DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Short U.S. housing correction likely over; tight supply to keep prices high: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Prerana Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

After falling nearly 7% from a cycle high in June 2022 - well short of predictions made late last year for a 12% peak-to-trough fall - average house prices started rising again in February and are now only around 1% below their peak. "While we expect house prices to lose some of their recent momentum, the worst of the correction appears to have passed and we don't expect further sustained declines," said Andrew Burrell, chief property economist at Capital Economics. Average house prices were forecast to stagnate in 2024 despite predictions for a rate cut by the middle of the year. They were forecast to average 4.17 million units in the second half of this year, lower than 4.27 million in the previous poll. Despite a near 45% pandemic-era rise in house prices and the market starting to climb again, respondents were equally split on what would happen to purchasing affordability for first-time homebuyers over the coming year.

Persons: Octavio Jones, Andrew Burrell, Brad Hunter, Hunter, Prerana Bhat, Indradip Ghosh, Pranoy Krishna, Ross Finley, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Capital Economics, Hunter Housing Economics, Thomson Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S

☆ US home prices show signs of stabilizing, reports show
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Amina Niasse | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Octavio Jones Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. housing prices showed further signs of stabilizing in June, according to two reports out Tuesday that signaled the lengthy run of softening sales prices may be bottoming out. Both reports showed prices rose modestly month-over-month. House prices rose 3.0% between the second quarters of 2022 and 2023, FHFA said. FHFA's data showed June’s year-over-year gains were strongest in the East North Central and New England regions, up by 5.4% and 6.8%, respectively. On a city basis, the Case-Shiller data showed Chicago and Cleveland experiencing the greatest price accelerations.

Persons: Octavio Jones, FHFA, ”, Anju Vajja, ” Craig Lazzara, DJI, Amina Niasse, Safiyah Riddle, Andrea Ricci, Leslie Adler Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal Reserve, FHFA’s Division of Research, Statistics, East North, Thomson Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S, “ U.S, East North Central, New England, Chicago, Cleveland

☆ Trump says he won't take part in Republican debates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement of his plans to run for president in the 2024 U.S. presidential election at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Octavio Jones Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said he would skip the upcoming Republican primary debates, citing his large lead in opinion polls as evidence that he was already well-known and liked by voters ahead of the 2024 election. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a question asking if the former president meant he won't be taking part in any of the Republican debates. The winner of the Republican nominating fight will take on Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election. "No one is entitled to this nomination, including Donald Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Octavio Jones, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Joe Biden, DeSantis, Andrew Romeo, Romeo, Humeyra Pamuk, Nathan Layne, James Oliphant, Colleen Jenkins, Diane Craft Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Former U.S, Republican, CBS, New York Times, Fox News, Democratic, Twitter, Reuters, Biden, Thomson Locations: Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, U.S, Former, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, Florida, Milwaukee, Fulton County , Georgia

☆ US 30-year fixed mortgage rate jumps to near 21-1/2-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Safiyah Riddle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Octavio Jones/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 17 (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage rates surged this week, with the popular 30-year fixed rate hitting the highest level in more than 21 years, further complicating the housing market outlook. The average 30-year rate shot up to 7.09%, the highest level since April 2002, from 6.96% in the prior week, mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac said on Thursday. But sky-high mortgage rates could temper recent building trends, keeping supply tight and house prices elevated. Higher mortgage rates were blamed for the ebb in confidence among homebuilders in August. "The housing market has been surprisingly resilient, confounding expectations for the last year," said Bright MLS chief economist Lisa Sturtevant.

