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VOL. 48 | NO. 33 | Friday, August 16, 2024

All the comforts of home

College students (OK, their parents) are pouring more money than ever into dorm decor

As first-year college students head out to make their mark on the world, dorm rooms have become a critical initial expression of their changed status, not to mention expensive, as parents with $200 tufted headboards in their Amazon carts can attest.

25 things to know while preparing for the transition from home to life in a college dorm

You and your college-bound student may have been planning for this moment for 18 years (give or take), but it’s still good to have a checklist (or several) of what they do and don’t need to lug to campus for their living space.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Weird how insult can be turned into something cool

Of the many disparaging labels applied to Donald Trump – liar, narcissist, draft-dodger, felon and election-denier, among others – one finally appears to be gaining some political traction: weird.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
46.0°F
Overcast
Wind: Northwest at 12.7 gusting to21.9 mph
Humidity: 79%

EVENTS

2024 Nashpreneurs Conference. The sixth annual conference featuring keynote speaker Dr. Jules White of Vanderbilt University. Each year, the Nashpreneurs Conference joins small business leaders, entrepreneurs and creatives for an interactive learning conference. Wednesday, Hilton Nashville Green Hills, 3801 Cleghorn Ave. Fee: Chamber member, $65 by Aug. 20th, on-site $75, Future member: $75 by Aug. 20 and on-site $90. 8 a.m.-noon. Information

more events »

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

You never know where a $4.99M home will pop up

Add Hunter’s Trail in the western hills of Nashville to the list of neighborhoods with high-dollar sales.

REAL ESTATE

Top Davidson County commercial real estate transactions for July 2024

Top Davidson County commercial real estate sales for July 2024, as compiled by the Nashville Ledger.

Average rate on a 30-year mortgage ticks up to 6.49%, near its lowest level in more than a year

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage edged higher this week, holding close to its lowest level in more than a year.

Gen Z home ownership hopes dim

As Gen Z enters the housing market, young home shoppers say they face many barriers to homeownership, and 60% of zoomers worry they might never be able to afford a house.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Levis sees wisdom of shorter routes

Coaches want fewer long balls, incompletions

The home run is all the rage these days in Major League Baseball. So much so that stars from the 1980s and ’90s like Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs probably wouldn’t even get much of a look in this day and age. They would lose out to an exit velo/launch angle prospect who could hit 35 homers while batting .205 with 170 strikeouts in the process.

Radunz finally finding his place in line

The Tennessee Titans’ offensive line might be starting to take shape, thanks to the rare potential of addition by subtraction.

UT SPORTS

Smyrna LB Carter anxious to impress after 2023 injury

Sophomore linebacker Arion Carter understood the opportunity in front of him.

NEWSMAKERS

Bradley names 2 practice group leaders

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has selected Scarlett Singleton Nokes as leader of the firm’s government enforcement and investigations practice group and John P. Rodgers as leader of the firm’s labor & employment practice group. Both are partners in the firm’s Nashville office.

BRIEFS

New Office of Outdoor Recreation announced

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has announced the creation of the Office of Outdoor Recreation to further the state’s conservation efforts and to help residents and visitors have more access to Tennessee’s great outdoors.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

The better truck: 2024 Ford F-150 or 2025 Ram 1500?

The Ford F-150 has consistently been a top-rated truck at Edmunds. Thanks to the many available engines and configurations, the F-150 can be anything from a basic work truck to a leather-lined luxury machine that’s capable of trailering sizable campers and boats.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

College: Ticket to the top or a waste of time, money?

There are about to be several lasts in your household. The last first day of school. The last homecoming, the last Christmas program or sports event you’ll have to attend, the last spring break, the final prom and the last day of school. They’ll all be bittersweet, but you’ll manage. As in these new books about college, you’ve got big decisions to make first.

COURTS

Attorney for far-right Oath Keepers extremist group pleads guilty to Capitol riot charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — An attorney who represented the far-right Oath Keepers pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges stemming from a mob's Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including members of the extremist group.

FTC's bid to ban noncompete agreements rejected by federal judge in Texas

A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission that would have made it easier for employees to quit a job and work for a competitor.

