Author: Michael Erst

Wall Street ends lower weighed by weak Walmart guidanceU.S. stocks sold off on Thursday with the Dow dropping 1%, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both shedding just under half a percent.Costco will surpass 900 locations worldwide with the opening of several new warehouses in early March.Back in December, the Issaquah, Washington-based retailer announced plans to open 29 new locations during its 2025 fiscal year, which runs until Aug. 31, 2025. Six of those are opening next month in the U.S.Costco currently operates 897 warehouses – 617 of which are in the U.S. and Puerto Rico – and with the…

Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favorOdds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to $165 million for Friday’s drawing after no one won the top prize on Tuesday night.If someone matches all six numbers, they can choose a one-time cash payment of $75.4 million. The numbers were drawn just after 11 p.m. ET on Friday, and we have the results below.The most recent big Mega Millions winner was a lucky…

What’s holding back the AI revolution? Even the largest tech companies are struggling with three distinct challenges in the race to artificial intelligence leadership. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot ticket these days, and some of the world’s largest tech companies are building their futures around AI strategies. At the same time, game-changing AI can pose serious business risks. Tech titan Microsoft (MSFT -1.90%) is not afraid to share its AI-related risk analysis with the public, and you should take a look at management’s concerns before making any AI investments — in Microsoft or other tech stocks. How Microsoft…

Cybertruck crash raises alarm bells about Tesla’s self-driving softwareA crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck in self-driving mode has sparked worries about the reliability of the company’s software that powers the feature.Wion – World NewsTesla has recalled more than 370,000 vehicles for a power steering issue.The maker of electric vehicles said the recall covers 376,241 of its 2023 Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs (with operating software prior to 2023.38.4) because the vehicles may experience a loss of electronic power-assisted steering, Telsa says in a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.The loss of power steering assist, which…

Egg prices soar in the US due to bird flu outbreakShoppers in the U.S. are seeing egg prices soar and purchase limits imposed due to a bird flu outbreak affecting supply.Grocery prices were on the rise well before the national egg shortage. In the last five years, grocery prices have increased nearly 25%, according to the USDA.But where in the country are consumers feeling the pinch the worst?Personal finance website WalletHub analyzed the prices of 26 common grocery items in 50 states, then added the costs and compared them to the median household income to determine where people are spending…

Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists and Cinnabon Delights are making room for a new sweet treat joining the dessert lineup.The fast food chain has partnered with New York-based dessert company Milk Bar to launch new Birthday Cake Churros. These treats feature crispy churros filled with birthday cake frosting and topped with pink confetti sprinkles, Taco Bell said in a news release.Starting Thursday, customers can now purchase one of these churros for $1.99 or a pack of two for $2.99. The treats are available nationwide only for a limited time, the chain said.”We love partnerships that play with form and flavor, which…

Musk says Grok 3, rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to launch in weeksElon Musk says human intelligence will be dwarfed by machines as he talks AI chatbots in Dubai. “We’re really in the final stages of polishing Grok 3. Probably it gets released in about a week or two, so pretty soon.”ChatGPT developer OpenAI’s weekly active users surged past 400 million in February, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday, highlighting rapid growth in the adoption of artificial intelligence tools.The Microsoft-backed MSFT.O startup had 300 million weekly active users in December. Its paying business users also crossed 2 million in February, more than doubling from its last update in…

BBB warns of stimulus check text message scamThe IRS is issuing $1,400 tax rebate checks to eligible taxpayers, but scammers are sending fake texts pretending to be the IRS.Fox – Fox 29Rates for home loans fell for the fifth straight week, but buyers aren’t feeling the love just yet.In the week ending Feb. 20, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.85%, Freddie Mac announced Thursday. That puts the popular mortgage product at exactly the level at which it closed 2024. Those figures don’t include fees or points, and rates in some parts of the country may be higher or lower than the…

How to make a DIY car air freshenerEasily make a natural car deodorizer using baking soda and essential oils.Problem SolvedPaul Hanson was browsing for a used truck in 2023 with a specific checklist in mind: power locks and cruise control, but not too many bells and whistles. A gas engine. Enough towing capacity to pull his camper.  By the time he narrowed his search online, he could find only three vehicles in the country that fit his criteria, none of which were near his hometown of Brayton, Iowa. He decided to go with a 2021 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty in Seattle, but…

Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favorOdds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.The Powerball jackpot rose to $195 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 $90 million.There were no big winners on Monday, as no one won either the jackpot, $2 million or $1 million prizes.A lucky player in Oregon had the first jackpot-winning Powerball ticket…