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☆ What’s at stake in the union election at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New York CNN —A high-stakes union election is underway at a Mercedes-Benz plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the only plant for the luxury automaker in North America. The fallout will be significant whether the workers at Mercedes-Benz vote to join the United Auto Workers union or not. And last month, it won a union election at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, its first victory in three attempts to organize the factory. Though a union win could generate momentum, it doesn’t mean a victory will mean other plants can overcome management opposition at other foreign-owned plants. Non-union automakers have already begun their response to the big union victories thus far.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, ”, —, Tesla, Mercedes, Mercedes ’, “, MBUSI, Wheaton, Mercedes plant’s, It’s, Mercedes Benz, ” Wheaton, “ It’s, Harry Katz, ” Katz, Katz, ’ ” Katz, they’ve, CNN’s Chris Isidore, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Benz, Mercedes, United Auto Workers, UAW, Big Three, Volkswagen, Kia, Toyota, US, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Volvo, Team, The National Labor Relations Board, Benz US International, Member, Volkswagen didn’t, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations ’, CNN, “ Labor, Big, – GM, Ford, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, P Global Market Intelligence, General Motors Locations: New York, Tuscaloosa , Alabama, North America, Chattanooga , Tennessee, United States, Vance , Alabama, Tuscaloosa, ”, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations ’ Buffalo, Alabama, Alabama , Georgia , Mississippi, South Carolina , Tennessee, Texas

☆ Red Lobster is abruptly closing dozens of restaurants
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Struggling Red Lobster is abruptly closing at least 48 of its restaurants around the country, according to a leading restaurant liquidator. TAGeX Brands is conducting an online auction of Red Lobster kitchen equipment, furniture and other contents at restaurants closing. Red Lobster locations in Buffalo, Orlando, Jacksonville and other cities were listed as “temporarily closed” on Red Lobster’s website, according to local news reports. In 2020, Thai Union, a longtime supplier to Red Lobster, took an undisclosed financial stake in the chain, becoming a key shareholder. Thai Union said earlier this year it would divest from Red Lobster and take a $530 million loss on its investment.

Persons: Neal Sherman, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN —, TAGeX Brands, Thai Union Locations: New York, Buffalo, Orlando, Jacksonville, Thai Union

☆ Whatever happened to airline food? /// Why the golden age of airplane food disappeared /// Why you don’t get served full meals on flights anymore
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —If you took an American Airlines flight in the 1960s, you’d be wined and dined from the Coach-class “Royal Coachman” menu. “Meal service was once a point of pride,” said Henry Harteveldt, who covers the travel industry for Atmosphere Research Group. Meal service was a big focus of [competition] because entertainment options were more limited,” Harteveldt said. The September 11 attacks accelerated the decline of free airline meals. Airline meals had been the brunt of jokes and criticism for decades, but now people miss them.

Persons: you’d, ”, Henry Harteveldt, Peter Stackpole, Robert Crandall, Blaise Waguespack, It’s, Beef, ” Harteveldt, Rob Welham, Molly Brandt Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Airlines, Atmosphere Research, Pan American Airline, Shutterstock Airlines, Carriers, Singapore Airlines, Michelin, Embry, Riddle Aeronautical University, ”, Smithsonian, ” Airlines, “ Airlines, British Airways, Camera, Airlines, Continental Airlines, North America, mojo Locations: New York, Daytona Beach , Florida, Delta, North

☆ Target is dialing back on Pride merchandise after right-wing backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Target is limiting the number of stores that will sell LGBTQ-themed merchandise for Pride Month in June following a boycott from right-wing activists last year that took a toll on the brand’s bottom line. About half of its 2,000 stores will sell the Pride collection, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news. The changes are a “sensible approach,” Neil Saunders, managing director of retail for GlobalData, told CNN. Pride problemsLast year, Target pulled Pride merchandise from some stores after the company and its employees became the focus of a “volatile” anti-LGBTQ campaign, which included threats against its store workers. A Target executive said on the earnings call that there was a “strong reaction” to Pride merchandise and the reaction was a “signal for us to pause, adapt and learn.”–CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn contributed to this report.

