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☆ Enjoy Smashing Things to Bits? Make $650,000 Crushing Everyday Objects Online
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( John Keilman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Paul Roth used to fire up his belt sander when he was building something. Now he does it to make something disappear. Mr. Roth, a 34-year-old home-remodeler from Hazelwood, Mo., has TikTok and YouTube channels in which he feeds toys, cellphones, candy and other items into his sander until they vanish against the grit. Viewers grimace but can’t stop watching. When he sanded the face off a Thomas the Tank Engine, one commenter said: “Well, there goes my childhood down the drain.”

☆ Amazon told lawmakers it wouldn't build storm shelters in warehouses after fatal collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Annie Palmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon said it won't build storm shelters in its warehouses after a tornado ripped through one of its Illinois facilities more than a year ago, killing six workers. OSHA guidelines say that basements, storm cellars or small interior rooms provide the best protection from a tornado. Amazon previously said it followed federal guidance to tell employees to take shelter immediately after there was a tornado warning. The families of two employees killed in the building collapse have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Amazon and the companies that built the warehouse. Reconstruction of the Edwardsville warehouse began in June, according to KSDK, the NBC affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri.

☆ Patrick Mahomes’s Ankle and the Forces That Will Shape the Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Patrick Mahomes didn’t expect to run on the play that would send the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl. “At some points in games, you’ve got to just put it all on the line,” he said afterward.

☆ TikTok CEO to testify before Congress in March amid app security questions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Rose Horowitch | Rose Horowitch Is An Intern With Nbc News Digital Politics. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will appear before Congress in March to field questions about the viral video app's security measures amid mounting efforts to ban it because of privacy concerns. TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has come under increased scrutiny after media reports showed possible security breaches. Several lawmakers are supporting legislation to ban the app from the U.S. entirely. The ban Biden approved, which was wrapped into the omnibus spending bill, included limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security and security research purposes. Last month Congress banned it on all government devices.

☆ Kansas City Chiefs to Meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is lifted in the air after his game-winning field goal. KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The sardonic nickname that Cincinnati Bengals players had given Arrowhead Stadium made the rounds so quickly over the course of the past week that it even made its way into the Chiefs’ lexicon. “See y’all at Burrowhead,” Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones said in an apparent bid to mock the term.

☆ Missouri Camping Ban Squeezes Rural Homeless Population
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Shannon Najmabadi | Photographs Bruce E. Stidham For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

BOLIVAR, Mo.—The pastor of the First Christian Church was startled one morning when what he thought was a mound of donated clothes on his church doorstep was in fact Titus Finn, who had curled up there and spent the night. Mr. Finn, 26 years old, said he had slept virtually “any spot I can lay my head” in the city of 11,000—living in and out of homelessness since childhood.

☆ Ways & Means Committee Chair: Delivering for working-class families is our top priority
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWays & Means Committee Chair: Delivering for working-class families is our top priorityRep. Jason Smith (R-Mo. ), the new Ways & Means Committee chair, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the top priorities for the committee, Smith's position on the debt ceiling, and more.

☆ A mailman, a NASA scientist and a park ranger: Some government employees shrug off TikTok bans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Jean-Pierre, who’s from Morristown, New Jersey, has attracted 215,500 followers on the video app where most days he posts from his mail truck during his lunch break. As of last month, all federal workers are banned from having TikTok on their work phones. In some places, using a personal device isn’t enough to get around TikTok restrictions. There’s no telling precisely how many federal workers use TikTok, but certain hashtags show the breadth of its popularity. The public relations staff at some federal agencies said they had no plans to interfere with what federal workers did on their own.

☆ TikTok tries to sell ‘Project Texas’ as it fights for survival in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Some of the details appeared Thursday on the security blog Lawfare, where two people provided a rundown of what they said they heard at one TikTok briefing last week. He said his center has received funding from TikTok, but that he had no view on whether TikTok’s assurances were satisfactory. “We have shifted our approach,” Erich Andersen, the general counsel of ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, told the Times. A key partner of TikTok is the U.S. computing giant Oracle, which has its headquarters in Austin, Texas, where TikTok may choose to house the data of its U.S. users. The code name “Project Texas” became public last year.

