Energy stocks as a whole delivered an underwhelming performance in 2025. The average one in the S&P 500 has only managed to eke out a small gain (the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund -- an ETF that tracks energy stocks in the S&P 500 -- is only up about 1% on the year). Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has rallied more than 25%. A few Fool.com contributors expect a better performance from energy stocks next year. Chevron ( CVX 0.01% ) , Enterprise Products Partners ( EPD -0.23% ) , and Occidental Petroleum ( OXY 0.75% ) top their lists as the best ones to buy in the new year. Here's why they expect these energy companies to deliver a strong performance in 2025. Chevron has you covered through the energy cycle Reuben Gregg Brewer (Chevron): Energy stocks can be volatile, given that oil and natural gas prices are notoriously volatile. So you have to go in ready to handle the inherent ups and downs of the industry, regardless of whether you buy at the top of the energy cycle or the bottom. Chevron is built to ride the wave -- and keep paying you well throughout. The proof is in the $250 billion market cap energy giant's 37-year streak of annual dividend increases. There are a couple of important reasons for this reliable performance. First off, as an integrated energy company, Chevron has exposure across the energy sector, including the upstream (energy production), midstream ( pipelines ), and downstream (chemicals and refining). Each of the sectors operates a little differently from the others and, as such, having all three in the portfolio helps to soften the broader industry's peaks and valleys. CVX Debt to Equity Ratio data by YCharts Then there's Chevron's rock-solid balance sheet , with a debt-to-equity ratio that's a very low 0.2. That would be low for any company, but it gives Chevron the leeway to take on leverage during energy downturns so it can continue to support its business and dividend until the energy sector recovers, as it always has before. Add in an attractive 4.5% dividend yield , and there's even more reason to buy Chevron right now. Dual drivers should fuel more growth in 2025 Matt DiLallo (Enterprise Products Partners ): Midstream giant Enterprise Products Partners had a very solid year in 2024. The master limited partnership ( MLP ) grew its distributable cash flow by 5% in the third quarter. Meanwhile, it has increased its distribution payment by 5% over the past year. The company benefited from recently completed organic expansion projects, which supplied it with new sources of cash flow . That momentum should continue in 2025. The midstream company has several more organic expansion projects in the pipeline that should enter commercial service over the next year. Those projects will supply more sources of cash flow growth next year. In addition, Enterprise Products Partners will get a boost from its recently closed acquisition of Pinon Midstream. The $950 million deal will be highly accretive to its cash flow. The MLP expects it to add $0.03 per unit in 2025, with further upside potential from commercial and operating synergies. Those visible growth drivers should give the MLP the fuel to continue increasing its distribution in 2025. That would extend its growth streak, which reached 26 years in 2024. Its payout currently yields a very attractive 6.8%, putting it much higher than average (the S&P 500's dividend yield is around 1.2%). Enterprise Products Partners' lucrative income stream and visible growth drivers should give it the fuel to produce a solid return in 2025. That low-risk probability of earning a solid return makes it stand out as a top energy stock to buy for the next year. A compelling bounce-back candidate for 2025 Neha Chamaria (Occidental Petroleum): Occidental Petroleum stock turned out to be one of the largest underperforming large-cap energy stocks of 2024, losing 19% of its value in the year as of this writing. While falling oil prices in the second half of the year hit several oil stocks, Occidental Petroleum stock took a bigger hit partly because of debt, which zoomed after its multibillion-dollar CrownRock acquisition in August. At this point, however, Occidental Petroleum looks like the kind of energy stock you'd want to buy for 2025 for one big reason: Management is laser-focused on cutting down debt. Occidental announced a target of reducing debt by at least $4.5 billion within 12 months of closing the CrownRock acquisition. The company, however, hit 90% of its goal in less than three months, driven by strong cash flow generation in its third quarter. During its third-quarter earnings conference call, management stated that Occidental Petroleum has enough cash to repay debt maturing in 2025, and that it should be able to pare debt further next year even in a low-oil price environment. Meanwhile, CrownRock's key assets in the Permian Basin are already contributing to Occidental's production and cash flows, as was evidenced in the third quarter. Occidental also has other growth catalysts, such as its low-carbon ventures business and its chemicals business, called OxyChem. Given the backdrop, Occidental Petroleum looks like a value stock worth betting on for 2025 .A good Samaritan who went outside to grab a delivery found two infant girls dumped in a ditch near his home in the US state of Indiana after the car they were in was stolen. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on Monday asked for the public’s help in locating a silver Hyundai Sonata that was stolen with a four-month-old girl and a five-month-old girl in the backseat. About 20 minutes after police appealed for information on social media, officials shared an update that the children had been found safe and the vehicle had been located. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The good Samaritan had gone outside to collect a package when he saw two car seats, NBC affiliate WTHR of Indianapolis reported. The baby girls had been left in the car seats in the cold. The man brought the babies inside and called 911. Police confirmed that the babies were the missing girls from the stolen vehicle, the news station reported. The car was found near where the children were left. William Young, with the Indianapolis police department, told WTHR that he could not thank the good Samaritan enough. “It’s cold out here, who knows what would have happened if this particular individual hadn’t gone outside,” he said. A suspect has not yet been taken into custody.