Persons: Target, it’s “, ” Neil Saunders, “, ”, ” –, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Pride Month, Bloomberg, CNN, Pride, Target, GlobalData, Wall Street Journal, Republican Locations: New York, Minneapolis

☆ Planet Fitness will raise its $10 membership plan for the first time in 26 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The Planet Fitness $10-a-month membership plan is a powerful marketing tool and a central part of its strategy. Planet Fitness will raise the price of its “classic” membership from $10 a month to $15 for new members beginning in the summer. “It’s a ‘get you off the couch’ price,” Planet Fitness’ former CEO told CNN in 2022. Planet Fitness blared out the $10 gym plan, which includes annual fees and free training, in commercials. “We’ve seen in every industry people move in price,” Planet Fitness interim CEO Craig Benson said.

Persons: Sharon Zackfia, William Blair, “ We’ve, Craig Benson, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Fitness, Black Card Locations: New York, United States, Square

☆ Red Lobster brought seafood to the masses. Now it’s on the verge of bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

While it was a delicious deal for customers, it was terrible for the company: Red Lobster lost $3.3 million in seven weeks. The deal was once again too popular, and Red Lobster was unprepared for its customers’ insatiable lust for discounted shellfish. Red Lobster is now reportedly considering filing for bankruptcy protection to restructure its debt and shed some of its 650 US locations. Red Lobster stallsBut Red Lobster fell behind its sister brand Olive Garden under Darden. In 2021 and 2022, Red Lobster brought on a new CEO, chief marketing officer, chief financial officer and chief information officer.

Persons: Lobster, “, ”, John Gordon, Michael Nagle, Alex Susskind, General Mills, Bill Darden, Charley Woodsby, Darden, ” Woodsby, Jonathan Maze, Betty Crocker, Red, Glen Martin, Mills, ” Joe Lee, Olive, Red Lobster’s, “ Darden, ” Les Foreman, Justin Sullivan, they’ve, Les Foreman, Thiraphong Chansiri, ” “, ” Chansiri Organizations: New, New York CNN, Lobster, Thai Union, Bloomberg, Getty, Red Lobster, CNN, Cornell University, Baby Boomers, General, Howard, Restaurant Business, Darden, Denver Post, Harvard Business School, Longhorn, Darden Restaurants, Gate, ‘, Thai, “, ” Thai Locations: New York, United States, Bangkok, Thai, underinvestment, Lakeland , Florida, Orlando, America, Olive, Sale, Thai Union, Thailand

☆ Domino’s know its customers are tired of tipping. So it’s trying to encourage more tipping
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Domino’s launched a promotion that rewards customers with $3 off a future online delivery order for every $3 or more they tip a Domino’s delivery driver. Domino’s “You Tip, We Tip” deal runs through mid-September. “Domino’s wants to say ‘thanks for the tip’ by tipping you back.”The promotional strategy serves several purposes for Domino’s. Tip fatigue is a problem for both Domino’s delivery drivers, who make a meaningful portion of their income from tips, and Domino’s business model. Domino’s delivery drivers’ pay is linked to tips.

Persons: Domino’s, Tip, “, ”, “ Domino’s, Kimberly Whitler, RJ Hottovy, “ It’s, ” Domino’s, Jayaraman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Domino’s, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Locations: New York, Florida

☆ Walmart will close all of its health care clinics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, will close all 51 of its health care clinics in six states and end virtual health care services, the company said Tuesday. Walmart had made a big push into health care in recent years, opening clinics next to its superstores that offered primary and urgent care, labs, X-rays, behavioral health and dental work in six states — Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri and Texas. Walmart had targeted rural and underserved areas that have a shortage of primary care facilities. The announcement is an abrupt reversal in Walmart’s strategy and may leave a gap in health care access, particularly for lower-income patients without insurance who relied on the clinics. Walmart also said it will end virtual health care services.

