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Shelter Pit Bull Enjoys Life of Rubs, VIP Seats After Finding Forever HomeTikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what's next? TikTok's future in the U.S. appeared uncertain on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge to a law that requires the social media platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January. Haleluya Hadero, The Associated Press Dec 6, 2024 2:48 PM Dec 6, 2024 2:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - A man carries a Free TikTok sign in front of the courthouse where the hush-money trial of Donald Trump was underway on April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) TikTok's future in the U.S. appeared uncertain on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge to a law that requires the social media platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January. A panel of three judges on The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously that the law withstood constitutional scrutiny, rebuffing arguments from the two companies that the statute violated their rights and the rights of TikTok users in the U.S. The government has said it wants ByteDance to divest its stakes in TikTok. But if it doesn't and the platform goes away, it would have a seismic impact on the lives of content creators who rely on the platform for income as well as users who use it for entertainment and connection. Here are some details on the ruling and what could happen next: What does the ruling say? In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance, which is also a plaintiff in the case, had challenged the law on various fronts, arguing in part that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and was an unconstitutional bill of attainder that unfairly targeted the two companies. But the court sided with attorneys for the Justice Department who said that the government was attempting to address national security concerns and the way in which it chose to do so did not violate the constitution. The Justice Department has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say that Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok's U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread, or suppress, information. However, the U.S. hasn't publicly provided examples of that happening. The appeals court ruling, written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, said the law was “carefully crafted to deal only with control by a foreign adversary." The judges also rejected the claim that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Furthermore, Ginsburg wrote the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to “suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. What happens next? TikTok and ByteDance are expected to appeal the case to the Supreme Court, but it's unclear whether the court will take up the case. TikTok indicated in a statement on Friday the two companies are preparing to take their case to high court, saying the Supreme Court has “an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech." "We expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” a company spokesperson said. Alan Morrison, a professor at The George Washington University Law School, said he expects the Supreme Court to take up the case because of the novelty of the issues raised in the lawsuit. If that happens, attorneys for the two companies still have to convince the court to grant them an emergency stay that will prevent the government from enforcing the Jan. 19 divestiture deadline stipulated in the law, Morrison said. Such a move could drag out the process until the Justices make a ruling. Tiffany Cianci, a TikTok content creator who has supported the platform, said she was not shocked about the outcome of the court's ruling on Friday because lower courts typically defer to the executive branch on these types of cases. She believes the company will have a stronger case at the Supreme Court. “I believe that the next stages are more likely to produce a victory for TikTokers and for TikTok as a whole,” Cianci said. What about Trump? Another wild card is President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the recent presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The Trump transition team has not offered details on how Trump plans to carry out his pledge to “save TikTok." But spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement last month that he plans to “deliver” on his campaign promises. After Trump takes office on Jan. 20th, it would fall on his Justice Department to enforce the law and punish any potential violators. Penalties would apply to any app stores that would violate a prohibition on TikTok and to internet hosting services which would be barred from supporting it. Some have speculated that Trump could ask his Justice Department to abstain from enforcing the law. But tech companies like Apple and Google, which offer TikTok's app on their app stores, would then have to trust that the administration would not come after them for any violations. Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said enforcement discretion — or executive orders — can not override existing law, leaving Trump with “limited room for unilateral action." There are other things Trump could potentially do. It's possible he could invoke provisions of the law that allow the president to determine whether a sale or a similar transaction frees TikTok from “foreign adversary” control. Another option is to urge Congress to repeal the law. But that too would require support from congressional Republicans who have overwhelmingly supported the prospect of getting TikTok out of the hands of a Chinese company. In a statement issued Friday, Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, said he was “optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok” and allow its continued use in the United States. Is anyone trying to buy TikTok? ByteDance has said it won't sell TikTok . And even if it wanted to, a sale of the proprietary algorithm that powers TikTok is likely to get blocked under Chinese export controls that the country issued in 2020. That means if TikTok is sold without the algorithm, its likely that the buyer would only purchase a shell of the platform that doesn't contain the technology that made the app a cultural powerhouse. