Wednesday, September 30, 2026
14 stories
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin's gift, the largest private donation to higher education in U.S. history, will fund a new Carnegie Mellon University campus in Miami. The donation marks a major expansion of the university's footprint into Florida. It reflects how mega-donors are reshaping where top-tier research universities locate.
America's top 0.1% now hold about $28 trillion — roughly 15% of all national wealth — with the average household in the group worth over $200 million. The data shows inequality is deepening not just between the middle class and the rich, but among the rich themselves. That concentration of wealth is becoming one of the defining economic facts of the decade.
Cornell University and Ithaca prosecutors are facing a wave of criticism over how they handled a 2024 rape allegation, and a state prosecutor has reopened the investigation. A woman has filed a civil suit against the school and seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity over the alleged assault. The case is becoming a test of how universities and prosecutors respond to campus sexual-assault claims.
A New York state judge ruled that Mayor Zohran Mamdani's luxury second-home tax was rolled out unlawfully because it placed the burden of proof on homeowners. The city will have to redo the controversial pied-à-terre tax. It's an early legal setback for the new mayor's progressive tax agenda.
An El Niño pattern shifted air currents in a way that has blocked Atlantic storms from forming — or shredded the ones that did. The result is an Atlantic hurricane season that largely failed to materialize. It's a striking example of how year-to-year climate patterns can upend seasonal forecasts.
Justice Samuel Alito will not take part in a Supreme Court climate-change case — a reversal of his earlier indication that he would not recuse himself. The court hasn't explained the decision, but it means the case could now end in a 4-4 split. Recusals at this level are rare and can decide the outcome.
President Trump unveiled plans for a $15 billion steel project in Iowa, a major industrial announcement with midterm elections on the horizon. The project is part of the administration's push for manufacturing wins that play well in Republican strongholds. Whether the plant materializes on schedule will be watched closely.
The Navy awarded Boeing the more than $20 billion F/A-XX contract to build its next-generation jet fighter. It's the latest in a string of defense wins for Boeing's military business. The program will shape U.S. naval air power for decades.
OpenAI has paused the release of a new model over safety concerns, a sign that AI safety debates are starting to slow the industry's breakneck release pace. The decision comes as chilly markets are also derailing Wall Street's blockbuster IPO season. Together, the two trends point to an AI sector hitting its first real speed bumps.
Smart-ring maker Oura is delaying its IPO despite strong demand, citing market uncertainty. It's another casualty of the frozen IPO season that's frustrating Wall Street. The decision suggests even well-regarded consumer-tech companies can't count on public markets right now.
The Trump administration is rolling back tougher fuel-economy rules, setting the standard at an average of 34.5 miles a gallon by model year 2031 instead of 50.4. The move is a major policy shift for the auto industry. It comes as car dealers are also grappling with an industrywide drought of new models.
SpaceX's Starship entered orbit for the first time and deployed the latest Starlink satellites, a milestone for the experimental rocket. Reaching orbit was a critical step toward Starship handling a range of future missions. The flight keeps the company on track toward its deep-space ambitions.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to overhaul the American food system is running into resistance inside the White House. Officials are questioning whether his ideas are even feasible, and the internal clashes are casting doubt over what was once a potent political agenda. The friction shows how hard it is to translate campaign promises into policy.
Under a former Walmart executive now at the helm, Kroger is borrowing Walmart's everyday-low-prices playbook for its turnaround. The strategy is a recognition that discount-driven shopping is reshaping the grocery business. It sets up a head-to-head price fight with the country's biggest retailer.