Business & Politics News and Discussions

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Eddie Bauer, 106-year-old retail brand operator closing all stores in bankruptcy
https://www.thestreet.com/retail/106-ye ... ddie-bauer

After 106 years in business, Eddie Bauer will permanently close all its physical retail stores following a failed attempt to sell its store portfolio during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Eddie Bauer is permanently closing 174 stores
Eddie Bauer LLC has canceled a planned auction for its remaining stores, which was scheduled for March 6, 2026, after receiving no qualified bids before the March 3 bid deadline, according to bankruptcy court filings.

Eddie Bauer’s century-old history
Founded in 1920 in Seattle, Washington, Eddie Bauer became one of the most recognizable outdoor apparel brands in the U.S.

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[firestar464]

if you may consult the calendar.

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[wjfox]

Maine Is About to Become the First State to Ban New Data Centers

Legislation that could be enacted this spring would pause construction of large new data centers until November 2027

By Will Parker

April 2, 2026

Maine is poised to freeze large data-center construction, which would make it the first state to enact such a measure as communities across the U.S. grapple with fallout from the boom in artificial intelligence.

The Maine bill calls for a ban on major new data-center construction until November 2027, so the state can assess the impact of such development on the environment and electricity grid.

The freeze would apply to data-center projects of at least 20 megawatts, which is enough energy to power more than 15,000 homes.

The bill passed a floor vote in the Democratic-controlled Maine House of Representatives last month, collecting a handful of Republican votes. It is expected to pass in the Senate, which is also majority Democratic. Gov. Janet Mills said she supports a freeze.

Maine has some of the country’s highest residential electricity prices, and elected officials are concerned that a surge in data-center power demand might further inflate costs. The AI build-out is driving up electricity costs for consumers in some parts of the country, and at the same time generating large tax revenues for local governments that continue to court developers.

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/maine-data- ... n-e768fb18

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Maine Is About to Become the First State to Ban New Data Centers

Legislation that could be enacted this spring would pause construction of large new data centers until November 2027

By Will Parker

April 2, 2026

Maine is poised to freeze large data-center construction, which would make it the first state to enact such a measure as communities across the U.S. grapple with fallout from the boom in artificial intelligence.

The Maine bill calls for a ban on major new data-center construction until November 2027, so the state can assess the impact of such development on the environment and electricity grid.

The freeze would apply to data-center projects of at least 20 megawatts, which is enough energy to power more than 15,000 homes.

The bill passed a floor vote in the Democratic-controlled Maine House of Representatives last month, collecting a handful of Republican votes. It is expected to pass in the Senate, which is also majority Democratic. Gov. Janet Mills said she supports a freeze.

Maine has some of the country’s highest residential electricity prices, and elected officials are concerned that a surge in data-center power demand might further inflate costs. The AI build-out is driving up electricity costs for consumers in some parts of the country, and at the same time generating large tax revenues for local governments that continue to court developers.

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/maine-data- ... n-e768fb18

I really think that datacenters should be either built on the bottom of the ocean or on the moon. Using resources to cool these things that people need is a really bad idea....Use the freezing cold of the ocean or a moon crater. If it is somehow cheaper then that to build your own plants then do that....

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Rep. Eric Swalwell resigns from U.S. House after sexual misconduct allegations

Source: CNBCUpdated 3 Min Ago

Published Mon, Apr 13 2026 5:30 PM EDT Updated 3 Min Ago

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a former Democratic frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race, resigned from Congress on Monday amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Swalwell announced his resignation in a statement posted to his X account, while still denying some of the allegations made against him in recent days.

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” Swalwell said in the statement.


This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/13/eric-sw ... gress.html

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US edges closer to popular vote deciding winner of presidential elections

Source: The Guardian

Tue 14 Apr 2026 13.12 EDT
Last modified on Tue 14 Apr 2026 14.08 EDT

A national majority vote for president is one step closer to reality after the Virginia governor, Abigail Spanberger, signed the national popular vote bill into law, joining an interstate compact with 17 other states and the District of Columbia. Under the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, states would assign their presidential electors to the winner of the popular vote, regardless of the results within the state.

The compact takes effect when states representing a majority of electoral votes – 270 of 538 – pass the legislation and thus would determine the winner of the presidential contest. With Virginia, the compact now has 222 electors. Every state that has so far enacted the compact has Democratic electoral majorities, including California, New York and Illinois. But legislation has been introduced in enough states to reach the 270-elector threshold, including swing states like Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The legislation relies on two provisions of the US constitution, which would face intense legal scrutiny if and when the compact comes into force. Article II, section 1 of the constitution authorizes each state to appoint electors “in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct”. The constitution does not require states to even have a vote for president, never mind delegating those electors as a state’s voters choose. The second provision, article I, section 10, clause 3 of the US constitution, governs interstate compacts. The text authorizes states to form legally binding agreements governing their relationships to one another.

The text requires states to gain the assent of Congress to enact a compact. But longstanding US supreme court precedent holds that states only require congressional approval for a compact if the agreement infringes on federal power. Supporters of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact argue that the delegation of electors is a state power, not a federal power. A Pew Research Center poll from 2024 showed that 63% of Americans would replace the electoral college with a national popular vote for president, with 35% opposing change.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... nstitution

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