August 13, 2025

Broadening retail investor access to alternative investments like private equity through defined contribution plans offers significant benefits, including enhanced portfolio diversification, higher risk-adjusted returns, and increased retirement income, according to a White House Council of Economic Advisers report released on August 12, 2025. Younger investors could see up to a 2.5% increase in lifetime income,…

Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Freida D. Foster as Chair and Renee Delgado as Vice Chair of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). Foster, a Board member since 2009 and former Vice Chair, brings 16 years of experience, having reviewed thousands of appeals and contributed to modernizing WCB systems, including implementing NYS Paid…

The White House has sent a letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III announcing a wide-ranging internal review of several Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The review, guided by an executive order on “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,”…

The latest report shows inflation holding steady at 1.9% while wages continue to climb, giving Americans more spending power. Since President Trump took office, real wages have risen 1.3% over the past year and increased every month, with prices for everyday goods like gasoline, eggs, and smartphones dropping. Energy costs are down, back-to-school shopping is…

Summary: Governor Kathy Hochul announced the second round of the NY SWIMS Initiative, offering $53 million in grants to help municipalities and nonprofits build, renovate, and improve swimming facilities across New York. The program aims to increase access to safe swimming—especially in underserved communities—by funding pools, natural swim areas, safety amenities, and accessibility features. With…