For: May 15, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50-thousand to end the day on Wall Street.  The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also closed at record highs Thursday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 370 points to 50-063.  The S&P 500 gained 56 points to 75-01.  The Nasdaq rose 232 points to 26-635.

>>Trump Says China To Buy 200 Jets From Boeing 

(Beijing)  --  President Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping [[ she jeen-peeng ]] told him China is ready to buy 200 passenger jets from Boeing.  Trump summarized their high-stakes meeting in Beijing this week as very good.  Boeing shares dropped more than four-percent after Trump made the announcement Thursday in an interview with Fox News.  

>>Retail Sales Up A Half-Percent

(Washington, DC)  --  The new retail sales report out this week from the Commerce Department shows overall sales up a half-percent in April.  Sales are down at furniture stores, car dealerships, department stores, and clothing stores.  Sales are up at gas stations, sporting goods and hobby stores, and electronics and appliance Stores.  

>>Musk v. Altman Deliberations Begin Monday

(Oakland, CA)  --  The jury in the Elon Musk versus Sam Altman trial heard closing arguments in an Oakland, California courtroom Thursday.  Musk is suing OpenAI, a company he co-founded, along with its CEO Sam Altman and company president Greg Brockman.  He's arguing that Altman reneged on a promise to keep OpenAI an non-profit and that 38-million dollars he donated was misused for commercial purposes.  Altman claims he made no such promise.  The jury begins deliberations Monday but their verdict is only advisory, meaning the judge has final say on liability.  

>>Honda Posts First Annual Loss In Nearly 70 Years

(Tokyo)  --  Honda lost money for the first time in almost 70 years, posting an annual operating loss of more than two-point-six billion dollars.  Money spent on its electric vehicle business, Chinese competition and U.S. tariffs all contributed.  Investors didn't seem to mind, however, as shares jumped seven percent following Thursday's earnings announcement.  

For Thursday, May 14th, 2026

>>Wall Street Closes With Stocks Mixed

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed Wednesday with stocks mixed.  The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both finished at record highs.  It comes as traders are still digesting the producer price index released today by the Labor Department, which showed wholesale prices surged one-point-four percent in April.  Elsewhere, shares of Nvidia and Micron Technology both rose.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 67 points to 49-693.  The S&P 500 gained 43 points to 74-44.  The Nasdaq rose 314 points to 26-402.

>>Wholesale Prices Up

(Washington, DC)  --  Wholesale prices surged one-point-four percent in April, the biggest monthly increase since March 2022.  The producer price index released yesterday by the Labor Department showed the cost of making goods went up well beyond the half-a-percent analysts were expecting.  Year-over-year, the index is up six percent, the biggest annual jump since December 2022.

>>China Renews U.S. Beef Export Licenses

(Beijing)  --  Major U.S. beef producers can start exporting beef to China again.  On Thursday, China renewed export licenses for hundreds of U.S. beef processing plants.  Reuters says over 400 U.S. beef plants lost export eligibility after Chinese permissions expired last March.  The news comes as President Trump and a U.S. delegation is in China to discuss trade and other issues.  

>>Senate Confirms Warsh As Next Fed Chair

(Washington, DC)  --  The Senate is confirming Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve.  Wednesday's vote was 54-45, with every Republican voting in favor.  Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote for Warsh.  In terms of Senate history, it was the most partisan vote for a Fed chair nominee.  Current Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term expires Friday.  Powell's term was marked with constant battles with President Trump over cutting interest rates, and included a DOJ criminal investigation into Powell's renovations at the Reserve building that was later dropped.  Warsh has expressed caution about cutting interest rates this year despite pressure from Trump to lower borrowing costs. 

>>Americans Oppose Local AI Data Centers

(Undated)  --  A majority of Americans say they oppose the construction of data centers in their local area.  New polling from Gallup shows seven in ten Americans oppose the projects, and 48 percent of respondents said they are strongly opposed.  These data centers house computing equipment that helps power AI technology used by businesses, universities and other institutions, but they have met fierce opposition from residents in many parts of the country.  The centers require extensive amounts of electricity to operate and need substantial water to cool the equipment, which has raised concerns about the environmental impact and local electric bills.  

>>Cisco To Cut 4K Jobs

(San Jose, CA)  --  Cisco is cutting about four-thousand jobs.  The software giant said Wednesday the cuts are part of a restructuring as the company shifts its focus toward artificial intelligence.  Shares in Cisco rose more than 16-percent after the news.  CEO Chuck Robbins said on the Cisco website that companies who "win in the AI era" will be those who "continuously shift ?investment toward the areas where demand and long-term value creation are strongest." 

For: May 13, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on a day that saw inflation numbers come in at a three-year high. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq pulled back from record levels as the rally in tech stocks cooled. Investors reacted to a hotter-than-expected consumer price index reading that put the annual inflation rate at three-point-eight percent in April. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 56 points to 49-760. The S&P 500 lost 11 points to 74-00. The Nasdaq fell 185 points to 26-088. Investors today will be keep an eye out for the producer price index, which is also used as a gauge of inflation.

>>Nvidia CEO Joins Trump China Trip

(Anchorage, AK) -- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is joining President Trump on his trade trip to China. The head of the chip company reportedly jumped on Air Force One Tuesday night during a refueling stop in Alaska. Other executives invited to the summit include Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. CNBC says Huang joined Trump's delegation after the President saw media reports claiming the CEO had been excluded. Trump responded on Truth Social, and called it "fake news."

>>eBay Rejects GameStop Proposal

(San Jose, CA) -- EBay is rejecting GameStop's takeover bid. The auction site called GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen's unsolicited 56-billion dollar proposal "neither credible nor attractive." Among the concerns eBay cited included the uncertainty regarding the video game retailer's financing proposal. GameStop had said it had a 20-billion-dollar financing commitment along with nine-billion dollars in cash, leaving a big funding gap. Cohen previously told CNBC he was ready to take his offer directly to shareholders if eBay rejected the proposal.

>>Altman Says He Never Promised To Keep OpenAI Non-Profit

(Oakland, CA) -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he never promised co-founder Elon Musk that he would keep the artificial intelligence company a non-profit. A federal trial has been ongoing in Oakland, California after Musk sued Altman, arguing that the company was supposed to remain a non-profit. Musk said earlier in the trial that changing the company's structure was tantamount to stealing a charity and that 38-million dollars he donated to OpenAI was misused for commercial purposes. Altman was on the stand Tuesday and testified he made no commitments to Musk, who left the company's board in 2018.

>>Halo Top To Offer Spoon That Puts Phone On Silent

(Manhattan Beach, CA) -- An ice cream company is offering a new product aimed to help consumers put their phones down. Halo Top is set to release a "Silent Mode Spoon." It's designed to put your mobile device on the "do not disturb" setting by using an NFC connection. That's used for things like contactness payment or sharing data. The company's website says the spoons will be available on Friday for limited time and will go for around five bucks. 

For: May 12, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell    (New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Monday to kick off the trading week.  Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finished at new records as tech shares led by Micron and Nvidia helped boost the market.  Stocks edged higher despite a rise in oil prices after President Trump said the Iran ceasefire deal is on life-support.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 95 points to 49-704.  The S&P 500 added 13 points to 74-12.  The Nasdaq rose 27 points to 26-274.

>>Existing-Home Sales Remain Flat In April

(Washington, DC)  --  Sales of previously owned homes remained flat in April.  The National Association of Realtors says existing home sales rose just two-tenths percent month over month.  The group's chief economist said home sales received a modest boost from improvement in affordability, but the gain was far less than expected.  The median price of a home sold in April was 417-thousand-700 dollars.  That's up nearly one percent from last year and it's the highest April price on record.

>>Byron Allen To Buy Majority Stake In BuzzFeed

(New York, NY)  --  Media entrepreneur Byron Allen has a plan to buy a majority stake in BuzzFeed.  The deal, announced Monday, would keep the struggling digital publisher afloat while making Allen CEO.  Founder and CEO Jonah Peretti will become the president of BuzzFeed AI.  The company's stock has been trading at under a dollar and was warned it risks being delisted from the Nasdaq.  Allen's deal would see his Allen Family Digital buy 40 million shares at three dollars each for a total of 120-million dollars.  The deal is expected to close by the end of the month.

