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US stocks drop after Trump ramps up his tariffs and investors dump potential AI losers

US stocks drop after Trump ramps up his tariffs and investors dump potential AI losers

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks slumped Monday after President Donald Trump ramped up his newest tariffs, while investors continued to punish companies that could be losers in the artificial-intelligence revolution.

The S&P 500 fell 1% after Trump said on Saturday that he would place temporary 15% tariffs on other countries. That’s up from the 10% rate he announced Friday following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his sweeping “reciprocal” taxes on imports from around the world.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 821 points, or 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.1%.

Trump’s quick move toward more aggressive tariffs shows how much uncertainty still hangs over the global economy, even after the Supreme Court said the president lacked the legal authority to institute his sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs.

Beyond a 15% tariff that could last for up to 150 days, unless Congress extends it further, Trump is moving forward on other avenues to place more permanent tariffs on countries and industries. That has trading partners uneasy. South Korea’s trade minister, Kim Jung-kwan, said Monday that uncertainty may worsen if the Trump administration continues imposing new tariffs under alternative laws. read more

The American-made hemp shirt experiment

The American-made hemp shirt experiment

By MATT HUDSON, Montana Free Press

In 2020, a northcentral Montana hemp crop was harvested, beginning a trial run by two Montana companies to produce clothing without the material ever leaving the United States.

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When the shirt finally went to market last year, it was proof of a concept that had long since moved overseas.

Hemp is often held up as a versatile crop with all sorts of applications: fabrics, home insulation, even edible seed oils, to name a few. But it was illegal to grow or distribute hemp in the U.S. for nearly a century until 2018 when Congress lifted federal restrictions on the marijuana-adjacent plant. So, when a Fort Benton hemp processor and a Great Falls-based apparel company sought to make a line of U.S.-made hemp shirts, they had to scrap together a supply chain to make it happen. read more

SpaceX fleet-leading booster makes record 33rd trip to space

SpaceX fleet-leading booster makes record 33rd trip to space

SpaceX padded the record for its most flown rocket booster late Saturday with its 33rd trip to space.

A Falcon 9 flying 28 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 10:47 p.m.

The first-stage booster first launched in June 2021 and has been the pace setter for SpaceX’s reusability efforts as it attempts to get it to 40 flights.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 using a booster for the 33rd time launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Courtesy/SpaceX)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 using a booster for the 33rd time launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Courtesy/SpaceX)

That would surpass the most flown orbiter of the Space Shuttle Program. Space Shuttle Discovery retired after completing 39 missions.

This particular SpaceX booster has notably flown two crewed missions to space, Crew-3 and Crew-4, along with a pair of cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station, the Galileo satellite for the European Commission, several commercial satellite missions and now 21 Starlink missions.

It made a successful landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic.

While turnaround on boosters can be as quick as nine days, SpaceX officials have said it takes much longer to refurbish one flown so many times to ensure it will be successful. This booster last flew about 2 1/2 months ago. read more

Tax season is here. Here’s what you need to know for stress-free filing

Tax season is here. Here’s what you need to know for stress-free filing

By ADRIANA MORGA

NEW YORK (AP) — Tax season is underway and you have until April 15 to file your return with the IRS. If you want to avoid the stress of the looming deadline, start getting organized as soon as possible.

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“Don’t wait until the last minute but also don’t rush,” said Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals,

Gathering all your documents, signing up for direct deposit and keeping copies of your tax returns are some of the best practices when it comes to preparing to fill out your taxes. This year, due to the Republican tax and spending bill that President Donald Trump signed over the summer, there are new deductions taxpayers should know about. read more

Department of Homeland Security suspends Global Entry as the partial government shutdown drags on

Department of Homeland Security suspends Global Entry as the partial government shutdown drags on

By JAMIE STENGLE and ALI SWENSON

DALLAS (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that the Global Entry program would be shut down as long as the partial government shutdown remains in effect.

The announcement comes after the department said Saturday night that it planned to shut down both Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program as well, but DHS cancelled the PreCheck closure.

“ As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” the agency said.

The turmoil at security and customs lanes is tied to a partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

The security disruptions come at a time where a major winter storm will hit the East Coast from Sunday into Monday. Nine out of 10 flights going out of John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Boston Logan Airport have been canceled for Monday. read more