Apr 18, 2018

Howard Schultz: Starbucks' diversity training is “only the beginning”

Michael Sykes

Starbucks Executive Chairman Howard Schultz told CBS This Morning Tuesday that closing the company's 8,000 stores for a day of diversity training is just the start of several measures the company will be taking to deal with issues of unconscious bias after two black men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks store.

"There's no doubt in my mind that the reason that [the police] were called was because they were African American. And I think I'm embarrassed by that and I'm ashamed of that. That's not who Starbucks is."
— Howard Schultz
  • "I'm embarrassed, ashamed. I think what occurred was reprehensible at every single level. I think I take it very personally as everyone in our company does and we're committed to making it right."
  • "It will cost millions of dollars, but I've always viewed this and things like this as not an expense, but an investment in our people and our company. And we're better than this."

Go deeper

Kendall Baker

MLB's Rob Manfred is latest villain in Astros' cheating scandal

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's decision to grant Astros players immunity in exchange for confessions about their sign-stealing scheme has undermined his reputation — and he only made himself look worse on Sunday.

The interview: In a 45-minute conversation with ESPN, Manfred asserted that public shame was punishment enough for the Astros. He also called the World Series trophy "just a piece of metal" and said that taking a title away from Houston "seems like a futile act."

Go deeperArrow31 mins ago - Sports
Dion Rabouin

Economists warn coronavirus risk far worse than realized

Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

Worries are growing that the economic impact from the novel coronavirus outbreak will be worse than expected and that markets are being too complacent in factoring it in as a risk.

What's happening: The number of confirmed cases has already far outpaced expectations and even those reports are being viewed through a lens of suspicion that the Chinese government is underreporting the figures.

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Economy & Business
Sara Fischer

National newspapers thrive while local outlets struggle to survive

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

While big national newspapers grow stronger, local newspaper chains that have for decades kept the vast majority of the country informed are combusting.

Why it matters: The inequity between giants like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and their local counterparts represents a growing problem in America as local communities no longer have the power to set the agenda for the news that most affects them.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Economy & Business