Border measures begin to take effect in response to Trump’s tariff threat
Google sues CFPB
None
North Carolina retaining its status as the nation's most prominent ticket-splitting state was the top political story for 2024 as determined by the Winston-Salem Journal. Voters supported putting Republican Donald Trump back in the White House, while delivering an overwhelming win for Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein over embattled Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the governor's race. North Carolinians also rejected Trump's MAGA acolytes for lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instruction. Speaking of Robinson, his GOP primary win over state Treasurer and Winston-Salem native Dale Folwell was the runner-up story. People are also reading... Foxy Roxy's Pizza prepares to bring pizza perfection to downtown Statesville, one slice at a time 2 troopers, 1 Statesville man injured in in head-on crash after Alexander County chase Initial realignment draft puts 5 Iredell schools in same 6A/7A conference Efficiency and versatility of Flowers a winning combination for North Iredell volleyball North Iredell Holiday Classic Basketball Schedule Garbage pickup, holiday hours listed for Statesville, Mooresville, Iredell County North Iredell dominates second basketball meeting with South Iredell West Iredell’s Moore, Lake Norman’s Dingman shine brightest in cross country Iredell Memorial Hospital named one of nation’s top hospitals 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says See balloons light up Statesville Park and Soccer Complex on Saturday Mooresville duo leads list of Iredell's top football players in 2024 3 injured in car-chase crash on Old Mountain Road in Alexander County Get to know Statesville basketball player Jay'Veon Lackey 160-home development rejected by Statesville City Council Third on the list was the national speculation that Gov. Roy Cooper could become Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate before removing his name from consideration. Fourth was the Republican supermajorities' successful override votes of 10 Cooper vetoes during the 2024 session, as well as the potential ending of the House supermajority in the 2025 session. Rounding out the top-five is the so-called "power grab" attempt by Republican legislative leaders of certain authorities of the Democratic-elect governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instructions. Both Trump and a Democratic governor candidate won North Carolina for the third consecutive general election. Trump carried North Carolina by a 50.95% to 47.56% margin over Harris. Trump received 2.87 million votes. Meanwhile, Stein defeated Robinson by 3.03 million to 2.22 million votes, or 54.8% to 40.1%. Stein not only was the largest vote-getter in the statewide races, but received 160,496 more votes than Trump. There were minimal, if any, Trump coattails for the other Republican MAGA acolytes running for lieutenant governor (Hal Weatherman), attorney general (U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop) and superintendent of Public Instruction (Michele Morrow). They were defeated by Lt. Gov.-elect Rachel Hunt, Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson and superintendent-elect Maurice “Mo” Green, the former Guilford County Schools superintendent. Bishop and Morrow both drew about 180,000 fewer votes than Trump, while Weatherman was about 230,000 votes shy of Trump. What is different about the 2024 statewide races is that “voters generally cast party-line votes and aligned their Council of State votes with their presidential preference," said John Dinan, a Wake Forest University political science professor who is considered a national expert on state legislatures. “But in cases where one party’s candidate was able to portray the other party’s candidate as outside the mainstream, especially in open-seat races, this led some voters to engage in ticket-splitting." Folwell built his governor's campaign in March 2023 on the pillars of being the top statewide race vote-getter in 2016 and 2020, and that he offered stability, experience and maturity as “the best governor that money can’t buy.” Folwell did not hold back his questioning of Robinson’s qualifications to be governor given Robinson’s statements about racism, gender identity and women’s role in society. Yet, once Trump full-throatedly endorsed Robinson, calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids," that was enough to push Robinson to a decisive win over Folwell and Bill Graham. Among the criticisms of Folwell’s candidacy was that he was too prickly, too boring and didn’t display the same fiery campaign rhetoric as Robinson. Trump, however, chose to ostracize Robinson from his presidential campaign following the controversial Sept. 19 CNN report, as well as several Southeast Republican governors withdrawing their support. The CNN report included that Robinson wrote that he was a “Black Nazi” and that he not only supported a return of slavery but that he also wanted to own slaves. The story also said Robinson wrote that he liked to watch transgender porn. The comments were made on the porn website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012. Robinson has denied making the comments and has filed a lawsuit against CNN. Folwell pulled no punches in the aftermath of the bombshell CNN report, calling Robinson a “counterfeit conservative” and “always playing the victim.” “In the end, North Carolina voters decided they wanted a government that would be more moderate because that is how North Carolinians see themselves," said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University. Saying “It’s not the right time for North Carolina or for me to be on a national ticket,” Cooper pulled on July 30 his name from consideration as a