DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Microsoft is still spending massively on AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Investors have been focused on Big Tech AI spending and returns. That's a worry at Microsoft partly because feedback on the company's Copilot AI has been mixed. Others have been concerned that Big Tech spending on artificial intelligence is outpacing results. Goldman said Microsoft has been counting on its AI Copilot and other generative AI efforts at Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365 to draw enterprise clients. AdvertisementMuch of Microsoft's spending has been going toward data centers, graphics processing units, and other AI projects.

Persons: —, Jeremy Goldman, Goldman, it's, Satya Nadella, Francine McKenna Organizations: Investors, Big Tech, Service, Microsoft, Apple, Windows, Bloomberg Locations: Redmond, Washington, OpenAI

☆ Adidas is getting back on track after Yeezy woes
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Adidas posted strong third-quarter growth. Operating profit jumped to 598 million euros ($646 million) from 409 million euros ($442 million) the year before. AdvertisementBjørn Gulden, who took over as Adidas CEO in 2023, said the Q3 numbers were evidence that Adidas is "moving in the right direction." Adidas stock dipped slightly on Wednesday but is up 20% since the start of the year, valuing the company at almost 40 billion euros ($43 billion). Related storiesOne of the reasons Adidas is finding success in the increasingly competitive athleisure and footwear industry is through the revival of retro styles such as the Adidas Samba, which was coronated the "It Shoe" of 2023.

Persons: Bjørn Gulden, —, Ye, Bjørn, Alexander Hassenstein, Neil Saunders, Gulden, Matthew Quint, Quint Organizations: Adidas, Service, Kanye, Puma, Center, Global Brand Leadership, Columbia Business School, Nike Locations: China

☆ 23andMe appoints new board members as it works to stem the company's slide
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

23andMe said it appointed three new independent directors to its board on Monday. Advertisement23andMe has appointed three new independent directors to its board following the mass resignation of all seven of its previous members last month. The seven previous board members resigned in September in a letter addressed to Wojcicki, citing the company's direction. Wojcicki shared a proposal to take 23andMe private in a July SEC filing, which was reviewed by a special committee formed by the board of directors. The special committee responded less than a week later, writing they were "disappointed" in the proposal.

Persons: 23andMe, —, Andre Fernandez, Mark Jensen, Jim Frankola, Fernandez, Jensen, Frankola, Anne Wojcicki, Kimberly White, Wojcicki Organizations: Service, SEC, Deloitte, 23andMe Board, Company, Business Locations: American

☆ Microsoft hints at a big change to its OpenAI investments in a new SEC filing
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft disclosed an equity investment in OpenAI for the first time, SEC filings show. "We have an investment in OpenAI Global, LLC ("OpenAI") and have made total funding commitments of $13 billion," Microsoft wrote in the SEC filing on Wednesday. Related storiesIn a previous SEC filing, Microsoft described the nature of its relationship with OpenAI as a partnership rather than an equity investment. "We have a long-term partnership with OpenAI, a leading AI research and deployment company," Microsoft wrote in its annual SEC filing from late July. In the July filing, Microsoft listed OpenAI as a competitor for the first time.

Persons: OpenAI, —, Francine McKenna, Sam Altman, McKenna, Microsoft's, Copilot Organizations: Microsoft, SEC, Service, OpenAI, supercomputing Locations: OpenAI

☆ China lost 36% of its billionaires to years of economic troubles and crackdowns
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

According to Hurun's 2024 rich list, China lost 432 billionaires since the high of 1,185 in 2021. Hurun, a private research group that has tracked Chinese billionaires since 1999, said the total peaked in 2021 with 1,185 billionaires, a figure which fell to 753, a decline of 432, or 36% of the total. It comes as some of China's superrich choose to lie low or leave the country, finding covert ways to take their money with them. "The stories of the individuals on the Hurun China Rich List tell the story of the Chinese economy," said Rupert Hoogewerf, Hurun's Chairman and Chief Researcher. AdvertisementThat led, among other things, to regulatory crackdowns on tech platform companies and campaigns against China's rich entrepreneurs.

