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In a blow to airline consumer rights, the Department of Transportation is proposing new policies that would significantly weaken the ability of the agency to enforce federal consumer protections.In a notice published in the federal register on January 6, the DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP), which is like the department’s consumer watchdog unit, is softening its stance on enforcing penalties such as fines for airlines that violate consumer air travel regulations. Instead, the office’s “enforcement focus will be on ensuring compliance with civil rights and consumer protection regulations rather than finding and penalizing entities for violations,” according to…

Spangle, an AI e-commerce startup founded by former Bolt CEO Maju Kuruvilla, has raised $15 million in a new funding round, valuing the company at $100 million after the investment. Led by NewRoad Capital Partners, the all-equity Series A round comes over a year after the Seattle-based startup raised a $6 million seed round at a $30 million pre-money valuation. Madrona, DNX Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, and strategic angel investors also participated, bringing total funding to $21 million, according to the startup. Retailers are facing changes in how consumers discover products online, as AI tools, social platforms, and recommendation engines increasingly…

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed paring down the responsibilities of California’s elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction and shifting more power to the State Board of Education.“California can no longer postpone reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century,” Newsom said, referring to numerous reports over the years that have suggested streamlining the state’s system of K-12 school governance. “These critical reforms will bring greater accountability, clarity and coherence to how we serve our students and schools,” Newsom said.The move is intended to simplify California’s convoluted education governance, which policy analysts have said can be inefficient, redundant and…

by Mia Taylor Last updated: 6:30 PM ET, Wed January 7, 2026 The recent federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, caused more than $6 billion in economic losses for America’s travel system.An articled penned by Joshua Friedlander, vice president, research for the U.S. Travel Association, says that loss was driven by “workforce strain, operational slowdowns and suppressed demand.” To quantify the impacts of the shutdown, which lasted from October 1 through November 12, 2025, the U.S. Travel Association partnered with Tourism Economics to analyze the fallout. That effort revealed $6.1 billion in economic losses across travel and related…

Google has unveiled a new AI Inbox for Gmail that’s designed to provide a personalized overview of your tasks and keep you informed about important updates. Gmail is also launching AI Overviews in search and a Grammarly-like “Proofread” feature. Additionally, Gmail is bringing to all users several AI features that were previously available only to paid users. The new AI Inbox tab features two sections: “Suggested to-dos” and “Topics to catch up on.” The first section displays summaries of top priority emails that require an action, such as a reminder that you have a bill due tomorrow or that you…

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends a briefing at the White House in Washington, Jan. 7, 2026.Kevin Lamarque | ReutersNew federal dietary recommendations have sparked mixed reactions from the embattled restaurant industry, as changing guidelines could encourage Americans to dine out less often or choose from a smaller pool of restaurants when they do leave home.The departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture unveiled the nutrition guidelines on Wednesday. The recommendations, which are updated every five years, pushed for higher consumption of protein and full-fat dairy and reduced intake of processed foods and…

When most travelers think of summer destinations, the Arabian Peninsula might not immediately come to mind. Yet Saudi Arabia is quietly transforming itself into an unexpected warm-weather escape, offering visitors a remarkable blend of ancient history, natural beauty and modern luxury during the season when the Kingdom comes alive with festivals and cultural celebrations.Mountain Escapes and Cool RetreatsContrary to common assumptions, Saudi Arabia’s diverse geography means summer doesn’t look the same everywhere. While coastal cities bask in warm sunshine, the mountainous regions of Aseer, Al Baha and Taif offer surprisingly pleasant temperatures ranging from 24 to 29 degrees Celsius. These…

The BlackBerry is back, sort of. Mobile keyboard maker Clicks Technology last week announced its debut phone, the $499 Communicator, which sports a physical keyboard. The company is also offering a separate $79 slide-out physical keyboard that fits on any device. At CES, TechCrunch chatted with Clicks’ chief marketing officer and co-founder, Jeff Gadway, and went hands-on with the latest prototype of the upcoming smartphone. The device offers a BlackBerry-like keyboard and messaging-focused touchscreen, and runs Android 16 under the hood, which means the Communicator can run any Android app. The company has partnered with the minimalist launcher, Niagara Launcher,…

RAMSEY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey on Thursday joined a growing list of states to limit students’ cellphone use during the school day. In the remaining days of his second term, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation requiring the state education commission and local school boards to come up with guidelines for the use of cellphones in schools for grades K-12. The new law specifically requires the prohibition of non-academic uses of internet-connected devices — including phones — during the school day. Murphy, who will be succeeded by Democrat Mikie Sherrill this month, called for the ban early last year.…

NEW YORK (AP) — The crisp crinkle of fallen leaves beneath your feet. The swish and trickle of water moving through a stream. A breath of crisp, fresh air.Spending time in nature can be invigorating or produce feelings of peace and calm. But many professions allow little time or access to the outdoors during the workday.After a youth spent climbing trees and playing soccer, Anna Rose Smith found it difficult when her first job as a psychotherapist in Utah required working in a windowless office.So she spent her lunch breaks outside, walking to nearby fountains or gardens. She picked up…