In the winter, our outdoor spaces can feel quiet, empty, and gray, and incorporating plants for wildlife is a great way to combat this. Not only will you be helping your local ecosystem survive the tougher months, but birds and other creatures are a joy to spot. Many suitable planting options will add aesthetic appeal to your yard, too. There are lots of choices perfect for a winter wildlife garden , from berrying shrubs that birds adore to an evergreen fern that provides a home for moth larvae. Even herbaceous perennials can be beneficial if you leave some of their stalks as shelter. For advice, I turned to the experts, who share their plant recommendations below. You'll also find handy growing tips for each. Snowberries are pretty shrubs that provide food for birds Rather than picking just one variety, aim for a few. Mary Phillips of the National Wildlife Federation says layering a combination of native shrubs, grasses, and trees provides essential cover and food for wildlife. 'Use the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder to find species appropriate for your region,' she adds. Mary Phillips is an ambassador for native plants. Her work ensures all habitat programs and resources are rooted in sustainable practices and the latest science. 1. Golden Ragwort Ragworts lose their flowers before winter, but their semi-evergreen foliage will provide valuable shelter Leah Brooks , an expert from the Mt. Cuba Center, recommends golden ragwort, which is a low-growing semi-evergreen. It is a wonderful replacement for non-native ground covers like English ivy, Japanese pachysandra, and lesser periwinkle, she says. 'Golden ragwort provides winter cover for wildlife and beautiful yellow flowers for early spring pollinators.' She suggests planting specimens four to six inches apart and allowing them to fill in the space. 'Seeds are fluffy and easily spread by the wind,' she says; ' Deadhead flowers to limit spread, or collect seeds and disperse elsewhere in your landscape.' Golden ragwort plants are available from Amazon . Leah Brooks's passion is sharing the joy of nature and native gardening with others. She has dual bachelor's degrees from the University of Delaware in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. Leah is a Delaware Master Naturalist and Vice Chair of the Delaware Invasive Species Council. 2. Snowberry Snowberries can hold onto their berries well into winter Mary notes how the white berries on these shrubs provide nutrition for songbirds and small mammals during harsh winter conditions. Not only this, but she highlights how the dense, thicket-forming branches offer shelter and protection from both inclement weather and predators. These shrubs continue to benefit wildlife as the weather warms, too – Mary points out how the late-spring flowers provide nectar for native bees and other pollinators. In terms of care, she recommends planting them in full sun to part shade. 'Established plantings are drought-tolerant ,' she adds. Snowberries are available to shop from Nature Hills . 3. Little Bluestem This grass has a coppery tone in the fall and winter months Mary also recommends little bluestem, which is an ornamental grass that grows to around 3ft. The seedheads provide nutrition in winter for songbirds, she says, plus the 'dense clumps of foliage provide habitat for many beneficial insects in winter, such as skipper butterflies.' What's more, it's a larval host plant for several species of butterflies and moths, she adds. Mary recommends planting it in full sun. It 'will tolerate most soil types if they are well-drained. 'Prune down to eight inches in early spring,' she advises – 'pruning to the crown may interrupt the life cycle of overwintering beneficial insects.' Little bluestems are available from Nature Hills . 4. Hollow-stem Joe-Pye Weed Also known as Eutrochium fistulosum, this plant benefits wildlife throughout the year 'This tall perennial flower is a buffet for butterflies in the summer and a refuge for insects in the winter,' says Leah. 'The hollow stems are very sturdy and thick, making them an attractive nesting habitat for native solitary bees. 'Stem-nesting bees create nest chambers in plant stems, depositing an egg on a provision of pollen,' she explains. 'Once the egg hatches, the larval bee will spend months developing and overwintering in the stem before emerging the following year as an adult.' To create a habitat for stem nesting bees in your landscape, Leah recommends cutting back any sturdy, herbaceous stems to 8-24 inches at the end of the growing season. 'Next season’s new growth will hide the stem stubble, which should be left undisturbed and allowed to break down naturally over time.' These plants do best in moist soil and full sun. Position them at the back of borders due to their height. 5. Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides hosts the larvae of a type of moth 'This evergreen fern is a wonderful addition to shady areas, and is tolerant of dry, rocky soils,' says Leah. 'It provides winter cover for wildlife and is the host plant of the fern leaftier Herpetogramma spingealis . 'The larval form of this moth species constructs globe-shaped shelters by rolling the tips of the fronds inward and securing them with silk,' she explains. 'Inside the shelter, the larva feeds on the fern leaves. As it grows, the larva abandons existing shelters and creates larger ones, usually on the same plant. These structures don’t cause lasting damage to the plants, and other insects take shelter in the empty globes.' Leah recommends trimming back brown or dried fronds throughout the season for a more formal look. Evergreens offer shelter for birds and other wildlife – and can block winter winds for us humans, too, as Jeff Rugg , a gardening expert and National Garden Bureau member, points out. 'Yews and boxwoods are often pruned into hedges, creating a thick layer of branches and leaves around the top and edges while having an open branching framework on the interior,' he says. 'Snow will catch on the leaves forming a blanket that adds to the sheltering effect.' There are also shrub varieties of spruces that act the same as the yews and boxwoods, he continues. 