Author: openjargon

• Olive Garden hasn't been raising prices as much as its rivals — and execs say this is helping it buck industry traffic trends.
• Its guest counts topped industry benchmarks, even though same-restaurant sales slumped.
• Darden Restaurants' CEO said that low prices were "more sustainable" than deep discounting.

Olive Garden's parent company says the Italian chain is bucking industry traffic trends and luring in diners by not raising prices as much as its competitors.

Olive Garden's same-restaurant guest counts in the fourth quarter were about 0.6% higher than the industry benchmark, Darden Restaurants CFO Raj Vennam told investors at the company's earnings call on Thursday, using Black Box data.

Despite this, Olive Garden's same-restaurant sales in the quarter fell by 1.5% year-over-year, Vennam said. He attributed the fall to its "decision to minimize pricing."

Olive Garden's average prices went up by about 1% in the quarter, he said.

"Maybe that's why we didn't outperform on the sales side, but we did continue to outperform on the traffic side," CEO Rick Cardenas said.

"If we would have taken the pricing that the industry took in the fourth quarter, Olive Garden would have been positive and would have performed even more," he said.

In the year to late May, Olive Garden raised prices by about 3.5%, Vennam said — putting it in line with average increases at full-service restaurants across the US. Olive Garden is planning to increase prices by between 2.5% and 3% over the next year, Vennam said.

Other brands Darden owns include LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, and Ruth's Chris Steak House.

Restaurant prices rose rapidly during the pandemic amid increases in both food and labor costs. Grocery prices rose too, but the rate of increase has since stabilized, whereas restaurant inflation is still higher than it was pre-pandemic.

Diners have noticed this, with many complaining that fast food in particular isn't as good value as it used to be. Some are cooking more at home instead, while others are switching to casual-dining chains like Chili's, Applebee's, and Olive Garden, where they can have a sit-down meal with their family for only a few dollars more each.

In recent months, some casual-dining chains have focused their marketing on discount combos to lure diners away from fast-food giants. Chili's, for example, has a "3 For Me" deal offering an appetizer, entrée, and drink for $10.99.

Cardenas said Olive Garden had shunned the deep discounting its rivals were focusing on, which he noted had led to the chain's competitors attracting some customers from fast-food businesses.

But Olive Garden's approach of focusing on low prices generally rather than offering hefty discounts was more sustainable in the long run, he said.

• China's escalations in the South China Sea aim to "exhaust" other countries, an expert told BI.
• On Monday, Chinese coast guards harassed Filipino boats, part of a string of recent provocations.
• It's Beijing's way of pushing but coming just "short of actual conflict," Sari Arho Havrén said.

China's latest maritime provocation — which saw weapons including an ax being wielded at Filipino sailors earlier this week — is part of attempts to "exhaust" neighboring countries into accepting its claims over contested waters, an expert told Business Insider.

The incident on Monday is the latest "gray-zone" skirmish in the South China Sea, where China has increasingly used nonlethal but highly provocative measures to harass other countries there.

China has claimed sovereignty over the South China Sea for decades, a claim that was roundly rejected in the Hague in 2016.

On Saturday, it enacted a law allowing its Coast Guard to seize foreign ships suspected of trespassing, CNN reported.

"China wants to change the status quo by force — exhaust the countries to give in to their claims," Sari Arho Havrén, an associate fellow specializing in China's foreign relations at the Royal United Services Institute, told BI.

She said that the latest move by China also fuels the Philippines' fear of provoking a war if it responds.

On Wednesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines released images and video from Monday's alarming maritime clash, in which the China Coast Guard was accused of having "illegally boarded" and "looted" Filipino boats.

One Chinese coast guard can be seen waving an ax in the footage, while others threatened Filipino sailors with "bladed and pointed weapons" as sirens blared, the AFP claimed.

Further images show smashed equipment and slashes to the rubber boats.

Both the Philippines and its allies — including the US — have condemned the incident, which took place in the Ayungin Shoal, a contested atoll in the South China Sea some 120 miles from the Filipino Palawan Island.

China described its actions as "professional, restrained, justified and lawful."

It comes after several other aggressive acts from Beijing in the South China Sea in recent months, involving lasers, water cannons, maritime militias, and even the alleged poisoning of fishing waters.

They have provoked international condemnation, but have been considered below the threshold of an act of war.

Until Monday, China had never forcibly boarded another country's ship, Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told CNN.

The fact it happened this time is significant, he said, because although they were just small rubber boats, they're still part of the Philippines' navy — and therefore seen as sovereign space.

"That is very dangerous, because, if anything, that could even be construed as an act of war," he said.

Havrén told BI that it was a very serious escalation, but hesitated to call it an act of war.

This style of aggression limits the action to just "short of actual conflict," she said — allowing China to probe the limits of provocation without crossing the line.

She said that China has become "increasingly assertive and confrontational" in the waters around Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013.

This is partly prompted by Chinese irritation at increased US involvement in the region, she said.

Several cooperation agreements have been signed between the Biden administration and the Indo-Pacific, building on other long-standing agreements.

Beijing is "obsessed by the rivalry with the US," concerned that the White House is bent on limiting China's rise to power, Havrén said.

"There is a clear appetite for expansion and to push the US away from the region," she said.

This is a challenge for the US, which is already wrapped up in conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and is trying to calm down China's escalations around Taiwan.

"The more the US focus is stretched, the easier it is for China," Havrén said.

Xi has accused the US of trying to trick China into invading Taiwan, the Financial Times reported earlier this month.

Xi's reported comments essentially set the stage for a convenient blame game if a conflict is eventually triggered.

"I think this kind of applies to the situation with the Philippines as well," Havrén said.

"China does feel the pressure" from having US-backed hostile nations surrounding it, she said.

Havrén added that this will only accelerate the division between the US and China — and that countries may have to think about whose side they're on.

