done yet. Trump has promised another round of hefty import taxes on a category of products he’s so far spared in his trade war with the world: pharmaceuticals. For decades, in fact, imported medicine has mostly been allowed to enter the United States duty free. Now the president is threatening duties of 200% or more on foreign drugs. That could disrupt complex and fragile supply chains, drive cheap foreign-made generic drugs out of the U.S., create drug shortages and raise American drug prices.

Printed copies of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution are shown on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution to stop printing as it transitions to all-digital news

August 28, 2025

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will stop printing at year’s end, making Atlanta the largest U.S. metro area without a printed major newspaper. Publisher Andrew Morse says in a Thursday announcement that the company will bolster its news delivery in digital, audio and video formats. Morse says more people consume news in digital platforms than print, and this trend is growing. The newspaper is owned by the Cox family and has a rich history dating back to 1868. Despite the print edition still being profitable, the AJC’s focus will now be on expanding digital offerings and increasing online subscribers.

Now hiring sign is displayed at a retail store in Vernon Hills, Ill., Thursday, August. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

US applications for jobless benefits fell last week as layoffs remain low

August 28, 2025

Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week as employers appear to be holding onto their workers even as the economy has slowed. Applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending Aug. 23 dropped 5,000 to 229,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Measures of the job market are being closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington as the most recent government data suggests hiring has slowed sharply since this spring. Job gains have averaged just 35,000 a month in the three months ending in July, barely one-quarter what they were a year ago.

Ford recalls more than 355,000 pickup trucks over instrument display failure on the dashboard

August 27, 2025

Ford is recalling more than 355,000 of its pickup trucks across the U.S. because of an instrument panel display failure that’s resulted in critical information, like warning lights and vehicle speed, not showing up on the dashboard. The recall covers certain Ford F-150s from the 2025 model year — as well as other Ford “Super Duty” trucks, including 2025-2026 F-550 SD, F-450 SD, F-350 SD and F-250 SDs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the instrument panel cluster can fail at startup, leaving drivers without critical information. Ford is offering a free software update to fix the problem.

Retired cardiologist Dr. Joe Bering teaches himself flute on the front porch of his cottage in the Campmeeting section of Mount Gretna, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Scolforo)

Pennsylvania’s Chautauqua is a summertime haven for lifelong learners

August 23, 2025

The central Pennsylvania town of Mount Gretna is a throwback to the period more than a century ago when the summertime get-togethers known as Chautauquas were practically a craze. They brought education, entertainment and a dose of religion to communities in the Northeast, across the Great Lakes, into Canada and beyond. These days the little mountain community that’s a two-hour drive west from Philadelphia springs to life every June, July and August. Its year-round population of about 1,000 more than doubles and its picturesque front porches become filled with energetic cottagers who punctuate their days with cooking lessons, nature walks, yoga, professorial lectures, music and plays.

A horse dawn carriage takes passengers through a loop in Central Park in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

As bikes and strollers fill Central Park, its managers want to push horse carriages out

August 23, 2025

The nonprofit that manages Central Park has thrown its support behind a proposal to end the horse-drawn carriages that have been fixtures in the greenspace for more than 150 years. The Central Park Conservancy said in an Aug. 12 letter to city officials that the popular tourist activity has an outsized impact on public safety and park infrastructure. Animal rights groups have long complained the carriages have no place in a busy city and that the horses are frequently overworked and live in substandard conditions. The calls to end the trade come after a carriage horse collapsed and died on a Manhattan street this month.

FILE - People talk near a Meta sign outside of the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Maryland tax on digital ads violated Big Tech’s free speech, judges say

August 18, 2025

A federal appeals court has ruled that part of a first-in-the-nation tax on digital advertising in Maryland aimed at Big Tech is unconstitutional. The ruling on Friday by a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says a ban on identifying the tax as a way of passing it along to customers violates free speech. The ruling reverses a decision by U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby and sends the case back to her with instructions to consider an appropriate remedy in light of the panel’s decision. Big Tech has argued the 2021 law unfairly targets companies like Meta, Google and Amazon.

