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☆ New Zealand’s new government scraps world-leading smoking ban to fund tax cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A year after passing a world-leading smoking ban designed to save thousands of lives and prevent new generations of young adults from smoking, New Zealand has announced a u-turn to help pay for tax cuts, infuriating public health officials and anti-tobacco groups. Marty Melville/AFP/Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s initial smoking ban was hailed by public health officials around the world. Months after New Zealand’s announcement, Britain also unveiled plans to phase out smoking for new generations. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the British government remained committed to phasing out smoking, even after New Zealand’s reversal. The anti-smoking group Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) expressed disappointment at the new coalition’s plans to repeal the smoking ban.

Persons: Chris Luxon, Luxon, Christopher Luxon, Marty Melville, Rishi Sunak, ”, Nicola Willis, Saturday, Mario Tama, Ayeshea Verrall, “ What’s, ” Verrall Organizations: CNN, National Party, New Zealand First, ACT New, Radio New Zealand, Government House, Getty, British, World Health, Radio New, Health Coalition Aotearoa, New Zealanders Locations: New Zealand, ACT New Zealand, Wellington, AFP, Britain, Los Angeles , California, Radio New Zealand, New

☆ How the $1.8 Billion Real-Estate Commissions Lawsuit Came to Be
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Laura Kusisto | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Many home buyers do more of the work today finding a property rather than leaving it to their real-estate agents. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesThe litigation that could end up changing how millions of Americans buy and sell homes was hiding in plain sight for three decades. The current set of rules governing how agents are paid, which effectively mean sellers are the ones who set compensation for buyer agents, date to the 1990s. Those rules have come under significant scrutiny, particularly as commissions have remained around 5% to 6% of the sale price even as home values have skyrocketed and many buyers do more of the work finding a home themselves online.

Persons: Mario Tama

☆ Airlines Brace for Busy Airports as Thanksgiving Holiday Ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Los Angeles International Airport expects roughly 2.5 million passengers between Nov. 16 and Nov. 27. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesThe nation’s largest airports are hoping to cap off the Thanksgiving weekend without any major disruptions after several days of heavy but largely hassle-free holiday travel. Nearly 3 million people are expected to be on the move Sunday as the country returns to work and regular home routines, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Persons: Mario Tama Organizations: Los Angeles International Airport, Transportation Security Administration

☆ Why doesn’t the US have more passenger trains?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Today, the United States’ passenger rail system is an echo of its former self, with swathes of the network unused or surrendered to freight. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Rail Passenger Service Act, which removed the requirement that private rail companies provide passenger service. Mike Segar/ReutersBut many American towns and cities have lost access to passenger trains. Can passenger trains make a comeback? A passenger rides an Amtrak train passing near the Pacific Ocean on November 9, 2021 near Oceanside, California.

Persons: you’ll, Biden, ”, Miguel Medina, JP Morgan, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Christian Wolmar, “, Yonah Freemark, Bing Guan, Freemark, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Harvey Weber, Paul Hammond, Hammond, Richard Nixon, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Mike Segar, Ulysses S, Grant, Al Drago, Joe Biden, ” Freemark, Robert Puentes, It’s, ” Puentes, Mario Tama, Brightline, Carline Jean, Tony Coscia Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Washington , D.C, Brightline, Miami, US Department of Transportation, du, Getty, Amtrak, US, Transcontinental Railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Railroad, CNN, Bloomberg, United States Senate, Newsday, Colorado Railroad Museum, Rail, Service, Hall, Pennsylvania, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Washington DC, Eno Center for Transportation, Private, Las, Passengers, West Palm Beach, Fort, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tribune Locations: Europe, Asia, America, United States, Boston, Washington ,, Orlando, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Swedish, Paris, AFP, France, Japan, China, Promontory Point , Utah, Compton , California, American, Levittown , New York, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Indiana, Ohio, Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Potomac, Delaware, Oceanside , California, South Florida, Las Vegas, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, South

☆ With Black Friday deals and flashy displays, retailers try to convince reluctant shoppers to spend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And a steady drip of Black Friday deals, started early in November at many retailers, has also delayed the rush, as some shoppers bet that the best deals are still coming. Holiday shoppers spent 7% less in dollars and 6% less in units from mid-October to mid-November compared with the year-ago period, Circana found. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesBlack Friday state of mindAmong the biggest themes this holiday season: shoppers are hungry for deals and willing to wait for them. "We're going to have a sustained drumbeat of great offers for the entire holiday season, starting this week," he said on a call with CNBC. Some retailers, such as Best Buy, are trying to rush shoppers to hit the "buy" button by dangling short-term sales.

