ResidentialBusiness

For the first time since 1972, astronauts are on their way into deep space as part of NASA’s Artemis II mission. The mission sees the Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts to the moon, where they will orbit it, gathering data for future Artemis missions that will see humans touch down on the moon’s surface once again. But unlike in 1972, you don’t have to be a space agency to track the latest lunar mission. NASA has an interactive online tool that lets you see where the Orion spacecraft is and follow it as it performs its maneuvers through space. Here’s what you need to know. This NASA tool lets you track the Artemis II mission NASA has launched a site called the Artemis Real-time Orbit Website, which offers an interactive space map that lets you track the Orion spacecraft in real time. The tool shows three bodies: that of the Earth, the Moon, and the Orion spacecraft, and tracks where they are in relation to each other. It also visualizes the complete path the Orion is scheduled to follow on its 10-day mission. Artemis Real-time Orbit Website You can think of NASA’s Artemis Real-time Orbit Website as Google Maps in space. It offers tools to zoom in and out on any of the three heavenly bodies, and you can click and hold to drag the map’s axis. Another cool feature is “Spacecraft View,” a virtual camera that lets you see an interactive digital reconstruction of the Orion up close. You can also click on any of its four solar array wing (SAW) cameras, which are actually on the spacecraft, to see a digital reconstruction of what those cameras see. (If you want to see the real camera feeds, check out NASA’s Artemis II live mission coverage on YouTube.) How far is Orion from Earth and the Moon? In addition to being able to visibly track the Orion’s trajectory through space, the map also displays real-time data, including how long it has been since the mission commenced (about 1 day and 15 hours, as of the time of this writing), the velocity of the Orion (currently around 4,300 MPH) and its distance from earth and distance to the moon. Given the spacecraft’s speed, those distances change rapidly. As of the time of this writing, Orion’s distance from the Earth is 86,683 miles, and its distance to the Moon is 170,847 miles. But those numbers change by about 1 mile every second. When will Orion reach the Moon? While Orion will not actually land on the moon. It will fly by it. Currently, Orion’s lunar flyby is expected to take place on Monday, April 6, at which point NASA says “the astronauts will take high resolution photographs and provide their own observations of the lunar surface, including areas of the far side of the Moon never seen directly by humans.” After that flyby, the Orion spacecraft will begin making its journey back to Earth, where it is expected to splash down somewhere in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, on April 10. Until then, you’ll be able to keep tracking the Orion on its journey across the heavens. View the full article

