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.
