For: June 2, 2026  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed out the first trading day of June in positive territory despite a surge in oil prices.  All three major averages hit record highs Monday as President Trump said talks with Iran are ongoing.  Nvidia led the technology sector with the launch of a new chip for personal computers.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 46 points to 51-078.  The S&P 500 added 19 points to 75-99.  The Nasdaq gained 114 points to 27-086. 

>>Anthropic Moves To Go Public With Blockbuster IPO  

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has filed for a proposed initial public offering.  The San Francisco-based startup announced that it had "confidentially submitted" paperwork with the SEC on Monday after a recent round of private funding pushed its overall valuation to roughly 965-billion dollars.  Anthropic says the exact timing of the coming IPO will depend on "market conditions and other factors."  

>>Focus On Employment Reports This Week 

(Undated)  --  Several key reads on hiring are coming this week, all leading up to Friday's employment numbers for last month.  They start with the Labor Department's Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS report, due out today.  Next is ADP's monthly hiring survey on Wednesday.  The payroll processor only measures it at private employers, but economists consider it a good indication of what to expect from the monthly numbers.  And on Thursday, we get the weekly jobless claims report.  They're considered a proxy for layoffs. 

>>Short Seller Andrew Left Convicted For Stock Manipulation

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Noted short seller Andrew Left has been found guilty of using dishonest social media posts to manipulate stocks.  He was found guilty Monday after a three-week trial in Los Angeles and could face decades in prison.  Left would bet that a company's stock price would fall, then make posts either criticizing or boosting companies before quickly closing out his trading positions.  Prosecutors say he made at least 20-million-dollars using this tactic between 2018 and 2023.  

>>Carnival Data Breach Leaves Millions Exposed

(Augusta, ME)  --  Carnival is providing limited information on a data breach it experienced in April.  According to an announcement from the cruise line, an "unauthorized actor" managed to gain access to a limited portion of the company's IT system by deceiving an employee with "social engineering."  Carnival did not specify the extent of the breach, but a company filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General shows over five-point-nine million people were affected. N ow the company is offering its U.S. customers two years of complimentary credit monitoring through TransUnion and recommended that potentially affected travelers "remain vigilant against threats of identity theft."

>>People Inc. Examining Possible Purchase of MGM Resorts 

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  People Inc. says it has submitted an offer to buy out MGM Resorts for 18-billion-dollars.  The media conglomerate already owns 26-percent of MGM, and now is proposing to buy the rest of the company at over 48-dollars a share.  The deal hasn't been finalized, but company chairman and senior executive Barry Diller says MGM has real world assets that AI can't easily replicate, and that the market undervalues the casino operator.  This comes just days after Fertitta Entertainment agreed to buy Caesar's entertainment for five-point-seven billion dollars in cash. 

For: June 1, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning as Wall Street ushers in a new trading month.  The final trading session in May ended with all thee major averages closing at record highs on Friday.  Stocks extended gains as technology shares surged while oil prices declined.  Hopes for a Middle East deal also gave markets a boost.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 363 points to 51-032.  The S&P 500 added 16 points to 75-80.  The Nasdaq rose 55 points to 26-972. 

>>The Rise of The Side Hustle 

(Undated)  --  New research shows as prices climb Americans are taking on a side hustle.  Research from Omnisend found that 28-percent of Americans have taken on extra work with most citing the need to cover bills and essentials.  A separate ZipRecruiter survey estimates the share of Americans with a side hustle to be higher, finding that 35-percent have an alternate source of income.  A Bankrate survey last year found that 34-percent of Gen Z, 31-percent of millenials, 23-percent of Gen X and 22-percent of baby boomers have looked for other ways to make cash. The ZipRecruiter survey found that about 45-percent of those earning over 150-thousand dollars do supplemental work, compared to 31-percent of workers earning less than 25-thousand dollars.

>>Southwest Reverses Plus-Size Passenger Policy

(Dallas, TX)  --  Southwest Airlines is reversing course on its plus-size passenger policy.  The discount carrier will no longer require plus-size customers to book an extra seat in advance.  Gate agents will now assign an extra seat for free if available or work to get the customer on a later flight.  Southwest said the change aims to create "a more consistent and seamless experience."  Passengers needing an extra seat are still encouraged to book one in advance and will be able to request a refund within 90 days of travel.