Persons: “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart Locations: New York, United States, — Arkansas, Florida, Georgia , Illinois , Missouri, Texas

☆ Inside the investing strategy of Hunterbrook Capital, the news-driven hedge fund. Can it succeed in a ruthless industry?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Bradley Saacks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Small team, limited scopeThe hedge fund makes trades based solely on news from Hunterbrook Media, its media sister company, sometimes getting advanced copies of the articles and placing trades before publication. AdvertisementThe hedge fund, however, has just one sole full-time employee. Before a story is published on Hunterbrook Media, the firm's general counsel reviews it to make sure there's not any insider information — such as leaked earning figures — in it. AdvertisementIf the general counsel and the executives green light the story to be shared, then it goes to the hedge fund — in other words, Dunlevie and Horwitz — prepublication. Opportunities few and far between so farInvestigations from Hunterbrook Media so far have less than a 50% hit rate on turning into trades for the hedge fund.

Persons: —, Nate Anderson's Hindenburg, Carl Icahn's, Nathaniel Horwitz, Matt Murray, Paul Steiger, Bethany McLean, That's, Courtney Dunlevie, Horwitz, Sam Koppelman, Brian Koppelman, Dunlevie, Horwitz — prepublication, isn't, It's Horwitz, Matt, Pulitzer, Tony Horwitz, Geraldine Brooks, Cash, Hunterbrook, Marc Lasry, David Fialkow, Matt Cherwin, we're, " Horwitz Organizations: Service, Business, Hunterbrook, Hunterbrook Media, Wall Street, Barclays, Commonstock, Phoenix Suns, Avenue Capital, Catalyst, JPMorgan Locations: Italian, Korean, Brazil

☆ GNC is redesigning stores to draw people taking Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The brand hopes a new strategy tailored to people taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss will help draw customers into stores and grow its business. We can help,” advertises an overhead banner in GNC’s new GLP-1 “support section.”GNC's new GLP-1 support section is available in all 2,300 stores across the United States. JON SIMON/GNCDanish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is reaping huge profits from creating and selling the hit GLP-1 products. JPMorgan researchers estimate that 30 million people may be taking GLP-1 drugs by 2030, or around 9% of the US population. GNC, which filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and closed more than 1,200 stores, is the latest brand to build a strategy around people taking GLP-1s.

Persons: New York CNN — GNC, GNC, ”, JON SIMON, WeightWatchers Organizations: New, New York CNN, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, JPMorgan, Equinox Locations: New York, United States, Danish

☆ Say goodbye to Ruby Tuesday and Chili’s. These are the hot new restaurants at the mall
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

As anchor department stores left malls, so did some name-brand chains like Ruby Tuesday, Chili’s, Applebee’s and others. What’s taking their place illustrates a large shift in US tastes: There’s a boom in smaller and regional restaurant chains with a local following. At the same time, many national chains are prioritizing drive-thru locations over their sit-down restaurants in malls. Chick-fil-A restaurants were only located in mall food courts for the company’s first 20 years. “Traditional mall restaurants were casual dining chains like Chili’s, TGI Fridays, and quick-service restaurants in food courts.

Persons: Ruby, What’s, Paul Hennessy, ”, Chris Simms, Simms, Gabby Jones, Mark Hunter, CBRE, RJ Hottovy, ” Hottovy, David Kim, ” Kim, It’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Anadolu Agency, Getty, “, Food, JCPenney, Nordstrom, Green, Westfield Garden, Bloomberg, Deloitte, NV Locations: New York, Applebee’s, Orlando , Florida, Paramus , New Jersey, United States, Greenbriar, Atlanta, Korean, Henderson

☆ Columbia president Minouche Shafik faces criticism in all directions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —When Minouche Shafik was announced as Columbia University’s president last year, she was called the “perfect candidate” by the chair of Columbia’s Board of Trustees. University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill and Harvard University president Claudine Gay both stepped down in the wake of pressure over their response to antisemitism on campus. They say the crackdown on student protests, which resulted in more than 100 arrests, violated academic freedom. “I am here today, joining my colleagues and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos,” Johnson said. Last week, Shafik authorized the New York Police Department to sweep the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on Columbia’s campus.