Persons: Octavio Jones, Freddie Mac, Freddie Mac's, Sam Khater, Lisa Sturtevant, Safiyah Riddle, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, U.S, Commerce Department, MLS, Thomson Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S

☆ U.S. mortgage rates spike to highest since November, approach 22-year high
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Safiyah Riddle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

New townhomes are seen under construction while building material supplies are in high demand in Tampa, Florida, U.S., May 5, 2021. REUTERS/Octavio JonesAug 9 (Reuters) - The average U.S. 30-year mortgage rate jumped to a nine-month peak on Wednesday and hit the second-highest rate since 2001, as interest rates reacted sharply to a downgrading of U.S. government debt. Rates have not been that high since November 2022, which were then the highest levels since 2001. Recent data has suggested that the home price cooling engineered by the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hiking campaign could be slowing down. But the recent data showing higher mortgage rates and crimped demand could be welcome news for overall shelter costs and the U.S. central bank's effort to bring inflation down.

Persons: Octavio Jones, Joel Kan, Safiyah Riddle, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Mortgage, Association, Association's, Federal, Thomson Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S

☆ Amid gang wars and food shortages, Haiti hospital struggles to treat malnourished children
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Mackenson Pierre, a doctor, treats Marie Michelle Joseph's 9-month-old baby Myleisha Moliere at the Centre Hospitalier de Fontaine, July 27. After being turned away from Haiti's only general hospital, her daughter Myleisha was finally accepted at Fontaine Hospital - in an area the rest of her family considers too unsafe to visit. "I'm the only one by her side," the 27-year-old mother said. Myleisha's twin brother died just a week after he was born and Joseph is miles away from her relatively well-to-do area of the capital. REUTERS/Octavio JonesClose

Persons: Mackenson Pierre, Marie Michelle Joseph's, Moliere, Fontaine, Myleisha, Joseph, Octavio Jones Organizations: Fontaine Hospital Locations: Haiti's

☆ Billionaire DeVos family looks to DeSantis, not Trump, in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Octavio Jones | ReutersThe billionaire DeVos family, whose matriarch, Betsy DeVos, served in Donald Trump's Cabinet, appears to be backing a Trump rival in the 2024 Republican presidential contest: Florida Gov. And though the Federal Election Commission filing does not name any member of the DeVos family, the Michigan billionaires own the team. Following publication of this story, Betsy DeVos' chief of staff, Nate Bailey, said she was "undecided and uncommitted on the race for president, as is the entire DeVos family." Leah Millis | ReutersA spokesman for the DeVos family investment firm, RDV, did not respond to requests for comment. But that curriculum is exactly what draws members of the DeVos family to DeSantis.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Octavio Jones, DeVos, Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's, wokeness, Joel Glass, Governor DeSantis, Glass, DeSantis, Dick DeVos, Dan DeVos, Nate Bailey, Bailey, Leah Millis, RDV, Jason Miller, Ron DeSanctimonious, Miller, Betsy, Tudor Dixon, Trump, Joe Biden, Mike, Pence, Darius Garland, Schofield Organizations: Florida Gov, Cambridge Christian School, Trump, Republican, DeSantis, NBA, Orlando, CNBC, Governor, Orlando Magic, . Education, Federal Commission, School, White, Washington , D.C, Reuters, Michigan Republican, Trump's, Make, Inc, FEC, Detroit, RDV, Cleveland Cavaliers, National Basketball Association, Getty Locations: Florida, Tampa , Florida, Michigan, Central Florida, Washington ,, Cleveland , Ohio

☆ Haiti hospital cares for kids amid gang violence, hunger and scarce aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After being turned away from Haiti's only general hospital, her daughter Myleisha was finally accepted at Fontaine Hospital, a UNICEF-sponsored facility in the capital Port au Prince - in an area the rest of her family considers too unsafe to visit. The Fontaine Hospital is located in the Cite Soleil neighborhood, where the G9 and G-Pep gangs have been fighting a vicious turf war. "We are in one of the poorest areas of the country, and also one of the most dangerous," said hospital founder Jose Ulysse. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says nearly half of Haiti's population - some 4.9 million people - are going hungry. Without more UNICEF funding, hospital director Kareen Ulysse said she doubts the Fontaine can keep running for another year.

