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  • Costco sues the Trump administration over tariffs, seeking a “complete refund”

    Costco sues the Trump administration over tariffs, seeking a “complete refund”

    Wholesale retail giant Costco has sued the federal government to ensure it will receive a “complete refund” on import duties if the Supreme Court rules against President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

    The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York on Nov. 28 and reviewed by USA TODAY, asked the court to find Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs as unlawful.

    Costco, the largest warehouse club operator in the United States, said it has been the “importer of record” for products affected by the tariffs, but did not provide a specific dollar amount it is seeking in damages. The corporation noted in the filing that the suit was necessary because importers are not guaranteed to receive a refund if the high court strikes down the tariffs, unless they sue.

    How are Philly-area businesses handling Trump’s tariffs?

    Costco also claims in the lawsuit that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) denied its request to delay the calculation of the total tariffs that it owes. The lawsuit claims that Costco’s ability to receive a refund will be significantly impacted if those calculations are completed.

    The suit is separate from the larger case challenging Trump’s tariffs that the Supreme Court heard on Nov. 5.

    Other companies have sued to preserve refund rights, but the Issaquah, Washington-based retail warehouse club operator is among the largest to sue the administration so far. Others that have sought to protect tariff refunds include Bumble Bee Foods, eyeglass giant EssilorLuxottica, Kawasaki Motors, Revlon, and Yokohama Tire, court records show.

    Costco and the CBP did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for comment on Dec. 1.

    The affordability squeeze has consumers gloomy

    ‘Razor-close case’

    During nearly three hours of debate on Nov. 5, Supreme Court justices questioned whether Trump has the power to impose sweeping tariffs on most imports using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Several legal experts said the justices’ questions reveal a lot about where they stand on Trump’s policy.

    Ashley Akers, a former Justice Department attorney now with the law firm Holland & Knight, previously told USA TODAY that she heard a “notable skepticism from justices across the ideological spectrum.”

    “Overall, it felt like a strong day for the tariff challengers, though it feels like this will be a razor-close case,” Akers said.

    Several justices were concerned that if they sided with Trump, Congress would lose control over tariffs, even though the Constitution gives that power to lawmakers, said Curtis A. Bradley, an expert on foreign relations law at the University of Chicago Law School.

    Oliver Dunford, an attorney with the libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation, said the case is complicated enough without a majority of the court focusing on just one legal argument.

    “If I had to guess,” Dunford said, “I’d guess that the court will rule against the president without agreeing on the reason.”

    The Supreme Court took the tariff case on an accelerated basis, but has not said when it will rule.

    Contributing: Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen, and Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY; Reuters

    This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Costco sues US to preserve tariff refunds if Trump loses appeal

    Reporting by James Powel, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

    USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

  • Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty

    Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty

    NEW YORK — After four days of deal-fueled spending sprees that kicked off on Thanksgiving, shoppers shifted their focus on Cyber Monday, which is again expected to be the biggest sales day of the year for online retailers.

    Walmart was promoting up to 50% off on fashion on its website among some of the deals, while online juggernaut Amazon was hoping to ply customers with discounts of up to 55%.

    It’s no secret that buying things online is now a staple of many people’s everyday routines. And year after year, those purchases mount during the gift-giving holiday rush. Experts expect consumers to drive record Cyber Monday spending this year, despite wider economic uncertainty.

    Adobe Analytics estimated that U.S. shoppers will spend $14.2 billion online Monday, or 6.3% more than in 2024. Spending was expected to peak between the hours of 8 and 10 p.m. local time, when Adobe expected $16 million to pass through online shopping carts every minute nationwide.

    U.S. consumers already spent $11.8 billion online for Black Friday, $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving Day, and another $11.8 billion over the weekend — exceeding Adobe’s forecasts. Purchases made across Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays.

    “Cyber Week is off to a strong start,” Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, said. “Discounts are set to remain elevated through Cyber Monday, which we expect will remain the biggest online shopping day of the season and year.”

    Pandya said he will be analyzing Adobe data capturing Cyber Monday sales to see if some of the spending momentum dissipated after a strong weekend.