"The countries in the Pacific have been fairly reluctant to take sides," she told BI, "but this kind of aggression from China's side definitely puts more pressure on them to think about how to balance China's behavior."

• Jeff Bezos is trying to end a financial catastrophe at The Washington Post, employing new leaders.
• But on Friday a crucial player, Robert Winnett, decided not to join and helm the newsroom after all.
• It followed a messy exhumation of his UK past, and that of his boss. Now Bezos needs a new plan.

Jeff Bezos has grand plans to remake The Washington Post. They seem to be blowing up in his face.

The incoming editor for the newsroom — Robert Winnett, the golden boy of the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper — pulled out of the job Friday morning.

He ditched the role after a slew of revelations about his own past as a writer in London and that of Will Lewis, the Washington Post publisher and old friend who tapped him for the top job.

The news was confirmed by Telegraph editor Chris Evans in a message to staff, seen by Business Insider. It said Winnett would stay there.

A recent furor over Winnett's hire revealed a profound culture clash between the high morals of the Post and the seemingly less scrupulous British outlets — the Telegraph, London's Sunday Times — where Lewis and Winnett cut their teeth.

And though Lewis remains in his post, US media elites are openly wondering whether he, too, will go. Even if he doesn't, Winnett's exit has blasted a hole in his plan and his credibility.

This also leaves Bezos with a problem. He hoped Lewis and Winnett could revamp the newsroom and give The Post new life.

The outlet, which Bezos bought in 2013, has been hemorrhaging money and readers.

Lewis recently told Post staff that it had lost half its readers since 2020 and last year lost more than a million dollars a week.

His promise was to connect with new readers, restructure the newsroom, and bring on Winnett to lead its central news-and-politics operation.

He touted Winnett as a leading light who could live up to the paper that broke Watergate.

In Britain, Winnett is indeed broadly admired, primarily for breaking what's widely known as the expenses scandal.

He revealed the widespread abuse of parliamentary expense accounts, upending the political establishment and forcing many lawmakers to quit.

That history landed very differently in the US, though — because Winnett paid for the information, brokering a transfer of more than $100,000 to his source.

What Brits saw as a fair means to an end, many Americans saw as an aberration.

At the same time, a reexamination of Lewis' past emerged, prompting reports that he may have handled stolen material — albeit within Britain's media laws — and even overseen the destruction of evidence in the phone-hacking scandal that rocked Fleet Street in the early 2010s.

It's fair to say Lewis lost the newsroom, with the Post union complaining loudly, and (at least) one staffer describing to BI a growing unease at their incoming leadership.

Bezos threw his weight behind Lewis this week.

"We do need to change as a business," he wrote in an emphatic email, saying Lewis was still the man to get them there.

He would do it without diluting the Postt's high standards, Bezos assured the newsroom.

But without Winnett, on whose shoulders that plan rested, Bezos needs a new solution, and fast.

• Fashion designer Christian Siriano dresses some of the biggest names in entertainment and politics.
• He's designed outfits for Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and Kamala Harris.
• Siriano told BI that being chosen to dress powerful women in politics is "the ultimate compliment."

Fashion designer Christian Siriano has dressed celebrities for red-carpet events including the Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes, but his creations have also graced the stages of the Democratic National Convention and the State of the Union.

While promoting his partnership with Persil laundry detergent, Siriano spoke with Business Insider about designing outfits for first ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden as well as Vice President Kamala Harris.

"When you get to dress those people, it definitely feels really great because the whole world sees them," Siriano told BI.

In 2016, Obama delivered her famous "When they go low, we go high" speech at the Democratic National Convention wearing a blue Christian Siriano dress with cap sleeves and a flowing skirt.

"When I dressed Michelle Obama for the DNC and she walked out in that blue dress, it felt really powerful because it felt right for the moment," he said. "It was elegant and sophisticated, but still young and cool."

Siriano also designed another first lady's Democratic National Convention look: a lilac ruched wrap dress for Biden in 2020.

"Michelle was more daring, Jill's more, I think, chic and sophisticated and sometimes looks Old Hollywood, and I love that," he said.

Siriano also crafted a custom maroon suit for Harris to wear at the 2023 State of the Union address.

"I got to make a suit for the vice president and it was amazing," he said. "We really tailored it and I felt like she looked really powerful and confident."

Siriano said that designing for high-profile women in politics has been a career highlight not just because of their visibility, but also because of their stature.

"You feel so great because a person who everyone's looking up to chose to wear something," he said. "It's kind of like the ultimate compliment."

• I traveled to my first Art Basel, an international art fair hosted each summer in Basel, Switzerland.
• I learned it's a destination where experts and novices can thrive, discover, and learn.
• This article is part of BI's 2024 Art Basel series, taking you inside the art fair's global scene.

I spent my first afternoon at Art Basel getting lost.

I wandered through a maze of 122 gallerists showcasing artwork from around the world. I eyed impressive ceramics created by Paloma Varga Weisz, captivating photos shot by Gordon Parks, and striking paintings by Pat Steir. I turned corners that I thought were familiar and discovered new art instead.

Above me were another 100-plus galleries presenting works. In the building next door, an exhibit the size of three football fields had enough installations for an entire afternoon of viewing. There were film showings throughout the day, a packed schedule of Q&As, and public artworks scattered across the town of Basel, Switzerland.

Collectively, this made up Art Basel, the world's premiere art show, where more than 250 gallerists feature 4,000 artists.

Beyond the show's official programming, the Swiss town comes alive each summer for the event. Other art fairs vie for visitors' time. Photo Basel and the Liste Art Fair Basel are hosted on the same weekend. Plus, the town is home to dozens of art museums worth visiting.

To put it simply, Art Basel is overwhelming.

