For: August 13, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Wednesday.  Stocks related to AI saw gains, including  Dell Technologies, Micron Technology and Cisco Systems.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 21 points to 53-770.  The S&P 500 gained 20 points to 77-48.  The Nasdaq rose 143 points to 26-588.

>>PPI Due Today

(Undated)  --  Another key inflation report is due out today.  The Producer Price Index examines prices at the wholesale level, before they reach consumers, and can be a good guideline of what we'll be paying int he months to come.  It comes after the Consumer Price Index was released on Wednesday, showing inflation went up slightly from June to July.  Usually, the reports move in tandem, but not always.  Both reports are used by the Federal Reserve when it comes to determining interest rates.

>>Twitch Allows Users To "Opt Out" Of AI Training

(Seattle, WA)  --  A popular streaming platform is now letting its content creators block Amazon from using their videos to help train its AI models.  Twitch announced on Wednesday that users can now opt out by going to the settings page under 'security and privacy.'  Amazon bought Twitch in 2014, and recently confirmed that it was using its streamers' content to train its generative AI models.  

>>Grubhub App Users Could Get Payments From FTC

(Undated)  --  The FTC says it's sending money to thousands of Grubhub users to settle a lawsuit alleging that the delivery service tricked customers with hidden fees. The payments will total more than 23-million dollars.  It comes after the FTC and Illinois Attorney General accused the company back in 2024 of using illegal and deceptive practices.  The FTC says a former Grubhub executive referred to the practice as a "pricing shell game."  Grubhub was also accused of deceiving its drivers about how much money they would make and listing restaurants on its platform without their permission. 

>>President Trump's Media Company Sued For New Truth Social Product

(Undated)  --  A lawsuit has been filed against President Trump's media company.  This comes after Trump Media announced a new product that gives paying Wall Street firms faster access to the president's Truth Social posts.  The Intercept filed the suit Wednesday, saying it violates the First Amendment.  The suit also notes that the "scheme is profoundly corrupt."  The product was initially announced last month, with firms having to pay between 60-thousand to 100-thousand dollars per month to gain access to the real-time feed.  

>>Josh Kushner, Bob Iger Buying Lakers For $12B+

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are reportedly buying the Lakers for more than 12-billion dollars.  It would be a record-breaking price, if the sale is approved by the NBA Board of Governors.  Mark Walter bought a controlling interest in the Lakers from the Buss family for approximately ten-billion dollars last October and is now agreeing to sell.  He also owns the Dodgers and parts of several other sports teams.

>>Phoebe Gates Faces Accusation

(New York, NY)  --  Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe Gates and her startup "Phia" are facing scrutiny over allegations the company improperly used "cookie stuffing" to take credit for online sales it may not have driven.   A Bloomberg report says Gates and co-founder Sophia Kianni were aware for months of features that could drop tracking cookies even when shoppers did not use Phia's coupons.  Phia initially described the issue as a software bug, but says the features were removed July 7th and that it is reviewing transactions and reversing any improper commissions.  The company disputes parts of Bloomberg's analysis, while legal experts warn cookie stuffing can potentially be prosecuted as federal wire fraud, carrying significant penalties.

>>WalletHub Study Reveals Top States To Live In 

(Undated)  --  One study is revealing the top states to live in. WalletHub based its ranking of all 50 states on 51 key metrics, including health care and location, income, and homeownership rates. Idaho took the top spot for its low real estate tax rate and highest median income growth in the country. New Jersey took the second spot for its location to economic hubs and highly rated healthcare while Wisconsin made up the top three for its affordable housing. Massachusetts and New Hampshire round out the top five on the list. 

For: August 12, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed lower yesterday. Oil prices have been on the rise amid uncertainty over the status of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.  U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures and international benchmark Brent crude were both up over one-percent. Elsewhere, shares of Alphabet and AppLovin have both seen a dip.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 184 points to 53-791.  The S&P 500 fell 24 points to 77-28. The Nasdaq dropped 159 points to 26-445. 

>>CPI Out Today 

(Undated)  --  The Consumer Price Index, one of the Fed's favorite inflation gauges, is set to be released today.  That will be followed by equally important Producer Price Index on Thursday along with the weekly look at first-time jobless claims.  

>>California's Minimum Wage Set To Go Up

(Sacramento, CA)  --  California will raise its minimum wage to 17 dollars and 40 cents per hour starting January 1st next year.  This is a 50-cent increase from the current hourly wage.  The federal minimum wage is still seven dollars and 25 cents, unchanged since 2009.  California's minimum wage goes up each year to keep up with inflation.  The amount is based on the Consumer Price Index. 

>>TikTok Ban On Government Devices Lifted

(Washington, DC)  --  The Office of Management and Budget has lifted the ban on TikTok on federal government devices.  The move follows a Justice Department opinion finding that employees can legally download TikTok under the platform's new U.S. joint venture, which is majority-owned by American investors.  TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, retains a 19-point-nine-percent stake, while Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX each hold 15-percent.  The arrangement was created to address national security and privacy concerns behind a 2024 law requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban.  The decision marks the latest development in the long-running effort to keep TikTok operating in the United States.

>>Powerball Jackpot Hits $1 Billion  

(Undated)  --  One-billion dollars is up for grabs in Wednesday's Powerball drawing.  The jackpot hit the mark after there was no grand prize winner in Monday night's drawing.  The cash value of the grand prize is 433-point-one-million dollars.  Tickets are two dollars each.  Odds of winning are roughly one in 292-million.     

For: August 11, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street as stocks closed lower Monday to start off the trading week. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 60 points to 53-975. The S&P 500 fell 4 points to 77-53. The Nasdaq dropped 85 points to 26-605.

>>Appeals Court Declines To Dismiss Online Safety Suits Against Social Media Companies

(Washington, DC) -- A U.S. Appeals Court has declined to dismiss thousands of online safety lawsuits against major social media companies. In a ruling issued Monday, the Ninth Circuit said Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act can be used as a defense against liability, but not to avoid being sued altogether. The lawsuits allege platforms owned by companies like Meta and TikTok encourage addictive behavior, fail to properly verify users' ages and do not do enough to protect users from harmful content. Meta and TikTok argued the section should also protect them from lawsuits targeting the design of their platforms and sought to appeal before the litigation concludes. The court rejected that argument, clearing the way for thousands of cases to continue moving through the legal system.

>>Trump Media Company Reports $238M Loss In Q2

(Sarasota, FL) -- President Trump's media company, the company behind Truth Social, is reporting a nearly 240-million-dollar loss for the second quarter. Trump Media and Technology Group on Monday reported that revenue was up 89 percent compared to the same time last year. Most of those losses were attributed to unrealized losses on digital assets and equity securities. Shares dropped eight percent at market close.

>>Most In-Demand ZIP Codes For Homebuyers

(Undated) -- Realtor.com is out with a list of the most in-demand ZIP codes for homebuyers in the first half of 2026. With a 600-thousand-dollar median list price, Peabody, Massachusetts is the hottest place for U.S. home shoppers right now with views per property in the area receiving just over four times the U.S. average. For the fourth year in a row, the website's top ten hottest ZIP codes are all in the Northeast or Midwest. That's largely because fewer homes have been built in those regions, leaving buyers to compete for fewer properties. Meanwhile, buyers competing for homes in these areas tend to be financially well prepared as the average down payment was 17.1-percent across the top ten, compared with 13.1-percent nationally.