When you’re pondering starting a franchise, it’s essential to understand the key costs involved. Initial franchise fees can range from $20,000 to $50,000, allowing you to use the brand’s name and model. Real estate and renovation costs can vary widely, often exceeding $1 million. Ongoing royalty fees and marketing contributions likewise play a significant role in your budget. Knowing these expenses can help you prepare, but there’s much more to reflect upon before you make that commitment. Key Takeaways Initial franchise fees typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, granting rights to the franchise’s name and business model. Real estate acquisition costs can vary from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on location and property size. Renovation and build-out expenses usually range from $50,000 to over $1 million, influenced by brand standards and local regulations. Ongoing royalty fees generally range from 5% to 9% of gross sales, along with additional advertising contributions of 2% to 5%. Legal, accounting, and insurance fees can range from $2,500 to $5,000, with state filing costs typically between $1,000 to $4,500. Initial Franchise Fees and Their Impact When considering a franchise opportunity, it’s essential to comprehend the impact of initial franchise fees, which typically range from $20,000 to $50,000. These fees grant you the rights to use the franchise’s name and business model, making them a significant part of the cost of franchise. Usually non-negotiable, these fees can vary based on market competition and brand strength. The franchise disclosure document (FDD) provides detailed information about these fees, including any additional costs you might incur. Some franchisors, especially in emerging markets, may offer incentives like deferred fees or discounts to attract franchisees. Grasping these initial fees is imperative for evaluating qsr franchise opportunities and planning your overall startup costs, which can exceed $1 million depending on various factors. Real Estate Acquisition and Renovation Costs When you’re considering starting a franchise, real estate acquisition and renovation costs are essential factors to evaluate. Depending on your location and property size, lease or purchase costs can range from $100,000 to over $1 million, whereas renovations may likewise add significant expenses. It’s important to factor in these costs, along with permits and licenses, to guarantee you’re financially prepared for this major aspect of your franchise expedition. Lease or Purchase Costs Lease or purchase costs are critical factors to contemplate when starting a franchise, as these expenses can greatly influence your initial investment. These costs can vary considerably, often ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on the franchise brand and geographic location. Your initial real estate expenses typically include down payments, commissions, and security deposits, which can increase your overall startup costs. It’s important to review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for detailed insights into real estate acquisition costs. This document helps you understand the financial commitments involved. Accurate estimation of these costs is vital for determining the overall feasibility and potential profitability of your franchise operation, ensuring you’re prepared for the financial expedition ahead. Renovation and Build-out Expenses Renovation and build-out expenses are vital considerations that can greatly affect your franchise’s startup budget. Real estate acquisition costs typically range from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on location and property size. Renovation expenses can likewise vary widely, often falling between $50,000 to over $1 million to meet brand standards and local regulations. Initial costs may include down payments, commissions, and security deposits, all contributing to your overall investment. Budgeting for leasehold improvements is fundamental, as they customize your space for operational needs. Conducting thorough market research helps determine the appropriate real estate costs and renovation needs, greatly influencing your franchise’s financial viability. Expense Type Cost Range Notes Real Estate Acquisition $100,000 – $1 million Varies by location and size Renovation Expenses $50,000 – $1 million Depends on needed changes Initial Costs (Down Payment) Varies Includes commissions, deposits Leasehold Improvements Fundamental Customizes space for operations Location Selection Considerations Selecting the right location for your franchise is crucial, as it not only impacts your initial real estate acquisition costs but also affects your long-term profitability. Real estate acquisition costs can range from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on market rates and property size. Moreover, you’ll need to factor in renovation costs, which can vary greatly, typically falling between $50,000 and over $1 million, based on necessary modifications to meet franchise standards and local regulations. Initial franchise fees, usually between $20,000 and $50,000, are part of your overall startup costs. Always refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for detailed information on initial purchase funds and ongoing working capital needs, especially regarding real estate and renovation costs. Professional Fees and Insurance Requirements When you’re starting a franchise, comprehending the professional fees and insurance requirements is vital to your budget and compliance. These costs can considerably impact your initial investment, so it’s important to plan accordingly. Here are some key expenses to keep in mind: Legal and accounting fees: $2,500 to $5,000 for compliance and documentation. Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD): $15,000 to $45,000, prepared by an experienced attorney. Insurance coverage: Costs vary for necessary policies like workers’ compensation and property. State filing and registration fees: $1,000 to $4,500, depending on licenses and trademarks. Financial statements: $2,500 to $5,000, prepared by a licensed CPA for FDD inclusion. Understanding these fees helps guarantee your franchise starts on solid ground. Ongoing Operating Costs and Royalties When you start a franchise, comprehending ongoing operating costs and royalty fees is crucial for your financial success. You’ll need to budget for recurring expenses like employee salaries, utilities, and supplies, whilst also accounting for royalty fees that typically range from 4% to 9% of your gross sales. Furthermore, setting aside funds for unexpected costs can help you maintain smooth operations and protect your profitability in the long run. Royalty Fee Structure Many aspiring franchisees may not fully understand the ongoing costs associated with running a franchise, particularly the royalty fee structure. Typically, these fees range from 5% to 9% of your gross sales, paid monthly to the franchisor. This revenue supports indispensable marketing and operational systems that benefit everyone in the franchise. Moreover, you might need to contribute another 2% to 5% for national or regional advertising. Here are some key points to take into account: Regular payments are important for franchise success. Late payments can lead to penalties or termination. Budgeting for royalties is critical for financial health. Monitoring sales guarantees you meet obligations. These fees enable access to brand support and marketing. Recurring Operating Expenses Comprehending recurring operating expenses is essential for anyone considering a franchise, as these costs directly impact your bottom line. Common expenses include employee salaries, utilities, maintenance, and overhead needed for daily operations. You’ll also pay royalty fees, typically 5% to 9% of gross sales, which support the franchisor’s brand and guidance. Furthermore, budget for marketing expenses, usually ranging from 2% to 5% of gross sales, to promote your franchise effectively. Expense Type Percentage of Gross Sales Royalty Fees 5% – 9% Marketing Fees 2% – 5% Employee Salaries Varies Utilities & Overhead Varies Keeping a close eye on these expenses is critical for your franchise’s profitability. Budgeting for Contingencies Budgeting for contingencies is crucial for franchisees, as unexpected expenses can arise at any time. You’ll need to prepare for ongoing costs and guarantee your franchise remains profitable. Here are key areas to reflect upon: Royalty fees: Typically 5% to 9% of gross sales, these fees are a constant expense. Emergency repairs: Setting aside funds for unexpected repairs is indispensable for operational stability. Employee salaries: Regular payroll can notably impact your cash flow. Utilities: Monthly utility bills can add up, so plan accordingly. Marketing contributions: Expect to allocate 2% to 5% of gross sales for brand promotion. Marketing and Advertising Expenses When you start a franchise, grasping marketing and advertising expenses is vital for your success. Typically, franchisees contribute 2% to 5% of gross sales to an advertising fund for brand improvement. Local marketing is equally important and can involve costs for online ads, print materials, and event sponsorships. Budgeting for marketing materials, like banners and promotional items, is critical to attract customers to your franchise. Furthermore, you’ll face extra advertising expenses to comply with franchisor guidelines and maintain brand standards. Expense Type Description National Fund Percentage of sales for brand marketing Local Marketing Online ads, print materials, event sponsorships Required Materials Banners, promotional items for visibility Financing Options for Franchise Startups How can you secure the funding needed to start your franchise? There are several financing options available to help you get started. Consider the following: SBA loans offer favorable terms and partial guarantees, making them accessible. Franchisor partnerships with lenders may provide customized financing programs. Alternative methods like personal savings, crowdfunding, or loans from family can likewise be viable, but make sure you have written agreements. Commercial bank loans typically require a strong credit history and a solid business plan, assessed through the “5 Cs”: Capacity, Capital, Collateral, Conditions, and Credit history. Online marketplaces like Boefly and Biz2Credit can simplify connecting with lenders, streamlining your funding process. Exploring these options can pave your way to successful franchise ownership. Understanding the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a crucial tool for anyone considering investing in a franchise. It’s a legal requirement for franchisors to provide this document at least 14 days before you sign any agreements. The FDD outlines critical information about the franchise system, including Item 7, which details your estimated initial investment, such as franchise fees, real estate costs, and working capital needs. You’ll additionally find an extensive list of associated fees, including ongoing royalty fees, which can range from 4% to 9% of your gross sales. Legal and financial professionals recommend reviewing the FDD thoroughly to understand the franchise relationship, including potential earnings and risks, making it a critical part of your decision-making process. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 4 P’s of Franchising? The 4 P’s of franchising are crucial for your franchise strategy. First, Product involves the goods or services you offer, focusing on quality and customer satisfaction. Next, Price means setting competitive prices that reflect your value as you ensure profitability. Then, Place highlights the importance of choosing strategic locations to maximize visibility. Finally, Promotion encompasses your marketing efforts, including advertising strategies to build brand awareness and drive sales effectively within your franchise network. Why Is It Only $10,000 to Open a Chick-Fil-A? It costs only $10,000 to open a Chick-fil-A since the company aims to lower the barrier to entry for franchisees. Unlike many franchises that require hefty initial investments, Chick-fil-A covers most startup costs like real estate and equipment, which can exceed $1 million elsewhere. Nevertheless, you’ll pay a 15% royalty on gross sales and must adhere to strict operational guidelines, ensuring brand consistency and success across all locations. What Is the 7 Day Rule for Franchise? The 7 Day Rule mandates that franchisors must provide you with a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 days before you sign any franchise agreement or make a payment. This rule guarantees you have enough time to review important details, such as franchise fees and ongoing costs, helping you make an informed decision. If franchisors violate this rule, they can face legal consequences, protecting your investment and future business. What Does It Cost to Have a Franchise? Starting a franchise can cost you anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000. This range includes the initial franchise fee, typically between $20,000 and $50,000, plus costs for real estate, equipment, and inventory. You’ll likewise face ongoing expenses, like royalty fees of 5% to 9% of gross sales and marketing fees of 2% to 5%. It’s vital you budget for salaries, utilities, and maintenance to guarantee your franchise’s profitability. Conclusion Starting a franchise involves various significant costs, including initial fees, real estate, and ongoing royalties. To guarantee success, it’s vital to budget for professional fees, insurance, and marketing expenses. Comprehending your financing options and the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is equally important in traversing the intricacies of franchise ownership. By thoroughly researching and planning for these expenses, you can make informed decisions that contribute to the long-term viability of your franchise venture. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Key Costs Involved in Starting a Franchise" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When you’re pondering starting a franchise, it’s essential to understand the key costs involved. Initial franchise fees can range from $20,000 to $50,000, allowing you to use the brand’s name and model. Real estate and renovation costs can vary widely, often exceeding $1 million. Ongoing royalty fees and marketing contributions likewise play a significant role in your budget. Knowing these expenses can help you prepare, but there’s much more to reflect upon before you make that commitment. Key Takeaways Initial franchise fees typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, granting rights to the franchise’s name and business model. Real estate acquisition costs can vary from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on location and property size. Renovation and build-out expenses usually range from $50,000 to over $1 million, influenced by brand standards and local regulations. Ongoing royalty fees generally range from 5% to 9% of gross sales, along with additional advertising contributions of 2% to 5%. Legal, accounting, and insurance fees can range from $2,500 to $5,000, with state filing costs typically between $1,000 to $4,500. Initial Franchise Fees and Their Impact When considering a franchise opportunity, it’s essential to comprehend the impact of initial franchise fees, which typically range from $20,000 to $50,000. These fees grant you the rights to use the franchise’s name and business model, making them a significant part of the cost of franchise. Usually non-negotiable, these fees can vary based on market competition and brand strength. The franchise disclosure document (FDD) provides detailed information about these fees, including any additional costs you might incur. Some franchisors, especially in emerging markets, may offer incentives like deferred fees or discounts to attract franchisees. Grasping these initial fees is imperative for evaluating qsr franchise opportunities and planning your overall startup costs, which can exceed $1 million depending on various factors. Real Estate Acquisition and Renovation Costs When you’re considering starting a franchise, real estate acquisition and renovation costs are essential factors to evaluate. Depending on your location and property size, lease or purchase costs can range from $100,000 to over $1 million, whereas renovations may likewise add significant expenses. It’s important to factor in these costs, along with permits and licenses, to guarantee you’re financially prepared for this major aspect of your franchise expedition. Lease or Purchase Costs Lease or purchase costs are critical factors to contemplate when starting a franchise, as these expenses can greatly influence your initial investment. These costs can vary considerably, often ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on the franchise brand and geographic location. Your initial real estate expenses typically include down payments, commissions, and security deposits, which can increase your overall startup costs. It’s important to review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for detailed insights into real estate acquisition costs. This document helps you understand the financial commitments involved. Accurate estimation of these costs is vital for determining the overall feasibility and potential profitability of your franchise operation, ensuring you’re prepared for the financial expedition ahead. Renovation and Build-out Expenses Renovation and build-out expenses are vital considerations that can greatly affect your franchise’s startup budget. Real estate acquisition costs typically range from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on location and property size. Renovation expenses can likewise vary widely, often falling between $50,000 to over $1 million to meet brand standards and local regulations. Initial costs may include down payments, commissions, and security deposits, all contributing to your overall investment. Budgeting for leasehold improvements is fundamental, as they customize your space for operational needs. Conducting thorough market research helps determine the appropriate real estate costs and renovation needs, greatly influencing your franchise’s financial viability. Expense Type Cost Range Notes Real Estate Acquisition $100,000 – $1 million Varies by location and size Renovation Expenses $50,000 – $1 million Depends on needed changes Initial Costs (Down Payment) Varies Includes commissions, deposits Leasehold Improvements Fundamental Customizes space for operations Location Selection Considerations Selecting the right location for your franchise is crucial, as it not only impacts your initial real estate acquisition costs but also affects your long-term profitability. Real estate acquisition costs can range from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on market rates and property size. Moreover, you’ll need to factor in renovation costs, which can vary greatly, typically falling between $50,000 and over $1 million, based on necessary modifications to meet franchise standards and local regulations. Initial franchise fees, usually between $20,000 and $50,000, are part of your overall startup costs. Always refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for detailed information on initial purchase funds and ongoing working capital needs, especially regarding real estate and renovation costs. Professional Fees and Insurance Requirements When you’re starting a franchise, comprehending the professional fees and insurance requirements is vital to your budget and compliance. These costs can considerably impact your initial investment, so it’s important to plan accordingly. Here are some key expenses to keep in mind: Legal and accounting fees: $2,500 to $5,000 for compliance and documentation. Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD): $15,000 to $45,000, prepared by an experienced attorney. Insurance coverage: Costs vary for necessary policies like workers’ compensation and property. State filing and registration fees: $1,000 to $4,500, depending on licenses and trademarks. Financial statements: $2,500 to $5,000, prepared by a licensed CPA for FDD inclusion. Understanding these fees helps guarantee your franchise starts on solid ground. Ongoing Operating Costs and Royalties When you start a franchise, comprehending ongoing operating costs and royalty fees is crucial for your financial success. You’ll need to budget for recurring expenses like employee salaries, utilities, and supplies, whilst also accounting for royalty fees that typically range from 4% to 9% of your gross sales. Furthermore, setting aside funds for unexpected costs can help you maintain smooth operations and protect your profitability in the long run. Royalty Fee Structure Many aspiring franchisees may not fully understand the ongoing costs associated with running a franchise, particularly the royalty fee structure. Typically, these fees range from 5% to 9% of your gross sales, paid monthly to the franchisor. This revenue supports indispensable marketing and operational systems that benefit everyone in the franchise. Moreover, you might need to contribute another 2% to 5% for national or regional advertising. Here are some key points to take into account: Regular payments are important for franchise success. Late payments can lead to penalties or termination. Budgeting for royalties is critical for financial health. Monitoring sales guarantees you meet obligations. These fees enable access to brand support and marketing. Recurring Operating Expenses Comprehending recurring operating expenses is essential for anyone considering a franchise, as these costs directly impact your bottom line. Common expenses include employee salaries, utilities, maintenance, and overhead needed for daily operations. You’ll also pay royalty fees, typically 5% to 9% of gross sales, which support the franchisor’s brand and guidance. Furthermore, budget for marketing expenses, usually ranging from 2% to 5% of gross sales, to promote your franchise effectively. Expense Type Percentage of Gross Sales Royalty Fees 5% – 9% Marketing Fees 2% – 5% Employee Salaries Varies Utilities & Overhead Varies Keeping a close eye on these expenses is critical for your franchise’s profitability. Budgeting for Contingencies Budgeting for contingencies is crucial for franchisees, as unexpected expenses can arise at any time. You’ll need to prepare for ongoing costs and guarantee your franchise remains profitable. Here are key areas to reflect upon: Royalty fees: Typically 5% to 9% of gross sales, these fees are a constant expense. Emergency repairs: Setting aside funds for unexpected repairs is indispensable for operational stability. Employee salaries: Regular payroll can notably impact your cash flow. Utilities: Monthly utility bills can add up, so plan accordingly. Marketing contributions: Expect to allocate 2% to 5% of gross sales for brand promotion. Marketing and Advertising Expenses When you start a franchise, grasping marketing and advertising expenses is vital for your success. Typically, franchisees contribute 2% to 5% of gross sales to an advertising fund for brand improvement. Local marketing is equally important and can involve costs for online ads, print materials, and event sponsorships. Budgeting for marketing materials, like banners and promotional items, is critical to attract customers to your franchise. Furthermore, you’ll face extra advertising expenses to comply with franchisor guidelines and maintain brand standards. Expense Type Description National Fund Percentage of sales for brand marketing Local Marketing Online ads, print materials, event sponsorships Required Materials Banners, promotional items for visibility Financing Options for Franchise Startups How can you secure the funding needed to start your franchise? There are several financing options available to help you get started. Consider the following: SBA loans offer favorable terms and partial guarantees, making them accessible. Franchisor partnerships with lenders may provide customized financing programs. Alternative methods like personal savings, crowdfunding, or loans from family can likewise be viable, but make sure you have written agreements. Commercial bank loans typically require a strong credit history and a solid business plan, assessed through the “5 Cs”: Capacity, Capital, Collateral, Conditions, and Credit history. Online marketplaces like Boefly and Biz2Credit can simplify connecting with lenders, streamlining your funding process. Exploring these options can pave your way to successful franchise ownership. Understanding the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a crucial tool for anyone considering investing in a franchise. It’s a legal requirement for franchisors to provide this document at least 14 days before you sign any agreements. The FDD outlines critical information about the franchise system, including Item 7, which details your estimated initial investment, such as franchise fees, real estate costs, and working capital needs. You’ll additionally find an extensive list of associated fees, including ongoing royalty fees, which can range from 4% to 9% of your gross sales. Legal and financial professionals recommend reviewing the FDD thoroughly to understand the franchise relationship, including potential earnings and risks, making it a critical part of your decision-making process. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 4 P’s of Franchising? The 4 P’s of franchising are crucial for your franchise strategy. First, Product involves the goods or services you offer, focusing on quality and customer satisfaction. Next, Price means setting competitive prices that reflect your value as you ensure profitability. Then, Place highlights the importance of choosing strategic locations to maximize visibility. Finally, Promotion encompasses your marketing efforts, including advertising strategies to build brand awareness and drive sales effectively within your franchise network. Why Is It Only $10,000 to Open a Chick-Fil-A? It costs only $10,000 to open a Chick-fil-A since the company aims to lower the barrier to entry for franchisees. Unlike many franchises that require hefty initial investments, Chick-fil-A covers most startup costs like real estate and equipment, which can exceed $1 million elsewhere. Nevertheless, you’ll pay a 15% royalty on gross sales and must adhere to strict operational guidelines, ensuring brand consistency and success across all locations. What Is the 7 Day Rule for Franchise? The 7 Day Rule mandates that franchisors must provide you with a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 days before you sign any franchise agreement or make a payment. This rule guarantees you have enough time to review important details, such as franchise fees and ongoing costs, helping you make an informed decision. If franchisors violate this rule, they can face legal consequences, protecting your investment and future business. What Does It Cost to Have a Franchise? Starting a franchise can cost you anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000. This range includes the initial franchise fee, typically between $20,000 and $50,000, plus costs for real estate, equipment, and inventory. You’ll likewise face ongoing expenses, like royalty fees of 5% to 9% of gross sales and marketing fees of 2% to 5%. It’s vital you budget for salaries, utilities, and maintenance to guarantee your franchise’s profitability. Conclusion Starting a franchise involves various significant costs, including initial fees, real estate, and ongoing royalties. To guarantee success, it’s vital to budget for professional fees, insurance, and marketing expenses. Comprehending your financing options and the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is equally important in traversing the intricacies of franchise ownership. By thoroughly researching and planning for these expenses, you can make informed decisions that contribute to the long-term viability of your franchise venture. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Key Costs Involved in Starting a Franchise" was first published on Small Business Trends 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. Smaller air conditioners struggle to keep up with open layouts, while larger ones can be loud and power-hungry. This LG 23,500 BTU air conditioner strikes the right balance, and it's currently on sale for $599.99 on StackSocial, which is a notable drop for a unit designed to cool spaces up to about 1,400 square feet. That capacity makes it suitable for large living rooms, open studio spaces, or offices where a smaller 8,000- or 12,000-BTU unit would run continuously and struggle to keep up. The design is still recognizably a window air conditioner, but it’s a big one, measuring about 30.7 by 17.7 by 26 inches and weighing 112 pounds, so installation should require two people and a sturdy window frame. Unlike traditional window units, this smart window AC uses LG’s Dual Inverter compressor, which adjusts its speed based on a room's temperature. In everyday use, that means the air conditioner can maintain a steady temperature rather than blasting cold air in short bursts. It delivers 23,500 BTU of cooling power across four cooling and fan speeds, with an Auto Cool setting that automatically adjusts them. You can also change the airflow direction with four-way adjustable vents, so it isn’t limited to the area directly in front of the unit. There’s also a 3-in-1 mode system: standard cooling for hot days, a fan mode to circulate air without running the compressor, and a dry mode that focuses on pulling moisture out of the air during humid weather. Through the LG ThinQ app, you can change settings remotely from your phone, and the system also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands—useful if the AC is installed in a hard-to-reach window or you want to turn it on before walking into the room. That said, one practical detail to check before buying is the power requirement—this model runs on a 230-volt outlet, which not every home window setup already has. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $298.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

