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Most Americans Say Trump Is Too Close To Russia, Erratic On Economy: Poll Results Most Americans Say Trump Is Too Close To Russia, Erratic On Economy: Poll Results
Most Americans Say Trump Is Too Close To Russia, Erratic On Economy: Poll Results A majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump is "too closely aligned" with Russia and is handling the US economy in an erratic manner, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The two-day poll, completed Wednesday, March 12, found that 56 percent of respondents — including 89 percent of Democrats and 27 percent of Republicans —agreed that Trump was too close to Moscow.  In contrast, 40 percent disagreed, and four percent did not answer the question. Trump has dramatically shifted US foreign policy since starting his second term in January, including publicly berating Ukrainian…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico
Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico President Donald Trump is giving US automakers a brief delay on tariffs imposed against Canada and Mexico as trade war tensions escalate and concerns rise domestically about the economy. The pause was confirmed at a news briefing by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Mar. 5. The move came one day after Trump officially placed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods while raising tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent. The country's "Big Three" automakers — Stellantis (formerly Chrysler), Ford, and General Motors — talked with Trump abou…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Expect To Pay More For These Items As Trump Tariffs Take Effect Expect To Pay More For These Items As Trump Tariffs Take Effect
Expect To Pay More For These Items As Trump Tariffs Take Effect US tariffs on goods from its three largest trading partners -- neighboring nations Canada and Mexico as well as China -- have gone into effect as of midnight Tuesday, March 4. Canada and Mexico have been slapped with 25 percent tariffs. The rate for China, America's main economic rival, is 20 percent.  Mexico and Canada account for about 70 percent of US crude oil imports. Earlier Report: Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears Now, many economists are warning that American consumers will be paying more for a host of staple ite…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight' Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight'
Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight' Canada, Mexico, and China are responding to President Donald Trump officially placing tariffs on the three nations, escalating tensions with the US's key trading partners and increasing concerns about rising costs for American consumers. The US officially imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods on Tuesday, Mar. 4. On the same day, the US also raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed the solution to the trade wars is bringing more businesses into the country. "IF COMPANIES MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES, …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Jobless Claims Hit Four-Month High, Adding To Inflation And Recession Fears Jobless Claims Hit Four-Month High, Adding To Inflation And Recession Fears
Jobless Claims Hit Four-Month High, Adding To Inflation And Recession Fears Unemployment claims have surged to their highest level since October 2024, adding to growing concerns over job security and the broader economy. Initial jobless claims jumped by 22,000 to 242,000 for the week ending on Saturday, Feb. 22, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in data released on Thursday, Feb. 27. The previous week's total was revised up slightly to 220,000. The rise in claims comes as consumer confidence took its steepest monthly dive since August 2021 amid concerns over inflation, tariffs, and the labor market. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell …

