CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Jun 08 2026POLITICS

Small Businesses vs. Credit Card Fees

Business owners in Maine have long complained about the high costs of swipe fees. A former entrepreneur who helped local shops sell gift cards has seen how these charges eat into profits. He sold his company but kept the lessons learned. Now he urges lawmakers to reject a new bill that would let cr

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Jun 03 2026WEATHER

Heat Wave Ends with a Splash: Central New York Weather Update

Central New York is set to stay hot and dry until Friday, as a high‑pressure system keeps the skies clear. Temperatures are climbing toward the upper 80s, and by Friday some places could hit nearly 90 degrees. The heat will linger through the rest of the work week, but a shift in wind direction f

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Jun 03 2026BUSINESS

Trade Shake‑Ups: New Tariff Rules Stir Business Fears

Business leaders quickly voiced worries after the U. S. administration unveiled plans to rebuild tariff barriers that the Supreme Court had largely dismissed in February. The proposal, announced late Tuesday, would introduce two new tariff levels—10% and 12. 5%—on goods from roughly sixty countries

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Jun 01 2026WEATHER

A Week of Warm, Dry Weather in Central New York

Central New York will enjoy mild temperatures and mostly dry air through the middle of next week, though a few light showers could appear on Monday evening. The local weather office says any rain will be brief and minimal, with temperatures climbing into the low 70s. A thin fog might settle over riv

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May 29 2026FINANCE

Gold stays the favorite reserve over crypto

Central banks keep choosing gold instead of digital money because it has shown steadiness for thousands of years. Gold survived wars, financial crashes and currency collapses, so it feels safe to hold. The United States owns more than 8, 000 metric tons of gold, half of which is at Fort Knox. Whe

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May 27 2026WEATHER

Cool Day Ahead for Central New York

Central New York is set to feel a chill as a dry cold front rolls in on Wednesday. The sky will stay partly sunny, with temperatures climbing into the mid‑70s before the front arrives in the late afternoon. A brief shower or thunderstorm could appear, but there isn’t much moisture to fuel a big stor

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May 26 2026BUSINESS

New Tax Rules Make Giving to Charity Harder for Businesses

Businesses that donate money will find the rules tougher from January 2026. A new law, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), adds limits that cut into how much a company can claim as a tax deduction for charitable gifts. The effect is simple: a donation that once lowered the tax bill dollar

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May 20 2026POLITICS

Why Rare Earth Metals in Central Asia Are Sparking Tension

Central Asia’s underground holds some of the world’s most valuable metals. Five countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—sit on vast deposits of rare earths, the minerals needed for phones, wind turbines, and fighter jets. For years, China has been the main supplier

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May 20 2026CRYPTO

How Crypto Exchanges Keep Your Money (And What Could Go Wrong)

Centralized exchanges act like digital banks for cryptocurrency. Instead of you holding the keys to your coins, the exchange does. That makes buying, selling, and trading easier—especially if you're new to crypto or want to use regular money like dollars to get started. But convenience comes with ri

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

The AI race heats up as businesses switch to a new leader

Businesses in the U. S. are now more likely to pay for Anthropic’s AI tool than OpenAI’s. In April 2026, Anthropic’s adoption hit 34. 4%, while OpenAI’s dropped to 32. 3%. The shift happened quickly—just a year ago, OpenAI led with 32%, and Anthropic barely registered. What changed? Anthropic’s codi

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