'Spruce trees are better than pine trees for winter shelter as they have a denser layer of branches and needles. During sunny days in the winter, you will see birds like mourning doves sitting on the sunny side of spruce trees where they can sit out of the wind while warming up.' Jeff is an educator at heart. He has written the Greener View newspaper column that has been syndicated nationwide for over 33 years. He taught the University of Illinois Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs. He now teaches via the Greener View YouTube channel which has almost 400 videos. Many of the videos match the playlists of the chapters in his Greener View Gardening book, available on Amazon . Be sure to feed birds throughout winter and prevent bird baths from freezing to give visiting wildlife an extra helping hand. To welcome plenty of wildlife throughout the warmer months, too, don't forget to incorporate plants for pollinators and other plants for birds into your backyard.WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. People are also reading... The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Trump taps Bessent for Treasury, Chavez-DeRemer for labor, Turner for housing Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. Evan Vucci, Associated Press President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat.Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement.The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. George Walker IV, Associated Press Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration.She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020.Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute.Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Derik Hamilton Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda.Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics.South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic.She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race.Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs.Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day.In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation.“There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump. He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign.The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines. For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction.He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary.He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending.“This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Matt Kelley, Associated Press Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district.As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities.Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business.Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market.Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States.Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Andy Cross, The Denver Post via AP Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle.McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut.She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency.The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Evan Vucci Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs.Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social.Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration.The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. AP Photo/Evan Vucci Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate.Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command."We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. John Bazemore, Associated Press Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history.The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps.Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields.Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall.“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement.Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Evan Vucci, Associated Press John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next.Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic.“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration.In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Matt Rourke, Associated Press Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband.Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission.Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Jonathan Newton - pool, ASSOCIATED PRESS Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment.Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership.Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile.If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel.Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.“He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.”Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland.Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Oded Balilty, Associated Press Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East.The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination.Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud."Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday.The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah.“Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!”Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner, was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration.Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families.Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign.Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. John Bazemore, Associated Press Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York.Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency.The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate.Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Evan Vucci, Associated Press photos Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency.After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.”Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign.Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staffScavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president.Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.James Blair, deputy chief of staffBlair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president.Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago.Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staffBudowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president.Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency.William McGinley, White House counselMcGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign.In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
