>>Monday On Wall Street

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street saw stocks close sharply lower on Friday.  Stocks are closing sharply lower to end the week on Wall Street.  Fresh economic data on inflation and falling consumer sentiment sparked a broad sell off.  Big tech led the way with Alphabet and Amazon losing more than three percent each.  Growing fears over tariffs and trade policy added to the market volatility.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 715 points to 41-583.  The S&P 500 lost 112 points to 55-80. The Nasdaq dropped 481 points to 17-322.

>>What To Watch For This Week

(Undated)  --  The week gets off to a slow start with no major economic reports on today's calendar.  But don't let that fool you, the 1st of April brings the latest auto sales numbers, data on job openings and construction spending.  ADP releases its employment report the following day with weekly jobless claims out on Thursday.  All eyes will be on the monthly employment report as the week wraps up on Friday.  Most analysts expect around 140-thousand new jobs were created in March, versus 151-thousand the month prior.  The unemployment rate is forecast to hold steady at four-point-one percent.    

>>Trump: April 2nd "Liberation Day"

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says this coming Wednesday will be our "liberation day" with new U.S tariffs set to take effect.  Trump is calling that date "liberation day," claiming the tariffs against Canada, Mexico, China and the European Union, will undo decades of those powers "taking advantage of the U.S."  The President, at the same time, says he "couldn't care less" if automakers raise their prices due to the implementation of a 25-percent tariff on all foreign made automobiles.  In an interview with NBC News over the weekend, Trump said he didn't care if automakers raise prices, and in fact hopes they do, because he thinks people will start buying more American-made cars.  He also said the imposed tariffs will be permanent.  

>>Elon Musk's xAI Buys X For $45 Billion

(Undated)  --  Elon Musk's AI startup is buying his social media platform X.  On Friday, Musk announced xAI [[ X-AI ]] acquired X in an all-stock transaction for 45-billion-dollars.  He says they're officially making steps to combine the data, models, distribution, and talent from both companies.  

>>Egg Prices Drop

(Undated)  --  Egg prices are dropping as chicken flocks begin to recover from the bird flu.  The average wholesale price of a dozen eggs was three dollars last week, down from a record eight-dollars-and 15-cents back in February.  The U.S. lost more than 12 percent of egg-laying hens in the first three months of the year.

>>FDA Recalls Thousands Of Pounds Of Ground Coffee Mislabeled As Decaf

(Undated)  --  Thousands of pounds of ground coffee in 15 states have been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration.   The recall is for hundreds of 12 ounce bags of Our Family Traverse City Cherry Decaf Light Roast Ground Coffee which were mislabeled as decaffeinated.  The voluntary recall was issued on March 13th by Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, one of the largest coffee suppliers in the U.S. 

>>Consumer Sentiment Drops 12% In March

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Consumer sentiment fell sharply in March as inflation worries surge.  The University of Michigan's final reading for the month plunged 12 percent from February as consumers continue to worry about the economy.  Survey officials say inflation fears drove much of the downturn which stretched across all age and income groups.  It's the third straight decline and it came the same day the Commerce Department reported the core inflation rate increased to two-point-eight percent in February.

>>Neuralink Files To Trademark 'Blindsight,'  'Telepathy' and 'Telekinesis' 

(Undated)  --  The Elon Musk-led company Neuralink is looking to trademark the words "telepathy" and "blindsight."  The brain-computer interface company filed applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the terms earlier this month.  The applications are for new Neuralink's products including Telepathy, which is a brain-computer implant that lets users control devices with thoughts and Blindsight, an implant that hopes to restore vision in the blind.  

>>QVC Group Lays Off 900 Employees 

(New York, NY)  --  The company that runs the QVC and HSN shopping channels is laying off around 900 employees.  The QVC Group said Thursday that it's part of a plan to merge the two channels and be a larger player on social media and streaming platforms.  The layoffs make up around five-percent of the company, which owns QVC Plus and HSN Plus streaming channels along with The Big Dish channel on Roku, and is developing streaming products for platforms like Netflix and Hulu.   

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  It comes as investors weight the latest tariff news from the White House.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 155 points to 42-299.  The S&P 500 lost 18 points to 56-93. The Nasdaq dropped 94 points to 17-804.  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for the release of a key measure of inflation - the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index - and the latest reading on consumer sentiment.

>>Musk: Don't Plan Staying With DOGE Past 130 days

(Washington, DC)  --  Elon Musk says he doesn't think he'll be working at the Department of Government Efficiency much longer.  Speaking to Fox News, Musk said he believes DOGE will reach their goal amount of government waste and fraud removed within his 130 day mandate.  That's the legal time-frame given to a "special government employee" to stay on the job.  He believes he can cut the deficit by one-trillion dollars.

>>United Auto Workers President Praises Tariffs On Foreign Cars

(Detroit, MI)  --  The president of the United Auto Workers union says 25-percent tariffs on foreign-made cars is a step toward ending the "free trade disaster."  Shawn Fain has been critical of President Trump in the past.  This comes after Trump announced the tariffs on automobiles and light trucks imported into the United States beginning April 2nd.  Fain noted that progress would also mean union rights for autoworkers across the United States.  He said the UAW has been clear that it will work with any politician willing to deliver results, regardless of party.

>>Slight Drop In Weekly Jobless Claims  

(Washington, DC)  --  The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims was less than expected last week, but not by much.  The Labor Department on Thursday said it received 224-thousand initial requests for benefits in the week ending March 22nd.  That's a decrease of a thousand from the previous week's revised total and about two-thousand less than most analysts had forecast.  

>>Meme Trading Platform Robinhood Is Getting Into Banking

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Robinhood, known as a meme stock platform, is reportedly aiming to roll out checking and savings accounts to its "Gold" level subscribers.  Bloomberg reports that while Robinhood is introducing bank-like services, it is not an FDIC-insured bank itself. Instead, it will work with a partner institution to offer Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. protection on consumers' money.  Banking services will be provided by Coastal Community Bank. 
 