>>Powerball Jackpot Jumps To $975M

(Undated) -- The Powerball jackpot is moving closer to one-billion-dollars. There was no grand prize winner in Monday night's drawing so Wednesday's will be worth at least 975-million-dollars with a cash value of a little over 422-million. Tickets are two dollars each. Odds of winning are roughly one in 292-million. 

For: August 10, 2026 

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after the trading week ended Friday with stocks higher and the S&P 500 closing at a record high.  That all came after the latest jobs report saw an unexpected loss, which is leading investors to believe the Federal Reserve won't raise rates anytime soon.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics said 23-thousand jobs were unexpectedly shed in July, against expectations of up to as many as 83-thousand new jobs created.  At Friday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 151 points to 54-063.  The S&P 500 rose by 47 points 77-57.  The Nasdaq gained 342 points to 26-690.  

>>Reports On The Calendar

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, economic reports start rolling in tomorrow with the latest data on existing home sales.  The Consumer Price Index, one of the Fed's favorite inflation gauges, is due Wednesday.  Thursday brings the Producer Price Index and the weekly look at first-time jobless claims.  The week wraps up with retail sales on Friday.

>>Taylor Farms Recalling Foods With Jalapenos

(Salinas, CA)  --  Taylor Farms is recalling food items containing jalapenos over possible salmonella contamination.  It comes after the California-based company pulled lettuce linked to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak.  Taylor Farms said the recalled products include salsas and guacamole, flagged after the fresh peppers were recalled by Coast Citrus Distributors.

>>Verizon Service Returns After Cables Were Cut

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Verizon customers across Southern California once again have service after vandals cut fiber cables and triggered a massive disruption of mobile and home internet service.  The Downdetector site says over 12-thousand outage reports were registered yesterday.  That's likely a small percentage of the total number of people who lost service.  Verizon has not provided much information about where the cables were cut or who might be responsible for the vandalism.   

>>GAO: DOGE Overstated Savings

(Washington, DC)  --  The Government Accountability Office says Elon Musk's DOGE overstated some of its claimed cost savings from cuts.  DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency, claimed 110-billion dollars saved with its cuts to federal contracts, grant programs and leases.  Overall, DOGE reported a total of 215-billion in cuts.  A new report from the GAO says there were issues with transparency that made the reported savings unreliable.  For instance, millions of dollars in reported savings from cuts to leases included leases that were already in the process of termination before DOGE was formed.  

>>Over 1M Ladders Recalled 

(Louisville, KY)  --  A Kentucky importer has announced over one-million ladders have been recalled due to potential fall risks and injuries.  Louisville Ladder, Inc. recalled the ladder in an alert late last week.  The Kentucky-based company said the aluminum or wood frame ladders with gas struts come with hand rails and fold into the attic.  On the Consumer Product Safety Commission website, the company said that the bolts on the ladders could break, causing those using them to be injured.  The attic stairway ladders were manufactured in Mexico and sold in home improvement stores between November 2012 and July 2026. 

For: August 7, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed in the red yesterday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 464 points to 53-885.  The S&P 500 fell 13 points to 77-09. The Nasdaq dropped 15 points to 26-348.   

>>23,000 Jobs Lost Last Month 

(Washington, DC)  --  Job creation stalled last month.  The government's monthly employment report out today shows no new non-farm payroll jobs added in July.  In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says 23-thousand jobs were unexpectedly shed.  Most analysts had been expecting to see as many as 83-thousand new jobs created.  Meanwhile, the unemployment rate did slip a bit from four-point-two percent to four-point-one.

>>Meta Ordered To Pay $567M In NM Case

(Albuquerque, NM)  --  Meta is being ordered to pay a hefty fine for contributing to a "mental health crisis" among children.  A New Mexico judge ordered the owner of Facebook and Instagram to pay 567-million dollars into a child mental health fund set up to address harms caused by social media.  In Thursday's ruling, the judge called Meta's social media platforms "a significant contributing factor to the current mental health crisis among New Mexico's youth."  Lawyers for Meta say the company disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.  

>>FCC Votes On Ownership Rule

(Undated)  --  The FCC has voted to eliminate a decades-old rule limiting how many households a single broadcaster can reach nationwide.  The previous cap restricted broadcasters from reaching more than 39-percent of the national television audience, but the FCC says the change will help TV networks compete with major digital platforms.  The agency will now use a case-by-case review process when evaluating broadcast ownership limits.  Supporters say the move will strengthen local broadcasters, while critics warn it could lead to more media consolidation and fewer independent voices.  The decision could have major implications for the future of television news and the media industry.

>>Coastal Launch Pad Proposed

(Baton Rouge, LA)  --  The governor of Louisiana is addressing reports that SpaceX is looking to build a launch pad in his state.  Republican Jeff Landry says he's open to the idea.  There have been suggestions that Elon Musk's space company has their eyes on a possible location near Vermilion Bay and Pecan Island, which is about one hour south of Lafayette.

>>$110,000 Annual Salary Needed To Afford A Home In 2026

(Undated)  --  Americans need to earn around 110-thousand-dollars to comfortably afford a typical home for sale in the United States.  That's according to a new Redfin report that looked at the annual income a household would need to purchase a median-priced home in June 2026.  The necessary 110-thousand-dollar income is just point-five-percent lower than last year's record high amount, while Redfin estimates the median U.S. household earned nearly 88-thousand-dollars in June, up four-percent from a year ago.  Affordability has improved in 24 of the 46 major metro areas that Redfin analyzed.  Seattle experienced the largest improvement, with the income needed to afford the typical home dropping seven-point-four-percent from a year earlier as home prices fell. 

For: August 6, 2026 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit another record high as stocks closed mixed yesterday on Wall Street.  It comes as Shares of SpaceX have dropped after the company released its first quarterly report since going public.  At the closing bell, the Dow added 263 points to end at 54-349.  The S&P 500 fell 12 points to 77-23.  The Nasdaq dropped 221 points to 26-363.

>>Disney Reports Q3 Gains

(Burbank, CA)  --  Disney saw a strong third quarter.  The entertainment giant reported Wednesday that earnings topped expectations, revenue though was slightly under market expectations.  Revenue was up seven percent year-over-year at more than 25-billion-dollars, driven by theme park attendance and the success of Pixar's "Toy Story 5" in theaters.  Revenue was also up for streaming services Disney+ and Hulu.  

>>OpenAI Settles With DOJ

(Washington, DC) --  OpenAI is agreeing to a three-point-two-million dollar settlement with the Department of Justice over allegations the company discriminated against U.S. workers in its hiring practices.  The DOJ says the investigation involved fewer than ten positions, but found issues including how some jobs were advertised and how applications were accepted.  Under the agreement, OpenAI will pay one-point-two-million in civil penalties and two-million to compensate workers affected by the alleged practices.  The company denies the findings but says it reached the agreement to resolve the matter and move forward with its immigration-related hiring program.

>>Saudi-Led $55 Billion Takeover Of EA Has Closed

(Undated)  --  Electronic Arts is now privately owned after the largest leveraged buyout in history closed this week.  EA had teased the move, saying last week that the 55-billion-dollar buyout had cleared all of the required regulatory hurdles, paving the way for the company and its new owners to wrap things up.  Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund now owns over 93 percent of the video game publisher.  Private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners are also among the new owners, while current CEO Andrew Wilson remains at the helm of the company which is still based in Redwood City, California.  The buyers used 20-billion-dollars in debt financing to secure the deal, which EA will have to pay back over time.  

>>Powerball Jackpot Soars

(Undated)  --  The Powerball jackpot is up to 856-million dollars after no one won the grand prize in Wednesday night's drawing.  The next chance to strike it rich comes this Saturday with the cash value option on the massive jackpot coming out to 372-million dollars.

