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VOL. 47 | NO. 9 | Friday, February 24, 2023

It’ll be a great summer for camp counselors

Tight labor market, record numbers of campers mean higher wages – even bonuses

Back in 2019, the state of staffing at summer camps was in a state. The American Camp Association was reporting nationwide issues with recruitment and retention, and that was pre-pandemic. 2020 arrived, and camps were largely shut down, shrunken or online only.

How COVID accelerated counselor shortage

Summer camp operators faced multiple business challenges throughout the pandemic. Try to open or shut down entirely? Reduce enrollment or switch to online programming?

2023 Middle Tennessee summer camp guide

Camp provides children and young adults the chance to experience something totally different from their daily lives – maybe an opportunity to connect with nature, ride horses or learn to sail – as well as the opportunity to participate in team-based activities and develop relationships. Prices are as varied as the options for Nashvillians, so follow the links below for registration information and program details.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Need a ukulele? Radon detector? The library has it

The primary stock-in-trade of a library is right there in the name, derived from the Latin for book. And as the folks at my branch can attest, I’m a steady patron for that commodity, of late focused on the works of the creator of “Slow Horses,” Mick Herron.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
44.1°F
Overcast
Wind: North at 10.4 mph
Humidity: 68%

EVENTS

Business Studio and Chamber North. Fund Tennessee - Northern Middle Regional Kickoff Meeting. Attendees will learn about statewide access to capital initiative called Fund Tennessee. Join Commissioner Stuart McWhorter of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Lindsey Cox, CEO of LaunchTN, and regional economic development partners who will provide an overview of the program. The Fund Tennessee initiative is designed to support and expand an inclusive continuum of access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Tennessee. The statewide initiative will assist in addressing loan capital for entrepreneurs and small-business owners, equity capital for entrepreneurs and small-business owners and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs and small-business owners to become capital ready. Wednesdaym 6-7:30 p.m., Avon Williams Campus at TSU, 330 10th Ave South, Nashville. Registration

more events »

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Competition is the new ‘comp’ for setting prices

Determining a price for a residential real estate property is more difficult in the current environment than it was during the past three years. During the last three quarters of 2020, all of 2021 and 2022 until the Fed began to raise rates, past sales could be thrown out the highest windows in the houses being priced.

REAL ESTATE

Average long-term US mortgage rate jumps to 6.5% this week

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate jumped this week to its highest level since November, more grim news for a housing market that's been in decline for a year.

GUEST COLUMNIST

Tennessee bill a $1M takeover of foreclosure advertising sales

The Secretary of State’s Office would gain nearly $1 million in new annual revenue under a bill that allows it to take over the business of advertising foreclosure sales from local community newspapers where they have appeared for years.

NEWSMAKERS

Diversified Trust promotes 3, including new principal

Diversified Trust, an independent comprehensive wealth management firm, has elevated four to new positions.

BRIEFS

Nashville SC to kick off season in black kit

Nashville Soccer Club unveiled their brand-new Man in Black Kit, honoring one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time, Johnny Cash.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

What to know before towing with electric pickup

Gas-powered light-duty pickups are a go-to choice for people needing to tow a trailer. But electric light-duty pickups are muscling their way into the market, too.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Make your credit cards less vulnerable to fraud

Last year, one of my family’s credit cards was used to rack up hundreds of dollars in bogus charges at Apple.com. Another card was compromised four times, as thieves repeatedly charged merchandise and Uber rides.

MILLENNIAL MONEY

Use ’em or lose ’em: Avoiding points, miles hoarding

Most personal finance advice boils down to this: Save as much as you can and spend as little as you can. That’s the simplest way to accumulate wealth, build investment income and achieve financial independence (even if it’s not so simple in practice).

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Zucker's late goal leads Penguins over Predators 3-1

NASHVILLE (AP) — Jason Zucker scored with 1:39 left to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.

UT SPORTS

No. 12 Tennessee beats Arkansas 75-57, soph G Zeigler hurt

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Olivier Nkamhoua scored 16 points to lead No. 12 Tennessee to a 75-57 victory over Arkansas on Tuesday night.

EAST TENNESSEE

Knoxville officers' conduct probed in woman's death

NASHVILLE (AP) — Four Tennessee police officers are being investigated for their treatment of a woman whose pleas for help they repeatedly ignored as they accused her of faking illness after she was discharged from a hospital. The woman was pronounced dead a day later.