Persons: —, crackdowns, China's superrich, Zhang Yiming, Bytedance, Yiming, Zhong Shanshan, Rupert Hoogewerf, Robin Zeng, Li, Kerry Brown, Xi, Jack Ma, Alibaba, Brown, Joel Gallo, China shouldn't, it's Organizations: Service, Reuters, King's College London, Ant Group, & Partners, Bloomberg, New York University Shanghai, Communist Locations: China, Taiwan, Greater China

☆ Former CEOs of American Airlines, LinkedIn, Amex, Xerox, and 13 other companies make the pitch for Kamala Harris
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A group of former CEOs published an op-ed Tuesday endorsing Kamala Harris for president. AdvertisementA group of former CEOs who led major US companies — including American Airlines, LinkedIn, Xerox, and American Express — made the case for Kamala Harris in an op-ed one week before Election Day. The 17 business leaders said they were voting for Harris because they thought she'd be better for the economy than former President Donald Trump. AdvertisementOther business leaders have publicly supported Trump, including Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who said this week that Trump would be "efficient and effective." Meanwhile, some business leaders have avoided taking a position publicly even if they support one candidate or another in private.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, —, American Express —, Harris, she'd, Reid Hoffman, Doug Parker, Ken Chenault, Michael Lynton, Trump, Musk, Stephen Schwarzman, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, they're Organizations: Trump, Elon, Service, American Airlines, LinkedIn, Xerox, American Express, Sony, Blackstone, Yale School of Management, Leadership Institute Locations: Fortune, America, Swatara Township , Pennsylvania

☆ $2 billion marina development aims to turn Fort Lauderdale into 'mini Monaco'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Renderings of plans for a new development at the Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Courtesy: ArX CreativeA team of developers including Related Group is launching a $2 billion development at the largest marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aiming to create a "mini Monaco," according to executives. Renderings of plans for a new development at the Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Renderings of plans for a new development at the Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Renderings of plans for a new development at the Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Persons: —, Nick Perez, Jorge Perez, Jimmy Tate, Perez Organizations: Fort Lauderdale, Related, Miami, Tate Capital, Rok Enterprises, Fort, U.S, Enterprises Locations: Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Bahia, Fort, Fort Lauderdale —, South Florida, Monaco, Regis, Fort Lauderdale, Europe, Latin America

☆ As voters cast ballots this election, some Americans are placing bets. Here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Piper Hudspeth Blackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The election markets have not gone unnoticed by the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump, who has touted his odds on social media and at campaign events. With more than 50 million ballots already cast ahead of Tuesday’s election, here’s what you need to know about election betting in the US. Robinhood, a popular stock-trading app, launched presidential election betting on Monday. PredictIt, another prediction market embroiled in a legal fight with the CFTC, also offers election contracts while its case is ongoing. Researchers, however, have long studied political prediction markets.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump, Kamala Harris, Kalshi, ”, PredictIt, David G, Schwartz, ” Schwartz, Paul Rhode, Koleman Strumpf, isn’t, Elon Musk, Cantrell Dumas, it’s, ” Dumas Organizations: CNN, White, Kalshi, Republican, Democratic, Futures Trading Commission, Senate, DC, Appeals, CFTC, University of Nevada, The University of Iowa, Iowa Electronic Markets, Victoria University of Wellington, Commission, Better Locations: United States, Washington ,, Michigan, Las Vegas, New York City, Rhode, Nevada , Texas , Michigan, Iowa, New Zealand, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

☆ Police say they think man suspected of setting fires at ballot boxes in the Portland, Oregon, area intends to strike again
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Chris Boyette | Steve Almasy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Fires were set at three ballot boxes in the area in the past three weeks. An “incendiary device” found attached to the side of a ballot drop box in Portland, Oregon, early Monday damaged ballots, but most were unaffected because of fire suppressant installed in the ballot box. Investigators have also linked the two incidents to a third ballot box fire on October 8, also in Vancouver, which is just across the Columbia River from Portland. All ballot boxes in Multnomah and Clark counties – where Portland and Vancouver are located, respectively – have fire suppressant installed, election officials said at a news conference Monday. In Clark County, Washington, 60% of the ballots received are from ballot drop boxes and 40% are received by mail, according to Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey.