Persons: Melissa Repko, Mario, Luigi, Nintendo's, Lowe's, Marshal Cohen, Circana, " Cohen, You've, you've, Barbie, Mario Tama, John David Rainey, Rainey, Steve Madden, Edward Rosenfeld, Marvin Ellison, Ellison, Corie Barry, Macy's Organizations: CNBC, National Retail Federation, Walmart, Nordstrom, Target, Dick's Sporting, Amazon's, NPD, Consumers, Getty, nab, Footwear, Shoppers, Disney Locations: New York City, Manhattan, Dallas, Los Angeles, Burbank , California

☆ Walmart Black Friday crowds and chaos are a thing of the past — but the deals could be better than ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sales are spread over multiple weeks, and shoppers are going online to snag deals instead of lining up outside a store. Former Walmart employee Karen Baker told Business Insider she worked each Black Friday in her decade with the company and described it as a "free for all." One current and two former Walmart employees told Business Insider that stores in recent years aren't bracing for chaos on the day after Thanksgiving. "It's made just for Black Friday," Baker said of on-sale products that might otherwise appear similar to regularly available merchandise. "Because of my time at Walmart, because me and my husband both have done it, we just don't do Black Fridays," she said.

Persons: —, Karen Baker, Baker, Athenia Camacho, Brittany Chang, hasn't, Camacho, It's, " Baker, it's, Mario Tama, abitter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Walmart, Service, Business, Southwest . Business, Black, Southwest, Adobe Analytics Locations: California, Southwest

☆ Walmart Black Friday crowds and chaos are a thing of the past
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

One current and two former Walmart employees told Business Insider that stores in recent years aren't bracing for chaos on the day after Thanksgiving. AdvertisementInstead of one day of sales, Walmart now offers a series of items on mark-down, from pajamas to electronics. "It's made just for Black Friday," Baker said of on-sale products that might otherwise appear similar to regularly available merchandise. AdvertisementA Black Friday sales event at a Walmart Supercenter on November 14, 2023. Advertisement"Because of my time at Walmart, because me and my husband both have done it, we just don't do Black Fridays," she said.

☆ 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck heading into the holidays, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This year, holiday spending during the Thanksgiving week may hit a record as consumers try to maximize the weekend's deals, according to a 2023 Deloitte Black Friday-Cyber Monday survey. Spending over the week is expected to jump 13% from last year, with shoppers shelling out $567 on average, Deloitte found. Half of consumers plan to take on more debt to pay for holiday expenses, another report by Ally Bank found. That CNBC survey found that 61% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, up from 58% in March. More than one-third of consumers plan to dip into their savings even more to cover holiday spending, LendingClub also found.

Persons: Barbie, Mario Tama, LendingClub, Alia Dudum Organizations: Deloitte, Walmart, Getty, Bank, Ally Bank, CNBC Locations: Burbank , California

☆ Some Uber and Lyft drivers have learned they can make more money if they're pickier about who they serve
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some Uber and Lyft drivers say being picky about the rides they accept can help their bottom lines. Business Insider asked drivers whether declining certain rides is a good strategy for increasing pay. AdvertisementThere's no cheat code for making money as an Uber or Lyft driver — but some have found strategies that work for them. "I have seen a 50-mile trip that only $20 was offered," Ken previously told Business Insider . Last year, the 70-year-old earned over $28,000 across roughly 1,500 Uber trips.

