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Tag: Consumer

  • Military families turn to food pantries as government shut down continues

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    Non-perishable food sits on a shelf in the newly opened food pantry at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, July 12, 2024. Airmen interested in accessing the pantry must contact their first sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sir Wyrick)

    Food pantries near U.S. military bases are seeing an increase in families seeking assistance.

    Armed Services YMCA helps military families around the country

    Big picture view:

    The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) provides resources to military families, including access to food security, child care and early childhood education.  ASYMCA has 22 food distribution locations across the country, including locations near large military installations such as Fort Hood, TX, Fort Campbell, KY, Fort Bragg, NC, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, Twentynine Palms, CA , and Virginia Beach, VA.  ASYMCA also partners with local YMCAs around the country where it doesn’t have a location

    The ASYMCA food pantry distribution location near Fort Hood says they have had a 34% increase in people seeking assistance. ASYMCA says they are working to increase their food supplies at all their locations to meet the increased demand for assistance.
     

    By the numbers:

    Military personnel are paid on the 1st and 15th of each month and were paid on Oct. 1, but if the shutdown continues, troops may not receive their Oct. 15 pay.  

    During a government shutdown, members of the U.S. military, including active duty, National Guard and reserve members, and Coast Guard personnel, are not paid but must continue to report for duty to carry out their assigned responsibilities. 

    Government shutdown now in sixth day

    US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a visit to the USS Harry S. Truman during the US Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration, “America’s Navy 250: Titans of the Sea – A Salute to the Fleet”, at Naval Station Norfolk Pier 14 in Norfolk, Vir

    Senate Republican and Democratic lawmakers remain at an impasse

    What they’re saying:

    Over the weekend, President Trump spoke at a ceremony marking the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, where he reassured service members affected by the ongoing government shutdown, that they would receive “every last penny” of their pay promising an “across-the-board” raise once the impasse ends.

    “I want you to know that despite the current Democrat-induced shutdown, we will get our service members every last penny,” Trump said. “Don’t worry about it, it’s all coming,” he added.

    On Friday, a vote in the Senate to advance a Republican bill to reopen the government failed to get the necessary 60 votes to end a filibuster. 

    House Speaker MIke Johnson closed the House for legislative business this week, a strategy that could obligate the Senate to work with the government funding bill that was passed by House Republicans.

    “Johnson’s not serious about this,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on CBS. “He sent all his congressmen home last week and home this week. How are you going to negotiate?”

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Sunday that the shutdown on discretionary spending, the furloughing of federal workers and requirements that other federal employees work without pay will go on so long as Democrats vote no.

    “They’ll get another chance on Monday to vote again,” Thune said on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”

    “And I’m hoping that some of them have a change of heart,” he said. 
     

    The Source: Information in this article was sourced from The Military Times, The Associated Press, and FOX News. This story was reported from Orlando.

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    Mark.Richardson@fox.com (Mark Richardson)

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  • WA’s plastic bag ban reduced bag use, but increased plastic use: report

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    The effectiveness of Washington’s plastic bag ban

    A new report from Washington State University and the Department of Commerce suggests the state’s plastic bag ban has not gone far enough, finding that total plastic use increased despite a reduction in bags.

    SEATTLE, Wash. – Washington’s plastic bag ban has been in effect for several years, but a new report from Washington State University and the Department of Commerce suggests the 8-cent fee for “reusable” plastic bags isn’t covering the real cost — and the environmental impact may be even greater.

    What they’re saying:

    James Hardy, who works for Seattle Surface Cleaners, says no matter the ban or fees, litter keeps piling up.

    “In the CID we can go through about 25-35 bags a day,” Hardy said. “The issue is always going to be there. People don’t care. They’re going to litter.”

    WA plastic bag ban

    Not all shoppers are careless. Some, like Djuinith Wender, pay the current 8-cent fee for thicker reusable bags, a law Washington state implemented in 2021 to reduce plastic waste.

    “Because some people working the company, they make the bags, they work for life. For me, like, they’re working for getting money, but if the bags we don’t buy — where do they work? It’s about supporting business,” Wender said.

    Others, like Mark Aprill, sometimes forget reusable bags and end up paying for store-provided ones.

    “Between one and four,” Aprill said when asked how many bags he typically uses on a grocery trip.

    And when shoppers double up bags while walking or using public transportation, the honor system isn’t always reliable.

    “I just pay for half the bag to use,” Aprill said. “I don’t know what I put in. You know, I may do it, may or may not.”

    By the numbers:

    The report says the issue of plastic versus reusable bags is far more complicated. While the 2021 ban cut bag usage by half, total plastic use actually increased 17%. Paper bag usage declined by 21%.

    The 8-cent fee was meant to encourage people to bring their own bags, but most shoppers aren’t reusing the heavier plastic bags enough to offset their environmental impact. Production costs range from 10 to 39 cents per bag, meaning stores often pay more than they recover from customers.

    “Without sufficient reuse, reusable plastic, paper, and fabric, carryout bags have higher environmental lifecycle costs than single-use bags,” researchers noted.

    Lawmakers are considering raising fees based on bag thickness:

    • 0.5 mil bags: $0.08
    • 2.25 mil bags: $0.28
    • 4 mil bags: $0.51

    Imagine a plastic bag costing you 51 cents every time you shop. That’s what a new state report suggests the real price tag could be if Washington sticks with thicker plastic bags.

    WA plastic bag ban

    The real question remains whether shoppers would pay more or finally ditch plastic.

    “That’s going to be a different issue. I have to think about it, maybe I can pay, maybe not,” Wender said.

    “I doubt it. I don’t think it’ll get mitigated at all,” Hardy added. “I feel like whatever bag is around, if it’s paper, it’s still gonna get thrown on the street. Or if we go to the cloth bags, the same result’s gonna happen.”

    FOX 13 reached out to the Department of Commerce for comment on the study’s recommendations, but officials say they’re currently inundated with government shutdown questions. Updates will follow as they become available.

    MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

    Traveling through SEA Airport during US government shutdown? Here’s what to know

    WA’s Labor Mountain Fire burns through $1M in tax dollars per day

    WWII-era grenade brought into Tacoma, WA police headquarters for disposal

    Judge dismisses lawsuit over naked baby on Nirvana album cover

    Idaho judge bars the release of graphic photos from crime scene where Bryan Kohberger killed 4

    To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

    Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

    The Source: Information in this story came from a report from Washington State University and the Department of Commerce, and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

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    Alejandra.Guzman@fox.com (Alejandra Guzman)

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  • Will USPS be affected by a government shutdown?

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    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Postal Service would not be affected by a government shutdown.

    USPS operates independently and is funded through the sale of products and services, not tax dollars.

    READ MORE: Government Shutdown 2025: What could be affected and when could it start?

    USPS government shutdown statement

    Here’s a statement from the Postal Service regarding the potential shutdown:

    “U.S. Postal Service operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual. Because we are an independent entity that is generally funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars, our services will not be impacted by a government shutdown.”

    Odds of a government shutdown 2025: What could be affected?

    The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and U.S. Postal Service.

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    Sam.Kosmas@fox.com (Sam Kosmas)

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  • Government Shutdown 2025: What could be affected and when could it start?

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    WASHINGTON – A federal government shutdown could be just hours away, with little hope for a last-minute deal in Congress to prevent agencies from closing at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

    Republicans have proposed a short-term funding bill to keep the government running through Nov. 21, but Democrats are pushing for changes tied to health care. They want to reverse Medicaid cuts from President Donald Trump’s legislation and extend tax credits that lower insurance premiums for millions who buy coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Republicans have dismissed the demands as a non-starter.

    Neither side appears willing to budge, and the House isn’t expected to hold any votes this week.

    Here’s how a government shutdown would unfold.

    READ MORE: How could flights be affected by a government shutdown?

    What happens during a government shutdown?

    When funding lapses, federal law requires agencies to halt operations and furlough “non-excepted” employees. Excepted employees typically include workers who protect life and property. They remain on the job but go unpaid until the shutdown ends.

    During the 35-day partial shutdown in President Donald Trump’s first term, about 340,000 of the 800,000 federal employees at affected agencies were furloughed. The rest were classified as “excepted” and required to work without pay.

    READ MORE: Will USPS be affected by a government shutdown?

    What government functions continue during a shutdown?

    Quite a bit, actually.