Persons: ”, Mike Benner, suppressant, Bob Day, “ That’s, Greg Kimsey, “, Scott, Tim Scott, CNN’s Josh Campbell, Taylor Romine Organizations: CNN — Investigators, Portland Police, Police, ”, Washington, Volvo, US Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Devices, The New York Times Locations: Oregon, Vancouver , Washington, Portland , Oregon, Portland, Vancouver, Columbia, Portland ., Multnomah, Clark, –, Washington, Oregon’s Multnomah, Clark County , Washington, Clark County

☆ BBG Ventures raises $60 million for its latest fund and moves beyond just backing female founders
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Leena Rao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New York-based BBG Ventures has raised a new $60 million fund. The latest fund will invest in both female founders and those with diverse backgrounds. Ten years later, the seed stage fund has raised a new $60 million fund and is moving beyond just backing female founders to any entrepreneur from a diverse background. AdvertisementWhen Verizon bought AOL in 2015, BBG Ventures separated and raised a new $50 million fund. Related storiesDua explained that the decision to move beyond exclusively backing just female founders reflects the duo's shift in thesis around innovation.

Persons: —, VCs, Susan Lyne, Nisha Dua, Lyne, Dua, Nordstrom, clamoring Organizations: BBG Ventures, California Endowment, Mizuho, Service, AOL, Founders, Spring Health, Verizon, State of Michigan Retirement Services, Illumen, Investments, Fairview Capital, Bank of America Locations: York, U.S, Spring, Nara, Dua, Lyne

☆ I tried Popeyes' and Subway's new ghost-pepper sandwiches. They were inventive, but not spicy enough to give me a real scare.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Priyanka Rajput | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Popeyes and Subway recently launched their own takes on a ghost-pepper sandwich. I tried both and thought they were milder than other spicy sandwiches I've had. For the last two years, Burger King has sold a ghost-pepper Whopper and ghost-pepper chicken fries in time for Halloween. Starting in May 2023, Wendy's added its own ghost-pepper items to menus, including fries, chicken nuggets, and chicken sandwiches. Here's what I discovered when I tried the ghost-pepper sandwich from Popeyes and Subway.

Persons: Z's, —, Bhut, Burger, Wendy's, Zers, I've Organizations: Subway, Service, YouTube Locations: Imphal, Northeast India

☆ How the cost of housing is expected to change under Trump or Harris
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Allie Kelly | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Detailed below is what Harris and Trump have proposed in order to address these worries. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have both pledged to address high prices by boosting the supply of homes. Related storiesThe Democratic candidate also said she plans to expand the existing low-income housing tax credit, which incentivizes the rehabilitation or building of housing targeted at lower-income households. As president, Trump proposed major cuts to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development's budget, including slashing housing assistance and community development aid. AdvertisementWhile in office in 2017, Trump proposed a budget for the 2018 fiscal year that would have significantly cut rural housing subsidies.

Persons: Harris, Trump, —, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin, Fairweather, Jessica Lautz, multifamily Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Builders, of Housing, Urban, National Association of Realtors, Democratic Party Locations: America

☆ US economic growth came in slightly under expectations but consumer spending remains strong
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementIn the third quarter, US economic growth fell short of expectations but remained strong. "The increase in real GDP primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, exports, and federal government spending," the news release said. Consumer spending was a particular highlight, with personal consumption expenditures growing at a strong 3.7% annualized rate. AdvertisementThe weaker-than-expected GDP growth doesn't necessarily mean the US is heading toward a recession. Investment in nonresidential equipment had another strong quarter, surging at an annualized rate of 11.1%.

Persons: —, David Kelly, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, Mark Hamrick Organizations: Federal Reserve, Service, Investment, Fed, Morgan Asset Management, Commerce Department, Hurricane Locations: Hurricane

CNN has reached out to Terada for comment on the R-FBI’s role in Russian disinformation efforts, and ties to the state. Storm-1516 and R-FBI network members have spread at least 54 different disinformation narratives online since August 2023, according to Clemson and CNN’s analysis. “Does anyone believe that an American would be the spearhead of what some call the biggest Russian Disinformation operation since the cold war? TelegramAnother prominent figure in propagating Russian disinformation is American Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer who in 2020 accused then-presidential candidate Joe Biden of sexual harassment. The links between Terada’s group and other Russian disinformation efforts are at best opaque, which is likely no accident.