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street Wednesday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 132 points to 42-454.  The S&P 500 dropped by 64 points to 57-12.  The Nasdaq fell by 372 points to 17-899.

>>Uncertainty After Trump Tariffs On Cars

(Washington, DC)  --  There is a lot of uncertainty after President Trump imposed new tariffs on automobiles.  On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order putting 25-percent tariffs on foreign made cars and trucks to go into effect April 2nd.  He said the order aims to increase domestic manufacturing of cars and auto parts.  The environmental group the Sierra Club claims the tariffs will increase car prices for Americans and hurt working families.  Mexico and Canada have vowed previously the raise their tariffs if Trumped signed the order. 

>>Canada Bars Tesla From EV Rebate Program

(Undated)  --  Canada is barring Tesla from its electric vehicle rebate programs.  This comes after President Trump's back-and-forth over tariffs in Canada, hitting a 25-percent tariff on the northern nation and Mexico.  Canada's transport minister, Chrystia Freeland, said in a Tuesday statement to Reuters that Tesla won't be eligible for the program while the "illegitimate and illegal U.S. tariffs are imposed against Canada."  Tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk serves as the automaker's CEO. 

>>Apple's WWDC Kicks Off June 9th

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple's World Wide Developers Conference will be held June 9th through the 13th this year.  The WWDC25 is expected to feature dramatic software overhauls for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.  Bloomberg reports Apple's iOS 19  will be "the biggest revamp since iOS 7." Alongside software updates, the event could also see the launch of new hardware products, and possibly the unveiling of a smarter Siri.

>>More Than Two Dozen Kohl's Locations To Close

(Menomonee Falls, WI)  --  More than two dozen Kohl's locations are closing. The retail chain originally made the announcement in January that 27 stores would close in April.  Then-CEO Tom Kingsbury said "we always take these decisions very seriously."  Three locations in California, Massachusetts, and Virginia have already closed.  This Saturday marks the final day of business for the other 24 stores.

>>Dollar Tree Sells Family Dollar Business

(New York, NY)  --  Dollar Tree is selling Family Dollar as the discount chain tries to reverse its losses under a new CEO.  The company is selling it to two private equity firms for about a billion dollars.  The deal is expected to be sealed in 90 days.  New CEO Mike Creedon said the sale will allow the retail chain to "full dedicate" itself to Dollar Tree's growth and profitability.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed slightly higher on Wall Street Tuesday.  Uncertainty over tariffs and inflation worries did put a damper on investor sentiment.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose four points to 42-587.  The S&P 500 added nine points to 57-76.  The Nasdaq gained 83 points to 18-271.

>>Trump EO Would Halt Use Of Paper Checks By Federal Government

(Washington, DC)  --  A new executive order from President Trump would stop the federal government from using paper checks.  The order signed Tuesday would block the Treasury Department from issuing checks for benefits, tax refunds, vendor payments and intra-governmental payments effective September 30th.  At that time, the federal government would be required to switch to electronic transfer methods such as direct deposit and prepaid card accounts.  The order states, "The continued use of paper-based payments by the federal government" imposes "unnecessary costs, delays, risks of fraud, lost payments, theft, and inefficiencies."

>>Consumer Confidence Drops Sharply Again In March

(New York, NY)  --  Consumer confidence fell for the fourth straight month in March.  The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index slid more than seven points largely due to inflation worries and uncertainty over tariffs.  The Expectations Index -- which measures the short-term outlook for income, business and the labor market -- dropped to its lowest level in 12 years.  March's fall in confidence was broad-based across all income groups with older Americans becoming especially gloomy about the economy.   

>>IRS Could Face $500B In Lost Revenue

(Washington, DC)  --  Treasury Department and IRS officials are predicting a ten-percent drop in tax receipts by next year, equaling about 500-billion in lost revenue.  An analysis by the Washington Post says it's a result of people not filing taxes and more than eleven-thousand IRS employees let go under the Trump administration.  There are also plans to fire another 20-thousand agency employees.  A treasury spokesperson called the projections "sensational and baseless."

>>No Major Economic Reports Today 

(Undated)  --  Things are quiet today as far as the world of noteworthy business reports goes.  On Thursday, the second GDP revision is due to be released along with weekly jobless claims and pending home sales numbers.  Things wrap up Friday with a key measure of inflation - the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index - and the latest reading on consumer sentiment.

>>Report: NBA Salary Cap Increases By 10%

(Undated)  --  The NBA continues to grow.  ESPN reported on Tuesday that the league plans to increase the salary cap by 10-percent next season, which is the maximum amount allowed.  The new cap is expected to exceed 154-million dollars with the luxury tax topping out near 188-million.  Potential free agents following this season include the Lakers' LeBron James, Mavericks' Kyrie Irving and Clippers' James Harden.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks got off to a hot start to the trading week. Tesla shares were among the biggest gainers on Monday, up more than ten percent. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 597 points to end at 42-583. The S&P 500 rose 100 points to 57-67. The Nasdaq climbed 404 points to 18-188.

>>Postmaster DeJoy Resigns

(Washington, DC) -- Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is stepping down as head of the U.S. Postal Service. DeJoy, who was appointed to lead the independent government agency in 2020, announced his resignation Monday. In a statement, DeJoy said he'd made beneficial changes to an organization adrift, but that more work was necessary. Some 30-thousand employees have been cut from the service since 2021 and there are plans to cut another ten-thousand. DeJoy has called for increased postage rates over his term, which saw the price of a stamp rise from 55-cents to 73-cents. Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will be in charge until a successor can be named.

>>President Trump Says He May Give Countries "Breaks" On Tariffs

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump says he may give certain countries exemptions for tariffs when his administration imposes them next week. He told reporters at the White House "we might be even nicer than that." Trump has suggested he would impose reciprocal tariffs beginning April 2nd on any nation with duties on U.S. goods. As that date comes closer, some White House officials are indicating there may be wiggle room.