It's a hectic week of art, but even as someone outside the art profession, I understood its appeal. Art Basel is my favorite kind of overwhelming — one with endless opportunities to explore.

Before arriving in Basel, the art fair felt vaguely familiar

I can't pinpoint the first time I heard about Art Basel.

It could've been five years ago when a duct-taped banana was listed for $120,000, or it might have been years earlier. Growing up in Florida, I'm sure I heard murmurs about Art Basel Miami, one of the four locations where Art Basel fairs are held each year.

For a long time, I didn't think the event was for me. I'm not a museum curator or a gallerist, and I don't have millions to spend on artwork. (Art Basel reported that its largest sale this year was made by the gallery David Zwirner. It sold Joan Mitchell's "Sunflowers" for $20 million.)

Plus, Art Basel is a place to be seen. Celebrities like Serena Williams have been spotted, visitors spend afternoons crossing paths with millionaires, and influencers have been lured to the fairs in recent years.

I wasn't sure where or if I fit into that lineup, but I arrived in Basel on June 13 to find out.

As a first-time visitor, understanding how Art Basel works was confusing. After arriving, getting lost, and navigating a disorganized app, I finally began understanding how the massive event works.

Art Basel is a show with multiple sectors in multiple locations. Some sectors are self-described, like the film or magazine sector. Then, there's the main sector, which fills two floors of a large hall. Here, 250 galleries from around the world showcase art.

Next door to the main sector, visitors can explore Unlimited, a hall dedicated to large-scale installations. And then there's the Parcours sector, involving art installations scattered around the town.

Essentially, art is everywhere. Unless there's someone or something specific you want to see, wandering was the best approach to take it all in.

You don't have to be an artist or art buyer to enjoy the event

I assumed I wouldn't know a single artist featured, but I was proven wrong after just a few moments in the Unlimited sector.

At the front of the hall was a 150-foot-long Keith Haring work titled "Untitled (FDR NY) #5-22." I didn't need a plaque to know the artist; Haring's figures are easily recognizable.

Another recognizable piece sat catty-corner to Haring's project. I knew an organic shape dotted with black spots must have been created by Yayoi Kusama. I explored her exhibit, Kusama, three years ago at the New York Botanical Garden.

Throughout the week, I spotted more familiar artists and was introduced to many new ones. Francisco Sierra's full-size conceptual aquarium and Alfredo Jaar's powerful neon messages captivated me.

Plus, it was clear I wasn't the only visitor wandering the fair as a spectator. During the weekend, the Unlimited hall was filled with crowds watching artist performances on water rights by Seba Calfuqueo and peering into the hundreds of mirrors that made up "Zepelín de Acero" by Julio Le Parc.

Meanwhile, gallerists were eager to dive into the artwork they displayed, and artists proudly described their inspiration for pieces.

You can't explore Art Basel without exploring the town

When you travel across the world for an art show, it's hard not to squeeze in some sightseeing.

So, in the windows when I wasn't viewing art, I was roaming through the Swiss town. The town is located on the banks of the Rhine River, so I spent a lunch break on the river's edge, eyeing the historical buildings lining the waterfront.

If it had been warmer, you would've seen me floating down the Rhine with a Wickelfisch, a colorful waterproof bag locals tote during the summer months.

For those itching for even more art, theaters and popular museums like the Museum Tinguely and Fondation Beyeler present even more work.

But my favorite way to experience the town was through Art Basel's Parcours exhibit. Across Basel, a hotel, brewery, church, restaurant, and stores exhibited art.

I stepped inside a partly abandoned shopping center. Between a closed nail salon and textile store, artist Mandy El-Sayegh covered the floors and walls and transformed two empty store spaces to feature her large-scale paintings.

Nearby, Eric Hattan used materials he scavenged to build towers and structures that were constantly being changed and transformed during the art show.

The installations prompted me to walk down random Basel streets and stumble upon what the city offers beyond its top tourist attractions.

By the end of my weekend at Art Basel, I discovered an art fair that — no matter your background — stimulated discussion, encouraged me to reconsider my beliefs, and left me in awe.

• Here are the famous people who died in 2024.
• O.J. Simpson, Glynis Johns, Carl Weathers, Chita Rivera, Dabney Coleman, Donald Sutherland, and Louis Gossett Jr. passed away.
• So did broadcaster Charles Osgood, fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, producer Roger Corman, NBA legend Jerry West, and MLB Hall of Famer Willie Mays.

Below, we look back at those we lost in 2024.

Eric Carmen, 74

Carmen was a rock ballad king whose songs still get constant play to this day.

"All by Myself" was a hit in the mid-1970s. It became an even bigger hit when Celine Dion did her own rendition in 1996.

The Grammy-nominated "Almost Paradise" from the soundtrack to the hit 1984 movie "Footloose" became a staple at school dances and weddings.

Carmen repeated the feat when his song "Hungry Eyes" showed up on the soundtrack for the 1987 classic "Dirty Dancing."

Carmen's death was announced on his website on March 12, stating he "passed away in his sleep, over the weekend." No cause was given.

Roberto Cavalli, 83

The Italian fashion designer was known for his flamboyant designs and game-changing innovations.

Cavalli's use of leopard prints beginning in the 1970s became one of his trademarks. His revolutionary method of printing leather and patchwork denim was beloved by everyone from Madonna to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cavalli died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

Dabney Coleman, 92

Dabney Coleman became a captivating scene stealer in the 1980s thanks to his gruff demeanor and booming voice. Whether he was playing the mean boss opposite Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin in 1980's "9 to 5," or the nasty TV producer in "Tootsie," or chasing Matthew Broderick in "WarGames," Coleman had a talent for playing the heel.

The Emmy winner most recently starred in the HBO hit series Boardwalk Empire from 2011 to 2014 and a 2019 episode of Yellowstone.

Coleman died on May 16. No cause was given.