For: August 5, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply higher on Wall Street yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both notched new records as optimism grows that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened. At the closing bell,the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 907 points to 54-085. The S&P 500 gained 136 points to 77-36. The Nasdaq rose 671 points to 26-584.

>>SpaceX Releases First Earnings Report As Publicly Traded Company

(Starbase, TX) -- SpaceX reported better than expected quarterly profit in its first report as a public company, but concern over massive spending on artificial intelligence sent the stock down more than six percent after-hours. The rocket company posted Q2 revenue of seven-point-eight-billion dollars, mostly from its Starlink internet service. But its xAI unit, which runs Grok, spent nearly 16-billion-dollars, the majority of SpaceX's capital expenditures. SpaceX ranks as one of the top ten largest companies in the world based on market cap.

>>Paramount Warner Bros Antitrust Trial

(Los Angeles, CA) -- A federal judge has set a March 2027 trial date in the antitrust lawsuit challenging Paramount's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The date is later than Paramount requested and could prove costly, as the company is set to begin paying Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders seven-million dollars a day starting October 1st until the deal closes. A coalition of 12 state attorneys general argues the 111-billion dollar merger would reduce competition, while the Writers Guild of America has filed a separate lawsuit raising concerns about its impact on writers. Paramount maintains the merger would strengthen its ability to compete with major streaming companies and ultimately benefit consumers.

>>California Democrats Endorse Billionaire Tax Measure

(Sacramento, CA) -- California Democrats are officially backing a ballot measure that would tax the state's wealthiest residents to help fund healthcare. The state Democratic Party's executive board voted to endorse Proposition 40, which would impose a five-percent tax on the net worth of billionaires to help prevent healthcare cuts, hospital closures and layoffs. Supporters say the measure would protect essential services, while opponents, including Governor Gavin Newsom, some labor groups and business organizations, argue it could drive wealthy residents out of California and reduce long-term tax revenue. 

For: August 4, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Monday as Iran tensions ease.  Stocks rallied with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging to a record high as oil prices declined after President Trump called off planned strikes against Iran.  Tech shares including Meta Platforms, Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft all climbed about five percent or more.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 693 points to 53-178.  The S&P 500 rose 110 points to 76-00.  The Nasdaq jumped 540 points to 25-913.

>>SpaceX's First Earnings Report As Publicly Traded Company Due Today 

(Starbase, TX)  --  SpaceX is preparing to release its first quarterly earnings report as a publicly traded company today.  Among the line items investors will be watching - total revenue, revenue from its Starlink satellite internet service and AI revenue guidance will be highly scrutinized.  The earnings report also triggers an expiration lock up period ending Thursday, which opens more than 910-million shares for sale that were purchased by early investors.  SpaceX ranks as one of the top ten largest companies in the world based on market cap.

>>Amazon Market Cap

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon continues to rise after its market value topped three-trillion for the first time.  Shares hit a record high Monday, rising about four-percent after the company reported their second-quarter earnings, fueled by major growth in its cloud computing business and rising demand for artificial intelligence services.  Amazon Web Services brought in more than forty-two-billion-dollars in revenue, beating Wall Street expectations and highlighting the continued AI boom across the tech industry.  CEO Andy Jassy says Amazon plans to increase its spending on AI infrastructure, projecting capital investments could reach two-hundred-twenty-billion this year as the company works to keep up with demand.

>>Trump: Oil Companies Are Making Too Much Money

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says ExxonMobil and Chevron are making too much money.  Speaking in the Oval Office Monday, Trump said the country's two largest oil companies were taking in too much money based on a shortage and that they ought to give some of that windfall back to the public.  The President said he's a big free enterprise guy but he's not happy about the situation.  The oil industry argues current profits are based on global supply and demand.   The American Petroleum Institute also cites uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil trade route that's been choked to a trickle by the Iran war.  

>>Jobs Report Out This Week 

(Undated)  --  The monthly jobs report will be in the spotlight when it's released by the Labor Department this week.  Most analysts expect to see that the economy added an estimated 85-thousand new, non-farm payroll jobs in July.  That would be a notable increase from the 57-thousand jobs added the month prior, although the unemployment rate is forecast to tick slightly up to four-point-three percent.  The latest U.S. employment report is set for release on Friday.

For: August 3, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Friday to wrap up the final trading session of July.  Amazon surged 15 percent after reporting better than expected second quarter results.  Investors looked past rising bond yields as chip stocks extended their rally to end the week.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 276 points to 52-485.  The S&P 500 added 52 points to 74-89.  The Nasdaq rose 251 points to 25-373.

>>Some Improvement Expected In Monthly Jobs Report 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead - jobs data.  We'll get the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey on Tuesday, followed by ADP's monthly hiring survey on Wednesday.  The payroll processor only looks at private employers, but economists consider it a good indication of what to expect from the big headline story of the week - the monthly jobs report.  That's due to be released by the Labor Department on Friday.  Most analysts estimate the economy added about 85-thousand new, non-farm payroll jobs in July.  That would be a notable increase from the 57-thousand jobs added the month prior, although the unemployment rate is forecast to tick slightly up to four-point-three percent.  

>>Consumer Sentiment Rises Nearly 12% In July  

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Consumer sentiment jumped in July as inflation fears eased.  The University of Michigan's final reading for last month rose nearly 12 percent from June.  The survey's chief economist said despite the recent gains overall sentiment is still down eleven percent from a year ago.  She noted consumers remain focused on pocketbook issues after five years of high inflation and high prices.  One-year inflation expectations dipped slightly to their lowest readying since March.

>>Americans Hold Record New Vehicle Debt 

(Santa Monica, CA)  --  New car prices are causing buyers to go deeper into debt to finance purchases.  Data from Edmunds shows almost 30-percent of new car buyers are still paying off loans for their trade-ins.  Edmunds said the average amount of remaining balances on cars traded in the second quarter of 2026 was nearly seven-thousand dollars.  That's the highest for a second quarter on record.

>>Ford Recalls 47k Trucks To Fix Rear Camera Display Issue 

(Detroit, MI)  --  Ford is recalling over 47-thousand F-150 and F-250 pickup trucks.  A spokesperson says the rear camera's display screen blocks when the menu is open when reversing.  It violates a federal rule and may cause an accident.  Owners will be sent a letter starting this month.  An over-the-air software update may fix this issue for most trucks.  For more details, go to the NHTSA webpage.  
 

For: July 31, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell   

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday.  Microsoft helped drive gains after reporting growth from its Azure business.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 613 points to 52-208.  The S&P 500 gained 121 points to 74-37.  The Nasdaq rose 679 points to 25-122.

>>Economy Slowed More Than Expected 

(Washington, DC)  --  The economy has been slowing more than expected due to the conflict in Iran.  The latest GDP report found the economy grew at a yearly rate of one-and-a-half-percent during the three month period that ended in June.  That's against growth of two-point-one over the previous quarter.  Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate has risen to three-and-a-half-percent.

>>Yum Brand Says Taco Bell Took Hit From Cyclospora Outbreak

(Louisville, KY)  --  Yum Brands is reporting mix results for the quarter.  The company, which owns Taco Bell, said Thursday that the recent worry over the cyclospora outbreak hurt sales at the chain.  Traffic fell by double-digits at Taco Bell after the FDA liked the gastrointestinal outbreak to lettuce served at the restaurant.  But, the company said sales have been improving over the last ten days.  

