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☆ I grew up in Australia and worked in tourism for years. First-time visitors always make these 5 mistakes.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Ash Jurberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewI'm a born-and-bred Aussie who's been fortunate enough to work in travel and tourism, promoting Australia to international visitors. Unfortunately, though, while working in the industry, I've seen visitors believe the same misconceptions about Australia and make similar mistakes over and over again. AdvertisementNot experiencing the local cuisineI always recommend visitors sample local foods like Vegemite on toast. Being overly paranoid about deadly animalsWhen I worked in tourism, a lot of prospective travelers asked me how I survived all the deadly animals in Australia. Although it's true that Australia is known for having deadly snakes, sharks, and spiders, I've never seen one outside a zoo.

Persons: —, it's, africanpix, you'll, she's, I've Organizations: Service, Tourism, Business, Australia Australia, Sydney, Getty Locations: Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, parma

☆ Nearly half of adult cancer deaths in the US could be prevented by making lifestyle changes, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Smoking was the leading risk factor by far, the study found, contributing to nearly 1 in 5 cancer cases and nearly a third of cancer deaths. Other key risk factors included excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet and infections such as HPV. Overall, researchers analyzed 18 modifiable risk factors across 30 types of cancer. In 2019, these lifestyle factors were linked to more than 700,000 new cancer cases and more than 262,000 deaths, the study found. But modifiable risk factors contributed to more than half of new cases for 19 of the 30 types of cancer evaluated.

Persons: ”, Arif Kamal, Kamal, ” Kamal, cancer, —, Marcus Plescia, ” Plescia, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, you’ve, “ it’s, “ Organizations: CNN, United States —, American Cancer Society, Association of State, Territorial Health, CNN Health Locations: United States

☆ Illegal Eviction Complaints Rise As Police Fail to Enforce
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Cecilia Reyes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +44 min

The nature of illegal lockouts means they are hard to track directly. One of the responding officers calls a sergeant over, who says there's nothing else they can do. While only 14% of lockout calls led to a police report, 86% of calls about shoplifting did. As they walk over, one of the officers tells the other to look up "illegal lockout" on his phone. A 2006 bill that would have defined illegal lockouts for all Illinois residents was defeated.

Persons: Alfred Perry, He'd, Perry, Dan Wright, Perry didn't, Wright, Bridget Bennett, Dan hadn't, I'd, he'd, Charlie Bliss, Matthew Desmond, Lockouts, Jersey City's, haven't, he's, David Leibowitz, Leibowitz, —, Pretium —, Kristi DesJarlais, Siegel, Sean Thueson , , Thueson, Blackstone, lockouts, Pretium, Katherine Kelly, RealPage, Jennifer Bowcock, William Prosser ,, they're, Donna Rossi, Sara Heymann, Meghan Aguilar, Misty Skinner, Skinner, Levi Wilhelm, It's, hasn't, I've, Wilhelm, they'd, Jeffrey Uno, Deirdre Orange, isn't, Daniel Benavidez, Jenny Chavez, criminalizing, Rob Bonta, Eric Carter, John Bartlett, Carter, Fred Fuchs, Steve Cohen, Michael Bennet, Sarah Saadian, Douglas Farrar, Kelly, Fuchs, Heymann, who've Organizations: Labor, Chrysler, Social Security, Business, North Las Vegas Police Department, Child Protective Services, Las Vegas Justice, Atlanta Legal, Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta, Supreme, Department of Housing, Los Angeles Police Department, Houston —, Arizona, Housing Association, Invitation Homes, Siegel, Siegel Group, Blackstone ., Progress, Homes, Union, city's Housing Department, Miami, Police, Houston, Houston Police Department, Phoenix, Criminal, Chicago, Chicago Department, LAPD, Records, Jersey City, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police, Legal, Foundation of Los, Phoenix Police Department, Fulton County Marshal's Department, Avondale Police Department, Avondale Police, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Texas Justice Court, Court Training Center, Illinois, National Weather Service, Democratic, Senate, Income Housing Coalition, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, AGs Locations: Las Vegas, Detroit, Vegas, United States, Perry's, Princeton, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, South Chicago, Phoenix, Jersey, New Jersey, Jersey City, Houston, Nevada, . Texas, Harris County, Texas, Arizona, Washington, city's, Atlanta , Miami, California, New York City, Spring Valley, Spring Valley , Nevada, Las, Foundation of Los Angeles, Avondale , Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia , Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, In Connecticut , Massachusetts, Minnesota , New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Illinois