ELECTION 2024

RFK Jr. to speak Friday amid speculation he'll drop independent presidential bid, support Trump

PHOENIX (AP) — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will speak Friday "about the present historical moment and his path forward," his campaign announced Wednesday, fueling growing speculation that Kennedy could drop out and support Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Democrats get a third-party hopeful knocked off Pennsylvania ballot as Cornel West tries to get on

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Democrats have won legal challenges keeping the left-wing Party for Socialism and Liberation off the battleground state's presidential ballot, at least for now, while a lawyer with deep Republican Party ties is working to help independent candidate Cornel West get on it.

Tim Walz and Bill Clinton will speak at the Democratic National Convention's third day

CHICAGO (AP) — Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and former President Bill Clinton are headlining the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, the third day of the party's choreographed rollout of a new candidate, Kamala Harris, and her pitch to voters.

Trump holds first outdoor rally since assassination attempt as Democratic convention continues

ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) — Holding his first outdoor rally since surviving last month's attempted assassination, Donald Trump on Wednesday railed against Vice President Kamala Harris' approach to national security in North Carolina as part of his weeklong trip across the country to draw attention away from Democrats and their national convention.

What to watch on the Democratic National Convention's third day in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention heads into its third day on Wednesday.

Vance and Walz are still relatively unknown, but the governor is better liked, an AP-NORC poll finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tim Walz and JD Vance have vaulted themselves out of national obscurity as they hustle to introduce themselves to the country, but the senator from Ohio has had a rockier start than the Minnesota governor.

Obamas close DNC's second night with rousing Harris endorsement and pointed warnings about Trump

CHICAGO (AP) — Warning of a difficult fight ahead, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Tuesday called on the nation to embrace Kamala Harris in urgent messages to the Democratic National Convention that were at times both hopeful and ominous.

A double dose of Obama firepower, a doting spouse and a dance party: Takeaways from Day 2 of the DNC

CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention's second night showcased a double dose of Obama firepower to validate Vice President Kamala Harris and deliver an unsparing indictment of Republican Donald Trump. The convention also served up a raucous roll call of states that was essentially one big dance party.

Tim Walz is still introducing himself to voters. Here are things to know about Harris' VP pick

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kamala Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will face a national audience that's still getting to know him when he headlines the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Ford to shift electric vehicle strategy by building new lower-cost pickups, commercial van

DETROIT (AP) — Facing competition from automakers with lower costs, Ford Motor Co. is shifting its electric vehicle strategy and now will focus on making two new electric pickup trucks and a new commercial van. The company says all will cost less, have longer range and be profitable before taxes within a year of reaching showrooms.

TRAVEL

American Airlines extends suspension of flights to Israel through late March amid war in Gaza

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines is suspending flights to Israel through late March, extending a break in service that started in the early days of the war in Gaza.

ECONOMY

Fed minutes: Most officials favored a rate cut in September if inflation continued to cool

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Federal Reserve officials agreed last month that they would likely cut their benchmark interest rate at their next meeting in September as long as inflation continued to cool.

Government: US economy added 818,000 fewer jobs than first reported in year that ended in March

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy added 818,000 fewer jobs from April 2023 through March this year than were originally reported, the government said Wednesday. The revised total adds to evidence that the job market has been steadily slowing and likely reinforces the Federal Reserve's plan to start cutting interest rates soon.

Japan records trade deficit as surging global prices pushes imports higher

TOKYO (AP) — Japan racked up a 621 billion yen ($4.3 billion) trade deficit in July, as prices of imports surged, according to government data released Wednesday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street pulls closer to records after retailers top profit forecasts

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks ticked higher Wednesday after more big companies delivered profit reports that topped analysts' expectations.

The price of gold is at a record high. Here's why

NEW YORK (AP) — A gold rush is here. The precious metal hit an all time high this week.

Macy's swings to a second quarter profit, but sales surprisingly weak as customers grow cautious

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's swung back to a profit in its second quarter but suffered yet another sales decline as inflationary weary shoppers rein in spending, with their focus increasingly on buying the essentials.