The old wallet of Richard Guilford is seen as he speaks during an interview Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Petersburg, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

A Michigan autoworker’s wallet is found under a hood in Minnesota — 151,000 miles later

August 14, 2025

A retired Michigan autoworker got a Facebook message this summer from a stranger: Did you lose your wallet? That message resolved a mystery that had lasted more than 10 years. Minnesota mechanic Chad Volk found Richard Guilford’s wallet under the hood of a Ford Edge, tucked under the air filter box. It had fallen out of his shirt pocket in 2014 when he was working at a Ford factory in suburban Detroit. The wallet still had $15, Guilford’s driver’s license and gift cards. Volk mailed it to him. Guilford said this “restores your faith in humanity.”

AOL is finally shutting down its dial-up internet service

August 11, 2025

AOL’s dial-up internet is finally taking its last bow. Yes, while perhaps a dinosaur by today’s digital standards, dial-up is still around. But AOL says it’s officially pulling the plug for its service on Sept. 30, with AOL noting in a brief update that it “routinely evaluates” its offerings and had decided to discontinue dial-up on AOL plans and associated software. AOL, formerly America Online, introduced many households to the internet for the first time when it launched dial-up just decades ago, rising to prominence particularly in the 90s and early 2000s. The creaky door to the internet was characterized by a once-ubiquitous series of beeps and buzzes heard over the phone used to connect your computer online. Eventually, broadband and wireless offerings rose to dominance.

Delta plane wing clips empty aircraft during pushback from gate in Atlanta

August 10, 2025

Delta Air Lines says one of its plane clipped another aircraft while pushing back from the gate in Atlanta. The airline said in a brief written statement to The Associated Press that the wing of the plane “reportedly made contact” with an empty aircraft. The flight was scheduled to travel from Atlanta to Guatemala City, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions. Passengers were transferred to another plane following a delay. No injuries were reported, according to Delta, which has its headquarters in Atlanta.

FILE - Amazon Web Services data center is visible on Aug. 22, 2024, in Boardman, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

As electric bills rise, evidence mounts that data centers share blame. States feel pressure to act

August 8, 2025

Amid rising electric bills, states are under pressure to insulate regular household and business ratepayers from the costs of feeding Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers. It’s not clear that any state has a solution and the actual effect of data centers on electricity bills is difficult to pin down. Some critics question whether states have the spine to take a hard line against tech behemoths. Charlotte Shuff of the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group, says there’s a massive outcry over rising power bills. Some data centers require more electricity than cities or states. That’s pushing policymakers to rethink how transmission costs are spread among consumers.

FILE - FAFSA website is seen on Adjovi Golo's laptop at DePaul University in Chicago, Aug. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

FAFSA application is open for early testing. Here’s what to know.

August 8, 2025

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2026-27 school year has opened for a limited number of students as part of a beta test, according to the Department of Education. The department is rolling out two beta testing phases before the application becomes fully available to everyone in October. Initially, the FAFSA form will be available for a small number of students and families, chosen through existing partnerships with community organizations and schools. In September, students can request participation in the second phase of beta testing, but participation will be limited. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal financial aid for college.

OPEC+ countries to boost oil production by 547,000 barrels per day

August 3, 2025

A group of countries that are part of the oil cartel OPEC+ have agreed to boost oil production, which some believe could lower oil and gasoline prices. They cited a steady global economic outlook and low oil inventories. The group met virtually and announced that eight of its member countries would increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day in September. The countries boosting output, including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iraq, had been participating in voluntary production cuts. The announcement means the voluntary production cuts will end ahead of schedule.

FILE - Jimmy Donaldson, the popular YouTube video maker who goes by MrBeast, wears a Lionel Messi jersey as he stands in a sideline box at the start of an MLS soccer match between Inter Miami and CF Montreal, March 10, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Online creators, led by MrBeast and Mark Rober, want to raise $40 million for clean water access

August 1, 2025

Online creators are launching a $40 million fundraiser to build water quality projects around the world. Led by MrBeast and YouTuber Mark Rober, the monthlong crowdfunding campaign is called #TeamWater. It promises to rally the team’s combined 2 billion subscribers around combating unsafe water sources. Funds will primarily benefit WaterAid, an international nonprofit that builds community-tailored infrastructure ranging from solar-powered wells to rainwater harvesting systems. Organizers hope to provide sustainable access for 2 million people — and instill new generations with a lifelong commitment to environmental advocacy. The multi-platform drive follows the 2019 #TeamTrees and 2021 #TeamSeas campaigns, which reportedly drew more than $50 million altogether.