>>Amazon's Zoox Gets U.S. Approval

(Washington, DC)  --  Amazon's Zoox is set to become the first company to receive federal approval to commercially operate a steering-wheel-free robotaxi.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cleared Zoox to begin charging for rides, with service expected to launch in Las Vegas after state approvals.  Federal officials say the custom-built driverless vehicles meet safety standards, but Zoox will face strict reporting requirements and ongoing oversight as the rollout expands.  The decision marks a significant step for the autonomous vehicle industry, even as regulators continue to monitor safety concerns surrounding driverless technology.

>>Joe Rogan Tops Forbes List Of Highest-Paid Podcasters

(New York, NY)  --  Joe Rogan is the top-paid podcaster of 2026.  On Thursday, "Forbes" released its list of the highest-paid podcasters from June of last year to June of 2026, and Rogan once again came out on top, making an estimated 82-million dollars.  Coming in at number two are the hosts of the Technology Business Programming Network, or TBPN, who made 70-million dollars.  At number three is the "Diary of a CEO" host Steven Bartlett, followed by Ashley Flowers of "Crime Junkie" at number four.  Rounding out the top five on the Forbes list are Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes of "Smartless."  
 

For: July 30, 2026 

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply lower on Wednesday.  It came after the Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged.  It's the fifth straight time the Fed has kept rates steady. This is also the second rate decision under new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost one-thousand-153-points to 51-594.  The S&P 500 fell 112 points to 73-16. The Nasdaq dropped 433 points to 24-442.

>>Survey:  Majority Of U.S. Workers Can't Cover A $500 Emergency From Savings

(Undated)  --  A new survey says over half of all U.S. workers can't cover a 500-dollar emergency expense from their savings.  The new poll conducted by emergency savings accounts provider SecureSave showed that 55 percent of U.S. employees do not have enough savings to cover an unexpected 500-dollar expense, and that over 40 percent have had to skip medical care, meals and car repairs in the past six months because of financial strain.  The survey further found that over 25 percent had no emergency savings at all.

>>Gas Expert Predicts August Price Hike

(Washington, DC)  --  A prominent gas industry expert warns gas prices are about the make a substantial jump.  This week, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy Patrick De Haan said that in about a week, Americans are "going to see new all-time records set for highest August gas prices ever  --  even compared to 2022."  Gas prices in the U.S. are up by over 30-percent since the start of the war with Iran.

>>DoorDash Building Its Own Drone Delivery Service

(San Francisco, CA)  --  DoorDash is building its own drone delivery service, including its own aircraft.  Its robotics and autonomy team is developing a new business called DoorDash Air after receiving air carrier certification from the FAA.  The certification allows the company to legally operate a commercial drone delivery service in the United States.  The service will eventually be available within the company's delivery app.  DoorDash has not said when its drones will begin delivering food to customers.

>>X-AI Challenges Minnesota AI "Nudification" Law

(St. Paul, MN)  --  Elon Musk's X-AI is challenging a new Minnesota law targeting AI "nudification" technology.  The lawsuit filed this week argues the measure violates the First Amendment by placing overly broad restrictions on free speech.  Supporters say the law is intended to protect people from non-consensual sexualized images created with artificial intelligence.  The law targets apps and websites that generate those images and is scheduled to take effect August 1st unless a judge blocks it.

>>Nevada Gaming Regulators Seek Sanctions Against Kalshi

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  Nevada gaming regulators say online prediction market Kalshi violated a court order by allowing state residents to continue placing bets.  The Nevada Gaming Control Board says investigators were able to access prohibited contracts from within the state despite a judge's order to stop the activity in May.  Kalshi has agreed to install geofencing technology by August 12th to block Nevada users from accessing the platform.  If the company misses that deadline, it could face court-ordered fines of 120-thousand-dollars per day.

>>Wall Street Closes Mostly Higher On Strong Earnings 

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed Tuesday mostly higher on strong corporate earnings.  Beverage giant Coca-Cola jumped nearly five percent after posting better than expected second quarter results.  Falling oil prices also provided some lift as chip stocks continued to struggle.  The Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates is due on Wednesday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 537 points to 52-747.  The S&P 500 rose 15 points to 74-28.  The Nasdaq lost 55 points to 24-876.

>>Canadians Spending Less On Travel To U.S.

(Undated)  --  Canadians are spending less money on traveling to the U.S. as relations with our northern neighbors strain. According to a recent report from Statistics Canada, leisure trips to the U.S. dropped by two-point-two billion dollars while international travel for leisure increased by three-point-six billion dollars for Canadians. The report also found that family related travel to the U.S. decreased within the span of eleven months, but the decline was much slower than the drop recorded in leisure travel. According to the report, the findings reflect the lowest number of border crossings since 1972, excluding the pandemic period.

>>Musk Announces X Money

(Austin, TX)  --  Elon Musk has launched a new financial service on his X social media platform.  On Monday, the tech billionaire announced the launch of X Money, which will  provide banking and financial services for X Premium and Premium-Plus subscribers.  X Money is offering peer-to-peer payments and money transfers on X, as well as a deposit account insured by the FDIC.  Subscribers can also receive a Visa debit card known as an "X card" for ATM withdrawals and in-person transactions.

>>Visa Trims 7% Of Workforce As AI Impacts Ops

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Visa is cutting about seven percent of its workforce.  The world's largest payment network plans to eliminate about 26-hundred jobs to streamline the company according to a memo confirmed by CNBC.  CEO Ryan McInerny noted "AI is helping to accelerate" a transformation and "shape the way work gets done at Visa." Most of the layoffs will impact technology and product operations.  Visa is set to report quarterly earnings after the market closes today.

>>Fed Reserve Kicks Off Meeting Ahead Of Rate Announcement

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its interest rate decision today.  A majority of investors polled believe the Fed will hold rates steady.  Several Fed officials have recently expressed concern about persistently high inflation.  President Trump is again calling for an interest rate cut.  Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump told reporters the new head of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh is doing a "fantastic" job, but the Reserve Board is "very political," and some members may have "bad intentions." 

>>Boeing Posts Bigger Loss Than Expected

(Crystal City, VA) --  Boeing has reported a larger-than-expected loss for the second quarter.  The aircraft manufacturer took a 280-million-dollar loss on the long-delayed Air Force One program to deliver a pair of 747s that will serve as the next generation Air Force One aircraft to the U.S. government, with the first delivery expected in 2028.  Adjusting for one-time items, the company reported a net loss of 76 cents a share, compared with a net loss last year of 92 cents a share.  In a note to staff, CEO Kelly Ortberg said "While two quarters don't make a year, if we work together and stay focused, we'll improve our competitiveness and set ourselves up for a big second half."  
 

For Tuesday, July 28th, 2026

>>Wall Street Closes Mixed As Chip Stocks Fall 

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed mixed Monday to kick off a busy week for tech earnings.  The major indexes trimmed early gains as investors worried that high oil prices could prompt a surprise rate hike by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.  Semiconductor stocks fell broadly with AMD, Teradyne and Micron leading the decline.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 262 points to 52-210.  The S&P 500 rose a point to 74-13. The Nasdaq lost 43 points to 24-932.

>>Fed Reserve Kicks Off Meeting Ahead Of Rate Announcement

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve kicks off its two-day meeting today ahead of its interest rate decision on Wednesday.  A majority of investors polled believe the Fed will hold rates steady.  Several Fed officials have recently expressed concern about persistently high inflation.  President Trump is again calling for an interest rate cut.  Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump told reporters the new head of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh is doing a "fantastic" job, but the Reserve Board is "very political," and some members may have "bad intentions." 

