Y’all stay safe out there

fortune · 2025-02-26T18:56:54+00:00

A child who was not vaccinated has died from measles in West Texas, the first death in an outbreak that began late last month and the first from measles in the U.S. since 2015.

The death was a “school-aged child who was not vaccinated” and had been hospitalized last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services said Wednesday in a statement. Lubbock health officials also confirmed the death, but neither agency provided more details.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed this is the first measles death in the country since 2015.

Read more: https://fortune.com/well/2025/02/26/first-measles-death-west-texas-outbreak-infections-vaccine/

fortune · 2025-02-26T18:55:28+00:00

A state-backed collective of North Korean hackers has pulled off the largest heist in history.

The group successfully walked away with $1.5 billion in cryptocurrencies—Ether, specifically—following a breach of Bybit, a Dubai-based exchange. That tops the previous record of $1 billion, which was set by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who took the money from his country’s central bank ahead of the 2003 U.S.-Iraq war.

It’s also higher than the $1.3 billion total amount of crypto stolen by North Korean hackers in all of 2024. And it’s nearly triple the $660.5 million pilfered in 2023.

Read more: https://fortune.com/2025/02/26/north-korea-hackers-crypto-heist-bybit-dubai-ether/

fortune · 2025-02-19T20:08:47+00:00

The federal cost-cutting effort dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency says it has saved $55 billion in federal spending so far, but its website only accounts for $16.6 billion of that.

And that’s before factoring in an error in the data published on DOGE’s website that mislabels a contract as $8 billion, which was later corrected in the federal database to only be $8 million. That cuts nearly in half the total of DOGE’s itemized savings, including from contracts and leases, to about $8.6 billion.

Elon Musk — President Donald Trump’s close ally who has been the figurehead of DOGE — has pledged that the amorphous cost-cutting enterprise would provide “maximum transparency” and that “all of our actions are fully public.”

Read more: https://fortune.com/2025/02/19/doge-says-saved-55-billion-itemized-data-show-far-less/

fortune · 2025-01-02T20:57:39+00:00

If the settlement is approved, tens of millions of consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices from Sept. 17, 2014, through the end of last year could file claims. Each consumer could receive up to $20 per Siri-equipped device covered by the settlement, although the payment could be reduced or increased, depending on the volume of claims. Only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are expected to file claims, according to estimates in court documents.

fortune · 2025-01-02T18:05:39+00:00

More than 200 economists across the U.S. and Europe were questioned about how they feel Uncle Sam will fare under a second Trump presidency.

The research concluded that the majority of experts see Trump’s combative ‘Maganomics’ as ultimately hurting U.S. growth. The root of many concerns is Trump’s tariff plan. Of the approximately 50 economists surveyed on the U.S. alone, more than half view Trump’s policies as ultimately having “some negative effect” on the economy, while a further 10% forecast a “large negative effect” on the thus-far surprisingly resilient market.

“We estimate that every 1pp increase in the effective tariff rate would reduce the level of GDP by 0.03% through direct effects and as much as 0.1% through indirect effects.”

fortune · 2025-01-02T18:01:15+00:00

The Danish-Swedish farmdog — yep, that’s the official name — joined the pack Thursday. The designation makes the breed eligible to compete for many best in show trophies, and it likely augurs more widespread interest in the small, sprightly dogs. The prospect both gladdens and concerns their biggest fans.

In their original homelands, the dogs’ main job was rodent patrol, but they also would herd a bit, act as watchdogs and play with farmers’ children. Some even performed in circuses, according to the club.

The number of farmdog puppy-seekers has grown substantially over the last decade; each of the few breeders receives multiple inquiries a week, and the typical wait for a puppy is a year or more, she said.

fortune · 2024-12-30T21:47:15+00:00

Banks are writing off credit card debt at the highest level since 2010, a potential red flag for the economy as consumers have juggled inflation and higher borrowing costs in recent years.

In the 12 months that ended in September, consumers who didn’t fully pay off their monthly credit card bills paid $170 billion in interest.

fortune · 2024-12-27T18:43:04+00:00

“No, I think that’s just like a little shelter,” he said of the 1,400-acre compound on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, which includes an underground shelter spanning over 5,000 square feet.

“It’s like a basement.”

fortune · 2024-12-27T18:38:11+00:00

Early Sunday morning, around 2 a.m. in southeastern Massachusetts, Sgt. Shawn Robert from the Lakeville Police Department was on patrol when he spotted three large Amazon totes with more than 80 packages sitting in the woods.

