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☆ Gas prices drop more than 60 days in a row
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Gas prices have now fallen every day since the peak on September 18, AAA data shows. However, it’s normal for gas prices to cool off once the summer driving season ends because demand drops. Gas prices are now down 63 cents since hitting $3.88 in September. Yet oil prices — the main driver of retail pump prices — also have tumbled about 20% since briefly topping $95 a barrel on September 28. No matter the reason, gas prices are falling around the country.

Persons: That’s, ”, Tom Kloza, Kloza, OPIS, “ It’s, ” Kloza Organizations: New, New York CNN, AAA, Oil Price Information Service, Saudi Locations: New York, Israel, Hormuz, Iran, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, China, OPEC, United States, Wisconsin , Ohio, South Carolina, Hawaii, Washington, California

WASHINGTON (AP) — The prosecutor overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation is expected to testify on Tuesday, marking the first time a special counsel will appear before Congress in the middle of a probe. The rare move by the Justice Department to allow a special counsel or any federal prosecutor to face questioning before the conclusion of an investigation indicates just how seriously the department is taking accusations of interference. Weiss' appearance comes after months of back-and-forth negotiations between Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and the Justice Department as lawmakers subpoenaed several investigators and attorneys involved in the Hunter Biden case. But the IRS whistleblower, who testified publicly over the summer, insists his testimony reflects a pattern of interference and preferential treatment in the Hunter Biden case and not just disagreement with their superiors about what investigative steps to take. In the Hunter Biden case, defense attorneys have already indicated they plan to challenge the gun charges he is currently facing on several other legal fronts and suggested that prosecutors bowed to political pressure in filing those charges.

Persons: Hunter Biden, David Weiss, “ Mr, Weiss, ” Wyn Hornbuckle, “, Hunter, That’s, Jim Jordan Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Committee, Justice Department, Democratic, Republican, Internal Revenue Service, Attorneys, GOP Locations: Washington and California

☆ Americans are cheaping out big time on restaurant tips. Here are the states with the worst and best tippers.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Restaurant tipping rates in the US have dipped below 20%, per an industry report by Toast. According to Toast's report, the average restaurant tips servers received across all 50 states was 18.9% for the second quarter of 2023. Toast's report ranked the average restaurant tips for all 50 states. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn contrast, average tipping rates were the lowest in California, at 17.4%, per Toast's report. Toast said that tipping rates for full-service restaurants dropped to 19.4% in the second quarter, down from 19.7% in the first quarter.

Persons: Toast, Tim Urban, Bankrate Organizations: Service, US, US Department of Agriculture, Wall Street Journal Locations: Toast . Delaware, Washington, California, Wall, Silicon, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, Florida, . Delaware, New York City

Internal Revenue Service agents have claimed in whistleblower testimony the investigation was “slow walked” and the authority of the prosecutor in charge was curtailed by the Justice Department. While the Hunter Biden case is far from typical, it touches on some of the more mundane but less-well-understood aspects of the criminal justice system. Such an order, requiring approval in this case by Garland or another senior Justice Department official, gives the prosecutor what’s typically known as “special attorney” status. This person is not subject to day-to-day supervision of the Justice Department, but must still comply with department regulations, policies and procedures. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMPLICATIONS ON THE HUNTER BIDEN CASE?

Persons: Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden, Garland, Joe Biden, –, what’s, David Weiss, Weiss, Biden, Hunter, Gary Shapley, Thomas Sobocinski, —, ” Sobocinski, “ Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, Justice Department, Internal Revenue Service, FBI, Drug, Administration, Homeland, Prosecutors, Department, IRS, Delaware U.S, Hunter Biden, HUNTER, Congressional Republicans Locations: U.S, Delaware, Washington and California

House Republicans have also brought forth two I.R.S. agents who worked on Mr. Weiss’s investigation and claimed there had been political interference. The order appointing Mr. Weiss to special counsel authorizes him to bring charges in any jurisdiction. Alyssa DaCunha, a co-chair of the congressional investigations practice at the law firm WilmerHale, said she believed House Republicans’ investigations and their criticisms of the proposed plea deal had “caught the attention” of the Justice Department. For Mr. Trump, in particular, it provided him with the investigation he has long desired to be able to depict the Biden family as corrupt, even as Hunter Biden’s alleged crimes are significantly less severe than the charges Mr. Trump is facing.

Persons: Weiss, Biden, Hunter Biden, Alyssa DaCunha, WilmerHale, “, ” Ms, DaCunha, Trump, Hunter Biden’s Organizations: Mr, Republicans, Congress, Justice Department Locations: Washington and California

“The appointment of Mr. Weiss reinforces for the American people the department’s commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters,” Mr. Garland said. Mr. Clark and the Justice Department prosecutors overseeing the case had distinctly different understandings of the immunity Hunter Biden would receive from the deal. House Republicans quickly signaled the special counsel appointment would not alleviate their criticism of the investigation into Hunter Biden. agents was that Mr. Weiss had sought to bring charges against Hunter Biden in Washington and California but was rebuffed after prosecutors in those jurisdictions declined to partner with him. House Republicans have also issued subpoenas to six banks, detailing millions that were paid to Hunter Biden and his business partners from overseas companies.

Persons: General Merrick B, Garland, Biden’s, Hunter, Justice Department’s, David C, Weiss, Hunter Biden, Biden, —, Garland scoffed, Weiss —, “, Mr, Jack Smith, Donald J, Trump, Robert K, Hur, Trump’s, Hunter Biden’s, Christopher Clark, ” Mr, Clark, ”, Russell Dye, Jim Jordan, “ Weiss, Kevin McCarthy, Biden’s D.O.J, couldn’t, Devon Archer, Archer, Chris Cameron Organizations: Justice, Internal Revenue Service, Mr, Republican, Republicans, Justice Department, House Republicans, Biden, Congress, Department, Trump Locations: Washington, U.S, Delaware, Delaware , Washington, Wilmington, Del, Ohio, Washington and California

☆ Amazon workers seriously injured at more than twice the rate of other warehouses, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Annie Palmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

That's more than double the rate of all non-Amazon warehouses, which had 3.2 serious injuries for every 100 workers. Amazon's serious injury rate fell by about 3% between 2021 and 2022. The rate shot up to 6.8 serious injuries for every 100 workers in 2021, compared to a rate of 5.9 serious injuries for every 100 workers in 2020. While Amazon's serious injury rate fell between 2021 and 2022, its overall injuries increased. In 2021, Amazon set a goal to halve its warehouse injury rate by 2025.

☆ Powerball used to have a jackpot limit. Then it exploded
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —The Powerball lottery jackpot is expected to hit $1.9 billion for Monday’s drawing, making it the largest lotto prize ever. But in 1987 when Lotto America, the precursor to Powerball, was introduced, organizers prohibited jackpots of more than $80 million. ”This is a whole new ballgame” Lotto America spokesman Jack Ratigan said at the time. These changes have pushed Powerball jackpots way up. Lotteries are regressive, meaning lower-income groups spend more of their budgets on lottery games than higher-income groups.

Consumers in Iowa and Ohio had the most trouble saving while shopping online in 2011, according to Savings.com. shoppers topped the list of super savers, but cities on the West Coast dominated the category overall. The worst cities for saving were in the Southeast and Midwest, overwhelmingly. Ohio cities made up seven of the 20 picks for worst savers. Check out the full infographic below:Http://www.savings.comNow see the dirty dozen scams to watch out for this holiday season >

Organizations: West Coast Locations: Iowa, Ohio, Salisbury, Md, Washington, California, Midwest

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