For: August 20, 2026
>>Ahead Of The Bell
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday. It comes as bond yields have fallen after the Treasury Department said it's going to at least double the size of its government debt repurchases. It also follows yesterday's release of the minutes from the last Federal Open Market Committee meeting. They show some central bank officials leaning toward an interest rate hike if inflation does not show signs of improvement. Elsewhere, Moderna's shares have jumped after an experimental cancer vaccine showed promise in a late-stage trial. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 119 points to 53-463. The S&P 500 gained 16 points to 77-07. The Nasdaq rose 41 points to 26-331.
>>National Debt Surpasses $40T
(Washington, DC) -- The national debt is now more than 40-trillion-dollars. The Treasury Department said the number was surpassed Tuesday afternoon. It comes earlier than analysts had expected, in part because of billions not realized after some of President Trump's tariffs were invalidated by the courts. The current federal debt limit is 41-point-one trillion dollars, at which point Congress would need to raise the debt ceiling.
>>Poll: More Americans Concerned Over Use Of AI
(Washington, DC) -- More Americans are growing concerned over the use of artificial intelligence of daily life. That's according to a new Pew Research survey, which showed that 52-percent of respondents saying they're more concerned than excited about AI. That matches the all-time high seen in the 2023 survey. Less than 10-percent said they're more excited about AI than concerned, the lowest number ever recorded in the survey.
>>Indianapolis Puts Moratorium On New Data Center Developments, Denver Weighs Next Steps
(Indianapolis, IN) -- Indianapolis has placed a moratorium on new data center developments. The Metropolitan Development Commission approved the measure Wednesday, and it took effect immediately. The moratorium will remain in place through the end of 2027 while the city researches the potential impacts of data center development and develops new regulations. Officials also plan to create an advisory committee and conduct community engagement before making recommendations. Elsewhere, Denver, Colorado is forming a working group to determine how data centers will be regulated. The city has implemented a data center moratorium until May of 2027. The city council and the mayor's office plan to form a group of experts and community members to discuss and create recommendations for future regulations.
