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A free messaging app used by more than 3 billion people launched a $2.99 monthly subscription this past spring, and paying users still see ads inside the app’s status fe…

WhatsApp Plus launched globally at $2.99/month but the paid tier doesn't remove ads from the Status feed — here's exactly ...
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Black Hills Energy asks Colorado regulators for $26.7 million electric rate increase tied to $184 million grid spend

Black Hills Energy filed a $26.7 million electric rate case with Colorado's PUC on June 12, citing $184 million in grid investments since its last review.
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Screen time rules are set by 86 percent of parents, and independent home testing found motivated teens bypassed most of 18 parental control apps within 48 hours

Built-in smartphone screen limits are used by 86% of parents, but independent testing found motivated teens bypass most controls within 48 hours using documented loopholes.
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A Washington utility’s three-year rate plan carries more than $529 million in federal tax credits, and residential electric bills still climb $28 a month when the first year ...

A Washington utility filed a three-year rate plan with $529M in federal tax credits baked in, yet a typical 800 kWh household faces a $28/month bill jump in the first year.
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TikTok and Disney strike deal giving creators licensed access to Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar content

Disney and TikTok announce a first-of-its-kind global deal letting creators legally use licensed clips and characters from Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar in short-form videos.
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Only 45% of Americans plan a paid summer vacation in 2026, the lowest share in six years, Deloitte finds

Deloitte's 2026 Summer Travel Survey of 4,003 Americans finds vacation intent at a six-year low, with rising costs keeping millions home while committed travelers spend more.
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Hybrids claimed a record 15.4 percent of all US new-vehicle sales in the first half of this year, and three automakers control nearly nine in ten of every gas-electric model sold

Hybrids hit a record 15.4% share of the US new-car market in H1 2026, with 1.21 million units sold and three automakers controlling nearly 86% of all gas-electric sales.
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New cars sold with big touchscreens and lane-keeping alerts carry a key memory chip that has risen up to 70 percent in price this year, and shoppers face a growing risk t…

A DRAM memory chip shortage is quietly stripping infotainment and driver-assist features from new cars in 2026, and prices ...
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Ford recalls 223,472 F-150 trucks over fuel tanks that can detach while driving

Ford is recalling 223,472 F-150 trucks from model years 2023–2027 after improperly secured fuel tank straps were found ...
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Active managed charging programs shift 95 percent of EV load off peak hours, and vendor-commissioned Brattle Group modeling projects downward rate pressure for …

Active managed EV charging shifts 95% of load off peak, saves drivers up to $400 a year and cuts grid upgrade costs by up to ...
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Amazon’s next Echo will run VegaOS as company readies fall hardware blitz

Amazon is preparing at least 16 new devices, including an Echo smart speaker running its Linux-based VegaOS, a new Fire ...
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With 375 watt-hours per kilogram verified in a US muscle car already on public roads, solid-state cells beat today’s typical lithium-ion packs by roughly 40 percent

A Dodge Charger Daytona is now road-testing solid-state cells at 375 Wh/kg and an 18-minute charge — the first such ...