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The country’s ability to think on an issue-by-issue basis is rare in a tribal eraView the full article

The greenback’s global dominance was forged on trade, alliances and institutions — now that era is at risk of drawing to a closeView the full article

US president is stepping up a campaign of retribution against his political enemiesView the full article

Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation have announced the relaunch of the L.O.C.A.L. (Lifting Our Community Businesses Across Long Island) Small Business Grants, aimed at supporting small businesses across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Now in its second year, the program will award $5,000 grants to 40 selected small businesses, along with two grand prize grants of $25,000—one each for a business in Nassau and Suffolk County. According to the announcement, the program’s goal is to invest directly in the local economy by helping small businesses grow and thrive. The L.O.C.A.L. grants are made possible through Optimum Business, the program’s founding partner. “Optimum Business is thrilled to continue our partnership with the LIA Foundation to support the vibrant small business community on Long Island. By providing these grants once again, we are not just investing in individual businesses, but in the economic health and future prosperity of our entire region,” said Andrew Rainone, Senior Vice President of National Sales at Optimum. “Our commitment to the small business community goes beyond financial support; Optimum Business is dedicated to fostering an environment where these businesses can thrive and providing connectivity services and resources to succeed in today’s digital world.” To date, the partnership has awarded $250,000 in grants to 50 small businesses. This year, the program continues to expand outreach efforts by working with the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) and the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC). “The LIA is extraordinarily proud to partner once again with Optimum Business, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce to stimulate economic growth across Long Island,” said Matt Cohen, President & CEO of the Long Island Association. “Small businesses fuel our region’s vibrancy, and the goals of L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants program are to empower entrepreneurs, create jobs, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents on Long Island.” As an added benefit, the LIA will offer a six-month complimentary membership to applicants and a one-year membership to grant recipients who are new to the organization, further supporting their business development and networking opportunities. Phil Andrews, President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the broader economic impact of the program. “The L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants funded by Optimum in partnership with the LIA, LIAACC, and the LIHCC provides support to small businesses to Long Island’s regional economy and serves as a marketing function to highlight business success on Long Island,” Andrews said. “Supporting small businesses on Long Island creates and maintains jobs on Long Island which supports a strong Long Island economy.” Luis Vazquez, President of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the continued challenges faced by Hispanic-owned businesses. “The 2025 L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants represent a critical investment in the future of our small businesses. Hispanic-owned businesses, in particular, continue to navigate the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, facing ongoing challenges in the recovery process,” Vazquez said. “These grants will provide essential financial support to help them grow, create jobs, and further contribute to the communities they serve. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and the diverse entrepreneurs who power them are key to Long Island’s prosperity. We are proud to play a role in lifting up our business community and ensuring a thriving, inclusive economic future for all.” Grant recipients are expected to be announced later this year. Optimum Business will also host recognition events this summer, joined by local officials and community partners. Optimum Business states that its continued investment in initiatives like L.O.C.A.L. underscores the company’s commitment to connecting customers to what matters most. More information, including submission requirements and official program rules, is available at www.longislandassociation.org/foundation. This article, "Optimum Business and LIA Foundation Relaunch L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Optimum Business and the LIA Foundation have announced the relaunch of the L.O.C.A.L. (Lifting Our Community Businesses Across Long Island) Small Business Grants, aimed at supporting small businesses across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Now in its second year, the program will award $5,000 grants to 40 selected small businesses, along with two grand prize grants of $25,000—one each for a business in Nassau and Suffolk County. According to the announcement, the program’s goal is to invest directly in the local economy by helping small businesses grow and thrive. The L.O.C.A.L. grants are made possible through Optimum Business, the program’s founding partner. “Optimum Business is thrilled to continue our partnership with the LIA Foundation to support the vibrant small business community on Long Island. By providing these grants once again, we are not just investing in individual businesses, but in the economic health and future prosperity of our entire region,” said Andrew Rainone, Senior Vice President of National Sales at Optimum. “Our commitment to the small business community goes beyond financial support; Optimum Business is dedicated to fostering an environment where these businesses can thrive and providing connectivity services and resources to succeed in today’s digital world.” To date, the partnership has awarded $250,000 in grants to 50 small businesses. This year, the program continues to expand outreach efforts by working with the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) and the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC). “The LIA is extraordinarily proud to partner once again with Optimum Business, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce to stimulate economic growth across Long Island,” said Matt Cohen, President & CEO of the Long Island Association. “Small businesses fuel our region’s vibrancy, and the goals of L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants program are to empower entrepreneurs, create jobs, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents on Long Island.” As an added benefit, the LIA will offer a six-month complimentary membership to applicants and a one-year membership to grant recipients who are new to the organization, further supporting their business development and networking opportunities. Phil Andrews, President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the broader economic impact of the program. “The L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants funded by Optimum in partnership with the LIA, LIAACC, and the LIHCC provides support to small businesses to Long Island’s regional economy and serves as a marketing function to highlight business success on Long Island,” Andrews said. “Supporting small businesses on Long Island creates and maintains jobs on Long Island which supports a strong Long Island economy.” Luis Vazquez, President of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the continued challenges faced by Hispanic-owned businesses. “The 2025 L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants represent a critical investment in the future of our small businesses. Hispanic-owned businesses, in particular, continue to navigate the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, facing ongoing challenges in the recovery process,” Vazquez said. “These grants will provide essential financial support to help them grow, create jobs, and further contribute to the communities they serve. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and the diverse entrepreneurs who power them are key to Long Island’s prosperity. We are proud to play a role in lifting up our business community and ensuring a thriving, inclusive economic future for all.” Grant recipients are expected to be announced later this year. Optimum Business will also host recognition events this summer, joined by local officials and community partners. Optimum Business states that its continued investment in initiatives like L.O.C.A.L. underscores the company’s commitment to connecting customers to what matters most. More information, including submission requirements and official program rules, is available at www.longislandassociation.org/foundation. This article, "Optimum Business and LIA Foundation Relaunch L.O.C.A.L. Small Business Grants" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

