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☆ Flight attendants don't get to choose their 'base' cities — inside the intense process and what happens if you work somewhere you don't live
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Monica Humphries | Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

While training, flight attendants rank their preferred "base cities" where they'll fly from. Videos of flight attendants revealing the cities they want vs the cities they get go viral. During training, flight attendants learn safety protocols, practice emergency drills, and get familiar with airplane equipment. Flight attendants rank where they want to workTwo flight attendants said their base reveal happened within the first three weeks of training. This means the airport had appealing flights and flight times, and therefore senior flight attendants sought that location.

Persons: —, she's, @dogarmnose, @rainclements, David Becker, Lea McIntyre, @flightattendantbaelee, McIntyre, they'll, you've, Alajah Parker, didn't, Parker, what's, London, Boston —, aren't, it's, wasn't, David Zalubowski, they'd Organizations: Service, LaGuardia Airport, Business, American Airlines, New, London, JetBlue, LA, JFK, Boston Locations: Dallas, Forth Worth, New York, Chicago, New York City, London, Los Angeles , California, LA, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Boston , Massachusetts, Orlando , Florida, Boston, McIntyre, Dayton , Ohio, Dayton, Miami, Houston, Austin

☆ The College Board is raking in cash as it promotes its AP exam among low-income students, many of whom are failing it
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In 2023, a record number of low-income students took Advanced Placement exams. AdvertisementIn 2023, 38 percent of all test-takers scored a 1 or 2, with low-income students posting higher failure rates. The College Board, reflecting on its own analysis, stated that AP coursework boosts students across the board, independent of their respective scores on the exam. In 2023, a record 1.1 million students from low-income households took AP exams, per The Times. Overall, 5.2 million students sat down for AP exams in 2023, a more than threefold increase from 2002, when 1.6 million students took the exams.

Persons: —, Scott Eisen, David Coleman, Trevor Packer Organizations: Board, Service, College Board, AP, The New York Times, The Times, The, Harvard University in, Times Locations: United States, Harvard University in Cambridge , Massachusetts, —

☆ ‘What Have We Become?’ How Congress Came To Be So Boorish
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Kaia Hubbard | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

They’re members of Congress. “I mean, straighten up here.”Even before this week, a number of vulgar refrains, heated exchanges and a near physical altercation punctuated this Congress after festering in recent years. What have we become?’”Indeed, this Congress seemed to kick off with drama baked in. The picture of this Congress is a stark departure from expectations for lawmakers in recent history. “For a lot of members, Congress is not a legislature so much as it is a reality television show about a legislature,” C. Lawrence Evans, a professor of government at the College of William & Mary, says.

Persons: –, “, ” Sen, Mazie, Elizabeth Warren, There's, ” Dan Lamb, it's, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, Hunter Biden, Lauren Boebert, Adam Schiff, Greene, Tim Burchett, McCarthy, Jared Moskowitz, James Comer, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Barack Obama, Lindsey Williams Drath, ” Drath, ”, Drath, Lawrence Evans, College of William & Mary, “ It's, they’re, Mullin, ” Evans, Mike Johnson, Gaetz, Cynthia Lummis, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Sanders, Charles Sumner Organizations: Hawaii Democrat, Cornell University, Georgia Republican, Colorado Republican, House Republicans, California Democrat, New, New York Democrat, South Carolina Republican, Forward Party, Republican Party, College of William &, Wyoming Republican, Trump, Capitol Locations: Mazie Hirono, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Colorado, California, New York, Wyoming, Vermont, America, legislating, Arizona

☆ U.S. political violence driven by new breed of ‘grab-bag’ extremists
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +25 min

The incidents involve violence emanating from across the political spectrum, including dozens of cases of substantial property damage by leftists at political demonstrations. Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, didn’t respond to questions from Reuters about the former president’s remarks and the impact of his rhetoric. But those who study extremism say psychiatric problems alone rarely induce political violence. “How could I take care of a brother in arms if I couldn’t even take care of myself?” Aldrich told the court. In the summer of 2022, Aldrich told the group he wanted to build a website to “promote freedom of speech,” Arroyo said.