Persons: –, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Mira Terada, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Harris, Walz, Morgan Finkelstein, “ Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Win McNamee, ” Darren Linvill, Patrick Warren, “, Biden, Warren, Kamala, Influencers, John Mark Dougan, Dougan, he’s, Andrew Harnik, MAGA, IMbaMm8YVF, Darren Linvill, Linvill, ” Clemson, Maxim Shugaley, Terada, Vladimir Putin’s “, ” Prigozhin, Konstantin Pridybaylo, Ruslan Ostashko, Colin Gerard, Gerard, Alexander Dugin, picturing, Tara Reade, Joe Biden, Reade, ” Chay Bowes, Simeon Boikov, podcaster, Bowes, ” Warren, Sean Lyngaas, influencers Organizations: CNN, Clemson University’s, Russian Foundation, FBI, Storm, Democratic, Minnesota Gov, Clemson, Getty, NBC, Wired, Prigozhin’s, Internet Research Agency, Miami Chronicle, Boston Times, DC, IRA, Russian, Gov, National Intelligence, US State Department, Minnesota, Apple, Trump, Infrastructure Security Agency, ’, Federal Bureau, Investigation, Kremlin, Wagner Group, US Justice Department, ANO Dialog, BRICS Journalists Association, Washington Post, Center, Forensics Locations: Russian, Ukraine, West, San Francisco, Zambia, Savannah , Georgia, ”, “, American, Zambian, St . Petersburg, Florida, Moscow, Russia, Kazakhstan, Minnesota, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Bucks County , Pennsylvania, Bucks County ,, French, Irish, Sydney, European

☆ Wall Street is bullish on Amazon earnings despite uncertainty around consumer spending, rising investment costs
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

CFRA trimmed its Amazon price target to $219 a share on October 21, indicating 13% upside ahead. The firm has a "buy" rating on the stock and a $210 price target, which implies an 8.3% gain from current levels. The firm said investors have toned down margin expectations due to Amazon's spending in new investment areas, such as Project Kuiper. AdvertisementWedbush reiterated its "outperform" rating and $225 price target, implying a 16% gain from current levels. Morgan Stanley has a $210 price target for the stock, representing upside of about 8% from Wednesday's share price.

Persons: —, Arun Sundaram, Sundaram, Justin Post, BofA, Scott Devitt, Wedbush, Morgan Stanley, Bullish, Brian Nowak Organizations: Service, CFRA, Bank of America, Amazon Web Services, 3Q, JPMorgan, Wedbush Securities

☆ Here is the letter from Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents to Judge Kaplan.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Sometime in middle school Sam began to think more systematically and globally about ethical obligations. While he was still in high school, Sam started to think hard about the implications of utilitarianism for how he should live his life. There is great nobility in his indifference to his own happiness, but there is also great sadness for us as parents. After everything came apart in November 2022, Sam shared a lot of things with his dad and me that he had never said before. In the end, I am in no position to argue him out of his subjective experience of life.

Persons: Sam, Derik Parfit, veganism, I've Organizations: MIT Locations: Bay

☆ Saudi Arabia is pulling back on a global spending spree to focus on its own projects
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Now the Kingdom plans to cut its foreign investment to prioritize domestic spending. AI is the new focus of investment as Saudi Arabia looks to position itself as a global technology hub. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia is pulling back on its global spending spree to focus on domestic investments. In September, Saudi Arabia held the third Global AI Summit, attracting a host of high-profile leaders and dealmakers. The new focus on domestic investment comes as Saudi Arabia's spending on Neom, its futuristic megacity in the desert, hit $1 trillion.

Persons: —, Yasir Al Rumayyan, we've, Al Rumayyan, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Hamad I Mohammed, Uber, Andreessen Horowitz Organizations: Service, Public Investment Fund, Future Investment, Economic, REUTERS, Investors, Saudi Press Agency, Financial Times, Saudi, AI, Bloomberg, Sindalah Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Davos, Switzerland, Neom

