Judith Whelan, former Herald editor and ABC executive, remembered as a trailblazer for women

Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall, Raising Hopes of the Fed Cutting Rates

Mortgage Rates Continue , to Fall, Raising Hopes of the , Fed Cutting Rates. ABC reports that borrowing costs for home loans continued to ease this week, with the average rate on a 30-year mortgage falling to its lowest level since April. According to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac, the rate fell from 6.95% to 6.87% last week. . That figure is still significantly higher than what the rate was during the same time last year, which was at an average of 6.67%. . 15-year fixed-rate mortgages also eased, falling from 6.17% last week to 6.13%. . During the same time last year, the average rate was at 6.03%. Those higher rates can add hundreds of dollars to monthly costs for borrowers, which limits the purchasing options of potential homebuyers. Mortgage rates fell for the third straight week following signs of cooling inflation and market expectations of a future Fed rate cut, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, via ABC. ABC reports that rates are influenced by a number of factors, including the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy and the 10-year Treasury yield. ABC reports that rates are influenced by a number of factors, including the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy and the 10-year Treasury yield. Due to yields also beginning to ease, the Federal Reserve could start to drop its main interest rate after hiking it up to the highest level in over 20 years. Last week, Fed officials suggested that they would make just one cut to their benchmark interest rate in 2024, down from previous projections of three cuts for the year.

Surge of New Applications for Unemployment Benefits May Signal Cooling Job Market

Surge of New Applications for , Unemployment Benefits , May Signal Cooling Job Market. Last week, the number of people in the United States filing for unemployment benefits reached the highest level in ten months last week. . ABC reports that the news comes as a potential sign that the U.S. labor market may be slowing under the burden of high interest rates. . The week ending June 8 saw applications for jobless benefits rise by 13,000 to reach 242,000. . According to Labor Department data, that is up from 229,000 new applications the week before. The number also represents the highest number of new applications since August of 2023, while also being significantly higher than the 225,000 new claims forecast. ABC reports that weekly unemployment claims have lingered at historically low levels since millions of jobs disappeared with the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC reports that weekly unemployment claims have lingered at historically low levels since millions of jobs disappeared with the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March of 2022, the Federal Reserve has raised benchmark rates 11 times in an attempt to reign in inflation which has risen to a four-decade high. While the latest data suggests that consumer inflation cooled in May, the Federal Reserve has decided to leave rates at a 23-year high. According to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, officials are waiting for more evidence that prices are reaching their target of two percent. ABC reports that a total of 1.82 million Americans were collecting unemployment benefits in the week ending June 1. . ABC reports that a total of 1.82 million Americans were collecting unemployment benefits in the week ending June 1.

T-Mobile Announces Deal to Acquire Most of U.S. Cellular

T-Mobile Announces Deal , to Acquire Most of , U.S. Cellular . T-Mobile Announces Deal , to Acquire Most of , U.S. Cellular . On May 28, T-Mobile announced that it will acquire most of competitor U.S. Cellular in a massive $4.4 billion deal. ABC reports that the deal would give T-Mobile, already one of the largest wireless providers in the United States, an additional 4 million customers. ABC reports that the deal would give T-Mobile, already one of the largest wireless providers in the United States, an additional 4 million customers. The deal will also see T-Mobile acquire hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores and a wider presence in rural areas. The deal will also see T-Mobile acquire hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores and a wider presence in rural areas. The acquisition will also expand T-Mobile's spectrum rights, a federal license permitting the transmission of mobile signals. According to T-Mobile, the deal is expected to close sometime in the middle of 2025. As customers from both companies will get more coverage and more capacity from our combined footprint, our competitors will be forced to keep up -- and even more consumers will benefit, Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, via ABC. As customers from both companies will get more coverage and more capacity from our combined footprint, our competitors will be forced to keep up -- and even more consumers will benefit, Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, via ABC. T-Mobile added that U.S. Cellular will retain control of a portion of the company's spectrum rights and cellular towers. . According to T-Mobile, the deal will provide customers with more competitive options to the two largest U.S. wireless carriers: Verizon and AT&T. According to T-Mobile, the deal will provide customers with more competitive options to the two largest U.S. wireless carriers: Verizon and AT&T. By tapping into the additional capacity and coverage created through the combined spectrum and wireless assets, T-Mobile will spur competition, T-Mobile statement, via ABC. The news comes after a series of acquisitions for T-Mobile aimed at accelerating the wireless provider's growth

'Abbott Elementary' and The Glow Up of Quinta Brunson's Character Janine Teagues | THR Video

Season three of 'Abbott Elementary' sees Janine Teagues have a job glow up, going from teacher to school district employee, as well as a serious style glow up! But there's more to her transformation than meets the eye. Creator and star Quinta Brunson, as well as the show's costume designer, head hair stylist and head makeup artist spoke to The Hollywood Reporter all about the story the ABC series is telling through Janine's on-screen evolution.