>>Gas Prices Up Over 20 Cents in a Month 

(undated) -  Gas prices are headed up again, due in large part to the ongoing war with Iran. Triple-A says the average price of a gallon of regular was four-dollars-and-11-cents Monday, up more than 10 cents from a week ago.  A month ago, the national average was three-dollars and-88 cents, and, a year ago, it was three-dollars-and-15-cents. 

>>Tech Giants Launch New AI Safety Initiative 

(Undated) -- Tech giants are launching a new AI safety initiative focused on open models. Nvidia, SpaceX, Microsoft and several other companies launched the initiative following news that a Chinese open-weight AI model was able to defend against a cyberattack carried out by rogue OpenAI models. Now the tech giants are aiming to build and share open AI tools as lawmakers increasingly weigh how to curb growing adoption of Chinese AI models. Despite the concern, last week Nvidia, Microsoft, Meta, Palantir and more than 20 other companies released a letter urging policymakers to avoid "premature restrictions" on open-weight AI models that would "stifle competition or drive innovation overseas."  

>>CEO Of Cracker Barrel Steps Down

(Lebanon, TN)  -- The CEO of Cracker Barrel is stepping down. The restaurant announced on Monday that Julie Masino will step down from the role next month but remain with the company until October 9th in an advisory capacity.  The news comes after Masino was in the middle of a controversy last year surrounding the restaurant's logo.  Cracker Barrel's new logo had eliminated the image of a man known as Uncle Herschel sitting in a chair leaning against a barrel.  The decision was quickly reversed after public backlash. David Deno will take over as the company's new CEO.  

>>NBCUniversal's Peacock Joins YouTube

(Undated)  --  YouTube Premium subscribers will soon have access to shows like The Office and Law and Order SVU as well as live sporting events. In a deal announced Monday, NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service will be teaming up with YouTube in 2027 to create a new bundle that includes the network's streaming offerings. The service will be an add-on to existing YouTube Premium services and a price hasn't yet been announced. The move comes as NBCUniversal's parent company, Comcast, recently announced plans to spin off its media assets, including Peacock, into a separate company.

For: July 27, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed on Friday.  Stocks had moved higher earlier in the session but trading remained volatile as Iran fears weighed on markets.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 235 points to 51-947.  The S&P 500 rose three points to 74-11. The Nasdaq lost 161 points to 24-975.

>>Fed To Announce Interest Rate Decision  

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, interest rates will be in the spotlight.  The Federal Open Market Committee opens a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, with an announcement on its decision due the following day.  Most analysts see the nation's central bank holding rates steady at three-point-five to three-point-seven-five percent.  However, some analysts aren't ready to rule out the possibility of a rate hike.  Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, who has pledged to get inflation back to the Fed's two-percent target, is scheduled to hold a press conference following Wednesday's announcement. 

>>Paramount Agrees To Wait On Warner Bros. Merger

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Paramount will not close its multi-billion-dollar merger with Warner Bros. until the court decides whether the deal violates antitrust laws.  The deal would combine two of Hollywood's five biggest film distributors, and two of the five major cable channel companies.  However, a coalition of states led by Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit alleging the merger violates a section of the Clayton Act barring mergers that would substantially lessen competition or create a monopoly.  Paramount Skydance Corporation reached an agreement with the California Department of Justice and the Writers Guild of America Friday to pause the deal until either the court issues a ruling or until June 1st, 2027 - whichever comes first.

>>Large Construction Pay Raises Make Trades The 'It' Career

(Roseland, NJ)  --  A new survey reveals that construction is booming when it comes to wage increases.  An analysis by ADP found that last month pay growth for job-changers in construction was up nearly 13-percent.  Median gross pay was over 59-thousand dollars compared to 43-thousand dollars for all job-switchers that month.  ADP says the hiring boom for construction workers, along with their increasing salaries, is likely to continue while apprenticeship and trade programs grow.

>>Ford Recalling Over 565K Vehicles Over Engine Compartment Fire Risk 

(Washington, DC)  --   Ford is recalling over 565-thousand Broncos to fix a fire safety risk.  The recall affects certain 2021 to 2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a short circuit in the engine compartment can create heat or spark, increasing the risk of fire.  The NHTSA said as part of the recall, dealers will install sheathing over the wiring for free. 

>>Jaguar Land Rover Recalls Vehicles For Rearview Camera Issue

(Mahwah, NJ)  --  Jaguar Land Rover is recalling over 15-thousand vehicles to fix a possible defective rearview camera.  Federal regulators say insufficient drain holes could cause water damage and block the camera view when reversing.  It impacts the 2021-2025 Land Rover Discovery models.  Owners can take their vehicle to the dealership for a free replacement.  Officials say over 100 claims were filed.  No injuries or other related damages were reported.     

>>Lottery Jackpots Grow To Nearly $1.5 Billion  

(Undated)  --  The jackpots for the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries continue to grow.  Nearly one-and-half billion dollars will be up for grabs this week.  Saturday's Powerball drawing failed to produce a big winner, so an estimated 633-million dollars is on the line Monday night.  Meanwhile, Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot jumped to 800-million-dollars since no tickets matched all six numbers in Friday's drawing. 

For: July 24, 2026  

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Thursday.  It comes as oil prices have been surging, topping 100 dollars a barrel, as the U.S. has been launching strikes against Iran for nearly two straight weeks.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 506 points to 51-711.  The S&P 500 fell 90 points to 74-08. The Nasdaq dropped 553 points to 25-137.

>>Trump Announces AI Data Center Power Pledge 

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is announcing a commitment from major utilities and companies that consumers will not bear the extra electricity costs of the AI data center expansions across the U.S.  Speaking from the EPA headquarters on Thursday, Trump detailed the updated the "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," meant to reduce the burden of potentially skyrocketing electric bills for consumers while still keeping an edge in AI race. Trump said the plan includes letting the tech companies build their own power plants. The White House says major utilities including NextEra and Duke Energy have signed on to the "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," along with  Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, OpenAI and Amazon.  This comes as opposition to data centers grows, leading some states to consider construction moratoriums.

>>Starship Test Launch Moved To Friday 

(Starbase, TX)  --  SpaceX's planned Thursday test launch of its massive Starship rocket is being bumped to Friday.  The mission was previously planned for July 16th but scrubbed at the last minute because of an issue with a number of the rocket's Raptor engines.  Thursday's launch attempt from Starbase, Texas was called off due to weather with then-Tropical Storm Bertha making its presence felt across the region.  Another attempt is on the calendar for Friday evening.  If all goes as planned, it'll be the 13th test flight for Starship, which is ultimately meant to carry Artemis 4 astronauts to the surface of the moon in a mission set for late 2028. 

>>Weekly Jobless Claims See Sharp Drop 

(Washington, DC)  --  Far fewer Americans than expected found themselves filing first-time requests for unemployment benefits last week.  The Labor Department says it received 187-thousand initial filings in the week  ending July 18th.  That marks a decline of 22-thousand from the previous week's revised total and means claims hit their lowest level since 1969.  Most analysts had been expecting Thursday's number to come in at right around 212-thousand.

>>Tesla Robotaxis Hit Tampa  

(Tampa, FL)  --  Tesla may still have some kinks to work out with its driverless cars.  The company's Robotaxis made their debut Tuesday in Tampa, Florida and the very next day one of them was spotted going the wrong way down a one-way street.  No one was hurt.

For: July 23, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed lower on Wednesday.  It comes as oil prices have been trading higher amid recent U.S. strikes against Iran.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 6 points to 52-218.  The S&P 500 fell 10 points to 74-98. The Nasdaq dropped 146 points to 25-690.