☆ Arizona is the epicenter of the debate over how Trump's mass deportation plan would hit the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Donald Trump proposed mass deportation to lower housing costs and boost job opportunities. AdvertisementThe mass deportation of people living in the US illegally has been one of the cornerstones of the Republican presidential ticket leading up to the November election. Many Democrats say mass deportations would hurt businesses and employment opportunities for all Americans, in addition to separating families and displacing millions of people. She told BI that a mass deportation would devastate the agriculture, construction, and hospitality industries. AdvertisementHow much a mass deportation would cost the governmentThe Trump campaign has talked little about how mass deportations could be implemented and on what scale.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Trump, Kamala Harris, Biden, Harris, Douglas Nicholls, Nicholls, Regina Romero, Romero, " Romero, Duncan Braid, Braid, Davis, Chloe East, Taylor Rogers, Trump's, Rogers, hasn't, Marcus Noland Organizations: Service, Republican, Pew Research Center, Business, Pew Research, Trump, Immigration, Customs, American Compass, University of California, Brookings Institution, ICE, New York Times, American Immigration, Taxation, Economic, Manhattan Institute, FEMA, RNC, Peterson Institute for International Economics, American Immigration Council, Peterson Institute Locations: Los Angeles, Springfield, Aurora, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, Yuma , Arizona, Mexico, Yuma, Tucson, Reading , Pennsylvania, US, Aurora , Colorado

☆ 'Scary Movie' is back, and fans want to know which films will be parodied and if the original cast will return. Here's what we know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It will be the sixth installment of the "Scary Movie" franchise. Advertisement"Scary Movie" is back, and fans want to know which films it will parody and if the original cast will return. Marlon and Shawn Wayans created the "Scary Movie" franchise in the late 1990s, and their brother, Keenen Wayans, directed it. The two stars appeared in every "Scary Movie" aside from 2013's "Scary Movie 5." If their doing a scary movie reboot.. what big horror movie/movies came out in the last decade that they could parody??

Persons: Wayans, —, Marlon, Shawn Wayans, It's, Shawn, Keenen Wayans, Jonathan Glickman, Anna Farris, aris, layed, amie K ennedy), cary, ecade, ince, oing Organizations: Service, Miramax, Paramount, Hollywood, Regina Hall, aris, ust

☆ Amazon employees speak out about Jeff Bezos's WaPo decision, with some supporting his call, leaked messages show
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Eugene Kim | Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In leaked messages, Amazon employees are divided, with some supporting his call. Related storiesSome Amazon employees agreed, according to the Slack messages obtained by BI. Other Amazon employees said it was "silly" and "sad" to see so many Washington Post readers cancel their subscriptions over the endorsement issue. 'Suspicious and worrisome'Still, some of Amazon employees who weighed in on the company's internal Slack were suspicious of Bezos's true motivation. Other Amazon employees were more blunt, saying they were going to cancel their own Washington Post subscriptions.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, —, Jeff Bezos's, Bezos, Slack, Donald Trump, I'd, Trump, Dave Limp, Matt Garman, he's, It's, it's Organizations: Washington Post, Amazon, Service, Business, BI, Democratic, Spokespeople, Washington, Blue, Trump Locations: Amazon, Washington

☆ A Russian court hit Google with a fine larger than the world's GDP, stretching credulity
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Joshua Nelken-Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Russian court fined Google for not restoring YouTube accounts linked to Russian TV channels. AdvertisementA legal dispute between Google and Russia over suspended YouTube accounts has led to a fine so large that it exceeds all the money on Earth. Ivan Morozov, a Moscow-based lawyer, told the state-run TASS newswire that a Russian court ordered the tech giant to restore Russian media accounts on YouTube, a Google-owned company. To put this into perspective, the world's GDP is equivalent to about $105 trillion, a minuscule fraction of the fine. In 2022, Google's Russian legal arm, Google LLC, filed for bankruptcy, and authorities seized its bank accounts, though free services continue to operate in the country.

Persons: —, Ivan Morozov, Donald Trump, Morozov, Nigel Gould, Davies, Gould Organizations: Google, Service, YouTube, Business, Bloomberg, International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Russian, Russia, Moscow, Eurasia

☆ Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says future wars will be fought by AI drones and calls tanks 'useless'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Eric Schmidt says drones are the future of warfare, calling the use of tanks "useless." AdvertisementEx-Google CEO Eric Schmidt said future wars will be fought by AI-powered drones, and urged the US military to do away with what he called "useless" tanks. In fact, buy 10, buy 20, buy 50, buy 100." Related Video Russian vs. Western-made tanks in the Ukraine warFor almost a decade, Schmidt has advised the US government and military on technology. AdvertisementAsked about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Schmidt said he had been surprised by innovations in drone technology.

