What to know about the Live Nation verdict and how it could affect concertgoers
Music lovers who have long complained about Ticketmaster fees for concert tickets are surely reveling in a jury verdict that found its parent company Live Nation has been running a harmful monopoly over big venues. But they will have to wait to see if the verdict leads to changes that make concerts more affordable. The lawsuit led by more than 30 states accused Live Nation of smothering competition. A federal jury in Manhattan found that Ticketmaster had overcharged customers $1.72 per ticket in 22 states, which a judge could order the company to pay back. That could cost Live Nation hundreds of millions of dollars.
The data center boom meets resistance in Maine as lawmakers pass a yearlong freeze
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s legislature has passed the nation’s first statewide moratorium on energy-hungry data centers. It's an expansion of political opposition to tech giants’ massive artificial intelligence data centers, which are stoking fears about blackouts, rising energy bills and voracious water needs. Bills have been introduced in at least a dozen states, as increasingly stiff backlash at the local level is migrating upward into legislatures. Tech giants and the data centers they are building have high-level support from the Trump administration and many governors. They say the centers are essential to winning the artificial intelligence race against China.
US faces demand to restore $350 million in federal funding to help power Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Nearly 200 organizations are urging the Trump administration and Puerto Rico’s governor to restore $350 million in federal funding that was meant to finance the installation of rooftop solar and battery systems for 12,000 low-income families across the U.S. territory. The organizations signed a letter released Wednesday that was sent to Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Many of the families have disabilities or medical conditions that require electricity. Concern is growing that the U.S. government will abandon them as chronic power outages persist and the Atlantic hurricane season nears.
EPA may ease regulation of chemical plastic recycling, and environmentalists worry
The Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering whether facilities that recycle plastic chemically should be held to the same strict air pollution standards as incinerators. The possible change is alarming environmental advocates who say it would lead to more dangerous pollution spewing into communities, with fewer or no checks at the federal level. The plastics industry disputes that, saying it would clear up confusion while still controlling emissions. The facilities use heat or chemicals to break down plastics. The main method, a process known as pyrolysis, has long been regulated as incineration by the Clean Air Act. The agency says a potential new rule could instead recognize pyrolysis as manufacturing.
Allbirds, a former Wall Street darling fallen on hard times, looks to AI for its future
NEW YORK (AP) — Allbirds, the eco-friendly shoe brand that was once a Wall Street darling and found its way onto the feet of tech CEOs and movie stars, is pivoting to artificial intelligence. On Wednesday the San Francisco-based company said it had signed a definitive agreement with an unnamed institutional investor for $50 million in financing to shift its business to AI infrastructure. It will also have a new name: NewBird AI. It plans to use the proceeds to purchase graphics processing units, known as GPUs. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.
AI-rendered Val Kilmer debuts in 'As Deep as the Grave' trailer
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The filmmakers behind “As Deep as the Grave” have used AI to recreate Val Kilmer in a prominent role. They debuted a first look at the AI-rendered Kilmer Wednesday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Kilmer, who died last year, appears as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist. The use of AI for this historical drama has sparked debate. Writer-director Coerte Voorhees explained that Kilmer’s estate, including his daughter Mercedes, gave permission and provided archival footage. Kilmer had originally signed on for the film but withdrew due to health issues.
A small but growing movement wants you to put down your phone. But first read this
NEW YORK (AP) — Two decades after Steve Jobs premiered the iPhone, a small but intensely passionate movement is rebelling against the omnipresent screen. They say we're spending far too much time staring at our phones and missing out on real life. An “attention activism” movement of millennials and Generation Z members hopes to break free of the world's largest companies, accusing them of “human fracking.” Similar efforts have sprouted in several other countries, as many have come to see the technology that was supposed to liberate us become ever more exploitative.
Sweden blames pro-Russian group for cyberattack last year on its energy infrastructure
The Swedish government says a pro-Russian actor was behind a cyberattack on a heating plant in western Sweden last year. Wednesday's announcement follows similar incidents in Poland in December that affected energy infrastructure for half a million people. Sweden's minister for civil defense says the attacks on Swedish and Polish power plants show Russia is engaging in risky and careless behavior. These incidents are part of over 150 sabotage cases across Europe linked to Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 that are tracked by The Associated Press.
American YouTuber sentenced to 6 months in South Korean prison for offensive stunts
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An American YouTuber who sparked outrage in South Korea for provocative stunts, including dancing on a statue honoring victims of wartime sexual slavery, was sentenced to six months in prison Wednesday. The Seoul Western District Court found Ramsey Khalid Ismael, a self-proclaimed internet “troll” known online as Johnny Somali, guilty of multiple charges, including obstruction of business and distributing fabricated sexually explicit content. Prosecutors had sought a three-year term for Ismael, who also faced accusations of harassing staff and visitors at an amusement park, disrupting a convenience store by blasting music and upending noodles onto a table, causing similar scenes on a bus and subway, and distributing non-consensual deepfake videos.
Roblox gaming platform reaches $12 million settlement with Nevada enhancing youth protections
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The interactive gaming platform Roblox, popular among children and teens, has reached an over $12 million agreement with the state of Nevada over its protections for young users. Attorney General Aaron Ford said Wednesday the company will enhance safety features for young users and provide funds for nondigital youth programs. He calls it a first-of-its-kind settlement with a state. Roblox faces litigation in other states as prosecutors file lawsuits against social media companies over the role they play in children's lives. Roblox will contribute $10 million over three years to support youth programs and alternatives to screen time. The settlement includes enhanced age verification and restricted notifications for minors.