>>Mercedez-Benz May Be Banned Under Bill Aimed At Chinese Automaker Ownership

(Washington, DC)  --  Mercedez-Benz could be banned from the U.S. auto market under legislation working its way through Congress.  New bipartisan legislation aimed at limiting Chinese involvement in the U.S. auto market may affect Mercedez-Benz unless the bill is changed or the automaker's largest shareholder sells its stake.  The bill, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026, would prohibit automakers that have "direct or indirect equity interest by a foreign-adversary government" from selling, importing or manufacturing vehicles in the U.S.  Mercedez-Benz's largest individual shareholder is the state-owned Chinese automaker BAIC, formerly the Beijing Automotive Industrial Corp., with a nine-point-98-percent share.  A spokesperson for the Energy and Commerce Committee, confirmed the details of the legislation to CNBC.

>>UAW Employees At American Axle In Three Rivers, Michigan On Strike

(Three Rivers, MI)  --  United Auto Workers union members at American Axle in Three Rivers, Michigan are now on strike.  UAW president Shawn Fain announced last night that time was up for the manufacturer of drive axles for General Motors, Stellantis, and Nissan.  American Axle and the employees agreed to a 50-percent pay cut during the Great Recession in 2008 to keep the facility open, but the union says the cut has not been fully restored and they also want better healthcare, stronger retirement benefits, and profit sharing.  

>>Nearly 100-Thousand Vehicles Recalled By Honda

(Undated)  --  Nearly 100-thousand vehicles are being recalled by Honda due to an issue with airbags.  That's according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The issue involves a defect that could lead to the unintentional deployment of airbags.  Most of the models affected are the Accord Hybrid, ?the Honda Acura TLX and other Accord vehicles.  Honda says there are no reports of injuries or deaths because of the issue. 

>>Lounge Chair Sold On Amazon Recalled After Finger Amputation 

(Washington, DC)  --  Federal safety officials say a lounge chair sold on Amazon is being recalled after a customer lost a finger while adjusting it.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the chair made by the company Giantex, poses an "amputation risk" when consumers place their fingers in a pinch point when adjusting the chair.  Over one-thousand units are subject to the recall.  The recalled lounge chairs are blue and measure 76 inches long, 23 inches wide and 13 inches tall.  They have a five-position adjustable locking system and the backrest height can be adjusted from 13 and a half inches to 26 and a half inches. 
 

For: May 29, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a strong trading day on Wall Street that saw all three major averages notch record highs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 24 points to 50-668.  The S&P 500 gained 43 points to 75-63.  The Nasdaq rose 242 points to 26-917. 

>>PCE Shows Prices at a Nearly 3-Year High 

(Undated)  --  A new inflation report says consumer prices were at their highest level in nearly three years in April.  The latest personal consumption expenditures price index, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, rose last month by an annual rate of three-point-eight-percent.   That's up from three-and-a-half-percent in March and from two-point-eight-percent in February.  The report marks the first since Kevin Warsh was sworn as Fed chairman.  

>>Anthropic Valued At Nearly $1T

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Anthropic is currently the world's most valuable artificial intelligence startup.  The company reached a 965-billion-dollar valuation after announcing Thursday that it raised 65-billion-dollars from private investors.  The announcement put Anthropic ahead of OpenAI, which reached an 852-billion-dollar valuation in March.

>>Waymo Rolls Out Ojai Fleet

(Undated)  --  Waymo is rolling out a new ride to its fleet. The autonomous vehicle company announced that its Ojai [[ Oh - hi ]] vehicles are on the road and will be available to select passengers in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The robo-taxis are produced by Chinese-based carmaker Geely [[ jee-lee ]] and are larger than the current Jaguar models Waymo currently uses. They also feature automatic doors and a removable steering wheel. Waymo says Ojai rides will be offered to riders in Las Vegas, San Diego and Denver later this summer.

>>Groupon Slashing Workforce In AI Shift

(Chicago, IL) -- Groupon is slashing up to 400 positions in an attempt to rebuild as an AI-native company. According to a SEC filing, the move is set to slash nearly a fourth of the Chicago-based online marketplace's worldwide workforce and the company projected annualized savings of about 25 million dollars. Groupon plans to invest up to half of this year's projected savings into AI infrastructure. A spokesperson for Groupon explained that the layoffs are "operational" as the company looks to get ahead of the technology and it is intended to show merchants how to use AI as an actual partner. 