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Recession Fears Rise As Consumer Confidence Sees Steepest Drop Since 2021 Recession Fears Rise As Consumer Confidence Sees Steepest Drop Since 2021
Recession Fears Rise As Consumer Confidence Sees Steepest Drop Since 2021 Consumer confidence took its biggest dive in more than three years, adding to growing concerns over inflation, job security, and the broader economy — as Americans grapple with high prices and uncertain financial conditions. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell 7.0 points in February to 98.3, the nonprofit business research group said on Tuesday, Feb, 25. That marks the metric's steepest monthly decline since August 2021. The Expectations Index also dropped 9.3 points to 72.9. That number gauges consumers' outlook on jobs, income, and business conditions. Fo…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
New Poll Shows Approval Drop In Trump's Handling Of Economy New Poll Shows Approval Drop In Trump's Handling Of Economy
New Poll Shows Approval Drop In Trump's Handling Of Economy As economic uncertainty looms, a new poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating has slipped, with growing numbers of Americans expressing concern over the nation's financial direction. The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 4,145 US adults nationwide over a six-day period ending Tuesday, found Trump's overall approval rating at 44 percent, down from 45 percent in a poll conducted Friday, Jan. 24 to Sunday, Jan. 26.  His disapproval rating climbed to 51 percent, a notable increase from 41 percent in polling taken just after he returned to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20 to T…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
MA Among Best States For Grocery Affordability Based On Income, New Study Says MA Among Best States For Grocery Affordability Based On Income, New Study Says
MA Among Best States For Grocery Affordability Based On Income, New Study Says Inflation and soaring grocery prices are squeezing US households at the beginning of 2025, but a new study says Northeast families are spending less of their income on food than other parts of the country. A study from WalletHub called States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries was released on Thursday, Feb. 13. Despite higher food costs, residents in many Northeast and mid-Atlantic states spend a smaller share of their incomes on groceries compared to others. WalletHub said the cost of groceries has surged more than 25 percent since 2019, straining household…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Retail Spending Slips As Inflation Climbs In January, Adding To Economic Concerns Retail Spending Slips As Inflation Climbs In January, Adding To Economic Concerns
Retail Spending Slips As Inflation Climbs In January, Adding To Economic Concerns After a solid holiday season, US retail sales took a surprising step back to start 2025, snapping a streak of growth and fueling worries about the economy. Retail and food services sales fell 0.9 percent in January, according to Census Bureau data released on Friday, Feb. 14. The decline reversed the trend from December 2024's revised increase of 0.7 percent, signaling that consumers may be feeling the squeeze from rising prices. Economists had predicted only a slight decline, with Dow Jones estimating a 0.2 percent drop, NBC News reported. The sales totals were seasonally adjusted but…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Trump Calls For End To Income Tax, Offers Buyouts To 2 Million Federal Employees Trump Calls For End To Income Tax, Offers Buyouts To 2 Million Federal Employees
Trump Calls For End To Income Tax, Offers Buyouts To 2 Million Federal Employees President Donald Trump is calling for the elimination of federal income tax, advocating for a shift to a tariff-based revenue system.  He argues that this approach, which he says previously made the US “richer” and a more “powerful” economy, would mark a pivotal turning point for the nation. "America is going to be very rich again, and it's going to happen very quickly," Trump said during a speech in Florida on Monday, Jan. 27 at the 2025 Republican Issues Conference at the Trump National Doral Miami. "Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich foreign nations, we should be tariffing an…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Here's Where Boston Ranks Among 10 Worst Cities For Traffic In US Here's Where Boston Ranks Among 10 Worst Cities For Traffic In US
Here's Where Boston Ranks Among 10 Worst Cities For Traffic In US Traffic jams continue to plague urban centers across the United States, leading to lost time, increased costs, and frustration for millions of commuters.  The 2024 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard sheds light on the cities most affected, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by drivers. Here are the 10 cities with the worst traffic, according to INRIX: New York City – The Big Apple leads the nation, with drivers losing countless hours in traffic. Chicago – The Windy City ranks second, with congestion remaining a major issue. Los Angeles – LA’s infamous gridlock earns it…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds
Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds In an era of 24/7 news cycles and social media saturation, most Americans are stepping back from political news to combat fatigue and information overload.
 According to a brand-new nationwide poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 65 percent of adults feel the need to limit their consumption of government and political news.
 This sentiment crosses party lines, but Democrats are slightly more likely than Republicans to feel overwhelmed (72 percent vs. 59 percent). Additionally, 50 percent of respondents cited the need to cut back on news about overseas conflicts.
 Around…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Election 2024: Trump Reclaims Presidency By Securing Wins In Key Battleground States Election 2024: Trump Reclaims Presidency By Securing Wins In Key Battleground States
Election 2024: Trump Reclaims Presidency By Securing Wins In Key Battleground States Crucial triumphs in the key battleground states have lifted former President Donald Trump back to the White House. The 78-year-old Trump was declared winner of the 2024 election against Vice President Kamala Harris just before dawn on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Trump has been projected to win all three "Blue Wall" states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. With big additional wins in North Carolina and Georgia, he has secured the 270 electoral votes needed to reclaim the presidency, becoming the first president who will serve non-consecutive terms since former Democratic New York Gov. Grover…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Iconic Food Container Maker Tupperware Files For Bankruptcy Iconic Food Container Maker Tupperware Files For Bankruptcy
Iconic Food Container Maker Tupperware Files For Bankruptcy A kitchen staple may soon be getting shelved. Iconic 78-year-old food container pioneer Tupperware filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, Sept. 17 amid a years-long slump in sales. The company known worldwide for its "Tupperware Parties" is now seeking court approval to continue operating during the proceedings as it pursues a sale. "Whether you are a dedicated member of our Tupperware team, sell, cook with, or simply love our Tupperware products, you are a part of our Tupperware family," said President and Chief Executive Officer Laurie Ann Goldman. "We pla…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump came out swinging at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in their first and possibly only presidential debate before the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election. Harris made the first move by shaking Trump's hand on stage — in their first face-to-face encounter. Political observers noted how Harris "baited" the former president, prompting him to look increasingly angry. But Trump entered the "spin room" less than an hour after the debate, saying, "I think it was the best debate, personally, that I've ever …

