IJR News

Brad Ausmus Expected to Return as Astros Manager — 1dBrad Ausmus is expected to become the Astros’ manager after three seasons as Aaron Boone’s Yankees bench coach, leaving New York to find a replacement. His deep ties to Houston and past managerial experience are potential assets, though his record and the Astros’ need for a reset raise questions about the fit.

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United Plans to Restrict AI Agents From BookingTech — 7hUnited Airlines is restricting unauthorized third-party AI agents from booking or managing travel through its platforms and distribution channels, citing risks to customer data, unintended transactions and compliance with FAA and DOT rules. Travelers can still use AI for general research, but United says customers should keep control of account access and transactions; some reports say agents may display flight options while purchases remain off-limits.

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Tom Gallagher I like that people can still use AI to look up flights but have to make the actual purchase themselves for safety.

Venable Wins AL Manager Award After Sox Turnaround — 1dWill Venable was named 2026 American League Manager of the Year after leading the Chicago White Sox to an 84-78 record and their first postseason appearance since 2021, following three straight 100-loss seasons. The turnaround, driven by player development and Venable’s leadership, made Chicago the first MLB team to reach the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons and included its first playoff series win since 2005.

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Sam Okafor Getting that first series win since 2005 feels like a big step for Chicago. Venable clearly knew how to build the right team culture.

Phillies champion Bob Boone dies at 78 — 1dBob Boone, a seven-time Gold Glove catcher who helped the Philadelphia Phillies win the 1980 World Series and later managed the Royals and Reds, has died at 78. The father of Yankees manager Aaron Boone, he was part of MLB’s first family to reach the majors across three generations.

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Cornerstone Wealth Management boosts two ETF stakes, opens new positionBusiness — 16hCornerstone Wealth Management made mixed portfolio moves in the third quarter, increasing its stakes in JPMorgan International Growth ETF and SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Treasury ETF, and opening a new position in Invesco Large Cap Growth ETF. It reduced its holdings in Parker-Hannifin and Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF.

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Nicole Hardy Reducing that Putnam value fund and increasing treasuries suggests Cornerstone sees more stability in bonds than equities right now.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Blackstone backs Pfizer obesity drug with $1.5BHealth — 4hBlackstone will provide up to $1.5 billion through 2028 to help Pfizer develop berobenatide, an experimental monthly GLP-1 drug for weight management and obesity-related conditions. Pfizer retains ownership and control, while Blackstone could receive milestone payments if the drug wins U.S. approval and reaches specified sales targets.

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Cardinals Promote Cerfolio From Assistant to General Manager — 5dThe St. Louis Cardinals promoted 34-year-old Rob Cerfolio from assistant general manager to general manager, where he will work under president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Cerfolio joined St. Louis from Cleveland in 2024 and has overseen player development as the organization builds toward its next contending window.

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Elena Vasquez Cerfolio's player development background from Cleveland should help the Cardinals build their next core under Bloom.

Filings Show Wealth Managers Shift ETF HoldingsBusiness — 6dInstitutional investors reported mixed third-quarter activity in the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF: Endowment Wealth Management, Principle Wealth Partners and Jacksonville Wealth Management disclosed new purchases, while Asset One Wealth Management reduced its stake by 53.5%. The ETF tracks U.S. companies Morningstar identifies as having sustainable competitive advantages.

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Astros reportedly interview Pujols for manager — 6dThe Houston Astros are interviewing Albert Pujols for their managerial vacancy, alongside candidates including Morgan Ensberg. Pujols brings limited managing experience but a high-profile playing career and recent success in international and Dominican baseball; Ensberg has substantially more minor-league managing experience.

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Maya Lindstrom Pujols recent work in the Dominican league proves he can lead a club and that might translate well to the Astros dugout.

Agencies managing $1.2 trillion in grants seek better softwarePolitics — 5dAs federal agencies oversee roughly $1.2 trillion in grants and cooperative agreements in fiscal 2025, connected grant-management software can help improve transparency, streamline workflows and reporting, preserve audit trails, and protect sensitive information. Agencies are advised to test systems against their processes before procurement and rollout.

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Gray Media Promotes Eskridge to WLFI General ManagerBusiness — Nov 3, 2026Gray Media has named Jamie (Jaime) Eskridge general manager of WLFI, its CBS affiliate in Lafayette, Indiana, after she served as interim manager. Eskridge previously held sales roles at WLFI and worked on digital sales strategy for Allen Media Group’s television stations.

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New York Pizza vs Chicago Deep DishYourlist — VS BattleThe foldable slice versus the fork-and-knife casserole — America's longest-running food fight.

Amazon May Face Italy Trial Over ImportsBusiness — 1dItalian prosecutors have notified Amazon’s European unit and two senior managers that they could face trial over alleged customs and import VAT violations involving more than 1.5 million products, mostly from China, sold through its marketplace and logistics network. Prosecutors cite more than €3.52 million in allegedly unpaid VAT, with customs duties still under assessment; Amazon denies wrongdoing and says it will defend itself.