>>General Motors Cutting Several Hundred Jobs   (Detroit, MI)  --  General Motors is cutting several hundred jobs.  The company says up to 600 information technology employees will be laid off.  GM says the jobs are no longer needed as it moves towards a more AI-friendly workforce.

>>Young Americans Much Less Optimistic About Job Market

(Washington, DC)  --  Young people in the U.S. feel much less positive about the job market than older people, and it's the largest gap of any country in the world.  A new Gallup World Poll finds 43 percent of Americans 15 to 34 think it's a good time to find a job, compared to 64 percent of those 55 and older.  The only other places where a similar pattern exists are China, Hong Kong, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates and Norway.  There are other countries where young people are less optimistic, but older adults in those places share a similar outlook.  

>>Port Of Los Angeles Announces Strong April Cargo Numbers

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  The Port of Los Angeles is announcing strong cargo numbers for the month of April.  The second quarter of the year was the best month so far in 2026 and the best overall month since last August.  The port handled 891-thousand container units, up more than five-and-a-half percent from a year ago and 18 percent from March.  It's the port's second-best April on record.  Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Soroka says, despite economic pressures and global uncertainty, the American consumer is still spending.  About 460-thousand of the total container units processed last month were imports.    

For: May 11, 2026 

>>Watching Wall Street    (New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Friday with all three major indexes posting weekly gains.  Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hit new records as tech stocks rallied in the last trading session of the week.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 12 points to 49-609.  The S&P 500 rose 61 points to 73-98.  The Nasdaq jumped 440 points to 26-247.

>>Noteworthy Economic Reports

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, the spotlight falls on the consumer price index on Tuesday as the key inflation gauge is closely watched by the Federal Reserve, which sets interest rates.  Also closely watched by the Fed is the producer price index which follows on Wednesday.  The last major reports of the week come Thursday with retail sales data and weekly jobless claims.

>>Energy Sec On Suspending Federal Gas Tax

(Undated)  --  Energy Secretary Chris Wright says President Trump is open to all ideas to help lower gas prices.  When asked if that could include suspending the federal gas tax, Wright told NBC's "Meet the Press" the administration supports "all measures that can be taken to lower the price at the pump and lower the prices for Americans."  His comments come as drivers across the country are seeing steep prices at the pump.  Triple-A reports the national average for a gallon of regular gas sits at four-dollars and 52-cents.  Drivers in California are still paying the most in the nation at over six-dollars a gallon on average. 

>>Most Consumers Making Impulse Buys

(Undated)  --  Despite inflation and rising costs, four out of five consumers said they've made an impulse buy in 2026.  A new survey from marketing agency PartnerCentric found that more than half of shoppers say their budget is tighter this year.  Gen Z and Millennial consumers are the most likely to have made an impulse buy, with food being the top category.  Clothes came in a close second followed by electronics.  The head of PartnerCentric credits the desire for a small reward when things get expensive and stressful.

>>Fast Food Chains Emphasize Value Amid Soaring Gasoline Prices

(Undated)  --  Fast food chains are leaning more heavily into their value menus to try to lure customers squeezed by soaring gasoline prices.  Restaurant Business editor-in-chief Jonathan Maze says those companies are also paying close attention to what's going viral on social media as they try to entice consumers to spend their limited dollars with them.  He says "value is a very big deal right now" with folks feeling the pressure of inflation.  According to Maze, roughly three in four fast food visits are based on some form of deal.  It comes as gas prices are up about a dollar-40 a gallon from a year ago, with Triple A putting the new nationwide average at over four-50 a gallon.  McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell are reporting strong sales to start the year.  But other chains, including Papa John's and Shake Shack, have not done as well.

>>Nike Class Action Tariff Refund Lawsuit 

(Undated)  --  Nike is facing a new class action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to refund tariff-related costs.  In the proposed lawsuit, consumers claim Nike should not be allowed to keep "significant" refunds it may receive.  This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose certain tariffs.  Nike has said it paid roughly one billion dollars in tariffs on imported goods as a result of those actions.  Plaintiffs allege the company hiked prices on some footwear and apparel by up to ten dollars. 

For: May 8, 2026 

>>Trading Week Winding Down  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday as traders continue to keep an eye on the latest developments between the U.S. and Iran.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 313 points to 49-596.  The S&P 500 fell 28 points to 73-37.  The Nasdaq dropped 32 points to 25-806.

>>A Better-Than-Expected 115,000 New Jobs Created In April

(Washington, DC)  --  The monthly jobs report is out and it has beat expectations.  Most analysts were predicting around 55 to 60-thousand new jobs created in April, versus the 178-thousand the month prior.  Instead, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says non-farm payrolls jumped by 115-thousand last month.  As expected, the unemployment rate was unchanged at four-point-three percent.
 

>>SpaceX To Provide Computing Capacity To Anthropic

(Undated)  --  Anthropic is announcing a new deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX.  As part of the agreement, Anthropic will get access to more than 300 megawatts of computing capacity at the company's Colossus One data center in Memphis, Tennessee.  The deal comes despite Musk being a vocal critic of Anthropic, and the company "expressed interest" in working with SpaceX to develop multiple gigawatts of computing capacity in space.  Anthropic said the deal will directly improve capacity for its paid Claude Pro and Claude Max subscribers. 

>>Microsoft Offering Employee Buyouts

(Redmond, WA)  --  Microsoft is offering a buyout to nearly nine-thousand employees.  It's the first time ever the company is offering a voluntary retirement program as it looks to spend more on artificial intelligence.  Eligible employees would get a cash payment, continued healthcare coverage and vested stock awards.  They have until June 8th to make a decision. 

>>New Mexico V. Meta Continues

(Albuquerque, NM)  --  New Mexico's trial against Meta continues.  The state wants the tech company and social media giant to put more robust child safety measures in place.  The state also wants the company to pay three-point-seven billion dollars.  Meta is threatening to cut access to its social media platforms in New Mexico, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.  Testimony earlier this week revealed a number of cases in which children expressed suicidal thoughts in chat logs and Meta did nothing to escalate reports of the issue.   

>>New Program To Earn Degrees By Phone

(Grand Rapids, MI) --  A new program will allow students to earn accredited bachelor's and master's degrees entirely on their smartphones. Cornerstone University launched the SOAR program last August and it features mini-lectures, podcasts, book reviews, and interviews with lessons broken into easily digestible pieces. According to the University's website, courses are developed by faculty with real-world experience and focus on leadership, teamwork, and ethical decision-making. The subscription-based tuition is two-thousand-400 dollars per four-month term for bachelor's degrees and three-thousand-750 dollars for master's. Cornerstone University leadership sees the first of its kind program as a way to address gaps in traditional higher education and the program is expected to add new disciplines and advanced degrees soon. 

For: May 7, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning on Wall after stocks closed sharply higher yesterday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both reaching record highs. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 612 points to 49-910. The S&P 500 climbed 105 points to 73-65. The tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 512 points to 25-838.

>>Shell Exceeds Profit Expectations

(London) -- Shell is reporting higher-than-expected first quarter profits, largely thanks to the Iran war that's sent prices up 40 percent. The oil company posted earnings of just over six-point-nine billion dollars. That's well above the six-point-one billion analysts had predicted.

>>Many Due COVID Refunds As Deadline Approaches

(Undated) -- The National Taxpayer Advocate says tens of millions of Americans have not received a refund from the IRS for income lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. It stems from a court ruling that says it should be treated the same way it would in the event of a natural disaster. The deadline to submit a claim for a refund is July 10th.

>>Americans To Spend $38B On Mother's Day

(Undated) -- Americans are expected to spend a record 38-billion-dollars this Mother's Day. The National Retail Federation says that's 284-dollars a person and it will beat the previous record set in 2023. Mother's Day spending tends to weather times of economic uncertainty, according to the report, because people want to make sure mom knows she's appreciated.

>>PlayStation Users Could See Settlement

(San Mateo, CA) -- Sony is agreeing to pay almost eight-million dollars to users as part of a settlement for a class-action lawsuit involving purchases of digital games through the PlayStation store. Three years ago, Sony was accused of monopolizing the market and driving up prices for certain games in its store, with the plaintiffs saying Sony violated anti-trust laws. According to the settlement filing, those eligible for a refund had to buy certain titles from April 2019 to December 2023. The eight eligible games include "The Last Of Us," "Call of Duty: Classic" and "Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China." A fairness hearing is set for October to decide whether to approve the settlement.

