>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a volatile day on Wall Street ended with stocks closing higher Thursday.  Investors were reacting to several earnings reports including those from Meta Platforms, Tesla and Microsoft.  Wall Street also looked at fourth-quarter GDP growth that missed expectations, coming in at just two-point-three percent.  Weekly jobless claims fell more than expected in yesterday's report, with 207-thousand new requests received for the week ended January 25th.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 168 points to 44-882.  The S&P 500 rose 31 points to 60-71.  The Nasdaq gained 49 points to 19-681.

>>Trump Says Tariffs Are Coming Saturday

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico are coming Saturday, but he hasn't decided if oil imports will be included.  Speaking at the White House Thursday, Trump said it would depend on the price of oil.  The President said we don't need the products Mexico and Canada have and we have all the oil needed.  Canada supplied half of oil imports to the U.S. in 2023, while Mexico made up eleven percent.  

>>Tesla Will Roll Out Its Robotaxi Service In California

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Elon Musk has announced plans for Tesla's robotaxi service, set to launch in parts of California by the end of 2025, with an earlier rollout in Texas this summer. The initiative aims to compete with Waymo, which has been active in cities like San Francisco since 2021. Tesla's self-driving approach differs by using cameras and simpler sensors rather than expensive technology pricey sensors and detailed maps. However, safety concerns over Tesla's technology have emerged, especially after serious accidents, leading to an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The specific cities for the initial robotaxi deployment have not been revealed.

>>Softbank Considers Investing $25 Billion in OpenAI

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Softbank is reportedly  in talks to invest as much as 25 billion dollars into OpenAI.  The Japanese multinational investment holding company with U.S. headquarters in Menlo Park would become OpenAI's largest backer at that level of participation.  In November, OpenAI allowed employees to sell one-point-five billion dollars worth of privately held shares in a tender offer to Softbank.  

>>McDonald's Introduces Angel Reese Special

(New York, NY)  --  McDonald's is partnering with WNBA superstar Angel Reese, announcing she'll have her own meal special with the fast-food chain.  This, after Reese had what many will agree was an impressive 2024, breaking multiple WNBA records with the Chicago Sky.  The meal is a BBQ bacon quarter pounder with cheese and a new barbecue sauce, plus fries and a drink.  Customers can order the Angel Reese Special beginning February 10th.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  This, as the Federal Reserve announced it was leaving interest rates unchanged.  Fed Chair Jerome Powell said they will remain cautious as inflation remains elevated.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 136 points to 44-713.  The S&P 500 dropped by 28 points to 60-39.  The Nasdaq lost 101 points to end the day at 19-632.  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for Apple to release its first quarter earnings results after the bell.  

>>White House Reverses Funding Freeze  

(Washington, DC) --  The White House is reversing an order freezing federal grants.  President Trump ordered a pause on federal aid earlier this week, which led to confusion at and a judge putting a temporary "stay" in place.  The memo caused chaos at government agencies when it appeared to jeopardize programs funding schools, housing and health care.  That memo has now been rescinded.

>>OpenAI Looks Into Whether Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Used Its Data

(San Francisco, CA)  --  OpenAI is looking into whether Chinese AI startup DeepSeek took data from ChatGPT to build its own new AI assistant.  The American company said it's "reviewing indications that DeepSeek may have inappropriately distilled" its models.  A spokesperson said OpenAI is aware groups in China use methods like distillation, a technique used to transfer a large model's knowledge to a smaller model, to replicate American AI models.  DeepSeek says its model works at the same level as OpenAI's latest version.  It currently sits at the number one free app spot on the Apple App Store, overtaking ChatGPT.

>>Starbucks To Cut 30% Of Menu

(Seattle, WA)  --  Starbucks is planning to cut around 30 percent of its menu options by the end of the year.  It's part of the coffee chain's efforts to stop losing customers after four quarters straight of dipping sales.  New CEO Brian Nichol calls the plan "Back to Starbucks," and said the current menu is a bit overwhelming for customers and employees.  The chain is also hoping to streamline the ordering process, aiming for drinks to take no longer than four minutes to deliver.  No word on which items will be geting the ax.

>>Honda Recalls More Than 290K Vehicles

(Undated)  --  Honda is recalling more than 290-thousand vehicles because they might stall or lose power.  At issue is a problem wit the fuel injection electronic control unit.  Affected models include Acura MDX Type S from 2022-2025, Acura TLX Type S from 2021 to 2021-2025 and Honda Pilots from 2023-2025.

>>New Supersonic Jet Breaks Sound Barrier

(Mojave, CA)  --  A new prototype passenger jet, the Boom Supersonic XB-1, has broken the sound barrier during a supersonic test flight.  The XB-1 aircraft accelerated to over Mach One speed on Tuesday, while flying 35-thousand feet over California's Mojave Desert.  It was the first civilian aircraft to reach speeds of over 850 miles per hour since the Concorde airliner over 20 years ago.  The CEO of Boom Supersonic praised his team for accomplishing the feat, and said he hopes to "bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone."
 

>>Nasdaq Rebounds After Tech Sell Off

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed Tuesday with stocks higher.  The Nasdaq rebounded after shedding more than three-percent on Monday over concerns of a Chinese owned AI startup company.  It all comes as the Federal Reserve will wrap up it's latest policy meeting today and is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 136 points to 44-850. The S&P 500 rose by 55 points to 60-67.  The Nasdaq gained 391 points to 19-733.

>>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Praises DeepSeek

(San Francisco, CA)  --  OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calls emerging Chinese AI startup DeepSeek "impressive."  Altman wrote on X that it's "invigorating to have a new competitor."  DeepSeek launched its AI model R1 last week.  It jumped to the number one free app position on Apple's U.S. App Store, overtaking OpenAI.  Altman added that his company is working on new models, saying "the world is going to want to use a LOT of AI."

>>Federal Reserve Policy Meeting Underway

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve's two-day wraps up today.  Investors believe the central bank will leave interest rates unchanged when the meeting concludes.   It comes as the Fed weighs how the Trump administration's economic agenda might impact inflation and the economy as a whole.

>>Shareholders Worry About Musk's Politics Ahead Of Tesla Quarterly Report

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla investors are questioning Elon Musk about his role in the Trump White House and his recent straight-arm "salute" during the inauguration.  The car company reports fourth-quarter earnings today, and ahead of the earnings call shareholder inquiries have been pouring in about Musk's politics, including his official role in the Trump administration and his endorsement of Germany's far-right AFD party.  Many investors want to know if Musk is spending more time focusing on politics than on increasing Tesla's shareholder value, and some are asking him to address the "negative impacts" of his activities.

>>WAPO: Trump Fires Democrats At Independent Federal Agencies

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is firing Democratic members of two independent federal commissions.  The Washington Post says Trump fired two Democrats on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Monday, as well as the Democratic chair of the National Labor Relations Board.  A White House official called them "far-left appointees with radical records of upending long-standing labor law."  All three Democrats say they are exploring their legal options against the administration.  The NLRB member said her firing "violates long-standing Supreme Court precedent."

>>Trump Offering Buyouts To Federal Workers 

(Washington, DC)  --  The Trump administration is planning to offer buyouts to federal workers who don't want to return to the office.  This "deferred resignation" would include a severance package of roughly eight months' pay and benefits.  The administration says it expects five-to-ten percent of the federal workforce to quit.  A senior administration official says that could lead to roughly one-billion dollars' in savings.  The buyout offer is set to go out through a new system that allows officials the ability to email all federal employees at once.  The resignation period opened Tuesday and runs through February 6th. 