    FBI agents, CIA officers, air traffic controllers and airport security personnel continue working during a shutdown. Members of the Armed Forces do as well.

    Programs funded through mandatory spending generally continue during a shutdown. Social Security checks still go out, and seniors with Medicare can visit doctors, submit claims and receive reimbursements.

    Veteran health care continues during a shutdown. Veterans Affairs medical centers and outpatient clinics remain open, and benefits are still processed and delivered. Burials also proceed at national cemeteries.

    Government Shutdown 2025: Will furloughed fed workers get back pay?

    Will furloughed federal employees receive back pay?

    Yes. In 2019, Congress passed a law requiring that furloughed federal employees receive retroactive pay once operations resume.

    While they’ll eventually be paid, furloughed workers and those still on the job may miss one or more paychecks, depending on how long the shutdown lasts. That could create financial strain for many.

    Service members will also receive back pay for any missed paychecks once federal funding is restored.

    Will mail still be delivered during a shutdown?

    Yes. The U.S. Postal Service isn’t affected by a government shutdown. It operates independently and is funded through the sale of products and services, not tax dollars.

    What closes during a shutdown?

    All administrations have some discretion in deciding which services to suspend and which to maintain during a shutdown.

    The Trump administration worked to minimize the disruption of what became the nation’s longest partial shutdown in 2018 and 2019. However, in reopening certain offices, experts say it showed a willingness to cut corners, scrap prior plans and enter legally questionable territory to ease the strain.

    Each federal agency drafts its own shutdown plan, outlining which employees would stay on the job and which would be furloughed.

    In a provocative move, the White House Office of Management and Budget has threatened mass firings of federal employees if a shutdown occurs. An OMB memo said programs left unfunded by Trump’s spending package would be the hardest hit.

    Agencies should consider issuing reduction-in-force notices for programs whose funding expires Oct. 1, lack alternative sources and are “not consistent with the president’s priorities,” the memo said.

    That would be a far more aggressive step than in past shutdowns, when furloughed federal employees returned to work once Congress approved funding.

    A reduction in force would not only lay off workers but eliminate their positions triggering another major upheaval in a federal workforce already hit by deep cuts this year from the Department of Government Efficiency and other parts of the Trump administration.

    The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press. 

    NewsWashington, D.C.Consumer

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    Melanie.Alnwick@fox.com (Melanie Alnwick)

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  • Mexico boosts controls on cattle after new screwworm case found near US border

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    Mexico activated emergency controls Monday after detecting a new case of New World screwworm in cattle in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon state, the closest case to the U.S. border since the outbreak began last year.The animal, found in the town of Sabinas Hidalgo, came from the Gulf state of Veracruz, Mexico’s National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality Service said. The last case was reported July 9 in Veracruz, prompting Washington to suspend imports of live Mexican cattle.The parasite, a larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, attacks warm-blooded animals, including humans. Mexico has reported more than 500 active cases in cattle across southern states.The block on cattle imports has spelled trouble for Mexico’s government, which has already been busy trying to offset the brunt of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats this year.The government and ranchers have sought to get the ban lifted. If it stays in place through the year, Mexico’s ranching federation estimates losses up to $400 million.Mexico’s Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said in a post on X that Mexico is “controlling the isolated case of screwworm in Nuevo Leon,” under measures to fight the pest agreed with the U.S. in August.U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Washington will take “decisive measures to protect our borders, even in the absence of cooperation” and said imports on Mexican cattle, bison and horses will remain suspended.“We will not rely on Mexico to defend our industry, our food supply or our way of life,” she said.

    Mexico activated emergency controls Monday after detecting a new case of New World screwworm in cattle in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon state, the closest case to the U.S. border since the outbreak began last year.

    The animal, found in the town of Sabinas Hidalgo, came from the Gulf state of Veracruz, Mexico’s National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality Service said. The last case was reported July 9 in Veracruz, prompting Washington to suspend imports of live Mexican cattle.

    The parasite, a larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, attacks warm-blooded animals, including humans. Mexico has reported more than 500 active cases in cattle across southern states.

    The block on cattle imports has spelled trouble for Mexico’s government, which has already been busy trying to offset the brunt of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats this year.

    The government and ranchers have sought to get the ban lifted. If it stays in place through the year, Mexico’s ranching federation estimates losses up to $400 million.

    Mexico’s Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said in a post on X that Mexico is “controlling the isolated case of screwworm in Nuevo Leon,” under measures to fight the pest agreed with the U.S. in August.

    U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Washington will take “decisive measures to protect our borders, even in the absence of cooperation” and said imports on Mexican cattle, bison and horses will remain suspended.

    “We will not rely on Mexico to defend our industry, our food supply or our way of life,” she said.

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  • Why Meeting Consumer Expectations Won’t Cut It — and What Businesses Should Do Instead | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Consumer behavior has undoubtedly shifted. Research shows that 70% of consumers are willing to pay a premium for ethically sourced products, and 66% expect brands to understand their needs and preferences. Nearly half of all consumers now buy products after seeing them endorsed by people they trust. These statistics clearly show that people want businesses to do better.

    But here’s what the data doesn’t capture: consumer expectations alone cannot drive the fundamental changes our world needs. While businesses scramble to meet these demands, they’re missing a crucial opportunity to lead transformation rather than simply follow it.

    Related: Being ‘Busy’ Isn’t Helping You Be Productive — 5 Tips to Become Truly Efficient at Work

    The limits of consumer-driven change

    Consumer preferences are powerful, but limited. According to McKinsey’s 2025 consumer outlook, 79% of consumers are trading down due to economic pressures, and 49% plan to delay purchases. When people are focused on survival and cost-cutting, their capacity to prioritize broader social issues naturally diminishes.

    More importantly, consumers can only demand what they can imagine. They respond to problems they understand and solutions they can envision. But the most pressing challenges facing businesses and society require innovation that goes beyond current consumer awareness.

    Technology companies didn’t wait for people to demand smartphones before developing them. Steve Jobs famously said that consumers don’t know what they want until you show it to them. Apple created a solution that transformed how we live and work, not because market research indicated demand for touchscreen devices, but because they envisioned possibilities that consumers hadn’t yet imagined.

    We’re seeing the same pattern with Artificial Intelligence today. Companies aren’t implementing AI solutions because consumers are demanding them — most people still have mixed feelings about AI integration. According to recent research, consumers are “AI ambivalent,” yet 85% of Fortune 500 companies are already using AI solutions to transform their operations. These businesses are leading change by recognizing AI’s potential to solve problems and create value, regardless of current consumer sentiment.

    The same principle applies to social impact. Waiting for consumer demand to drive every positive change means limiting ourselves to incremental improvements rather than transformative solutions.

    Why businesses must take the lead

    The business world is transforming continuously, at an unprecedented pace. In my experience building software companies, I’ve seen how tech leaders emerge not by following trends but by anticipating needs and creating new possibilities. That same dynamic applies to social responsibility and positive impact.

    Companies have resources, expertise and scale that individual consumers lack. They can invest in research and development, form strategic partnerships and implement solutions at speeds that consumer movements cannot match. When 95% of organizations have undergone multiple major transformations in just three years, it’s clear that businesses are becoming comfortable with rapid change.

    The question is no longer whether businesses should respond to consumer demands — they absolutely should. The question is whether they’ll stop there or use their capabilities to drive changes that serve the common good and create a truly better world. This means going beyond what consumers haven’t yet realized they need and actively working toward solutions that benefit society as a whole, even when those solutions may not have immediate market appeal.

    What proactive leadership looks like

    Real business leadership in social change goes beyond traditional corporate social responsibility. It involves using core business capabilities to address societal challenges, even when there’s no immediate consumer pressure to do so.

    1. Get ahead of future needs rather than react to current demands. Companies that succeed in creating lasting change identify problems before they become mainstream consumer concerns. They invest in solutions that may not have immediate market demand but address fundamental challenges.

    2. Use technology for social good. With 85% of Fortune 500 companies now using AI solutions and the projected global AI impact reaching $22.3 trillion by 2030, businesses have unprecedented tools to create positive change. The companies making the biggest difference are those using these capabilities proactively rather than reactively.

    3. Build ecosystems of change. Rather than working in isolation, leading companies create networks that amplify their impact. The Rise Ahead Pledge, signed by 24 major corporations, demonstrates how businesses can collaborate to drive social innovation beyond what consumer demand would naturally create.