Persons: Anderson Lee Aldrich, ” Gilbert Arroyo, Aldrich, Arroyo, ” Arroyo, “, ” Aldrich, Ted Kaczynski, ”, Brian Hughes, Donald Trump, Michael Jensen, Trump, Mark Milley, Steven Cheung, Milley, Rory Banks, Banks, Jacob Ware, Jensen, Stephanie Clark, Ashley Paugh, Barack Obama wasn’t, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, John F, Kennedy, Matt Kriner, Troy Burke, Elwell, Burke, Jessica, Joe Biden, Sarah Huyser, John D, Cohen, Nathan Allen, Allen, Terence Delehanty, Audrey Mazzola, Allen texted Mazzola, Mazzola, Ramona Cooper, David Green, Green, “ Saint Nathan Allen, Aaron Brink, Brink, Aldrich’s, Laura Voepel, Carrie Thompson, Voepel, John Redgrave, Discord’s, ” Redgrave, “ Andy, ” Luke Simpson, Jonathan, Pamela Pullen, didn’t, Nick Brooks, Brooks, Pepe, Blacks, Simpson, ” Simpson, Michael Bowman, Joseph Archambault, Aldrich texted, Ned Parker, Peter Eisler, Joseph Tanfani, John Emerson, Paulo Prada Organizations: Reuters, Q, American University, Washington , D.C, ” Reuters, U.S, Capitol, Jan, Trump, University of Maryland’s, U.S . Joint Chiefs of Staff, ., Council, Foreign Relations, Republican, Middlebury College’s Center, Terrorism, Counterterrorism, Public Religion Research Institute, REUTERS, Central Intelligence Agency, U.S . Constitution, Department of Homeland Security, Facebook, ” Winthrop Police, Smith, Wesson, Air Force, SWAT, Prosecutors Locations: Colorado, Colorado Springs, Washington ,, United States, Nevada, Wheaton , California, Washington, Maryland, Vietnam, Mexico, mainstreaming, Monterey , California, Michigan, Gratiot County, U.S ., Winthrop , Massachusetts, California, Texas, San Diego, Ohio, Illinois, Australia, Florida, Buffalo , New York

NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN Bet, a rebranded sports-gambling app owned by Penn Entertainment, is set to launch Tuesday. Under the agreement, Penn will operate ESPN Bet while ESPN promotes the app across its online and broadcast platforms. It's unclear when ESPN Bet will officially be available to download. In addition to the $1.5 billion licensing deal, Penn also said it would grant ESPN rights worth about $500 million to purchase shares in Penn. The upcoming launch of ESPN Bet could take Walt Disney Co.-owned ESPN into uncharted waters.

Persons: Penn, Dave Portnoy Organizations: ESPN Bet, Penn Entertainment, ESPN, Penn, Sports, Walt Disney Co Locations: — Arizona, Colorado , Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky, Louisiana , Maryland , Massachusetts, Michigan , New Jersey , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Penn

☆ Hate groups leverage advances in artificial intelligence to stoke antisemitism amid tensions surrounding Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Donie O'Sullivan Curt Devine Allison Gordon | Donie O'Sullivan | Curt Devine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Hate groups and far-right internet trolls have seized on the tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, while leveraging advances in artificial intelligence to further stoke antisemitism in the United States. “We’ve seen a real concerning ideological convergence between far-right communities online and pro-Hamas sentiment,” said Ben Decker, CEO of Memetica, a threat analysis company that monitors online hate. Karen Dunn, an attorney who sued the people responsible for the violence at the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, told CNN the hate groups “hate everybody, but they hate the Jews the most.”Antisemitism is a commonality that can unite multiple different and competing hate groups, which can then metastasize into hate directed at others, she said. Minadeo, the hate group’s leader, was sentenced this month to 30 days behind bars in Florida, after distributing the antisemitic fliers. Since the October 7 attack on Israel, hate groups also have attempted to latch onto the pro-Palestinian movement to push their own antisemitism-promoting agenda.

