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Sticky inflation has pushed mortgage rates up in recent months, and we likely won't see them trend down until inflation starts decelerating again. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Go Up (+0.23%)The average 15-year mortgage rate is 6.48%, 23 basis points higher than last week. Mortgage Refinance Rates30-Year Fixed Refinance Rates Fall Slightly (-0.11%)The average 30-year refinance rate is 7.42%, 11 basis points lower than last week. Mortgage rates also rose dramatically in 2023, though they started trending back down toward the end of the year.

Persons: decelerating, it's, you'll, It's, refinance Organizations: Federal, US, of Economic, Zillow, FHA Locations: Chevron

☆ How universities are cracking down on a swell of tension months into student protests over Israel’s bombardment of Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Dakin Andone | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Soon, dozens more students protesting the monthslong assault on Gaza were arrested at New York and Yale universities. Ash told CNN he was one of 20 students arrested following a sit-in on November 8. The charges were later dropped, according to the Brown Daily Herald, but 41 students arrested the following month in similar circumstances still face charges, which protesters now want dropped. Separately, the referendum on the BDS resolution “did not move forward because of potential conflict with federal and state laws,” the university told CNN in a statement. Police then were aggressive, Agrawal told CNN.

Persons: strode, –, Jordan Vonderhaar, that’s, Zach Greenberg, ” Greenberg, ” “, ”, Dima Khalidi, “, Greenberg, …, Arman Deendar, Rafi Ash, Ash, ” Ash, Richard Vogel, Jack Petocz, Petocz, Vanderbilt, Samson Zhang, Alexander Hall, Pitzer, Mita Banerjee, Banerjee, ” Arrestees, Natascha, Shubh Agrawal, Agrawal, Colleen Mastony, Israel, Grace Hie Yoon, Adam Lehman, who’ve, they’re, ” Lehman, CNN’s Dana, Israel –, Palestine Legal’s Khalidi, ” Khalidi, CNN’s Nicquel Terry Ellis, Chelsea Bailey, Isabel Rosales, Devon Sayers Organizations: CNN, New York’s Columbia University, Yale, University of Texas, University of Southern, Emory University, Boston’s Emerson College, Indiana University, George Washington University and California State Polytechnic, Humboldt, Bloomberg, Getty, Foundation, Rights, ”, White, Palestine, Brown University, Brown Daily Herald, University Public, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt, Coalition, ” Vanderbilt University, Community, Officer, Barnard College, Harvard University, Boston, Pomona College, Claremont Colleges, Pomona, Pomona College’s, for Justice, ” Claremont Police, Pro, Palestinian, George Washington University, University of Michigan’s, Investment, University of Michigan, Police, New York University, New, Civil Liberties Union, Anadolu Agency, Jewish, Hillel International Locations: New, Gaza, New York, Austin, University of Southern California, Atlanta, Israel, Rhode Island, Los Angeles, Nashville, Florida’s, Southern, Palestine, TAHRIR, “ City, Vietnam

Most major forecasts believe that mortgage rates will ultimately trend down this year. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesThis week's average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.17%, according to Freddie Mac. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates inched up to 6.44% this week, according to Freddie Mac data. Mortgage rates increased dramatically over the last two years, but they're expected to go down at some point this year.

Persons: Fannie Mae, you'll, Freddie Mac, it's Organizations: Reserve, US, of, Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

☆ Airlines are going to start giving out automatic refunds for delayed or canceled flights — here's who and what will be eligible
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New regulations will require airlines to provide refunds for delayed or canceled flights. The refunds, which airlines have to implement over the next six to 12 months, must be automatic and prompt. AdvertisementAirlines are going to be required to provide automatic refunds for delayed or canceled flights under new Department of Transportation regulations, announced on Wednesday . The checked bag isn't delivered within 15 hours of an international flight that's 12 hours long or less arriving at the gate. The checked bag isn't delivered within 30 hours of an international flight that's more than 12 hours long arriving at the gate.