SPORTS

MLB sets up local media group, could broadcast 17 teams

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball added three executives to its new local media department as it prepares for a possible takeover of local broadcasts for 17 teams amid the financial deterioration of the Bally and AT&T SportsNet regional sports networks.

COURTS

As court debates student loans, borrowers see disconnect

WASHINGTON (AP) — Niara Thompson couldn't shake her frustration as the Supreme Court debated President Joe Biden's student debt cancellation. As she listened from the audience Tuesday, it all felt academic. There was a long discussion on the nuances of certain words. Justices asked lawyers to explore hypothetical scenarios.

Supreme Court seems to favor Jersey in dispute with New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed ready Wednesday to allow New Jersey to withdraw from a commission the state created decades ago with New York to combat the mob's influence at their joint port.

HEALTH CARE

Intel agencies: No sign adversaries behind 'Havana syndrome'

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence agencies cannot link a foreign adversary to any of the incidents associated with so-called "Havana syndrome," the hundreds of cases of brain injuries and other symptoms reported by American personnel around the world.

Lilly plans to slash some insulin prices, expand cost cap

Eli Lilly will cut prices for some older insulins later this year and immediately give more patients access to a cap on the costs they pay to fill prescriptions.

COVID-19 conspiracies soar after latest report on origins

WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19's origins remain hazy. Three years after the start of the pandemic, it's still unclear whether the coronavirus that causes the disease leaked from a lab or spread to humans from an animal.

MEDIA

TikTok sets new default time limits for minors

TikTok said Wednesday that every account held by a user under the age of 18 will have a default 60-minute daily screen time limit in the coming weeks. The changes arrive during a period in which there are growing concerns among different governments about the app's security.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Post office buys 9,250 electric vans, 14,000 charge stations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is buying 9,250 Ford Motor Co. electric vans and 14,000 charging stations as part of a move to switch its fleet to electric vehicles.

DOE grants $375M loan for lithium battery recycling plant

The effort to satisfy a vast demand for lithium for electric vehicle batteries moved one step forward with a $375 million loan from the Department of Energy to Li-Cycle, a battery recycling company, to build a lithium-ion battery recovery plant near Rochester, New York.

ECONOMY

China's manufacturing accelerates as economy revives

BEIJING (AP) — China's factory activity accelerated in February as the economy revived following the end of anti-virus controls that kept millions of people at home and disrupted travel and trade, two surveys showed Wednesday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Kohl's swings to surprise loss and issues bleak outlook

NEW YORK (AP) — Kohl's swung to a surprise fourth quarter loss and sales slumped as the department store's customers pulled back on spending with inflation squeezing family budgets.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden says Labor nominee Julie Su represents American dream

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that his labor secretary nominee Julie Su is a "real leader" who has supported unions, enforced worker safety and protected the victims of human trafficking.

Biden's pick to lead FAA faces stormy confirmation hearing

President Joe Biden's pick to run the Federal Aviation Administration is finally getting a hearing Wednesday on his nomination, with members of a Senate committee divided along party lines about the choice.

New China committee debuts, warns of 'existential struggle'

WASHINGTON (AP) — A special House committee dedicated to countering China began its work Tuesday with a prime-time hearing in which the panel's chairman called on lawmakers to act with urgency and framed the competition between the U.S. and China as "an existential struggle over what life will look like in the 21st century."

McCarthy defends giving Tucker Carlson Jan. 6 trove access

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is defending his decision to give Fox News' Tucker Carlson "exclusive" access to Jan. 6 security footage of the Capitol attack, despite the conservative commentator's own work raising false claims and conspiracy theories about the 2021 riot over Joe Biden's election.

Top lawmakers briefed on Trump, Biden, Pence documents

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top lawmakers in Congress were briefed Tuesday on the investigations into classified documents found in the private possession of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
UT SPORTS

NCAA imposes show-cause penalties on 4 ex-Tennessee staffers

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Four former Tennessee football staffers have received multiyear show-cause penalties for their roles in recruiting violations under agreements with the NCAA.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Trotz completes circle with return to Nashville

Barry Trotz became the Nashville Predators' first coach back in 1997.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Gov. Lee vows to sign anti-drag bill as photo surfaces

NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Lee says it would be "ridiculous" to conflate a recently surfaced yearbook photo of him wearing women's clothing in high school to drag show performances currently under attack in Tennessee and other GOP-led states.

