ResidentialBusiness

Hundreds of thousands of products allegedly stolen after access codes left unattendedView the full article

Mayfield speaks out as ministers face pressure over planned cuts to disability benefitsView the full article

US president’s administration and family have become staunch advocates for digital assetsView the full article

Chancellor’s strongest criticism yet of Netanyahu government highlights deep German unease over Hamas conflictView the full article

It’s time to celebrate your favorite singers and musical acts by tuning into the American Music Awards tonight (Monday, May 26, 2025) at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Unlike the Grammy Awards, the AMAs put the power in the hands of the fans. As explained on the AMA website, nominations are based on “key fan interactions” such as record sales, number of streams, and tour revenue, while the winners are voted on by the public at large. While most of the polls are closed, there is still time to cast your vote for the Collaboration of the Year and Social Song of the Year. Let’s get up to speed so you can enjoy all the music. Have the AMAs always been on Memorial Day? For the first time ever, the AMAs are being held on Memorial Day, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. To honor our fallen soldiers, the AMAs are partnering up with the Easy Day Foundation. This nonprofit works to help surviving veterans make the transition to civilian life. Several segments on the broadcast will focus on veterans’ issues and raise money for various organizations working with the community. Who is hosting the 2025 AMAs? Jennifer Lopez is back for her sophomore year of hosting this celebration of music. She previously did the honors in 2015 and opened the show with “Waiting for Tonight” from her debut studio album, On the 6. Who is nominated for an AMA? Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with 10 nominations. Post Malone boasts eight nominations. Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey all have seven chances to win. Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Taylor Swift, and Zach Bryan will battle it out for Artist of the Year. New kids on the block Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and Tommy Richman will compete for New Artist of the Year. Beyond the competitive categories, music will honor some of the greats. Rod Stewart is scheduled to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award and give fans a performance treat. Janet Jackson will receive the Icon Award for her impressive body of work and hit the stage for her first television performance since 2018. Who is performing at the 2025 AMAs? Many other performers besides Jackson and Stewart will sing their hearts out. Benson Boone will give fans a sneak peak of his upcoming album American Heart by performing the single, “Mystical Magical.” Gwen Stefani will perform a medley from her 2004 debut solo album Love.Angel.Music.Baby to mark its 20th anniversary. Gloria Estefan will take to the AMAs for the first time in 32 years to celebrate her 50-year career. Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, and Reneé Rapp are also getting in on the action. What’s the Taylor Swift rumor about the AMAs? The Swiftie rumor mill is working overtime. Many believe that Taylor Swift will announce the release of Reputation (Taylor’s Version) sometime during the broadcast. Their theory is based on precedent—Swift has announced other albums at award shows: the recent addition to the Handmaid’s Tale soundtrack, a snake necklace, and other easter eggs. How can I watch or stream the AMAs live? To see if Swifties are right, you’re going to have to tune into CBS. This is the first time that the network has had the pleasure of broadcasting the ceremony, which was previously on ABC and not on the air since 2022. If you have a traditional cable subscription, you’re covered: You can watch CBS on your TV or via the CBS website. Don’t forget, you can also watch CBS for free with an over-the-air antenna. Cord-cutters can turn to Paramount+ With Showtime to stream the telecast. Some live-TV streaming services also include CBS, including YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV. Remember, these services have some regional restrictions. Additionally the websites for Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, WWD, Deadline, Vibe, IndieWire, and Gold Derby will utilize Harmony, Penske Media’s livestreaming platform, for your viewing pleasure. If you were too busy with a BBQ to tune in, never fear. The show will be re-aired on multiple days across a number of different stations. You can catch it on MTV on Tuesday, May 27, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, or on CMT on Wednesday, May 28, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, or on BET on Thursday, May 29, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. View the full article

A potentially devastating new round of tariffs looming over the European Union’s trade relationship with the U.S. will be pushed back for at least a month as negotiations continue. President The President on Friday announced plans for a 50% tariff on EU goods, expressing frustration with the 27-country bloc and repeating his talking points about the trade deficit between the U.S. and the EU. After a call over the weekend with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, The President agreed to a new deadline of July 9 to give the U.S. and EU time to hash out a deal. “I agreed to the extension—July 9, 2025—it was my privilege to do so,” The President wrote on Truth Social. “The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” The President’s cooperative comments were a tone shift from his Friday mood toward the bloc, when he described the talks as “going nowhere” and slammed the EU for being difficult to deal with. Von der Leyen reiterated that the EU needs until July to sort out the details of a new trade deal—and to talk its way out of The President’s threatened 50% tariff, which would devastate existing trade norms between the global powers. “The EU and U.S. share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship,” Von der Leyen said on X. “Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively.” On Friday, The President also rounded on Apple, threatening to implement a 25% tariff if the Cupertino, California-based iPhone maker doesn’t bring its manufacturing stateside. The passing attack was enough to prompt a dip in Apple’s shares as investors fretted over the high price tag of a hypothetical U.S.-made iPhone and the logistic impossibility of the company relocating its vast production operation, which is largely based in China. The fresh trade threats against the EU are just the latest turn on The President’s trade roller-coaster ride, which has thrown global alliances into chaos, upended markets, and raised a new round of red flags that U.S. consumers may again be facing higher prices on everyday goods. View the full article

France and Britain have helped protect Israel from its enemies, but they should not defend the indefensibleView the full article

Giorgia Meloni asks Ursula von der Leyen to resolve differences through negotiationView the full article

US president escalates attacks on Ivy League university amid stand-off over foreign studentsView the full article