>>Alphabet, Tesla Report Negative Cash Flow

(Undated)  --  Google's parent company, Alphabet, and Tesla reported earnings on Wednesday, showing some of the effects of the race to spend on artificial intelligence.  Both companies reported negative free cash flow as they burned through money on AI.  They also both told investors to prepare for higher capital spending.  Tesla shares dropped four percent in after-market trading while Alphabet was down three percent.

>>Chick-fil-A Suffers Data Breach To Its Loyalty Accounts Program

(Atlanta, GA)  --  Chick-fil-A says accounts from its loyalty program were affected last month when unauthorized "bad actors" launched an automated attack.  It's Chick-fil-A One program was hacked using credentials obtained from a third party-source. The sensitive information included the last four digits of card numbers and saved details like birthdays, email addresses, and passwords.  Chick-fil-A wrote in a letter sent to customers on July 20th that as soon as they learned of the breach, they forced logouts on affected accounts and removed any saved payment methods. T he company also restored affected Chick-fil-A One balances and added extra rewards to customer accounts. Regardless, customers are urged to reset passwords.

>>OpenAI Says Technology Hacked Another Company

(San Francisco, CA)  --  OpenAI says one of its artificial intelligence systems hacked into another AI company's servers on its own.  The company, in what they call an unprecedented cyber incident, said its AI model gained unauthorized access to tech startup Hugging Face's servers while testing the cyber capabilities of its systems.  Hugging Face co-founder and CEO Clément Delangue signaled he was not surprised, saying they suspected the cyberattack might have come from a frontier lab, given the sophistication of the agent.  OpenAI and Hugging Face are working together to solve the issue, with Delangue adding he strongly believes there was no malicious intent on their part.

>>Zero Point Cryogenics To Establish First U.S. Location In Chicago

(Chicago, IL)  --  Zero Point Cryogenics is coming to Illinois.  Governor JB Pritzker announced that the Canadian company will establish its first U.S. location at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's South Side.  Zero Point is a leading North American manufacturer of ultra-low-temperature cryogenic systems to support quantum technologies.  

For Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026

>>Wall Street Closes Higher On Corporate Earnings

(New York, NY) -- Wall Street closed higher Tuesday as investors focused on corporate earnings. 3M shares jumped more than seven percent on better than expected second quarter results. General Motors rose five percent after beating estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Tech stocks added lift to the broader market with Micron up 12 percent. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 385 points to 52-224. The S&P 500 rose 65 points to 75-09. The Nasdaq climbed 329 points to 25-837.

>>White House Agrees To Crypto Bill Ethics Provision

(Washington, DC) -- The White House is agreeing to an ethics provision in a cryptocurrency regulation bill to get the legislation passed in the Senate. A White House official issued a statement to The Hill noting that "the administration is committed to working with Congress to see the Clarity Act advance and has agreed to the most comprehensive and wide-ranging ethics provision in history." However, it is unclear what the exact provision is that has secured the support of the Trump administration, and it is also unclear whether Democrats will support it. Democrats are pushing for a provision in the bill that would restrict elected officials' ability to profit from the crypto industry.

>>Washington Judge Issues Injunction Against Kalshi

(Seattle, WA) -- A King County Superior Court judge has found that Kalshi likely violates the Washington Gambling Act and the Consumer Protection Act by running an illegal gambling operation in the state. Kalshi allows customers to bet on future events. It's calls them "predictions" instead of "bets." Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown says Kalshi is in violation of Washington's Gambling Act. The court will issue a final order on August 5th. Kalshi can appeal.

>>Disney Cuts Hundreds Of Jobs In Latest Round Of Layoffs

(Burbank, CA) -- Disney has cut hundreds of jobs in its latest round of layoffs. Pixar was reportedly the hardest hit Disney film studio in the cuts. The layoffs also impacted ESPN and NFL Network personalities as the two networks begin to integrate. Some of those let go include longtime "Baseball Tonight" host Karl Ravech, NFL analyst Ryan Clark and NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. This is the third round of layoffs at Disney this year.

>>Novo Nordisk Sues Eli Lilly

(Newark, NJ) -- Novo Nordisk is suing Eli Lilly over accusations the drug company engaged in false advertising by claiming its weight loss product works better than Novo Nordisk drugs. Novo Nordisk filed a lawsuit this week in federal court in New Jersey. The suit claims Eli Lilly did not make a fair comparison, using its highest approved doses verse Novo Nordisk's lower doses. There's no comment from Eli Lilly on the matter.

For: July 21, 2026  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell ushers in a fresh trading day after stocks closed lower to start the week.  A Monday morning rally in chip stocks lost steam adding to the downward pressure.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 307 points to 51-839.  The S&P 500 fell 14 points to 74-43.  The Nasdaq lost 12 points to 25-508.

>>Trump Imposes 50% Tariffs On Canada

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is imposing additional 50-percent tariffs on certain Canadian goods over alleged trade discrimination.  The White House says Trump signed three proclamations on Monday that target certain Canadian imports with the tariffs as a response to the trade discrimination.  The White House says Trump is "leveling the playing field for crucial American exports" that include motor vehicles, alcohol, and dairy.  The Canadian products being targeted range from wine to hockey sticks.

>>Gas Prices Rising 

(Undated)  --  Gas prices are creeping up again as the conflict between the U.S. and Iran heats up. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz appears to have slowed, sending the price of oil, which is the main component in gasoline, upward in recent weeks.  According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is four dollars and one cent today, up from about three-85 a week ago. 

>>Judge Temporarily Pauses Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  A judge is temporarily putting a pause on the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.  This comes after a dozen states sued over the merger, arguing it would harm competition.  Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin heard arguments last week.  Her order put a two-week pause on the deal.  

>>Fairlife Halts U.S. Production After Ransomware Attack

(Undated)  --  Fairlife has halted its production of milk in the U.S. following a ransomware attack.  Coca-Cola, which purchased Fairlife in 2020, said in a statement that the impacts of the incident are not yet known.  Coca-Cola added however that the breach has not "affected product quality or safety."  It's unclear when the breach occurred or when production will resume. 

For: July 20, 2026

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed in the red on Friday to cap a losing week.  Stocks fell although tech shares managed to trim some early losses in volatile trading.  Along with chipmakers, Netflix shares fell more than five percent as the company's outlook failed to ease concerns about slowing growth.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 406 points to 52-146.  The S&P 500 fell 76 points to 74-57.  The Nasdaq dropped 361 points to 25-520.

>>BoA CEO Says World Cup Has Generated Significant Economic Activity

(Undated)  --  The CEO of Bank of America says significant economic activity has been generated thanks to the FIFA World Cup.  Appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation," Brian Moynihan said the soccer tournament has had an "on-the-ground economic impact" across the cities which hosted games, with notable spending at bars and restaurants.  The Bank of America Institute found that consumer spending using credit and debit cards in June increased over six-percent from a year ago.  That's the biggest jump in over four years. 

>>Consumer Sentiment Jumps 10% As Prices Ease

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Consumer sentiment jumped again in July.  The University of Michigan's early reading for the month climbed another ten percent to its highest reading since February as gas prices eased.  The survey's chief economist noted gains in sentiment across all age and income groups.  However, much of the data was gathered before the U.S. resumed strikes against Iran on July 7th and pump prices increased again.  Long run inflation expectations held steady from last month at three-point-three percent.

>>Alphabet And Tesla Report Earnings This Week

(Mountain View, CA)  --  A couple of major players in the tech industry are set to release earnings this week.  Google's parent company Alphabet releases second quarter earnings on Wednesday.  Tesla's second-quarter financial results are due the same day. 