    Related: How to Keep Up With Customer Expectations

    Beyond consumer expectations

    Social entrepreneurship and innovation are converging in powerful ways, offering a blueprint for traditional businesses. The Global Innovation Index 2024 highlights how social enterprises create transformative solutions by mobilizing diverse stakeholders to effect change at regional and global scales. These organizations succeed not by following consumer preferences but by identifying systemic issues and developing innovative approaches to address them.

    Traditional businesses can learn from this model — instead of waiting for consumer surveys to tell them what people want, they can identify underlying problems and develop solutions that create new markets and possibilities.

    The most successful companies of the next decade may be those that understand that sustainable business success requires creating value for society, not just responding to its expressed demands. This means taking calculated risks, investing in solutions that may not have immediate payoffs and using business capabilities to address challenges that extend beyond traditional market boundaries.

    Consumer expectations will continue to evolve, and businesses must remain responsive to their markets. However, the companies that will truly make a difference — and build lasting competitive advantages — are those that move beyond responsiveness to proactive leadership in creating positive change.

    The time for waiting is over

    We’re at an inflection point where traditional approaches to business and social responsibility are no longer sufficient. Consumer demands provide important signals about market direction, but they cannot drive the scale and speed of change that current global challenges require.

    The businesses that recognize this opportunity and act on it will not only create meaningful social impact but also position themselves as leaders in the next era of commerce. Those who continue to wait for consumer permission to make positive change will find themselves increasingly irrelevant in a world that rewards proactive leadership over reactive adaptation.

    Lead the change you want to see in the world, or spend your time chasing changes that others create. The companies that choose to lead will define the business landscape for decades to come.

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    Stefan Grigorov

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  • Sacramento restaurants embrace cryptocurrency with Food Token

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    Sacramento startup, Food Token, is adding another way local restaurants can accept payment – cryptocurrency. Brian Barton, founder of Food Token, shared his journey with KCRA 3, inspired by his frustrations with traditional banking, leading to the idea for Food Token.”I want to do my banking with a restaurant. I don’t need a bank in between,” he said.In 2024, approximately 17% of American adults say they have invested in or own cryptocurrencies.Food Token is already operational in select Sacramento restaurants, including Jim Boys, Brookfield’s, Chocolate Fish, and Beach Hut Deli. Barton explained that the platform allows restaurants to accept the five major cryptocurrencies.Barton also addressed concerns about security for consumers.“From the restaurant’s point of view, the restaurant is never seeing the cryptocurrency. The restaurant is just accepting it just as they would a digital gift card,” Barton said. Barton noted that convincing restaurants to do something new has been an uphill battle, particularly when it’s about a new field like cryptocurrency. Sacramento was chosen as the launch site for Food Token due to its status as the “farm-to-fork capital” and Barton’s personal connection to the area. “We want to find a use case first for restaurants in the Sacramento area and for consumers in the Sacramento area,” Barton said, emphasizing the importance of understanding local needs before expanding.For those interested in using Food Token, Barton encouraged restaurants to reach out via their website, offering a straightforward way to start accepting cryptocurrency.”We only charge $0.10 per transaction, unlike Visa and Mastercard,” he said, highlighting the financial benefits for restaurants.As cryptocurrency continues to gain popularity, Food Token aims to simplify the process for both consumers and restaurants, paving the way for a new era of digital payments in the restaurant industry.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Sacramento startup, Food Token, is adding another way local restaurants can accept payment – cryptocurrency.

    Brian Barton, founder of Food Token, shared his journey with KCRA 3, inspired by his frustrations with traditional banking, leading to the idea for Food Token.

    “I want to do my banking with a restaurant. I don’t need a bank in between,” he said.

    In 2024, approximately 17% of American adults say they have invested in or own cryptocurrencies.

    Food Token is already operational in select Sacramento restaurants, including Jim Boys, Brookfield’s, Chocolate Fish, and Beach Hut Deli. Barton explained that the platform allows restaurants to accept the five major cryptocurrencies.

    Barton also addressed concerns about security for consumers.

    “From the restaurant’s point of view, the restaurant is never seeing the cryptocurrency. The restaurant is just accepting it just as they would a digital gift card,” Barton said.

    Barton noted that convincing restaurants to do something new has been an uphill battle, particularly when it’s about a new field like cryptocurrency.

    Sacramento was chosen as the launch site for Food Token due to its status as the “farm-to-fork capital” and Barton’s personal connection to the area.

    “We want to find a use case first for restaurants in the Sacramento area and for consumers in the Sacramento area,” Barton said, emphasizing the importance of understanding local needs before expanding.

    For those interested in using Food Token, Barton encouraged restaurants to reach out via their website, offering a straightforward way to start accepting cryptocurrency.

    “We only charge $0.10 per transaction, unlike Visa and Mastercard,” he said, highlighting the financial benefits for restaurants.

    As cryptocurrency continues to gain popularity, Food Token aims to simplify the process for both consumers and restaurants, paving the way for a new era of digital payments in the restaurant industry.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Americans are unknowingly buying critically endangered shark meat

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    Food products containing shark are being sold in grocery stores, seafood markets and online across the United States—and in some cases, they come from species at risk of extinction.

    This is the warning of researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who used DNA barcoding to analyze 30 such shark products purchased in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia in 2021 and 2022.

    They found that nearly one-third of the samples came from endangered or critically endangered species—including great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, shortfin mako and tope.

    “Of the 29 samples, 93 percent were ambiguously labeled as ‘shark,’ and one of the two products labeled at the species level was mislabeled,” said Savannah J. Ryburn, the study’s lead author, in a statement.

    “We found critically endangered sharks being sold in grocery stores, seafood markets and online.”

    Mislabeling and public health concerns

    The study found widespread mislabeling. In fact, only one product had a correct, species-specific label. Many packages were sold simply as “shark,” making it impossible for consumers to know what they were buying.

    Prices also varied dramatically. Fresh shark meat sold for as little as $6.56 per kilogram, while shark jerky averaged more than $200 per kilogram.

    Beyond conservation concerns, researchers warned that some shark species, including hammerheads and smooth-hounds, contain high levels of mercury, methylmercury and arsenic, which can damage the brain and nervous system, cause cancer and impair fetal development.

    In 2022, another study found that endangered shark meat was found in pet food, often labeled under the terms “white fish” or “ocean fish.”

    Conservation context

    Shark populations have already dropped by more than 70 percent since the 1970s due to bycatch, climate change, habitat destruction and overfishing. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that more than a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction.

    While 74 shark species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), enforcement remains limited. Once sharks are processed into fillets or jerky, visual identification is nearly impossible, leaving loopholes in trade restrictions.

    Pictures of shark meat purchased for the study.

    Savannah Ryburn

    Call for stronger labeling

    “The legality of selling shark meat in the United States depends largely on where the shark was harvested and the species involved,” Ryburn explained.

    “By the time large shark species reach grocery stores and markets, they are often sold as fillets with all distinguishing features removed, making it unlikely that sellers know what species they are offering.”

    The authors argue that requiring species-level labeling could help protect consumers and vulnerable shark populations.

    “Sellers in the United States should be required to provide species-specific names,” Ryburn said. “And when shark meat is not a food security necessity, consumers should avoid purchasing products that lack species-level labeling or traceable sourcing.”

    Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about sharks? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

    Reference

    Ryburn, S. J., Yu, T., Ong, K. J., Wisely, E., Alston, M. A., Howie, E., Leroy, P., Giang, S. E., Ball, W., Benton, J., Calhoun, R., Favreau, I., Gutierrez, A., Hallac, K., Hanson, D., Hibbard, T., Loflin, B., Lopez, J., Mock, G., Myers, K., Pinos-Sánchez, A., Suarez Garcia, A. M., Retamales Romero, A., Thomas, A., Williams, R., Zaldivar, A., & Bruno, J. F. (2025). Sale of critically endangered sharks in the United States. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1604454

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  • US Steel shutting down its Granite City mill. Its deal with Trump won’t let it fire 800 workers – for now

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    US Steel is shuttering production at a mill in November, but its hundreds of workers will keep their jobs – for now – thanks to an agreement the company reached with the Trump administration.Related video above: U.S. job growth weakens; immigration enforcement adds to strainUS Steel will stop producing steel at its Granite City, Illinois, mill at the end of October, but the 800 workers at the plant will stay on the job, maintaining equipment, until at least 2027. That’s due to the structure of the deal the company reached with President Donald Trump to allow its purchase by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel. The agreement included various job protections and production guarantees.“US Steel will optimize its footprint by focusing on producing and processing steel slabs at the Mon Valley (Pennsylvania) Works and Gary (Indiana) Works, and reducing slab consumption at Granite City Works,” the company said in a statement to CNN Monday. “As a result of this decision, US Steel will not lay off any Granite City Works employees nor adjust their pay rate.”The company added that it would not idle the plant and keep it in an operational state.As for what the workers will be doing without any steel to produce, US Steel said it will continue some ancillary operations and that the facility will be “maintained by employees so production could resume quickly if the situation changes.”Trump promised at a May rally at a US Steel mill outside of Pittsburgh that the deal and new 50% tariffs on steel imports would be good for US Steel employees.“The deal got better and better and better for the workers. I’m going to be watching over it. It’s going to be great,” Trump said at the time. “They’re going to be here for a long time… There will be no outsourcing and no layoffs whatsoever.”The clock is ticking. US Steel’s deal only blocks it from closing Granite City and laying off workers until June of 2027.The White House did not have an immediate comment on the closing plans, nor did the United Steelworkers union. While USW locals in Pennsylvania supported the agreement with Nippon, the larger USW organization objected to the deal. “Issuing press releases and making political speeches is easy,” the union said in a statement after the rally in May. “Binding commitments are hard. The devil is always in the details, and that is especially true with a bad actor like Nippon Steel that has again and again violated our trade laws, devastating steel communities in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.”The plant in question has 700 hourly workers represented by the USW and about 100 salaried staff. But that is a fraction of the 2,000 hourly workers it used to employ when the plant had its own blast furnaces to make steel from raw materials such as iron and coke.Granite City Works’ first blast furnace was shut in 2019, and its remaining one closed in 2023. Since then, it has only processed slabs made at other mills.

    US Steel is shuttering production at a mill in November, but its hundreds of workers will keep their jobs – for now – thanks to an agreement the company reached with the Trump administration.

    Related video above: U.S. job growth weakens; immigration enforcement adds to strain

    US Steel will stop producing steel at its Granite City, Illinois, mill at the end of October, but the 800 workers at the plant will stay on the job, maintaining equipment, until at least 2027. That’s due to the structure of the deal the company reached with President Donald Trump to allow its purchase by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel. The agreement included various job protections and production guarantees.

    “US Steel will optimize its footprint by focusing on producing and processing steel slabs at the Mon Valley (Pennsylvania) Works and Gary (Indiana) Works, and reducing slab consumption at Granite City Works,” the company said in a statement to CNN Monday. “As a result of this decision, US Steel will not lay off any Granite City Works employees nor adjust their pay rate.”

    The company added that it would not idle the plant and keep it in an operational state.

    As for what the workers will be doing without any steel to produce, US Steel said it will continue some ancillary operations and that the facility will be “maintained by employees so production could resume quickly if the situation changes.”

    Trump promised at a May rally at a US Steel mill outside of Pittsburgh that the deal and new 50% tariffs on steel imports would be good for US Steel employees.

    “The deal got better and better and better for the workers. I’m going to be watching over it. It’s going to be great,” Trump said at the time. “They’re going to be here for a long time… There will be no outsourcing and no layoffs whatsoever.”

    The clock is ticking. US Steel’s deal only blocks it from closing Granite City and laying off workers until June of 2027.

    The White House did not have an immediate comment on the closing plans, nor did the United Steelworkers union. While USW locals in Pennsylvania supported the agreement with Nippon, the larger USW organization objected to the deal.

    “Issuing press releases and making political speeches is easy,” the union said in a statement after the rally in May. “Binding commitments are hard. The devil is always in the details, and that is especially true with a bad actor like Nippon Steel that has again and again violated our trade laws, devastating steel communities in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.”

    The plant in question has 700 hourly workers represented by the USW and about 100 salaried staff. But that is a fraction of the 2,000 hourly workers it used to employ when the plant had its own blast furnaces to make steel from raw materials such as iron and coke.

    Granite City Works’ first blast furnace was shut in 2019, and its remaining one closed in 2023. Since then, it has only processed slabs made at other mills.

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  • August Consumer Confidence Dips In US With Jobs, Tariffs, And High Prices Driving Most Unease – KXL

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    WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ view of the U.S. economy declined modestly in August as anxiety over a weakening job market grew for the eighth straight month.

    The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index ticked down by1.3 points to 97.4 in August, down from July’s 98.7, but in the same narrow range of the past three months.

    A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell by 1.2 points to 74.8, remaining significantly below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead.

    Consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation also fell modestly, to 131.2 in August from 132.8 in July.

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    Grant McHill

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  • From clothes to laptops, families turning to ‘pre-loved’ items for school year

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    Back-to-school shopping can put a financial strain on wallets. The financial pressure often leads families to seek out alternative ways to shop for new school supplies. But what if you gave a different meaning to the word “new”?

    Purchasing pre-loved items has evolved into a mainstream retail trend. Secondhand stores like Goodwill can provide families with like-new school supplies, and remain on budget. 

    Emerald Gottwald is the director of stores for Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. 

    “You can find all those basics and essentials here,” said Gottwald. “In the past three or four years, we’ve seen a huge uptick, particularly between middle school, high school, college age individuals and a ton of parents coming in looking for their kids who are younger, toddlers even in daycare and then in elementary school.”

    She tells us parents and students can find clothes, shoes, backpacks, furniture and even office supplies – for one base price. 

    With summer vacation ending, here are some tips for getting kids back on to their schoolyear routines.

    “Never worn shoes that have been barely worn at all because their kids only were able to wear them for a short period of time,” explained Gottwald. “It might be a miss when you come in for the first hour you’re here and then the next thing you know, something’s walking through the back door and suddenly you have exactly what you were looking for.” 

    Goodwill also partners with Dell Technologies to provide refurbished laptops and computers at select locations in Massachusetts – including their location in Quincy. 

    “We sell them and fill up our selected location for a really affordable price,” Gottwald said. “It’s a very popular option and those are all tested and guaranteed when you purchase them.” 

    Just a couple blocks from the Goodwill in Quincy, Interfaith Social Services is helping serve the South Shore community with a backpack drive. 

    “Throughout the month of August, when families visit our food pantry and they have children under the age of 18, they get a backpack with all the school supplies that they’ll need for this upcoming year.” Executive Director Rick Doane says they’ve seen an uptick in families reaching out for help.

    Parents of babies born during the coronavirus pandemic — who only knew a world where social distancing was the norm — are gearing up for their first day of school.

    “In two years, we have doubled the number of people that we serve.”

    Their backpack drive serves kids K-12 grade. Doane says they worked with schools in the region to provide students with the supplies they need for the new academic year.

    “In the backpack, we have notebooks and crayons and pencils and pens and folders,” Doane said. “There can be a lot of anxiety, especially around school and going back to school. So it’s breaking down those ideas and trying to overcome the stigma of mental illness and saying, it’s okay to ask for help.”  Here’s another tip – check your local Facebook groups. There, you can find people selling things like backpacks, furniture and even school supplies for a cheaper price. 