In an increasingly interconnected world, America’s small businesses are facing new and complex challenges, particularly from foreign entities like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The House Committee on Small Business convened a crucial hearing today titled “Defending Main Street: Combating CCP Threats to America’s Small Businesses” to discuss these pressing issues and explore solutions tailored for small entrepreneurs. At the forefront of the discussion is the undeniable economic impact small businesses have on the U.S. economy. Small firms not only create jobs but also drive innovation, from breakthrough technologies to time-honored family businesses. Chairman Roger Williams emphasized this in his opening statement, stating that “small businesses play a vital role in driving America’s economy and reinforcing our national security.” However, the environment in which these businesses operate is fraught with risk. The CCP has made it a strategic goal to challenge the United States economically, often resorting to aggressive tactics that threaten American innovation. This creates a precarious situation for small business owners who have poured their resources into developing cutting-edge products and services. “Far too often, those innovations are stolen, replicated overseas, and sold at a lower cost,” Williams noted, highlighting the risk of losing market share and profitability. One of the most alarming aspects discussed at the hearing is the issue of foreign investment in American startups. While funding is essential for growth, investments from entities connected to foreign adversaries can expose sensitive technologies to vulnerabilities. The complexities of investment structures can obscure their origins, putting many entrepreneurs at risk without their knowledge. Small business owners must remain vigilant about who they accept capital from, understanding that the implications extend beyond just financial support. Moreover, supply chain reliance on China adds another layer of risk. Over the years, many small businesses have opted to outsource production, drawn by the allure of lower labor costs. Though this may have seemed efficient at the time, it has left American businesses, especially smaller ones, vulnerable to disruptions. “These challenges are not just economic; they are matters of national security,” Williams stated, underlining the heightened importance of reshoring or diversifying supply chains to mitigate risks. For small business owners, navigating these challenges requires a strategic approach. Participation in forums like today’s hearing not only provides insights but also illuminates actionable solutions tailored to small businesses. Recommendations from industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs will help shape policies aimed at equipping small firms with necessary tools for safeguarding their innovations and ensuring secure funding sources. The implications of inaction are significant. Williams cautioned, “If we fail to act, we risk losing not only our competitive edge, but also the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that define our nation.” This stark warning emphasizes the crucial need for policy changes and support mechanisms to empower small entrepreneurs. In light of these complexities, small business owners are encouraged to engage in discussions around national security and economic resilience. Keeping abreast of legislative actions can inform decision-making processes, aiding in preventing potential loss of intellectual property and securing viable funding options. As these conversations continue to evolve, the focus remains clear: protecting American small businesses is vital for strengthening not just the economy, but the greater fabric of national security. To stay informed about the outcomes of today’s discussions and further developments, business owners can access the original hearing details here. The stakes have never been higher, and the roadmap for safeguarding American innovation lies in the hands of both legislators and proactive entrepreneurs. As small business owners plot their course ahead, grappling with these threats will be essential to not just survive, but thrive in today’s dynamic landscape. Image via Google Gemini This article, "House Committee Tackles CCP Threats to Protect Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an increasingly interconnected world, America’s small businesses are facing new and complex challenges, particularly from foreign entities like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The House Committee on Small Business convened a crucial hearing today titled “Defending Main Street: Combating CCP Threats to America’s Small Businesses” to discuss these pressing issues and explore solutions tailored for small entrepreneurs. At the forefront of the discussion is the undeniable economic impact small businesses have on the U.S. economy. Small firms not only create jobs but also drive innovation, from breakthrough technologies to time-honored family businesses. Chairman Roger Williams emphasized this in his opening statement, stating that “small businesses play a vital role in driving America’s economy and reinforcing our national security.” However, the environment in which these businesses operate is fraught with risk. The CCP has made it a strategic goal to challenge the United States economically, often resorting to aggressive tactics that threaten American innovation. This creates a precarious situation for small business owners who have poured their resources into developing cutting-edge products and services. “Far too often, those innovations are stolen, replicated overseas, and sold at a lower cost,” Williams noted, highlighting the risk of losing market share and profitability. One of the most alarming aspects discussed at the hearing is the issue of foreign investment in American startups. While funding is essential for growth, investments from entities connected to foreign adversaries can expose sensitive technologies to vulnerabilities. The complexities of investment structures can obscure their origins, putting many entrepreneurs at risk without their knowledge. Small business owners must remain vigilant about who they accept capital from, understanding that the implications extend beyond just financial support. Moreover, supply chain reliance on China adds another layer of risk. Over the years, many small businesses have opted to outsource production, drawn by the allure of lower labor costs. Though this may have seemed efficient at the time, it has left American businesses, especially smaller ones, vulnerable to disruptions. “These challenges are not just economic; they are matters of national security,” Williams stated, underlining the heightened importance of reshoring or diversifying supply chains to mitigate risks. For small business owners, navigating these challenges requires a strategic approach. Participation in forums like today’s hearing not only provides insights but also illuminates actionable solutions tailored to small businesses. Recommendations from industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs will help shape policies aimed at equipping small firms with necessary tools for safeguarding their innovations and ensuring secure funding sources. The implications of inaction are significant. Williams cautioned, “If we fail to act, we risk losing not only our competitive edge, but also the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that define our nation.” This stark warning emphasizes the crucial need for policy changes and support mechanisms to empower small entrepreneurs. In light of these complexities, small business owners are encouraged to engage in discussions around national security and economic resilience. Keeping abreast of legislative actions can inform decision-making processes, aiding in preventing potential loss of intellectual property and securing viable funding options. As these conversations continue to evolve, the focus remains clear: protecting American small businesses is vital for strengthening not just the economy, but the greater fabric of national security. To stay informed about the outcomes of today’s discussions and further developments, business owners can access the original hearing details here. The stakes have never been higher, and the roadmap for safeguarding American innovation lies in the hands of both legislators and proactive entrepreneurs. As small business owners plot their course ahead, grappling with these threats will be essential to not just survive, but thrive in today’s dynamic landscape. Image via Google Gemini This article, "House Committee Tackles CCP Threats to Protect Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you want to understand where AI-assisted parenting is headed, skip the research lab and look into a messy living room at 2 a.m. Some of the most revealing use cases are happening in the homes of AI engineers who have just become parents. Few environments are more demanding: high stakes, low sleep, a never-ending stream of split-second decisions with imperfect information. No mom or dad (us included) has patience for a tool that adds friction, noise, or guilt to the daily gauntlet of childcare. It is why parents—especially those who build products—are a valuable and overlooked source of AI product intelligence today. Consider Daanish Masood. When his young son was with him, he was on his own. He didn’t have a partner to share the day-to-day weight of early parenthood. What he did have was deep technical fluency and an urgent need for practical solutions. Daanish built his own AI, trained on child development research and philosophical texts as varied as Rumi and the Tao Te Ching. The result was “Robot,” an agent that could suggest age-appropriate outings, help with meal plans, and generate new chapters in an original epic space odyssey that became a fixture of their shared bedtime routine. The name, Robot, was intentional—a constant reminder that this was not a human being. It was a chance to talk about what it means to be human. Daanish and his son used Robot together, asking questions like how to dress up as a black hole for Halloween, enriching their interactions, not replacing them. When Robot got things wrong, those mistakes became lessons about the limits of technology, and the role of human judgment. In parenting, as in so many parts of life, optimization isn’t about how much AI can do for us, but how it helps us show up. AI TO SUPPORT PARENTS AND KIDS The same dynamic emerges in companies built by founders who experienced parenting struggles firsthand. Soon after Luis Garza became a father, he realized, like most parents, that he was flying blind during the most neurologically critical years of his child’s life. He built Kinedu, an AI-powered app that supports new parents in their role as their child’s first teacher. What began as a founder solving his own parenting challenge has grown into a global platform—raising more than $18 million and reaching 19 million users. Then there’s Carla Small, whose son struggled to read but didn’t receive specialized support until second grade. She built EarlyBird, a game-based assessment tool that uses AI to detect potential reading challenges like dyslexia before children enter school. Developed with cognitive neuroscientist Nadine Gaab, the platform reflects a simple but powerful insight: We start learning the foundations of language in utero. Now families and educators can identify reading challenges that traditional institutions often miss. Increasingly, policy is catching up. Screening legislation has recently changed in many U.S. states. Product followed lived experience, and policy followed. PROXIMATE EXPERTISE Taken together, these stories are strong signals from one especially instructive group: people close enough to both the technology and the problem. The social innovation world calls this “proximate expertise”—the unique perspective that comes from having lived inside the problem you’re trying to solve. Parents are navigating AI’s greatest promise (expanding human potential) alongside its deepest risk (eroding human agency and trust). They’re making those tradeoffs every day, with their favorite small human impacted by the outcome. Parents can bring this uniquely proximate expertise to the lab. They will question guilt-based nudging, resist information overload disguised as innovation, and think hard about unintended consequences—present and future. They can also illuminate what must remain unmistakably human in what they refuse to delegate: comfort, moral judgment, presence, and the relational work of raising a child. The hacks they develop in the middle of the night may be someone else’s product roadmap; their design constraints may be the policy guardrails we’ve been missing. Parenthood is humanity’s oldest operating system. It runs on minimal sleep, continuous improvisation, and an unrelenting real-time feedback loop: cry, adjust, repeat. Innovation under constraint at its best. Parents who also happen to be AI engineers, product designers, and founders can shape how we build, regulate, and deploy intelligent systems that are better for everyone. The best beta testers are putting their kids to bed. Hala Hanna is executive director of MIT Solve. Michael Feigelson is CEO of Van Leer Foundation. View the full article

