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US government and 17 states sue Amazon in landmark monopoly case

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

(CNN) — The US government and 17 states are suing Amazon in a landmark monopoly case reflecting years of allegations that the e-commerce giant abused its economic dominance and harmed fair competition.The groundbreaking lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission and 17 attorneys general marks the US government’s sharpest attack yet against Amazon, a company that started off selling books on the internet but has since become known as “the everything store,” expanding into selling a vast range of consumer products, creating a globe-spanning logistics network and becoming a powerhouse in other technologies such as cloud computing.The complaint alleges Amazon unfairly promotes its own platform and services at the expense of third-party sellers who rely on the company’s e-commerce marketplace for distribution.For example, according to the FTC, Amazon has harmed competition by requiring sellers on its platform to purchase Amazon’s in-house logistics services in order to secure the best ...

Why the Cowboys are changing their offense before facing the Patriots

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

The Patriots signed quarterback Will Grier off the Bengals’ practice squad three days before their win last weekend over the Jets.But they likely did so with this Sunday’s game in mind.Grier, who spent most of the past two seasons in Dallas, has his ex-Cowboy teammates and coaches on edge this week. Dallas offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer told reporters Tuesday his offense would change its signals and calls before hosting the Patriots on Sunday because he expects Grier to put his inside information to good use.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill O’Brien responds to Cowboys’ claim Patriots will interrogate ex-QB for intel New England Patriots | Patriots pass rusher reportedly suffered torn biceps vs. Jets New England Patriots | Patriots QB Mac Jones could be fined for alleged groin shot of Jets CB Sauce Gardner New England Patriots | Patriots-Jets film review: How Mac Jones and the offense made s...

How will rural Americans fare during Medicaid unwinding? Experts fear they’re on their own

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez, KFF Health NewsAbby Madore covers a lot of ground each day at work.A staffer at a community health center in Carson City, Nevada, Madore spends her days helping low-income residents understand their health insurance options, including Medicaid. Her phone is always ringing, she said, as she fields calls from clients who dial in from the state’s remote reaches seeking help.It’s a big job, especially this year as states work to sort through their Medicaid rolls after the end of a pandemic-era freeze that prohibited disenrollment.A few dozen specialists work for seven navigator organizations tasked with helping Nevadans enroll in or keep their coverage. Madore said she mostly works with people who live in rural Nevada, a sprawling landmass of more than 90,000 square miles.As a navigator, Abby Madore helps clients determine whether they’re eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program. If they’re not, she helps them f...

Only richest 20% of Americans still have excess pandemic savings

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

By Alex Tanzi, Bloomberg NewsAmericans outside the wealthiest 20% of the country have run out of extra savings and now have less cash on hand than they did when the pandemic began, according to the latest Federal Reserve study of household finances.For the bottom 80% of households by income, bank deposits and other liquid assets were lower in June this year than they were in March 2020, after adjustment for inflation.All income groups have seen their balances decline in real terms from a peak in 2021, according to the Fed survey. But among the wealthiest one-fifth of households, cash savings are still about 8% above their level when COVID-19 hit. By contrast, the poorest two-fifths of Americans have seen an 8% drop in that period. And the next 40% — a group that roughly corresponds with the U.S. middle class — saw their cash savings drop below pre-pandemic levels in the last quarter.The figures point to dwindling firepower available for U.S. consumers, whose resilience has kept the ...

John ‘Zip’ Connolly’s medical parole continued over objection of Florida prosecutor, brother of victim

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

John “Zip” Connolly, the disgraced former FBI handler of slain Southie mobster James “Whitey” Bulger, had his medical parole continued today — with a prosecutor and brother of a victim ripping the board’s decision.The Florida Commission on Offender Review voted 2-1 to allow Connolly to remain at home in Massachusetts — even as he recovers from his supposed terminal illness.Both a prosecutor and Steve Davis, brother of Debra Davis brutally murdered by the Bulger gang, called out the decision after a commissioner said Connolly is “actually taking walks outside” back home here in the Bay State.“It’s not right. It’s corrupt. It’s frustrating,” said Steve Davis today via phone during the long parole board hearing. “That piece of garbage! … I just can’t believe the state of Florida.”His sister, Debra Davis, was reportedly a victim of the Bulger gang. She was killed in 1981, but juro...