Persons: —, Lyft, Ken, Nathan Stirk, Uber, hasn't, Bill, Mario Tama, he's, they're, New York Jefferson Siegel, Reuters Fred, Fred Organizations: Business, Service, Reuters Locations: Houston, North Carolina, New York, Virginia

☆ For Some Maui Fire Victims, $1 Million Payments Are Too Little, Too Soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Dan Frosch | Christine Mai-Duc | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A public memorial honors the people who died in the Lahaina, Hawaii, wildfire this summer. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesAfter Kimberly Buen learned her elderly father was killed in the August fire that burned the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina to the ground, she needed to know who was ultimately responsible. Buen diligently listened to news conferences about how the deadly fire sparked. She read about the highly flammable grasses that blanketed nearby property. Buen, who lives in Palmdale, Calif., also retained an attorney to prepare a wrongful-death lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, Maui County, the state of Hawaii and Kamehameha Schools, a local landowner, who she said needed to be held accountable for their roles in the fire.

Persons: Mario Tama, Kimberly Buen, Buen Organizations: Hawaiian, Kamehameha Schools Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, Palmdale, Calif, Maui County

☆ Some See Maui Fire Victim Fund as Too Little, Too Soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Dan Frosch | Christine Mai-Duc | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Mario Tama, Kimberly Buen, Buen Organizations: Hawaiian, Kamehameha Schools Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, Palmdale, Calif, Maui County

☆ Flying for Thanksgiving? Here’s What to Know
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alison Sider | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

If the rest of the year is an indicator, fliers taking to the air at Thanksgiving time can expect crowding. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesThis isn’t the Thanksgiving to cut it close at the airport. In a year that has already seen some of the busiest days on record at U.S. airports, Thanksgiving is expected to be a standout. Airlines and the Transportation SecurityAdministration are anticipating record numbers of passengers.

Persons: Mario Tama Organizations: Airlines, Transportation Security Administration

☆ Jelly Roll’s career is a life lesson for us all
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Lisa France | Analysis Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesCountry music artist Jelly Roll is having a hell of a year. That felt somewhat apropos given that Jelly Roll got his start in the rap game before becoming a country rocker (watch his doc “Jelly Roll: Save Me” on Hulu if you want to learn more). His later in life success and genre jump are proof positive that everyone’s road to success looks different. Even his accidently dropping and shattering his CMA Award offers a life lesson. Here’s to Jelly Roll smashing records in the future – and not awards.

Persons: Let’s, Roll, Kevin Winter, Jelly Roll, He’s, “, ”, I’d, “ I’ve, Jelly, Mario Tama, Duncan Crabtree, It’s, Dolly Parton, Mario Anzuoni, Sting, Miley Cyrus, Steve Perry, Lizzo, Prince, Rockstar ”, Can’t, Al Capone, Peter Dinklage, –, Pablo Escobar – Organizations: CNN, Bridgestone Arena, CMA, “ Entertainment, SAG, The Guardian, Reuters, Rockstar, Netflix Locations: Nashville, Hulu, Ireland, Hollywood, Rhinestones

☆ Maui fires: 100 days later, 4 names remain on the Lahaina missing list. These are the people trying to find them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Alyssa Kraus | Mike Valerio | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Maui Police removed a fifth individual from the Lahaina fire missing list as recently as October. Officers tasked with finding missing persons from the inferno, or, the remains of Lahaina’s missing, are still searching the burn zone. Details concerning the three remaining people on the Lahaina fire credible missing list have not been previously reported. “Robert Owens, he was known to frequent Lahaina,” Landsiedel said. The officers within MINT carry a triple burden: coordinating Lahaina missing persons investigations, tracking identification efforts, and, ultimately, notifying family members of the dead.