>>Americans Savings Rate Lowest Since 2022

(Undated)  --  Americans are setting aside far less of their income, with the savings rate hitting the lowest total since 2022.  The Commerce Department reports that the personal saving rate dropped to under three percent in April, down from five and a half percent a year earlier.    The decline comes with higher spending on gasoline and other energy goods, with average pump prices rising above four-20 per gallon amid the ongoing war in Iran.  Those elevated energy costs have pushed inflation up to just under four percent.  Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said in a speech Wednesday that inflation is clearly moving in the wrong direction.

For: May 28, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed solidly in the green yesterday with all three major indexes hitting record highs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 182 points to 50-644.  The S&P 500 gained 1 point to 75-20.  The Nasdaq rose 18 points to 26-674.

>>Robinhood Opening To AI Agents

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Stock trading app Robinhood is allowing AI agents on its platform, letting customers use AI to trade and spend for them.  The company said Wednesday it's introducing Agentic Trading and the Agentic Credit Card.  This lets customers connect their AI agents directly to Robinhood rather than using unofficial workarounds.  

>>Tech Titan Has New Thoughts on AI and Job Losses 

(Undated)  --  Sam Altman had said not too long ago that Artificial Intelligence would replace up to 40 percent of all work tasks in the not too distant future.  Now the CEO of Open A-I says he spoke too soon.  Altman told Reuters that his fears were overblown.  He says, while some jobs will be eliminated, many of them ultimately require a human component that cannot be replaced. In fact, he's gone back to writing e-mails himself, rather than outsourcing them to A-I.

>>Vermont Passes Ticket Resale Cap Bill 

(Undated)  --  Vermont has passed a ticket bill that places a cap on the price a ticket can be resold for.  Now, in the state of Vermont, a ticket can't be resold on the secondary market for more than 110-percent of its original price.  This makes Vermont the only state to put a limit on secondary market ticket sales.  

>>Pilot Program To Turn DC Lightposts Into EV Chargers

(Washington, DC)  --  A new type of electric vehicle charger could soon make its debut in Washington, DC.  A company called Voltpost has devised a way to turn lightposts into EV chargers using each pole's existing electric infrastructure.  The city has awarded a grant to the company to help refit up to 16 lightposts.  Voltpost is currently working with the DC Department of Energy and the Environment and Pepco to determine where the chargers will be located.

For: May 27, 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed yesterday as investors weighed prospects for a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal. A rally in technology stocks boosted the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to new all-time highs. Shares of Micron jumped 21 percent lifting the company's market capitalization to one-trillion dollars. At the closing bell, the Dow lost 118 points to 50-461. The S&P 500 rose 45 points to 75-19. The Nasdaq climbed 312 points to 26-656.

>>American Airlines To Use Starlink For In-Flight Wi-Fi

(Fort Worth, TX) -- American Airlines will now be using Starlink for its in-flight wi-fi. The carrier announced on Tuesday that it plans to install the SpaceX internet provider on over 500 of its Airbus planes starting early next year. American began offering complimentary wi-fi for its frequent flyers back in January. The announcement comes as SpaceX is preparing to go public next month in what could be the biggest IPO ever.

>>Vermont Suit Against Meta Moving Forward

(Montpelier, VT) -- Add Vermont to the list of states getting the green light to sue Meta over its platforms allegedly addicting kids. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court refused to hear Meta's appeal of a lower courts ruling that allows the suit to move forward. Meta had been arguing Vermont doesn't have the jurisdiction. It's the latest in a series of legal battles Meta is fighting over whether its knowingly harming children with the design of its social media platforms. Meta just settled a similar suit brought by a school district in Kentucky.

>>Courts Halting Construction On MN Data Center

(Pine Island, MN) -- A judge is halting construction on a Minnesota data center. A temporary restraining order has halted work on a data center for Google in Pine Island, about 18 miles north of Rochester. The order comes as environmental advocates argue the project did not receive a thorough enough environmental review. A judge says the pause is needed to maintain current conditions while the lawsuit moves forward. Google hopes to build an 88-acre site with a 250-thousand-square-foot data center in Pine Island.

>>Nvidia To Invest $150 Billion In Taiwan

(Taipei) -- Nvidia sees Taiwan as the "epicenter" of the AI revolution. Speaking at an event today in Taipei, CEO Jensen Huang cheered the chipmaker's planned Taiwan headquarters and announced plans to invest around 150 billion dollars a year in Taiwan. 

