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Proposition 26, which sought to bring point spreads to Native American casinos, was being rejected by 70.1% to 29.9%, tallies showed Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Proposition 27, the measure that sought to legalize online sports betting, was going down to even greater defeat by 83.3% to 16.7%. Proposition 26 garnered $120.7 million in donor support and $43.8 million in opposition efforts, according to the California secretary of state's contribution records. Meanwhile, Proposition 27 drew $169.5 million in support and $237.8 million in opposition. Proposition 27's backers didn't strongly oppose Proposition 26, whose backers aggressively fought the former measure in hopes of bringing Native American casinos a near-monopoly in sports betting.

☆ The Fed's interest rate hikes helped make this weekend's $1.6 billion Powerball prize the largest lottery jackpot in US history
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This weekend's $1.6 billion Powerball prize is the largest lottery jackpot in US history. The Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes are a key reason the headline prize is so high. In comparison, the lump sum prize for Saturday's lottery would only be approximately 49% of the $1.6 billion. So in some ways, the Fed is one reason Saturday's headline Powerball jackpot is the highest ever. This week, it surpassed the $1.54 billion Mega Millions jackpot in 2018 and the $1.59 billion Powerball jackpot in 2016.

Equinox knows how to do a luxury gym, and with an Amex Platinum card you can effectively get a discount. Courtesy of EquinoxThe Platinum Card® from American Express has long offered an annual $300 credit to be used with Equinox luxury gyms. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. However, you can soon use your Platinum Card's annual $300 Equinox credit to give an Equinox gym a try for free.

☆ Elon Musk misses the irony of the world's richest man asking people to pay him $8 a month for a Twitter blue check
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk, the world's richest person, plans to charge people $8 to be verified on Twitter. But putting a pricetag on the blue checkmark completely misses the point. Musk doesn't appear to realize the irony of his tweet, nor does he seem to understand the point of verification. It's not just about having a blue checkmark next to your name. That's the exact opposite of what the verification system should be striving for.

Jim McIngvale, the Texas furniture salesman who famously hedges sports bets with furniture promotions, said he has placed a total of $10 million of bets on his beloved Houston Astros in this year's World Series. This time, If you spend $3,000 or more on a mattress, your purchase is free – if the Astros win. Mack placed the largest of his World Series bets, $3 million, on May 13 with Caesars at 10-1 on the Astros to win. His World Series bets have taken him all over the country, as sports gambling is not legal in his home state of Texas, he said. In 2017, when the Astros won the World Series, Mack doled out millions in refunds.

President Joe Biden last week doled out $2.8 billion to miners developing new U.S. sources of lithium, nickel, copper and other EV minerals, as well as battery parts manufacturers and recyclers. Those grants followed August's Inflation Reduction Act, which links EV tax credits to minerals extracted domestically or from 20 allies. "People have a misconception about how quickly we can get mines up and running given the U.S. permitting process," said Megan O'Connor, Nth Cycle's CEO. "Hopefully, they'll give us some help and fast track some of the permitting process," said Kent Masters, Albemarle's CEO. The yawning divide between America and China's approaches to funding the EV supply chain is now a top concern for many policymakers and their advisers in the nation's capital.

☆ European countries are shelling out huge sums to deal with the energy crunch. Economists fear it could spark a new financial crisis.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A new debt crisis could be looming as European countries throw huge sums of money at the energy crisis. Already, the energy crisis is estimated to have cost Europe around 700 billion euros. Combined with a high debt load, that spells trouble, Boskin says, because debt itself is also inflationary. Additional spending and debt from the energy crisis could result in more stress being exerted on the financial system. "I think a debt crisis could very likely ensue given the vast amounts that [are] being spent as a percentage of GDP.

☆ Lawmakers demand answers for Jackson, Mississippi, water crisis
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | 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 EmailLawmakers demand answers for Jackson, Mississippi, water crisisNBC's Bracey Harris joins Shep Smith to report Capitol Hill lawmakers are looking for answers from Mississippi when it comes to how federal dollars for water quality are doled out to local communities.