>>Hyundai Investing Billions In U.S.

(Washington, DC) -- South Korean car maker Hyundai is making a 20-billion dollar investment in the United States. That includes a five-billion dollar steel plant in Louisiana. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on social media that it will mean "More investments, more jobs and more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans." Today's announcement comes as the White House has levied 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

>>Business Reports On The Calendar

(Undated) -- When it comes to noteworthy business reports, there are a trio of them to keep an eye out for today: Consumer confidence, new home sales and the 20-city S&P Case-Shiller home price index. Things will be pretty quiet on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's release of the second GDP revision, weekly jobless claims and pending home sales numbers. Things wrap up Friday with a key measure of inflation - the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index - and the latest reading on consumer sentiment.

>>Chime Introduces Instant Loans

(San Francisco, CA) -- The consumer financial technology company Chime, which offers fee-free banking services, is announcing the launch of Instant Loans. It will provide instant access of up to 500-dollars in a loan with a fixed interest rate of five-dollars for every 100-dollars borrowed. The loan is paid back in three monthly payments of 35-dollars per 100-dollars borrowed.

>>Samsung Co-CEO Dies At 63

(Hong Kong) -- Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-Hee is dead at the age of 63. Han had overseen the South Korean tech giant's consumer electronics and mobile devices businesses since 2022. Announcing his death earlier today, a company spokesperson said it was the result of cardiac arrest.

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Friday, bringing an end to a volatile week on Wall Street.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 32 points to 41-985.  The S&P 500 added four points to 56-67.  The Nasdaq gained 92 points to 17-784.

>>What To Watch For This Week

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, it's a pretty quiet Monday as far as economic reports go.  Tuesday brings word on consumer confidence, new home sales and the 20-city S&P Case-Shiller home price index.  Fast forward to Thursday and the second GDP revision is due to be released.  That comes along with weekly jobless claims and pending home sales numbers.  Things wrap up Friday with a key measure of inflation - the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index - and the latest reading on consumer sentiment.

>>Trump Touts Tariffs

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is calling April 2nd America's "liberation day."  Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said that's the day his tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China go into effect.  He said Americans will see an economic boom after the tariffs.  He added that his tariff threats have already prompted several companies to move their production plants to the U.S.  Trump noted he has a good relationship with China's President Xi [[ she ]], and expects to speak with him this week.

>>SBA Cutting About 2,700 Jobs As Part Of Restructuring 

(Washington, DC) --  The Small Business Administration is cutting around 27-hundred jobs making up 43-percent of its workforce.  The job cuts are part of the agency's restructuring.  The SBA said in a statement that it is focusing on "ending social policy agendas of the prior administration, eliminating non-essential roles and returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels." The SBA said its loan guarantee, disaster assistance programs and its field and veteran operations will be unaffected.  The job cuts will include voluntary resignations and the expiration of COVID-era and other term appointments. 

>>Report Predicts Gen Z Will Be Wealthiest Generation In History 

(Undated)  --  While Gen Z is currently feeling the financial squeeze they are on track to be the wealthiest generation by 2035.  A new report from Bank of America predicts that Gen Z will be the wealthiest generation in history in the next decade.  The two largest drivers in Gen Z's economic rise are wage growth and the "Great Wealth Transfer."  It is estimated by 2045 around 84-million-dollars will be passed down from seniors and baby boomers to Gen X, millennials and Gen Z, with Gen Z taking 38-percent of that inheritance.  
 

>>Trading Week Winding Down 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street Thursday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost eleven points to 41-953.  The S&P 500 went down by 12 points to 56-62.  The Nasdaq lost 59 points to 17-691.

>>EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs

(Brussels)  --  The European Union is delaying the first retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.  The tariffs will now go into effect in mid-April to allow for more time for negotiations.  Tariffs on U.S. goods such as whiskey and clothing items were set to be implemented on April 1st.  The EU had announced the tariffs in response to President Trump's decision to place tariffs on European aluminum and steel.  An EU spokesperson said the slight change in timeline will not diminish the impact of the EU's response.

>>Cybertruck Recall 

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla's Cybertruck is facing another recall.  This time it cannot be fixed with a software update.  The recall notice, issued by the NTSB, says there is a safety issue relating to a cosmetic panel that could fall off, creating a road hazard.  This is the second time there has been a recall due to the adhesive, used to attach the trim pieces.  Last June, there were problems with a metallic strip that ran along the trunk bed, which was also coming unglued.

>>DoorDash To Partner With Klarna

(San Francisco, CA)  --  DoorDash says it's partnering with a finance company to give customers more ways to pay.  The delivery app said Thursday it will be working with Klarna, a buy now, pay later app, in the coming months.  In a news release Thursday, Door Dash said Klarna will offer a "seamless range of payment options" that can be used to buy groceries, fast food or anything else.  DoorDash says the partnership with Klarna will "empower customers with maximum choice and control over how they pay."

>>Celtics Sold In Record Deal

(Boston, MA)  --  The Boston Celtics are being sold to a new owner in a record-setting deal.  Symphony Technology Group managing partner Bill Chisholm has reportedly agreed to purchase the NBA franchise for just over six-billion dollars.  It's the largest sale of a North American sports franchise in history.  The Grousbeck family made a massive profit off the sale, having initially purchased the Celtics for 360-million in 2002.

>>NY Gets 30-Day Reprieve On Ending Congestion Pricing Toll

(New York, NY)  --  New York is getting a 30-day reprieve on ending its congestion pricing toll.  With just a day to go before the deadline, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted a "30-day extension" notice to social media on Thursday.  He said that talks are ongoing but that continued non-compliance with the federal order to stop the program will not be taken lightly.  Governor Kathy Hochul told President Trump in a recent White House meeting that she will not turn the cameras off.  Duffy's social media post threatened New York, saying "Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check."