☆ You Call That Snow?! See How This Winter Stacks Up.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Francesca Paris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

If so, you’re not alone: It has been a dreary winter for children hoping for snow days and grown-up snow enthusiasts alike on the East Coast. More than 50 years of snowfall in … Interactive line chart showing cumulative snowfall for each winter season over 50 years, as well as the median snowfall for all seasons. Line chart showing Philadelphia’s cumulative snowfall for each winter season over 50 years. Loading dataLine chart showing Boston’s cumulative snowfall for each winter season over 50 years. Milwaukee Pittsburgh Providence, R.I. Pueblo, Colo. Richmond, Va. Rockford, Ill. St. Louis Topeka, Kan. About normal snow Anchorage Boise, Idaho Colorado Springs Columbia, Mo.

☆ Mass Shootings in the U.S.: A Symptom of Despair - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Jillian Peterson | James Densley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +23 min

Seven killed and 46 injured in Highland Park, Ill., on July 4, 2022He suffered from severe back pain. Eight killed and seven injured in Indianapolis on April 15, 2021He was known for being paranoid with a short temper. Five killed and seven injured in Aurora, Ill., on Feb. 15, 2019He had expressed violent thoughts. Nine killed and seven injured in Red Lake, Minn., on March 21, 2005He had been noticeably depressed and angry at church. Seven killed and seven injured in Fort Worth on Sept. 15, 1999He killed his daughter’s cat because he was upset.

☆ Sen. Josh Hawley says he'll introduce legislation to ban TikTok nationwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has announced he plans to introduce legislation Wednesday that would ban the popular social media app TikTok in the United States. Now I will introduce legislation to ban it nationwide." "But listen, I welcome all efforts to ban TikTok, of whatever form it takes." Under that measure, the president could impose sanctions on TikTok and other social media companies to prevent commercial operation in the U.S. Several states have also taken steps to prohibit the use of TikTok on government devices.

☆ Juul in deal talks with three tobacco giants - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 25 (Reuters) - E-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc is in early talks with three tobacco giants for a potential sale, strategic investment, licensing or distribution deal, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company, which was reportedly looking to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, have had separate discussions with Philip Morris International Inc (PM.N), Japan Tobacco Group (2914.T) and Altria Group Inc (MO.N), the report said. Juul, partly owned by Marlboro maker Altria, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A deal is not imminent and the discussions may not result in a sale or partnership, the people told the Journal on Wednesday. Last week, Juul secured preliminary court approval of a $255 million settlement resolving claims by consumers that it deceptively marketed e-cigarettes.

☆ Juul is worth at least one more puff
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Philip Morris International (PM.N), Japan Tobacco (2914.T) and Altria (MO.N) may want to buy Juul, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. There’s a big regulatory cloud hanging over the smokeless trailblazer, but there are reasons to spark up a deal. Juul stands accused by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of marketing its product to underage users, prompting the agency to seek removal of its products from shelves. Juul would need to hawk some $250 million of e-cigs annually to justify today’s imputed $1 billion valuation, based on the multiple of sales the Altria enterprise fetches. At a big discount, it makes the business worth one more puff.

☆ All 5 escaped Missouri inmates back in custody after three days on the run
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Dennis Romero | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

All five inmates who escaped from a Missouri jail this week were in custody as of Saturday morning, the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department said. The five escaped from St. Francois County Detention Center in Farmington early Tuesday night, they said. All of the escapees were being held based on felony allegations, the sheriff’s department said. St. Francois County Detention Center in Farmington, Mo. The others were found hours later in Ohio, the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department said Saturday.

☆ A Rare BMW Model Driven by James Bond—and a Retired Surgeon From Missouri
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( A.J. Baime | Photographs Christopher Smith For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

C. Daniel Smith , 67, a recently retired orthopedic surgeon living in St. Joseph, Mo., on his 2002 BMW Z8, as told to A.J. Orthopedic surgeons have quite a bit of time between cases, and sometimes, to take the edge off, we would talk in the surgeon’s lounge about anything but work. I have a good surgeon friend named Steve Long who is, like me, nuts about cars, and oftentimes we would talk about our favorites. One day, we happened on the BMW Z8.

☆ U.S. judge grants preliminary approval to Juul consumer settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 20 (Reuters) - Juul Labs Inc on Friday secured preliminary court approval of a $255 million settlement resolving claims by consumers that it deceptively marketed e-cigarettes, as the company seeks to resolve thousands of lawsuits. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco said the proposed class action settlement resolving claims by consumers who said they overpaid for Juul's vaping products was "fair, reasonable, and adequate," according to a court filing. The settlement is part of a larger, global agreement by Juul to resolve thousands of lawsuits by school districts, local governments and individuals accusing it of contributing to a youth vaping epidemic. The company last month said it had reached settlements with about 10,000 plaintiffs covering more than 5,000 cases. It has not said how much it will pay, though the Wall Street Journal reported deal is valued at $1.7 billion.

