Business news in brief

By The Associated Press

Biden admin letting Alaska Airlines buy Hawaiian Air

The Biden administration is letting Alaska Airlines buy Hawaiian Airlines. The Transportation Department said Tuesday that as a condition, the airlines are promising to maintain some current service, including routes between Hawaii and the mainland U.S. where they don’t have much competition.

Alaska and Hawaiian also agreed to some consumer protections, including maintaining the value of frequent-flyer rewards as they combine their loyalty programs.

The decision to let the airlines close their merger stands in contrast to the Biden administration’s opposition to previous airline deals. The Justice Department successfully sued to block JetBlue’s attempt to buy Spirit Airlines.

Alaska Airlines said it expected to close the deal “in the coming days.”

U.S. retail sales ticked up last month

WASHINGTON | Americans spent a bit more at retailers last month, providing a small boost to the economy just as the Federal Reserve considers how much to cut its key interest rate.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that retail sales ticked up 0.1% from July to August, after jumping the most in 18 months the previous month. Online retailers, sporting goods stores, and home and garden stores reported higher sales.

The data indicate that consumers are still able to spend more despite the cumulative impact of three years of excess inflation and higher interest rates.

Newsom signs laws to protect actors against unauthorized

AI use

SACRAMENTO, Calif. | California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off Tuesday on legislation aiming at protecting Hollywood actors and performers against unauthorized artificial intelligence that could be used to create digital clones of themselves without their consent.

The new laws come as California legislators ramped up efforts this year to regulate the marquee industry that is increasingly affecting the daily lives of Americans but has had little to no oversight in the United States.

The laws also reflect the priorities of the Democratic governor who’s walking a tightrope between protecting the public and workers against potential AI risks and nurturing the rapidly evolving homegrown industry.

—From AP reports