The U.S. is in the middle of a digital infrastructure revolution. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and edge technologies are transforming industries and redefining what’s possible, from national security to personalized medicine. But as AI headlines focus on coders and cutting-edge tech, the real story is unfolding in workshops and job sites where skilled workers are making innovation physically possible. Unlike the dot-com boom or the mobile era, this AI-driven transformation isn’t just about servers and software. It’s about the concrete, steel, cables, power, and cooling systems that serve as the nervous system of our digital society. As the demand for…
Author: Staff Writer
Living in Florida, I definitely see the difference compared to even New Jersey, where I have been given a parking ticket in a private parking lot because one car was over the white lines, so everyone had to follow suit by perhaps 2 feet, and a cop then tickets everyone. Completely illegal, but you pay the $25 fine because it’s cheaper than taking a whole day to argue in court. I was driven down Gulf Blvd and there was literally nobody on the road, so I was doing 12 miles over the speed limit, not paying attention. A cop…
I recently spoke to a donor who reviewed a batch of proposals from different groups—different names, different logos, but nearly the same projects. Teams had reinvented the same wheel in parallel. Individually, some of those projects might get funded. Collectively, the sector missed the chance to pool efforts and solve a larger piece of the problem. That felt wrong, not because anyone was bad, but because our systems make it easier to duplicate than to unite. Here’s what should terrify donors: Even as funding tightens, duplicated projects still get financed while collaborative funds report backing organizations that figured out how…
On the heels of Starbucks’ recent announcement it will be cutting 900 corporate roles and closing 1% of its Northern American stores by the end of 2025 (after accounting for both new openings and closures), Starbucks Workers United said Tuesday that 59 of those locations marked for closure are unionized locations. Starbucks Workers United, the worker-led effort to unionize Starbucks baristas, represents 12,000 baristas in 45 states and Washington D.C., across more than 650 cafes. The closures, announced last week by CEO Brian Niccol, are part of a massive $1 billion restructuring strategy dubbed “Back to Starbucks,” aimed at turning around declining sales…
U.S. job openings were essentially unchanged million last month amid economic uncertainty arising from President Donald Trump’s trade policies and an impending government shutdown. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that job openings blipped up to 7.23 million from 7.21 million in July. Economists had forecast a drop to 7.1 million. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed that layoffs fell month. But so did the number of people quitting their jobs — which is a sign of confidence in their prospects of finding a better job. The report’s measure of hiring last month was the weakest since June 2024.…
ASIA: The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today: • NIKKEI 225 decreased 111.12 points or -0.25% to 44,932.63 • Shanghai increased 20.246 points or 0.52% to 3,882.777 • Hang Seng increased 232.68 points or 0.87% to 26,855.56 • ASX 200 decreased 14.00 points or -0.16% to 8,848.80 • SENSEX decreased 97.32 points or -0.12% to 80,267.62 • Nifty50 decreased 23.80 points or -0.10% to 24,611.10 The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today: • AUDUSD increased 0.00365 or 0.55% to 0.66148 • NZDUSD increased 0.00183 or 0.32% to 0.57980 • USDJPY decreased 0.78 or -0.52%…
If it seems like it’s getting more expensive to replace a broken door, kitchen fixtures, or upgrade a major appliance, you’re not wrong. The cost of home repair and remodeling projects is up compared to a year ago and running ahead of inflation overall, according to a report from data analytics company Verisk. The firm’s latest Repair and Remodeling Index jumped 3.4% in the April-June quarter compared to the same period last year. That’s a bigger annual increase than the 2.7% rise in inflation in the same period, as measured by the Consumer Price index. The index, which tracks costs…
U.S. consumer confidence declined again in September as Americans’ pessimism over inflation and the weakening job market continued to grow. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell by 3.6 points to 94.2 in September, down from August’s 97.8. That’s a bigger drop than analysts were expecting and the lowest reading since April, when President Donald Trump rolled out his sweeping tariff policy. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell to 73.4, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. Consumers’ assessments of their current economic…
Shopping for a used car? Hertz is making it easier than ever to buy a car from its fleet: You can now browse, finance, and purchase vehicles entirely online, the company announced Tuesday. The car rental giant has revamped its website, HertzCarSales.com, allowing customers to now browse thousands of vehicles, get a trade-in offer, get pre-qualified, and secure financing so they complete the purchase entirely online. These changes mean that car buyers no longer need to visit one of Hertz’s 45 retail locations to complete the purchase. “Our new e-commerce platform marks a major step forward in modernizing how we…
Adventure travel used to mean strapping on a backpack and vigorously sweating your way up a steep mountain with a can of bear spray swinging from your belt—a niche pursuit for the hardcore. But the page has turned: The once extreme is now mainstream. Marriott Bonvoy, the rewards program from hotel giant Marriott International, is riding this momentum with the launch of Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors, a hub showcasing more than 450 outdoor-focused hotels and 50,000 homes and villas, along with curated tours and activities. The launch, announced Tuesday, includes a real-world treasure hunt across 20 outdoor destinations in North America…