Virtual ‘Lightbulbs’
Leaf-peeping in the Twin States is a well-established tradition, but for the past few years another fall happening also has provided a feast for the eyes — and ears. The fifth annual Woodstock Digital Media Festival, held on Oct. 16, featured speakers from across the country, including Phoebe Judge, host of the podcast Criminal ; Chicago activist and writer Suey Park; and Jesse Kriss, a designer and tool builder who works at NASA’s...
Consumer Confidential: Airlines Don’t Do Much to Protect Their Customers’ Personal Information
If someone says “sharing economy,” you probably think Uber or Airbnb. You should think instead about your privacy. Do something online and your personal information will be shared with other businesses itching to spam you with marketing pitches. It’s a practice common to almost all industries. The problem lies in how all this data sharing is disclosed to consumers — and how difficult companies often make it to limit who can access...
Russian Wheat Exports Hurt U.S.
Oil isn’t the only commodity where the largest producers are fighting for market share in a world awash with supply. Russia and the United States, two of the biggest wheat exporters, are going head-to-head in a battle for customers. Russian shippers, with the advantage of a weak currency and falling freight rates, can undercut most competitors, selling their grain about 16 percent cheaper than cargoes from the U.S. While American...
Keurig Says 200 Vt. Workers to Be Laid Off
Waterbury, Vt. — Keurig Green Mountain said most of the layoffs it announced this week will be in Vermont. A company spokeswoman said 200 of the 330 layoffs will be Vermont workers, mostly from Waterbury. She said the company has about 2,000 employees statewide. Officials stress that about 75 production jobs will be opening up at the Waterbury and Williston, Vt., facilities and some of the laid-off workers may find jobs there. The...
Anthem Sets Merger With Cigna
Washington — Anthem, the nation’s second-largest health insurer by revenue, will acquire Cigna, the nation’s fifth largest, the companies announced Friday, creating a health insurance behemoth that raises fresh questions about competition in the industry. The $54.2 billion deal will create the largest private health insurer as measured by the number of members. It values Cigna at $188 per share, a 38 percent premium from its closing...