Many young conservatives also support student loan cancellation, with 49% of Gen Z and millennial Republicans surveyed saying some or all outstanding education debt should be erased. As president, Trump called for the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education's existing loan relief programs, including the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness initiative. He also wanted to slash the department's budget, and his administration halted a regulation aimed at providing loan forgiveness to those defrauded by their schools. He has repeatedly attacked Biden's loan relief policies, and he said in a campaign video in late 2023 that he wants to close the Education Department altogether. For critics of broad student loan forgiveness, Biden's new plan looks a lot like his first.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Ryan Walker, Walker, Gen, Z, Trump, Biden's, Biden, Andrew Bailey, Bailey Organizations: Republican, Bloomberg, Getty, Biden, Heritage Action, America, U.S . Department, Public, Education Department, Supreme Locations: Kansas, Missouri, SocialSphere, U.S, . Missouri, Arkansas , Iowa , Kansas , Nebraska, South Carolina

☆ Meet the retirees driving for Uber and Lyft because Social Security isn't enough
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

AdvertisementSome recently started driving for Uber and Lyft to earn extra income and have something to do. AdvertisementHaving something to do in retirementSome drivers like Glenn Mueller, 75, said Uber driving gives him something to do in his retirement. Others like Bob Milosavljević, 72, rely on driving income to supplement his Social Security income. Now, Petrie, who lives in Anderson, South Carolina, said he gets $1,780 in Social Security, which isn't enough to cover all his expenses. He retired 11 years ago in Southwest Florida and started driving for Uber and Lyft in 2017 to supplement his Social Security.

Persons: George Conner, Uber, they're, they'll, Lyft, Glenn Mueller, Mueller, Bob Milosavljević, Milosavljević, hasn't, That's, David Petrie, Petrie, Steve Wilkie, —, Wilkie, Marilyn Cassidy, she's, Cassidy, Susan Harward, Harward Organizations: Service, Social Security, Business, BI, Security, Fort Myers Locations: Florida, Naples , Florida, Boston, Anderson , South Carolina, Southwest Florida, Miami, Fort, Myrtle Beach , South Carolina, Salt Lake City

☆ Unprotected at the margins of the rental market
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Cecilia Reyes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

Officers interviewed two motel residents who called 911; they said they did not want to leave their homes. Alyssa Pointer for Business InsiderIn Georgia, an eviction requires a court order, but the law doesn't explicitly make lockouts illegal. In this case, an officer classified the incident as a "crime against property" — a crime committed by the residents themselves. In unincorporated Clark County, where the property is located, operating a short-term rental without a license is illegal. Matthew Main is an attorney who has represented residents in similarly precarious housing situations in New York City, where state law also grants residents tenants' rights after 30 days.