vice presidential candidate for Harris . Being a popular two-term Democratic governor in a center-right Southern state was viewed by political analysts as a viable ticket-balancing option as Democrats attempting to shift N.C. back into the win column. CNN reported that Cooper, at 67, was the oldest potential vice president under consideration. “After all, only one person can be chosen for the vice president nominee, and there are at least a handful of strong candidates who come from swing states and who would provide some ideological balance to the ticket in the way that Cooper would have done," Dinan said. Another factor: Political analysts cited Robinson as being a potential deterrent for Cooper pursuing the vice president nominee. Robinson could potentially have issued executive orders as acting governor while Cooper was campaigning out of the state. As Cooper bowed out of VP consideration, speculation continued to swirl that Cooper is at the top of the list for Democratic challengers for two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026. John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd. of Chapel Hill, said that given Cooper’s accomplishments as governor and his long career in public service, he “would be a strong candidate” to take on Tillis. Stein will enter office Jan. 1 with a viable, but razor-thin, veto power since House Democrats were successful in gaining a 49th seat, thus breaking the Republican super-majority after two years. A super-majority exists when Democrats or Republicans control two-thirds of a chamber's seats. Since Republican legislators regained supermajority status in April 2023 after Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham switched from Democrat, they overrode 29 Cooper vetoes during the 2023 and 2024 sessions. Stein said that in the governor's race, North Carolinians "chose hope over hate, competence over chaos, decency over division.” Although Stein registered “a clear win,” John Locke Foundation senior political analyst Mitch Kokai cautioned that "he ought to be careful not to view that victory as an overwhelming mandate for his policy prescriptions." Meanwhile, Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, continues to embrace his role as a potential supporter of certain GOP legislation, telling the News & Record that "you need me. I don't need you ." That's even though four other eastern N.C. House Democrats have been identified as potentially playing the same flipping role. The Republican-controlled legislature completed Dec. 11 the passing of controversial Senate Bill 382 that curtails or ends certain authorities of four Democratic Council of State seats, as well as making the State Highway Patrol commander post a non-elected Cabinet position appointed by the legislature. The N.C. House overrode Cooper’s veto by a 72-46 vote along party lines on Dec. 11. Cooper vetoed the bill Nov. 26, calling it “a sham” and a “cruel blow.” Cooper and Stein needed just a day to file on Dec. 12 a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court challenging the constitutionality of SB382 with the foremost focus on the SHP commander legislation. SB382 also moves the State Board of Elections to the State Auditor’s Office, prevents the attorney general from undermining state law, and allows the state Treasurer to appoint a member to the Utilities Commission. SB382 appropriates an additional $227 million in Hurricane Helene disaster relief funding, but doesn’t immediately disperse it. "The people of western North Carolina are desperate for help from their state government. Yet, this bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief,” Stein said in a statement. Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and House speaker for the 2025-26 sessions, said the disaster relief funding in SB382 “has been framed incorrectly" and “this body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm relief." The Republican supermajorities overrode a Cooper veto to make school vouchers to private and religious schools available to all parents no matter their household income , as well as enforcing that urban Democratic sheriffs cooperate with federal ICE agents. About $460 million is now available for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program for the 2024-25 school year. Funding for the waitlist is retroactive, with eligible families qualifying for a tuition reimbursement from their schools. There are more than 72,000 voucher applications for this school year, but only about 16,000 students were approved before the money ran out. Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said there have been 27,256 applicants in Tier 1, which includes the lowest-income household, as well as 13,060 in Tier 2, 25,750 in Tier 3 and 12,228 in Tier 4, which Lee said half of which come from Mecklenburg and Wake counties. All North Carolina sheriffs began Dec. 1 being required to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for offenses committed on or after that date. Several metro sheriffs — including Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough of Forsyth County and Sheriff Danny Rogers of Guilford County — have limited their cooperation. “No longer will sheriffs in our most populated counties get away with ignoring federal immigration detainers issued by ICE," according to a joint statement from Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen Danny Britt Jr. of Robeson County, Warren Daniel of Burke County and Buck Newton of Wilson County. "With House Bill 10 finally becoming law, and the Trump administration taking over in Washington, we’re on the path toward a stronger border and safer United States.” Another potential casualty within SB382 is the loss of the Forsyth County Superior Court 31-D seat , held by Democrat Todd Burke. The seat would be eliminated in 2029, along with a seat in Wake County also held by a Democrat. In their place, the legislature would create two Superior Court seats, one appointed by the Senate leader and the other by the House speaker. Both judges would serve an eight-year term. Their districts would be identified when the nominees are submitted for appointment. Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, and House minority leader, said Burke’s seat is being eliminated because he took legal stances opposed by Republican legislative leadership and not because of the quality of his overall work or the lack of need for the seat. A primary example came in 2017 when Burke was part of a three-judge panel that ruled it was unconstitutional for the Republican supermajority at that time to revamp the state elections board and ethics commission weeks before Cooper was sworn in to his first term as governor. Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, and Senate minority leader, called part of the intent of SB328 to allow Republican legislative leaders to be able to turn to favorable Superior Court judges that they appoint, rather than go before judges that may hold them accountable to the constitutionality of their actions. Yet another successful GOP veto override in House Bill 237 loosened campaign-financing laws and significantly restricted public mask wearing for health and safety reasons. The insertion of state campaign finance law changes into HB237 has been pitched as either leveling the playing field on corporate and union donations, or opening another floodgate for out-of-state dark money into high-profile 2024 election races. HB237 became law amid predictions that the Stein-Robinson governor's race would be among the costliest in the country. “This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year,” Cooper said in a statement. “The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask." Rep. Sarah Crawford, D-Wake, said the number of North Carolinians affected by the masking part of HB237 could reach 2 million when counting immunocompromised individuals, those that assist them, and workers who require masking to perform their jobs outdoors. A compromise reached between House and Senate Republican leadership narrowly defined exemptions as allowing individuals ages 16 and older to wear a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease — with the condition of removing it upon request by law enforcement. “Bad actors have been using masks to conceal their identity when they commit crimes and intimidate the innocent,” said Sen. Danny Britt, R-Scotland, and Senate sponsor of HB237. “Instead of helping put an end to this threatening behavior, the governor wants to continue encouraging these thugs by giving them more time to hide from the consequences of their actions." The Triad will be represented by two new-blood Republican U.S. House candidates in newcomers Pat Harrigan and Addison McDowell . Both cruised to comfortable victories in their respective 10th and 6th district races considering they were all but ordained once they won their primaries in March given their districts were gerrymandered into safe Republican seats during the 2023 redrawing of the state’s congressional map. The redrawn map produced what political analysts had projected: a shift from North Carolina’s 14 congressional seats being split at 7-7 to a 10-4 Republican majority. Their victories were pivotal to U.S. House Republicans holding on to bare majority of seats for the 2025-26 sessions. Democratic-leaning Winston-Salem is in the new 10th, along with Republican-leaning western Forsyth County suburbs and solidly conservative counties Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Yadkin. The 6th District is the most Triad-centric of the four U.S. House districts in the region. The new map includes Kernersville, Walkertown and the southern Forsyth border — all Republican strongholds. In Guilford County, the 6th District portion forms a loop shaped like a backward C around the county’s suburban communities and High Point. Also included are all of Davidson, Davie and Rowan counties, and about 20% of Cabarrus County. A bipartisan and controversial N.C. Senate medical marijuana bill cleared the chamber in June for the second time during the 2023-24 sessions. However, Republican House leadership quickly shelved the revamped House Bill 563 without receiving a committee hearing. Outgoing House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, told legislative media outlets that for a medical marijuana bill to clear the House, there would need to be “reasonable controls,” and a balance to have enough distributors to prescribe and avoid a monopoly. Still, a block of House Republicans has opposed any medical marijuana language out of concern that it could serve as a gateway to legalized recreational marijuana use. They also claim that medical research isn’t definitive that it benefits users. The bill also contains language that would: place Tianeptine, Xylazine and Kratom on the state’s controlled substance schedules; create criminal penalties for criminal possession and unlawful sale of embalming fluid; and create penalties for exposing a minor to a controlled substance. HB563 would permit the use of medical marijuana — prescribed only by licensed physician — for individuals with ALS, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments, but not for those experiencing chronic pain. Importantly, the bill does not allow recreational marijuana usage or the marketing of medical marijuana to anyone under age 21. rcraver@wsjournal.com 336-727-7376 @rcraverWSJ Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect at dawn on Wednesday, following an escalation of Israeli attacks across Lebanon, including in the capital Beirut, where the Israeli army conducted dozens of air raids. The ceasefire was announced shortly after a statement by US President Joe Biden on Tuesday evening. In the hours that followed, thousands of Lebanese residents from cities and villages that had been bombed by Israeli forces began returning to their homes. Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli military imposed a ban on travel to certain villages previously evacuated. In response, the Lebanese army urged residents in frontline areas, particularly in the southern regions, to delay their return until Israeli forces had withdrawn from the area. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed his support for the return of displaced citizens, noting, “Since dawn today, I have been monitoring the convoys of displaced people returning to their villages in southern Lebanon. These images affirm the Lebanese people’s determination to stay connected to their land and values. We are now awaiting the army’s plan to reinforce its presence in the south and ensure a gradual, safe return for all displaced families.” Mikati also called on returnees and those still remaining in their homes to follow the Lebanese army’s instructions for their safety. Hezbollah’s Deputy Political Council Head, Mahmoud Qamati, expressed skepticism about the Israeli government’s commitment to the ceasefire. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “Netanyahu has a history of deception. We must be cautious and scrutinize any agreements made by the Israeli government.” Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Ministry of Health reported three new massacres committed by Israeli forces over the past 24 hours, resulting in 33 deaths and 134 injuries. This brings the total death toll in Gaza since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on 7 October 2023, to 44,282, with over 104,880 individuals wounded. Amid the ongoing conflict, displaced Palestinians in Gaza expressed mixed feelings about the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire. While some hoped it could signal a broader peace, they remained uncertain about a similar agreement for Gaza, where the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. The United Nations reported that it had made 41 attempts this month to reach Palestinians in northern Gaza with life-saving aid, but all efforts were blocked by Israeli authorities, who failed to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Schuylkill County residents to march in Washington for women’s rightsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Jurors in New Mexico have awarded a man more than $412 million in a medical malpractice case that involved a men’s health clinic that operates in several states. The man’s attorneys celebrated Monday’s verdict, saying they are hopeful it will prevent other men from falling victim to a scheme that involved fraud and what they described as dangerous penile injections. They said the jury award for punitive and compensatory damages is likely the largest in history for a medical malpractice case. The award follows a trial held in Albuquerque earlier this month that centered on allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed by the man's attorneys in 2020. NuMale Medical Center and company officials were named as defendants. According to the complaint, the man was 66 when he visited the clinic in 2017 in search of treatment for fatigue and weight loss. The clinic is accused of misdiagnosing him and unnecessarily treating him with “invasive erectile dysfunction shots” that caused irreversible damage. “This out of state medical corporation set up a fraudulent scheme to make millions off of conning old men by scaring them with a fake test,” Nick Rowley, the man's attorney, wrote in a social media post that detailed the verdict. Rowley went on to say that the scheme involved clinic workers telling patients they would have irreversible damage if they didn't agree to injections three times a week. NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki said in a statement issued Tuesday that the company is committed to high-quality and safe patient care. He said NuMale disagrees with the verdict and intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including an appeal. A message seeking additional comment was left Wednesday with the company and its attorney. NuMale also has clinics in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin. According to court records, jurors found that fraudulent and negligent conduct by the defendants resulted in damages to the plaintiff. They also found that unconscionable conduct by the defendants violated the Unfair Practices Act. The Associated Press
Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans still say crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” Impact on retailers, communities In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest report attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Increased penalties Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan bill making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar bill during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Retail theft data Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is notoriously difficult , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. Stateline staff writer Robbie Sequeira contributed to this report. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