Eleanor Coppola, 87

As the wife of Francis Ford Coppola, Eleanor had to navigate the stress and complexities of living with one of the greatest directors of all time.

She channeled that by filming her husband while he made his landmark 1979 Vietnam movie "Apocalypse Now."

Her documentary, "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," has gone down as one of the most honest accounts of the making of a movie.

Eleanor died on April 12. No cause of death was given.

Roger Corman, 98

To say Roger Corman was the king of B-movies is too simple of a characterization.

For decades, Corman made ultra-low-budget genre movies that featured everything from cheesy monsters to crazed bikers. Corman-produced titles almost always made a profit, and many of them became proving grounds for the directors and actors who would go on to change Hollywood.

After directing the 1967 acid-trip fantasia "The Trip" starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda and written by Jack Nicholson, the trio went on to make "Easy Rider," which would usher in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.

Corman also produced titles directed by then-unknowns like Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese before they went on to mainstream studio success.

Corman died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., surrounded by family members.

Joe Flaherty, 82

As one of the original cast members of the Canadian sketch comedy show "SCTV" in the late 1970s, Joe Flaherty — alongside the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Martin Short, and Rick Moranis — created a brand of comedy that was edgier and more outlandish than their competition "Saturday Night Live."

In later decades, Flaherty made scene-stealing appearances as the Western Union worker who gives Marty McFly the 70-year-old letter from Doc Brown in "Back to the Future Part II" and the heckler Donald in "Happy Gilmore."

He was also a regular on TV through the decades, with roles in "Married… with Children," "Freaks and Geeks," and "The King of Queens."

Flaherty died on April 1 following a brief illness.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Louis Gossett Jr. made his stage debut at 17. After building his craft onstage through the 1960s, Gossett Jr. made the jump to screen and in 1977 was cast in the acclaimed miniseries "Roots" opposite the likes of Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, and John Amos. He went on to win an Emmy for his performance as Fiddler.

He was nominated for seven more Emmys after that, most recently in 2020 for playing William Reeves in the HBO limited series "Watchmen."

He made history in 1983 when he won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the strict drill instructor Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." It would mark the first time a Black actor won the prize in that category.

Gossett Jr. went on to star in hit movies and TV shows like "The Principal," "Toy Soldiers," "Iron Eagle," and "Boardwalk Empire."

Gossett Jr. died on March 29. No cause was given.

Norman Jewison, 97

The legendary director was best known for his eclectic filmography that included the drama "In the Heat of the Night," the musical "Fiddler of the Roof," and the beloved comedy "Moonstruck," all of which garnered him best director nominations at the Oscars.

The Canadian filmmaker's specialty was getting top-notch performances out of A-list actors like Steve McQueen ("The Thomas Crown Affair") and Denzel Washington ("The Hurricane").

It often led to Oscar glory for his movies and their stars. Twelve actors received nominations over his 40-year career, with five of his movies earning best picture noms.

Jewison died on January 20. No cause of death was given.

Glynis Johns, 100

The English actor starred in over 60 films and 30 plays, and is known best for playing Mrs. Banks in the beloved 1964 Disney movie "Mary Poppins."

Legend has it that Johns originally thought she landed the role of Poppins. To let her down easy, Walt Disney made sure that she got to sing a big musical number in the movie. It led to the famous "Sister Suffragette" sequence.

In 1973, Johns' breathy voice caught the attention of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who cast her in the original Broadway production of "A Little Night Music." Sondheim wrote "Send in the Clowns," the song she performs, with her in mind. Johns would earn a Tony Award for her performance.

She was also nominated for an Oscar for her work in "The Sundowners" (1960).

Johns died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

Toby Keith, 62

Keith became prominent in the 1990s thanks to his hit single "Should've Been a Cowboy."

It would make him one of the decade's top draws in country music.

Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and dozens of songs that topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in his career.

Keith died on February 5 following a bout with stomach cancer.

Richard Lewis, 76

In an era in the 1970s where stand-up comedy could be a path to superstardom, Richard Lewis was one of the biggest acts.

Often dressed in black and holding his hand up to his temple, his self-deprecating and neurotic style made him a constant visitor to Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show."

By the 1980s, he hit it big on TV, starring opposite Jamie Lee Curtis on the series "Anything but Love," which ran for four seasons.

His movie credits include the Mel Brooks comedy "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "Leaving Las Vegas," and John Candy's final role before his death, 1994's "Wagons East." Lewis has said Candy's death was one of the things that finally got him sober.

Lewis introduced himself to a new generation when Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" premiered on HBO in 2000. For 11 seasons, Lewis played a fictional version of himself as one of David's friends. Though he didn't return as a series regular for the series' final season, season 12, he popped up in a cameo in an episode that aired on February 18.

Back in April, Lewis revealed via a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and would be retiring from stand-up comedy after undergoing four surgeries.

Lewis died on February 27 of a heart attack in his Los Angeles home.

Willie Mays, 93

Regarded as one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, Willie Mays was astounding to watch.

He could hit and catch, had speed, and pulled off amazing feats that are still remarkable to this day.

One of his most memorable plays happened in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, which is simply known as "The Catch."

Mays' New York Giants were facing the Cleveland Indians at the Polo Grounds in New York. With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth inning and runners on base, Indians player Vic Wertz hit a towering 420-foot blast to dead center that in today's baseball would be deep in the seats for a homerun. But due to the Polo Grounds' massive outfield, it was in play, and Mays used practically all of it to track down the ball on the run with an incredible over-the-shoulder catch and then threw it into the infield quickly so no runner could score. The Giants went on to win the game in extra innings 5-2, and would go on to win the World Series. Many still regard Mays' catch as one of the greatest moments in baseball history.

