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Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who made history as the nation’s first female speaker of the House and twice served in that top job, said Thursday in a video message she will not seek re-election in 2026. The powerful California Democrat led her party in the House for two decades — from 2002 to 2022 — serving as a crucial ally for Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and orchestrating the opposition to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etk3-MB8

Starbucks’ union members have voted to strike at the company’s U.S. stores next week unless it finalizes a contract agreement, the union said Wednesday. The strike would begin on Nov. 13, which is the day Starbucks plans to distribute free, reusable red cups. Red Cup Day, a Starbucks tradition since 2018, is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year. Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing baristas, didn’t say how many stores would be impacted. But it said workers in at least 25 cities planned to strike and more locations could be added if the union doesn’t see 'substantial progress' toward finalizing a contract. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ekwqTJ6i

Bill Gates compared the current tech hype around AI to the dot-com crash of the 2000s this week. While calling AI "the biggest technical thing ever in my lifetime," the Microsoft co-founder said he expects a major shakeout where overvalued companies get wiped out. "There are a ton of these investments that will be dead ends," Gates said. (Source: Business Insider) 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eDCzdVvp

Amazon said it would cut 14,000 corporate staffers this year in a mass layoff aimed at readying the company for wide adoption of AI technology. The company noted that it would be hiring in key areas and would prioritize those who lost their jobs for those roles. But the company also said it wasn’t done with layoffs. Reports indicate that job cuts could ultimately reach 30,000. In a memo to employees, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience Beth Galetti said: "What we need to remember is that the world is changing quickly. This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the Internet, and it’s enabling companies to innovate much faster than ever before. We’re convinced that we need to be organized more leanly, with fewer layers and more ownership, to move as quickly as possible for our customers and business.” (Source: CNN) Read more: https://lnkd.in/e_Bnss_9

Good news, Toys "R" Us kids! The toy retailer announced it's opening more than 30 new locations across the U.S. for the winter holiday season — that includes eight permanent stores and over 20 temporary seasonal shops. Check our link below to find out if a store is opening near you ⤵️ (Source: USA TODAY) 🔗: https://lnkd.in/e_kWGxrm

The power of the Swifties is unmatched. After Taylor Swift was seen wearing a vintage t-shirt about sea otters from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, her fans immediately opened their wallets and donated $13 (her favorite number) to the non-profit institution. As a thank you for their generosity, the aquarium re-released the t-shirt and raised over $1.4 million for their Sea Otter Program in just 8 hours. Otterly amazing! 🦦 (Source: Parade) 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eWjCxKsE

"I want it to feel like the old neighborhood." A lottery winner is using his massive jackpot to give back to his community. Edwin Castro, who won a record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball prize, is buying up fire-damaged land in Altadena, California, to rebuild homes for the community devastated by the Eaton Fire. Unlike other investors profiting from the tragedy, Castro is focused on helping the community rebuild. While he won't be giving the homes away for free, Castro, whose father worked in construction, plans to sell them at reasonable prices and restore the area's original architecture. (Source: People)

LendingTree CEO and founder Doug Lebda died in an an all-terrain vehicle accident over the weekend, the online loaning platform said Monday. He was 55. In a company announcement, LendingTree confirmed that Lebda died Sunday at a family farm in North Carolina. “Doug was a visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation and passion transformed the financial services landscape," LendingTree’s board of directors said in a prepared statement. “His passion will continue to inspire us as we move forward together.” (Source: Associated Press) 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eJB4vCbZ

A dental insurance CEO walked into a boardroom full of men and said, "We need to talk about menopause." Delta Dental CEO Sarah Chavarria is leading a crucial conversation around menopause in the workplace. With 1 in 10 women leaving the workforce due to menopause symptoms, and many others considering early retirement, this is a huge issue. She's sharing her own story to empower other women to speak up and get the help they need. (Source: USA TODAY) 🔗: https://lnkd.in/dsXNDce6

After more than 80 years, researchers from Purdue University think they’ve found the wreck of Amelia Earhart's lost plane. Earhart was attempting to become the first female pilot to circle the world when she and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937. A “visual anomaly” has been spotted on a remote island in the South Pacific, and a team is headed there in November to investigate. Earhart worked at Purdue University for two years in the 1930s, and the Purdue Research Foundation originally paid for the airplane that Earhart flew, the school said. She planned to return the craft to the university after her trip around the world. (Source: CBS News) 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eTyJ2QHH