El Salvador explores bitcoin mining powered by volcanoes
BERLIN, El Salvador — At a geothermal power plant near El Salvador’s Tecapa volcano, 300 computers whir inside a trailer as they make complex mathematical calculations day and night verifying transactions for the cryptocurrency bitcoin.
Once shunned, people convicted of felonies find more employers open to hiring them
In the 25 years that U.S. Rubber Recycling in Colton, California, has been grinding up old tires to create new products, its sales have never ballooned so fast as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel among top resorts in Hawaii
The historic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in South Kohala, which opened in 1965 and features 252 luxury guestrooms and suites, was recently named the No. 25 Hotel in Hawaii in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. The hotel has received a score of 80.78 in the category, marking the fifth year in a row Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has received this distinguished award honoring the top travel destinations and brands around the world as rated by its readers.
USDA to gather data about farm labor
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conductings its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in October. The survey will collect information about hired labor from more than 600 Hawaii farmers and ranchers. NASS will compile, analyze, and publish survey results Nov. 24 in the Farm Labor report on the NASS website.
Big Island Brewhaus earns medal
Big Island Brewhaus recently earned a gold medal for its Dark Sabbath Belgian-style strong specialty ale at the U.S. Open Beer Championship held in September in Ohio.
US unemployment claims rise third straight week to 362,000
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose for the third straight week, a sign that the highly contagious delta variant may be slowing a recovery in the job market.
In brief: October 4, 2021
Credit union awards grants to teachers
Cost of chip shortage totals $210 billion — double early estimates, consultant says
The global semiconductor shortage will cost $210 billion in lost revenues this year, estimates AlixPartners LLP, up 91% from the firm’s previous May forecast of $110 billion.
Airline employees sue United over vaccine mandates
Eight United Airlines employees based at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are suing the carrier over its vaccine mandate program, the most aggressive in the aviation industry.
Powell meets a changed economy: Fewer workers, higher prices
WASHINGTON — Restaurant and hotel owners struggling to fill jobs. Supply-chain delays forcing up prices for small businesses. Unemployed Americans unable to find work even with job openings at a record high.
Working to speed up the switch: Companies, activists push zero-emission truck sales
BOSTON — Officials from companies with fleets of trucks are urging governors across the country to embrace a rule meant to speed the adoption of zero-emission trucks and reduce a potent source of greenhouse gases spewed from the large commercial vehicles.
Powell meets a changed economy: Fewer workers, higher prices
WASHINGTON — Restaurant and hotel owners struggling to fill jobs. Supply-chain delays forcing up prices for small businesses. Unemployed Americans unable to find work even with job openings at a record high.
Purchase chicken in the past 10 years? You might get some scratch back. How to file
A class action lawsuit alleging price-fixing in the poultry industry may mean a little extra grocery money in your pocket.
Criminal indictment imminent for former Boeing 737 MAX chief technical pilot, report says
SEATTLE — Federal prosecutors plan to criminally indict Mark Forkner, the former Boeing 737 Chief Technical Pilot who is alleged to have deceived aviation regulators and airlines about a critical new flight control system on the 737 MAX, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
China defends tech crackdown in meeting with Wall Street chiefs
HONG KONG — China’s top regulators defended their market-roiling crackdown on various industries in a meeting with Wall Street executives, while reassuring them the stricter rules aren’t aimed at stifling technology companies or the private sector.
Democrats unveil new EV tax credit proposal
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Washington want to include a significant new incentive to buy electric vehicles in their $3.5 trillion social spending bill, according to a new plan revealed Sept. 10 by the House Ways and Means Committee.
US retail sales unexpectedly jump in sign of resilient demand
U.S. retail sales rose unexpectedly in August as a pickup in purchases across most categories more than offset weakness at auto dealers, showing resilient consumer demand for merchandise.
Royal Caribbean to debut world’s largest cruise ship
Florida has been the first home for each of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class vessels since Oasis of the Seas debuted in 2008, but was set to lose out to China for the fifth ship in the class, Wonder of the Seas. But the cruise line announced some changes that will bring the ship to the Sunshine State early next year.
Lawmakers ask Amazon to curtail COVID-19 misinformation
Two federal lawmakers have requested that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy address concerns about the company’s role in pushing shoppers toward books and products that promote misinformation about the coronavirus.
In brief: September 13, 2021
Feds fine Wells Fargo for ‘unsafe or unsound’ home lending practices
