Data centers are gobbling up land, driving up electric bills, and becoming a lightning rod for public discontent over big tech’s power in society. Maine’s legislature recently passed a data center ban in the state (but failed to override the governor’s veto). According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 14 states spanning the political…
Remote expedition cruises to places like Antarctica and the Arctic are booming as affluent travelers increasingly seek out isolated, experience-driven destinations far from traditional tourism infrastructure. The global cruise industry serviced a record 37.2 million passengers in 2025, up 7.5% from 2024, according to Cruise Lines International Association, with passenger volume expected to approach 42…
Lake Oswego in Oregon. Bradleyhebdon | Istock Unreleased | Getty Images A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. A wave of states deciding to take aim at a tax incentive…
Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary McLane is planning to deploy self-driving trucking technology from Aurora Innovation on routes in Texas and across the U.S. Sun Belt by the end of the year, expanding on an autonomous freight pilot program the companies began in 2023, McLane and Aurora announced Wednesday. Temple, Texas-based McLane is one of the largest…
With companies spending more than ever on artificial intelligence, they are also tracking how employees use AI in unprecedented detail. Yet many CEOs hope, but still can’t tell, if it’s making workers more productive. More than two-thirds of enterprises still rely on estimates, like time saved or projected cost reductions, rather than measured financial results…
As healthcare costs soar, it’s not only individual Americans feeling the financial pain and looking to make trade-offs. Employers are scouring for ways to cut back and generous paid parental leave is among the employee benefits on the chopping block. Zoom Communications announced tweaks to its parental leave policy to bring the benefit more in…
Pedestrians walk along Wall Street outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Monday, April 6, 2026. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a worldwide economic ripple effect, hiking prices of everything from gas to pharmaceuticals and causing shortages of…
When Meta agreed to acquire Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup with Chinese roots for roughly $2 billion last December, many saw the transaction as just another routine deal in today’s global technology economy: capital crossing borders, startups relocating to friendlier jurisdictions, and major platform companies acquiring talent and intellectual property in the race to…
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Casey Putsch speaks with supporters at a campaign event in Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday, April 9, 2026. He is far behind in the polls, but Putsch is part of a nationwide message of economic populism and is promoting “right to repair” legislation. Sue Ogrocki | AP It used to be that if…
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. New York’s proposed tax on second homes worth more than $5 million is likely to spark costly legal battles over how to value…
