Cracker Barrel is ending its partnership with Prophet, the consulting firm behind its failed rebrand. The chain faced intense backlash after unveiling a new logo and redesigned stores that longtime fans said stripped away what they loved most about the brand.Cracker Barrel’s restaurants, long known for their kitschy Americana décor, were recast in a style critics called drab and soulless. The uproar grew after the company dropped its iconic logo of an elderly man leaning on a barrel.CRACKER BARREL ANTI-WOKE ...

Attorneys representing the family of a 32-year-old man who died after riding on Epic Universe's Stardust Racers roller coaster in Orlando, Florida, claim the incident was not "isolated," and several other victims have reported similar injuries after participating in the same ride. Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died at a hospital Sept. 17 after suffering multiple blunt force injuries on the Stardust Racers dual-launch ride at Universal Epic Universe, according to authorities.Zavala's family alleges Universal missed ...

Core Points - President Trump's attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook marks a significant event in the Federal Reserve's history, as it is the first time a president has sought to remove a Fed governor in its 112-year existence [2] - The outcome of Cook's lawsuit against her firing will be heard by the Supreme Court in January, following lower courts siding with her [2][3] - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which includes all seven Fed governors, is responsible for setting interest rate policy to achieve maximum employment and price stability [6][7] Group 1 - Trump's effort to reshape the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors is part of a broader strategy to influence interest rate decisions [1] - Cook's term is set to last until 2038, and her removal would allow Trump to nominate a new governor for a long-term position [12] - Currently, four of the seven Fed governors were appointed by Republicans, indicating a partisan composition within the board [10] Group 2 - The Fed's Board of Governors serves staggered 14-year terms to insulate monetary policy from political pressures [8] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term as chairman expires in May 2026, but he may continue as a board member until January 2028 [14] - The potential reappointment of Stephen Miran, who currently fills a seat until January 2026, remains uncertain [11]

Core Viewpoint - Occidental Petroleum is divesting its chemicals arm OxyChem to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7 billion to reduce debt after significant acquisitions [1][5]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The sale of OxyChem marks Occidental's largest divestment to date, aimed at slashing its debt load [1]. - OxyChem generated combined revenue of $2.42 billion in the first half of the year, producing chemicals for swimming pools and medical supplies [3]. - The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter and will be Berkshire's largest acquisition since its $11.6 billion purchase of Alleghany Corporation in 2022 [3][10]. Group 2: Financial Implications - Analysts have expressed concerns that the sale could negatively impact Occidental's free cash flow growth in the coming years, as OxyChem was anticipated to contribute significantly to expansion [2]. - The transaction price of $9.7 billion is viewed as low compared to previous estimates of OxyChem's value at $12 billion [2]. - Occidental plans to use $6.5 billion of the proceeds from the sale to reduce its debt, aiming to bring total principal debt below the $15 billion target set after the CrownRock acquisition [9]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - The divestment indicates Occidental's strategic refocus on its core oil and gas business, which accounted for 75% of its total earnings last year [10]. - CEO Vicki Hollub stated that the sale would enable the company to "unlock 20-plus years of low-cost resource runway" in oil and gas [11]. Group 4: Background Context - Berkshire Hathaway is Occidental's largest shareholder, having begun acquiring a stake in the company in February 2022 [4]. - The divestment follows Occidental's $55 billion acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum, which left the company with significant debt [5][8].

Core Insights - Investors have invested over $900 billion into U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2025, with a net inflow of $917 billion through September 29, indicating a potential record year if the trend continues [1][2][8] - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to approve dual-share class structures, allowing mutual fund investors to convert to ETFs in a tax-efficient manner, which could further boost ETF inflows [3][6][7] Investment Trends - ETFs have gained popularity due to their tax advantages and efficiency compared to mutual funds, with significant inflows driven by bullish investors seeking diverse investment strategies [2][6] - The total assets in U.S. ETFs reached a record $12.19 trillion by the end of August 2025, up from $10.35 trillion at the end of the previous year [8] Notable Funds and Strategies - Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and BlackRock's iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) have seen nearly $140 billion in net inflows this year, averaging close to $1 billion per trading day [9] - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has emerged as the fastest-growing ETF, attracting nearly $24 billion in 2025, highlighting the demand for innovative investment products [12] Market Dynamics - The shift towards active ETFs has accelerated, with active funds now comprising close to 10% of the market's assets and capturing 37% of total inflows through July 2025 [17] - Financial advisers are increasingly moving away from traditional investment strategies, opting for alternative strategies that offer customization and risk management [16][18]

Leading health insurers announced Wednesday that they will scale back their Medicare Advantage offerings next year as the health insurance industry braces for decreases in government reimbursement. The U.S. government has been cutting back payments on Medicare Advantage since 2024 to reduce spending. Medicare Advantage is a privately-run insurance program that serves people aged 65 and above as well as those with disabilities.CVS Health's Aetna insurance business said its prescription drug plans will be ava ...

A partial government shutdown began on Wednesday with Republicans and Democrats at an impasse over spending levels, which has increased uncertainty over economic conditions and how financial markets will react. It's unclear when lawmakers will reach a compromise that allows them to end the shutdown, but experts anticipate that financial markets will be relatively unfazed by the dysfunctional funding of the federal government in the meantime.Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial, said ...

Nearly one in five American homes listed for sale reportedly saw a price cut in September, as rising inventory shifted more power to buyers. The number of listings with price cuts reached 19.9%, unchanged from August but up modestly from last year. Homes priced between $350,000 and $500,000 saw the steepest markdowns at 21.6%, while luxury properties over $1 million were less likely to see reductions, at just 13.3%, according to a Thursday report from Realtor.com.FROM AMERICA'S ‘WORST MARKET’ TO WEALTH HAVE ...

Companies in the private sector lost 32,000 jobs in June, payroll processing firm ADP said Wednesday. The figure is below economists’ estimates of a gain of 50,000 jobs. The prior month's payrolls number was revised downward to a loss of 3,000 from an initially reported gain of 54,000."Despite the strong economic growth we saw in the second quarter, this month's release further validates what we've been seeing in the labor market, that U.S. employers have been cautious with hiring," said ADP chief economist ...

On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee warned about rising inflation and said it isn't clear whether tariff-induced price hikes will be a one-off or could pose a more persistent challenge for policymakers if stagflation sets in. Goolsbee spoke with FOX Business' Edward Lawrence at the Midwest Agriculture Conference on Tuesday and said that inflation's recent rise is concerning after the pace of price growth was easing from the 40-year high reached in 2022 amid the post-COVID i ...