Persons: —, they're Organizations: Service, Airlines, Department of Transportation, Business, Transportation

☆ Frustrated Sephora workers say their makeup freebies and hours are drying up
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The difference, they said, is that as flex employees, their hours aren't guaranteed. Multiple employees told BI that May will be the last month that flex workers receive gratis. Related storiesWhen frustrated workers flooded the r/SephoraWorkers forum, a photo of a poster was uploaded that depicted the benefits flex employees earned compared to their coworkers. "We're all being pushed to sell, sell, sell," a current employee told BI. One former Sephora employee previously told BI that Sephora had changed from being a dream job for makeup lovers to "just a transaction" after several years.

Persons: —, Grace —, Grace, Sephora, concealers, hasn't, it's, Weeks, they'd, gratis Organizations: Service, Business, BI, LVMH Locations: Sephora, Ohio

☆ It's already hard to get your Fisker fixed. Bankruptcy could make it impossible.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Grace Kay | Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementBusiness Insider spoke with seven Fisker Ocean owners who shared their anxieties about what will happen to their cars if Fisker is no more. AdvertisementSome Fisker owners said they are already struggling to get service and parts. Three Fisker ocean owners described instances where the vehicle was bricked for days after their 12-volt battery died. What Fisker's failure would mean for its competitorsIf Fisker files for bankruptcy, there are likely to be ripple effects for other EV startups, Fiorani said. "If Fiskers start falling off the side of the road in the next few months because there's no one to update them, that's going to put fear into a lot of electric vehicle owners — not just Fisker owners," Fiorani said.

Persons: —, Henrik Fisker teeters, Sam Fiorani, Kurt Mechling, Mechling, Fisker, Chris Salvo, Salvo, Henrik Fisker, Mario Anzuoni, Fiorani, Patrick Burrell, Tesla Organizations: Service, Business, AutoForecast Solutions, BI, Reuters, EV Locations: California

☆ I moved from California to Portugal as a single mom of 2. Here people actually care about kids.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Hannah Nwoko | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I wanted something different for my daughtersIn the US, individualism really makes it difficult to parent, especially as a single parent. I also wanted safety for all of usAs a gay woman, I wanted to live somewhere where I could have rights, community, and safety. In Portugal, children of all ages are found in restaurants at all hours with their families, and parks have kiosks for parents to enjoy drinks while their children play. There isn't an expectation for single moms to show up as if they aren't single moms. I am grateful that Portugal models other ways of being a parent: prioritizing ourselves, our children, and our time.

Persons: Aisha Canfield, I've Organizations: Service, Business, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: Portugal, San Francisco Bay

☆ Chipotle says its service is much faster now, and it means fewer people are bothering to order ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chipotle's CFO said that says that fewer customers are ordering ahead as its service speeds up. A key metric for the chain is how many entrées each restaurant makes in its peak 15 minutes. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementChipotle says that its service is becoming so much speedier that fewer customers are bothering to order ahead on its app. During the pandemic, many fast-food and fast-casual chains rolled out ways for customers to order ahead so that customers could skip the line.

Persons: —, Chipotle, Jack Hartung, Brian Niccol, Niccol, Hartung Organizations: Service, Business, Boston

Mortgage rates should go down later this year, increasing affordability for many hopeful homebuyers. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 30-year Fixed Mortgage RatesThe average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.17% this week, according to Freddie Mac. 15-year Fixed Mortgage RatesThis week, average 15-year mortgage rates were 6.44%, a five-basis-point increase from the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data. Once the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates should fall even further.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, homebuyers, you'll, it's Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

☆ 'Challengers': What Critics Are Saying About the Tennis Movie
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor deliver undeniable chemistry and star-making performances. Josh O'Connor as Patrick, Mike Faist as Art, and Zendaya as Tashi in "Challengers." — Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com"Zendaya, O'Connor, and Faist play off each other charmingly, particularly in the flashbacks when their characters are younger. Her work here, on the heels of 'Dune: Part Two,' cements her status as a born Movie Star. Both men engage in passionate scenes with Zendaya, making out in intense close-ups and tearing clothes off with palpable want.

