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Amazon's 2026 Labor Day sale is now live with steep discounts across Apple products, including AirPods Pro 3 back down to $199, AirTag 2 as low as $20, and Apple Watch SE 3 hitting a $200 all-time low. Renewed iPhone 17 Pro units are discounted up to $290, while the newly launched M6 Mac mini and refurbished M5 MacBook Air configurations also see modest price cuts.
The Kansas Department of Labor, under Secretary Amber Shultz, has modernized its unemployment insurance technology, replacing software that dated back to the 1970s. Previously, agents juggled five separate screens, some requiring command-line input without mouse support, and the system shut down nightly for batch processing, blocking claims filed in the evening. The agency has now introduced AI-driven tools to streamline the filing process and support staff.
California lawmakers passed SB 868, a bill that sets rules for small, plug-in solar devices—often mounted on balconies, yards or roofs—capped at 1,200 watts per home. The bill replaces the costly utility interconnection process for these systems with a free online registration, provided devices meet electrical codes, carry third-party safety certification and include anti-backfeed protection. It now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature, with compliant products potentially available by spring 2027.
The Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP) has developed the True Rate of Unemployment, a metric built from Bureau of Labor Statistics data that counts people without full-time work, those earning below a living wage of roughly $26,000 a year, and those with no job at all. The measure aims to give a fuller picture of financial hardship than the official unemployment rate captures.
Amazon's Labor Day sale event is discounting a range of tech products, including Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones at $198 (a record low) and its newer XM6 model at $60 off. Other deals include the EcoFlow Rapid Pro X laptop power bank at its lowest price this year and Nothing's Ear (3a) earbuds for $79, though some items like grills and griddles have already sold out.
Best Buy is offering the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop for $749.99, down from its original $1,199.99 price, as part of a week-long Labor Day sale. The discounted model includes a Core 7 Ultra 256V processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, 512GB SSD, and a 1920x1200 IPS touchscreen with a 60Hz refresh rate.
Multiple mattress brands are running Labor Day promotions, with discounts extending to models that WIRED's reviewers have personally tested and recommended. One standout deal uses a checkout code to lower the price on what testers call the best all-around mattress from their evaluations, which features individually wrapped springs and six cushioning layers. Additional deals cover bedding accessories like sheets, pillows, and blankets, with more offers expected to be added as the holiday approaches.
ZDNET has published a roundup of discounts on streaming hardware ahead of Labor Day 2026, highlighting a Fire TV Stick priced at $20 alongside other markdowns on streaming devices. The list is compiled from vendor and retailer listings plus independent testing and customer feedback rather than a single retailer's sale event.
Amazon's Labor Day sale is offering steep discounts on Apple products, including the AirTag 2 4-pack for $79.99 (about $20 per unit), its lowest price ever. Amazon Resale is also offering up to 60% off refurbished Apple items like MagSafe Battery packs, AirPods, and Apple Pencil, with an extra 30% off at checkout on some listings.
An MIT student reportedly worked with dimethyl mercury despite the university's policy prohibiting its purchase or synthesis on campus. MIT confirmed the compound's use was unauthorized, though details on how the student obtained it and the extent of exposure remain unclear.
Regulators have expanded a nationwide recall to cover 3.6 million grill-cleaning brushes sold over roughly 17 years, after consumers accidentally swallowed loose metal bristles. Several people required medical treatment to remove bristles lodged in their throat or digestive tract.
Amazon's 2026 Labor Day sale has begun offering the first small cash discounts on the base and mid-tier configurations of Apple's newly announced M6 Mac mini, ahead of its September 22 release. The sale also includes $50 off AirPods Pro 3, AirTag 2 for as low as $20, the 44mm Apple Watch SE 3 at $200, and discounts from Anker and Bose.