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The U.S. Treasury said on Thursday it is phasing out the penny and will soon stop putting new one-cent coins into circulation. The U.S. Mint, which produces the coins, made its final order of penny blanks and will stop producing themafter over two centurieswhen those run out, reported The Associated Press. (The penny was first issued in 1793, when it featured a woman.) Like many things these days, it turns out the cost of making a penny is a lot more expensive than it used to beover 20% more in 2024, to be precise, according to the Treasury. Blame it on higher costs of production and materials, but either way, the U.S. lost more than $85 million making the penny last year, per The Wall Street Journal. Halting production is expected to save taxpayers $56 million annually. The decision isn’t surprisingkilling the penny has had bipartisan support in recent years. Back in February, President Donald Trump said he ordered the U.S. Mint to halt penny production. Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency also targeted the penny, posting on X that it costs more than 3 cents to make each one, for a cost of over $179 million to U.S. taxpayers in fiscal 2023. Don’t worry, you can still use your pennies for now, but be prepared to round up to a nickel, since eventually businesses will run out of them. However, a look at the numbers also shows that nickels cost even more money to produce at 13.8 cents each, or 11 cents for production costs plus 2.8 cents for administrative and distribution, based on the most recent fiscal year, per CNN.
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E-Commerce
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday that $365 million originally slated for solar projects in Puerto Rico will be diverted to improve the islands crumbling power grid, sparking an outcry just days before the Atlantic hurricane season starts. The funds had been in limbo in recent weeks, with the Department of Energy missing a recent deadline to finalize contracts worth $365 million that would see battery-operated solar systems installed at health clinics and public housing units in Puerto Rico. The money had been set aside for that purpose under the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden. That money was spring-loaded to flow now, said Javier Rúa Jovet, public policy director for Puerto Ricos Solar and Energy Storage Association. He and others criticized the move. This is shameful, Democratic New York Rep. Nydia Velázquez wrote on X, noting that the funds were meant to serve the most vulnerable. Republicans have turned their backs on those who need it most, just one week before the start of hurricane season, she wrote. Grantees that include the nonprofit Hispanic Federation had said the funds were urgently needed to provide stable power to people, including those on dialysis, as major outages continue to hit Puerto Rico. Pretending that reallocating these funds will make any immediate difference on the stability of the electric grid, when the grid already has an $18 billion allocation, is just a way to distract from the real consequences of their decision. Puerto Rico deserves better, said Frankie Miranda, the federation’s CEO and president. The Department of Energy said in a statement that the money would now be used to support technologies that improve system flexibility and response, power flow and control, component strength, supply security, and safety. A spokesperson for the Department of Energy told The Associated Press that the money would be used for things including upgrading aging infrastructure, clearing vegetation from transmission lines, and dispatching baseload generation units. The department said it has final authority over how the funds will be used, adding that the solar projects were not scheduled to be constructed until 2026. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement that redirecting the funds would ensure that taxpayer dollars are used to strengthen access to affordable, reliable, and secure power, benefiting more citizens as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González praised the move in a statement, saying it would help all 3.2 million residents on the island instead of a few customers. Puerto Rico is facing an energy emergency that requires we act now and deliver immediate solutions. Our communities, businesses, and healthcare facilities cannot afford to wait years, nor can we rely on piecemeal approaches with limited results, she said. González previously came under fire as her support for investing $1 billion of federal funds in solar projects across Puerto Rico appeared to fade. A spokeswoman for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment and details. A spokeswoman for Josué Colón, the islands so-called energy czar, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Dwindling power generation Rúa Jovet noted that there are currently at least $16 billion in unspent funds from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency meant to improve Puerto Ricos electric grid, adding that the $365 million should be used for its original purpose. There is nothing faster and better than solar batteries, he said. We should all be moving as fast as we can on generation. Officials in Puerto Rico already have warned that there will be a shortage of generation this summer. In addition, the Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and it is predicted to be above average, with nine anticipated hurricanes, four of them major. Many in Puerto Rico worry that any storm, regardless of how small, could knock out the grid, given its fragile state. Puerto Rico already was hit with