>>Cargo Movement At Port Of Los Angeles Remains Strong

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Cargo volume at the Port of Los Angeles remains strong.  The Port of L.A. has been the number-one container port in the U.S. for 25 consecutive years.  After a record start to 2025, Port of Los Angeles cargo volume remained high through February with two-and-a-half-percent more volume moved this year than last, marking the second-busiest February on record. Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka says for 17 of the last 19 months, the port has experienced year-over-year cargo growth, all without shipping delays or back-ups. Seroka says many retailers and manufacturers have been importing their products through Los Angeles earlier than usual as a hedge against tariffs. 
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a higher close for stocks Wednesday on Wall Street.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 383 points to 41-964.  The S&P 500 rose by 60 points to 56-75.  The Nasdaq gained 246 points to 17-750.  Investors today will be keeping an eye for a couple of noteworthy reports with the release of weekly jobless claims and existing home sales.

>>Federal Reserve Leaves Interest Rates Steady

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Reserve is holding interest rates steady despite some signs that the economy could be slowing.  Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the Fed is focusing on achieving maximum employment and stable prices.  The central bank forecasts that two rate cuts will come later this year.  The decision is in line with market expectations and is the second time the Fed has paused rate cuts since January.  This after the central bank cut rates three times at the end of 2024 due to weakening employment data and cooling prices.

>>Amtrak CEO Resigns Amid Trump Concerns

(Washington, DC)  --  The CEO of Amtrak is turning in his resignation.  Stephen Gardner said Wednesday he's stepping down because of concerns from the Trump administration.  His resignation comes after Elon Musk suggested earlier this month that Amtrak should become a privately-owned company.  Amtrak later issued a statement pushing back against the idea, claiming that past efforts to privatize various Amtrak operations had proven unsuccessful.

>>Federal Court Rules AI-Created Art Can't Be Copyrighted

(Undated)  --  A federal appeals court is ruling art created entirely by artificial intelligence can't be copyrighted.  This week's ruling says there must be initial human authorship in order for a copyright to be issued.  This means that in order for an AI-generated work to be copyrighted, a human must be the one directing or using the AI, and the AI can't be operating autonomously.  The ruling upholds a decision made by the U.S. Copyright Office denying a copyright to Stephen Thaler.  The computer scientist and creator of AI-platform "Creativity Machine" had challenged the office's decision not to issue a copyright for an AI-generated painting.

>>Joann Warns Customers Of Fake Websites

(Hudson, OH)  --  Joann Fabric and Crafts is warning customers of fake websites as the company files for bankruptcy and prepares to close all stores.  The retailer issued a statement on Instagram clarifying that online shopping is no longer available.  Joann-dot-com is the company's only website and can be used to browse its catalog and find nearby stores. The post encouraged them to shop in person. 

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower yesterday on Wall Street.  Stocks pulled back with the tech-heavy Nasdaq still in correction territory despite the recent bounce.  Tesla shares fell five percent to lead the tech decline ahead of today's decision on interest rates and remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.  Economists are not expecting a rate cut from the central bank at its second meeting of the year.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 260 points Tuesday to end at 41-581.  The S&P 500 fell 60 points to 56-14.  The Nasdaq dropped 304 points to 17-504.

>>Vancouver Car Show Removes Teslas Over Protests

(Vancouver)  --  One of the biggest auto shows in Canada says it's removing Tesla from the event over safety concerns.  The Vancouver International Auto Show starts today and bills itself as one of North America's premiere auto shows.  In a statement Tuesday, the director of the event said Tesla vehicles were being removed from the show over concerns for the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff.  Protests have been happening at Tesla dealers across Canada, as well as the U.S., in opposition to CEO Elon Musk and his role in the Trump administration.  Hundreds attended a Tesla protest in Vancouver last Saturday.

>>Frontier Airlines Introduces Free Bag Promotion After End Of Southwest Policy

(New York, NY)  --  Frontier Airlines is flying checked bags for free after Southwest announced the end of its more than 50-year-old free bag policy.  Frontier announced the new promotion on select flights in an effort to bring in "rebound" customers moving away from Southwest.  Passengers will need to book a nonstop flight from now through August 18th.  To earn a free checked bag with the Economy Bundle on top of a free carry-on and seat selection, the flight will need to depart between May 28th and August 18th.

>>Amazon Echo Sharing To Servers

(Seattle, WA)  --  Amazon Echo will soon be sharing information with Amazon servers and users can't opt out.  The "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature will come to an end on March 28th.  A company spokesperson said that they are "expanding Alexa's capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon's secure cloud."

>>Housing Starts Jump 11% In Februrary

(Washington, DC)  --  New construction rose in February as mortgage rates edged lower.  Government figures show privately owned housing starts jumped eleven percent to an annual rate of one-point-five million units.  Also, building permits totaled nearly one-and-half million units for the month.  Both numbers were slightly above forecasts.

>>Amazon Returns Could Be Phased Out Of Kohl's Stores

(Milwaukee, WI)  --  Amazon returns could become a little more challenging for those who rely on a nearby Kohl's to drop off items. The retail chain is testing out removing easy Amazon returns services at some stores.  Kohl's began accepting Amazon returns in 2017.  
 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed in the green on St. Patrick's Day.  Stocks continued their comeback with the major averages building on Friday's rally.  Investors largely shrugged off a weaker than expected February retail sales report ahead of a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting on interest rates.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 353 points to 41-841.  The S&P 500 added 36 points to 56-75.  The Nasdaq rose 54 points to 17-808.

>>Retail Sales Rise Slightly In February

(Washington, DC)  --  Retail sales came in weaker than expected in February.  The Commerce Department reported Monday that retail sales rose two-tenths percent for the month as consumer spending slowed.  Online spending helped boost sales figures for the month with nonstore retailers reporting a nearly two-and-a-half percent gain.  Consumer spending makes up about two-thirds of all economic activity in the U.S.  