A tale of two retailers: Target reverses sales slump while Macy's reports another quarterly decline

NEW YORK (AP) — Grocery aisle deals and an emphasis on affordable but stylish clothes helped Target reverse a year-long sales slump, while Macy's on Wednesday reported another quarterly decline and said sales for the fiscal year will be weaker than expected due to a "more discriminating consumer" outlook.

China opens investigation into EU dairy exports as trade tensions flare

BEIJING (AP) — European milk and cheese producers have become the latest target in a simmering trade war with China.


TUESDAY, AUGUST 20
VANDERBILT SPORTS

Coach Lea, Vanderbilt trying to play catchup in bigger, tougher SEC

Clark Lea realized he had to make some serious changes to give his Vanderbilt Commodores a chance to compete in a bigger and even tougher Southeastern Conference.

UT SPORTS

No. 15 Tennessee ready to build on coach Heupel's success in his 4th season

It's time for coach Josh Heupel and No. 15 Tennessee to prove they can keep up.

STATEWIDE

US Justice Department to investigate violence and sexual abuse at Tennessee's largest prison

NASHVILLE (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Tennessee's largest prison where officials say violence and sexual abuse have gone unaddressed for years, federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday about the privately operated facility.

COURTS

Judge knocks down Hunter Biden's bid to use Trump ruling to get his federal tax case dismissed

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday denied Hunter Biden's latest bid to dismiss the tax charges against him, setting the stage for his trial to begin next month in California.

ELECTION 2024

Obamas, Emhoff to headline the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday

CHICAGO (AP) — Former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak Tuesday on the second day of the Democratic National Convention, turning the party's attention toward Vice President Kamala Harris and her faceoff against Republican Donald Trump.

What to watch as the Democratic National Convention enters its second day in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention heads into its second day on Tuesday.

Trump's post of fake Taylor Swift endorsement is his latest embrace of AI-generated images

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has been active on his social accounts as Democrats gather for their convention in Chicago, but some of his posts don't have much to do with reality.

Biden gets a rousing ovation from Democrats as he gives Harris an enthusiastic endorsement

CHICAGO (AP) — President Joe Biden delivered his valedictory address to the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, saying, "I gave my best to you" and basking in a long ovation that reflected the energy released by his decision to cede the stage to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Joe Biden's exit, talk of the glass ceiling, a nod to Gaza protesters. Takeaways from DNC's Day 1

CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention 's first night showcased speeches from the last Democrat to lose to Donald Trump and the last one to beat him.

Jill Biden's speech at convention honors President Biden and marks an end for the first lady, too

CHICAGO (AP) — Jill Biden once said that she knew marrying Joe Biden — then a senator from Delaware — would mean "a life in the spotlight that I had never wanted."

Democrats, others seek to toss Kennedy off November ballot in Georgia and New York

ATLANTA (AP) — Challengers seeking to throw Robert F. Kennedy Jr. off Georgia's November ballot told a judge on Monday that the independent presidential candidate must be disqualified because the New York address he used on Georgia ballot access petitions is a "sham."

RFK Jr. shows up too late to testify in court against Democrats' ballot challenge in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed up too late to testify Tuesday in a court case in Pennsylvania where Democratic activists are trying to bar him from the ballot for president in the premier battleground state, prompting testy exchanges between the judge and Kennedy's lawyer.

US intelligence officials say Iran is to blame for hacks targeting Trump, Biden-Harris campaigns

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials said Monday they were confident that Iran was responsible for the hack of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, casting the cyber intrusion as part of a brazen and broader effort by Tehran to interfere in American politics and potentially shape the outcome of the election.

AUTO INDUSTRY

At Democratic Convention, UAW head threatens strike against Stellantis over delayed plant reopening

DETROIT (AP) — A high-profile spat between the United Auto Workers and Stellantis over reopening an Illinois factory complex has made its way into the race for U.S. president and could elicit a strike against the automaker.

ENVIRONMENT

Groups say they're shut out of global treaty talks on plastics pollution in Bangkok

Experts meet in Bangkok this week to advance what would be the first international treaty to tackle the surging problem of plastic pollution. Final treaty negotiations take place in South Korea in November.