Persons: Pierre, Marie Michelle Joseph's, Moliere, Fontaine, Octavio, Myleisha, Joseph, Jose Ulysse, Celestin Fraceline, Kareen Ulysse, Haiti's, Octavio Jones, Harold Isaac, Sarah Morland, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Cite Soleil, REUTERS, Fontaine Hospital, UNICEF, au, United Nations, UN, Food Programme, Thomson Locations: Cite, Port, Prince, Haiti, Haiti's, au Prince, Kenya

☆ Casey DeSantis said she and Ron DeSantis didn't tell their young children when she was diagnosed with breast cancer: 'To this day, they still don't know'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a "Fox & Friends" interview, Casey DeSantis spoke about her 2021 breast cancer diagnosis. Casey, who is in remission, said that she and Ron didn't tell their children that she had cancer. The DeSantis' children were aged 4, 3, and 1 at the time. Ron DeSantis, his wife Casey DeSantis, and their children walk on stage to celebrate his reelection on November 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. Watch the full "Fox & Friends" interview here:

Persons: Casey DeSantis, Casey, Ron didn't, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, — Madison, Mamie —, Octavio Jones, — Organizations: Fox, Service, Florida Gov, Fox &, Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, Cancer Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida, Mason, Tampa , Florida

Disney wants Judge Margaret Schreiber in Orlando to dismiss a lawsuit filed in May by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which controls development around the company's theme parks. The lawsuit seeks to void "backroom deals" favorable to Disney that the district alleges were struck with a prior district board and in violation of state law. Lawmakers also retroactively invalidated agreements that Disney reached with the prior board on the eve of it being brought under DeSantis's control. Such a ruling would allow the company to focus on its federal case, which claims DeSantis violated the company's constitutional right to free speech. "If Disney's contracts are void, nearly all of Disney's claims in the federal case disappear," the district said in a court filing.

Persons: Octavio Jones, Ron DeSantis, Margaret Schreiber, DeSantis, Disney, Lawmakers, Tom Hals, Deepa Babington Organizations: Walt Disney, REUTERS, Walt, Co, Walt Disney Co, Disney, Central, Republican, Improvement, Thomson Locations: Orlando , Florida, U.S, WILMINGTON , Delaware, Florida, Orlando, Central Florida, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ Here’s one thing Baby Boomers and Gen Z have in common
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —There’s nearly a 50-year age gap between the oldest Baby Boomer and the youngest member of Gen Z. As Pew President Michael Dimock put it, a common misconception about Baby Boomers’ past serves as a reminder of a key question we should be asking as we talk about Gen Z today. Cultural critic Louis Menand has pointed out that another important detail often gets overlooked when talking about this chapter in Baby Boomers’ past. And Gen Z may not be as ‘woke’ as you thinkCould our understanding of Gen Z’s politics – frequently described as liberal – also be missing part of the picture? Joe Raedle/Getty Images“In poll after poll, we have found enormous diversity among Gen Z and their views,” she says.

Persons: CNN — There’s, Boomer, we’ve, We’ve, Z, Gen, Michael Dimock, Dimock, ” Dimock, –, Nixon’s, Louis Menand, ” Menand, Baby Boomer, “, ”, Owen Franken, Menand, Kim Parker, ” Parker, Parker, ’, Jean M, Twenge, there’s, Gen X, Silents, Gen Z, it’s, Reagan, Whitney Ross Manzo, David McLennan, ” Manzo, Young, Donald Trump, Joe Raedle, Bobby Duffy, Duffy, You’re, Ron DeSantis, Octavio Jones, Pew, who’ve Organizations: CNN, Boomers, Pew Research Center, Gallup, Woodstock Music, Pew, San Diego State University, Harvard, don’t, Meredith College, King’s College London, Republican, Florida Gov Locations: Vietnam, Nixon’s Vietnam, East Coast, Woodstock, North Carolina, Tampa , Florida, Tampa, Florida