In the world of tax law, truly “free” lunches are rare. Usually, a tax break in one area requires a sacrifice in another. However, if you know where to look, the tax code contains several freebies—legal provisions that allow you to increase wealth, generate income, and gift money without the IRS taking a single penny. Here are five of the most powerful financial freebies available to investors today. 1) The 0% capital gains rate Most investors assume that selling a winning stock always triggers a tax bill. However, for those in the lower income brackets (up to $50,400 for individuals or $100,800 for married couples in 2026), the long-term capital gains tax rate is exactly 0%. The Strategy: If you have a low-income year—perhaps due to early retirement before Social Security or required minimum distributions kick in—you can strategically sell appreciated securities without paying any federal tax. The proceeds can fund living expenses or replace the shares you just sold to capture a free stepped-up basis without having to die first. 2) The ‘Augusta Rule’ (rent your home for free) Named after the homeowners in Georgia who rent out their houses during the Masters golf tournament, Section 280A(g) of the tax code allows you to rent out your primary residence for up to 14 days per year without having to report a single dollar of that income to the IRS. The Strategy: Whether you live near a major sporting event, a film set, or a popular festival, you can pocket the rental income entirely tax-free. There are no income limits on this rule, and you don’t even need to report the income on your Form 1040. For high-income earners in high-tax states like California, this is a significant freebie that bypasses both federal and state taxes. 3) The $1,000 ‘Baby Seed’ money The newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act has introduced a literal cash freebie for the next generation. For every child born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, the federal government will provide a $1,000 seed deposit into a The President Savings Account. The Strategy: While these accounts have long-term tax flaws, you should never turn down a government grant. Capture the $1,000 as soon as the portal opens in 2026. Let that government money compound, but pivot your own family contributions to a 529 plan for superior tax treatment. 4) The ‘Gap Year’ Roth conversion The most valuable freebie for retirees often occurs in the window between the end of a professional salary and the start of required minimum distributions, or RMDs, and Social Security. During these gap years, your taxable income may drop to its lowest level in decades. The Strategy: Use this low-income window to perform Roth conversions at a 0% or 10% effective tax rate. By filling up these lower tax brackets now, you are effectively prepaying your future tax bill at a massive discount. You eliminate future RMD pressure and ensure that every dollar of future growth in that Roth account is shielded from the IRS forever. It is one of the few times the tax code allows you to move money into a tax-free bucket at little or no cost. In most cases, this is a better deal than recognizing capital gains at 0%. 5) The qualified charitable distribution Is a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD, truly free? If you are charitably inclined and over age 70½, the answer is a resounding yes. Normally, taking money out of a traditional IRA is a taxable event. However, a QCD allows you to send up to $111,000 each year directly to a charity (in 2026). The Strategy: The money goes from your IRA to the charity without ever touching your bank account, meaning it is never counted as taxable income. This is a freebie because a lower adjusted gross income can help you avoid higher Medicare premiums, and it reduces the amount of your Social Security that is subject to tax. You are effectively spending your IRA money on your philanthropic goals while keeping the IRS entirely out of the transaction. Summary for investors The IRS rarely hands out gifts, but these five provisions are as close as it gets. Whether it is capturing $1,000 for a newborn or leveraging your gap years for a low-cost Roth conversion, the key is proactive timing. This article was provided to The Associated Press by Morningstar. For more personal finance content, go to https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance. Sheryl Rowling, CPA, is an editorial director, financial advisor for Morningstar. Related Links $1,000 The President Accounts: Focus on the Financial Benefits, Not the Branding https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/1000-The President-accounts-focus-financial-benefits-not-branding Still Working in Retirement? Watch Out for These Social Security and Medicare Tax Traps https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/still-working-retirement-watch-out-these-social-security-medicare-tax-traps How Much Should You Allocate to Safer Assets? https://www.morningstar.com/portfolios/how-much-should-you-allocate-safer-assets —Sheryl Rowling of Morningstar View the full article

Mohammad Javad Zarif is first prominent regime figure to put forward detailed suggestions on what Tehran could acceptView the full article

Impulse, a sleek induction stove that began shipping to customers last year, advertises itself as “unlike any other induction stove ever made.” But that product is now at the center of a legal fight. Copper, another company making next-generation induction stoves, sued Impulse on Friday in federal court in Delaware for patent infringement. At the center of the dispute is a shared design choice: Both companies build stoves with batteries tucked inside, a feature that boosts performance, eases installation in homes without electrical upgrades, and doubles as energy storage to ease strain on the electric grid. It’s a novel idea, and one that Copper patented first. In a copy of the lawsuit obtained by Fast Company, Copper claims its founders began developing the technology as early as 2019. (The work spun out of R&D lab Otherlab, which received a U.S. Department of Energy grant in 2020 to push the idea further.) The company formally launched in 2022 and secured its first patent that March for “appliance level battery-based energy storage.” Two additional patents followed in 2024 and 2025, detailing versions of an induction stove with an integrated battery. The company has raised around $35 million in venture funding to date, according to PitchBook. Impulse Labs launched in 2022; it’s unclear when the company started work on its design, or how familiar it was with Copper’s work at that time. At launch, Impulse talked about the energy storage benefits of its design. “Effectively, we’re Trojan-horsing a small battery into people’s homes when the appliance goes in,” founder Sam D’Amico, a former Facebook engineer, told Fast Company in late 2022. (Impulse has raised $25 million in venture funding.) The upside for the electric grid is significant. The cost of batteries has dropped dramatically, but grid-scale storage is still slow to build, and it’s more efficient for storage to be located next to the point of use. Home batteries like the Tesla Powerwall are pricey and require permits and electricians to install. If a battery is built into a stove at a factory, installation is as simple as plugging in the appliance. At scale, the stoves can store excess renewable energy and later help the grid during peak demand. Impulse tried to patent the idea of a battery-embedded stove—with four attempts in 2024 and 2025—but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the company’s applications, citing Copper’s existing patents. Now Copper’s patent infringement suit is asking for damages “in no event less than a reasonable royalty.” Copper CEO Sam Calisch insists that, despite the lawsuit, he wants to see its battery-integrated design spread across the industry. “Our goal is to eliminate barriers to electrification,” he tells Fast Company, pointing to Copper’s push to bring battery-integrated appliances into more homes by working with large appliance manufacturers that want to license the tech. But, he adds, that push depends on partners respecting its intellectual property. Fast Company has reached out to Impulse for comment and will update the story as we hear back. View the full article

Layoffs rose sharply in March, and a quarter of these job losses were due to AI. Job cuts rose about 25% in March reaching 60,620 up from 48,307 cuts the month before. The new data comes from outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, who released the report on Thursday. While cuts could be seen across industries, more than 52,000 tech jobs have been cut so far this year with 18,720 happening last month. Reductions took place at major technology companies like Meta, Oracle, Block, and more. However, the report explained that the number was driven up significantly by the workforce reduction at Dell Technologies (DELL), making the total the highest seen since 2023 in the technology sector. “Removing the wave of federal layoffs announced in February and March of last year, job cut announcements in 2026 are closely following the pattern of 2025, said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas in the report. “Last year, it was Government, Retail, and Technology. This year, it’s Technology, Transportation, and Healthcare.” While the new report may fuel worries that AI is taking jobs, the loss in jobs is down about 78% from March 2025, when 275,240 cuts were made. Also, in the last week of March, weekly jobless claims actually approached a two-year low. In a response to the report, Rathin Sinha, a tech founder, CEO and president of America’s Job Exchange, explained the major takeaways in a post on LinkedIn. “Roles are not disappearing wholesale—but they are being redefined,” Sinha wrote. “In a world where AI can do the job, the role of humans is orchestration. Putting the things together—the system thinking. Not project management, but putting things together for a business to deliver on its unique value proposition,” the CEO continued. In the wake of job cuts and companies leaning harder on AI, the report urged employees to focus on upskilling and reskilling. In other words, becoming experts at integrating AI into workflows. It also noted that companies are prioritizing technology, even if it means a loss of jobs. “Companies are shifting budgets toward AI investments at the expense of jobs,” Challenger explained. “The actual replacing of roles can be seen in technology companies, where AI can replace coding functions. Other industries are testing the limits of this new technology, and while it can’t replace jobs completely, it is costing jobs,” he said. Next to the technology sector, transportation had the second-highest number of job losses, with 32,241, up a staggering 703% from the same period in 2025. View the full article