Persons: “ We’ve, ”, Ben Decker, Christopher Wray, Memetica, Decker, Karen Dunn, “, ” Dunn, ” Decker, “ It’s, I’m Jon Greenblatt, Jonathan Greenblatt, Greenblatt, ” Jon Minadeo, David Shapiro, “ Heil, Carla Hill, – Organizations: CNN, Defamation, Hamas, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, DHS, National Justice Party, 4chan, Meta, YouTube, Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon, ADL, Goyim Defense, Third, “, Extremism, CNN Center, Minadeo, Palestine Locations: Israel, stoke, United States, Charlottesville , Virginia, Charlottesville, Calabasas , California, Calabasas, council, Covid, California, Iowa , Massachusetts, Oregon, Fairfax , Virginia, Atlanta, Florida, Palm Beach, Missoula , Montana, Arizona

☆ National Climate Assessment: 5 takeaways on the US climate report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Climate change is affecting every aspect of our lives,” Hayhoe told CNN. Here are five significant takeaways from the federal government’s sweeping climate report. Climate change doesn’t cause things like hurricanes or wildfires, but it can make them more intense or more frequent. And hotter and drier conditions from climate change can help vegetation and trees become tinderboxes, turning wildfires into megafires that spin out of control. But it’s not happening nearly fast enough to stabilize the planet’s warming or meet the United States’ international climate commitments, the report explains.

Persons: Katharine Hayhoe, ” Hayhoe, we’re, Rick Curtis, Hilary Swift, Joe Biden, ”, John Podesta, Ethan Swope, Biden, West Virginia –, Scott Brauer, Dave White, White, ” White Organizations: CNN, UN, Texas Tech University, New York Times, ” White, United States, Bloomberg, Getty, Arizona State University, Rockies Locations: Barre , Vermont, Maricopa County, Vermont, Maui, Gulf, Aguanga , California, California, Florida , Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, West Virginia, rainstorms, China, India, Barnstable , Massachusetts, Southwest, California’s Sierra Nevada, West

☆ Sharing the mental load: Men are talking about how they can take part
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But slipping into habits like these can leave one partner feeling as if they are carrying the bulk of the mental load, he said. The father and content creator based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, has been sharing his experiences trying to divide the mental load — those tasks that take planning, preparation and keeping track to maintain the family — more equally with his wife. Men are starting to hold themselves accountable, and like Watson, going online to teach other men to take on more of the mental load. So many of them say, ‘This is exactly why I divorced my husband,’” referring to the inequality of the mental load one partner can experience in keeping a relationship or family going. “If mental load is universally understood, accepted and appreciated, I think we will live in a very different world,” Watson said.

Persons: CNN — Zachary Watson, ”, “, ’ ” Watson, Alyssa, Watson, ’, Eve Rodsky, Rodsky, Will, it’s, ” Rodsky, you’ve, ” Watson, Paige Bellenbaum, Bellenbaum, “ Let’s Organizations: CNN, Play Locations: Marlborough , Massachusetts, New York City, “

☆ College students plotting to get Starbucks kicked off campuses plan to join baristas as they walk off the job on Red Cup Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Starbucks workers plan to walk off the job on November 16, which is expected to be Red Cup Day. Students from campuses around the US plan to join Starbucks employees when they walk off the job later this week on what is expected to be Red Cup Day. Starbucks has not officially announced when Red Cup Day will be held this year, but last year, it was held on Thursday, November 17. College students actively campaigning to boot Starbucks from campuses plan to join workers November 16, a day the union is labeling "Red Cup Rebellion." Starbucks Workers United represents more than 300 unionized Starbucks stores and 9,000 workers.

