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An explosion inside a shipping container at the world's largest railyard prompted evacuations in western Nebraska Thursday because of the toxic smoke generated when one of the chemicals aboard caught fire OMAHA, Neb. -- An explosion inside a shipping container at the world's largest railyard prompted evacuations in western Nebraska Thursday because of the toxic smoke generated when one of the chemicals aboard caught fire. Around noon, an explosion occurred inside an intermodal container on a railcar at Union Pacific's Bailey Yard in North Platte, though it wasn't clear what caused the explosion, railroad spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said. No one was injured, and no cars derailed. Authorities evacuated everyone within a one-mile radius of the explosion in the western end of the railyard because of the smoke, and U.S. Highway 30 was closed between North Platte and Hershey. Interstate 80 wasn't affected by the smoke. It wasn't immediately clear how many homes wer...

U.S. wholesale prices increases accelerated in August, a sign that inflation remains stubbornly persistent despite a series of sharp interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve WASHINGTON -- U.S. wholesale prices increases accelerated in August, a sign that inflation remains stubbornly persistent despite a series of sharp interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. The Labor Department said Thursday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers — increased 1.6% last month from a year earlier. That is up from a small 0.8% yearly increase in July and just 0.1% in June. Sharply higher gas prices drove much of the increase. Excluding the volatile energy and food categories, core inflation rose 2.2% in August from a year earlier, down from a 2.4% yearly increase in July. Wholesale price s are still rising more slowly than consumer costs, a sign that i NFL ation may continue to cool as the weaker wholesale price gains translate into smaller price increase...

Passengers on a United Airlines jet got a steep ride to a lower altitude after pilots suspected a possible loss of cabin pressure CHICAGO -- A United Airlines jet headed to Rome turned around less than an hour into the flight and descended rapidly after what the airline termed an indication of possible loss of cabin pressure . The plane returned to Newark, New Jersey, and landed safely early Thursday morning, the airline said. United said there was no loss of pressure and passengers' oxygen masks did not drop, but the pilots could not be certain. Data from tracking service FlightAware showed that the Boeing 777 descended from 37,000 feet to less than 9,000 feet in eight minutes. Pilots are trained to respond to a loss of cabin pressure by descending to an altitude that is low enough for people on board to breathe without oxygen masks. The shortened flight had 270 passengers and 14 crew members, according to the airline. United said it found another plane, which left Newark aro...

Autoworkers have demanded wage increases that match recent hikes in CEO pay. A strike launched by thousands of autoworkers against the Big 3 U.S. automaker s early Friday morning has spotlighted an issue raised by employees across the economy: The gap between CEO and worker pay. The United Auto Workers, or UAW, has demanded a 46% raise for workers over the next four years. The proposed pay increase slightly exceeds the combined 40% increase in CEO compensation over the past four years at the Big 3 -- General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, which owns Jeep and Chrysler, the union said. Over that same period, the average pay for autoworkers at those companies rose 6%, the union said. United Auto Workers Local 900 members strike outside the Michigan Ford Assembly Plant, in Wayne, Michigan, Sept. 15, 2023. Eric Cox/Reuters "While the Big 3 executives and shareholders got rich, UAW members, the workers, got left behind," UAW President Shawn Fain said on Facebook Live last month, sig...

A nationwide reset of shelf space could solidify Bud Light sales declines, analysts said. A boycott against Bud Light has hammered sales for months, dethroning the brand as the nation's most popular beer and demonstrating the longevity of an anti-trans consumer movement that erupted in April. Even more, a reset of shelf space that takes hold every fall at major retailers could solidify the sales declines and make it much more difficult for Bud Light to return to its performance before the boycott, according to ABC News' interviews with a former Anheuser-Busch executive, a local Bud Light wholesaler and beer industry analysts. Bud Light is set to lose refrigerator space at a vast network of stores belonging to key beer sellers like Walmart and 7-Eleven, since the retailer s typically reapportion shelf space based on recent sales performance, taking space away from struggling brands and giving it to hot-selling ones, the industry sources told ABC News. "During a busy s...

Contract talks that could end Hollywood’s writers strike are set to resume next week LOS ANGELES -- Contract talks that could end Hollywood's writers strike are set to resume next week, studios said Thursday. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the industry's studios , streaming services and production companies in union negotiations , said in a statement that they had reached out to the Writers Guild of America on Wednesday and the two sides agreed to resume negotiations next week. Leaders are still working out the details, the statement said, and no further specifics were provided. “Every member company of the AMPTP is committed and eager to reach a fair deal, and to working together with the WGA to end the strike,” the statement said. There are no talks yet planned to settle the actors strike. Writers have been on strike for 4 1/2 months over issues including pay, job security and regulating the use of artificial intelligence. A previ...