Persons: they'd, Alyssa Pointer, doesn't, Eric Tars, Marshall Rancifer, Rancifer, Larry Johnson, Johnson, Lindsey Siegel, Freddie Mac, Rausch, Bridget Bennett, Harrison Bohn, Charlie Bliss, Andrew Cauthen, Brandon Turner, Darlene DeLaRoca, she'd, Mike Rausch, Harry Reid, DeLaRoca, Luis Barraza, Barraza, haven't, Stacey Welling, David Brown, Eric Dunn, Neason, Lynetrice Preston, Altonese Weaver, that's, Bliss, Roy Barnes, Barnes, Tera Strawter, Khari Varner, Strawter, Varner, Puentes, Guy Girardin, Girardin, Brown, Brian Michael Schwalbe, Schwalbe, you've, Natalie Bergevin, Bergevin, Matthew Main, gamesmanship, Main, Paul Panusky, Sara Heymann, I've, Michael Duckworth, Duckworth, he'd, Abel Uribe, Matthew Walberg Organizations: Labor, Business, National Homelessness Law, Justice, All Coalition, for Disease Control, Police, Housing Justice League, Atlanta, Atlanta Legal, US Department of Education, Pratt Center for Community Development, UCLA, Legal, Center of Southern, Natson, Facebook, Harry, Walmart, BI, Las Vegas Justice Court, National Housing Law, Atlanta Legal Aid, Atlanta . Tenants, DeKalb County Police Department, Georgia Supreme, Lutheran Social Services of, Las Vegas, Regional Justice Center, Go Locations: Dekalb County, Panthersville, Atlanta, Dekalb, Georgia, United States, Florida , Kentucky, DeKalb County, DeKalb, New York City, Los Angeles, Clark County , Nevada, Center of Southern Nevada, Nevada, California, Las Vegas, Clark County, Clark, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada, Las Vegas . Nevada, Chicago, Chicago's Roseland, Cook, City, DeLaRoca, Vegas

☆ I spent over $120 to try every burger at Wendy's, and the best is a classic
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Lucien Formichella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

The bacon Double Stack lacked condimentsThe bacon Double Stack had ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion. Division-1 winner: The bacon Double Stack triumphs for having baconThe bacon Double Stack had a decent variety of toppings. I was excited to dig into the Big Bacon ClassicThe Big Bacon Classic had a lot of sauce. The Big Bacon Classic triple seemed to have too much meatThe Big Bacon Classic triple seemed like a lot of meat. AdvertisementDivision-5 winner: The Jr. bacon cheeseburger was the best of this large poolThe Jr. bacon cheeseburger was my favorite in this category.

Persons: —, Bacon, pretzel cheeseburgers, I've, Lucien Formichella, underseasoned —, Dave Thomas, I'd, Wendy's, would've, cheeseburger, Baconator, mayo, Charlie, Charlie Brown, hadn't, jalapeños, Pretzel Bacon, Cheeseburger, Big Bacon Organizations: Service, Business, mayo, Taco Locations: Wendy's, mayo, cheddar

A CNN investigation found that Airbnb consistently fails to protect its guests despite knowing hidden cameras are a persistent concern within its industry. Video Ad Feedback A woman describes the moment she realized her Airbnb host had placed a hidden camera in her room. And, while hotels can be held legally responsible for guests harmed on their property, Airbnb frequently is not. In January, CNN began reaching out to former Airbnb employees to ask about hidden camera concerns within the industry. “Less than a month for every victim,” said Wyzynajtys, the guest who found Allee’s hidden camera.

Persons: Airbnb, ”, Brian Chesky, Chloe LeBrument, “, LeBrument, … it’s, Bianca Zuniga, Goldwater, “ I’ve, Comfort , Texas David Wyzynajtys, Airbnb’s, Wyzynajtys, ” Wyzynajtys, David Wyzynajtys, Austin Steele, CNN Wyzynajtys, Jay Allee, Allee, –, Vrbo, CNN Allee, Butch Matjeka, ” Matjeka, Kim van Sparrentak, Murray Cox, Cox, Shannon Schott, “ They’re, They’re, ” Schott, Jan Schakowsky, Kyung, ’ Allee, didn’t, Airbnb superhost Peter Madden, Madden, he’d, “ I’m, ” Madden, undressed, Patricia DiCarlo, Matt Lait, Logan Whiteside, Yahya Abou, Ghazala Organizations: CNN, Social, ” CNN, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, Ontario Airbnb, Police, Sheriff’s, European Union, EU, Communications, Facebook, Illinois, Democratic, Airbnb’s San, Attorney, Westbrook Police, Vrbo Locations: Texas, San Francisco, London , Ontario, Ontario, Comfort , Texas, Jay Allee Kendall, Allee’s, California, Kendall, Allee, United States, New York, York, Florida, Airbnb’s, Airbnb’s San Francisco, Chesky, Melbourne, Australia, Maine, Cumberland County

