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☆ Best Buy-Owned Phone Service Faces Angry Customers After 3G Network Shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Will Feuer | Thomas Gryta | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When Teresa Kurtz ‘s 78-year-old mother accidentally locked herself out of her home last week in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she pulled out her Jitterbug flip phone to seek help, only to discover no calls would go through. “This was one little instance where it’s like, oh my gosh, this is her lifeline,” said Ms. Kurtz, 60, about her mother, who lives alone and faced chilly temperatures before receiving help from a neighbor.

☆ CNH Industrial union workers at two U.S. plants reject proposed contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Bianca Flowers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Still, union members said the proposed contract failed to provide enough of a raise to combat inflation, additional vacation days or better healthcare coverage. The UAW represents about 1,000 workers at the plants, and union officials had warned a rejection of the latest offer was likely. With a tightening labor market, union workers in the industrial sector for companies such as Boeing (BA.N) and Deere & Co (DE.N) have gone on strike in recent years. For CNH workers, who last struck the company in 2004, some have taken second jobs to augment strike pay they receive from the UAW. Reporting by Bianca Flowers in Racine, Wisconsin; Editing by Leslie Adler, Ben Klayman, William Mallard and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Don’t sweat it; there's still a chance to win $940M Mega Millions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: 1 min

DES MOINES, Iowa — Lottery players whose numbers didn’t hit or who forgot to even buy a ticket will have another shot at a nearly $1 billion Mega Millions prize when a drawing is held Friday night. The estimated $940 million jackpot has been growing for more than two months and now ranks as the sixth largest in U.S. history. The $940 million jackpot is for winners who choose an annuity, paid annually over 29 years. Winners usually want cash, which for Friday night’s drawing would be an estimated $483.5 million. Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

☆ Iowa woman believed to be the oldest person in the U.S. dies at 115
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

LAKE CITY, Iowa — An Iowa woman who was believed to be the oldest living person in the U.S. has died at the age of 115. Bessie Laurena Hendricks, of Lake City, died Tuesday at the Shady Oaks Care Center, according to Lampe & Powers Funeral Home in Lake City. Hendricks celebrated her 115th birthday at the home on Nov. 7 and was listed last year by the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group as the country’s oldest living person until her death. A funeral service for Hendricks will be held at Lampe & Powers Funeral Home on Saturday. The Gerontology Research Group reports that Hendrick’s death leaves 114-year-old Edie Ceccarelli of California as the country’s oldest living person.

☆ American is cutting 3 more cities and leaving one without airline service entirely — see the full list of 19 cities it has dropped since the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

American Airlines is cutting 3 cities from its network, blaming the pilot shortage and "soft demand." One small airport — Del Rio, Texas — will lose airline service entirely after the carrier's exit. Del Rio, a tiny city in southern Texas with only about 35,000 people, is currently served by American from Dallas/Fort Worth. However, the airline's announced exit will leave Del Rio without any air service link to the rest of the country. Del Rio joins a growing list of 19 cities that American has dropped since the pandemic, the carrier confirmed to Insider.

☆ How to be a better investor in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —If you’re planning to invest your hard-earned money in stocks, bonds and other assets this year, let humility be your guide. In response, stocks and bonds, which typically don’t move in the same direction, moved down in tandem in 2022, with both ending the year deep in the red. Ignore the noiseWhether 2023 is great or awful for stocks — or, more likely, both at different times — that shouldn’t sway your investing decisions. Given recession concerns, Wilson noted that value stocks, which represent companies with strong fundamentals but are considered underpriced, tend to perform better during economic downturns. For those with a long time horizon and a high tolerance for risk, Wilson suggests looking for buying opportunities among stocks that have been hammered.

☆ Analysis: Democrats' downgrade of Iowa's role is a blow to Corn Belt, biofuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Iowa's political importance created a cottage industry out of educating and supporting candidates on issues that corn farmers and ethanol manufacturers care about. "Forward looking, to get Democratic candidates exposed to farm issues and get these issues in front of them is going to be extremely challenging. “It’s a blow to the industry, in terms of educating and informing the Democratic candidates,” Link said. Link noted that many of the Democratic candidates vying for the nomination were often already serving as elected leaders in Washington or would later become vice presidents or cabinet secretaries. The Iowa caucuses helped developed empathy for rural issues that could later be tapped for legislative success.

☆ Walter Cunningham, last surviving Apollo 7 astronaut, dies at 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Walter Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASA’s Apollo program, died Tuesday in Houston. It was NASA’s first crewed space mission since the deaths of the three Apollo 1 astronauts in a launch pad fire Jan. 27, 1967. “We never even knew that there were astronauts when I was growing up,” Cunningham told The Spokesman-Review. After retiring from NASA in 1971, Cunningham worked in engineering, business and investing, and became a public speaker and radio host. Although Cunningham never crewed another space mission after Apollo 7, he remained a proponent of space exploration.