Persons: —, Ella Clark, Caitlin Power, Alex Yeager, Yeager Organizations: Red, College, Service, Starbucks, Georgetown, Cornell University, Cornell, University of Washington , University of Minnesota, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Louisville, University of Chicago, UCLA, Stanford University, Boston University, American University, University of Arizona, Workers, Starbucks Workers United, Portland Press Herald, National Labor Relations, Starbucks Workers Locations: San Francisco, Ithaca, Baltimore, Gardner , Massachusetts

☆ Two South Koreans accused of running US ‘high-end’ brothel ring to appear in court Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

He is accused of running part of the financial side of the brothels – renting out apartments in his or fake identities and operating numerous businesses to allegedly launder money through. The website advertised “models” – pictured on the sites in underwear in provocative poses – for photographers to hire, the affidavit says. Junmyung, investigators say, was born in Korea and is in the US on a student visa, which started in 2018. The confidential source, working with investigators, contacted James to set up a brothel in Connecticut, the affidavit says. He also mentioned during the call that he worked with a “Hana in Boston,” according to the affidavit.

Persons: Han Lee, Junmyung Lee, James Lee, Zachary Mitlitsky, Han, Junmyung, James, –, James laundered, Massachusetts Joshua Levy, ” Levy Organizations: CNN, Homeland Security, TSA, Hana Locations: Boston, Washington, Worchester , Massachusetts, California, Las Vegas and Virginia, Eastern Virginia, Virginia, Cambridge , Massachusetts, Korea, Tysons , Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts

☆ 15 cities where U.S. homebuyers make the largest down payments—the top 5 are in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Homebuyers put down an average of 13.8% of the home price in 2023, according to a Realtor.com analysis of the 150 largest real estate markets for the quarter ending in September. Here's a look at the 15 most expensive real estate markets, based on the median cost for a typical down payment on a home. In Killeen, Texas, median down payment is only $2,182. This includes Fayetteville, North Carolina; Shreveport, Louisiana; and El Paso, Texas, where median down payments are $5,000 or less. U.S. Department of Agriculture loans also require no down payment, which might lead to low down payments in relatively rural areas.

Persons: Homebuyers, That's, Freddie Mac, Warren Buffett Organizations: PMI, Santa, Thousand Oaks, Seattle, Boston, Cambridge, Fort, Stamford -, U.S . Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S . Department Locations: California, U.S, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara , California, Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley , California, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara , California, Angeles, Long, Anaheim , California, Santa Rosa, Petaluma , California, Oxnard, Ventura , California, Tacoma, Bellevue , Washington, Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad , California, Newton , Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Fort Collins , Colorado, Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom , California, Naples, Marco Island, Florida, York, Newark, Jersey City , New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Portland, Vancouver, Hillsboro , Oregon, Washington, Bridgeport, Stamford, Stamford - Norwalk , Connecticut, U.S . California, Killeen , Texas, Killeen, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Shreveport , Louisiana, El Paso , Texas

☆ How to prepare for the 'survivor's penalty' before a spouse passes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nosystem Images | E+ | Getty ImagesMany older women outlive their spouses and may not expect higher future taxes after suffering from the loss. As a result, many married women eventually face a "survivor's penalty," resulting in higher future taxes, according to certified financial planner Edward Jastrem, chief planning officer at Heritage Financial Services in Westwood, Massachusetts. watch nowTypically, the surviving spouse inherits the deceased spouse's individual retirement accounts and so-called required minimum distributions are about the same. But the surviving spouse now faces higher tax brackets, Gagliardi explained. Review investment accountsIt's always important to keep account ownership and beneficiaries updated, and failing to plan could be costly for the surviving spouse, Jastrem said.

Persons: Edward Jastrem, —, Donald Trump's, George Gagliardi, Gagliardi, Roth, Jastrem Organizations: Getty, Centers for Disease Control, Heritage Financial Services, Coromandel Wealth Management, Wealth Locations: Westwood , Massachusetts, Lexington , Massachusetts

☆ Chinese fast fashion retailer Temu overtakes Shein to dominate Japan and South Korea apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Similarly, in South Korea, Temu ranked No. Among the top shopping apps in South Korea, Temu was the fastest to reach 2 million downloads at around 88 days. Shein took 382 days while AliExpress took 366 days to hit the same milestone. Shein sued Temu in December over intellectual-property infringement while Temu accused Shein in July of threatening and forcing manufacturers into exclusivity agreements. Temu made its foray into Asia through Japan and South Korea in July.