Lawmakers: Tennessee AG has legal concerns over abortion ban

NASHVILLE (AP) — Lawmakers say Tennessee's top legal chief has voiced concerns about the legality of the state's abortion law, adding an extra layer of urgency among some Republicans to insert exemptions into one of the strictest bans in the country.

MIDSTATE

Tennessee GOP congressman was 'mistaken' on college degree

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles says he was "mistaken" when he said he graduated with an international relations degree after a local news outlet raised questions over whether the Republican had embellished his education.

Webstaurant Store creating 225 distribution jobs in Lebanon

Officials of The Webstaurant Store, LLC, have announced the company will invest $103.9 million to locate new distribution operations in Lebanon’s Speedway Industrial Park.

EAST TENNESSEE

$1M settlement in lawsuit over federal immigration raid

KNOXVILLE (AP) — A federal judge has approved a settlement of more than $1 million in a class action lawsuit that challenged a federal immigration raid at an eastern Tennessee meatpacking plant where about 100 people were arrested.

COURTS

Supreme Court seems ready to sink student loan forgiveness

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative justices holding the Supreme Court's majority seem likely to sink President Joe Biden's plan to wipe away or reduce student loans held by millions of Americans.

Supreme Court student loan case: The arguments explained

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is about to hear arguments over President Joe Biden's student debt relief plan, which impacts millions of borrowers who could see their loans wiped away or reduced.

Supreme Court student loan hearing: What you need to know

NEW YORK (AP) — The Supreme Court is meeting Tuesday to hear two cases challenging President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. At stake: forgiveness of up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million Americans. Nearly half of those people could have their federal student debt wiped out entirely.

Ex-FTX executive is 3rd to plead guilty in cooperation deal

NEW YORK (AP) — A former FTX executive pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy and wire fraud charges as part of a deal to cooperate with federal prosecutors building their case against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in what authorities have dubbed one of the biggest frauds in history.

Justice Jackson writes 1st Supreme Court majority opinion

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has written her first majority opinion for the Supreme Court.

HEALTH CARE

Coronavirus origins still a mystery 3 years into pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) — A crucial question has eluded governments and health agencies around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began: Did the virus originate in animals or leak from a Chinese lab?

AUTO INDUSTRY

Nissan recalls over 800K SUVs; key defect can cut off engine

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 809,000 small SUVs in the U.S. and Canada because a key problem can cause the ignition to shut off while they're being driven.

Mexican president says Tesla to build plant in Mexico

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Tuesday that electric car company Tesla has committed to building a plant in the city of Monterrey, an industrial hub in northern Mexico.

Germany threatens to hold up EU's combustion-engine car ban

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's transport minister said Tuesday that his country won't back a planned European Union ban on the sale of new cars with combustion engines from 2035, after failing to get assurances from the bloc's executive for an exemption on synthetic fuels.

MEDIA

Murdoch says some Fox hosts 'endorsed' false election claims

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch acknowledged that some Fox News commentators endorsed the false allegations by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and that he didn't step in to stop them from promoting the claims, according to excerpts of a deposition unsealed Monday.

Fox's Kurtz says he's disallowed from covering Dominion case

NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News media reporter Howard Kurtz says he's been barred by his company from covering Dominion Voting System's $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox and he "strongly disagrees" with the decision.

BANKING

Swiss regulator: Credit Suisse made 'serious breach' of law

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss regulators have found that Credit Suisse made a "serious breach" of law in connection with a now-bankrupt firm linked to Australian financier Lex Greensill and have opened a probe that could lead to penalties against four former bank managers.

TECHNOLOGY

Father of cellphone sees dark side but also hope in new tech

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Holding the bulky brick cellphone he's credited with inventing 50 years ago, Martin Cooper thinks about the future.

ECONOMY

US economy sending mixed signals: Here's what it all means

WASHINGTON (AP) — Maybe it was just too good to be true.

Consumer confidence slips again in February

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer confidence dipped for the second straight month as stubborn inflation and anxiety over a potentially slowing economy weighed on Americans.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street closes out a chilling February with another dip

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks drifted to a weak close on Wall Street, closing out a rocky February.