☆ Most Abortion Bans Include Exceptions. In Practice, Few Are Granted.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Amy Schoenfeld Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +19 min

But abortion-rights advocates say legal exceptions do nothing but make abortion bans appear more reasonable than they really are. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for rape or incest and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for fatal birth defects and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for patients with severe health risks and the other shows states without those exceptions. One shows states with abortion bans with exceptions for the life of the patient and the other shows states without those exceptions.

☆ U.S. judge grants preliminary approval to Juul settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 20 (Reuters) - Juul Labs Inc won preliminary approval of a settlement aimed at ending thousands of lawsuits alleging the company was a major cause of a youth-vaping epidemic in the United States, according to a court filing on Friday. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco said Juul's deal to settle almost 10,000 lawsuits filed by local governments across the country seemed to be "fair, reasonable, and adequate." Juul did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The court document provided no details of the terms of the settlement. The company earlier said it had reached settlements with about 10,000 plaintiffs covering more than 5,000 cases in California.

WASHINGTON — Aides to President Joe Biden have discovered at least one additional batch of classified documents in a location separate from the Washington office he used after leaving the Obama administration, according to a person familiar with the matter. The initial discovery of classified documents in an office used by Biden after his vice presidency was first reported on Monday by CBS News. It also was not immediately clear when the additional documents were discovered and if the search for any other classified materials Biden may have from the Obama administration is complete. Two sources familiar with the matter said less than a dozen documents with classified markings were found at the office. Trump's possession of over 100 documents with classified markings despite have been subpoenaed for their return is the subject of a federal criminal investigation by the Justice Department.

☆ Rep. Jason Smith Picked to Lead House Ways and Means Committee
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Richard Rubin | Siobhan Hughes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri had been the top Republican on the House Budget Committee. WASHINGTON—House Republican leaders chose Rep. Jason Smith (R., Mo.) to run the House Ways and Means Committee, giving him a prime perch to shape the party’s approach to tax, trade and health policy. As chairman, Mr. Smith will lead a committee with broad power over economic policy and healthcare that is poised to receive an influx of new Republican members. He will help guide the party’s oversight work as the Internal Revenue Service starts spending the $80 billion it received last year.

☆ Missouri Executes Transgender Inmate, a First in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Adolfo Flores | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Missouri carried out the first known execution of a transgender person in the U.S. after Republican Gov. Mike Parson denied Amber McLaughlin ’s clemency petition. Ms. McLaughlin was pronounced dead by lethal injection at 6:51 p.m. on Tuesday at the Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Mo. She was found guilty in the 2003 murder of her ex-girlfriend Beverly Guenther .

☆ Chewy Looks to Open More Automated Fulfillment Centers in Drive to Control Costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Nina Trentmann | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Online pet retailer Chewy Inc. plans to open more automated fulfillment centers in 2023 to control costs and raise efficiency, which could help the company repurpose certain capital spending, its finance chief said. Photo: Chewy Inc.“When we think about the future of our fulfillment network, automation is at the center of that,” Mr. Marte said. The company, which had over 21,000 employees and 13 fulfillment centers in December, usually requires about 1,200 people for a manned distribution center. “Those are real dollars,” Mr. Marte said, adding that Chewy is working to grow profits and taking out costs. Over time, the company could defer or lower some of its capital expenditures, Mr. Marte said.

☆ Here's why these US Air Force A-10 attack aircraft rock fearsome shark teeth war paint
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

An A-10 pilot told Insider about the history of the shark teeth war paint. Those planes are the ones rocking the ferocious shark teeth war paint, he said. US Air Force Senior Airman Brandon Hill, 74th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chief, guides Lt. Col. Matthew Shelly, the 74th Fighter Squadron commander, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June, 26 2021 US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. The first P-40s to feature the shark mouth war paint were the British Royal Air Force Tomahawks. The 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons are still part of the 23rd Fighter Group while the 76th is now a Reserve unit with 476th Fighter Group.

☆ From Age 10, Don Cheadle Could Hold Sway Over an Audience
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Marc Myers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Don Cheadle, 58, is a Tony- and Grammy-winning actor who starred in “Hotel Rwanda,” the “Oceans” trilogy and Marvel Cinematic Universe films. He directed and starred in “Miles Ahead” and currently co-stars in Netflix’s “White Noise,” due Dec. 30. He spoke with Marc Myers. My initial exposure to acting began at home in Kansas City, Mo. I came from a very fun-loving family where humor and imagination were prized and encouraged.

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