For: May 26, 2026

>>Holiday-Shortened Trading Week Kicks Off 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning, ushering in what will be a holiday-shortened trading week.  Wall Street was closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day.  The last time the markets were open, stocks rallied on Friday to close out the week in positive territory.  At the closing bell, after notching an all-time high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 294 points to end at 50-579.  The S&P 500 added 27 points to 74-73.  The Nasdaq gained rose 50 points to 26-343.

>>Report: Americans Shelled Out 45-Billion In Extra Fuel Costs Since Iran War

(Providence, RI)  --  Americans have paid nearly 45-billion-dollars in extra fuel costs since the start of the Iran war.  That's according to researchers at Brown University who say the soaring gas and diesel prices were triggered by the disruption of global oil supplies and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.  The national average for a gallon of gas has climbed more than 50-percent since the war began on February 28th.  Triple-A puts today's national average at four-dollars and 49-cents a gallon.  

>>Ferrari Out With All Electric Car

(Maranello, Italy)  --  Ferrari is out with its first fully electric car.  The Luce [[ Loo-CHAY ]] was created with a new look in a collaboration with the LoveFrom agency, founded by former Apple design head Jony Ive [[ Johnny I've ]].  It can hit 60 miles-per-hour in two-point-five seconds and costs 640-thousand dollars.  

>>Whole Foods Recall

(Undated)  --  Whole Foods is announcing the recall of a product that's sold at its stores.  The supermarket chain says the recall impacts 24-ounce cups of Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup which might contain undeclared shrimp.  That could be harmful to people who are allergic to crustacean shellfish and trigger a serious or life-threatening reaction.  No illnesses have been reported, but anyone who bought the soup can return it for a refund.

>>Workers Sue Guzman y Gomez

(Chicago, IL)  --  American employees of an Australian fast food chain are suing, arguing they were fired without proper pay or notice.  Guzman y Gomez last week announced that it was pulling out of the U.S. market, shuttering their Mexican-themed restaurants immediately.  Workers, who were all based in Chicago, have filed a class-action suit arguing the chain was required to give 60 days notice under federal and state law.  

For: May 21, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks finished firmly in the green yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 50-thousand to end the day. At the closing bell, the Dow climbed 645 points to 50-009. The S&P 500 gained 79 points to 74-32. The Nasdaq rose 399 points to 26-270.

>>Musk Could Be 1st Trillionaire With SpaceX IPO

(New York, NY) -- Elon Musk could soon be the world's first trillionaire. This after his SpaceX company confirmed plans to sell shares of its stock to the public for the first time. In a securities filing on Wednesday, SpaceX announced what's expected to be a record IPO next month. The company made over 18-billion-dollars in revenue in 2025 -- a 33-percent increase from a year earlier. Bloomberg reports Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, is already the wealthiest person on the planet, with a net worth of 667-billion-dollars.

>>Bezos: Bottom Half Earners Should Pay Zero Income Taxes

(Undated) -- Jeff Bezos [[ BAY-zos ]] says the bottom half of U.S. earners should pay zero income tax. In an interview with CNBC, the Amazon founder said the income tax paid by lower earners is "a small amount of money for the government." Bezos argues the top one-percent of taxpayers pay about 40-percent of all the tax revenue, and the bottom half pay three-percent. He believes that "We shouldn't be asking this nurse in Queens to send money to Washington." According to IRS statistics, the bottom half of taxpayers had an adjusted gross income of about 54-thousand bucks in 2023.

>>Nvidia Exceeds Q1 Estimates

(Santa Clara, CA) -- Nvidia exceeded earning estimates in the first quarter. Revenue came it a 81-point-six billion, thanks largely to the demand from artificial intelligence. The company increased its dividend and authorized 80-billion-dollars in buybacks.

>>Wages For Trade Workers Outpace College Grad Salaries

(Undated) -- A college degree is no longer the only path to a lucrative career. Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, one of the world's largest recruiting firms says skilled trade workers have seen a 30 percent wage bump in the lats few years. Electricians, plumbers and others who become masters in their skill areas can earn more than a hundred thousand dollars a year, and many work while they are learning their trade. That means they enter the work force, with much less debt than many college graduates do.