>>Fed Meeting

(Undated)  --  The Federal Reserve opens a two-day meeting today with an interest rate decision looming tomorrow.  Economists are not expecting a rate cut from the central bank at its second meeting of the year.  

>>NCAA To Allow Athletes To Negotiate NIL Deals Before Enrollment

(Undated)  --  The NCAA is agreeing to move on from its rule that prohibited athletes from negotiating the terms of name, image and likeness deals until after enrolling in school.  The rule change is part of a legal settlement announced Monday between the NCAA and a group of state attorneys general.  They had sued the organization in 2024, saying the rule violated federal antitrust law.  The rule was put in place to attempt to keep schools and NIL collectives from using NIL deals in recruiting.  

>>Forever 21 Files For Bankruptcy

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Forever 21 is going out of business.  The clothing store company announced it filed for bankruptcy Sunday for the second time in six years.  The retailer said it will conduct liquidation sales as it begins an "orderly wind-down" of business.  Forever 21's chief financial officer said the company was unable to find a sustainable path forward as it faced competition from foreign fast fashion companies.  The company's website says it currently has more than "540 locations globally and online."

>>Klarna To Replace Affirm As Walmart's Exclusive BNPL Provider  

(Undated)  --  The popular buy now, pay later provider Klarna has reached a deal to partner with the consumer finance app OnePay to replace Affirm as Walmart's exclusive provider of fast-credit installment loans.  The move announced Monday came just after Klarna recently announced it had filed paperwork for its long-awaited initial public offering.

>>Wall Street's Wild Week Winding Down

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply lower on Thursday as tariffs and threats of tariffs stoke concerns among investors. The S&P 500 finished just over ten-percent off of its record close to end the day in market correction territory. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 537 points to 40-813. The S&P 500 lost 77 points to 55-21. The Nasdaq dropped by 345 points to 17-303.

>>Trump Threatens 200% Tariff On EU Alcohol Products

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump says he will place a 200-percent tariff on all alcoholic products from the European Union. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said it would be in response to a 50-percent tariff on Whiskey implemented by the EU. The President said the union was created for "the sole purpose of taking advantage of the U.S." He added the tariff will be great for champagne and wine businesses across the country. It all comes after both the EU and Canada responded with tariffs of their own yesterday after Trump placed some on steel and aluminum imports.

>>Dollar General Warns Low-Income Americans Are Suffering More

(New York, NY) -- Dollar General warns that low-income Americans' financial conditions are getting worse. The retail chain has more than 20-thousand stores primarily in rural areas and its "core customers" earn under 40-thousand dollars a year. CEO Todd Vasos said on an earnings call yesterday that many of Dollar General customers report they have only enough money for basic essentials. Some even have to forgo basic necessities. This after inflation finally cooled in February for the first time in five months, but other costs like housing and health care remain expensive.

>>Watchdog Group Raises Flag About FAA's Business With Starlink

(Washington, DC) -- A watchdog group is raising concerns about whether the FAA's business with Elon Musk's Starlink violates conflict of interest laws. The Campaign Legal Center wrote in a letter to the Transportation Department's inspector general that Musk "blatantly and improperly influenced" the FAA's work with Starlink. It's come under criticism recently after reports that the Trump administration was considering cancelling Verizon's two-point-four-billion dollar contract in favor of Musk's satellite communications firm.

>>Donatella Versace Stepping Down

(Milan, Italy) -- Donatella Versace is stepping down as the brand's chief creative officer after nearly 30 years. Starting in April, she'll take on a new role as chief brand ambassador. Dario Vitale, who previously worked with Prada's Miu Miu, will step in as the new creative director, with reports swirling that the Prada Group is close to buying Versace.

>>Americans To Spend Billions On St. Patrick's Day

(Dublin) -- St. Patrick's Day is this Monday and consumers will be digging into their pots of gold to celebrate. The National Retail Federation says they expect over 60 percent of Americans to celebrate the holiday, and they'll each spend an average of 43 dollars on the celebration. That comes out to around seven-billion dollars.

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Wall Street Wednesday. It comes after a softer than expected inflation report calmed concerns regarding the economy after a two-day sell-off to start the week. The Consumer Price Index for last month found inflation rose by point-two-percent against expectations of point-three-percent. Investors on Thursday will be keeping an eye out for yet another popular inflation gauge with the release of the Producer Price Index.

>>Metals Tariff Take Effect, Europe & Canada Respond

(Washington, DC) -- Europe and Canada are retaliating against President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum. The tariffs are 25 percent on metals that come into the U.S. from any country in the world, including allies. It's expected to raise the costs for U.S. automakers and other industries, although the move is supported by many American steel and aluminum manufacturers. Meanwhile, the European Union announced it will impose counter tariffs on U.S. goods worth 28-billion dollars. Trump on Wednesday pledged to up the ante, saying he'll have no problem imposing even more tariffs because, in his words, "Whatever they charge us with, we're charging them."

>>Spotify Paid Millions In Royalties

(Stockholm) -- Spotify says it paid out a million-dollars or more in royalties last year to nearly 15-hundred artists. The streaming service said Wednesday that 80 percent of those didn't have a song that reached the app's Daily Top 50 chart. Instead, the artists had at least four-to-five million monthly listeners or 20-to-25 million monthly streams. The number of artists earning more than 10-million dollars in royalties has jumped 600 percent since 2017.

>>Southwest Airlines Policy Change Does Not Sit Well With Some

(Dallas, TX) -- Southwest Airlines' decision to start charging for checked bags is being met with ridicule across social media. Take for instance Texas travel planner Cathi Banks. She says the move will damage the carrier's reputation, especially among cost-sensitive families. Banks adds that Southwest has basically already lost their reputation as a "low cost" carrier, with ticket prices mostly in line with the legacy airlines. Southwest is also set to end their "open seating" policy in the first half of next year.