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in buying it. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital. The spokesperson did not disclose the identity of the participants. Haleluya Hadero, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Science News Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US Dec 6, 2024 1:58 PM Toronto AI company Cohere to receive $240M from Ottawa to help get data centre built Dec 6, 2024 1:27 PM Mexico study's surprising finding: Killer heat hit harder for the young than the elderly Dec 6, 2024 11:13 AM
President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to "vigorously pursue" capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden's decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. "Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country," he wrote on his social media site. "When you hear the acts of each, you won't believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can't believe this is happening!" Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty "as soon as I am inaugurated," but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of "violent rapists, murderers, and monsters." He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. Is it a plan in motion or more rhetoric? On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. "Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it," said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University's law school. "But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift." Berman said Trump's statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden's commutation. "I'm inclined to think it's still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, don't worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,'" he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Death row inmates are mostly sentenced by states Before Biden's commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. "The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states," Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Could rape now be punishable by death? Berman said Trump's statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. "That would literally take decades to unfold. It's not something that is going to happen overnight," Berman said. Before one of Trump's rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. What were the cases highlighted by Trump? One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl's mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden's decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)NYC's mayor warms to Trump and doesn't rule out becoming a Republican
Key Trends in the Hospitality Procurement Technology Market with Insights from Ecolab Inc., Sysco Corporation, DHL Supply Chain, Avendra, GPO Group 12-09-2024 09:23 PM CET | Logistics & Transport Press release from: STATS N DATA Hospitality Procurement Technology Market The Hospitality Procurement Technology Market is currently experiencing a dynamic transformation, driven by the increasing need for efficiency and transparency in the procurement processes of the hospitality sector. This market encompasses a broad array of technologies and services designed to streamline procurement activities within hotels, restaurants, resorts, event venues, and catering companies. The relevance of this market is amplified by its capacity to contribute significantly to operational efficiency and cost savings, making it a vital component of the hospitality industry. Recent developments have been particularly noteworthy, as technological advancements have paved the way for more sophisticated solutions that cater to the unique demands of the hospitality sector. For instance, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into procurement platforms has enabled real-time data analysis, improving decision-making processes. Additionally, strategic collaborations among key players in the market have fostered innovation and expanded the offerings available to businesses in the hospitality sector. As of December 2024, the market is poised for substantial growth as these factors continue to drive demand. You can access a sample PDF report here: https://www.statsndata.org/download-sample.php?id=267271 Key Growth Drivers and Trends Several critical factors are influencing the demand for hospitality procurement technology. Sustainability has emerged as a paramount consideration for businesses aiming to minimize their environmental impact. Companies are increasingly seeking procurement solutions that emphasize eco-friendly practices, such as sourcing local and sustainable products. Digital transformation is another significant driver, as hospitality businesses adopt cloud-based solutions that enhance accessibility and streamline workflows. Consumer awareness is also on the rise, with customers becoming more discerning about the sources of products and services they consume. This heightened awareness is compelling hospitality providers to adopt transparent procurement practices and leverage technology to communicate their sustainability efforts effectively. The market is also witnessing a number of transformative trends. AI integration is revolutionizing procurement processes by facilitating predictive analytics, which can help businesses forecast demand and optimize inventory levels. Product customization is becoming increasingly important as consumers seek personalized experiences. Moreover, emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), are shaping the future of procurement by enabling smarter supply chain management