A hopeful sign in the nation’s grinding battle against inflation: Although the national rate of inflation across the U.S. remains roughly twice the Federal Reserve’s target of 2% per year, in some cities prices have already returned to normal. In May, for example, the annual rate of inflation in the …
Read More »Texas judge bans solely AI
A Texas judge has ordered attorneys to attest that they will not use ChatGPT or other generative artificial intelligence technology to write legal briefs because the AI tool can invent facts. U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr of the Northern District of Texas is specifically requiring that attorneys file a certificate …
Read More »Credit rating agency Fitch puts U.S. AAA rating on watch. Here’s what that means.
Credit bureau Fitch Ratings said the AAA rating of the U.S. — the highest available — is at risk because of the “brinkmanship over the debt ceiling,” which is increasing the likelihood that the nation could default on some of its debt and other obligations. Late Wednesday, Fitch said it …
Read More »The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is beefing up for summer with a new name
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile now has a new name for the first time in its nearly 100-year history. The iconic hot dog-shaped vehicle will henceforth be known as the Frankmobile, the Kraft Heinz Company in a statement. While not much is different on the Frankmobile itself — aside from the new …
Read More »CPI: Inflation rate falls below 5% for first time since June 2021
Inflation cooled slightly in April, with consumer prices rising at a 4.9% annual pace, marking the first time since June 2021 that the rate has dropped below 5%. It’s also the slowest rise in two years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday. Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and …
Read More »Twitter Blue “debacle”: Dead celebrities get check marks, impersonators jump in
The rollout of Twitter’s paid blue check mark, which now costs $8 a month after previously being free, could become a case study in business schools across the globe, with some users calling it a “debacle” and media experts calling it chaotic and incompetent. Twitter’s iconic blue checkmarks began disappearing last week …
Read More »San Francisco Whole Foods, flagship store, is closing over crime
Whole Foods is temporarily closing one of its flagship stores in San Francisco just a year after it opened, citing concerns that crime in the area is endangering its staff. A Whole Foods spokesperson said the company closed the 65,000-square-foot grocery store at Trinity Place in San Francisco’s Mid-Market neighborhood …
Read More »Buy or rent: Which is cheaper?
The cost difference between owning a home and renting an apartment has reached its widest gap in more than 15 years as home prices rise and interest rates on home loans soar, according to a recent industry analysis. On average, owning a home costs $1,176 more per month than renting …
Read More »Food stamps already have work requirements. Now, GOP lawmakers want tougher ones.
The food-stamp program already has work requirements for people the U.S. government defines as “able-bodied adults without dependents” — in other words, younger workers who aren’t disabled and who don’t have kids or other dependents. But a group of Republican lawmakers say tougher work requirements are needed to close a …
Read More »“Raspberry Rally” Girl Scout cookies are a hot item — if you can find them
A new Girl Scout cookie flavor has proved to be so popular that resellers are hawking the treats online for a premium. The “Raspberry Rally” cookie is a thin, crispy chocolate-covered, raspberry flavor-filled cookie that the Girl Scouts call a “sister” cookie to the popular Thin Mints variety. Although it’s …
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