>>Philadelphia Whole Foods Workers Make History As First To Unionize

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  Employees at a Whole Foods in Philadelphia are making history as the first Amazon-owned grocery chain to unionize. The president of the union said in a statement "Whole Foods and its parent company, Amazon, have long resisted unionization efforts, but this election shows that workers' determination and unity can triumph." Whole Foods said it was "disappointed" by the recent election.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning following a day that saw a massive tech selloff resulting in a mostly lower close on Wall Street. The Nasdaq fell more than three-percent in a gut punch linked to Chinese startup DeepSeek and artificial intelligence. AI-related names plunged with Nvidia and Broadcom dropping 18 percent on concerns over competition from the low-cost Chinese app.

>>Earnings Reports Due

(Undated) -- Investors today will be keeping an eye out for a handful of big name earnings reports, including from Boeing, Starbucks, GM, JetBlue and Lockheed Martin. The Federal Reserve will also be opening a two-day meeting, with the central bank announcing its first interest rate decision of the year on Wednesday. Most analysts are expecting the Fed to keep rates where they are after announcing a quarter of a percentage point reduction last month. There's been talk of just two more rate cuts coming in 2025.

>>Senate Confirms Bessent As Treasury Secretary

(Washington, DC) -- Scott Bessent is confirmed as the next Treasury Secretary. Monday, the Senate voted 68-29 in approval of the ex-hedge fund manager. The founder of the Key Square Group was advanced by the Senate Finance Committee last week. The 62-year-old Bessent will oversee the IRS and influence the nation's fiscal policy.

>>Calls For Target Boycott

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Minneapolis City Council members are asking folks to boycott Target in the wake of the retailer's DEI rollback. Target announced last week it will end its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals after President Donald Trump announced his executive order. Ninth Ward council member Jason Chavez expressed his disappointment with Target Corporation and called on shoppers to support small business instead of the Minneapolis-based big box retailer. Target is one of several large corporations following the White House's lead.

>>UMC Nurses Plan Two-Day Strike During Super Bowl Week

(New Orleans, LA) -- Nurses at University Medical Center in New Orleans are reportedly planning to go on strike during Super Bowl week. Nearly 600 nurses are expected to take part in the two-day strike that will start on Wednesday, February 5th. This will be the second strike by UMC nurses since they voted to unionize just over a year ago. They say they're striking because negotiations on their first union contract have stalled again.

>>Florida Ranked Best State To Retire

(Tallahassee, FL) -- Florida is the best place to retire in 2025. That's according to a new study by WalletHub. The Sunshine State was ranked number one for retirement nationwide due to its low taxes for retirees and the funding it receives for seniors from the Older Americans Act, which funds transportation and nutrition programs for older residents. Some of the other best states to retire include Minnesota, Colorado, and Wyoming, while Kentucky was named the worst.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed lower on Friday, wrapping up an otherwise positive week.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 140 points to 44-424. The S&P 500 fell 17 points to 61-01.  The Nasdaq dropped 99 points to 19-954.  Coming up in the week ahead, all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve come Wednesday as the central bank announces its first interest rate decision of the year.

>>IRS Begins Processing Tax Returns Today

(Washington, DC)  --  The IRS will start accepting and processing 2024 income tax returns today.  The official deadline to file your taxes is still April 15th.  The agency did note individuals and businesses affected by the wildfires in Southern California now have until October 15th to file their taxes.  California also aligned the state tax deadline with the IRS.  

>>Survey: Nearly 40% Depend On Tax Refund

(Undated)  --  A new Credit Karma survey finds that nearly 40 percent of taxpayers rely on their refund to get by.  Among millennials, that number goes up to 50 percent.  More than half said they need the money because everything is getting so expensive.  According to the IRS, the average refund in 2024 was a little over 31-hundred dollars.  

>>AI Company Makes TikTok Proposal

(San Francisco, CA)  --  A proposal from an AI company would allow the U.S. government to own as much as 50 percent of a new company that could buy TikTok from its Chinese owners.  Perplexity AI is offering to join with the government to create an entity that's for now called "NewCo."  It would buy TikTok, without the company's core recommendation algorithm, and existing investors would receive equity in the new company.  The government would keep part ownership under an IPO worth at least 300-billion-dollars.  Perplexity is one of several companies expressing interest in buying TikTok, which has a few weeks to find a U.S. buyer or face being banned here over national security concerns.

>>Full Slate Of Earnings Reports Due This Week 

(Undated)  --  This week is going to be packed with earnings reports.  Kicking things off today are AT&T and SoFi Technologies.  Boeing, General Motors, Lockheed Martin and JetBlue all report the following day.  Meta and Tesla will be in the spotlight Wednesday, releasing fourth-quarter results after the closing bell on Wall Street.  Apple's earnings come Thursday with Exxon Mobil wrapping things up on Friday.

>>Ford's BlueCruise Hands-Free Tech Facing Stricter Investigation After Fatal Crashes 

(Undated)  --  Ford Motor Company's hands-free technology BlueCruise is facing boosted investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The probe follows two deadly all-electric Mustang Mach-E crashes which used BlueCruise.  The investigation has been moved by regulators  to "engineering analysis" which is required before a recall can be made.  The inspection will cover 2021 to 2024 model years which the NHTSA says is more than 129-thousand vehicles. The NHTSA will check Ford's system limitations and "evaluate drivers' ability to respond to scenarios that exceed system limitations." 

>>Organic Milk Brand Recalls Cartons Due To 'Premature Spoiling' 

(Undated)  --  An organic milk brand has issued a recall for thousands of cartons due to spoilage risks.  More than 19-hundred cases of Horizon Organic Aseptic Plain Whole Milk eight-ounce cartons have been recalled.  On January 17th, the recall was upgraded to a class two and the milk was sold in Arizona, California and Nevada.  The recalled cartons have an expiration date between March 3rd and March 7th.  The Food and Drug Administration said that the milk is subject to "premature product spoilage during shelf life." 

>>Tufts Lecturers Launch Two-Day Strike

(Medford, MA)  --  Some classes are canceled at Tufts University today due to striking lecturers.  More than one hundred Tufts educators are off the job for the next two days over the lack of a new contract.  Union reps say they have been negotiating with the private Massachusetts school for nearly a year but have not made progress.  The lecturers are asking for a three-point-five-percent raise, a cost of living adjustment and a workload reduction.
 

>>MOCU Old Mill Opens

Mid Oregon Credit Union’s eighth full-service branch is now open. The three-story building on Southwest Bluff Drive in Bend’s Old Mill District is also the new corporate headquarters.  Local architects and builders designed the nearly 16-thousand square-foot state-of-the-art facility.  Mid Oregon's executive leadership, wealth management, home loans,  and other departments will relocate…creating more space for the credit union's growing staff.

>>Last Trading Day Of The Week

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after another positive day on Wall Street as we wind down an abbreviated trading week, with things having been quiet on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  At yesterday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 408 points to 44-565. The S&P 500 hit a record high, rising by 32 points to 61-18.  The Nasdaq was up  44 points to 20-053.  Coming up today, data on consumer sentiment and existing home sales numbers are due.

>>Trump Claims Top Banks Are Discriminating Against Conservatives

(Davos)  --  President Trump is accusing the CEOs of America's two largest banks of refusing to serve conservatives.  Trump made the accusation on a video conference Thursday to an assembly at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.  In a Q&A session, Trump lashed out at the head of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, and said, "I hope you start opening your bank to conservatives" because many claim that "the banks are not allowing them to do business within the bank."  Both banks deny discriminating against conservatives.  Stock in both banks went up Thursday despite Trump's remarks.

