Hawaii court rules against insurance companies in Maui wildfire, allowing $4B settlement to proceed
A representative for the insurance companies said he would get back to the The Associated Press to comment on the ruling and whether they will ask for review at the U.S. Supreme Court.
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A key question that was before Hawaii Supreme Court was whether state laws controlling health care insurance reimbursement also apply to casualty and property insurance in limiting companies' ability to pursue independent legal action against those held liable. The justices answered yes.
Gerald Singleton, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, said they're still trying to make sense of the ruling but are pleased with it. 'Now the settlement can take the next step forward,' he said.
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Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
How Prices for Common Groceries Have Changed Since Trump Took Office
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Since President Donald Trump took office in January, grocery prices at the national level have remained elevated and, in many categories, are rising even further. Federal forecasts and multiple price trackers show continuing inflation for common items such as eggs and beef, and the USDA Economic Research Service projected overall food prices will increase over the remainder of this year and 2026. Why It Matters Food represents a large and visible share of household spending, and high grocery bills influence public perceptions of the economy and the administration's performance. A mid-2025 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that a majority of Americans reported stress over grocery costs, and retailers have reported shoppers shifting purchases toward cheaper brands and smaller sizes. Roughly 53 percent of respondents said grocery costs were a "major" stressor. Vegetables on display in a grocery store on August 15 in Delray Beach, Florida. Vegetables on display in a grocery store on August 15 in Delray Beach, To Know Trump campaigned on promises of lowering grocery costs, but federal forecasts and private trackers showed only modest easing overall and price gains in several food staples. The USDA Economic Research Service reported that the all-food Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3 percent from May to June and was 3 percent higher than June 2024. It also projected overall food prices would rise 2.9 percent this year and 2.7 percent in 2026. "Most headlines lean on 'core CPI,' which excludes food and energy," Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "That's fine for economists, but for real households, those are the two biggest non-discretionary expenses. So when they say prices are 'stabilizing,' it leaves out the areas where people actually feel it the most." The exact price increases vary by grocery item. NBC News' grocery-price tracker showed eggs, chicken and beef remained higher year-over-year in the most recent update. While eggs were up 64 cents, chicken cost 81 cents more and beef had seen an increase of 67 cents. The USDA projected egg prices to have strong volatility, with a 24.6 percent change forecast for 2025, and beef and veal prices were anticipated to rise substantially, 8.8 percent, this year. "The reality is that inflation is weighted across categories," Thompson said. "If your personal diet leans heavy on protein, beef, chicken, coffee, or soda, you've likely felt double-digit increases while the official number is closer to 3 percent. Everyone's 'personal inflation' is different, and for many it feels far higher than the reported average." Trump previously warned of short-term effects from trade policy, saying, "We may have, short term, a little pain." What People Are Saying Trump said during his campaign: "When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One." Thompson also told Newsweek: "Tariffs during Trump's presidency did raise costs on imported goods, and new tariffs under the current administration are continuing that trend. Immigration policy does have some effect on labor costs in agriculture and food processing, but the bigger driver of food prices has been weather, disease, and global supply chain issues not immigration directly." Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "All of the inflationary pressures that were in place prior to 2025 have largely remained the same, with some everyday items actually going higher in price, if only incrementally so. The prevailing problem is the pricing structure on many consumer goods is formed through a domino effect which includes costs of production, shipping, stocking, and everything in between. "In order for prices to go lower, not only do you have to have falling demand, but also the series of transactions that make it ready to buy have to trend lower in order for businesses to continue to generate a profit. Until this happens, we're going to continue to see higher costs." What Happens Next The USDA ERS forecasts and monthly CPI releases from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will remain primary sources to measure whether grocery prices fall back, stabilize or resume faster growth in coming months. Since Trump's tariffs have gone into effect, the higher costs will likely be passed down to the consumer, Thompson said: "Businesses may absorb some costs in the short term, but over time those costs show up in the checkout line. The current tariff environment has raised the baseline market price, which means U.S. producers can charge more too, capturing extra margins. "Going forward, unless there's a consistent and predictable tariff policy, shoppers should expect continued price volatility. Once markets adjust to a clear set of rules, prices may stabilize, but likely at a higher level than before."
