Economy

Confirmed: Virginia green-lights mandatory speed limiters — reckless drivers face new tech instead of suspensions

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Virginia highway with a 55 mph speed-limit sign, school bus, and cars—visualizing the state’s new mandate for speed-limiting devices on reckless drivers’ vehicles.

Virginia’s move could reshape how states tackle chronic speeding—will other legislatures follow suit? Reckless driving kills thousands each year, and traditional fines aren’t stopping repeat offenders. A newly signed Virginia law aims to change that by letting courts order speed‑limiting devices instead of suspending licenses or handing down jail time. How Virginia’s House Bill 2096 brings … Read more

Goodbye to criminal penalties in New York: a new law decriminalizes street vending without permits

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Crowd lining up at The Halal Guys food cart in Midtown Manhattan, illustrating the NYC street vendors decriminalized by Law 47.

The City Council’s Law 47 wipes criminal records but promises tougher sidewalk inspections. In a major shift for the city’s 20,000‑plus sidewalk sellers, the New York City Council on June 30 approved Law 47, a measure that erases criminal penalties—fines up to $1,000 or even three months behind bars—for operating without a vendor license. So, what does that mean for … Read more

Official: Sysco to give $2,3 millions of dollars to those affected by data breach

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Exterior of Sysco To Go storefront with parked cars, highlighting Sysco’s public presence amid its $2.3 million data-breach settlement.

Thousands of former and current employees—and even some loyal customers—could soon receive cash and credit‑monitoring services after the food‑distribution giant settled a class action tied to last year’s cyberattack. Sysco’s 2023 breach exposed personal data and sent recipients scrambling to guard against fraud. Now, under a settlement filed in federal court, the company has set … Read more

Confirmed: State announces up to $400 inflation checks, sent automatically to qualified New Yorkers

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Statue of Liberty against U.S. flag with Social Security cards, symbolizing New York’s automatic $400 inflation refund checks.

New York will soon send “inflation refund” checks—worth $150 to $400—to taxpayers who filed a 2023 state return, giving households a timely boost without any extra paperwork. The payments, funded through the 2025‑2026 budget and overseen by the Department of Taxation and Finance, will arrive by mail starting this autumn. Officials estimate over eight million families, especially in … Read more

Financial storm brewing – Europe urgently demands return of gold from US vaults

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Europe demands gold repatriation from US amid financial tensions – airplane pointing from US toward Europe

With markets on edge and wars simmering, three of Europe’s largest economies are asking the Federal Reserve for something simple yet symbolic—give us our bullion, now. Washington has stored thousands of metric tons of European gold since the Cold War. Today, Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam say the geopolitical weather has changed and so must the metal’s … Read more

Coca-Cola’s latest machines eat bottles and give discounts — and may inspire global change: ‘A smart move’

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Person recycling a Coca-Cola bottle using a reverse vending machine designed to reward eco-friendly actions

New pilot lets consumers trade empty bottles for app points, aiming to cut plastic waste and spark wider civic action. Coca‑Cola’s latest sustainability experiment has landed in Puri, East India, where bright‑red “reverse vending machines” (RVMs) swallow used plastic bottles and pay users back with discounts on their next drink. The idea is simple: drop … Read more

California cop accused of faking injury while partying and running races, DA says she took $600K

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California police SUV on duty during public event in sunny street with palm trees in background

Prosecutors allege Westminster Police Officer Nicole Brown pocketed more than $600,000 in workers’‑comp payments while running 5Ks and dancing at the Stagecoach Music Festival. Weeks after reporting a “severe concussion,” Officer Nicole Brown was spotted under the desert lights at Stagecoach, clapping and swaying to country hits. Now, the 39‑year‑old faces 15 felony charges that could send her to … Read more

Think six‑figure paychecks are off‑limits without college? These 20 jobs prove otherwise

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Hundred-dollar bills and stop sign saying "NO!" in front of a college building symbolizing high-paying jobs without college

You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to break the $100,000 barrier—here’s the proof and what it means for your career prospects. Americans worried about tuition costs have good news: the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data show dozens of occupations where experience, short‑term training, or a two‑year program can still lead to eye‑popping wages. In … Read more

A retiree’s dangerous financial trap: $150K in credit‑card debt and only Social Security

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Elderly woman worried about credit card debt with Social Security card in background

When Jamie discovered his 72‑year‑old mom owed six figures, he feared the worst — but experts say there’s still a roadmap to relief. Jamie’s mother, a retired receptionist, recently admitted she carries $150,000 on a handful of high‑interest cards. With no savings and a monthly Social Security check of roughly $1,950, she’s falling further behind … Read more

Say goodbye to plastic: Walmart’s new card aims to transform how millions shop and pay

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Walmart storefront with new co-branded Mastercard credit card displayed in the foreground

New program will fold rewards, instant approvals and biometric security into the OnePay app for millions of U.S. shoppers. The world’s largest retailer is getting back into the credit‑card game. Walmart confirmed it will launch a new co‑branded card this autumn in partnership with its majority‑owned fintech OnePay, consumer‑lender Synchrony and the Mastercard network. The … Read more