☆ Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: A timeline honoring the one year anniversary of him tackling her heart
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s love affair is “so high school” in the best way. Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are besties as well as teammates. I’ve never dealt with it,” Kelce told the publication of Swift’s life in the spotlight. I especially love football because my boys have been doing it for so long,” Donna Kelce told CNN at the time. Taylor Swift is joined on stage by Travis Kelce during an Eras Tour performance at Wembley Stadium in London on June 23.

Persons: CNN — Travis Kelce, Taylor, there’s, Kelce, Swift, Jason, Travis Kelce, “, ”, Taylor Swift, ” Kelce, “ I’m, Andrew Siciliano, Pat McAfee, ‘ I’ve, ” Swift, Donna Kelce, Jason Hanna, “ Traylor, ” “, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, ” Donna Kelce, ” Travis Kelce, Johnny Nunez, Brittany Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Alwyn –, Karma, ’, I’ve, I’m, Kylie Kelce, Jason Kelce, Mark J, Kylie, “ Tay, Love, –, Mama Kelce, Travis, Patrick T, Fallon, concertgoers, Department ”, Swifties, Said it’s, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, wasn’t, Gareth Cattermole Organizations: CNN, Super Bowl, Kansas, that’s, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL, Chicago Bears, GEHA, Arrowhead, Getty, New York Jets, MetLife, Kansas City, Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, “, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, AFC, USA, Sports, Reuters, Super, Bowl, San Francisco 49ers, Allegiant, Sydney, Coachella, Department, Poets Department, Wembley, ” Locations: Kansas City, Arrowhead, Kansas City , Missouri, New York, New York City, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Orchard Park , New York, Las Vegas , Nevada, Australia, Lake Como, Italy, Europe, London

The next round of filings for spot ether ETFs with the SEC is due today, part of the ongoing regulatory process required before spot ether ETFs can be launched. One thing's for sure: the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs this year has been a success. That's still true for this year, but two of the top 10 ETF inflows year to date have been into spot bitcoin ETFs: iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) at number four, and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust (FBTC) at number eight. Would 50% of the inflows of the spot bitcoin ETF be a win? We'll talk about this with Matt Hougan from Bitwise Asset Management, one of the applicants for a spot ether ETF.

Persons: That's, iShares, Matt Hougan, Matt, Nate Geraci Organizations: SEC, Nasdaq, Fidelity, Bitcoin, Stock, Aggregate, Blackrock US, Bitwise Asset Management, Edge

☆ These two amusement park giants just merged. Rollercoaster fans are nervous
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Six Flags this week completed an $8 billion merger with rival Cedar Fair to create the largest amusement park operator in the United States. The success of the deal will determine the future of these amusement parks, and diehard rollercoaster fans are watching carefully. Many amusement park fans are passionate about the parks’ design and history and notice the smallest of changes. He also worries the “beautiful” Cedar Fair parks will lose their distinct identities and become more like Six Flags. Halloween has become a primary visiting time for theme park fans, and there could be changes to these events.

Persons: Knott's Berry, Allen J, ”, Bill Kneass, Kneass, they’re, Chris Miller, Stan, Gary Rhodes, Richard Zimmerman ., Selim Bassoul, Berry, Matt Kaiser, “, There’s, Dennis Speigel, Chris Woronka, Looney, Michael Musil Organizations: New, New York CNN, Flags, Cedar Fair, Los Angeles Times, Six Flags Entertainment Corp, Disney, Universal, Six, Fair, Six Flags, Kmart, Walmart, Facebook, Park, Deutsche Bank, Warner Bros, Discovery, DC Comics, CNN, Warner Bros . Locations: New York, United States, California, New Jersey, Sandusky , Ohio, Buena Park , California, Bay Village , Ohio

☆ Small apartments are in, and it's causing rents in new buildings to drop
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Developers have built a lot of new small apartments over the last few years, and the boost in supply has driven rents down. Rents for newly finished one-bedroom apartments are also falling — the median rent fell 11.9% year over year in the first quarter of 2024, the report found. More than 90,000 new apartments came online in the fourth quarter of 2023, finishing a big year of apartment construction, Redfin noted. The Redfin report is based on US Census data on "unfurnished, unsubsidized, privately financed rental apartments in buildings with five or more units." Studios and one-bedrooms tend to be more profitable for developers to build than larger apartments, and developers aren't building enough apartments suitable for big families.

