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☆ Cocoa prices are rising so fast they are outpacing bitcoin — just in time for Easter
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Cocoa prices have nearly doubled in 2024 and are outpacing bitcoin in the last 12 months. Rising cocoa costs may drive up Easter chocolate prices. AdvertisementCocoa prices are so high that parents might wish to use their Easter chocolate as a tax write-off this year. Cocoa prices were already on a steady incline in 2023, but the product has nearly doubled in price so far this year, according to Bloomberg. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Bean Organizations: Hershey, Cadbury, Service, Bloomberg, Business Locations: New York

☆ Iran is selling a drone called 'Gaza' that it says can carry 13 bombs and travel 1,200 miles
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Iran debuted its new "Gaza" drone at an international arms fair in Doha earlier this month. The new drone can fly over 1,200 miles at 35,000 feet and carry 13 precision-guided bombs, Iran says. AdvertisementIran is selling a new drone on the international market that it's calling "Gaza." Iran unveiled the drone at an arms expo in Doha earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported. The "Gaza" drone can carry up to 13 bombs and travel more than 1,200 miles at 35,000 feet, according to the report.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Street Journal, UN, Business Locations: Iran, Gaza, Doha

☆ Sacramento will soon give low-income Black and Native American families $725 a month, no strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The basic income plan is part of a six-step strategy to reduce child poverty in the county. It will offer $725 a month to low-income Black and Native American families. She said the guaranteed income program is just one piece of a six-step plan to eliminate child poverty. Researchers found that on average, program participants said they spent more than half of the cash they received on housing. The basic income pilot will start sending out payments in July 2024 and will distribute the payments for 12 months.

Persons: —, Michelle Callejas, Callejas, Tonaeya Moore Organizations: Service, Sacramento, Supervisors, United Way, Sacramento County, United, Baltimore Young Locations: Sacramento, United States, Baltimore, Maryland, Austin, Sacramento County

☆ People are using AI to talk to dead celebrities like Marilyn Monroe. Not everyone is excited about it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

South By Southwest attendees got to speak with a Marilyn Monroe AI chatbot. But critics say celebrities who can't consent should not be used in AI recreations. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said previously that he thinks AI celebrities will become popular. AdvertisementLast year, Robin Williams's daughter, Zelda, said that she found AI recreations of her father's voice to be "personally disturbing." AdvertisementSoul Machines partnered with Authentic Brands Group — which acquired the rights to Marilyn Monroe's intellectual property in 2018 — to create the AI Marilyn, according to Deadline.

Persons: Marilyn Monroe, —, Kim Kardashian, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, Tom Brady, Kendall Jenner, Naomi Osaka, Chris Paul, Charli D'Amelio, Israel Adesanya, Roy Choi, Dwayne Wade, Zuckerberg, Marilyn, Marilyn chatbot, Maureen Lee Lenker, Robin Williams's, Zelda, Williams, Marva Bailer, Bailer, Marilyn Monroe's, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Shaquille O'Neal, David Beckham Organizations: Southwest, Service, Kanye West, SXSW, Federal Trade Commission, Machine, Machines, Fox News, Authentic, Brands, Fox Locations: United States

☆ A middle school PTA treasurer stole almost $30,000 from a student-led fundraiser to bet on DraftKings and FanDuel
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Maryland man stole $29,000 in proceeds from a middle school fundraiser. AdvertisementA Maryland man stole $29,000 in proceeds from a middle school fundraiser. James Michael Harris, who was the treasurer for the parent-teacher-student association at Stemmers Run Middle School, pleaded guilty to theft in March 2024. BCPS and Stemmers Run Middle School are not responsible for its debts," the school said in a statement. Representatives for Baltimore County Public Schools, World's Finest Chocolates, DraftKings, FanDuel, The Baltimore County State Attorney's Office, and the Baltimore County Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Persons: —, James Michael Harris, Harris, FanDuel, Rosemary Roos, Roos, Whitney Organizations: Maryland, Baltimore Banner, Service, Middle, Police, Business, The National Council, University of Buffalo, Middle School, Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore County, Attorney's Office, Baltimore County Police Department, Whitney, Baltimore Locations: Baltimore

☆ Almost every single US state has considered laws to abolish daylight-saving time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Almost every state has considering ending daylight-saving time. States cannot switch to a permanent daylight-saving time until federal law changes. A federal law to end daylight-savings has already passed in the Senate, but is waiting on a House vote. AdvertisementAmericans are tired of losing an hour of sleep every year to daylight-saving time. Lawmakers in nearly every state have considered laws that would do away with daylight-saving time since 2019, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures report.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Lawmakers, National Conference of State Legislatures, American Medical Association, Business

☆ Apple reverses decision to ban Epic Games from having its own app store
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Epic Games will be allowed to have its own app store on IOS in Europe. Apple reversed its decision not to allow the Epic Games Store following the passage of the Digital Markets Act in the EU. Epic, which makes Fortnite, has been battling Apple and Google over in-app purchases for years. AdvertisementApple is backing down after saying it would not allow Epic Games to have its own app store on IOS in Europe. Epic Games, which makes Fortnite, has been battling Google and Apple to get around their hold on in-app purchases on their platforms in recent years.