TECHNOLOGY

Authors sue Claude AI chatbot creator Anthropic for copyright infringement

A group of authors is suing artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, alleging it committed "large-scale theft" in training its popular chatbot Claude on pirated copies of copyrighted books.

ECONOMY

Powell may use Jackson Hole speech to hint at how fast and how far the Fed could cut rates

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials have said they're increasingly confident that they've nearly tamed inflation. Now, it's the health of the job market that's starting to draw their concern.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street slips and breaks an 8-day winning streak

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks ticked lower Tuesday and snapped an eight-day winning streak, the longest of the year.

New surveys show signs of optimism among small business owners

NEW YORK (AP) — Small business owners overall are feeling positive about their business and achieving the goals they set for this year despite inflation and high labor costs, according to two new surveys.

Yacht that sank off Sicily was carrying people celebrating tech magnate's acquittal; 6 missing

PORTICELLO, Sicily (AP) — Police divers resumed searching Tuesday for six people believed trapped in the hull of a superyacht that sank in deep seas off Sicily, including a British tech magnate who was celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with the people who had defended him at trial.

Disney drops bid to have allergy-death lawsuit tossed because plaintiff signed up for Disney+

NEW YORK (AP) — Disney is no longer asking a Florida court to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit on the grounds that the victim's family had signed up for its streaming service Disney+.

Qatar Airways acquires a 25% stake in the private African carrier Airlink

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Qatar Airways has acquired a 25% stake in the private African carrier Airlink, the airlines said Tuesday.

Alaska Air clears a big hurdle in its proposed merger with Hawaiian Airlines

Alaska Air is one step closer to acquiring Hawaiian Airlines after the U.S. Department of Justice chose not to challenge the $1 billion deal that the carriers say will create a company better able to serve travelers.


MONDAY, AUGUST 19
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Lainey Wilson's career felt like a 'Whirlwind.' On her new album, she makes sense of life, love

NEW YORK (AP) — It's late July. Lainey Wilson is somewhere in Iowa, holding a real road dog — her French bulldog named Hippie — close to her chest. She's on her tour bus, zipping across the Midwest, just another day in her jet set lifestyle. Next month, she'll release her fifth studio album, the aptly named "Whirlwind," a full decade after her debut record. Today, like every day, she's just trying to enjoy the ride.

COURTS

Former US Rep George Santos pleads guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in his federal case

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty Monday to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the federal fraud case that led to his expulsion from Congress.

ELECTION 2024

Harris and Trump offer worlds-apart contrasts on top issues in presidential race

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris has replaced President Joe Biden atop the presidential ticket, but his "finish the job" campaign mantra can still largely apply to her top policy goals. She's promising to continue a lot of what Biden was doing during the past four years if she's elected to four of her own.

What to watch as the Democratic National Convention gets underway in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday in Chicago, just four weeks after President Joe Biden shuttered his campaign and made way for Vice President Kamala Harris to ascend to the top of Democrats' ticket.

Harris campaign reserves $370M in ads after Labor Day, including battleground state push

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris ' campaign says it is reserving $370 million in advertising to run between Labor Day and Election Day.

Favorable views of Kamala Harris have risen this summer heading into the DNC, AP-NORC poll shows

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is entering the Democratic National Convention with increased excitement from Democrats and a steady rise in her favorability ratings among Americans as a whole.

Biden's journey: After getting knocked down, he keeps getting back up

CHICAGO (AP) — Sixteen years ago, a triumphant Joe Biden addressed an adoring crowd at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, his smile radiating confidence about the country's future and his own journey.

Convention delegates will nominate Harris, again. This time, there's less suspense and more pizzazz

WASHINGTON (AP) — Once more, with feeling! It's been nearly two weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris officially won the Democratic presidential nomination in an online vote, the first time a nominee was named prior to a party's convention. But the roughly 4,700 delegates charged with picking a nominee to lead the ticket did so from locations around the globe on their laptops and devices in relative isolation from one other. There was none of the pomp and fanfare that usually accompany the selection of the party's standard-bearer. In other words, it wasn't very fun.

