>>Trading Week Winding Down
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed to stand out, closing at a record high. At the closing bell, the Dow gained 243 points to 41-335. The S&P 500 dropped by less than a point to 55-91. The Nasdaq fell by 39 points to 17-516. Markets will be closed on Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
>>Trump Pledges To Cover IVF Costs If Elected President
(La Crosse, WI) -- Former President Donald Trump says IVF costs will be covered by insurance if he's elected president. The GOP nominee spoke Thursday at a campaign event in La Crosse, Wisconsin and said if he's elected in November he'll require the government or insurance companies to pay for in vitro fertility treatments. Earlier in the day at a Michigan rally, Trump said his administration would push for allowing new parents to deduct "major newborn expenses" from their taxes.
>>AI Regulation Bill Passed In California
(Sacramento, CA) -- A bill that would create restrictions on artificial intelligence is headed to California Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. The state legislature approved the measure Wednesday that if signed, could help set a national standard for regulating AI. The bill would require companies to test their products for safety before they are made public. It would also let the state attorney general sue companies when use of AI results in property damage or death. Newsom has been under pressure from the tech industry to veto the bill and it's not clear what he plans to do.
>>Poll: American Dream Out Of Reach
(Washington, DC) -- The American Dream feels out of reach for most of us. According to the Wall Street Journal/NORC poll conducted this summer, only ten-percent of Americans say it's easy to buy a home. But 89-percent still see homeownership as essential or important to their future. Only about nine-percent think financial security and a comfortable retirement is attainable.
>>Most Americans Believe Inflation Is Negating Their Hard Work
(New York, NY) -- A new Labor Day survey reveals seventy-four-percent of people think that inflation is erasing their hard work. According to Wallet Hub, two-in-three Americans say that inflation is affecting their Labor Day plans. Sixty-seven percent of people surveyed believe they're working harder this year than last year; while 93-percent of people want a raise to keep up with inflation. Inflation has eased as money creation has slowed down, which is likely why 67-percent of Americans say they are doing better financially than they were last Labor Day. But 42-percent of Americans are planning to spend less this Labor Day weekend compared to last year.
>>U Of I Service Workers Could Be Headed For Strike
(Champaign, IL) -- University of Illinois building and food service workers could be headed for a strike next month. The union workers voted down the latest contract proposal from the university. The group voted to go on strike on July 24th and barring new contract proposals, the work stoppage could begin as soon as September 15th.