MGM Resorts International said Thursday that it is still working to resolve issues from a cyberattack as another major resort operation said it was targeted too. Five days after a cyberattack crippled operations of MGM Resorts International, including its signature Las Vegas properties the Bellagio and the MGM Grand, the company said Thursday morning it is still working to resolve issues as another major resort operation, Caesars Entertainment, acknowledged it was also the target of a cyberattack. Hackers struck MGM Resorts on Sunday morning, rendering doors to the chain's casinos and hotels unusable. Slot machines and ATM machines were also inoperable, elevators were out of order and customers had to wait hours to check into rooms. Even the company's website remains down. "We continue to work diligently to resolve our cyber security issues while addressing individual guest needs promptly," MGM Resorts said a statement Thursday. "We couldn't do this without...

Delta Air Lines passengers who have long enjoyed access to free meals, alcohol and a quiet place to relax before their flight are in for some major cutbacks in coming years Delta Air Lines passengers who have long enjoyed access to free meals, alcohol and a quiet place to relax before their flight are in for some major cutbacks in coming years. The Atlanta-based airline said it plans to cap the number of entries to its Sky Clubs starting Feb. 1, 2025 for holders of the American Express Platinum Card as well as the Delta Reserve American Express Card. Those holding the Platinum Card will be allowed six visits per year, while the Delta Reserve Card holders will get 10 annual visits. Those who book a basic economy ticket will no longer be allowed in the lounge starting Jan. 1, 2024, regardless if they carry a Platinum Card or any other premium credit card. The news originally was leaked on a Portuguese-language website and was confirmed by a Delta spokesman. The news may not come as a su...

A report says Poland is losing large numbers of Ukrainian refugees from its workforce as they travel to Germany to seek higher wages and government benefits in the rich Western economy WARSAW, Poland -- Poland is losing large numbers of Ukrainian refugees from its workforce as they choose to move to Germany for the higher wages and government benefits in the rich Western economy, according to a report published Tuesday. Although the refugees are not economic migrants, they are increasingly taking on work as the war in Ukraine drags on for more than a year and a half. Where they choose to live impacts labor markets in European nations, which are desperate for workers and are facing demographic declines due to low birthrates. Poland is not their first choice anymore, said Michalina Sielewicz, director of economic development for EWL, an employment agency that carried out the research along with the Center for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw. “We should be worried,” she...

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa has been acquitted of a final tax evasion charge though she still faces two remaining legal cases she believes the former Philippine president used to muzzle her critical reporting MANILA, Philippines -- Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa was acquitted of a final tax evasion charge Tuesday though she still faces two remaining legal cases she believes the former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte used to muzzle her critical reporting. Ressa and her online news organization Rappler had faced five tax evasion charges but a court acquitted her of four of the charges in January. A different court heard the fifth charge and acquitted her Tuesday. “Facts wins, truth wins, justice wins,” she told reporters outside the courthouse. Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov were awarded the 2021 Nobel for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression by fighting for the survival of their news organizations and defying government efforts to sh...

The fashion designer who created the wedding dress of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, is stepping down as creative director at Alexander McQueen after two decades at the brand, luxury group Kering said LONDON -- The fashion designer who created the wedding dress of Kate, the Princess of Wales, is stepping down as creative director at Alexander McQueen after two decades at the brand, luxury group Kering said Monday. Designer Sarah Burton had led the fashion house since 2010 and previously worked with the brand's founder, Lee Alexander McQueen, for 14 years. Burton took over as creative director of the fashion house after McQueen took his own life at age 40. Kering, the luxury group behind brands including Gucci and Saint Laurent as well as Alexander McQueen, said McQueen's spring and summer catwalk show in Paris this month will be the last with Burton at the helm. Burton was behind the ivory lace wedding gown that the former Kate Middleton wore when she married Prince Wil...

Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month – for clothing, dining out, sporting goods and other areas – in a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy NEW YORK -- Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month – for clothing, dining out, online goods and other areas – in a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.7% in July from June, according to the Commerce Department's report Tuesday. The gain was higher than a revised 0.3% increase the previous month and marked four straight month s of increases. The figure also surpassed the 0.2% increase in consumer prices last month , indicating that shoppers are spending at a Health y pace. Analysts noted that spending on Amazon Prime Day, the online juggernaut's big two-day sales event that took place earlier last month, also helped boost online sales. Excluding autos and gas, sales rose...