Comment on St. Louis spends millions on economic development, with little growth to show

Alejandra Rojas is a trauma-informed finance professional and a money mindset mentor. Courtesy of Alejandra RojasAlejandra Rojas started building her business as a finance mentor on social media as a side hustle. Rojas found a online business coach via their free workshop, then hired them for personal sessions. She said the coaching wasn't the right fit and made her doubt herself as an entrepreneur.

The Moxie robot toy is going out of business, and children are having to say goodbye to their friends. EmbodiedThe Moxie AI robot cost $800 and was marketed to parents to help teach children social skills. The company sent customers an email in late November announcing it would be shutting down.

Former President Donald Trump was attacked by a gunman identified by authorities as Thomas Crooks, whom BlackRock said also featured in an ad about a teacher at Bethel Park High School. VIEW press / Getty ImagesBlackRock is on a string of multibillion-dollar acquisitions to bolster its private-markets prowess. In late November, the asset management titan bought private-credit firm HPS for $12 billion.

Russian forces at Khmeimim air base, pictured here in a 2017 photo with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, are likely still maintaining a presence in Syria. Anadolu/Getty ImagesRussia hasn't mass-evacuated troops and gear out of its key bases in Syria. A senior analyst said the signs would be clear — such a retreat would be difficult to hide.

China's exports were robust in November ahead of Christmas, but they still missed forecasts. Wan Shanchao/VCG/Getty ImagesChina's exports grew 6.7% in November, hitting $312 billion, despite economic challenges. The growth reverses last year's decline, driven by strong global demand and frontloaded orders. Beijing is planning proactive fiscal policies amid tariff threats from President-elect Trump.

GM is winding down its robotaxi bet and folding Cruise into its self-driving development arm. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty ImagesGM is halting Cruise robotaxi development, merging it with its own technical team. The decision follows safety issues, regulatory challenges, and intense competition in the field. Cruise competes with Alphabet's Waymo, Zoox, and potentially with Tesla's Cybercabs.