World’s most beautiful ship ‘Amerigo Vespucci’ docks in Karachi(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Dec. 8 AUTO RACING 7:55 a.m. ESPN2 — Formula 1: The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ESPNU — Formula 1: The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (F1 Kids) COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) Noon BTN — Maryland at Purdue FS1 — Oklahoma St. at Seton Hall SECN — Richmond at Auburn 12:30 p.m. ESPNU — Vanderbilt vs. TCU, Fort Worth, Texas 1 p.m. ESPN2 — Kansas at Missouri 3 p.m. ESPN2 — Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech, Fort Worth, Texas 4 p.m. ESPNU — Arkansas St. at Memphis 5 p.m. ESPN — UConn at Texas 6 p.m. ACCN — Duke at Louisville BTN — UCLA at Oregon COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) Noon ACCN — Notre Dame at Syracuse 2 p.m. ACCN — SMU at Florida St. BTN — Minnesota at Nebraska SECN — Tennessee St. at Mississippi 4 p.m. ACCN — Virginia Tech at Duke BTN — Illinois at Ohio St. SECN — Kansas St. at Texas A&M 7 p.m. ESPN2 — South Carolina at TCU COLLEGE FOOTBALL Noon ESPN — College Football Playoff Selection Show COLLEGE WATER POLO (MEN’S) 6 p.m. ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Stanford, Calif. FIGURE SKATING 4:30 p.m. NBC — ISU: The Final 2024, Grenoble, France GOLF 4 a.m. GOLF — DP World Tour: The Nedbank Golf Challenge, Final Round, Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa 11:30 a.m. GOLF — PGA Tour: The Hero World Challenge, Final Round, Albany Golf Club, Nassau, Bahamas 1:30 p.m. NBC — PGA Tour: The Hero World Challenge, Final Round, Albany Golf Club, Nassau, Bahamas HORSE RACING Noon FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 2 p.m. NBATV — Westchester at Raptors 905 NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: Jacksonville at Tennessee, N.Y. Jets at Miami, Cleveland at Pittsburgh, Las Vegas at Tampa Bay FOX — Regional Coverage: Atlanta at Minnesota, New Orleans at N.Y. Giants, Carolina at Philadelphia 4:05 p.m. CBS — Seattle at Arizona 4:25 p.m. FOX — Regional Coverage: Buffalo at L.A. Rams, Chicago at San Francisco 8:20 p.m. NBC — L.A. Chargers at Kansas City PEACOCK — L.A. Chargers at Kansas City NHL HOCKEY 1 p.m. NHLN — Seattle at N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m. NHLN — Colorado at New Jersey SOCCER (MEN’S) 9 a.m. USA — Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion at Leicester City 11:30 a.m. USA — Premier League: Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Noon CBSSN — Serie A: Como at Venezia SWIMMING Noon NBC — U.S. Open: Championships, Greensboro, N.C. (Taped) TENNIS 9:30 a.m. TENNIS — Ultimate Tennis Showdown The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV . Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.The International Cricket Council announced the full schedule for the Champions Trophy on Tuesday, December 24. The board announced the schedule for all the teams, including the venues where the games will be played. The ICC announced that Pakistan will host the tournament alongside the United Arab Emirates since the PCB agreed to a hybrid model to accommodate India. The marquee match of India vs Pakistan (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); is set to be played on February 23 in Dubai. In case India reach the final of the tournament, Dubai will host the summit clash. The ICC announced that the tournament will kick off on 19 February with Pakistan vs New Zealand in Karachi and will run till March 9. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days. All matches will begin at 2:30 PM IST. Star Sports will be broadcast all the games in India.
As Guyana aligns itself to become a bilingual nation, Mexican ambassador to Guyana, Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo explained that this move will not only enhance global trade and competitiveness but also strengthen its ties with the Latin American community. The ambassador made this comment during a recent edition of the Energy Perspectives podcast where he highlighted Mexico’s contribution to Guyana’s Development in terms of education. He noted that currently, several international countries are currently eyeing Guyana as an investment hub due to its growing economy. However, he noted that the lack of a skilled workforce is an obstacle that the country is currently facing. “There are many companies that are willing, that are starting already, already started coming into Guyana and seeing again, the potential of having a very young population and eager population to see what’s in for them in this economic boom so they want to contribute, but they need the tools.” In this regard, He added that with over 1500 tertiary institutions in Mexico, the country could significantly contribute to the enhancement of the local education sector. “And that’s where international partners, such as Mexico, can come into the equation. We have more than 1,500 universities in Mexico, and that includes public universities, private universities, specialisation schools. So, we’re trying to build, again, bridges and connections, networks between the academia in Mexico and here in Guyana.” On, this point the ambassador highlighted that it is also important for the Government to work closely with the private sector. This he noted will ensure that educational institutions are in line with the labour demands within the country. “We have learned a big lesson in Mexico, and that’s that, you have to work hand in hand with the private sector. To know, and I’m talking about the academia, the universities, they have to know what the private sector is, where they are going, what they need, so you stop graduating people that may not find opportunities in the future.” He added, “So that you prepare them from college, university, schools, even technical schools, because that’s some side of education that’s been growing all over the world, and Mexico is no exception. Sometimes the answer is not creating more PhDs and MBAs. Some of the answers rely on the technical side of it, and these are very valuable positions within the labour market.” Moreover, ambassador Crespo highlighted that Mexico could also play an important role in helping Guyana transition into a bilingual nation. “And of course, in