Congress Heads Into August Recess With a Fall Funding Fight Waiting
As the House left town and the Senate worked through a light week of votes, lawmakers deferred the hardest spending decisions to a crowded autumn calendar.
Government & Politics
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Michigan's Marquee Senate Primary Takes the National Stage in a Final Debate
Days before Michigan's primary, the leading Democratic contenders clashed in a closely watched debate for an open Senate seat that could help decide control of the chamber.
Appeals Courts Split Over Trump's Mail-In Voting Order, Teeing Up a Supreme Court Fight
Dueling federal appellate rulings within days of each other left the fate of the president's vote-by-mail executive order in the Supreme Court's hands, months before the November midterms.
Congress Clears Stopgap Budget Deal, Averting a Shutdown by Two Days
A bipartisan continuing resolution keeps federal agencies funded through the fall, but leaves the biggest spending fights unresolved until after the summer recess.
A Loaded Supreme Court Term: The Cases That Could Reshape Federal Power
From agency authority to digital privacy, the docket taking shape for the fall could redraw the boundaries between Washington and the states.
States Harden Election Systems Ahead of a High-Turnout Midterm
Officials are upgrading equipment, expanding paper trails, and running tabletop drills as they prepare for the fall vote.
Taxes & IRS
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IRS Expands Its Online Business Tax Account as Digital Push Continues
The agency added features to its self-service Business Tax Account, part of a multiyear effort to move routine tax tasks online for entities and their authorized users.
'No Tax on Tips and Overtime': What the New Deductions Mean for Workers
New federal deductions for qualified tips and overtime pay are taking shape for the filing season, with dollar limits, income phase-outs, and transition rules workers should understand.
IRS Begins Phasing In Automatic Penalty Relief for Compliant Taxpayers
A new program automatically waives certain penalties for taxpayers with a track record of filing and paying on time, a change advocates have long sought.
Why a Mid-Year Paycheck Checkup Can Save You From an April Surprise
Adjusting withholding in the summer, rather than at filing time, gives workers a chance to fix a mismatch before it grows.
LV Nails & Spa in Pennsylvania: Half on the Check, Half in Cash: The Payroll Habit the IRS Takes Most Seriously
Paying part of a worker's wages in cash off the books can feel like a win for everyone, but of all the habits in this series it's the one the IRS treats most seriously. Here is why it raises concern, and why it quietly hurts your staff too.
Finance & Economy
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Big Tech's Earnings Week Delivers Mixed Signals on the AI Spending Boom
Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon all reported within days of each other, and investors rewarded strong cloud growth while scrutinizing the mounting bills for artificial intelligence.
U.S. Economy Grew a Slower-Than-Expected 1.5% in the Second Quarter
The advance estimate showed growth cooling from the first quarter's pace, as gains in consumer spending and investment were tempered by weaker government outlays and rising imports.
A Divided Fed Holds Rates Steady as Three Officials Dissent in Favor of a Hike
The Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged in a 9-3 vote, with three policymakers pushing to raise rates — a rare show of unified dissent that unsettled markets.
Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady as Inflation Cools Toward Target
Policymakers left the benchmark rate unchanged and signaled patience, waiting for more data before considering cuts later in the year.
The Job Market Cools Without Cracking, Reviving Soft-Landing Hopes
Hiring has slowed to a steadier pace and unemployment remains low, a combination economists once thought difficult to achieve.
Beauty & Wellness
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British Skincare Brand Medik8 Sets a North American Sephora Debut
The UK-founded label is heading to Sephora shelves across the U.S. and Canada, the latest international skincare brand to make a major push into the North American market.
Beauty-Tech Brand Lyma Enters Skincare With a Debut Anti-Aging Range
Known for its at-home devices, Lyma moved into skincare with a debut range led by a cream that targets several visible signs of aging at once.
Merit Lands a New Investment and Expands Beyond Makeup Into Skincare and Fragrance
The minimalist makeup brand secured a minority investment and broadened its lineup, the latest sign of momentum for pared-down beauty labels built around a tight edit of products.
Personal Phone Calls and the Gender Bias "Trap": When Technicians Turn a Spa into a Slum
A male client's pedicure at Crystal Nail Spa became a case study in professional-conduct failures: a technician on a personal call the entire service, corner-cutting rooted in gender bias, and staff asleep on the salon floor.
Quoted $45, Charged $67, and Told She Was Lying: Pricing Accuracy and Billing Integrity at Rose's Nails & Spa
A client was quoted $45, charged $67 with no clear explanation, saw her cash and card payments fail to add up, and then was told she was lying when she asked about it. A look at honoring your quotes, clean billing, and handling a pricing question with respect.
Health & Medicine
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FDA Licenses the First Freeze-Dried Plasma Product in the U.S.
Regulators approved the country's first freeze-dried plasma, a shelf-stable blood product that could ease transfusion logistics in trauma care and emergency settings.
Health Officials Investigate a Multistate Cyclospora Outbreak Tied to Produce
Federal investigators are working to pin down the source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak reported across several states, a recurring summertime challenge linked to fresh produce.
FDA Advisory Panel Backs Compounding of Two Peptides, Drawing Expert Caution
A federal advisory committee recommended allowing two peptides to be compounded, but specialists warned the move could be misread as a sign the compounds have been fully vetted.
The Primary Care Shortage Deepens, and Health Systems Scramble to Adapt
A widening gap between the demand for primary care and the supply of physicians is pushing hospitals toward new models of care.
Health Officials Prepare for Respiratory Season With Updated Vaccines
As fall approaches, updated vaccines and clearer guidance aim to blunt the annual wave of respiratory illness.
Sports
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As the MLB Trade Deadline Nears, Contenders Circle the Biggest Names on the Market
With the deadline days away, buyers and sellers maneuvered around a market headlined by front-line pitching, setting up a frantic finish for baseball's summer reshuffle.
NFL Training Camps Open Across the League as Quarterback Battles Take Center Stage
With veterans reporting through late July, all 32 teams are back to work, and unsettled quarterback jobs and contract standoffs are dominating the early storylines.
WNBA All-Star Weekend Lights Up Chicago With Clark and Bueckers as Captains
The league's midseason showcase returned to Chicago, with Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers headlining as captains amid a surge of interest in the women's game.
WNBA All-Star Weekend to Spotlight Legends and Rising Stars in Chicago
The WNBA is bringing together Hall of Famers, current All-Stars, and elite high school prospects for a revamped Shooting Stars showcase during All-Star Weekend, celebrating the league's past, present, and future.
NFL Season Preview: A New Quarterback Class Aims to Reset the League
A promising group of young passers is set to test whether fresh talent can shake up an established order as training camps open.