Amazon Prime members in 50 US cities can now take advantage of a new direct-to-garage delivery service that uses Key Smart Garage Kits and LiftMaster Wi-Fi garage door openers to allow drivers to deposit packages in the garage. Members simply need to link their connected garage-door openers to the feature on the Amazon Key app to use the service.
⋅ CNN
The US Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments Tuesday on whether the Trump administration can ask a citizenship question on the 2020 census. The Commerce Department contends that adding the question will give the government a clearer picture of the population, but critics argue that asking about citizenship could discourage some residents from responding and lead to an inaccurate head count.
⋅ BBC
In Switzerland's medieval Basse-Ville, between separate German-speaking and French-speaking areas of Fribourg, residents speak a dialect known as le Bolze. The language is unique for several reasons, including that people begin by fluently speaking both French and Swiss German before learning the dialect specific to the community.
⋅ Reuters
Commerce Department data show retail sales increased 1.6% in March, regaining ground after a plunge in December, while a Labor Department report shows continued decline in initial unemployment claims. These reports follow Federal Reserve data that show a moderate increase in economic activity and provide further evidence of good economic health.
A growing number of fast-casual restaurants are delivering personalized meals in bento boxes that compartmentalize the different dishes and ingredients. Supertoro in Santa Monica, Calif., will boast a build-your-own bento box meal when it opens this summer and Boulder, Colo.-based Kelley and Ping provides a delivery-only bento box concept.
Google has signaled it is entering the field of artificial intelligence in health care, and one analyst says the company has likely already invested billions of dollars. Greg Corrado, a Google research scientist, says AI and machine learning can be applied to numerous tasks, including "the kinds of tasks that doctors, nurses, clinicians and patients face every day."
Brands face the challenge of broadcasting their creative ideas across channels and screens to tell cohesive story while engaging audiences, writes Les Seifer. He urges brands to consider all of the technology and creative campaign nuances throughout the pre-production, production and post-production stages to ensure a seamless experience.
The Department of Transportation may make changes to its 100 air-mile "short-haul" exemption, due in part to 5,200-plus comments filed by truck drivers over the hours-of-service regulation, and expand it from 12 hours on-duty to 14, which would keep it in line with long-haul driver regulations. Additional changes could alter adverse condition rules, the 30-minute break rule after eight hours and the choice to split the 10-hour off-duty rest break requirements.
Sony's 2019 TV lineup includes a 98-inch Z9G 8K LED/LCD model that is priced at $70,000. The Z9G, which includes Sony's X1 Ultimate processor to assist in upscaling, will be available in June.
Biotechnology firm Mustang Bio announced that its gene therapy MB-107 has cured 10 children with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. The company has an ongoing Phase I/II trial of the drug candidate at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and at the University of California at San Francisco.
Samsung Electronics has pushed back the planned April 26 commercial roll out of the Galaxy Fold after reviewers reported defects with the device, the phone-maker confirmed, saying it wants to run more tests on the handset. AT&T and T-Mobile had planned to launch the nearly $2,000 Fold, which is the first mainstream handset that is foldable.
⋅ Reuters
The Federal Reserve's Beige Book report shows a moderate rise in economic growth in March and early April. The report also notes shortages of skilled workers in most of the Fed's 12 districts and generally modest wage rises.
President Donald Trump will not renew sanctions waivers for countries that import Iranian crude oil. "Our goal has been to get countries to cease importing Iranian oil altogether," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The Transportation Security Administration is increasing signage at US airports to remind travelers the Real ID Act goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2020. "TSA is doing everything we can to prepare our partners and the traveling public for the Real ID deadline next year," TSA chief David Pekoske said.
JetBlue Airways will begin offering flights to London from Boston and New York City sometime in 2021, targeting business travelers with competitive pricing and Mint service. Analyst John Strickland, director of London-based JLS Consulting, speculates the carrier will keep prices down by offering service to airports other than Heathrow such as Gatwick Airport and London Stansted Airport.