Mays would go on to play 21 seasons with the Giants before being traded to the New York Mets for the 1972-73 season, which would be his last. He finished his career with 3,293 hits and 660 home runs.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Mays died on June 18, no cause was given.

Cindy Morgan, 69

A 1980s icon, Morgan found instant stardom in her film debut playing the stunning Lacey opposite Chevy Chase in the classic 1980 comedy "Caddyshack."

Two years later, she found herself in another iconic work, Disney's "Tron." As Dr. Lora Baines in the real world and Yori, who helps Jeff Bridges after he's sucked into the game world, Morgan once again showed she can shine opposite Hollywood's biggest leading men.

Though Morgan worked steadily the rest of her career, including a multi-episode run on the soap opera "Falcon Crest," she'll be forever known for her performances in two of the biggest movies of the '80s.

Morgan's death was first reported on January 6, though she died on December 30, 2023. No cause of death was given.

Charles Osgood, 91

The face of "CBS Sunday Morning" for over two decades, Osgood became a fixture in Americans' homes at the end of every weekend thanks to his wit, calming demeanor, and that bow tie.

Osgood had been at CBS since the early 1970s, first as a reporter, then the anchor of the "CBS Sunday Night News" from 1981 to 1987. From 1987 to 1992, he was often on "CBS This Morning."

In 1994, he became the face of "Sunday Morning," replacing Charles Kuralt. He would go on to earn two Daytime Emmys and a Peabody for his work on the show. He ended his run 2016, passing the reins to Jane Pauley.

Osgood died on January 23 after suffering from dementia.

Chance Perdomo, 27

Perdomo was a rising star in Hollywood, having starred in Netflix's reboot "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" and "The Boys" spinoff "Gen V."

The British-American actor died on March 30 as a result of a motorcycle accident, his publicist confirmed.

Chita Rivera, 91

Rivera was a Broadway legend who originated some of the stage's most memorable characters, including Anita in "West Side Story," Velma Kelly in "Chicago," and Rose in "Bye Bye Birdie." She would go on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards and win twice.

With Broadway credits spanning seven decades, Rivera's singing and dancing shaped generations of performers.

Rivera died on January 30 following a brief illness.

Marian Robinson, 86

Former First Lady Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, was often described as the matriarch of the White House during the Obama administration, but the Chicago-born daughter of seven never felt quite at home on Pennsylvania Avenue, according to her family.

"The trappings and glamour of the White House were never a great fit for Marian Robinson," a statement from former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and other family members said. "'Just show me how to work the washing machine and I'm good,' she'd say."

Robinson's death was announced on May 31.

A cause and place of death was not revealed.

O.J. Simpson, 76

O.J. Simpson had a life of high highs and low lows.

Finding fame initially on the football field, he became one of the greatest running backs ever to play in the NFL in the 1970s. He had an MVP season in 1973 when he set a single-season rushing record and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985 after his retirement.

He was set to live out his days as a hero and grow even more famous thanks to endorsements, movie roles, and broadcasting.

But all of that changed in June of 1994 after his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her condo. Days later, Simpson, who was a person of interest in the murders, led Los Angeles police on a slow-speed chase in his Ford Bronco, finally giving up when he got back to his home.

Simpson's televised trial for the deaths of Nicole and Goldman a year later became one of the biggest spectacles in modern-day American history.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders, was found guilty in civil court in 1997.

The story of Simpson's incredible rise and fall still fascinates people to this day. The 2016 ESPN docuseries "O.J.: Made in America" won an Oscar and Emmy, and Ryan Murphy's 2016 scripted series "The People vs. O.J.: American Crime Story" won eight Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.

Simpson died on April 10. He had been diagnosed with cancer, his family said.

David Soul, 80

Soul found instant fame in the mid-1970s playing Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson, one half of the hip crime solvers in "Starsky & Hutch."

Before hitting it big on the show, Soul was a folk singer through the 1960s, opening for the likes of Frank Zappa and The Byrds. At one time he even sang while his face was covered with a mask, calling himself "The Covered Man."

After "Starsky & Hutch," Soul went back to music and scored the No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Give Up on Us."

Soul also made appearances on shows like "Star Trek," "Gunsmoke," the Clint Eastwood movie "Magnum Force," and a miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King novel, "Salem's Lot."

Soul died on January 4. No cause of death was given.

Morgan Spurlock, 53

In 2004, an unknown documentary filmmaker arrived in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. Overnight, his life was changed — because he made a movie about eating McDonald's.

If there's one thing Morgan Spurlock knew how to do, it was get people's attention. With a big personality and an unusual idea, Spurlock changed the way we look at fast food when he made "Super Size Me," a documentary in which he ate nothing but McDonald's for a full month, to stomach-churning effect.

The documentary earned an Oscar nomination and became a box-office sensation. Weeks after its release in theaters, McDonald's discontinued its supersize portions.

Spurlock used that success to become one of the stars in the documentary medium, which was growing in popularity in the early 2000s. He would go on to direct and produce dozens of documentaries for the big screen and TV, focused on everything from Osama bin Laden to One Direction.

His legacy would be tarnished in late 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement, when Spurlock confessed to multiple acts of sexual misconduct in his past.

Spurlock died on May 23 due to complications related to cancer.

Donald Sutherland, 88

Donald Sutherland had the incredible talent to be the life of the party in one performance or a wallflower in the next. Need a dark and disturbing presence for a role? He's your guy. Or he could do a wise-cracking know-it-all character.

What we're trying to say is whatever the role, Sutherland could pull it off. And he did it so well that he delivered some of the most memorable roles ever put on screen over the last six decades.

Playing a Nazi-killing grunt in "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), creating one of the greatest screen duos ever opposite Elliott Gould in "M*A*S*H" (1970), acting as a laid-back professor in "Animal House" (1978), delivering one of the best surprise endings ever in a remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978) — he could do it all. He was both the man who knew the truth behind the Kennedy assassination in "JFK" (1991) and the villain in the "Hunger Games" franchise (2013-2015).