People stroll past Paula Deen's restaurant The Lady Sons in Savannah, Ga., on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, after Deen announced the eatery that launched her to Food Network fame had closed. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum)

Paula Deen has abruptly closed the Savannah restaurant that launched her to Food Network fame

August 1, 2025

Former Food Network star Paula Deen has abruptly closed the Savannah, Georgia, restaurant she started with her two sons nearly three decades ago. Deen said in a statement Friday on her website and on social media that she and sons Jamie and Bobby Deen had made a “heartfelt decision” to close The Lady & Sons, which they opened in downtown Savannah in 1996. She also shut down an attached takeout business called The Chicken Box. No reason was given. Deen said four restaurants she owns in Tennessee, South Carolina and Missouri will remain open. Deen’s flagship Savannah restaurant helped launch her to fame. Her Food Network show premiered in 2002 and ran for a decade.

FILE - Los Angeles skyline is seen above the Union Pacific LATC Intermodal Terminal is seen on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Union Pacific and Norfolk seek 1st transcontinental railroad through a massive merger

July 29, 2025

Union Pacific is seeking to buy Norfolk Southern in a $85 billion deal that would create the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S, and potentially trigger a final wave of rail mergers across the country. The proposed merger, announced Tuesday, would marry Union Pacific’s rail network in the West with Norfolk’s rails that snake across Eastern states. The nation was first linked by rail in 1869, when a golden railroad spike was driven in Utah to symbolize the connection of East and West Coasts. Yet no single entity has controlled that coast-to-coast passage that so many businesses rely on. Regulators will take a close look at the impact of this deal before considering whether to approve it.

It’s moo-ving day for dairy cattle at Michigan State University

July 28, 2025

Dozens of dairy cattle are on the move at Michigan State University. About 80 cows hoofed it Monday to their new home, the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center. The East Lansing school says the $75 million facility will allow students to learn on a modern farm that’s equipped to replicate even the most high-tech operations in the world. Dairy is the No. 1 contributor to the state’s agricultural economy. George Smith, who heads Michigan State’s AgBioResearch department, calls it a 21st century cattle drive. Another 180 cows will be moved as well. The new complex is significantly larger than the existing dairy farm, which was constructed in the 1960s.

For some employees, education benefits such as tuition assistance prove life-changing

July 25, 2025

As higher education costs have grown to heights many U.S. residents find unattainable or illogical, some adults are looking to their employers for help. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, nearly half of public and private employers have a tuition reimbursement program as part of their benefits packages. Some companies cover tuition costs up front instead of requiring to pay out-of-pocket for college or professional credentials. And some workplaces even offer to help repay their workers’ past student loans. Experts say if you work somewhere without education benefits, it’s worth trying to make an individual case for help paying for a course or training that would help you do your job more effectively.

Jeffrey Housenbold, CEO and president of MrBeast, center, participates in a closing bell ceremony with MrBeast's "Beast Games" winner Jeffrey Allen, right, and Joe Brantuk, Nasdaq chief client officer, left, at their studio Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in New York's Times Square. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

MrBeast CEO and ‘Beast Games’ winner rally brand partners and rare disease support on Wall Street

July 23, 2025

MrBeast’s new CEO is hitting Wall Street as YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson’s media empire looks to develop long-term brand partnerships and, in turn, unlock more funding for its charitable content. Venture capitalist Jeff Housenbold is helping MrBeast professionalize the ever-growing entertainment company. But, despite joining Nasdaq’s closing bell ceremony on Wednesday, Housenbold says their strategic plan does not currently include a public offering. Instead, MrBeast is focused on securing multi-year exclusive advertising deals. Ringing the market’s closing bell on Wednesday is Jeffrey Allen, the winner of the $10 million grand prize awarded in that inaugural Beast Games season. He is raising awareness for rare diseases like his son’s creatine deficiency.