Persons: Redfin, you've, Sheharyar Bokhari, — Organizations: Service, Business, Harvard Locations: Redfin

Social media has transformed the reason we take photos on vacation. According to the same survey, 74% of respondents feel some kind of pressure to imitate the travel content they consume online. This summer, a little more than half of Americans are planning to take a vacation, according to a Bankrate survey. Stretching your annual vacation budget to accommodate the resort everyone claims to love so much? Dial into vacation elements that are important to youWhen you're trying to budget and plan for your summer vacation, come up with your cost ceiling first.

Persons: Gen Zers Organizations: Forbes Locations: Caribbean, clouding, Vegas

☆ Hey, Apple! We want much more battery life in the new iPhone 16.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Yes, the iPhone 16 lineup will have all those fancy and fun new AI ("Apple Intelligence") features that Apple is excited about. The good news is this could mean longer battery life (or the same battery life, but with a lighter battery). NurPhoto/Getty ImagesThe one thing we all want, that we all crave, is much better battery life, not just a small boost. And the upgrade in battery life in the Series 9 is — I do not exaggerate — life-changing. The American Experiment is about ideals and dreams — and we can dream of a world with really, really long battery life.

Persons: I'm, Jordan Hart, Chi Kuo, Max, —, it's, congrats, I've, I'd Organizations: Service, Apple, Disney Star Wars Locations: Taiwan

☆ The sperm donor at the center of 'The Man with 1000 Kids' says he plans to sue Netflix. Here's where Jonathan Jacob Meijer is now.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read preview"The Man with 1000 Kids" tells the story of four couples and a single woman as they gradually realize their sperm donor has fathered hundreds of children. The Netflix docuseries details how Jonathan Jacob Meijer told those who used him as a donor that he had only helped a handful of families. It later emerges he has been donating sperm around the world. In an email to Business Insider, Meijer denied running the site. He explained that he spent "over 50,000 hours" as a sperm donor until 2019, when he said he stopped donating to clinics.

Persons: —, Jonathan Jacob Meijer, John, Meijer, Leon Organizations: Service, Netflix, Business, Hague, Court, Independent, YouTube Locations: Netherlands, Leon, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Africa

☆ 3 tips for making the perfect burger at home, according to the top butcher expert in America
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

And the butcher expert was happy to share his top tips for making the perfect burger. Pat LaFrieda always makes his burgers medium rareThe perfect burger requires getting both the meat and temperature right. LaFrieda told BI he always makes his burger medium rare. And when it comes to the buns, LaFrieda always loves briocheLaFrieda said the bun is often overlooked, but it's crucial to a perfect burger. LaFrieda doesn't have any special tricks or tips to make the perfect burger, but he says that's the whole point.

Persons: —, Pat LaFrieda, LaFrieda, Pat LaFrieda LaFrieda, brioche LaFrieda, He's Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Netflix's 'The Man with 1000 Kids' is about a prolific Danish sperm donor. Mothers who say he tricked them 'just want him to stop.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some mothers who have used Jonathan Jacob Meijer's sperm claim the number is much higher. Released on July 3, it features five couples who used Meijer as a sperm donor to start families after finding him on a website called "Longing for a Child." Natalie, who also appeared on the Netflix documentary, highlighted the possible ramifications for future generations because of the number of children Meijer has fathered. Netflix/YouTubeWhen asked about the claims that he has donated globally, Meijer told Business Insider: "As a bank donor doing regular visits, I only was active in the Netherlands for Cryos. Responding to Meijer's decision not to appear in the documentary, Natalie said: "He was given a right to respond.

