‘Rent now, pay later’ services rise despite fees

February 5, 2026

NEW YORK — Rent can eat up an entire paycheck at the start of the month, so a growing number of renters are turning to a financial product that promises relief by letting them split the bill — for a price. So-called “rent now, pay later” services have emerged over the past few years as housing costs climb and paychecks grow less predictable, particularly for lower-income and gig-economy workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rents have jumped nearly 28% in past five years. Companies such as Flex, Livble and, more recently, Affirm, say breaking rent into multiple ...

China to ban hidden car door handles

February 5, 2026

HONG KONG — China will ban hidden door handles on cars, commonly used on Tesla's electric vehicles and many other EV models, starting next year. All car doors must include a mechanical release function for handles, except for the tailgate, according to details released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Monday. Officials said the policy aims to address safety concerns after fatal EV accidents where electronic doors reportedly failed to operate and trapped passengers inside vehicles. The new requirement for both internal and external door handles will take ...

Ticker: Musk vows to put data centers in space

February 5, 2026

Elon Musk is bringing the same revolutionary thinking that helped him upend the car industry to the data center business with promises this week to put up to a million new satellites in the sky. But it won’t be easy. Experts say it’s not clear how Musk will keep these orbiting AI supercomputers from overheating, fix glitches on gear in the sky, and stop space debris from punching a hole in his ambitious plans. To help him reach his goals, Musk combined SpaceX with his AI business on Monday and is planning massive IPO later in the year. Google results show company getting ...

Sustained for a century: Carrolltown’s Farabaugh Farm named to state’s Century Farm rolls

February 4, 2026

CARROLLTOWN — It’s not easy to sustain a family farm for more than 100 years. Farabaugh Farm, along Route 219 just south of Carrolltown, was honored as Cambria County’s 33rd century farm during Ag Progress Days in August. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture created the Century ...

Briefcase: Health assessment finalized

February 4, 2026

JOHNSTOWN The Conemaugh Health System, The United Way of the Southern Alleghenies, 1889 Foundation and the Center for Population Health, along with community partners, have finalized the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, which will provide a foundation for improving and promoting the health of each community in Cambria and Somerset counties. The CHNA is a systematic collection, assembly, analysis and dissemination of information about the comprehensive health of the community. As part of this assessment, a community health survey was distributed in May 2025. The CHNA was sent to ...

Trump’s detention center expansion faces pushback

February 4, 2026

With tensions high over federal immigration enforcement, some state and local officials are pushing back against the Trump administration’s attempts to house thousands of detained immigrants in jails, converted warehouses and privately run facilities in their communities. Federal officials have been scouting cities and counties across the U.S. for places to hold immigrants as they roll out a massive $45 billion expansion of detention facilities financed by President Donald Trump’s recent tax-cutting law. The fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration enforcement ...