Author: Christy Bieber

Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor at one of the largest megachurches in Atlanta, is urging his congregants and like-minded Americans to continue their weeks’-long boycott of Target.

"Not since the Montgomery Bus Boycott has Black America come together in such a unified vision, a unified focus and a unified front," Bryant said.

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Bryant kicked off the boycott — originally a 40-day shopping ‘fast’ — at the beginning of Lent, on March 5.

He launched the boycott to protest Target’s decision to roll back DEI initiatives, announced in January. Other faith leaders supported the effort and 20,000 people signed up.

At Easter, he told his congregants at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church that their boycott had cost Target $12 billion, and encouraged them to keep it up beyond Easter until the company restored its DEI efforts.

Now, as Fox 5 reports, he says it’s time for the fast to shift into a “full-on boycott.”

Here’s a look at how much the pastor’s initiative — and similar boycotts — are affecting Target’s bottom line and its DEI policies.

Megachurch pastor says Target must meet demands

Bryant has a significant profile as the head of a megachurch and a celebrity who once appeared on The Real Housewives of Potomac with his ex-wife Gizelle Bryant.

He has used his influence to issue demands that Target must comply with for the boycott to end. Bryant demands that Target:

• Renew their commitment to invest $2 billion in Black-owned businesses by July 31
• Restore internal DEI efforts
• Deposit $250 million into Black-owned banks
• Establish new partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities

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According to the pastor, as of Easter, Target had only met one of these demands — committing to invest in Black-owned businesses. That’s why his megachurch continues to boycott the mega-retailer.

Bryant’s is not the only Target boycott going on. Minnesota activists launched a national boycott of Target on Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month. The Latino Free Movement is also urging Latinos to stop shopping there.

The boycotts are changing consumer behavior in measurable ways.

The St. Louis American reports that data from two analytics firms — Placer.ai and Numerator — shows an overall decline in consumer support for Target, with Black and Hispanic households cutting their Target visits at the highest rate.

Target has lost $12.4-billion in revenue since the boycotts began and its stock has plunged by $27.27 per share. While markets have been volatile in the wake of tariffs, there is reason to believe the boycotts are having an impact.

Will efforts to stop DEI rollbacks make a difference?

The boycotts may affect Target’s bottom line, but their impact on its DEI policy is uncertain.

The Arizona Republic recently published a list of 40 businesses cutting back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — including Amazon, AT&T, Bank of America, Disney, Ford, Google and General Motors.

They have all faced protests and boycotts, including a 24-hour economic blackout on February 28 that urged people not to spend money at any organization that had dropped its DEI initiatives.

The challenge is that all these companies, including Target, also face headwinds from President Donald Trump, who signed executive orders banning DEI in federal agencies and among federal contractors.

They may fear retaliation from Trump — through lawsuits — and counter-protests from MAGA followers opting to shop at retailers from an anti-DEI shopping list.

With boycotts blowing both ways, businesses have been left in a no-win situation with a good portion of the country likely to be upset with any DEI policies they put in place.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

On 9/11, first responders rushed to help. Unfortunately, their own lives were being put in jeopardy as they breathed in asbestos, benzene and other toxic dust at Ground Zero, increasing their cancer risk.

Years later, the Zadroga Act was passed to care for these first responders. It created the federally funded World Trade Center Health Program under the umbrella of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The program provides lifetime monitoring and treatment to responders, 150,000 of whom were enrolled as of 2025, reports ABC News, (up from 76,000 in 2015).

The program has been a great success, with New York City Fire Department (FDNY) data revealing 86% of participants are still alive five years after a cancer diagnosis compared with 66% of patients diagnosed but not part of it. A bill had even been introduced to provide additional funding.

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Unfortunately, the program is no longer working as intended, due to uncertainty created by the Trump administration — and this will have consequences.

"This is a program with zero fraud that only does one thing: It saves lives," Michael Barasch, partner at Barasch & McGarry, a law firm representing thousands of first responders and 9/11 survivors, told ABC News.

"Mark my words: People will die without it."

Confusion about staffing causes chaos

The normal operation of the World Trade Center Health Program has been interrupted as the Trump administration continues to alter staffing levels.

Early in 2025, there was a 20% staffing cut, with 16 doctors and nurses losing their jobs, ABC News reported. NIOSH director, Dr. John Howard was also taken out of his position as administrator. Then, many of the terminated workers saw their jobs reinstated in February, although it wasn’t clear if Howard’s position had been restored or not, despite the doctor requesting an official decision.

In April, another round of layoffs hit 15 employees. However, this has also now been reversed, with the administration going a step beyond previous reinstatements because the new letter sent to workers made clear the termination was canceled entirely. In the past, many workers were only brought back temporarily to train replacements.