☆ Their colleges banned TikTok over security fears. These students vow it won't stop them from scrolling.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Daysia Tolentino | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

But a handful of students at the affected universities who spoke with NBC News say the newly enacted policies won’t stop them from scrolling their For You pages. Kay Ivey banned TikTok on state-owned devices and networks on Dec. 12, citing cybersecurity issues and fears over Chinese spying. Lawmakers in the U.S. House and the Senate also proposed a bipartisan bill to ban TikTok federally on Dec. 13. A University of Oklahoma spokesperson said the school is complying with Stitt’s executive order. Texada said he felt that TikTok, beyond helping with marketing, has also been a resource for the university community, particularly international students.

☆ DeSantis is often described as 'Trump without the baggage,' but there are plenty of differences between the two Republicans. How they play up their contrasts will decide who wins in 2024, GOP insiders
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

DeSantis could end up running for president in 2024, and he's widely viewed as similar to Trump. He's "Trump without the baggage," "Trump with a brain," Trump "without the drama," and "Trump's Mini Me." The pile on is a problem for both men should DeSantis join Trump in the ring for the 2024 nomination contest. "We know what we get with President Trump," he said. In Florida, DeSantis pushed the legislature to limit ballot collection by non-family members.

☆ 'Bomb cyclone' forces DoorDash to pause food deliveries in multiple US cities. The company says more shutdowns are coming and New York City could be next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Winter Storm Elliot is intensifying into a "bomb cyclone," according to The Weather Channel. DoorDash said it is pausing food deliveries in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. 1 delivery operator, is suspending operations in multiple cities in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. "We have activated our Severe Weather Protocol in response to Winter Storm Elliot," the company said. According to The Weather Channel, Winter Storm Elliot is intensifying in the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes.

☆ Live updates: Powerful winter storm to bring heavy snow and ‘dangerous’ cold, forecasters warn
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Phil-Helsel-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Nbc News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Temperatures in Denver are expected to sink below zero by Thursday morning, the National Weather Service has warned. Snow appears to blow across the runway at Denver International airport on Wednesday. More than 59 million people, including most of Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota east to parts of Ohio, were under winter storm warnings Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service. Another 7 million were under blizzard warnings, and wind chill warnings covered 57 million people, as far west as Washington state and including Texas and Tennessee, according to the agency. Airlines have pledged to waive change fees or to take other steps to help passengers in anticipation of travel disruptions.

☆ We're using this nasty sell-off to take another nibble of this industrial stock
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

We're adding to our position in Emerson Electric (EMR), buying 75 shares at roughly $94.08. Following Thursday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 425 shares of EMR, increasing its weighting to 1.46% from 1.20%. We are making another buy into Thursday's nasty selloff, making use of our larger than usual cash position of about 11%. Emerson Electric is a dividend aristocrat with 66 straight years of increases. Workers produce some of the specialized valves at Emerson Electric Co.'s factory in Marshalltown, Iowa, July 26, 2018.

☆ Brock Purdy: From 'Mr. Irrelevant' to beating the NFL's GOAT
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

And this bull is now a steer, so he’s irrelevant. Justin Casterline/Getty ImagesWhen Purdy was selected by the 49ers – and that famous red and white jersey was brought out with “Mr. Irrelevant” celebrations began in 1976, when former 49ers receiver Paul Salata founded “Irrelevant Week” in Newport Beach, California. Purdy celebrates at midfield after the Iowa State Cyclones defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 24-21 at Jack Trice Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. “I’ve tried to keep myself from being surprised about Brock Purdy years ago because nothing surprises me anymore with him.”

☆ North Dakota, Iowa ban TikTok from state-owned devices
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - North Dakota and Iowa have joined a growing number of U.S. states in banning the Chinese-owned short-video-sharing app TikTok from state-owned devices, citing national security concerns. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued directives prohibiting executive branch agencies from downloading the app on any government-issued equipment. TikTok has said the concerns are largely fueled by misinformation and are happy to meet with policymakers to discuss the company's practices. "We're disappointed that so many states are jumping on the political bandwagon to enact policies based on unfounded falsehoods about TikTok that will do nothing to advance the national security of the United States," the company said Wednesday. At a hearing last month, FBI Director Chris Wray said TikTok's U.S. operations raise national security concerns.

We're initiating a position in Emerson Electric (EMR) Wednesday, buying 150 shares at roughly $97.91 apiece. Following Wednesday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 150 shares of EMR, representing about 0.5% of the portfolio. Ever since Lal Karsanbhai took over as CEO in 2021, Emerson has accelerated its portfolio transformation to create value for shareholders and become a pure-play automation company. In May, the company closed the combination of its industrial software business with Aspen Technology (AZPN) to create a global industrial software leader. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ More than half of people involved in road accidents had drugs or alcohol in their system, study says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —More than 55% of people involved in serious or fatal road accidents tested positive for drugs or alcohol, according to a new study. Alcohol and drugs can impair a person’s reaction time, thinking and physical ability to navigate the road. The study found that a quarter of serious or fatal accidents involved someone who tested positive for some form of weed, and nearly a quarter more had alcohol in their system. About 11% of people tested positive for some form of stimulant, like cocaine or methamphetamines, and 9% had opioids in their system. In 32% of the fatal accidents and 18% of the ones with serious injuries, there were two or more drugs in the system of someone involved.

