Former staffers of Washington, D.C., public broadcaster WAMU and local news site DCist are working to raise $250,000 for initial costs to launch The 51st, a new nonprofit local news outlet for the District. The worker-run site will focus on local issues including affordability and culture, and will engage the community through listening sessions, says co-founder Abigail Higgins.

The Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book survey indicates slight growth as the economy heads into the third quarter, with several regions reporting flat or declining activity. Employment has increased slightly, but labor turnover has declined, and businesses have become more selective in hiring, the survey shows.

US companies plan to raise salaries by 3.9% in 2025, a slight decrease from this year's 4.1% increases, according to a Willis Towers Watson survey. However, persistent worker shortages and slower economic growth mean companies must still budget for higher salary increases.

CIOs Steve Randich of FINRA and Neal Sample of Walgreens Boots Alliance spoke at FutureIT, emphasizing the importance of strategic leadership and decision-making in adopting new technologies and emphasizing a "chief intentional officer" approach. They also highlighted the necessity for CIOs to balance innovation with practical business needs, build strong teams and keep calm under pressure to drive successful technological transformations.

Demand for HR professionals with AI skills grew nearly 60% over the past two years, while HR specialists with AI skills now earn $35,000 more per year than those without them, according to Lightcast data, which suggest HR professionals with AI skills will continue to become more attractive to employers. "The most valuable AI skills for HR practitioners are understanding when you need to keep a human in the loop," says Will Markow, vice president of applied research at Lightcast.