Persons: —, Apple Organizations: IOS, Apple, Digital, Google, Service, Epic Games, European Union, CNN, Epic, Business Locations: Europe

☆ Google confirmed it 'terminated' an employee who staged a protest against Israel at a tech event
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewA Google engineer who publicly protested a talk by the head of Google Israel is now out of a job. Google did not immediately return Business a request for comment from Business Insider on Saturday. Google workers have previously voiced their concerns over fears that Israel could use the contract to support its military. Google workers also flooded the company's employee message board with comments about Project Nimbus on Thursday, CNBC reported.

Persons: —, Barak Regev, Regev, Ariel Koren, Sundar Pichai, Axel Springer Organizations: Service, Google, Business, CNBC, Tech, Nimbus, YouTube, Austin City Council Locations: New York City, Israel, Google's, York

☆ Droughts killed more than 12 million trees in Mississippi and no one has the money to cut them down
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Droughts in 2023 killed more than 12 million pine trees in Mississippi last year. A report from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Mississippi Forestry Commission found that at least 12.5 million trees died in the state after droughts last year. Mississippi experienced heavy droughts last year starting in June that were so bad that NASA could see the Mississippi River shrinking from space in September. During the droughts, experts say that pine beetles swept across the state taking out entire patches of decades-old pine trees. "We are in a position where we are going to have to do something," Vozzo told The Clarion Ledger.

Persons: That's, Sen, Cindy Hyde, Smith, Pete Vozzo, Vozzo, McCain, Madison, De'Keither Stamps, Tate Reeves, Stamps Organizations: Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Business, NASA, Republican, Smith, Property, Clarion, McCain Tree Service, Public Service, De'Keither, Gov Locations: Mississippi, Hyde, Madison, Jackson, Vicksburg

☆ A man stumbled upon a 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil but kept it secret for 2 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A man in France found a massive dinosaur skeleton while walking his dog. The discovery was kept under wraps to preserve the site but sparked a career change for the man who found it. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA man happened upon a 70 million-year-old fossil while walking his dog, but he and local archeologists kept it a secret for two years over fears that vandals would tamper with the find. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Damien Boschetto, Boschetto Organizations: Service, Newsweek, Business Locations: France, Montouliers, Hérault, Cruzy

☆ NASA space photo shows odd-looking sky holes near Florida
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Jessica Orwig | Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A NASA satellite snapped a photo of giant ring-shaped clouds over the Gulf of Mexico. You can see this phenomenon, called cavum clouds, from the ground and in space. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementEarlier this year, NASA's Terra satellite was zipping over the Gulf of Mexico when one of its instruments snapped a photo of some odd-looking clouds. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: NASA, Service, Business Locations: of Mexico

☆ YouTube Music team laid off by Google while workers testified to Austin City Council about working conditions
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The entire YouTube Music team is out of a job after going on strike last year. AdvertisementThe entire YouTube Music team is out of a job as tensions rise at Google parent company, Alphabet. The Alphabet Workers Union, which represents workers at Google's parent company, Alphabet, said Google laid off the YouTube Music team on Friday. "We just got laid off, our jobs are ending today, effective immediately," one worker tells the city council in video of the meeting. The YouTube Music team previously went on strike in February 2023 over Google's crackdown on remote work.

Persons: —, Cognizant, Sundar Pichai, Pichai Organizations: YouTube, Austin City, Google, Service, Alphabet Workers Union, Twitter, YouTube Music Locations: Texas, Austin

☆ Boeing is delaying its 737 Max production expansion after the Alaska Airlines door plug incident
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing is delaying production expansion of its 737 planes, according to a report. An Alaska Airlines flight lost a chunk of its fuselage section in flight in January. AdvertisementBoeing is holding off on a planned expansion of production for its 737 Max planes after an Alaska Airlines flight lost a chunk of the plane while airborne in January. But the company has delayed those plans in the wake of the Alaska Airlines incident earlier this year. AdvertisementThe Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes on January 6 following the incident.

Persons: —, Jennifer Homendy Organizations: Boeing, Alaska Airlines, FAA, Service, Reuters, Transportation Safety, Aviation Administration, Max Locations: Alaska, Portland , Oregon, Ontario , California

☆ Apple has reportedly discussed ideas including a smart ring and glasses — and putting tiny cameras on AirPods
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The company has discussed making a smart ring, though it's not actively working on the product, Bloomberg reported. It's also exploring whether it should make smart glasses and put tiny cameras onto AirPods that could bring AI benefits, the report said. Apple has issued a number of patents for smart glasses and smart rings in the past dating back at least 10 years. Apple has also had early discussions about creating smart glasses as a possible alternative to AirPods, the report said. A smart ring would also be a competitor for Oura, and newcomer Samsung's upcoming Galaxy smart ring that it plans to release later this year, which is designed to keep track of health metrics.