>>Ford Offering Employee Pricing To Everyone For America's 250th Anniversary

(Dearborn, MI) -- The public will get to enjoy employee pricing on most new Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Ford Motor Company announced the promotion is for most 2025 and 2026 model year vehicles in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The employee pricing deal runs through July 6th and officials say the savings are between several hundred and several thousand dollars, depending on the vehicle purchased.

>>New Menu Items Available At McDonald's

(Chicago, IL) -- McDonald's is adding six new drink items to its menu. The fast-food giant is unveiling six beverages this week that include three new Refreshers and three crafted sodas. The move is designed to compete with KFC, Wendy's and Taco Bell, which have increased their beverage options. The Refreshers contain caffeine and include Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher. The other beverages are Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream and Dirty Dr. Pepper. McDonald's also plans to phase out self-service soda machines in all of their U.S. restaurants. 

For: May 6, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street yesterday with the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq both setting new records.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 356 points to 49-298.  The S&P 500 added 58 points to 72-59.  The Nasdaq rose 258 points to 25-326.

>>Job Openings Rose Slightly In March

(Washington, DC)  --  The number of job openings rose slightly in March.  The Labor Department says six-point-nine million jobs were available which is up about 100-thousand from February   Hiring also increased by more than a half-million during the month with little change in the number of separations   According to the JOLTS report, finance and insurance led the increase in available jobs last month.    

>>Americans Anticipate Higher Prices A Year From Now

(Undated)  --  More than half of Americans believe prices will be higher than they currently are in a year from now. A new survey from The Economist/YouGov found that 59 percent of respondents said they believe prices are set to be "higher" than they currently are in 12 months while 15 percent said prices are set to be "about the same," 13 percent said they are set to be "lower" and another 13 percent were "not sure." Survey results come after data from the Commerce Department last week found prices increased at a far more rapid rate in March as the U.S. conflict against Iran caused a significant increase in inflation.  

>>Elon Musk To $1.5 Million SEC Lawsuit Settlement

(Washington, DC)  --  Elon Musk is marking the end of his SEC lawsuit with a one-point-five-million-dollar settlement.  The tech billionaire settled the lawsuit which accused him of failing to properly disclose stock he was amassing in Twitter in violation of securities laws.  According to a SEC legal filing, Musk consented to the settlement "without admitting or denying the allegations," and it "permanently restrains and enjoins" Musk's trust from violating the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Musk is also facing a class-action civil suit filed in California on behalf of Twitter shareholders.  

>>Future Of Proposed CA Billionaire Tax

(Sacramento, CA)  --  Opponents of California's proposed billionaire tax say they've collected enough signatures to qualify two countermeasures for the November ballot.  They believe the proposed countermeasures would block or at least weaken the controversial tax initiative.  The initiative would impose a one-time, five percent tax on the assets of California residents with more than a billion dollars.  One of the countermeasures is called the Retirement and Personal Savings Act, which bans retroactive taxes and new state taxes on personal assets.  It could effectively cancel out the billionaire tax if both measures passed and the savings measure received more votes.  The other proposed countermeasure is called the Improving Transparency, Effectiveness and Efficiency in California Government, which requires audits of programs funded by new state special taxes.  

>>Artemis 2 Boosts Tourism On Space Coast 

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission is credited with boosting tourism for Florida's Space Coast.  The Space Coast Office of Tourism has announced a new record was set last month with over 345-thousand visitors the week of the launch.  That helped generate over 40-million dollars in local spending.  By comparison, over 200-thousand more people visited for Artemis 2 than Artemis 1 about four years ago.  

For: May 5, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower and oil prices surged yesterday on fears the Iran conflict will flare up again.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 557 points to 48-941.  The S&P 500 fell 29 points to 72-00.  The Nasdaq lost 46 points to 25-067.

>>Economic Reports Due 

(Undated)  --  Employers aren't firing many workers lately, but they're not hiring many either.  That's expected to be highlighted in a handful of key reports this week.  They start with today's "JOLTS" or Job openings, Layoffs and Turnovers report.  It's seen as a deeper dive into the Labor Department's job numbers.  We get the latest numbers from payroll processor ADP on Wednesday.  this one measures hiring only at private employers.  Look for weekly jobless claims on Thursday, which experts consider a proxy for layoffs, and then the government report on Friday. 

>>Spirit Airlines Doomed By 'Recent Geopolitical Events'

(Dania Beach, FL)  --  Spirit Airlines says "a massive and sustained increase in fuel prices" forced the carrier to ground its fleet.  Court papers filed Monday show the airline pointed to "recent geopolitical events" as a factor behind the shutdown, but it did not specify the nature of those events.  According to the filings, "it became clear on Thursday that sufficient incremental liquidity would not be found, and that there were no longer any viable paths to a restructuring or continued operations."  Now the budget carrier is requesting the authority to "take necessary steps to wind down its fleet operations."  Spirit ceased operations early Saturday morning.

>>Gas Prices On The Rise 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Prices at the pump continue to climb.  Today's national average for a gallon of regular is four dollars and 48 cents, according to Triple-A.  A week ago we were at four-17 a gallon.  Drivers in California are still seeing the highest average in the nation at six-dollars-13 cents.  

>>State Supreme Court Rules Against Millionaires Tax Referendum

(Olympia, WA)  --  The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled against a group trying to get voters to decide the millionaires tax.  The tax was approved by the Legislature and the group Let's Go Washington was trying to get it on the ballot.  The court ruled that previous court rulings show tax items are an issue for the Legislature and not voter referendums.  The nine-point-nine percent tax takes effect in 2028.  A lawsuit over the legality of the new tax is also pending.

For: May 4, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed out the week in mixed territory. At Friday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 152 points to 49-499. The S&P 500 rose 21 points to 72-30. The Nasdaq gained 222 points to 25-114.

>>Spirit Airlines Shuts Down After 34 Years Of Operation

(Washington, DC) -- The sudden collapse of Spirit Airlines is impacting thousands of employees and travelers. The discount carrier announced early Saturday it's canceling all flights and going out of business after failing to reach a deal for a government bailout. Spirit said in a statement that passengers who booked flights with credit cards or debit cards will automatically get refunds. American Airlines and Delta are among the major carriers offering reduced fares and other support for Spirit customers impacted by the sudden closure.

>>Trump Announces 25% Tariff On EU Autos

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump is announcing a new tariff on cars and trucks coming from the European Union, bumping it up to 25-percent starting this week. The U.S. had lowered auto tariffs on the EU to 15-percent as part of a new trade deal. But Trump says the EU isn't keeping up their end of the bargain to reciprocally drop tariffs on U.S. automakers. Tariffs on European autos are connected to national security and are exempt from the Supreme Court ruling that struck down a lot of Trump's tariffs.

>>Meta Threatens To Pull Platforms From NM

(Menlo Park, CA) -- Meta is threatening to cut access to its social media platforms in New Mexico. The threat is a response to the state's legal effort to force changes to child safety protocols on its platforms. Meta and the state of New Mexico are expected to proceed to the second stage of their trial this week. A jury recently issued a 375-million-dollar award to the state after finding the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and its protections for children against predators. The next phase of the trial will focus on what actions the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp must take to address those issues.

>>National Small Business Week

(Undated) -- This is National Small Business Week. The U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes entrepreneurs as job creators and innovators who drive the nation's economy. Thirty-six million small businesses employ some 45-percent of the nation's workforce. Small Business Week has been celebrated for more than 60 years.

>>GameStop Offers To Buy eBay

(Grapevine, TX) -- GameStop is offering to buy eBay. The video game retailer made the unsolicited offer, suggesting 125-dollars per share for the online marketplace. Shares of eBay surged more than 13 percent in after hours trading following the Sunday offer.

>>Hollywood Actors And Studios Agree To New Deal

(Los Angeles, CA) -- No drama this time around. Hollywood studios and producers have a tentative deal with the actors union, SAG-AFTRA, wrapping up contract talks over the weekend. It's a four year deal instead of the usual three. The Writers Guild has already passed their deal. Three years ago, actors and writers went on the longest strike in Hollywood history, shutting down the industry for months.