☆ Opinion: This Trump indictment will change history. The question is how
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Jane Carr | Opinion Jane Greenway Carr | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. “Big Brother” is a fierce indictment of a power structure that surveils and oppresses while poverty and suffering proliferate. Clay Jones“Next year will mark 50 years since President Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal. And yet, “Trump denies any and all wrongdoing and continues to remain the leader of the pack. “When former President Donald Trump took office in 2017, he left the rules in place.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Philippe Petit, Henri Matisse, Petit, Stevie Wonder, Jackson, Richard Nixon, —, interjected, “, Donald Trump, Clay Jones “, Julian Zelizer, “ Trump, Trump, Norman Eisen, Jack Smith, Eisen, Barack Obama’s, ” Eisen, Jennifer Rodgers, Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, Cupp, –, John Avlon, …, Avlon, Pence, televangelist Pat Robertson, Nicole Hemmer, “ Long, Robertson, Robertson “, David Mark, Geoff Duncan, Jason Lancaster, Kirsi Goldynia, Virginia Sole, Smith, ’, demonize fatness, Nick Anderson, Tess Taylor, Laura Schifter, Taylor, Marc Eichenbaum, Michael Nichols, “ Houston, Lawrence Downes, ” Eric Adams, ” —, ” Downes, Ellis, Evgeniy, it’s, Frida Ghitis, Reinhold Matay, Aaron David Miller, LIV, ” Miller, Octavio Jones, Jill Filipovic, ” Filipovic, Allison Hope, Justin Sullivan, Peter Bergen, Biden, Afghanistan Ana Homayoun, Amy Bass, Rose Zhang, Marty Irby, I’m, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Hannah McKay, Reuters Prince Harry, Queen Victoria’s, King Edward VII, Harry, Prince Harry, Holly Thomas –, Thomas Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Trump, Florida Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, Getty, Former New Jersey Gov, Adobe, Tribune, East Coasters, …, The, Democratic, Ukraine Ukrainian, Orange County National, USA, Sports, PGA, Saudi, Hillsborough High School, Reuters, Human Rights, Apple Vision, Apple Worldwide Developers, Court, Daily Locations: Manhattan, Florida, New Jersey, Pence’s, Washington ,, ” Houston, “, Texas, Chicago , New York, Sacramento, New York, New York City, White, Ukraine, Kherson, Russia, Nova, Orlando , Florida, USA, Saudi Arabia, Tampa , Florida, U.S, United States, Cupertino , California, Afghanistan, London, England, British, Botswana

☆ Opinion: How to respond to anti-LGBTQ hate this Pride month
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Opinion Allison Hope | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I promise there are some simple and immensely helpful ways in which LGBTQ people and allies can take action in June and every month. Don Arnold/Getty ImagesIf you don’t know where to begin with lobbying, look to an LGBTQ or civil rights group doing the hard work on the ground. Commit to learning and teaching: Even members and strong allies of the LGBTQ community can benefit from fresh learning. After all, the LGBTQ community is anything but a monolith — there are so many diverse forms of representation and a landscape that is quickly evolving. It’s also not a bad time to support brands that are supportive of the LGBTQ community.

Persons: Allison Hope, Read, Allison, ”, isn’t, ” Melanie Willingham, “, they’re, Octavio Jones, allyship, —, Don Arnold, Virginia Woolf’s, Orlando ”, Dorian Gray ”, Oscar Wilde, Janet Mock’s, ” Young, Maia Kobabe’s, Juno Dawson, Jessica Love, Wilhelmina ”, Joseph Belisle, It’s, Ron DeSantis, intersectionality, let’s Organizations: New Yorker, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Slate, Allison Hope, Tampa Pride, Getty, Progress, Florida Capitol, Sydney Opera House, Volunteer, Reading, Florida Gov, Twitter, Facebook Locations: New, Florida, Tampa, Tallahassee, Australia, Virginia, Paisley, America

☆ Ron DeSantis is drawing from the Trump Supreme Court playbook
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Joan Biskupic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —When Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas appeared for the first time before the Florida Federalist Society in January 2020, Florida Gov. Some of DeSantis’ state court appointees became Trump federal court appointees, and their entire approach to the bench is fueled by Federalist Society figures like Leo. WaPo: Supreme Court justice's wife received thousands in 'hidden payments' 01:49 - Source: CNNUsing the Trump playbookBy using Leo for advice on state judicial appointments, DeSantis already is following a Trump playbook. He has filled a majority of the seats on the seven-member Florida Supreme Court, some twice over. Midway through his term, he wrote on Twitter, “The Supreme Court was one of the main reasons I got elected President.”

