CVS Health steers through rising costs in strong 4Q
CVS Health steered through rising costs in its insurance division to handily beat profit expectations on Wall Street. The drugstore chain and pharmacy benefits manager earned $1.64 billion, or $1.30 per share, for the period ended Dec. 31. A year earlier, the company earned $2.05 billion, or $1.58 per share. Removing one-time costs and benefits, [...]
Armed IRS agents sought for immigration enforcement
WASHINGTON (AP) — For years, Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have railed against the IRS and its cadre of armed agents. Now the administration has big plans for them: It wants the agents to assist with immigration enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a request to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to borrow IRS workers [...]
2,400 new JFK assassination records found, FBI announces
DALLAS (AP) — The FBI said it discovered 2,400 new records related to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy as federal agencies work to comply with an executive order last month to release thousands of files. The FBI said it’s working to transfer the records to the National Archives and Records Administration to [...]
SEC requests pause in lawsuit with crypto firm Binance
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking to pause its lawsuit against the cryptocurrency exchange Binance as the regulator tries to present itself as more crypto-friendly under a new administration. Binance and the SEC filed a joint motion this week asking for a 60-day stay in a lawsuit the regulator filed with significant fanfare [...]
Bill would create tax credit for firearms manufacturing projects
A Republican duo in the Ohio Senate has proposed legislation to make certain gun and ammunition purchases tax exempt and to establish a tax credit to firearms and ammunition manufacturers that establish or expand operations here. Sen. Al Cutrona of Canfield said Senate Bill 59, which he has jointly sponsored with Sen. Tim Schaffer of [...]
Bayer seeks legislation in several states to protect it against Roundup lawsuits
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A renewed and expanded effort from chemical giant Bayer to shield itself from lawsuits that claim its popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer brought dozens of protesters to the Iowa capitol building Monday begging lawmakers to reject it. The legislation, pending in Iowa and at least seven other states, would protect [...]
Spirits sales revenue declined in 2024 as industry is challenged by inflation and possible tariffs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Like a watered-down drink, domestic sales for American whiskeys were unsatisfying in 2024, as inflation reined in consumer spending on some distilled spirits. Overall, the spirits industry maintained its advantage in market share, but its revenues slipped in 2024, the Distilled Spirits Council said. Spirits supplier sales fell 1.1 percent to [...]
Rosy outlook: Nearly a billion flowers expected to be imported for Valentine’s Day
MIAMI (AP) — In the run up to Feb. 14, agricultural specialists at Miami International Airport have processed about 940 million stems of cut flowers, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Around 90 percent of the fresh cut flowers being sold for Valentine’s Day in the United States come through Miami, while the other [...]