Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court in a landmark trial over claims that social media platforms harm children — his first time answering youth safety allegations before a jury. The bellwether lawsuit, K.G.M. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., et al., was filed by a 20-year-old California woman identified by her initials. She alleges that Meta and other social media companies engineered their platforms to hook young users, fueling her depression and suicidal thoughts, and is s ...

The Austin, Texas, region has seen its population grow rapidly over the last decade, with new data showing it added households at about four-times the pace of the nation as a whole. Data from the National Association of Realtors showed that the metropolitan area encompassing Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos saw the number of households grow roughly 51% from 2014 to 2024.The Austin region gained 357,000 households from 2014 to 2024, which brought the number of households in the region from 703,976 to 1,061, ...

America’s hottest housing markets aren’t in flashy coastal cities — they’re in communities across the Midwest and South. Even as the national market cools, areas in states like Missouri and Kentucky are seeing double-digit price growth while remaining within reach for middle-income buyers.Recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) ranked the top five single-family metro areas with the highest home price appreciation last quarter. Missouri’s Cape Girardeau held the top spot with a nearly 20% ...

Core Viewpoint - General Mills has reduced its annual sales and profit forecasts due to weak consumer sentiment and a shift towards healthier, lower-cost food options impacting demand for packaged products [1][9]. Group 1: Sales and Profit Forecasts - The company now expects annual sales to decline by 1.5% to 2%, a revision from its previous forecast of a decline of 1% to an increase of 1% [11]. - General Mills anticipates that annual adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share will fall by 16% to 20% in constant currency, compared to the earlier outlook of a 10% to 15% decline [13]. Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - Weak consumer sentiment, heightened uncertainty, and significant volatility have negatively impacted category growth and altered consumer purchasing patterns, leading to a slower recovery in volume and higher costs than expected [2]. - The shift in consumer preferences towards healthier options and the increased use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are further pressuring demand for packaged foods [3][6]. - Economic pressures are causing lower- and middle-income consumers to focus more on value, reshaping their spending patterns [6][7]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - General Mills faces growing competition in the protein options market, which is affecting its product lines, including its own protein cereals [5]. - Other companies in the industry, such as PepsiCo, have responded to consumer backlash by cutting prices on core brands, indicating a trend towards value offerings [9].

Group 1 - The FDA announced a recall of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon due to potential listeria contamination [1][4] - The recalled salmon was sold in 2-lb bags at BJ's Wholesale Club stores across several states from January 31 to February 7 [1] - Slade Gorton & Co. is investigating the source of the contamination and is implementing measures to prevent future occurrences [4] Group 2 - Listeria monocytogenes was detected in a random sample collected by the FDA [4] - Healthy individuals may experience short-term symptoms from listeria infection, while pregnant women face more severe risks [7] - BJ's Wholesale Club is notifying members who may have purchased the affected product and providing information on refunds [9]

Core Insights - Dollar Tree is strategically opening new stores in affluent areas to attract higher-income customers who tend to spend more per visit [1][6] - The percentage of new Dollar Tree stores in high-income ZIP codes has increased to 19% over the last six years, while those in low-income areas have decreased to 14% [2] - Higher-income households are becoming a significant driver of consumer spending, prompting Dollar Tree to adapt its strategy to appeal to these shoppers [3][10] Store Location Strategy - 49% of new Dollar Tree stores opened in the last six years are in wealthier parts of metro areas, up from 41% in the previous six years [1] - The share of new stores in ZIP codes with significantly higher incomes rose from 16% to 19% in the same timeframe [2] - Conversely, the share of stores opened in lower-income ZIP codes fell from 20% to 14% [2] Customer Demographics - In the last quarter, 60% of new Dollar Tree customers had annual incomes of at least six figures, with 30% being middle-income households earning between $60,000 and $100,000 [6] - Higher-income customers spend an average of $1 more per visit compared to lower-income customers, and an additional visit per year from these customers could increase annual sales by $1 billion [6] Market Trends - Economic downturns typically boost business for dollar stores, but the current strategy focuses on attracting higher-income shoppers who are making more deliberate spending choices [3][7] - The shift in consumer shopping preferences, driven by inflation, has led more households to seek out discount retailers like Dollar Tree [11]

