National Business - The Rapid City Post

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.”

National Business.

Finance.