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  • How families can save money this back-to-school season

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    With back-to-school season in full swing, families across the country are continuing to feel the sting of high prices.In May and June, before the latest round of the Trump administration’s tariffs, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that tariffs on back-to-school items had risen to 18% (up from 5% a year earlier). A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that prices of educational books and supplies increased 9.4% from May 2024 to May 2025.As costs pile up, over half of parents are planning to cut back on necessities to pay for school-related shopping, and 44% are planning to take on debt, according to a Credit Karma consumer survey. American families expect to spend an average of $570 per student on back-to-school shopping this year, according to a Deloitte survey released in July, and price pressures are pushing consumers to look for savings wherever possible.Track when (or if) your state has a back-to-school tax holidaySeventeen states have or had sales tax holidays in summer 2025. Each of those states has different policies on which items are included in the tax holiday, and the holidays are spread out, so it’s important to pay close attention to when your state’s holiday is, if it has one.These purchases don’t have to be in-store either — Amazon and other online retailers won’t charge taxes on eligible deliveries to states with these holidays on the books.Get library cards for the whole familyLibraries are a great way to save money not only on physical books, but also e-books, audiobooks and movies. Some public libraries also offer printing services, discounts for local attractions and cost-free tutoring services that can be used year-round.Shop localDeloitte found that over 2 in 3 shoppers will be looking to online retailers to do at least part of their back-to-school shopping.Shopping online can be a convenient and efficient way to directly compare prices between retailers and makes buying items in bulk (which can take your dollar further) easier. But consumers who do most of their back-to-school shopping online actually spent $100 more than families who relied on in-person shopping, Deloitte reported.Finding great local deals in person, may mean going beyond traditional retailers.Tina Marie Barnes, the manager of one of the Chatham PTA Thrift Shops in central North Carolina, said the stores — which raise money for local schools — started stocking up on “any back to school, items, backpacks, lunch boxes, pencils, crayons, notebooks, notebook paper, anything that a child could use” in January. The shops see hundreds of people a day, from families to college students, looking for find deals on clothes and school supplies.Repair instead of replacingA growing number of Americans live in states with “right to repair” laws that make it easier for consumers and independent businesses to repair electronics without having to go through manufacturers.These laws are relatively new – New York, the first state to enact one of these laws for consumer electronics, only did so in 2023, and Texas’s governor signed a right to repair law in June. An advocacy organization that supports these laws estimates that they might save families upwards of $300 a year.Take advantage of tax laws529 plans have traditionally allowed families to save money for college, but recent changes might allow families to increase savings before their kids graduate high school.Included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a change to 529 plans that allow parents to withdraw money from the accounts to pay for expenses related to K-12 schooling, including books, standardized test prep and other “instructional materials.”While contributions cannot be deducted from federal income taxes, most states allow residents to deduct contributions to these plans from their state income taxes. But importantly, “the earnings are not subject to federal or state tax when they’re used for qualified education expenses,” says Alexander Maged, an employee benefits lawyer at Ivins, Phillips & Barker. Withdrawals for qualified educational expenses are not subject to federal income taxes.When withdrawing money from these 529 plans, it’s important to maintain good records for purchases, balance current spending with future savings goals, and consult with an IRS representative if you’re unsure about what expenses qualify.Make budgeting a teaching lesson for kidsImpulse buying can quickly add up costs, especially when kids want the newest sneakers or an expensive first-day-of-school outfit. Setting a firm budget for back-to-school costs and giving kids a role in the discussion can help save money in the short term and teach kids an invaluable life lesson.”Families that include kids in back-to-school budgeting often find the process less stressful as children are incentivized to work within limits instead of pushing against them,” Julia Perez, a wealth manager at Crux Wealth Advisors, told CNN in an email.Kids are often tempted by immediate gratification, she said, so explaining what’s worth saving for can help “develop critical longer-term perspectives that can re-direct impulses and shape behavior.””Over time those habits compound. By the time they’re managing rent, student loans, or saving for a first home, saving isn’t an afterthought… it’s second nature.”

    CNN —

    With back-to-school season in full swing, families across the country are continuing to feel the sting of high prices.

    In May and June, before the latest round of the Trump administration’s tariffs, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that tariffs on back-to-school items had risen to 18% (up from 5% a year earlier). A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that prices of educational books and supplies increased 9.4% from May 2024 to May 2025.

    As costs pile up, over half of parents are planning to cut back on necessities to pay for school-related shopping, and 44% are planning to take on debt, according to a Credit Karma consumer survey. American families expect to spend an average of $570 per student on back-to-school shopping this year, according to a Deloitte survey released in July, and price pressures are pushing consumers to look for savings wherever possible.

    Track when (or if) your state has a back-to-school tax holiday

    Seventeen states have or had sales tax holidays in summer 2025. Each of those states has different policies on which items are included in the tax holiday, and the holidays are spread out, so it’s important to pay close attention to when your state’s holiday is, if it has one.

    These purchases don’t have to be in-store either — Amazon and other online retailers won’t charge taxes on eligible deliveries to states with these holidays on the books.

    Get library cards for the whole family

    Libraries are a great way to save money not only on physical books, but also e-books, audiobooks and movies. Some public libraries also offer printing services, discounts for local attractions and cost-free tutoring services that can be used year-round.

    Shop local

    Deloitte found that over 2 in 3 shoppers will be looking to online retailers to do at least part of their back-to-school shopping.

    Shopping online can be a convenient and efficient way to directly compare prices between retailers and makes buying items in bulk (which can take your dollar further) easier. But consumers who do most of their back-to-school shopping online actually spent $100 more than families who relied on in-person shopping, Deloitte reported.

    Finding great local deals in person, may mean going beyond traditional retailers.

    Tina Marie Barnes, the manager of one of the Chatham PTA Thrift Shops in central North Carolina, said the stores — which raise money for local schools — started stocking up on “any back to school, items, backpacks, lunch boxes, pencils, crayons, notebooks, notebook paper, anything that a child could use” in January. The shops see hundreds of people a day, from families to college students, looking for find deals on clothes and school supplies.

    Repair instead of replacing

    A growing number of Americans live in states with “right to repair” laws that make it easier for consumers and independent businesses to repair electronics without having to go through manufacturers.

    These laws are relatively new – New York, the first state to enact one of these laws for consumer electronics, only did so in 2023, and Texas’s governor signed a right to repair law in June. An advocacy organization that supports these laws estimates that they might save families upwards of $300 a year.

    Take advantage of tax laws

    529 plans have traditionally allowed families to save money for college, but recent changes might allow families to increase savings before their kids graduate high school.

    Included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a change to 529 plans that allow parents to withdraw money from the accounts to pay for expenses related to K-12 schooling, including books, standardized test prep and other “instructional materials.”

    While contributions cannot be deducted from federal income taxes, most states allow residents to deduct contributions to these plans from their state income taxes. But importantly, “the earnings are not subject to federal or state tax when they’re used for qualified education expenses,” says Alexander Maged, an employee benefits lawyer at Ivins, Phillips & Barker. Withdrawals for qualified educational expenses are not subject to federal income taxes.

    When withdrawing money from these 529 plans, it’s important to maintain good records for purchases, balance current spending with future savings goals, and consult with an IRS representative if you’re unsure about what expenses qualify.

    Make budgeting a teaching lesson for kids

    Impulse buying can quickly add up costs, especially when kids want the newest sneakers or an expensive first-day-of-school outfit. Setting a firm budget for back-to-school costs and giving kids a role in the discussion can help save money in the short term and teach kids an invaluable life lesson.

    “Families that include kids in back-to-school budgeting often find the process less stressful as children are incentivized to work within limits instead of pushing against them,” Julia Perez, a wealth manager at Crux Wealth Advisors, told CNN in an email.

    Kids are often tempted by immediate gratification, she said, so explaining what’s worth saving for can help “develop critical longer-term perspectives that can re-direct impulses and shape behavior.”

    “Over time those habits compound. By the time they’re managing rent, student loans, or saving for a first home, saving isn’t an afterthought… it’s second nature.”

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  • Trump teases tariffs on imported furniture

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    Trump teases tariffs on imported furniture

    President Donald Trump has announced an investigation into tariffs on foreign-made furniture, which could affect prices and manufacturing in the U.S.

    Updated: 4:31 AM PDT Aug 23, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    President Donald Trump said on Friday that new tariffs on foreign-made furniture are coming later this year following an investigation.”Within the next 50 days, that Investigation will be completed, and Furniture coming from other Countries into the United States will be Tariffed at a Rate yet to be determined,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “This will bring the Furniture Business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and States all across the Union.”A White House official clarified that the president is referencing a previously announced investigation that “will assess the national security risks arising from the United States’ increasing dependence on imported timber, lumber, and derivative products like paper, furniture, and cabinetry.”Nevertheless, the president’s comments on Friday sank some furniture stocks, from Wayfair to Williams-Sonoma. An industry coalition, called “Furniture for America,” expressed concerns about steeper tariffs earlier this year in written comments to the Commerce Department.”There is no rational relationship between imports of wood products or furniture and the national security of the United States,” the coalition wrote. “Second, no amount of tariffs will bring back American furniture manufacturing back to its prior levels. Tariffs will harm manufacturing still being done in the United States.” The White House said new tariffs on this sector would not stack on top of so-called “reciprocal” tariffs that are already targeting a wide range of countries, including major furniture suppliers like China and Vietnam. Federal data suggests those tariffs may be starting to show up in some furniture prices for consumers. The latest Consumer Price Index shows that, while overall inflation held steady between June and July 2025, furniture and bedding prices increased by 0.9 percent month-to-month. Some experts have identified this as an early warning sign, while conceding that the impact of tariffs on prices has generally been less severe than anticipated, perhaps because many businesses are absorbing added costs instead of passing them on to consumers. It remains to be seen how Trump’s latest batch of tariffs on most trading partners that took effect earlier this month will impact these trends.