Persons: Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor, Patrick, Tashi, Rocco T, Thompson, O'Connor, — Tasha Robinson, Polygon, Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com, Zendaya, — David Rooney, Faist, — Maureen Lee Lenker Organizations: MGM, Hollywood, Entertainment

☆ Why chipmakers are the stars of the week, plus Cramer's read-through on 3 reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Best in months: The S & P 500 and Nasdaq are both higher on Friday, on pace for their best weeks since November. The gains break a three-week losing streak for the broad-based S & P and four straight losing weeks for the tech-heavy Nasdaq. About 46% of the S & P 500 has reported earnings so far, with nearly three quarters beating consensus expectations, according to FactSet. Earnings ahead : The busiest week of the first-quarter earnings season is coming up. But the company will still be buying back stock ahead of better times."

Persons: Jim Cramer, there's, Grace Hopper Superchip, Sanjay Mehrotra, Lam, Sanjay, we'll, Dow, Dupont, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Milton J, Kevin Lamarque Organizations: CNBC, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Intel, Nvidia, Micron, Lam Research, Apple, Coterra Energy, Starbucks, DuPont, Jim Cramer's Charitable, Micron Technology, Rubenstein Museum of Science, Technology Locations: Chevron, Devon, Syracuse , New York, U.S

☆ Fisker tells employees that 4 automakers are in talks to buy the struggling startup
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Fisker is in talks with four automakers for possible acquisition, according to CEO Henrik Fisker. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFisker CEO Henrik Fisker told staff during an all-hands meeting on Thursday that the company was in talks with four automakers for a potential buyout, according to a recording of the event viewed by Business Insider. "We still have some time to get other offers on Fisker," he told staff on Thursday. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Fisker, Henrik Fisker, — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Fisker

☆ Chipotle had to rename its barbacoa burrito filling because customers didn't know what it was
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Chipotle renamed its barbacoa filling because customers didn't know what it was. It has now been renamed "braised beef barbacoa," its CEO said. AdvertisementChipotle's CEO said it had to rename its barbacoa burrito filling because diners weren't sure what it was. "Many of our guests did not know that barbacoa was braised beef," CEO Brian Niccol told analysts at the company's first-quarter earnings call on Monday. The item, which is labeled on its US menu as "beef barbacoa" and in its ads as "braised beef barbacoa," is available as a filling for burritos, burrito bowls, salad bowls, tacos, and quesadillas.

Persons: Chipotle, Barbacoa, —, barbacoa, Brian Niccol Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Mexico

Though mortgage rates are currently at a five-month high, they still should ultimately trend down this year. But if inflation remains sticky in the coming months, mortgage rates will likely remain elevated for longer than currently expected. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage Refinance Rates TodayMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. But because inflation has been somewhat sticky in recent months, mortgage rates have remained elevated so far this year.

Persons: Fannie Mae, Hamilton Fout Organizations: Zillow, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, ARM Locations: Chevron

☆ A Chick-fil-A worker who got millions of views with TikToks of her staff meals says the company stopped her from posting. Now she's quit to become a content creator.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA former Chick-fil-A worker said that the fried-chicken chain asked her to stop posting videos of her staff meals on TikTok because she was breaking company policy. Food reviews are hot stuffRestaurant reviews and food rankings are popular topics for TikTok videos. Webb's last Chick-fil-A video before the company's PR team contacted her, which has 3.4 million views, shows her reviewing the four drinks in its limited-edition Cherry Berry range. AdvertisementWebb's TikTok account also features videos of her reviewing her staff meals at Aldi, where she also has a job. In her video announcing the end of her Chick-fil-A staff meal videos, Webb said that other brands wanting to collaborate with her should reach out.