island-wide blackouts on Dec. 31 and April 16. The diversion of funds come as González criticizes the work of Luma Energy, which oversees transmission and distribution of power on the island, and Genera PR, which oversees generation. The two private companies were contracted by the previous administration as Puerto Ricos Electric Power Authority struggled to restructure more than $9 billion in public debt, with mediation still stalled. “Elections have consequences” Under Biden, there was a push for more renewable energy projects in Puerto Rico, where crews are still rebuilding the power grid after Hurricane Maria hit in September 2017 as a powerful Category 4 storm. But the grid was already weak before the storm hit, given a lack of maintenance and investment for decades. Rúa Jovet said the Department of Energys decision is an ideological one supported by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Of the $1 billion allocated for solar projects in Puerto Rico under Biden, $450 million already has been granted to install solar rooftop and batteries in thousands of homes located in rural areas or whose occupants have medical needs. Overall, roughly 117,000 homes and businesses on the island currently have solar rooftops. More than 60% of energy in Puerto Rico is generated by petroleum-fired power plants, 24% by natural gas, 8% by coal, and 7% by renewables, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. By Dánica Coto, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Epic Universe is massive. Spanning over 110 acres, the new Florida theme park from Universal Studios, which opens today, has created four different themed lands that captivate the imagination and offer a wide array of thrills for park enthusiasts: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. That count jumps to five if you count Celestial Park, the hub of Epic Universe, with several restaurants and two big rides of its own. The park is massive financially as well. Universal spent an estimated $6 to $7 billion to create the theme park. Dr. Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Floridas Institute for Economic Forecasting, estimates it will generate $2 billion for the state of Florida in its first year and create more than 17,500 jobs in year one. Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, saw the divisions theme park revenue drop in the first quarter of 2025 due to the L.A. wildfires. But the company expects to see a big boost from the new Orlando park. A one-day adult ticket runs $139, while children will pay $135 for a single-day pass. (Florida residents do not currently get a discount.) Each of the lands in Epic Universe is painstakingly detailed, creating several different incredibly immersive experiences. But the grandeur of Epic Universe comes at a cost: Crowds. If youre planning on going anytime soon, be prepared to wait. Some lines in previews of the park were more than five hours longand theyre likely to be longer at times in the opening months. If you opt to wait until the lines are shorter (and dont want to spend an extra $140 for an express pass) or simply are looking for something to do besides shop and eat in your downtime, the parks developers have included a slew of Easter eggslittle details and hidden secrets that make the experience even more fun. Here are some to keep an eye out for. Super Nintendo World [Photo: Universal Studios] Learn the secret drink at Dark Universe Head to the DR. H. Jekyll Apotheker in Darkmoor (the village within the Dark Universe portal) and listen closely. Youll hear Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde arguing. Stick around and youll learn the name of an off-the-menu drink, which you can order at the Burning Blade Tavern. Find a key piece of Harry Potter lore If youre willing to shell out $85, you can buy an interactive wand to cast spells at certain locations in Universals Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which trigger effects. One of those in Epic Universes Ministry of Magic will reward you with a look at the Sorcerers Stone, which fans of the books might remember, was in Paris in the time frame of this land (set during the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them period). Look in the area of the Le Gobelet Noir restaurant. The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Ministry Of Magic at night [Photo: Universal Studios] Try a ride more than once If the lines arent too bad, its worth taking a second ride on several of the coasters, not just to get the adrenaline rush once again, but because the dialogue and soundtrack are often different on different tracks. Hiccups Wing Gliders, for instance, has different dialogue from the dragon trainer, depending on whether you choose the right or left track. Look for nods to other Universal franchises Stardust Racers is one of the best and most intense rides in Epic Universe. Located in Celestial Park, its not tied with any of the themed properties of the portals, but that doesnt mean it doesnt have a link to a well-known franchise. On the back of the coaster, sharp-eyed fans will see a flux capacitor, the device that powered Doc Browns time machine in Back to the Future. Maybe thats what gives the coaster its three incredible bursts of speed through the course of the track. Not a fan of Back to the Future? The Curse of the Werewolf ride has a blink-and-youll-miss-it nod to the classic An American Werewolf in London film, with a replica of the iconic red jacket worn by David Naughton in the 1981 film hung in the barn youll zip through a time or two. Hiccups Wing Gliders [Photo: Universal Studios] Study the bathroom details
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