>>GasBuddy Predicts Most Expensive Summer Gas In Years

(Dallas, TX) -- Gas experts are predicting the most expensive summer at the pump in years. GasBuddy has released its Summer Travel Survey for 2026, and it forecasts an average price of four-dollars-and-80-cents per gallon from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The fuel savings platform says the price of gas could reach all-time highs if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for much of the summer. Despite the costs, the survey results show 56 percent of Americans still plan to drive more than two hours this summer to reach their preferred destinations. That's down from 69 percent last summer.

>>Samsung Suspends Workers' Strike

(Suwon, South Korea) -- Samsung's labor union is calling off a planned general strike on a word of a tentative agreement. Nearly 50-thousand Samsung employees had been set to go on strike today as part of an 18-day protest. The workers' union called the protest over the South Korean tech giant's bonus payments. The reported agreement must now be voted on by union members.

For: May 20, 2026   

>>Watching Wall Street  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street.  Stocks fell in a broad decline as growing inflation fears sent the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield to its highest level in over a year.  A slide in tech stocks added to the downward pressure.  At yesterday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 322 points to 49-363.  The S&P 500 fell 49 points to 73-53.  The Nasdaq dropped 220 points to 25-870.  Investors today will get a look at the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee's last minute and they'll be paying close attention to Nvidia earnings when they come out after the bell.  

>>Meta Tells Employees To Work From Home On Layoff Day

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Meta's North American employees have been told to work from home today, the day the company plans to lay off an estimated ten percent of its workforce.  The job cuts come as the social media and tech giant incorporates more artificial intelligence into its operations.

>>Alphabet And Blackstone Form AI Cloud Venture

(Undated)  --  A new partnership between Alphabet and Blackstone will form an AI cloud business venture.  Google's Benjamin Sloss has been appointed as the CEO.  Blackstone is investing five-billion dollars in equity to bring a 500-megawatt data center online in 2027.  Projections see the venture expanding over time with a possible total investment that could reach 25-billion.  The venture is also providing custom Google AI chips, known as Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs, which have seen growing demand by organizations that want to increase computing capacity.

>>Disney Sued Over Theme Park Facial Recognition Technology

(Anaheim, CA)  --  Disney is being hit with a class action lawsuit over facial recognition technology at its California theme parks.  Facial recognition was put in place at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure entrances in April.  The lawsuit argues Disney "does not adequately disclose the use of their biometric collection."  It adds that a sign at select entrances with a slash through a silhouette that allows guests to avoid the facial recognition isn't enough notice.  The lawsuit is seeking at least five-million dollars.

>>Minnesota Becomes First State To Ban Prediction Markets

(St. Paul, MN)  --  Minnesota has become the first state to outlaw prediction markets.  Governor Tim Walz signed a public safety bill this week prohibiting online platforms where people can bet money on the outcomes of events.  Prediction markets get around local sports betting restrictions by selling bets as financial contracts, like commodity markets.  Federal authorities filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block the prohibition, arguing prediction markets should be exclusively regulated by federal officials.  The Minnesota law takes effect in August.

>>Pending Home Sales Increase 1.4% In April

(Washington, DC)  --  Pending home sales rose more than expected in April.  The National Association of Realtors says the number of homes under contract increased one-point-four percent last month and rose three-point-two percent on an annual basis.  The group's chief economist noted buyers are cautiously optimistic despite growing economic uncertainty and a slight rise in mortgage rates.  Pending home sales rose in the Northeast, Midwest and West in April and declined in the Northeast. 

For: May 19, 2026

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Monday to begin the trading week.  Stocks trimmed losses after President Trump said he canceled an attack on Iran at the request of Middle Eastern leaders.  A pullback in chip stocks including Seagate, Micron and Nvidia sent the technology sector lower.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 159 points to 49-686.  The S&P 500 lost 5 points to 74-03.  The Nasdaq fell 134 points to 26-090.

>>LIRR Strike Ends

(New York, NY)  --  The Long Island Rail Road strike is over, after trains stopped Saturday for the system's 300-thousand daily riders.  Operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the LIRR is the nation's largest commuter rail system.   A deal was reached on Monday night with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who was reportedly involved in the talks, calling it a fair agreement for both sides.  

>>Meta Tells Employees To Work From Home On Layoff Day

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Meta is telling its North American employees to work from home Wednesday, the day it plans to lay off ten percent of its workforce.  Affected employees will be notified that morning.  Some seven-thousand employees will be shifted into new roles at the company.  The job cuts come as the social media and tech giant incorporates more artificial intelligence into its operations.

