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Ticker: US economy grows at a sluggish 1.5 percent

The U.S. economy expanded at a sluggish 1.5% pace from April through June as rising imports weighed on growth. But consumer spending rose. And the Federal Reserve’s favored measure of inflation grew more slowly last month, but remained above the central bank’s 2% target. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that growth in U.S. gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — decelerated from 2.1% in the first three months of 2026 and came in below economists’ expectations. Mortgage rate rises to highest level in a year The average long-term U.S. ...

Briefcase: Local businesses recognized by Pennsylvania Chamber Foundation

HARRISBURG Local businesses recognized The Pennsylvania Chamber Foundation announced the recipients of its 2026 “Greatest Places to Intern in PA” awards, recognizing organizations across the Commonwealth that provide exceptional internship experiences and help prepare students for successful careers. High-quality internships give students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge, develop professional skills and explore career pathways while helping employers connect with future talent. Included among those recognized are: Sheetz Inc., 84 Lumber Company, Fulton Bank, Leonard ...

Musk’s xAI sues Minnesota over ban on ‘nudification’

Elon Musk’s company xAI has sued Minnesota over the state’s first-in-the-nation law that bans “nudification” technology on websites and apps, potentially providing a test for how far states can go in constitutionally regulating the use of artificial intelligence. Musk’s company sued Monday in federal court, days before the law is set to take effect Saturday and make Minnesota the first state to try to outlaw the increasingly proliferating technology that lets people use AI to to create fake nude images of real people. The law was signed in May. In the 38-page lawsuit, xAI — ...

Wisconsin anti-union law restored

A Wisconsin appeals court on Wednesday restored a 2011 anti-union law that abolished collective bargaining rights, in a setback for unions and public workers. Unions are expected to appeal, sending the case to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled by liberal justices. The 2024 ruling striking down the law as unconstitutional had been on hold pending appeal, so Wednesday’s reversal does not change the status quo. The law remains in effect, as it has been the past 15 years, as the legal fight continues. Enactment of a 2011 anti-union state law, championed by Republicans, ...

Ticker: Oil prices jump; AI stocks drag Street lower

Oil prices got back to jumping, while sinking technology stocks dragged Wall Street lower amid uncertainty about what the Federal Reserve will do to get high inflation under control. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% Wednesday after briefly erasing all of an earlier drop of 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 2.2%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.7%. The price of Brent oil leaped back above $88 per barrel to add further pressure on inflation. Minnesota prediction market ban blocked A federal judge has temporarily blocked Minnesota’s law banning prediction markets, which was set to ...

American confidence in US economy falls with Iran war

WASHINGTON — Americans’ confidence in the economy fell this month as gas prices resumed their climb after the U.S. and Iran stepped up their fighting. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June. That’s essentially the same tepid range its been in since the beginning of the year. In late 2024 and early 2025 the readings were well above 100. Consumer attitudes had improved modestly in June as gas prices came down to around $3.70 a gallon from more than $4.50 a gallon in late April and early May. But as fighting in the ...