Coldwater Creek assets acquired by Hong Kong-based company (chainstoreage.com)

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $19.80 billion for the retail month of April, the four weeks ended May 5, 2024, an increase of 7.1 percent from $18.48 billion last year. Net sales for the first 35 weeks were $166.44 billion, an increase of 7.0 percent from $155.62 billion last year.

With oral arguments set for November 29, some 17 organizations and individuals have teamed up to file six separate amicus briefs urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to uphold a lower court decision striking key provisions of HB 900, Texas’s controversial book rating law. Among the briefs and arguments filed on November 17: The Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Association of School Librarians: "Appellants argue that HB 900 is simply an innocuous mechanism to protect school children from 'sexually explicit materials.' The Association of University Presses; Barnes & Noble; the Educational Book and Media Association; Freedom to Learn Advocates; Half Price Books, Records, Magazines; the Independent Book Publishers Association; Penguin Random House; and Sourcebooks: "First, the mandatory ratings are classic 'compelled speech' in violation of the First Amendment. As the District Court held, [HB 900] impermissibly compels Amici to 'create speech that [we do] not wish to make, and in addition, in which [we do] not agree with,' in violation of the First Amendment.

Highlights: *Second quarter net sales and earnings exceed expectations and company raises full year 2021 financial outlook *Second quarter net sales increase 31.4% *Record second quarter diluted earnings per share of $2.48 and company raises full year 2021 guidance to $5.80 to $6.10 *Strengthened financial position during the quarter, ending with $2.6 billion in cash *Repurchased $255 million of shares in the quarter and now plans to repurchase $500 million to $700 million of shares in 2021. “Our performance in the second quarter marked another important step in further establishing Kohl’s as the leading destination for the active and casual lifestyle. We delivered record second quarter earnings with sales and margins materially exceeding expectations. As pleased as we are with our ongoing strategic progress, much of our opportunity is still ahead of us. We are on the eve of launching several transformational partnerships that will drive sustainable growth for years to come,” said Michelle Gass, Kohl’s chief executive officer.