An 'influencer' degree? Colleges bet on content creator major as critics question its value
Arizona State University has launched a new bachelor's degree in content creation. The new major has sparked considerable interest and scrutiny. The program includes courses in traditional communication and media studies, along with skills-based classes in podcasting, studio production and on-camera presence. Critics question the legitimacy and value of such a degree. However, similar programs exist at other universities, reflecting a growing recognition of content creation as a viable career path. Experts note that while the creator economy is booming, most individual influencers don’t see a huge payoff. Proponents of these programs argue they teach transferrable skills and can give students a leg up in an increasingly digital world.
A surprise credit after an overseas purchase: The tariff refunds now flowing through shippers
NEW YORK (AP) — If you bought something from an overseas vendor last year, it might be time to check your bank account. Shippers including FedEx and UPS that acted as customs brokers for imported packages and received tariff refunds from the U.S. government have started to return those refunds to customers that originally paid the tariffs. The refunds are the last step in a monthslong process that kicked off in February when the Supreme Court struck down sweeping tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump in March 2025 on goods from almost every country. The court ordered the government to return the tariffs.
Luigi Mangione expected to plead guilty in federal case in UnitedHealthcare killing, AP source says
NEW YORK (AP) — Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty as early as Friday in the federal case accusing him of stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a stunning development in a case that rattled business leaders while galvanizing their critics, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk publicly about the case and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The person cautioned that Mangione could change his mind. Mangione is accused of stalking Thompson, 50, then shooting him outside a New York City hotel on Dec. 4, 2024, as the executive walked to UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Mangione is due in court on Friday for a hastily scheduled hearing in the federal case. Mangione’s lawyers declined to comment.
Trump White House says it's losing $19B-$26B a year in revenue as countries dodge tariffs
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump White House reports that countries are routing exports through third nations to avoid U.S. tariffs, causing tax revenue losses of $19 billion to $26 billion annually. The report says China has responded to 2018 tariffs by sending goods to other countries for packaging and assembly. That pattern made it look like U.S. imports from China had dropped, but enabled Beijing to continue growing its manufacturing sector in ways that could challenge U.S. factories and employment. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro says China launders exports through more than 40 countries. The report precedes a planned visit by Chinese Leader Xi Jinping in September.
Forbes editor out; report says he took $6M from founder of firm that does business with magazine
The top editor of Forbes has left his job after reportedly being fired for accepting $6 million from the founder of a firm that works with the magazine. The New York Times reported this week that the payment came from RJ Shook, whose company, Shook Research, has collaborated with Forbes since 2016. An internal email confirmed that chief content officer Randall Lane no longer worked for the company. Lane, who had been with Forbes for nearly 16 years, admitted he made a mistake by not disclosing the payment. The incident raises questions about ethics and trust in journalism.
US stocks rise to a record as oil prices drop and inflation gets less bad
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rose to a record following the latest sign that inflation is getting less bad. Stocks also got a lift Thursday from easing oil prices in their latest yo-yo move. The S&P 500 climbed 0.7% and topped its prior all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.8%. Treasury yields eased in the bond market after a report showed that inflation at the U.S. wholesale level was not as bad in July as it was in June or as economists expected. Brent crude oil’s price fell 2.1%.
Families feel the pinch of higher children's shoe prices as kids head back to school
NEW YORK (AP) — As summer fades and kids head back to school, the pressure to stand out or fit in with the right footwear is colliding with higher prices. The jump in price is straining family budgets that are already being squeezed by rising costs for food, gas and other essentials, so analysts and retailers say parents and kids are spending more time looking for deals or buying fewer pairs. Michelle Wlazlo, JCPenney’s brand chief executive officer, says families are being choosy when buying back-to-school shoes. Lisa Will, who runs the children’s outdoor footwear company Stonz Shoes, says customers are gravitating toward neutral-colored shoes that can be passed down to younger siblings.
Wholesale price inflation slows last month as gas, food costs fall
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale inflation dropped last month as gas prices reversed some of their Iran war spike and other costs also cooled, a sign that consumer inflation could grind lower in the months ahead. The Labor Department’s producer price index — which captures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose 4.7% in July from a year ago, down from a much larger 5.5% increase in June. On a monthly basis, wholesale prices were unchanged from June to July, after they ticked down 0.1% the previous month.
Flock announces changes amid backlash over its license plate reader network
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A company that operates a vast nationwide network of automated cameras that record the license plate numbers and other characteristics of all passing vehicles every day is making changes to its platform. The changes announced Thursday by Flock Safety are intended to quell privacy concerns and address documented abuses of its system by some members of law enforcement. They will make what were once optional guardrails mandatory by Jan. 1. Among them: All law enforcement customers will have to implement an audit tool that’s intended to flag abnormal search behavior. The company is increasingly under scrutiny from lawmakers from both parties, civil liberties advocates and citizens across the U.S.
Broken engine parts shattered the Ryanair plane window that a man's head got sucked into: NTSB
Investigators say broken engine parts shattered a window on a Ryanair plane shortly after takeoff in Greece last month, causing a man’s head to be sucked into the hole in the fuselage before his fellow passengers pulled him to safety. The National Transportation Safety Board says in its report released Thursday that a fan blade in the right engine broke loose. That sent fragments flying out of the engine that broke the window and damaged the fuselage in several other places. Investigators found bird remains inside the engine, suggesting the plane may have struck birds as it took off. The 61-year-old man who was nearly sucked out of the plane suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns.