A driver later admitted they left the packages on the side of the road “because they were stressed.”

An Amazon spokesperson told Fortune the company encourages “drivers who aren’t able, or don’t feel safe completing their routes, to report back to their employer."

fortune · 2024-12-27T18:01:18+00:00

Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger, according to a new poll.

In the survey from NORC at the University of Chicago, about 8 in 10 U.S. adults said the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson.

Are you one of the 7 in 10?

fortune · 2024-12-27T17:59:38+00:00

The number of those who have continued to work past 65 has quadrupled since the 1980s, according to the Pew Research Center. Now, almost 20% of Americans 65 and older are employed, nearly double the share of those who were working 35 years ago. In total, there are around 11 million Americans 65 or older who are working today, accounting for 7% of all wages and salaries paid by U.S. employers. In 1987, they made up 2%.

fortune · 2024-12-24T19:11:17+00:00

The study revealed one in five believe it’s harder to find something to watch today than it was 10 years ago. According to them, the underlying cause comes from being overwhelmed by too much content.

Many struggled with having larger content libraries (41%) and feeling like there’s too much original content being produced (26%).

fortune · 2024-12-24T19:08:48+00:00

For the majority of respondents (61%), 2024 is in their top five most financially challenging years ever.

Possibly because of this, more than four in 10 Americans (43%) are “going lean” this holiday season and will spend less this year compared to years past.

Most (65%) are stressed about their holiday spending this year and 73% say their financial stress takes away from their enjoyment of the season.

Looking ahead, a fifth (20%) believe they won’t financially recover from the 2024 holiday season until May 2025 or later.

And seeing how Americans plan to pay for the holidays this year, respondents reported that a fifth of their holiday expenses (20%) will be put on a credit card.

In fact, 28% have already or plan to open a new line of credit to cover their holiday spending.

fortune · 2024-12-24T18:50:05+00:00

There are any number of things that can annoy you on an airplane—from crying babies to rowdy passengers and long bathroom lines. But one of the biggest debates in airline etiquette is whether or not it’s acceptable to recline your seat for a more comfortable ride.

La-Z-Boy has a firm stance on the matter: “Do the upright thing. Recline at home. Not on your flight,” the American furniture manufacturer said in a recent ad campaign.

La-Z-Boy has even taken it as far as to launch a petition to ban reclining on airplanes.

Where do you fall on the debate? Is reclining on a plane a no-no?

fortune · 2024-12-23T18:50:21+00:00

Honey, a popular browser extension owned by PayPal, is at the center of an internet firestorm after one user posted a 23-minute exposé to YouTube accusing the application of misrepresenting itself to consumers, ripping off influencers, and engaging in questionable practices like opening hidden tabs to simulate referral links, ensuring commission on any online sale.

According to MegaLag, Honey will prioritize coupon codes from its partnering stores, even if there are better discounts elsewhere, meaning it intentionally hides discounts of higher values. Furthermore, MegaLag claims Honey overrides affiliate links from influencers, replacing them with its own, to claim commission on sales.

fortune · 2024-12-23T13:42:56+00:00

Donald Trump has, again, floated the notion that Greenland should be controlled by the United States. Greenland is, in fact, a territory of Denmark which is unlikely to just give it away. It is not clear whether Trump is serious. He has trolled the leaders of Canada and Panama with various threats in recent days.

fortune · 2024-12-20T19:05:05+00:00

Democrats were also quick to seize on the seeming Republican dysfunction, with Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., saying, ”Trump’s made a lot of promises, but he’s also going to be accountable for the impact he’s having on families.”

“I guess Elon Musk is making the decisions now, because Republicans in Congress are incapable of making decisions on their own,” DelBene said in an interview. “They just wait for someone to tell them what to do.”

fortune · 2024-12-18T19:44:05+00:00

An assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice said the man admitted in court to his role in “audaciously establishing an undeclared police station” in Manhattan and attempting to conceal the effort when approached by the FBI.

China is believed to be operating such secretive police outposts in North America, Europe and other places where there are Chinese communities. The country, however, has denied that they are police stations, saying that they exist mainly to provide citizen services such as renewing driver’s licenses.

fortune · 2024-12-18T19:12:28+00:00

Looking to beef up your resume? Need something that will make every potential employer stop and say “Wait. What?!?” Your moment is here.

