Author: Chris Gorrie

In a monumental move, prosecutors unveiled an unprecedented crackdown on corruption within the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), resulting in the charging of 70 current and former employees with bribery and extortion offenses.  This action stands as the largest number of federal bribery charges in a single day in the history of the Department of Justice (DOJ), reflecting a significant blow to corruption within a critical public institution. 66 of 70 Defendants Have Been Arrested Kindel Media/Pexels The announcement was made by Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Attorney General Merrick B.…

Climate change poses significant threats to our oceans, with increased erosion and deteriorating water quality being notable consequences, as stated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Despite efforts to counteract erosion through soil conservation methods, a recent study, published on January 31, 2024, in the journal Nature, has unveiled a natural solution involving an unexpected ally: sea otters. These marine creatures, through their distinct dietary habits, have proven effective in slowing or halting marsh erosion in California, serving as unsung heroes in waterway conservation. Sea Otters Slow Marsh Erosion, Study Says Aconcagua/Wikimedia Commons The study, leveraging both observational and experimental…

A recent report by real estate brokerage Redfin highlights a significant migration trend, with thousands of New Yorkers choosing Florida as their destination.  The report sheds light on the top metros in Florida attracting homebuyers, showcasing the Sunshine State’s appeal for those seeking both sun and more affordable homes. Florida’s Magnet Cities: Orlando, North Port-Sarasota, and Tampa Miosotis Jade/Wikimedia Commons According to Redfin’s late November report, metros like Orlando, North Port-Sarasota, and Tampa in Florida emerge as sought-after destinations for homebuyers, especially those relocating from New York.  These cities stand out as attractive options, drawing attention in the nationwide relocation…

McDonald’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski, acknowledged a decline in the company’s sales, attributing it to elevated menu prices that have deterred core customers.  The recent quarter’s global same-store sales saw a growth of only 3.4%, falling short of the anticipated 4.7%. Kempczinski identified the target for improvement as “affordability,” particularly among low-income customers earning less than $45,000 annually. Impact of Inflation on McDonald’s Consumers Jeremy Eades/Wikimedia Commons The impact of inflation has prompted these lower-income consumers to opt for more home-cooked meals due to the perceived affordability. In response to this trend, McDonald’s plans to focus on catering to the needs…

The politicization of education stands out as a prominent failure in contemporary times, where children are unfortunately caught in the crossfire of a political and ideological war.  Recent scandals, such as one in the Hayward Unified School District, exemplify the misguided priorities, diverting funds meant for improving student achievement to programs with questionable outcomes. Hayward’s “Woke Kindergarten” Scandal Mercurywoodrose/Wikimedia Commons The Hayward Unified School District’s allocation of a quarter-million taxpayer dollars to the “Woke Kindergarten” program, under the guise of disrupting whiteness, showcases the misguided priorities within the educational system.  Despite federal funds earmarked for enhancing student achievement, the program…

Every tax season, individuals often turn to tax preparation software like TurboTax for assistance in filing their taxes.  However, a former IRS worker, now a TikTok user known as @see_me_in_hindsight, is warning users that TurboTax may not be as user-friendly as it claims. In a viral video, she asserts that TurboTax has been actively lobbying to make tax filing more complex over the years. TurboTax is Pushing Complicated Tax Processes Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels @see_me_in_hindsight, who claims to have worked in the tax compliance division at the IRS, alleges that TurboTax, along with other companies, has been pushing for complicated tax processes…

A proposed bill–Bill H.3760–in Massachusetts aims to impose taxes on wealthy colleges, particularly targeting those favoring alumni and donor families in admissions policies, like Harvard University.  The collected funds would then be directed towards supporting financially challenged community colleges. Harvard Faces a $103 Million Annual Fee Daderot/Wikimedia Commons The legislation, which specifically addresses legacy admissions, targets several institutions, with Harvard facing the largest estimated fee of $103 million annually.  This move follows recent scrutiny on university admission policies, including the US Supreme Court’s decision against race-based affirmative action. Bill H.3760 Legislation Overview and Targeted Colleges John Guccione/Pexels Two Democratic legislators…

Vermont is at the forefront of a progressive initiative, with proposed bills aimed at increasing tax contributions from its wealthier residents.  This strategic move is part of a broader effort to tackle financial disparities within the state, seeking to generate additional revenue to address the growing economic inequality. New Vermont Bills to Tax the State’s Wealthiest Residents Mohammad Danish/Pexels Two legislative bills have been introduced in Vermont, focusing on taxing the state’s wealthiest individuals. This progressive approach is designed to balance financial responsibilities within the community, particularly targeting those with higher incomes. Facing the need for new revenue streams, Vermont…

Kroger, one of the major grocery chains, has recently abandoned its experiment with self-checkout-only stores. Kroger decided on this move after other retail giants like Target, Walmart, and Dollar General have also made adjustments to their self-checkout strategies.  Kroger’s All Self-Checkout Concept in Dallas SchuminWeb/Wikimedia Commons Kroger initially tested an all self-checkout concept in a Dallas store, eliminating traditional cashier-based checkout lanes and introducing wide-belted self-checkouts designed for large-volume purchases.  However, the company quietly ended this experiment and reintroduced traditional checkout lanes after listening to customer feedback. The Trend of Retail Self-Checkouts Wikideas1/Wikimedia Commons The trend of self-checkout adoption has…

Target, a retail giant, recently made headlines with a series of abrupt firings related to its obscure 15-minute rule. This finally sheds light on a policy that has long been mentioned but remains poorly understood within the company and little-known publicly.  Target Fires 7 Employees Over Stanley Cup Purchases ishmael daro/Wikimedia Commons The massive retailer recently terminated seven employees who purchased special-edition Stanley Quencher cups, leading to accusations of an unexpected crackdown. Among those fired is Catherine Carter, a dedicated Target employee of 19 years who had never faced any disciplinary issues. Carter, who had a personal connection to breast…