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Ron DeSantis, Thomas, Leonard Leo, Leo, Donald Trump’s, DeSantis, “, ” Leo, Ginni Thomas, ”, ProPublica’s, Thomas ’, Harlan Crow, Octavio Jones, Roe, Wade, Sullivan, Don McGahn, Gregory Katsas, Trump, ” DeSantis, ” Thomas, Katsas, WaPo, DeSantis ’, Jesse Panuccio, ” Panuccio, Barbara Lagoa, Robert Luck, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lagoa, Amy Coney Barrett, “ I’ve, Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Barack Obama’s, Antonin Scalia Organizations: CNN, Florida Federalist Society, Florida Gov, Disney, Federalist Society, White, Harvard Law School, Politico, Representatives, Trump White House, Republican, Trump, Republicans, DeSantis, Tampa Bay Times, Zuma Press, GOP, New York Times, US, DC Circuit, Gov, Orlando Federalist Society, Appeals, Circuit, Florida Supreme, Twitter Locations: Florida, Iowa, ’, Washington, Georgia, America, New Hampshire

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) said over 70 bills it considers anti-LGBTQ were passed in statehouses this legislative session, double last year's previous record. The number of such bills introduced has steadily increased in recent years, growing from 115 in 2015, HRC said. HRC President Kelley Robinson named Florida, Tennessee and Texas as the most hostile states, saying Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had "weaponized his position." Twenty states now ban gender-affirming care, and 32 states introduced such legislation this year, HRC said. HRC praised Michigan and Minnesota for expanding LGBTQ rights in 2022-23.

Persons: Florida's, Octavio Jones, Kelley Robinson, Ron DeSantis, " Robinson, Jeremy Tedesco, Jeremy Redfern, Daniel Trotta, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Tuesday, Rights, HRC, Republican, Alliance Defending, Heritage Foundation, Family, Promoters, Michigan, Thomson Locations: Tallahassee , Florida, U.S, United States, statehouses, Florida , Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Minnesota

[1/2] People gather ahead of the "Festival of Fantasy" parade at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2022. Lawyers for DeSantis, who is being sued for allegedly targeting Disney for company leadership's political views, filed a motion on Friday in Tallahassee, Florida, asking U.S. District Judge Mark Walker be recused in the case. Disney sued DeSantis in April for allegedly "weaponizing" state government in retaliation for the company's criticism of a law that banned classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. DeSantis' lawyers argued on Friday that the judge overseeing that case demonstrated potential partiality while handling separate cases in which the judge mentioned Disney as an example of state retaliation. Considering Walker's statements, "the court's impartiality in this matter might reasonably be questioned," DeSantis' lawyers said in the their motion.

The company plans to expand its streaming offerings by the end of the year with a new app that combines Disney+ and Hulu, Chief Executive Bob Iger said. Total subscribers to the flagship Disney+ service dropped by 4 million from the previous quarter to 157.8 million. Most of the defections came from the Disney+ Hotstar offering in India after it lost streaming rights to Indian Premier League cricket matches. "Striking a fine balance between customer acquisition versus financial performance is no easy feat." As Disney tries to build streaming, its traditional television business faces hurdles.

