Things To Do In SW Florida

By HALLIE GOLDEN, Associated Press

Google will pay $1.4 billion to Texas to settle claims the company collected data on users without permission, the state’s attorney general announced Friday.

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In 2022, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Google, saying the search giant collected millions of biometric identifiers, including voiceprints and records of face geometry, through its products and services like Google Photos, Google Assistant, and Nest Hub Max.

“In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law. For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won,” Paxton said in a statement Friday. read more

Readers of my column know that IRA expert Ed Slott and his colleagues are among my major sources on the topic of retirement accounts. It’s their business to be up to date on the latest regulations, and they share this expertise with their clients and with members of the press like me.

In addition to his monthly reports regarding retirement accounts, Ed Slott and Co. also distributes a monthly report covering Social Security issues. These reports are prepared by Heather Schreiber, who is the founder and president of HLS Retirement Consulting LLC. She has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry, and holds the prestigious retirement income certified professional (RICP) designation from the American College.

As my readers know, I frequently write about Social Security issues, and depend on experts in Social Security for the latest information. I have found Ms. Schreiber to be a consummate professional, and a very reliable source for the latest information regarding Social Security issues. read more

By REBECCA BOONE

A coalition of 15 states is suing over President Donald Trump’s efforts to fast-track energy-related projects, saying the administration is bypassing environmental protection laws and threatening endangered species, critical habitat and cultural resources.

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Trump issued an executive order declaring a “national energy emergency ” on the first day of his presidency. The order urges oil and gas expansion through federal use of eminent domain and the Defense Production Act, which allows the government to use private land and resources to produce goods deemed to be a national necessity. read more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press

Expedia Group said Friday that reduced travel demand in the United States led to its weaker-than-expected revenue in the first quarter, and Bank of America said credit card transactions showed spending on flights and lodging kept falling last month.

The two reports add to growing indications that the U.S. travel and tourism industry may see its first slowdown since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic fueled a period of “revenge travel” that turned into sustained interest in getting away.

Expedia, which owns the lodging reservation platforms Hotels.com and VRBO as well as an eponymous online travel agency, was the latest American company to report slowing business with both international visitors and domestic travelers.

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Federal Reserve official sees signs of slowing economy but not ready to cut rates read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Federal Reserve official said Friday that massive uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s tariffs has caused some businesses to cut back on hiring and spending, threatening to slow the economy, but he added that it’s not yet clear whether the central bank should cut its key interest rate.

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Tom Barkin, president of the Federal Reserve’s Richmond branch, said businesses have turned cautious, though are not yet engaging in steep job cuts or other behavior typical of a recession.

“The way I’ve been describing it is, it’s really hard to drive when it’s foggy,” Barkin said in remarks to the Loudoun County, Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “That’s what I’m seeing on the business side. Hiring freezes, discretionary spending being cut back, but not major layoffs.” read more