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Keanu Reeves on John Wick 5: Heart says yes, knees say... maybe notWhen you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more When the power goes out or off-grid adventure calls, two modern solutions allow you to continue accessing electrical power: portable generators and power stations. These devices both provide mobile power — serving as a power supply for individual items or backup to your home's primary energy source — and are designed with portability in mind, thanks to their (relatively) compact shape and weight, as well as wheels and handles for easy transport. Portable generators convert gasoline or propane into electricity and offer a high output that's perfect for power-hungry appliances and equipment for construction sites, food trucks, and prolonged power outages. Power stations — essentially large rechargeable batteries — provide silent, emission-free energy that's well-suited to camping, outdoor events, and those who prefer clean indoor backup power. Whether you're interested in preparing for extreme weather events or want to maintain power access during outdoor recreation activities, one of these mobile units will get the job done. It just comes down to identifying which of these will best suit your needs. What are portable generators In the words of Nate Wade, merchandise manager at Batteries Plus , “a portable generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.” By using an internal combustion engine to power an alternator, these machines essentially allow you to use fuel (either gasoline, propane, or diesel) to generate electricity — to power a range of electronic devices. Unlike larger fixed generators, portable generators are designed to be easily transported, featuring sturdy carrying handles for smaller models and wheeled bases for larger machines. This mobility makes them particularly useful for areas without easy access to power. According to Wade, outdoor events (powering lighting and sound systems), construction job sites where temporary power is needed for tools or equipment, as well as a backup power source in the event of an outage at home, are all typical use cases for a portable generator. Portable generators can vary in terms of overall power output (measured in watt-hours (Wh)), from larger 5000-watt versions that can power larger appliances like refrigerators for 8-12 hours to smaller items like lights and fans for 10+ hours on a 2000-watt model. With standard outlets identical to those in your home, you can plug in smaller devices like smartphones and tablets as well. Conventional generators: These run at full capacity at all times, regardless of the electrical output required. This makes them louder than inverter generators and less efficient. Wade added that they’re also cheaper, “letting you back up essential functions with higher wattage demands without breaking the bank.” Inverter generators : Built with advanced technology, inverter generators have the ability to adjust their power output to match demand. This makes them more efficient, producing less emissions and overall noise than conventional generators. “Inverter generators are also more compact and lightweight and are ideal for powering delicate electronics,” says Wade. Portable generator pros and cons Read more in our guide to the best portable generators . What are power stations A power station (also called a portable power generator) is a rechargeable battery system that can power electronic devices and appliances. According to Wade, these devices store electricity in built-in rechargeable batteries and “can be charged via wall outlets, solar panels, or even car chargers”. They typically feature multiple output options like AC outlets, USB ports, and DC outputs for a variety of charging options. Wade explained that some power stations use lithium-ion batteries while others use newer battery chemistries like lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). These newer batteries provide increased thermal stability — naturally increasing their overall safety — and a longer lifespan than standard lithium-ion options. Their quiet operation and portability make power stations ideal for off-grid activities like camping or road trips that benefit from reduced noise levels. Since they don’t generate any fumes, they’re also ideal for indoor use, which is especially convenient for powering phones, laptops, and other electronics in an emergency. While there aren’t specific types of power stations (like portable generators), they do come in a range of capacities, which can help customers determine which is best for their needs. Small (under 300Wh): These compact models are best for charging smaller items like laptops, smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets. Medium (300 - 1000Wh): In addition to smaller items, these can power small appliances like small fans, CPAP machines, LED lights, and coffee makers. Large (over 1000Wh): These power stations can handle high-draw appliances like refrigerators, electric grills, window unit AC units, or