Latest news with #Morning
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Tastemakers: Wake up to better tasting capsule coffee with Singapore's Morning
Mr Leon Foo, co-founder of Morning, at its retail store at New Bahru. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE – In Britain , in Germany, in Russia, in South Korea, in Thailand and, indeed, in Singapore, there are people who wake up, slot a coffee capsule from an artisanal roaster into their coffee machine, push a button and wait for their cuppa joe to flow, not gush, out of it. That sleek machine – The Morning Machine or MM730 – was developed in Singapore by Morning, a home-grown start-up. Its co-founders are coffee industry veteran Leon Foo, 42, and Taiwanese entrepreneur Bowen Chiou, 33, who was running his family's manufacturing business in Taiwan when they met. Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Austin named top city for grads thanks to affordable rent
(NewsNation) — Graduation is an optimistic day for many, but some may have a rough road ahead as they face the toughest job market in years. According to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 41% of new graduates are now working in jobs that typically don't require a college degree, up from 39% in January. That's why it's so important where these recent college grads end up. analyzed more than 300 cities and towns to find the most 'grad-friendly' rental markets in 2025, weighing factors like housing affordability, rental availability and job opportunities. Austin, Texas, topped the list for the second year in a row thanks to its low rent-to-income ratio (18.9%) and high share of jobs (29.4%) that require a bachelor's degree but no prior experience. Recent college grads face toughest job market in years Austin Mayor Kirk Watson told 'Morning in America' that the city not only offers a vibrant lifestyle but also significant opportunities in tech for young professionals building their careers. 'Everywhere from manufacturing in tech and semiconductor, of course, with the Samsung and NXP and all of the different semiconductors manufacturers we have, we have a real opportunity. We have real opportunities there,' Watson said. 'The technology field is, is, is across the board in Austin, Texas, and that's only getting better,' he said. We have a fairly new medical school at the University of Texas at Austin, and that medical school is getting us into bio and health-related technology and jobs like never before.' Spelling bee champ wins by visualizing words typed on keyboard Watson added that the city is increasing funding to its infrastructure to help provide career opportunities, like the Austin Infrastructure Academy. 'That's an academy that we're putting together so that we can make sure we have people that can do the work that we need to do to work in this infrastructure sector of our economy,' he said. 'We're working closely with the trade unions, working closely with our community college, and so we're able to focus on infrastructure in a way that I think is going to allow us to have even greater success.' Austin also has a lively cultural scene, hosting events such as the SXSW Conference and Austin City Limits Music Festival. 'It's not really mentioned in this report, but is it's a pretty fun place to live, too, particularly if you're a young person looking to make a life and make a career,' Watson said. NewsNation's Andrew Dorn contribute to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Insider
24-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
'Tip creep' is pushing some customers to leave smaller tips, and driving others to avoid businesses that ask for them
Customers say they feel like they are being asked to leave a tip at more places, and some are fighting back. About 33% of people surveyed by Morning Consult said that they're expected to tip more, either more often or a greater amount, than they were five years ago. They're not imagining it. From self-checkout kiosks to paying for service on your car at a mechanic's shop, customers are seeing businesses ask for tips in situations where gratuity wasn't previously expected. Consumers are feeling pressure to tip more from that phenomenon, which a report on the survey from Morning Consult calls "tip creep." "The biggest change is that the prompt to tip is showing up in places that we didn't expect it," Lindsey Roeschke, a travel and hospitality analyst for Morning Consult, told Business Insider. Morning Consult surveyed 2,200 adults online in the US between March 14 and 16. Some customers told Morning Consult that they're fighting back. More than 25% of respondents said that they use services that require tips less frequently than they previously did. Almost as big a share — 23% — said that they focus on visiting businesses that don't pressure them to tip more than they have historically. And 16% had another response: Their individual tips are smaller because of all the requests they are getting. "Perhaps due to the perceived pressure related to growing gratuity expectations, a majority of U.S. adults say they've changed their behaviors in some way to account for tip creep," Morning Consult's report states. Expectations around tips could change again if an idea that President Donald Trump floated in his last campaign becomes reality. On Tuesday, the US Senate passed the No Tax on Tips Act, which would create a federal income tax deduction of up to $25,000 a year for workers who receive cash tips. Another version of the proposal is part of Trump's larger budget and immigration bill. The Act would need to pass both houses of Congress and get a sign-off from Trump to become law. If enacted, a tax-free status for tips could create an incentive for more employers and workers to prompt customers for gratuities, one tax expert told CNBC. Despite feeling pressure, Americans are still willing to tip in the right moments. In several situations, from getting a haircut to picking up your car from a valet, more Morning Consult survey respondents said that it was "necessary or expected" to tip than said they felt pressured to tip. Being brought or served food was a major point of agreement: Sixty-nine percent of respondents said it was necessary to tip when dining out at a local restaurant, while 64% said it was the norm when getting food and drinks delivered to their home. Pizza chain Domino's has also seen a lift in tips at many of the new locations that the chain has opened in recent quarters, CEO Russell Weiner said on the company's earnings call last month. Many of the new stores are splitting the service area with existing locations, cutting the time that it takes to get pizzas to customers, he said. "You get hot, predictable deliveries," which, in turn, make customers more likely to order again and leave a bigger tip, Weiner said. Morning Consult's survey also showed that many people support paying service workers a fair wage. Forty-four percent of respondents said that service workers should not have to rely on tips for their income. When asked about whether they would support additional mandatory costs that could support workers, such as businesses adding a fixed service charge between 15% and 20% to their bill, most consumers said that they were opposed. Instead, a majority — 53% — said that tipping should be optional and depend on the service they receive. At the same time, "they also think that service workers need to be paid a fair living wage," Roeschke told BI. "It just reflects this overall tension" around tipping, she said.