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Seahawks Rule Out Darnold, Expect Lock to Start — 3dSeahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has been ruled out against the Raiders, leaving Drew Lock expected to start despite an oblique injury. Seattle says Lock’s injury is manageable after tests, while Darnold could return after the team’s bye.

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MGE Label Expands After R&B Single Hits No. 16 on iTunes ChartMusic — 2dDenver-based MGE Label is expanding its independent-music platform with artist development, management, production and studio services, while building a roster and pursuing nationwide industry connections. The company highlighted artist D-Trait’s “Room Key (Beep),” which reached No. 16 on iTunes’ R&B/Soul Songs chart.

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Tom Gallagher It's great to see a Denver indie label like MGE building real infrastructure after D-Trait's track hit the charts.

Diamondback, KKR Agree on $2.1B Deep Blue StakeBusiness — 1dDiamondback Energy and KKR agreed to buy Five Point Infrastructure’s 70% stake in Deep Blue Midland Basin, giving them joint ownership of the Permian water-management platform; Diamondback already owns the other 30%. The reported cash value is about $2.1 billion, though the companies have not disclosed terms, and the deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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Build a pizza and the AI guesses your ageQuizie — QuizCrust to final slice, every topping is evidence. The AI guesses your age — and explains exactly which choice gave you away.

Cities make leadership changes, appoint interim managersPolitics — Nov 3, 2026Cape Coral’s outgoing City Council voted without advance notice to terminate City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn’s contract less than a day before voters went to the polls, drawing criticism over the timing; a former mayor said the council retained the authority to act. The city named Maureen Buice interim city manager while the council considers next steps.

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Vandals Deface Ancient Petroglyphs at Two Moab SitesEnvironment — 2dThe Bureau of Land Management is investigating two incidents in which people carved names into or near ancient petroglyphs at sites near Moab, Utah, and is asking the public for information. The protected Indigenous cultural resources cannot be restored to their original condition, and damaging them can bring federal penalties.

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Manchester United Weigh Carrick’s Future — 3dMauricio Pochettino has emerged as a leading betting-market candidate to replace embattled Manchester United manager Michael Carrick after United’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa left them in the relegation zone. Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are also in contention, with reports indicating differences among club officials over their preferred successor; Pochettino’s current USMNT role could complicate a move.

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Astros hire Randy Flores as general manager amid front office changes — Nov 3, 2026After a decade of success, the Astros face a reset following a disappointing season: Randy Flores has been hired as general manager, and the team will seek a new manager for 2027. Flores says his difficult path as a player will inform an empathetic but accountable approach, while Houston is also adding player-development leaders to modernize hitting and pitching programs.

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Report shows consumers turning to trusted brands amid price worriesBusiness — 2dConsumers are gravitating toward dependable brands and recommendations from friends and family as prices rise, while widespread generative AI use has not translated into trust in AI shopping advice. Holiday shoppers likewise plan to favor familiar retailers, using rewards and financing to manage spending.

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Elena Vasquez Using loyalty points and splitting payments has helped me stick to familiar stores without blowing the holiday budget this year.

KP Tissue Reports Revenue Growth and Declares Quarterly DividendBusiness — 1dKP Tissue and Kruger Products reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $589.7 million, up 5.1% year over year, and adjusted EBITDA of $93.5 million, up 9.1%; net income nearly doubled to $27.7 million. KP Tissue declared a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share, payable January 15, 2027, while management cited rising input costs and inflation as challenges ahead.

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Mariners Name 36-Year-Old Jason Kanzler Manager — Nov 2, 2026The Seattle Mariners named 36-year-old Jason Kanzler, a former Chicago Cubs player-development director with Houston Astros coaching experience, as their new manager, replacing Dan Wilson. Kanzler has never managed at any level, making his youth and inexperience potential concerns even as his player-development background and ability to connect with players are cited as strengths.

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Groups schedule free diabetes screenings and classes across multiple statesHealth — 2dHospitals and diabetes organizations in Georgia, Louisiana, Bermuda and Kentucky are marking Diabetes Awareness Month with free screenings, risk assessments, education, specialist consultations and practical management resources. In Missouri, a foundation founded by two teens with Type 1 diabetes offers community events for families, while highlighting the disease’s daily demands and challenges securing insurance coverage for glucose-monitoring technology.

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Illinois EPA seeks fleet partners for up to $12M diesel emissions grantsPolitics — 2dThe Illinois EPA is seeking public and private fleet operators to partner on a federal program offering up to $12 million per award to replace older diesel vehicles and equipment with cleaner models, prioritizing projects that deliver the greatest emissions reductions. The initiative aims to cut harmful pollution while helping fleets manage fuel costs and improve operations.

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