ResponseForce1, a Florida-based IT services firm with experience in disaster response and cybersecurity, has announced the launch of a new suite of compliance and security services designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The new Managed Services solution, branded RF1-TS, is set to go live on April 15, 2025. According to the company, the RF1-TS suite aims to help SMBs achieve and maintain compliance with NIST 800-171 and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), providing customers with the tools necessary to take control of their IT environments. Comprehensive Services and Continuous Support The new offering includes Managed Service Provider (MSP) and Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) solutions to help businesses meet regulatory requirements while strengthening their overall security posture. The services operate 24x7x365, providing continuous protection and support. ResponseForce1 states that the services are designed to offer “a seamless pathway to regulatory readiness, cybersecurity resilience, and operational efficiency.” Built on Leading Technology The RF1-TS platform integrates industry-recognized technologies from NinjaOne, SentinelOne, Redspin, and IntelliGRC. These tools enable ResponseForce1 to provide end-to-end support across a range of critical areas, including: Compliance advisory services to prepare for CMMC assessments Continuous monitoring and endpoint protection Advanced threat detection and response Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) management With its CMMC Level 2 certification already achieved, ResponseForce1 positions itself as a capable and reliable partner in helping businesses navigate the increasingly complex compliance environment. Experience in Critical Infrastructure Protection ResponseForce1 emphasizes its background in disaster response and critical infrastructure protection as a differentiator from traditional providers. According to the company, its leadership team includes seasoned IT and security experts who offer a tailored approach to compliance and security for each client. Meeting Today’s Cybersecurity Demands As cybersecurity threats become more sophisticated, businesses face growing pressure to comply with government and industry regulations. ResponseForce1 states that regulatory compliance is now a necessity, not a choice, and aims to provide SMBs with the tools, expertise, and strategic guidance needed to meet those demands confidently. For more information about RF1-TS and ResponseForce1’s range of services, visit www.ResponseForce1.com or contact info.ts@rf1.us. This article, "ResponseForce1 Unveils New Compliance and Security Solutions for SMBs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

ResponseForce1, a Florida-based IT services firm with experience in disaster response and cybersecurity, has announced the launch of a new suite of compliance and security services designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The new Managed Services solution, branded RF1-TS, is set to go live on April 15, 2025. According to the company, the RF1-TS suite aims to help SMBs achieve and maintain compliance with NIST 800-171 and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), providing customers with the tools necessary to take control of their IT environments. Comprehensive Services and Continuous Support The new offering includes Managed Service Provider (MSP) and Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) solutions to help businesses meet regulatory requirements while strengthening their overall security posture. The services operate 24x7x365, providing continuous protection and support. ResponseForce1 states that the services are designed to offer “a seamless pathway to regulatory readiness, cybersecurity resilience, and operational efficiency.” Built on Leading Technology The RF1-TS platform integrates industry-recognized technologies from NinjaOne, SentinelOne, Redspin, and IntelliGRC. These tools enable ResponseForce1 to provide end-to-end support across a range of critical areas, including: Compliance advisory services to prepare for CMMC assessments Continuous monitoring and endpoint protection Advanced threat detection and response Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) management With its CMMC Level 2 certification already achieved, ResponseForce1 positions itself as a capable and reliable partner in helping businesses navigate the increasingly complex compliance environment. Experience in Critical Infrastructure Protection ResponseForce1 emphasizes its background in disaster response and critical infrastructure protection as a differentiator from traditional providers. According to the company, its leadership team includes seasoned IT and security experts who offer a tailored approach to compliance and security for each client. Meeting Today’s Cybersecurity Demands As cybersecurity threats become more sophisticated, businesses face growing pressure to comply with government and industry regulations. ResponseForce1 states that regulatory compliance is now a necessity, not a choice, and aims to provide SMBs with the tools, expertise, and strategic guidance needed to meet those demands confidently. For more information about RF1-TS and ResponseForce1’s range of services, visit www.ResponseForce1.com or contact info.ts@rf1.us. This article, "ResponseForce1 Unveils New Compliance and Security Solutions for SMBs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

