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Think gas prices are higher? You’re right

Staff report Gas prices are 8 cents higher in Northeast Ohio this week at $2.847 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report released Monday. The month of February is bringing slightly higher gas prices as the national average for a gallon of regular is up 3 cents from last week to $2.90. Gasoline demand is down, as fewer drivers hit the road during the recent winter storms. But this is the time of year when pump prices start nudging higher, as spring approaches and refineries start making the switch to summer-blend gasoline production. Current prices remain below ...

US stocks soar to their best day since May

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market roared back on Friday, as technology stocks recovered much of their losses from earlier in the week and bitcoin halted its plunge, at least for now. The S&P 500 rallied 2% for its best day since May. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,206 points, or 2.5%, and topped the 50,000 level for the first time, while the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%. Chip companies helped drive the widespread rally, and Nvidia jumped 7.8% to trim its loss for the week, which came into the day at just over 10%. Broadcom climbed 7.1% and erased its drop for the ...

Here’s when you’ll get your tax refund

NEW YORK (AP) — Tax filing season is underway, and the IRS expects 164 million people will file returns by April 15. The average refund last year was $3,167. This year, analysts have projected it could be $1,000 higher, thanks to changes in tax law. More than 165 million individual income tax returns were processed last year, with 94% submitted electronically. People with straightforward returns should not encounter delays, but because of an exodus of IRS workers since the start of the Trump administration, the national taxpayer advocate has cautioned that the 2026 tax filing ...

Study: Wealthy ramp up spending while other Americans tread water

WASHINGTON (AP) — Higher-income Americans and those with college degrees have ramped up their spending more quickly in the past three years than other consumers, according to new data released Tuesday, evidence of worsening inequality that may explain some of the growing pessimism about the ...

Uber found liable in sexual assault case and ordered to pay $8.5 million

The Associated Press A federal jury this week found Uber to be legally responsible in a 2023 case of sexual assault — ordering the rideshare giant to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said one of its drivers raped her during a trip using the platform. The verdict, reached Thursday in Arizona, follows years of criticism against Uber’s safety record, much of which spans from thousands of incidents of sexual assault reported by both passengers and drivers. Because Uber drivers are categorized as gig workers — working as contractors, rather than company employees — the platform has ...

‘X’ marks the spot for the Newton Falls treasure chase

Staff report There’s gold in them thar Falls. Don’t forget cash, silver and jewelry. Fieldview Acres Mercantile in downtown Newton Falls said it is taking a creative, communitywide approach to draw attention back to the town. Known locally as “The Merc,” the business announced a ...