While the reinstatements are good news, they don’t undo the damage done or the future uncertainty.

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9/11 first responders pay the price

Workers may be back on the job soon, but disastrous things happened while they were off.

"We postponed chemotherapy for a firefighter this week, hoping this could be fixed," Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer of the FDNY and director of its World Trade Center Health Program told ABC News.

"He’s too young for Medicare, and this delay may cost him his life."

This firefighter was one of three who had treatment interrupted, putting them all at risk since every moment can count when it comes to fighting cancer.

Unfortunately, many people have also been denied the opportunity to start treatment, as they aren’t eligible to begin until their illness is certified as being caused by exposure on 9/11. The certification must be signed by Howard, and an internal Department of Health and Human Services newsletter shared with ABC explained that the program had "been directed not to process any new certifications."

Prezant told ABC that this a clear sign Howard hadn’t actually been reinstated, and explained that while clinics found a workaround and started treating some patients under initial approvals while awaiting certification, this loophole was recently shut down.

This pause on enrollment will affect 9/11 first responders throughout the country, and Barasch thinks lawmakers are simply unaware of how big the scope is.

"People in all 50 states are enrolled in the program. Thousands of them no longer live near the original attack sites. They need care where they are," he explained.

If the latest staff reinstatements last, this could provide opportunities for responders nationwide to get the help they need. Further, despite the chaos, there is reason for optimism in the long term as the Trump administration insists it doesn’t want to end the World Trade Center Health Program, nor does it intend to end other critical functions NIOSH performs.

"Those programs were not terminated, as the media has reported. But they’ve simply been consolidated into a place that makes more sense," Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a recent interview, explaining they would be merged into a newly-created agency dubbed the Administration for a Healthy America.

Other programs that were on the chopping block have also been granted at least a temporary reprieve, with some food safety workers at various FDA labs also receiving notification that recent layoffs had been reversed.

Still, since the Trump administration has already gone through multiple hiring and firing cycles, it remains unclear how safe any of these NIOSH operations have a stable future.

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It was supposed to be the ultimate wedding anniversary surprise, a secret investment that would unlock wealth the couple never knew.

Instead, a Wisconsin woman ended up more than $80,000 in the hole — the victim of a cruel crypto scam that lured her in with promises of sky-high returns and faked investment dashboards.

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"She had a big smile on her face saying, ‘Look what I did,’" Scott Johansson told Fox 6 News Milwaukee about the moment his wife presented the gift, which turned out to be a bigger surprise than either of them wanted.

“All I thought was, ‘This is not real.’”

Unfortunately, he was right. Police doubt the money will ever come back, making the couple among a growing list of crypto victims in the U.S.

How the scam worked

Johansson said his wife, who chose not to appear on camera with Fox 6 News, first discovered the investment on Facebook and was drawn in by the promise of quick, impressive returns.

She initially put in $30,000 and was told her money had nearly doubled within weeks. Encouraged by what seemed like a windfall, she ultimately invested a total of $55,000.

When she tried to cash out her $100,000 in supposed crypto earnings, she was told she needed to pay another $30,000 in taxes and fees. She paid it — bringing her total investment to $80,000, before finally realizing it was a scam.

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Fake gains, real losses

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that Americans lost $5.7 billion to investment scams in 2024, a category that includes but is not limited to crypto scams. Losses specifically attributed to cryptocurrency as the payment method were reported to be $1.4 billion, which is likely an undercount since FTC figures rely on self-reported consumer data.

Crypto scams are getting more sophisticated, especially with so-called pig butchering schemes. Pig butchering is a sophisticated, long-term scam that combines elements of romance fraud, catfishing and investment schemes, most involving cryptocurrency. The term comes from the idea of "fattening up" the victim (the "pig") with attention and trust before "slaughtering" them by stealing their money.

Such scams use a common tactic: fake dashboards that mimic real crypto exchanges, complete with charts, balances and support chatbots. They’re designed to make the victim feel confident and stay invested longer.

These platforms also often use AI-generated customer service reps who pressure users to add more funds or pay phantom fees to unlock withdrawals.

Why these scams are hard to stop

When the couple reported the crime, police offered a grim forecast, their money was likely gone.

"She has a really hard time sleeping at night," Johansson said of his wife.

“She now has a lot of trust issues."

Crypto scams thrive in the gray area between regulation and anonymity. Many of these fake platforms are hosted overseas, registered under shell companies and use untraceable payment methods like crypto-to-crypto transfers.

