Category: MA

Amazon is extending its annual Prime Day sales and offering new membership perks to Gen Z shoppers amid tariff-related price worries and possibly some consumer boredom with an event marking its 11th year.

For the first time, Seattle-based Amazon is holding the now-misnamed Prime Day over four days. The e-commerce giant’s promised blitz of summer deals for Prime members started at 3:01 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday and ends early Friday.

Amazon’s past success with using Prime Day to drive sales and attract new members spurred other major retail chains to schedule competing sales in July. Best Buy, Target and Walmart are repeating the practice this year.

United to resume flights to Tel Aviv

United Airlines confirmed Tuesday that it will resume daily flights to Tel Aviv later this month after suspending service there intermittently due to recent escalations in the Middle East conflicts.

The airline said flights from New York and Newark to Tel Aviv will restart on July 21, with a second daily flight resuming the following day. Tickets for the Tel Aviv flights became available on Tuesday.

Major U.S. airlines suspended flights in and out of Israel after the nation declared war following a massive attack by Hamas in October of 2023. There have been on-again-off-again resumptions of flights there during the past year-and-a-half as the violence there has subsided and then escalated again.

United also offers connections to Tel Aviv through partners including Lufthansa.

I’m a finance professor at UCLA, so let’s talk finance. Which numbers are more meaningful to you?

Having $50 to $100 cash in your pocket (rough average for an American) or knowing the total U.S. currency in circulation is $2.4 trillion?

Owing $7,300 on your credit card (average balance of those who don’t pay it off every month) or envisioning the total U.S. credit card debt of $1.2 trillion?

Being $250,000 in debt on your home (average among American consumers with a mortgage) or seeing that the nation’s total residential consumer mortgage debt is $12.8 trillion?

Holding $250,000 in your 401(k) or IRA account (average for baby boomers, now old enough to need it soon) or knowing the total U.S. savings in such accounts is about $27 trillion?

Receiving a monthly Social Security check of $2,000 (the average) or considering the balance of the Social Security trust fund at $2.7 trillion?

I’ve been researching and teaching economics for more than 30 years, and still I can’t wrap my head around trillions of dollars. I’m guessing you can’t, either — and neither can our senators and representatives who determine the federal budget. And yet, our government insists on communicating with us in this unfathomable language.

Worse, even our best media outlets rarely translate the government’s incomprehensible abstractions into understandable numbers, giving us sentences like this one from the Wall Street Journal: “President Trump’s tax-and-spending megabill would increase budget deficits by $2.4 trillion over the next decade, compared with doing nothing, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate released Wednesday.” (By the way, that figure has been revised to $2.8 trillion as of June 18 — as if the human mind could comprehend the difference between those boggling figures.)

And so I want to help people understand both our federal budget deficit and the resulting national debt, as well as our government’s free-spending ways. (Both parties are to blame; no need for politics here.)

The national debt today stands at about $37 trillion. This means that each of our 347 million people is on the hook for about $110,000, or about 2.75 years the median income of $40,000 per year.

Of course, not every U.S. resident earns income or pays income tax. With “only” 154 million taxpayers, this means that the average taxpayer’s piece of the $37 trillion federal debt is about $240,000, or six years of the median income.

Think of this as your share of our federal debt. The government may have borrowed it, but ultimately you are on the hook for it. Feel better now? Probably not. For most people, learning that you owe $240,000 is a lot more concerning than hearing that the national debt is $37 trillion.

And your piece of our collective problem is still growing. Each year, our federal government takes in about $35,000 per taxpayer ($5 trillion) and spends about $45,000 per taxpayer ($6.75 trillion). Lawmakers are currently not paying down our debt but adding about $10,000 per taxpayer every year to our already outstanding balance of about $240,000.

Unfortunately, we have another problem. Our outstanding debt was issued at low interest rates (around 2.3% per year). This is about to change. When it comes due, refinance interest rates will likely be more like 4% per year. Federal spending on interest will rise from the current level of about $6,000 a year per taxpayer to more like $10,000.