and enhancing operational efficiency. Market Segmentation The Hospitality Procurement Technology Market can be segmented based on type and application, providing a clearer understanding of its diverse landscape. Segment by Type - Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Software: This software enables hospitality businesses to manage their relationships with suppliers effectively, ensuring optimal procurement practices and fostering collaboration. - Procurement Outsourcing Services: These services allow hospitality providers to delegate procurement activities to specialized firms, freeing up resources and ensuring access to expertise. Segment by Application - Hotels: The largest segment, where procurement technology is crucial for managing supplies and services efficiently. - Restaurants: This segment benefits from technology that streamlines food and beverage procurement, ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness. - Resorts: Resorts utilize procurement technology to manage a wide range of services and products, enhancing guest experiences. - Event Venues: These venues often face unique procurement challenges that technology can help address, especially in managing large-scale events. - Catering Companies: Catering firms leverage procurement technology to ensure they have the necessary supplies to meet client demands effectively. Get 30% Discount On Full Report: https://www.statsndata.org/ask-for-discount.php?id=267271 Competitive Landscape The competitive landscape of the Hospitality Procurement Technology Market features several key players who are instrumental in shaping trends and driving innovation. - Ecolab Inc.: A leader in water, hygiene, and energy technologies, Ecolab is known for its innovative solutions that help hospitality businesses maintain high standards of cleanliness and sustainability. - Sysco Corporation: A global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing food products, Sysco's procurement technology facilitates efficient supply chain management for restaurants and foodservice businesses. - DHL Supply Chain: DHL provides integrated supply chain solutions that enhance procurement efficiency, especially for large hospitality operations. - Avendra: Specializing in hospitality procurement, Avendra leverages its extensive supplier network to offer competitive pricing and quality products to its clients. - GPO Group: As a group purchasing organization, GPO Group helps hospitality businesses achieve significant savings through collective purchasing power and strategic sourcing. Each of these companies contributes uniquely to the market, whether through product innovations, market expansions, or strategic partnerships that enhance their service offerings. Opportunities and Challenges The Hospitality Procurement Technology Market holds numerous opportunities for growth. Untapped regions present a significant potential for expansion, particularly in developing markets where the hospitality sector is experiencing rapid growth. Additionally, evolving consumer preferences, particularly towards sustainable and locally sourced products, create avenues for innovation and new product offerings. However, challenges persist in the form of regulatory constraints that can hinder procurement processes. Operational inefficiencies, particularly during periods of high demand, can also pose significant challenges. Furthermore, talent shortages in the technology and procurement sectors can impact the ability to implement and manage advanced procurement solutions effectively. Addressing these challenges will require strategic planning, investment in technology, and a focus on workforce development. Technological Advancements Cutting-edge technologies are having a profound impact on the Hospitality Procurement Technology Market. AI is at the forefront, enabling predictive analytics and automation that streamline procurement processes and enhance decision-making capabilities. Virtual tools are becoming increasingly vital, particularly in the context of remote work and the need for real-time collaboration among teams. Moreover, IoT-driven systems are revolutionizing supply chain management by providing real-time data on inventory levels and supplier performance. These technologies are not only enhancing efficiency but also improving transparency and traceability in procurement processes. As these advancements continue to evolve, they are set to redefine the landscape of hospitality procurement. Research Methodology and Insights At STATS N DATA, our research methodology employs both top-down and bottom-up approaches to provide comprehensive insights into the Hospitality Procurement Technology Market. We conduct extensive primary and secondary research, gathering data from industry experts, market participants, and reputable sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. Our triangulation methodology allows us to cross-verify data and present a holistic view of the market landscape. This rigorous approach enables us to identify key trends, growth drivers, and potential challenges, providing stakeholders with actionable insights to inform their strategies in this rapidly evolving market. In conclusion, the Hospitality Procurement Technology Market is positioned for significant growth as it adapts to the evolving needs of the hospitality sector. With the integration of advanced technologies and a focus on sustainability, this market presents substantial opportunities for businesses willing to innovate and invest in their procurement processes. STATS N DATA remains committed to providing valuable insights and research to support stakeholders in navigating this dynamic landscape. For customization requests, please visit: https://www.statsndata.org/request-customization.php?id=267271 https://www.statsndata.org/report/hospitality-procurement-technology-market-267271 John Jones Sales & Marketing Head | Stats N Data Phone: +1 (315) 642-4324 Email: sales@statsndata.org Website: www.statsndata.org STATS N