Persons: Minouche Shafik, Shafik —, Liz Magill, Claudine Gay, Shafik, Alexandra Ocasio, Cortez, Mike Johnson, “, ” Johnson, ”, James Finkelstein, “ She’s, ” Finkelstein, Grayson Kirk, Kirk, Columbia’s Hillel, Robert Kraft Organizations: New, New York CNN, Columbia, Trustees, Representatives, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Bank of England, London School of Economics, Hamas, College, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, New York Police Department, Democratic, Republican, George Mason University, ” Columbia’s, Police, NYPD, of Education, Harvard, Department, Education, ” New England Patriots Locations: New York, Israel, Vietnam, Harlem, Gaza, Columbia’s, Columbia, ”

☆ Clear lets people skip the line at the airport. California lawmakers want to change it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Clear is a service that lets people skip the security line at airports with nothing but a biometric scan and $189. Clear, a publicly-traded security company, lets members jump the line at airports, sports, concerts and other venues. About 10% of California travelers are Clear members, according to a legislative analysis of the bill. The bill, which appears to be the first in the United States, won’t block Clear at California airports, Newman said. But Clear, and major airlines like Delta, California airports, and business groups like the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the bill.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, ” Sen, Josh Newman, ” Newman, Newman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Transportation Committee, California, Assembly, Gov, Transportation Security Administration, TSA, CNN, Travelers, ” Clear, Association of Flight, American Federation of Government Employees, California Chamber, Commerce, Airports, Committee Locations: New York, California, haves, United States, Delta

☆ How the UAW’s win may change the South
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now, the United Auto Workers has dealt a serious blow to that model: winning a landslide union victory after decades of failing to unionize automakers in the South. It’s the UAW’s first win in trying to represent workers at a foreign car manufacturing plant in the South. Before Friday’s win, the highest profile union election held in the South in recent years was the attempt to organize Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama in 2022. Bill Lee in 2019 visited Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga to encourage workers to reject the union, and former South Carolina Gov. But the Volkswagen win, said UAW President Shawn Fain to CNN, shows that politics are not an insurmountable obstacle when it comes to organizing in the South.

Persons: Stephen Silvia, Southern, ” Silvia, – Tesla, Tesla, Henry McMaster, Kay Ivey, “, ”, Erica Smiley, Honda, Friday’s, you’ve, they’ve, Bill Lee, Nikki Haley, Biden —, Shawn Fain, “ Trump, ” Fain, “ I’m, George Walker IV, Harley Shaiken, Justice, CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, UAW, American University, Southern Gamble, Workers, Foreign, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, –, South Carolina Gov, Alabama Gov, “ Unions, Justice, Union, Auto, South Detroit, Benz, Kia, P Global Market Intelligence, Republicans, Environmental Defense Fund, Southern, “, GOP, Tennessee Gov, Democratic, CNN, Tennessee, AP, Chattanooga won’t, University of California, Jobs Locations: New York, United States, Volkswagen’s, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Mercedes, Vance , Alabama, Alabama, Smyrna , Tennessee, Spartanburg , South Carolina, Lincoln , Alabama, Southern, South, Chattanooga, Georgia, Berkeley

☆ Caitlin Clark will reportedly sign a sneaker deal with Nike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Caitlin Clark is reportedly set to wear her own signature Nike sneaker in the WNBA. Now she’s set to sign an eight-year deal worth up to $28 million with Nike, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Athletic has reported that Clark’s deal includes a signature Nike shoe. CNN has not independently confirmed a deal between Clark and Nike. Nearly all major stars in the NBA have sneaker deals, including James, Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic with Nike and Stephen Curry with Under Armour.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Clark, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, James, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Brian Nagel, Sabrina Ionescu, ” Brian Nagel Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nike, WNBA, Wall Street, CNN, State Farm, Gatorade, Panini, NBA, Oppenheimer, New York Liberty Locations: New York