After Pam Bondi became U.S. attorney general last year, conservative influencers, online sleuths and others who wanted the government to disclose all it knew about Jeffrey Epstein thought they might have a champion in the Department of Justice. So did Jess Michaels, one of the legions of women who have said they were sexually assaulted by the late financier and convicted sex offender with a roster of powerful friends in business, politics and beyond. “I thought, ‘Well, maybe a woman stepping into this role will finally, finally get the truth,'” Michaels recalled Thursday, after President Donald The President announced Bondi was out of the nation’s top law enforcement job. “She had this opportunity to be a hero and to really do right by survivors of sexual violence and trafficking,” Michaels said, “and she chose not to.” The furor over the “Epstein files,” as the trove of investigative records came to be known, wasn’t the only controversy of Bondi’s tenure. But the arc — first raising expectations for a big reveal, then declaring there was nothing to see, and ultimately a forced, flawed document dump — was a stubbornly problematic storyline that ran through her time as attorney general. Bondi rejected criticism of her handling of the matter, and The President on Thursday praised her as “a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend.” Michaels and other Epstein victims watched it all with shaken trust that Bondi’s departure alone won’t likely rebuild. “This is not about a single person,” accuser Annie Farmer said Thursday. “It is about a government and judicial system that has repeatedly failed Epstein survivors.” Here’s a glance at Bondi’s part in the Epstein saga: February 2025: The binders Freshly confirmed as attorney general for a president who had suggested on the campaign trail that he’d open more government documents on Epstein, Bondi whetted appetites by declaring on Fox News that “you’re going to see some Epstein information released.” And when a host asked about “releasing “the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients” — a long-rumored, never-seen sex trafficking roster — she replied that it was “sitting on my desk right now.” A day later, conservative commentators and content creators were brought to the White House to get DOJ binders emblazoned with “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified.” The attempt to showcase transparency soon backfired, once it emerged that the contents largely were already public. Bondi demanded that the FBI give her “the full and complete Epstein files,” and she later said that she’d unearthed a “truckload” of previously withheld material and that “everything is going to come out to the public.” July 2025: The walkback After months of anticipation, the Justice Department said it wouldn’t release any more Epstein material. A court had sealed much of it to protect victims, and “only a fraction” would have come out if Epstein had gone to trial, the agency said in an unsigned memo. It added that authorities hadn’t found evidence that merited new charges or investigations and that “perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein” wouldn’t help victims get justice. And, it said, there was no “client list.” As for Bondi’s prior comment that it was on her desk, officials said she had meant the overall case file. Conservative influencers, among others, blasted the turnabout and questioned Bondi’s capability. But The President stood by her, scolding a journalist for attempting to ask her a question about Epstein at a White House Cabinet meeting. The President had himself raised questions for some years after Epstein’s 2019 death in jail as the financier faced federal sex trafficking charges. After the Justice Department memo, however, the president suggested there was nothing more to say about Epstein and the country, including his own supporters, should simply move on. November 2025: The legislation Amid a drumbeat of disclosures that begin to exact consequences for some powerful people — particularly Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain’s former Prince Andrew — Congress passed legislation to force the Justice Department to disclose its investigative files on Epstein. The President signed it into law, casting the quest for Epstein information as a Democratic-led distraction from the Republican agenda. Meanwhile, at his urging, Bondi announced that the U.S. attorney in Manhattan would investigate Epstein’s ties to some of the Republican president’s political foes, including Democratic former President Bill Clinton. None has been accused of misconduct by Epstein’s accusers; nor has The President, another former Epstein friend. Both Clinton and The President have said they knew nothing about Epstein’s misconduct and cut ties with him many years ago. December 2025: The first batch At the statutory deadline for making the Epstein files public, the Justice Department released only some of them. While the records included some material the public hadn’t previously seen, including some candid photos of Clinton, the documents didn’t break major ground and included little about The President. The department said it was continuing to review other Epstein records to make sure that victims were protected. But Democrats cried cover-up, bill sponsor Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., accused the Justice Department of breaking the law by missing the deadline and redacting too much, and some Epstein accusers also questioned the extensive redactions. January 2026: The big release The Justice Department began releasing a huge cache of additional Epstein documents, videos and photos, though others remained under wraps. The records pulled back a curtain on favor-trading and frank communications in a chummy elite that looked past Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to solicitating prostitution from an underage girl in Florida. Some high-flying Epstein friends resigned or lost jobs in corporate America, academia, big law firms, the British, Slovakian and Norwegian governments and beyond. But the documents disclosed highly personal information about some victims while redacting the names of Epstein correspondents in, for example, emails that appeared to refer to the sexual abuse of underage girls. Gloria Allred, an attorney for numerous Epstein victims, said Thursday that Bondi betrayed them by failing to protect personal information in the files. “She has destroyed the trust in the DOJ that victims had a right to expect, and her termination may be the only type of justice that survivors will receive from the DOJ,” Allred said by email. February 2026: The hearing At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy. She defended how the Justice Department dealt with it, lobbed personal insults at Democrats and lauded The President over, among other things, the performance of the stock market. Bondi said she was deeply sorry for what Epstein victims suffered. But she declined a request from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., to face and apologize to them for the Justice Department’s actions, and Bondi dismissed Massie’s critiques of the release of victims’ personal information. March 2026: The subpoena The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform subpoenaed Bondi to answer questions on April 14 about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein investigation and file release. With five Republicans joining Democrats to support the subpoena, it reflected widespread discontent, including in the GOP base, over Bondi’s management of the matter. The future For now, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will be the acting attorney general. Michaels, who traveled to the Capitol last year to press for the files’ release, wanted Bondi gone. But will Blanche do better? “We can only hope. But given that they worked together, I don’t have great expectations,” she said. The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Michaels has done. Robert Glassman, an attorney for a woman who testified as “Jane” in the 2021 criminal trial of Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell, noted that agency leaders come and go. “For victims of sexual abuse, what matters is whether the institutions meant to protect them actually do their job,” he said. —Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press View the full article

New jobs in health care largely drove the gains, while the federal workforce and finance continued to shrink. View the full article

