Feb 02 January hiring gains surprisingly robust By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press The nation’s employers delivered a stunning burst of hiring to begin 2024, adding 353,000 jobs in January in the latest sign of the economy’s continuing ability to shrug off the highest interest rates in two decades. Continue reading
Feb 01 Disney appeals dismissal of free speech lawsuit as DeSantis says company should ‘move on’ By Mike Schneider, Associated Press The company had said after Wednesday's decision that it would set a dangerous precedent if left unchallenged by giving states the green light to weaponize their powers to punish opposing viewpoints. Continue reading
Feb 01 6 killings in likely cannabis dispute spotlight violence in California’s illegal pot market By Michael R. Blood, Christopher Weber, Associated Press Illegal growing and sales have thrived in California despite years of legal operations that were expected to stamp it out. The killings discovered Jan. 23 provided a reminder of the violence that can come with illicit cannabis activity. Continue reading
Feb 01 Advertising agency for OxyContin agrees to pay $350 million rather than face lawsuits By Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press New York Attorney General Letitia James said Thursday that Publicis Health engaged in predatory and deceptive marketing strategies to help Purdue Pharma increase sales of its drugs. Continue reading
Jan 31 EBay will pay $59 million settlement over pill presses sold online as U.S. undergoes overdose epidemic By Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press The Justice Department says eBay failed to follow laws requiring verification buyers' identities and people who bought pill presses there have been charged in drug trafficking cases. Continue reading
Jan 31 House passes bipartisan bill to enhance child tax credit, revive key tax breaks for businesses By Kevin Freking, Associated Press Prospects for the measure becoming law are still uncertain, but for a House that has struggled to get bills of consequence over the finish line and signed into law, the tax legislation could represent a rare breakthrough. Continue reading
Jan 31 Federal judge dismisses Disney’s free speech lawsuit against DeSantis; company vows to press on By Mike Schneider, Associated Press U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor said in his decision Wednesday that Disney lacked standing in its First Amendment lawsuit against the Florida governor and his appointees. Continue reading
Jan 31 Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and others may soon vanish from TikTok as licensing dispute boils over By Michelle Chapman, Associated Press Universal Music Group, which represents artists including Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, says that it will no longer allow its music on TikTok now that a licensing deal between the two parties has expired. Continue reading
Jan 31 WATCH: Federal Reserve signals that interest rate cuts aren’t imminent and leaves them unchanged for now By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it’s nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, a sign that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. But the Fed also signaled that the first rate cut is likely… Continue reading
Jan 30 Washington state to develop guidelines for agencies using generative artificial intelligence By Hallie Golden, Associated Press The executive order was signed by the Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday and highlights the huge potential for generative AI as well as its risks. Continue reading