DATA is a trusted provider of industry intelligence and market research, delivering actionable insights to businesses across diverse sectors. We specialize in helping organizations navigate complex markets with advanced analytics, detailed market segmentation, and strategic guidance. Our expertise spans industries including technology, healthcare, telecommunications, energy, food & beverages, and more. Committed to accuracy and innovation, we provide tailored reports that empower clients to make informed decisions, identify emerging opportunities, and achieve sustainable growth. Our team of skilled analysts leverages cutting-edge methodologies to ensure every report addresses the unique challenges of our clients. At STATS N DATA, we transform data into knowledge and insights into success. Partner with us to gain a competitive edge in today's fast-paced business environment. For more information, visit https://www.statsndata.org or contact us today at sales@statsndata.org This release was published on openPR.Kicker Greg Zuerlein set to return for Jets, wide receiver Davante Adams optimistic about playing
The term quasar comes from quasi-stellar objects , a name that reflected our uncertainty about their nature. The first quasars were discovered solely because of their radio emissions, with no corresponding visual objects. This is surprising since quasars blaze with the light of trillions of stars. In recent observations, the Hubble examined a historical quasar named 3C 273, the first quasar to be linked with a visual object. Maarten Schmidt was the California Institute of Technology astronomer who first connected the radio emissions from 3C 273 with a visual object back in 1963. At the time, it looked just like a star through the powerful telescopes available, though its light was red-shifted. Schmidt’s discovery showed us the true nature of these extraordinary objects, and now we know of about one million quasars. A quasar is an extremely luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN) powered by a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of a galaxy. Accretion disks of gas form around SMBHs, and the swirling gas heats up and releases electromagnetic energy. Only a small percentage of galaxies have quasars and their luminosities can be thousands of times greater than a galaxy like the Milky Way. 3C 273 is about 2.5 billion light-years away and is the most distant object visible in a backyard telescope. Recently, Hubble captured its best view of the quasar, revealing previously unseen details in its vicinity. The quasar’s blinding light makes its surroundings difficult to discern. However, astronomers figured out a way to use Hubble’s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument to make coronagraphic observations of the region. The coronograph allowed astronomers to look eight times closer to the black hole than ever before. The researchers found a new core jet, a core blob, and other smaller blobs. Their results are in a research letter titled “ 3C 273 Host Galaxy with Hubble Space Telescope Coronagraphy. ” It’s published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the lead author is Bin Ren, who also happens to be associated with the California Institute of Technology. By blocking out the quasar’s blinding glare, Hubble was able to better examine its surroundings. The astronomers found weird filaments, lobes, and a mysterious L-shaped structure. These are all probably the results of the SMBH devouring small galaxies. “We have detected a more symmetric core component, CC, for the host galaxy of 3C 273, in addition to confirming the existing large-scale asymmetric components IC and OC that were previously identified in HST/ACS coronagraphy from Martel et al. (2003),” the authors explain in their research letter. “With the STIS coronagraphic observations, we also identify a core blob (CB) component, as well as other point-sourcelike objects, after removing isophotes from the host galaxy,” the authors continue. “The nature of the newly identified components, as well as the point source-like objects, would require observations from other telescopes for further study.” There are also filamentary structures to the northeast, east, and west of the galactic nucleus. They extend as far as 10 kiloparsecs (32,600 light-years) from the nucleus. The authors explain that they’re similar to structures observed in other galaxies, where they’re thought to be multiphase gas that’s condensing out of the intergalactic medium. This gas could be fuelling AGN feedback . AGN feedback is a self-regulating process that links the energy released by the AGN to the surrounding gaseous medium. Previous observations of the same quasar 22 years ago allowed the authors to compare images and constrain some properties of the previously observed Inner Jet, which is 300,000 light-years long. “We witness a potential trend that the motion is faster when it is further out,” they write. This fascinating object begs for more observations to better understand what’s happening. The authors explain that we need methods and telescopes with better inner working angles (IWA) to do that. Both the Hubble and the JWST can do it. “With smaller IWAs for both telescopes, we can both confirm the existence of closest-in components and constrain their physical properties from multi-band imaging. In high-energy observations, we can better characterize such structures,” the authors explain. “With the fine spatial structures and jet motion, Hubble bridged a gap between the small-scale radio interferometry and large-scale optical imaging observations, and thus we can take an observational step towards a more complete understanding of quasar host morphology. Our previous view was very limited, but Hubble is allowing us to understand the complicated quasar morphology and galactic interactions in detail,” said lead author Ren. “In the future, looking further at 3C 273 in infrared light with the James Webb Space Telescope might give us more clues,” said Ren.