A giant troll sculpture created by the Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo and his team that's part of an installation of six sculptures called "Trolls Save the Humans" is seen on display at the historic estate Filoli, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Woodside, Calif. (AP Photo/Terry Chea)

Giant trolls have a message for humans about protecting the planet

July 23, 2025

Danish artist Thomas Dambo creates giant wooden trolls from recycled materials to promote environmental awareness. Over 12 years, Dambo and his team have built 170 trolls in more than 20 countries and 21 U.S. states. These sculptures, some up to 40 feet tall, are made from discarded items like wooden pallets and old furniture. An installation of six trolls, called “Trolls Save the Humans,” is currently on display at Filoli, a historic estate near San Francisco. Dambo says the trolls aim to teach humans how to live sustainably. Dambo said his global project attracts millions of visitors annually, highlighting the value of recycling.

FILE - Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong arrives in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Jan. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, file)

Billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times says he will take the newspaper public in the coming year

July 22, 2025

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times since 2018, says he intends to take the newspaper public in the coming year. During an interview on Monday’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” Soon-Shiong said the move would allow the Times “to be democratized and allow the public to have ownership of this paper.” Soon-Shiong didn’t say whether the deal would involve an initial public offer to sell shares of the company or another investment arrangement. Like much of the media industry, the Times has faced financial difficulties. Last year the company laid off more than 20% of the newsroom.

FILE - Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks during a Senate Appropriations hearing, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

What’s happening with forgiveness for student loans on income-based repayment plans?

July 22, 2025

Amid a federal overhaul of student loan plans, many borrowers have been left wondering what it means for their hopes of loan forgiveness. In particular, those who are enrolled in a repayment plan known as income-based repayment, or IBR, have wondered if forgiveness will still be available to them. A recent update from the Education Department said forgiveness through the IBR plan is paused while systems are updated. “IBR forgiveness will resume once those updates are completed,” the agency said. IBR is not affected by a federal court’s injunction blocking former President Joe Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan.

FILE - Chris Martin of Coldplay performs during the band's Music Of The Spheres World Tour at D. Y. Patil Sports Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade, File)

Can you ever expect privacy in public? Coldplay kiss camera saga tells us a lot about the answer

July 21, 2025

When the KissCam at a Coldplay concert last week landed on a couple who suspiciously escaped their embrace and tried (but failed) to duck out of the spotlight, the internet immediately got to work. Online sleuths quickly rushed to identify who was on camera, uncovering an apparent romantic affair between a tech company’s CEO and its head of human resources. Beyond the fallout of this specific incident, experts point more broadly to the state of “social media surveillance” today. It’s increasingly common for moments that may have been intended to be private, or at least reserved to a physical venue, to make their way online — and often lead to an internet search to find the people involved. That’s eroded what privacy expectations we can have in today’s modern world.

This photo provided by the San Jose Fire Department shows firefighters responding to a fire burning after a car crashed into a Post Office, early Sunday, July 20, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (San Jose Fire Department via AP)

Suspect arrested after car crashes into post office and catches fire in San Jose, California

July 21, 2025

Authorities say a suspect was arrested after a car crashed into a post office in San Jose, California, causing the building to go up in flames. Police say the crash happened around 3 a.m. Sunday at the office in a strip mall south of downtown. No injuries were reported. About 50 firefighters took about an hour and a half to knock down the flames. Photos posted online by the fire department showed a charred car inside the heavily damaged building. No details about the suspect were immediately released, and a police dispatcher said federal postal inspectors would lead the investigation.

Searching for pennies: With the cut in federal funding public broadcasters are looking to cope

July 17, 2025

In Alaska, a public radio station general manager took a moment from a busy day warning her community about a possible tsunami for a special task — sending a text message to Sen. Lisa Murkowski urging her to vote against a measure to strip federal funding of NPR and PBS. Murkowski voted against the bill, but not enough her colleagues did, leaving the nation’s public media system to cope with new holes in their budget moving forward. Congress eliminated almost $1.1 billion in funding over the next two years for public media. The systems’ leaders say the cuts threaten the survival of some of their stations, particularly those in rural areas.

A now hiring and help wanted sign is posted in Morrisville, Pa., Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

US applications for jobless benefits fall for fifth straight week, hitting lowest level since April

July 17, 2025

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in three months, a sign that the U.S. labor market remains sturdy despite fears over the impact of widespread U.S. tariffs. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 12 fell by 7,000 to 221,000, the fifth straight weekly decline and the fewest since mid-April. It was also less than the 232,000 that analysts forecast. Applications for unemployment aid are a proxy for layoffs. The total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits for the week of July 5 ticked up by just 2,000 to 1.96 million.