AI is fundamentally re-engineering how work is done, who does it, and why. From AI-assisted nursing tools enabling healthcare providers to serve more patients to robotics improving retail fulfillment efficiency, the change is monumental. Organizations must establish a common language around work to navigate this transformation effectively. This raises a critical question: Who bears the responsibility for preparing the workforce for the AI age? Industry expert Josh Bersin notes that thriving in this era requires redesigning work, jobs, and organizational models—deconstructing tasks, evaluating AI solutions, and defining the human role alongside automation. This imperative underscores the moral mandate of leaders to empower people, not displace them—a theme explored further in his piece. It is clear that readiness cannot fall solely on employees. Leaders must rise to the challenge, driving the reinvention of work ethically and inclusively. The moral mandate of leaders AI is poised to reinvent nearly every job, with research showing that 92% of tech roles will evolve in response to automation. Yet, most employees lack the tools to navigate these shifts independently, and many HR leaders remain uncertain about future workforce needs. Expecting employees to pivot seamlessly without guidance ignores their struggles to balance work and life, let alone reimagine their career trajectories. Leaders must rise to this challenge by creating a unified understanding of work that drives intelligent workforce transformation. The imperative isn’t just about adopting AI—it’s about re-engineering work in a way that ensures no one is left behind. Leadership must understand their workforce’s day-to-day activities: Which tasks are primed for AI enhancement? How can we create more opportunities? How do we ensure work flows efficiently to those best suited to perform it? Bersin’s research shows that to succeed with AI, companies must rethink work, jobs, and structures. This means focusing on customer outcomes, breaking work into tasks, using AI where it fits, and defining where humans add value. Leaders who do this will make AI work for their people—not replace them. Accountability is the new currency Today’s stakeholders—employees, customers, communities, and shareholders—scrutinize companies like never before. Business success is no longer measured by profits alone; it’s judged by how well organizations unlock and amplify the full potential of their people. Leaders must rethink traditional job design. Jobs consist of tasks, not skills, and people possess the skills to perform those tasks. Reskilling efforts must be task-focused, dynamic, and deeply personalized. Consider financial services. Junior analysts, whose roles are heavily impacted by AI, could become data scientists within months through upskilling in Python and AI fundamentals. This isn’t just workforce optimization—it’s workforce empowerment. The alternative is bleak: mass unemployment, economic instability, and widening social inequalities. Failing to act doesn’t just hurt employees; it undermines economic resilience. Design for meaningful work AI will eliminate some roles but create countless new opportunities. The key is ensuring that those opportunities are accessible to everyone, regardless of their starting point. Organizations need comprehensive frameworks that map jobs, tasks, processes, and career paths. Through this understanding, leaders can create clear development pathways for every employee. This isn’t just about workforce optimization; it’s about creating an environment where every individual can grow alongside technological advancement. For example, our Workforce Reinvention Blueprint pinpoints high-value areas where AI complements human capabilities. Leaders can build reskilling strategies tailored to individual aspirations and organizational goals, ensuring every employee finds meaning and purpose in their work. From incremental to transformational The journey to workforce reinvention doesn’t happen overnight. Leaders must adopt a phased approach, starting with understanding their current workforce dynamics, aligning job tasks with future skills needs. Here’s how companies can embrace transformation: Workforce analysis: Identify tasks for automation and map the skills needed for higher-value roles. Reskilling as a priority: Pinpoint skills gaps and offer tailored learning opportunities. Transparency in communication: Build trust by sharing the vision for AI integration and its impact. Inclusive leadership: Ensure reskilling opportunities are accessible to all employees, especially marginalized groups. Leadership that goes beyond numbers As we continue through 2025, the organizations that thrive will be those that approach workforce transformation with both boldness and responsibility. Success lies in ensuring that as work evolves, people evolve with it. This isn’t just about AI adoption—it’s about creating a future where technology amplifies human potential rather than diminishing it. The opportunity to reinvent work has never been greater; the responsibility to do so has never been clearer. Siobhan Savage is CEO and founder of Reejig. The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. View the full article