>>Ford Recalls Nearly 180K Bronco And Ranger Vehicles

(Washington, DC) -- Ford is recalling over 179-thousand vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall is due to a defect with the front seat frame of late model Broncos and Ford Ranger pickup trucks that could increase a person's risk of injury in a crash. The recall includes 2024 to 2026 Ford Bronco SUVs. The NHTSA report says Ford dealers are instructed to inspect and replace the pivot links and bolts as necessary for free as a temporary fix. 

For Friday, May 1, 2026

>>Stocks Close Higher On Wall Street

(New York, NY) -- Wall Street closed with stocks higher to end the month of April. It comes as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at new highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was also up over 800 points in the final hour. Shares of Caterpillar and Alphabet both saw gains as investors reacted to earnings. Meanwhile, shares of Meta and Microsoft both fell. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average cilmbed 790 points to 49-652. The S&P 500 rose 73 points to 72-09. The Nasdaq gained 219 points to 24-892.

>>Apple Revenue Beats Estimates Despite IPhone Slump

(Cupertino, CA) -- Apple's revenue is higher than expected. The tech giant released its quarterly earnings on Thursday and reported 17-percent revenue growth from the previous year, topping estimates. The revenue climb was despite the fact iPhone sales came up short for the second time in three quarters. Apple stock rose three percent after the report.

>>Education Department Finalizes Federal Student Loan Caps

(Washington, DC) -- The Department of Education is announcing new borrowing limits on federal student loans for graduate and professional degrees. Under the finalized regulations, students can borrow up to 20-thousand-500 dollars a year and up to 100-thousand dollars in total for graduate degree programs. Meanwhile, students in professional programs can borrow up to 50-thousand dollars a year and 200-thousand dollars over the course of their studies. Previous loan guidelines had an annual limit of 20-thousand-500 dollars and a lifetime limit of 138-thousand-500 dollars. The new caps apply to all loans issued after July 1st, but students currently under a borrowing plan will be exempted from these new requirements.

>>Fed Chair Nominee Kevin Warsh Clears Senate Committee Vote

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump's pick to be the next Federal Reserve chair is clearing his first Senate hurdle before his final confirmation vote. The Senate banking committee voted to advance Kevin Warsh's nomination Wednesday on a strict party-line vote. Democrats question whether Warsh will maintain his independence from Trump when it comes to setting interest rates. Trump has been critical of current Fed chair Jerome Powell for not cutting rates at a faster clip.

>>May Protests Planned For Friday

(Undated) -- Labor unions and Democrat-backed organizations are planning massive May Day demonstrations today across the U.S. The director of Organized Power in Numbers, Naydee Dominguez, says she expects over three-thousand demonstrations. Dominguez says several cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago, are preparing for city-wide economic blackouts. Chicago Public Schools officials say they're working to hold classes even though the Chicago Teachers Union says it plans to embrace a "no school, no work, no shopping" day of protest.

>>Saudi Investors Pull Out Of LIV Golf

(Riyadh) -- Saudi investors are pulling out of LIV Golf. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund announced on Thursday that its funding for the professional men's golf league will end after the 2026 season. A statement from the sovereign wealth fund said the "substantial investment required by LIV Golf" is "no longer consistent" with its investment strategy. Following the announcement, LIV Golf released a statement saying it was transitioning to a "diversified, multi-partner investment model."

>>In Court, Musk Admits Tesla Isn't Pursuing AG

(Oakland, CA) -- Under oath in federal court, Elon Musk admitted that Tesla is not pursuing artificial general intelligence despite a tweet where he claims the opposite. That's significant because it undermines the legal argument he's making in his lawsuit against OpenAI. Musk helped start OpenAI, and he argues the company went back on its pledge to be a non-profit.

For: April 30, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Wednesday.  It comes as oil prices have been on the rise, with West Texas Intermediate futures and Brent crude futures both trading over 100-dollars a barrel.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 280 points to 48-861.  The S&P 500 fell 2 points to 71-35.  The Nasdaq gained 9 points to 24-673.  Investors today will be watching how the markets react to quarterly results released after yesterday's closing bell from four leading tech companies.  Amazon, Google-parent Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft all beat Wall Street forecasts.

>>Powell: No Rate Cut Until Progress On Inflation

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve is leaving interest rates unchanged.  In what's likely to be his last press event as Fed Chair, Jerome Powell said recent economic activity is expanding at a "solid pace," but warned the Iran war has lead to a lot of economic uncertainty.  

>>Trump Says US Govt Intel Stock Made Country $30B

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says federal stock holdings in Intel have generated more than 30 billion dollars in recent months after he authorized a U.S. government investment in the semiconductor company last summer. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that the United States made "over 30 billion dollars in the last 90 days on that stock alone."  He added that there were other investments in which the government had also taken equity stakes. The administration announced in August that Intel had agreed to give the federal government a ten percent ownership share, using funds reallocated from programs established under the previous administration. 

>>Uber Users Can Now Book Hotels In App

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Uber is taking the next steps to become a one-stop shop for travel after adding hotel bookings to the app.  The company's CEO shared the development in an announcement on Wednesday, noting that "Uber is now an app for everything." The rideshare app will offer more than 700-thousand hotel listings directly on the app in partnership with Expedia Group as a way to help "reduce the number of steps for travel." Users will get reminders to schedule rides and see options for Uber Eats "room service" that can deliver food, along with any forgotten items, directly to the hotel. 

>>Google Launches AI Tool For Flash Flood Predictions

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Google is launching a new Flood Hub to help better predict flash flood risk. Flash floods have been a challenge to forecast for years, but Google's new system seeks to address the issue by aiding meteorologists and emergency managers with predictions up to 24 hours in advance. The tool differs from traditional river forecasting because it focuses on rapid flooding driven by intense rainfall, and Google said it trained the model using millions of real-world flood reports. Despite the advancement, experts generally agree that these AI tools are meant to strengthen the ability of local forecasters and not replace them.

>>Non-Homeowners Expectations For Future Homeownership 

(Undated)  --  Current non-homeowners have a range of expectations when it comes to the timeline of buying their first property.  According to a new Gallup poll, 19 percent of the non-homeowner respondents said they believe they are going to purchase a house "in the next five years," which is down from 25 percent in 2025 and 34 percent in 2018.  However, when looking at plans to purchase "in the next year," six percent of respondents agreed which is up from the previous year.  Similar findings were recorded when asked about buying a home "in the next 10 years," as 28 percent of respondents agreed, marking an increase from 23 percent last year. 

For: April 29, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed in the red yesterday as oil prices rose and chip stocks sold off.  Nvidia, Broadcom, Intel and Oracle all lost ground following a report that pointed to weakness in OpenAI.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 25 points to 49-141.  The S&P 500 fell 35 points to 71-38.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 223 points to 24-663.

>>Fed Reserve Likely To Keep Rates Steady

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest unchanged after its meeting today.  The central bank is still seeing inflation above its two percent target alongside a weak labor market.  It will likely be Jerome Powell's last meeting as Fed chair as his term ends in May.  

>>Tech Giants Reporting Earnings   

(New York, NY)  --  A handful of tech giants will be reporting earnings this week.  The lineup includes Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft.  They're all set to release results today, after the closing bell on Wall Street.  Apple's earnings will be in the spotlight on Thursday.  

>>UAE Withdrawing From OPEC

(Undated)  --  The United Arab Emirates says its withdrawing from OPEC on May 1st.  In a statement, the UAE said it's making the move to give itself more options to increase oil production as the market demands.  The Middle Eastern nation said the decision is in line with its long term economic vision.  This could bring down oil prices across the globe if the UAE significantly increases production as they won't be obligated to stick to OPEC's pricing.  

>>Pharmaceutical Company Ordered To Pay $5 Billion For Opioid Epidemic

(Newark, NJ)  --  A federal judge is ordering Purdue Pharmaceuticals to pay over five billion dollars in criminal penalties for its role in fueling the opioid epidemic.  The pharmaceutical giant pleaded guilty to three counts in 2020, and on Tuesday, the court ordered Purdue to pay a criminal fine of three-point-five-billion dollars, and two-billion in criminal forfeiture.  The court agreed to credit one-point-seven of that two-billion back to the company if Purdue comes out of bankruptcy as a new public benefit company with a mission to benefit the American public.  