Trial opens against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other leaders over Facebook privacy violations

July 16, 2025

An $8 billion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company leaders began Wednesday, with claims stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. The fallout from that case led to Facebook agreeing to pay a $5.1 billion penalty to settle FTC charges. Now shareholders want Zuckerberg and others to reimburse Meta for the fine and other legal costs, which the plaintiffs estimate total more than $8 billion. Former board member Jeffrey Zientz, in afternoon testimony, says he saw no evidence that Zuckerberg did anything wrong.

FILE - Dr. Henry Heimlich describes the maneuver he developed to help clear obstructions from the windpipes of choking victims, during an interview in his home in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

More elderly Americans are choking to death. Are these devices the answer?

July 14, 2025

Each year, choking claims the lives of more than 4,100 Americans who are 65 or older. It’s the most vulnerable age group, accounting for about three-quarters of U.S. choking deaths. A number of companies are marketing antichoking devices to the elderly. They vary in design, but generally the devices look like a face mask attached to a tube or bellows, with a handle at the end. Medical professionals have been debating whether to endorse the products, saying more research is needed. Experts — and even antichoking device manufacturers — say that back blows and abdominal thrusts should always be tried first.

An osprey flies with a half-eaten fish in its talons above the Lynnhaven River, June 30, 2025, in Virginia Beach, Va. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Osprey came back from the brink once. Now chicks are dying in nests, and some blame overfishing

July 12, 2025

The osprey is in decline in one of its key territories and some scientists blame overfishing of menhaden, an important food for the birds. The osprey is a fish-eating raptor known for gymnastic dives and whistle-like chirps. And it’s an American conservation success story: The hawk-like bird rebounded after DDT was banned, and now numbers in the thousands across the U.S. But biologist Bryan Watts has documented an alarming trend: The birds are failing to successfully fledge enough chicks around their key population center, the Chesapeake Bay. Members of the menhaden fishing industry say it’s unfair to pin the blame solely on them.

FILE - Giant wind turbine blades for the Vineyard Winds project are stacked on racks in the harbor, July 11, 2023, in New Bedford, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Wind turbine maker to pay settlement after blade broke apart and washed up on Nantucket beaches

July 11, 2025

The maker of a wind turbine blade that broke apart off Nantucket Island and washed onto beaches last summer has agreed to a $10 million settlement. Officials announced Friday that the settlement will pay local businesses for economic losses caused by fiberglass debris washing ashore. Parts from the wind turbine blade began falling into the Atlantic Ocean in July 2024 during peak tourist season. GE Vernova blamed a production issue and reinspected all blades from the factory. Crews and volunteers collected truckloads of fiberglass fragments from Nantucket’s beaches last summer.

US applications for jobless benefits fall to 227,000 last week, remain at historically healthy level

July 10, 2025

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, remaining in the historically healthy range of the past couple years. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 5 fell by 5,000 to 227,000, fewer than the 238,000 that analysts forecast. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as representative of layoffs. The four-week average of claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, fell by 5,750 to 235,500. The total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits for the week of June 28 rose by 10,000 to 1.97 million. That’s the most since November of 2021.

FILE - Children from Yazidi families, displaced by Islamic State group militants, look at a smartphone in a partially constructed building in Dohuk, northern Iraq, Dec. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Seivan Selim, File)

He pioneered the cellphone. It changed how people around the world talk to each other — and don’t

July 1, 2025

Martin Cooper changed the world when he pioneered the portable phone. The Motorola company’s four-pound box has evolved into a global army of powerful smartphones weighing ounces. Some 4.6 billion people — nearly sixty percent of the world — have mobile internet. The phone’s inventor says the revolution’s just begun. Cooper observes that the tiny computers that we carry by the billions are massive, interlinked networks of processors performing trillions of calculations per second. That’s the computing power that artificial intelligence needs. Cooper sees the cellphone’s imminent transition to a thinking computer fueled by human calories to avoid dependence on batteries. These new parts would run constant tests and feed our doctors real-time results, building longevity.