    WASHINGTON —

    President Donald Trump said on Friday that new tariffs on foreign-made furniture are coming later this year following an investigation.

    “Within the next 50 days, that Investigation will be completed, and Furniture coming from other Countries into the United States will be Tariffed at a Rate yet to be determined,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “This will bring the Furniture Business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and States all across the Union.”

    A White House official clarified that the president is referencing a previously announced investigation that “will assess the national security risks arising from the United States’ increasing dependence on imported timber, lumber, and derivative products like paper, furniture, and cabinetry.”

    Nevertheless, the president’s comments on Friday sank some furniture stocks, from Wayfair to Williams-Sonoma.

    An industry coalition, called “Furniture for America,” expressed concerns about steeper tariffs earlier this year in written comments to the Commerce Department.

    “There is no rational relationship between imports of wood products or furniture and the national security of the United States,” the coalition wrote. “Second, no amount of tariffs will bring back American furniture manufacturing back to its prior levels. Tariffs will harm manufacturing still being done in the United States.”

    The White House said new tariffs on this sector would not stack on top of so-called “reciprocal” tariffs that are already targeting a wide range of countries, including major furniture suppliers like China and Vietnam.

    Federal data suggests those tariffs may be starting to show up in some furniture prices for consumers.

    The latest Consumer Price Index shows that, while overall inflation held steady between June and July 2025, furniture and bedding prices increased by 0.9 percent month-to-month. Some experts have identified this as an early warning sign, while conceding that the impact of tariffs on prices has generally been less severe than anticipated, perhaps because many businesses are absorbing added costs instead of passing them on to consumers.

    It remains to be seen how Trump’s latest batch of tariffs on most trading partners that took effect earlier this month will impact these trends.

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  • Trump teases tariffs on imported furniture

    [ad_1]

    Trump teases tariffs on imported furniture

    President Donald Trump has announced an investigation into tariffs on foreign-made furniture, which could affect prices and manufacturing in the U.S.

    Updated: 7:31 AM EDT Aug 23, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    President Donald Trump said on Friday that new tariffs on foreign-made furniture are coming later this year following an investigation.”Within the next 50 days, that Investigation will be completed, and Furniture coming from other Countries into the United States will be Tariffed at a Rate yet to be determined,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “This will bring the Furniture Business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and States all across the Union.”A White House official clarified that the president is referencing a previously announced investigation that “will assess the national security risks arising from the United States’ increasing dependence on imported timber, lumber, and derivative products like paper, furniture, and cabinetry.”Nevertheless, the president’s comments on Friday sank some furniture stocks, from Wayfair to Williams-Sonoma. An industry coalition, called “Furniture for America,” expressed concerns about steeper tariffs earlier this year in written comments to the Commerce Department.”There is no rational relationship between imports of wood products or furniture and the national security of the United States,” the coalition wrote. “Second, no amount of tariffs will bring back American furniture manufacturing back to its prior levels. Tariffs will harm manufacturing still being done in the United States.” The White House said new tariffs on this sector would not stack on top of so-called “reciprocal” tariffs that are already targeting a wide range of countries, including major furniture suppliers like China and Vietnam. Federal data suggests those tariffs may be starting to show up in some furniture prices for consumers. The latest Consumer Price Index shows that, while overall inflation held steady between June and July 2025, furniture and bedding prices increased by 0.9 percent month-to-month. Some experts have identified this as an early warning sign, while conceding that the impact of tariffs on prices has generally been less severe than anticipated, perhaps because many businesses are absorbing added costs instead of passing them on to consumers. It remains to be seen how Trump’s latest batch of tariffs on most trading partners that took effect earlier this month will impact these trends.

    WASHINGTON —

    President Donald Trump said on Friday that new tariffs on foreign-made furniture are coming later this year following an investigation.

    “Within the next 50 days, that Investigation will be completed, and Furniture coming from other Countries into the United States will be Tariffed at a Rate yet to be determined,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “This will bring the Furniture Business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and States all across the Union.”

    A White House official clarified that the president is referencing a previously announced investigation that “will assess the national security risks arising from the United States’ increasing dependence on imported timber, lumber, and derivative products like paper, furniture, and cabinetry.”

    Nevertheless, the president’s comments on Friday sank some furniture stocks, from Wayfair to Williams-Sonoma.

    An industry coalition, called “Furniture for America,” expressed concerns about steeper tariffs earlier this year in written comments to the Commerce Department.

    “There is no rational relationship between imports of wood products or furniture and the national security of the United States,” the coalition wrote. “Second, no amount of tariffs will bring back American furniture manufacturing back to its prior levels. Tariffs will harm manufacturing still being done in the United States.”

    The White House said new tariffs on this sector would not stack on top of so-called “reciprocal” tariffs that are already targeting a wide range of countries, including major furniture suppliers like China and Vietnam.

    Federal data suggests those tariffs may be starting to show up in some furniture prices for consumers.

    The latest Consumer Price Index shows that, while overall inflation held steady between June and July 2025, furniture and bedding prices increased by 0.9 percent month-to-month. Some experts have identified this as an early warning sign, while conceding that the impact of tariffs on prices has generally been less severe than anticipated, perhaps because many businesses are absorbing added costs instead of passing them on to consumers.

    It remains to be seen how Trump’s latest batch of tariffs on most trading partners that took effect earlier this month will impact these trends.

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  • President Trump says Intel agreed to give US a stake in its company

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    President Donald Trump on Friday announced the U.S. government has secured a 10% stake in struggling Silicon Valley pioneer Intel in a deal that was completed just a couple weeks after he was depicting the company’s CEO as a conflicted leader unfit for the job.“The United States of America now fully owns and controls 10% of INTEL, a Great American Company that has an even more incredible future,” Trump wrote in a post.The U.S. government is getting the stake through the conversion of $11.1 billion in previously issued funds and pledges. All told, the government is getting 433.3 million shares of non-voting stock priced at $20.47 apiece — a discount from Friday’s closing price at $24.80. That spread means the U.S. government already has a gain of $1.9 billion, on paper.The remarkable turn of events makes the U.S. government one of Intel’s largest shareholders at a time that the Santa Clara, California, company is i n the process of jettisoning more than 20,000 workers as part of its latest attempt to bounce back from years of missteps taken under a variety of CEOs.Intel’s current CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, has only been on the job for slightly more than five months, and earlier this month, it looked like he might be on shaky ground already after some lawmakers raised national security concerns about his past investments in Chinese companies while he was a venture capitalist. Trump latched on to those concerns in an August 7 post demanding that Tan resign.But Trump backed off after the Malaysian-born Tan professed his allegiance to the U.S. in a public letter to Intel employees and went to the White House to meet with the president, leading to a deal that now has the U.S. government betting that the company is on the comeback trail after losing more than $22 billion since the end of 2023. Trump hailed Tan as “highly respected” CEO in his Friday post.In a statement, Tan applauded Trump for “driving historic investments in a vital industry” and resolved to reward his faith in Intel. “We are grateful for the confidence the President and the Administration have placed in Intel, and we look forward to working to advance U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership,” Tan said.Intel’s current stock price is just slightly above where it was when Tan was hired in March and more than 60% below its peak of about $75 reached 25 years ago when its chips were still dominating the personal computer boom before being undercut by a shift to smartphones a few years later. The company’s market value currently stands at about $108 billion – a fraction of the current chip kingpin, Nvidia, which is valued at $4.3 trillion.The stake is coming primarily through U.S. government grants to Intel through the CHIPS and Science Act that was started under President Joe Biden’s administration as a way to foster more domestic manufacturing of computer chips to lessen the dependence on overseas factories.But the Trump administration, which has regularly pilloried the policies of the Biden administration, saw the CHIPs act as a needless giveaway and is now hoping to make a profit off the funding that had been pledged to Intel.”We think America should get the benefit of the bargain,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said earlier this week. “It’s obvious that it’s the right move to make.”About $7.8 billion had been been pledged to Intel under the incentives program, but only $2.2 billion had been funded so far. Another $3.2 billion of the government investment is coming through the funds from another program called “Secure Enclave.”Although U.S. government can’t vote with its shares and won’t have a seat on Intel’s board of directors, critics of the deal view it as a troubling cross-pollination between the public and private sectors that could hurt the tech industry in a variety of ways.For instance, more tech companies may feel pressured to buy potentially inferior chips from Intel to curry favor with Trump at a time that he is already waging a trade war that threatens to affect their products in a potential scenario cited by Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics for the Cato Institute.“Overall, it’s a horrendous move that will have real harms for U.S. companies, U.S. tech leadership, and the U.S. economy overall,” Lincicome posted Friday.The 10% stake could also intensify the pressure already facing Tan, especially if Trump starts fixating on Intel’s stock price while resorting to his penchant for celebrating his past successes in business.Nancy Tengler, CEO of money manager Laffer Tengler Investments, is among the investors who abandoned Intel years ago because of all the challenges facing Intel.“I don’t see the benefit to the American taxpayer, nor do I see the benefit, necessarily to the chip industry,” Tengler said while also raising worries about Trump meddling in Intel’s business.“I don’t care how good of businessman you are, give it to the private sector and let people like me be the critic and let the government get to the business of government.,” Tengler said.Although rare, it’s not unprecedented for the U.S. government to become a significant shareholder in a prominent company. One of the most notable instances occurred during the Great Recession in 2008 when the government injected nearly $50 billion into General Motors in return for a roughly 60% stake in the automaker at a time it was on the verge of bankruptcy. The government ended up with a roughly $10 billion loss after it sold its stock in GM.The U.S. government’s stake in Intel coincides with Trump’s push to bring production to the U.S., which has been a focal point of the trade war that he has been waging throughout the world. By lessening the country’s dependence on chips manufactured overseas, the president believes the U.S. will be better positioned to maintain its technological lead on China in the race to create artificial intelligence.Even before gaining the 10% stake in Intel, Trump had been leveraging his power to reprogram the operations of major computer chip companies. The administration is requiring Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, two companies whose chips are powering the AI craze, to pay a 15% commission on their sales of chips in China in exchange for export licenses.

