Apple’s board of directors urged shareholders to reject a proposal that would require the company to end its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, arguing the move would be “unnecessary.” The iPhone maker’s defense of its DEI programs comes as several major corporations are rolling back the so-called “woke” initiatives…

Annual inflation increased to 2.9% in December, rising modestly above the 2.7% annual inflation rate of the previous month, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Inflation increased 0.4% monthly in December, slightly exceeding expectations. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy,…

It was a close call for a dog named Max when fire raged through his Altadena neighborhood. The brindle-coated Corso mix hid, huddled and scared, under some bushes in his yard as the Eaton fire ravaged his street. Firefighters and photojournalists in the area could hear his terrified barks. As…