Is technology a hero or a villain? That question keeps coming back to me. Especially now, as the world watches the ripple effects of the USAID funding freeze and the relentless wave of climate disasters. Tech companies sit right at the heart of these crises—not as bystanders, but as some of the most powerful players in how they unfold. And yet, tech’s public image has never been more conflicted. On one hand, technology has enabled incredible breakthroughs in humanitarian response. AI can predict floods before they hit. Blockchain helps track aid deliveries in fragile contexts. Real-time data platforms put lifesaving information directly into the hands of frontline responders. That’s the tech I believe in. But let’s be honest—Big Tech’s reputation is hanging by a thread. From privacy scandals to polarization to performative corporate social responsibility (CSR), the gap between what tech could be and how people perceive it feels wider than ever. This moment is a wake-up call. Not just for CSR, but for the entire way tech companies define their role in solving global problems. What we’ve seen at Tech To The Rescue over the past five years is simple: Social impact work isn’t charity. It’s how companies sharpen their edge. When tech teams partner with nonprofits tackling crises, they’re not just donating skills—they’re learning in ways that no corporate client can teach them. They’re designing for chaos, building for the underserved, and stretching their creativity to the limit. What internal sprints will never teach you For small and mid-sized companies, this work is a goldmine of tactical insight. Designing systems for low-bandwidth environments, creating tools for users with limited digital literacy, or adapting platforms for multilingual emergency contexts—these are not side projects. They are previews of the challenges companies will face as they scale into new markets. And for larger companies? It’s just as valuable—especially when these partnerships happen inside innovation teams, not just CSR departments. Unlike traditional philanthropy, with its slow approvals and risk aversion, these collaborations are fast, hands-on, and embedded with frontline teams. The result? Products that don’t just live in PowerPoints but in the hands of people who need them most. Real-world proof that this works This isn’t a theory. It’s happening now. Through AI for Changemakers—a global accelerator we launched with sponsorship from AWS and Google.org—tech companies are building tools like SOPHIA, which processes multilingual crisis data in real time, and AIMM, which helps field teams at Mercy Corps that use AI for program design without needing a data science degree. I saw this dynamic firsthand at AWS re:Invent, standing alongside leaders from Mercy Corps and ACAPS to showcase these projects—not as feel-good stories, but as proof that serious tech-for-good collaborations deliver serious impact. But the moment that stuck with me most came earlier, at VivaTech in Paris. That’s where Werner Vogels—one of the world’s most influential CTOs—announced the Now Go Build CTO Fellowship, created in partnership with our AI for Changemakers program. And this wasn’t some hands-off endorsement. Vogels, Amazon’s CTO, stepped in to mentor nonprofit CTOs directly, giving them access to the same leadership and technical playbook that powers AWS. When a tech leader of his stature decides to personally invest in social impact organizations tech leadership, it sends a message: If we want stronger humanity, we need stronger and out-of-the-box collaborations. Why this matters for every tech company This is no longer about reputational polish. Social impact partnerships are becoming a core source of innovation, talent development, and resilience. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Global Gen Z & Millennial Survey, 86% Gen Zs 89% of millennials shared that a sense of purpose is important to overall job satisfaction and well-being for them. Also, 75% of both groups responded that an organization’s community engagement and societal impact are considered and important factors when looking into potential employers. On the flip side, less than half believe that businesses do have a positive societal impact, highlighting a growing gap between expectations and reality. The same is true for consumers, especially since the pandemic. Ipsos Global Trends 2021 found that 70% of consumers across 25 markets prefer to buy from brands that reflect their personal values. This trend has been particularly strong in key markets like the U.K., France, and the U.S., where the emphasis on brand values has grown by over 16% since 2013. Let’s also rethink what pro bono in the tech industry even means. It’s become shorthand for quick volunteer gigs, but in reality, the projects that matter most are professionally scoped, technically complex, and demand the same creativity, rigor, and accountability as any top-tier client engagement. It’s time to see these collaborations for what they are: R&D with purpose. So back to that question: Hero or villain? The answer won’t come from PR. It will come from what we build, who we build it for, and whether we’re willing to apply our best thinking to humanity’s hardest problems. The companies that embed social impact into their innovation playbook will come out stronger, sharper, and far better prepared for a future where impact isn’t an accessory—it’s a core business strategy. Jacek Siadkowski is the CEO and cofounder of Tech To The Rescue. The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. View the full article

Measures at Ivy League institution trigger concern over academic freedomView the full article

Lately it seems like collective uncertainty about the economy is mainly focused on one thing: eggs. This isn’t surprising. When the price of a kitchen staple like eggs nearly doubles in a year, it’s easy to make it a go-to symbol for the broader basket of financial anxieties many consumers are feeling. I get it, but I also worry all the egg-centric media coverage is overshadowing what is, for most households, a much bigger and more important line item: healthcare. So far this year, egg prices have generated roughly three times more headlines than healthcare costs have (per a quick Google News search)—which is pretty much the reverse of the relative impact those issues have had on households over the past 40 years. Food inflation is a serious concern, but for the average consumer, the cost of out-of-pocket healthcare spending has far outpaced that of food (yes, even eggs). Cumulative Change in Prices Paid by Consumers (%) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (all urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted) Why are eggs stealing the limelight? One big reason is that everyday commodities like eggs (or milk, coffee, and gas) are easy for consumers to comprehend. These products have a black-and-white price tag, you generally get what you pay for, and it’s hard not to notice when your paycheck suddenly doesn’t stretch as far. Healthcare is different Healthcare doesn’t work like that. For consumers, out-of-pocket healthcare spending is a mishmash of insurance premiums, deductibles, appointment copays, and prescription costs. For heavier-duty care like surgery and hospital stays, there often isn’t a clear-cut price tag. Not surprisingly, more than half of insured workers are confused by healthcare costs and billing, and as a result, many don’t fully grasp the total healthcare hit to their wallet—or the value they’re getting (or not) for their healthcare dollar. This consumer blind spot is becoming a financial black hole for employers. For most companies, healthcare is now the second-largest operating expense after payroll. Employers are forecasting that healthcare costs will accelerate even more in 2025, increasing by about 9%—three times the current inflation rate. After years of absorbing rising costs, many employers are now facing tough decisions about raising employees’ share of the premium, eliminating benefits, or passing costs onto customers. Unlike egg prices, though, the healthcare cost trend isn’t primarily a supply-and-demand issue. A big chunk of runaway healthcare spending (as much as 25%, by some estimates) is due to inefficiency and waste, including overtreatment, undertreatment, low-quality providers, and uncoordinated care. The healthcare system is basically dropping three eggs from every carton on the floor, and employers are left to clean up the mess. Reining in this avoidable and unsustainable spending isn’t as simple as cutting benefits or increasing premiums. In fact, limiting healthcare access can backfire if individuals forgo essential care, leading to a sicker workforce in the short term and snowballing costs in the long run. Unscramble the mess The reality is, if we’re going to unscramble the mess of healthcare, we need a collective shift in our expectations and mindset. Employers and consumers alike—all healthcare purchasers, in fact—need to demand a new focus on value. We need to move away à la carte “egg” purchases where—as though we’re in a supermarket aisle—fees are associated with volume, and total costs can only be managed with portion control (or as we say in healthcare, utilization management). This model has blinded people to what they’re spending and getting in return, undermining trust in the healthcare system as a whole. Instead, we need a healthcare model where a person’s holistic needs are front and center. A model that incentivizes ongoing engagement, building trust over time, and consistently guiding people toward high-quality care—including more care, when that’s best for them. The future of higher-value, lower-cost healthcare is one in which people and purchasers have access to a broader range of services and settings (both virtual and in person). It offers personalized advocacy and support (including with clinical guidance, bills, and claims). And it offers an all-in-one experience—a departure from the fragmented maze we’ve all become accustomed to. Innovators and leaders on the front lines of healthcare management and purchasing are starting to recognize this, and are reorienting their solutions, partnerships, and models to ensure that people get the care they deserve, where, and when they need it. While egg prices may have our attention now, we can’t lose sight of creating a healthcare system and experience that’s actually worth the high price we all pay. And in healthcare, unlike with groceries, the key to affordability isn’t buying less or cutting corners on quality. It’s investing in the services and outcomes that deliver real value for our hard-earned money. Owen Tripp is cofounder and CEO of Included Health. The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. View the full article