He was a fixture in our lives over generations.

Sutherland died on June 20 in Miami following a "long illness."

Johnny Wactor, 37

Wactor was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on the soap "General Hospital." He appeared in more than 160 episodes during his two seasons on the series before leaving in 2022.

His résumé included guest roles on "Westworld," "The OA," "Station 19," "Siberia," "Agent X," "Vantastic," "Animal Kingdom," "Hollywood Girl," "Training Day," "Criminal Minds," "Struggling Servers," "Age Appropriate," "NCIS," "The Passenger" and "Barbee Rehab."

He also starred in the 2016 Mario Van Peebles-directed movie "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage" alongside Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, and Thomas Jane.

His family confirmed that Wactor was shot and killed on May 25 in Los Angeles during a robbery.

M. Emmet Walsh, 88

You may not know the name, but you definitely know this face.

Character actor M. Emmet Walsh showed up in more than 150 movies over his career, many of which have gone on to become classics: "Blade Runner," "Blood Simple," "Slap Shot," "Fletch," "The Jerk," "Back to School," "My Best Friend's Wedding," and "Knives Out."

He also has appeared in many popular TV shows over the decades, including "Home Improvement," "The X-Files," and "Frasier."

Walsh died on March 19. No cause was given.

Carl Weathers, 76

Thanks to his bravado and astounding physique, Weathers found fame when he was cast as heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in 1976's "Rocky."

The following years and decades brought more memorable roles, whether he was sizing up biceps with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987's "Predator," or trying to teach Adam Sandler how to play golf in 1996's "Happy Gilmore."

Most recently, he played Greef Karga in the "Star Wars" series "The Mandalorian." Along with appearing in front of the camera, he also showcased his talents behind it, directing multiple episodes.

Jerry West, 86

You can give several examples to show just how great a basketball player Jerry West was. He won an NBA title, an Olympic gold medal, and is the only player on the losing team of an NBA Finals to be named MVP.

But there's one that overshadows all of these accomplishments: he was the logo.

That's right. The actual NBA logo is a silhouette of Jerry West dribbling a basketball.

Known for his tenacious play and ability to score in the clutch, West was one of the stars in the NBA before its enormous popularity in the 1970s, when players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and later, Michael Jordan, became household names.

After his retirement, West became an executive of the Los Angeles Lakers and was instrumental in the "Showtime" Lakers' championship dynasty through the 1980s. He made the key signings to get Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to the Lakers, creating another dynasty in the early 2000s.

West died on June 12. No cause was given.

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• Erin Ramos was able to deal with a stressful layoff by using her emergency fund to cover expenses.
• She made some purchases before losing her job that she would've waited on if she had to do it again.
• This article is part of "My Financial Life," a series helping people live and spend better.

Erin Ramos, a single mother, had worked at her company for 15 months when she got a Slack message saying she'd been laid off.

"I got a message in Slack from my supervisor," Ramos said. "It was basically like, 'Unfortunately, we are going to have to make some cuts, and your position has been impacted. Please acknowledge this Slack message, and then we'll give you a call in a few minutes. I was like, 'Oh, OK.' So that was that."

Luckily, Ramos was able to start a new job by the end of March, about three months after losing her job. Her emergency fund helped her support herself and her daughter until then. But looking back, she would do a few things differently.

The layoffs hit at a bad time

Ramos wasn't totally surprised by the layoffs. Her company had let go a small number of workers twice during her tenure, and she knew that the company was facing some money troubles. But she didn't expect the layoffs to happen during the holidays.

"They surprised us all on December 14," Ramos said. "I think it was 14 of us in all, just before Christmas." She received a two-week severance package.

Layoffs are sweeping the US, a worrying trend that has continued from last year. This makes the job market even more difficult for those who are laid off. "I have LinkedIn connections who have been out of work for a year," Ramos said.

She had an emergency fund of about $3,000, but she was worried about whether it would cover her expenses until she got a new job. "I don't have a year's worth of money saved up," she said.

Ramos has ovarian cancer, which means she needs to get an expensive immunotherapy infusion every three weeks. As a single mother, she wouldn't have a spouse's healthcare to lean on while she was unemployed, meaning she would have to pay out of pocket for healthcare.

With the help of an employment lawyer, she was able to get her former workplace to cover three months of COBRA payments. When you lose your job, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act lets you continue whatever health insurance your former employer provided — but you have to pay the full premium, which is often too expensive when you're no longer employed. This helped ease the strain on her emergency fund, but it gave her a tight deadline to find a job.

She wishes she had been more cautious leading up to her layoff

In the end, she was able to make her emergency fund stretch to cover her three-month unemployment period by supplementing it with her unemployment benefits, tax refund, 401(k), and a $500 loan from her parents. While the fund helped her stay afloat, she knew she could've done some things differently leading up to the layoffs that would have left her better prepared.

The July before she was laid off, she bought a house and made several quality-of-life repairs that took a lot out of her emergency fund.

"I wish I that I had been a bit more cautious about some of the work that I had done on the house, knowing that layoffs were a possibility," Ramos said. "I chose to build a deck. Did I really need to choose the deck? Probably not. I kind of wish I'd been a little bit more cautious. I think I would've had a bigger savings to fall back on."

She has a plan to rebuild her emergency fund

Before the layoff, she kept her savings in an Acorns Invest account. She found its round-up features helpful. It made it easy to save with every purchase, which helped her build up an emergency fund easily, she said.

It helped that the account was separate from her bank account. "It made it hard for me to dip into," Ramos said. "It wasn't something that I could go into and pull the money from; there was no check card attached to it, and if I wanted to transfer money into my account, it took, I think, three to five days."

