Business

The Commercial Appeal reports: “We know the design of the Mississippi state flag is being discussed by various stakeholders,” Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield said in an emailed statement. “While the issue continues to be discussed, we’ve made the decision to remove the Mississippi state flag from display in its current form from our stores.” Hatfield said stores displaying state flags …

CBS News reports: Walt Disney World employees are urging park executives and state and local officials to reconsider delaying the reopening of the parks due to concern over the recent surge of coronavirus cases in Florida in a petition posted to moveon.org. “This virus is not gone, unfortunately, it’s only become worse in this state,” cast members wrote. “While theme …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: AMC Theatres said Friday it is reversing course and will require that customers wear face masks when reopening its theaters next month. On Thursday, the largest movie chain in the U.S. unveiled its initial reopening plan, which includes a slew of enhanced sanitary and social distancing measures developed in conjunction with numerous experts. AMC said it …

CNBC reports: A total of 11 Apple stores will close in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arizona starting on Saturday. Customers who have products in those stores for repair will have the weekend to get their devices back, Apple said. All of the stores had been re-opened since Apple initially closed them in March. “Due to current Covid-19 conditions …

The New York Post reports: New York City will come even more back to life on Monday as it crosses into Phase Two of reopening from its coronavirus-triggered shutdown. Under Phase Two of the state’s four-phase reopening plan, restaurants and bars can open for outdoor dining — and office spaces, real estate services, in-store retail, barbershops and hair salons, car …

NBC News reports: The Aunt Jemima brand of syrup and pancake mix will get a new name and image, Quaker Oats announced Wednesday, saying the company recognizes that “Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype.” The 130-year-old brand features a Black woman named Aunt Jemima, who was originally dressed as a minstrel character. The picture has changed over …

USA Today reports: United Airlines is doubling down on its mandatory mask policy. The airline announced Monday that any passenger who refuses to comply with its mask requirement will be placed on an “internal travel restriction list,” starting Thursday. “Customers on this list will lose their travel privileges on United for a duration of time to be determined pending a …

USA Today reports: Weeks after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 22, car rental company Hertz is selling vehicles in its fleet at discount prices. As of Saturday morning, Hertz had thousands of used cars available on its website HertzCarSales.com. The volume of cars for sale in an area depends on the location used in the search and …

CNBC reports: Manhattan had its worst May in a decade for new rental leases, as residents leave the city and the real estate industry remains on lockdown, according to a new report. New leases fell 62% last month, according to a report from Miller Samuel and Douglas Elliman. May also saw the largest year-over-year increase in new listings in nearly …

CNBC reports: The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 1,800 points on Thursday and was on pace for its worst day since the March sell-off as coronavirus cases increased in some states that are reopening up from lockdowns. Shares that have surged recently on hopes for a smooth reopening of the economy led the declines. The 30-stock Dow traded …

The New York Post reports: The Neiman Marcus store at Hudson Yards is being eyed for office space. Opened barely a year ago at the swanky mega mall it anchored on Manhattan’s West Side, the bankrupt luxury retailer is considering closing the store for good while its landlord shops the three-story, 188,000-square-foot space to office tenants. Related Companies and Oxford …

CNN reports: As many as 25,000 retail stores in the United States are expected to permanently close this year as consumer demand for discretionary items stalls and more people shift to online shopping, according to a firm that tracks the industry. So far in 2020, more than 4,000 stores have said they will permanently close, according to a report released …

CNN Business reports: AMC Theatres, the world’s biggest movie theater chain, said on Wednesday that it has “substantial doubt” it can remain in business after closing locations across the globe during the coronavirus pandemic. The theater chain, which closed its theaters earlier this year, expects to have lost between $2.1 billion and $2.4 billion in the first quarter. The company …

The New York Post reports: Saks Fifth Avenue surrounded its flagship Manhattan store with razor wire on Tuesday to keep thieves from smashing their way in and making off with troves of expensive merchandise, The Post has learned. The luxury retailer has also hired private security guards with specially trained dogs to protect the premises in the wake of Monday …

The New York Post reports: Apple CEO Tim Cook condemned the “senseless” police killing of George Floyd in a note to employees announcing that the tech giant would donate money in response to the incident. “I have heard from so many of you that you feel afraid — afraid in your communities, afraid in your daily lives, and, most cruelly …

Philadelphia’s ABC News reports: Officials in Philadelphia closed off much of Center City after peaceful protests over George Floyd’s death turned into a weekend filled with destruction, with store windows smashed, merchandise taken from stores and police vehicles and structures set afire. And while looters continued to break into stores across the Philadelphia area on Sunday, it was a much …

Axios reports: The CEOs of 179 health care companies took home almost $2.5 billion in 2019, a majority of which came from cashing out stock, according to an Axios analysis of financial filings. The big picture: That amount is four times what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to study and prepare for all “emerging and zoonotic infectious …

The New York Times reports: The New York City Council introduced legislation Thursday afternoon, backed by the restaurant industry, requiring the mayor to find a way to open streets, sidewalks and public plazas to outdoor dining. Corey Johnson [photo], the Council speaker, and Councilman Antonio Reynoso of Brooklyn are spearheading the effort. “The restaurant and the food industry has been …

NBC News reports: Apple plans to open approximately 100 stores in the United States this week, a company representative told CNBC. In total, about 130 out of 271 Apple Stores in the United States will be open by the end of the week. Apple operates 510 stores around the world. Apple’s retail openings are being closely watched as both a …

The New York Post reports: “Note that any public location where people are present provides an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and we cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed during your visit,” reads a disclaimer on the park’s website. The blunt notice came alongside Universal’s announcement that its Florida theme parks would welcome visitors again on June …