Persons: Nikos Pekiaridis, Shein, Temu, Goldman Sachs, Mercari, Alibaba, AliExpress, Bernstein Organizations: Getty, Nurphoto, PDD Holdings, CNBC, iOS, Google, Nasdaq, Holdings, Citi, U.S, Committee Locations: Japan, South Korea, China, U.S, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Boston , Massachusetts, Asia, Philippines, Malaysia

☆ Charlie Coyle (hat trick), Bruins pull away from Isles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Field Level Media | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsNovember 10 - Charlie Coyle registered his first career hat trick and added an assist as the Boston Bruins beat the visiting New York Islanders 5-2 on Thursday night. Van Riemsdyk and Coyle notched their 600th and 400th career points, respectively, during the game. Coyle's second goal of the night came at 9:26 as he strode to the net front and buried a van Riemsdyk feed. He capped the hat trick and second career four-point game on an empty-net goal with 1:21 left. After Coyle took a puck away along the right wall, a van Riemsdyk pass from behind the goal line set up Frederic for a wrist shot goal from the high slot.

Persons: Trent Frederic, Derek Forbort, Brian Fluharty, Charlie Coyle, David Pastrnak, James van Riemdsyk, Brad Marchand, Riemsdyk, Coyle, Linus Ullmark, Brock Nelson, Simon Holmstrom, Holmstrom, Ilya Sorokin, Jean, Gabriel Pageau, Pastrnak, Kevin Shattenkirk, Coyle's, strode, Frederic, Nelson, Noah Dobson's, Pavel Zacha's, Adam Pelech Organizations: Boston Bruins, Trent, New York Islanders, Boston, Islanders, Bruins, Holmstrom, Thomson Locations: Boston , Massachusetts, USA, Boston, New York

☆ An East Coast restaurant chain has been ordered to pay $11.4 million back to more than 1,300 employees over claims it paid staff below minimum wage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An East Coast restaurant chain failed to pay minimum wages and overtime rates to some workers, the Labor Department says. The DOL said some restaurants paid set wages regardless of hours worked, which could reach 65 a week. Plaza Azteca has been ordered to pay $11.4 million back to more than 1,300 affected employees. AdvertisementAdvertisementA restaurant chain with dozens of locations on the East Coast has been ordered to pay $11.4 million back to more than 1,300 employees after a federal agency uncovered a series of apparent labor-law violations. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe consent judgment also included $625,000 in civil money penalties, which the DOL said was due to the "repeat and wilful nature of the violations."

Persons: DOL, — Organizations: Labor Department, Plaza Azteca, Service, Department of Labor, Fair Labor Locations: East Coast, Mexican, Connecticut , Maryland , Massachusetts , New Jersey, North Carolina , Pennsylvania, Virginia

☆ Republicans demand Biden challenge China's Xi on fentanyl, prisoners
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The flags of the United States and China fly from a lamppost in the Chinatown neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 1, 2021. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have offered sometimes different approaches for countering China's growing economic and military might despite bipartisan consensus on the need to do so. But they asked Biden to present Xi with a list of 10 demands to improve relations, much like Beijing did to U.S. officials in 2021. "It is clear that competitive actions have been sacrificed to advance aimless, zombie-like engagement," they said. Reporting by Michael Martina and Patricia Zengerle; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Mike Gallagher, Biden, Mark Swidan, American Kai Li, David Lin, Michael Martina, Patricia Zengerle, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Beijing, Biden, Economic Cooperation, Republicans, Democrats, Treasury, Industrial, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Chinatown, Boston , Massachusetts, U.S, San Francisco, Asia, Beijing, Philippines, South China, South, Taiwan, China's Xinjiang, Texas, American

