Trick-or-treat: If you’re still deciding on whether to buy Halloween candy for the crowds of trick-or-treaters roaming the streets tonight, there’s good news: candy prices are less frightening this year, NPR reports. Data from IHS Markit shows 2017 Halloween candy prices dropping 0.9% compared to last year—largely due to a boast in global cocoa production. This is the second Halloween candy price drop in a row. Spending on Halloween candy, meanwhile, is expected to increase 4.1% this month, reaching $4.1 billion. Designated trick-or-treating hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. in East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston parishes. Read more.
Approved: The Federal Communications Commission has given final approval of CenturyLink’s $24 billion acquisition of Colorado-based Level 3 Communications. CenturyLink, based in Monroe, expects the deal to close Wednesday. The company provides landline and broadband services mostly to rural areas, and is hoping the acquisition will help it expand its reach to business customers. It’s also hoping to compete with rivals AT&T and Verizon. Longtime CEO Glen Post will retire on Jan. 1, 2019, at which time current Level 3 President Jeff Storey will take over as CEO of the combined company. Read more.
Real news: Executives for Facebook, Twitter and Google are set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee today and Wednesday on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The companies have been under constant pressure from Congress since it was first revealed earlier this year that Russians had infiltrated some of their platforms. All three firms are expected to face questions about what evidence of Russian interference they found on their services, as well as why they didn’t find it earlier. Read more.