Back to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that the Wall Street Journal was reporting on. Roughly speaking, over 10 years, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation will  add a total deficit of $18,000 per taxpayer. Whatever debt balance we expected to reach in about 10 years, under this new budget, we would be expected to reach that debt in nine years.

In itself, debt isn’t so bad. For instance, as your home’s value grows, the mortgage percentage shrinks. If your income rises, that helps, too. Our 25-year-old business school students, who have no current income but take on a six-figure debt, can typically comfortably pay off their debts and support a nice lifestyle, too.

Unfortunately, not so for our federal malaise. Our income and tax bases are growing nowhere near as fast as our obligations.

With growing deficits and rising interest rates, we are instead accelerating our obligations. Adding in our running deficits, even if we assume that we can greatly increase our economic output, tax base and tax intake, and that there will be no recession, and that tariffs will cover about one-third of our deficits (a combination that few economists believe), we are still heading straight for a date with a metaphorical bankruptcy judge. Fortunately, this is legally impossible.

So what can possibly happen?

First, we could get exceedingly lucky: Economic growth could reach higher than it has ever been.

Second, our politicians could raise taxes, curb spending or do both. However, we have no collective appetite for this. (Those actions could slow growth to the point that they become counterproductive.)

Third, we could “print” money. However, this would leave us in a fiscal situation similar to that of many developing nations, with galloping inflation and untrustworthy currency. Who would then lend us money? It surely wouldn’t “make America great again.”

Living beyond our means is not a Republican or a Democratic problem. Our parties may disagree about what to spend the money on, but both show by their actions that they agree spending more is better than spending less. Politicians are reflections of their electorates, and we the people are not ready for any pain. If our voters can begin to comprehend our problem, we’ll be on our first step toward a solution.

Ivo Welch is a professor of finance and economics at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA./Tribune News Service

Dear Reader: In a noisy world where multi-tasking is prevalent, how can you quiet your mind?

Whether you’re scrolling on social media or having a conversation with a colleague, chances are, you may feel impatient with a decreasing attention span. Take a moment to ask yourself how many windows you have open on your screen and how many profiles you just scrolled by on social media within 30 seconds.

In turn, constant streams of noise equate to continuous distractions and decreased focus. Suffice it to say, this doesn’t translate well into work when we need to focus on productivity and the quality of work without having constant interruptions. You may notice you’re drafting three emails simultaneously and your brain has just as many drafts in motion, yet nothing substantial is accomplished. It’s as if we’re on a large hamster wheel to nowhere. All of this multitasking doesn’t bode well. It’s a one-way road to being overwhelmed.

As we focus on attention spans, underneath it is the intention for clarity, minimalism, doing less and achieving more.

Dr. Evita Singh, psychiatrist at Ohio State Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, told The New York Post, “When people are multitasking, when they have so many things in their mind that they’re thinking about, they can get exhausted. And then it’s really hard to enjoy things, which can then lead to depression or anxiety.”

To help her patients boost their ability to focus, she coined the “take five” method. Think of it as an acronym with digestible actionable items: T — take breaks often, A — actively engage in just one task at hand, K — keep distractions to a minimum, E — eliminate multitasking and F — take five minutes to refocus by having a mini workout, doing mindfulness or a fun activity.

In our society that focuses more on doing rather than being, and in various workplaces that prioritize an unrealistic fast pace and output rather than preventing burnout, you’ll need to develop a muscle to push back. Start small. Schedule breaks on your calendar and force yourself to stick to them. Something as simple as a five-minute tech break without your device combined with another activity such as walking outside your office to get a quick breath of fresh air and sunlight can put spring in your step! We’re allowed to take breaks at work. Our posture, our eyes, our everything needs to recharge.

The funny thing is, sometimes when we detach, new thoughts that are meaningful and important will emerge into our heads. For instance, by extending this beyond five minutes to let’s say, a 15-minute quick power walk mid-day, we’re prioritizing making space for ourselves and whatever else bubbles up — often, it’s work.

These small steps can move mountains. By being intentional to take a five- to 10-minute timeout every hour from tech, per Singh’s recommendations, you can attempt to reduce distractions. Start with five minutes and remember distractions and multitasking are not helpful; have a plan with your fun activity to refocus.