>>iRobot In Serious Trouble

(Bedford, MA) -- The company that makes the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners is in trouble. Massachusetts-based iRobot is telling investors it has about a year left to figure out its financial woes. At the beginning of 2024, a deal to have Amazon purchase the company for nearly two-billion-dollars fell through. That led to the iRobot CEO stepping down, and about half the workforce being laid off. The company now says it has "substantial doubt" about its ability to continue.

>>Saudi Arabia Buying Makers Of Pokemon Go

(Riyadh) -- Saudi Arabia is buying the makers of the hit mobile game Pokemon Go. The country's public investment fund will pay three-and-a-half-billion dollars to purchase the gaming division of Niantic, a San Francisco-based company that released the popular game back in 2016. Saudi Arabia has spent billions in recent years in an effort to develop its gaming industry.

>>Eminem Becomes Investor In Detroit WNBA Team

(Detroit, MI) -- Eminem is trying to bring the WNBA back to Detroit. The Michigan rapper has joined a team of investors including Pistons owner Tom Gores, Lions quarterback Jared Goff and General Motors CEO Mary Barra who are hoping to bring an expansion team to Detroit. The Motor City used to have one of the best teams in the league. The Detroit Shock won three WNBA championships, in 2003, 2006 and 2008, before moving to Tulsa in 2009. The league has said it wants to add a 16th team by 2028.

>>Ahead Of The Bell

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after another difficult day on Wall Street. Word of renewed trade talks with Canada along with gains in Tesla and Nvidia helped trim losses in late trading. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 478 points to 41-433. The S&P 500 lost 42 points to 55-72. The Nasdaq fell 32 points to 17-436. Investors today will be keeping an eye for the consumer price index - one of the Federal Reserve's preferred gauges of inflation.

>>Trump Tells Business Roundtable Tariffs Having "Positive Impact"

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump is telling business leaders that his tariffs are having a "tremendously positive impact" on the economy. Trump spoke Tuesday at the quarterly meeting of his Business Roundtable, which includes the heads of Apple, Walmart, GM and JPMorgan Chase. In his remarks, Trump claimed his recent tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China "will have and they are having" a positive impact. The remarks come as stock values continue to fall. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost as much as 700 points on Tuesday before ending the trading day down 478 points.

>>TikTok Presents More Kid Safety Features

(Los Angeles, CA) -- TikTok is rolling out some new features it says is aimed at keeping younger users safe. It comes as the social media giant faces a potential ban in the U.S. next month over national security concerns. The features allow parents to limit the amount of time their children spends on the app. It's an expansion of TikTok's existing Family Pairing feature, which links the app on a child's smartphone to their parents.

>>Job Openings Rise In January

(Washington, DC) -- The number of job openings rose slightly in January. The Labor Department says seven-point-seven million jobs were available at the end of the month. The number of job openings increased in real estate, rental and leasing positions. According to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report, the number of hires and workers who quit their jobs was little changed for the month.

>>Low-Cost Carrier Makes Major Changes

(Dallas, TX) -- Southwest Airlines is ending their popular "bags fly free" promotion. The Texas-based carrier says the move was made to "drive revenue growth." In September, CEO Bob Jordan said having no bag fees was a "huge consumer advantage." Southwest is also set to end "open seating" in the first half of 2026. Amtrak is taking a shot at the airline in light of the news. The passenger railroad company posted on X Tuesday "Guess we're the only ones doing free baggage now." It then reminded passengers they can bring one personal item up to 25 pounds, plus two carry-on items up to 50 pounds each.

>>Opening Bell To Ring After Stocks Got Torched On Monday    

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a brutal day for stocks on Wall Street Monday.  All three major indexes finished deeply in the red as recession fears rattled markets and a three-week sell-off picked up steam over concerns about Trump administration tariffs.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones lost 890 points to 41-911.  It had been down over one-thousand-points at times throughout the day.  The S&P 500 fell 155 points to finish at 56-14.  The Nasdaq plunged 727 points to 17-468.

>>Ontario Imposes 25% Increase On Electricity Exports

(Toronto)  --  Electricity exports from Ontario, Canada to the U.S. are being hit with a surcharge.  Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a 25-percent increase Monday.  This comes as President Trump has launched a trade war with Canada by imposing tariffs.  One-point-five-million Americans in Michigan, Minnesota and New York get electricity from Ontario.  Ford said if the U.S. escalates then he will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely.

>>Hacker Group Behind X Outage 

(Undated)  --  A hacker group is reportedly claiming responsibility for today's X outage.  Multiple reports say the group known as Dark Storm has said they were behind Monday's issues suffered by the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.  X owner Elon Musk confirmed what he called a "massive cyberattack against X."  Downdetector, an online tracker of service outages, noted tens of thousands of users complaining of being unable to access X.  Among the issues, users reported being unable to load content in the main feed, with notifications and messages inaccessible.  

>>Tesla Stock Sees Worst Day Since 2020

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla stock is down to its lowest level since before the presidential election.  Shares fell 15 percent Monday, closing down more than 50 percent from its record closing high of 479-dollars on December 17th.  It was the worst day for Tesla stock since September 2020.

>>NOAA Cuts 1,000 More Jobs

(Washington, DC)  --  More government job cuts are coming at the nation's weather, climate and oceans agency.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is cutting more than a thousand staffers as part of President Trump's mandated federal workforce firings.  This is in addition to the about 13-hundred workers at NOAA who have already been laid off or resigned recently.  Some activities at NOAA, including launching weather balloons, have been suspended over worker shortages.

