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Goodbye, Skype: Microsoft Sets Final Day For Video Chat App That Changed Internet Goodbye, Skype: Microsoft Sets Final Day For Video Chat App That Changed Internet
Goodbye, Skype: Microsoft Sets Final Day For Video Chat App That Changed Internet Microsoft is shutting down Skype, marking the end of the once-dominant video and voice chat service as the tech giant shifts focus to its Teams platform. Skype, which revolutionized online communication after launching in 2003, will be officially retired, Microsoft said in a blog post on Friday, Feb. 28. The final day Skype will be active is Monday, May 5. The company is encouraging users to switch to Microsoft Teams, where they can log in with their Skype credentials to retain chats and contacts. "During the transition period, Teams users can call and chat with Skype users and Skype users…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
24-Hour Spending Blackout Targets Major Retailers, Politicians As Economic Anxiety Rises 24-Hour Spending Blackout Targets Major Retailers, Politicians As Economic Anxiety Rises
24-Hour Spending Blackout Targets Major Retailers, Politicians As Economic Anxiety Rises A grassroots movement calling on people across the country to pause all non-essential purchases has begun its first "economic blackout" in a protest against corporate greed and financial inequality. The group called The People's Union USA organized the "24-Hour Economic Blackout" on Friday, Feb. 28. Supporters were asked to avoid all non-essential spending, including purchases from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target, as well as gas and fast food. Supporters of the blackout were asked to only buy "absolutely necessary" items like food, medicine, and eme…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
$296K Winning 'Fast Play' Ticket Sold At Maryland Liquor Store $296K Winning 'Fast Play' Ticket Sold At Maryland Liquor Store
$296K Winning 'Fast Play' Ticket Sold At Maryland Liquor Store Booze and a bucket load of cash, is what one lucky liquor store customer went home with, according to Maryland Lottery. A jackpot-winning ticket worth nearly $300,000 was sold at a Maryland liquor store. A FAST PLAY ticket sold at All Saints Liquors in Laurel is burning a hole in a local residents pocket after winning a $296,552 progressive jackpot playing Grand Progressive on Thursday, Feb. 27. The $10 ticket has a progressive jackpot that starts at $100,000 and grows with the sale of each ticket until someone buys a progressive jackpot-winning ticket. This is the first of 28 p…

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by Zak Failla
Business
CFPB Drops Capital One Lawsuit As Trump, Musk Target Federal Watchdog CFPB Drops Capital One Lawsuit As Trump, Musk Target Federal Watchdog
Cfpb Drops Capital One Lawsuit As Trump, Musk Target Federal Watchdog The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has dropped a lawsuit against Capital One as concerns grow about the federal agency's future. The CFPB will no longer pursue legal action against Capital One, according to a court filing on Thursday, Feb. 27. The case, filed in January, claimed the banking giant misled customers and withheld more than $2 billion in interest payments. The company based in McLean, Virginia, supported the dismissal. "We welcome the CFPB's decision to dismiss this action, which we strongly disputed," a Capital One spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Voice…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Egg Prices Now Expected To Rise Twice As High As Earlier Projections In 2025 Egg Prices Now Expected To Rise Twice As High As Earlier Projections In 2025
Egg Prices Now Expected To Rise Twice As High As Earlier Projections In 2025 Egg prices are now expected to jump in price in 2025 by more than double earlier projections. Click here for a new, updated story - Grocery Shoppers Pivot As Inflation Reshapes Spending Initial estimates by the USDA predicted a 20-percent increase just a month ago. With a nationwide shortage due to bird flu which has reduced egg-layer flocks and egg production, a 41-percent increase is now expected this year, the USDA says. The price of a dozen eggs, at around $5 on average, is up nearly 100 percent from last year. About 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected by the bir…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Winning $3.3M 'Multi-Match' Ticket Sold At Maryland Convenience Store Winning $3.3M 'Multi-Match' Ticket Sold At Maryland Convenience Store
Winning $3.3M 'Multi-Match' Ticket Sold At Maryland Convenience Store The first jackpot-winning Multi-Match ticket of 2025 has been sold at a Maryland convenience store, and it was a big one. A winning ticket worth $3.3 million for Monday's drawing was sold in Baltimore County at J Convenience located at 8765 Satyr Hill Road in Parkville, according to officials. The winning numbers for the drawing on Feb. 24 were 03-06-16-22-26-33. It comes with an the option of an annual annuity paid in 25 installments or an estimated $1.92 million cash option. There were eight Multi-Match jackpots won in 2024. Lottery officials say that winners should sign the …

