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☆ What the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action at colleges means for future applicants
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Harvard Yard, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The ruling is considered a massive blow to decades-old efforts to boost enrollment of minorities at American universities through policies that took into account applicants' race. "Without considering race, there would be a reduction in the number of underrepresented students of color." "This idea, essentially striking down affirmative action, on its surface will result in less diverse classes," said Robert Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. "The ruling does allow for students to express, through their essay or otherwise, things about themselves that could include race," Franek also noted.

Persons: Maddie Meyer, Christopher Rim, Cara McClellan, Robert Franek, Kelly Slay, John Roberts, Franek, — Organizations: Harvard, Harvard University in, Getty, Command, University of North, Racial, Civil Justice Clinic, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, University of California, Michigan, Urban Institute, The Princeton, Vanderbilt University, Colleges, Finance, SUNY Locations: Harvard University in Cambridge , Massachusetts, University of North Carolina

☆ The 10 worst places in the U.S. for renters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

To determine the best and worst places for renters, RentCafe ranked 136 U.S. cities on metrics ranging from average apartment size to local unemployment rate to influx of new business. While the best cities for renters offer strong local economies and sizeable apartments at reasonable prices, the worst cities for renters leave much to be desired. Detroit is the worst city for renters, the rent comparison website found. Outside of Detroit, however, you'll find most of the bottom-10 cities for renters along the coasts — especially in the Northeast. Here are RentCafe's worst cities for renters.

Persons: RentCafe, —, you'll Locations: Detroit

☆ Municipal bonds can offer your portfolio tax-free income and stability as recession fears loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"People see [municipal bonds] as a defensive position for two reasons," said Shannon Saccocia, chief investment officer at NB Private Wealth. "Historically, municipal bonds have had low default rates," wrote Jared Woodard, investment and exchange-traded fund strategist at Bank of America, in a June 12 report. For instance, there's the Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VCAIX) and the Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAN) . In select situations, some advisors are recommending closed-end municipal bond funds. Closed-end muni bond funds trading at a deep discount include the BNY Mellon Municipal Income (DMF) and the MFS High Income Municipal (CXE) .

Persons: Shannon Saccocia, Jerome Powell, Jared Woodard, Nisha Patel, Patel, Paul Winter Organizations: Bank of America, Bond, Muni Bond ETF, Vanguard, Income Fund, Five, BNY, Income Locations: York, BNY Mellon

☆ Opinion | Juneteenth Is Different Out West
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Tiya Miles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The location of this small event, it turned out, was an old Black neighborhood that was changing over time as residents from different racial backgrounds and income levels moved in for the river views. Juneteenth festivities have long represented tucked-away spaces, deeply local, somewhat surprising and fitted to the variances of Black life in America. In other parts of the country, Black communities celebrated what they called Emancipation Day, keyed to a different historical timestamp. Many Black communities along the Atlantic seaboard celebrated Emancipation Day. There, Juneteenth will be celebrated in the historic building of another African Meeting House, which will have a bicentennial anniversary in 2025.

Persons: General Gordon Granger’s, Jacqueline Jones, ”, Juneteenth Organizations: Black University of Michigan, West Indies, Atlantic, of, House, American, Heritage, Fund, National Trust for Historic Preservation Locations: boardinghouses, America, Galveston , Texas, West, Massachusetts, Caribbean, Black, Beacon Hill, Nantucket, Cape Cod, MAAH, New Guinea

The 2023 NBA Finals are well underway, with Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat backing down Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets for an NBA championship. How to watch the NBA Finals in the USABC exclusively broadcasts the NBA Finals this year, but you can also catch all the games on partner station ESPN3. If your local TV provider isn't simulcasting the game, you can still watch Nuggets vs Heat game 3 using the live TV streaming services we recommend above. ET ABC, ESPN3 Game 5, Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets (if necessary) June 12, 8:30 p.m. ET ABC, ESPN3 Game 7, Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets (if necessary) June 18, 8 p.m.