Persons: Mario Tama, Lahaina’s, “, ”, Brad Taylor, Steven Landsiedel, ” Landsiedel, Lydia Coloma, Paul Kasprzycki, Robert Owens, Elmer Lee Stevens, “ Robert Owens, Landsiedel, ” Elmer Lee Stevens, Kasprzycki, Artur Babkov, CNN Babkov, Taylor, ” Taylor, I’m, Billy Graham, Steve, Tony Earles, it’s, ” Earles Organizations: CNN, NASA, Maui Police Department, Authorities, Maui Police, Maui –, Maui, Honolulu Civil, MINT, Honolulu Police Department, Billy, Billy Graham Rapid Locations: West Maui, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, Honolulu, Lahaina . Stevens, California, “, Paradise , California, Northern California, Paradise, West

☆ Black Friday came early this year, signaling worries about holiday demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesEarly Black Friday discounts were far higher this October compared to prior years, signaling retailers are concerned that demand could be tepid during the crucial holiday shopping season. Last year, about 30% of overall holiday sales happened online and other non-stores versus physical retail locations, according to the NRF. On average, 7.8% of all items were on sale at some point during the month compared to just 4.9% in 2019 and 3.3% in 2021. In Oct. 2022, prices were down just .7% compared to the prior year and in Oct. 2021, prices were up 1.9% compared to the prior year. The following year, when both inventories and inflation had grown and consumers were starting to feel the burn of high prices, promotions rose.

Persons: Barbie, Mario Tama, GlobalData, They're, it's, Daniel Rubin, John's University's Peter J, Brett House, we've Organizations: Walmart, Getty, Adobe Analytics, Adobe, CNBC, National Retail Federation Retail Monitor, ., Tobin College of Business, Columbia Business School Locations: Burbank , California, GlobalData

☆ Los Angeles I-10 Freeway to Reopen Within Five Weeks of Fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Los Angeles I-10 Freeway to Reopen Within Five Weeks of FireInterstate 10 in Los Angeles is set to reopen within five weeks, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. The freeway was damaged after a massive fire erupted over the weekend. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Mario Tama Locations: Angeles, Los Angeles, California

☆ Arson Likely Responsible for I-10 Freeway Fire, Gov. Newsom Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Arson Likely Responsible for I-10 Freeway Fire, Gov. Newsom SaysCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that arson was likely the cause of the fire that damaged and shut down a portion of Interstate 10, a major artery in the Los Angeles freeway system. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Persons: Newsom, Gavin Newsom, Mario Tama Organizations: Gov, Newsom Says Locations: Newsom Says California, Los Angeles

☆ Fire-Damaged Freeway in Los Angeles Set to Reopen Within Five Weeks, Governor Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Interstate 10 in Los Angeles is set to reopen within five weeks, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesThe section of Interstate 10 in Los Angeles that was damaged by a fire this weekend is expected to reopen in three to five weeks, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Newsom said initial testing showed the I-10 needed repairs but didn’t have to be demolished and rebuilt, which could have taken six months.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Mario Tama, Newsom Locations: Los Angeles, California

☆ Fire That Shut Part of I-10 Freeway in Los Angeles Was Likely Arson, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Jennifer Calfas | Suryatapa Bhattacharya | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that arson was likely the cause of the fire that damaged and shut down a portion of Interstate 10, a major artery in the Los Angeles freeway system. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesThe fire that shut down part of Interstate 10, a major artery in the Los Angeles freeway system, was likely arson, officials said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a press conference Monday night that it wasn’t yet clear who was responsible for the fire.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Mario Tama Organizations: California Gov Locations: California, Los Angeles

☆ Bud Light Gets a Win, Reclaiming UFC From Modelo
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Modelo Especial is now America’s top-selling beer, dethroning the longstanding king, Bud Light, which recently has been subject to a culture-war storm. Here’s how an antitrust lawsuit and savvy marketing helped the Mexican brand grow in the U.S. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesNot everyone is switching from Bud Light to Modelo. UFC is doing just the opposite. The mixed martial arts league on Tuesday named Anheuser-Busch’s Bud Light as its official beer in the U.S., parting ways with Modelo in a deal contrary to recent American drinking trends.

