Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees, but I don't really need it.

Infliction is killing me!

But who cares? Big retailers are making record profits!

That's why we support the Durban Marshall Credit Card Bill!

See? Banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll.

This bill would cut the vital resources they need.

While increasing megastore profits, they deserve it. Don't they?

Tell Congress, stop the Durban Marshall money grab for corporate megastores.

Paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition.

Here is your morning brief for Monday, March 16th. I'm Luke Vargas for the Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. is appealing for help in its push to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to marine traffic.

President Trump said that seven countries had been approached about policing the waterway.

A mission he seemed to imply was low stakes. While he declined to name names, Trump Alba confirmed that China was asked to help protect the strait. According to AAA, gas prices across the U.S.

today are averaging $3.72 a gallon, up 24 cents from a week ago. WTI and Brent crude futures,

meanwhile, are both trading above $100 a barrel

this morning. Roughly 3,800 workers at a major Colorado meatpacking plant are set to go on

strike this morning after failing to negotiate a new labor contract, which would be the first

walkout at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse since the 1980s. It comes as cattle populations hit a 75-year

low, driving the price of ground beef up 17 percent over the last year. And airline executives

are urging Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and ensure that

air traffic controllers and airport security officers are paid during government shutdowns.

Travelers are experiencing long way times at airports at the start of the busy travel season,

...