Persons: Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jokic's, Nikola Jokic, Lebron James, you'll, that's, you've, We've, ExpressVPN Organizations: Miami Heat, Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets, NBA, ABC, ESPN3, Sling, Denver Nuggets, Lakers, Heat, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN, Hulu, Nuggets, ExpressVPN, Denver Nuggets Denver, Miami, Denver Nuggets Miami, Denver Locations: United States

☆ In This Thriller, the Psycho Killers Have a Southern Drawl
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Stephen King | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

In “Blacktop Wasteland” and “Razorblade Tears” (and an earlier thriller, “My Darkest Prayer”), Cosby worked the outlaw side of the crime/suspense genre. In this new one he’s written a crackling good police procedural. Titus deals with two girlfriends, one new and one old (the old one is, unsurprisingly, a true-crime podcaster). As in most novels of this type, he’s positive he’s missed some vital clue, and sure enough, he has. This is news from a part of America that’s rarely written about, especially from a Black perspective.

Persons: Cosby, Titus, he’s, It’s, —, Alfred Hitchcock —, Elmore Leonard, “, shouters, Walter Mosley, it’s, you’ve, America that’s Organizations: Sheriff Crown, Los Angeles Public Library, Dollar Locations: America, County, ”

☆ In California’s Heartland, a New Resistance Movement Is Taking Root
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Mark Arax | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The campaign unearthed such racism that Black youths canvassing the Northside for Measure P were threatened. Measure P landed on the 2018 ballot. Sales-tax measures almost always require a two-thirds vote. Celedon’s legal counsel argued that because Measure P was initiated by citizens and not elected officials, only a simple majority was needed. Measure P, in its first year alone, raised $42 million.

Persons: You’re, they’d, ” Celedon, Mayor Dyer couldn’t, don’t, ”, Northsiders, we’ve, ” Garibay, Mayor Dyer Organizations: Southside, Civic, Blackstone, Community Medical Centers, Clovis Locations: Northside, they’re

☆ China, birthplace of COVID, lays tracks for a new global health crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Bat viruses have been the source of multiple health crises besides those related to coronaviruses, including recent outbreaks of Ebola, Nipah, and Marburg. Partners in risk The total area at high risk for bat viruses to infect humans more than doubled in size in Laos between 2002 and 2020. The animals, known to be susceptible to bat viruses, included raccoon dogs, bamboo rats and porcupines. As China boomed in recent decades, global demand for rubber also skyrocketed, leading to further development and deforestation here. Already, scientists have found local bats bearing viruses closely related to those responsible for the 2003 SARS and COVID-19 pandemics.

☆ Bat lands worldwide are besieged, seeding risk of a new pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

This collision – bats and humans competing for resources on territory long the domain of the bats – could trigger the next pandemic. As people destroy bat habitats worldwide, they are unwittingly helping bat-borne viruses mutate, multiply, and infect other species, including homo sapiens. For millennia, bat viruses lurked across the forests of West Africa and in other undisturbed parts of the world but posed little threat to humanity. They’re potent proliferators: Some roost tightly together and in close quarters with other bat species. Each of the bat viruses analyzed by Reuters has epidemic potential, according to the World Health Organization.

☆ How Reuters pinpointed bat-virus risk zones worldwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Areas where conditions are similar are more prone to spillover, scientists say. The Reuters analysis, which assessed spillover risk through 2020, has proven to have some predictive power. Similar statistical models are used widely to analyze data in ecology, and researchers use them to understand spillover risk. More than one of every five people on the planet is living in areas where the risk is highest for spillover. Using epidemic modeling software called GLEAMviz, the news agency simulated a worldwide pandemic originating from the spillover of a theoretical novel virus.

ORLANDO, Florida, May 15 (Reuters) - China's yuan faces significant long-term obstacles to becoming a global reserve currency of any great import, but the biggest challenge in the near term is the fact that nobody wants to buy Chinese bonds. Reuters ImageReuters Image"It is very hard to create a reserve currency, without attractive reserve assets. Exante Data's figures show foreign investors bought a net $558 billion of Chinese bonds between 2010 and 2021. But in a pool of $12 trillion global reserves, of which nearly 80% is denominated in dollars and euros, these are very small numbers. Reuters ImageRESERVE STATUSAny currency that has designs on attaining international reserve status must meet several criteria and fulfill several roles.