>>Hyundai Recalls 48K SUVs Over Seat Belt Issue

(Washington, DC)  --  Hyundai is recalling over 47-thousand Kona SUVs for a defect with the rear center seat belt.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall covers nearly 48-thousand vehicles, including certain 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric and 2026 Hyundai Kona model. The automaker said the rear center seat belt buckle may fail to properly restrain a passenger during a crash.  Hyundai is advising owners not to use the rear center seating position until its repaired.  Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 11th and dealers will replace the rear center seat buckle assembly free of charge. 

>>Apple Raises Prices Of Apple Music Subscription Prices

(Undated)  --  Apple is hiking the prices of Apple Music subscription prices.  This marks the tech giant's first rate increase for the service since the fall of 2022, citing higher music licensing costs.  The individual plan is increasing from ten-99 to 11-99 per month, with the family price rising to 19-99 per month from 16-99.  Meanwhile, the student plan is increasing from five-99 to six-99 per month. 

For: July 17, 2026

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after a down day for stocks on Thursday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 105 points to 52-552.  The S&P 500 fell 38 points to 75-33. The Nasdaq dropped 387 points to 25-881.

>>SpaceX Stock Suffers As Starship Test Flight Is Scrubbed

(Starbase, TX)  --  SpaceX stock took a hit Thursday as the company scrubbed its first test flight since its record-breaking IPO.  Warning alarms were triggered just before the planned liftoff of the massive Starship rocket from the company's Starbase, Texas launch site.  After-hours trading saw SpaceX stock hit lows of around 126-dollars a share, falling below its initial June IPO price of 135.  

>>Verizon To Sell Off Hundreds Of Retail Outlets

(New York, NY)  --  Verizon is selling hundreds of its retail locations.  The U.S. carrier said Thursday that 274 company-owned stores will be up for sale as part of its restructuring, and about 500 corporate jobs will be cut.  Verizon will still own about a thousand stores after the sale, which goes into effect August 16th.  Verizon also has thousands of franchise stores which are mostly run by six large operators.  

>>Coca-Cola Halts U.S. Production For Fairlife

(Atlanta, GA)  --  Coca-Cola is suspending production in the U.S. for one of its brands.  The company says a third-party recently gained access to production-related systems for Fairlife, which sells milk and protein shakes.  Investigators are now looking into the impact of the ransomware attack with the help of cybersecurity experts.  Canadian production is expected to continue.

>>TSMC Investing Another 100B In Arizona

(Undated)  --  A major chip maker is shelling out more money to the U.S.  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced that it will invest another 100-billion dollars to expand their footprint in Arizona. That brings the company's total investment in the Grand Canyon State to 265 billion. TSMC currently has a campus in North Phoenix and the funds could result in four new semiconductor plants. The chip maker develops processors for tech giants like Nvidia and Apple. 

For: July 16, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday.  It came as traders were digesting the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing the producer price index fell three-tenths of a percent last month. Analysts were expecting the rate to remain unchanged.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 150 points to 52-658.  The S&P 500 gained 28 points to 75-72.  The Nasdaq rose 162 points to 26-269.

>>FCC Chair On California's Lawsuit Against Paramount Skydance

(Undated)  --  The chairman of the FCC does not think California's lawsuit against Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is a "legitimate antitrust case."  Carr doubted the success of the legal challenge during an interview with The Hill while discussing California's reported stipulation to drop the lawsuit.  According to Carr citing news reports, California was floating the idea of dropping all antitrust litigation if CNN is spun off as its own media entity.  Carr quipped that he did not "understand what antitrust theory you have that says there's a problem with this acquisition that is made or broken based on one cable channel being included."

>>DC Council Approves Bill Capping Resale Ticket Prices

(Washington, DC)  --  The DC Council is capping the price of resale tickets for events and concerts in Washington, DC.  The council unanimously passed the RESALE Act this week.  In addition to capping the markup on resold tickets at ten-percent, the bill bans bot ticket purchases and the sale of speculative tickets.  It also prohibits surveillance pricing, which is the practice of adjusting ticket prices based on customer data.  The bill could take effect on January 1st if it withstands congressional review.

>>Frontier Airlines Getting Wi-Fi

(Denver, CO)  --  Frontier Airlines passengers will soon be able to use Wi-Fi.  The airline says that starting early next year, flights will offer high-speed internet through SpaceX's Starlink. Beyond watching movies on a flight, the airline says Starlink will also provide connectivity for pilots, flight attendants, maintenance teams, and ground operations.  Pricing hasn't yet been announced.

>>NFL Sets Date For Seahawks Sale Vote

(Seattle, WA)  --  NFL owners will vote next month on the proposed sale of the Seattle Seahawks.  The league has announced that a one-day owners' meeting will be held August 26th in Atlanta for the presumed vote.  The Paul Allen Trust is selling the defending Super Bowl champions to Silicon Valley's Khosla family for a record 9.6-billion-dollars.

For: July 15, 2026 

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday following the release of June inflation data that came in cooler than expected.  Oil prices also eased after President Trump dropped his demand for ships to pay a 20 percent toll to transit the Strait of Hormuz.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 9 points to 52-508.  The S&P 500 rose 28 points to 75-43.  The Nasdaq climbed 233 points to 26-107.

>>Fed Chair Vows To Get Monetary Policy Right

(Washington, DC)  --  Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is vowing to "get monetary policy right" and bring down inflation.  He made the pledge Tuesday in remarks to Congress, saying the economy is in solid shape otherwise.  Warsh told lawmakers if the Fed gets it right, "the inflation surge of the last five years will be a thing of the past."  Warsh appeared before the House Financial Services Committee yesterday and will testify before the Senate Banking Committee today.  The remarks come just two months into Warsh's as Fed chair term.  

>>Texas Lawsuit Targets So-Called Ghost Jobs

(Austin, TX)  --  The state of Texas is suing LinkedIn.  AG Ken Paxton says they're profiting from fake or misleading job opportunities.  It's something that's commonly called "ghost jobs."  And the suit points to studies that estimate they account for between one-fifth and one-third of the online listings.  LinkedIn markets a paid Premium subscription to get access to job listings.  The AG wants access to the verification practice for what employers are posting.

>>Chipotle To Open First Restaurant In Mexico

(Nuevo León, Mexico)  --  Chipotle Mexican Grill is about to open its first restaurant in Mexico.  Doors will open this Thursday in Nuevo Leon in partnership with Alsea [[ All-see  ]], a leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe.  Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright says they are entering the country with deep respect for their culinary heritage along with a belief that there is strong interest in high-quality food that the establishment offers.  Chipotle and Alsea are planning to expand in Nuevo Leon later this year and into Mexico City in 2027. The company currently operates more than 41-hundred restaurants across the world.

>>Warren Buffett Snubs Bill Gates Foundation With Charitable Giving

(Omaha, NE)  --  Warren Buffett is accelerating his charitable donations of Berkshire Hathaway shares with a notable exception.  The former CEO of Berkshire is donating nearly six- billion dollars in shares to four foundations but the Bill Gates Foundation is not one of the recipients.  Gates has been tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein but denies any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.  Buffett released a statement today saying his goal is to dispose all of his Berkshire shares within eight years, which are valued at 146-billion dollars.  Gates' Foundation has received over 60-billion dollars in charitable donations from Buffett in the past.