Computer chip funding to require security, worker benefits

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department is opening the application process for computer chip manufacturers to access $39 billion in government support to build new factories and expand production.

Target issues tepid outlook after a 43% profit drop in 4Q

NEW YORK (AP) — Target reported on Tuesday a 43% drop in profits and a slight uptick in sales for the holiday quarter, reflecting the discounter's ongoing challenges of cautious consumer spending and its own higher costs.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden to nominate Julie Su as next US labor secretary

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating Julie Su, the current deputy and former California official, as his next labor secretary, replacing the departing incumbent, former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

US officials make case for renewal of surveillance powers

WASHINGTON (AP) — Biden administration officials urged Congress on Tuesday to renew a surveillance program that the U.S. government has long seen as vital in countering overseas terrorism, cyberattacks and espionage operations.

Biden sketching dire picture of GOP desire to cut spending

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is aiming to use the leadup to the release of his proposed budget next week to sketch a dire picture of what could happen to U.S. health care if congressional Republicans had their way with federal spending.

White House promises crackdown on migrant child labor

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Monday that it is creating a new task force to crack down on an explosion of the illegal exploitation of migrant children for labor in the U.S.

New China committee debuts with eye on major policy shifts

WASHINGTON (AP) — A special House committee dedicated to countering China will make its debut on Tuesday, the opening act in what lawmakers hope will be a robust effort to overcome partisan divisions and address a "generational challenge" to America's national security.

UK's Sunak tries to win over skeptics to his Brexit deal

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled to Belfast on Tuesday to sell his landmark agreement with the European Union to its toughest audience: Unionist politicians who fear post-Brexit trade rules are weakening Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom.


MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27
NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Trotz taking over for Poile as general manager of Predators

NASHVILLE (AP) — Barry Trotz is rejoining the Nashville Predators in their front office, succeeding David Poile, the only general manager in the NHL franchise's history.

Josi scores twice, Predators beat Coyotes 6-2

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Roman Josi scored two goals Sunday night and the Nashville Predators won their third in a row, beating the Arizona Coyotes 6-2.

Lightning add grit in acquiring Jeannot from Predators

The slumping Tampa Bay Lightning added an element of grit into their lineup to punch up their late-season playoff push by acquiring forward Tanner Jeannot in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.

NASHVILLE SC

Nashville defeats New York City FC in opener of MLS season

NASHVILLE (AP) — Walker Zimmerman and Jacob Shaffelburg scored and Nashville SC defeated New York City FC 2-0 on Saturday in the first game of the Major Soccer League season.

UT SPORTS

Vols end Vitello's suspension; transfer shortstop eligible

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Coach Tony Vitello will be in the dugout for Tennessee's home game against Charleston Southern on Tuesday after serving a three-game suspension, and transfer shortstop Maui Ahuna has had his eligibility reinstated, the school announced.

SPORTS

Haslams agree to purchase Lasry's stake in Bucks

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam have agreed to purchase Marc Lasry's 25% stake of the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that puts the value of the NBA franchise at $3.5 billion, two people with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Trans people face 'horrifying' rhetoric at statehouses

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — It was pharmacist Gwendolyn Herzig's first time testifying before a legislative committee when she spoke to several Arkansas lawmakers in a packed hearing room this month about a bill restricting gender-affirming care for minors.

COURTS

Supreme Court student loan case: The arguments explained

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is about to hear arguments over President Joe Biden's student debt relief plan, which impacts millions of borrowers who could see their loans wiped away or reduced.

Supreme Court to hear challenge to consumer agency

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will take up a Republican-led challenge to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a case that could threaten how the consumer watchdog agency functions. It is the second time in three years that the justices will be examining the federal agency, which was created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

Andrew Tate to appeal third arrest extension in Romania

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Andrew Tate, the divisive social media influencer and former professional kickboxer who is detained in Romania on suspicion of organized crime and human trafficking, arrived Monday at an appeals court in the capital Bucharest to challenge a decision last week to extend for a third time his detention by 30 days.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Nevada board to vote on $330M in additional Tesla tax breaks

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Tesla may receive over $300 million in tax abatements over the next two decades for a massive new expansion of its northern Nevada facility, the product of a 2014 deal for when the company first came to the area on the promise of new jobs and major investments in the area.

HEALTH CARE

Feds promise to trim backlog of health care investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials said Monday they're working to cut down on a growing backlog of complaints lodged against health care providers, insurers or government agencies by patients who claim their civil rights or privacy have been violated.