How to avoid falling into the same trap

Unfortunately, stories like this are becoming more common. One analysis suggests that crypto scam activity rose 24% between 2020 and 2024. But there are ways to protect yourself.

Beware of social media ads

Many scams begin with a flashy ad on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram.

Check the broker’s credentials

Use the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s BrokerCheck or the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database to vet any firm.

Don’t pay fees upfront

Legitimate platforms deduct fees from withdrawals, not before.

Watch for urgency

Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to get you to act fast.

Talk to someone

Before investing large amounts, run it by a friend, financial advisor or your spouse.

Johansson shared the couple’s story to help others avoid the same fate. “If it sounds good to be true,” he said, “it’s fake.”

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Grocery shoppers have been forced to scramble since egg prices have been consistently high.

With the cost of Grade A eggs hitting a record high of $5.90 per dozen in February, and still high at $5.12 in April, many consumers have had eggs on their faces. This was the highest price consumers had ever paid for eggs, nearly double what they had paid the previous year.

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Some relief may finally be on the way, as the wholesale egg prices have started to fall.

However, Easter and a lag between the changes in wholesale and consumer prices may mean that relief doesn’t come immediately for frustrated grocery shoppers, many of whom have struggled with high food inflation since the pandemic.

Here’s why egg prices are finally falling

Egg prices peaked due to a deadly outbreak of bird flu that spread across the United States, resulting in the death of millions of egg-laying chickens. Major producers may also have engaged in alleged anti-competitive behavior to drive prices up, prompting an antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice in March.

The good news is that outbreaks of bird flu appear to be becoming less frequent. Additionally, high prices have weakened consumer demand, with many people choosing to forgo purchasing eggs due to record costs. Some buyers, fearing further price increases from continued bird flu outbreaks, also stockpiled eggs, reducing future demand further. With higher supply and lower demand, prices have begun to drop.

“Slowing outbreaks are leading to improved supply availability and wholesale market prices have responded with sharp declines over the past week,” the USDA wrote.

The drop in wholesale egg prices has been significant, with the cost per dozen dropping 44% from its mid-February peak. Wholesale prices are now $4.83 per dozen instead of $8.58 per dozen, according to Expana, which tracks agricultural commodity prices.

Karyn Rispoli, an egg market analyst and managing editor at Expana, told CNBC via email that prices had plunged due to market dynamics placing "extreme pressure" on the cost per dozen.

The Trump Administration also initiated a plan to help lower prices, including investing $500 million in biosecurity improvements, providing more indemnity payments to farmers, reducing regulations and importing more eggs to increase supply.

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Consumers may not see lower prices just yet

While the reduced wholesale cost is good news, it doesn’t mean consumers will enjoy cheaper eggs just yet.

Rispoli explained that there’s typically a two to three-week lag between a change in wholesale prices and a decline in retail prices. Retailers also don’t always adjust their prices immediately to match wholesale fluctuations, meaning consumers may still feel the effects of peak prices when they shop for eggs.

Consumers have seen some relief. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated, "The average cost of a dozen eggs has now gone down $1.85 since we announced our plan."

However, this trend of reducing prices is not likely to last in the short term. Prices are expected to rise again with Easter, which traditionally increases demand for eggs. Easter season typically leads to increased egg demand for traditional activities like Easter egg dyeing, as well as hard-boiled eggs, which are a staple for many Easter meals.

Hopefully, once Easter comes to pass, the Trump Administration’s efforts and the declining number of bird flu outbreaks will lead to more lasting price reductions, allowing consumers to put eggs in their grocery baskets without fear of cracking their budgets.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Unused sick leave could be your secret weapon for an easier transition into retirement.

Depending on your employer’s rules, it might boost your pension, bolster your wallet or ease you into part-time work. Around 77% of workers have access to paid sick leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Paid vacations are available to 79% of workers, while 81% have access to paid holidays.

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If you are lucky enough to have paid sick leave, you may be able to accumulate it depending on your employer’s policies. For example, some companies — especially in the public sector — allow you to bank your sick leave rather than following a “use it or lose it” policy each year.

If that’s the case, when you eventually leave your job, you may be for a payout for your unused sick leave or receive credit for it when your pension is calculated.

For some workers, taking a payout or increasing a pension benefit makes good sense. For others, using accumulated sick leave to ease the transition into retirement may be more appealing. If you’ve banked a substantial balance, you might consider asking your boss if you can use some of it each week to shift into part-time work.

This approach allows you to gradually wind down your workload, tie up loose ends and ease into retirement while adjusting to a slower pace of life. However, not all employers allow this, and it may not be the best option for everyone. Here’s what you need to know.