Protesters rally outside of Democratic National Convention as Chicago officials pledge to keep peace

CHICAGO (AP) — Protesters rallied outside the Democratic National Convention on its opening day Monday, saying they were determined to voice their opposition to the war in Gaza and other issues. Chicago officials said they were committed to keeping the demonstrations peaceful.

Harris to meet with Teamsters, but union president isn't invited to speak at Democratic convention

DETROIT (AP) — Members of the Teamsters will host Vice President Kamala Harris for a roundtable discussion in the near future, but union President Sean O'Brien has yet to get an invitation to speak at next week's Democratic National Convention.

Democrats will honor Biden while pivoting to Harris on first day of convention

CHICAGO (AP) — A refreshed Democratic Party is taking a look back while it moves forward as its convention opens Monday night, with President Joe Biden preparing a valedictory speech and delegates reveling in the newfound energy that followed Vice President Kamala Harris ' rise to the top of the ticket.

Republicans scrambled to get Cornel West on the Arizona ballot. The left wing academic is OK with it

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of lawyers with deep ties to the Republican Party scrambled over the weekend to rescue an effort to get independent presidential candidate Cornel West on the Arizona ballot, offering one of the clearest examples yet of the GOP's extensive involvement in furthering the left-wing academic's long-shot bid.

Trump again decries two gold medalist Olympic athletes, falsely labeling the female boxers as men

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday again decried two gold medalist Olympic athletes, falsely labeling the female boxers as men.

AGRICULTURE

Perdue recalls 167,000 pounds of chicken nuggets after consumers find metal wire in some packages

NEW YORK (AP) — Check your freezer. Perdue Foods is recalling more than 167,000 pounds of frozen chicken nuggets and tenders after some customers reported finding metal wire embedded in the products.

MEDIA

Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre, has died

Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others, has died. He was 88.

X announces suspension of Brazil operations, alleging 'censorship orders' from Supreme Court justice

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Social media platform X said Saturday it will close its operations in Brazil, claiming Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes threatened to arrest its legal representative in Brazil if they did not comply with orders.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street tacks on some more gains following its best week of the year

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed higher, tacking on some more gains following Wall Street's best week of the year.

Owner of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain gets takeover bid from Canada's Couche-Tard

The owner of 7-Eleven convenience stores and other retail chains has received a buyout offer from Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard.

US settles with billionaire Carl Icahn for using company to secure personal loans worth billions

Billionaire Carl Icahn and his company were charged by U.S. regulators with failing to disclose personal loans worth billions of dollars that were secured using securities of Icahn Enterprises as collateral.

Possible work stoppage at Canada's two largest railroads could disrupt US supply chain next week

DETROIT (AP) — Canada's two largest railroads are starting to shut down their shipping networks as a labor dispute with the Teamsters union threatens to cause lockouts or strikes that would disrupt cross-border trade with the U.S.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Blinken says Israel OKs a plan to break the cease-fire impasse and urges Hamas to do the same

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge differences holding up a cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza, and he called on Hamas to do the same, without saying whether concerns cited by the militant group had been addressed.

House Republicans release their impeachment report on Biden but the next steps are uncertain

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have released their initial impeachment inquiry report on President Joe Biden, alleging an abuse of power and obstruction of justice in the financial dealings of his son Hunter Biden and family associates.


FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
WEST TENNESSEE

Woman charged in brazen plot to extort Elvis Presley's family and auction off Graceland

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Missouri woman has been arrested on charges she orchestrated a brazen scheme to defraud Elvis Presley's family by trying to auction off his Graceland mansion and property before a judge halted the mysterious foreclosure sale, the Justice Department said Friday.

EAST TENNESSEE

Tennessee family's lawsuit says video long kept from them shows police force, not drugs, killed son

A mother whose son was having a seizure in his Tennessee apartment said in a federal lawsuit that police and paramedics subjected the 23-year-old to "inhumane acts of violence" instead of treating him, then covered up their use of deadly force.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Seahawks wrap joint practices getting best of the Titans' injury-limited offense

NASHVILLE (AP) — Former Seattle defensive backs Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams did a lot of talking Thursday.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Artists who object to Trump using their songs from Celine Dion and Isaac Hayes' estate: How it works

NEW YORK (AP) — Pop powerhouses, American classics, British artists and the estates of deceased legends — many musicians have objected to Donald Trump using their songs at campaign events.