When starting a business, knowing what licenses you need is essential. In Texas, there’s no single state business license, but local permits can vary based on your business type. You might require a sales tax permit, zoning permit, or even a health permit. Furthermore, some professions demand specialized licenses. Comprehending these requirements can help you avoid legal complications as you move forward. So, what specific licenses apply to your business? Key Takeaways Determine local licensing requirements, as they vary significantly based on business type and location in Texas. Obtain a Sales Tax Permit if selling tangible personal property or leasing services. Secure any necessary professional licenses for regulated fields like healthcare or legal services from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Check if specialized permits are needed for industries like food services, agriculture, or aviation to ensure compliance. Research and apply for an Assumed Name Certificate if operating under a business name different from your legal name. Understanding Business Licenses When you’re starting a business, comprehending the various licenses required to operate legally is essential. A business license secures your right to conduct operations as you ensure compliance with health and safety standards. In Texas, there isn’t a general state-level business license, but cities and counties may impose specific requirements based on your business type. Common licenses include sales tax permits for selling goods, zoning permits for location compliance, and health permits for food-related enterprises. If you’re a sole proprietor or partner using a different name, obtaining an Assumed Name Certificate is necessary. Furthermore, certain professions, like medical or legal services, require professional licenses from applicable state regulatory bodies. Grasping these requirements is key to your business’s success. Types of Business Licenses in Texas When starting a business in Texas, you won’t need a general business license, but you’ll likely require specific licenses or permits based on your business type and location. Common licenses include sales tax permits, which are essential for selling tangible goods, and various permits like zoning and building permits. Furthermore, if you’re in a specialized field, such as healthcare or real estate, you’ll need to secure professional licenses from state regulatory bodies to operate legally. General Business Licenses Overview Starting a business in Texas involves comprehending the various types of licenses that may be required, as there’s no overarching “general business license.” Depending on your location, specific local licenses might be necessary, which can vary by city or county. Common licenses include sales tax permits for those selling goods or services, zoning permits for operating in designated areas, and health permits for food-related businesses. If you’re running a home-based business, you might need a home occupation license to comply with local regulations. Furthermore, if you operate under a different name, you’ll need to file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk. Unlike a business permit in California, Texas has specific local requirements that you must address. Specialized Industry Requirements Comprehending the specialized industry requirements for business licenses in Texas is vital, as different sectors have unique regulations that must be adhered to for legal operation. Here are some key areas to examine: Healthcare and Food Services: These industries require specific health permits to guarantee compliance with safety standards. Agriculture and Aviation: Obtain federal licenses from agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture to operate legally. Environmental Regulations: Businesses discharging contaminants must acquire environmental licenses to align with federal and state laws. Additionally, professions like therapists and accountants need registration with state entities. Each industry’s requirements vary, so it’s important to investigate the implications of a business license. Keep in mind, grasping the business license California cost can provide a comparative perspective. Local Licensing Requirements Comprehending local licensing requirements is crucial for any business owner looking to operate legally within their community. Moreover, most Texas cities and counties don’t require a general business license; specific licenses may be necessary based on your business type and location. For instance, if you’re in the food service industry, you’ll likely need a permit from the local health department. Furthermore, if you’re running a home-based business, a home occupation permit might be required. Remember, each jurisdiction has its own filing forms and fee structures, so you should check with your local city or county clerk’s office. If you operate in multiple locations, you may need separate licenses for each area. If you’re wondering, “do I need a business license in California?” the same local rules apply. Federal Licensing Considerations When you’re planning to launch a business, it’s essential to understand that certain industries require federal licenses in addition to local and state regulations. Failing to secure these federal licenses to operate can lead to legal issues down the line. Here are a few key sectors you should be aware of: Agriculture: The U.S. Department of Agriculture issues licenses for transporting or producing animals and byproducts. Aviation: The Federal Aviation Administration requires specific licenses for operating aircraft and related services. Alcohol: Manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of alcoholic beverages must obtain a federal license regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Always check if your business falls under these categories to guarantee legal compliance. How to Apply for a Business License Applying for a business license can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes the process simpler. First, research the specific licensing requirements for your business type and location, especially if you’re wondering how to get a business license in Washington. Most applications can be completed online through local government websites or the Washington Secretary of State’s office. You’ll typically need to provide a business description, ownership details, and your Employer Identification Number (EIN) if applicable. Application fees vary, so check the specific fee for your area, which can range from $15 to several hundred dollars. After submitting, be ready for a processing wait and understand the renewal schedule, as licenses may need renewal every one to three years. Sales Tax Permits and Resale Certificates When starting your business in Texas, you’ll need to understand the Sales Tax Permit process, as it allows you to collect sales tax on tangible goods and taxable services. If you plan to resell items, obtaining a Resale Certificate is vital, as it helps you avoid paying sales tax on those purchases. Staying compliant with these tax obligations is fundamental for maintaining good standing with the Texas Comptroller and avoiding potential penalties. Sales Tax Permit Process To operate a business in Texas that sells or leases tangible personal property or taxable services, you need to obtain a Sales Tax Permit, often referred to as a seller’s permit. Here’s what you need to know: Submit an application to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts through the eSystems portal. Provide crucial information, including your social security number, business structure, and the NAICS code for your activities. Complete the application swiftly to avoid tax liabilities and guarantee compliance. As for how much does a business license cost, the sales tax permit itself is typically free, but make sure you’re aware of any associated fees or costs involved in maintaining compliance with state regulations. Importance of Resale Certificates Grasping the significance of resale certificates is vital for businesses looking to optimize their operations and manage costs effectively. A resale certificate allows you to purchase goods intended for resale without paying sales tax, which can greatly boost your profitability. To obtain one in Texas, you must first apply for a sales tax permit from the Texas Comptroller’s office. This step is necessary for engaging in sales activities. Furthermore, if you buy used items for resale, a resale certificate can improve your cash flow by preventing upfront sales tax payments. Comprehending the application process and requirements for these certificates is imperative for compliance and avoiding potential tax liabilities. Remember, knowing how much a business permit costs can likewise factor into your planning. Compliance and Tax Obligations Comprehending compliance and tax obligations is crucial for any business owner, especially in Texas, where specific permits and certificates are necessary to operate legally. Here are three key points to reflect on: A Sales Tax Permit is mandatory for businesses selling or leasing tangible personal property or taxable services, obtainable from the Texas Comptroller. Resale Certificates help you avoid sales tax on items you purchase for resale, enhancing your cost-effectiveness. Failing to secure these permits can lead to significant tax liabilities and penalties. To apply for a Sales Tax Permit, you’ll need pertinent information, including your Social Security number and your business’s NAICS code. If you’re curious about how much a business license in California costs, keep in mind that requirements vary by state, so research is crucial. Professional Licenses for Specialized Industries When starting a business in specialized industries, it’s vital to understand the importance of obtaining the necessary professional licenses. These licenses are significant for fields like medical, legal, and financial services, ensuring that practitioners meet industry standards and regulations. Each state has specific licensing requirements, which may include exams, background checks, and ongoing education to maintain the license. In Texas, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) manages various professional licenses, and you must register with the appropriate state entity for your industry. Non-compliance with these requirements can lead to legal consequences, including fines and the inability to operate legally. Professions requiring licenses in Texas include medical professionals, therapists, attorneys, and real estate agents, each governed by their regulatory bodies. Resources for Texas Business Licensing Starting a business in Texas requires a clear grasp of the various licensing resources available. Here are some key tools to help you navigate the process: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR): They manage various licenses and offer online applications for many types. Small Business Administration’s Permit Me: This online tool helps you find local licensing requirements by entering your zip code and business type. Local Government Websites: These are essential for grasping specific licensing and permit requirements as they can vary by city and county. Frequently Asked Questions What License Is Best for a Small Business? The best license for your small business depends on your specific operations. If you’re selling goods, a sales tax permit is fundamental. Home-based businesses often need a home occupation license for zoning compliance. Certain professions, like therapy or legal services, require specialized licenses. If you’re in food service, local health department permits are vital. Furthermore, businesses in regulated sectors, such as aviation or agriculture, need federal licenses customized to their industry. What Certificate Do You Need to Start a Business? To start a business, you’ll typically need an Assumed Name Certificate if you’re using a name different from your own. If you’re selling goods or services, a Sales Tax Permit is crucial. Depending on your industry, specific professional licenses may be required, such as for healthcare or real estate. If your business handles food, a health permit is required. Furthermore, check local zoning regulations to guarantee compliance with area requirements. Should I Get an LLC or Business License First? You should establish your LLC first, as it creates a separate legal entity that protects your personal assets from business liabilities. This structure is beneficial when applying for any necessary local permits or licenses later. After forming your LLC, check your municipality’s requirements, since local regulations might necessitate a business license, regardless of whether the state does not. Comprehending these specifics guarantees you operate legally and avoid potential penalties. Conclusion In conclusion, starting a business in Texas requires comprehension of various licensing and permit requirements based on your specific location and industry. You’ll need to check local regulations, apply for necessary permits, and consider any federal licenses if applicable. Don’t overlook professional licenses for specialized fields. By thoroughly researching these requirements and ensuring compliance, you can set a strong foundation for your business and avoid potential legal complications. Always stay informed about changes in regulations that may affect your operations. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What License Do I Need to Start a Business?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When starting a business, knowing what licenses you need is essential. In Texas, there’s no single state business license, but local permits can vary based on your business type. You might require a sales tax permit, zoning permit, or even a health permit. Furthermore, some professions demand specialized licenses. Comprehending these requirements can help you avoid legal complications as you move forward. So, what specific licenses apply to your business? Key Takeaways Determine local licensing requirements, as they vary significantly based on business type and location in Texas. Obtain a Sales Tax Permit if selling tangible personal property or leasing services. Secure any necessary professional licenses for regulated fields like healthcare or legal services from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Check if specialized permits are needed for industries like food services, agriculture, or aviation to ensure compliance. Research and apply for an Assumed Name Certificate if operating under a business name different from your legal name. Understanding Business Licenses When you’re starting a business, comprehending the various licenses required to operate legally is essential. A business license secures your right to conduct operations as you ensure compliance with health and safety standards. In Texas, there isn’t a general state-level business license, but cities and counties may impose specific requirements based on your business type. Common licenses include sales tax permits for selling goods, zoning permits for location compliance, and health permits for food-related enterprises. If you’re a sole proprietor or partner using a different name, obtaining an Assumed Name Certificate is necessary. Furthermore, certain professions, like medical or legal services, require professional licenses from applicable state regulatory bodies. Grasping these requirements is key to your business’s success. Types of Business Licenses in Texas When starting a business in Texas, you won’t need a general business license, but you’ll likely require specific licenses or permits based on your business type and location. Common licenses include sales tax permits, which are essential for selling tangible goods, and various permits like zoning and building permits. Furthermore, if you’re in a specialized field, such as healthcare or real estate, you’ll need to secure professional licenses from state regulatory bodies to operate legally. General Business Licenses Overview Starting a business in Texas involves comprehending the various types of licenses that may be required, as there’s no overarching “general business license.” Depending on your location, specific local licenses might be necessary, which can vary by city or county. Common licenses include sales tax permits for those selling goods or services, zoning permits for operating in designated areas, and health permits for food-related businesses. If you’re running a home-based business, you might need a home occupation license to comply with local regulations. Furthermore, if you operate under a different name, you’ll need to file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk. Unlike a business permit in California, Texas has specific local requirements that you must address. Specialized Industry Requirements Comprehending the specialized industry requirements for business licenses in Texas is vital, as different sectors have unique regulations that must be adhered to for legal operation. Here are some key areas to examine: Healthcare and Food Services: These industries require specific health permits to guarantee compliance with safety standards. Agriculture and Aviation: Obtain federal licenses from agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture to operate legally. Environmental Regulations: Businesses discharging contaminants must acquire environmental licenses to align with federal and state laws. Additionally, professions like therapists and accountants need registration with state entities. Each industry’s requirements vary, so it’s important to investigate the implications of a business license. Keep in mind, grasping the business license California cost can provide a comparative perspective. Local Licensing Requirements Comprehending local licensing requirements is crucial for any business owner looking to operate legally within their community. Moreover, most Texas cities and counties don’t require a general business license; specific licenses may be necessary based on your business type and location. For instance, if you’re in the food service industry, you’ll likely need a permit from the local health department. Furthermore, if you’re running a home-based business, a home occupation permit might be required. Remember, each jurisdiction has its own filing forms and fee structures, so you should check with your local city or county clerk’s office. If you operate in multiple locations, you may need separate licenses for each area. If you’re wondering, “do I need a business license in California?” the same local rules apply. Federal Licensing Considerations When you’re planning to launch a business, it’s essential to understand that certain industries require federal licenses in addition to local and state regulations. Failing to secure these federal licenses to operate can lead to legal issues down the line. Here are a few key sectors you should be aware of: Agriculture: The U.S. Department of Agriculture issues licenses for transporting or producing animals and byproducts. Aviation: The Federal Aviation Administration requires specific licenses for operating aircraft and related services. Alcohol: Manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of alcoholic beverages must obtain a federal license regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Always check if your business falls under these categories to guarantee legal compliance. How to Apply for a Business License Applying for a business license can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes the process simpler. First, research the specific licensing requirements for your business type and location, especially if you’re wondering how to get a business license in Washington. Most applications can be completed online through local government websites or the Washington Secretary of State’s office. You’ll typically need to provide a business description, ownership details, and your Employer Identification Number (EIN) if applicable. Application fees vary, so check the specific fee for your area, which can range from $15 to several hundred dollars. After submitting, be ready for a processing wait and understand the renewal schedule, as licenses may need renewal every one to three years. Sales Tax Permits and Resale Certificates When starting your business in Texas, you’ll need to understand the Sales Tax Permit process, as it allows you to collect sales tax on tangible goods and taxable services. If you plan to resell items, obtaining a Resale Certificate is vital, as it helps you avoid paying sales tax on those purchases. Staying compliant with these tax obligations is fundamental for maintaining good standing with the Texas Comptroller and avoiding potential penalties. Sales Tax Permit Process To operate a business in Texas that sells or leases tangible personal property or taxable services, you need to obtain a Sales Tax Permit, often referred to as a seller’s permit. Here’s what you need to know: Submit an application to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts through the eSystems portal. Provide crucial information, including your social security number, business structure, and the NAICS code for your activities. Complete the application swiftly to avoid tax liabilities and guarantee compliance. As for how much does a business license cost, the sales tax permit itself is typically free, but make sure you’re aware of any associated fees or costs involved in maintaining compliance with state regulations. Importance of Resale Certificates Grasping the significance of resale certificates is vital for businesses looking to optimize their operations and manage costs effectively. A resale certificate allows you to purchase goods intended for resale without paying sales tax, which can greatly boost your profitability. To obtain one in Texas, you must first apply for a sales tax permit from the Texas Comptroller’s office. This step is necessary for engaging in sales activities. Furthermore, if you buy used items for resale, a resale certificate can improve your cash flow by preventing upfront sales tax payments. Comprehending the application process and requirements for these certificates is imperative for compliance and avoiding potential tax liabilities. Remember, knowing how much a business permit costs can likewise factor into your planning. Compliance and Tax Obligations Comprehending compliance and tax obligations is crucial for any business owner, especially in Texas, where specific permits and certificates are necessary to operate legally. Here are three key points to reflect on: A Sales Tax Permit is mandatory for businesses selling or leasing tangible personal property or taxable services, obtainable from the Texas Comptroller. Resale Certificates help you avoid sales tax on items you purchase for resale, enhancing your cost-effectiveness. Failing to secure these permits can lead to significant tax liabilities and penalties. To apply for a Sales Tax Permit, you’ll need pertinent information, including your Social Security number and your business’s NAICS code. If you’re curious about how much a business license in California costs, keep in mind that requirements vary by state, so research is crucial. Professional Licenses for Specialized Industries When starting a business in specialized industries, it’s vital to understand the importance of obtaining the necessary professional licenses. These licenses are significant for fields like medical, legal, and financial services, ensuring that practitioners meet industry standards and regulations. Each state has specific licensing requirements, which may include exams, background checks, and ongoing education to maintain the license. In Texas, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) manages various professional licenses, and you must register with the appropriate state entity for your industry. Non-compliance with these requirements can lead to legal consequences, including fines and the inability to operate legally. Professions requiring licenses in Texas include medical professionals, therapists, attorneys, and real estate agents, each governed by their regulatory bodies. Resources for Texas Business Licensing Starting a business in Texas requires a clear grasp of the various licensing resources available. Here are some key tools to help you navigate the process: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR): They manage various licenses and offer online applications for many types. Small Business Administration’s Permit Me: This online tool helps you find local licensing requirements by entering your zip code and business type. Local Government Websites: These are essential for grasping specific licensing and permit requirements as they can vary by city and county. Frequently Asked Questions What License Is Best for a Small Business? The best license for your small business depends on your specific operations. If you’re selling goods, a sales tax permit is fundamental. Home-based businesses often need a home occupation license for zoning compliance. Certain professions, like therapy or legal services, require specialized licenses. If you’re in food service, local health department permits are vital. Furthermore, businesses in regulated sectors, such as aviation or agriculture, need federal licenses customized to their industry. What Certificate Do You Need to Start a Business? To start a business, you’ll typically need an Assumed Name Certificate if you’re using a name different from your own. If you’re selling goods or services, a Sales Tax Permit is crucial. Depending on your industry, specific professional licenses may be required, such as for healthcare or real estate. If your business handles food, a health permit is required. Furthermore, check local zoning regulations to guarantee compliance with area requirements. Should I Get an LLC or Business License First? You should establish your LLC first, as it creates a separate legal entity that protects your personal assets from business liabilities. This structure is beneficial when applying for any necessary local permits or licenses later. After forming your LLC, check your municipality’s requirements, since local regulations might necessitate a business license, regardless of whether the state does not. Comprehending these specifics guarantees you operate legally and avoid potential penalties. Conclusion In conclusion, starting a business in Texas requires comprehension of various licensing and permit requirements based on your specific location and industry. You’ll need to check local regulations, apply for necessary permits, and consider any federal licenses if applicable. Don’t overlook professional licenses for specialized fields. By thoroughly researching these requirements and ensuring compliance, you can set a strong foundation for your business and avoid potential legal complications. Always stay informed about changes in regulations that may affect your operations. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What License Do I Need to Start a Business?" was first published on Small Business Trends 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. The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 wireless over-ear ANC headphones are currently down to $279 (from $479) on Woot, marking their lowest price so far (according to price trackers), with free shipping for Prime members and a $6 fee for others. The deal is expected to run for about a week or until it sells out, so availability could shift quickly depending on demand. The mix of fabric, aluminum, and synthetic leather gives these headphones a more premium touch than most all-plastic alternatives in this range, and their updated headband and thicker cushions make a difference over time—you can sit through long work sessions or a full flight without feeling like you need to take them off. It also gives you 30 hours of playback with active noise cancellation on (your mileage may vary), and the quick charge feature gets you about seven hours in 15 minutes, which is enough to get you through a day if you forget to plug them in overnight. Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 $279.00 at Woot $479.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $279.00 at Woot $479.00 Save $200.00 Sound-wise—as compared to the previous Px7 S2—music feels more open, with better separation between vocals and instruments. Bass has presence but doesn’t take over, and the highs have more energy than before without becoming harsh. And you don’t need the best Bluetooth setup to notice the difference, either. Even on standard AAC or SBC, the improvement comes through. If you do have a compatible Android phone, aptX Adaptive and Lossless support are available, or you can also plug in via USB-C for higher-resolution audio, which is still rare in this category. You also get a proper five-band EQ in the companion app, so you can fine-tune the sound instead of relying on basic presets (as was the case before). That said, while its active noise cancellation has improved, it still falls short of industry leaders like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, especially in environments like flights or heavy traffic. Transparency mode, on the other hand, is much better than before and works well for conversations, but the controls can feel a bit limiting—you still have to cycle through ANC modes instead of choosing directly, and the button layout takes some getting used to. There’s also no support for newer Bluetooth features like LE Audio or Auracast, which could matter down the line. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $298.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