Millions who rely on Medicaid may be booted from program

WASHINGTON (AP) — If you get health care coverage through Medicaid, you might be at risk of losing that coverage over the next year.

ENVIRONMENT

UN chief slams 'climate-wrecking' firms at human rights body

GENEVA (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday stressed the importance of legal challenges against "climate-wrecking corporations" like fossil-fuel producers, ratcheting up his call for the fight against climate change—- this time before the U.N.'s top human rights body.

TRANSPORTATION

Union Pacific will replace rail CEO amid hedge fund pressure

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific announced plans Sunday to replace its CEO later this year after a hedge fund that holds a $1.6 billion stake in the railroad went public with its concerns about his leadership.

MEDIA

'Dilbert,' Scott Adams lose distributor over racist remarks

"Dilbert" creator Scott Adams continued to see his reach shrink Monday as dozens of newspapers and a major comic strip platform said they would no longer publish his long-running office workplace comic strip over his recent racist remarks.

ECONOMY

2023 US recession now expected to start later than predicted

WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of the nation's business economists expect a U.S. recession to begin later this year than they had previously forecast, after a series of reports have pointed to a surprisingly resilient economy despite steadily higher interest rates.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks steady themselves after Wall Street's rout last week

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks steadied themselves Monday following Wall Street's worst week since early December.

Buffett touts benefits of buybacks in his shareholder letter

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett said critics of stock buybacks are "either an economic illiterate or a silver-tongued demagogue" or both, and all investors benefit from them as long as they are made at the right prices.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Yellen visits Ukraine, underscores US economic support

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday her first visit to Ukraine underscored Washington's commitment to continuing its economic support for the country, as the din of air raid sirens echoed across the Ukrainian capital.

DeSantis takes over Disney district, punishing company

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that gives him control of Walt Disney World's self-governing district, punishing the company over its opposition to the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law.

Williamson becomes Democratic primary's 1st Biden challenger

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bestselling self-help author Marianne Williamson, who brought quirky spiritualism to the 2020 presidential race, has announced she's running for president again, becoming the first major Democrat to challenge President Joe Biden for his party's nomination in 2024.

GOP leaders, stung by losses, plan to wade into Senate races

WASHINGTON (AP) — A football legend who held a gun to his ex-wife's head. Rivals who nearly brawled during a televised debate. A venture capitalist who voiced sympathy for the Unabomber.

CIA chief: China has some doubt on ability to invade Taiwan

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence shows that China's President Xi Jinping has instructed his country's military to "be ready by 2027" to invade Taiwan though he may be currently harboring doubts about his ability to do so given Russia's experience in its war with Ukraine, CIA Director William Burns said.

UK says Sunak, von der Leyen seal deal to fix EU trade spat

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. and the European Union ended years of wrangling and acrimony on Monday, sealing a deal to resolve their thorny post-Brexit trade dispute over Northern Ireland.


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24
NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Granlund and Niederreiter both score 2, Preds top Sharks 6-2

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter each scored twice, and the Nashville Predators beat the San Jose Sharks 6-2 on Thursday night.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Brad Paisley pens country song featuring Ukraine's Zelenskyy

NASHVILLE (AP) — A year ago, country star Brad Paisley watched the news on television as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many people around the world, he felt helpless at the images of people fleeing their homes.

COURTS

Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson denies federal fraud charges

NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of the troubled digital start-up Ozy Media pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal fraud charges accusing him of scheming to prop up his financially struggling company, which hemorrhaged millions of dollars before it shut down amid revelations of possibly deceptive business practices.

2 Pakistanis leave Guantanamo after 20 years without charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials returned two Pakistani brothers to their home country Thursday after holding them two decades without charges at the Guantanamo Bay military prison.

HEALTH CARE

White House braces for ruling on abortion pill's fate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is preparing for a worst-case scenario if a conservative federal judge rules in favor of a lawsuit seeking to restrict access to one of the two drugs typically used to induce a medicated abortion.

MEDIA

Netflix cuts prices in some markets to lure more subscribers

Netflix is cutting its prices in several of its smaller markets in the latest twist on the video streaming service's efforts to keep its recently revived subscriber growth rolling amid stiffer competition and inflation pressures that are pushing more households to curb their discretionary spending.

