Grinch bots threaten holiday shopping
If you're having trouble finding a trending toy or gift on your shopping list, it might be due to grinch bots. FOX 26 Consumer Reporter Heather Sullivan has more on what they are and what they do.
Delayed November jobs report shows US added 64K jobs but lost 105K in October
The Labor Department jobs report released Tuesday shows U.S. employers added 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October. The reports for both months were delayed due to the 43-day federal government shutdown.
Powerball jackpot soars to $1.25 billion for Wednesday's drawing
The cash prize continues to grow after no lottery player matched all of the winning numbers in Monday night's drawing.
Stimulus payment December 2025, IRS direct deposit relief payment & tariff dividend fact check
Hold off on that purchase! Online rumors of new stimulus checks by year’s end are out there.
New cruise ship now sailing from Galveston for 7-Day Caribbean excursion
The Norwegian Viva cruise ship has pulled into its new home in Galveston, marking yet another wave in growth in the local cruise industry. FOX 26 Consumer Reporter Heather Sullivan gets a tour of the ship.
Arlington family used $1.7M in stolen tax refunds to buy luxury car, house in Mississippi: prosecutors
Members of an Arlington family were convicted by a jury in Forth Worth on Thursday of a multimillion-dollar scheme to steal tax refunds.
How Texans can claim their share of $700 million Google settlement
Texans can now claim their share of a $700 million settlement won against Google two years ago.
Sports betting is delivering major cash for states — see what states are cashing in
Several states have seen huge tax revenues from sports betting, according to a recent analysis.
Americans admit it's harder than usual to afford gifts this holiday season, poll finds
Americans aren’t feeling the Christmas cheer this year thanks to persistent high prices and a job market that appears to have entered a deep freeze.
Holiday shopping with AI | Sullivan's Smart Sense
How Reading with a Rapper, a groundbreaking literacy initiative blending hip-hop culture with education is tackling child literacy. Plus, the cool reason a former teacher left the classroom to help kids build confidence.
Trump's management of the economy hits its lowest point, poll finds
A new poll is showing declines in Trump’s economic and immigration approval. Here’s what we know.
Powerball jackpot surges to $1 billion for Saturday's drawing
Lottery players will have another chance to win this huge cash prize after no ticket matched all the winning numbers from Wednesday night's drawing.
Federal Reserve lowers key interest rate but indicates future cuts will be harder
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate but signaled a higher bar for any future reductions.
Tools & tips for holiday shopping with AI | Sullivan's Smart Sense
AI can be helpful for finding gifts for the holidays, but it's also being used for holiday scams. FOX 26 consumer reporter Heather Sullivan has tips for smart online shopping.
More states are restricting junk-food purchases by SNAP recipients — here’s where
Six more states are banning SNAP recipients from using their tax payer funded food assistance benefit to purchase junk food.
MacKenzie Scott gave away $7.1 billion this year: Are others living up to their pledge?
Scott described the donations as a “vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into communities this year."
'Seniors' may soon be 10 years younger when it comes to Texas property tax breaks
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the launch of "Operation Double Nickel" on Tuesday, which would lower the age used to designate senior citizens who qualify for saving money on property taxes.
Dept. of Education reaches deal to end SAVE plan: What this means for student loan borrowers
On Tuesday, the Dept. of Education announced that it had reached a proposed settlement agreement that, if given court approval, will end the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) student loan repayment plan.
October jobs openings report shows slight uptick with 7.67 million open positions
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Tuesday released its October job openings report, which shows job openings up slightly at 7.67 million open positions.
Sending holiday cards is getting more expensive: Here’s how much it will cost you now
Holiday mail will cost more this year as stamp prices rise again. Here’s how much your cards will cost you now.