Federal Reserve is likely to slow its rate cuts with inflation pressures still elevated
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans hoping for lower borrowing costs for homes, credit cards and cars may be disappointed after this week’s Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed’s policymakers are likely to signal fewer interest rate cuts next year than were previously expected.
Japan’s Softbank plans to invest $100 billion in US projects over the next four years
By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump joined SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son to announce plans by the Japanese company to invest $100 billion in U.S. projects over the next four years.
Trump announced the planned investments, which are expected to focus on artificial intelligence, at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday, with Son at his side, along with Howard Lutnick, head of investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and Trump’s pick for commerce secretary.
“He’s doing this because he feels very optimistic about our country,” Trump said. The president-elect said that since his election, people have expressed interest in “coming in with tremendous amounts of money.”
The investments by SoftBank, Trump said, are “a monumental demonstration of confidence in America’s future.”
Son said he wanted to “celebrate the great victory of President Trump” and that he will “bring the world into peace again.”
“I am truly excited to make this happen,” he said.
Global biotech company selects Osceola’s NeoCity for cancer treatment efforts
A global biotech firm that develops novel cancer treatments wants to build a facility in NeoCity for its future offices, research and development, and manufacturing.
Osceola County Commissioners are scheduled to vote Monday on a Memorandum of Understanding with Empyrean Medical Systems and its development partner, Concept Companies, for a multi-year expansion in the county’s 500-acre tech district, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. It would be the latest addition to NeoCity, the county’s taxpayer-subsidized effort to attract cutting-edge industries and create higher-paying jobs, diversifying its tourism-based economy.
Empyrean, which is based in Boca Raton, would lease between 1,000 and 5,000 square feet in the OC Building on NeoCity Way in 2025 for the engineering and fabrication of parts for the company’s trademarked Morpheus robotically-assisted, high-beam radiotherapy system. Both Empyrean and MagCorp, its strategic partner on the Morpheus project, would open administrative offices in the county-owned building.
Space Florida to discuss secretive $1.8 billion Cape Canaveral launch site project
Could Elon Musk and SpaceX be set to drop $1.8 billion for new launch support facilities in Cape Canaveral?
Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development entity, isn’t saying just who wants to spend the money, but they are planning to discuss the secretive plan called “Project Hinton” at a meeting this week.
The agenda notes for Wednesday’s meeting outlined the project that will be a “high-volume production facility, high bay and launch infrastructure at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.”
The price tag is greater than the $1 billion Jeff Bezos sunk into refurbishing Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 36 for his Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, so it falls in line with Musk’s plans for launching hundreds, and eventually thousands, of Starships a year in his quest to create a colony on Mars.
Curiosity reigns at SpaceX Starship environmental impact meeting on Space Coast
SpaceX already is trying to get Starship pads built at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A as well as pursuing a takeover of Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 37 that had been used by United Launch Alliance until this year’s final Delta IV Heavy launch. The Canaveral site is in the midst of an environmental impact study led by the Air Force, while the KSC site has one being run by the Federal Aviation Administration.
UnitedHealthcare’s second largest market is Florida. What does that mean for insurance denials?
About 4 million people in Florida are insured by UnitedHealthcare, a company facing backlash after its CEO was shot to death in Manhattan, followed by public outrage over its pattern of coverage denials.
Florida represents UnitedHealthcare’s second largest market after Texas, providing coverage through employee plans, the Affordable Care Act open marketplace and Medicare Advantage plans.
This week, the insurer’s prior authorization and coverage denials in the state drew the same anger and frustration seen nationwide on social media in the wake of the shooting. Florida lawyers, insurance advocates and medical billing experts say being informed about UnitedHealthcare’s practices, making smart choices and fighting back is critical, especially now that the insurer uses sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) to deny approvals and claims. According to consumer research site, ValuePengiun, UnitedHealthcare denies claims at a rate nearly double the industry average and now faces a barrage of lawsuits, including hundreds in Florida.