Key Takeaways Low Start-Up Costs: Easy businesses often require minimal investment, allowing you to operate from home and save on overhead costs associated with commercial space rental. Flexibility and Freedom: Launching an easy business provides the ability to set your own hours and manage your workload, promoting a balanced life and the opportunity to adapt to changing market demands. Diverse Business Types: Service-based, online, and retail businesses are some of the easiest to start, offering various models such as freelancing, e-commerce, and pop-up shops to fit different interests and skills. Importance of Market Research: Effectively researching the market is crucial to understand industry trends, customer needs, and competitive analysis, guiding your business decisions and helping to identify opportunities. Creating a Business Plan: A solid business plan outlines your objectives and strategies, crucial for attracting investors or lenders and providing a roadmap for your business growth. Navigating Challenges: Recognizing challenges such as time management and financial risks is essential for developing a robust strategy that ensures long-term success for your business. Thinking about starting your own business can be both exciting and overwhelming. With so many options out there, it’s crucial to find something that not only sparks your interest but also fits your lifestyle and budget. Luckily, there are plenty of easy business ideas that require minimal investment and can be launched from the comfort of your home. Benefits Of Starting An Easy Business Starting an easy business presents numerous advantages that can significantly enhance your entrepreneurial journey. With minimal barriers to entry, you can focus on growth and profitability. Low Start-Up Costs Low start-up costs are a major benefit of starting an easy business. You can often operate from home, reducing expenses associated with renting commercial space. Many easy business ideas, like e-commerce and online consulting, require little capital investment beyond website creation and basic marketing. By leveraging digital marketing strategies like SEO and social media, you can reach your target audience without significant financial outlay. This approach allows you to allocate resources toward product development and customer acquisition, fostering a solid foundation for your venture. Flexibility And Freedom Flexibility and freedom are key advantages of launching an easy business. You can set your own hours and work at your own pace, providing a balance between personal life and professional goals. This flexibility allows you to adapt your business model as market demands change. Whether you prefer to bootstrap your startup or explore crowdfunding opportunities, you maintain control over your venture’s direction and growth strategy. Enjoying the freedom to innovate and pivot as needed can lead to discovering new revenue streams and scaling your business effectively. Types Of Easiest Businesses To Start Starting a business can be exciting, especially when considering options that require minimal investment and rapid setup. Here are some categories of the easiest businesses to launch. Service-Based Businesses Service-based businesses often serve as ideal starting points, offering low overhead and quick revenue generation. Freelancing and Consulting: You can provide services such as web design, social media management, or business consulting. Minimal initial investment is necessary since you trade your skills for income. This business model allows rapid customer acquisition through effective marketing strategies, like SEO and content marketing. Handyman Services: You can manage repair and maintenance tasks for homes and businesses. Jobs like plumbing and tile installation don’t require significant startup costs and are typically in high demand. The recession-proof nature of this sector allows for steady cash flow, increasing the profit margin. Online Businesses Online businesses become increasingly popular due to their flexibility and low barriers to entry. E-Commerce: Setting up an online store through platforms like Shopify or Etsy offers accessibility to a vast target audience. You can focus on niche products and utilize digital marketing techniques to drive traffic, making it a scalable venture. Developing a solid business plan and conducting market research are pivotal steps. Affiliate Marketing: By promoting products or services for other companies, you can earn commissions without maintaining inventory. Building a website and leveraging social media can help you enhance your brand visibility and drive sales. Retail Businesses Retail businesses remain viable for entrepreneurs with a passion for direct consumer interaction. Pop-Up Shops: Opening a temporary retail location can lower startup costs and help gauge market interest. You can design unique customer experiences, utilizing creative marketing campaigns to draw attention. Product Reselling: Buying products at wholesale prices and reselling them at a retail markup can generate quick income. This model allows for growth through partnerships with suppliers and effective sales techniques. These business types provide entry points for aspiring entrepreneurs ready to embark on their startup journeys. Steps To Start Your Business Starting your business involves a few essential steps that set the foundation for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow these key actions to establish a successful small business. Research The Market Researching the market helps you understand industry trends, competition, and customer needs. Identify your target audience and analyze demographics, preferences, and purchasing behaviors. Use tools like surveys and focus groups to gather data that informs your business model. Consider assessing competitors’ strengths and weaknesses to find opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Collecting this information enables you to develop a product or service that meets specific market demands. Create A Business Plan Creating a business plan is crucial for outlining your business objectives, strategies, and financial projections. Start with an executive summary that captures your business idea and goals. Include sections on market analysis, marketing strategies, operational plan, and financial planning. Define your legal structure, whether it’s an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation, and clarify your funding options. Use the financial section to detail your budget, cash flow expectations, and profit margins. A solid business plan not only guides your startup efforts but also attracts potential investors or lenders involved in your funding journey. Challenges To Consider Starting a small business involves various challenges that you must navigate effectively. Understanding these challenges helps in developing a robust business plan and strategy for success. Time Management Time management plays a critical role in your startup’s success. You’re likely juggling multiple tasks, such as market research, product development, and customer acquisition. Prioritizing these tasks ensures you focus on activities that drive growth. Establishing a schedule can help you allocate time effectively. Use tools like project management software to keep track of deadlines and manage workload efficiently. Financial Risks Financial risks are inherent when launching a small business. You must plan for expenses, cash flow, and potential losses. A detailed budget provides insight into your financial health and helps avoid overspending. You may need funding options such as loans or angel investors to support initial costs. Consider the legal structure of your business—whether an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation—since this affects your tax obligations and liability. Securing the right financial safeguards ensures your venture stays on course, even in challenging times. Conclusion Starting a business doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on ideas that resonate with your interests and skills you can create a venture that’s both fulfilling and profitable. The flexibility of service-based, online, and retail businesses allows you to adapt to market changes and personal preferences. With careful planning and a clear understanding of your target audience you can navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Embracing the journey of launching an easy business opens doors to innovation and growth. Take the leap and turn your passion into a thriving enterprise. Your entrepreneurial adventure awaits. Frequently Asked Questions What are the easiest businesses to start? The easiest businesses to start fall into three categories: service-based, online, and retail. Service-based businesses like freelancing require minimal overhead. Online businesses, such as e-commerce and affiliate marketing, offer flexibility with low entry barriers. Retail businesses, including pop-up shops, enable direct customer interaction and can generate quick income. How can I choose the right business idea? To choose the right business idea, align it with your interests, lifestyle, and budget. Conduct market research to understand current trends and customer needs. Identify your target audience and consider what skills or services you can provide that will meet their demands. Why start a business with low investment? Starting a business with low investment minimizes financial risk and allows for greater flexibility. Entrepreneurs can operate from home, keeping costs down and increasing their ability to adapt to market changes. This approach also fosters innovation and the potential for significant growth. How important is a business plan? A business plan is crucial as it outlines your objectives, strategies, and financial projections. It serves as a roadmap for your startup and is essential for attracting investors or lenders. A solid business plan helps you clarify your goals and plan your approach to achieving them. What challenges do entrepreneurs face when starting a business? Entrepreneurs often face challenges such as time management, financial planning, and the risk of cash flow issues. They must juggle multiple tasks, including market research and customer acquisition, and develop a detailed budget to monitor expenses. Understanding these challenges is key to overcoming them and achieving success. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover the Easiest Business to Start for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Low Start-Up Costs: Easy businesses often require minimal investment, allowing you to operate from home and save on overhead costs associated with commercial space rental. Flexibility and Freedom: Launching an easy business provides the ability to set your own hours and manage your workload, promoting a balanced life and the opportunity to adapt to changing market demands. Diverse Business Types: Service-based, online, and retail businesses are some of the easiest to start, offering various models such as freelancing, e-commerce, and pop-up shops to fit different interests and skills. Importance of Market Research: Effectively researching the market is crucial to understand industry trends, customer needs, and competitive analysis, guiding your business decisions and helping to identify opportunities. Creating a Business Plan: A solid business plan outlines your objectives and strategies, crucial for attracting investors or lenders and providing a roadmap for your business growth. Navigating Challenges: Recognizing challenges such as time management and financial risks is essential for developing a robust strategy that ensures long-term success for your business. Thinking about starting your own business can be both exciting and overwhelming. With so many options out there, it’s crucial to find something that not only sparks your interest but also fits your lifestyle and budget. Luckily, there are plenty of easy business ideas that require minimal investment and can be launched from the comfort of your home. Benefits Of Starting An Easy Business Starting an easy business presents numerous advantages that can significantly enhance your entrepreneurial journey. With minimal barriers to entry, you can focus on growth and profitability. Low Start-Up Costs Low start-up costs are a major benefit of starting an easy business. You can often operate from home, reducing expenses associated with renting commercial space. Many easy business ideas, like e-commerce and online consulting, require little capital investment beyond website creation and basic marketing. By leveraging digital marketing strategies like SEO and social media, you can reach your target audience without significant financial outlay. This approach allows you to allocate resources toward product development and customer acquisition, fostering a solid foundation for your venture. Flexibility And Freedom Flexibility and freedom are key advantages of launching an easy business. You can set your own hours and work at your own pace, providing a balance between personal life and professional goals. This flexibility allows you to adapt your business model as market demands change. Whether you prefer to bootstrap your startup or explore crowdfunding opportunities, you maintain control over your venture’s direction and growth strategy. Enjoying the freedom to innovate and pivot as needed can lead to discovering new revenue streams and scaling your business effectively. Types Of Easiest Businesses To Start Starting a business can be exciting, especially when considering options that require minimal investment and rapid setup. Here are some categories of the easiest businesses to launch. Service-Based Businesses Service-based businesses often serve as ideal starting points, offering low overhead and quick revenue generation. Freelancing and Consulting: You can provide services such as web design, social media management, or business consulting. Minimal initial investment is necessary since you trade your skills for income. This business model allows rapid customer acquisition through effective marketing strategies, like SEO and content marketing. Handyman Services: You can manage repair and maintenance tasks for homes and businesses. Jobs like plumbing and tile installation don’t require significant startup costs and are typically in high demand. The recession-proof nature of this sector allows for steady cash flow, increasing the profit margin. Online Businesses Online businesses become increasingly popular due to their flexibility and low barriers to entry. E-Commerce: Setting up an online store through platforms like Shopify or Etsy offers accessibility to a vast target audience. You can focus on niche products and utilize digital marketing techniques to drive traffic, making it a scalable venture. Developing a solid business plan and conducting market research are pivotal steps. Affiliate Marketing: By promoting products or services for other companies, you can earn commissions without maintaining inventory. Building a website and leveraging social media can help you enhance your brand visibility and drive sales. Retail Businesses Retail businesses remain viable for entrepreneurs with a passion for direct consumer interaction. Pop-Up Shops: Opening a temporary retail location can lower startup costs and help gauge market interest. You can design unique customer experiences, utilizing creative marketing campaigns to draw attention. Product Reselling: Buying products at wholesale prices and reselling them at a retail markup can generate quick income. This model allows for growth through partnerships with suppliers and effective sales techniques. These business types provide entry points for aspiring entrepreneurs ready to embark on their startup journeys. Steps To Start Your Business Starting your business involves a few essential steps that set the foundation for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow these key actions to establish a successful small business. Research The Market Researching the market helps you understand industry trends, competition, and customer needs. Identify your target audience and analyze demographics, preferences, and purchasing behaviors. Use tools like surveys and focus groups to gather data that informs your business model. Consider assessing competitors’ strengths and weaknesses to find opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Collecting this information enables you to develop a product or service that meets specific market demands. Create A Business Plan Creating a business plan is crucial for outlining your business objectives, strategies, and financial projections. Start with an executive summary that captures your business idea and goals. Include sections on market analysis, marketing strategies, operational plan, and financial planning. Define your legal structure, whether it’s an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation, and clarify your funding options. Use the financial section to detail your budget, cash flow expectations, and profit margins. A solid business plan not only guides your startup efforts but also attracts potential investors or lenders involved in your funding journey. Challenges To Consider Starting a small business involves various challenges that you must navigate effectively. Understanding these challenges helps in developing a robust business plan and strategy for success. Time Management Time management plays a critical role in your startup’s success. You’re likely juggling multiple tasks, such as market research, product development, and customer acquisition. Prioritizing these tasks ensures you focus on activities that drive growth. Establishing a schedule can help you allocate time effectively. Use tools like project management software to keep track of deadlines and manage workload efficiently. Financial Risks Financial risks are inherent when launching a small business. You must plan for expenses, cash flow, and potential losses. A detailed budget provides insight into your financial health and helps avoid overspending. You may need funding options such as loans or angel investors to support initial costs. Consider the legal structure of your business—whether an LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation—since this affects your tax obligations and liability. Securing the right financial safeguards ensures your venture stays on course, even in challenging times. Conclusion Starting a business doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on ideas that resonate with your interests and skills you can create a venture that’s both fulfilling and profitable. The flexibility of service-based, online, and retail businesses allows you to adapt to market changes and personal preferences. With careful planning and a clear understanding of your target audience you can navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Embracing the journey of launching an easy business opens doors to innovation and growth. Take the leap and turn your passion into a thriving enterprise. Your entrepreneurial adventure awaits. Frequently Asked Questions What are the easiest businesses to start? The easiest businesses to start fall into three categories: service-based, online, and retail. Service-based businesses like freelancing require minimal overhead. Online businesses, such as e-commerce and affiliate marketing, offer flexibility with low entry barriers. Retail businesses, including pop-up shops, enable direct customer interaction and can generate quick income. How can I choose the right business idea? To choose the right business idea, align it with your interests, lifestyle, and budget. Conduct market research to understand current trends and customer needs. Identify your target audience and consider what skills or services you can provide that will meet their demands. Why start a business with low investment? Starting a business with low investment minimizes financial risk and allows for greater flexibility. Entrepreneurs can operate from home, keeping costs down and increasing their ability to adapt to market changes. This approach also fosters innovation and the potential for significant growth. How important is a business plan? A business plan is crucial as it outlines your objectives, strategies, and financial projections. It serves as a roadmap for your startup and is essential for attracting investors or lenders. A solid business plan helps you clarify your goals and plan your approach to achieving them. What challenges do entrepreneurs face when starting a business? Entrepreneurs often face challenges such as time management, financial planning, and the risk of cash flow issues. They must juggle multiple tasks, including market research and customer acquisition, and develop a detailed budget to monitor expenses. Understanding these challenges is key to overcoming them and achieving success. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover the Easiest Business to Start for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Asked about US president’s condemnation of aerial attacks on Ukraine, Kremlin says all parties feeling ‘emotional overload’View the full article