☆ New US jobless claims edge down; continued claims on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Dan Burns | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Some economists contend the rise in continuing claims reflects difficulties adjusting the data for seasonal fluctuations. That would be consistent with the latest hiring data showing the job market is cooling. A separate report showed that there were 1.5 job openings for every unemployed person in September, down from around 2-to-1 when the job market was the most tight last year. The claims data adds to the case for the U.S. Federal Reserve to keep interest rates on hold for now, economists said. Vanden Houten, however, said she expects job market conditions to soften slowly, and now expects the first Fed rate cut to happen in September rather than May as she had previously forecast.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Nancy Vanden Houten, Dan Burns, Paul Simao, Franklin Paul Organizations: Taylor Party, Equipment Rentals, REUTERS, Labor Department, Reuters, U.S . Federal Reserve, Oxford Economics, Fed, CME Group's, Franklin Paul Our, Thomson Locations: Somerville , Massachusetts, U.S, Vanden Houten

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts shelters are being pushed past their capacity, running out of beds for families, including migrants arriving from other states and residents weathering a housing crunch right before winter, said Democratic Gov. “We were informed we hit the cap and due to the cap, families are being put on a waitlist,” said Cherlin Dubon, triage case specialist for the group. Healey has said she doesn’t want to see families out on the street but that the state has essentially reached its shelter capacity. Some states led by Republicans — including Texas and Florida — have bused or flown immigrants to states and cities led by Democrats, including California, Massachusetts, New York and Chicago. Critics argue Healey’s decision to cap shelter placements violates the state’s “right-to-shelter” law.

Persons: Maura Healey, Healey, —, Chelsea , Massachusetts —, ”, Cherlin, Republicans —, Eric Adams, Ronald Mariano, Mariano, Kelly Turley, We’re, ” Turley, Geralde Gabeau, “ Organizations: BOSTON, Democratic Gov, Republicans, Democrats, York City, Democratic, Hynes Convention Center, Massachusetts Coalition, Homeless, Family Services, Housing Locations: Massachusetts, Colaborativa, Chelsea , Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, California , Massachusetts, New York, Chicago, York, Hynes, Boston

☆ Three tips to maximize benefits during open enrollment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

More than two out of three employees (67%) spend less than 30 minutes reviewing benefits options during open enrollment season, while almost half spend less than 20 minutes, a new Voya Financial survey shows. To get enrollment over with quickly, more than 90% of employees click the same options as last year, a new report by insurer Aflac shows. Compound that figure from enrollment every November, and you can see how your options can create a solid financial future or a shaky one. "Open enrollment isn't just a formality. After all, things might have changed since the previous open enrollment.

Persons: Eric Thayer, Sean Lovison, Jack Heintzelman, Spenser Liszt, Liszt, Nate Black, Black, it's, Chris Taylor, Lauren Young, Richard Chang Organizations: Macy's, of Labor Statistics, Employers, Employees, Thomson Locations: New York, Moorestown , New Jersey, Needham Heights , Massachusetts, Dallas

☆ A real-estate investor who owns over 700 rental units shares the secret to getting a 5% interest rate, and says most people don't realize this option exists
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Luckily, there are ways around the bank, one of which is seller financing, a process that makes the seller also the lender. But if he had to turn to the bank, it would have decreased the property's net profit because of high interest rates. Seller financing isn't common, though it is a more alluring choice when interest rates rise. "People don't think of the strategy because so many people have been used to the low interest rates. When offering an interest rate, start low because it's likely the seller will counter but not low enough that it insults them.

Persons: Matthew Tortoriello, Tortoriello, They've, Chris Gerbig, who's, they'll, Shmuel Shayowitz, Shayowitz Organizations: Public Locations: Holyoke , Massachusetts, Chicopee , Massachusetts

☆ Founder Collective has quietly built a seed-investing powerhouse that just raised a $95 million new fund. Its secret sauce: staying small.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The firm has raised $95 million for its fifth and largest fund, Founder Collective tells Insider exclusively. While it's not the splashiest shop, those in the know know Founder Collective has quietly built one of the most successful venture-capital franchises on the East Coast. Founder CollectiveFounded in 2009, Founder Collective started as a bloc of founders and investors pooling their money to invest in startups. Founder Collective has always been ruthlessly focused on the seed stage, where investors take the biggest risk in pursuit of the highest returns. "We have been fastidious and we've screamed it to anyone who will listen: capital efficiency, capital efficiency, capital efficiency," Frankel said.