☆ Special Education, Inc.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

AdvertisementNate Smallwood for BITo some, private equity's business model appears antithetical to special education. (The average public school district in Pennsylvania, where New Story operates the most schools, spends about $23,000 per child across all types of public education. "Private equity has no place in education — especially special education," Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio told BI. For instance, two Pennsylvania education directors left in spring 2023, according to records obtained by BI — one after just months in the role. AdvertisementNickie Coomer, a Colorado College education professor who has written about the privatization of special education, told BI that this data gap is a major regulatory hole, one that private-equity companies are happy to exploit.

Persons: Emily, Sarah, Nate Smallwood, Sarah didn't, —, Mergermarket, Shanon Taylor, Taylor, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Casey, Paul Volosov, Volosov, Jim Grinnen, Rachel Wisniewski, Christina Spielbauer, Spielbauer, Nathaniel Garnick, Garnick, sully, Craig Richards, He's, Richards, they're, " Richards, Judith McKinney, Grinnen, Donnell McLean, McLean, Natalie Stoup, Blackstone, haven't, Biden, of Education spokespeople, Nickie, …, that's, didn't, Hill, Amy Hall Kostoff, Kostoff, Green, she'd Organizations: Business, State College ,, New, BI, Audax Group, Kentucky, Pennsylvania State Employees, Schools, Audax, Rock Academy, University of Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Rock, Reading School District, River Rock Academy, Virginia's Department of Education, Green Tree, Pay, Tree, Autism, Forbes, NBC News, Federal Trade Commission, of Education, Colorado College, Tree School, Pennsylvania's Department of Education, Pennsylvania, In State College Locations: State College , Pennsylvania, Boston, Pennsylvania, Reno, —, Ohio, New Story's, Rock, Virginia, , Ohio, New Jersey , Pennsylvania, New Story's New Cumberland , Pennsylvania, CARD's Virginia, Philadelphia, Rochelle Park , New Jersey

☆ What the conversation about Caitlin Clark’s pay gets wrong
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA’s stars aren’t asking to be paid an equal dollar amount to NBA players, however. WNBA players have made progress on salaries since 2020, when they reached their latest collective bargaining agreement with the league. Sharing the revenue pieBecause it’s a smaller and younger league, women’s players have had less bargaining power with team owners over their pay than men. While NBA players receive 50% of total NBA revenue, the WNBA must hit a certain revenue threshold annually before any revenue sharing agreements kick in. This has held back women’s salaries.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Clark, Angel Reese, ” Terri Jackson, David Berri, Kelsey Plum, Griner, Jackson, ” Jackson, “ It’s, ”, Alicia Jessop, “ That’s, ” David Berri, David Stern, “, Berri, Cathy Engelbert, ” Breanna Stewart Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, University of Iowa, Louisiana, NCAA, WNBA, ’ Association, CNN, Southern Utah University, Las Vegas Aces, —, Phoenix Mercury, ’, Pepperdine University, longtime, New York Liberty Locations: New York, men’s, Russia

☆ Beyoncé is sending Levi’s and Western boot sales soaring
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

All of which has apparently sent fans flocking to Levi’s for denim jeans, denim jackets and Western clothing since the album was released on March 29. Levi’s has made its own moves to capitalize on Beyoncé namechecking the brand and the extra attention it’s receiving. Angus Mordant/Bloomberg/Getty Images“Act II: Cowboy Carter” has also led to a rise in Western boot sales. Sales spiked another 45% the following week when “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, Circana said. Beyoncé has also lifted Western boot sales at Calares, a women’s shoe and accessories chain, said Dana Telsey, a retail analyst at Telsey Advisory Group.

