*By Carlo Versano* Apple says it will build a $1 billion new campus in Austin, Tex. that would almost double the size of its current footprint in the city, with the room to house as many as 15,000 new jobs. Apple ($AAPL) made the announcement in an early morning press release, in which the company also committed to adding offices with 1,000 new jobs in Seattle, San Diego, and Culver City, Calif., as well as expand its operations in Pittsburgh, Colorado, Portland, Boston, and New York in the coming years. Apple's decision to build out its presence in Austin is a sign that the famously eccentric city in the middle of Texas is rapidly becoming a tech hub in its own right. Dell ($DVMT), Amazon ($AMZN), IBM ($IBM), and Facebook ($FB) are among the technology giants that call Austin home, and the city hosts the SXSW tech and media festival every spring. “Their decision to expand operations in our state is a testament to the high-quality workforce and unmatched economic environment that Texas offers," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said of Apple. Apple's decision to announce its expansion plans by press release stood in contrast to the year-long pageantry of Amazon's HQ2 search. That expansion will create 50,000 new jobs, Amazon has said. Apple said it is on track to create 20,000 jobs in the U.S. by 2023. Those are largely non-manufacturing jobs, which the company still keeps overseas, to the [dismay](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1038453273286664193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) of President Trump.

Share:
More In Business
Al Sharpton to lead pro-DEI march through Wall Street
The Rev. Al Sharpton is set to lead a protest march on Wall Street to urge corporate America to resist the Trump administration’s campaign to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The New York civil rights leader will join clergy, labor and community leaders Thursday in a demonstration through Manhattan’s Financial District that’s timed with the anniversary of the Civil Rights-era March on Washington in 1963. Sharpton called DEI the “civil rights fight of our generation." He and other Black leaders have called for boycotting American retailers that scaled backed policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity and reducing discrimination in their ranks.
A US tariff exemption for small orders ends Friday. It’s a big deal.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines’ new policy will affect plus-size travelers. Here’s how
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Load More