Persons: Eric Schmidt, Schmidt, —, He's, Sebastian Thrun, Forbes Organizations: Service, Future Investment Initiative, Department of Defense's Innovation, US National Security, Artificial Intelligence, Stanford University, Troops Locations: Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Russian

☆ White ex-officer testifies in fatal shooting of Black man: 'I thought I was going to die'
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Deon J. Hampton | Deon J. Hampton Is A National Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Moments later, Coy said Hill walked up a driveway and loudly banged on the home’s front door, but nobody answered and no lights were visible. “My intention was to go toward the back of the house,” Coy testified, but he changed his mind when he saw a light flicker in the garage. Hill walked out, holding a lit cellphone in his left hand, but his body was turned and Coy couldn’t see his right side. Thinking the phone was a distraction, Coy thought he saw Hill holding a revolver with his left hand and fired four shots. “I said, ‘f---,’ I knew at that point that I had made a mistake,” Coy testified.

Persons: “, ”, ” Adam Coy, Andre Hill, Coy, Adam Coy, Hill, Mark Collins, ” Coy, banged, What’s, Stephen Zenner, Amy Detweiler, Coy couldn’t, ’, Anthony Pierson, ” Pierson, Monday, Stephen McIntosh Organizations: Columbus Police Department, Coy, Protesters, Getty Locations: Columbus , Ohio, AFP, Columbus

A co-defendant in the racketeering and gun conspiracy case against Atlanta rapper Young Thug accepted a plea deal Tuesday after days of speculation over whether Georgia's longest-running criminal trial may end in a mistrial. Young Thug and the others have been jailed since 2022 on charges of conspiracy and criminal street gang activity and additional firearm- and drug-related charges. The indictment accuses Young Thug, 32, of leading a street gang, Young Slime Life, or YSL, with members committing illegal and violent acts, including murder, armed robbery, drug dealing and carjacking. Opening statements finally began last November after several defendants had already taken plea deals while others chose to be tried separately from Young Thug. The defendants have denied they are part of a street gang and critics contend the RICO law is being unfairly used against Black hip-hop artists.

Persons: Young Thug, Quamarvious Nichols, Racketeer, Paige Whitaker, Whitaker, Nichols, Young, Jeffery Lamar Williams, Wunnie Lee, Shawty, Lee, it’s, “ We’re, ” Nicole Westmoreland, —, Scott Dudelson, Fani Willis Organizations: Atlanta, Georgia's, Fulton, Bloods Locations: Fulton County, Atlanta

☆ Hotels are leaning into their spookier sides to sell ‘rooms with a boo’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Blane Bachelor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Perhaps unsurprisingly, more and more hotels are happy to show off their spookier side as a result. “They ditched the [premise of], ‘Oh, people may be scared,’ and said, ‘Wow, people will come and I can market it, so we’re a haunted hotel,’” said Melchiorri. The inspiration for Stephen King’s novel-turned-film “The Shining,” the 420-room grande dame, whose imposing facade is nearly as dramatic as its Rocky Mountains backdrop, is arguably the world’s most famous haunted hotel. From a messaging and marketing perspective, hotels should share their ghost stories or spooky lore “in a way that they don’t surprise anyone,” Orr said. “My experience is, whether they will admit it or not, most hotels have something that goes bump in the night,” Hunnings said.

Persons: Brian Hunnings, you’re, “, Anthony Melchiorri, ”, Katherine Orr, Elizabeth Harlow, Stephen King's, Helen H, Richardson, ’ earshot, ’, ’ ”, Stephen King’s, Stephen King Suite, –, Steve Azar, Vincent Alban, Hunnings, ” Hunnings, ” Steven Azar, Gifford, Azar, Don’t, ” Azar, Kumar Sriskandan, ” Orr, chambermaid Sallie White, Orr Organizations: CNN, Red Cliffs, CNN Travel, Hotels of America, Hospitality, Hyatt, Marriott, Denver Post, National Retail Federation, Stanley Film Center, Boston Globe, Cliffs, of Film, Western Heritage, “ Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, Alamo Locations: Red, Moab , Utah, Colorado, Estes Park , Colorado, Gifford, Provincetown, Moab, Provincetown , Massachusetts, San Antonio , Texas

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