Gas prices have surged in California in recent weeks as the state's supply is constrained due to recent reductions in refining capacity. The price of gas rose 40 cents in about two weeks, with the average price of gas across the state of California at $4.58 a gallon – an increase from $4.46 the prior week and $4.18 two weeks before that, according to data from AAA.Those figures are well above the national average of $2.92 a gallon. California's gas prices are the highest of all states, topping $4.37 a gallo ...

Group 1: Company Strategy and Performance - Wendy's plans to close 5% to 6% of its 5,959 U.S. restaurants, equating to approximately 298 to 358 locations, in the first half of the year as part of its turnaround strategy called Project Fresh [4] - The company reported a decline of 11.3% in same-store sales in the U.S. for the October to December quarter [1] - Interim CEO Ken Cook emphasized the need to shift focus towards value to attract customers who are feeling the strain of higher living costs [4][8] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like McDonald's have successfully increased U.S. sales by 6.8% in the fourth quarter by focusing on value and affordability [8] - Wendy's has introduced a new permanent value menu called "Biggie Deals," featuring customization options at three price points: $4, $6, and $8 [8] - The company aims to restore relevance and rebuild trust with customers through disciplined execution and marketing in 2026, which is designated as a "rebuilding year" [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the upcoming leadership change at the Federal Reserve with Kevin Warsh nominated to replace Jerome Powell, highlighting the advice from Governor Stephen Miran on how Warsh should approach monetary policy during a critical economic period [1][3]. Group 1: Monetary Policy Approach - Miran advises Warsh to adopt a forward-looking perspective rather than a backward-looking one, emphasizing that being excessively focused on past data could lead to being behind the curve [2]. - Miran believes the current economic conditions do not warrant a strictly data-driven approach, which has characterized the Fed under Powell, suggesting that the time for data dependence is when there is significant uncertainty, which he does not perceive at present [5]. Group 2: Political Context and Challenges - Miran's appointment to the Fed by President Trump comes amid significant turmoil, including legal issues involving other Fed officials and investigations related to Powell [8]. - Warsh's nomination may face delays due to Republican opposition linked to the ongoing investigation into Powell, with Senator Thom Tillis indicating he will oppose Fed nominees until the investigation concludes [9]. - The hold placed by Tillis on Warsh's nomination could complicate the confirmation process, requiring a discharge vote in the Senate, which is challenging in a closely divided chamber [11].

Core Viewpoint - Texas Governor Greg Abbott has introduced a five-point plan aimed at reforming the state's property tax system to provide greater relief for homeowners, positioning it as a central element of his re-election campaign for a fourth term in office [1][2]. Group 1: Plan Overview - The five-point plan includes stricter limits on local government spending and tighter caps on property appraisals, with the ultimate goal of eliminating school district property taxes for homeowners [2][5]. - The plan proposes to limit local government spending growth to either the rate of population growth plus inflation or 3.5%, whichever is lower [5]. - A requirement for a two-thirds voter approval for local property tax increases is included, mirroring a supermajority requirement for some statewide property tax increases [5][6]. Group 2: Voter Involvement - Voters will have the opportunity to influence property tax reductions, with a provision allowing 15% of voters in a jurisdiction to petition for a rollback vote [6]. - The plan also includes a provision for voters to consider a constitutional amendment to eliminate school district property taxes for homeowners, with the state committing to fully fund public education, potentially halving property tax bills [13]. Group 3: Appraisal Reforms - The proposal mandates that property appraisals occur every five years instead of annually, which is expected to help homeowners better predict their property tax obligations [9]. - The cap on homestead appraisal increases would be reduced from 10% to 3% per year, and this cap would also apply to all properties, including rental and commercial [10].