Persons: —, it's, It's, there's, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's Ray, Josh Edelson Organizations: Service, Apple, Bloomberg, Apple Watch, Getty, Samsung, Oura Locations: AFP

☆ There was a Vision Pro party in San Francisco — complete with people dancing and pinching the air
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It's the latest example of people using the Vision Pro in public. Apple released the Vision Pro on February 2, billing it as an immersive "spatial computing" experience with both productivity and entertainment applications — and a $3,499 price tag. AdvertisementThe AI collective Cerebral Valley hosted an event to celebrate the release of the Vision Pro. AdvertisementNick Linck, founder of the Residency, a live-in fellowship for startup founders, shared a post on X showing two guests at a crowded dinner party wearing the Vision Pro. Reibman told The Standard that he has also seen people wearing the Vision Pro at several recent dinners.

Persons: It's, —, San Francisco aren't, partygoers, haven't, they've, Insider's Jordan Hart, Nick Linck, Linck, Reibman Organizations: Service, Apple, San Francisco Standard, Vision, Twitter Locations: San Francisco, California's, San Diego

☆ Peter Thiel doubles down on his program to pay kids not to stay in school
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

That's the message billionaire Peter Thiel is sending as he extends a fellowship program that offers $100,000 to students willing to skip college and develop a company instead. The PayPal founder started the program in 2010 with an initial group of 24 young people. Thiel has said he originally started the venture to prove that the American college system is not for everyone. Thiel told the Journal he decided to extend the program in part because he thinks American universities are now overly "woke," inspiring him to encourage young people to steer clear. "Our view is it's still an outside game, getting people out," Thiel told the outlet.

Persons: Peter Thiel, Thiel, That's, Larry Summers, Vivek Wadhwa, Wadhwa Organizations: PayPal, American, Stanford University, Harvard, Tech, Washington Post, Ivy

☆ Republicans vote unanimously to ban basic income programs in a state with one of the highest homelessness rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Katie Balevic | Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Arizona House Republicans unanimously voted to ban basic income programs in the state. They say guaranteed basic income programs are like socialism. In Iowa, Republican state Rep. Steve Holt introduced a bill to ban basic income programs last month, calling them "socialism on steroids." AdvertisementThe bill's sponsor, Sen. John Wiik, said basic income programs are a "socialist idea" during a committee meeting on February 5. "Guaranteed income programs, also known as basic income, undercut the dignity in earning a dollar, and they're a one-way ticket to government dependency," Wiik said in the hearing.

Persons: —, Lupe Diaz, Diaz, Steve Holt, Sen, John Wiik, Wiik Organizations: Arizona, Service, Republican, Business, — Locations: Arizona, United States, Baltimore, Oregon, Austin, Harris County , Texas, Houston, In Iowa, South Dakota

☆ Oregon is giving homeless young people $1,000 a month to get back on their feet. Here's how it's going.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As state leaders scramble to address the problem, one solution is showing some promise: Give those young people $1,000 cash every month, no strings attached. AdvertisementSo far 120 young people across the state are receiving the direct cash payments, the report says. Participants receive payments of $ 1,000 a month. AdvertisementThe Baltimore Young Families Success Fund , for example, gives young parents in the city $1,000 a month. In Denver, the city recently extended a basic income program offering some residents up to $1,000 a month after participants reported increased housing security .

Persons: —, Anjala Huff, Huff, Tonaeya Moore, Austin, Sen, Paul Bettencourt Organizations: Service, Business, The Oregon Department of Human Services, DHS, Baltimore Young Locations: Oregon, Multnomah County, Portland, Maryland, Denver, Iowa , South Dakota , Arizona, Texas, Harris County, Houston

☆ The Houthis have deployed underwater drones in the Red Sea, Defense Department says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Houthi fighters have deployed underwater drones in the Red Sea, the Defense Department said. Underwater drones are an "extremely lethal" threat to the US Navy, an admiral told the AP. The US launched five "self-defense" strikes on Houthi positions on Saturday, the DoD said. AdvertisementThe US Defense Department said American forces in the Red Sea for the first time spotted and struck an underwater drone deployed by Houthi fighters on Saturday. CENTCOM, the central command for the US Department of Defense, said the United States launched "self-defense" strikes on Saturday against "three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned surface vessel (USV)" in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and the Red Sea.