>>Costco Rejects Anti-DEI Efforts, Calls For "Respect And Inclusion"

(Undated)  --  Costco is rejecting efforts to reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. A conservative activist group recently sent Costco a proposal saying they should conduct an evaluation to see if DEI policies pose any risk to the company.  On Thursday, Costco's board of directors voted it down, saying the company will defend "respect and inclusion" as there are nationwide efforts to strike down DEI practices. 

>>UnitedHealthcare Selects New CEO

(Minnetonka, MN)  --  UnitedHealthcare Group has a new CEO.  The company announced Thursday that Tim Noel will head the company following the shooting death of former CEO Brian Thompson.  Thompson was killed last month while attending a conference in New York City.  The alleged shooter was later arrested in Pennsylvania and is now facing murder charges.  Noel has been with the company since 2007 and has served as CEO of its Medicare and Retirement unit.  

>>JetBlue Accepting Venmo For Flights  

(Undated)  --  Travelers can now use Venmo to book a flight on JetBlue Airways.  JetBlue announced that it's the first airline to accept payment via Venmo when buying flights directly on the carrier's website.  The new feature is expected to roll out soon on the airline's mobile app.  The announcement is part of JetBlue's goal of using digital technology to simplify and customize people's travel journey, the airline says.    

>>Ford Recalls Over 270-Thousand Vehicles

(Undated)  --  Ford is recalling more than 270-thousand vehicles due to battery failure concerns.  The recall affects certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the 12-volt battery may experience degradation and suddenly fail.  Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out in early February.    

>>Possible Chicago Teachers Strike Growing 

(Chicago, IL)  --  The possibility of a Chicago Teachers Union strike is growing.  CTU President Stacy Davis Gates is accusing Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez of deliberately stalling as contract talks between the two sides have reached a stalemate.  An arbitrator was called in this week, which is required before a strike can take place.  The fact finder will issue recommendations early next month.  The two sides can reject or accept the findings.  The CTU last went on strike in 2019 for 15 days.    

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after closing higher again yesterday with the S&P 500 hitting an all-time high during trading. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 130 points to 44-156. The S&P 500 rose by 37 points to 60-86. The Nasdaq gained 252 points to finish at 20-009. Coming up today, we'll get word on weekly jobless claims, with most analysts forecasting just a small decline. Existing home sales and consumer sentiment wrap things up on Friday.

>>Trump To Address World Economic Forum

(Davos) -- President Trump will address the World Economic Forum remotely today. The annual event is being held in Davos, Switzerland. It'll be his first major speech to global business and political leaders since Monday's inauguration.

>>iPhones With TikTok Installed Listed On eBay

(Undated) -- iPhones with TikTok installed are listed for thousands of dollars on eBay. After a brief ban in the U.S., those who deleted or never downloaded TikTok have been left in the dark since it's not available on Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. Some iPhone owners who have kept TikTok downloaded are now selling their used or brand-new phones. One eBay user in Florida listed an iPhone 15 Pro Max "With TikTok" for ten-thousand dollars or best offer. Other phones with TikTok installed are listed between 500 and 25-thousand dollars.

>>Meta Expanding Line Of Wearables

(Menlo Park, CA) -- Meta is looking to expand its line of wearables. New products on the horizon reportedly include high-end smart glasses with built-in displays, smart glasses for athletes, watches, and AI-enhanced earbuds with cameras. The devices are in development and signal Meta's desire to compete head-to-head with Apple.

>>Stellantis To Build New Dodge Durango In Detroit

(Detroit, MI) -- Stellantis will build one of its highly-anticipated new vehicles at its Detroit factories. The company announced this week that the next-generation Dodge Durango will be built in the Motor City. The development is a win for the UAW, which had recently threatened to strike over what it said was backtracking by Stellantis on product commitments. In the Wednesday announcement, the company also declared it plans to restart the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois and make investments in production facilities in Kokomo, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio.

>>YouTube Premium Users Can Try Experimental Features

(San Bruno, CA) -- YouTube Premium users can now try some new features. The video platform announced Wednesday that those subscribers can check out experimental options on how they watch content. That includes high quality audio, smart downloads and quicker playback speeds on mobile devices. Additionally, users can now try the "Jump Ahead" feature on a web browser, which is an AI powered way of skipping to certain parts of a video.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, resuming trading after Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 538 points to 44-025.  The S&P 500 added 52 points to 60-49.  The Nasdaq rose 126 points to 19-756.

>>President Trump Announces $500 Billion Private Sector AI Infrastructure Investment

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is announcing a private sector investment worth billions of dollars to build AI infrastructure in the U.S.  Tech companies Oracle, OpenAI and SoftBank are creating a joint venture titled Stargate.  SoftBank's CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI's Sam Altman and Oracle's Larry Ellison were all on hand at the White House for yesterday's announcement.  The executives have said they'll commit 100-billion-dollars to Stargate with that number rising to 500-billion in the next for years.

>>Trump Says He's Open To Selling TikTok To Elon Musk

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says he's okay with TikTok being sold to Elon Musk or Larry Ellison.  At a Tuesday press briefing, Trump was asked if he was open to Musk purchasing the social media company.  Trump said he would be on board, and he'd like Ellison, a chairman at the tech company Oracle, to buy it too.  TikTok is currently in a state of limbo in the U.S. after the Supreme Court upheld a law banning it, and the app went dark for a number of hours last week.  Trump has signed an executive order pushing off the ban for 75 days, but the Chinese company ByteDance still has to sell their share of the app in order for it to operate legally in the U.S. 

>>Netflix Raising Subscription Prices

(Los Gatos, CA)  --  Netflix subscription prices are going up.  The streamer announced Tuesday the Standard plan without ads is increasing by two-dollars and 50 cents to 17-99 per month.  Its ad-supported tier will go up one dollar to seven-99 a month.  If you have the Premium tier, with four simultaneous streams, that's going up two bucks to 24-99 per month.  The price hike comes as the company reported nearly 19-million new subscribers in the fourth quarter, ending December 31st. 

>>King Soopers Strike Vote Scheduled For Next Week

(Denver, CO)  --  Union employees plan to vote next week on starting a strike against Colorado-based grocery store chain King Soopers.  UFCW Local Seven announced the dates for a strike vote yesterday.  A three-year contract between the union and the grocery chain expired last week.  The company reportedly offered a wage increase of just over four-dollars an hour over four years while increasing the cost employees will pay for health care benefits.  Union members will vote on approving the strike next Wednesday and Thursday.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday kept Wall Street closed on Monday. The last time traders weighed in was Friday when strong earnings from major banks coupled with better-than-expected economic data gave stocks a boost. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 334 points to 43-487. The S&P 500 added 59 points to 59-96. The Nasdaq gained 291 points to 19-630.

>>Trump Freezes Hiring, Orders Federal Employees Back To Office

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump is freezing all government hiring and ordering federal workers back to the office full time. The hiring freeze was included in a raft of executive orders Trump signed on day one, barring all agencies from filling vacancies and ordering to make more efficient use of what they have. The freeze doesn't apply to the military, immigration enforcement, national security or public safety. In another memo, Trump said that agencies need to end remote work policies as soon as possible.

>>Teamsters Authorize Strike Against Costco

(Undated) -- The Teamsters union is preparing to go on strike against Costco if the two sides fail to reach a new contract agreement. Over 80-percent of its members voted to authorize a strike starting February 1st, the day after their current contract expires. The union says the two sides have so far failed to reach agreements over wages, benefits, paid family leave and sick time, among other issues. Around 18-thousand workers are ready to go on strike at 56 Costco locations across five states.