>>Consumer Debt Hit $5 Trillion in January

(Washington, DC)  --  Consumer debt hit five-trillion dollars as of January.  According to the Federal Reserve, that's up slightly from the previous month but still down about a half-percent compared to a year ago.  Revolving debt which includes credit card balances jumped over eight percent on an annual basis.  Other debt, such as auto loans and student loans rose three-percent during the same period.  In the last year, credit card debt rose to a record one-point-two trillion dollars as Americans spent more on goods and services.

>>Netherlands-Based AI Company To Open Data Center In NJ

(Vineland, NJ)  --  An AI infrastructure company based in the Netherlands is announcing plans to build a new data center in New Jersey.  Nebius says the 300 megawatt center is on track to open as soon as this summer in Vineland.  It will be the second U.S. location for Nebius and will expand the company's presence in America.  The facility will include scores of computer servers to support the internet and artificial intelligence.  

>>Jury Clears Disney In Moana Copyright Infringement Case

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  A jury says Disney didn't steal any ideas for its hit 2016 movie Moana from a man's story about a surfer boy.  A five-year legal battle ended Monday when the Los Angeles jury cleared Disney of copyright infringement charges.  Buck Woodall took the entertainment giant to court, claiming Moana lifted from his script called Bucky the Surfer Boy that he says he gave to a relative who had ties to Disney.  While this case has been cleared, Woodall has another 10-billion-dollar claim against Disney over the 2024 sequel, Moana 2.  

>>Fresh Trading Week Kicks Off

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher Friday to cap a volatile week.  Stocks regained some ground after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank was seeking "greater clarity" on President Trump's policies before making its next move on interest rates.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones gained 222 points to 42-801.  The S&P 500 added 31 points to 57-70.  The Nasdaq rose 126 points to 18-196.

>>Several Noteworthy Economic Reports Due In The Coming Week  

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, things get off to a slow start with no major economic reports on the calendar today.  Tuesday brings word on job openings and the National Federation of Independent Business index for February.  The consumer price index - one of the Federal Reserve's preferred gauges of inflation - is due Wednesday, followed by the producer price index and weekly jobless claims on Thursday.  The weeks wraps up with a preliminary look at consumer sentiment on Friday.

>>President Trump Says Tariffs Could Go Up

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is warning that tariffs against Mexico and Canada could go up further.  In an interview with Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," the President was asked if the business community would get clarity regarding his planned tariffs.  In response he said tariffs could increase, insisting that he's committed to stopping the U.S. from being ripped off.  Trump went on to say he delayed the tariffs until April 2nd in order to help American automakers and because he thought it would be fair to give Mexico and Canada a break.

>>Nasdaq Plans To Go To 24-Hour Trading

(New York, NY)  --  The Nasdaq is planning to introduce 24-hour trading as demand grows globally for U.S. stocks.   The plan needs regulatory approval along with coordination with other major players in the industry.  It's expected the Nasdaq Stock Exchange will go to 24-hour trading during the week in the second half of next year.  This is all according to a post on LinkedIn by Nasdaq President Tal Choen.   In October, the New York Stock Exchange announced it would offer trading 22 hours a day during the work week.

>>On The Border Mexican Grill Announces Bankruptcy

(Irving, TX)  --  A popular Tex-Mex food chain is filing for bankruptcy.  The "On The Border Mexican Grill And Cantina" restaurant chain cited several factors for their decision including a decrease in customer dining due to inflation.  The chain is owned by Argonne Capital Group, which currently operates 60 locations across the U.S.  The group also operates franchises including IHOP and Applebee's.  They will manage the restructuring process.

>>"Mickey 17" Tops Weekend Box Officer Despite Lackluster Showing

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Sci-fi comedy "Mickey 17" is topping the weekend box office despite a lackluster performance.  The film grossed an estimated 19-point-one-million dollars on a budget of 118-million.  Meanwhile, "Captain America: Brave New World" slid to second place at the box office, adding another eight-point-five million.  The survival thriller "Last Breath" made an estimated four-point-two-million-dollar gross, with "The Monkey" and "Paddington in Peru" rounded out the top five in a slow weekend at the multiplex.

>>Report: Bills QB Josh Allen Signs Record Setting Contract

(Undated)  --  Josh Allen has set a new standard across the NFL.  According to ESPN, the Bills have signed their franchise quarterback to a six-year, 330-million-dollar contract through the 2030 season.  The deal includes 250-million-dollars in fully guaranteed money.  It's the largest guaranteed total given to an NFL player since the Cleveland Browns signed quarterback Deshaun Watson to a 230-million-dollar fully guaranteed contract.  Allen now only trails Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for the player with highest average annual value.  Prescott is making 60-million-dollars per season. 
 

>>Trading Week Winding Down

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply lower Thursday on Wall Street. Stocks were lower for much of the day with Dow Jones Industrial Average being down more than 500 points at times. At the closing bell, the Dow lost 427 points to 42-579. The S&P 500 dropped by 104 points to 57-38. The Nasdaq fell by 483 points to 18-069.

>>Jobs Report Looms After Unemployment Numbers Fell More Than Expected

(Washington, DC) -- The always closely watched monthly jobs report will be out this morning. Most analysts believe it will show anywhere from 160 to 170-thousand jobs added in February, versus the 143-thousand reported the month prior. Today's report follows yesterday's release of weekly jobless claims. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell more than projected last week. Initial claims dropped by 21-thousand to 221-thousand for the week that ended March 1st. That was below projections of 235-thousand.

>>Trump Signs EO TO Delay Actions, Canada

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump says there will be an almost one month tariff delay on most products from Canada and Mexico. Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that delays tariffs on all goods under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The USMCA makes the three North American nations a free trade zone. The tariffs are delayed to April 2nd. It comes after the President put an exemption on auto tariffs from the two countries on Wednesday.