Persons: Bey, Cowboy Carter, Post Malone, Levi’s, ”, Michelle Gass, Beyoncé, Angus Mordant, Cowboy Carter ”, Circana, Taylor Swift, Beth Goldstein, Dana Telsey, Etsy, Th, CNN’s Lisa France Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Circana, Telsey Advisory, Billboard, Deutsche Bank Locations: New York, Pass_by, Instagram, Stockholm

☆ Salman Rushdie says he had a ‘premonition’ of being attacked just days before the stabbing that left him blind in one eye
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Renowned author Salman Rushdie has revealed more details about the knife attack that left him blind in one eye, telling CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday that he had a “premonition” of the event just days beforehand. “I said to my wife, Eliza, ‘I don’t want to go’ because of the dream. And then I thought, ‘Don’t be silly, it’s a dream,’” he recalled. Hadi Matar, the man accused of stabbing Rushdie and another person on stage, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault. “I was watching (blood) spread and then thinking I was probably dying,” Rushdie added.

Persons: Salman Rushdie, Anderson Cooper, “, Eliza, ‘, ’ ”, Rushdie, ”, Satan, Prophet Mohammed, Iran’s, Ruhollah Khomeini, Kai Pfaffenbach, ” Rushdie, couldn’t, Hadi Matar, Nathaniel Barone, Barone, Booker, it’s Organizations: CNN, CBS, Chautauqua Institution, BBC, Reuters, New York, Defense Locations: New York, Mumbai, Islamabad

☆ Dollar stores are shutting down across America. They did this to themselves
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Dollar Tree believed acquiring Family Dollar would help it compete against larger rivals. “When Dollar Tree bought Family Dollar, they didn’t really know what they were doing,” D’Arezzo said. Many Family Dollar stores were located too close to each other and cannibalized each other’s own sales, too, D’Arezzo said. Family Dollar “needs more work than the company originally thought.”A year later, an activist investor pushed for a sale of the “underperforming” Family Dollar business, and Family Dollar announced it would close 390 stores. Dollar Tree and Family Dollar executives say Family Dollar can still succeed, however.

Persons: Dollar, Ron Holman, ” Neil Saunders, GlobalData, “, ”, David D’Arezzo, Rick Dreiling, Kelly Bania, Carl Icahn, Nelson Peltz —, ” D’Arezzo, D’Arezzo, Dreiling Organizations: New, New York CNN, Visalia Times, USA, Dollar, BMO Capital Markets, “, Street, Justice Department, Bloomberg, Walmart, Costco Locations: New York, West Coast and Texas, West Memphis, ”, California , Nevada , Arizona, Texas, California

☆ Check out the presentation edtech startup Superintellignet used nab $2 million in pre-seed funding to help people learn how to use AI tools
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Samantha Stokes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Newly launched startup Superintelligent is betting it can solve this problem and help more people master using AI in their work and personal lives. The company just exited stealth with $2 million in pre-seed funding from Learn Capital, an edtech-focused VC fund. Based in New York, Superintelligent is a learning platform designed to help people understand how to use AI tools. "People who never would have cared about taking an online course before will 100% find themselves looking for online tools for learning AI." More broadly, AI is providing a boon to the edtech space, with startups such as Lirvana Labs, which provides AI learning for kids; Curipod, which lets teachers create AI lesson plans; and AI-powered study assistants Digest.ai and FoondMate all raising funding recently.

Persons: —, OpenAI's DALL, Superintelligent, Nathaniel Whittemore, Whittemore, Digest.ai, he's Organizations: Service, Pew Research Center, Learn, Business, Labs Locations: New York

☆ Hungry at 3 am? You’re out of luck now
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Not even all of 24 Hour Fitness’ gyms — the promise is right in its name — are 24 hours. The city that never sleeps, New York, has lost 13% of its 24-hour restaurants. Around half of IHOP’s 1,800 locations are back to being open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, at the very least. Ed Endicott/Alamy Stock Photo/FilePete’s was open 24 hours, seven days a week from the 1990s until the pandemic hit in 2020. Despite the signage, Mi Tierra is no longer open 24 hours in San Antonio, Texas.