COURTS

Matthew Perry's death leads to sweeping indictment of 5, including doctors and a reputed dealer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nearly 10 months after the death of Matthew Perry, the long-simmering investigation into the ketamine that killed him came dramatically into public view with the announcement that five people had been charged with having roles in the overdose of the beloved "Friends" star.

How Ferguson elevated the profile of the Justice Department's civil rights enforcers

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the first images out of Ferguson, Missouri surfaced 10 years ago — the bloodied body of a man left for hours in the street beneath white sheets, protesters smashing car windows and looting stores — it didn't take long for the federal government to see a role for itself.

Wrongful death suit against Disney serves as a warning to consumers when clicking 'I agree'

A wrongful death lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is serving as a reminder to consumers of the importance of reading the fine print when signing up for a streaming service or smartphone app.

Kim Dotcom loses 12-year fight to halt deportation from New Zealand to face US copyright case

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Kim Dotcom, founder of the once wildly popular file-sharing website Megaupload, lost a 12-year fight this week to halt his deportation from New Zealand to the U.S. on charges of copyright infringement, money laundering and racketeering.

ELECTION 2024

Harris aims to blunt Trump's economic attacks by proposing new tax breaks in a bid to lower costs

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is promoting a broad set of economic proposals that would offer new tax breaks and lower the cost of living for Americans, aiming to address the financial concerns that are at the top of the mind for voters and that Republican Donald Trump is trying to lay at her doorstep.

Harris has offered a string of new economic proposals. Here's a closer look at what's in them

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is out with a string of new economic proposals focused on food prices, taxes, housing and medical costs that she says will empower the middle class.

Bibles, cryptocurrency, Truth Social and gold bars: A look at Trump's reported sources of income

Former President Donald Trump owns more than $1 million worth of cryptocurrency and up to $250,000 in gold bars along with the portfolio of golf courses and real estate properties that have made him a billionaire, according to newly released financial disclosures.

Prominent 2020 election denier seeks GOP nod for Michigan Supreme Court race

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Donald Trump ally who faces felony charges of trying to illegally access and tamper with voting machines is seeking the Republican nomination for the highest court in Michigan, an epicenter of efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

What do marijuana, the death penalty and fracking have in common? Harris shifted positions on them

WASHINGTON (AP) — As California's attorney general, Kamala Harris successfully defended the death penalty in court, despite her past crusade against it.

FACT FOCUS: Trump blends falsehoods and exaggerations at rambling NJ press conference

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his second news conference in as many weeks as he adjusts to a newly energized Democratic ticket ahead of next week's Democratic National Convention.

Trump says he's 'entitled to personal attacks' as he hammers Harris on inflation with grocery props

BEDMINSTER, N.J. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump said Thursday he thinks he's "entitled to personal attacks" on his Democratic rival, adding he's "very angry" at Vice President Kamala Harris and questioning her intelligence.

Beyond 'childless cat ladies,' JD Vance has long been on a quest to encourage more births

MIAMI (AP) — Five summers ago, Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance — then a 34-year-old memoirist and father of a 2-year-old boy — took the stage at a conservative conference and tackled an issue that would become a core part of his political brand: the United States' declining fertility rate.

Why the progressive 'Squad' is getting smaller after defeats this primary cycle

WASHINGTON (AP) — The "Squad," a group of progressive lawmakers in the House, is set to shrink next year after two members suffered primary defeats this election cycle following an unprecedented deluge of special interest spending.

IMMIGRATION

Border arrests drop 33% to a 46-month low in July after asylum restrictions take hold

WASHINGTON (AP) — Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico plummeted 33% in July to the lowest level since September 2020, a result of asylum being temporarily suspended, authorities said Friday.

