Andy field - ABC News - Wide-spread criticism from Republicans and the banking industry has convinced the Biden administration to back down on its proposal to collect information on all bank accounts with more than $600 in annual transactions. 

Instead, the administration and Senate Democrats are proposing to raise the threshold to accounts with more than $10,000 in annual transactions, and normal wages will be exempted from that total. That means if you receive typical paychecks, from which federal taxes are already deducted, that money won't count towards the $10,000 threshold.  Recipients of federal benefits like unemployment and Social Security will also be exempt. 

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One couple is not assigning gender to their newborn and has asked their friends and family to comply with this approach, and let the child define their gender identity as they grow up. But is this one step too far?

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In the future a computer could store our DNA code and will send out warnings when we need gene therapy – warding off fatal diseases by removing genetic mutations.

Implanted microchips would also alert doctors to the ageing of our cells.

They even hope to back up our personalities online

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In August, 4.3 million US workers, almost 3 percent of the entire American workforce, voluntarily left their positions, the highest number since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking “quits” in 2020. The reasons for this remarkable number are numerous and complex but one thing is for certain; the pandemic has had a huge effect on how workers perceive themselves in the workplace

This huge number of resignations comes at a time of great labor unrest in the US. Nearly 100,000 workers are on strike in October, perhaps the grievances of the strikes point toward some of the reasons for the many resignations.

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Alex Stone has details.

Every year around now retailers announce they need to fill holiday positions to get through the buying rush and to help relieve staff taking vacation.  But this year amid labor shortages and sky high online shopping, Amazon says it badly needs seasonal workers to help ship out products.  Last year it brought onboard 100-thousand seasonal workers.  This year it needs 150-thousand and it’s sweetening the deal.  It will pay up to $3000 in a sign on bonus for seasonal workers, $18 per hour pay, and a $3 per hour bump for certain shifts.  It’s not quite the 200-thousand workers Amazon needed in 2019 but Amazon was already on a hiring spree this year before the holidays.  Target says it needs 100-thousand workers.  Macy’s needs 76-thousand.  Walmart and Target are also upping their perks to bring on seasonal workers. 

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Steve Roberts, ABC NEWS POLITICAL ANALYST

Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell has died at age 84 due to complications from COVID-19. As tributes from everyone from former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush to current Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pour in, Steve, who got to know Powell quite well covering him for the NY Times during his turn as national security adviser to President Reagan and later when he was regularly mentioned as a presidential candidate for US News and World Report, reflects on Powell's considerable legacy.

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A lot of high profile content coming out this weekend, and Jason has watched it all just so he can tell you what’s worth your time.

First up, “The Last Duel” stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck, and their various strange hairstyles and accents in this story of a controversial sexual assault accusation in 14th century France.

“Halloween Kills” once again pits Jamie Lee Curtis against Michael Meyers, and this time the whole town gets in on the fun.

HBO’s wildly popular and critically acclaimed series “Succession” returns for season 3 (Jason has seen the first SEVEN episodes).

And if you know everything, or nothing, about the highly influential band The Velvet Underground, you might be interested in a new documentary on Apple TV+.

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Now’s the time to get into Millennium Tower because once it’s fixed, the price is going to skyrocket. That is, provided you can afford the mortgage and the $1,500/mo HOA. 

Plus, Bullet Train Boondoggle. Is it time to kill the bullet train?

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