Wall Street edges higher in a wobbly start to 2026

January 3, 2026

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks eked out small gains on Wall Street Friday in a wobbly day of trading to kick off the new year. Markets were mostly quiet on the first trading day of 2026, with the influential technology sector driving much of the up-and-down action. The mostly minor moves also cap off a tepid and holiday-shortened week. Markets were closed on Thursday for New Year's Day. The S&P 500 rose 12.97 points, or 0.2%, to 6,858.47. The benchmark index is coming off a gain of more than 16% in 2025. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 319.10 points, or 0.7%, to 48,382.39. The ...

Company recalls 3,000 pounds of ground beef

December 31, 2025

An Idaho-based company is recalling nearly 3,000 pounds of raw ground beef that may have been contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The recall involves 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages labeled “Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef.” Affected packages were produced Dec. 16 and have a label telling customers to use or freeze the meat by Jan. 13. The affected beef also bears the establishment number “EST 2083” on the side of its packaging. The meat was produced by Heyburn, Idaho-based Mountain West Food Group and was shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, ...

Blair Chamber to meet

December 30, 2025

The Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club will meet at 7:45 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Blair County Convention Center. The event will be a panel discussion on Blair County’s economic trends, development projects, workforce conditions and public policy priorities. The panel will feature Stephen McKnight, president and CEO, Altoona Blair County Development Corp.; Bradley Burger, executive director, Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies-PA Career Link of Blair County; Commissioner Dave Kessling, president, Blair County Commissioners; and Alex Halpern, senior vice president of ...

Makeup makeover: Department stores try to distinguish themselves as beauty lovers turn to TikTok and Amazon

December 27, 2025

NEW YORK — It’s shoppers like Quinn Kelsey who keep department store executives up at night. The 38-year-old Denver resident gets makeup ideas from TikTok videos and other social media content, not salespeople at beauty counters. She uses an AI chatbot to get product recommendations that ...

Workplace

December 27, 2025

Awards and honors Cheryl McInroy, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Premier in Bedford, recently earned The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing’s Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation as well as the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialist designation. These two accolades recognize McInroy’s experience, knowledge and expertise in marketing high-end residential properties. McInroy joins an exclusive group of real estate professionals that have completed The Institute’s training and have a proven performance in the upper-tier market. This specialized ...

Deliveries have become more polluting with fast shipping

December 27, 2025

It feels simple: You shop, find something you want and click to buy. It shows up today, overnight or tomorrow. We’ve gotten used to that speed. But that convenience comes with a climate cost. Multiple factors shape the environmental toll of a delivery. These include the distance from a ...