20 hours ago
Sen. Lindsey Graham says Trump ready to ‘crush' Russian economy if Putin avoids talks with Zelenskyy
WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday that he believes President Donald Trump is prepared to 'crush' Russia's economy with a new wave of sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the coming weeks. Graham, who spoke with Trump on Tuesday morning, has pushed the president for months to support his sweeping bipartisan sanctions bill that would impose steep tariffs on countries that are fueling Russia's invasion of Ukraine by buying its oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. The legislation has the backing of 85 senators, but Trump has yet to endorse it. Republican leaders have said they won't move without him. 'If we don't have this thing moving in the right direction by the time we get back, then I think that plan B needs to kick in,' Graham said in a phone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. The Senate, now away from Washington for the August recess, is scheduled to return in September. Graham's call with Trump came less than 24 hours after high-stakes meetings at the White House with Zelenskyy and several European leaders. Trump and the leaders emerged from those talks sounding optimistic, with the expectation being that a Putin and Zelenskyy sit-down will happen soon. Still, Trump's comments to Graham, one of his top congressional allies, mark the latest sign that pressure is building — not just on Putin, but on Trump as well. 'Trump believes that if Putin doesn't do his part, that he's going to have to crush his economy. Because you've got to mean what you say,' Graham told reporters in South Carolina on Tuesday. As Congress prepares to return to session in early September, the next few weeks could become a defining test of whether lawmakers and international allies are prepared to act on their own if Trump doesn't follow through. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the lead Democrat pushing the bill with Graham, says there is a 'lot of reason for skepticism and doubt' after the meetings with Trump, especially because Putin has not made any direct promises. He said the Russian leader has an incentive to play 'rope-a-dope' with Trump. 'The only way to bring Putin to the table is to show strength,' Blumenthal told the AP this week. 'What Putin understands is force and pressure.' Still, Republicans have shown little willingness to override Trump in his second term. They abruptly halted work on the sanctions bill before the August recess after Trump said the legislation may not be needed. Asked Tuesday in a phone interview whether the sanctions bill should be brought up even without Trump's support, Graham said, 'the best way to do it is with him.' 'There will come a point where if it's clear that Putin is not going to entertain peace, that President Trump will have to back up what he said he would do,' Graham said. 'And the best way to do it is have congressional blessing.' The legislation would impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries such as China and India, which together account for roughly 70% of Russia's energy trade. The framework has the support of many European leaders. Many of those same European leaders left the White House on Monday with a more hopeful tone. Zelenskyy called the meeting with Trump 'an important step toward ending this war.' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that his expectations 'were not just met, they were exceeded.' Still, little concrete progress was visible on the main obstacles to peace. That deadlock likely favors Putin, whose forces continue to make steady, if slow, progress on the ground in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters after talks at the White House that Trump believes a deal with Putin is possible. But he said sanctions remain on the table if the process fails.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
City takes bold strides in major lawsuit against leading oil companies: 'Very significant'
City takes bold strides in major lawsuit against leading oil companies: 'Very significant' Honolulu is making waves, but this time, it's in court. The Associated Press reported (via Daily Breeze) that the city and county are moving ahead with a lawsuit against some of the world's biggest oil companies, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell. Though a trial is still a long way off, the case is more advanced than 30 similar nationwide lawsuits and could set the tone for how courts hold polluters accountable. The suit claims that the oil companies misled the public about the risks of dirty energy sources. Since these are widely used across the world, they have contributed to rising sea levels and more extreme weather. The city argues that pollution created largely through the burning of dirty energy sources such as oil and gas has burdened taxpayers and local infrastructure. Hawai'i has experienced firsthand the effects of the warming planet. Human-caused pollution overheats Earth, melts glaciers, and expands ocean water. According to the Hawaiian government, coastal erosion is forcing residents to retreat inland, while severe flooding is putting pressure on emergency response systems and aging infrastructure. While the challenge is great, there's movement in the right direction. This legal action seeks damages, which could fund climate adaptation efforts, such as upgraded infrastructure and protections for vulnerable communities. This legal strategy is gaining traction. Other cities across the United States have filed similar suits. National policies including the Inflation Reduction Act and local climate resilience plans are helping cities transition away from dirty energy while preparing for the effects of extreme weather. While the legal battle is far from over, Honolulu's case marks a step in the global effort to hold major polluters accountable. Michael Gerrard, the founder and faculty director of the Columbia University Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, identified the lawsuit as pivotal. "The first trial in any of these cases will be very significant," said Gerrard, per the AP. "It will get a large amount of nationwide or even global attention because the oil companies have not yet had to take the stand and defend themselves in a trial." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