After a period of relative stability, the national average for a gallon of gasoline has climbed by 4 cents over the past week, reaching $3.12, according to AAA. The price increase comes despite crude oil prices remaining below $70 per barrel and is largely attributed to the seasonal transition to summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce due to its reduced volatility in warm temperatures. The national average for public electric vehicle (EV) charging remained unchanged at 34 cents per kilowatt hour. Supply and Demand Factors New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows a decline in gasoline demand, which dropped from 9.18 million barrels per day to 8.81 million. At the same time, total domestic gasoline supply decreased slightly from 241.1 million barrels to 240.6 million. Despite the lower demand and reduced supply, gasoline production increased, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day over the past week. Today’s national average for gasoline remains 4 cents lower than one month ago and roughly 40 cents lower than the same time last year. Oil Market Overview On Wednesday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil rose 26 cents during the formal trading session to settle at $67.16 per barrel. The EIA reported that U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 1.7 million barrels from the previous week. At 437.0 million barrels, the current inventory level is about 5% below the five-year average for this time of year. Gas Price Extremes Across the Nation California tops the list of the most expensive gasoline markets, with an average price of $4.64 per gallon. It is followed by Hawaii ($4.53), Washington ($4.09), Nevada ($3.74), Oregon ($3.73), Alaska ($3.39), Illinois ($3.38), Arizona ($3.34), Idaho ($3.26), and Pennsylvania ($3.22). On the other end of the spectrum, the least expensive states for gasoline are Mississippi ($2.66), Oklahoma ($2.69), Kentucky ($2.69), Tennessee ($2.69), Louisiana ($2.73), Alabama ($2.74), Texas ($2.76), Arkansas ($2.76), South Carolina ($2.78), and Kansas ($2.80). EV Charging Cost Breakdown While gasoline prices have seen an uptick, the cost of public EV charging has remained steady. The highest average cost per kilowatt hour is found in Hawaii at 56 cents. Other states with elevated charging rates include West Virginia (46 cents), Montana (45 cents), South Carolina (42 cents), Tennessee (42 cents), Idaho (42 cents), Alaska (41 cents), Kentucky (40 cents), New Hampshire (40 cents), and Louisiana (39 cents). The least expensive states for public charging include Kansas (22 cents), Missouri (25 cents), Nebraska (26 cents), Iowa (26 cents), North Dakota (26 cents), Delaware (27 cents), Michigan (29 cents), Texas (29 cents), Utah (29 cents), and Washington, DC (30 cents). As refineries continue to shift production to summer-grade gasoline, AAA notes that further price increases at the pump may follow in the coming weeks, even in the absence of significant changes in crude oil prices. Image: AAA This article, "Gas Prices Tick Upward Amid Seasonal Shift to Summer Fuel, AAA Reports" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

After a period of relative stability, the national average for a gallon of gasoline has climbed by 4 cents over the past week, reaching $3.12, according to AAA. The price increase comes despite crude oil prices remaining below $70 per barrel and is largely attributed to the seasonal transition to summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce due to its reduced volatility in warm temperatures. The national average for public electric vehicle (EV) charging remained unchanged at 34 cents per kilowatt hour. Supply and Demand Factors New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows a decline in gasoline demand, which dropped from 9.18 million barrels per day to 8.81 million. At the same time, total domestic gasoline supply decreased slightly from 241.1 million barrels to 240.6 million. Despite the lower demand and reduced supply, gasoline production increased, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day over the past week. Today’s national average for gasoline remains 4 cents lower than one month ago and roughly 40 cents lower than the same time last year. Oil Market Overview On Wednesday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil rose 26 cents during the formal trading session to settle at $67.16 per barrel. The EIA reported that U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 1.7 million barrels from the previous week. At 437.0 million barrels, the current inventory level is about 5% below the five-year average for this time of year. Gas Price Extremes Across the Nation California tops the list of the most expensive gasoline markets, with an average price of $4.64 per gallon. It is followed by Hawaii ($4.53), Washington ($4.09), Nevada ($3.74), Oregon ($3.73), Alaska ($3.39), Illinois ($3.38), Arizona ($3.34), Idaho ($3.26), and Pennsylvania ($3.22). On the other end of the spectrum, the least expensive states for gasoline are Mississippi ($2.66), Oklahoma ($2.69), Kentucky ($2.69), Tennessee ($2.69), Louisiana ($2.73), Alabama ($2.74), Texas ($2.76), Arkansas ($2.76), South Carolina ($2.78), and Kansas ($2.80). EV Charging Cost Breakdown While gasoline prices have seen an uptick, the cost of public EV charging has remained steady. The highest average cost per kilowatt hour is found in Hawaii at 56 cents. Other states with elevated charging rates include West Virginia (46 cents), Montana (45 cents), South Carolina (42 cents), Tennessee (42 cents), Idaho (42 cents), Alaska (41 cents), Kentucky (40 cents), New Hampshire (40 cents), and Louisiana (39 cents). The least expensive states for public charging include Kansas (22 cents), Missouri (25 cents), Nebraska (26 cents), Iowa (26 cents), North Dakota (26 cents), Delaware (27 cents), Michigan (29 cents), Texas (29 cents), Utah (29 cents), and Washington, DC (30 cents). As refineries continue to shift production to summer-grade gasoline, AAA notes that further price increases at the pump may follow in the coming weeks, even in the absence of significant changes in crude oil prices. Image: AAA This article, "Gas Prices Tick Upward Amid Seasonal Shift to Summer Fuel, AAA Reports" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Online ticket vendor aims to raise $1bn at a value of $16.5bnView the full article