Persons: Eric Paley, Collective's, it's, Beezer Clarkson, Sapphire, Clarkson, Paley, David Frankel, Frankel, Amanda Herson, Herson, we've Organizations: Sapphire Partners, Cendana, Foundry Group, Forbes, Felicis Ventures Locations: Cambridge , Massachusetts, East, Coupang, Susa

☆ High-end brothels serviced elected officials, tech and pharma execs, military brass: Feds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A network of "sophisticated" high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia provided sex for pay to "elected officials, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors," and others, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Three people were arrested in connection with operating the pricey sex shops, which required "interested sex buyers" to provide employer information and references before booking sessions with prostitutes, authorities said. "The investigation into the involvement of sex buyers is active and ongoing," the office said. In addition to politicians and military brass, business executives and government contractors, customers included "lawyers, scientists and accountants." About 20 "sex buyers" were interviewed by the investigators as part of a multi-year probe of the network, according to a criminal complaint.

Organizations: Attorney's, Massachusetts, Washington , D.C, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Boston, Virginia, Cambridge, Watertown , Massachusetts, Fairfax, Tysons , Virginia, The Virginia, Washington ,, U.S

Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 28, 2018. The U.S. government meanwhile seized the domains for two websites tied to the prostitution ring, authorities said. Defense lawyers for the trio either did not respond to requests for comment or could not be immediately identified. Customers were charged $350 to $600, depending on the services and included politicians, pharmaceutical and technology executives, doctors, military officers, professors, lawyers, business executives, scientists and accountants, prosecutors said. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: John Jospeh Moakley, Katherine Taylor, Josh Levy, Han Lee, Junmyung Lee, James Lee, Levy, We're, Nate Raymond, Alexia Garamfalvi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Courthouse, REUTERS, Rights BOSTON, U.S, Thomson Locations: John Jospeh Moakley U.S, Boston , Massachusetts, U.S, Boston, Virginia, Massachusetts, California, Massachusetts , Virginia, Cambridge, Watertown , Massachusetts, Fairfax, Tysons , Virginia

☆ DOJ announces arrests in ‘high-end brothel network’ used by elected officials, military officers and others
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Three individuals have been arrested on charges of operating a “high-end brothel network” in Massachusetts and Virginia with a clientele that included elected officials, military officers and government contractors with security clearances, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. “Pick a profession,” Joshua Levy, acting US attorney for Massachusetts, said of the sprawling client list during a press conference in Boston. The three individuals, Levy said, transported women and advertised them online for pre-approved clients to choose from through several websites and ran the brothels out of apartments they rented. The agent said about 20 sex buyers were interviewed in connection with the multiyear investigation. One customer described getting a text of available options at a brothel, including the women available, the sexual services and the hourly rate.

Persons: “, ” Joshua Levy, “ They’re, ” Levy, Han Lee, James Lee, Junmyung Lee, Levy Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Homeland Security Investigations Locations: Massachusetts, Virginia, Boston, Massachusetts , California, Cambridge , Massachusetts, Torrance , California, Dedham , Massachusetts

☆ US presidential race: What are the key dates?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

- Nov. 30: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is seen as a future presidential candidate, will debate each other on Fox News. - Jan. 23: Tentative date of the first Republican presidential primary election, to be held in New Hampshire. - Feb. 3: First Democratic presidential primary, to be held in South Carolina. Democrats in Utah will also vote in their primary while Republicans hold their caucuses in the state. - June 4: The final states to hold their presidential primaries are scheduled to do so on this date.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Biden's, whittle, Costas Pitas, Jonathan Oatis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Republican, Democratic Party, NBC News, Democrat, Fox News, Democratic, Democratic National Committee, , New, , New Hampshire Democrats, Republicans, South Carolina Republican, Republican National Convention, Democratic National Convention, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn , New York, U.S, Miami, Florida, California, Alabama, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, ,, , New Hampshire, Michigan, Alabama , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee , Texas , Vermont, Virginia, Utah, Alaska, Georgia , Mississippi, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona , Florida , Illinois , Kansas, Ohio, Milwaukee, Chicago

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