Whether mini-sabbatical or adult gap year, more people taking extended work breaks
The idea of taking more than a two-week vacation from work to recover from burnout or rethink life is slowly gaining supporters in the United States.
Associated Press
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Falling cocoa prices won’t necessarily mean cheaper Valentine’s Day chocolates
Chocolate prices at U.S. retail stores rose 14% between Jan. 1 and the first week of February compared to the same period last year, and that’s on top of a 7.8% increase for the same period in 2025.
Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash
Ring and Flock said last year they were planning on working together to give Ring camera owners the option to share their video footage in response to law enforcement requests.
Pacers fined $100K for holding out starters in Feb. 3 matchup with Utah Jazz
The NBA’s player participation policy was put in place in September 2023 to try to discourage clubs from purposely losing in order to improve their chances with the draft lottery.
EPA ends credits for automatic start-stop vehicle ignition, a feature Zeldin says ‘everyone hates’
About two-thirds of vehicles now have it, providing drivers with anywhere from 7% to 26% in fuel economy savings, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Trump administration reaches a trade deal to lower Taiwan’s tariff barriers
The agreement comes as the U.S. remains reliant on Taiwan for its production of computer chips.
US homes sales fell sharply in January, even as mortgage rates continued to ease
Sales had their biggest annual and monthly drop in the West, which wasn’t as affect by last month’s winter storm as the other regions of the country.
IndyCar locks in Honda and Chevrolet with new deals, ending 2 years of Honda exit talk
This multiyear announcement extends Chevrolet’s participation in IndyCar, where it has won nine of 14 championships since returning to the series in 2012. Honda began IndyCar competition in 1994 and has been an engine supplier for over 30 years.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese unite on a star-studded US World Cup qualifying roster
Fellow Indiana Fever player Aliyah Boston, who played for the U.S. at the Olympic qualifying tournament in 2024, rounds out the squad.
Federal deficits and debt to worsen over next decade, report says
Notably, the Congressional Budget Office says higher tariffs partially offset some of those increases by raising federal revenue by $3 trillion, but that also comes with higher inflation from 2026 to 2029.
Kraft Heinz pauses plans to split into 2 companies, says its problems are ‘fixable’
Kraft Heinz – which has a manufacturing facility in Kendallville – announced last year plans to split into two companies a decade after a merger created one of the biggest food manufacturers on the planet.
Target CEO reshapes his leadership team in first big move since taking over
Target has struggled to find its footing as many Americans have cut back on spending.
Video in investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s abduction raises questions about surveillance technology
The surprising emergence of the video footage has resurrected questions about digital content’s long afterlife.
Google, Meta, push back on addiction claims in landmark social media trial
Jurors in a landmark social media case that seeks to hold tech companies responsible for harms to children got their first glimpse into what will be a lengthy trial characterized by dueling narratives from the plaintiffs and the two remaining defendants, Meta and YouTube.
Retail sales unchanged in December from November, closing out year on a lackluster tone
The report, issued by the Commerce Department on Tuesday, surprised economists who were looking for growth despite concerns about slowing job growth and other economic headwinds.
US figure skater Amber Glenn resolves copyright issue with a Canadian music artist at the Olympics
The process for obtaining copyright permission is confusing and prone to mistakes, and several skaters at the Milan Cortina Games have had to change programs at the last minute because of it.
Trump threatens to block new bridge between Detroit and Canada from opening
Trump’s threat comes as the relationship between the U.S. and Canada increasingly sours during the U.S. president’s second term.
Landmark trial accusing social media companies of addicting children to their platforms begins
A slew of trials beginning this year seek to hold social media companies responsible for harming children’s mental well-being.
Retail operator of outdoor sportswear pioneer Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy
The company — which has five stores in Indiana — noted that it will conduct a court-supervised sales process, and if a sale can’t be executed, it will begin a wind-down of its U.S. and Canadian operations.
Kroger names former Walmart executive as its new CEO
The new hire is the first permanent CEO since the company’s former leader Rodney McMullen resigned amid an internal ethics investigation last March.