Anthropic announced Thursday that it has added web search capability to its Claude chatbot. It’s not a new feature to the AI world—but the company’s approach stands as one the most thoughtful to date. Much like its rival Perplexity, Anthropic’s Claude works relevant information from the web into a conversational answer, and includes clickable source citations. Web search is available as a “feature preview” for U.S. users of the Claude 3.7 Sonnet model, with plans to expand to the free tier and to more countries What sets Anthropic’s web search feature apart is that it is automatic. Rather than requiring users to manually select a web search on a given query (as with OpenAI’s ChatGPT), Claude decides on its own whether fetching web data would improve an answer. After it receives a time-sensitive question, Claude now generates an initial answer from its training data and then states: “. . . but let me search for more precise information since this could have changed.” That matters since, without web search enabled, the results are subject to a cutoff date in the large language model’s training data. Claude’s training data only goes up to October of 2024, while ChatGPT’s (using GPT-4o) goes up to June 2024. That’s why ChatGPT (without web search turned on) returns outdated information when asked, for example, to identify which major AI chatbots have web search: It mentions Google Bard, for example—even though that product has since been renamed Gemini. With the web search button clicked on, all these errors disappear. (An OpenAI spokesperson points out that ChatGPT will automatically do a web search for questions that imply a need for up-to-date information, such as “What are the best travel destinations for 2025?” But as per the example above, the web search doesn’t always kick in when the results would benefit. Users can also regenerate an answer with web search turned on.) A web search is almost always helpful for a reality check on whatever information the chatbot surfaces. That’s why Anthropic’s move was a smart one: It removes the burden from users to determine whether a query would benefit from specialized search. Adding web search will certainly make Claude a more useful and reliable chatbot, but the move could have more commercial implications, too. People are increasingly using Claude to research products, and referrals from Claude to brand sites could become a key revenue source for Anthropic. “Anthropic is creating new entry points that complement how people are already using LLMs, and it’s working,” says Jim Yu, CEO of BrightEdge, an SEO and digital performance platform. BrightEdge data shows that Claude’s referrals to websites jumped 82% month-over-month in February, outpacing ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others. “Claude has historically lagged in this space, but this is a move that could finally put them in the game,” Yu says. Within the chatbot context, web search is used to take a quick snapshot of relevant information from the web to inform a response to a specific question. This is different from AI research agents like Google’s Deep Research tool within the Gemini assistant and OpenAI’s tool, also called Deep Research, both of which consult a broad group of sources using a defined and customizable research strategy. Anthropic doesn’t yet offer a “deep research” tool but that’s likely coming. Augmenting chatbot answers with web search information is a logical first step toward that. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. You can think of the Galaxy Buds series as Android's version of the AirPods. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are the open-ear version of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, both of which came out last summer. Right now, you can get the Galaxy Buds 3 for $99.99 (originally $179.99) directly from the Samsung website when choosing "no" under the Samsung trade-in credit. This is the lowest price these earbuds have been since their recent release, according to price-tracking tools. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Compatibility Android: Galaxy Wearable app, iOS: Bluetooth, Battery: 24H/30H (ANC off), Water: IP57 $99.99 at Samsung $179.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Get Deal $99.99 at Samsung $179.99 Save $80.00 The Galaxy Buds 3 are feature-heavy. They have ear-detection sensors, so they automatically pause and resume as you take them on and off. They have 360 audio, which is an immersive sound feature that is similar to a surround-sound effect. The IP57 rating means they can handle sustained streams of water well. If you have a Samsung phone, you'll get automatic pairing and switching from Samsung devices, but the coolest feature is the Galaxy AI-based translation, which can translate spoken words between two parties or videos from your phone. Open earbuds are great for people who don't like sticking buds inside their ears and/or like to be aware of their surroundings even when listening to their media. The tradeoff is weaker bass and more sound bleeding. However, the audio quality on them are still impressive, and the ANC on them performs surprisingly well for ANC earbuds, according to PCMag's review. For under $100, these are a great value for Android or Apple users, but if you're a Samsung user, you get a much better user experience and bang for your buck. But if you want better ANC and don't mind an in-ear design, get the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for $209.99 (originally $249.99). View the full article

