Eight years ago, lawmakers in South Carolina embarked on a bold plan to reform the state’s criminal justice system. A 2010 criminal justice reform package, aimed at cutting the number of people sent to South Carolina prisons for low-level offenses, led to a 14% drop in inmates by 2016. That allowed the state to close

The Straight Path deal was one of the factors that pushed the companies to jump-start 2017 negotiations. Those negotiations ended up failing, but several things have happened in the past few months to bring SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son back to the table. First, the two companies’ stock prices settled, making the valuation of both companies more

Optimists have held onto the hope that even if the Fed moves more aggressively, it will be doing so for the right reasons. That would mean strong economic growth accompanied by just a dose of inflation that would push wages higher and increase quality of life without an outsized rise in prices. The other side

The key takeaway for college students is to think about “what are the skills that might help you thrive with the degree that you love,” said Katie O’Connor, director of content at Credit Karma. That includes potentially pursuing double majors, internships or other strategies that will help boost your prospects at graduation. “Don’t not major

Summer travelers may find that visiting a national park is a hair pricier this year as some rate hikes go into effect June 1. But nature-loving vacationers shouldn’t worry too much. The planned increases aren’t widespread and aren’t they likely to be a budget-buster. Starting June 1, visitors will pay either $3, $5 or $10

Energy stocks haven’t been this hot since 2015. These gains are just the beginning, says one technician. “Lows have been made. You’re starting to make some higher highs and some higher lows in here,” said Craig Johnson, chief market technician at Piper Jaffray, told CNBC’s “Trading Nation” on Friday. “You’re above your 50-, 200-day moving

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will detail a “significant development” regarding the Iran nuclear deal on Monday. The announcement sent oil prices higher ahead of Netanyahu’s statement, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Monday. The oil market has been on edge ahead of a May 12 deadline, when U.S. President Donald Trump must

In 2007 Mulally borrowed $23.6 billion by mortgaging all of Ford’s assets, including the famous Ford Blue Oval, and acted decisively to focus on the Ford brand by spinning off Jaguar and Land Rover. He used the loan and proceeds from asset sales to finance a major overhaul of the company’s automobiles and factories and

Botox maker Allergan reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday and raised its full-year forecast for adjusted net income, driven by higher sales of its medical aesthetics products including the blockbuster wrinkle treatment. The company’s shares rose about 2.4 percent to $166.70 in premarket trading. Sales of Botox, its biggest drug by revenue that is

To that point, Madoff’s firm, which collapsed in 2008, duped pension funds, foundations, a philanthropy established by the Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and wealthy individuals, such as actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. No one really knows just how much money is stolen from Americans each year. More than $100 billion is a safe starting

The long, weak recovery from the financial crisis of 2008–2009 has finally kicked into a higher gear this year. Stronger economic growth, rising inflation expectations and a policy shift at the Federal Reserve Board, however, will challenge one of the most successful investing strategies of the last decade: credit risk. In a very low-yield environment,

It’s very important for women, regardless of their marital status — single, divorced, widowed or married — to take a much more active role in their financial lives. By taking a more active role, women will gain more clarity, confidence and control of their lives. To do so, women need to learn as much as

McDonald’s on Monday reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, as menu price increases fueled higher check averages in the U.S. Although McDonald’s has been luring customers with a number of value deals, the larger tickets prove diners aren’t just looking for cheap eats. Global same-store sales were also strong, rising 5.5 percent and topping estimates of 3.7

Ill-equipped investors may be set for a rude awakening if the rising-rate environment continues, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee is warning. “Rising interest rates, after a period of extraordinary monetary policy and intervention, and a three-decade trend of falling interest rates, is a regime shift markets are not well prepared to acclimate,” Lee wrote in a note

WASHINGTON — T-Mobile’s proposed merger with Sprint would create a new national wireless giant capable of taking on Verizon and AT&T. The combined company, which would be called T-Mobile, would cover about 100 million customers. But how, exactly, will all those customers fare if regulators sign off on the deal? And what about the millions