☆ Work flexibility, stimulus helped fuel pandemic 'baby bump,' study shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Economists from UCLA, Northwestern and Princeton universities found that pandemic trends, such as increased work flexibility, helped push up US birth rates last year to 6.2% from pre-pandemic levels, marking the first major reversal in declining fertility rates since 2007 and counteracting a longstanding economic certainty: Birth rates don’t increase during economic downturns. The baby bump was also pronounced among women aged 30 to 34 and those between the ages of 25 and 44 with a college degree. The latter group was more likely to retain their job during the pandemic and work from home. The pandemic helped to expose the critical role the child care industry serves in bolstering labor market participation. “The US has experienced declining fertility rates now for over a decade, and this has been a concern to many policymakers,” he said.

☆ The Columbus, Ohio, Warehouse Boom: How warehouses brought stifling dust and diesel fumes — and a chance for refugees to grab the American dream
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

What binds them, despite different nationalities, immigration stories, and languages, are warehouse jobs. As Columbus' warehouse development begins encroaching into residential areas, a consensus is gathering here — as it has elsewhere — that warehouses make for poor neighbors. Tariq Tarey for InsiderIn Canal Winchester, Halstead's efforts to put the question of warehouse development before voters were stymied. The town council bypassed her group's referendum by declaring a state of emergency to approve the warehouse development. There aren't clear lines between the winners and losers of Columbus' warehouse boom.

A man takes a picture of a friend in front of a sign showing installation of the 5G network in New Delhi, India, October 3, 2022. The agenda includes holding talks "to prioritise" and release software upgrades for supporting the high-speed network, the notice for the closed-door meeting stated. Airtel's website on Tuesday showed "Apple yet to update software" for all of Apple iPhones' 12 to 14 models under its 5G compatible section. A third source with direct knowledge of the issue said Apple was in the process of testing and validating different 5G offerings from network providers in India. Lack of 5G software upgrades has already irked users.

A key figure in Mississippi’s welfare spending scandal has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges under an arrangement that signals he may be cooperating, according to court records. John Davis directed Mississippi’s welfare agency while it doled out millions of dollars in federal welfare money to projects investigators now say were improper, including a new volleyball facility requested by former NFL quarterback Brett Favre that benefited his daughter. Phil Bryant, who has consistently denied that he was aware that federal welfare money was being used for the projects, in violation of state and federal laws. Favre has also denied wrongdoing through his lawyer, who acknowledged that Favre has been interviewed by the FBI. There is no indication Favre is a target of the investigation, and he says he did not know the state grants came from federal welfare funds.

☆ Former Mississippi Human Services Director Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Welfare Scandal
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Cameron Mcwhirter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

John Davis, former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, sits with his defense attorney, Merrida Coxwell, right, in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday. The former head of Mississippi’s department handling welfare funds pleaded guilty Thursday to federal theft and wire-fraud conspiracy charges and multiple state charges relating to the misuse of millions of dollars in federal aid meant for poor families, according to court documents. John Davis, 54 years old, the executive director of the state’s Department of Human Services from 2016 to 2019, agreed in a plea deal filed with the court to fully cooperate with federal and state prosecutors as they continue probes into how the state department doled out tens of millions of federal dollars.

☆ 'L.A. Confidential' at 25
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

So it’s worth a moment, 25 years after its debut, to give some love to “L.A. Confidential,” the film noir adaptation of James Ellroy’s tale of corruption in the city of Angels that seemingly did everything right, only to be washed over by the understandable wave of enthusiasm that surrounded James Cameron’s massive hit, “Titanic.”Directed by the late Curtis Hanson, “L.A. Confidential” didn’t walk away from the Academy Awards empty handed, taking trophies for adapted screenplay and co-star Kim Basinger as the proverbial call girl with a heart of gold, and a striking resemblance to Veronica Lake. The investigation eventually swept up a trio of officers, turning them into unlikely allies in seeking to expose the truth. Confidential” was released by Warner Bros., which, like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros.