>>California Governor Newsom Going After Price Gougers Following Wildfires

(Los Angeles, CA) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom says his administration is going after price-gougers taking advantage of residents displaced by the Southern California wildfires. In a town hall Sunday, Newsom told residents to notify authorities if they encounter landlords charging high rents in the aftermath of the fires. He added that his office has taken action to ban price gouging, but now it's about enforcing those measures and holding people accountable. Newsom also noted that he'd issued an executive order halting evictions of renters sheltering displaced people.

>>This Week's Noteworthy Reports

(Undated) -- Coming up in business news this week, fourth-quarter results from streaming giant Netflix are set to be released. Other big names reporting today include United Airlines and Capital One. Meanwhile, data on leading economic indicators is due Wednesday. Weekly jobless claims come out the following day. Most analysts are forecasting just a small decline. Existing home sales and consumer sentiment wrap things up on Friday.

>>Wall Street Closed For MLK Jr Day 

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street is closed today in honor of MLK Day after notching its first weekly gain of the new year.  Big tech rallied with shares of Tesla, Nvidia and Alphabet all gaining ground.  Strong earnings from major banks coupled with better-than-expected economic data also gave stocks a boost this week.  At the closing bell on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 334 points to 43-487.  The S&P 500 added 59 points to 59-96.  The Nasdaq gained 291 points to 19-630.

>>President-Elect Trump Says He'll Likely Extend TikTok Sale Deadline

(Washington, DC)  --  President-elect Trump says he'll "most likely" extend the deadline for Chinese-owned TikTok to sell to a U.S. company or face a ban.  Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" he'd likely give internet technology company ByteDance a 90-day extension beyond the original Sunday deadline.  Trump went on to say that if he does make that decision, he'll probably announce it Monday.  The Biden administration has said it doesn't intend to enforce the Sunday deadline, leaving the question of TikTok's future up to President-elect Trump.

>>Noteworthy Earnings Reports 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, today is a stock market holiday with equities and bond markets closed in observance of Martin Luther King Junior Day.  The following day brings fourth-quarter results from Netflix.  Other big names reporting on Tuesday include United Airlines and Capital One.  

>>Coming Up In The Business Week Ahead 

(Undated)  --  There are only a few major economic reports coming up in the business week ahead.  The calendar's clear on Monday, as the nation observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Things will also be quiet on Tuesday, with data on leading economic indicators released Wednesday.  Weekly jobless claims come out the following day and most analysts are forecasting just a small decline.  Existing home sales and consumer sentiment wrap things up on Friday.

>>Cash App Fined For Failure To Protect Users From Fraud

(Washington, DC)  --  The parent company of Cash App is being ordered to pay up to 175-million dollars for not protecting users from fraud.  On Thursday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Block to pay consumers up to 120-million dollars.  The agency also fined the company 55-million dollars, which will go to the CFPB's victims relief fund.  In a statement, the agency said Block used weak security protocols for Cash App and put users at risk.  The agency added that "When things went wrong, Cash App flouted its responsibilities and even burdened local banks with problems that the company caused."
 

>>Trading Winding Down For The Week

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street saw stocks close lower yesterday. That came after the major averages had their best day since November on Wednesday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 68 points to 43-153. The S&P 500 lost 12 points to 59-37. The Nasdaq dropped 172 points to 19-338. Next week will be an abbreviated trading week, with markets closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

>>UnitedHealth CEO Says Health Care Problems Need To Be Addressed

(Minnetonka, MN) -- UnitedHealth Group's CEO says problems with the country's health care system need to be addressed. In the first earnings call since the deadly shooting of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thomson on a Manhattan sidewalk, CEO Andrew Witty acknowledged Thursday that there are flaws driving up the costs of health care for people across the country. He blamed both the private sector and government for creating a confusing and costly landscape. The company reported record 2024 revenues.

>>TikTok Awaits Word On Fate

(Washington, DC) -- The countdown is on. The Supreme Court will release at least one opinion today regarding the upcoming TikTok ban. The announcement was posted to the court's website homepage Thursday, saying "The Court may announce opinions on the homepage beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The Court will not take the Bench." The notice is highly unusual, as the justices usually give several days notice before announcing their opinions, and typically read them aloud in the courtroom. The TikTok app is set to be banned in the U.S. on Sunday after lawmakers raised concerns about its Chinese parent company.

>>Some Flights Diverted After SpaceX Rocket Breaks Up

(Undated) -- The breakup of the SpaceX Starship after launch affected some airline flights. Several flights near the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean were forced to hold or divert Thursday evening because of the rocket's falling debris. The Starship rocket broke up in the atmosphere about nine minutes after launching from Texas. At least eight flights were reportedly impacted, including two American Airlines flights to New York's JFK, a Delta flight to Atlanta, and a JetBlue flight to JFK.

>>When It Comes To Inflation, NYC Metro Has Worst Problem

(New York, NY) -- A new analysis says the New York City metro area has the biggest problem with inflation in the U.S. WalletHub compared the Consumer Price Indices for major metro areas - and their changes from this year to last year - and this month to last month. They say the New York Metro region - which stretches into parts of Pennsylvania - has the nation's biggest inflation problem. Atlanta, Honolulu, St. Louis, and LA round out the "worst five." Houston, Phoenix, and Minneapolis they say, have the smallest inflation problems.

>>AMEX To Pay 230 Million Dollars To Settle Probe

(Washington, DC) -- American Express is agreeing to shell out 230-million-dollars to settle a federal probe into their marketing practices. The company is being investigated for allegedly committing fraud and using deceptive marketing practices. On Thursday, the Department of Justice announced American Express agreed to pay 108-million to resolve allegations of fraud, and 138-million for engaging in deceptive sales practices that gave customers incorrect tax advice. AMEX released a statement confirming the settlement and saying the company "cooperated extensively" with authorities.

>>General Motors Banned From Selling Customer Data

(Washington, DC) -- General Motors and subsidiary OnStar are banned from selling customer geolocation data and driving behavior data for the next five years. The Federal Trade Commission announced the penalty Thursday after a New York Times investigation found the automaker was selling details about customers' driving habits to insurance companies and third-party data brokers. Customers say they had no idea why their insurance premiums started going up.

>>Nintendo Reveals Switch 2

(Redmond, WA) -- Nintendo will release the follow up to its popular Switch video game system this year. The company released a teaser trailer Thursday giving fans their first look at the Switch 2. It features a similar design as the original system, but with a bigger screen. Nintendo will announce more details about the Switch 2 on April 2nd. Starting today, fans can sign up for free tickets to try out the new system in April at events in New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply higher on Wall Street yesterday. That came after a key report showed inflation slowed last month. The Consumer Price Index for December showed core inflation, excluding food and energy, rose by three-point-two-percent, against expectations of three-point-three-percent. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 703 points to 43-221. The S&P 500 rose by 107 points to 59-49. The Nasdaq gained 466 points to 19-511. Today will bring word on retail sales and weekly jobless claims. We'll also see the release of the home builder confidence index.

>>Report: Trump Considers Executive Order To Prevent TikTok Ban

(Washington, DC) -- President-elect Trump is reportedly considering an executive order that would save TikTok from a ban or sale. The Washington Post reports the order would suspend enforcement of the TikTok ban-or-sale law for 60 to 90 days. Its aim is to buy the Trump administration some time to work out a sale or some other solution. The Chinese-owned app is scheduled to be banned in the U.S. starting Sunday. Members of Congress have also introduced a bill to extend the deadline on a ban of the social media app.

