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☆ Homebuilder sentiment rises in April, as builders grab near-record share of the market
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose to 45 in April, a one-point gain. Builders in the report cited a lack of listings on the resale market, which gave them an unusually strong edge. Slightly lower mortgage rates are also helping demand — though rates are still higher than they were a year ago. "Builders note that additional declines in mortgage rates, to below 6%, will price-in further demand for housing," said Alicia Huey, NAHB chairman and a custom homebuilder and developer from Birmingham, Alabama. It marked the first time both of the indicators were positive since June, when mortgage rates really took off.

☆ Four out of the five US metro areas with the lowest unemployment are in Florida. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington, DC CNN —Four out of the five US metropolitan areas with the lowest unemployment rates are in Florida, thanks to the state’s growing population, robust tourism activity and increased business investment. Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando all had unemployment rates below 2.7% that month. Florida was also the fastest growing state as a percentage during that period, the first time it has notched that top spot since 1957. “Florida is pro-cyclical, so when unemployment is low, it’s going to be even lower in Florida and vice versa,” Pintea said. Some studies have argued that generous unemployment programs keep unemployment higher for longer by disincentivizing workers from searching for a new job.

☆ Four killed, multiple injuries in Alabama shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Law enforcement officers walk through the crime scene, a day after a shooting at a teenager's birthday party in a dance studio, in Dadeville, Alabama, U.S., April 16, 2023. REUTERS/Cheney OrrApril 16 (Reuters) - Four people were killed and multiple others injured in a shooting on Saturday night that was tied to a birthday party in the small town of Dadeville, Alabama, the state law enforcement agency said at a news conference on Sunday morning. The state agency declined to answer questions or provide further detail during the news conference. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said in a Twitter post on Sunday morning that she was staying "closely updated" by law enforcement as details emerged. The nonprofit group defines a mass shooting as four or more shot or killed, not including the shooter.

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

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

☆ A paper mill in Alabama told authorities a worker died from a heart attack. He actually died after being electrocuted by machinery, the labor department says.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A paper mill in Alabama told OSHA that a worker who was electrocuted actually died from a heart attack. The company's lawyer also asked the coroner's office to change the cause of death to heart attack, OSHA said. The department said that the company – South Coast Paper LLC – had "willfully" violated safety standards, including failing to implement procedures to protect employees performing maintenance on machinery. The plant's manager and the company's general manager, however, told an OSHA certified safety and health officer that the worker had died from electrocution, OSHA wrote. South Coast Paper did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside of regular working hours.

☆ Appeals court partially blocks ruling that imperils access to key abortion pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | Laura Jarrett | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A federal appeals court late on Wednesday blocked part of a ruling issued last week by a Trump-appointed judge that endangers access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The Justice Department can still ask the Supreme Court to intervene in an attempt to completely block Kacsmaryk's ruling. The Justice Department has filed a motion in the federal district court in Washington state, asking for clarification on Friday's ruling. Kacsmaryk's ruling, if allowed to stand, would not mean that access to mifepristone would immediately be cut off nationwide. The agency has broad power to do so, with the Supreme Court in a 1985 ruling saying that such decisions generally cannot be challenged in court.

☆ Poland aims to set up Abrams tank service centre for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, April 12 (Reuters) - Poland aims to become the service centre for U.S.-made Abrams tanks in Europe, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday during a visit to the United States. "I want a service centre for Abrams tanks for the whole of Europe, for maintaining their battle readiness, to be located in Poland. "We are also striving for the production of depleted uranium ammunition cores for the Abrams to be located in Poland." Poland, a close ally of the United States within NATO, has ordered 250 state-of-the-art Abrams battle tanks in addition to 116 modernised ones. "...I have confirmation that by June at the latest 14 Abrams tanks will be delivered to Poland...", he said, adding that these would replace Soviet-era tanks his country had donated to Ukraine to help fight off Russia's invasion.

☆ The 15 worst places to buy a home if you want it to grow in value
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

However, the 15 bottom-ranked cities averaged only 66% price growth over that quarter century. Montgomery, Alabama, is the worst city for growth, with prices rising just 59.6% since 1998. Cities in Illinois take up the next five spots in the ranking, with average price growth of only 61.8%. Values in Florida also have grown steadily over the years, with Miami and Naples both posting price growth just over 290% since 1998. 1 place to buy a home if you want it to increase in value — and it's not in California or New York

☆ Apple CEO Tim Cook shares his No. 1 strategy for clearing his head: 'It's better than any other thing you could possibly do'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

At least, that's what Apple CEO Tim Cook does. Getting out into nature eases those tensions and helps Cook mentally reset, he told GQ on Monday. Its data showed that good health and wellbeing peaked after spending 200-300 minutes outside. Cook, who has an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion, isn't the only billionaire who prioritizes outdoor time. Take this survey and tell us how you want to take your money and career to the next level.