☆ PayPal threatens to sever partnership with Phoenix Suns if owner Sarver returns
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 30: Owner, Robert Sarver of the Phoenix Suns interviews after Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 30, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. PayPal , the jersey sponsor for the Phoenix Suns, warned that it would sever ties with the team if owner Robert Sarver remains affiliated with the organization following his one-year suspension. "In light of the findings of the NBA's investigation, we will not renew our sponsorship should Robert Sarver remain involved with the Suns organization, after serving his suspension." Former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned from the league for life after his racist comment surfaced. PayPal joins multiple NBA players and the players' association in saying Sarver's punishment doesn't go far enough, including Suns star Chris Paul.

The Mississippi state auditor said Favre never gave the speeches and demanded the money back, with interest. In an interview with the website Mississippi Today, Bryant said he never knew the grants came from welfare money. The former head of the state welfare agency, John Davis, has pleaded not guilty to state charges of bribery and conspiracy, and law enforcement officials say the investigations continue. Favre defended himself in a series of tweets last year against allegations from White, the state auditor, that he accepted state money for speeches he never intended to give. Marcus Dupree, a former college football star, also received $370,000 in welfare funds, which prosecutors say partly went to fund his horse ranch.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is definitely worth considering if you want to earn a flat rate of cash rewards with no annual fee. $0 Annual Fee View Full Details $0 Annual Fee Apply now On Wells Fargo's websiteWells Fargo Active Cash® Card from Wells Fargo Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Card Details Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. How to earn cash rewards with the Wells Fargo Active Cash CardThe Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers 2% cash rewards on purchases with no rewards category limitations or quarterly activation. How to redeem rewards from the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit cardRewards earned with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card belong in the Wells Fargo Rewards program, which means you can redeem them in several ways. Wells Fargo Active Cash card benefits and featuresThe Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card comes with decent benefits for a no-annual-fee card.

☆ Amex Platinum card review: The best card for airport lounge access and premium travel perks, with an 80,000-point welcome bonus offer and tons of valuable new benefits
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-27 | by ( Sarah Silbert | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +48 min

Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. How to earn points with the Amex Platinum cardThe Platinum Card doesn't have a terribly complicated earning structure. The Platinum Card comes with a welcome offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Because it's a premium rewards card, the Platinum Card is harder to get approved for than some other popular cards.

☆ The best credit card sign up bonuses and deals in February 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-03 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +25 min

And since many credit card issuers these days restrict the number of cards you can get with them — or the number of times you can get a card — you’ll want to apply for a credit card when it’s offering a peak sign-up bonus. So, how do you know which credit card sign-up bonuses are currently higher than normal? Best for international flights: Chase Aeroplan Credit CardThe relatively new Chase Aeroplan credit card just launched its best-ever sign-up offer. Best business card with no annual fee: Ink Business UnlimitedChase currently has some unbelievable sign-up offers on its no-annual-fee business credit cards, including the Ink Business Unlimited. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card also earns $900 in bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 within the first three months after opening the account.

☆ Tesla aims to revitalize its solar energy and storage business this year after 2019 slump
▼ + stars: | 2020-02-14 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk reveals prototypes of the Tesla Solar Roof on October 28, 2016 TeslaEven with a record fourth quarter for its solar energy and storage systems business, Tesla's energy revenue declined by over $24 million in 2019, after several rounds of layoffs that started the prior year. Tesla said, in its annual financial report on Thursday, that it's ramping up solar photovoltaic production at its plant in Buffalo, New York. "We have recently started manufacturing solar panels at this facility in collaboration with Panasonic," the filing states. Since the acquisition, solar energy has been a relatively small and dwindling business for Tesla, in part because of delays in manufacturing and a longer development cycle than expected. Musk said last March that 2019 would be the "year of the solar roof."

One of the most popular rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, is getting new benefits like DoorDash credits and 10x points with Lyft through March 2022. I used to recommend the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to everyone, but in light of these changes I think it's really best for a few different types of users. If the following situations apply to you, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® could be well worth the higher annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve makes sense if:You travel — a lotThe Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been Business Insider's top travel rewards card pick, but the upcoming changes make it harder to recommend to occasional travelers. For everyone else, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great pickSure, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can't compete with all the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s bells and whistles, but if you can't identify with any of the situations above, you probably don't need them.

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