Biden elevates energetic critic of Big Tech as top regulator
The selection of legal scholar Lina Khan, 32, to head the Federal Trade Commission is seen as signaling a tough stance toward tech giants Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple.
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U.S. COVID-19 deaths hit 600,000, equal to yearly cancer toll
With the arrival of the vaccine in mid-December, COVID-19 deaths per day in the U.S. have plummeted to an average of around 340, from a high of more than 3,400 in mid-January.
Impatient Democrats prepare to go-it-alone on infrastructure
The president and the Democratic leaders have been engaged in a two-track strategy—reaching for a bipartisan deal with Republicans but also setting the stage for a potential majority-rules strategy in case talks fail.
Senate approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
The bill would lead to Juneteenth becoming the 12th federal holiday. It is expected to easily pass the House, which would send it to President Joe Biden for his signature.
U.S. sees record rise in wholesale prices over past year past year
The monthly gain in the producer price index, which measures inflation pressure before it reaches consumers, followed a 0.6% increase in April and a 1% jump in March, the Labor Department reported Tuesday.
May retail sales fell 1.3% as Americans spent less on goods
Retail sales fell in May, dragged down by a decline in auto sales and a shift by Americans to spend more on vacations and other services instead of goods.
Indiana ice cream plant closing, eliminating 176 jobs
The Decatur plant produces ice cream products for the Mayfield Dairy, Dean’s Country Fresh and Friendly’s brands.
MacKenzie Scott, citing wealth gap, donates $2.7B to charities, racial equity causes
It’s the third round of major philanthropic gifts Scott has made, which together rival the charitable contributions made by the largest foundations.
Workers push back against hospitals requiring COVID vaccines
Legal experts say such vaccine requirements, particularly in a public health crisis, will probably continue to be upheld in court as long as employers provide reasonable exemptions, including for medical conditions or religious objections.
Delicate task for Fed: When to pull back on low-rate support
With inflation rising in a fast-rebounding economy, the Federal Reserve is poised this week to discuss when it will take its first steps toward dialing back its ultra-low interest rate policies. It will be a fraught discussion.
GM to announce more battery plants this week
The factories would be in addition to two battery cell plants that the company announced in the past two years, both geared to ramp up production as GM rolls out 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025, with more than two-thirds sold in North America.
Pandemic leaves Girl Scouts with 15 million unsold boxes of cookies
As the pandemic wore into the spring selling season, many troops nixed their traditional cookie booths for safety reasons.
Large study finds new COVID-19 shot about 90% effective
The Novavax vaccine, which is easy to store and transport, is expected to play an important role in boosting vaccine supplies in the developing world.
Judge tosses hospital workers’ suit over vaccine requirement
In a scathing ruling Saturday, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes of Houston deemed lead plaintiff Jennifer Bridges’ contention that the vaccines are “experimental and dangerous” to be false and otherwise irrelevant.
Travel rebound: 2 million people go through U.S. airports
The Transportation Security Administration announced Saturday that 2.03 million travelers were screened at airport checkpoints on Friday. It was the first time in 15 months that the number of security screenings has surpassed 2 million in a single day.
Schools across U.S. brace for surge of kindergartners in fall
School districts across the United States are hiring additional teachers in anticipation of what will be one of the largest kindergarten classes ever as enrollment rebounds following the coronavirus pandemic.
Bayh, Coats taking Indiana University roles
Former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh will work with the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, while Former Sen. Dan Coats will join the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.
Law enforcement struggling to recruit since death of George Floyd
Law enforcement agencies across the country experienced a wave of retirements and departures in the year since George Floyd’s death. Meanwhile, hiring has slowed.
Senators eye $579B in new infrastructure spending as part of $1T plan
Lawmakers say the group’s tentative agreement represents important progress in fashioning a bill that can pass such an evenly divided Congress this year, but they are also aware that it could easily unravel.
College Football Playoff considering expansion to 12 teams
The College Football Playoff announced Thursday it will consider expanding from four to 12 teams to settle the championship, with six spots reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions and the other six going to at-large selections.