>>State Farm Cancelling Super Bowl Ad

(Los Angeles, CA) -- State Farm is cancelling its Super Bowl ad this year because of the wildfires in Southern California. The insurance company, which has faced criticism for not renewing some policies because of fire risk, says it is instead focused on helping customers impacted by the fires that have left thousands of homes and businesses destroyed. A spokesperson said the company has already received thousands of claims.

>>DOT Sues Southwest Airlines, Fines Frontier For Delayed Flights

(Washington, DC) -- The transportation department is going after Southwest and Frontier Airlines for not being on time. The DOT announced Wednesday it's suing Southwest Airlines, alleging the carrier operated chronically delayed flights. The agency is also fining Frontier 650-thousand dollars for the same issue. This comes after the DOT levied a two-million-dollar fine against Jet Blue Airways earlier this month for similar allegations. In the lawsuit, the DOT says Southwest flights from Chicago Midway to Oakland, California, and from Baltimore to Cleveland arrived late nearly 200 times between April and August of 2022.

>>Capital One Sued Over Allegedly Deceiving Customers

(Washington, DC) -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says Capital One has cheated customers out of more than two-billion-dollars in interest. The agency announced a lawsuit Tuesday accusing Capital One of deceiving customers about their savings account interest rates. The company offers two savings accounts with similar names but substantially different interest rates. Capital One denies the allegations and says it has been nothing but transparent.

>>NCAA To Provide Financial Rewards For Women's March Madness

(Nashville, TN) -- The NCAA is going to start paying out financial rewards to women's college basketball teams that participate in March Madness. It's a first for the women's teams. Money will be paid out to the schools' conferences with a similar structure that's been used for men's teams for years. The NCAA announced Wednesday that two funds would be set up, starting at 15-million-dollars this spring and reaching 25-million by the 2027-28 season.

>>Sources: Crumbl Cookies Exploring $2 Billion Sale

(Lindon, UT) -- The owners of Crumbl Cookies are reportedly weighing a two-billion-dollar sale. Sources told Reuters the chain is working with an investment bank to attract interest from private equity firms in order to finalize a sale. Crumbl Cookies was started in 2017 and is based in Utah. It now has over a thousand locations in North America.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street following Tuesday's roller coaster session that ended with markets closing mixed.  Stocks struggled for direction after the producer price index report showed wholesale inflation rising just two-tenths percent in December.  Investors are now looking ahead to this morning's release of the consumer price index for clues on the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 221 points to 42-518. The S&P 500 rose 6 points to 58-42.  The Nasdaq fell 43 points to 19-044.

>>SEC Sues Elon Musk

(Washington, DC)  --  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is suing Elon Musk.  The SEC filed the lawsuit against Musk on Tuesday, alleging the billionaire broke the law in 2022 by failing to disclose his active stake in Twitter, which allowed him to buy shares at "artificially low prices."  Musk had more than a five-percent stake in the company at the time, which he would've been required to disclose to the public.  The SEC says Musk withheld that information, "allowing him to underpay by at least 150-million-dollars for shares."  The SEC has been investigating whether Musk committed securities fraud as he sold shares in Tesla and shored up his stake in Twitter before he bought the social media site for 44-billion-dollars.  

>>Chinese Telecommunications Company Admits To Conspiring To Steal Technology From Motorola 

(Chicago, IL)  --  A Chinese telecommunications company is admitting to conspiring to steal technology from Chicago-based Motorola Solutions.  The Department of Justice confirmed Tuesday that Hytera Communications had pleaded guilty in Chicago federal court to conspiracy to steal trade secrets.  Hytera may be fined up to 60-million-dollars and must make a full restitution payment to Motorola, in an amount to be determined by the Court at sentencing.  According to the plea agreement, Hytera knowingly conspired to steal at least one trade secret from Motorola.  

>>McDonald's Sued Over Hispanic Scholarship Program After Rolling Back Some Diversity Goals

(Chicago, IL)  --  An anti-affirmative action organization is suing McDonald's over a scholarship program for Hispanic and Latino students.  The legal action took place after the fast food giant ended some of its corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.  Students for Fair Admissions alleges the scholarship program unlawfully discriminates against students of other races and ethnicities.  Nashville-based International Scholarship and Tuition Services Incorporated administers the scholarship program for McDonald's.  

>>DirecTV Launching Sports Streaming Platform

(El Segundo, CA)  --  DirecTV is getting into the sports streaming game.  The satellite television provider unveiled the MySports package on Tuesday.  It'll feature over 40 channels with access to live games from the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. The company says it'll cost around 70 dollars per month and customers will not need a dish to get the service - just a mobile device or smart TV.  MySports will be offered in 24 markets to start including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.  This comes as Disney, Fox and Warner Brothers Discovery recently benched a plan to launch their own sports streaming service. 

>>MSNBC President Steps Down

(New York, NY)  --  The president of MSNBC is leaving the cable news network.  Rashida Jones announced Tuesday that she is stepping down from the role after four years.  She was the first Black executive to head a major U.S. television news network.  Jones said she came to the decision over the holidays and called her tenure as MSNBC president "the most rewarding chapter" of her professional career.  Her decision comes as Comcast plans to spin off most of its cable networks including MSNBC, CNBC and the USA Network into a separate publicly traded company.

>>Ahead Of The Opening Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed mixed on Monday as tech shares pulled back.  Apple, Micron and Nvidia were down as investors rotated into stocks like Caterpillar, JPMorgan and United Health.  Big banks including Citigroup and Goldman Sachs will post results on Wednesday as fourth-quarter earnings season gets underway.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 358 points to 42-297.  The S&P 500 rose 9 points to 58-36.  The Nasdaq fell 73 points to 19-088.  Look for today to bring some insight into the state of inflation with the release of the producer price index.  The consumer price index is due the next day.   

>>Chinese TikTok Alternative RedNote Tops App Charts 

(Undated)  --  With TikTok's future in the U.S. in the hands of the Supreme Court, a Chinese app called RedNote is topping the charts.  On Monday, RedNote was the top free-to-download app on the Apple App Store.  The Shanghai-based Chinese-language social media app has been called "China's TikTok" by users, who can share videos, post pictures, make text posts and also shop. Justices heard arguments last week over an impending ban of TikTok.  Under a law signed last spring, ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, must sell the platform by January 19th or be banned in the United States over national security concerns.  

>>Southern California Edison Sued Over Wildfires

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Southern California Edison is being sued over claims its electrical equipment is responsible for starting one of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.  At least 24 people are dead after the fires broke out last Tuesday and over 150-thousand have been forced to evacuate.  The lawsuit was filed by a group of homeowners, business owners, renters and others that had their property destroyed by the Eaton Fire in the Pasadena region.  It says the fire is second most destructive in the history of the state and claims eyewitnesses saw a fire at the base of a transmission tower that's owned by Edison.

>>Report: Cleveland-Cliffs Makes Potential Bid For U.S. Steel

(New York, NY)  --  Cleveland-Cliffs is reportedly involved in a potential bid for U.S. Steel.  The news comes after the White House blocked Japan's Nippon Steel takeover deal earlier this month.  According to CNBC, Cleveland Cliffs would purchase all of U.S. Steel for cash and then sell off the Big River Steel subsidiary to rival Nucor.  Meanwhile, the Biden administration has delayed its enforcement of the order blocking the Nippon-U.S. Steel merger until mid-June after both companies filed a lawsuit.   

>>Blue Origin Sets New Launch Date 

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  Blue Origin will give it another go, hoping to get a milestone mission off the ground from Florida's Space Coast.  The private space company founded by Jeff Bezos scrubbed the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Monday morning.  A new launch time is now scheduled for no earlier than Thursday.  If all goes as planned, a three-hour launch window will open at 1am Eastern.  Blue Origin says the goal remains the same - to safely get the rocket into orbit before trying to land its booster in the Atlantic on the company's drone ship.  

