Students at a Connecticut school took part in writing workshops hosted by five winners of a Windham-Campbell Literature Prize from Yale University. Students studied the writers' works before the event and asked questions about their processes.
Increased regulation, a decline in community banks, limited access to capital and an aging population are among potential factors for a decrease in startups, economists say. The Census Bureau reports 414,000 businesses were founded in 2015, compared with 558,000 in 2006.
Relieving college and university accreditors from judging the financial health of institutions and instead focusing only on academic strength would improve the accreditation process, according to a new report from the Urban Institute. Seton Hall University researcher Robert Kelchen, the author of the report, says the federal government or a third-party group -- rather than accreditors -- should monitor the fiscal health of colleges.
Hackers breached the Securities and Exchange Commission's corporate-disclosure database last year, accessing documents filed by publicly traded companies. The agency determined last month the information could have been used for illicit trades.
⋅ Reuters
Albertsons will increase its investment in the meal kit category and acquire meal kit delivery service Plated for an undisclosed amount, as part of an effort to widen its shopper base and boost its competitive edge. Through the deal, Albertsons will add Plated's meal kits to its in-store and e-commerce offerings, the company said.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the senator plans to bring the Graham-Cassidy health care bill to a vote next week, but it remains unclear whether the party has enough votes to advance the bill. The legislation is seen as the GOP's last attempt to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act under reconciliation rules before the Sept. 30 deadline.
Snapchat has added 14 firms to its Creative Partners program, giving advertisers a choice of 21 companies to help them create ads designed specifically for its platform. Examples of expert help include interactive video and games, sensory ads, mobile lead generation forms and mobile coupons.
Amazon, Target and Macy's have announced significant hiring plans ahead of the holiday season. UPS says it will hire 95,000 people to handle holiday-related shipping, while FedEx will hire an additional 50,000 workers for the holidays.
Google will spend $1.1 billion hiring around 2,000 HTC employees who had been working in HTC's Pixel unit, as well as acquiring nonexclusive intellectual property rights. Google is seeking to expand its hardware sales by adding hardware engineers.
⋅ Reuters
The FDA granted orphan drug status to Amylyx Pharmaceuticals' AMX0035, which is being developed as a treatment for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
⋅ TechHive
Stringify has been purchased by Comcast, Stringify reported in a blog post. Comcast plans to use Stringify's method of stringing together complex interactions for products supported by the Xfinity Home platform.
⋅ CNBC
Homebuilder confidence scores fell three points in September according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Members remain concerned about the industry labor shortage and increased material costs after two hurricanes.
⋅ GreenBiz
Smart logistics and better freight supply chain management can help corporations cut their transportation greenhouse gas emissions and save money. Home Depot and Walmart have revamped their freight delivery networks using low-tech strategies, such as mapping out more direct truck routes, filling trucks with more to haul and reducing total delivery miles.
Airlines and their workers have stepped up to help people affected by the recent storms and the earthquake in Mexico, delivering needed supplies and helping to move people and pets out of harm's way. Carriers are also working to raise millions of dollars in aid donations by giving donors reward miles.
⋅ Bisnow
The US share of long-haul international travel dropped last year for the first time since 2006 and is projected to fall again in 2017, according to a new analysis. A stronger dollar and President Donald Trump's "antagonistic" stance toward foreign visitation are most to blame, according to an official with the U.S. Travel Association.