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Chris Spiker

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Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market
Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market A record number of federal student loan borrowers are seriously delinquent as debt collections resume after a five-year pause, while new college graduates face tough employment prospects. The Education Department restarted collecting defaulted federal student loan debt on Monday, May 5. Collections were paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move threatens to seize tax refunds and garnish paychecks from millions of Americans in default on their loans. The Education Department said about 42.7 million people owe more than $1.6 trillion in student loan d…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Trump’s 100% Movie Tariff Plan Rattles Studios, Sends Streaming Stocks Sliding Trump’s 100% Movie Tariff Plan Rattles Studios, Sends Streaming Stocks Sliding
Trump’s 100% Movie Tariff Plan Rattles Studios, Sends Streaming Stocks Sliding President Donald Trump said he wants to slap a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies to support what he called a "dying" industry, sparking pushback from film producers and lawmakers. Trump announced his plan for the movie tariffs in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, May 4. His post claimed he was authorizing the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to begin instituting the 100% tariffs on films made outside the US. It's unclear how tariffs would be imposed on movie production and distribution. "The Movie Industry in America is DYING…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Suspension Failure Triggers Recall Of Nearly 50K Utility Vehicles Suspension Failure Triggers Recall Of Nearly 50K Utility Vehicles
Suspension Failure Triggers Recall Of Nearly 50K Utility Vehicles A dangerous defect that can cause drivers to lose control has triggered a nationwide recall of nearly 50,000 utility vehicles. Kubota Tractor Corporation is recalling about 49,640 RTV-series utility vehicles, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, May 1. A front suspension flaw in the vehicle can pose a serious crash hazard. The ball joint that connects to the RTV's front suspension arm can loosen or separate. The issue could potentially cause drivers to lose wheel support and control of the vehicle. According to the CPSC, there have been four reports …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Portable Chargers Spark Several Fires, Prompting Massive Recall Portable Chargers Spark Several Fires, Prompting Massive Recall
Portable Chargers Spark Several Fires, Prompting Massive Recall A recall was issued for a popular high-capacity phone charger sold on Amazon and other major retailers after dozens of alarming battery incidents, including some chargers that caught fire. About 55,380 Baseus 65-watt portable chargers have been recalled, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, May 1. The lithium-ion batteries in the chargers can overheat, posing a fire risk. According to the CPSC, Baseus has received 76 reports of overheating, including 72 cases of the battery bulging. The issue has sparked four fires, three of which caused property damage. …

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by Chris Spiker
News
PA's Foster Care System Ranked In Nation's Bottom Half, New Study Says: Here's Why PA's Foster Care System Ranked In Nation's Bottom Half, New Study Says: Here's Why
PA's Foster Care System Ranked In Nation's Bottom Half, New Study Says: Here's Why Northeast and mid-Atlantic states showed wide disparities in foster care quality, with some ranking among the nation's best and others falling behind, according to a new study. SmileHub released its 2025 list of States With the Best Foster Care Systems on Tuesday, April 29. The study analyzed every state using 19 key foster care metrics, from adoption timelines and high school graduation rates to monthly stipends. The ranking used a weighted scoring system across three categories: foster youth baselines, community environment and support systems, and legal support. …

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by Chris Spiker
Business
American Airlines Adds Luxury Suites With Privacy Doors On Some PHL Flights: Look Inside American Airlines Adds Luxury Suites With Privacy Doors On Some PHL Flights: Look Inside
American Airlines Adds Luxury Suites With Privacy Doors On Some PHL Flights: Look Inside Flyers from Philadelphia can soon travel in luxury with new suites on American Airlines flights. American unveiled its Flagship Suite service on Friday, May 2. The premium seating will have privacy doors, lie-flat seats, and other upgraded amenities. Flagship Suite service at Philadelphia International Airport will begin Wednesday, Aug. 6, on flights to London Heathrow Airport. The high-end seats will also be on flights to Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Sept. 3. American's new cabins are part of the airline's redesigned Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which features 51 lie-flat suites at…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Subway Closing Hundreds Of Restaurants Yearly, Aims For 'Smart Growth' Amid Brand Refresh Subway Closing Hundreds Of Restaurants Yearly, Aims For 'Smart Growth' Amid Brand Refresh
Subway Closing Hundreds Of Restaurants Yearly, Aims For 'Smart Growth' Amid Brand Refresh The largest fast-food chain in the US is rapidly losing restaurants. Subway closed 631 locations in 2024, QSR Magazine reported on Tuesday, April 29. The sandwich giant ended the year with 19,502 restaurants nationwide – the lowest count in nearly 20 years. The Shelton, Connecticut-based company has shuttered about 7,616 locations in the US since peaking in 2015 with more than 27,000 restaurants. 2024 also marked Subway's largest yearly decline since it lost 1,043 locations in 2021. Despite mass closings, Subway remains the biggest restaurant brand in the US. Starbucks …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Exploding Lids Burn 100+ People, Sparking Recall Of 1.85M Pressure Cookers Exploding Lids Burn 100+ People, Sparking Recall Of 1.85M Pressure Cookers
Exploding Lids Burn 100+ People, Sparking Recall Of 1.85M Pressure Cookers Meal prep turned dangerous for more than 100 people after pressure cooker lids flew open, sending scalding food flying. SharkNinja is recalling about 1,846,400 of its Foodi OP300 Series Multi-Function Pressure Cookers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, May 1. About 184,240 pressure cookers were also sold in Canada. The CPSC said 106 people reported burn injuries. More than 50 victims suffered second- or third-degree burns to their faces or bodies. The hazard stems from a defect that allows the lid to open while pressure is still inside, causi…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
McDonald's Suffers Biggest US Sales Hit Since COVID-19 Pandemic Began: Here's Why McDonald's Suffers Biggest US Sales Hit Since COVID-19 Pandemic Began: Here's Why
McDonald's Suffers Biggest US Sales Hit Since Covid-19 Pandemic Began: Here's Why Sales at McDonald's experienced their sharpest drop since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as companies struggle to navigate chaotic economic conditions in the US. McDonald's sales in the US fell 3.6% in the first quarter of 2025, the company said in its earnings report on Thursday, May 1. The drop marks the fast food giant's steepest quarterly decline since the second quarter of 2020, when US sales plummeted by 8.7% as the pandemic forced restaurants worldwide to temporarily close. The slump was more than double what economists expected and came as inflation, tariffs, and…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Jeff Bezos Selling Billions In Amazon Stock Amid Focus On Politics, Space Travel Jeff Bezos Selling Billions In Amazon Stock Amid Focus On Politics, Space Travel
Jeff Bezos Selling Billions In Amazon Stock Amid Focus On Politics, Space Travel Billionaire Jeff Bezos is planning to unload millions of Amazon shares, which could be worth about $5 billion. Bezos will sell up to 25 million Amazon shares, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, May 2. The sales are expected to be completed by Friday, May 29, 2026. The shares could be worth up to $5 billion, depending on their value when sold. The tech giant's stock opened at $191.90 per share on May 2, down about 21% from its record high in early February. Bezos, who serves as Amazon's executive chair, founded the company a…

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by Chris Spiker
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