DANBURY, Conn., Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethan Allen recently held its 2024 International Convention live at the Company’s headquarters and livestreamed across the world. With the theme of Focused on the Future , the program honored the Company’s 92-year history, reviewed current and future initiatives in manufacturing, logistics, technology, marketing and retail, and celebrated its annual Spirit Awards, honoring interior designers both for achievement in written sales and design excellence. Led by its Chairman, President and CEO Farooq Kathwari, the convention highlighted five key areas of focus for Ethan Allen: talent, service, marketing, technology, and social responsibility. “It was good to review all areas of our vertically integrated enterprise, to share new products and initiatives, and to celebrate the work and achievements of our team members. We take pride in sharing this special event with about 4,000 in attendance both watching and participating each year.” Ethan Allen’s annual convention is an important, decades-long tradition that gives its associates the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from all over the world while they review the progress the Company has made over the past year. The Spirit Awards highlight Ethan Allen’s interior design network, one of the world’s largest, and emphasize the Company’s unique combination of technology and personal service. The celebratory event concluded with Mr. Kathwari saying, “We are just getting started,” as the Company is Focused on the Future . ABOUT ETHAN ALLEN Ethan Allen (NYSE:ETD), named America's #1 Premium Furniture Retailer by Newsweek for the second year in a row, is a leading interior design destination combining state-of-the-art technology with personal service. Our design centers, which represent a mix of independent licensees and Company-owned and operated locations, offer complimentary interior design service and sell a full range of home furnishings, including custom furniture and artisan-crafted accents for every room in the home. Vertically integrated from product design through logistics, we manufacture about 75% of our custom-crafted products in our North American manufacturing facilities and have been recognized for product quality and craftsmanship since 1932. Learn more at www.ethanallen.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. CONTACT: Catherine Plaisted Senior Vice President, Marketing catherine.plaisted@ethanallen.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03602b41-d7d5-4e48-89b9-c4cf8d11a28f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f03d7cf2-d8e6-433e-afb3-45d6616ed037 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6dd9c843-54d2-4f8e-970f-e8a2d90d71aeREGINA — Saskatchewan's fall legislative sitting ended Tuesday with political barbs traded across the aisle after Premier Scott Moe promised a better tone two weeks ago. The swipes began when Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck told the assembly Moe should offer immediate affordability relief, including suspending the 15-cent-a-litre gas tax and scrapping the provincial sales tax on ready-to-eat grocery items and children's clothing. In reply, Moe said there is no sales tax on groceries and that Beck should go speak to federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. “What we see unfortunately from members opposite, Mr. Speaker, decade after decade, leader after leader is the same old questions, the same old tactics and the same old NDP,” Moe said. The remarks drew ire from Opposition members, with one saying the Saskatchewan Party deserves a lump of coal for Christmas. “The premier knows full well we don’t support the carbon tax, but what he doesn’t seem to understand is how much families in this province are struggling,” Beck said. The jostling continued. Upon questioning for not removing the PST from children’s clothing, Crown Investments Minister Jeremy Harrison told the house that New Democrats don't know how to grow the economy. He also urged heckling Opposition member Nathaniel Teed to get up and speak. “I’d encourage the member for Saskatoon-Meewasin to get up and ask the next question if he has so much to say from his chair,” Harrison said. “What we are committed to -- and what this session really has been focused on -- is affordability.” In late November, Moe had promised better civility in the assembly and that government members would not send the Speaker harassing text messages. Earlier this year, former Speaker Randy Weekes accused government members of bullying him. Moe told reporters Tuesday he’s leaving it up to others to judge whether the tone has changed. “We are not the Opposition. We are the government of Saskatchewan,” Moe said. “We should conduct ourselves accordingly, and I would hope throughout this abbreviated session this fall that the people of Saskatchewan can be proud of the individuals.” Beck told reporters her party will remain tough on issues of affordability, health care, education, crime and homelessness. “Decorum is important, but that doesn’t mean that we should put on kid gloves when it comes to the very real issues that are facing Saskatchewan people,” she said. The Opposition introduced six emergency motions in the assembly this sitting, including ones that urged the province to suspend the fuel tax, remove the PST, launch a committee to fix health care and investigate high food prices in the