>>Americans' Worsening View Of Their Financial Situation

(Undated)  --  A recent survey shows more Americans view their personal financial situation as getting worse.  The Gallup poll found that 55 percent of respondents have a negative view of their economic condition which marks a new high dating back to 2001.  More than three in ten respondents said the high cost of living and inflation combined is the top problem facing their family.  Other areas of concern include having enough money for retirement, not being able to pay medical costs and not having enough money to pay for their children's college.

For: April 27, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed yesterday, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both rising to fresh record highs to start the week.  Gains were limited as oil prices edged higher over stalled Iran peace talks.  Tech shares provided lift with telecommunications giant Verizon up about three percent after its latest financial results.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 62 points to 49-167.  The S&P 500 rose 8 points to 71-73.  The Nasdaq gained 50 points to 24-887.

>>Budget Airlines Asking Feds For Gas Money

(Undated)  --  A group of budget airlines is asking the White House for two-and-a-half billion dollars to help stem the cost of jet fuel.  In exchange, the airlines would give the federal government the right to purchase stakes in the companies.  The Association of Value Airlines represents carriers like Frontier and Avelo and is heading up the request.  The group says the cash infusion would help "preserve vital industry competition."

>>Jury Seated In OpenAI Trial

(Oakland, CA)  --  A jury will decide if OpenAI failed to live up to commitments it made to stay a nonprofit company.  A nine-person jury was seated Monday in Oakland, California, where Elon Musk, who co-founded the artificial intelligence company, is suing OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman.  Musk left the board in 2018 and later started rival xAI.

>>California Billionaire Tax Will Appear On November Ballot

(Sacramento, CA)  --  A plan to tax California billionaires will likely appear on the November ballot after supporters say they gathered enough signatures.  The campaign says it has collected over one and a half million signatures.   The measure would charge billionaires in California a one-time, five percent tax on their assets, such as stocks, art, businesses, and intellectual property.  It's designed to make up for federal health funding that was cut last year.  The tax targets billionaires living in California at the start of the year.  California has the most billionaires of any state.  Almost half the state's personal income tax revenue comes from them, the top one percent of earners.

>>WalletHub Releases Top Entry-Level Jobs For 2026

(Miami, FL)  --  WalletHub is out with a list of the best entry-level jobs for this year.  Hardware and software engineers along with certified nursing assistants were all ranked in the top five.  The rankings were based on factors like potential growth, overall availability and on-the-job hazards. 

>>Real Announces Acquisition Of RE/MAX 

(Miami, FL)  --  Technology-powered real estate broker Real says it's going to acquire the parent company of RE/MAX, in what's expected to be a 880-million-dollar deal.  Real says the business models of the two companies are complimentary, with it's AI-powered brokerage platform pairing with RE/MAX's branding and its thousands of agents around the world.  The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year.  The price tag for the deal is expected to be 880-million dollars. 

For: April 27, 2026

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed out the week in the mixed territory, the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq both ending at all-time highs on Friday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 79 points to 49-230.  The S&P 500 rose 56 points to 71-65.  The Nasdaq gained 398 points to 24-836.

>>FOMC Meeting This Week 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, the spotlight will be on the Federal Reserve as the nation's central bank announces its latest decision on interest rates.  That happens Wednesday, with the Fed widely expected to hold rates steady with Jerome Powell's term as chair winding down next month.  Also happening on Wednesday, investors will be keeping an eye on tech earnings with Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft all due to report. 

>>Consumer Sentiment Holds At Records Lows In April

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Consumer sentiment remains at record low levels despite a Middle East ceasefire.  The University of Michigan's final reading for April slid six-point-six percent from one month ago.  The survey noted a widespread decline in sentiment across all age and income groups.  The survey's chief economist said sentiment recovered slightly from its early-month losses as gas prices eased after a two-week ceasefire took effect. The near term inflation outlook remains high while consumers expect to see prices up four-point-seven percent a year from now.  

>>Sloth World Files For Bankruptcy

(Orlando, FL)  --  Sloth World Orlando is filing for bankruptcy protection after more than 30 of the animals reportedly died from a virus.  Over a dozen surviving sloths were transfered to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens Friday where they will remain in quarantine for a month.  The zoo says it is working for a long-term placement for the sloths and some of them could potentially stay at the zoo.  

>>Walmart Recalls 50K Adjustable Dumbbells 

(Bethesda, MD)  --  Federal safety officials said about 50-thousand dumbbells sold at Walmart have been recalled.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the FitRx SmartBell Quick-Select five to 52 and half pound Adjustable Dumbbells, made by New York-based Tzumi Electronics should be immediately replaced.  The agency said the weight plates can dislodge from the handle during use, posing an "impact hazard."  The agency said it received over 115 reports pf the plates coming loose.  At least six injuries have been reported, including broken toes, bruises, contusions and lacerations. 

>>McDonald's Unveils 'Stranger Things' Happy Meal 

(Undated)  --  McDonald's has partnered with Netflix on a limited-edition Happy Meal for the premier of the streamer's new animated series.  "Stranger Things: Tales from '85" is an animated series that follows Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max as they fight "new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery."  Netflix says the Happy Meal will be available beginning Nay 5th in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  The Happy Meal includes a custom "Stranger Things: Tales from '85"-inspired Happy Meal box, one of 12 collectible character toys, a "Stranger Things" activity book and a QR code that unlocks a digital experience and game. 

For: April 24, 2026

>>Trading Week Winding Down  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed in the red yesterday as investors continued to monitor developments with the war in Iran.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 179 points to 49-310.  The S&P 500 fell 29 points to 71-08.  The Nasdaq dropped 219 points to 24-438.

>>Meta To Layoff 10% Of Its Workforce 

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  An estimated ten percent of Meta's workforce is expected to be laid off.  According to a Thursday memo to employees, first reported by Bloomberg News, the move will result in job losses for about eight-thousand employees, and cuts are expected to start on May 20th.  The company confirmed the workforce reduction, and it comes as the social media giant continues investing heavily into artificial intelligence.  Meta previously fired roughly ten percent of staff members in January who focus on metaverse-related virtual reality projects stemming from its Reality Labs unit. 

>>Warner Bros. Shareholders Approve Merger

(Burbank, CA)  --  Warner Brothers Discovery shareholders have approved the merger with Paramount Skydance.  Paramount is set to acquire the company in whole, including cable networks, a film studio and streaming service.  The deal is for 31-dollars a share and it comes after a bidding war with Netflix.  The merger still needs regulatory approval.  However, shareholders voted against compensation packages meant for current Warner Bros.  CEO David Zaslav and other executives related to the Paramount merger. 

>>Incomes Rising Faster Than Rent Increases Nationwide

(Undated)  --  A new Zillow report shows incomes are rising faster than rent increases nationwide for the first time in years.  According to Zillow, the typical asking rent was one-thousand-910-dollars in March, which is up one-point-eight percent from a year earlier and the slowest annual pace since 2020.  Zillow estimates the average household has about 193 dollars more per month but even as rent growth slows, leasing prices are higher than a year ago in 37 of the 50 largest metros.  However, the report ranked Austin, Texas as the most affordable major metro for renters, with rent prices down more than two percent in March from the year before. 

>>Reports: Former Disney CEO Bob Iger Takes Role As Adviser At VC Firm

(New York, NY)  --  Former Disney CEO Bob Iger is taking a role as an adviser at Thrive Capital.  That's according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, who says Iger will work with the firm's staff on investments and with founders of companies in the VC company's portfolio.  Its portfolio includes investments for Instagram, Spotify, OpenAI and more.  Iger first joined Thrive as a venture partner in 2022, after down from his CEO role the first time at the end of 2021.  The company was formed by Josh Kushner in 2009.

>>7-Eleven Offering Catering

(Irving, TX)  --  7-Eleven is offering catering.  It's partnered with EZ Cater to bring food from the chain's Speedy Cafe and Laredo Taco Company brands.  The menu includes items like breakfast sandwiches, pizza and salads. 

>>Popular Generator Recalled Due To Serious Safety Hazard

(Undated) -- Hundreds of thousands of generators are being recalled due to serious safety hazards. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Generac generators sold at Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's and several other retailers nationwide from May 2025 to February 2026 may have fuel leaks. CPSC and Costco have shared public warnings regarding at least 150-thousand Generac-branded portable generators and the company has received 114 reports of generator fuel leaks. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as of April 22nd, but the CPSC recommends consumers with any recalled items to stop using them immediately.