No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawn mower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor’s lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume. The movement has expanded to “Let It Bloom June” and the fall version: “Leave the leaves.” Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes. When Amanda Beltramini Healan moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured for sale: a walnut tree, roses from a home improvement store and short grass. So she experimented, first with a 10-by-10-foot patch where she dug up the grass and sowed native seeds. Then she planted goldenrods in the culvert near the street, and let more of her yard grow tall without mowing. Local authorities apparently didn’t appreciate her natural look: “I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,” she said. But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact, a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she’s no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There’s a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. “I have a lot of insects and bugs and that’s protein, so the birds and the bird’s nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,” she said. “I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It’s just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.” The movement is popularized by groups such as Plantlife, a conservation organization based in England. American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30% of a U.S. household’s total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA. Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at Iowa State University, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking noninvasive plants that fit each region’s climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, “meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,” said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Beltramini Healan isn’t just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors’ kids come over to look for butterflies. It’s about giving them the time “to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,” said Griffith. He said he’s never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. “I just enjoy coming out and walking around,” said Griffith. “And looking at it, it’s kind of peaceful. It’s kinda relaxing.” __ This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Amanda Beltramini Healan’s name and to correct that Aaron Steil works at Iowa State University, not the University of Iowa. —Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press View the full article

By restructuring the GSEs into public utilities, we can end decades of free-riding by private investors on the public credit, writes the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors. View the full article

This potential transaction would be part of a broader trend of mortgage lenders and servicing players converging, such as Rocket's recent acquisition of Mr. Cooper. View the full article

International students won’t go where they’re not wanted — they’ll build lives and careers elsewhereView the full article

Court’s verdict concludes near four-year trial but prosecutors’ attempts to uncover scope of emissions fraud continuesView the full article

Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. Summer officially starts in a few weeks, but I’ve already ordered and preordered the books that will keep me company on airplanes and trips to the beach. The first Modern CEO reading list was heavy on buzzworthy titles. Last year’s edition was a bit more dutiful, highlighting three works that explored the complexities of capitalism. This year, I’m diving into the lives of the ultrarich, whose impact on culture, society, and policy continues to rise. The Haves and the Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich by Evan Osnos Thanks in part to social media, consumption—of luxury goods, five-star resorts, rare wines, and the like—is increasingly conspicuous. One place where the ultrarich can avoid prying eyes? Aboard their superyachts. As Evan Osnos, a staff writer and podcast host at The New Yorker, writes of such floating mansions: “These shrines to excess capital exist in a conditional state of visibility: they are meant to be unmistakable to a slender stratum of society—and all but unseen by everyone else.” Osnos’s collection of essays promises to shed light on the excesses but also on how the rich amass and keep their wealth and the power that it affords. Personal History: A Memoir by Katharine Graham and Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein One of the biggest business stories of the year—Warren Buffett’s announcement that he will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway—and the ongoing struggles of The Washington Post under Jeff Bezos (a superyacht owner), are prompting me to reread two great books on my bookshelf. Personal History is Graham’s candid memoir of the personal and professional hurdles she had to overcome en route to becoming CEO of The Washington Post Company and one of the most admired executives in media. Lowenstein’s masterful portrait of Buffett is part biography, part investing tutorial. Graham and Buffett were longtime friends, and Lowenstein seems to credit Graham with leavening some of Buffett’s thrifty instincts. Stories of Buffett’s frugality—his primary residence is a home he bought in Omaha in 1958 for $31,500—will surely be a good palate cleanser after the Osnos book. Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI by Karen Hao Hao, an Atlantic contributor, is one of the leading journalists covering artificial intelligence (AI), and her book promises to be an unflinching look at the potential and perils of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s ambitions for generative AI, which seem to mirror the “move fast and break things” ethos of many tech companies. Luckily for readers, Hao seems willing to explore the unintended consequences of unfettered AI expansion, including the environmental impacts of water- and energy-hungry data centers. So Far Gone by Jess Walter Walter’s latest book—my one fiction pick—has many of the things I love in novel: a road trip, multigenerational conflict, and a gruff former journalist as the protagonist. In So Far Gone, Rhys Kinnick sets off to rescue his daughter and grandchildren from a radical militia group. It’s a world Walter knows well: As a journalist for the Spokane, Washington Spokesman-Review, Walter covered the 1992 standoff at Ruby Ridge in Northern Idaho, which is credited with fueling the anti-government militia movement. Challenging stuff, but an early review from Ann Patchett confirms why I love Walter’s writing: “Jess Walter managed to build such a warm, funny, loving novel out of so many horrible parts.” What are you reading this summer? What’s on your summer reading list? Please send the name, author, and a sentence or two about why you’d recommend it to modern leaders to stephaniemehta@mansueto.com. I’ll publish a bonus newsletter with reader suggestions before the official start of summer. Read more: summer reading roundup 24 books to read this summer, according to The Atlantic The Economist’s latest “beach friendly” reads The 15 books USA Today says you should read this summer View the full article

The Coca-Cola Co. just announced its newest limited-time soda, and it’s a combination of Sprite and tea that was initially floated by a team of interns six years ago. Sprite + Tea just hit shelves earlier across the U.S. and Canada, and is expected to remain on the market through October. The soda is available in both regular and zero-sugar varieties, and, according to a press release, it “blends the crisp, lemon-lime refreshment of Sprite with the classically refreshing flavor of tea.” The new product arrives just a month after Coca-Cola announced better-than-anticipated first-quarter 2025 financial results, logging a 2% year-over-year revenue decline but maintaining its growth forecasts for 2025, unlike rival PepsiCo. For years now, Coca-Cola has been experimenting with new, unexpected flavor combinations designed to attract younger consumers, ranging from Spiced Coke to last summer’s Sprite Chill and the ever-popular seasonal rerelease Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry. Most recently, the company introduced Orange Cream Coke, citing “growing demand among millennials and Gen Z-ers for fun, unexpected tastes and sensory experiences” as the inspiration behind the nostalgic flavor. Unlike these other flavor plays from the company, Sprite + Tea might already be familiar to many fans. That’s because before it became an official product, the soda started as an idea floated by Coca-Cola interns that later became a viral DIY TikTok trend. TikTok saw it first In an interview with Ad Age, Coca-Cola Co. senior creative director A.P. Chaney explained that Sprite + Tea first landed on executives’ radars back in 2019, when a group of interns pitched a combination of the two beverages. “It was an R&D project, and interns were asked to come up with different innovations and marketing ideas for different brands, and Sprite + Tea was an ideation of that,” Chaney told Ad Age. From there, the idea seems to have sat on the back burner until summer 2023, when a DIY Sprite tea started popping up on TikTok. In an initial TikTok by Malaysian chef Hisham Raus, Raus is shown steeping Lipton tea bags in a regular bottle of Sprite and enjoying the concoction with a slice of lemon. The video, which has since racked up 19.8 million views and 1.3 million likes, has spawned dozens of copycat videos across platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. Food influencer @shophocho7798 re-created the concept in a YouTube video with 3.7 million views, calling the result “literally a carbonated Arnold Palmer.” In another YouTube short with 8.3 million views, creator Jordan Howlett declared the hack “delicious” and encouraged his 4.4 million subscribers to give it a try. “When [the trend] blew up on TikTok with millions of views, it was a gut check that we were on the right track,” Chaney said in the company’s press release. While it’s unlikely that Coca-Cola is actually using the tea bag hack to mass-produce Sprite + Tea, the release does note that Coca-Cola’s North American R&D team “completed several rounds of consumer testing to fine-tune the formula for the amber-colored sparkling beverage.” For Coca-Cola, Sprite seems to be a reliable base for flavor remixes: In 2024, the limited-time Sprite Chill became the company’s best-selling drink innovation, and Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry has returned several times as a holiday fan favorite since 2013. Meanwhile, the recent Spiced Coke experiment was phased out after just six months when it failed to land with customers. TikTok is already flooded with videos of fans trying Sprite + Tea, with some reviews commending the drink’s “strong tea flavor,” while others recommend that viewers stick with the DIY version. View the full article