>>Jury Dismisses Musk's Lawsuit Against OpenAI

(Oakland, CA)  --  Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman is being tossed.  A California jury found that Musk waited too long to file the lawsuit.  Musk had accused Altman of reneging on a promise to keep OpenAI a non-profit and that 38-million dollars he donated was misused for commercial purposes. Altman claims he made no such promise.  The jury reached the verdict less than two hours after starting deliberations.

>>Warsh To Be Sworn In As Fed Chair On Friday

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump will swear in Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chairman on Friday.  The White House ceremony follows last week's Senate confirmation vote along mostly party lines.  The 56-year-old Warsh will succeed Jerome Powell whose term expired Friday.  Trump hand-picked Warsh to lead the central bank with expectations that the Fed will resume lowering interest rates in the post-Powell era.

For: May 18. 2026

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks fell on Friday to end the week in the red.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 537 points to 49-526.  The S&P 500 fell by 92 points to 74-08.  The Nasdaq dropped by 410 points to 26-225.

>>Housing Data Due 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, housing data will be in focus.  Pending home sales figures are due Tuesday, with the latest numbers on housing starts and building permits due Thursday.  Home improvement giants Home Depot and Lowe's will both report earnings this week.   

>>Musk v. Altman Deliberations Begin Today

(Oakland, CA)  --  The jury in the Elon Musk versus Sam Altman trial is expected to begin deliberating today.  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 a non-profit and that 38-million dollars he donated was misused for commercial purposes.  Altman claims he made no such promise.  The jury's verdict will only be advisory, meaning the judge has final say on any liability.  

>>Americans Are 'Frustrated' With Economy In New Poll 

(Undated)  --  A new poll finds Americans unhappy with the state of the economy.  The CBS News and YouGov poll out Sunday shows that Americans find financial conditions uncertain and the economy to be struggling.  The survey also found that Americans' approval of President Trump's handling of inflation has hit its lowest point. Respondents noted their income is not keeping up with inflation - which has reached its highest level since April 2023. 

>>Amazon Accused Of Keeping Tariff Costs 

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon is facing a new class action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to refund tariff-related costs.  Consumers allege in a proposed lawsuit filed in Seattle that the tech company collected hundreds of millions of dollars in unlawful tariff costs by raising prices on imported goods.  Amazon did so before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that President Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economics Powers Act to impose certain tariffs.  The complaint states Amazon has failed to seek billions of dollars in refunds from the government following the ruling in order to seek favor with Trump by allowing the federal government to retain the funds.  The lawsuit alleges Amazon's decision serves its own political and commercial interests at the expense of consumers who paid the costs of tariffs. 

>>BoA Agrees To Millions In ATM Fee Lawsuit 

(Undated)  --  Bank of America has agreed to a settlement of over two-million dollars for bank fees charged at ATMs.  A class action lawsuit claimed that Bank of America had breached its contract with customers by assessing excessive fees.  The suit claims customers were charged two out-of-network fees for balance inquiry requests when only a single balance inquiry was taken at ATMs owned by FCTI, located inside 7-Eleven stores.  The settlement says customers who may be eligible for a payout used an FCTI-owned ATM within a 7-Eleven store from May 1st, 2018 to November 16th, 2021.  Bank of America denied any wrongdoing in the settlement. 

>>Gen Z Shoppers Helping Revive America's Malls 

(Undated)  --  Gen Z shoppers are energizing a mall revival.  Younger consumers prefer in-person shopping experiences over online carts.  Data from NielsenIQ shows Gen Z retail spending is expected to pass 12-trillion dollars globally by 2030, with growth outpacing every other generation.  Data from Circana also found shoppers between 18 and 24 years old made 62-percent of their general merchandise purchases in physical stores last year. 

>>Schlitz Being Retired By Pabst

(Milwaukee, WI)  --  The so-called "beer that made Milwaukee famous" is being retired.  Pabst Brewing is ending production of Schlitz after 177 years of existence.  Schlitz was once America's largest brewer after being founded in 1849, and was bought by Pabst in 1999.  The company gave permission to Wisconsin Brewing Company to brew an 80-barrel batch of Schlitz next Saturday, using specifications from a 1948 recipe.  Pre-orders for the final batch can be made that day and will be available next month.  

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.