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In a surprise move, Jack in the Box announced this week it would be closing as many as 200 of its restaurant locations, in addition to possibly unloading Del Taco, a chain it purchased only three years ago.

The latest initiative by the San Diego-based fast-food chain will allow it to focus more exclusively on the Jack in the Box brand, while shuttering underperforming restaurants and raising cash to eventually pay down $300 million in debt, the company’s new CEO, Lance Tucker, said.

The closing of dozens of locations, none of which have been announced yet, will be done in phases with the first 80 to 120 to be shuttered by the end of this year. The company is calling its new strategy, “JACK on Track.”

“We expect closing these restaurants will strengthen the overall long-term economics of our franchisees, free up dollars for reinvestment, and allow the system to focus on maximizing performance of our stronger restaurants,” Tucker said during a Wednesday conference call with analysts and investors. “In short, we anticipate this program will better position Jack in the Box for more reliable, consistent, positive unit growth in the future.” read more

Walt Disney World has revealed the opening date and some menu items for GEO-82, the adults-only lounge that will operate from inside Epcot’s Spaceship Earth.  The space will debut for the public on June 4, the company announced Monday.

Aside from the food and beverage, a talking point of GEO-82 will be view of the theme park’s World Celebration Gardens and potential landing spot for Luminous: The Symphony of Us nighttime spectacular. The resort is offering an add-on “fireworks experience” as part of the Enchanting Extras Collection, which also launches June 4.  Reservations are required for GEO-82, and they will start being accepted May 6.

Among the food items on the menu will be cannellini hummus, funghi flatbread, jumbo lump crab gateau, truffled ahi tuna and a chef’s selection of cheeses and meats.

Featured cocktails on the menu include brown butter old fashioned, caramelized leek martini, high brow batanga, strawberry-black pepper sour, banana brulee highball, a select bourbon flight exclusive to Disney and more.  There will also be beer, wine and zero-proof cocktails available. read more

Hyunmin Kim, Margaret Giles of Morningstar

A 529 college savings plan can be a powerful tool when saving for future education expenses because investments in the plan can increase tax-free, but many savers don’t take full advantage of all the benefits that 529 plans have to offer.

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One common deterrent to investing through a 529 plan is the concern that assets in a 529 account will reduce financial aid eligibility. While it’s true that 529 assets have an impact on financial aid, the effect is likely smaller than you think.

Do 529 plans affect financial aid?

The short answer is yes. An increase in the means to fund higher education naturally means the beneficiary is eligible for less need-based aid. read more

By MATT O’BRIEN, AP Technology Writer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — After retreating from their workplace diversity, equity and inclusion programs, tech companies could now face a second reckoning over their DEI work in AI products.

In the White House and the Republican-led Congress, “woke AI” has replaced harmful algorithmic discrimination as a problem that needs fixing. Past efforts to “advance equity” in AI development and curb the production of “harmful and biased outputs” are a target of investigation, according to subpoenas sent to Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI and 10 other tech companies last month by the House Judiciary Committee.

And the standard-setting branch of the U.S. Commerce Department has deleted mentions of AI fairness, safety and “responsible AI” in its appeal for collaboration with outside researchers. It is instead instructing scientists to focus on “reducing ideological bias” in a way that will “enable human flourishing and economic competitiveness,” according to a copy of the document obtained by The Associated Press. read more

By ELAINE KURTENBACH

China’s leaders are downplaying the potential impact from U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, saying they have the capacity to protect jobs and limit damage from higher tariffs on Chinese exports.

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The briefing Monday by several senior officials of different government ministries appeared aimed at shoring up confidence with promises of support for companies and the unemployed, easier lending conditions and other policies to counter the impact of combined tariffs of up to 145% on U.S. imports from China. read more