Stretch Your Dollar: Earn cash back when shopping at Arlington County small businesses
Arlington Economic Development's BizNow partnered with Open Rewards to lure patrons to the county's small businesses. Shoppers can accrue cash back, which they can spend at other small businesses. Arlington isof municipalities nationwide participating in BluDot's Open Rewards program.
Mustafa Durran, owner of the newly opened Ravenna Pizza in Rosslyn, said the program's been a win for both his customers and his fledgling restaurant, which he long sought to bring to Arlington.
'I took my first bite of a Roman pizza slice and said, 'Omg, why don't we have this in the Arlington area?' he said. 'The crunch, the lightness, and the deliciousness.'
After major price increases on Shein and Temu, is Amazon Haul the next budget behemoth?
The Wilson Boulevard joint also serves up homemade gelato. Durran said the menu's been a hit, drawing more than 1,000 people to enroll in Open Rewards. With the county's support and the public's appetite for fresh Italian offerings, he sees growth on the horizon.
'Think about it, any of the businesses, even the giants, at some point, they were babies, they were small businesses. So, any support goes a long way,' he noted.
Tara Palacious of BizNow said the initiative is injecting life into the local economy, generating $500,000 since its inception.
'With everything that's going on in the world and tariffs and these things happening and affecting our small businesses, we really love to support local,' she said. 'We love to be able to incentivize people to get a different experience.'
Businesses are automatically enrolled in the program and don't pay to participate. Business owners may also enroll in the program themselves.
Shoppers can begin earning cash back by downloading Open Rewards.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
World's Longest Suspension Bridge Approved on Earthquake Fault Line
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. The Italian government has given the go-ahead for construction of the world's longest suspension bridge, linking the island of Sicily with the southern mainland, after years of delays and despite opposition from critics who question the wisdom of building such a long bridge in an earthquake zone. The right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has made the Strait of Messina Bridge a priority and has set aside 13.5 billion euros ($15.8 billion) over the next 10 years to build the 2.3-mile-long structure. Why It Matters The idea of connecting Sicily to the Italian mainland has been around for a couple of thousand years but Roman empires, King Charlemagne, and successive modern Italian governments have all failed to get beyond the planning phase. The Strait of Messina is along a fault line. In 1908, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake killed more than 100,000 and led to a tsunami that devastated both coasts. Apart from the challenges of building in an earthquake-prone area, worries about costs, the environmental impact, and even fears of the Mafia cashing in on construction projects have all stymied progress. A link across the strait has long been touted as a way to boost economic development in Italy's poor south. This digital rendering shows a bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily, a long-delayed 13.5 billion euro ($15.8 billion) project, that an interministerial committee with oversight of strategic public investments has approved, the Italian Transport... This digital rendering shows a bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily, a long-delayed 13.5 billion euro ($15.8 billion) project, that an interministerial committee with oversight of strategic public investments has approved, the Italian Transport Ministry said in a statement, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2025. More Webuild – Eurolink Image Library via AP What to Know Italy's Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) gave its final approval for the project on Wednesday. "It is not an easy project, but we consider it to be an investment in Italy's present and its future, and we like difficult challenges when they make sense," Meloni said, according to the ANSA news agency. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who has been the driving force behind the project, told a news conference in Rome the Strait of Messina Bridge will be "the biggest infrastructure project in the West." "From a technical standpoint, it's an absolutely fascinating engineering project,'' Salvini said, adding construction was expected to be finished by 2033. The bridge will have a suspended span of more than 2 miles, surpassing Turkey's Canakkale Bridge, which is now the longest at 1.3 miles. The bridge will have three car lanes in each direction flanked by a double-track railway, and capacity for 6,000 cars an hour and 200 trains a day—reducing the time to cross the strait by ferry from up to 100 minutes to 10 minutes by car. Trains will save 2.5 hours in transit time, Salvini said. A photograph captured by the ESA's Sentienl-2 satellites on July 24, 2025, shows the Strait of Messina separating the island of Sicily to the west from the Italian mainland to the east. A photograph captured by the ESA's Sentienl-2 satellites on July 24, 2025, shows the Strait of Messina separating the island of Sicily to the west from the Italian mainland to the east. Copernicus The project could also help Italy fulfill its commitment to raise defense spending to the NATO target of 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035. The government has