US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson signals that a variety of options are on the tableView the full article

A recent American Bankers Association survey showed improvement since 2022, but overall scores are still lower than in 2020 and gaps widened between providers. View the full article

If you want to instantly reveal your age, just order a hot black coffee — seriously. Gen Z is flipping the script on how coffee is consumed, and spoiler: they like it cold, sweet, and loaded with creamer. For a lot of younger drinkers, that very first cup of coffee was just as likely to be iced as it was hot. And get this—about 85% of Gen Z coffee fans are adding creamer, compared to just 70% of coffee drinkers overall. That shift in taste is making waves in the industry. Nestle, for example, has been rolling out new products to keep up—from cold-dissolving instant coffee to liquid espresso concentrates and all kinds of flavored toppings. “We’ve done a lot of things in cold coffee the last two years to really meet this need of Gen Z and young millennials,” Daniel Jhung, president of Nestle’s USA beverage division, tells Fast Company. “That’s a big trend that we’re pushing into.” COMBINING COFFEE AND CREAMER The coffee world is “booming” and the opportunity to innovate, while still providing value for a broad spectrum of consumers, makes for a fun time to be in this industry, says Jhung, whose role recently expanded to oversee the Swiss company’s coffee and broader beverages portfolio. One of the reasons why it made sense for Nestle to unite coffee and creamer under one team is because there’s such a natural connection between these products now. Or, as Jhung likes to quip: “What’s more Americana than peanut butter and jelly or milk and cereal? It’s actually coffee and creamer.” Industry data from Circana backs this up: Coffee and creamer are co-purchased together 60% of the time versus 40% of the time for milk and cereal, and 20% of the time for peanut butter and jelly. While it’s easy to offer coffee-and-creamer bundles to online shoppers, in brick-and-mortar grocery stores, coffee and creamer are often found in far-flung aisles—and this is a point of friction Nestle has heard about from shoppers. That’s why Nestle is thinking about how to bring coffee and creamer closer together in stores, Jhung notes. “That’s something that we will tackle together with retailers in the future,” he says. “They’re open to it; we definitely want to push it because that’s where consumers are going naturally.” THE FOURTH WAVE OF COFFEE In what’s perhaps a sign of the times, this year’s Super Bowl featured a handful of commercials for coffee-related brands, including Nestle-owned Coffee mate, which advertised its new line of Cold Foams with disembodied tongues dancing to a Shania Twain song. Coffee’s prominence in the biggest advertising day of the year is fitting: Daily coffee consumption hit a 20-year high last year, according to a report from the National Coffee Association. In addition, Nestle recently opened a 675 million coffee-creamer factory in Glendale, Arizona which is indicative of the company “putting our money where our mouth is,” Jhung says, adding that it’s designed to be flexible to respond to fast-moving consumer trends. “It’s going to meet the growing demands of this new coffee consumer for the next decade.” While such investments are indicative of overall strength in the coffee industry, Nestle is also eager to ride what it’s calling the “fourth wave of coffee” that’s being driven by the youngest coffee drinkers. This era is defined by “the four Cs” of coffee: cold, convenient (or instant), craft and customizable. “We think customization, experimentation is the crux of this fourth wave,” Jhung says. “These consumers really like to customize their cup, it’s really their own personalized cup.” That trend has continued since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, as creators and connoisseurs converge on social media to swap recipes and at-home barista types try to replicate coffee drinks they ordered elsewhere, Jhung says. Gen Z coffee drinkers are also introducing their older-generation parents to new products for their coffee, he adds. “What we hear sometimes is that the Gen Z [consumer] brings it into the house, and then you get the adoption from Gen X and even Boomer,” Jhung says. “It’s kind-of a cool thing to see that with the reverse mentoring.” INSTANT IS A HIT But what might surprise some people is the popularity of instant coffee, in particular, with the youngest of coffee drinkers. Instant coffee still trailed drip and single-cup brewers for at-home coffee preparation methods in 2024, but saw a 31% jump from 2023, according to figures from the National Coffee Association. Instant coffee is projected to be one of the fastest-growing coffee segments in the next three years, according to industry estimates, which tracks with trends at Nestle. While it’s long been popular around the world, instant coffee has “blown up” among American coffee drinkers in recent years, Jhung says. Nestle-owned Nescafe has experienced double-digit annual sales growth, and the company launched Nescafe Ice Roast and Nescafe Gold in recent years. Despite some misconceptions to the contrary, instant coffee is coffee—it’s freeze-dried—and consumers are increasingly drawn to it because it now marries convenience with craft offerings, Jhung says. “That’s a bubble burst [that] over the last three or four years.” INNOVATION ABOUNDS All of these coffee trends are indicative of a renaissance of sorts in various segments of food and beverage driven by younger consumers who see food as art, as Jhung notes. And Nestle is putting a lot of money behind keeping up with the tastes of these coffee drinkers—including launching specialty flavors like Thai iced coffee and a lavender coffee—which makes for a fun time to be at the helm of Nestle’s business, he adds. “It’s not a boring category,” he says. “You talk with the retailers, you talk with the consumers, it gets peoples’ energy up when they talk about how they drink their cup of coffee.” View the full article

