Author: Michael Erst

Joann set to close all store locations under new ownershipJoann, the fabric and craft retailer, is set to close all locations after being auctioned off to a new ownership group.unbranded – NewsworthyConsumers are going to have fewer places to shop as in-person retail stores continue to close, but it remains to be seen whether shoppers will have less choice or have to pay more.Joann earlier this week became the latest retailer to announce that it will shutter all of its stores as it was auctioned under new ownership. The retailer will close 800 stores nationwide.That comes on top of other…

Winning the Powerball jackpot is less than you thinkA choice is given to the winner, they can either receive the jackpot spread across 30 annual payments, or opt for the more popular lump sum cash prize of $273.3 million.The Powerball jackpot rose to $248 million for Wednesday’s drawing after no one won the top prize on Monday.If someone matches all six numbers, they can choose a one-time cash payment of $113.4 million.One lucky person from Florida won $1 million on Monday, according to the lottery.A lucky player in Oregon had the first jackpot-winning Powerball ticket of 2025, according to lottery…

DOGE caucus looks to codify Trump’s order to reduce federal workforceDOGE caucus members announced legislation to codify President Donald Trump’s executive order to reduce the federal workforce.The House narrowly advanced the GOP plan for President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, kickstarting a process that could push forward Trump’s “no tax on tips” pledge and other campaign promises.The budget resolution sets up a reconciliation bill that would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and new cuts worth $4.5 trillion over the next decade. While the plan offers a budget blueprint, it does not specify which taxes to trim. It’s up to lawmakers to sort…

Rent-a-chicken: A solution to high egg prices and shortagesSome people are turning to creative ways to circumvent the high cost of eggs by renting their own chickens.If you’re a consumer who was hoping the price of eggs would come back down to Earth soon, you may want to avert your eyes.The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report Tuesday in which the agency predicts egg prices will increase by 41.1% in 2025, with a 3.4% increase for the prices of all food also forecasted.According to the USDA, retail egg prices increased by 13.8% in January 2025 after rising by 8.4%…

Denny’s increasing egg prices as bird flu causes prices to soar in the USDenny’s is the latest big name to increase the price of eggs on its menu due to the national egg shortage, with H5N1 decimating flocks.Straight Arrow NewsWhile some food chains have announced surcharges to adjust to a nationwide egg shortage, McDonald’s is vowing not to follow suit.Michael Gonda, the fast food giant’s North American chief impact officer, said this week that there will be no surcharges in place for items that include eggs. Gonda added that the chain will offer Egg McMuffins for just $1 Sunday for…

The launch of the new spot Bitcoin (BTC -3.42%) ETFs last January was one of the most successful ETF product launches ever. In a span of just 12 months, these spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted more than $100 billion from investors, and have become one of the most popular ways for individuals, hedge funds, and institutional investors to get exposure to the crypto asset class. So it’s completely understandable why fund managers have been inundating the SEC with applications for new spot crypto ETFs, including some that feature meme coins. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly likely that a meme coin…

How one family is working together to make higher education possibleFinancial planning, transparency and using resources to manage college costs are key.‏‏‎ ‎Experts recommend couples engage in open and honest conversations about finances, including setting budgets, savings goals, and discussing major purchases.Transparency about credit scores, debt, and spending habits is crucial for building trust and avoiding financial infidelity.Now that the emotions and thrills connected with Valentine’s Day have subsided, the tougher slog starts or resumes for many couples: Finding a way to minimize money stress in a relationship.It’s not always easy. Financial issues have led to the unraveling of relationships…

Six years of President Trump’s publicly released federal tax returns tell the tale. For most retirees, Social Security income is indispensable. Although the average monthly retired-worker benefit to kick off 2025 was a modest $1,975.34, 88% of surveyed retirees in April 2024 told national pollster Gallup that their payout is needed, in some capacity, to cover their expenses. Furthermore, recently updated estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities show that 22 million people were pulled above the federal poverty line by Social Security in 2023, 16.31 million of which were adults aged 65 and above. Any American citizen…

What to know about Elon Musk’s email ultimatum for federal workersElon Musk instructed federal workers to email a list of five tasks completed last week or resign. Here are five things to know about the ultimatum.What appears to be DOGE’s latest attempt to cut government spending may be new for the federal government, but the “slash and burn” layoff strategy was ripped straight out of the private sector’s playbook, according to a Havard expert. After thousands of government layoffs, the Office of Personnel Management on Saturday directed federal workers to email a list of roughly five accomplishments from the previous week by…

The Powerball jackpot rose to $230 million for Monday’s drawing after no one won the top prize on Saturday.If someone matches all six numbers, they can choose a one-time cash payment of $105.2 million.Two lucky people from Illinois and Vermont won $1 million on Saturday, according to the lottery.A lucky player in Oregon had the first jackpot-winning Powerball ticket of 2025, according to lottery officials, winning a $328.5 million jackpot on Jan. 18.Check below for the winning numbers in Monday’s Powerball drawing, which is set to happen just after 11 p.m. ET.Powerball winning numbers for 2/24/2025The winning numbers for the…