Sears store in Baytown to be closed
Sears will shutter its store at San Jacinto Mall, the latest casualty in the 125-year-old retailer’s ongoing efforts to streamline its operations amid growing competition from e-commerce.
The 152,000-square-foot store is expected to close in mid-December, according to Fidelis Realty Partners, which owns the Baytown mall.
Fidelis is redeveloping San Jacinto Mall into a large retail center with green space for special events.
Sears has shuttered more than 500 locations nationwide over the past three years, including West Oaks Mall, Baybrook Mall, Westwood Mall and its longtime location in Midtown. Earlier this year, Sears announced it would close its store at Memorial City Mall. The retailer years ago closed shop in Greenspoint Mall and The Woodlands Mall.
1 in 3 Americans eat fast food each day
A government study has found that 1 in 3 U.S. adults eat fast food on any given day. That’s about 85 million people.
It’s the first federal study to look at how often adults eat fast food. An earlier study found a similar proportion of children and adolescents ate it on any given day.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the numbers Wednesday. It’s based on a survey of about 10,000 adults over four years.
The study showed higherincome families ate fast food more often than lower-income families, and blacks ate it more than other racial or ethnic groups. Men are most likely eat fast food at lunch. Women are most likely to favor fast food as a snack.
Health officials say too much high-calorie fast food can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other health problems. It’s been estimated adults consume more than 11 percent of their total daily calories from fast food, the CDC said.
Study: 230,000 jobs added in September
U.S. businesses added a robust 230,000 jobs in September, a private survey found, a sign that strong economic growth is spurring companies to add more workers.
Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that September’s job gain was the most in seven months. It followed 168,000 new jobs in August, a figure that was revised slightly higher.
Hiring was strong across most major industries. Construction firms added 34,000 jobs, while professional and business services, which includes higherpaying jobs such as engineering and accounting as well as temp workers, added a strong 70,000. Education and health services added 44,000 jobs.
Small business hiring also rebounded in September, with companies adding 56,000 jobs.
ADP’s report comes two days before the government releases jobs data for September.
EU approves 40% auto emissions cuts
The European Parliament has voted to cut CO2 emissions from new cars and vans by 40 percent by 2030 and will take this position into talks with the European Union’s 28 nations.
The proposed 40 percent cut was a compromise between environmentalists who wanted tougher commitments and those seeking to keep the cuts within limits that would not damage the EU’s substantial car industry.
The EU nations will discuss the measures further later this month. Car producers in the EU are warning that too tough cuts would cost manufacturing jobs.
Child groups attack Facebook security
Children’s advocacy groups say Facebook’s kid-centric messaging app violates federal law by collecting kids’ personal information without getting verifiable consent from their parents.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and other groups asked the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday to investigate Facebook’s Messenger Kids for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA.
The complaint says the app does not meet COPPA requirements because it doesn’t try to ensure that the person who sets up the kids’ account and gives consent to have their data collected is the actual parent.
Facebook said Wednesday it hasn’t yet reviewed the complaint letter. The company has said it doesn’t show ads on Messenger Kids or collect data for marketing purposes.
Facebook said Wednesday it doesn’t show ads on Messenger Kids or collect data for marketing.
New app eases aid process for students
The Education Department is unveiling a mobile program intended to make it easier for students to apply for federal financial aid.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rolled out the my Student Aid app on Tuesday. She says applicants will now have the necessary tools to apply for loans and grants “in the palm of their hand.”
Students and parents have long complained that the standard paper-based application form is long and cumbersome and could deter many from seeking federal aid and thus going to college.
The department said the “engaging and user-friendly” app allows applicants to compare information about schools of their choice and electronically transfer their tax data from their tax returns.
Every year, the Education Department awards about $120 billion in student aid in grants, federal student loans, and workstudy programs.
Utilities may pay for U.K. pothole repairs
Utility companies could be made to pay to stop a pothole epidemic in roads up and down Britain, under plans being devised by U.K. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
Officials will consider making electric, water and gas companies pay a deposit every time they need to dig up the roads to fix cables and pipes. The money will only be returned if they repair the asphalt to a high standard.
The Automobile Association roadside recovery company last week blamed a “pothole epidemic” for a 65 percent slump in profits in the first half of 2018.
Grayling also said he believes potholes are more likely to appear where roads have been dug up and wants utilities to accept some responsibility for their part in the damage and the cost through the deposit program.