For: April 23, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street yesterday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 340 points to 49-490.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq and S&P 500 both finished at a record high.  The S&P 500 climbed 73 points to 71-37 and the Nasdaq rose 397 points to 24-657.

>>Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac To Allow Rent Payments In Credit Score

(Washington, DC)  --  Paying your rent on time may now improve a homebuyer's credit score.  Federal mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now allowing credit scores based on rent and utility payments, to make it easier to qualify for a mortgage.  The head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, William Pulte, made the announcement Wednesday at a press conference.  Pulte said, "If you pay your rent on time, you are more likely to pay your mortgage on time," adding that for decades, the housing system "ignored that simple fact."  On Wednesday he said "that's nonsense, because credit history should include rental history."

>>Tesla Reports Q1 Earnings

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla is reporting first-quarter earnings that beat analyst expectations.  Revenue, however, came in weaker than predicted.  The electric automaker reported Wednesday that revenue was 22-point-39 billion dollars, compared with expectations of 22-point-64 billion.  Earnings were at 41 cents a share, above the 37 cents expected.

>>EV Sales Drop Sharply In California

(Sacramento, CA)  --  California's plan to have all new cars be electric by 2035 is facing challenges.  A new report shows sales of electric cars in California have dropped sharply, with zero-emission vehicles making up just under 14 percent of new car sales, a significant decrease from last year.  Registrations are also down more than 40 percent, partly because a 75-hundred federal tax credit went away.  Meanwhile, hybrid car sales are rising, now making up over 20 percent of the market.  Experts say many buyers like the savings of electric cars but prefer the ease of transitioning into a hybrid. 

>>Reports: Trump Administration Close To Rescue Package For Spirit Airlines

(Dania Beach, FL)  --  Spirit Airlines may soon find itself on the receiving end of a financial lifeline from the federal government.  Multiple reports say the Trump administration is close to a rescue deal for the troubled airline.  The discount airline is reportedly facing the risk of liquidation.

>>Microsoft Cuts Game Pass Subscription Rates

(Redmond, WA)  --  Microsoft is cutting the price of its Game Pass subscriptions.  The company said Tuesday that the cost of its Game Pass Ultimate service, which allows users to download and stream video games, is being cut from nearly 30 dollars per month to 22-99.  The limited PC Game Pass is also being cut, to just 14 dollars a month.  The price cut comes after the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Asha Sharma, told employees in a memo earlier this year that Game Pass had become too expensive.

For: April 22, 2026 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  Stocks slid and global oil prices surged as prospects dimmed for Iran negotiations in Pakistan.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 293 points to 49-149.  The S&P 500 fell 45 points to 70-64.  The Nasdaq dropped 144 points to 24-259.

>>Job Satisfaction Hits A New Low In The U.S.

(New York, NY)  --  A new federal survey shows worker satisfaction is plummeting in the U.S.  The survey by the New York Federal Reserve released on Tuesday shows only ten percent of U.S. workers feel they are able to find other jobs.  It also shows less satisfaction with job pay, benefits and promotion opportunities, and fewer people out looking for a job in the last four weeks.

>>Florida AG Opens Investigation Into OpenAI

(Tallahassee, FL)  --  Florida's Attorney General is launching a criminal investigation into OpenAI.  James Uthmeier said his office is also issuing subpoenas to the AI company to seek information on how it approaches a users threat of harm to themselves or others. The subpoena will also request information on policies and internal training materials regarding OpenAI's cooperation with law enforcement agencies.  Uthmeier also says they've also been looking into the communication between ChatGPT and an alleged gunman who killed two people at Florida State University in April of 2025.  He says the chatbot advised the shooter on what type of gun to use, ammo, and whether or not a gun would be useful in short range.

>>Amazon Launches GLP-1 Weight Loss Program

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon is launching its own weight-loss program.  The online retailer said Tuesday that Amazon One Medical will now provide customers with "fast, convenient" access to GLP-1 treatments, with prices beginning at 25 dollars per-month with insurance.  It said the GLP-1 management program will integrate obesity treatment into routine care, combining virtual and in-person visits with prescription management.  The company added that it plans to expand same-day drug delivery to 45-hundred cities by the end of the year.

>>Existing Home Sales Slowed In March

(Washington, DC)  --  Existing home sales slowed more than expected in March.  The National Association of Realtors says sales decreased three-point-six percent to an annual rate of just under four-million units in March.  The group's chief economist noted sales "remained sluggish and below last year's pace" due to economic concerns and historically low inventory.  Month-over-month sales fell in all four regions of the country.  The median price of a single-family home was 412-thousand-400 dollars in March, up one-point-three percent from last year.

>>Trump Media Announces New Interim CEO

(Undated)  --  Trump Media and Technology Group is announcing their new interim CEO.  Kevin McGurn is taking over the role, effective immediately.  McGurn previously worked as an executive at Hulu, Vevo and T-Mobile before serving as an adviser to Trump Media since 2024.  TMTG is the parent company of social-media platform Truth Social, as well as other businesses who say their goal is to give "people their voices back."  McGurn will succeed former Republican Congressman David Nunes, who's been CEO since 2022.

For: April 21, 2026  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed slightly lower on Monday to start off the trading week.  Stocks slipped as global oil prices rose over the uncertainty about the future of U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan.  Investors are also keeping an eye on earnings with Tesla, Boeing and chipmaker Intel scheduled to report results this week.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost four points to 49-442.  The S&P 500 fell 16 points to 71-09.  The Nasdaq dropped 64 points to 24-404.

>>Retail Sales Up, Driven By Gas Prices

(Washington, DC)  --  Retail sales jumped by one-point-seven percent in March, the largest growth since January 2023.  The numbers out today from the Census Bureau show the growth was driven by a 15-point-five percent increase in gasoline spending brought on by the war with Iran.  Analysts were expecting growth of one-point-four percent.

>>Tim Cook To Step Down As Apple CEO

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO later this year.  The company said Cook will transition to the role of executive chairman on September 1st.  John Ternus will be Apple's new CEO.  The 50-year-old was previously the chief of hardware at Apple.  Cook has served as the head of Apple since 2011 when he took over for Steve Jobs.  Cook said being CEO of Apple the greatest privilege of his life.

>>Satire Site The Onion To Take Over Infowars

(Undated)  --  Satire site The Onion says it's taking over Infowars.  CEO Ben Collins confirmed the news to Variety Monday.  The company will take control of the Alex Jones ran site under a deal with Gregory Milligan, who was appointed by a bankruptcy court to manage the platform in 2024.  The Onion says pending court approval, the new digital platform will be launched to "create a home for emerging and established comedic voices while expanding The Onion's home as a modern satire institution."  The deal would run for six months with an option to renew for another six months pending approval from a judge.  

>>Disney World Raising Ticket Prices

(Orlando, FL)  --  Walt Disney World is raising ticket prices.  The Florida theme park rolled out its pricing through October 2027 and the most expensive one-day ticket will cost 219-dollars a person on President's Day weekend.  Peak ticket prices this year reached 209-dollars.  Out west, Disneyland's peak ticket has reached 224-dollars.  Disney is offering some discounts to try to draw visitors in during the summer months, but with stripped back perks.

>>FDNY Planning Double Digit Hikes In Ambulance Fees 

(New York, NY)  -- The FDNY is planning double-digit hikes in ambulance fees come July 1st.  That means a basic life support ambulance ride would jump from thirteen-hundred-eighty-five-dollars to nearly 18-hundred, while "treatment in place" would rise from 630 dollars to 896.  Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola blames Mayor Mamdani's edict that all city departments have to make budget cuts because of the city's fiscal crisis.  But EMS Union President Oren Barzilay blames a staffing shortage caused by poor pay and EMS personnel working three years without a contract.  He says that's insulting and "endangers the people of the city of New York."  The public will get to weigh in a May 15th hearing.

For: April 20, 2026 

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed the week out sharply higher on Friday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 868 points to 49-447.  The S&P 500 rose 84 points, closing above 71-hundred for the first time at 71-26.  The Nasdaq climbed 365 points to 24-468.