    Deals on electronics and apparel were expected to peak Monday at 30% and 26% off average listed prices, per Adobe’s latest estimates. But other categories will still continue to see deep discounts — including toys, which Adobe expects to reach 27% off listed prices.

    Meanwhile, software company Salesforce — which tracks digital spending from a range of retailers, including grocers — estimated Cyber Monday’s online sales will total $13.4 billion in the U.S. and $53.7 billion globally.

    While the amount of money going into online shopping carts was expected to reach new heights Monday, rising retail prices also may contribute to any record sales figures that materialize. Consumers may be buying fewer total items. Experts say tighter budgets are causing many to shop with more precision than in years past — such as focusing on a few “big ticket” purchases, for example, and spreading out what they buy over days of promotions in hopes of getting the most bang for their buck.

    Businesses and households have watched anxiously for financial impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign imports. Workers in both the public and private sectors are also struggling with anxieties over job security amid both corporate layoffs and the aftereffects of the 43-day government shutdown.

    For the November-December holiday season overall, the National Retail Federation estimates that U.S. shoppers will spend more than $1 trillion for the first time this year. But the rate of growth is slowing — with an anticipated increase of 3.7% to 4.2% year over year, compared with 4.3% during last year’s holiday season.

    An Amazon Prime delivery person lifts packages while making a stop on Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver.

    At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies on other short-term loans have been rising. More and more shoppers are turning to “buy now, pay later” plans, which allow them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts, and other items.

    Buy now, pay later loans are expected to drive $20.2 billion in online spending this holiday season, according to Adobe, up 11% from last year. The firm predicted that buy now, pay later loans would pass a new $1 billion milestone on Cyber Monday, the vast majority involving purchases made on mobile devices.

    Overall, mobile devices have become the dominant shopping platform consumers are turning to for the holidays. Adobe expects smartphones, wearable tech, and other handheld electronics to account for 58% of online spending this season.

    Five years ago, a majority of online purchases were made on desktops.

    Shopping services powered by artificial intelligence are also expected to play a role in what consumers choose to buy. For Black Friday, Salesforce estimated that AI assistants and digital agents contributed to $14.2 billion of the total $79 billion it said was spent online worldwide.

    Across the holiday season, “hot sellers” will include gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Switch 2 and toys-turned-fashion statements like Labubu Dolls, Adobe said. The analytics company anticipates the newest editions of popular consumer electronics — including the iPhone 17, Google Pixel 10, and Samsung Galaxy S25 — will also see high demand.

    To many, Cyber Monday is billed as the “last call” to take advantage of the deepest discounts in the days following Thanksgiving. But its reach has grown over the years.

    Cyber Monday is two decades old now, dating back to when the National Retail Federation first coined the term in 2005. Today, sales continue to bubble up throughout the week — riding on the hype that the industry has built to fuel consumer spending.

  • Starbucks to pay about $35M to NYC workers to settle claims it violated labor law

    Starbucks to pay about $35M to NYC workers to settle claims it violated labor law

    NEW YORK — Starbucks will pay about $35 million to more than 15,000 New York City workers to settle claims it denied them stable schedules and arbitrarily cut their hours, city officials announced Monday.

    The company will also pay $3.4 million in civil penalties under the agreement with the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. It also agrees to comply with the city’s Fair Workweek law going forward.

    A company spokesperson said Starbucks is committed to operating responsibly and in compliance with all applicable local laws and regulations in every market where it does business, but also noted the complexities of the city’s law.

    “This [law] is notoriously challenging to manage and this isn’t just a Starbucks issue, nearly every retailer in the city faces these roadblocks,” spokesperson Jaci Anderson said.

    Most of the affected employees who held hourly positions will receive $50 for each week worked from July 2021 through July 2024, the department said. Workers who experienced a violation after that may be eligible for compensation by filing a complaint with the department.

    The settlement also guarantees employees laid off during recent store closings in the city will get the chance for reinstatement at other company locations.