Tribune News Service

By KEN SWEET, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Navy Federal Credit Union will no longer have to refund $80 million to servicemen and women for illegally charging them overdraft fees on their accounts, after the President Donald Trump-led Consumer Financial Protection Bureau moved to dismiss the case.

It’s the latest example of how the Trump-led CFPB is undoing much of the work it did under President Biden, even in instances where the bad actors agreed to provide redress and compensation to victims.

The case dates from late 2024 and deals with an issue known as “authorized positive overdraft fees,” which happen when a bank initially approves a debit card transaction but later charges the customer a overdraft fee when that earlier transaction settles, typically a couple of days later, and there’s insufficient funds in the customer’s bank account. Navy Federal was found to authorize these types of overdraft fees between 2017 and 2022, later stopping the practice and refunding some customers who were impacted.

Under its previous settlement, Navy Federal would have needed to pay a $15 million fine to the CFPB and refund $80 million in illegally paid overdraft fees. At the time, Navy Federal said it “fully cooperated with the CFPB’s investigation and we will continue to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, just as we always have and as we believe we did here.”

The CFPB gave little reason for withdrawing the consent order. Under Russell Vought, the president’s budget director who is also the acting head of the bureau, the bureau has withdrawn roughly half a dozen consent orders and ended other settlements the bureau previously reached with financial services companies. The withdrawn order says that Navy Federal consented to have the order withdrawn.

A spokesperson for Navy Federal did not immediately respond to comment on whether the credit union planned to keep refunding its customers, despite no longer having to do so.

Navy Federal is, by far, the largest credit union in the country with roughly 14 million members and $180 billion in assets. If Navy Federal were considered a traditional bank, it would be the 24th largest bank in the country by assets.

Dear Reader: When you’re ready to push past limits and excel at work, what needs to happen to make this possible?

Sure, we’ve heard of the saying to not only “survive, but thrive,” but what exactly is thriving as it relates to crushing it on your job on a daily basis?

The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership released its latest Thriving at Work research, co-authored by Susan MacKenty Brady and Elisa van Dam. The newly debuted Thrive Index in the study measured employees’ support; essentially, how supported they felt in order to perform at the top of their game.

MacKenty Brady, founding CEO of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership and the Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership, said, “Although we believe every person must define thriving for themselves, when we surveyed participants at the Simmons Leadership Conference, three themes emerged: making a positive contribution, feeling valued and recognized for that contribution, and having the opportunity to learn and grow. Although work/life balance wasn’t at the top of the list for what allows people to thrive, unmanageable workloads were cited as the top barrier.”

This is important for several reasons. “When employees thrive they are more productive, more likely to go above and beyond, and more effective. They also report feeling more confident, more engaged, and happier. What’s exciting is that both the individual and the organization benefit,” said van Dam, vice president for Allyship & Inclusion at the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership.

If it’s questionable as to whether or not you’re truly thriving, van Dam suggested taking self-assessments to see “how much they feel valued, whether they have the opportunity to make a positive contribution, and if they are continuing to learn and grow. They can also think about how much of their time they feel that their work gives them energy rather than depleting them.”

For workers, you can pursue new opportunities and invest in your skills. Bosses play an integral role too. “Our advice for managers is to communicate frequently and transparently, support and recognize their employees, and ensure they provide frequent, actionable feedback,” van Dam said. “Our research found that helping employees thrive is key to engagement, creativity and better business outcomes for organizations. For employees, thriving makes them happier, more confident and more productive.”

Vicki Salemi is a career expert for Monster, an author, a speaker and consultant, TV commentator and former corporate recruiter. For more information, visit www.vickisalemi.com and follow her on Instagram @vickisalemi. Send your questions to [email protected]./Tribune News Service

Frustrated with dating apps, singles are are shelling out for high-end matchmaking.

“We had our biggest month of sales in the history of the company last month, and we’ve been around for 15 years,” Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of the matchmaking service Three Day Rule says. “Our business is not shrinking.”