province’s remote north. Each motion failed after they were rejected by government members. “We believe Saskatchewan people do need some affordability relief,” Beck said. “We will continue to push for the things that Saskatchewan people tell us are most important to them.” Moe said the province has introduced its own affordability measures and is also prepared to strike a task force with nurses and doctors to address health-care issues. His government passed legislation last week that provides broad income tax relief, saving an average family of four more than $3,400 over four years. Another bill keeps the carbon levy off home heating. Saskatchewan has not remitted carbon levies to the federal government in the past year, arguing it should be exempt after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a carve-out for heating oil. The federal government has said it reached a deal with Saskatchewan over the issue by securing 50 per cent of what was owed until the dispute is resolved. “This session was largely about setting the foundation for both enacting our platform but providing the change that Saskatchewan people have asked for, and we feel that we have done that,” Moe said. The legislative sitting is to resume in the spring with the provincial budget. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday seasonUS to require passenger vehicles to sound alarms if rear passengers don't fasten their seat beltsCORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — RJ Johnson scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Daylen Berry added two clutch free throws and Charleston Southern surprised Miami 83-79 on Saturday. The Buccaneers led for the last four minutes of the first half and deep into the second half before a 3-pointer from Austin Swartz gave Miami a 76-75 lead with 3 minutes left in the game. A three-point play by Lynn Kidd gave the Hurricanes a 79-75 lead with 2:11 remaining. Berry hit a 3-pointer to make it 79-78 and Johnson followed with a 3 that gave the Buccaneers an 81-79 lead. Kidd missed in the paint for Miami but came up with a steal a few seconds later. With 15 seconds left, Swartz missed a 3-pointer and the Buccaneers rebounded. Miami put Berry on the line and he made both free throws for a four-point lead with 11 seconds remaining. Miami's Jalen Blackmon missed a 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, the Hurricanes' A.J. Staton-McCray grabbed the rebound and he missed a 3 as time ran out. Taje Kelly had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Buccaneers (2-7), who snapped a five-game losing streak and defeated a Division I opponent for the first-time this season. Thompson Camara made five 3-pointers and scored 21. Brandon Johnson made six 3-pointers and scored 23 for Miami (3-4). Swartz scored 15 points off the bench and Staton-McCray had 13 points. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics Recognize Reveel's Shipping Intelligence Platform in the Category of Supply Chain Visibility IRVINE, Calif. , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reveel , the only Shipping IntelligenceTM Platform with Parcel Spend Management 2.0 (PSM 2.0) technology, today announced that Food Logistics , the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global cold food supply chain, and Supply & Demand Chain Executive , the only publication covering the entire global supply chain, have named Reveel as one of the winners of this year's Top Software & Tech award , which spotlights new-to-market software and technology solutions designed to provide automation, efficiency and visibility to the supply chain space. Reveel's Shipping Intelligence Platform leverages advanced analytics, modeling and simulation, statistical analysis, and real-time insights to transform complex shipping data into simple ways to save money. It empowers shippers to see through the unstructured data and litany of constantly changing rules – including annual changes on critical variables such as zones and service fees – that can dramatically impact what it costs to ship any one parcel. With Reveel, brands are able to identify opportunities for savings, work more effectively with carriers, easily compare contract proposals from multiple carriers, identify the most effective carrier service or product for shipments, and optimize their multi-carrier strategies by ensuring that volume thresholds and delivery expenses are closely monitored. "Since founding Reveel, we've made it our purpose to make it easier for customers to understand their shipping expenses and use that information to improve their bottom line," said Josh Dunham , co-founder and CEO of Reveel. "This prestigious industry award reflects how successful our team has been at engineering a platform that can positively impact our customer base - and grow with them as their expense management needs evolve." The publications reported that close to 43% of submissions pertained to supply chain visibility solutions, followed by WMS/TMS software (23%), warehouse automation (18%), procurement/ERP software (12%) and robotics at just 4% of the submissions. Fifty-five percent of the entries were enhancements to already existing solutions, while 45% were new-to-market technologies. Further, 58% of submissions came from small businesses, under $50 million , and 42% came from Enterprises, over $50 million . "Automation, sustainability, smart technology, supply chain optimization and risk management were the major themes of this year's new software and technology solutions. These new products and enhancements are upping the ante in modernizing how product moves through the chain, and I appreciate everything this year's winners do to ensure the safety, security and sustainability of our supply chains," added Marina Mayer , Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive . Please visit https://foodl.me/kmr2r068 for more on the award and the full list of winners. About Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive Food Logistics reaches more than 26,000 supply chain executives in the global food and beverage industries, including executives in the food sector (growers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and grocers) and the logistics section (transportation, warehousing, distribution, software and technology) who share a mutual interest in the operations and business aspects of the global cold food supply chain. Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive also operate SCN Summit and Women in Supply Chain Forum. Go to www.FoodLogistics.com and https://www.sdcexec.com/ . About IRONMARKETS IRONMARKETS , formerly known as AC Business Media , is a leading business-to-business media and buyer engagement platform with a portfolio of renowned brands in heavy construction, asphalt, concrete, paving, rental, sustainability, landscape, manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain markets. IRONMARKETS delivers relevant, cutting-edge content to its audiences through its industry-leading digital properties, trade shows, conferences, videos, magazines, webinars, and newsletters. It also provides advertisers the analytics, data, and ability to reach their target audience. Learn more at https://www.iron.markets . About Reveel Reveel is the leading Parcel Shipping IntelligenceTM platform, revolutionizing the way businesses manage their shipping expenses and navigate the complexities of modern logistics. Through its advanced Parcel Spend Management (PSM) 2.0 technology, the company empowers shippers with real-time visibility, actionable insights, and enhanced control over shipping costs and carrier performance. With over $8 billion in parcel spend under management, Reveel combines more than 17 years of agreement management expertise with cutting-edge, AI-driven solutions to foster a culture of innovation across the parcel shipping industry. From optimizing carrier contracts to automating complex processes and driving data-driven decisions, Reveel sets the standard for transparency and efficiency, while providing the flexibility and scalability needed for future growth. For more information, please visit the company's website and follow it on X , LinkedIn and Facebook . Media Contact: Jeff Drew Guyer Group for Reveel P: 617.233.5109 E: [email protected] SOURCE ReveelLekhwiya unveils its strategic plan 2024-30WASHINGTON (AP) — Una reducción de impuestos para millonarios, y para casi todos los demás. El fin de los subsidios gubernamentales de la era del COVID-19 que algunos estadounidenses han utilizado para adquirir seguros médicos. Límites a los cupones de alimentos, incluso para mujeres y niños, y a otros programas de protección social. Retrocesos en los programas de energía verde de la era del presidente Joe Biden. Deportaciones masivas. Recortes de empleos gubernamentales para “drenar el pantano”. Tras ganar la elección y llegar al poder, los republicanos planean una ambiciosa agenda de 100 días, con el presidente electo Donald Trump en la Casa Blanca y la mayoría republicana en el Congreso para lograr sus objetivos políticos. La lista la encabeza el plan para renovar los recortes fiscales por unos 4 billones de dólares del Partido Republicano, que están a punto de expirar, y que fueron un emblemático logro nacional del primer mandato de Trump y un tema que podría definir su regreso a la Casa Blanca. “En lo que nos centramos ahora es en estar preparados desde el primer día”, dijo el líder de la mayoría de la Cámara de Representantes, Steve Scalise, tras reunirse recientemente con colegas republicanos para trazar el camino a seguir. RELATED COVERAGE Fallo de juez podría retrasar aún más conteo de votos de elecciones del 5 de nov. en Puerto Rico Conozca a quienes ocuparán puestos clave en el nuevo gobierno de Trump Equipo de Trump atribuye al presidente electo el acuerdo de alto al fuego entre Israel y Hezbollah Las políticas que surjan revivirán los largos debates sobre las prioridades de Estados Unidos, sus enormes desigualdades de ingresos y el tamaño y alcance adecuados de su gobierno, en especial, frente a los crecientes déficits federales, que ahora se acercan a los 2 billones de dólares al año. What to know about Trump’s second term: Staffing the administration: Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far. Plus, a look at recess appointments and how could Trump use them to fill his Cabinet. Follow all of our coverage as Donald Trump assembles his second administration. Las discusiones pondrán a prueba si Trump y sus aliados republicanos pueden lograr los tipos de resultados reales que los votantes desearon, necesitaron o apoyaron cuando otorgaron el control del Congreso y de la Casa Blanca al partido. “En este caso, el pasado es realmente un prólogo”, dijo Lindsay Owens, directora ejecutiva de Groundwork Collaborative, al recordar el debate fiscal de 2017. El primer mandato de Trump se definió por esos recortes fiscales, aprobados por los republicanos en el Congreso y promulgados solo después de que su promesa inicial de campaña de “derogar y reemplazar” la ley de salud del presidente demócrata Barack Obama fracasara con el famoso voto en contra del entonces senador John McCain. La mayoría republicana del Congreso asumió rápidamente los recortes de impuestos, ensamblando y aprobando el paquete de varios billones de dólares para fin de año. Desde que Trump promulgó esos recortes en la ley, los grandes beneficios han recaído en los hogares de mayores ingresos. El 1 por ciento superior, es decir, quienes ganan casi 1 millón de dólares y más, recibieron un recorte al impuesto sobre la renta de aproximadamente 60.000 dólares, mientras que quienes obtienen ingresos más bajos tan solo redujeron unos pocos cientos de dólares, según el Tax Policy Center y otros grupos. Algunas personas terminaron pagando más o menos lo mismo. “La gran historia económica de Estados Unidos es la creciente desigualdad de ingresos”, dijo Owens. “Y esa es, curiosamente, una historia fiscal”. En preparación para el regreso de Trump, los republicanos del Congreso se han reunido durante meses en privado y con el presidente electo para revisar propuestas para ampliar y mejorar esos recortes fiscales, algunos de los cuales expirarían en 2025. Eso significa mantener varias categorías impositivas y una deducción estandarizada