Chrysler recalls some 2022-2025 Pacifica and Voyager vehicles to fix a potential airbag issue

June 28, 2025

Chrysler is voluntarily recalling some of its 2022-2025 Pacifica and Voyager vehicles to replace their side curtain airbags, if needed. The recall potentially affects 250,651 vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s because some side curtain airbags may not hold enough pressure during deployment to limit the risk for passengers during certain types of crashes. Chrysler’s parent company said it’s not aware of any related injuries or accidents, but it’s urging customers to follow the instructions on their recall notices.

Chef Nobu serves his famous miso cod with a side of inspiration in a new documentary

June 27, 2025

World-famous chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has been tantalizing foodies for decades as he built his empire to include more than 50 upscale restaurants and several luxury hotels. The new documentary “Nobu” reveals the man behind the cuisine in an intimate look at how he found success. The film traces Matsuhisa’s journey to creating his unique fusion cuisine, blending Japanese traditional dishes with Peruvian ingredients. Now 76, Matsuhisa was driven to run his own restaurant but faced obstacles, including financial woes, doubters and a devastating fire at one of his first restaurants. “Nobu” releases widely July 2.

FILE - Video game players compete in an esports tournament at Caesars casino in Atlantic City, N.J. on March 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)

More refunds are being sent to Fortnite players ‘tricked’ into unwanted purchases. How you can apply

June 26, 2025

The Federal Trade Commission is issuing more refunds to Fortnite players who it says were charged for unwanted purchases. The U.S. regulator says it’s sending more than 969,000 payments amounting to over $126 million this week. This is part of a $520 million settlement Epic Games agreed to in 2022, addressing complaints about deceptive practices and children’s privacy. The settlement included $245 million for customer refunds. Between this week’s payments and a first round of refunds in December, $198 million of that has been distributed. Eligible players who haven’t received compensation can still file claims until July 9.

FILE - A woman walks by a sign "Buy now pay later" at a store in Bangalore, India, on Sept. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)

Buy Now, Pay Later loans will soon affect some credit scores

June 26, 2025

Hundreds of millions of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ loans will soon affect credit scores for millions of Americans. Scoring company FICO said Monday that it is rolling out a new scoring model that factors the short-term loans into their consumer scores. Previously, the loans had been excluded, though Buy Now, Pay Later company Affirm began voluntarily reporting new pay-in-four loans to Experian, a separate credit bureau, in April. Typically, with Buy Now, Pay Later loans, consumers pay for a given purchase in four installments over six weeks, in a model more similar to layaway than to a credit card.

Karli Casamento, watches of her 15-year-old son, Jax's youth baseball game with her son seven-year-old Colt in Aston, Pa., Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Families and businesses are concerned about the effect of tariffs on youth sports

June 26, 2025

Youth sports are a big part of Karli Casamento’s life. Her 15-year-old son, Jax, golfs and plays on three baseball teams. Her 7-year-old son, Colt, plays baseball and basketball. The costs add up in a hurry. That’s why Casamento and her husband, Michael, are watching closely for the ramifications of tariffs on their rising youth sports budget. Karli Casamento, a second-grade teacher in suburban Philadelphia, says it’s a concern. For families like the Casamentos and businesses in the marketplace, there is continued uncertainty surrounding the possible effects of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on youth sports.

Anne Burrell, TV chef who coached the ‘Worst Cooks in America,’ dies at 55

June 17, 2025

TV chef Anne Burrell, who coached culinary fumblers through hundreds of episodes of “Worst Cooks in America,” has died. The Food Network confirms that the 55-year-old Burrell died Tuesday at her New York home. Medical examiners are set to determine what caused her death. Burrell worked in upscale New York City restaurants before beginning her two-decade television career on “Iron Chef America.” She started hosting “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” in 2008. She was known for bold and flavorful but not overly fancy dishes and for her 27 seasons on “Worst Cooks in America.”

FILE - Leonard Lauder attends a gala launch party in New York, April 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin, File)

Leonard Lauder, philanthropist who globalized family cosmetic business, dies at age 92

June 16, 2025

Leonard Lauder, a renowned philanthropist who expanded the family cosmetics business into a worldwide empire, has died at the age of 92. Estee Lauders Cos. announced the news in a release on Sunday and said he died on Saturday surrounded by his family. Lauder, the oldest son of Estee and Joseph H. Lauder who founded the cosmetics company in 1946, formally joined the New York company in 1958. Over more than six decades, Lauder played a key role in transforming the business from a handful of products sold under a single brand in U.S. stores to a multi-brand global cosmetics and fragrance giant. He had held the title of chairman emeritus at the time of his death.