multiple smaller items at once. (Although actual runtime depends on the amount and wattage requirements of the item's drawing power). Portable generator vs. power stations: The differences The main difference between portable generators and power stations is their power source. Generators run on fuel, such as gas or propane, while power stations run on stored battery power. This means that generators are more suited to power outages since their power source does not rely on access to a working power grid. When power stations are depleted in an outage, they must either source energy from another power station or use a solar panel system — both of which are much less convenient to source than gas or propane. Portable generators also generally cost much less than power stations. Prices of both can vary depending on the capacity and functionality, but in general, power stations cost roughly two to three times more than generators of similar wattage. Keep in mind that generators require additional fuel costs to keep them running, which is typically much higher than power stations (based on the average electricity rate of $.12/kWh). Solar charging has no direct cost but requires a solar panel investment. Overall capacity is another big difference, with portable generators typically offering more watt hours than power stations. Wade explains that this means “generators offer higher power output for longer periods, while power stations are more suited to small devices and shorter usage times”. Noise and emissions are the clearest differences between the two options. The combustion engine of a portable generator produces high noise levels and potentially deadly carbon monoxide ( much more than an automobile ). Because of these factors (particularly the high risk of carbon monoxide poisoning), generators cannot be used indoors. Power stations run with almost zero noise and no emissions and can be used indoors without issue. Generators are also generally much larger, heavier, and more challenging to transport than power stations. This superior portability makes power stations much more convenient to store when not in use and to carry to and from a vehicle or different area of your home. The bottom line In a nutshell, while generators are more powerful and run longer, power stations are significantly easier to use and maintain. For those whose top priority is emergency use in a power outage and who don’t want to be hindered by limited runtime or slow solar charging, a portable generator is the best choice. Just make sure you’re comfortable handling the maintenance requirements and aware of the carbon monoxide risk (these emissions can affect those inside your home, even when used within 20 feet of a window). If convenient transport and short-term, portable power is your goal, go with a power station. Just make sure that their limited capacity is still sufficient to power your items.JonBenet Ramsey murder case key players: Where are they now?Rivalry Closes Third Tranche Of Non-Brokered Private Placement
Marvell Earnings: What to Know and What the Stock Is Doing - Barron'sTaylor Swift ‘s weekend out and about in New York City continued Saturday night (Dec. 28). She was photographed with Travis Kelce in the Meatpacking District, where the two were reportedly seen arriving at private supper club Chez Margaux. The foundation of the singer-songwriter’s outfit was a mod Fleur du Mal mini dress ( Long Sleeve Flared Corset Dress , $495). The flattering stretch jacquard mini features a mock neck, corset seaming and boning, and a flare skirt. Swift topped the dress with a long, black coat by Simkhai that combines a classic, tailored silhouette with festive sparkle, thanks to its embellished design ( Gianni Coat , $995). Strappy Louboutin sandals with a substantial heel and carefully chosen jewelry, including a pair of De Beers Arpeggia One Line Earrings, rounded out what looked to be a date-night ensemble. Swift and Kelce’s Saturday night out followed a Friday dinner with the pop star’s longtime friend and producer Jack Antonoff and his wife, Margaret Qualley. Both couples were photographed outside BondST , a NoHo restaurant with Japanese-inspired cuisine. Swift’s post-holiday social outings in New York come after she wrapped her record-breaking Eras Tour, which grossed $2 billion , earlier this month in Vancouver — and after spending some time in Kansas City, Mo., where she visited patients at Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital and attended the Chiefs-Texans game at Arrowhead Stadium. Swift’s December also brought 10 Billboard Music Awards , including Top Artist. She’s the most celebrated artist in the history of the BBMAs, having collected a total of 49 wins so far. See the stylish winter outfit Swift wore on Saturday night below.