Jul 25 New Biden rule would make government websites, apps more accessible to people with disabilities By Associated Press The Biden administration is proposing new regulations to make state and local government websites and apps for services like libraries, parking, transit and court records more accessible for people with disabilities. Continue reading
Jul 25 U.S. consumer confidence jumps to a two-year high as inflation eases By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press The index measures both Americans' assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Both improved in July. Continue reading
Jul 24 IRS is ending unannounced visits to taxpayers By Fatima Hussein, Associated Press The IRS says it is ending its decades-old policy of making unannounced home and business visits — in a an effort to keep its workers safe and combat scammers who pose as IRS agents. Continue reading
Jul 24 Federal Reserve officials meet as central bank aims for ‘soft landing’ By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press After the Fed began aggressively raising borrowing costs early last year, most economists predicted it would send the economy crashing. Yet even though the Fed is poised to raise its key rate on Wednesday for the 11th time since March… Continue reading
Jul 24 UN chief urges Russia to revive Ukraine grain deal, warning ‘the most vulnerable’ will suffer By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press Guterres said with the termination of the deal, "the most vulnerable will pay the highest price." He told the gathering that there are already negative effects on global wheat and corn prices. Continue reading
Jul 24 UPS workers may soon strike. Here’s what you need to know By Associated Press The Teamsters — which represent some 340,000 UPS workers — are calling for better pay, particularly for part-time workers, and safety improvements. Continue reading
Jul 21 6 things to know about Barbie as the new film sets box office records By Justin Stabley, Bella Isaacs-Thomas When Barbie debuted in 1959, she didn’t just make a splash. It was more like a boom, sending children and parents scurrying to possess this icon of femininity and setting off a decadeslong debate about beauty standards, gender roles, race… Continue reading
Jul 21 Russia comes under UN pressure to revive Ukrainian grain shipments amid global food crisis fears By Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press Moscow was also criticized by the U.N. and council members Friday for attacking Ukrainian Black Sea ports after it pulled out of the year-old grain deal on Monday and destroying critical port infrastructure. Continue reading
Jul 20 New rules for oil and gas leasing raise rates energy companies must pay to drill on public lands By Matthew Daly, Associated Press The Biden administration is proposing new rules for the nation's oil and gas leasing program to raise costs for energy companies to drill on public lands and strengthen requirements to clean up old wells where drilling is completed or abandoned. Continue reading
Jul 20 Solar panels built over water canals seem like a no-brainer. So why aren’t they widespread? By Brittany Peterson, Sibi Arasu, Associated Press In arid locations, besides the clean electricity, there is the added benefit of reducing evaporation. But the technology has been slow to take off. Continue reading