Persons: hasn’t, Waffle, ”, Alex Barakos, Ed Endicott, Pete’s, Barakos, “, Hudson Riehle, Edward Hopper’s, Harold, Kumar Go, Stephen Zagor, Pete Cortez, Michael Silver Geo, “ There’s, ” Cortez, ’ ” Cortez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, Hollywood, Alamy, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “, National Restaurant Association, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Columbia Business School, of Locations: New York, Covid, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, White, ”, New York City, San Antonio, Mi, San Antonio , Texas, Tierra, tuxedos

☆ Caitlin Clark will head to the WNBA at a critical moment for the league
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA, still emerging entering its 28th season, hopes Caitlin Clark can achieve what those athletes did and turn the league into a cultural phenomenon. WNBA players’ salaries also lag behind. Turning Clark fans into WNBA fansClark is already having an impact on the WNBA. “The need by WNBA teams to invest in fan acquisition and fan engagement is really critical to maximize this moment,” she said. Bebeto Matthews/APThe league was financially connected to the NBA, and each of the first eight WNBA teams was linked to an NBA franchise.

Persons: Woods, Venus Williams, Michael Jordan, Caitlin Clark, ”, Boris Lelchitski, Candace Parker, Jonquel Jones, ” Clark, Angel Reese, Clark, Reese, “, Phil Cook, Gregory Fisher, Nielsen, “ Caitlin Clark, Noah Henderson, Cathy Engelbert, “ We’ve, Erica Denhoff, Jessica Gelman, Gelman, David Stern, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Bebeto Matthews, Terri Jackson, ” Donna Orender, Orender, ” Engelbert, Cameron Brink, ’, “ Clark, Donna Orender Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, WNBA, Indiana Fever, NCAA, University of Iowa, Louisiana State University, Tiger, USA, Sports, Reuters, Loyola University, CNN, LSU, WNBA's Indiana, Kraft Analytics Group, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, Nielsen, Brands, Gatorade, State, longtime, Olympics, Basketball Players Association, Deloitte, Kraft Analytics Locations: New York, Chicago, Iowa, USA, Atlanta, San Francisco

☆ Amazon’s cashier-less technology was supposed to revolutionize grocery shopping. It’s been a flop
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But now, Amazon is walking back its “Just Walk Out” technology at its grocery stores, reining in grand promises of an automated, friction-less checkout. Customers just haven’t bought into cashier-less technology, especially in grocery stores where they purchase larger quantities and face extra tasks such as weighing produce. Customers entered Fresh stores using Amazon One palm recognition, the app or a credit or debit card. Amazon Fresh strugglesThe tech giant opened its first Amazon Fresh store in 2020, and has more than 40 locations across the US. But Amazon Fresh has faced setbacks since it debuted, including challenges getting shoppers to buy groceries in its Amazon Fresh grocery stores, and it laid off workers.

Persons: Amazon, haven’t, ”, they’ve, Andy Jassy, “ We’ve, Nathaniel Meyersohn, Moira Ritter Organizations: New, New York CNN, Amazon, Fresh, CNN, Dollar, Walmart, Costco, Foods Locations: New York, India, Washington, Chicago, Southern California

☆ New York closes bridges for its marathon. Runners should pay for the unpaid tolls, the MTA demands
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jeff Winter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“New Yorkers love Marathon Sunday, but taxpayers cannot be expected to subsidize a wealthy non-government organization like the New York Road Runners to the tune of $750,000,” MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan said in a statement. The New York Road Runners, which organizes the race, says that the marathon already generates millions of dollars for the city’s economy, and that the amount MTA proposed would make the race less affordable. “We value our partnership with all the City and State agencies that allow us to stage all of our events, including the marathon,” NYRR said in a statement. The MTA recently voted to approve congestion pricing in New York City, making it the first US city to charge such a toll. Despite the approval and expected implementation of the tolling plan, multiple lawsuits, such as one spearheaded by New Jersey Gov.

Persons: Catherine Sheridan, ” NYRR, Kathy Hochul’s, Phil Murphy, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyerson Organizations: CNN, Metropolitan Transit Authority, York, New, MTA, City and State, Gov, New Jersey Gov Locations: Brooklyn, New York City

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