Labor Day, unemployment benefits expire, Rosh Hashanah begins: 5 things to know Monday
What's open and closed on Labor Day
Short on hot dogs or buns for your end-of-summer barbecue? Don't sweat it. Most major retailers and grocery stores are open Monday. The federal holiday, which falls on the first Monday in September, celebrates the achievements of workers. But plenty of them will be behind the counter and restocking the aisles. Walmart, Target, Publix, Kroger and Albertsons are open along with CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens. But most pharmacies are closed or operating with limited hours. Looking to eat out? As restaurants continue to have staffing shortages amid the pandemic, which eateries are open to dine in Monday – and their hours – can vary depending on where you live. Or planning to staying in? On-demand services such as Postmates, Grubhub, UberEats and DoorDash will deliver orders on Monday for participating local and national restaurants.
- What stores are open Labor Day? Hint: Costco is closed for the federal holiday
- What restaurants are open Labor Day? McDonald's, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and more
- Shop huge savings on Keurig coffee machines, iRobot vacuums and more at the HSN Labor Day sale
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Enhanced weekly $300 unemployment benefits set to expire
The expanded federal unemployment benefits, which include $300 weekly bonus checks, are set to expire on Monday. The enhanced benefits, designed to help Americans who lost jobs because of the pandemic, were enacted last year under the federal CARES Act by former President Donald Trump. The boost, originally $600, was extended twice, most recently to Sept. 6 under Biden's American Rescue Plan.Several states with Republican governors have already opted out of the benefits, slamming the extra money as a financial disincentive for the unemployed to get back to work. Other enhanced benefits during the pandemic, such as the extended length of benefits and the coverage for individuals who wouldn't typically qualify, will also expire Sept. 6.
- Economy added 235,000 jobs in August amid COVID-19 surge, worker shortage. Unemployment fell to 5.2%
- McDonald's in Oregon puts up a huge banner asking '14 and 15-year-olds' to apply
Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset. Here's what to know.
One of the most important holidays for Jewish people around the world, Rosh Hashanah, starts at sunset Monday and continues through sunset Wednesday. The name translates from Hebrew to mean “the head of the year,” and the holiday marks the start of the Jewish New Year. During the two-day celebration, your Jewish friends or coworkers might take time away from work to attend synagogue, eat foods such as apples and honey or say prayers near a body of water. Tip: If you want to greet a Jewish friend or family member on Rosh Hashanah, you could say “Shanah Tovah,” which means “good year” in Hebrew.
- Everything you need to celebrate Rosh Hashanah in style
- The best brisket you'll ever make — or eat — just in time for Rosh Hashanah
Week after Hurricane Ida's landfall, tens of thousands still without power
One week after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana, tens of thousands of residents were still without power Monday. Most residents in New Orleans will have power by Wednesday, Entergy estimates, but a handful of parishes may not regain power until Sept. 29. Full restoration of electricity to some of the hardest-hit areas could take until the end of the month, Louisiana's largest electric utility company said. The storm damaged or destroyed more than 22,000 power poles, 26,000 spans of wire and 5,261 transformers — that’s more poles damaged or destroyed than Katrina, Zeta and Delta combined, the company said.
- Fierce Hurricane Larry churning across the Atlantic, could be even stronger than Ida. East Coast could face 'life-threatening' surf
- Climate change: Hurricane Ida is the latest example of extreme weather events
General Motors to temporarily halt production at nearly all US plants
General Motors will idle nearly all of its assembly plants in North America starting Monday due to a pandemic-related chip shortage overseas. The chips are used in a variety of car parts and small electronics. During the pandemic, demand for personal electronics such as laptops rose — fueling the shortage. Automakers have had to either temporarily idle production or build vehicles just shy of all the parts and then await chip parts to finish production. GM said its Arlington Assembly in Texas, where it makes its highly profitable full-size SUVs, along with Flint Assembly in Michigan, where it makes its heavy-duty pickups, and a few other plants will remain open.
- These are the 23 highest quality new cars, trucks and SUVs of 2021, according to J.D. Power
- GM recalls all Chevy Bolts for fire risk at cost of an extra $1 billion