AUTO INDUSTRY

German court rejects farmer's climate suit vs Volkswagen

BERLIN (AP) — A German court on Friday rejected a farmer's bid to force automaker Volkswagen to end the sale of vehicles with combustion engines by 2030.

TRANSPORTATION

Longtime leader of American Airlines steps down as chairman

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines said Thursday that Doug Parker, who served as CEO for more than eight years before stepping down last year, will retire as chairman on April 30.

Boeing stops deliveries of jet on questions surrounding part

Boeing has again stopped deliveries of its 787 passenger jet because of questions around a supplier's analysis of a part near the front of the plane, company and federal officials said Thursday.

ECONOMY

Fed's rate hikes likely to cause a recession, research says

NEW YORK (AP) — Can the Federal Reserve keep raising interest rates and defeat the nation's worst bout of inflation in 40 years without causing a recession?

An inflation gauge tracked by Fed accelerated in January

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge ticked higher in January, a sign that price pressures remain entrenched in the U.S. economy and could lead the Fed to keep raising interest rates well into this year.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks drop, send Wall Street to its worst week of the year

NEW YORK (AP) — Another cold reminder that inflation remains hotter than hoped sent Wall Street sinking Friday, and stocks closed out their worst week since early December.

Telecom maker Ericsson to cut 8% of its global workforce

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson said Friday that it's cutting 8% of its global workforce as it looks to reduce costs, the latest in a wave of tech company layoffs.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden to draw health care contrast with GOP in Virginia

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will aim to draw a contrast between his health care priorities and those of congressional Republicans at a Virginia event next week in advance of his 2024 budget proposals.

Blinken heads to Asia, with China, Russia tensions soaring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fresh from a meeting with China's top diplomat and a U.N. Security Council session on Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Central and South Asia next week for international talks that will put him in the same room as his Chinese and Russian counterparts.

UKRAINE

People across the world gather to mark war anniversary

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — World landmarks were lit up in the colors of Ukraine's national flag as people across the globe threw their support behind the country Friday on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

US announces sweeping new Russia sanctions 1 year into war

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced a new round of sanctions on Russian firms, banks, manufacturers and people Friday, aiming them at entities that helped Russia evade sanctions earlier in the year-old war against Ukraine.

US commits $2 billion in drones, ammunition, aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced a new package of long-term security assistance for Ukraine on Friday, marking the first anniversary of Russia's invasion with a $2 billion commitment to send more rounds of ammunition and a variety of small, high-tech drones into the fight.

Wrecked Russian tank, skull and silence mark war anniversary

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A wrecked Russian tank put on display in Berlin, a bloody cake with a skull on top of it left in a Belgrade street and Ukraine's yellow-and-blue flag held aloft in the sizzling Bangkok sun were among the memorials, stunts and ceremonies held across the world Friday to mark the anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

'People's court' endorses Putin indictment for aggression

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A "people's court" without legal powers has confirmed an indictment against Russian President Vladimir Putin for the crime of aggression in Ukraine and called for his arrest.


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23
NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Preds center Johansen out estimated 12 weeks after surgery

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen will miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on his lower right leg.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Trans youth care ban headed to Tennessee governor's desk

NASHVILLE (AP) — Transgender youth in Tennessee would be banned from receiving gender-affirming care under legislation currently headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who has voiced support for the bill.

COURTS

FTX founder faces new charges in rewritten indictment

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried faced new fraud charges Thursday, as prosecutors accused him of cheating thousands of investors out of billions of dollars while casting himself as a trustworthy "savior of the cryptocurrency industry" — an image boosted by celebrity-studded Super Bowl advertising and big donations to political figures.

Trump investigation: Could grand juror's words tank charges?

ATLANTA (AP) — Almost as soon as the foreperson of the special grand jury in the Georgia election meddling investigation went public this week, speculation began about whether her unusually candid revelations could jeopardize any possible prosecution of former President Donald Trump or others.

HEALTH CARE

Insurer Humana lays out employer-sponsored coverage exit

The health insurer Humana will stop providing employer-sponsored commercial coverage as it focuses on bigger parts of its business, like Medicare Advantage.

TRAVEL

Winter storms shut down much of Portland, paralyze travel

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Winter storms sowed more chaos across the U.S. on Thursday, shutting down much of Portland with almost a foot of snow and paralyzing travel from parts of the Pacific Coast all the way to the northern Plains.