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones credits head coach Mike McCarthy for the team's performance on Sunday night, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a fourth win in the past five games to push their record to 7-8. "All I can say is what a good job, how good a job he's doing," Jones said of McCarthy, whose contract expires when the regular season ends Jan. 5. "Don't have thoughts that I would share as to anything about what we do after we're through playing this year." Jones said last month it wouldn't be "crazy at all" to ponder a contract extension for McCarthy despite Dallas missing the playoffs and a steep decline from a 12-5 regular season in 2023. The Cowboys won the NFC East last season but will finish third in 2024. The final two games of the regular season are against NFC East-leading Philadelphia and current wild-card holder Washington. How the Cowboys perform in those games might ultimately determine the direction the Cowboys go with McCarthy and the coaching position. The Cowboys beat the Commanders at Washington last month to end a five-game losing streak that started the current run of success. Dallas was eliminated from the playoff picture Sunday by virtue of the Commanders' win over the Eagles earlier in the day. But they got another win on Sunday night, sinking the Buccaneers 26-24 by forcing a fumble by Rachaad White in the final minute of the game. The Cowboys also had an interception and four sacks in the game. "They wouldn't give it up out there. So I'm real, real proud of them," Jones said. "Mike McCarthy, he just won't let them not think they're playing for the Super Bowl out there. He won't let them do it. So proud of that." --Field Level MediaTrenton forecast: cloudy with a chance of more crap (L.A. PARKER COLUMN)
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle deeply ‘hurt’ by German documentary 'Harry - The Lost Prince', claims sourceJimmy Carter, in his own words: Memorable quotes from the former presidentThe National Economy and Finance Ministry on Monday signed a joint ministerial agreement with the Labor and Social Insurance Ministry that will introduce a new form of unemployment benefit, initially on a pilot basis. The revised structure of the unemployment benefit, which until now has been a flat amount received for a fixed period of time for all unemployed, irrespective of salary size or previous years of work, is based on a study conducted by the Public Employment Service (DYPA) in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development under DG Reform support program. The issue of the benefit will be automated and have three parts, including a fixed part that is 70% of the minimum wage (or an individual’s average wages if lower), and variable bonus parts determined by years of insurance and average pay (when this is higher than the minimum wage).Nokia Corp. ADR rises Tuesday, outperforms market
Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary football
Hired dog walker Helaina Timson walks 6-year-old Florence on Friday at the Allen County Humane Society. Florence has been adopted. Charlotte Caldwell | The Lima News LIMA — On Nov. 18, the Ohio SPCA and Allen County Humane Society board of directors suspended the volunteer dog walking program, sparking criticism on social media and bringing attention and signatures to a petition started in 2023. “After several recent incidents involving injuries to dogs and volunteers, this is the best decision for the health and safety of the dogs and our staff and volunteers,” the Ohio SPCA and Humane Society wrote in a Facebook post . In a separate post , the organization specified a dog named Rascal caused serious injury to someone and prompted the board to hire a behaviorist and dog walkers before volunteer dog walkers would be reintroduced. The shelter currently has three hired dog walkers and is looking for a fourth and has teamed up with Joshua Osting, the founder of Exceptionally Obedient Dogs LLC out of Fort Jennings, according to shelter manager Sherry Bernard. The employees have already had one training session with Osting, she said. Bernard said the shelter currently has about 20 dogs that are ready for adoption and walk with the dog walkers and about 40 dogs in the building total. In addition to the petition and social media comments, one complaint — which is public record — has been filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Office by Lisa Harding, a former board member from Lima. “The financial records are not well kept, no reports provided to the board at meetings. No record of how much donations come in for the Lima shelter. Online donations are deposited into sanctuary account. Lima board is given no proof that transferred funds are actually the amount received by the sanctuary. No records or reports are given,” Harding wrote, adding the organization has “inconsistent policies and procedures.” Organization’s response to rumors John Bell, the organization’s attorney based out of Columbus and a member of the board of directors, confirmed the board wants the volunteer dog walking program to return after the staff are trained by the behaviorist and get on the same page with how dogs should be handled. Bell has over 20 years of experience working with animal welfare groups. “It is our intention to, at some point in the future, resume the volunteer dog