Business - Page 7

Understanding UPS Peak Season Surcharges for Holiday Shipping

Written by Lexx Thornton For consumers and e-commerce businesses, the holiday shopping season—running roughly from October through mid-January—is synonymous with deep discounts and gift-giving cheer. But behind the scenes, it’s also a period of intense financial pressure, driven in large part by the unavoidable reality of peak season surcharges imposed by carriers like UPS.  Far from being a simple, across-the-board rate increase, UPS’s strategy is a complex, tiered system designed to manage historic package volumes and offset the astronomical costs of operating their logistics network during its busiest, most stressed period.  The peak season surcharge is a temporary fee that

Supreme Court Weighs $1-a-Day Detainee Labor Case Against GEO

Written by Lexx Thornton The U.S. Supreme Court is evaluating a major lawsuit that challenges the practice of private immigration detention companies paying detainees as little as $1 per day for performing essential maintenance work. The case has thrust the long-standing use of low-wage detainee labor into the national spotlight, with legal outcomes that could redefine contractor accountability and labor rights.   The class-action lawsuit targets The GEO Group, Inc., one of the largest private contractors operating facilities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  The plaintiffs, current and former detainees, argue that the work programs—officially known as “Voluntary Work Programs”—are

Texas Leaders Order Probe Into Texas Southern University

Written By Lexx Thornton Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate Texas Southern University on Monday after a new state audit found evidence of poor bookkeeping and financial mismanagement.   Patrick said he will discuss with Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows a freeze on TSU’s state funding. It’s unclear if and when the freeze would go into effect and what impact it would have on TSU, one of the largest historically Black universities in the country.  In a letter to Patrick’s office and other members of the state Legislature’s Audit Committee, State

USDA’s SNAP Reapplication Mandate: Business Impact Explained

Written By Lexx Thornton The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, has announced a nationwide mandate requiring all current beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to reapply for their benefits. This sweeping directive is positioned as a critical measure to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the nearly $100 billion federal food assistance program.  While the administration champions the move as a necessary step for “program integrity,” citing internal data about improper payments and deceased individuals remaining on the rolls, the decision immediately sets up an immense administrative and logistical challenge for state governments,

HBCU Funding Surges as Black Philanthropy Drives Innovation

Forbes reports that funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has surged in recent years, even as national support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has waned under the Trump administration. The growing wave of donations underscores the vital role HBCUs play in shaping innovation, leadership, and representation across industries — from business and technology to entertainment and venture capital. HBCUs Fueling Innovation HBCUs continue to produce groundbreaking innovators making waves in multiple sectors. Among them is Peter Iwuh, a Morgan State University graduate and founder of Tykoon AI, a platform designed to empower student-athletes at HBCUs in the evolving Name,

Jury Orders Boeing to Pay $35.8M in 737 MAX Crash Case

By Diana Novak Jones A jury in federal court in Chicago ordered Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab on Wednesday to pay more than $28 million to the family of a United Nations environmental worker who was killed in the 2019 crash of a 737 MAX jet in Ethiopia. The verdict awarded to the family of Shikha Garg is the first in the dozens of lawsuits filed in the wake of that crash and another in Indonesia in 2018, which combined killed 346 people. Under a deal between the parties struck on Wednesday morning, Garg’s family will receive $35.85 million – the full verdict

“Target Cuts Prices on 3,000 Essentials Ahead of Holiday

Written by Lexx Thornton Target is making a significant move to boost consumer spending this holiday season by announcing price reductions on 3,000 essential items across its stores. This action comes as U.S. grocery prices remain elevated and many low-income families face uncertainty regarding federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.  Effective immediately, the retailer is lowering prices on thousands of products, specifically focusing on food, beverages, and household essentials—the items consumers rely on most. This strategy builds on earlier price cuts this summer on back-to-school supplies.  Lisa Roath, Target’s chief merchandising officer, stated the reductions are “important work that

Trump’s $2,000 Tariff Check Plan Sparks Economic Concern

Written By Lexx Thornton President Donald Trump recently announced a proposal to send $2,000 tariff-funded checks to every lower- and middle-income American household, a move that has immediately sparked concern among economic experts.   The proposal, which Trump unveiled over the weekend on Truth Social, promises a “dividend of at least $2000 a person” paid directly from revenues generated by new tariffs. While the announcement has not yet been formalized into a detailed policy plan—leaving many questions about eligibility and implementation—economists are already voicing skepticism.  Experts who spoke with Newsweek warned that this type of spending package may not be financially

Fannie Mae Drops Credit Score Rule for DU Loans

Written By Lexx Thornton Fannie Mae announced a major policy change, effective November 16, 2025, that removes the mandatory minimum credit score for loans submitted through its automated system, Desktop Underwriter (DU). The current 620 minimum representative credit score for loans processed by DU will be eliminated. Instead of relying on a floor score, DU will use its own advanced analysis of the borrower’s risk factors to determine loan eligibility.   This update also expands Fannie Mae’s ability to help lenders document nontraditional credit history and signals when homebuyer education is required for borrowers with thin or no traditional credit files. 

Cleveland Enacts New Pay Transparency Law for Employers

Written By Lexx Thornton Cleveland’s new pay transparency law takes effect today, bringing a major shift in how jobs are advertised across the city. The ordinance, which applies to most private employers with 15 or more employees, was approved unanimously by the City Council.   The law mandates two key changes for employers:  Salary Disclosure: All job postings must now include the expected salary range for the position.  Pay History Ban: Employers are prohibited from asking applicants about their current or past pay rates during the hiring process.  The primary goal of this legislation is to narrow persistent gender and racial

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