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by Zak Failla
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
Business
Joann Going Out of Business After 80+ Years, Closing All Stores Following Bankruptcy Auction Joann Going Out of Business After 80+ Years, Closing All Stores Following Bankruptcy Auction
Joann Going Out of Business After 80+ Years, Closing All Stores Following Bankruptcy Auction Joann will shut down all of its 800 locations, ending more than 80 years of selling fabrics and craft supplies. Joann announced the winning bidders at a bankruptcy auction plan to begin going-out-of-business sales at every store, the company said. At its height, the crafts chain had about 850 stores in every state but Hawaii. Financial services company GA Group, in partnership with the prepetition term loan agent, acquired Joann's assets at the auction. "Joann leadership, our board, advisors and legal partners made every possible effort to pursue a more favorable outcome that wou…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Egg Inflation Hits Denny's: Customers Face New Surcharge At Some Locations Egg Inflation Hits Denny's: Customers Face New Surcharge At Some Locations
Egg Inflation Hits Denny's: Customers Face New Surcharge At Some Locations Soaring egg prices are scrambling the Denny's menu. Denny's is adding a surcharge to meals containing eggs, a company spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Voice on Monday, Feb. 24. The diner chain cited skyrocketing costs fueled by the bird flu outbreak. The company said some locations will temporarily implement the surcharge due to rising egg prices, though the exact amount and which restaurants are affected will vary. "Due to the nationwide egg shortage and increased cost of eggs, some of our restaurant locations will need to temporarily add a surcharge to every meal that includes eg…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Starbucks Slashing 1,100 Corporate Jobs In Major Company Shake-Up Starbucks Slashing 1,100 Corporate Jobs In Major Company Shake-Up
Starbucks Slashing 1,100 Corporate Jobs In Major Company Shake-Up Starbucks is cutting 1,100 corporate jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring plan designed to simplify operations and refocus on its core business. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol announced the layoffs in a message to employees on Monday, Feb. 24. The job cuts will affect non-retail support employees, as the coffeehouse chain works to streamline leadership and eliminate duplicate roles. Several hundred open but unfilled positions will also be removed. In-store workers and store hours won't be affected Niccol said the decision is part of the company's broader "Back to Starbucks" plan,…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
As Egg Prices Soar, Another Breakfast Staple Is Seeing Inflation Reversal As Egg Prices Soar, Another Breakfast Staple Is Seeing Inflation Reversal
As Egg Prices Soar, Another Breakfast Staple Is Seeing Inflation Reversal As egg prices continue to soar with no relief in sight, there's finally some good news for consumers. Another breakfast staple is seeing prices snap, crackle, and drop. For the second straight year, cereal prices have decreased. Analysts attribute the reason to lower demand and increased harvests. According to pattern.com, the follow cereals saw the biggest price declines in 2024: Fruity Peebles Corn Pops Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch Grape Nuts Rice Krispies Trix Other popular brands, such as Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Bunches of Oats, Life, a…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know
Scammers Impersonating IRS With These Texts: Here's What To Know A new scam is making the rounds, with fraudsters posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents and sending text messages promising a substantial rebate.  The trap is a phishing attempt designed to steal your personal and financial information. What’s Happening? The fraudulent messages claim recipients are eligible for a $1,400 stimulus check, directing them to click on a fake link to “claim” their payment.  How The Scam Works You receive a text message appearing to be from the IRS, stating that you’re owed an Economic Impact Payment and must provide personal information …

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by Joe Lombardi