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Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to from other nations. The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economistThe Gage County Board of Supervisors voted to not approve the final contract offer from the Fraternal Order of Police union representing Gage County Sheriff's Office employees at its last meeting of the year Tuesday at the Gage County Courthouse. Meeting a day early because of the Christmas holiday, the supervisors discussed the contract in closed session for more than an hour before voting 5-0 to not approve it (Supervisors Terry Jurgens and Dave Swavely were not at the meeting). The board and the FOP have been discussing the contract for months; the previous agreement ran from April 2023 to June 2024. "The toughest thing I'm looking at is we've run very lean as a county," Erich Tiemann, chairman of the board, said. "Law enforcement, corrections, they've seen near 20% increase last year. In this agreement, they're asking for another 20%. Most people aren't seeing 20% increases in their wages. ..." People are also reading... New director transitioning to role at community food pantry Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Gage County says board had authority to deny permit for broadband provider Meyn, charged in death of 4-month-old, has case continued to March Sex offender arrested for not reporting change in employment Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team At the courthouse, Dec. 14, 2024 Main Street welcomes new director Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park As Brenda Lee turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple Milke pre-trial hearing in Beatrice shooting death continued to March "How do we justify this to the public seeing huge increases year after year after year?" "I will say the Law Enforcement Committee ... have worked on this incredibly hard," Tiemann added. "They've gone through, tried to come to agreements, and I think have gotten very close with the FOP at times. ... That gap has narrowed quite a bit. And I think that would be everyone's intention to try to get that to narrow a little bit more so that we don't end up going to a CIR (Commission of Industrial Relations) situation. ... We're still in that negotiating phase, I feel like." One duty of the CIR is to establish wages based on what it considers comparable entities when parties are at an impasse in negotiations. "We're not just looking at what the pay itself or the variable," said Supervisor Elizabeth Haxby. "We also have to look at what our budget is. You know, in the end, ... we either have to increase in our tax asking, or it's 'What are we going to cut out of our budget to pay for that?'" Instead the board will prepare its own final offer for the FOP. The board next meets on Jan. 8. "This board intends to have a last and best final offer that will be offered to the FOP," said Supervisor Gary Lytle, who like Haxby is a member of the Law Enforcement Committee. Also at Tuesday's meeting: * Haxby told the board that the $500,000 county got from the state's $4 million County Bridge Match Program for bridges on Chestnut and 82nd roads will fund more than 50% of the projects. * Margaret Haith of Beatrice spoke about the need to update the county's zoning regulations during the public comment period. Tiemann informed the board that Lisa Wiegand, the planning and zoning administrator, is contacting consultants about doing that. Reach the writer at rschlotterbeck@beatricedailysun.com . Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
In the wake of a successful effort to kill a year-end spending bill and replace it with more limited legislation to keep the government open, Elon Musk declared victory last week on X (formerly Twitter), the social media platform he owns: “Your actions turned a bill that weighed pounds into a bill that weighed ounces!” he crowed. “You are the media now. VOX POPULI VOX DEI.” The stopgap funding measure will largely delay major spending decisions until after Donald Trump’s inauguration, keep the government open through the holidays and at least temporarily delay the most indefensible spending that was crammed into the scale-tipping bill. But those who believe the indefensible spending won’t end up back in the budget are endearingly optimistic. The most interesting political takeaway from the drama is that the Republican Party now has two masters with different goals. Musk’s stated mission was to impose fiscal restraint and greater efficiency on government (though his unstated motives are a matter of speculation). Trump’s objective was to avoid the hassles of a debate over raising the government borrowing limit early in his term, freeing him to rack up more debt through spending and tax cuts. Based purely on the political result, Musk won and Trump lost. While the bill does spend less than the earlier version, it does not raise the debt ceiling. A case can be made for both goals. I think Musk is