It’s official: New rules going into effect in Washington on July 1 could affect your wallet and your job

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U.S. Capitol building with justice scale and gavel overlay symbolizing new Washington state laws effective July 1, 2025

Fuel will cost more, estates may owe extra, and employees gain fresh protections as Governor Bob Ferguson’s first legislative package takes effect. Washington State is about to feel the impact of a sweeping batch of statutes that become active on July 1, 2025. From higher gas taxes to tougher equal‑pay rules, the measures aim to patch budget holes … Read more

How to shop smart this summer if you’re receiving Social Security: must-have items from Dollar Tree

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Hand holding Social Security card in front of Dollar Tree store during summer shopping

From poolside shades to patriotic porch signs, here’s how retirees can fill a cart without emptying their wallet. Social Security beneficiaries know every dollar counts—especially when temperatures (and utility bills) climb. Dollar Tree’s nationwide chain offers a surprising range of summer staples, many priced at $1.25, that rival far costlier big‑box options. The discount retailer’s … Read more

Living on $2,000 a month at 79: how this couple is trying to avoid running out of money

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Smiling elderly couple embracing at home, representing retirees living on Social Security income and managing expenses

The squeeze is real: A 79‑year‑old couple living on a combined $2,000 Social Security check and $50,000 in savings faces average annual household costs topping $53,000, according to 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Can they avoid draining their nest egg? Below are practical moves—many you could try today. Why let equity sit idle? Selling … Read more

Avoid taxes on Social Security: Where your Social Security is tax-free—State-by-state breakdown

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Map of U.S. states highlighting where Social Security income is tax-free in 2025 with red "Tax Free" stamp

Congress weighs wider relief for retirees even as a handful of states keep levies in place. Millions of Social Security recipients may soon pay less to the IRS, yet state tax bills could still bite. Lawmakers are debating the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cleared the House by a single vote and now faces the Senate’s gavel. Its … Read more

The new accessibility law requires all ATMs in these countries to be upgraded: it comes into effect on June 28

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Accessible ATM at a Santander bank branch in Spain, subject to June 28 accessibility law changes

Are you planning to travel to a European country? Larger on‑screen text, audio prompts, and tactile layouts aim to make cash withdrawals’ barrier‑free for millions—including older adults and customers with disabilities. The long-awaited European Union Accessibility Act, passed in May 2023, will officially come into force on June 28, 2025, and banks in EU countries … Read more

Skip the heater or AC – the household gadget you must unplug before bedtime to avoid a bigger bill

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Multiple phone and tablet chargers plugged into a power strip on a wooden table

Smartphone and tablet chargers may look harmless, yet energy experts warn they can silently double a home’s overnight electricity costs and even spark safety hazards. Leaving one tiny charger connected around the clock seems trivial, right? Unfortunately, that humble plug is often the hidden culprit behind soaring utility statements, costing the average U.S. household up … Read more

SSI confirms $967 July payment hitting accounts Tuesday, July 1: these are the people who will receive it

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Social Security cards with July 1, 2025 calendar circled for upcoming SSI payment

Millions of low‑income Americans can look forward to a timely boost next month: the Social Security Administration (SSA) has locked in Tuesday, July 1 as pay‑day for the July Supplemental Security Income (SSI) installment, worth up to $967 for single filers. The extra cash matters because SSI is the safety net reserved for people with very limited … Read more

A man buys a used coat at a thrift store and can’t believe what he finds in the pocket: cheap can be a good deal

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Rows of secondhand clothing in a thrift store with racks and bins labeled by price per pound

One lucky bargain hunter uncovered a luxury timepiece during an ordinary browse, reminding thrifters that true treasure can appear when—and where—you least expect it. A quick stop at a local secondhand shop turned into the score of a lifetime when a Reddit user slipped on a pre‑owned coat, reached into the lining, and brushed against … Read more

Discount giants put this humble Texas town on the shopping map and will create new jobs

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Aerial view of Peñitas Crossing site in Peñitas, Texas, showing Walmart, Dollar Tree, strip-mall buildings and parking lots slated for new discount stores

A 25-acre site off Expressway 83 will host Peñitas Crossing, a new shopping plaza expected to reshape daily life and weekend plans in this 6,300-resident community. Peñitas may be small, but its retail ambitions are anything but. With construction slated to start June 30 and wrap by mid-2026, the town hopes to channel more than … Read more

It’s official: Starting July 1, a new measure will make drivers think twice about exceeding the speed limit in Florida

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Florida Highway Patrol cruiser pulls over a speeding pickup on a rural highway ahead of July 2025 $500 super-speed law.

Florida’s new ‘super speed’ law will jail extreme speeders starting July 1, 2025— tougher rules combine a $500 fine with possible jail time for first‑time offenders Florida motorists have just six weeks to adjust their driving habits before the state’s “super speed” statute takes effect on July 1, 2025. Designed to curb a growing wave of fatal crashes tied … Read more