Business

OpenAI has hired Dylan Scand, formerly an AI safety researcher at Anthropic, as its head of preparedness; the role was noted for a pay package of up to $555,000 plus equity and was announced publicly by CEO Sam Altman.

Josh D'Amaro, named Disney's next CEO effective in March, and current CEO Bob Iger discussed the leadership transition, the company's future and plans around artificial intelligence in an ABC News interview.

Bloomberg reported that builders including Lennar and Taylor Morrison have discussed a privately funded pathway-to-ownership program, sometimes called 'Trump Homes,' that could let investors rent homes while tenants build toward a future down payment. The article mentions Lennar shares rose and were up about 9% for 2026.

Disney said parks chair Josh D'Amaro will become the company’s CEO on March 18, succeeding Bob Iger; Dana Walden will move into the role of president and chief creative officer.

Nintendo reported lifetime Switch sales of 155.37 million units, surpassing the Nintendo DS's previous record of 154.02 million and making the Switch the company's top-selling console.

New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection said Uber Eats will reinstate up to 10,000 delivery accounts deactivated between December 2023 and September 2024 as part of a $5.2 million settlement with several delivery apps.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Bad Bunny understands the Super Bowl stage is meant to unite people and backed the artist after his Grammys remarks. At the Grammys, Bad Bunny said “ICE out” and urged love during an acceptance speech ahead of his scheduled Super Bowl halftime appearance.

President Trump announced a $12 billion strategic reserve called "Project Vault" to stockpile critical and rare earth minerals for civilian use, funded by a $10 billion U.S. Export-Import Bank loan and $2 billion in private financing.

The federal funds rate is the overnight interest rate set by the Federal Open Market Committee; on December 18 the Fed set the target range at 4.25% to 4.50%.

Oregon Democrats introduced Senate Bill 1507 to disconnect the state from three recent federal tax provisions, preserving about $291 million in revenue over 18 months and directing some of that money to job-creation credits and an Earned Income Tax Credit boost.

A federal judge allowed construction to resume on the Sunrise Wind offshore project, concluding the government did not show an imminent national security risk; the farm is about 45% complete and expected to begin operations in 2027.

Kalshi will sponsor free groceries at Westside Market on 3rd Avenue in the East Village starting at noon ET on Feb. 3 and says it will cover grocery tabs up to $50 per customer while rebranding the store to promote its prediction-trading product.

The Treasury Department says tax season is open and its Working Families Tax Cuts will raise average refunds by about $1,000 per household for more than 100 million households; filing began Jan. 26 and federal returns are due April 15.

The article traces Nvidia from its 1993 founding through milestones such as the 1999 GeForce 256 and the later adoption of GPUs for AI research.

A concise list of the Denver Broncos' main 2026 offseason dates, including the franchise/transition designation window (Feb 17–Mar 3) and the new league year start (March 11 at 2:00pm MT).

The S&P Global UK manufacturing PMI rose to 51.8 in January from 50.6 in December, and new export orders increased for the first time in four years amid higher sales to the US, China and other markets.

Laura DiBella was appointed last week to lead the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission and says she will refocus the agency on geopolitical risks to importers and exporters, from maritime chokepoints to shadow fleets of tankers.

At the NBA's Pioneers Classic in Boston, Jaylen Brown said he wants to be remembered both for winning and for his community work; he also scored 30 points and 13 rebounds in the Celtics' win over the Bucks.

At the 2026 Grammys, several winners including Bad Bunny, Olivia Dean and Billie Eilish used acceptance speeches and pins to express support for immigrants. The Recording Academy's CEO and other performers also spoke about music's role during difficult times.

The Walt Disney Co. board is aligning on promoting theme-park chairman Josh D'Amaro to chief executive and will vote on the appointment in the coming week, the article reports.

A Georgia police officer was killed and a second officer was critically injured after officers responded to a fraud-related call at a Stone Mountain hotel; the suspect was injured and hospitalized, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the inquiry.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission awarded $21.2 million in grants to 50 community parks across Texas, funding projects from trails and kayak launches to piers and playgrounds; grants are reimbursed on a 50/50 match basis.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a U.S. attack could trigger a regional war; a U.S. carrier group is reported nearby and Iran has scheduled live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz for Sunday and Monday.

Out of the Closet opened a new thrift store at 1709 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park; 99 cents of every dollar earned goes to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the shop offers free confidential HIV testing.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a U.S. attack on Iran would trigger a "regional war," comments made as a U.S. aircraft carrier group operates nearby; Iran has announced live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz.

Local programs from Code Girls United to Flathead Valley Community College are teaching students how to use AI tools and to discuss ethical questions around those tools; educators are emphasizing critical thinking and flexible classroom policies. Some groups are developing peer-led materials and pursuing expansion while colleges weigh program-specific approaches.

Several companies, including UPS, Amazon and Nordstrom Card Services, have announced layoffs scheduled for early 2026; UPS said it will cut about 30,000 operational jobs and Amazon announced roughly 16,000 reductions.

Chinese shoppers are returning to luxury stores but are spending less and visiting in smaller numbers; some brands report stabilization while a broad industry rebound remains uncertain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the next trilateral U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks will be held in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4–5, and U.S. and Russian envoys described recent meetings in Florida as constructive.

Laws easing local limits on housing have spread across states, but researchers and advocates say increased supply alone has not solved affordability and call for stronger government approaches.