And he’s not alone. Demand for personalized dating services is growing, according to companies interviewed by Bloomberg, with clients citing “app fatigue” and a desire for meaningful connection as the motivation for ditching the swipes.

Matchmakers aim to find compatible romantic partners for serious relationships or marriage. Members are vetted before a first date, with checks on criminal and marriage records, and often get paired by preferences such as height or religion.

The service is back in the cultural zeitgeist with A24’s “Materialists,” a film about a high-powered matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) torn between a wealthy suitor (Pedro Pascal) and a poor one (Chris Evans) in her own love life. The film was written by director Celine Song, who once worked as a matchmaker in New York City.

Opening weekend for “Materialists” brought in $12 million making it A24’s third largest box office after “Civil War” and “Hereditary.”

Online dating, with its endless swiping and the possibility of someone better just around the corner, is increasingly frustrating to some users. And in-person meetups often don’t match digital expectations.

“It’s a hellscape,” New York City resident Christine Russo says about dating apps. “It’s exhausting especially if you’re really putting the time and effort and energy into it while working full-time.”

Paying users at Match Group Inc.’s Tinder has declined for eight consecutive quarters, and the business isn’t expected to return to revenue growth until 2027.

Former Three Day Rule user Elliot Galpern met his now wife through the service and has no regrets on the four-figure price tag. His matchmaker helped with first date outfits and confidence-boosting tips. “You know, you can’t get dating advice from people nowadays,” Galpern says.

However, the service isn’t guaranteed to work, and failure can be made extra frustrating by the expense. “If one of the matches, or if all of the matches don’t work out you’re kind of screwed,” says Paige, an elementary school teacher who paid $7,000 dollars for nine months at one service and is onto her third. “It’s a lot of money for a boyfriend. It’s weird.”

The hefty price also comes with a higher expectation. “If I only am given a certain number of matches for this service I’m paying for, I’m gonna be pretty scrupulous,” Lizzie Guarino told Bloomberg. Guarino was once quoted almost $8,900 for six months and $5,900 for three months at Three Day Rule. She chose a lower-cost rival, though met her now fiancé elsewhere.

Though matchmaking is a premium service, it’s been largely unaffected by the economic hurdles facing luxury spending. Top-tier brands such as Hermes International SCA and Gucci owner Kering SA are losing customers who are reigning in their spending, while mid-tier brands like Ralph Lauren Corp. are performing well by providing quality at more affordable prices.

Costs for matchmaking services can reach as high as six figures. In contrast, dating apps tend to offer less expensive, multitiered subscriptions. Hinge offers packages from $29.99 per month, while Tinder’s most expensive subscription costs $500 per month. Match has tried getting in on the high-price action with its acquisition of The League, a matchmaking service that targets young professionals, in 2022.

“There is a huge difference between a dating app, which is self-selected, filter your way into perfection, a wild wild west,” Cohen-Aslatei says. “Versus matchmaking, where someone gets to know you.” The more they get to spend time with a client and uncover who they really are, the better they are able to do vetting. “They interview people for you and they really go on first dates for you,” he adds.

A nurse who worked with Three Day Rule was willing to reallocate some personal funds to find a match. “She always goes on a yearly trip with her girlfriends to Hawaii,” Cohen-Aslatei says, adding that instead she now “saves five or six thousand dollars and gets an entry-level package.”

Signups have noticeably ticked upward among men age 23 to 30, according to NYCity Matchmaking owner Michelle Frankel, who attributes the shift to missed dating opportunities during the pandemic. The trend is unfolding alongside discussions of a “loneliness epidemic and, you know, men experiencing that” Chief Strategy Officer Greg Johnson at matchmaking company Kelleher International said.

NYCity Matchmaking had to hire three additional matchmakers over the past three months to meet up with demand. “I could see the trend and I just knew we were getting busier and busier,” Frankel says. “And you know, with this movie coming out, I’m sure we’re gonna be even busier.”

An upper-story porch collapsed on a Dorchester triple-decker, sending nine people to the hospital, according to authorities.

The Boston Fire Department and Boston EMS responded to 39 Harwood St. in Dorchester at around 10 p.m. Friday for reports of a porch collapse. There, they found the third-story porch broken into a v-like shape.

