Business

Roll Call reports: The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 1,200 points, or 5 percent, in the first two days of trading this week amid turmoil in energy markets. On Tuesday, the Dow Jones closed down 631.6 points, or 2.7 percent, and the S&P 500 closed down 86.6, or 3.1 percent. The losses followed record lows for oil on …

USA Today reports: McDonald’s is introducing free “Thank You Meals” for first responders and health care workers serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, the fast-food giant announced Tuesday. Starting Wednesday and through May 5, health care workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics can get a free meal at participating restaurants nationwide available at the drive thru or …

The New York Post reports: Lord & Taylor is exploring filing for bankruptcy protection after it was forced to temporarily shut all of its 38 US department stores in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. It is one of several options that the retailer and its advisers are exploring, which also include …

The Associated Press reports: Boeing and a small number of other manufacturers around the U.S. geared up Monday to resume production amid pressure from President Donald Trump to reopen the economy and resistance from governors who warn there is not enough testing yet to keep the coronavirus from rebounding. Boeing, one of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest employers, said it will …

Reuters reports: Neiman Marcus Group is preparing to seek bankruptcy protection as soon as this week, becoming the first major U.S. department store operator to succumb to the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, people familiar with the matter said. The debt-laden Dallas-based company has been left with few options after the pandemic forced it to temporarily shut all 43 …

USA Today reports: Walmart and Sam’s Club will require employees to wear masks or other face coverings starting Monday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Shoppers also will be encouraged to wear face masks as part of the retailers’ updated COVID-19 response. The retail giant announced the changes in a letter sent to employees that was posted on Walmart.com …

USA Today reports: J.C. Penney is considering filing for bankruptcy protection as the retailer grapples with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and its own long-in-the-making struggles. The Plano, Texas-based company is exploring the possibility along with a range of other options, including out-of-court debt restructuring, according to a person familiar with the deliberations who was not authorized to speak …

Some relatively normal but still virus-related news: Apple announced a new, cheaper iPhone model on Wednesday, marking the first time it has launched a new phone without one of its glitzy in-person events as most of the country remains under shelter in place orders due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new, second-generation iPhone SE carries the same name as the …

USA Today reports: Ticketmaster has updated the wording of its refund policy for postponed events, and customers are not happy. With large gatherings across the nation either canceled or postponed due to the spread of coronavirus, many ticket-holders are seeking refunds for concerts, sports and other events. According to an image captured by the The New York Times, a page …

Gizmodo reports: As Amazon buckles under the increased demand presented by social distancing guidelines and shelter-at-home orders, the company now says that new customers to its Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market grocery delivery services are being waitlisted. An Amazon spokesperson told Gizmodo by email that the waitlist is a result of both “restricted capacity due to social distancing as …

Reuters reports: Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, said on Sunday it will shut a U.S. plant indefinitely due to a rash of coronavirus cases among employees and warned the country was moving “perilously close to the edge” in supplies for grocers. Slaughterhouse shutdowns are disrupting the U.S. food supply chain, crimping availability of meat at retail stores and …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: About 43,000 unionized Disney World workers will be furloughed starting April 19, the largest wave of employees in Central Florida to be sent home without pay because of the coronavirus crisis. The Service Trades Council Union, a coalition of six locals, announced the news Saturday on Facebook Live. The coalition said Disney had agreed to provide …

The New York Post reports: AMC Entertainment is inching closer to a possible bankruptcy. The nation’s largest movie theater chain, whose cinema houses have been shuttered nationwide since mid-March because of the coronavirus, is in talks to hire law firm Weil Gotshal & Manges to explore a potential Chapter 11 filing, The Post has learned. Weil Gotshal’s team is headed …

Food Safety News reports: Conagra Brands has recalled certain Healthy Choice chicken products because of complaints from consumers about rocks in the products. The company reports distributing the products nationwide, as well as exporting them to Canada, according to a recall notice posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). “FSIS is concerned that some product may be …

Business Insider reports: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the US economy could reopen in May if President Donald Trump decides the public health crisis is under control. When CNBC’s Jim Cramer asked Mnuchin if “we could be open for business in the month of May,” the secretary responded, “I do.” “As soon as the president feels comfortable with …

Reuters reports: A New York investment firm pitched wealthy investors in recent days on a way to make returns of 22% to 175% using U.S. government programs designed to help Americans keep their jobs and boost the coronavirus-stricken economy, according to a marketing document seen by Reuters. Following questions posed by Reuters, Arcadia Investment Partners LLC, which has about $1 …

Via press release from Walgreens: Furthering its commitment to provide greater access to COVID-19 testing and community resources, Walgreens is working to expand drive-thru testing to 15 new sites in seven states, the company announced today. The states included are Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. The expansion is a next step building on Walgreens’ collaboration with the …

The Virginian Pilot reports: The liquor laws in Virginia just keep loosening their belts. As of Monday, any of 45 Virginia distilleries can now FedEx or UPS their liquor directly to customers — at least for the duration of the coronavirus state of emergency. The news came came via an announcement on the ABC’s website and Twitter account Monday morning. …

NewJersey.com reports: United Airlines has made a temporary, but significant, change to the number of flights out of Newark and LaGuardia airports as a way to limit the number of employees needed at the two locations during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Starting Sunday, United will go from having 139 daily flights out of Newark to 15 and will cut the …

Reuters reports: Walmart said on Friday it would limit the number of customers in a store at a time, starting April 4, to encourage social distancing among its customers. It said it will now allow no more than five customers per 1,000 square feet at a given time and that they would be admitted one by one and counted by …