Things To Do In SW Florida

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. Justice Department lawyer told jurors at a civil antitrust trial Tuesday that the concert industry is broken because Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation Entertainment have monopolized the market, driving up prices for consumers, but the companies say the government’s wrong.

David Dahlquist, an attorney with the Justice Department’s antitrust division, said in his opening statement that the United States and 39 states are counting on the Manhattan federal jury to end the monopoly and reward artists and consumers with a competitive marketplace that will leave them with more money.

“This case is about power, the power of a monopolist to control competition,” he said. “Today, the concert ticket industry is broken.”

David Marriott, arguing on behalf of the companies, disputed the government’s claims.

“We’ll let the numbers do the talking,” he said. “We do not have monopoly power.”

Judge Arun Subramanian has told jurors that evidence will be presented over the next six weeks before they’ll be left to decide whether Live Nation and Ticketmaster broke antitrust laws. read more

By KELVIN CHAN, AP Business Writer

LONDON (AP) — Damage to three Amazon Web Services facilities in the Middle East from Iranian drone strikes highlights the rapid growth of data centers in the region, as well as the industry’s vulnerability to conflict.

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The company’s cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, said late Monday that two data centers in the United Arab Emirates were “directly struck” and another facility in Bahrain was also damaged after a drone landed nearby.

“These strikes have caused structural damage, disrupted power delivery to our infrastructure, and in some cases required fire suppression activities that resulted in additional water damage,” AWS said in an update on its online dashboard. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil prices jumped Tuesday for the second straight day and gas prices moved higher in the United States, underscoring the threat of rising inflation posed by the Iran war.

Coming after nearly five years of elevated costs, even a modest pickup in prices could further sour many Americans on the economy and heighten the affordability concerns that have become a top political issue.

On Tuesday, U.S. oil prices rose more than 5% to $75.22 a barrel in afternoon trading. Gas prices jumped 11 cents to $3.11 a gallon on average nationwide, according to AAA.

A key issue, economists say, is how long the conflict lasts and whether shipping routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is closed. About one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas is shipped through the Strait. Even a war of a few weeks might not push up inflation or weaken the economy very long. But should it last for a few months, inflation would likely worsen — perhaps topping 3% for the first time since early 2024. read more

George, the younger brother of the Peppa Pig character, will begin wearing a hearing aid at appearances at Peppa Pig Theme Park in Winter Haven.  The change is in conjunction with a storyline development in the animated “Peppa Pig” series.

In its “Hearing Test” episode, Peppa’s family learns that George has moderate hearing loss in one ear, and he is fitted with a hearing aid. The in-park experience reflects the character’s status and reinforces the attraction’s committment to accessibility, says Merlin Entertainments Group, which own the theme park.

Peppa Pig Theme Park, which opened in 2022, is part of the Legoland Florida Resort and aimed at the youngest visitors and their families.  The new-look George also will appear at the Peppa Pig park in Grapevine, Texas, which opened last spring.

The two piglets and other members of their family regularly participate in meet-and-greet moments with visitors at the theme parks.

More than 400 “Peppa Pig” episodes have been produced since the British series’ TV debut in 2004.  The episodes, usually around 5 minutes long, can be found on its YouTube channel. The show and characters became part of Hasbro in 2019. read more

By KEITH BUGLEWICZ, Edmunds

Each year, the Edmunds Top Rated Awards are bestowed on the best new cars, trucks and SUVs on sale. To win, a vehicle must rank at the top of its class based on Edmunds’ rigorous, independent testing and evaluation process. That means each winner has been tested at the Edmunds test track and thoroughly evaluated over many miles of real-world use.

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Edmunds divides the awards into six main categories: best car, best SUV and best truck, and electric versions of the same categories. This year’s Edmunds Top Rated Awards feature some repeat winners and newcomers, and each is a great choice if you’re planning to purchase a new vehicle. Note that all prices below include destination charges. read more