Now she has multiple bank accounts. She still has an Acorns account, but she also has a SoFi Checking and Savings account specifically to for savings. Her SoFi account comes with a Money Vault feature that lets her save money toward specific goals and put it in a slightly harder-to-access area. "It's just this kind of extra layer of steps that's required to access that money," Ramos said. "And it will track the savings for whatever that goal is."

Her SoFi account has a high interest rate, helping her reliably earn more money on her savings. She's also putting more money away with each paycheck than she was before the layoff.

• Elon Musk recently suggested the future of news may be AI-powered.
• The billionaire said AI could aggregate social media posts into a real-time news feed.
• Experts say the model could quickly spread misinformation.

Elon Musk has a new vision for AI-powered journalism.

Speaking at the Cannes Lions event on Wednesday, he suggested the world was heading to a new model of newsgathering that would be "better than conventional journalism."

In short, Musk thinks social media posts can be aggregated into a real-time news feed using AI.

"What we're doing on the X platform is we are aggregating — we're using AI to sum up the aggregate input from millions of users," he said during an interview with Mark Read, the CEO of advertising group WPP.

"I think this is really going to be the new model of news, which is to gather information from people who are at the scene, who are experts in the field, and summarize the experts," Musk said, adding that this content should be aggregated into a "real-time news feed."

The suggestion aligns with Musk's continued championing of "citizen journalism," which relies on members of the public collecting, disseminating, and analyzing information.

However, using AI to curate a real-time news feed could come with some serious risks.

'Old Twitter on steroids'

Nic Newman, of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, told Business Insider the model was reminiscent of pre-Musk Twitter.

"It's just old Twitter on steroids," he said. "Some of the citizen journalism can be relied on and gives you things, but aggregating stuff when you're not sure how true it is not going to necessarily help human understanding or take us any further than old Twitter did."

According to Musk, X "very quickly" corrects itself when misinformation is spread on the platform.

However, Newman said his recent research had found the opposite was true.

The 2024 Digital News report from the Reuters Institute found X and TikTok to be the least trustworthy sources in terms of users' ability to differentiate fact from falsehoods. The report notes that both platforms have hosted misinformation or conspiracy theories around the Isreal-Hamas conflict and the Princess of Wales's health.

"The real issue that people have is they feel overwhelmed and confused by what's happening, and they don't have enough understanding. I can't see how this really helps that in any way," Newman said.

The idea that Twitter gets things wrong, but is never wrong for long, is something experts were talking about "over a decade ago," according to Newman.

"What we've discovered in that time period is that it can actually be very, very damaging because the falsehood goes around the world before the truth has time to catch up," he said.

Amplifying incorrect information can be dangerous unless platforms have a better way of correcting themselves and letting people know when they've viewed misleading content, Newman added.

Misleading 'experts'

According to Musk, AI and the internet are already "aggregating the wisdom of the people."

When looking to the future of newsgathering, the billionaire emphasized the importance of "experts in the field" and "first observers" over traditional reporters.

Musk has been somewhat hostile to news media since taking over X. He removed a policy that allowed journalists to get blue checkmarks and temporarily suspended several from the platform.

However, Musk's renewed focus on listening to "experts" contradicts some of these decisions. By removing the blue checkmark verification system, the billionaire has arguably made it more difficult to identify the very people he wants aggregated.

"When you're using AI to sort of sift through millions and millions of tweets or posts on X, it can be hard to tell if someone is just saying they're an expert or claiming to be an expert," social-media consultant Matt Navarra told BI.

Compensation questions

"X is probably one of the worst platforms in terms of being able to trust what you're reading," he added. "So if you're using a tool like AI to go through all of these tweets and posts, it gives rise to concern around if it will actually reflect and summarise factual, verifiable information."

Newman said the suggestion to aggregate experts on the platform also raised questions about compensation.

"If you're aggregating experts, people who really know what they're talking about, what is the payment model behind that? Many of those experts may protect their own IP and write Substack newsletters or do podcasts or do things that they can monetize," he said.

X did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

• Gen Z bosses tend to prioritize a work-life balance and a desire to make the world of work better.
• Many encourage mental health days and flexible work hours.
• Young leaders believe respect and open dialogue create a better work culture and efficiency.

Raven Baker, 28, admits she often feels she's falling behind her peers due to the constant pressure of social media.

As the social and community lead at the creative agency Adolescent Content, her role is high-pressured and demanding.

"However, I refuse to project that pressure onto those who report to me," she told Business Insider. "My approach to managing is rooted in respect."

Baker is an example of a Gen Z boss who is setting a new standard for productivity by prioritizing her team's mental health and work-life balance.

Unlike Gen X and boomer managers, who can cause friction with younger staff, or millennials, who strive to be the cool boss but are also baffled by how much Gen Z talks about their feelings, Zoomer managers appear to be keen to hear from their employees and make changes.

At the heart of their prime concerns is the desire to improve the workplace for those who enter it and end a negative cycle of criticism at work.

Ending bad work cycles

Early in her career, leaders and managers spoke to Baker "terribly," she said.

"I never want to be the kind of leader who's the catalyst for someone's inner monologue shifting from 'I am capable, I have great ideas' to 'Am I capable? Am I good enough?'" she said. "I will always maintain an environment where hierarchy does not justify verbal disrespect."

Oliver Hodgson, now 20, dropped out of school at 16 with no qualifications and went on to found his creative comms company, Platinum Live.

He was bullied at school and knows the impact a negative environment can have.

"So I will stick up for my colleagues no matter what," he said.

Mental health is paramount

Hodgson never had a job before starting his own company, so he's very "pro-office," he said. Though he can "totally see the benefits of remote work."

Early in his career, Hodgson learned everyone is different, and he's constantly learning from his employees — the majority of whom are older than him.

The biggest priority for Hodgson is his employees' mental health.

