Professor left $50 for students in a locker, if they read the syllabus

A professor in Tennessee says he hid a cash prize in a locker and gave his students simple clues on how to get it if they read the syllabus of his class, but the money remained unclaimed or even acknowledged at the end of the semester.

Inflation and labor shortage hit Long Island restaurants

U.S. consumer inflation is up 6.8% from 2020 — the highest it's been in nearly 40 years. That has left restaurant owners no choice but to raise their prices.

US debt ceiling: Congress sends Biden $2.5T increase, avoiding default

Congress averted a debt default early Wednesday after Democratic majorities voted to send a $2.5 trillion debt ceiling increase to Biden over Republican opposition.

Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered to give up millions in pandemic book earnings

New York state's ethics commission has ordered former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to pay back the millions of dollars he is set to earn from his publishing deal for a book about his leadership during the pandemic. His lawyer calls the order "unconstitutional."

The pitfalls of lending money to friends and family

If you are going to lend money to a friend or family member, experts agree that communication is key and that putting the terms of any loan in writing is a must. And be prepared for things to go sideways.

Food costs jump fastest in decades

It's been quite a while since buying the groceries was this expensive, and even longer since eating out with this pricey.

Debt ceiling: Biden signs fast-track plan to prevent default

The Senate approved a bill that will clear the way for Congress to raise the debt ceiling with a simple-majority vote before the projected Dec. 15 deadline.

US consumer inflation rate up 6.8% in past year, highest since 1982

Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.8% in November compared with a year earlier, the highest annual inflation rate in 39 years.

Starbucks workers at Buffalo store form 1st U.S. union

Starbucks workers at a store in Buffalo, New York, voted to unionize on Thursday, a first for the 50-year-old coffee retailer in the U.S. and the latest sign that the labor movement is stirring after decades of decline.

US jobless claims hit lowest level in 52 years amid seasonal volatility

U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 184,000 last week, the lowest since September 1969 — offering more evidence that the job market is recovering.

Debt ceiling: House passes bill paving way for increase ahead of deadline

The House passed a bill that will allow the Senate to raise the U.S. debt limit with a Democrats’ only majority vote, as the deadline draws near.

Holiday tipping: Can you tip your mail carrier?

Yes, you can tip your letter carrier this holiday season but, as federal workers, they have certain stipulations when it comes to accepting gifts. The bottom line: less is more.

93% of payday loan borrowers regret taking out their loans, survey finds

Payday loans can be a debt trap for borrowers who can't afford to make payments. Here's how you can repay your payday loan balance before it's sent to debt collectors.

Here's who has qualified for student loan forgiveness under Biden

The Biden administration has forgiven federal student debt through four major loan forgiveness programs, including PSLF and borrower defense.

NFT is 2021 word of the year amid cryptocurrency surge, Collins Dictionary says

An NFT is proof of ownership for a unique digital item that can be bought and sold on the cryptocurrency marketplace. Here's what you need to know about buying and investing in crypto.

Treasury targets all-cash real estate deals in anti-corruption effort

The Treasury Department may expand reporting requirements on all-cash real estate deals to help crackdown on bad actors' use of the U.S. market to launder money made through illicit activity.

November jobs report: US employers added a sluggish 210,000 jobs

U.S. employers slowed the pace of their hiring in November, adding 210,000 jobs, as the economy contends with inflation and shortages.

2 US cities make 2021 top 10 list of most expensive cities in the world

Every year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) compares nearly 200 cities around the world for general costs of goods and services and determines the most expensive cities to live in. This year, two U.S. cities made the cut.