Politico
19-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
GOP reconciliation bill inches forward
Presented by With help from Jennifer Scholtes, Meredith Lee Hill and Samuel Benson QUICK FIX — The House Budget Committee clears the way for Republicans' sweeping tax and spending package to move forward. — Anti-hunger advocates warn the House's cuts to nutrition assistance and other food programs will make people hungrier — and less healthy. — USDA tees up its reorganization plan for May 27, days after a court order barring further staff reductions is set to expire. The court could extend the pause on staff cuts, however. HAPPY MONDAY. It's May 19. Welcome to Morning Agriculture. I'm your host Marcia Brown. Have you seen the MAHA Commission's anticipated report or know what's in it? Get in touch at marciabrown@ or in Signal at marciagbrown.68. Follow us @Morning_Ag for more. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the day BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL: Lawmakers gave the go-ahead to Republicans' tax and spending package late Sunday night, paving the way for $300 billion in cuts to the nation's largest anti-hunger program. The move comes after holdouts demanded last-minute changes to the bill. As our Jennifer Scholtes and Meredith Lee Hill write, House Republican leaders have not yet publicly detailed possible changes or briefed the full House GOP Conference, and those concessions to fiscal hawks could endanger support among moderate Republicans wary of changes like speeding up enforcement of Medicaid work requirements and swiftly ending green energy tax perks enacted during the Biden administration. NUTRITION CUTS: House Agriculture Committee's sweeping portion of the 'big, beautiful bill' includes complicated policy tweaks like limiting updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for calculating SNAP benefits, stricter work requirements and cutting smaller programs altogether. The proposal saves $300 billion, and is enough for lawmakers to include $60 billion in spending on farm bill programs like crop insurance. But anti-hunger advocates say this ultimately results in fewer people getting nutrition assistance and, over time, benefits that don't keep pace with food inflation. On average, benefits are about $6 a day. Time crunch: Stricter work requirements means millions fewer eligible people, according to the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. This also means that parents newly forced to meet work requirements will have less time to cook, pushing them toward quick, time-saving meals, many of which are highly processed, explains Benjamin Scharadin, assistant professor of economics at Colby College. 'These fiscal and money pushes might directly be in contrast to the MAHA pushes,' said Scharadin, noting that households with tighter budgets rely on calorie-dense foods. 'Those foods are much more convenient,' he added. 'The exact situation we're talking about with able-bodied workers now, like kids being involved in it. If you have kids, you're rushing to get them from school, and you're working. Convenient foods that are calorie dense and have a high satiation point are huge. But those foods don't necessarily have the nutrition aspect.' Nutrition education: An anti-obesity initiative at USDA would get the axe under the House approved plan, saving $5 billion. House Republicans say that the program has little evidence of efficacy, citing a 2019 GAO report. MA readers will remember that supporters say the programming has improved since the report and that killing it contradicts MAHA objectives. 'It's really MAHA for low-income people,' Jerry Mande, adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told your host. 'Not just SNAP recipients, but all low-income people.' SNAP-Ed supporters have also stood up a new website advocating to save the program. Impact on citizens: Immigrant rights' advocates are also warning that the proposal would cut SNAP access for lawfully present immigrants, including asylees, survivors of domestic violence and child trafficking. Under the GOP proposal, only U.S. citizens and lawful green card holders would be eligible. Currently, green card holders must wait five years to qualify for SNAP. These changes will likely impact U.S. citizen children, said Esther Reyes, campaign strategist for the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition. 'This would be tragic if it only affected noncitizens,' she said. 'But for U.S. citizen children, if their parents fall under one of [these categories and] lose access to SNAP, there will be greater food insecurity for the entire family.' According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 1 in 4 children in the U.S. live in immigrant families, 89 percent of whom are U.S. citizens, as of 2022. State burden: The biggest savings come from forcing states to pay a bigger portion of SNAP costs, including shouldering the cost of benefits — starting at roughly 5 percent depending on the state's error rate — and 75 percent of the administrative costs of the program. The plan has prompted some states, including Alabama, to warn that they just can't afford it, and would be forced to cut back benefits. GOP proponents of the plan argue it will incentivize states to root out fraud. But, but, but: The bill still has a ways to go to become law. And some key ag senators, including Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), are already suggesting the need for 'a do-over.' AROUND THE AGENCIES USDA REORG INCOMING: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins plans to announce USDA's reorganization plan and further staff reductions later this month, according to documents obtained by POLITICO your host reported late Friday evening. Rollins, who has previously said a major reorganization of USDA is forthcoming, plans to announce the details on the morning of May 27, according to the documents. A week later, on June 3, she is expected to announce a third deferred resignation program with a deadline of June 10 for a 'targeted audience.' The reorganization announcement is set to come four days after the expiration date of a court order prohibiting USDA from following through with any more job cuts and the first work day after Memorial Day weekend. IN THE STATES SNAP WAIVERS: As of May 15, seven states have requested permission from USDA to ban junk food, like soda or candy. Last week, Rollins' home state of Texas joined the group. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis became the first Democratic governor to submit a waiver request last week, too. 'We are one of the healthiest states in the nation, and these new SNAP criteria, if approved, will help bring healthier choices into food deserts and help Coloradans stay healthy while supporting Colorado farmers,' Polis said in a statement. 'SNAP provides critical help to Colorado families, and Congress should not cut the food assistance nor shift costs to the states.' Rollins has promised to rush through the requests, but USDA did not respond to a request for comment when asked for an update on the timeline for waivers. Refresh: Waivers allow states to make changes to the SNAP program with their state, but they operate like pilots. The changes must be temporary and states must report its success to USDA. Asked for comment, USDA spokesperson Seth Christensen said in a statement: 'These waivers are still under review and FNS has not approved or denied any at this time.' He added: 'This collaboration includes holding daily technical assistance calls with each submitting state as proposals are under development.' What's next: Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz told our Samuel Benson that Utah intends to submit its waiver request 'within the next few days.' They must do so before July 1, as mandated by their state legislature. Row Crops — Rollins will be in Nebraska today with Gov. Jim Pillen and Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.). — Brazil announced its first outbreak of bird flu on a commercial farm. (Reuters) — The New York Times asks: What if a grocery store was more like a farmers' market? — President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said it is 'logistically complicated' to feed hungry Gazans. THAT'S ALL FOR MA! Drop us a line and send us your agriculture job announcements or events: gyarrow@ marciabrown@ jwolman@ sbenson@ rdugyala@ and gmott@
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Embassy Bancorp, Inc. Announces Results of Operations as of and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
BETHLEHEM, Pa., May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 14, 2025, Embassy Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: EMYB) (the 'Company') filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025, a copy of which can be found at Highlights of the filing, which includes consolidated financial information of the Company and Embassy Bank For the Lehigh Valley (the 'Bank'), the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, include: Cash and cash equivalents on hand of $97.9 million at March 31, 2025, or 5.6% of total assets. Deposits of $1.61 billion at March 31, 2025, an increase of $59.0 million from $1.55 billion at December 31, 2024. The Company does not have any brokered deposits. Short term borrowings of $15.6 million at December 31, 2024 were repaid in full on January 2, 2025 and there were no new borrowings required during the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Bank net interest margin (FTE) increased to 2.34% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, up from 2.28% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 and up from 2.20% for the prior year quarter ended March 31, 2024 Bank cost of funds of 1.80% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from 1.91% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. This is compared to a Pennsylvania peer group (stock banks headquartered in Pennsylvania with assets between $100 million and $5 billion) cost of funds of 2.11% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Bank assets per employee of $15.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to the Pennsylvania peer group assets per employee of $8.0 million. Bank noncurrent loans to total loans of only 0.04% as of March 31, 2025, compared to the Pennsylvania peer group total of 0.46%. Net income of $2.9 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, up from $2.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the prior year three months ended March 31, 2024. About Embassy Bancorp, Inc. With over $1.7 billion in assets, Embassy Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley, a full-service community bank operating ten branch locations throughout Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Embassy Bank was recently named 'Best Bank & Mortgage Company' in the 2025 Who's Who in Business survey, as featured in Lehigh Valley Style magazine—marking the fourth consecutive year it has earned this distinguished honor. The Bank was also voted the 2024 Morning Call Readers' Choice 'Best Bank,' underscoring its ongoing commitment to exceptional customer service and community-focused banking. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (FDIC) Summary of Deposits as of June 30, 2024, Embassy Bank ranks fourth in total deposit market share across Lehigh and Northampton Counties combined—further solidifying its role as a leading financial institution in the region. For more information, visit Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements This document may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: ineffectiveness of the company's business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; the effects of competition, and of changes in laws and regulations, including industry consolidation and development of competing financial products and services; interest rate movements; changes in credit quality; difficulties in integrating distinct business operations, including information technology difficulties; volatilities in the securities markets; and deteriorating economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in Embassy Bancorp, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The statements are valid only as of the date hereof and Embassy Bancorp, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update this information. Contact:David M. Lobach, President and CEO(610) 882-8800Error 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