>>Researchers Warn Of AI's Potential For Economic Transformation

(Undated)  --  Economist and artificial intelligence researchers say policymakers "must act now" to address the massive economic transformation that AI could cause.  Stanford University's digital economy lab organized a letter warning that "AI may become radically more powerful over the next 10 years," and noted "it could bring risks, including large-scale job displacement, as well as opportunities such as major gains in living standards." It has been signed by more than 200 economists and AI researchers from leading organizations around the world, including 16 Nobel Prize laureates.  The letter urged industry leaders "to understand the economics of transformative AI and to build the incentives, guardrails, and institutions needed to steer AI in a direction that complements humans and benefits society."  

For: July 14, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street with tensions escalating in the Middle East.  Oil prices surged after President Trump announced he's reinstating a blockade on Iranian ports and imposing a 20 percent surcharge on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz to cover the cost of protecting the waterway.  Tech stocks fell broadly during the session along with shares of major banks.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 138 points to 52-498  The S&P 500 fell 60 points to 75-15.  The Nasdaq dropped 408 points to 25-873.

>>Head Of Delta Says Airfares Are Likely To Stay High

(Undated)  --  It's not cheap to fly these days, and the head of one of the country's biggest carriers says it may get even more expensive soon.  Delta CEO Ed Bastian says the price of air fares isn't likely to come down, even if the cost of jet fuel does.  He tells Fox Business that fuel is only one of the many aspects of running an airline that's getting more expensive, including labor, airport infrastructure, technology, not to mention the planes themselves.  

>>States Reportedly Preparing Lawsuit to Block Paramount's Merger With Warner Bros. Discovery

(Burbank, CA)  --  Multiple state attorneys general are reportedly preparing a lawsuit to attempt to block Paramount's planned merger with Warner Brothers Discovery.  The New York Times reports California is leading the lawsuit and will be joined by New York, Washington state and Connecticut, among others.  Reuters previously reported the states could sue as early as this week.  The proposed 111-billion-dollar deal would be one of the largest media mergers in history.  A reported draft of the lawsuit currently circulating argues the merger would harm competition in the market for so-called tent pole films, the expensive blockbusters that account for a large portion of studio revenues.  A Paramount spokesperson says the company is prepared to address "legitimate antitrust issues" but goes on to say the planned acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery "raises no such concerns." 

>>Waze Adding AI-Powered Features

(Mountain View, CA)  --  Waze is adding new AI-powered features and customization updates. The navigation app will offer personalized routes based on previous trips, as well as a motorcycle mode - which includes "two-wheeler shortcuts and restrictions." The Google-owned platform will also use Gemini for "Conversational Reporting" when suggesting things like road closures or an outdated address. 

For: July 13, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed higher on Friday to end the week.  The major indexes rose as tech stocks including Meta Platforms and Nvidia added lift to markets.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 149 points to 52-637.  The S&P 500 rose 31 points to 75-75.  The Nasdaq added 74 points to 26-281.

>>This Week's Reports Will Offer Insight Into Inflation 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, inflation data is in the spotlight.  The consumer price index is set for release on Tuesday.  The report is a favorite of the Fed's when it comes to determining interest rates.  Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is scheduled to testify before the House Committee on Financial Services the same day.  Wednesday brings the producer price index, which measures prices on the wholesale level, before they reach consumers, and is also closely watched by the Fed.  Retail sales and weekly jobless claims are due Thursday, and the week comes to a close with a look at consumer sentiment, housing starts and building permits on Friday.

>>Goldman Sachs Restricting Employee Trading On Prediction Markets

(Undated)  --  Goldman Sachs is placing restrictions on what trades employees can engage in while using prediction markets.  According to reports, employees are allowed to bet on sports and entertainment but are barred from trading on markets tied to specific companies, financial markets or election outcomes.  The updated policy comes as prediction markets, like Kalshi and Polymarket, have come under heightened scrutiny in recent months over insider trading.  Lawmakers have also raised concerns about insider trading as House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer launched a probe into whether users are relying on nonpublic or classified information to place their wagers. 

>>Apple Sues OpenAI Alleging Trade Secret Theft 

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Apple has filed suit against OpenAI in federal court in Northern California.  The lawsuit filed last week alleges trade secret theft, claiming the artificial intelligence lab took the Apple's intellectual property in order to develop its own consumer hardware.  In the legal filing the company said, "OpenAI has been stealing Apple's trade secrets and confidential information."  Most of Apple's allegations in the Friday suit involve former employees who have interviewed with or joined OpenAI.  Apple claims that OpenAI's hardware chief, who is a former Apple vice president, directed Apple employees interviewing at OpenAI to share Apple secrets as part of the interviewing process. 

>>Starship Test Launch Window Opens This Week

(Starbase, TX)  --  SpaceX could launch another test flight of its massive Starship rocket this Thursday.  It would be the 13th test for the spacecraft, which will be carrying next-generation Starlink satellites into orbit for the first time.  The launch window opens at 5:45 p.m. local time at SpaceX's launch facility in Texas.

>>Thousands Of Grills At Walmart And Lowe's Recalled Nationally 

(Washington, DC)  --  The Consumer Product Safety Commission said thousands of grills sold online and at Walmart and Lowe's stores nationally are being recalled.  Over 12-hundred stainless steel Cuisinart Propel+Four Burner three-in-one Gas Grills are included in the recall.  The units include a pizza oven with tempered glass that has reportedly shattered during use, causing a serious risk of injury from lacerations.  Conair LLC, has received 37 reports of glass shattering and one report of a fire.  Consumers impacted by the recall may choose to be reimbursed for the original purchase amount or receive a 500 dollar refund by check. 
 

For: July 10, 2026

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed higher yesterday.  It comes as investors are keeping an eye on the latest developments between the U.S. and Iran after President Trump's announcement that he considers the ceasefire over as of now.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 139 points to 52-487.  The S&P 500 gained 60 points to 75-43.  The Nasdaq rose 336 points to 26-206.

>>June Home Sales Drop As Prices Soar

(Chicago, IL)  --  Home sales for the month of June are coming in lower than expected.  According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of previously owned homes in June dropped over two percent from May despite projections of a slight gain month over month. The median price of an existing home sold in June was 440-thousand-600 dollars, which marks an increase of nearly two percent from the year before and the highest on record. High mortgage rates coupled with record-high prices are causing homebuyers to pull back. However, when looking on a regional level, home sales were down in June month over month everywhere except in the Northeast.

>>IMF Cuts Global Growth Forecast

(Washington, DC)  --  The International Monetary Fund is cutting its global growth forecast for the second time this year.  The agency blames the energy shock cause by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.  Growth is now forecast at three percent, down from three-point-one percent in April.  The outlook would have been lower but was offset by AI-driven demand.  The numbers were cut after the U.S. resumed military strikes on Iran this week, apparently bringing an end to a ceasefire and causing oil prices to surge.  Global inflation is expected to rise to four-point-seven percent this year.  

>>Groundbreaking For Last WTC Building 25 Years After 9-11

(New York, NY)  --  Construction is underway on what is the last commercial high rise building at the rebuilt World Trade Center site nearly 25 years after the 9-11 terror attacks.  A ground breaking ceremony took place Thursday for Two World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.  American Express is making the 55-story building its global headquarters when it opens in 2031, complete with ten-thousand workers inside.

>>Pharr International Bridge Named Top Produce Crossing In America

(Pharr, TX)  --  The Pharr International Bridge, which connects Pharr, Texas with Reynosa in Mexico, has been named the top crossing for produce in the United States.  The city announced the achievement during a ceremony yesterday.  Seventy percent of all avocados entering the U.S. cross the Pharr bridge.  Officials say about 110 thousand shipments of produce use the bridge each year, a number that could grow when the bridge expands in November.