The company encourages staff to take mental health days when they need them and promotes an "open dialogue" culture so people feel they can talk about their struggles and well-being.

"I don't want people coming to work and getting excited for 4 p.m. when they leave," Hodgson said. "I want to foster an environment where everybody excels, and we don't just excel and deliver for clients, but we upskill and we look after ourselves."

Hodgson also doesn't want anyone in his company to feel like "steam engines" that are "just plowing out work" and "forgetting we're human."

High standards with well-being

Sam Winsbury, 24, started building his personal branding agency Kurogo in 2020 and has rapidly grown his company to 19 staff.

Like Hodgson, Winsbury never worked for anyone else and has never even been to a job interview.

Instead, he told BI he learns from friends about their employers and also takes advice from his own team members.

"A lot of the perks and benefits and policies we have are built by the team anyway," he said. "It's just a case of listening to other people and hearing what they want because ultimately it's for them, it's not for me. So they're the best people to guide on what the policies and perks should look like."

Winsbury said he has "high standards" regarding his employees' well-being. He doesn't expect them to respond to clients outside business hours, and the company has a flexible policy, so staff can start earlier and finish earlier if they wish to.

"We're also constantly pushing our team to make sure that they are having a life outside of work," Winsbury said. "We actively encourage people to do things outside of work and to make sure they have clear boundaries."

Jessie Urvater, who is 25, is the founder of the sober dating platform Club Pillar.

She told BI open communication, a healthy work-life balance, and the "psychological safety" of her employees are her main priorities.

"I believe it's essential for team members to feel heard and valued, so I encourage an environment where feedback is welcomed, and diverse perspectives are respected," she said.

Margot Adams, 26, co-owner and head of marketing and sales at the clothing brand Luxeire, told BI she grew up in a time of rapidly advancing technology, and the way she runs her company reflects that.

"As a start-up, we are constantly testing out new ideas, so I give people a lot of creative liberties," she said. "A comfortable and fulfilling workplace not only boosts confidence but also enhances productivity and innovation, which is essential in today's world, particularly for Gen Z."

Michelle Enjoli, a career development speaker and coach, told BI that fostering a psychologically safe working environment is essential for creating a great culture, and Gen Z's priorities line up well with this.

Zoomers are shaping the world, Enjoli said, and emphasizing the benefits of transparency, good communication, and clear direction.

Many staff she speaks with in more traditional workplaces feel they spend unnecessary energy "having to monitor their opinions and hiding their concerns or mistakes," which leads to stress and anxiety.

"When a boss prioritizes mental health and the career growth of their employees, it allows them to repurpose their energy into more productive activities," Enjoli said.

No preconceived notions

For many Zoomer bosses, their age can be a superpower.

Winsbury said that although he's made mistakes and that people can be unpredictable, he can generally avoid most problems by being flexible.

"I've not been biased by my previous experience," he said. "I don't have any preconceived notions around how a company should operate."

Fellow Gen Zers, he said, can be frustrating to work with because they have been conditioned to be impatient. But he hopes by investing in his staff and giving them a clear path for progression, he can avoid them job-hopping too much.

"We're a generation that wants things instantly — food, dopamine, rewards, literally everything," he said. "Which is even more of a reason why we need to make sure we have a pathway for people moving forward so that we don't lose them to an opportunity that they think is going to get them somewhere faster."

Hodgson said Gen Zers "get a bad name" for being work-shy, but he doesn't think that's the whole story.

"I think there's a pocket of really powerful Gen Zers, and they really want to make the world a better place," he said

"I'm certainly one of them, and I want to control my own destiny."

• A US official told CNN that parts of Israel's Iron Dome would be overwhelmed in the event of a war.
• Israel has engaged in tit-for-tat strikes with Hezbollah since October 7.
• The system's efficacy was called into question after it failed to stop Hamas' attacks last year.

Hezbollah would overwhelm at least some of Israel's Iron Dome batteries in the event of a full-blown war, a US official told CNN.

The unnamed senior administration official said that, according to their assessments, at least some Iron Dome batteries would be "overwhelmed."

According to three unnamed US officials cited by CNN, the US has shared its fears with Israel that its air defenses in the northern part of the country, including the Iron Dome air defense system, could be vulnerable to Hezbollah's enormous arsenal of missiles and drones if a war broke out.

The Iron Dome is arguably the most advanced defense system in operation today.

Two US officials told the outlet that Israeli officials have raised similar concerns, telling the US they believe the Iron Dome could be vulnerable, especially in the north.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging tit-for-tat strikes at the border with Lebanon since Hamas' October 7 terror attacks, with the militant group sometimes striking Israeli military targets.

On Thursday, Hezbollah said it launched dozens of rockets at an Israeli military base in Zar'it, per the Times of Israel.

The Iranian-backed militants fired more than 200 projectiles last week, the Israel Defense Forces said, with some triggering fires but causing no casualties, per the BBC.

Hezbollah also claimed to have struck Israel's Iron Dome air defense system in Ramot Naftali with a guided missile earlier this month, per The New Arab.

According to Israel, the Iron Dome system has been about 90% effective at intercepting rockets over the last 12 years.

But the October 7 Hamas attacks raised questions about why it wasn't able to stop the militants' strikes that day.

Hamas said it fired 5,000 missiles at Israel in just 20 minutes. Israel said the militant group launched more than 3,000 rockets. It's not clear what proportion of the rockets were intercepted during the attack.

Looking ahead to a future conflict, an Israeli official said Hezbollah would more likely overwhelm Iron Dome batteries if the militant group launched a large-scale strike employing precision-guided weapons, which could be difficult for the system to defend against, CNN reported.

In preparation for a possible attack, Israeli officials told the US that Israel was planning to move resources from southern Gaza to northern Israel, CNN reported, citing the unnamed US officials.