Persons: —, Miriam Webb, Webb, Chick, I'm, Miriam Webb's, Cherry Berry, commenter Organizations: Service, Business, PR, Aldi Locations: Los Angeles County, TikTok

☆ Baltimore officials accused the ship that crashed into the Key Bridge of being 'unseaworthy' and leaving port even though its alarms had already gone off
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCity of Baltimore officials on Monday accused the owner and manager of the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge of allowing the vessel to set sail despite it being "clearly unseaworthy." "Reporting has indicated that, even before leaving port, alarms showing an inconsistent power supply on the Dali had sounded," the court petition reads. Authorities found that the 984-foot ship lost power as it navigated toward the bridge, causing it to lose propulsion. The crew on board broadcast a mayday call just before impact, allowing traffic police to seal access to the bridge. AdvertisementMeanwhile, President Joe Biden has said that the federal government will fund the reconstruction of the Key Bridge, and has agreed to disburse some $60 million in aid to the region.

Persons: —, Francis Scott Key, Dali, Grace Ocean, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Synergy Marine, Business, Baltimore Mayor, Grace, Synergy, Port, Authorities, National Transportation Safety Board, FBI, Washington Post Locations: Baltimore, Maryland, Singapore, Port of Baltimore, Sri Lanka, Patapsco

☆ You'll soon be able to get an automatic refund when your flight is delayed or canceled
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Airlines must start providing passengers with automatic refunds when flights are delayed or canceled. New regulations announced Wednesday mean passengers can also get automatic refunds on delayed baggage. AdvertisementAirlines are to be required to provide passengers with "prompt" automatic refunds when their flights are delayed or canceled under a new rule from the Department of Transportation, announced on Wednesday. This includes domestic flights delayed by more than three hours and international flights delayed by more than six hours. AdvertisementMany passengers have previously spoken to Business Insider about their troubles getting compensation for delayed and canceled flights and lost luggage.

Persons: —, they're, lockdowns Organizations: Service, Airlines, Department of Transportation, Boeing

☆ The FTC is fighting for your right to job-hop
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe FTC wants to give Americans the freedom to job-hop without pesky noncompete contracts getting in the way. The Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 on Tuesday to approve a nationwide ban on noncompete agreements, the agency announced in a press release. The move could help American workers make $300 billion more a year, the FTC has previously said. Companies can keep existing contracts for some senior executives, but that will only affect about 0.75% of workers, the FTC said.

Persons: —, pesky noncompete, Evan Starr, Lina M, Khan, Suzanne P, Clark Organizations: Service, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Business, Employers, University of Maryland, New York Times, US, of Commerce, Commerce's, National Labor Relations Locations: California , Massachusetts, Illinois

☆ Opinion: Melania’s complicated ‘stand by your man’ routine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Opinion Jill Filipovic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The days of women standing up next to their philandering husbands should be well in the rear view. Melania’s decision to stay married to Donald despite very public evidence of an affair is her choice to make. (Her decision to stay married to a man who very publicly cheated on his first wife, is virulently misogynistic and has stoked hatred of immigrants tells us something else about her character.) Former First Lady Melania Trump stands alongside her husband, former President Donald Trump at a fundraising event in Palm Beach, Florida on April 6, 2024. Would Donald stay married to Melania if she faced multiple very public affair accusations?

Persons: Jill Filipovic, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Melania, Barron, Trump, Karen McDougal, Daniels, McDougal, Donald, Lady Melania Trump, Alon Skuy, Bill Clinton, Idaho Sen, Larry Craig, Craig, Eliot Spitzer, Silda Wall Spitzer, stoically, Abedin, Anthony Weiner, Former Louisiana Sen, David Vitter, Wendy, presser, ” premised, –, Chip Somodevilla, She’s Organizations: Twitter, CNN, Republican, Former New York Gov, York, Former Louisiana, Rochester Opera House Locations: New York, Manhattan, Palm Beach , Florida, Idaho, Paris, Rochester , New Hampshire

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson calls for Columbia president's ousting, echoing a familiar and effective threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson wants Columbia University's President out. Johnson and other House Republicans have criticized her handling of campus protests and antisemitism. AdvertisementHouse Speaker Mike Johnson wants Columbia University's president to resign, calling her "inept" and "weak." "This president, Shafik, is shown to be a very weak, inept leader. They cannot even guarantee the safety of Jewish students?