>>Tariff Refund Portal Opening

(Washington, DC)  --  The Trump administration's tariff refund system is set to launch.  Starting today, American importers will be able to access a portal used to issue refunds from the 166-billion-dollars that was paid by companies.  The Supreme Court struck down those tariffs in February, ruling President Trump illegally side-stepped Congress when he enacted them.  Consumers who paid higher costs on an imported product are not eligible for a tariff refund under this system, but individual companies may be issuing refunds in the future.  

>>Spirit Airlines Liquidation Possible 

(Miramar, FL)  --  Spirit Airlines is on the brink of total liquidation as its bankruptcy restructuring hits a wall.  Sky-high fuel costs fueled by the conflict in the Middle East are largely to blame.  Lenders are reportedly pulling support, and the airline is already cutting dozens of routes and furloughing hundreds of crew members.  Spirit says it's still flying for now, but experts warn of sudden 'overnight' cancellations.  If you're booked, check your flight status before heading to the airport.

>>Blue Origin Puts Satellite In Wrong Orbit

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  Blue Origin had a successful launch yesterday as its New Glenn rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  However, it was carrying a commercial communications satellite that it put into the wrong orbit, making it unusable.  It was the third launch for the New Glenn rocket and the first to reuse the rocket's first stage.  The now-useless satellite was the largest civilian antenna ever put in orbit.  No word on how much it cost but the company behind it said it's fully insured.

>>KB Home Relocating Headquarters To Arizona

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Another major company is leaving California.  KB Home, one of the largest homebuilding companies in the nation, plans to move its headquarters from Los Angeles to Tempe [[ Tem-pee ]], Arizona in spring 2027.  Officials say they're shifting executive leadership and key operations to the Phoenix area, citing lower costs and a more favorable business climate.

For: April 17, 2026

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mostly higher on Wall Street yesterday, with the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq both hitting fresh record highs.  It comes as investors are keeping their eyes on the war between the U.S. and Iran, with President Trump telling reporters that Iran is "willing to do things today they weren't two months ago," adding a deal could happen pretty quickly.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 115 points to 48-578.  The S&P 500 climbed 18 points to 70-41.  The Nasdaq rose 86 points to 24-102.

>>Netflix Chairman Stepping Down

(Los Gatos, CA)  --  Netflix Chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down this summer after 29 years.  In that time it went from a service that physically mailed out DVDs to the largest paid streaming service in the world with an audience of nearly a billion people.  The company said Hastings is planning to focus on philanthropy.  Netflix stock dropped around nine-percent on the news Thursday.  

>>UAW President Fain, Labor Leaders Urge Congress For AI Safeguards

(Washington, DC)  --  United Auto Workers union president Shawn Fain and other labor leaders are urging Congress to pass artificial intelligence safeguards to protect workers at risk of being left behind.  Auto industry officials say AI has been being used for at least the last decade on things like troubleshooting, maintenance, and quality inspections.  Fain, however, compares the technology to the start of NAFTA.  U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders joined the labor leaders for their Capitol Hill rally this week.

>>Anthropic Releases Claude Opus 4.7

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Anthropic is releasing a new artificial intelligence model called Claude Opus 4.7.  The company said Thursday it's better than past models but less capable than Claude Mythos Preview, which was deemed too powerful for public release.  That model was apparently able to identify massive security flaws and breach virtual containment on its own, showing a dangerous potential for circumventing safeguards.  Opus is reportedly good at software engineering and following instructions.  

>>IRS Using AI To Speed Up Tax Return Processing

(Washington, DC)  --  The IRS is using artificial intelligence to process tax returns following the April 15th filing deadline.  The agency says the technology helps speed up reviews and identify errors that may be missed by human workers.  The system crosschecks returns against existing records, including bank interest, side income, and payment app transactions.  Experts warn taxpayers the technology can produce incorrect information and possibly expose sensitive personal data.  

>>Paramount Skydance CEO Makes Surprise CinemaCon Appearance

(Undated)  --  Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison is making major pledges to global movie theater owners as he lays out his vision for a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. The mogul made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon on Thursday, and he announced that Paramount Pictures will offer a 45-day exclusive window for their movies to play in theaters. He also discussed a three-month commitment period for their movies to live on streaming video-on-demand platforms before titles head to Paramount-plus. Ellison is awaiting regulatory approval to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, and he said once the transaction is completed, the companies will make a "minimum" of 30 films for theaters across both studios.  

>>QVC Files For Bankruptcy

(West Chester, PA)  --  The parent company of home shopping TV channels QVC and HSN is filing for bankruptcy.  QVC Group revealed the plan in a filing with the SEC.  This comes as consumer habits have shifted, with video platforms on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube entering the shopping space.  QVC Group laid off 900 employees last year as it planned to shift to social platforms.  The company said its aim is to emerge from bankruptcy within 90 days.

>>Trader Joe's Shoppers May Qualify For Settlement Payment

(Undated)  --  Trader Joe's is agreeing to a seven-point-four-million-dollar payout to settle a lawsuit. The multi-million-dollar class action lawsuit accused the grocer of violating the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act after some customers received receipts with the first six and last four digits of their credit or debit card. Impacted Trader Joe's customers will need to file a claim to receive their portion of the settlement, which is estimated to be around 102 dollars. Customers have until June 9th to file a claim. 

For: April 16, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a mixed day of trading on Wall Street that saw both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq close at fresh record highs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 72 points to 48-463.  The S&P 500 climbed up by 55 points to 70-22.  The Nasdaq rose by 376 points to 24-016.

>>Trump To Tout Tax Cuts In Sin City

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  President Trump is heading to Las Vegas today to highlight tax breaks from the "Big, Beautiful Bill."  His trip to the AC Hotel Las Vegas comes the day after taxes were due for millions of Americans.  The President is expected to hear from people who've benefited from the no tax on tips and overtime provisions in the bill.  Trump will be taking the same message when he travels to Phoenix, Arizona on Friday.

>>Gas Prices Drop Slightly 

(Heathrow, FL)  --  Gas prices are down slightly.  Triple A puts today's nationwide average at four dollars and nine cents a gallon, down a penny from yesterday.  A week ago, four-16 was the nationwide average.   

>>Jury Finds Live Nation, Ticketmaster Guilty In High-Stake Antitrust Trial

(Manhattan, NY)  --  A jury has found Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster guilty in a high-stake antitrust trial.  The initial complaint brought by the Department of Justice claimed that Live Nation monopolized the industry by controlling ticketing, concert booking, venues and promotions.  The lawsuit alleged the company engaged in "anticompetitive conduct," causing fans to pay higher fees, giving artists fewer options for touring and coercing venues to use Ticketmaster.  In the second week of the five week trial, the Justice Department struck a deal with Live Nation that requires Ticketmaster to divest up to 13 amphitheaters and cap ticket service fees at 15-percent.  A majority of state attorneys general still pursued claims despite the deal, leading to the verdict on Wednesday.

>>SantaCon Organizer Accused Of $1M+ Charity Fraud

(New York City, NY)  --  A man is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing more than one-million-dollars meant for charity through New York City's Santa-Con.  Prosecutors say 50-year-old Stefan Pildes misled thousands of participants by claiming ticket proceeds would benefit local charities.  Pildes is accused of diverting more than half of the roughly two-and-a-half-million-dollars raised since 2019 for personal use.  Pildes allegedly used the money on luxury expenses, including vacations, dining, and property renovations.  He is charged with wire fraud as the investigation continues.

>>NY Gov Proposes New Tax For Luxury Secondary Properties 

(New York, NY)  --  New York Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing a new tax on certain luxury secondary properties in the Big Apple to help the city with a big budget hole.  Hochul's proposal would put a surcharge on New York City homes worth five million dollars or more if the owner has a separate primary residence outside of the city.  Hochul estimates it would generate half a billion dollars in revenue for the city which faces a multi-billion dollar budget hole.  Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports the measure but has also been pushing for a tax hike on higher income earners in New York and big businesses.  Hochul today reiterated she's not on board with that. 

>>Hampshire College Closing After Fall Semester 

(Amherst, MA)  --  A small liberal arts school in Western Massachusetts is planning to close permanently after the fall semester. Many small schools have struggled to enroll students, and Hampshire College will be the latest to join an epidemic of closures over the past two decades. According to Hampshire President Jennifer Chrisler, the college has about 625 students which is almost half the school's enrollment in the early 2000s. The 56-year-old college underwent a multiyear effort to refinance debt, raise funds, pursue land development and increase enrollment, but it failed to produce a viable path to saving the institution.   