    The city began investigating in 2022 after receiving dozens of worker complaints against several Starbucks locations, and eventually expanded its investigation to the hundreds of stores in the city. The probe found most Starbucks employees never got regular schedules and the company routinely reduced employees’ hours by more than 15%, making it difficult for staffers to know their regular weekly earnings and plan other commitments, such as childcare, education, or other jobs.

    The company also routinely denied workers the chance to pick up extra shifts, leaving them involuntarily in part-time status, according to the city.

    The agreement with New York comes as Starbucks’ union continues a nationwide strike at dozens of locations that began last month, including at some Philadelphia stores. The number of affected stores and the strike’s impact remain in dispute by the two sides.

  • Letters to the Editor | Dec. 2, 2025

    Letters to the Editor | Dec. 2, 2025

    Gun reform overdue

    A sign held by a protester at a memorial held for schoolchildren killed in an armed assault on their school read: “Thoughts & prayers don’t save lives. Gun reform will.” I am so done with people, including the president of the United States and other ranking politicos, offering their thoughts and prayers after another tragic, senseless murder. It’s long past time for Congress to enact sensible gun reform that makes gun purchasing more rigorous and difficult, and prevents those with recognized mental illness from being able to buy a lethal weapon. But this “do-nothing” Congress doesn’t even attempt to do anything without the blessing and advocacy of President Donald Trump. The president must do the right thing, the moral thing, and the courageous thing that will result in saving innocent lives and send a substantive and tough gun regulation bill to Congress.

    Mr. Trump, you said you prayed that the two members of the National Guard who were recently shot in Washington would survive. But how about you do something that might prevent the next tragedy from happening and help to keep firearms out of the hands of people who should not have them?

    Ken Derow, Swarthmore

    Unworkable geography

    The first time I looked at a map of Israel and its surrounding neighbors, it was clear to me that a “two-state solution” has always been geographically unworkable.

    No sovereign nation the size of New Jersey would willingly place itself in a position where it could be squeezed between two hostile territories on its east and west. The security risk is simply too great.

    Since 1948, Israel has faced both declared and undeclared wars on multiple fronts. That pattern began when the Arab world rejected United Nations Resolution 181, which proposed dividing the British Mandate into two states — one Arab and one Jewish. It continues to this day.

    Israel actually did withdraw from Gaza in 2005. Hamas seized power two years later and raised a generation taught to view Jews as enemies. The world saw the tragic consequences of that indoctrination on Oct. 7, 2023.

    Given this history, it is unrealistic to expect Israel to return to a territorial arrangement that once again leaves it exposed to the very threats it has faced since the moment of its birth. Any lasting agreement for the Palestinian people must begin with a structure that ensures security for both sides, not a map that repeats past mistakes.

    Lawrence Goldman, York, Pa.

    Still thankful

    As we approach the holiday season, a time of reflection and gratitude, I feel compelled as a proud American Muslim to address a persistent misconception: that Islam stands in opposition to the American way of life. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    In fact, I would argue that the values enshrined in the American ideal, such as freedom of belief, opportunity through hard work, and equal access to education, are deeply aligned with the principles of my faith. In America, I am free to practice Islam without fear or coercion. I am encouraged to strive, to contribute, and to build a meaningful life through honest effort. My daughter has been granted the invaluable gift of education, empowering her to dream and to achieve in a way that many across the world cannot.

    Ironically, it is here in the United States, and not in some so-called Muslim countries, where I find the truest manifestation of justice, dignity, and liberty that Islam upholds. This nation, with all its imperfections, remains a place where faith and democracy coexist, where diversity is not merely tolerated but celebrated.

    For that, I am profoundly grateful. I am proud of my faith, and I am equally proud to call America my home.

    Madeel Abdullah, Garnet Valley

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Dear Abby | Early arrival sets off a silent feud

    DEAR ABBY: Our adult daughter has children we adore. She asked if we could help out by watching them for a few hours occasionally, and we jumped at that. We had done this regularly before the delivery of the newest addition (three months ago), and the kids would occasionally spend the night. With the new addition, she wanted us to come to her house to watch them, and that was OK as well — anything to ease her anxiety about leaving the baby.

