States Radar

Jersey City just approved its first protected bike lane in The Heights 🚲

The City Council voted 8–1 to add a two-way protected bikeway on Franklin Street (Palisade Ave → Central Ave), funded by an NJDOT grant.

The plan includes safer crosswalks, curb extensions, and a connection to Pershing Field Park. Franklin Street will become a westbound one-way, with eastbound traffic shifted to nearby streets.

Construction is expected to start this fall.

A chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON control facility triggered a ground stop at four major airports serving Washington, D.C. on March 13.

Flights at DCA, IAD, BWI, and Richmond were halted for more than an hour, leaving up to a third of flights delayed for hours.

Zohran Mamdani argues that higher taxes on top earners could help prevent working- and middle-class residents from leaving New York City.

President Trump orders 172M barrels released from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve as oil prices spike. The releases start next week and run for 120 days.

Allies are adding another 400M barrels to global supply.

Pop star Rihanna was home when a woman fired approximately 10 shots at her Beverly Hills residence on Sunday. A white Tesla reportedly fled the scene.

Police took a 30-year-old woman into custody. No injuries were reported.

Tensions are rising at American Airlines.

American Airlines’ 28,000-member flight attendant union plans to picket headquarters and has launched a no-confidence vote in CEO Robert Isom.

They point to operational struggles, winter storm recovery issues, a 73.7% on-time rate (8th among major carriers), and 2025 net income of $111M.

Pilots have also voiced concerns about lagging performance vs. Delta and United. Isom says the airline will improve operations and target $2.70 adjusted EPS in 2026, while investing in premium upgrades and Dallas hub changes.

Is this a leadership issue, an industry challenge, or both?

Coca-Cola Q4 2025: Revenue $11.8B (+2% YoY), below the $12B estimate. Comparable EPS beat at $0.58 (+6%).

Organic revenue grew 5%, but operating income fell 32% due to a $960M BODYARMOR impairment. Full-year revenue was $47.9B (+2%), operating income +38%, and free cash flow $11.4B.

2026 outlook: 4–5% organic growth, 8–9% EPS growth, with expansion led by India, Africa, and Fairlife.

Shares fell 3% post-earnings on currency and tax headwinds.

A fan who ran onto the field at Super Bowl LX was tackled by a player, making it one of the most discussed moments of the game.

Bitcoin dipped under $70K on Feb. 5, 2026, for the first time since Nov. 2024, briefly hitting ~$69.8–69.9K before bouncing. That’s a long way from the $126K+ peak in Oct. 2025.

Risk-off markets, weak U.S. tech, regulatory overhang, and geopolitics all played a role, along with $2B+ in crypto liquidations.

What’s driving the sudden shock?

Walmart is now a trillion-dollar company. Retail isn’t dead, it's evolving.

Walmart just crossed a $1T market cap, joining a short list of U.S. companies typically dominated by tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Amazon.

Shares are up ~24% over the past year and 11–12% in 2026, reflecting growth in e-commerce and digital services. The move coincides with John Furner’s first week as CEO.

Analysts highlight technology investment, labor strategy, and competition with Amazon and Costco.

Walmart is now among roughly 10 U.S. companies valued above $1T, versus Amazon’s ~$2.6T.

The Walton family’s 44% ownership is worth about $443B, even as tariffs have pushed select prices up 7–7.5%.

Is Walmart becoming more of a tech company than a retailer? Thoughts?

The 68th Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026, at Crypto Arena in Los Angeles featured historic wins and milestones, including Trevor Noah’s final hosting and CBS’s last broadcast before the ceremony moves to Disney in 2027.

• Album of the Year: Debí Tirar Más Fotos — first all-Spanish album to win (Bad Bunny)
• Song of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Album: Lady Gaga (Abracadabra, Mayhem)
• Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar (GNX); Best Melodic Rap Performance: Luther (feat. SZA)
• Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
• Best Pop Solo Performance: Sabrina Carpenter (Manchild)

Crypto markets fell sharply as Bitcoin slid below $78,000 (-7.6%), with Ethereum down 11% and Solana down 13%.

The move followed a historic silver crash, spot prices dropped 28%, futures 31%, and the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed chair, a development seen as strengthening the U.S. dollar and weighing on Bitcoin’s appeal as an alternative asset.