    President Donald Trump on Friday announced the U.S. government has secured a 10% stake in struggling Silicon Valley pioneer Intel in a deal that was completed just a couple weeks after he was depicting the company’s CEO as a conflicted leader unfit for the job.

    “The United States of America now fully owns and controls 10% of INTEL, a Great American Company that has an even more incredible future,” Trump wrote in a post.

    The U.S. government is getting the stake through the conversion of $11.1 billion in previously issued funds and pledges. All told, the government is getting 433.3 million shares of non-voting stock priced at $20.47 apiece — a discount from Friday’s closing price at $24.80. That spread means the U.S. government already has a gain of $1.9 billion, on paper.

    The remarkable turn of events makes the U.S. government one of Intel’s largest shareholders at a time that the Santa Clara, California, company is i n the process of jettisoning more than 20,000 workers as part of its latest attempt to bounce back from years of missteps taken under a variety of CEOs.

    Intel’s current CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, has only been on the job for slightly more than five months, and earlier this month, it looked like he might be on shaky ground already after some lawmakers raised national security concerns about his past investments in Chinese companies while he was a venture capitalist. Trump latched on to those concerns in an August 7 post demanding that Tan resign.

    But Trump backed off after the Malaysian-born Tan professed his allegiance to the U.S. in a public letter to Intel employees and went to the White House to meet with the president, leading to a deal that now has the U.S. government betting that the company is on the comeback trail after losing more than $22 billion since the end of 2023. Trump hailed Tan as “highly respected” CEO in his Friday post.

    In a statement, Tan applauded Trump for “driving historic investments in a vital industry” and resolved to reward his faith in Intel. “We are grateful for the confidence the President and the Administration have placed in Intel, and we look forward to working to advance U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership,” Tan said.

    Intel’s current stock price is just slightly above where it was when Tan was hired in March and more than 60% below its peak of about $75 reached 25 years ago when its chips were still dominating the personal computer boom before being undercut by a shift to smartphones a few years later. The company’s market value currently stands at about $108 billion – a fraction of the current chip kingpin, Nvidia, which is valued at $4.3 trillion.

    The stake is coming primarily through U.S. government grants to Intel through the CHIPS and Science Act that was started under President Joe Biden’s administration as a way to foster more domestic manufacturing of computer chips to lessen the dependence on overseas factories.

    But the Trump administration, which has regularly pilloried the policies of the Biden administration, saw the CHIPs act as a needless giveaway and is now hoping to make a profit off the funding that had been pledged to Intel.

    “We think America should get the benefit of the bargain,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said earlier this week. “It’s obvious that it’s the right move to make.”

    About $7.8 billion had been been pledged to Intel under the incentives program, but only $2.2 billion had been funded so far. Another $3.2 billion of the government investment is coming through the funds from another program called “Secure Enclave.”

    Although U.S. government can’t vote with its shares and won’t have a seat on Intel’s board of directors, critics of the deal view it as a troubling cross-pollination between the public and private sectors that could hurt the tech industry in a variety of ways.

    For instance, more tech companies may feel pressured to buy potentially inferior chips from Intel to curry favor with Trump at a time that he is already waging a trade war that threatens to affect their products in a potential scenario cited by Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics for the Cato Institute.

    “Overall, it’s a horrendous move that will have real harms for U.S. companies, U.S. tech leadership, and the U.S. economy overall,” Lincicome posted Friday.

    The 10% stake could also intensify the pressure already facing Tan, especially if Trump starts fixating on Intel’s stock price while resorting to his penchant for celebrating his past successes in business.

    Nancy Tengler, CEO of money manager Laffer Tengler Investments, is among the investors who abandoned Intel years ago because of all the challenges facing Intel.

    “I don’t see the benefit to the American taxpayer, nor do I see the benefit, necessarily to the chip industry,” Tengler said while also raising worries about Trump meddling in Intel’s business.

    “I don’t care how good of businessman you are, give it to the private sector and let people like me be the critic and let the government get to the business of government.,” Tengler said.

    Although rare, it’s not unprecedented for the U.S. government to become a significant shareholder in a prominent company. One of the most notable instances occurred during the Great Recession in 2008 when the government injected nearly $50 billion into General Motors in return for a roughly 60% stake in the automaker at a time it was on the verge of bankruptcy. The government ended up with a roughly $10 billion loss after it sold its stock in GM.

    The U.S. government’s stake in Intel coincides with Trump’s push to bring production to the U.S., which has been a focal point of the trade war that he has been waging throughout the world. By lessening the country’s dependence on chips manufactured overseas, the president believes the U.S. will be better positioned to maintain its technological lead on China in the race to create artificial intelligence.

    Even before gaining the 10% stake in Intel, Trump had been leveraging his power to reprogram the operations of major computer chip companies. The administration is requiring Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, two companies whose chips are powering the AI craze, to pay a 15% commission on their sales of chips in China in exchange for export licenses.

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  • More frozen shrimp has been recalled for possible radioactive contamination

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    More frozen shrimp has been recalled for possible radioactive contamination

    Updated: 7:44 AM PDT Aug 22, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    More packages of frozen shrimp potentially affected by radioactive contamination have been recalled, federal officials said Thursday.California-based Southwind Foods recalled frozen shrimp sold under the brands Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American and First Street. The bagged products were distributed between July 17 and Aug. 8 to stores and wholesalers in nine states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.In the video player above: Get a look at the product labelsThe products have the potential to be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope that is a byproduct of nuclear reactions.Related video below: Are Recalled Products Hiding in Your Home?Walmart stores this week recalled packages of Great Value frozen raw shrimp sold in 13 states because of potential radioactive contamination.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert after federal officials detected Cesium-137 in shipping containers sent to four U.S. ports and in a sample of frozen breaded shrimp imported by BMS Foods of Indonesia.The FDA advises consumers not to eat the recalled products. Traces of Cesium-137 are widespread in the environment including food, soil and air. The primary health risk is through long-term, repeated low-dose exposure, which can increase the risk of cancer.

    More packages of frozen shrimp potentially affected by radioactive contamination have been recalled, federal officials said Thursday.