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Garmin watches like my beloved Forerunner 265S have so many features buried in their menus that you may not have discovered some of the best ones. Here are some of the best underrated features of Garmin watches (available on Forerunners and other models), as well as convenient shortcuts you’ll find yourself using all the time. Shortcuts for getting around your Garmin watch Left is the flashlight (it's brighter in the dark, I promise). Right is what you get when you long press on the sunset time complication. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Quickly get back to the home screenThis works on all the touchscreen watches: Wherever you are, no matter how many menus deep, just cover the screen with your palm. The screen will go dark, and when you activate it again (by tapping the touchscreen, flicking your wrist, or hitting the top left “light” button), it will be back at the home screen. Pull up a flashlightDouble press the light button (top left). Even if your watch isn’t equipped with an LED flashlight, this will turn on the flashlight app that displays bright white pixels to provide a soft light. It's handy for going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, or getting out of your kid’s room at bedtime without stepping on a LEGO. Oh—and you can quickly turn it off by putting your palm over the screen. Long press your watch face complicationsUnlike on an Apple Watch, you can’t tap a complication to get more information about it. I assumed that meant the complications weren’t interactive. But no—you need to long press the complication, and then you get the info. My sunrise/sunset complication pulls up a circular chart with sunrise, sunset, dusk, and dawn times (and an option to look at different dates or locations). You can also use this to get more information on complications that were on by default and you never quite figured out what they are. Garmin Share The watch on the left is sending a workout to the watch on the right. Credit: Beth Skwarecki If you run with others, or like to discuss workouts with a friend who also uses Garmin, you’ll love the Garmin Share feature, which allows you to beam a workout (or course map) to another person’s watch. “What’s a Norwegian 4x4?” my husband might say. “Here, I’ll send it to you,” I can answer, and he’ll have it in his on-watch workout library in seconds. How to send items with Garmin Share: Hit the Start button as if you were going to start an activity. Scroll down until you see Garmin Share as an option. Select it. You’ll see a screen that says Ready to Receive. Scroll down to see all your shareable items (workouts, courses, etc) and choose one. Your watch will say “Looking for devices.” If your friend has opened up the receiving screen, their watch model and their name will become available to select. How to receive a workout with Garmin Share: As above, go to the Start button, scroll down, and select Garmin Share. You’ll see a screen that says Ready to Receive. When they share the file, you’ll get an option to say yes or no to downloading it. You can also share a workout by finding it on your watch (as if you were going to do the workout) and then selecting Share instead of Do Workout. Sunset alertsYou can set all kinds of alerts on your watch. One day I was poking around the menus, just curious about what was in there, when I noticed a “sunset” option. I have this habit of going out for an evening trail run without checking how much time I've got until the sun goes down. It’s a recipe for regret: Either I’ll wish I brought a flashlight, or I’ll wish I had just started my run a little earlier in the day. But now, that’s a problem of the past. I went into Settings > Notifications and Alerts > System Alerts > Til Sunset, and set the time to one hour (1:00:00). Now, I get a little buzz on my wrist when I have an hour before the sun sets. If I’m dressed for a run but have been dawdling on getting out the door, that’s my cue. And if I realize I’m not going to make it back before dark, I grab a flashlight on my way out. Set hot keys for features that would otherwise be buried in a menuA hot key is a shortcut—something like, long press the START button (top right) to turn sleep mode on or off. To set up hot keys, go into settings > System > Hot Keys. There are seven you can use: holding the start, back, or down buttons, or pressing two buttons at once (start and down, start and up, back and light, or back and up). Some of the handy features you can map to a hot key include: Lock the device (great if you have a toddler who likes to play with your watch) Broadcast heart rate (so that you can see your HR on gym equipment) Change sport (if you’re running on the track, but want to switch to a regular run when kids storm the field for soccer practice) Turn the touchscreen on or off Bring up a stopwatch or timer Find my phone Credit: Beth Skwarecki This is a standard smartwatch feature these days, but I keep seeing people discover it for the first time, so here’s your public service announcement: Hold the LIGHT button (top left) to get that wheel of little shortcut things. Select Find My Phone, and it will. View the full article

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Fewer than 1% of NCAA Tournament brackets were still perfect after Thursday’s 16-game slate, according to several services where fans attempt the all-but impossible task of predicting every March Madness game correctly — or, barring that, win their office pools. ESPN’s tracker listed 25,802 perfect brackets remaining out of more than 24 million filled out on its site following the final game of the day, Texas Tech’s win over UNC-Wilmington. The NCAA said 0.0938% of more than 34 million brackets were still perfect. The numbers were similar at CBS Sports, where 0.09% of brackets were unblemished following the first day of action. Yahoo Sports said 99.9% of its brackets had fallen short of perfection after 11th-seeded Drake beat No. 6 seed Missouri. Earlier Thursday, about 6.6 million brackets were busted on ESPN when No. 12 seed McNeese beat No. 5 seed Clemson 69-67. Creighton — which saw a boost in this category because it played the first game of the day — was listed as ESPN’s top bracket buster after its 89-75 win over Louisville. There were 13,339,089 ESPN brackets busted by that game. On the other end of the spectrum, ESPN reported that every pick was wrong on 30 of its brackets — a nearly impossible feat in its own right even if a contestant were trying to pick all losers. View the full article

Departmental spending squeeze and benefits crackdown part of chancellor’s bid to fill fiscal holeView the full article