FILE - The sun sets on the lily pads and floating vegetation in the Chesser Prairie inside the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on March 30, 2022, in Folkston, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)

Mining project near the Okefenokee Swamp has stalled over a $2M permit requirement

June 16, 2025

A hotly debated mining project near the federally protected Okefenokee Swamp has stalled over a $2 million permit requirement needed before Georgia regulators make a final decision. Twin Pines Minerals was told in 2024 that it must submit a $2 million bond or equivalent before state officials can issue a permit to mine minerals near the wildlife refuge. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division says that still hasn’t happened 16 months later. The mining company declined to comment Monday on the delay. Federal scientists have warned that miningnear the swamp could irreparably harm the environmentally sensitive area. But regulators say mining there should have minimal impacts.

FILE - People demonstrate in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, June 30, 2023, after a sharply divided Supreme Court has ruled that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loan debts for millions of Americans. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Credit scores decline for millions as US student loan collections restart

June 16, 2025

Millions of Americans are seeing their credit scores suffer now that the U.S. government has resumed referring missed student loan payments for debt collection. After 90 days of non-payment, student loan servicers report delinquent accounts to major credit bureaus, which use the information to recalculate the borrower’s score. Falling behind on loan payments therefore can affect an individual’s credit rating as severely as filing for personal bankruptcy. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, about 1 in 4 people with student loan accounts were more than 90 days behind on payments at the end of March. It said borrowers ages 40 and older were most likely to be delinquent on their loans.

FILE - A sign is displayed on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., Sept. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Massive Google Cloud outage disrupts popular internet services

June 12, 2025

Multiple popular online services were disrupted Thursday due to ongoing issues at Google Cloud. Tens of thousands of users of Spotify, Discord and other platforms began noticing issues with their services early in the afternoon, according to outage reports on Downdetector. Google’s Cloud status page said an incident with their systems affected clients in the U.S. and abroad. The company also posted that services are starting to recover after its engineers identified and began to mitigate the issue.

FILE - A data center owned by Amazon Web Services, front right, is under construction next to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Berwick, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, file)

Amazon to spend $20B on data centers in Pennsylvania, including one next to a nuclear power plant

June 9, 2025

Amazon says it will spend $20 billion on two data center complexes in Pennsylvania, including one it is building alongside a nuclear power plant that has drawn federal scrutiny over its arrangement to essentially plug right into the power plant. Kevin Miller of Amazon’s cloud computing subsidiary, Amazon Web Services, told The Associated Press on Monday that the company will build another data center complex just north of Philadelphia. The data centers are designed to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence products. Amazon has recently committed to big data center projects in Mississippi, Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina as it expands to compete with other tech giants.

MrBeast aims to raise millions for his charity by offering a weekend experience to six-figure donors

June 2, 2025

MrBeast plans to turn the success of his Amazon Prime Video reality competition series into millions of dollars for charity. YouTube’s biggest creator is offering an exclusive weekend on the set of Beast Games Season 2 to the first 40 donors who make $100,000 gifts to his registered nonprofit. The invitation comes as MrBeast surpasses 400 million subscribers. Rallying that fervent following to make their own charitable contributions marks a new fundraising strategy for Donaldson and signals his continued philanthropic presence. Donaldson says: “I have some big charity projects I want to fund so I think it’s a win/win.”

Summer Dean, 27, poses for a portrait, Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Philanthropy wants to build Gen Z’s confidence in institutions. Will youth empowerment foster trust?

May 28, 2025

Gen Z tends to lack trust in the major institutions that previous generations expected to safeguard their futures. The philanthropic sector is working to reverse that disillusionment by empowering Gen Z to make the structural change they so often seek. Born out of the idea that young people distrust institutions because they don’t feel served by the status quo, several initiatives are underway with hopes that more responsive institutions will be seen as more legitimate. For example, DoSomething has been boosting youth volunteering since 1993 and the nonprofit is now providing opportunities to make more lasting community change. Summer Dean, 27, says: “Young people — we’re not just victims of these systems. We have agency and we have power.”

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