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply lower on Friday following the release of a much stronger-than-expected jobs report.  Stocks plunged on inflation worries and concerns the Federal Reserve will hit the brakes on rate cuts this year.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 696 points to 41-938.  The S&P 500 fell 91 points to 58-27.  The Nasdaq dropped 317 points to 19-161.  This week will bring some insight into the state of inflation with the producer price index out tomorrow and the consumer price index the next day.   

>>California Governor Warns Fires Could Be Costliest In U.S. History

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  California Governor Gavin Newsom says the wildfires around Los Angeles could end up being the costliest disaster in U.S. history.  Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Newsom said the fires, which have already burned more than 40-thousand acres, would be the worst in terms of the cost, scale and scope.  This, as more high winds are in the forecast that could spread the blazes further.  More than 12-thousand structures have been destroyed, according to fire officials.

>>Newsom Announces Tax Extension Due To Wildfires

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Governor Gavin Newsom is announcing that Californians impacted by the Southern California wildfires will have some more time to file their 2024 taxes.  On Saturday, the governor extended the deadline to October 15th of this year.  This aligns with the extension recently granted by the federal government.  

>>Supreme Court Hears TikTok Case As January 19th Approaches 

(Washington, DC)  --  TikTok's future in the U.S. is in the hands of the Supreme Court after justices heard arguments last week over an impending ban of the massively popular video platform.  Under a law signed last spring, ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, must sell the platform by January 19th or be banned in the United States over national security concerns.  TikTok has been trying to make the case that the law violates its First Amendment rights.  Unless the High Court acts to block the law, TikTok's time may soon be up.  

>>X To Begin Labeling Parody Accounts

(San Francisco, CA)  --  X will begin labeling parody and satire accounts.  The new labels will be on both the profiles and the posts of those accounts, according to a statement from the social media platform's Safety Team.  The move hopes to "increase transparency" on X.  Accounts can now place the label on themselves in the settings page, but the company said they'll release further details about when labeling will become required for accounts that fit the description.

>>Blue Origin Scrubs Launch 

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  Blue Origin's hopes of getting a milestone mission off the ground overnight from Florida's Space Coast have been dashed.  The private space company founded by Jeff Bezos scrubbed the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  Blue Origin says the goal remains the same - to safely get the rocket into orbit before trying to land its booster in the Atlantic on the company's drone ship.  No word yet on another launch attempt.

>>Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery Call Off Sports Streaming Service

(New York, NY)  --  Disney, Fox, and Warner Brothers Discovery are calling off their plans to launch their sports streaming service, Venu.  The companies said in a joint statement "it was best to meet the evolving demands of sports fans by focusing on existing products and distribution channels."  They first announced Venu in February, saying it was meant to combine all three companies' live sports assets.  It was supposed to launch at the start of the NFL season in September, but ended up delayed.  That was in part due to a legal challenge from the internet TV bundler Fubo, which argued the platform would by anticompetitive. 

>>Detroit Auto Show Opens

(Detroit, MI)  --  The 2025 Detroit Auto Show is now open to the public after returning to its traditional January timeframe.  The event features all major automakers showing off new products and innovations.  Detroit Auto Show co-executive director Sam Klement said there was "definitely an energy" for the opening day over the weekend and said it was great to see that. 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning as an abbreviated trading week starts to wind down.  Wall Street was dark on Thursday as a national day of mourning was observed in honor of former President Jimmy Carter.  When trading resumes today it will come after Wednesday's mixed close following the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's meeting last month.  The data added to investor concerns that there may be fewer rate cuts this year than previously expected.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 106 points to 42-653. The S&P 500 rose by 9 points to 59-18. The Nasdaq fell by 10 points to 19-478.

>>Jobs Report Out Today

(Undated)  --  The monthly jobs report is due out this morning.  Most analysts are expecting to see the addition of 155-thousand new jobs in December, versus the previous month's 227-thousand.  Look for the unemployment rate to hold steady at four-point-two percent.  The report is set to be released at 8:30 am Eastern.  

>>Supreme Court To Hear TikTok Case

(Washington, DC)  --  The future of TikTok in the U.S. will be up to the Supreme Court, which hears arguments today over an impending ban of the massively popular video platform.  Under a law signed last spring, ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, must sell the platform by January 19th or be banned in the United States over national security concerns.  TikTok is arguing that the law violates its First Amendment rights. 

>>Damage Estimates Top $50 Billion In California Wildfires   (Undated)  --  Many of the nation's big insurance companies are closely monitoring the deadly Southern California wildfires.  Analysts at JP Morgan say the economic impact could reach 50-billion-dollars and insured losses could be about 20-billion-dollars.  State Farm has the largest market share with eight million policies.  Farmers runs a close second with Travelers, Allstate, Chubb and USAA all in the top ten for the state.  

>>Four In Ten Companies Plan Job Cuts Over AI

(Washington, DC)  --  At least four in ten companies across the world are planning job cuts as artificial intelligence continues to advance.  A survey in the World Economic Forum's latest "Future of Jobs Report" showed that those employers said they'll tighten their workforce within the next five years if technology can do the same work.  The survey also found that over three in four employers said they'll work on "reskilling and upskilling" their existing workforce to use AI.

>>Google, Boeing Donate To Donald Trump's Inauguration

(Washington, DC)  --  Google and Boeing are adding themselves to the list of companies donating to President-elect Donald Trump.  Both companies have each given a-million-dollars to Trump's inaugural committee.  They join other corporations including Meta, Amazon, and Uber that have donated large amounts to Trump ahead of his inauguration on January 20th.  Toyota and Ford have also contributed one-million each to the fund.  Along with financial contributions, top executives including Google's Sundar Pinchai and Amazon's Jeff Bezos have met privately with Trump at his home in Mar-a-Lago.  

>>JCPenney Merges With Company Owning Forever 21 

(New York, NY)  --  JCPenney is merging with a company that owns several other once-bankrupt clothing stores like Forever 21.  They will form a new company that could hold significant control over the future of malls in the U.S.  The over century-old department store chain filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and was later bought by Simon malls. The new company JCPenney will anchor is called Catalyst Brands, combining with other brands that have faced trouble including Brooks Brothers, Aeropostale, Lucky Brand and Eddie Bauer.  
 

>>Wall Street Dark In Honor Of Former President Carter 

(New York, NY)  --  Today has been declared a National Day of Mourning for the late former President Jimmy Carter.  As such, trading on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed.  When trading resumes on Friday it will come after Wednesday's mixed close following the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's meeting last month.  The data added to investor concerns that there may be fewer rate cuts this year than previously expected.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 106 points to 42-653. The S&P 500 rose by 9 points to 59-18. The Nasdaq fell by 10 points to 19-478.

>>Tentative Deal To Avoid Port Strike

(Undated)  --  A tentative deal has been reached to avoid a strike that would have shut down major East Coast and Gulf Coast ports next week.  Port terminal operators and the longshoreman's union reached a deal Wednesday that would give new protections against workers losing their jobs to automation, in addition to wage increases.  The International  Longshoremen's Association, which represents dock workers, and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents container carriers and port operators, called the deal a win-win.  The union's members still have to vote on the agreement.  Without a deal, a strike could have shut down major ports starting January 15th, costing the economy hundreds of millions of dollars a day.

>>Putting A Price Tag On CA Fires 

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Wildfires devastating the Los Angeles area will carry a hefty price tag.  An early estimate from J.P. Morgan Insurance says losses from the Palisades Fire alone could reach near ten-billion dollars.

