Workers are given a chance to chip in
A Wisconsin company is offering to microchip its employees, enabling them to open doors, log on to their computers and purchase break room snacks with a simple swipe of the hand.
Three Square Market, also known as 32M, said more than 50 employees are voluntarily getting implants Aug. 1 at what the company is calling a “chip party” at its River Falls headquarters. The chips are the size of a grain of rice and are inserted under the skin between the thumb and forefinger using a syringe. The procedure takes a couple of seconds.
Company leaders say this is the technology’s first appearance in the U.S. Three Square Market is paying for the employees’ $300 microchips.
While the technology has raised privacy concerns because of the potential to track a person’s whereabouts and purchases, officials at 32M said the data in the microchip is encrypted and does not use GPS.
EPA’s leader vows Superfund cleanup action
WASHINGTON — Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt pledged Tuesday to cut through bureaucratic red tape that has slowed the cleanup of toxic Superfund sites and follow a task force’s recommendations to act more boldly in holding companies responsible for past contamination.
Pruitt said the EPA is creating a “top 10 list” of key sites where nearby residents are in harm’s way, so that the agency can aggressively address those locations.
There are 1,300 Superfund sites nationwide, and more than 100 have languished for at least five years with no formal remedy plan. Pruitt declined Tuesday to say which sites might make the list of 10.
President says Yellen, Cohn are on his Fed list
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he’s considering renominating Janet Yellen for a second term as Fed chair or replacing her with someone else, possibly Gary Cohn, who leads his National Economic Council.
Yellen, nominated by President Barack Obama, was the first woman to lead the central bank. She has declined to say whether she wants to serve another term.
Trump reports Apple to build 3 plants in U.S.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday told the Wall Street Journal that Apple CEO Tim Cook has committed to build three big manufacturing plants in the United States. Apple had no comment.
Republican vote on rules a win for banks
WASHINGTON — Continuing to target government regulations, a Republican-led House voted Tuesday to overturn a rule that would let consumers join together to sue their banks or credit card companies rather than use an arbitrator to resolve a dispute. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized the rule just two weeks ago.
The American Bankers Association urged the Senate to go along with the House.
Pizza chain to open Kirby Grove location
After a longer-thananticipated build-out, MidiCi plans to open its Kirby Grove location in Upper Kirby near Levy Park on Aug. 18.
The California chain, which serves Neapolitanstyle pizza, made its local debut at 21784 Katy Freeway in the Katy area this year. It also plans a Pearland location in the new phase of the Center at Pearland Parkway, according to Stream Realty Partners.
Pharmaceutical company settles federal lawsuit
A New Jersey pharmaceutical company has agreed to pay $280 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging it committed fraud promoting two cancer drugs for unapproved purposes. Celgene denies wrongdoing and says it settled to avoid expensive litigation.
Microsoft Paint program won’t fade just yet
Microsoft Paint isn’t going anywhere after all.
After an outcry of longtime aspiring digital artists, Microsoft had a change of heart and said it would not discontinue the classic program. Instead, the company said, an app version would be available in the Windows store.