>>Look Out For Amazon Prime Day Scams
(Undated) -- Retail experts are urging consumers to be on the lookout for potential Amazon Prime Day scams. The annual sale is wildly popular but has the potential to draw the attention of criminals looking to capitalize as well. Buyers are urged to be wary of unsolicited emails, texts, or calls and to look out for links to fraudulent websites. Another recommendation is to use only a credit card, not a debit card, for online purchases, as suspicious charges can always be disputed with the credit card company.
>>New York Times Closes Down Sports Desk
(New York, NY) -- The New York Times is shutting down its sports desk. The newspaper's CEO said current sports staff will move to other desks in the newsroom and there will no longer be a freestanding sports desk. The Times says it does not have plans for layoffs. Questions about the future of its sports department were raised when the paper spent half-a billion-dollars for sports news website "The Athletic."
>>Conventions Pulling Out Of Florida
(Undated) -- A number of conferences and events are staying away from Florida over state policies critics say target LGBT people and minorities. The conferences, including a "Game of Thrones" fan convention and a society of Black engineers meeting, argue some attendees aren't welcome in Florida. A spokesman for Republican Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis called the cancellations "nothing more than a stunt."
>>NYC Struggles To Fill Office Space (New York, NY) -- New York City still seems to be struggling to fill office space since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The real estate company Savill released a report unveiling Manhattan's available office space is at nearly 20-percent. That's a new high with more than 70-million square feet unoccupied. The report says the Financial District is having the toughest time coming back, with nearly 30-percent of office space available.
>>Red Cross Teams With Shark Week
(Portland, OR) -- Summer is a difficult time for organizations that take blood donations. Vacations and other activities keep people away from donation centers. The Red Cross has collected 50-thousand fewer blood donations than needed over the last two months. To increase donations, the Red Cross is working with Discovery for the 35th anniversary of Shark Week. Starting Wednesday, donors will be entered for a chance to win a three-night New York trip for two with a private shark dive adventure at Long Island Aquarium. Starting July 17th, donors will also get a Shark Week T-shirt. You can make an appointment to donate at RedCrossBlood dot org.