>>AT&T To Credit Customers For Network Outages

(Dallas, TX)  --  Customers of AT&T will start to see bill credits for network interruptions.  The telecommunications company announced its "AT&T Guarantee" on Wednesday.  It's aimed to give subscribers a full days worth of credit should fiber customers experience a 20 minute outage or wireless customers see a 60 minute interruption. This comes as AT&T experienced a number of outages in 2024, including one last February that lasted 12 hours and was felt across country. 

>>Company Lowers Rent By Offering "Co-Living" Spaces 

(Washington, DC)  --  A new housing company is lowering the cost of single living by renting out properties that have dozens of roommates.  The Cohabs company has been converting properties in Washington, DC to "co-living" spaces where up to 36 roommates share common areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.  The company opened its first property in DC last month, two row homes in Columbia Heights that were turned into one living space with 36 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, two kitchens and six kitchenettes.  The rooms rent for about 16-hundred dollars a month.

>>Girl Scout Cookie Season Kicks Off As Some Cookies Get Discontinued

(New York, NY)  --  Girl Scout cookie season is starting to ramp up and two flavors are making their final run in 2025.  The organization says after nine years on the market, S'mores will be retired while the final sales of Toast-Yay! cookies will be made after only four years.  Girl Scouts of America says this is the first time it's warning customers that flavors are being discontinued so they can stock up before they're gone for good.  All cookies will be available for sale at booths or online through local chapters across the country.  Girl Scout cookie season runs through April. 
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply lower with new economic data raising concerns about potential Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.  Faster than expected growth in the services sector in December worried investors and sent Treasury Yields higher.  Nvidia shares dropped more than five percent adding to the downward pressure.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 178 points to 42-528.  The S&P 500 fell 66 points to 59-09.  The Nasdaq dropped 375 points to 19-489.

>>Meta Ending Fact-Checking Program

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Meta is ending its fact-checking program in favor of a community-based system similar to Community Notes on X.  The changes, announced Tuesday by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, will affect Facebook, Instagram and Threads.  Zuckerberg said the idea is to focus on reducing mistakes and restoring freedom of expression.  He cited the recent election as a big reason behind the decision, critizing governments and legacy media for pushing for more censorship.  

>>New Rule Strikes Medical Debt From Credit Reports

(Washington, DC)  --  Credit reports will no longer include medical debt for Americans.  The new rule was finalized by the Biden administration Tuesday.  It will take effect in March and will take off around 49-billion dollars worth of medical bills from the credit reports of about 15 million Americans.  A 2024 poll from non-profit KFF found about one in 12 U.S. adults have medical debt.  In 2023, the three major credit bureaus announced medical debts less than 500-dollars would no longer appear on credit reports.

>>CVS Launches New Tech Allowing Customers To Unlock Products

(Woonsocket, RI)  --  CVS pharmacy is rolling out new innovative technology that gives trustworthy customers the power to unlock inventory themselves.  They can simply use the CVS mobile app on their phone to unlock an item.  Cyber security expert Alan Crowetz says it's a clever way to make shopping more convenient for honest customers and still deter shoplifters.  Walmart is testing similar technology in several hundred of its stores.

>>Economic Reports Coming Up

(Undated)  --  Coming up in business news, today brings the release of the minutes from the Fed's December meeting, the ADP employment report and the latest consumer credit numbers.  Weekly jobless claims are due Thursday.  And, the week wraps up Friday with the monthly jobs report.  Most analysts expect to see 155-thousand new jobs created compared to the previous month's 227-thousand.  The unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at four-point-two-percent.  

>>Six Major Landlords Targeted In Rent-Fixing Scheme Lawsuit

(Washington, DC)  --  The Justice Department and a number of states are adding more landlords to its antitrust lawsuit against property management software service RealPage.  The complaint accuses the major landlords, with more than one-point-three million units across 43 states, of colluding to set prices and reduce competition, raising prices for renters.  The lawsuit is targeting Greystar Real Estate Partners, LivCor, Camden Property Trust, Cushman and Wakefield and Pinnacle Property Management Services, Willow Bridge Property Company and Cortland Management.  The companies allegedly worked together to use the RealPage software to help plan rent increases and to set prices.

>>Rates Of Quitting Jobs At Lowest Level Since Pandemic

(Undated)  --  The number of people quitting their jobs is at the lowest level since the pandemic.  New Labor Department data from November shows just over three-million-people quit their jobs in November, the lowest number since the summer of 2020.  The department says the number of job openings is also increasing and the number of unemployment claims is at their lowest level in the last eight months. 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after trading got off to a mixed start on Monday.  Stocks rallied early in the session before the Dow turned lower in late trading.  Nvidia gained more than four percent to boost tech shares.  Markets will be closed Thursday for the National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter.  At yesterday's closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 25 points to 42-706.  The S&P 500 rose 33 points to 59-75.  The Nasdaq climbed 243 points to 19-865.

>>Apple To Update AI After Inaccurate News Alerts

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple is planning to update its artificial intelligence after complaints about inaccurate news alerts on iPhones.  The company said Monday it would work to have the software clarify when notifications are AI-generated summaries.  The BBC raised concerns last month after a summary incorrectly told readers that accused healthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione had shot himself. 

>>CES 2025

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  The largest tech conference in the U.S. is CES, formerly the Consumer Electronic Show, and it's taking place this week in Las Vegas.  The electronics show has been a haven for cutting edge tech since the first one back in 1967.  This year's show runs through the 10th and will feature the latest in tech gadgets from companies large and small from around the world.

>>United To Launch First Commercial Flight With Starlink Wi-Fi

(New York, NY)  --  United Airlines will launch its first commercial flight with Starlink Wi-Fi this spring. It's accelerating its timeline for the new internet service, which is a subsidiary of Elon Musk-owned SpaceX. United plans to have its entire two-cabin regional fleet use Starlink by the end of the year. The satellite-based Wi-Fi will be free for members of MileagePlus, United's frequent flyer program.

>>Dana White Joins Meta Board

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White is joining Meta's board of directors.  The company also announced Monday that John Elkann, CEO of Exor and chair of Stellantis and Ferrari, as well as tech investor Charlie Songhurst are coming on board.  White said he's never been interested in joining a board of directors until now because he believes that social media and artificial intelligences are the future.  

>>Blue Origin Announces Launch Date For New Glenn Mission

(Cape Canaveral, FL)  --  Blue Origin is ready for a milestone launch.  The Jeff Bezos founded private spaceflight company announced yesterday its New Glenn inaugural mission will happen no earlier than this Friday.  It'll take place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  NG-One is Blue Origin's first National Security Space Launch certification flight.  The company says it's key objective is to reach orbit safely.  It also hopes to land the booster offshore in the Atlantic, but admits doing so on their first try is ambitious.  

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning as the first full trading week of 2025 gets underway.  Wall Street closed higher Friday after a volatile start to the new year.  Tech stocks helped boost the market with chipmaker Nvidia up more than four percent.  Tesla shares jumped nearly seven percent as stocks rebounded in a broad rally to end the week.  Shares of U.S. Steel fell about five percent after President Biden blocked Nippon Steel's 15-billion-dollar takeover bid on national security grounds.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 339 points to 42-732.  The S&P 500 rose 73 points to 59-42.  The Nasdaq climbed 340 points to 19-621.

>>Economic Reports On The Horizon 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, things start off slow with not much on the schedule today.  We'll get data on job openings and the U.S. trade deficit tomorrow.  Wednesday brings the release of the minutes from the Fed's December meeting, the ADP employment report and the latest consumer credit numbers.  Weekly jobless claims are due Thursday.  And, the week wraps up Friday with the monthly jobs report.  Most analysts expect to see 155-thousand new jobs created compared to the previous month's 227-thousand.  The unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at four-point-two-percent.  