walkers. That has always been our intention, and the suspension of that program has always been temporary,” Bell said. “The issue is not the people. The issue is the animals. Our concern is that if they’re not handled by folks who understand how to do this correctly, they won’t be socialized and ready to be adopted,” he continued. “In order for them to be socialized, we have to have people who do more with them than just take them out of the cage, spin them around the yard and bring them back.” He mentioned other tasks volunteers can do while the dog walking is suspended, like feeding, bathing and grooming the dogs and cleaning the areas where the animals are housed. Bell explained the way animals are categorized at the shelter coming in depending on their past behavior. “When an animal comes in, their behavior is assessed, and they are sorted into groups according to the level of our comfort with their behavior. They have green, yellow and red. Reds are animals that have had some significant issues in their behavior, and only the most trained and skilled staff should be handling them, and we’ve had volunteers going in and taking red level dogs out of their cages, and even if they don’t get injured, we really can’t have that,” he said. “The fact that there’s only one injury doesn’t mean there’s not other issues we’re trying to eliminate by going through this process of bringing in a professional to train folks.” When the incident with Rascal occurred, he was taken off the adoptable animals list, which made people assume Rascal was euthanized and the shelter was no longer a “no-kill” shelter. “What no-kill shelter means is we won’t euthanize an animal just for the sake of space. If an animal comes in in severe distress, humane euthanization may be required because it may not be possible to alleviate the suffering in any other way, and that happens at every shelter in every city and county in Ohio,” Bell said. “We do not euthanize just because an animal has an issue, even if it’s a behavioral issue. If they come in after a bite or attack, they’re not euthanized because of that. They would only be euthanized at the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian for the sake of eliminating the animal’s suffering if we cannot alleviate the suffering.” Another allegation centered around the shelter currently not having a humane agent and the reasons for it, including “the hostile work environment, lack of support, and ceased communication from board members and staff,” according to the petition . “We’ve had trouble keeping humane officers because the pay is so low and the community support isn’t there, and we have people complaining about not having a humane officer,” Bell said. “If we can get somebody who is qualified under the revised code, which means they have full peace officer training, just like every police officer in the state of Ohio, and they’re certified and want to come to us and work for the little bit that a humane agent gets paid, we would have humane agents all the time, but we can’t seem to get people who are qualified, willing to go there and do it for the pay that’s available. It’s a hard job.” Bell said there is a humane agent on the board who hasn’t been sworn into Allen County yet, which will happen when the county’s probate court judge approves him. Bell explained that by law, all humane societies in Ohio are private, non-profit charities, so they are 100% funded by donations. He said only about 20% of the organization’s funding comes from Allen County donors, so the organization’s other branches are helping fund the shelter. “The county government does not have to support the county humane society. There’s no financial connection there. The limited government function that is performed by the humane agent does not make us a government office,” Bell said. “We’re a donation-dependent private charity, and some counties don’t have a humane society or humane agent.” The petition criticized the organization for not adding any new programs since its takeover of the shelter in 2015. “We’d like to do more of that, but again you can’t have just anybody coming in and taking the animals out and taking them to a remote location and exposing them to the public. That’s not something you can walk in off the street and do the first day you volunteer,” Bell said. “If we’re not doing enough it’s because we don’t have the manpower and the financial resources to do more.” One consequence of decreased manpower and financial resources is putting the organization’s low-cost spay and neuter clinic on pause, which is another source of community backlash. “If we don’t have money to get the vets in to do the spay and neuter clinics and support staff, it can’t happen,” Bell said. Bell expressed concern about decreased donations because of the allegations. “The unfortunate thing about some of these posts is that’s going to damage the donations that we would otherwise receive, and that money’s not going to come in from another source,” he said. Testimonial from a volunteer Marianna Eilerman, of Elida, helps organize the Petco cat