For: November 13, 2025
>>Watching Wall Street
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed out Wednesday mostly higher. That came just ahead of the official end of the longest U.S. government shutdown ever. President Trump signed the funding measure on Wednesday after it was passed by the House. The shutdown-ending measure extends funding until January 30th. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 327 points to 48-255. The S&P 500 rose four points to 68-51. The Nasdaq dropped 62 points to 23-406.
>>U.S. Mint Strikes The 'Final Circulating Penny'
(Philadelphia, PA) -- The U.S. Mint struck its final penny on Wednesday. President Trump previously announced plans to retire the coin, which dates back to 1793, in February, citing production cost as a primary reason. According to the Treasury Department, the penny will remain legal tender and retain its value indefinitely as there are approximately 300 billion pennies still in circulation which exceeds the amount needed for commerce.
>>Bessent Teases Announcements To Cut Costs
(New York, NY) -- The Trump administration is preparing announcements on affordability soon. That's according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said Americans will see "substantial announcements over the next couple days" for items not grown in the U.S. Bessent did not provide details on how prices will be lowered, but he said items such as coffee, bananas and other fruits will likely be impacted. The Trump administration has argued it is working to address affordability concerns. Bessent asserted that Americans "are going to start feeling better" early next year after predicting inflation will cool and wages will increase.
>>Toyota Announces NC Battery Plant
(Liberty, NC) -- Toyota is building a 13-point-nine-billion-dollar battery plant in North Carolina. The automaker announced Wednesday the 18-hundred-50 acre facility will create up to 51-hundred jobs. It's the company's first battery plant outside of Japan. Toyota also announced it will be investing ten-billion-dollars in the U.S. over the next five years. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy welcomed the announcement, crediting President Trump's economic policies.
>>Report: Young Homebuyer Crisis In U.S.
(Washington, DC) -- A new report suggests a young homebuyer crisis has hit the U.S. According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical age of first-time buyers climbed to an all-time high of 40 years. The report also says the number of first-time home buyers dropped to a record low of 21-percent in 2025. On top of that, a Coldwell Banker report says 84-percent of Gen Z say they're putting off major life milestones like getting married and having children, just to afford to buy a home. Skyrocketing home prices and high mortgage rates are to blame. The crisis has prompted the White House to propose a new 50-year mortgage.
>>Striking Boeing Workers Vote On Latest Contract Offer
(St. Louis, MO) -- Boeing's latest contract offer to striking employees in the St. Louis area goes to a vote today. Union leaders are reportedly recommending members approve the proposal, which doubles an upfront bonus to six-thousand-dollars. More than three-thousand Boeing defense workers have been on strike since early August, with the aerospace giant facing pressure to get a deal done before Thanksgiving. The workers on the picket lines mainly build fighter jets and weapons systems and the U.S. Air Force says their three-month strike is causing delays in delivery.
>>Starbucks Red Cup Day Returns As Some Workers Are Striking
(Undated) -- Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day holiday promotion returns today. Customers who order a holiday beverage will get a free, limited-edition red cup, while supplies last. The festive drink menu includes the Peppermint Mocha and the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte. However, some visitors to the coffee chain may not be able to get a red cup or anything else today. Representatives with unionized Starbucks locations say baristas are planning to strike over stalled labor negotiations.
>>Apple Rolls Out Digital ID iPhone Passport
(Cupertino, CA) -- A new Apple feature will allow users to carry their passports on their phones. The tech company says Digital ID for iPhones and Apple Watches is being rolled out at TSA checkpoints at over 250 airports across the U.S. for use when traveling within the country. It adds, however, that Digital ID does not replace a physical passport and is not currently supported for international travel or crossing borders.
>>Waymo Begins To Rollout Freeway Routes
(Phoenix, AZ) -- Waymo's driverless taxis are starting to take riders on freeways in three cities. The company announced freeway routes are now being offered to select riders in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The robotaxis have been tested on freeways with employees for more than a year. Waymo plans to expand to Miami, Washington, DC, San Diego and London next year. It has also started testing cars in New York City and Tokyo.