Persons: —, Jonathan Jacob, Meijer, It's, Natalie, Suzanne, he's, Jonathan Jacob Meijer, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Dutch Society of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Cryos, Netflix, Independent, The Hague, News, YouTube, BI Locations: Netherlands

☆ Where did all the lifeguards go?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

My girlfriends, a year or two older, were most interested in catching the eye of the male lifeguards. The swim disparities also influenced the scope of a lifeguard's job. While the lack of qualified lifeguards may partly stem from this problem, getting more lifeguards on stands could turn things around. As we enter our fourth year without enough lifeguards, it's hard to imagine them retaking the podium as the cultural idol of American summer. When more cities prioritize safe water access for the masses — and pay lifeguards accordingly — the mighty lifeguard just may rise again.

Persons: Marco Polo, I'd, fawning, Wyatt Werneth, Werneth, —, Jessi Adler, Adler, hasn't, lifeguarding, Jason Russell, it's, Russell, Jeff Wiltse, Wiltse, KENA BETANCUR, Suburbanites Organizations: American Lifeguard Association, Getty, Lyndon, Johnson, SUNY Empire State, World, Association, American, of Public Health, New, Civil Rights Movement, Employers Locations: Milwaukee, America, Southern California, Michigan, Central Texas, Canada, New York City, Chicago, Denver, Baltimore, San Antonio

☆ Gen Zers and millennials are 'quiet vacationing' during 4th of July week instead of taking PTO
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

More than half of Gen Z workers and millennials have "quiet vacationed" — taken time off without formally requesting PTO — during the July Fourth holiday week, with a similar trend expected to continue this year, according to a new Harris Poll of 1,274 American workers. Gen Zers and millennials might also be quiet vacationing to cope with constraints on PTO and increased feelings of burnout. More than half (53%) of Gen Zers and millennials from the Harris Poll survey say they "barely get any work done" around the Fourth of July. In a separate Harris Poll survey, half of employees said they get nervous requesting PTO (This increases to 58% for Gen Z and 61% for millennials). Many Americans from the Harris Poll survey said they wished their employer placed more emphasis on the value of taking time off.

Persons: —, Tim Osiecki, Gen Zers, shirk, They're, Z, Osiecki, Gen Organizations: AAA, Harris, Workers

☆ Investors Pour $27.1 Billion Into A.I. Start-Ups, Defying a Downturn
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Erin Griffith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

For two years, many unprofitable tech start-ups have cut costs, sold themselves or gone out of business. Investors poured $27.1 billion into A.I. start-ups in the United States from April to June, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. start-up funding in that period, according to PitchBook, which tracks start-ups. In total, U.S. start-ups raised $56 billion, up 57 percent from a year earlier and the highest three-month haul in two years. companies are attracting huge rounds of funding reminiscent of 2021, when low interest rates pushed investors away from taking risks on tech investments.

Locations: United States, U.S

☆ The US cities where renters are struggling the most
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( John Towfighi | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Related storiesIn Florida, there are five metro areas where more than 60% of renters are cost-burdened. Two Pennsylvania metro areas were in the top 10 for the highest percentage of cost-burdened renters: State College and East Stroudsburg, at 63% and 61%, respectively. According to the Harvard report, 45% of renters in Stillwater, Oklahoma, are severely cost-burdened, the highest percentage in the nation. AdvertisementCorvallis, Oregon; Port St. Lucie, Florida; and State College, Pennsylvania, are the three metro areas that are in the top 10 for both cost-burdened and severely cost-burdened renters. Home prices and mortgage interest rates have surged in recent years, putting homeownership out of reach for even more renters.