    On our first visit, she asked that we not come early, to allow her time to get ready. The second time, we showed up about 10 minutes early. I didn’t realize we were early. I habitually run slightly late. When she opened the door (hand never leaving the door), she said, “I thought I asked you not to come early.” I handed her the food we had brought for the older children, along with some of her things, and started to head back out, because she announced she would just call their father to get off work early. I kissed her cheek, said “I love you,” and told the children I loved them. Her hand never left the door.

    We’ve talked about it since, but she says she did nothing wrong. Now she’s gaslighting me, saying I seemed “off” and asking if I was going through anything. While I was early, I really don’t see how it was such a big deal. She hasn’t asked us to watch them since, and when I’ve invited them over, she says they have plans. Advice, please?

    — PUNISHED IN NORTH CAROLINA

    DEAR PUNISHED: It is interesting that your daughter is asking whether you were “going through something,” because the opposite may be true. Your daughter may be dealing with emotional problems, a hormone imbalance or having problems coping now that there is a new baby in the mix. If you need an interpreter to give you some insight about the abrupt change in routine, I suggest asking your son-in-law.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: A few years ago, my husband and I were invited to the wedding of a close friend’s daughter. We stayed two nights at the destination and gave a $300 cash gift to the newlyweds. The evening of the wedding, when I went to put my gift into the box for cards and gifts, the big wooden box was gone. The bartender said the couple had already taken it to their room, but he would take the envelope and make sure they got it. I gave it to him.

    After six months, I hadn’t received a thank-you note, so I asked my friend if the couple had gotten my gift. I told her I was concerned because it was cash and I had given it to the bartender. She asked her daughter, who told her to tell me, “We got it.” Since then, my friendship with this friend seems to have become very distant. Tell me, was I wrong?

    — MYSTIFIED IN NEW YORK

    DEAR MYSTIFIED: You weren’t wrong. Considering the odd circumstances, you did exactly the right thing by asking if the cash had been received. Your friend, however, may have interpreted your question as criticism of her daughter because, after six months, you hadn’t received an acknowledgment of your generous gift.

  • Horoscopes: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Asking the right question is more powerful than telling someone what to do. You have a disarming and inspiring energy that makes others feel safe to reveal themselves or think more deeply. Your behavior and tone set the standard.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your mind’s always showing you movies — some true, some exaggerated. You don’t have to believe every scene. Choose the thoughts that help you move forward, the ones that keep the light on inside.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). True support doesn’t compete at inopportune moments. Anyone trying to distract you while you’re working is more concerned with their own needs than yours. The people who truly care will protect your time and cheer you on.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Someone young or simply new at heart could use your patience and care. Offer it freely. You may not get anything tangible in return, but you’ll walk away feeling fuller. Giving always has a way of giving back.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Appreciate both joy and struggle. Light and dark each have something to teach you. The light shows you everything to be seen in a certain direction, and the dark shows you nothing but stars shining steadfastly, beckoning, “This way, please.”

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve noticed that putting up with something that bothers you often leads to getting more of what bothers you. You’ll get a reminder today. Change doesn’t start when things improve. It starts when you stop tolerating what you don’t want.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s normal to fall, and it’s normal to get up and keep walking. Perhaps the most normal thing of all is the pause before getting back up. Take a beat to reorient and regain balance.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Life is moving so fast now that you might take the unflashy values like humility, consistency and reliability for granted. If you haven’t had the chance to thank the people who show up for you, you’ll get the chance today.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). We’re told to speak our needs because no one can read minds. Yet today brings an exception in the form of a connection so tuned in that words barely matter. Someone will understand you perfectly, almost before you speak.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you’re feeling a little bogged down, it’s because your mind has pockets you haven’t checked in a while. Go through, gather up the useless and dated ideas, and release them to the trash.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re stepping into unfamiliar territory with its own rules, aesthetics and inside jokes. Strategic learning is called for. Every new challenge teaches you the culture. Who can show you the ropes? Your curiosity will be your edge.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Something you witness will strike a chord at the very heart of you. This soul music occurs because of the sympathetic resonance in these emotions you know so very well.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 2). Welcome to your Year of Grand Expression. Your ideas have cinematic scale and personal depth that audiences respond to. You’ll be seen, supported and celebrated, which is fun, but it will be even more fun to take what you learn and build something with others, giving and developing together. More highlights: a creative work goes viral, truly beautiful love matures, and an investment pays. Gemini and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 29, 48, 13 and 7.