    California-based Southwind Foods recalled frozen shrimp sold under the brands Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American and First Street. The bagged products were distributed between July 17 and Aug. 8 to stores and wholesalers in nine states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.

    In the video player above: Get a look at the product labels

    The products have the potential to be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope that is a byproduct of nuclear reactions.

    Related video below: Are Recalled Products Hiding in Your Home?

    Walmart stores this week recalled packages of Great Value frozen raw shrimp sold in 13 states because of potential radioactive contamination.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert after federal officials detected Cesium-137 in shipping containers sent to four U.S. ports and in a sample of frozen breaded shrimp imported by BMS Foods of Indonesia.

    The FDA advises consumers not to eat the recalled products. Traces of Cesium-137 are widespread in the environment including food, soil and air. The primary health risk is through long-term, repeated low-dose exposure, which can increase the risk of cancer.

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  • Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $643 million for Wednesday drawing. Here are the numbers

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    After there was no winner in Monday night’s drawing, Powerball’s jackpot climbed to an estimated $643 million ahead of Wednesday’s drawing. The numbers pulled in Wednesday night’s drawing were: 31-59-62-65-68 Powerball 5 The Powerplay Multiplier was 2xThe $643 million figure was already the 13th largest prize in the history of Powerball. The last jackpot was already the largest of 2025 as the lottery has gone without a winner since May 31.Preliminary data from the Multi-State Lottery Association, which helps facilitate the Powerball lottery, shows Powerball sales are 40% higher than they were at this point last year.”As the jackpot increases, we expect ticket sales to increase,” the association said.While the size of the jackpot and the ticket sales have risen, the odds of winning the top prize have not. The chances of winnings the jackpot stand at about 1 in 292 million.If someone wins in the next drawing, they’ll get to choose between the jackpot amount, which is paid out in 30 annual payments, or a one-time cash option of approximately $290 million.

    After there was no winner in Monday night’s drawing, Powerball’s jackpot climbed to an estimated $643 million ahead of Wednesday’s drawing.

    The numbers pulled in Wednesday night’s drawing were:

    31-59-62-65-68 Powerball 5

    The Powerplay Multiplier was 2x

    The $643 million figure was already the 13th largest prize in the history of Powerball. The last jackpot was already the largest of 2025 as the lottery has gone without a winner since May 31.

    Preliminary data from the Multi-State Lottery Association, which helps facilitate the Powerball lottery, shows Powerball sales are 40% higher than they were at this point last year.

    “As the jackpot increases, we expect ticket sales to increase,” the association said.

    While the size of the jackpot and the ticket sales have risen, the odds of winning the top prize have not. The chances of winnings the jackpot stand at about 1 in 292 million.

    If someone wins in the next drawing, they’ll get to choose between the jackpot amount, which is paid out in 30 annual payments, or a one-time cash option of approximately $290 million.

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  • Beware of fake polls during election season, consumer advocate says

    Beware of fake polls during election season, consumer advocate says

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Election season can be a time when scammers try to use surveys and fake polls to try to get your private information.

    Nicole Cordero with the Better Business Bureau says scammers may mimic campaign emails.

    What You Need To Know

    • Scammers might use fake campaign emails to try to get you to donate or provide your personal information, the Better Business Bureau says
    • Before giving out money or information, research the organization and don’t be rushed to make a decision
    • Make sure to check links before clicking them and be wary of surveys that purport to offer prizes



    “You might receive a poll, survey or donation request that appeals to your passion, beliefs and desire to take action. There’s a link to click on that survey or a big donation button. However, that link could really be an attempt to steal your personal information,” Cordero said.

    Cordero says before you donate or give personal information, research the organization that reached out, and be wary of people who try to rush you to make a decision.

    “Be especially careful of emails with links. Phishing emails might include a link that takes users to a spoofed version of a candidate’s website or installs malware on your device. Use the BBB’s tips for spotting an email scam to be sure it’s real,” she said.

    Cordero says it’s common for candidates to use recorded messages to reach out to the public. Scammers sometimes use voice cloning to make it sound like an authentic message from a candidate and persuade people to donate or share information.

    “After hearing the message, people are redirected or transferred to someone ready to take down their information and use it for nefarious activities,” she said.

    The BBB also recommends that you:

    • Check links, and don’t click a link in an email or text unless you trust where it is going
    • Think of prizes as a red flag, because legitimate pollsters don’t usually offer them for completing a survey
    • Know that pollsters don’t need information like birth dates, Social Security numbers or financial information. No state offers voter registration by phone
    • Don’t answer unknown numbers
    • Listen to your gut, but if in doubt, check with your local election office
    • Don’t provide information in response to an unsolicited message. Organizations that need this information already have it
    • Report suspicious activities to the BBB’s Scam Tracker

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    Siobhan Riley

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  • Biden could invoke a 1947 law to pause the dockworkers’ strike

    Biden could invoke a 1947 law to pause the dockworkers’ strike

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    WASHINGTON (AP) — Some manufacturers and retailers are urging President Joe Biden to invoke a 1947 law as a way to suspend a strike by 45,000 dockworkers that has shut down 36 U.S. ports from Maine to Texas.

    At issue is Section 206 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, better known as the Taft-Hartley Act. The law authorizes a president to seek a court order for an 80-day cooling-off period for companies and unions to try to resolve their differences.

    Biden has said, though, that he won’t intervene in the strike.

    Taft-Hartley was meant to curb the power of unions

    The law was introduced by two Republicans — Sen. Robert Taft of Ohio and Rep. Fred Hartley Jr. of New Jersey — in the aftermath of World War II. It followed a series of strikes in 1945 and 1946 by workers who demanded better pay and working conditions after the privations of wartime.

    President Harry Truman opposed Taft-Hartley, but his veto was overridden by Congress.

    In addition to authorizing a president to intervene in strikes, the law banned “closed shops,” which require employers to hire only union workers. The ban allowed workers to refuse to join a union.

    Taft-Hartley also barred “secondary boycotts,’’ thereby making it illegal for unions to pressure neutral companies to stop doing business with an employer that was targeted in a strike.

    It also required union leaders to sign affidavits declaring that they did not support the Communist Party.

    Presidents can target a strike that may “imperil the national health and safety”

    The president can appoint a board of inquiry to review and write a report on the labor dispute — and then direct the attorney general to ask a federal court to suspend a strike by workers or a lockout by management.

    If the court issues an injunction, an 80-day cooling-off period would begin. During this period, management and unions must ”make every effort to adjust and settle their differences.’’

    Still, the law cannot actually force union members to accept a contract offer.

    Presidents have invoked Taft-Hartley 37 times in labor disputes

    According to the Congressional Research Service, about half the time that presidents have invoked Section 206 of Taft-Hartley, the parties worked out their differences. But nine times, according to the research service, the workers went ahead with a strike.

    President George W. Bush invoked Taft-Hartley in 2002 after 29 West Coast ports locked out members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in a standoff. (The two sides ended up reaching a contract.)

    Biden has said he won’t use Taft-Hartley to intervene

    Despite lobbying by the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation, the president has maintained that he has no plans to try to suspend the dockworkers’ strike against ports on the East and Gulf coasts.

    On Wednesday, before leaving Joint Base Andrews for an air tour of North Carolina to see the devastation from Hurricane Helene, Biden said the port strike was hampering efforts to provide emergency items for the relief effort.

    “This natural disaster is incredibly consequential,” the president said. “The last thing we need on top of that is a man-made disaster — what’s going on at the ports.”

    Biden noted that the companies that control East and Gulf coast ports have made huge profits since the pandemic.

    “It’s time for them to sit at the table and get this strike done,” he said.

    Though many ports are publicly owned, private companies often run operations that load and unload cargo.

    William Brucher, a labor relations expert at Rutgers University, notes that Taft-Hartley injunctions are “widely despised, if not universally despised, by labor unions in the United States.”

    And Vice President Kamala Harris is relying on support from organized labor in her presidential campaign against Donald Trump.

    If the longshoremen’s strike drags on long enough and causes shortages that antagonize American consumers, pressure could grow on Biden to change course and intervene. But experts like Brucher suggest that most voters have already made up their minds and that the election outcome is “really more about turnout” now.

    Which means, Brucher said, that “Democrats really can’t afford to alienate organized labor.”

    ____

    AP Writer Colleen Long at Joint Base Andrews and AP Business Writers Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed to this report.

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    Associated Press

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