A recent deal involving a troubled Texas bank shows that even the most lopsided depository can find an exit. View the full article

A few years ago, a sales executive I worked with found himself in a difficult position. His company was under review for a potential buyout, and his director asked him to present a version of the company’s story that, while technically true, left out critical details. The omission would make the company look healthier than it was, protecting its valuation and the leadership team’s positions post-acquisition. He knew this wasn’t an outright lie, but it didn’t feel honest either. Was this just strategic messaging or something more ethically concerning? And how could he navigate this without jeopardizing his reputation or future at the company? A third path He chose a third path. Instead of outright refusal, which might have been career-limiting, he started by asking clarifying questions. What was the real outcome that the leadership team wanted? Was there a way to tell a fuller, more balanced story that acknowledged challenges while highlighting future opportunities? In the end, he was able to get leadership buy-in to reframe the story to focus on how the company had learned from its struggles and was taking steps to improve. It wasn’t a spin. It was honest, forward-looking, and hopeful. The CEO praised the approach, and the executive maintained his integrity without derailing his career. The Institute of Business Ethics found in a study that one in three employees felt pressured to compromise the business’s ethical standards. Many comply out of fear—worried they’ll face retaliation, be labeled “difficult,” or lose opportunities. But there are ways to push back without risking your career. UNDERSTAND BEFORE OBJECTING When confronted with a questionable request, most people respond in one of two ways: They comply out of fear or they push back immediately, putting their job security at risk. There’s a better first step: Push to understand. Not all uncomfortable requests are unethical. Some are simply poorly communicated or misaligned with your values. Clarify: Start by seeking to fully understand the request. You may find the issue is one of discomfort rather than unethical intent. Question: Explore the outcomes they want and whether the request achieves those goals in the best way. Asking thoughtful questions often makes leaders rethink their approach on their own. Redirect: If appropriate, propose a solution that meets the same business objectives without compromising integrity. For example, rather than omitting challenges, highlight how those challenges spurred innovation or improved future outcomes. These conversations can reveal that the person making the request is open to alternatives, they just hadn’t thought of them yet. UNETHICAL VERSUS ILLEGAL If you’ve clarified, questioned, and still feel uncomfortable, it’s important to assess whether the request is merely unethical or actually illegal. That distinction determines your next move. If the request is illegal, you will want to tread carefully. If you feel psychologically safe, it can be helpful to start communicating via email to keep a digital trail (although it is possible that your manager will cover their trail by refusing to engage on email). Further, if your company has an HR department, you can share the request with them along with expressing your discomfort. One friend who works in compliance found himself in this exact situation. His manager asked him to manipulate data, a clear violation of regulations. He responded by email, explicitly stating why the request was illegal and citing the relevant regulatory code. He was never asked to do it again. Sometimes, simply stating the facts is the most powerful shield you have. However, if the request is unethical but not necessarily illegal, your next move should be a personal decision that minimizes future regret. REGRET MINIMIZATION FRAMEWORK If you’re facing this kind of dilemma, it’s already a bad situation. There’s no playbook that guarantees success or protection. Sometimes, doing everything “right” still results in backlash or career limitations. This is why I recommend applying what’s called the “regret minimization framework. Ask yourself: If I look back on this 10 years from now, will I regret how I handled it? This is the core of the regret minimization framework, a decision-making tool made famous by Jeff Bezos. It doesn’t promise a perfect outcome. But it helps you act in a way that minimizes long-term regret, even if it leads to short-term discomfort. When you apply this framework, you’re not just considering whether you’ll keep your job next month. You’re asking which version of yourself—today’s self or your future self—you want to protect more. Do you want to be someone who went along to keep the peace? Or someone who held the line when it mattered? This doesn’t mean you have to become a whistleblower or burn bridges. It simply means choosing the actions that leave you at peace with yourself, knowing you did what you could with the power and information you had at the time. View the full article