☆ The best tips for buying a car, according to dealers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Car buying is daunting, but especially with today's interest rates and uncertain inventory. Car dealers offered some tips about getting the best deal. There are plenty of things consumers can do to make the right choice and get the best deal amid all of that. Dealers — who know the ins-and-outs of the auto-buying market — have a few more tips for the best way to get a deal and navigate the process. The average new car sold for $48,763 in February, according to Kelley Blue Book, down from January's $49,468 and December's $49,507.

☆ How to talk to your aging parents about safe driving
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

One person may represent a danger on the roads at age 65, while another may be perfectly fine at age 85. Upgrades can help them stay safe, including technologies to keep drivers from drifting out a lane, backup cameras and various other detection systems. Special licensing requirements for elderly drivers can help screen out problems with vision and cognition. Some states require more frequent renewal for older drivers, or demand regular vision checks, or prohibit online renewals altogether. For a few hundred dollars a year, you could get a $1 million policy that should let everyone sleep better at night – both you, and your parents.

The bill, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, follows a similar Democrat-led effort proposed this month in the Senate. The Department of Labor has also taken steps to increase enforcement of child labor violations and called on Congress to boost penalties. The Labor Department has seen a nearly 70% increase in child labor violations since 2018, including in hazardous occupations, with 835 companies found to have violated child labor laws in the last fiscal year. Under current federal law, the maximum civil monetary penalty for a child labor violation is $15,138 per child. In February, 33 Democratic lawmakers led by Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee signed a letter to the Labor Secretary urging immediate action to rid Hyundai's supply chain of child labor.

☆ Australia's HMC Capital to buy hospitals from U.S. firm for $802 mln
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 30 (Reuters) - Australian asset manager HMC Capital Ltd (HMC.AX) said on Thursday it will buy 11 private hospitals from U.S.-based Medical Properties Trust (MPW.N) for A$1.20 billion ($802.08 million). The hospitals are currently managed by Brookfield Corp's (BN.TO) Healthscope, the second-largest private hospital operator in Australia. Additionally, HMC Capital will raise A$123 million to fund the transaction. "This acquisition transforms HCW into Australia's largest diversified healthcare REIT with greater exposure to critical healthcare infrastructure in Australia's major capital cities," said HMC Capital CEO David Di Pilla. HMC Capital is a Sydney-based asset manager founded and backed by banker-turned-investor David Di Pilla.

☆ Goldman Sachs picks the winners and losers in regional banks after the SVB collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The banking crisis continues to keep investors on edge about the health of regional banks. Now Goldman Sachs has identified what it said are the biggest winners and losers in the industry in the aftermath of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. The Wall Street investment bank said the biggest short-term risk for regional banks could come from shifting market shares of deposits as corporates look to diversify. Meanwhile, there is the potential that regional banks will need to "pay up" to prevent deposits from moving to other banks "or leave bank balance sheets entirely," Goldman said. These stocks are all down more than 20% in March as investors spooked by the crisis dumped regional bank shares.

☆ Rent prices drop for a third straight month–here's where they fell the most
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. rent prices decreased by 0.25% from January to February 2023, according to the latest data from rental listings site Rent.com. While it's a smaller decrease than in previous months, it brings the U.S. monthly average rent price down to $1,937 — lower than its August 2022 peak of $2,053. Even with the recent dip in prices, year-over-year U.S. rent prices are still up 1.7% as of February. However, that's a remarkable climb down considering that year-over-year rent growth was double digits for most of 2022. Raleigh, North Carolina, has seen the most growth, with a year-over-year rent price increase of 19% as of February, according to Rent.com.

☆ The government is cracking down on online prescriptions. Patients with addiction and the startups caring for them are caught up in the fight.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Blake Dodge | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Proposed rules would limit online addiction treatmentIn February, the Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, published much-anticipated rules meant to set the record straight on online prescribing. The rules, if implemented, generally don't allow providers to prescribe controlled medications online if they don't see the patients in person. For buprenorphine and other drugs, there's an exception that would allow for initial 30-day prescriptions for online patients. Some patients are flights away from in-person careFor some patients, especially in rural areas, in-person appointments are hard to find. Last year, Alabama passed a new law prohibiting providers from prescribing controlled drugs to patients they hadn't seen in person within the past year.

☆ The 10 cheapest U.S. states to retire in—Florida barely makes the list
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rather, Alabama is the most affordable state to retire in, according to WalletHub's "2023 Best States to Retire." The analysis compared all 50 states across three key categories: health care, quality of life and affordability. In Hawaii, a $1 million retirement fund would be empty in a little over 10 years — the fastest of any state, according to GoBankingRates. Despite ranking ninth in affordability, Florida came in at No. A $1 million retirement reserve would last about 18 years there, per GoBankingRates.