It is a rare comment from an investor who typically looks through stock gyrations based on faith in fundamentals, but in this trading environment even active managers are being hit by large stock moves. Others believe the bulls are in denial. “For many, nothing has changed, but for me everything has changed,” said Francesco Filia,

The strong consumer-led domestic demand will also widen India’s trade gap — one of the key issues discussed with China during the Wuhan summit. On current evidence, that’s happening already. In the course of the first quarter of this year, India’s merchandise trade deficit shot up 8 percent. During all of last year, the deficit

PNC Financial’s Jeffrey Mills has a message for investors: Resist the urge to play it safe. The firm’s top investment strategist is concerned jitters are driving investors into less profitable or worse — losing — areas of the market. “Folks may have an inclination to do drastic things in portfolios to insulate themselves from higher

Sprint and T-Mobile have sealed a blockbuster merger agreement, producing a telecom behemoth that values the combined company at $146 billion, the two carriers announced on Sunday. The proposed all-stock deal values Sprint at about $59 billion and the combined company at $146 billion, including debt. Without debt, the combined company is valued at $26.5

If you’re ready to commit to a boat, watch your expenses. Both the Thomases and Giffords used older boats for their trips: Saturnalia was built in 1973 and Totem in 1982. “You’ll have your boat goal and your provisions goal,” said Ryan Dignum, a financial planner with Dignum Financial Partners in Fort Worth. “You always

China’s securities regulator has released new guidelines for foreign investment in Chinese security joint ventures in which it eased some restrictions and launched an application process for more foreign ownership. The consultation period for the new rules that began in March is now over and the final regulations have been officially released for immediate implementation,

For Markle, disclosures of the income she receives could reveal information about the royal family to the U.S. government. For example, Prince Harry reportedly receives both investment income through assets left to him by his mother and an allowance from his father. If those assets are in a foreign trust, Markle would have to fill

Think about your health costs as part of your overall retirement plan when you’re assessing savings strategies. “It’s a cash flow issue, not a lump sum expense,” McClanahan said. “I tell people, save for the future and do what you can to control your medical expenses, just like you try to control your other expenses.”

Drew Angerer | Getty Images Adult film actress Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) and Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels, speak to the media after a hearing related to Michael Cohen. A judge on Friday delayed a lawsuit by porn actress Stormy Daniels against President Donald Trump and his personal attorney. Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, asked

T-Mobile is closing in on a deal to merge with Sprint that will value Sprint near its current market price of $6.50 per share, according to people familiar with the matter. The $26 billion deal could be announced as soon as Sunday, said the people, who asked not to be named because the negotiations are

The Chinese company stopped trading April 17 after the U.S. banned American companies from selling components to ZTE for seven years. The decision was made in response to the company’s violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran and North Korea. ZTE pleaded guilty last year. The company then delayed its first-quarter earnings report and board meeting,

Shares of Sprint whipsawed in after-hours trading after CNBC reported that T-Mobile is closing in on a deal with the telecom company for $26 billion. The deal would value Sprint shares near its market price of $6.50, sources told CNBC. The terms of the deal would allow Deutsche Telekom, which currently owns nearly two-thirds of

Ann Johansson | Corbis | Getty Images Jeffrey Ubben, CEO of ValueAct Capital Partners Ubben sees a big growth market for Strayer in its enterprise business. “The idea is …. to use technology to keep tuition [low enough] to the point it could be a corporate benefit and pretty soon we’re educating the masses in

DENVER — Twenty years after California first legalized marijuana use for sick people, “medical marijuana” has become a billion-dollar business so cloaked in emotion that it would be virtually impossible to dismantle. Without any real national discussion, most Americans now live where it’s possible to get pot for pain, nausea or other ailments. Thirty states already

A former senior executive at Bank of America, who was fired amid allegations of sexual misconduct, filed a defamation claim against the company and is seeking damages of more than $100 million. Omeed Malik — who was a managing director in Bank of America‘s prime brokerage business until January — filed an arbitration claim this