indicated it would classify the bridge as defense-related, in that it would form a strategic corridor for rapid troop movements and equipment deployment to NATO's southern flanks, qualifying it as a "security-enhancing infrastructure." Salvini confirmed the intention to classify the project as dual use but said that was up to Italy's defense and economic ministers. This digital rendering shows a bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily, a long-delayed 13.5 billion euro ($15.8 billion) project, that an interministerial committee with oversight of strategic public investments has approved, the Italian Transport... This digital rendering shows a bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily, a long-delayed 13.5 billion euro ($15.8 billion) project, that an interministerial committee with oversight of strategic public investments has approved, the Italian Transport Ministry said in a statement, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2025. More Webuild – Eurolink Image Library via AP Environmental groups have lodged complaints with the EU, citing worries about the impact of the bridge on migratory birds. The project has been awarded to a consortium led by Italian infrastructure group Webuild, which has addressed concerns about a bridge over the Messina fault, saying that suspension bridges are structurally less vulnerable to seismic forces, and that similar bridges have been built in Turkey and Japan, which are also very seismically active. What People Are Saying Italian Vice Premier and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, right, and Italian undersecretary Alessandro Morelli hold a press conference about the decision to approve work on the Strait of Messina suspension bridge linking the Italian... Italian Vice Premier and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, right, and Italian undersecretary Alessandro Morelli hold a press conference about the decision to approve work on the Strait of Messina suspension bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily, in Rome, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. More Andrew Medichini/AP Meloni was cited by the ANSA news agency as saying: "It almost goes without saying that it is a strategic project for the development of the entire nation." Webuild CEO Pietro Salini said in a statement: "The project will be fitted with the most advanced technologies for safety and maintenance. It will also be built according to the highest international engineering standards." What Happens Next The Court of Auditors must clear the planning committee's decision, which could take a few weeks. Salvini said work could start by October, with preliminary work expected to include archaeological and geological surveys. Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mexico Hikes Duties on Low-Value Goods, Dealing Another Hurdle for Shein, Temu
Mexico has changed its strategy toward low-value shipments. The country has raised its duties for low-value shipments inbound from most countries. The new duty, which sits at 33.5 percent—as compared with the previous rate of 19 percent—applies to shipments valued at $2,500 or less, per Mexico News Now. More from Sourcing Journal EU Delays Duties on US, While India and China Negotiations are Snarled by Russia Conflict Tariff Ticker: The White House Had a 'Very Busy' Wednesday 'Working on Trade Deals' UPS China-to-US Shipments Decline More than Expected in Q2 The increased rate applies to countries which have no standing trade agreement with Mexico, like China; Canada and the U.S., which do have a trade agreement with their neighbor to the South, have a different rule. Items inbound to Mexico from the U.S. will be subject to a 17 percent duty, if the cost of the shipment sits between $50 and $117. Items worth less than $50 will stay duty free and items above $117 will be subject to the 19 percent duty. A reform detailing the change posted to the Mexican government website said the change will take effect August 15. Upping the duty rate on low-value parcels is likely to impact low-cost e-commerce players, like Shein and Temu, both of which have already seen significant changes to their ability to operate without duties in the U.S. market because of the collapse of the de minimis exemption. Ram Ben Tzion, CEO of Ultra Information Solutions, said that as the U.S. and others reevaluate their approaches toward low-value shipments, Shein, Temu and others will need to change their business strategies. Ben Tzion said Temu, in particular, could see some struggles; the company operates as a marketplace, so its sellers could be hit with—or pass on to their consumers—the burden of paying extra to account for duties in different locales. Shein, contrastingly, sells its own fast-fashion products and boasts a marketplace where others can sell their products. 'These two players, as well as others, will need to revisit their value proposition and what their business model is. With Shein, I would expect it to go back to fast fashion. With Temu, I doubt they have a viable business case,' he explained. Mexican consumers may begin to see price hikes on goods from their favorite marketplaces; Ben Tzion said that may drive some people away, pushing them toward brand names with some level of affordability to replace consumers' fast-fashion urges. 'I would expect to see people be more aware, not just of the price, but of the origin of the product. Therefore, more consumption will move from the big e-commerce marketplaces to direct sourcing of e-commerce, or online shopping from the end brand that you're after,' he said. 