HEALTH CARE

COVID-19 is on the upswing in the US

COVID-19 hasn't gone away, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests it's on the upswing around the country.

REAL ESTATE

Looking to buy a home? You may now need to factor in the cost of your agent's commission

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thinking of buying a home with the help of a real estate agent? You can no longer take it for granted that a seller will cover the cost of your agent's commission.

AUTO INDUSTRY

BMW recalls 1.3 million vehicles in China that may have Takata airbag inflators

BEIJING (AP) — BMW was recalling more than 1.3 million vehicles in China that might have Takata airbag inflators following a similar recall in the United States last month, officials said Friday.

MEDIA

Judge blocks plans for sports joint streaming venture among Fox, ESPN, Warner Brothers

The launch of Venu Sports will be delayed after a federal judge granted FuboTV's motion for a preliminary injunction against the planned sports streaming venture by ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery.

TikTok compares itself to foreign-owned American news outlets as it fights forced sale or ban

TikTok on Thursday pushed back against U.S. government arguments that the popular social media platform is not shielded by the First Amendment, comparing its platform to prominent American media organizations owned by foreign entities.

ECONOMY

US consumer sentiment rises slightly on Democratic optimism over Harris' presidential prospects

WASHINGTON (AP) — A surge in optimism by Democrats over the prospects of Vice President Kamala Harris lifted U.S. consumer sentiment slightly this month.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street closes its best week of the year with some more gains

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street coasted to the close of its best week since November, as U.S. stocks drifted a bit higher Friday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden signs order to establish 1908 Springfield race riot monument as he looks to burnish legacy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday designated a national monument at the site of the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Ill., a seminal moment in the United States' long and difficult history with racial violence targeting Black people.

Biden administration hikes pay for Head Start teachers to address workforce shortage

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is hiking pay for educators in the early childhood program Head Start as part of an effort to retain current employees and attract new ones in the midst of a workforce shortage.


THURSDAY, AUGUST 15
TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans QB Levis gives sample cologne spritzes from his new mayo endorsement deal

NASHVILLE (AP) — Will Levis turned into a fragrance salesman Wednesday after Tennessee's first joint practice with the Seattle Seahawks, spritzing reporters' wrists with the new scent developed with his new endorsement deal with a mayonnaise company.

COURTS

Trump asks judge to delay sentencing in hush money case until after November election

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is asking the judge in his New York hush money criminal case to delay his sentencing until after the November presidential election.

Judge tells Google to brace for shakeup of Android app store as punishment for running a monopoly

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday indicated he will order major changes in Google's Android app store to punish the company for engineering a system that a jury declared an illegal monopoly that has hurt millions of consumers and app developers.

FTC ban on noncompete agreements comes under legal attack

NEW YORK (AP) — The federal government wants to make it easier for employees to quit a job and work for a competitor. But some companies say a new rule created by the Federal Trade Commission will make it hard to protect trade secrets and investments they make in their employees.

ELECTION 2024

Harris zeroes in on high food prices as inflation plays a big role in the presidential race

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is zeroing in on high food prices as her campaign previews an economic policy speech Friday in North Carolina, promising to push for a federal ban on price gouging on groceries as she looks to address one of voters' top concerns.

Trump expands his campaign staff hours before he holds a news conference at his New Jersey golf club

BEDMINSTER, N.J. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump invited reporters to his New Jersey golf club Thursday for his second news conference in as many weeks as he adjusts to a newly energized Democratic ticket ahead of next week's Democratic National Convention.

Vance and Walz agree to a vice presidential debate on Oct. 1 hosted by CBS News

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance have agreed to debate each other on Oct. 1, setting up a matchup of potential vice presidents as early voting in some states gets underway for the general election.

Democrats trust Harris slightly more than Biden on climate change, an AP-NORC poll finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Democratic National Convention approaches, a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that Democrats have slightly higher trust in Vice President Kamala Harris' ability to address the issue of climate change than President Joe Biden.

Trump's campaign called it an economic address. He made big promises but mostly veered off topic

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump made little effort to stay on message Wednesday at a rally in North Carolina that his campaign billed as a big economic address, mixing pledges to slash energy prices and "unleash economic abundance" with familiar off-script tangents on Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' laugh, the mechanics of wind energy and President Joe Biden's son.