indisputably correct about the need to cut spending. And although I don’t want Trump to be able to amass more debt, fights over the borrowing limit are reckless because they put the full faith and credit of the United States in doubt. The challenge for Republican legislators is that they are caught between the agendas of two figures who are very popular on the right, and those agendas — and perhaps others — are in conflict. We’ll have to wait to see how the politics play out. In the meantime, I also want to address the more philosophical problems with Musk’s position. First of all, literally weighing the value or profligacy of a piece of legislation by the ounce, as Musk proposes, is not exactly logical. The National Industrial Recovery Act — the foundational legislation of the New Deal — comes in at an economical 18 pages, but that hardly gives one a sense of its massive impact on the economy. Then there’s the idea that Musk’s minor budget victory proves his X followers are “the media now.” Huh? The standard conservative complaint about traditional media is that they mislead the public in the service of an ideological or self-serving agenda. But Musk rallied his virtual mob with a host of false claims about the bigger-spending bill. Now he is suggesting that misleading the public in the service of the agenda of the owner of a media platform is a glorious triumph. It’s certainly a triumph for if-you-can’t-beat-them-join-them hypocrisy. Lastly, Musk’s oft-repeated motto “ Vox populi, vox dei ” — “The voice of the people is the voice of God” — is theological nonsense . Its use by British Whigs to challenge monarchical power in the 18th century was politically defensible, but it doesn’t take a divinity degree to understand that, taken literally, the phrase argues that God is subservient to the passions and vicissitudes of public opinion. It’s very difficult to find anything in the Old or New Testament to back up that idea. If a poll were all it took to change God’s mind, Sodom and Gomorrah would have been fine, Noah wouldn’t have needed a boat and Jesus wouldn’t have had to ask God to “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” One of the earliest mentions of the Latin phrase is found in the writings of Alcuin of York , an adviser to Charlemagne. Alcuin told the first holy Roman emperor to ignore such declarations of public godliness “since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness.” Musk started using the phrase “ Vox populi, vox dei ” to validate the verdicts of his own Twitter polls. When users voted to reinstate Trump’s account two years ago, Musk declared that the result he clearly wanted amounted to a divine statement. We can only guess what this says about Musk’s God complex and its compatibility with his role as Trump’s Alcuin. But my main objection to Musk’s assertion is that it’s a dangerous lie. The idea that the largest mob has God on its side is even more pernicious than the notion that legislation should be measured in pounds. Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. His Twitter handle is @JonahDispatch .Diamcor Announces Availability of Meeting Materials
Houston Texans wideout Tank Dell will have surgery to repair a dislocated kneecap, torn ACL and other damage, coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed Monday. Dell sustained the injury to his left leg while catching a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of Saturday's 27-19 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City. Dell, 25, remained hospitalized on Saturday and Sunday before returning to Houston on Monday. "We're still meeting with doctors to see what's next for him, but it is a significant knee injury," Ryans said. "Our thoughts and prayers are definitely with Tank at this time." As Dell made a diving catch of a C.J. Stroud pass, fellow receiver Jared Wayne tumbled into Dell as both went to the ground. Dell maintained possession of the ball but had to be carted off the field with his leg immobilized in a brace. The touchdown catch, with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter, brought the Texans to within 17-16 after the extra point failed. Houston (9-6) scored just three points the rest of the way. Dell finished his second season with 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games (10 starts). He had 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven scores in 11 games (eight starts) as a rookie in 2023. Ryans also announced that safety Jimmie Ward is out for the year with a mid-foot sprain that will require surgery. Ward left the game on a cart in the first half. Ward, 33, had 48 tackles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, in 10 starts this season. He has 549 tackles, 10 picks and 51 passes defensed in 126 games (99 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2014-22) and Texans. Houston, which already has clinched the AFC South division title, hosts the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) on Christmas Day. --Field Level Media