  • WNBA proposes $1.2M max player salary amid ongoing CBA negotiations

    WNBA proposes $1.2M max player salary amid ongoing CBA negotiations

    One day after the WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBPA) agreed to extend the current collective barging agreement (CBA) through Jan. 9, the league has reportedly come to the negotiating table with a new proposal that increases player compensation.

    The league’s latest offer includes a maximum $1 million guaranteed base salary with projected revenue sharing raising max players’ total earnings to more than $1.2 million in 2026, a source close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations.

    The offer also raises the league’s minimum salary to more than $225,000 and the average salary to more than $500,000, up from $220,000 and $460,000, respectively, in the WNBA’s previous proposal on Nov. 18.

    The latest proposal also raises the salary cap to $5 million a season per team, an increase from $1.5 million salary cap in 2025. The salary cap would reportedly increase over the length of the CBA and be directly tied to the league’s revenue growth each year, although the specific revenue sharing details weren’t disclosed.

    WNBA and players union extend CBA deadline to Jan. 9

    USA TODAY Sports reached out to the WNBA and WNBPA for comment.

    Although the WNBA and WNBPA are on the record saying players deserve a significant pay increase in the next CBA, the sides have differing opinions on how to go about it has led the current standoff.

    The league previously proposed a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million — including both the base salary and revenue sharing component — available to more than one player per team on Nov. 18, but the proposal didn’t move the needle for the players. Both sides subsequently agreed on the Nov. 30 deadline to extend the CBA for a second time as revenue sharing and pay structure remain points of contention in negotiations.

    Last season, the minimum salary was $66,079, while the supermax was worth $249,244. Only five WNBA players made more than $225,000 last season: Kelsey Mitchell at $269,244, Arike Ogunbowale at $249,032, Jewell Loyd, at $249,032, Kahleah Copper at $248,134, and Gabby Williams at $225,000

    The current CBA was previously set to expire on Oct. 31 after the WNBPA exercised its right to opt out of the agreement in October 2024. However, the WNBA and players association agreed to a 30-day extension to extend the deadline to Nov. 30 to allow more time for a deal to be reached. The new deadline has been moved to Jan. 9, 2026, and both sides have the option to terminate the extension with 48 hours’ advance notice.

    The league and players association previously agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019, three days before the last CBA was set to expire on Oct. 31, 2019. A new deal was subsequently reached on the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020 and singed into effect three days later on Jan. 17, 2020. The WNBA has not had a work stoppage in its nearly 30-year existence.

  • Gangs launch large-scale attack in Haiti’s central region as hundreds flee gunfire, burning homes

    Gangs launch large-scale attack in Haiti’s central region as hundreds flee gunfire, burning homes

    SAINT-MARC, Haiti — Heavily armed gangs attacked Haiti’s central region over the weekend, killing men, women, and children as they set fire to homes and forced survivors to flee into the darkness.

    Police made emergency calls for backup, asserting that 50% of the Artibonite region had fallen under gang control after the large-scale attacks targeting towns including Bercy and Pont-Sondé.

    “The population cannot live, cannot work, cannot move,” one of Haiti’s police unions, SPNH-17, said Sunday on X. “Losing the country’s 2 largest departments — West and Artibonite — is the greatest security failure in modern Haitian history.”

    The bulk of Haiti’s police force and the Kenyan officers leading a U.N.-backed mission to help repel gangs are in the capital, Port-au-Prince, which itself is largely held by gangs.

    Guerby Simeus, a Pont-Sondé official, told the Associated Press by phone on Monday that he had confirmed nearly a dozen deaths, including a mother and her child and a local government employee.

    “The gangs are still in Pont-Sondé,” he said, noting that no additional police had arrived.