partnership where cats from the shelter are brought to Petco to help them get adopted. Since she started helping with the program in June 2021, she has rehomed about 90 cats. She also transports cats to and from Petco and vet appointments, runs the front desk and decorates the shelter. “When I moved here, I didn’t know anybody from here. I work from home, and we adopted a dog from here. Our other one had passed away,” Eilerman said about why she started volunteering at the shelter. “When I lived in Toledo I worked at the humane society up there a lot and I’m fortunate enough to have time and the money to do the stuff, so I started helping out with cleaning and different things, and it’s just kind of evolved. Then the Petco thing started and I wanted to be in charge of that. “It helps me. I feel like I’m giving back. It’s very rewarding. I feel like I’m making a difference in someone’s life,” she said. Eilerman has two adopted cats and two adopted dogs at home, two of which came from the Allen County shelter. Per week, she volunteers six to seven hours at Petco and five to six hours at the shelter. Volunteer program at another shelter The Auglaize County Humane Society wrote in a Facebook message that its volunteer program has “around 10 regular volunteers that come weekly. We have around 50 signed up but due to their schedules, do not come as often. Our volunteers help us clean, go to special events, help with fundraisers, as well as, play with/socialize and walk our dogs (and cats). We do not allow our volunteers to interact with ‘problem’ dogs for their own safety. We are a small facility and do not have the number of animals as the bigger shelters, but we put the safety of our animals as well as their caregivers first.” Anyone interested in adopting can download an application at www.ohiospca.org and email it once complete to [email protected] . Bell said any concerns from the community about the way the shelter is ran can be emailed to him at [email protected] and he will bring them up to the board. Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
HUMBOLDT, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man was convicted Thursday of killing two men and wounding a third in a shooting at a high school basketball game three years ago. Jadon Hardiman, 21, was found guilty in Gibson County of charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, district attorney Frederick Agee said in a statement. He faces up to 76 years in prison at sentencing in April. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Jerry Jones credits Cowboys coach for team's effort, performanceHEBRON, Ky. — Standing just a few hundred feet from the thunderous roar of an airliner touching down are two members of a critical airport team you've likely never heard of. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport's operations team ensures the facility is safe and ready for everyone from airlines to food vendors to cargo shippers. What falls under the team’s purview is a wide-ranging list, said Casey Kinosz, CVG’s Airport Operations Director. "Our team does everything from ‘Is there something we need to correct out in the airfield immediately?’ to ‘Does the chair look nice that you’re sitting in?’" Kinosz said. In a room beneath travelers in the concourse, members of the operations team are surrounded by screens. "All the aircraft and vehicles that are out on the airfield will show up on that map," Kinosz said, explaining the intricate monitoring system that gives the teams eyes and ears in the windowless room. More than 800 cameras show everything from the taxi lanes to baggage claim. “The team, just by their daily duties, can be watching that camera scroll and see if something irregular pops up,” Kinosz said. But the team’s office goes far beyond one room. Safety is always their top priority. The airfield is inspected at least twice a day, a routine that ensures all signs, lights and pavement markings are in optimal condition. "The signage system can be complex for somebody who's not familiar," said senior manager Brian Barnott. During times of low visibility, members of the airport ops team will escort pilots unfamiliar with CVG. Technology becomes even more instrumental in maintaining flight operations during the winter months. The team deploys a friction tester truck to measure runway slickness and coordinates with a fleet to clear the runway during inclement weather. Plus, small pucks in the pavement help determine surface temperature. Other weather equipment helps determine how far away lightning may be from the airfield. While they remain out of sight for many passengers, the operations team gets busier and busier as the airport grows. CVG is now the sixth largest cargo hub in North America and welcomed 8.7 million passengers in 2023. Those working in airport ops don’t need an aviation background, Barnott said: “If you have a good personality and fit in with the organization, airport operations can come second nature to most folks." But, employees "gotta love aviation. That's a key requirement," he said with a smile.