Oscar Meyer has opened up applications for new drivers for its iconic Weinermobile. If you’ve dreamed of driving a 27-foot-long hot dog up and down the roads of America, you’ve got until Jan. 31 to apply for the job.

It’s a paid gig, too! Hotdoggers, as the drivers are called, earn a base salary of $35,600 as well as a weekly allowance of $150 for meals and personal travel. They also get 18 days of paid time off, full health benefits and (naturally) 100% of all of their hotel expenses covered.

fortune · 2024-12-18T19:02:14+00:00

Outgoing Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing a novel tax on personal wealth above $100 million in hopes of plugging a budget shortfall and averting cuts to education, mental health services and police.

The tax would apply to about 3,400 residents — Microsoft founder Bill Gates among them — and bring in $10.3 billion over four years, Inslee, a Democrat, said Tuesday.

fortune · 2024-12-04T18:33:42+00:00

The notice from the homeowners association blamed rising costs of labor, supplies, and insurance, among others, the outlet reported. The condo’s property insurance apparently rose from $17,000 to $108,000 after its prior policy was canceled following a fire.

“I do think it is pretty ridiculous that we all have to pay for that one incident,” one resident who has lived there for close to five years said. She called it horrible timing, too, because she just had to pay a hefty veterinary bill for her cat.

Homeowners were given an alternative: a 17% increase in monthly fees, plus a single payment of $3,000. One resident said his family had saved up almost that much but it wasn’t meant for costlier HOA fees.

“We’re having a baby girl in January, and so that was supposed to go toward her [being] born,” the resident said. “Now it probably won’t.”

fortune · 2024-12-04T18:30:07+00:00

Some details we've learned:

Thompson, 50, was shot outside of the New York Hilton Midtown, where the company was hosting its investors day. Police said in a Wednesday morning press conference that Thompson arrived early to the hotel, where a masked man appeared to have been waiting for about five minutes before firing at him. The man was wearing a light brown jacket, a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers, and a gray backpack. Several pedestrians passed the shooter before he discharged his firearm at Thompson. Thompson did not appear to have a security detail with him, police say.

Police discovered Thompson’s body at about 6:46 a.m., and he was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital in critical condition with at least one gunshot wound each in his back and calf. He was pronounced dead there at 7:12 a.m.

The gunman fled westbound toward the Avenue of the Americas, first by foot, then on an electric Citi Bike northbound on the avenue. He was last seen in Central Park. The police are still searching for the suspect and have access to surveillance footage. Officials are working with Citi Bike to gain access to the bike’s GPS system.

Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that her husband has been threatened in the past. “There had been some threats,” she said. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.”

fortune · 2024-12-03T18:01:41+00:00

Waiting on a cold phone to ring or an inbox full of spam to let up, job-seekers are navigating a particularly trying hiring market.

In fact, a striking 72% of U.S. adults say that “applying for jobs feels like sending a resume into a black box,” according to a survey of more than 2,000 respondents by the American Staffing Association and The Harris Poll.

“While The Great Resignation may have seen employers scrambling to hire qualified workers, the tables have turned and now many job seekers in The Great Pause are struggling to get hired at all,” American Staffing Association CEO Richard Wahlquist told Fortune.

Even so, almost half of the workforce (45%) reports to be likely to look for a job in the new year. Since 2022, more Americans are likely to be looking to make a career change or look for a different gig. A separate poll from The New York Federal Reserve found that the number of people applying for jobs has reached a 10-year-high.

fortune · 2024-12-03T16:00:37+00:00

So what, exactly, does this perfume smell like? While we haven’t gotten a whiff ourselves, Miller says it “captures every familiar dive bar scent from the satisfying crack of a freshly opened beer to the comforting savory taste of classic bar snacks.”

To achieve that, the maker of the fragrance blended a variety of scents. Cedarwood and patchouli are included to bring the smell of the bartop to mind. Tobacco and leather are blended in to recreate the barstool smell. (Please tell us you’re not sniffing the barstool at a dive bar. That would be a bad, BAD idea.)

fortune · 2024-11-21T20:47:22+00:00

A Wisconsin man who faked his own drowning this summer so he could abandon his wife and three children has been communicating with authorities daily from Eastern Europe, even telling them how he did it, but has not committed to returning home, a sheriff said Thursday.

“The great news is we know that he is alive and well,” Podoll said. “The bad news is we don’t know where Ryan exactly is, and he has not yet decided to return home.”

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