Amazon’s closing in on HQ2, AT&T accuses DOJ of colluding with Dish, and more top news

The news professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments.

Amazon has narrowed down its search for a second headquarters to a handful of places including Crystal City, Va., Dallas, and New York City, says The Wall Street Journal. Yet it’s Crystal City that’s firming as the favorite, according to The Washington Post. Amazon has purportedly gone as far as examining the logistics of relocating employees to the metropolis, which is located in Northern Virginia, just a few miles from Washington D.C. — scrutinizing the specific buildings it would occupy and plotting how the announcement would be rolled out publicly. ? Here’s what people are saying.

AT&T’s WarnerMedia is accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of “collaborating” with Dish Network, in its current feud with the satellite company. The dispute has led to Warner’s HBO network going dark for the first time in its 40-year history, affecting the 2.5 million Dish-connected households who are HBO subscribers. The DOJ has appealed the approval of AT&T’s $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner. AT&T claims that the DOJ collaborated with Dish on its “tactical decision to drop HBO” and the two continue to “collaborate closely” on the antitrust appeal. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Former GE executive John Flannery, fired as CEO after just 14 months in the job, will collect $4.25 million in severance payments in the next year. Flannery was sacked after the board became aware of deepening problems at General Electric’s power unit that led to it issuing both profit and cash-flow warnings for 2018. The company also disclosed that it will allow him to retain equity awards currently valued at several million dollars. And after 30 years at GE, when Flannery turns 60, he will be handed a pension that was recently valued at $23.6 million. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Ikea will trial one of its smaller outlets in New York, following the success of its first so-called “Planning Store” in London. The Swedish company — traditionally known for its massive, out-of-town outlets — said that the central London store had been an experiment, which could now be rolled out in other cities including Riyadh, Shanghai and Tokyo. The small store format caters to the increasing number of city-dwellers who do not have a car, the retailer says. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Disney is pouring all of its marketing might into celebrating Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday this month, revving its cross-promotional machine up to what The New York Times says is perhaps “its highest level yet.” The company has created cupcakes the size of cars, collaborated with a dozen fashion designers and created more than 30 books to mark the occasion. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy are Disney’s greatest money-making products — bringing home at least $3.2 billion per year in retail sales. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: News can be a source of positive energy in our lives, writes journalist and Kinzen co-founder and CEO Mark Little.

“It’s time to rediscover the joy that comes with knowledge of the world, and your unique place in it.”

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— Carmel Melouney and Jessica Hartogs