'Branded goods will now have more value than the non-branded items that Temu and Shein have offered.' Some have suggested that Mexico's work to curtail the flow of low-cost goods from China could be a play to placate the U.S. government, particularly as President Donald Trump continues negotiating on tariffs with several countries, including Mexico. Ben Tzion said in actuality, he believes Mexico's government is actually working to stimulate its own economy. He pointed to the fact that President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration declared a temporary tariff on fashion and apparel items, good through 2026, in an effort to pump life into Mexico's manufacturers as one such example of that strategy and said he believes the increased duty on low-cost goods is the next step forward. 'Over the last several months, the Mexican government and Mexican customs leadership have shown to be very agile in adapting to the new world order of tariffs. While many times, we think of this as a reaction or as a measure to appease the U.S. government to avoid duties, it's actually about preserving Mexican economic interest and value,' Ben Tzion said. Ben Tzion said that if Mexico had not chosen to up the duty, it would have been even more likely to see an influx of low-value goods shipped into the country, then shipped to other destinations—primarily the U.S.—by using advantageous tariff rates, despite the U.S.'s increasingly guarded position on transshipping. By making it less interesting to ship low-cost goods into Mexico, the government is likely lightening the load on customs and ensuring that it keeps transactions in the country. 'It's a way to ensure that they don't become a proxy to bypassing de minimis regulation and that they sustain value in the country,' he said. 'It's important to look at Mexico as Mexico first. We're always seeing how countries react or respond to [Trump's] America First trade policy. They are perhaps a very good example of how a solid strategy and a lot of professional work can adapt quickly and effectively to the new world of global trade.' He expects that, with some work, other countries might adopt a similar approach. Rather than allowing e-commerce players to capitalize on existing trade loopholes and exemptions, global countries may instead choose to tighten up their compliance guardrails. Ben Tzion said Asian markets that have a vested interest in pushing consumers toward goods made in their own countries, rather than seeing them buy from China, may soon change their duties and regulations. He called the European Union, which earlier this year proposed regulations that would see a per-parcel flat tax on such imports because of the economic impact of companies like Shein and Temu, 'in desperate need to take action, but not very quick to adapt.' Nonetheless, he expects to see changes coming from all sides in the coming months and years, particularly as U.S. trade positions continue shifting. 'As a whole, the understanding that e-commerce cannot remain a vacant space where no enforcement, no compliance and no tariffs are applied is going to become a global standard, because e-commerce has become a significant part of every country's trade activities,' Ben Tzion told Sourcing Journal. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Wall Street Journal
18 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
Trump's New Tax Is in the Mail
Proponents of tax increases on others seldom like to pay them personally. Tariffs are no different. The White House claims its tariff revenue is coming from foreign countries, but Americans will soon pay new levies on small packages from abroad because of an executive order President Trump signed last week. On Aug. 29, the U.S. will end its de minimis exemption, which grants Americans a tax break for small mail-order purchases from abroad. For the first time since 1938, international packages will arrive with a tariff bill to be paid by the recipient. That means your next eBay purchase from Europe will incur a 15% tax. Your online coffee order from Brazil will face a 50% markup. And everyday purchases from Amazon Haul, or its Chinese competitor Temu, will come with a surcharge matching the tariff on its origin country. If a postal carrier isn't equipped to calculate the fee according to Mr. Trump's ever-changing tariff schedule, the new tax is a minimum $80 flat rate per package. In total, Mr. Trump's order will put tariffs on the estimated 1.36 billion packages that Americans receive every year from online purchases that were previously tax-exempt. Tax hikes are seldom rewarded at the ballot box. That's why the White House is trying to justify its order by saying the de minimis exemption is abused to send fentanyl and other synthetic opioids undetected. The vast majority of fentanyl smuggled into the U.S. comes from one country: Mexico. But Mr. Trump is ending the de minimis exemption for packages from all countries. Although fentanyl is a deadly drug, there's no evidence that taxing worldwide e-commerce will stop drugs from entering the U.S. Mr. Trump's new package tax is part of a global protectionist resurgence, and we've already seen the pitfalls of the strategy across the Atlantic. The European Union has been targeting Temu and Shein, another low-cost Chinese platform, under the guise of 'consumer protection.' The EU alleges that these platforms distribute 'illegal' goods. But, in many cases, 'illegality' means little more than failing to meet the EU's notoriously complex product-labeling regulations or falling short of its Byzantine labor and environmental rules.
