IN THE NEWS: GOOGLE TO BUILD SELF-DRIVING CAR FACTORY IN MICHIGAN
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Google says it's about to produce the world's first car-making plant that is "100 percent" dedicated to the mass production of autonomous vehicles. The company says it plans to spend about $13.6 million to retrofit a manufacturing facility in the Detroit area to make self-driving cars for its Waymo spinoff. In exchange for the investment, Google says it will get a state incentive grant that is worth up to $8 million. Waymo says the company plans to hire up to 400 people to work at the factory, including engineers, operations experts and fleet coordinators. The company says it hopes to open the Michigan plant in the middle of the year.
IN THE NEWS: ORACLE ACCUSED OF PAY BIAS AGAINST WOMEN, MINORITIES
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. government regulators say Oracle hasn't been doing right by thousands of its employees. The Labor Department says the software maker has engaged in discriminatory practices that caused thousands of women, black and Asian workers to be underpaid by more than $400 million. These allegations came out yesterday in a filing made in a 2-year-old case being pursued by a part of the Labor Department that examines the pay practices of government contractors. The agency estimates Oracle has government contracts worth about $100 million a year. The filing cites evidence that Oracle underpaid women and ethnic minorities for similar work done by white men by as much 25 percent. The alleged practices affected more than 5,000 women, more than 11,000 Asians and fewer than 30 blacks from 2013 through 2016. Oracle has declined to comment on the case.
ON THE WEB: STARBUCKS DELIVERY EXPANSION
CYBERSPACE (AP) — Starbucks is making it so more people can get their fix — without setting foot in its stores. It is expanding its delivery service and aims to offer it at nearly a-quarter of its U.S. company-operated coffee shops. The service was launched yesterday in San Francisco and will expand to some stores in New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles in coming weeks. It tested the idea in 200 Miami stores last fall. Starbucks says 95 percent of its core menu will be available for order using the Uber Eats mobile app. There will be a $2.49 booking fee.
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Online:
Starbucks site: http://www.starbucks.com
IN STORES: ACER ROLLING OUT NEW CHROMEBOOKS FOR CLASSROOMS
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Acer is rolling out a pair of new 12-inch Chromebooks — with an eye toward getting them in the hands of students. One model is the convertible Spin 512. It has a 360-degree hinge that lets students use it as a clamshell, tablet, display or tent. And the model has a notebook design with touch and non-touch options. The Acer Chromebook 512 is similar — but without the versatile hinge. Both devices have a 3:2 screen aspect ratio — making it easier to use in vertical mode. They are designed to stand the bumps and bruises that can be inflicted on a tablet by school kids. Acer says they are compliant with U.S. military and toy safety standards.
The devices will be available starting in April.
by Oscar Wells Gabriel II
Follow Oscar Wells Gabriel II on Twitter at https://twitter.com/OWGabriel2