The White House is set to release President Donald The President’s 2027 budget Friday, a sweeping blueprint that could boost Pentagon spending to $1.5 trillion, the largest of its kind in decades, as the U.S. focuses on military investments rather than other domestic programs. Even before the U.S.-led war against Iran, the Republican president had indicated he wanted to bolster defense spending to modernize the military for 21st-century threats. Separately, the Pentagon last month proposed $200 billion for the war effort and to backfill munitions and supplies. The President, speaking ahead of an address to the nation this week about the Iran war, signaled the military is his priority, setting up a clash ahead in Congress. “We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care,” The President said at a private White House event Wednesday. “It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare — all these individual things,” he said. “They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.” The president’s annual budget more broadly is considered a reflection of the administration’s values and does not carry the force of law. The massive document typically highlights an administration’s priorities, but Congress, which handles federal spending issues, is free to reject it and often does. With the nation running nearly $2 trillion annual deficits and the debt swelling past $39 trillion, the federal balance sheets have long been operating in the red. About two-thirds of the nation’s estimated $7 trillion in annual spending covers the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs, as well as Social Security income, which are essentially growing — along with an aging population — on autopilot. The rest of the annual budget has typically been more evenly split between defense and domestic accounts, nearly $1 trillion each, which is where much of the debate in Congress takes place. The GOP’s big tax breaks bill that The President signed into law last year boosted his priorities beyond the budget process — with at least $150 billion for the Pentagon over the next several years, and $170 billion for The President’s immigration and deportation operations at the Department of Homeland Security. This year’s White House document, prepared by Budget Director Russ Vought, is intended to provide a road map from the president to Congress as lawmakers build their own budgets and annual appropriations bills to keep the government funded. Vought spoke to House GOP lawmakers on a private call Thursday. Congress still fighting over 2026 spending The president’s budget arrives as the House and Senate remain tangled over current-year spending and stalemated over DHS funding, with Democrats demanding changes to The President’s immigration enforcement regime that Republicans are unwilling to accept. The President announced Thursday he would sign an executive order to pay all DHS workers who have gone without paychecks during the record-long partial government shutdown that has reached 49 days. The Republican leadership in Congress reached an agreement this week on a path forward to fund the department, but lawmakers are away on spring break and have not yet voted on any new legislation. Last year, in the president’s first budget since returning to the White House, The President sought to fulfill his promise to vastly reduce the size and scope of the federal government, reflecting the efforts of billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. As DOGE slashed through federal offices and Vought sought to claw back funds, Congress did not always agree. For example, The President sought a roughly one-fifth decrease in non-defense spending for the current budget year ending Sept. 30, but Congress kept such spending relatively flat. Some of the programs that The President tried to eliminate entirely, such as assisting families with their energy costs, got a slight uptick in funding. Others got flat funding, such as the Community Development Block Grants that states and local communities use to fund an array of projects intended mostly to help low-income communities through new parks, sewer systems and affordable housing. Lawmakers have also focused on ensuring the administration spends federal dollars as directed by Congress. This year’s spending bills contained what Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, described as “hundreds upon hundreds of specific funding levels and directives” that the administration is required to follow. —Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, Associated Press View the full article

In October 2024, two entrepreneurs launched a tech news podcast. Eighteen months later, OpenAI just bought it. The ChatGPT maker announced Thursday it has purchased TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network) for an undisclosed sum, bringing the tech world’s buzziest podcast into the AI company’s fold. TBPN is run by Jordi Hays and John Coogan, founder of VC party and cofounder of Soylent, respectively. Here’s what to know about the deal: How will this arrangement be structured? The announcement makes a big claim, stating that TBPN will maintain “editorial independence.” This separation will give the podcasters space to make editorial decisions, run their programming, and choose their guests. Open AI CEO Sam Altman has previously appeared on the show. “TBPN is my favorite tech show,” Altman wrote on X following the news. “We want them to keep that going and for them to do what they do so well. “I don’t expect them to go any easier on us, am sure I’ll do my part to help enable that with occasional stupid decisions.” However, TBPN will be part of OpenAI’s strategy department, reporting to chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane. OpenAI plans to use their “amazing comms and marketing instincts” and “leverage their talent outside the show.” Sure, TBPN is allowed to talk openly about OpenAI. But, from the sound of it, that will mean talking honestly about an employer of sorts. “​​While we’ve been critical of the industry at times, after getting to know Sam and the OpenAI team, what stood out most was their openness to feedback and commitment to getting this right,” Hays said in a statement. “Moving from commentary to real impact in how this technology is distributed and understood globally is incredibly important to us.” What is TBPN? An episode of TBPN can span topics such as buyout deals, gossip about AI talent wars, and startup culture—to name a few areas. Hays and Coogan often cover 50 to 100 topics an episode, Hays told Fast Company last month. The show’s livestream can sometimes attract upwards of 130,000 simultaneous viewers, with millions more watching clips and listening to the podcast after the fact. “We basically leverage the algorithms,” Hays continued. “Love them or hate them, they do a really good job of sorting what people are interested in.” In March, TBPN was named No. 2 on Fast Company‘s Most Innovative Companies list for news and media. Hays and Coogan cohost TBPN for three hours a day, five days a week, talking about all things tech and business. As Fast Company staff editor Connie Lin put it, “The pair tackle business news like sports commentators.” In December, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) announced a deal to become TBPN’s exclusive exchange partner. View the full article

Figure signals improvement in the labour market after string of bleak data releasesView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Garmin Forerunner 970 is the newest and best Forerunner watch (aka Garmin's flagship running watch line). It’s an improved version of the Forerunner 965, though it does come with a shorter battery life and a higher price tag. Whether that tradeoff is worth it depends on what you're looking for. For data-driven racers and endurance athletes who want to track, analyze, and optimize every aspect of their performance, the 970 is one of the best watches out there. My full in-depth review is still in the works, but a few standout features are already making a strong impression. Garmin Forerunner 970 $749.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $749.99 at Amazon Bright AMOLED display (plus a sapphire lens and titanium bezel)Right out of the box, the Forerunner 970's display feels high-end. The AMOLED screen is vivid, sharp, and easy to read at a glance—whether you're mid-run or just checking your stats on the couch. The sapphire lens and titanium bezel give the watch a durable feel, making it fit for serious training. Perfectly visible display, even in the bright sun. Credit: Meredith Dietz Full-color maps with enhanced navigationThe full-color maps on the 970 hold up impressively well even in signal-challenged environments, including, notably, inside my New York City walk-up apartment, where GPS signals go to die. Whether you're exploring a new route or just trying to get your bearings in a dense urban environment, the enhanced navigation on this watch delivers right out the box. Here is where I'd normally place a photo of said GPS working from inside my apartment, but then you'd be able to find me. Nice try, readers! Running tolerance and training readiness scoresThis might be the feature I've been most excited to dig into. The Forerunner 970 introduces running tolerance scores that help you better understand the cumulative impact each run has on your body, along with a recommended weekly maximum mileage, so you can keep building fitness without tipping into overtraining territory. On top of that, training readiness scores greet you from the moment you wake up, pulling together data on sleep quality, recovery, training load, and more to give you a clear signal: go hard today, or dial it back? "Recovery in progress" isn't totally accurate, since I will be running right after taking this photo. Credit: Meredith Dietz Sort of a no-brainer, but will do! Credit: Meredith Dietz The thing is, I can already tell I’ll need to override some of Garmin’s recommendations to rest. As I've written before, Garmin tends to err on the conservative side for distance runners. That said, I love having this data in front of me, even if I occasionally choose to ignore it. Projected race timesProjected race time isn't a brand-new concept, but the 970's version feels more meaningful thanks to the deeper training metrics backing it up. This prediction shows what your race time and pace could be if you keep training consistently all the way to your goal race date—and with more nuanced inputs like running tolerance factored in, the expectation (and hope) is that these projections will be more accurate than ever. I have a race in May that will serve as the real litmus test. Stay tuned. Built-in LED flashlightLast but absolutely not least: the flashlight. A quick double-press of the upper-left button turns it on or off, and it is powerful. In fact, I accidentally shone it directly into my eyes and spent the next several seconds blinking stars out of my vision while trying to type this very sentence. Beyond my momentary blindness, the flashlight rocks. More importantly, it makes running at night feel a little safer—as long as I’m willing to let the battery drain fast. For anyone logging early-morning or after-dark miles, this is the kind of small feature that could end up mattering a lot. View the full article

Why right now seems like the right time for me to move out of cashView the full article

Across the U.S., the realities of healthcare affordability are reaching a breaking point, with premiums and out-of-pocket costs straining household budgets and forcing some families to consider going without coverage or delaying care, simply because they cannot pay. This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about everyday decisions: skipping preventive visits, postponing prescriptions, or weighing health needs against rent and groceries. As healthcare costs grow while federal funds and subsidies shift, our systems are under duress, and people are being forced to make impossible choices. In this context, the question for business leaders, in healthcare and beyond, is clear: How do we design operating models that are resilient to these pressures, and genuinely responsive for the people they serve? THE BUSINESS CASE IS STRAIGHTFORWARD Dignity is efficient. We see this every day in community health, where centering dignity over efficiency alone transforms bottom lines. When patients feel seen and respected, they show up, they trust, and they return. Chronic illness gets managed through preventative care rather than acute intervention. Emergency room visits drop. Families stay working and contributing. Health becomes a stabilizing force that strengthens neighborhoods and local economies. The return on investment isn’t abstract. Research has shown us that, because community healthcare keeps people connected to preventive care and early treatment, that contributes to lower hospital and emergency department use, and lower total system costs—a powerful proof point that dignity-centered care can be both humane and efficient. The formula works. Yet, most businesses still optimize for the wrong things, chasing scale and speed while treating community rootedness as a constraint that limits growth. Our own organization’s experience has shown that the opposite is true. THREE PRACTICAL SHIFTS TO IMPLEMENT Implementing dignity-centered care and optimizing for the right things isn’t difficult. Here are three ways to do that. 1. Design with, not for. Don’t treat communities as problems to solve or markets to penetrate. Restructure the organization so its operating model is intentionally shaped around the specific needs, lived realities, and priorities of the communities it serves. This can look like language access, hiring from local talent pools, awarding contracts to small and minority-owned businesses, and partnerships with education systems that create new career pipelines. The same principle applies whether you’re designing financial services, educational programs, or retail experiences. 2. Measure what matters to people, not just what’s easy to count. Standard metrics of success like customer growth, processing time, and cost per transaction can be counter to dignity-rooted experiences. How can we measure trust, belonging, and sustained engagement? Are people coming back? Are they bringing family or friends? Are they accessing services earlier in a problem cycle rather than waiting until crisis? These indicators can predict long-term sustainability better than sales and quarterly gains. 3. Root accountability locally. Community-grounded institutions are more resilient because they answer to something beyond distant shareholders. Create structures where the people your business serves directly impact how it operates. This can mean representation on boards, local hiring requirements, or transparent feedback mechanisms. When institutions can be held accountable by the communities they serve, trust builds—and in an era of institutional mistrust, this kind of credibility is capital. WHY THIS WORKS WHEN TRADITIONAL APPROACHES FAIL When you genuinely understand and honor the cultural context and lived experience of the people you serve, you unlock engagement that top-down, one-size-fits-all approaches miss entirely. This extends beyond healthcare into education, housing, financial services, civic infrastructure, and other industries. Any system serious about resilience must move closer to the people it serves. The institutions that will weather the next decade aren’t those with the most aggressive growth targets or the most streamlined processes. They’re the ones that people trust. The ones that show up consistently, speak their language, understand their context, and honor their complexity. THE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE Too many companies still treat dignity as a compliance exercise or a values statement in a deck. What if it became the literal structure of how you operate? What if every major business decision was filtered through the question: Does this center the dignity of the communities we serve? When institutions build trust through dignity, they: Generate not only customer loyalty, but competitive advantages Attract and retain talent who want their work to mean something Build resilience that weathers economic shocks and policy change Dignity, it turns out, has an excellent business model when it’s recognized as a structural advantage and not just a soft value. It just requires measuring success differently—not by speed of scale alone, but by depth of engagement and trust. Not by how efficiently you process people, but by how effectively you serve them. Not by how uniform your offering is, but by how well it meets people where they are. The organizations that design for dignity today will outperform on retention, resilience, and relevance tomorrow. Cástulo de la Rocha is president and CEO of AltaMed Health Services. View the full article