Michelle Deal-Zimmerman: A guide to the Baltimore Orioles for dummies | STAFF COMMENTARY

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

We’ve arrived at bandwagon season, and everyone is an Orioles fan. That includes me — a person not at all known for their expert analysis of sportsball.Doesn’t matter because in my house we are now firmly entrenched in Birdlandia. My husband Todd has made room for me on the couch as he alternates between yelling at the TV and answering my questions about the ins and outs of the game.If you, like me, are just setting eyes on MASN or Oriole Park but are determined to catch up on everything you’ve missed about Baltimore’s home team, here’s a guide to the Orioles for dummies.Why are they called The Birds? The team shares the name of Maryland’s state bird, the Baltimore oriole, which has glorious plumes of orange and black.What’s this rebuild thing? In 2018, after a skunk of a season, the Orioles decided to overhaul the franchise — electing to trade seasoned players in favor of up-and-comers for a “rebuild.” So they cut do...

What does it cost to build a fire pit?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

By Sean Jackson, Bankrate.comThey constantly rank among the top requested design features on American Society of Landscape Architecture surveys. Among outdoor decor renovations, “fire features” (fire pits and fireplaces) were among the top: Purchases of them rose 18 percent in 2022, according to the “2023 Houzz & Home Study.”Affordability may be part of the fire pit’s appeal. The average cost of building a fire pit is around $850, within a range between $200 and $3,000. Of course, there are multiple factors influencing costs such as materials used, the size of the fire pit, and any add-ons.Let’s gaze into the fire pit, examining the costs, the kinds available, and whether you should do it yourself or rely on pros for the job.Types of fire pitsShopping for fire pits opens a world with tons of possibilities. Here’s a breakdown of some of the more popular types and some considerations for each.Off-the-shelf fire pitsSome fire pits come ready to use straight out of the box. Basicall...

Bill O’Brien responds to Cowboys’ claim Patriots will interrogate ex-QB for intel

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

Do the Patriots have an advantage against the Cowboys this weekend because they have two of their recent ex-players on their roster?The Cowboys seem to think so.The Patriots, of course, signed Ezekiel Elliott prior to this season after the running back spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cowboys. Then, last week, they signed quarterback Will Grier to be on their practice squad after he was in the Cowboys system for parts of the last three seasons.With the Patriots set to visit Dallas this weekend, Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer claimed on Tuesday that he thinks those ex-players will be “interrogated” by New England coaches as they game plan this week in order to gain intel.“Those are things that we monitor every week, but certainly Will knows where a lot of the bones are buried. Zeke obviously does as well,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “Those are things that you talk about, and you think about, ‘OK, let’s adjust this one.’ We certainly have mo...

Amazon sued by FTC and 17 states over allegations it inflates online prices and overcharges sellers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

By HALELUYA HADERO (AP Business Writer)Amazon is being sued by U.S. regulators and and 17 states over allegations that the company abuses its position in the marketplace to inflate prices on other platforms, overcharge sellers and stifle competition. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, is the result of a years-long investigation into Amazon’s businesses and one of the most significant legal challenges brought against the company in its nearly 30-year history. According to a news release sent by the agency, the Federal Trade Commission and states that joined the lawsuit are asking the court to issue a permanent injunction court that they say would prohibit Amazon from engaging in its unlawful conduct and loosen its “monopolistic control to restore competition.” They allege the company engages in anti-competitive practices through anti-discounting measures that deter sellers from offering lower prices for products...

Sen. Booker says fellow New Jersey Democrat Menendez should resign over ‘shocking’ bribe allegations

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:14:06 GMT

By MARY CLARE JALONICK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is calling on Sen. Bob Menendez to resign, saying in a statement that the federal bribery charges unveiled on Friday against his fellow New Jersey Democrat contain ”shocking allegations of corruption and specific, disturbing details of wrongdoing.” Booker’s statement came Tuesday as a growing number of Democratic senators — at least 11 so far — are calling for the three-term senator to step aside. He has firmly rejected that idea. Menendez, former chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife Nadine were indicted on Friday, accused of using his position to aid the authoritarian government of Egypt and to pressure federal prosecutors to drop a case against a friend. The three-count indictment says they were paid bribes — gold bars, a luxury car and cash — by three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for corrupt acts.Menendez...