Persons: — Organizations: Defense Department, US Navy, AP, US, DoD, Service, US Defense Department, Houthi, US Department of Defense, Business Locations: Red, United States, Houthi, Yemen

☆ Arizona Republicans call basic income payments 'unearned,' introduce a bill to ban them
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Republican lawmakers in Arizona have introduced a bill to ban guaranteed basic income programs. Arizona state lawmakers introduced a bill that would ban any municipality or county from making payments to a person as part of a guaranteed basic income program. Numerous cities across the country are experimenting with guaranteed basic income programs either through local initiatives or nonprofits. Guaranteed basic income programs are less politically fraught than a universal basic income, though they aren't without critics. Other places, like Harris County, Texas — which includes Houston — have also used COVID-19 funds for guaranteed basic income programs .

Persons: —, Bill, Andrew Yang, Lupe Diaz, Diaz, John Gillette Organizations: Republicans, Service, Republican, Arizona, Phoenix City Council, Phoenix New Times, Houston, Lawmakers Locations: Arizona, Iowa, South Dakota, Denver, Phoenix, Harris County , Texas, Texas, . South Dakota

☆ Xbox is now on sale at Target for less than it was on Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe Xbox Series S is on sale for cheaper than it was on Black Friday after reports Microsoft would share Xbox exclusives with other gaming platforms. The Xbox Series S, which normally retails at $299, is on sale at Target for $219, or about $80 off. The Series S is already the budget version of the current console, selling at a retail price of $200 cheaper than the Xbox Series X, which boasts higher-level graphics performance and more storage. The deal clocks in even lower than the lowest Black Friday deal for the console, which saw them going for $229.99 on sale at Dell, according to IGN. Sony has sold more than 50 million PlayStation 5 consoles since its release in November 2020, while the Xbox Series S and Series X have sold about 21 million units, IGN reported .

Persons: —, Peter Kafka Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Target, Business, Dell, IGN, Xbox, Sony, Financial Times, PlayStation, Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, Netflix

☆ A man who has lived in a New York City hotel rent-free for 5 years may finally have to move out
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA New Yorker successfully lived in the iconic New Yorker Hotel building for half a decade without paying a single cent in rent — but the jig is up. Police arrested Mickey Barreto last week and charged him with filing fraudulent property records after attempting to claim homeownership of the hotel, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. For the Manhattan district attorney, it was the last straw. Advertisement“As alleged, Mickey Barreto repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of one of the City’s most iconic landmarks, the New Yorker Hotel,” Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney said in a statement. Business Insider reached out to Barreto through his company, Mickey Barreto Missions, but didn’t hear back before publication.

Persons: —, Mickey Barreto, Prosecutors, Barreto, Alvin Bragg, Barretto couldn't, ” Barreto Organizations: Service, Yorker, New Yorker, Police, Manhattan, Attorney's, Business, New York, Holy Spirit Association, DA, New York City Department of Environmental, Unification Church, Mickey Barreto Missions, Associated Press Locations: Manhattan, New

☆ Republicans in Idaho introduced an anti-cannibalism law to address fears around human composting
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

State Rep. Heather Scott said she was inspired after learning about human composting. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRepublican lawmakers in Idaho introduced an anti-cannibalism law to address fears that human composting could lead to accidental cannibalism. State Rep. Heather Scott of Blanchard, Idaho, introduced the bill on Thursday. It would expand the state's already existing cannibalism laws.

Persons: Heather Scott, Scott, —, Heather Scott of Organizations: Service, Cornell University, Business Locations: Idaho, Heather Scott of Blanchard , Idaho

☆ There's apparently just so much bacon Americans care to eat, leaving pork producers scrambling
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Americans are eating less pork than they are beef and chicken, researchers say. Demand for pork in United States is down 9% from 20 years ago. Pork supply, meanwhile, is up 25% at the same time, leaving producers scrambling. Demand for pork in the United States is down 9% from 20 years ago, researchers from Kansas State University estimate, according to The Wall Street Journal. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Kansas State University, Wall Street, National Pork Board, Business Locations: United States

☆ Arlington, Virginia gave people $500 a month. They worked less overtime and pursued education instead, a report found.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA guaranteed basic income program in Arlington, Virginia that gave low-income residents $500 a month with no strings attached allowed them to find their footing, seek out education, and improve their job security, a final report found. Recipients said reducing their weekend and overtime hours helped them pursue education and certifications that could lead to higher-paying jobs. Arlington is not the first city to experiment with a guaranteed basic income program. Some lawmakers in Texas, however, oppose basic income programs. One state senator asked the state attorney general to declare a similar program in the Houston area unconstitutional.

Persons: —, Uber Organizations: Service, Arlington Community Foundation, Arlington County Department of Human Services, Business, Arlington Community Fund Locations: Arlington , Virginia, Arlington, Washington, DC, Virginia, Baltimore, Boston, Austin, Denver , Minneapolis, Texas, Houston

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