Police identify suspect in break-in of Trump campaign office in Virginia

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Police in northern Virginia said Wednesday they were looking for a homeless man they suspect broke into an office of Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

'Chaos agent': Suspected Trump hack comes as Iran flexes digital muscles ahead of US election

WASHINGTON (AP) — With less than three months before the U.S. election, Iran is intensifying its efforts to meddle in American politics, U.S. officials and private cybersecurity firms say, with the suspected hack of Donald Trump's campaign being only the latest and most brazen example.

HEALTH CARE

White House says prescription drug deals will produce billions in savings for taxpayers, seniors

WASHINGTON (AP) — Taxpayers are expected to save billions after the Biden administration inked deals with pharmaceutical companies to knock down the lists prices for 10 of Medicare's costliest drugs.

Drugs to treat diabetes, heart disease and blood cancers among those affected by price negotiations

The Biden administration says Medicare recipients will save about $1.5 billion on out-of-pocket costs for medications to treat diabetes, heart disease, types of arthritis and other ailments under new prices negotiated with drug companies that will take effect in 2026.

ENVIRONMENT

Wildfires are growing under climate change, and their smoke threatens farmworkers, study says

LOS ANGELES (AP) — As wildfires scorched swaths of land in the wine country of Sonoma County in 2020, sending ash flying and choking the air with smoke, Maria Salinas harvested grapes.

MEDIA

Meta kills off misinformation tracking tool CrowdTangle despite pleas from researchers, journalists

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms has shut down CrowdTangle, a tool widely used by researchers, watchdog organizations and journalists to monitor social media posts, notably to track how misinformation spreads on the company's platforms.

Social media influencers descend on the White House, where Biden calls them the new 'source of news'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Social media influencers got the royal treatment at the White House on Wednesday as President Joe Biden gave a nod to their ability to hold sway with millions of loyal followers.

ECONOMY

US shoppers sharply boosted spending at retailers in July despite higher prices

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans stepped up their spending at retailers last month by the most in a year and a half, easing concerns that the economy might be weakening under the pressure of higher prices and elevated interest rates.

US unemployment claims fall 7,000 to 227,000 in sign of resiliency in job market

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week, another sign that the job market remains resilient in the face of high interest rates.

UK economy grows 0.6% between April and June as it recovers from recession

LONDON (AP) — Britain's economy continued its recovery from recession at the end of last year, with its GDP increasing by 0.6% between April and June, official figures showed Thursday.

Japan's economy grew last quarter on healthy consumer spending and business investment

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1% in the April-June period, rebounding from the contraction in the previous quarter, government data showed Thursday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street roars closer to its records as US shoppers help drive the economy

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rallied closer to its record highs following signs that the U.S. economy is holding up better than expected.

Potentially massive pay package for Starbucks new CEO, and he doesn't even have to move to Seattle

Incoming Starbucks CEO could make well in excess of $100 million in his first year with the company under an incentive-laden contract, and he will not be required to relocate from his home in California to Seattle, the home of the global coffee giant.

Walmart grows more optimistic about 2024 as bargains prove a powerful lure for the inflation weary

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart had another quarter of strong sales that topped almost all expectations with its comparatively low prices proving a powerful draw for millions who have struggled with rising costs for housing, groceries and almost everything else.

China will limit exports of antimony, a mineral used in products from batteries to weapons

BEIJING (AP) — China's Commerce Ministry announced Thursday that it will restrict exports of a mineral used in a wide range of products from batteries to weapons.

Warren Buffett details Berkshire's Apple, Chevron and Capital One sales while also buying more Chubb

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett offered more details Wednesday about the stocks he has been selling lately, including confirming that he sold more than 389 million Apple shares during the second quarter.

Cisco cuts thousands of jobs, 7% of workforce, as it shifts focus to AI, cybersecurity

Cisco Systems is planning to lay off 7% of its employees, its second round of job cuts this year, as the company shifts its focus to more rapidly growing areas in technology, such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.


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