At SXSW 2026, the creator economy moved firmly into the spotlight as a defining force in modern marketing. Creators are no longer viewed as content producers alone. They are business owners, cultural drivers, and trusted voices with direct relationships to engaged communities. SXSW’s creator-first approach reflects a broader evolution across marketing. Creators aren’t just a marketing channel; they’re becoming the primary way brands build relevance and connection. As the SXSW Creator Economy track made clear, creators now sit at the intersection of culture and commerce, shaping what people buy and how they discover and engage. For brands, this means moving beyond one-off campaigns toward sustained, long-term partnerships with creators who genuinely understand and represent their values. 5 LESSONS FROM SXSW Coming out of SXSW, the future of the creator economy feels less speculative and more defined, with a new wave of trends beginning to take hold. Here are five things I learned: 1. AI will flood the internet with content. The response will be a premium on humanity. AI is going to dramatically increase the supply of content. That’s obvious. But the interesting counter-trend everyone was talking about is that as AI content becomes infinite, human-made content becomes more valuable. The scarcity won’t be production anymore. The scarcity will be trust. Creators with real audiences, real opinions, and real communities will become the new “verified sources” of culture. 2. The next filter in social feeds might literally be “human made.” A slightly provocative idea that came up in several conversations: Platforms may eventually need a “human-made content” signal in feeds. Not because AI content is bad—it’s actually getting very good—but because the volume of generated content will make discovery harder and trust weaker. Platforms make money from trusted discovery. So maintaining that trust will become a commercial priority. 3. The biggest shift in marketing: audiences → communities. People are tired of being treated like an audience. An audience is something you broadcast to. A community is something you belong to. Creators build communities. Brands historically built audiences. The future of marketing is brands learning how to participate inside communities instead of interrupting them. 4. The future of discovery is creator video, especially in search. One fascinating shift discussed by both brand and platform teams: Creator videos are increasingly showing up in search results. For travel, food, beauty, and lifestyle categories in particular, creator content is becoming the front door to discovery. In many cases, a creator video is now the first thing you see when searching a destination, a product, or an experience. 5. The counter-trend to digital overload: real life experiences. Interestingly, the more digital the world becomes, the more people crave real-world experiences. Travel. Events. Pop-ups. IRL communities. Creators are becoming the bridge between the online world and those real-world moments. The future of the creator economy is already taking shape. It will reward those who prioritize trust, community, and real connection. The brands that adapt now will not just keep up, they’ll help define what comes next. Ben Jeffries is cofounder and CEO of Influencer. View the full article

We last saw Copenhagen planks in our rundown of the best bodyweight exercises that actually build strength. But it’s an under-appreciated exercise, and deserves a spotlight of its own. The Copenhagen plank looks a bit like a side plank: You’re leaning on your hand or elbow, other arm away from the ground, trying to hold your body in a rigid position. But what makes the Copenhagen special is that you do not rest your feet or knees on the ground. No, you place one leg (your top leg) on a bench. This means you need to use the inner thigh muscle on that top leg to hold yourself up. It is a killer leg exercise, and it has benefits beyond just adding variety to your routine. What are the benefits of the Copenhagen plank?This exercise got its name (and its mild popularity) from research out of Denmark that showed it helps to prevent groin pull injuries in athletes. Our inner thigh muscles, called the hip adductors, are responsible for pulling our legs in toward each other. These muscles also act as stabilizers in running and other actions we take during sports. Since adductors are thin muscles and can be prone to tears or strains (“pulls”), the researchers used Copenhagen planks to strengthen the adductors. It worked: Programs including this “Copenhagen adductor exercise” made male soccer players’ adductors stronger, and while it’s not a silver bullet for preventing groin strains, it seems to help. In addition to strengthening the adductors, the Copenhagen plank also contains the elements of a normal side plank, meaning it has a side effect of strengthening a variety of core muscles, including your obliques. Even your abductors, the muscles on the outsides of your hips, seem to get a little bit of a boost from training this exercise. (And yes, those two words are very similar. Abductors bring your leg away from your body, just like an alien abduction takes a person away from Earth. Adductors bring your legs in toward your midline; the two letter D’s in the middle may help you remember that they bring the legs together.) How exactly do I do a Copenhagen plank? The basic idea is to support your upper body on your forearm or hand, while your leg is supported on a bench or another object. In team practices, a partner can stand up and hold your leg while you’re doing the exercise. Start with as much of your leg on the support as possible. In order of easiest to hardest, the progression goes: Knee or thigh on the bench Shin or foot on the bench Dipping the hips toward the ground and back up, repeatedly. (This can be done in either position.) While planks are often done for increasingly long periods of time, you don’t have to take that approach to get the benefits of the Copenhagen plank. Try a 10-second hold, repeated three times with rest in between as needed. When that gets easy, try a harder variation. What if I can’t do a Copenhagen plank?If you can’t do any of the versions above, even the one with your knee on the bench, one way to modify is to keep your free leg on the ground. Lift your hips mostly with the top leg, but use some support from the bottom leg to help. If you’re still not comfortable with that, you may need to do side planks (from the knees is fine) to build up your core strength, and look elsewhere for adductor exercises. This banded adductor exercise is a good place to start, and you can also do single-leg movements like step-ups to work the adductors alongside other leg muscles. View the full article

On a recent call with a major sports organization to discuss experiential communications, a marketing leader pushed back with a familiar argument, “Why wouldn’t I just take a few million dollars and do an ad buy instead? I can reach the same number of people.” But reach isn’t the problem for today’s brand leader. With marketing teams facing a 54% increase in content production demands, generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Sora, HeyGen, and OpusPro have made it easier or cheaper to produce content at scale to saturate feeds and timelines with ad-ready messaging. Yet, the biggest mistake in doing so is believing that speed and volume equal impact. When reach and efficiency aren’t prioritized, nuance and complexity take precedence. When this occurs, audiences tune out. Far too many brands have chosen to ignore the erosion of trust and AI fatigue currently taking shape. From cultural forces to an overreliance on influencer marketing, audiences have become increasingly skeptical of what they consume. The rise of deepfakes and AI-generated influencers like Lil Miquela or viral personas like Granny Spills, each with millions of followers, has only accelerated that distrust. So when audiences no longer trust what they see, sensory marketing, a deeper and more integrated approach to experiential marketing, must step up to capture and retain their attention. OUR 5 SENSES ARE INTEGRAL TO BRAND STRATEGY There’s a shift happening within the realm of communications, marketing, and authentic storytelling. Brands leading the way are designing experiences that encourage audiences to immerse themselves within their world. From the sounds or scents that evoke nostalgia to the tastes of a once forgotten meal, each creates connections that become part of their brand strategy. This is experiential communications—the intersection where strategic storytelling, edutainment (education and entertainment), and community convene through the use of our senses. WHAT WE SMELL, WE REMEMBER While working with the Monell Chemical Senses Center 15 years ago, research revealed how the brain enables smell to trigger powerful memories. When paired with taste, retention increases even further and anchors meaning. That recall is important for reinforcing the emotional connection between a brand and its audience. Research from the Sense of Smell Institute shows people remember smells with about 65% accuracy after a year, while visual recall falls to about 50% after just three months. CEO of Scent Marketing, Caroline Fabrigas, calls scent an “invisible influencer,” much like the feeling of entering a hotel lobby, like 1 Hotel, and immediately wanting to bottle up the smell to take it home. That response is not only by design, it’s clearly working. SENSORY MOMENTS TURN FEELING INTO ACTION Experiential marketing has become shorthand for brand activation, and that’s where we’ve gotten it wrong. Some of the most effective brands operating in this space don’t label themselves “experiential.” Instead, they rely on sensorial visuals and immersive experiences to translate emotional resonance into buying behaviors. Companies like We Are Ona describe their work as curated culinary experiences. Through food, they tell stories, create memories, and build connections, using taste as a channel to communicate with their audience. Hailey Bieber used strategic creative direction to develop product design visuals for her beauty brand, Rhode, reframing skincare as craveable treats; the move saw the brand generate over $200 million in net sales from just 10 products. The multisensory experience of food activations and edible-inspired marketing creates a sense of relatability, nostalgia, community, and luxury, thus improving brand value while stimulating subsequent purchase decisions. WHY SENSORY EXPERIENCES WORK Experience is the most credible distribution channel. In a time where content is abundant but recall is scarce, in-person connection and sensory principles are powerful. When I hosted a manifestation party for a group of journalists, I knew the safest choice would’ve been a polished dinner, but chose, instead, to double down on experience. We passed out magic wands, concocted a fictitious drink called “magic bubbles,” and played board games all night long. Seven years later, I’m still told by media executives that it was one of the best brand events they’ve ever attended. Bringing a multi-sensory event of this nature to life requires human design. Its effectiveness, beyond the fun, interactive experience, was because it was deeply rooted in research, science, and sensory marketing. This same level of intentional, audience-led design is infused into my collaboration with Ohai.ai for the curated experiential series called, “Care To Gather.” There, a multidisciplinary team, from linguists to copywriters, pressure-tested every detail, including scripts and the run-of-show. The results proved that events that convert must be engineered around audience psychology and behavioral response. SENSORY EXPERIENCES DRIVE PURCHASING DECISIONS Marketing leaders can continue feeding the content machine or invest in experiences that audiences will remember, talk about, and return to. In a trust-fragmented world, experiential communications converts skeptical audiences into buyers ready to click, buy, and repeat. Rakia Reynolds is a partner at Actum. View the full article