>>White House Crypto Summit Follows Announcement Of Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

(Undated) -- The first ever White House Crypto Summit is scheduled to take place today. The event comes the day after President Trump signed an executive order creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a stockpile of other digital assets. The order does not include plans for the government to buy Bitcoin. The reserve instead would be capitalized by Bitcoin confiscated as part of criminal or civil forfeiture proceedings. The move did little to boost Bitcoin which fell as much as six-percent following the announcement.

>>Report: Rising Egg Prices Partially Due To Price Gouging

(Washington, DC) -- A new report says rising egg prices are soaring because companies are price gouging customers. According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, egg prices nearly doubled in the last six weeks. A dozen costs on average about eight-dollars. The rise in prices has largely been blamed on bird flu. However, the watchdog report from Food And Water Watch says that bird flu has "slightly reduced" egg production, but "corporate greed has also played a major role."

>>Walgreens Going Private

(Deerfield, IL) -- Walgreens is going private after almost a century as a publicly traded company. The pharmacy chain is being bought up by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal worth nearly 24-billion-dollars. This comes as the company has lost nearly 80 percent of its market cap and some 10 percent of their locations have closed.

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after a down day on Wall Street.  Fears of an escalating trade war rattled markets with Canada, China and Mexico all announcing plans for retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.  Gains in Nvidia and Alphabet were instrumental in helping the tech-heavy Nasdaq nearly recover after a two-percent slide.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 670 points to 42-520.  The S&P 500 fell 71 points to 57-78.  The Nasdaq lost 65 points to 18-285. 

>>Trump Talks Economy In Address To Congress 

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says he wants to get immediate relief to working families.  In his address to a joint session of Congress last night, Trump said he inherited, from the last administration, an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare.  He added that we suffered the worst inflation in 48 years.  As President, Trump said he's fighting every day to reverse this damage.  He said former President Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control, and he's working hard to get it back down. 

>>Target CEO Warns Of Price Increases Due To Tariffs

(New York, NY)  --  Target's CEO is warning shoppers may see price increases in the next few days due to President Trump's tariffs on goods from Mexico.  In an interview with CNBC Tuesday, Brian Cornell said Target relies heavily on Mexican produce during this time of year.  He said the 25-percent tariffs may force Target to increase prices on fruits and vegetables.  Those price jumps could happen as soon as this week.  He said produce such as avocados, bananas and strawberries could see price hikes.

>>BlackRock To Buy Panama Canal Ports

(New York, NY)  --  U.S. asset management firm BlackRock says it will buy two ports at either end of the Panama Canal.  The ports are currently owned by a Hong Kong firm, Chinese ownership that has angered President Trump.  Trump has said repeatedly he wants to take back the canal from Panama, which assumed control from the U.S. in 1999 under a treaty.  BlackRock and a group of investors will pay 22.8 billion dollars for the ports.  They're also buying controlling interest in dozens of other ports around the world.  

>>Southwest Airlines To Close Crew Bases In Florida And Texas 

(Dallas, TX)  --  Southwest Airlines is planning to close a pair of crew bases in its latest cost-cutting move.  According to a memo from its flight attendants union, the closures involve crew bases at Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International in Texas.  The memo said the closures will take effect on July 1st.  Dallas-based Southwest has been slashing unprofitable routes and trimming corporate staff as part of its first-ever mass layoffs. 

>>Delta Expands Shake Shack Partnership

(Atlanta, GA)  --  Delta is offering more travelers the chance to enjoy Shake Shack in the sky.  The airline is expanding its offering of the burger chain's Shake Shack Cheeseburger to more flights.  First class passengers traveling more than 900 miles out of Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia and Seattle can now order one of the burgers for lunch or dinner.  Delta first started offering Shake Shack burgers on flights out of Boston in December.  The airline said it has already served more than ten-thousand cheeseburgers since the partnership started.

>>Stocks Stumble To Start The Week

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Wall Street closed sharply lower Monday on economic and tariff worries.  Shares of chip giant Nvidia slid nearly nine-percent adding to the broad market decline.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 649 points to 43-191.  The S&P 500 lost 104 points to 58-49.  The Nasdaq dropped 497 points to 18-350. 

>>Trump's Tariffs Take Effect

(Undated)  --  President Trump's 25-percent tariffs on good from Mexico and Canada are now in effect.  Canada says it will impose retaliatory 25-percent tariffs on a hundred-billion dollars of U.S. goods.  Trump also imposed another 10-percent tariff on Chinese imports, in addition to 10 percent tariffs enacted last month.  Beijing also responded with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. food and agricultural products.  Economists predict American importers will pass along the cost of tariffs to consumers, sending prices higher at the grocery store and car dealerships.

>>Trump Announces $100 Billion Chips Investment

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says a high profile chipmaker will invest at least 100-billion-dollars in the U.S.  The investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will mostly go into building five manufacturing facilities in Arizona.  Trump said the semiconductor chips will play a pivotal role in the country's economic future.  TSMC is Taiwan's biggest semiconductor manufacturer.  Its chips power a number of tech products including iPhones.  Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said the investment will reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

>>Kroger's CEO Abruptly Resigns In Ethics Probe

(Cincinnati, OH)  --  Kroger's CEO Rodney McMullen is resigning after an ethics probe.  The grocery store chain said Monday that McMullen stepped down as chairman and CEO after an investigation found that his personal conduct violated Kroger's policy on business ethics.  Kroger's lead director Ronald Sargent will serve as interim CEO while it searches for a permanent replacement.  Cincinnati-based Kroger is the nation's largest supermarket chain by sales.

>>New Research Shows Positive Impact Of Higher Wages

(Berkeley, CA)  -- California's fast-food minimum wage law has not led to the type of job losses that some predicted.  That's according to the latest research done at Cal-Berkeley.  Professor Michael Reich says that wages for fast-food employees have gone up by nearly ten-percent since that law went into effect last April.  And, while there has been an increase in automation, he argues that was going to happen with or without the law. His research is now looking into whether that will keep workers from hopping from one job to another, seeking better wages.