    A run for the coast

    Many survivors fled to the coastal town of Saint-Marc, where hundreds of angry people on Monday demanded that the government take action against gangs who have repeatedly attacked Haiti’s central region.

    “Give me the guns! I’m going to fight the gangs!” said Réné Charles, who survived the attack. “We’ve got to stand up and fight!”

    The crowd tried to break into the mayor’s office, with one unidentified man telling the AP that they weren’t going to rely on the government any longer: “We’re going to take justice into our own hands!”

    Charlesma Jean Marcos, a political activist, said the gang announced last week that they were going to invade the area, and that they alerted authorities to no avail.

    “For now, the only people really fighting (the gang) is the self-defense group,” he said. “A country cannot run like this.”

    Marcos urged all the survivors sleeping on the street and in public parks to instead sleep inside police stations and government offices until the government can take back Artibonite.

    “A lot of people are going to be hungry,” he warned. “We can support you today, we can support you tomorrow, but we won’t be able to support you forever.”

    More than half of Haiti’s population is already experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse, with gangs blocking main roads and the ongoing violence displacing a record 1.4 million people.

    A region overrun with gangs

    The attacks in central Haiti began late Friday and late Saturday, with gang members broadcasting them live on social media.

    The attacks were blamed on the Gran Grif gang, which operates in the area and was responsible for an attack on Pont-Sondé in October 2024 that killed at least 100 people, one of the biggest massacres in Haiti’s recent history.

    “I heard heavy shooting, so much shooting,” one unidentified man recalled to the Associated Press and criticized the lack of police, saying he was stuck inside his house all weekend until Monday morning. “Why don’t they send any drones to Artibonite? They just use the drones in Port-au-Prince. I feel this gang is special. They don’t want to destroy this gang.”

    A spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

    Gran Grif is considered one of Haiti’s cruelest gangs. Its leader, Luckson Elan, recently was sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council and the U.S. government. Also sanctioned was Prophane Victor, a former legislator whom the U.N. accused of arming young men in the Artibonite region.

    The U.N. has said killings have risen dramatically in Haiti’s Artibonite and Centre departments this year, with 1,303 victims reported from January to August, compared with 419 during the same period in 2024.

    “These assaults underscore the capacity of gangs to consolidate control across a corridor from the Centre to the Artibonite amid limited law enforcement presence and logistical constraints,” a recent U.N. report stated.

    Fritz Alphonse Jean, a member of Haiti’s transitional presidential council who was sanctioned by the U.S. last month and is seeking to oust the current prime minister, condemned the latest attacks.

    “Blood continues to flow, lives and property continues to be lost in front of a government incapable of addressing the population’s problems for more than a year,” he wrote on X, adding: “Stability???!”

  • New York backs 3 new casinos, including at Mets stadium and a golf course Trump once ran

    New York backs 3 new casinos, including at Mets stadium and a golf course Trump once ran

    NEW YORK — New York City is poised to get its first Vegas-style casinos, including one next to the home stadium of baseball’s New York Mets and another that could see a windfall for President Donald Trump.

    They were among three casino proposals approved for lucrative gambling licenses on Monday by a key state panel. No casinos will end up coming to Manhattan, however, as several other competing proposals were already scrapped, including one in the heart of Times Square.

    The state Gaming Commission is expected to formally issue the licenses before the end of the year, as the gambling revenues are already factored into the state budget. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said the casinos promise to unlock billions of dollars in funding for the state’s transit system and create jobs; however, opponents have repeatedly warned that easy access to casinos will lead to increased gambling addiction.

    Bally’s plan to spend $4 billion building a casino at the Ferry Point golf course in the Bronx could mean millions of dollars for Trump. When the company purchased the city-owned golf course’s operating rights from the Trump Organization in 2023, it promised to pony up another $115 million if it won a casino license. Spokespersons for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

    In nearby Queens, billionaire New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has proposed building an $8.1 billion Hard Rock casino on a parking lot of Citi Field. The complex would include a performance venue, a hotel, and retail and shopping space.