The temperatures are heating up and school’s almost out for the summer. Before we fully dive into the warmer months and vacations, we get a mini-break in the form of Memorial Day weekend—a preview of coming attractions—but it requires some planning ahead because today (Monday May 26, 2025) is a federal holiday. Let’s take a look at a brief history of the day and what business and services will be closed to observe it. A brief history of Memorial Day Memorial Day has its roots in the aftermath of the Civil War. On May 30, 1868, John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared the first national observance of Declaration Day, Memorial Day’s predecessor, on which flowers were placed on Union soldiers’ graves. Even before this declaration, there were many similar Confederate customs. Many cities on both sides claim to be the originators of the holiday. As more battles were fought, the holiday evolved beyond a single conflict to honor and mourn all service members who lost their lives in the line of battle. It became an official federal holiday in 1971 after a 1968 law, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, was enacted by Congress. This moved the holiday from May 30 to the last Monday in May, giving many traditional American workers a three-day weekend. Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day Many mix up or confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The former celebrates service members who have died in the line of battle. The latter takes place in November and celebrates all American veterans. Are banks open on Memorial Day? No. Major money transactions that require going inside a bank are going to have to wait as these institutions are closed on federal holidays. Are ATMs open on Memorial Day? Yes. Luckily, for simpler deposits and withdrawals, automated teller machines located outside of the branch are available. Is the post office open on Memorial Day? No. You won’t be able to run into a post office on Memorial Day as the United States Postal Service (USPS) is not open for business. Buy stamps and send big packages ahead of time. Is mail delivered on Memorial Day? No. Bills and postcards will be delayed a day, as postal mail is not delivered on Memorial Day. Are FedEx and UPS operating on Memorial Day? According to the 2025 FedEx holiday schedule, only FedEx Custom Critical services will be available. FedEx Office will have a modified schedule while FedEx, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Logistics are closed. According to the 2025 UPS holiday schedule, only UPS Express Critical services are available. Limited UPS store locations will be open. UPS Forwarding, UPS Domestic Ground, Air, and International are all closed for the holiday. Is the stock market open on Memorial Day? No. You will have to buy and sell another day. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq exchange are closed. Are schools open on Memorial Day? No. Students and teachers typically get the day off for Memorial Day. That being said, it is a good practice to double check your own school’s calendar to verify this. Are restaurants open on Memorial Day? Yes. Most restaurants are open and hoping to take advantage of the three-day weekend revenue. This includes fast food chains such as McDonald’s and sit-down chains such as Applebee’s. For smaller mom-and-pop-type places, it’s best to double check that they didn’t take the day off. Are pharmacies open on Memorial Day? Typically, yes. Most Walgreens and CVS locations will be open, but they may have modified hours. Be sure to check your local location ahead of time, especially if you need your medication in a pinch. Moreover, independent pharmacies may be closed. Are stores and groceries open on Memorial Day? For the most part, yes. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target are open on Memorial Day, according to a roundup from USA Today. If you need a last-minute bottle of ketchup or mustard for your hamburgers and hot dogs, you are covered. Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and many more have your back. The majority of large supermarket chains will be open for all your family barbecue needs. Costco, however, will be closed, so buy in bulk ahead of time. View the full article

The temperatures are heating up and school’s almost out for the summer. Before we fully dive into the warmer months and vacations, we get a mini-break in the form of Memorial Day weekend—a preview of coming attractions—but it requires some planning ahead because today (Monday May 26, 2025) is a federal holiday. Let’s take a look at a brief history of the day and what business and services will be closed to observe it. A brief history of Memorial Day Memorial Day has its roots in the aftermath of the Civil War. On May 30, 1868, John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared the first national observance of Declaration Day, Memorial Day’s predecessor, on which flowers were placed on Union soldiers’ graves. Even before this declaration, there were many similar Confederate customs. Many cities on both sides claim to be the originators of the holiday. As more battles were fought, the holiday evolved beyond a single conflict to honor and mourn all service members who lost their lives in the line of battle. It became an official federal holiday in 1971 after a 1968 law, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, was enacted by Congress. This moved the holiday from May 30 to the last Monday in May, giving many traditional American workers a three-day weekend. Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day Many mix up or confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The former celebrates service members who have died in the line of battle. The latter takes place in November and celebrates all American veterans. Are banks open on Memorial Day? No. Major money transactions that require going inside a bank are going to have to wait as these institutions are closed on federal holidays. Are ATMs open on Memorial Day? Yes. Luckily, for simpler deposits and withdrawals, automated teller machines located outside of the branch are available. Is the post office open on Memorial Day? No. You won’t be able to run into a post office on Memorial Day as the United States Postal Service (USPS) is not open for business. Buy stamps and send big packages ahead of time. Is mail delivered on Memorial Day? No. Bills and postcards will be delayed a day, as postal mail is not delivered on Memorial Day. Are FedEx and UPS operating on Memorial Day? According to the 2025 FedEx holiday schedule, only FedEx Custom Critical services will be available. FedEx Office will have a modified schedule while FedEx, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Logistics are closed. According to the 2025 UPS holiday schedule, only UPS Express Critical services are available. Limited UPS store locations will be open. UPS Forwarding, UPS Domestic Ground, Air, and International are all closed for the holiday. Is the stock market open on Memorial Day? No. You will have to buy and sell another day. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq exchange are closed. Are schools open on Memorial Day? No. Students and teachers typically get the day off for Memorial Day. That being said, it is a good practice to double check your own school’s calendar to verify this. Are restaurants open on Memorial Day? Yes. Most restaurants are open and hoping to take advantage of the three-day weekend revenue. This includes fast food chains such as McDonald’s and sit-down chains such as Applebee’s. For smaller mom-and-pop-type places, it’s best to double check that they didn’t take the day off. Are pharmacies open on Memorial Day? Typically, yes. Most Walgreens and CVS locations will be open, but they may have modified hours. Be sure to check your local location ahead of time, especially if you need your medication in a pinch. Moreover, independent pharmacies may be closed. Are stores and groceries open on Memorial Day? For the most part, yes. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target are open on Memorial Day, according to a roundup from USA Today. If you need a last-minute bottle of ketchup or mustard for your hamburgers and hot dogs, you are covered. Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and many more have your back. The majority of large supermarket chains will be open for all your family barbecue needs. Costco, however, will be closed, so buy in bulk ahead of time. View the full article

