Things To Do In SW Florida

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a late-night vote and last-minute ruling, the Federal Reserve began a key meeting on interest rate policy Tuesday with both a new Trump administration appointee and an official the White House has targeted for removal.

Stephen Miran, a top White House economist who was confirmed by the Senate with unusual speed late Monday, was sworn in Tuesday as a member of the Fed’s board of governors. He will vote on the Fed’s interest rate decision on Wednesday, when the central bank is expected to reduce its key rate by a quarter-point. Miran may dissent in favor of a larger cut.

Also attending the meeting is Fed governor Lisa Cook, whom the Trump administration has sought to fire in an unprecedented attempt to reshape the Fed, which historically is considered independent of day-to-day politics. An appeals court late Monday upheld an earlier ruling that the firing violated Cook’s due process rights. A lower court had earlier also ruled that President Donald Trump did not provide sufficient “cause” to remove Cook. read more

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks edged back from their record heights on Tuesday as the countdown ticked toward what Wall Street expects will be the first cut of the year to interest rates by the Federal Reserve.

The S&P 500 fell 0.1% from its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 125 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1% from its own record set the day before.

Stocks have run to records on expectations that the Fed will announce the first of a series of cuts to rates on Wednesday in hopes of giving the economy a boost. The job market has slowed so much that traders believe Fed officials now see it as the bigger danger for the economy than the threat of higher inflation because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The Fed has been holding off on cuts to rates because inflation has remained above its 2% target, and easier interest rates could give it more fuel.

A report on Tuesday said shoppers increased their spending at U.S. retailers by more last month than economists expected. A chunk of that could be due to shoppers having to pay higher prices for the same amount of stuff. But it could also indicate solid spending by U.S. households could continue to keep the economy out of a recession. read more

By Tommy Tindall, NerdWallet

The iPhone 17 models are out and they look slick. I’m not going to lie: I want an iPhone 17 Pro Max and I want it now. I’m kind of feeling the iPhone Air, too (but wonder if I’d break it).

The problem is I really don’t have room in my budget for a new tech toy at this juncture. Maybe you can relate. The everyday stuff — like electricity, groceries, gas and water — is stretching my family to the literal brink. My season of life includes three small kids, a leaky toilet and so many loads of laundry that our latest quarterly water bill was closer to four figures than I ever thought possible.

Plus, my iPhone 13 Pro Max, which I bought new in 2022, is still as snappy as it was the day I peeled off the plastic film. So how can I justify the cost of a new one? Well, I personally can’t right now, but things might be different for you. Looking at what’s new and where you are with your current phone will help you decide.

What’s new with the iPhone 17 lineup

Apple announced four new models at its annual iPhone event Sept. 9. The iPhone Air looks impossibly thin and the Pro models finally have a fresh new look. read more

Another Florida-bound cruise ship had its first sea trial over the weekend as Celebrity Xcel hit the ocean off the coast of France.

The fifth of Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class ships went through functional maneuvers near the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France on Saturday helmed by Capt. ‘Kirk’ Kyriakos Matragkas.

Its inaugural sailings this November will bring it to Port Everglades on seven-night Caribbean itineraries before heading back to Europe next summer to sail the Mediterranean.

Just like its sister ships, Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond and Ascent, the vessel has the same design including the Magic Carpet — an exterior elevator platform that acts primarily as an innovative way for passengers to disembark and reboard the ship when it tenders at ports of call, but also doubles as an entertainment and dining venue.

The cabins will once again feature the popular Infinite Verandah staterooms in which the balcony is part of the cabin.

One unique thing about this new ship will be its capability to use methanol as a fuel source, the first for any ship in the Royal Caribbean Group family of cruise lines and an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. read more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press

McDonald’s said Monday it plans to invest $200 million over the next seven years to promote regenerative agriculture practices on cattle ranches.

The Chicago burger giant said the investment was its largest to date in support of regenerative agriculture in the U.S. The company has also funded regenerative projects on potato farms in Canada and Europe.

“As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer for North America, said in a statement.

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