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by Jon Craig
Business
Dow Drops 1,000 Points: US Stock Market In Free Fall, Wiping Away Trillions In Capital Dow Drops 1,000 Points: US Stock Market In Free Fall, Wiping Away Trillions In Capital
Dow Drops 1,000 Points: US Stock Market In Free Fall, Wiping Away Trillions In Capital Investors hoping the major dip in the stock market last week was just a blip were greeted with even more losses on Monday, Aug. 5, as fears of a recession and global turmoil sent stocks tumbling. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,200 points at one point but closed 1,000 down. The S&P 500 dropped more than 3 percent and the Nasdaq fell 3.4 percent.  The massive sell-off began on Friday after a US jobs report showed that employer hiring in July had slowed more than analysts had predicted. Investors were already on edge over fears the US Federal Reserve had left interest ra…

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Big Lots To Close Pair Of NY Stores Big Lots To Close Pair Of NY Stores
Big Lots To Close Pair Of NY Stores Discount retail chain Big Lots plans to close around 40 stores this year, according to a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). It currently has around 1,425 stores nationwide. Six stores in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are slated to close, with both New York stores on Long Island. No store closures are scheduled for New Jersey. The company cited rising costs and inflation as reasons for the move and said a bankruptcy filing could be coming. Stores in the Northeast slated for closure are as follows: New York 260 Voice Road, Carle Place 231 Centere…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee President Joe Biden has just announced he is pulling out of the 2024 race against Republican nominee Donald Trump. In a letter to "My Fellow Americans" released just before 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, Biden said: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.” The news comes amid concerns over the 81-year-old Biden's health, which were loudly …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada
Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada The Costco Wholesale Corporation has announced membership hikes in the US and Canada for the first time in seven years, according to a news release by the company issued on Wednesday, July 10.  Costco opened the release sharing a June sales growth in the US of 5.6%, which is higher than the past 44 weeks of just 4.4%, the company experienced a decrease in revenue internationally.  On the heels of sharing that news, the company made the announcement about raising the membership fees in both the US and Canada beginning Sept. 1.  Annual memberships are rising $5 making them $65…

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by Jillian Pikora
Politics
$25M Spent: Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever $25M Spent: Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever
$25M Spent: Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever The closely-watched Democratic race between Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman for New York's 16th District seat is about to come to a close as the most expensive congressional primary in history, according to reports. CBS News says nearly $25 million has been raised and spent during the race, which will be decided on Primary Election Day on Tuesday, June 25. Over half of this amount, $16 million, has been put toward anti-Bowman attack ads and was largely spent by United Democracy Project, a super PAC of the pro-Israel group American Israel Public…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Massachusetts Among Top 10 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why Massachusetts Among Top 10 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why
Massachusetts Among Top 10 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why A new ranking lists Massachusetts as one of the top 10 best states in the country and places the commonwealth in the top three in categories like education and healthcare. The results are in. The 2024 Best States list by U.S. News & World Report, released on Tuesday, May 7, names Massachusetts as the 10th-best state in the country, a place higher than it scored in the 2023 report.  Massachusetts closely follows states like Utah (the best state, according to U.S. News & World Report), Nebraska (number three), Washington (number eight), and Florida (number nine). However, whe…

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by Sophie Grieser
Politics
State AG Announces Run For Governor State AG Announces Run For Governor
State AG Announces Run For Governor Massachusetts’ top law enforcement official is set to make a run at the state’s top office. Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey, age 50, announced on Thursday, Jan. 20 that she will be launching a campaign to run for the governor of Massachusetts, replacing outgoing Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. 
“We need a governor who sees everyone, who can bring people together, and who can harness our tremendous potential as a state,” Healey stated. "That’s the kind of campaign we're going to run, and it’s the kind of governor I will be." The two-term AG, who was elected as the first openly gay …

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by Zak Failla