ENERGY

California bill penalizing oil profits makes little progress

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — After gas prices in California spiked to more than $6.40 per gallon last summer, Gov. Gavin Newsom led a charge against an industry he says is "ripping you off."

German energy czar warns: Don't let guard down on gas supply

BONN, Germany (AP) — The temperature outside Klaus Mueller's office almost resembles spring, exactly the kind of mild weather that helped Germany get through the winter without Russian natural gas.

TECHNOLOGY

Raimondo seeks to rally US behind $52 billion chip program

WASHINGTON (AP) — Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday called on the country to unite around a $52 billion effort to restore the U.S. as the world leader in advanced computer chips, saying it will require training of tens of thousands of workers.

MEDIA

Federal authorities arrest Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson

NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of the troubled digital start-up Ozy Media was arrested Thursday on federal fraud charges as part of what prosecutors say was a scheme to prop up the financially struggling company, which hemorrhaged millions of dollars before it shut down amid revelations of possibly deceptive business practices.

Google tests blocking news content for some Canadians

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Google is blocking some Canadian users from viewing news content in what the company said Wednesday is a test run of a potential response to a Canadian government's online news bill.

TikTok banned from EU Commission phones over cybersecurity

LONDON (AP) — The European Union's executive branch said Thursday that it has temporarily banned TikTok from phones used by employees as a cybersecurity measure, reflecting widening worries from Western officials over the Chinese-owned video sharing app.

ECONOMY

U.S. applications for jobless benefits fall again last week

The number of Americans filing for jobless aid fell last week as the labor market remains resilient in the face of the Federal Reserve's interest rate increases meant to cool the economy.

US revises down last quarter's economic growth to 2.7% from 2.9%

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.7% annual rate from October through December, a solid showing despite rising interest rates and elevated inflation, the government said Thursday in a downgrade from its initial estimate.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks rise on Wall Street and break a 4-day losing streak

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks climbed Thursday after a see-saw day on Wall Street to break out of their longest losing streak since December.

US nominates Ajay Banga for World Bank president

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is nominating former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday, crediting him with critical experience on global challenges including climate change.

Sliding vaccine sales, new costs, squeeze Moderna 4Q profit

Moderna's fourth-quarter profit tumbled 70% as COVID-19 vaccine sales fell and the drugmaker caught up on a royalty payment.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

White House urging higher fines for train safety violations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is calling on congressional Republicans to increase the fines levied on rail companies for safety violations, as a fiery Feb. 3 train derailment in Ohio has become a political lightning rod.

China's global influence worries U.S. majority: AP-NORC poll

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just 40% of U.S. adults approve of how President Joe Biden is handling relations with China, a new poll shows, with a majority anxious about Beijing's influence as the White House finds its agenda increasingly shaped by global rivalries.

Putin, Afghans among top gift givers to Bidens in 2021

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia's president and the deposed leader of Afghanistan were among the top gift givers to President Joe Biden and his family in 2021, according to federal documents published on Thursday.

Yellen affirms push for stronger Russia sanctions at G-20

BENGALURU, India (AP) — The U.S. wants to see tougher and more effectively enforced sanctions against Russia and additional support for Ukraine, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday during meetings of the Group of 20 leading economies in the Indian technology hub of Bengaluru.

US mass killings linked to extremism spiked over last decade

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of U.S. mass killings linked to extremism over the past decade was at least three times higher than the total from any other 10-year period since the 1970s, according to a report by the Anti-Defamation League.

Dems consider break with tradition to get Biden more judges

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even as Democrats celebrated the 100th judicial confirmation of Joe Biden's presidency, they are clamoring for more — and some are flirting with ending a century-long Senate practice to help make it happen.

Biden shores up Western allies as Putin digs in on Ukraine

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — President Joe Biden closed out his wartime visit to Europe on Wednesday, working to shore up partnerships with allies on NATO's perilous eastern flank — even as Russia's Vladimir Putin was drawing closer to China for help as his invasion of Ukraine neared the one-year mark.

Judges nixes shareholder claims against McDonald's directors

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge has dismissed claims against directors of McDonald's in a shareholder lawsuit challenging their handling of sexual harassment by former CEO Steve Easterbrook and the company's former top human resources executive.

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