Persons: Bud Light, Mario Tama, Bud Organizations: Modelo Especial, Modelo, UFC, Tuesday, Anheuser Locations: Mexican, U.S

☆ Bud Light Replaces Rival Modelo in UFC Sponsorship Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Bud Light, Mario Tama, Bud Organizations: Modelo Especial, Modelo, UFC, Tuesday, Anheuser Locations: Mexican, U.S

☆ Death Valley is an oasis of lakes and wildflowers after Hurricane Hilary
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —California’s Death Valley is the hottest place in the world and the driest place in North America. But two months after Hurricane Hilary’s epic rainfall, parts of the national park look more oasis than desert. “It is definitely a rare and special event,” Death Valley park spokesperson Abby Wines told CNN, only happening roughly once a decade. Road crews traverse along hwy 190 in Death Valley, California, on August 31, 2023, where most of the road was washed out. But average high temperatures in Death Valley drop quickly during the fall and get nowhere near the record-shattering heat of summer.

Persons: Abby Wines, Hilary, Robert Gauthier, Wines, “, Death, Mike Reynolds, Mario Tama, Badwater, ” Wines, ” Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Times, Wines, National Park Service, NPS Locations: North America, Death, Death Valley , California, Badwater

Following Wedneday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 350 shares of STZ, increasing its weighting in the portfolio to 3% from 2.83%. The market has officially entered oversold territory, according to the S & P 500 Short Range Oscillator . While the market can feel treacherous at times, we've already seen a decent bounce off of session lows, a move we owe to the fact that the market is oversold. The potential for these positive intraday swings is why we generally approach oversold markets with an opportunistic lens, looking for stocks to buy small, instead of running away from the market. HON YTD mountain Honeywell YTD Along the same lines, when Honeywell announced its business segment realignment two weeks ago, the company said it anticipates strong third-quarter results with upside to earnings per share.

Persons: Jim Cramer's, we've, hasn't, Jim Cramer, Jim, Mario Tama Organizations: Constellation Brands, STZ, Constellation, Modelo Especial, Honeywell, Electric, GE, CNBC, Getty Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Why You Might Be Drinking Too Much Without Knowing It
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Josh Zumbrun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Modelo Especial is now America’s top-selling beer, dethroning the longstanding king, Bud Light, which recently has been subject to a culture-war storm. Here’s how an antitrust lawsuit and savvy marketing helped the Mexican brand grow in the U.S. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesA number of readers were surprised by my recent column that mentioned “regular drinkers” might have a lifespan as much as seven years shorter than nondrinkers. Haven’t many studies over the years suggested some benefit from an occasional drink, especially against cardiovascular diseases? There are a number of reasons why drinking shortens lifespans, and one is that we have lost track of what a “drink” actually is.

Persons: Bud Light, Mario Tama Organizations: Modelo Especial Locations: Mexican, U.S

☆ Kari Lake, previously a fire-breathing, hard-charging, far-right candidate for Arizona governor, may attempt to pivot to normie for her Senate bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Kari Lake on Tuesday launched her bid for the Republican Senate nomination in Arizona. But during her kickoff, Lake didn't focus on grievances and instead framed election integrity as a bipartisan issue. (The move likely dooms the prospects of Blake Masters, the unsuccessful 2022 Senate nominee who The Wall Street Journal previously reported had been set to jump into the 2024 Senate race.) AdvertisementAdvertisementLake defeated Karrin Taylor Robson in last year's Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary. In last year's gubernatorial election, Lake earned 49.6% of the vote, losing by about 17,000 votes out of nearly 2.6 million ballots cast.

Persons: Kari Lake, Trump's, —, Donald Trump, Katie Hobbs, Lake, Trump, Blake Masters, Mario Tama, It's, Doug Ducey, Sen, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Karrin Taylor Robson, Justin Sullivan, John Barrasso of, John Cornyn of, Steve Daines, Mitch McConnell, Kyrsten Sinema —, Ruben Gallego, Gallego, Sinema, she'll, Kyrsten Sinema, Chip Somodevilla, Republican Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who's Organizations: Republican, Service, Democratic, Lake, Trump, Street, Democrat, GOP, Arizona, Regents, Arizona Republican, Washington Republicans, Politico, Capitol, Senate Republican Conference, National Republican Senatorial, Democratic Party, Democratic Rep, Emerson College, Republican Pinal County Sheriff, Republicans, Democrats Locations: Arizona, Mexico, Washington, John Barrasso of Wyoming, John Cornyn of Texas, Montana, Kentucky, Republican Pinal County

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