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, —, Israel's, UPenn, Claudine Gay, UPenn's Elizabeth Magill, Sally Kornbluth, Hugh Hewitt, it's, They're, Shafik, Harvard's Claudine Gay, they've, shouldn't, Anthony D'Esposito, Yuda Drizin Organizations: Columbia, Republicans, Service, Harvard, MIT, NYPD, Palestinian, NY Republican, The Washington, Columbia Jewish, Washington Post Locations: Israel, Gaza, America, Columbia

☆ Tesla found a way to get out of environmental regulations at its Texas gigafactory
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Tesla's gigafactory outside Austin won't have to follow the city's environmental regulations. Elon Musk has said the property will be an "ecological paradise," but Tesla has a history of violating the environment. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementTesla's massive gigafactory outside Austin, Texas will no longer have to follow local environmental regulations, thanks to a recent state law. Tesla's 2,500-acre property, which includes its 10-million-square-foot electric vehicle gigafactory, is in unincorporated land on the outskirts of Austin.

Persons: Tesla's, Elon Musk, Tesla, — Organizations: EV, Service, Business Locations: Austin, Austin , Texas

Mortgage rates haven't changed much over the last week, but they could move up or down later this week depending on how a couple of big economic reports turn out. If these reports come in hotter than expected, mortgage rates could tick up higher. This index is expected to come in a bit lower than last month's reading, which would be good news for mortgage rates. This means we could see mortgage rates start to trend down in fall. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

☆ Tesla's chaotic layoffs leave employees nervous and wondering when the cuts will end
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla employees say they've been left in limbo after a week of layoffs. AdvertisementIn the wake of Tesla's mass layoffs last week, some workers who are still at the carmaker say they feel as if they've been left in limbo. Tesla workers have been put through the wringer ever since layoffs started on Sunday, April 14. "It was like all at once, people you'd seen every day were just erased from the company," the worker said. On Friday, Tesla's layoffs impacted its recruiting staff in the US.

Persons: they've, Elon Musk, —, Elon, they'd, you'd, we'd Organizations: Elon, Tesla, Service, EV, Business, Bloomberg Locations: China

☆ A British Airways flight to nowhere circled in the air for 4 hours after its weather monitoring system collapsed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAn already delayed British Airways plane that took off from Singapore landed back at the same airport five hours later after a technical fault forced it to turn back. British Airways Flight 12 circled Singapore for around four hours before landing back where it started. Advertisement"Planes are designed to land below certain weights," Business Insider previously reported. Advertisement"We currently do not have a revised departure time for your flight," British Airways said in an email to passengers at about 9:15 a.m. local time. However, that flight had to be canceled, as British Airways did not have any other aircraft available.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, British Airways, London Heathrow, Business, Airbus, Flightradar24 Aircraft, Passengers, Singapore Changi Airport, Heathrow Locations: British, Singapore, Singapore Changi, London, Malaysia, Heathrow, Los Angeles

☆ My youngest child slept in our bed until he was 7
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Angie Grace | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

When he was born, he mostly slept in his crib and napped in bed next to me. Once he became a toddler, we turned his convertible crib into a toddler bed. Related storiesEventually, we got rid of the toddler bed, as he was no longer sleeping in it at all and would cry to sleep in the bed with us. I sat him down that night before bed and spoke to him about the importance of owning his own bed. That first night of having his own bed, he slept in it the entire night.

Persons: I've, —, Kai Organizations: Service, Ikea

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