Polaroid’s new collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMA) is designed to make your retro photos look like colorful works of pop art—and it feels like a flashback to 2014. The partnership includes two exclusive items: an $130 Polaroid camera and a separate $22 set of eight custom film frames. The camera itself is an analog instant camera—specifically, Polaroid’s Now Generation 3 model—rendered in a bright blue housing, complete with the “MoMA” wordmark in a lighter blue across the front. Included with the device are three neon, MoMA branded wrist straps to customize the look. Where the collaboration really shines is with its custom Polaroid film frames. The MoMA and Polaroid teams have designed 12 unique frames, each in high-octane color combinations like turquoise and bright red or lemon yellow and blue. Six of the frames feature the MoMA logo, while the other six come pre-captioned with quotes from artists including Carmen Herrera, Betye Saar, Meret Oppenheim, and Milton Glaser. You might receive a quote like, “I am interested in restless ideas,” by An-My Lê, or “If one truly loves nature, one finds beauty everywhere,” by Vincent Van Gogh. It’s a cute, if corny, concept that feels like it would’ve gone instantly viral in Tumblr’s hey-day of quote posting and aesthetic collages. According to a press release, the collab is intended to “capture the ethos of those who dared to see the world differently and invite today’s creatives to do the same.” For anyone who’s interested in the camera but not the inspiring quotes, the device is also compatible with regular Polaroid i-Type film. This new collection is one of several recent collaborations that Polaroid has produced based on design and art icons, including an Eames-inspired Now Generation 2 camera and another Now Generation 2 that’s fully decked out in imagery from Jean-Michel Baquiat’s artwork Boy and Dog in a Johnypump. View the full article

Visit just about any downtown on a weekend and you will likely happen upon a farmers market. Or, you might grab lunch from a food truck outside a local brewpub or winery. Very likely, there is a community-shared kitchen or food entrepreneur incubator initiative behind the scenes to support this growing foodie ecosystem. As rural America gains younger residents, and grows more diverse and increasingly digitally connected, these dynamics are driving a renaissance in craft foods. One food entrepreneur incubator, Hope & Main Kitchen, operates out of a school that sat vacant for over 10 years in the small Rhode Island town of Warren. Its business incubation program, with over 300 graduates to date, gives food and beverage entrepreneurs a way to test, scale and develop their products before investing in their own facilities. Its markets also give entrepreneurs a place to test their products on the public and buyers for stores, while providing the community with local goods. Food has been central to culture, community and social connections for millennia. But food channels, social media food influencers and craft brews have paved the way for a renaissance of regional beverage and food industry startups across America. In my work in agriculture economics, I see connections between this boom in food and agriculture innovation and the inflow of young residents who are helping revitalize rural America and reinvigorate its Main Streets. Why entrepreneurs are embracing rural life An analysis of 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data found that more people have been moving to small towns and rural counties in recent years, and that the bulk of that population growth is driven by 25- to 44-year-olds. This represents a stark contrast to the 2000s, when 90% of the growth for younger demographics was concentrated in the largest metro areas. The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work options it created, along with rising housing prices, were catalysts for the change, but other interesting dynamics may also be at play. One is social connectedness. Sociologists have long believed that the community fabric of rural America contributes to economic efficiency, productive business activity, growth of communities and population health. Maps show that rural areas of the U.S. with higher social capital – those with strong networks and relationships among residents – are some of the strongest draws for younger households today. Another important dynamic for both rural communities and their new young residents is entrepreneurship, including food entrepreneurship. Rural food startups may be leveraging the social capital aligned with the legacy of agriculture in rural America, resulting in a renewed interest in craft and local foods. This includes a renaissance in foods made with local ingredients or linked to regional cultures and tastes. According to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. local sales of edible farm products increased 33% from 2017 to 2022, reaching $14.2 billion. The new ‘AgriCulture’ A 2020 study I was involved in, led by agriculture economist Sarah Low, found a positive relationship between the availability of farm-based local and organic foods and complementary food startups. The study termed this new dynamic “AgriCulture.” We found a tendency for these dynamics to occur in areas with higher natural amenities, such as hiking trails and streams, along with transportation and broadband infrastructure attractive to digital natives. The same dynamic drawing young people to the outdoors offers digital natives a way to experience far-reaching regions of the country and, in some cases, move there. A thriving food and beverage scene can be a pull for those who want to live in a vibrant community, or the new settlers and their diverse tastes may be what get food entrepreneurs started. Many urban necessities, such as shopping, can be done online, but eating and food shopping are local daily necessities. Governments can help rural food havens thrive When my colleagues and I talk to community leaders interested in attracting new industries and young families, or who seek to build community through revitalized downtowns and public spaces, the topic of food commonly arises. We encourage them to think about ways they can help draw food entrepreneurs: Can they increase local growers’ and producers’ access to food markets? Would creating shared kitchens help support food trucks and small businesses? Does their area have a local advantage, such as a seashore, hiking trails or cultural heritage, that they can market in connection with local food? Several federal, state and local economic development programs are framing strategies to bolster any momentum occurring at the crossroads of rural, social connections, resiliency, food and entrepreneurship. For example, a recent study from a collaboration of shared kitchen experts found that there were over 600 shared-use food facilities across the U.S. in 2020, and over 20% were in rural areas. In a survey of owners, the report found that 50% of respondents identified assisting early-growth businesses as their primary goal. The USDA Regional Food Business Centers, one of which I am fortunate to co-lead, have been bolstering the networking and technical assistance to support these types of rural food economy efforts. Many rural counties are still facing shrinking workforces, commonly because of lagging legacy industries with declining employment, such as mining. However, recent data and studies suggest that in rural areas with strong social capital, community support and outdoor opportunities, younger populations are growing, and their food interests are helping boost rural economies. Dawn Thilmany is a professor of agricultural economics at Colorado State University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article