☆ A Mississippi meteorologist prayed on-air for small-town residents as a deadly tornado barreled toward them: VIDEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Aidan Pollard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A deadly tornado ripped through Mississippi and Alabama Friday, killing at least 26 people. As the storm neared the small city of Amory, Mississippi, a local weatherman prayed for residents' safety. He prayed for the residents of Amory, Mississippi — pleading on air for people to stay safe just minutes before the tornado reached them. Amory is a small town of about 6,500 in northeastern Mississippi situated between Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. The tornado left a trail of destruction in Amory, directly hitting the city's water department, according to the New York Times.

☆ Cargo theft, led by food and beverage, is surging across the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

1 on the list of products being targeted by freight thieves who are increasing their criminal activity across the national supply chain. While household goods and electronics are still high on the list of cargo thieves, "Now, we're starting to see food and beverage commodities pull up front," Cornell said. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwardsAccording to CargoNet's latest theft report through February, there was an almost 50% increase year over year in beverage and food cargo theft. According to the FBI, cargo theft is estimated to cost trucking companies and retailers at least $15 billion to $30 billion a year. Cities that are seeing a spike in freight theft include Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Savannah, Newark, New Jersey, Memphis and Chicago.

☆ How this 26-year-old went from running bitcoin trading desks in Taco Bells to creating the largest crypto exchange in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +28 min

Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice just before meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Accra, Ghana. Chris MauriceFrom there, Yellow Card users can send or receive digital cash in eligible markets. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice in Accra, Ghana loading cash onto his Mobile Money account, MoMo. Yellow Card has facilitated $1.75 billion in transactions since launching in 2019 and has about 220 employees – mostly in Africa. A resident checks his phone outside a mobile money kiosk in the Kibera district of Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.

☆ Amazon union organizers are reportedly feuding less than a year after a New York location voted to unionize
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A rift has formed in Amazon's Labor Union at a New York warehouse, The New York Times reported. Smalls told Insider these claims make "zero sense" and don't represent those who started the union. Christian Smalls, along with other union organizers, met President Joe Biden in May 2022. Smalls told Insider that it's common for union presidents to travel and that these claims "make zero sense." Amazon and the Amazon Union did not respond to Insider's immediate request for comment.

☆ How an often overlooked World War II-era shipbuilder designed the boat that Eisenhower said 'won the war for us'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Katie Sanders | Mara Storey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Higgins boat is one of the iconic vessels of World War II. Andrew Higgins, center, developed several kinds of landing craft that were invaluable during World War II. His landing craft were used in every major amphibious assault of World War II, from the shores of Europe to the Pacific islands. National World War II MuseumBorn in Nebraska in 1886, Higgins ran newspaper routes and started a lawn-mowing company as a child. In one instance, Navy officials expressed interest in seeing a design for a new 56-foot tank landing craft three days before a scheduled visit to see another type of landing craft.

☆ A US veteran joined Ukraine's International Legion, then made a shock defection to Russia. Ex-comrades say he was incompetent and left behind a trail of chaos.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Alia Shoaib | Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Those who fought with him in Ukraine told Insider he was unstable and erratic on the battlefield. "Bama is a highly unstable character," Nance told Insider. The warning signs continued, as McIntyre told Smith that he was wanted by the FBI for threatening to kill personnel at the White House, Smith. "As time went on, he confided to me that he had converted to Islam and that he was planning to do a jihad," Smith told Insider. "When you screw up, a company gets rid of you, pulls you off the line, and sends you back to the battalion," Nance told Insider.

☆ Mazda to appoint former North America head Moro as next CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Daniel Leussink | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Masahiro Moro, President and CEO of Mazda North America, speaks at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California U.S. November 29, 2017. Moro, 62, currently a director and senior managing executive officer, had previously served as the head of the automaker's North America operations. Current President and CEO Akira Marumoto, who took up his role in 2018, will step down from his posts at that time, Mazda added. Mazda also nominated Jeff Guyton, 56, senior managing executive officer and its current North America head, as chief financial officer and assistant to the president pending the June approval of the shareholders and board. ($1 = 132.9600 yen)Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Kim Coghill and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hey, Bing, Help Me Overcome My Fear of College Basketball
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

I’m still learning so I appreciate your understanding and patience.🙏Do you know a lot about college basketball, and do you enjoy talking about it? Why are people so obsessed about the college basketball brackets? I've never filled out a college basketball March Madness bracket, and I heard that it's virtually impossible to do completely accurately, even if you predict the winner. When filling out my college basketball bracket, should I just guess according to what team names I like the best? :)I’m afraid I can’t fill out a March Madness bracket, as I’m just a chat mode of Microsoft Bing search.

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