>>AMC Raising Price Of Stubs A-List Program

(Undated)  --  AMC Theaters is raising the price of their Stubs A-List program.  The cinema chain revealed the plan for the price hike following the rising costs of operating its venues.  The subscription membership will go up to 29-99 per month, a two-dollar increase from May 2025's price increase.  Perks are slated to remain the same, with moviegoers being able to see up to four movies per week, free upgrades on popcorn and fountain drinks and a five-dollar reward for every 50-dollars spent.  

For: April 15, 2026 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday on Wall Street.  Stocks posted solid gains after President Trump said a second round of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran could happen soon in Pakistan.  Market sentiment also got a boost from falling oil prices and a surge in technology shares.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 317 points to 48-535.  The S&P 500 rose 81 points to 69-67.  The Nasdaq climbed 455 points to 23-639.

>>Taxes Due Today 

(Washington, DC)  --  Tax Day is here.  Tax returns must be postmarked or electronically filed by the end of the day to avoid a late-file penalty.  If you're not ready, you can file for a six-month filing extension, but tax experts caution that's not an extension to pay the IRS if you owe.  You must still pay the estimated tax owed by the April 15th deadline to avoid interest and late payment penalties.

>>IMF Says Middle East War Is Cutting World Growth

(Washington, DC)  --  The International Monetary Fund is cutting its growth outlook due to price increases caused by war in the Middle East.  The organization that ensures stability in global financial systems met Tuesday in Washington, DC and said the world was facing much weaker growth as shipping disruptions continue in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran.  The IMF said it was choosing its most positive scenario for its World Economic Outlook, which assumes the war will end soon and that prices will return to normal.  In its worst-case scenario, the IMF says the global economy is teetering on the brink of recession.

>>Survey: Fertilizer Too Expensive

(Undated)  --  A majority of American farmers say they won't be able to purchase enough fertilizer this year.  That's according to a new survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation that found 70-percent of farmers said fertilizer is too expensive.  There are differences by region, with 80 percent of southern farmers saying they can't afford it compared to just under 50 percent in the Midwest.  Since the start of increased tensions in the Middle East, fertilizer prices have gone up 30 percent.

>>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sold To Nonprofit

(Pittsburgh, PA)  --  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will no longer shut down next month as it is being sold to a nonprofit publishing group. B lock Communications, which is the Post-Gazette's parent company, announced that it sold the paper to the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism. According to Post-Gazette reporter Kris Mamula, the sale is effective May 4th and the paper will keep its name. Under the new acquisition, the paper's newsroom and local business leadership will remain in the Steel City while other functions will be combined with teams at the institute.  

>>Novo Nordisk To Partner With OpenAI

(Bagsvaerd, Denmark)  --  Novo Nordisk is partnering with OpenAI in its efforts to keep pace with rapid expansion in the weight loss drug race.  The pharmaceutical company announced the partnership in a statement on Tuesday and shared it would use AI to analyze complex datasets, identify promising drug candidates and reduce the time between research and patient application.  The move comes as pharmaceutical companies are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to speed up and simplify clinical development.  The CEOs of both companies welcomed the partnership and potential for accelerated scientific discovery.  

>>Amazon Acquiring Satellite Firm To Challenge Musk's Starlink

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon is looking to acquire the satellite firm Globalstar in a multi-billion-dollar deal. The eleven-point-57-billion-dollar deal gives Amazon access to Globalstar's network of two dozen satellites. The move will boost the tech giant's ambitions to challenge Elon Musk's Starlink, which currently has about ten-thousand units in orbit. Amazon has been working to ramp up its network by deploying about three-thousand-200 satellites in Earth's low orbit by 2029, and roughly half are required to be in place by a July 2026 regulatory deadline.     

For: April 14, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Monday to start off the week.  Stocks rebounded in late trading as technology shares helped boost the broader market.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 301 points to 48-218.  The S&P 500 rose 69 points to 68-86.  The Nasdaq climbed 280 points to 23-183.  

>>Producer Prices Up

(Washington, DC)  --  Wholesale prices went up in March but much less than expected.  Numbers out from the Labor Department today show the producer price index rose half a percent, well under the one-point-one percent markets were expecting.  Much of the costs were driven by an increase in energy costs due to the Iran war.  Excluding food and energy, producer prices went up just a tenth of a percent.

>>Meta Working On AI Zuckerberg

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly making an interactive AI version of himself so that employees might feel more connected to him.  That's according to the Financial Times, which reports the company is training the avatar with Zuckerberg's image, voice, mannerisms and tone.  The company might start letting people make AI copies of themselves if the Zuckerberg clone works out.

>>Hollywood Figures Against Paramount And Warner Brothers Merger

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Entertainment professionals are speaking out against a planned merger between Paramount and Warner Brothers.  More than one-thousand Hollywood figures have signed an open letter arguing the merger would "further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape." It also claims it would reduce competition at a moment when both the industry and audience "can least afford it."  The letter comes as Paramount and Warner Brothers eye a deal that would deliver a major shake-up to the TV and movie business.  According to stars who signed, "the result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences."  

>>United Air Proposed Merger With American Airlines To Trump

(Chicago, IL)  --  The CEO of United Airlines reportedly proposed a merger with American Airlines to President Trump back in February.  Sources say United CEO Scott Kirby suggested that move would result in a stronger competitor in international markets - a nod to the administration's focus on U.S. trade deficits around the world.  Industry experts say approval of such a merger would be unlikely due antitrust and other challenges.

>>UPS To Cut Dozens Of Louisville Jobs

(Louisville, KY)  --  UPS has announced it's laying off dozens of workers at its Bluegrass facility in Louisville, Kentucky.  In a notice filed with the state, UPS says 65 employees will be let go in June when the facility is closed.  The company says it will try to offer those employees positions elsewhere within UPS if possible.  UPS officials say the cuts are part of the largest reconfiguration in its history as it tries to be more efficient.  The union that represents the UPS workers -- Teamsters Local 89 -- says it's supposed to receive more information on the cuts today. 

For: April 13, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning to kick off a fresh trading week after stocks closed mostly lower on Friday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 269 points to 47-916.  The S&P 500 lost 7 points to 68-16.  The Nasdaq gained 80 points to 22-902.

>>Tax Day Is April 15th  

(Undated)  --  Taxes are due this week.  The deadline to file is Wednesday, but if you haven't even started or aren't done yet, there's still hope.  If you're in a crunch, you need to file for an extension.  The key thing to keep in mind is to file your extension by April 15th. 

>>Los Angeles Public School Teachers Move To Avoid Strike 

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  It looks like school will be in session this week in the country's 2nd largest school district.  Los Angeles Unified announced Sunday morning that the district and the teacher's union struck a tentative two-year agreement, possibly avoiding a strike that was set to start Tuesday.  LAUSD says teacher pay scales will go up and the starting salary for a teacher will be 77-thousand dollars a year. 

>>NJ Leads Nation In Young Adults Living At Home With Parents 

(Trenton, NJ)  --  New Jersey leads the nation in the number of young adults living at home with their parents.  Forty-four percent of New Jerseyans ages 18 to 34 are living with their folks, compared to 33-percent nationwide.  The median sales price of a home in New Jersey was 558-thousand-dollars in February, 140-percent higher than the national median sales price.  Realtors say that fact, plus job market uncertainty, inflation and student loan debt are fueling the young adults at home trend, driving demand for in-law suites and finished basements with separate entrances.   

>>Netherlands 1st European Country Approve Tesla's FSD Supervised Feature

(Austin, TX)  --  The Netherlands is the first European country to approve Tesla's Full Self-Driving - Supervised - feature.  Government officials say drivers must be in the vehicle and must monitor it closely while in FSD mode.  Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he plans to expand the rollout of the feature to other European countries soon. 

>>5 Cheapest States To Retire In 

(Undated)  --  The Motley Fool's 2026 Best Places to Retire reports has been released.  The report found that Arkansas is best for costs of living and number five for housing costs.  Indiana came is second for costs of living and 11th for housing.  Ohio follows with third for living costs and tenth for housing.  Rounding out the top five list of cheapest states to retire in were Kentucky and Texas.