Business News at a Glance

How a Coal Baron’s Wish List Became President Trump’s To-Do List

President Donald Trump’s first year in office has been a boon for the coal industry. Environmentalists have expressed alarm at the new direction, and have complained that Trump was following a blueprint from the coal industry. A memo written by the head of the country’s largest coal mining company suggests they might not be wrong. The memo was written by Robert E. Murray. In it, Murray presented Trump with a wish list of environmental rollbacks. Nearly a year later, the White House and federal agencies have completed or are on track to fulfill most of the 14 detailed requests.

AT&T Drops Huawei’s New Smartphone Amid Security Worries

With an advanced screen, a special artificial-intelligence microchip and an eye-popping price, the newest smartphone from Huawei Technologies was meant to show Americans what China can do with technology. Instead, AT&T walked away from a deal to sell the Huawei smartphone, the Mate 10, to customers in the United States just before the partnership was set to be unveiled, two people familiar with the plans said Tuesday. The FCC apparently has expressed concern over the security of the phone and Huawei's ties with the Chinese government.

As Economy Strengthens, Fed Ponders New Approach

In the wake of a deep economic crisis and a disappointingly slow recovery, a growing number of experts say it is time for the Fed to consider a new approach to managing the economy. The Fed has focused on keeping inflation slow and steady, at about 2 percent a year. Those pushing for a new approach do not agree on the best alternative but there is broad agreement that the Fed should seize the moment. Christina Romer, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, said, “Now really is the time for every monetary economist to say, ‘Is there something better?’”

As Electric Cars’ Prospects Brighten, Japan Fears Being Left Behind

Japan is scrambling to ensure it has a future in an electric-car world. Toyota, the country’s largest automaker, pioneered gasoline-electric hybrids but has long been skeptical about consumers’ appetite for cars that run on batteries alone. Now, under pressure from foreign rivals like Tesla, the company says it is developing a batch of new electric models. The Japanese government has made managing the shift to next-generation vehicles a priority, but critics say its approach lacks focus. It has bet big on hydrogen fuel cells, an alternative technology that is struggling to win widespread support.

Power Companies Got a Tax Cut. Will Your Bill Reflect It?

The newly passed tax law could save Americans billions of dollars on their utility bills. In recent days, electric companies in Massachusetts, Illinois, Oregon and other states have announced plans to pass their tax cuts on to customers through lower rates. Other utilities might be forced to follow suit. In much of the country. State regulators across the country have said they will make sure that actually happens. And in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday, the attorneys general of several states, including Massachusetts, Texas and New York, asked the agency to act as well.

Fast-Food Workers Claim Victory in a New York Labor Effort

With labor unions seeing their influence wane, more than 200 organizations have sprouted nationwide to help low-wage workers. But nearly all these groups say they are hampered by a lack of dependable funding. To the dismay of many business groups, New York City enacted an innovative law last year that many labor advocates hope will become a model to finance such organizations across the nation. Under the law, fast-food employees who want to contribute to a nonprofit, nonunion workers’ group can insist on having the restaurant they work for deduct money from their pay and forward that money to the group.

Warner Bros. Shakes Up Senior Film Ranks, Ending a Power Struggle

Ending a power struggle in its senior ranks, Warner Bros. on Tuesday gave control of worldwide film production, marketing and distribution to Toby Emmerich, who rose through the studio by finding hits like “It” and shepherding “The Lord of the Rings” movies. Sue Kroll, one of Hollywood’s highest-ranking female executives, will leave Warner’s management team on April 1 to become a producer on the studio’s lot, where she will have offices next to Clint Eastwood and work on films like a remake of “A Star Is Born.” The changes are being made as Warner anticipates new corporate oversight.