☆ How Republicans are 'playing to the Fox News crowd' with attacks on TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Republicans are escalating their attacks on TikTok. “It’s playing to the Fox News crowd,” a person close to TikTok, who requested anonymity because they were not publicly authorized to speak on the matter, said on Tuesday. The posturing comes at a pivotal moment in the years-long negotiations between TikTok and the US government on a potential deal that aims to address national security concerns and allow the app’s continued use in the US. But, as The WSJ recently reported, the national security talks have hit a snag as pressure mounts on the company. But the type of action being taken by Republicans seems more geared toward playing to their base than anything else.

[1/2] A view of the U.S. Supreme Court building on the first day of the court's new term in Washington, U.S. October 3, 2022. The Supreme Court on Dec. 1 said it would hear arguments on the legality of the debt relief program in the other case pursued by six mostly Republican-led states. Biden announced in August that the U.S. government would forgive up to $10,000 in student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 a year, or $250,000 for married couples. Students who received Pell Grants to benefit lower-income college students would have up to $20,000 of their debt canceled. The Congressional Budget Office in September calculated that the debt forgiveness program would cost taxpayers about $400 billion.

These psychiatric drugs are regulated by the federal government as controlled substances that have high potential for abuse and addiction but are not opioids. The impact on independent pharmacies' prescriptions of psychiatric drugs from the widening crackdown on opioids has not been previously reported. It is dedicated to mitigating the abuse of controlled substances without interfering in good-faith clinical decisions made by doctors, she said. "Pharmaceutical distributors must walk a legal and ethical tightrope between providing access to necessary medications and acting to prevent diversion of controlled substances," Esposito said in a written statement. The FDA, the HHS agency that administers the list of controlled substances, did not respond to a request for comment.

☆ Nutella maker Ferrero scoops up owner of Blue Bunny ice creams
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wells, which was founded in 1913 as a dairy delivery wagon business, has become the world's largest family owned and managed ice cream company. "This represents a win-win partnership, bringing together ice cream experts and confectionery champions," Giovanni Ferrero said in a statement. "Together, we have the power of one and are well placed to grow and compete in the ice cream market," he added. Ferrero bought Spanish ice cream company ICFC in a two-stage deal in 2019 and 2021. The Wells' transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in early 2023.

☆ How to stay safe in an extreme solar flare, where the sun bombards Earth with radiation and magnetic havoc
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Stay safe during a solar storm by preparing to lose power, printing out maps, and staying off planes. What is a solar flare and how do they affect Earth? CMEs primarily affect the magnetosphere, jostling Earth's magnetic field lines in an event called a geomagnetic storm, also known as a solar storm. NASAGetting ready for the possibility of a major solar flare isn't that different from getting ready for any other disaster. If you follow the basics of disaster preparedness, you'll probably be ready for a solar flare.

☆ You may pay nearly $8 for a McDonald's Big Mac in Massachusetts versus $3 in Oklahoma. Here's why costs can vary — even for locations across the street from one another.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Until that happens, he's taken on the unofficial position of "fast-food data scientist," thanks to his latest side project, the Fast Food Index. Fast Food IndexAccording to the Fast Food Index, the most expensive Chipotle chicken burrito is sold for $11.10 in Manhattan's garment district. Other Fast Food Index findings:At $7.89, a McDonald's in Lee, Massachusetts, is home to the most expensive Big Mac. The most expensive Taco Bell crunchy taco is sold in a small town in California. Chipotle menu prices increased by 4% in August, and the company has raised prices for delivery.

☆ Senator reveals detailed steps to secure his homes as threats against US lawmakers surge
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Serving in Congress may require living in a fortress as threats of violence against members surge. A letter from Sen. Mike Crapo's lawyers reveals the US Capitol Police recommended multiple security upgrades for his homes. Threats are causing members to consider additional security for themselves and their families, the lawyers wrote. Crapo's lawyers wrote to the FEC because they want to know how to best pay for all of these updates on two homes. Crapo's lawyers wrote, however, that the threat environment since then "has actually worsened."

☆ Democrats’ plan to give Iowa the boot from top primary spot is great news
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Joshua Spivak | Joshua Spivak Is The Author Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

This year, it’s the Democrats with a noteworthy shakeup to the 2024 primary and caucus calendar. Biden finished a distant fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire and was seen as dead in the water. Perhaps what makes Iowa even more problematic for Democrats is that it has moved out of the political center. In 1988’s Democratic caucus, it is still arguably unknown who really won: the declared winner, Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, or Illinois Sen. Paul Simon. Perhaps what makes Iowa even more problematic for Democrats is that it has moved out of the political center.

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