para los contribuyentes individuales, junto con las tasas existentes para las llamadas entidades de paso, como bufetes de abogados, consultorios médicos o negocios que toman sus ganancias como ingreso individual. Típicamente, el costo de los recortes fiscales sería prohibitivo. La Oficina de Presupuesto del Congreso calcula que mantener las disposiciones que están a punto de expirar agregaría unos 4 billones de dólares a los déficits durante una década. Sumado a eso, Trump quiere incluir sus propias prioridades en el paquete fiscal, entre ellas, reducir a 15% la tasa corporativa, actualmente en 21% desde la ley de 2017, y eliminar los impuestos individuales sobre propinas y horas extras. Pero Avik Roy, presidente de la Fundación para la Investigación sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades, dijo que culpar a los recortes fiscales por la desigualdad de ingresos del país es “simplemente un sinsentido” porque los contribuyentes en todos los niveles de ingresos se beneficiaron. En cambio, señala otros factores, como las tasas de interés históricamente bajas de la Reserva Federal, que permiten otorgar préstamos a bajo costo, incluso para los ricos. “A los estadounidenses no les importa si Elon Musk es rico”, dijo Roy. “Lo que les importa es qué se está haciendo para mejorar sus vidas” Típicamente, los legisladores quieren que el costo de un cambio de política se compense mediante ingresos presupuestarios o reducciones en otras áreas. Pero en este caso, casi no hay aumentos de ingresos acordados o recortes de gastos en el presupuesto anual de 6 billones de dólares que puedan cubrir un costo tan enorme. En cambio, algunos republicanos han argumentado que los recortes fiscales se pagarán por sí mismos, con los ingresos indirectos del posible crecimiento económico. Los aranceles que Trump propuso la semana pasada podrían proporcionar otra fuente de ingresos compensatorios. Algunos republicanos argumentan que el hecho de simplemente extender los recortes de impuestos sin compensar los costos tiene un precedente, porque no son cambios nuevos sino políticas federales existentes. “Si solo se extiende la ley actual, no estamos subiendo impuestos ni bajándolos”, dijo en Fox News el senador Mike Crapo, próximo presidente de la Comisión de Finanzas del Senado. Señaló que la crítica de que los recortes fiscales aumentarían el déficit es “ridícula”. Existe una diferencia entre impuestos y gastos, dijo, “y solo tenemos que comunicar ese mensaje a Estados Unidos”. Al mismo tiempo, el nuevo Congreso también considerará reducciones de gastos, particularmente para cupones de alimentos y programas de atención médica, objetivos largamente buscados por los conservadores como parte del proceso anual de asignaciones. Es casi seguro que uno de los recortes recaerá en el subsidio de la era del COVID-19, que ayuda a sufragar el costo del seguro de salud para las personas que adquieren sus propias pólizas a través de la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio. Los subsidios adicionales para la atención médica se extendieron hasta 2025 en la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación del presidente demócrata Joe Biden, que también incluye varios recortes fiscales a la energía verde que los republicanos quieren revertir. El líder demócrata de la Cámara de Representantes, Hakeem Jeffries de Nueva York, se burló de la afirmación republicana de que han ganado “un gran y enorme mandato ” cuando, de hecho, los demócratas y los republicanos de la Cámara esencialmente lucharon hasta obtener casi un empate en las elecciones de noviembre, y los republicanos lograron solo una estrecha mayoría. “Esta idea sobre un mandato para hacer cambios extremos de política de ultraderecha, no existe, no existe”, dijo Jeffries. Los republicanos planean usar un proceso presupuestario, llamado conciliación, que permite la aprobación por mayoría en el Congreso, esencialmente a lo largo de líneas partidistas, sin la amenaza de una obstrucción en el Senado que pueda detener el avance de un proyecto de ley, a menos que 60 de los 100 senadores estén de acuerdo. Es el mismo proceso que los demócratas utilizaron, cuando tenían el poder en Washington, para aprobar la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación y la ley de atención médica de Obama, a pesar de las objeciones del GOP. Los republicanos han estado aquí antes con Trump y con el control del Congreso, lo que no garantiza que puedan lograr sus objetivos, particularmente frente a la resistencia de los demócratas. Aun así, el presidente de la Cámara, Mike Johnson, quien ha trabajado estrechamente con Trump en la agenda, ha prometido un ritmo “vertiginoso” en los primeros 100 días “porque tenemos mucho que arreglar”. ___ Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
LINCOLN — The World-Herald's Wilson Moore is handing out his Husker Report Card, assessing Nebraska's performance in several areas. Here are the grades coming out of the Huskers' win over Wisconsin. Emmett Johnson was the speed back Nebraska needed him to be as slipped into space and past would-be tacklers. The redshirt sophomore was a receiving threat out of the backfield and was rarely taken to the ground by the first defender to meet him on a play. He set career highs in rushing yards and all-purpose yards. Dante Dowdell scored untouched on a 12-yard run in the first half and tacked on a plunge from the goal line. GRADE: A Nebraska didn’t come out with the most ambitious game plan, but Dylan Raiola executed it. The quarterback was accurate and efficient, particularly over the middle of the field. He didn’t often push the ball downfield, but he took what the Wisconsin defense gave him, forcing little and avoiding negative plays. GRADE: B Shaky tackling, allowing Wisconsin to break off the occasional chunk play, blemished an otherwise solid night for Nebraska in the trenches. The Badgers struggled to maintain drives, and two of the game’s pivotal plays were NU run stops: a Nash Hutmacher forced fumble that set up a field goal late in the first half and John Bullock stuffing Tawee Walker on fourth down in NU territory in the third quarter. GRADE: B Like his counterpart on the opposite sideline, Braedyn Locke was solid within a conservative attack. He took care of the ball and hit receivers when they were open. Nebraska, like in the running game, didn’t do itself any favors with its tackling — especially in the secondary. A 58-yard bomb to Vinny Anthony II gave Wisconsin a quick touchdown it needed for a potential comeback attempt. GRADE: C Barney gave the Huskers a nice jump with a 45-yard kickoff return to begin the game, setting up an opening-drive touchdown. Brian Buschini continued his excellent season with a coffin-corner punt to pin Wisconsin at its own 3-yard line, and John Hohl connected on 37- and 45-yard field goals. GRADE: B The Dana Holgorsen effect is real. Nebraska’s offense moved as smoothly as it has since the first half against Colorado in Week 2. Raiola was comfortable. Playmakers like Johnson and Jacory Barney Jr. got the ball in space, and the Huskers finally stopped looking like they were fighting themselves. GRADE: B It really didn’t matter how Nebraska got to six wins. The resulting feeling was always going to be cathartic, and eight years of pressure and dread released from Memorial Stadium on Saturday, the recent past dissipating into the air. The Huskers’ bowl drought is no longer a topic of conversation. For one night, nothing else matters. GRADE: A Get local news delivered to your inbox!10 hot-ticket gifts we predict will sell out on Black Friday 2024
Beth Dooley | (TNS) The Minnesota Star Tribune The holidays loom large. Parties, gift-shopping, school programs, recitals, family gatherings — there’s really no time to cook. Related Articles Restaurants, Food and Drink | Roasted orange delivers big flavor in this smoky chicken traybake Restaurants, Food and Drink | Review: New Chinese restaurant in Virginia Beach elevates the dining experience Restaurants, Food and Drink | Winter can be a time of culinary abundance. Experts share tips on eating nutritiously Restaurants, Food and Drink | Recipe: How to make Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits your pup will love Restaurants, Food and Drink | Simple fixes give after-dinner cocktails some holiday flair. Here are 5 recipes from the pros But there is! Here are three quick and easy recipes you can hustle to the table in 30 minutes or less. Relax, take a deep breath and know that dinner is served. Serves 4. Making grilled cheese for more than one can be tricky. Here, the sheet pan does the work; the sandwiches are ready all at once. Try our suggested fillings or just enjoy them plain in all their gooey deliciousness. From Beth Dooley. 1⁄4 c. butter, softened 8 slices bread, cook’s choice 8 slices Gruyère and/or Cheddar cheese 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 c. fillings, such as sliced pickled peppers, sliced cherry tomatoes, olive tapenade or sauerkraut or kimchee Directions Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Spread the butter to the edge of 4 slices of bread. Place the slices butter-side down on the sheet pan. Top with the sliced cheese and add a layer of the filling, then top with the remaining slices of bread. Put the pan in the oven and cook until the butter is thoroughly melted and bottom slices are turning golden and the cheese is melting, about 8 to 10 to minutes. Flip the sandwiches. Continue cooking until the top layer of bread begins to turn golden and the cheese is melted. Turn the oven to broil and toast the top layer, watching closely, this goes quickly, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Flip the bread and toast the other side, about 15 to 20 seconds or so. Remove, cut and serve. Quick Skillet Chicken with Lemon, Tahini and Warm Spices will come together quickly and can be served on a bed of greens or pasta. (Ashley Moyna Schwickert/For the Minnesota Star Tribune) Serves 4 to 6. A simple marinade of pantry staples — lemon, tahini, olive oil and a little honey — keeps the chicken moist and becomes the sauce for finishing the dish. Serve on a bed of dark greens or cooked rice. From Beth Dooley. 1⁄4 c. fresh lemon juice 1⁄4 c. tahini 1 tbsp. honey 2 tbsp. olive oil, plus extra for skillet 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, about 6 oz. each Pinch coarse salt Pinch freshly ground black pepper 3 tbsp. chopped parsley or cilantro (or a mix) Lemon slices for garnish Directions In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon, tahini, honey and olive oil. Measure out 1⁄2 of the mixture into a separate bowl. This is to sauce the chicken after it’s cooked. If it seems too thick, whisk in a little water. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and pound with the flat edge of a knife to even out the width a bit. Put the chicken into the bowl of marinade and turn to coat. Film a heavy skillet with more oil and set over high heat. When the oil begins to ripple, add the chicken, reduce the heat to medium and cook, flipping after about 5 to 7 minutes, and continuing, until cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. (The chicken should reach 165 on an instant-read thermometer when done.) Remove the chicken from the skillet, set on a cutting board to rest for about 10 minutes. Slice the meat in long strokes against the grain. Serve on a bed of greens or rice, garnished with a drizzle of sauce, chopped herbs and a few thinly sliced lemons. Pass additional sauce on the side. One-Pot Pasta with Sausage, Tomato and Spinach is a quick but hearty meal for busy, chilly nights. (Ashley Moyna Schwickert/For the Minnesota Star Tribune) Serves 4 to 6. You only need one pot for this simple pasta. The sausage adds the seasoning, the onions turn sweetly golden, cherry tomatoes burst into a luscious sauce. A squeeze of lemon at the end livens things up. From Beth Dooley. 