☆ Florida board picked by DeSantis countersues Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | Tom Hals | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

(Reuters) - A district board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee development around Walt Disney Co’s Florida theme parks sued the company on Monday to void “backroom deals” favorable to the entertainment giant. The state court lawsuit escalates tensions between Disney and the Republican governor and likely presidential candidate. It comes in response to a case Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district board. DeSantis who is expected to soon declare his candidacy for U.S. president, has repeatedly attacked “woke Disney” in public remarks. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board maintained that Disney rushed through the agreement before the new board assumed oversight of municipal services and development within the 25,000 acres of land in and around Walt Disney World.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. "Disney now is forced to defend itself against a State weaponizing its power to inflict political punishment," the company said. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in Florida, had been enjoying unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight body on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday to block a state law that created an oversight board that Disney said will interfere with billions of dollars of planned development. Disney alleges a law that imposed an oversight board was punishment for voicing opposition to DeSantis' classroom instruction law known as the Parental Rights in Education Act. The gender-education statute, derided by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" law, survived challenges in federal court before a different judge. Free speech has been central to several rulings by Walker against DeSantis, although the judge has also at times sided with the governor. Walker said Florida had become a place where the First Amendment allowed, rather than prevented, the state to limit speech.

☆ Disney to Cut Employees From ESPN, Parks in Second Round of Layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Walt Disney said it plans to reach its target of cutting 7,000 employees after a third round of layoffs before the summer. Photo: OCTAVIO JONES/REUTERSWalt Disney Co. said Monday it is beginning its second round of layoffs as part of its previously unveiled plan to cut 7,000 jobs, with employees this round being let go from divisions including ESPN. The company said several thousand U.S. employees would be cut this week from multiple business areas, including its entertainment arm and its parks, experiences and product division.

☆ Americans Escaping Pricey Cities Bring Higher Housing Costs, Inflation With Them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Gabriel T. Rubin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Tampa area has one of the highest inflation rates in the nation. Photo: Octavio Jones for The Wall Street JournalTampa, Fla., residents face some of the hottest inflation in the country, but when excluding sizzling housing costs, price increases are nearly as cool as in Minneapolis. The disparity shows regional inflation is heavily influenced by home prices and rent costs. The Tampa area has one of the highest inflation rates in the nation, 7.7% in March, according to the Labor Department. But when shelter costs are removed from the index, the Florida metro’s rate was 3.8%—putting it in line with the Minneapolis area, where inflation excluding housing was 3.6%.

☆ Florida education board to vote on extending ban on gender identity lessons
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Hillsborough High School students protest a Republican-backed bill dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" that would prohibit classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure Democrats denounced as being anti-LGBTQ, in Tampa, Florida, U.S., March 3, 2022. The state board of education, whose members are appointed by the governor, will vote on the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday, according to the agenda. Critics, including LGBTQ advocates and President Joe Biden, a Democrat, have termed it the "Don't Say Gay" law and said it marginalizes LGBTQ students. Brandon Wolf, a spokesperson for Equality Florida, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said DeSantis is targeting LGBTQ students to boost his national political fortunes. A spokesperson for DeSantis referred questions to the state department of education.

April 17 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday fired another shot in his battle with Walt Disney Co (DIS.N), saying the state's Republican legislature would take steps to nullify the company's effort to circumvent state oversight of Walt Disney World. DeSantis said the new bill, announced on Monday, would return control of the special district that is home to Disney World to a state oversight board run by the governor's appointees. [1/2] People gather ahead of the "Festival of Fantasy" parade at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, U.S. July 30, 2022. Before the takeover by DeSantis appointees, Disney pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the board's action for decades. It also ensures that future boards would honor a commitment to $527 million in planned capital improvements to support Walt Disney World’s growth over the next decade.

☆ What the Boston Marathon Finish Line Means Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Talya Minsberg | Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

The Boston Marathon is arguably the most elusive finish line of all, and not just anyone can cross it. In 2013, on a cool, partly sunny day, this ebullient scene was shattered when two bombs exploded near the finish line. On Monday, nearly 30,000 runners will journey, down and up and down, toward the finish line of the 127th Boston Marathon. Volunteer, runner I used to volunteer at the finish line, reading information about runners as they finished for the announcer. It means something so different crossing that finish line compared to other marathon majors.

Search resuls for: "Octavio Jones"

25 mentions found