How to maximize sick leave and transition into retirement

As a general rule, sick leave is meant to be used when you’re sick. Unless your company offers a blanket Paid Time Off (PTO) policy — allowing you to use your time off for any reason — you typically can’t use sick leave for vacation or retirement planning. Doing so would be considered a misuse of benefits.

If you’re working toward a specific number of service years to qualify for a pension, unpaid sick leave generally cannot be counted as extra service time. For example, if you need 30 years of service to qualify for full retirement but have 29.5 years and six months of unused sick leave, that leave won’t count toward your required service time.

However, if you have medical appointments — such as a knee or hip replacement — you might consider using your sick leave while still covered by your employer’s health insurance. This can make good sense, allowing you to preserve your early retirement days for other priorities.

It’s important to understand your company’s rules before taking extended sick leave, as misusing it could jeopardize your employment or create issues as you approach retirement. If you’re interested in part-time work as a bridge to retirement, your employer may be open to the idea — but sick leave typically won’t be the tool to make it happen unless your company is willing to bend the rules.

A better strategy is to save up PTO or vacation time, if available, and use it to reduce your work schedule. By timing vacations around weekends and holidays, you can stretch your time off and create a gradual transition into retirement.

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Bridging the gap until retirement

If you’re not quite ready to stop working, there are lots of ways to ease into retirement without relying on sick leave — and lots of ways to support yourself financially during this period.

One option is claiming Social Security while working part-time, allowing you to supplement your income while reducing your work hours. However, if you haven’t yet reached full retirement age (FRA), earning too much could temporarily reduce your Social Security benefits. These benefits will be recalculated at FRA to account for any deductions.

You might also consider consulting work or a low-stress side gig to earn extra income during your transition. Various apps and platforms make it easy to find flexible opportunities, from dog walking to rideshare driving, depending on what might be a good fit for you.

Regardless of your approach, ensure you have enough money in your retirement accounts to cover about 40% of your pre-retirement income, as Social Security typically covers the other 40%.

Creating a detailed budget and wisely earmarking every dollar will help ensure that your retirement income stretches far enough. By planning strategically, you can transition smoothly into retirement while maintaining financial stability — without relying solely on sick leave.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Alan Culbert just wanted to buy some presents for his grandkids and fix up his car. Since the Harvard-educated 91-year-old veteran and Bay Area resident didn’t have the cash, he took out a $900 loan from Plain Green Loans, unaware that it would lead him toward potential financial ruin.

According to a story from ABC 7News, the Montana-based lender Culbert borrowed from was one of a few companies that accepted his online loan application. Culbert was happy to see the lender advertise an easy borrowing process, with "better rates," and an "excellent" 5-star rating. He took the money, paid back the $900 within two months, and thought he would move on with his life — but that didn’t happen.

"I had no idea there was going to be an interest charge," Culbert said. Sadly, there wasn’t just an interest charge — it was 682%, and Culbert was left with $2,646.69 in interest costs, accounting for more than half his monthly income.

If you’re wondering how this is legal, it’s because the loan came from a native tribe. Here’s why that simple fact left Culbert in a tough spot with no clear idea of what to do next.

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Tribal governments can avoid state usury laws — but some states are taking action

Culbert’s loan came from the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy’s Reservation, but it could have come from one of many native tribes that offer high-interest rate loans. The tribes argue that they have sovereign immunity and are thus governed by federal — not state — lending laws.

That creates a problem because the federal government doesn’t limit what rate lenders can charge outside of a 36% limit on loans offered to active-duty service members. This wouldn’t have protected Culbert, who is a veteran, and, because tribal governments are independent of state governments, California’s 10% cap on most consumer loans didn’t protect him either.

Some states have recognized this issue and taken steps to ensure their residents can’t be charged so much to borrow. Connecticut, Arkansas, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia have mostly eliminated tribal loans, and Minnesota put a 36% cap in place, while also making it impossible to collect excess fees.

Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison also filed suit against three separate entities, including officers of the tribal entities.

"Sovereign entities, like states or tribal governments, generally you can’t sue them under a theory of sovereign immunity. But you can hold them accountable if you name their leaders," Ellison said. "When we brought the lawsuits against three separate entities, we named the tribal entities’ officer and said, ‘You got to stop doing this.’ And as a result, we were able to stop that lending."

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Ellison made clear he’d be happy to share his tips for ending these predatory loans with California. If the Golden State takes action and can achieve the success that Minnesota did, people like Culbert could be spared a lot of heartache.

For his part, Culbert isn’t sure how to proceed. He tried reaching out to the company and explaining he was a veteran, but Plain Green Loans wasn’t sympathetic to his plight. In fact, Culbert said their response was: "’Sorry, too bad. You signed a loan agreement, and you owe all this money. It will ruin your credit history, and we will proceed with collections."