☆ Travel costs fell in April's inflation reading. The dip may be short-lived, experts warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Typical trip costs increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2023, according to the NerdWallet Travel Price Index, which includes prices for flights, hotels, car rentals and dining out. When expressed in dollar terms, travelers would have paid an extra $180 per person for a $2,000 trip, NerdWallet found. "As has been the case ever since the onset of the pandemic, travel prices have been volatile," said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. "I think you're going to enjoy it a little bit more," Griscavage said of off-season travel to popular cities. Use your rewardsMany people built up frequent flier miles during the pandemic by using their credit cards that carry travel rewards benefits, Josephs said.

☆ Summer travel: How to save during a busy, expensive season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty ImagesThe following is an excerpt from "This week, your wallet," a weekly audio show on Twitter produced by CNBC's Personal Finance team. Here are some insights and ways to save on your trip, shared during a recent conversation with Griscavage, CNBC airline reporter Leslie Josephs and CNBC associate personal finance editor Ken Kiesnoski about summer travel. To that point, airline officials have indicated in company earnings reports that they expect a "monster summer," Josephs said. Use your rewardsMany people built up frequent flier miles during the pandemic by using their credit cards that carry travel rewards benefits, Josephs said. Now is a good time to use — and not hoard — those benefits, especially since it's expensive to buy a flight in cash.

☆ The 11 neighborhoods Zillow users are most obsessed with — and how much homes cost in each locale
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The website HouseFresh identified the most popular neighborhoods with Zillow home shoppers. Home shoppers searched and viewed houses in these areas the most on Zillow. Read on for the top 11 locations, which are scattered throughout the South and West. A new report from HouseFresh, an indoor air quality advisory website, has ranked the neighborhoods that Americans find the most interesting. The majority of neighborhoods that make up HouseFresh's list have median home values that surpass the national average of $334,269, according to Zillow.

☆ The 10 best states to retire in—and Florida isn't No. 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Move over, Florida, a new locale ranks as the best state to retire in. 1 state to retire in, Virginia has taken the top spot this year, according to personal finance website WalletHub's "2023's Best States to Retire" study. WalletHub evaluated all 50 U.S. states in three key categories: affordability, quality of life and access to health care. A state's overall retirement friendliness was based on its total score across all three categories. CHECK OUT: The 10 most expensive U.S. states to retire in — California didn’t make the list

☆ Oldest-known bat skeletons shed light on evolution of flying mammals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A few other fossil species from around this time still have that claw, but it's been lost in most living bats," Jones added. This species was closely related to two other bat species whose fossils were previously found at the same locale - Icaronycteris index and Onychonycteris finneyi. This indicates there was a greater diversity of species early in the history of bats than previously appreciated. The fossils represent the oldest-known bat skeletons - both very complete and well-preserved. The only older bat fossils are isolated teeth and jaw fragments from places including Portugal and China, dating to about 55 to 56 million years ago.

☆ The Best Places to Buy a House on a Budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Michael Kolomatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

First-time home buyers around the country are struggling to amass a down payment in this high-inflation economy. For those who work remotely or are open to relocating, a recent study by Rocket Homes can help find a new locale. To arrive at the 10 best metros for these buyers, researchers compared home prices, mortgage payments, income and sales taxes, unemployment and crime rates, the health of residents and climate hazards. Thirty-year fixed-rate mortgages and 20 percent down payments with an interest rate of 6.5 percent were factored into the calculations. Pittsburgh came in seventh, thanks in large part to the health of its residents.

☆ Oldest fossils of remarkable marine reptiles found in Arctic
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Fossils dating to about 250 million years ago unearthed in a harsh and remote locale - Norway's Arctic island of Spitsbergen - are now providing surprising insight into the rise of ichthyosaurs. The fossils showed this one, which has not yet been given a scientific name, was quite advanced anatomically. The site where the fossils were found is a classic Arctic landscape with high snow-capped mountains along the coast of a deep fjord. The mass extinction shook up land and marine ecosystems and opened opportunities for new species to fill ecological roles vacated by extinct creatures. Fossils show ichthyosaurs giving live birth to their young.