>>More Than A Third Of Workers Consider Job Changes In 2025

(New York, NY)  --  Over a third of workers are considering moving jobs in 2025.  That's according to the Global Talent Barometer from Manpower Group.  It asked more than 12-thousand workers across 16 countries.  For younger workers between 18 and 27, it's closer to one-half planning on a job change this year.  Meanwhile, over four in ten remote workers, who tend to report better wellbeing and work-life balance, reported themselves likely to change jobs.

>>Surgeon General's Warning Hits Alcohol Stocks 

(New York, NY)  --  Alcoholic beverage companies stock took a hit on Friday following the U.S. Surgeon Generals recommendation to add cancer warning labels on alcohol products.  Boston Beer Company the producer of Angry Orchard, Truly Hard Seltzer, Samuel Adams and Twisted Tea saw a nearly four-percent drop.  Canadian American brewer, Molson Coors producer of Miller Lite and Coors Light stock fell three-percent and Jack Daniel's Whiskey fell 2.5-percent in trading value.  Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S. behind tobacco and obesity.  Murthy warned that alcohol raises the risk for seven types of cancer affecting the breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat and voice box. 

>>Nazi-Linked Accounts Discovered At Swiss Bank UBS

(Undated)  --  Accounts at Swiss bank UBS linked to Nazi-affiliated entities are being investigated.  UBS, which purchased Credit Suisse after it collapsed, is working with ombudsman Neil Barofsky in the investigation.  The Wall Street Journal recently reported Credit Suisse had not previously disclosed the accounts.  They cited a letter last month from Barofsky to the U.S. Senate suggesting "signs of a cover-up" of the accounts in previous reviews.  Barofsky told the Senate he expects to have a complete report finalized by early 2026, according to the Wall Street Journal report.

>>DOT Fines JetBlue For 'Chronically Delayed Flights'

(Washington, DC)  --  JetBlue is being fined two-million-dollars for "chronically delayed flights."  The Department of Transportation announced the move Friday calling it the first penalty of its kind.  The DOT cited four JetBlue routes that were delayed at least 145 times between June 2022 through November 2023.  They include service between the low-cost carrier's home hub at JFK International and Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina, and between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, along with service from JFK and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

>>Nvidia's Jensen Huang To Deliver Keynote At CES

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  Nvidia's Jensen Huang is giving the keynote address at this year's CES, formerly the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas.  The AI chipmaker's founder and CEO will kick off the event this evening.  Huang's keynote will be live-streamed on YouTube and Nvidia's website. 

>>Holiday-Shortened Trading Week Winding Down

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning as the holiday-shortened trading week starts to wind down.  Stocks were up early yesterday - the first trading day of the new year, before things reversed course.  The S&P ended the year with four-straight down days for the first time in almost 60 years, a trend that continued on Thursday.   At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 152 points to 42-392.  The S&P 500 lost 13 points to 58-68.  The Nasdaq dropped 30 points to 19-280.

>>Apple TV+ to Stream Free Of Charge This Weekend

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple TV Plus is going to stream live this weekend.  The service will be free of charge through the 5th.  This is the first time the company has done this, and it comes just days after it suggested that its content may soon be available to non-subscribers. 

>>Books, Songs And Movies From 1929 Enter Public Domain

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Early films from Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock and Clara Bow are all entering the public domain this year.  On January 1st, the copyright expired for thousands of titles from 1929, making them free for public use.  That includes many audio recordings from 1929, including the original "Singin' In the Rain," George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Ravel's "Bolero."  Early classic books from William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway and Virginia Woolf are now also in the public domain, as is the comic strip character "Popeye."  

>>Unemployment Insurance Filings Hit Lowest Level Since April

(Washington, DC)  --  The number of people filing for unemployment benefits is down to its lowest level since last April.  New unemployment claims filed the week ending December 28th were down nine-thousand from the previous week. Economists expected an increase, but claims data tends to be more volatile at the end of the year because of seasonal hires. 

>>"Addictive Feed" Rule Goes Into Effect In California

(Sacramento, CA)  --  Social media companies are no longer allowed to send addictive feeds to minors in California.  A new law went into effect Wednesday after a judge denied a legal challenge from NetChoice.  In November, NetChoice members like Meta, Google, and X requested an injunction blocking the law, saying it violated their First Amendment rights. 

>>Sanders Says "Musk Is Wrong" About H-1B Visas

(Washington, DC)  --  Bernie Sanders is disagreeing with Elon Musk about H-1B visas for immigrant tech workers.  The independent senator from Vermont chimed in Thursday on the debate between Musk and many of Trump's right-wing supporters over the need for foreign workers in the U.S. tech industry.  In a statement on X, Sanders said "Musk is wrong," and wrote that the main function of the H-1B visa program is not to hire the best and the brightest, but "to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad."  He added, "The cheaper the labor they hire, the more money the billionaires make."  

>>Ford Recalling Nearly 300,000 Diesel Vehicles

(Dearborn, MI)  --  Ford is recalling nearly 300-thousand diesel trucks because of a defective fuel pump.  The pump could cause a loss of power increasing the risk for a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The recall affects Ford Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600 models made between 2020 and 2022 and F-650 and F-750 models made from 2021 to 2022.

>>Automakers Gearing Up For CES 2025

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  Automakers will have a large presence at next week's CES in Las Vegas.  The electronics show has been a showcase for cutting edge tech since the first one back in 1967.  This year will feature offerings from Scout, BMW, Toyota, Honda and Suzuki, with Volvo and Waymo contributing keynote speakers.  Everything from new electric vehicle offerings to dashboard tech, and even drones, will be on display.  The show runs from January 7th through the 10th.

>>First Trading Day Of The New Year

(New York, NY)  --  Trading picks back up today after Wall Street was dark Wednesday in observance of New Year's Day.  Stocks closed slightly lower the previous day to cap what was an otherwise winning year.  As the closing bell rang, to put an end to trading for 2024, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 29 points to 42-544.  The S&P 500 fell 25 points to 58-81.  The Nasdaq dropped 176 points to 19-31.

>>Weekly Jobless Claims Due Today

(Undated)  --  Weekly jobless claims are due today.  Most analysts are expecting claims to come in at right around 225-thousand, versus the prior week's 219-thousand.  And, rather than being released on the first Friday of the month as usual, the next monthly jobs report isn't due until January 10th.   

>>Ukraine Shuts Down Russian Gas Pipeline

(Kyiv)  --  Ukrainian officials are shutting down a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Europe.  The transnational pipeline was shut down after Ukraine refused to renew an agreement that allowed for Russian gas to move through its territory.  Ukraine's energy minister called this week's move a historic event, and said Russia is "losing markets" and will suffer financial losses.  Russian energy company Gazprom has issued a statement confirming that it was no longer sending gas from Siberia to Europe through the pipeline.

>>Amazon Institutes RTW Policy

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon's return to work policy goes into effect today.  CEO Andy Jassy has been warning since September that employees would be required to be in the office five days a week starting at the beginning of the new year.  Amazon's corporate workers had been allowed to work remotely since the onset of the pandemic, like employees at many other companies.

>>EA Expected To Surge In 2025

(Redwood City, CA)  --  Electronic Arts is expected to surge in the new year.  After a mid-December downgrade from analysts at Stifel, the stock fell to a 52-week low.  But as it stands now, the majority of analysts say they expect EA to have a breakout year.