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced 1 lb. ground Italian sausage 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 5 to 6 c. chicken stock Water as needed 1 lb. pasta of choice 1 large handful fresh spinach 4 oz. shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese Lemon juice, to taste Chopped parsley, for garnish Directions Film a large heavy pot or Dutch oven with the oil and set over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until it turns limp and golden, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the sausage, breaking apart with a spatula until it crumbles, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and the stock, scraping up the bottom of the pan to release browned bits that stick to the bottom. Bring to a boil. Add the pasta, stirring well and continue boiling for about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to a brisk simmer, stirring to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If the sauce becomes too thick and the pasta begins to stick, stir in water, about 1⁄4 cup at a time. Simmer until the sauce is mostly absorbed and the pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the spinach, then stir in the cheese. Add lemon juice to taste. Serve garnished with the chopped parsley. Beth Dooley is the author of “The Perennial Kitchen.” Find her at bethdooleyskitchen.com. ©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, is continuing to meet with Senators who will decide whether to approve his elevation to the post. There are still questions about reported sexual misconduct allegations, allegations of mismanagement of funds while leading a veterans' charitable organization, and questions about alcohol and drinking issues that he reportedly had while working at Fox News. Those questions have reportedly come up with Hegseth's meetings with senators. Hegseth met Monday with Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, who is herself a military veteran and a sexual assault survivor. Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday told reporters he has learned more about Hegseth's reported history with alcohol. "[Hegseth] admitted that coming back from deployment he and a lot of his young single service members did enjoy drinking and partying. I don't find that unusual or abnormal," Cornyn said. "He doesn't currently believe that he has a problem. He has in the past consumed alcohol, but I don't think he would be unique here on Capitol Hill or in the Pentagon for having done that." RELATED STORY | Trump doubles down on support for Hegseth amid contentious nomination process Cornyn and other Republican senators have also reiterated that the allegations of sexual misconduct against Hegseth so far come from anonymous accusers. It's still not clear if accusers would come forward before or during confirmation hearings. Hegseth is expected to meet soon with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another pivotal voice in the Senate who could lend crucial support to Hegseth's nominations. Republicans have a large enough majority in the next Congress to not need Democratic votes to confirm any of Trump's cabinet nominations — but that majority is still slim enough that the party can sustain only a few defections.
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Every Black Friday, there’s a number of viral products that everyone has on their Christmas wish list, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. However, not all of these popular items are going to stay in stock, and we have some insight on the ones that won’t. Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Cheyenne City Council passes contentious oversized vehicle banHello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. This will be the final TechCrunch Space newsletter you receive in 2024, so to all our readers, have a wonderful holiday and see you next year. There’s a lot to look forward to next year. I expect to see much more progress from SpaceX on Starship, big changes to NASA under the leadership of incoming administrator Jared Isaacman, Rocket Lab’s Neutron debut, and big missions for Impulse Space, Varda, and dozens of other startups. It will also be interesting to see if rumors prove true with Boeing selling off its space business. That would truly mark a new world order. In terms of venture financing, I expect to see more recovery from the lows in the 2023 time span, and if Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency does even a fraction of what it proposes, that could significantly loosen the regulatory and bureaucratic environment in which infrastructure-heavy industries (like space) operate. The downstream effects could be seen very quickly. Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at aria.techcrunch@gmail.com or send a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You can also send a note to the TechCrunch crew at tips@techcrunch.com . For more secure communications , click here to contact us , which includes SecureDrop instructions and links to encrypted messaging apps. Story of the week Speaking of regulations, it was nice to get an update from Blue Origin last week on the inaugural New Glenn launch, with the company essentially saying that the only puzzle pieces to fit into place are regulatory approvals for the rocket’s hot fire test and launch. With scarcely two weeks left of the year, it is absolutely feasible that New Glenn still launches in 2024, but a lot will depend on how the hot fire test goes. The turnaround time will be tight... Funding of the week Late-stage deals in space have been on the decline this year, so it was exciting to see the announcement from Fleet Space Technologies that it had closed a $100 million Series D. The Adelaide, Australia-based startup has developed a technology stack to enable mineral prospecting from space — and identifying critical mineral deposits will be key in a future that heavily relies on them (i.e. identifying lithium for batteries). This week in space history Okay, we did Thanksgiving in space a few editions ago, so it only feels right to take a look at how astronauts celebrate Christmas in space. The astronaut fleet has spent 18 consecutive years celebrating the holiday on the station, replete with mini Christmas trees, Santa hats, stockings, and other decorations. Click this link to see a really lovely collection of photos from NASA over the years.
Matthews International Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024