    Resorts World, meanwhile, has proposed investing more than $5 billion to expand an existing slots parlor into a full casino at the Aqueduct Race Track, which is also in Queens near John F. Kennedy International Airport. It too would add hotel, dining, and entertainment options.

    Vicki Been, chairperson of New York Gaming Facility Location Board, said the panel believed New York City was “plenty strong” enough to sustain the three planned casinos, despite their close proximity. The region’s dense and relatively affluent population, combined with high tourism, makes it one of the country’s most robust gaming markets, the board said, adding that nearby residents are expected to form the core of repeat visitors, bolstered by travelers from the U.S. and abroad.

    Using conservative assumptions, the board’s consultants estimated the casinos would bring $7 billion in gambling revenues for the state from 2027 to 2036, plus $1.5 billion in licensing fees and nearly $6 billion in related local taxes. The plans include public safety investments and upgrades to public transit and roadways.

    However, the board cautioned that the casinos have “ambitious” timelines for opening. The expansion at Aqueduct Race Track aims to open some facilities by March, while the Citi Field and golf course sites plan for a 2030 opening.

    Anti-casino protesters, meanwhile, chanted “Shame on you! Shame on you!” as they were escorted out of the meeting in midtown Manhattan.

    Jack Hu, one of the group’s organizers, said casino operators view older adults and workers as merely “cash cows to milk for money.” He said the proposals will have a disproportionately negative impact in the city’s Asian American communities, which are largely concentrated in Queens.

    “They bus our seniors to casinos, and they give them meal and gambling vouchers in the hopes that they’ll stay long enough to lose their entire Social Security check,” Hu said after the meeting.

    The commission is authorized to license up to three casinos in the New York City area after voters approved a referendum back in 2013 opening the door to casino gambling statewide.

    Since then, four full casinos with table games have opened in New York, but all of them are located upstate, miles away from Manhattan. The state also has nine gambling halls offering slot machines and other electronic gambling machines, but no live table games.

    The closely watched competition for a New York City license began with a crowded field, with some eight proposals in the running as recently as September.

    But four of the high-profile plans failed to get the stamp of approval from local advisory boards, automatically knocking them out of contention.

    Among the most notable was a Jay-Z-backed plan to build a Caesars Palace in Times Square, as well as two other resorts proposed in central Manhattan.

    Then in October, MGM abruptly pulled out of the license sweepstakes, saying the “competitive and economic assumptions underpinning” their plans had changed. The Las Vegas casino giant had planned a major expansion of the Empire City Casino, a slots parlor located at the Yonkers Raceway north of Manhattan.

  • National Guard member shot in D.C. has shown positive signs, W. Va. governor says

    National Guard member shot in D.C. has shown positive signs, W. Va. governor says

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia National Guard member who was shot last week in a brazen daytime attack in Washington, D.C., remains in serious condition but showed positive signs by giving a thumbs-up that he could hear a nurse’s question and wiggling his toes, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Monday.

    Morrisey said the family of 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe has asked the public to pray for him. Another member of the West Virginia National Guard, U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died after the shooting.

    “Andrew is still fighting for his life,” Morrisey said. “Andrew needs prayers.”

    Morrisey said he could not yet share details of any funeral arrangements for Beckstrom and wants to respect her family’s wishes.

    Beckstrom and Wolfe were shot Wednesday just blocks from the White House while deployed as part of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting plan that federalized D.C. police.

    Investigators are working to determine a motive. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault in the shooting.

    Authorities said Lakanwal, who was shot in the confrontation, remained hospitalized and a court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

    The shooting prompted the Trump administration to halt all asylum decisions and pause issuing visas for people traveling on Afghan passports.

    After the shooting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump asked him to send 500 more National Guard members to Washington. Morrisey said he has not been asked to deploy additional troops from West Virginia.

    Overall, nearly 2,200 troops currently are assigned to the joint task force operating in the city, according to the government’s latest update. More than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed in August. In mid-November, up to 170 of them volunteered to extend their deployment until the end of the year while the others returned to West Virginia.

    “Our sole focus right now is looking after the well-being of the 170 service members who are on the ground, focusing on the family, assuring that prayers are going out,” Morrisey said.