Persons: —, Alexander Hermann, erelman@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Business, Harvard, Harvard's, for Housing, State College, East, State College , Locations: Naples , Florida, Corvallis , Oregon, Florida, Naples, Marco, Port St, Lucie , Florida, Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg, Stillwater , Oklahoma, State College , Pennsylvania

☆ America has a serious ugly home problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Recently she posted a video on her YouTube channel in which she phrased the question more bluntly: "Why are homes so 'ugly' now?" Most people agree that America needs more houses, but nobody seems all that thrilled with the ones being built. Related storiesThe blame for America's architectural nightmare, however, doesn't stop at production builders, rising costs, or local codes. Homes look this way because they're not just places where we live — they're also supposed to help us get rich. As they stare down these rising costs, builders and architects have almost no choice but to streamline or opt for cheaper design elements.

Persons: Bailey McInnes, McInnes, they're, James Wentling, John Burns, Peter Dennehy, They're, Dan Reynolds, Horton, Lennar, Kate Wagner, she's, —, Wagner, Marcia Straub, William Morgan, it's, Queen Anne Organizations: HGTV, YouTube, Facebook, Builders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Association of Home Builders, John Burns Research, Consulting, Harvard's, for Housing Studies, Harvard, The Locations: Northern Virginia, America, homebuilding, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ GM reports best U.S. quarterly sales since 2020
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Detroit automaker on Tuesday reported sales of 696,086 for the second quarter, up 0.6% from a year earlier and its highest quarterly units sold since the fourth quarter of 2020. Still, EVs made up only 3.2% of its total second-quarter sales. Sales of GM's full-size pickup trucks were roughly 229,000 during the second quarter, up about 6% from a year earlier and the best quarterly sales since 2021. GM's second-quarter sales are expected to slightly outpace the overall industry. Kia, which reports sales on a monthly basis, reported a 6.5% decrease in its June sales.

Persons: EVs, Edmunds, CDK, Jessica Caldwell, Caldwell Organizations: DETROIT —, Motors, Detroit, Auto, Cox Automotive, CDK, GM, Asbury Automotive Group, AutoNation Inc, Inc, Lithia Motors Inc, Sonic Automotive Inc, Automotive News, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia Locations: Lincolnwood , Illinois, DETROIT, North America

☆ A market hedge if this atypical election run-up causes an S&P 500 correction
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Michael Khouw | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The S & P 500 has yielded an average return of 7.9% since 1928, the year Herbert Hoover was elected. LBJ's presidency was also notable because he chose not to seek reelection in 1968, a year with a modest S & P return of 7.7%. A market correction could be more likely now than it seemed two weeks ago, as suggested by the current pricing of S & P options. Options such as SPDR S & P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) August $535 puts are currently priced around $5.50, about 1% of SPY's price, while S & P 500 5350 puts are around $50. SPY YTD mountain SPDR S & P 500 ETF Trust If a correction does occur, investors could monetize, roll, or spread the hedge.

Persons: Herbert Hoover, Hoover, Carter, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, LBJ's, Trump Organizations: Trump, JFK, FDR, Nvidia, Trust, Democratic National Convention, CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL Locations: George H.W .

☆ Baby boomers living on $1,000 a month in Social Security share their retirement experience: 'I never imagined being in this position.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Additionally, he's 57 and his Social Security check won't kick in until he's at least 62. Related storiesDacus and Stephen live in Robinson, Illinois, on their combined monthly Social Security income of $2,140. Sometimes, she has to request an advance on their Social Security checks so they can pay for their meals or utilities. AdvertisementBabin said it's especially difficult for older adults to qualify for government assistance even if their Social Security income doesn't cover basic necessities. AdvertisementIn retirement, Hambrick thought she would be "traveling to new places and having fun with my husband."

Persons: —, Hambrick, Social Security Mary Dacus, Stephen, Dacus, we'll, Angela Babin, Babin, Hurricane Ida, doesn't Organizations: Service, Social Security, Business, Northwestern Mutual, Income, Alliance for Lifetime, Survey, Security, Social, Medicare, SNAP, Boomers Locations: Tulsa , Oklahoma, America, Robinson , Illinois, Houma , Louisiana, New Orleans, Florida

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