☆ Stocking up on income-paying assets? Here’s how to maximize their tax efficiency
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The calculus of tax optimization Tax optimization begins with the three types of investment accounts available to investors: taxable brokerage accounts, tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts, and tax-free accounts like Roth IRAs. Tax-deferred accounts, meanwhile, allow money to accumulate free of taxes – but you're on the hook for income taxes when you take withdrawals. Your individual tax situation will also be a key factor in determining which income assets are best for you and where you should hold them. However, investors in a low tax bracket might be better off going for taxable bonds – which tend to pay higher yields than municipal bonds. Asset location Taxable brokerage accounts are generally a good place to hold T-bills if you're going to tap the money soon.

☆ Portugal, Spain and 8 other countries where a bottle of wine costs less than $7
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you want to buy the cheapest bottle of wine without sacrificing quality, look no further than Portugal. The European country is the least expensive locale to buy a bottle of quality wine. On average, a standard 750ml bottle of wine costs about £3.49, or about $4.17, in Portugal, according to Compare My Jet's "World's Wine Habit Index." For comparison, the average price for a bottle of wine in the United States is more than triple what you would pay in Portugal. Here are the 10 least expensive countries to buy a bottle of wine.

☆ Chipotle Mexican Grill to launch new spinoff, Farmesa Fresh Eatery, in a ghost kitchen
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Chipotle Mexican Grill is launching a new spinoff, called Farmesa Fresh Eatery, in a California ghost kitchen. And, "when the time is right," Lawton said, Chipotle will use its loyalty program database to attract potential Farmesa customers. When opened, the Santa Monica location will be Kitchen United's 24th ghost kitchen. For Chipotle, Kitchen United's model allows the restaurant chain to test out the new brand with reduced risk. For now, Chipotle's chief purpose with the location is simply to learn, but that doesn't mean Farmesa won't grow.

The American Express Centurion Lounge in Seattle has catapulted from the smallest lounge to one of the biggest. American ExpressThe American Express Centurion Lounge in Seattle has expanded from 4,000 square feet to nearly 14,000 square feet. American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. However, this lounge brings to the table something no other Centurion Lounge offers: A full-service coffee bar, dubbed "Blue Roast by American Express." American ExpressWhat to know about the Seattle American Express Centurion LoungeThe Amex Centurion Lounge network continues to improve by adding new locations and expanding current ones.

☆ Chipotle is launching Farmesa, a spinoff selling 'California-inspired' bowls of salmon, whipped potatoes, quinoa, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chipotle is launching a virtual restaurant brand featuring "California-inspired" bowls. The virtual restaurant makes its debut later this month in a ghost kitchen in Santa Monica, California. Farmesa will operate at the Kitchen United Mix food hall at Third Street Promenade, a tourist-heavy outdoor retail center in Santa Monica. Kitchen United is a Pasadena, California-based ghost kitchen operator with locations all over the US. Chipotle's new concept, Farmesa, is opening later this month at ghost kitchen/food hall Kitchen United Mix.

When people think of great places to work remotely, what usually comes to mind is some resort-worthy locale like a beach in Hawaii or North Carolina, or a cabin in the Rockies. But what about Springfield, Mo.

☆ A Rising-Star Gallerist Opens in Art-World Hot Spot Mexico City
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Kelly Crow | Photography Darryl Richardson For Wsj. Magazine | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mariane Ibrahim at the new Mexico City outpost of her namesake gallery. “I love that we’re in this massive metropolis of a city that’s close to the U.S. yet it has an ancient culture and it’s so refined,” she says. Dealer Mariane Ibrahim, one of the art world’s rising tastemakers, has an uncanny ability to sense where the global art scene will pivot next. Over the past decade, Ibrahim has championed artists primarily from Africa and its diaspora in her eponymous galleries, first in Seattle and now in Chicago and Paris. In each locale, Ibrahim has stoked and leveraged the curiosity of local curators and collectors to propel her artists onto the international art stage—particularly Ghana’s Amoako Boafo, whose finger-painted portraits in bright hues have sold for as much as $3.4 million at auction.

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