With the media spotlighting his plight, Culbert will hopefully find some relief. Still, the veteran is wondering how this could have happened in the first place. "I don’t see how that can be legal, and they can charge that much in this state," he lamented.

How to avoid taking out a bad loan

Since tribal loans are effectively banned in only a small minority of states, vulnerable borrowers risk being contacted by one of these lenders when they apply for a loan of their own. If they take it, they could find themselves facing the same frustrations Culbert is experiencing.

To avoid this fate, anyone borrowing should:

• Independently research the lender to determine if they are reputable
• View aggressive sales efforts on the part of lenders as a significant red flag, especially if the lender is offering tribal loans
• Insist on reviewing a written document that outlines the full terms and conditions of the loan before agreeing to borrow, including the interest rate and total payoff costs

Hopefully, borrowers can avoid predatory lenders by doing this research. Still, vulnerable individuals, like Culbert, will continue to be at risk of such practices until more states (or even the federal government) implement greater control and transparency over tribal loans.

What to read next

• Millions of Americans now sit on a stunning $35 trillion in home equity — here’s 1 new way to invest in responsible US homeowners while targeting a 14%-17% IRR
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Glenn Martin is fixing up his home to sell, but he’s not happy about it. He’s worried all his work will be destroyed before he finds a buyer — and his fear is not unfounded.

Martin lives in Punta Gorda, Florida. He’s doing repairs because his home was badly damaged in Hurricane Helene last September. It’s not the first time.

Punta Gorda is located along the Gulf Coast in Charlotte County. The community has been pummeled by hurricanes in the past decade, including Irma (2017); Ian (2022); Milton and Helene (2024)

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Martin is scared it will happen again.

“Every piece of furniture is downstairs, ruined. My refrigerator floated up,” Martin told Gulf Coast News.

"One thing I’m afraid of right now is working on this house and spending a bunch of money and getting another one of these things next fall. Another storm."

But Martin faces a dilemma. He’s racing to offload his property because the hurricanes — the source of his problems — are making it much tougher to sell homes in the area. So while he doesn’t want to pour money into a house that may be damaged again, he feels he has to in order to make the home more appealing to buyers.

Perfect storm: Hurricanes, insurance, inflation and mortgage rates

Martin’s right. Zillow data shows that Punta Gorda’s median home lists for $367,585, down 10% year-over-year. Around 82.8% of homes now sell under list price.

“The market is definitely weak right now,” Changzhou Kenzie, the head of economics for Redfin, said. “You are seeing inventory accumulate. Prices are soft. If you are a potential buyer in Florida, you could probably negotiate a pretty good price for yourself.”

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Gulf Coast News also reported that there’s around a seven-month supply of homes on the Gulf Coast and that, in addition to turnkey homes on the market, there are at least 1,000 fixer-uppers for sale — many with lingering damage from repeated storms.

“Anytime you get hit back to back, it’s going to be a challenge,” warned Cindy Marsh-Tichy, a realtor who sells homes in Punta Gorda and nearby areas.

The repeated storms have created shortages of contractors and materials.

That’s one of the reasons Martin is willing to spend tens of thousands to get the work done so potential buyers won’t be put off by the prospect of costly fixes.

But it’s not just the time and costs involved in repairs that may be scaring homeowners away. It’s surging insurance costs as well.

Dozens of insurers have pulled out of the state due to the repeated hurricane damage, leaving a limited number of insurers to provide coverage.

The result? Florida is the most expensive state in the country when it comes to homeowners’ insurance — with an average homeowners’ premium of $12,000 a year, according to research by Insurify.

Plus, while property values have fallen, a home priced at more than $360,000 is likely too expensive for many families.

“If we want more families, we need more affordable, starter homes,” Marsh-Tichy said.

For those who can afford a down payment, mortgage rates remain stubbornly high, adding to the monthly costs for the 41% of Americans who say inflation is their biggest financial problem.

How to deal with storm-prone areas

Unfortunately, as extreme weather events increase, homeowners can expect more storms going forward — and prospective buyers need to consider the risks before closing on a house.

If you live in an area with a high storm risk, consider taking protective measures, such as elevating living space above the level of typical storm surges, investing in hurricane or tornado straps and installing flood barriers.

And if you’re planning to buy a property, check the cost of home insurance and the history of storms around or at a home before signing a deal. You can also check FEMA flood maps to assist in this risk assessment work.

That way you may avoid facing Martin’s dilemma with a home that needs serious repairs just as its value falls.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.