Boston EMS reported that it transported nine adults, with injuries ranging from minor to serious, to area hospitals including Boston Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess and Brigham and Women’s.

A Boston Fire official said that the porch went through two collapses during a “large gathering” there.

“After the initial collapse there was a secondary collapse of the material that was on the deck,” Boston Fire Chief of Operations Rodney Marshall told reporters at the scene. “There was a refrigerator, and other various materials, up on the third floor that also collapsed.”

At approximately 10 this evening a 3rd floor porch collapsed injuring multiple people, at 39 Hardwood st. Dorchester. pic.twitter.com/J6i0LBq9jw

— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) June 28, 2025

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Property records show the six-bedroom, 3-bath multifamily home last sold for $970,000 in 2021, a nearly 341% premium over its sales price of $220,000 in 2008.

U.S. stocks closed at an all-time high Friday, another milestone in the market’s remarkable recovery from a springtime plunge.

The S&P 500 rose 0.5%, finishing above its previous record set in February. The key measure of Wall Street’s health fell nearly 20% from February 19 through April 8.

The market’s complete turnaround from its deep swoon happened in about half the time that it normally takes, said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA.

“Investors will breathe a sigh of relief,” he said.

The Nasdaq composite gained 0.5% and set its own all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1%.
President Donald Trump’s decision Friday to halt trade talks with Canada threatened to derail Wall Street’s run to a record, but the market steadied.

The gains on Friday were broad, with nearly every sector within the S&P 500 rising. Nike soared 15.2% for the biggest gain on the market, despite warning of a steep hit from tariffs.

The broader market has seemingly shaken off fears about the Israel-Iran war disrupting the global supply of crude oil and sending prices higher. A ceasefire between the two nations is still in place.

The price of crude oil in the U.S. is mostly unchanged on Friday. Prices have fallen back to pre-conflict levels.

Investors are also monitoring potential progress on trade conflicts between the U.S. and the world, specifically with China. The U.S. and China have signed a trade deal that will make it easier for American firms to obtain magnets and rare earth minerals from China that are critical to manufacturing and microchip production, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday.

China’s Commerce Ministry also said that the two sides had “further confirmed the details of the framework” for their trade talks. But its statement did not explicitly mention an agreement to ensure U.S. access to rare earths, and instead said it will review and approve “eligible export applications for controlled items.”

An update on inflation Friday showed prices ticked higher in May, though the rate mostly matched economists’ projections.
Inflation remains a big concern for businesses and consumers. Trump’s on-again-off-again tariff policy has made it difficult for companies to make forecasts. It has also put more pressure on consumers worried about already stubborn inflation. A long list of businesses from carmakers to retailers have warned that higher import taxes will likely hurt their revenues and profits.

The U.S. has 10% baseline tariffs on all imported goods, along with higher rates for Chinese goods and other import taxes on steel and autos. The economy and consumers have remained somewhat resilient under those tariffs, though analysts and economists expect to see the impact grow as import taxes continue to work their way through businesses to consumers.

“While we also would have expected to already to be seeing a bit more pass through into the inflation statistics, we still expect these impacts to show up in a more meaningful way in the next few months,” said Greg Wilensky, head of U.S. fixed income and portfolio manager at Janus Henderson.

The threat of more severe tariffs continues to hang over the economy. The current pause on a round of retaliatory tariffs against a long list of nations is set to expire in July. Failure to negotiate deals or further postpone the tariffs could once again rattle investors and consumers.

The Federal Reserve is monitoring the tariff situation with a big focus on inflation. The rate of inflation has been stubbornly sitting just above the central bank’s target of 2%. In a report Friday, its preferred gauge, the personal consumption expenditures index, rose to 2.3% in May. That’s up from 2.1% the previous month.

The Fed cut interest rates twice in late 2024 following a historic series of rate hikes to cool inflation. The PCE was as high as 7.2% in 2022 while the more commonly used consumer price index hit 9.1%.

The Fed hasn’t cut rate cuts so far in 2025 over worries that tariffs could reignite inflation and hamper the economy. Economists still expect at least two rate cuts before the end of the year.

Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.24% late Thursday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, edged up to 3.74% from late Thursday.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 32.05 points to 6,173.07. The Dow gained 432.43 points to 43,819.27, and the Nasdaq added 105.55 points to 20,273.46.

Stocks in Europe were mostly higher, while stocks in Asia finished mixed.

Massachusetts is facing a structural failure in its disability services system, due to a failure to support the workforce. This does not only have a real human cost; it also creates an economic loss for the Commonwealth.

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are responsible for the daily care, safety, and well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism. As of October 2024, in the state of Massachusetts, a staggering 19% of DSP roles were vacant, resulting in an estimated 2,400 adults with IDD and autism being unable to attend day or employment services. These programs offer critical care to individuals with IDD and autism and provide a sanctuary for them to form relationships, create routines, and work in their communities. As a result of this shortage, many are losing out on beneficial opportunities and necessary services.

Additionally, with advancements in medicine and social services, individuals with IDD and autism are living longer, and their needs are becoming more complex. As a society, we need more accessible and affordable long-term care solutions to serve this growing population of older individuals. Instead, we are seeing the opposite. Human service agencies and direct support care groups are limiting services and closing their programs, creating immense barriers and restricting care for the most vulnerable.

To address the critical worker shortage, Massachusetts must prioritize benefits and training and improve pay for DSPs. By doing so, the state government will signify the importance of community and government support in direct support roles, ultimately improving the direct support labor crisis.

Better benefits and access to comprehensive training resources will encourage more people to pursue a career in the direct support profession. Support from employers can help to improve staff morale and lower rates of employee burnout, making it easier for direct support staff to prioritize their physical and mental wellbeing. While benefits can help to improve the labor crisis by lowering rates of burnout, better pay rates are necessary to create a long-lasting solution to the shortage.

DSPs are currently paid a median rate of $20.79 an hour for life-affirming care. That is not sustainable. The physical, mental, and emotional work required of DSPs does not equal the current median pay rate and is ultimately contributing to employee burnout and turnover. According to the Association for Developmental Disabilities Providers, turnover exceeds 40% annually among direct support professionals, negatively impacting the individuals they serve.

This labor shortage is not simply a staffing issue. It is a systemic risk with fiscal and operational consequences. Insufficient staffing disrupts service delivery, increases reliance on costly emergency interventions, and drives long-term expenditures on healthcare. Every day that this problem persists, it strains the Commonwealth’s budget, threatens the viability of community-based care, and negatively impacts communities across the state. Increasing salaries is short money for the increase in benefits and savings Massachusetts will reap in return.

In her first FY26 budget draft, Governor Maura Healey proposed an increase of $34 million for human services rates – but this is not sufficient. This amount will neither stabilize the workforce, nor address the scale of the retention problem.

The Arc of Massachusetts and our advocacy partners have requested a targeted $100 million investment, which would bring median rates of pay for entry level DSPs to $22.35 per hour. This would bring pay rates from the 53rd percentile to the 63rd percentile, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – still modest by any labor market standard, but a necessary step to stop losses and maintain operational continuity across the sector.

This ask is not about sentiment. It is a matter of fiscal responsibility, system performance, and service delivery. The current wage structure undermines workforce stability, disrupts care, and ultimately costs the state more by creating additional strains on the healthcare system.

Unfortunately, our request to Massachusetts’ state government has not yet been successful. Our proposed amendment failed in the House and in the Senate, leaving us with one last hope: Governor Healey herself.

We urge Governor Healey to use the tools available to her – administrative action, budget reallocations, and emergency funding – to address this workforce crisis directly. Delay will cost more to individuals with IDD and autism, their families, direct support providers, and the Commonwealth at large. Inaction will cause continued harm to communities.

The time for legislative solutions has passed. Governor Healey has long been an ally to the IDD and autism community and The Arc. We urge the governor to respond to this crisis.

Brian Cusack is the Board President of The Arc of Massachusetts, the Waltham-based nonprofit organization that enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism and their families through advocacy for community supports and services.