helping Guyana embrace this neighbourhood sense, in which most of your neighbours speak a different language. So, also that’s another aspect to how Mexico could help create the objective that you’ve set for yourselves to be a bilingual nation, with either English plus Spanish plus Portuguese plus French and any other of the languages from the neighbours.” Meanwhile, in a move intended to ensure the future generation of the country is not left behind in a rapidly changing economy. President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced last year that Spanish would be a mandatory subject from as early as primary school, he explained that Cabinet members would also be mandated to learn the language. Spanish is the official language of 20 countries and is rated as the world’s second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese, and the world’s fourth-most spoken language overall
Runner's World: Top RBs take flight when Ravens entertain EaglesHull Vane Celebrates 10 Years of Innovation and Sustainability in Maritime ShippingGrowing to 4.2M people in Metro Vancouver 'a bit too much' without a plan: Mike Hurley
Mavis Staples, take a bow. Friday at an event billed as her “85th Hometown Birthday Celebration” at a jam-packed Auditorium Theatre, the legendary vocalist put on a performance for the books — one that found her catching fire from the first note she sang and dazzling all the way through a fervent encore that apparently surprised even venue staffers who anticipated the lights would go up sooner. On another night, maybe Staples abides by the scheduled stop. But not on an evening that found the habitually upbeat singer in an especially jubilant mood and out to defy any limitations associated with advanced age. The local native’s enthusiasm and spirit transcended the songs and impacted every aspect of her 110-minute set, particularly in terms of its spontaneity and infectiousness. Possibly having more fun than even anyone in the captivated crowd, Staples wouldn’t be restrained and couldn’t resist an opportunity to share her bliss. She picked up on small cues and transformed them into unforgettable unscripted moments. She jazz-scatted onomatopoeia atop a drum riff; started singing the words to the Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime” shortly after finishing a cover of the band’s “Slippery People”; seconded her two backing vocalists’ statements with rejoinders; moaned impromptu reassurances; regaled with witty banter; and, after being mass-serenaded with “Happy Birthday,” wished herself one in the third person. Staples kept the mood light and pacing loose. She conveyed gratitude on her face, via blown kisses and kind waves, and in remarks. “Y’all make me feel so good, I’m gonna take off and run all around this building,” Staples declared amid one of a handful of deserved breathers. Kidding, of course. Still, considering her outsized energy and feisty determination, betting against her would’ve been unwise. At this point, simply calling Staples an institution falls short of the mark. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer began singing in her family’s namesake band at 8 years old; joined the civil rights and social justice movements; played at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration; marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; experienced first-hand on tour the hatred associated with segregation and racism; and, with her father and siblings, created a hybrid, idiosyncratic style of music that the group performed together for several decades. Renowned for her radiant positivity, Staples, who turned 85 in July, is the sole survivor of her family’s potent ensemble. Her sister Yvonne died in 2018, and her brother, Pervis, in 2021. Those losses, coupled with the pandemic shutdown, the usual effects of octogenarian age and an accidental fall in the summer of 2023, prompted Staples to court retirement. Her associates went as far as to organize farewell events. But the famously restless singer reversed course. Staples plans on releasing her first new LP in six years in 2025. The anticipated record will mark the latest in a series of studio efforts that witnessed her collaborate with younger contemporaries such as Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, M. Ward and Ben Harper. Fittingly, Staples’ later-career rebirth began in Chicago when local label Alligator Records issued her self-financed “Have a Little Faith” LP in 2004. The album title proved both instructive and prophetic for many of the highlights — a book by former Tribune critic Greg Kot, a documentary film, three Grammy Awards and Kennedy Center honors among the milestones — that followed. And by all accounts, she’s not close to calling it a career yet. Mavis Staples performs during her 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Mavis Staples performs with guitarist Rick Holmstrom during her 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Mavis Staples performs with her band during her 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Mavis Staples at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Mavis Staples performs with her band during her 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Mavis Staples performs with her band during her 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Margo Price performs at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Margo Price performs at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Mavis Staples performs during her 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Dec. 6, 2024. (Troy Stolt / for the Chicago Tribune) Save for sitting for a few brief spells and receiving a bit of assistance entering and exiting the stage, Staples gave no indication she was slowed in any capacity. As for the condition of her voice? Tremendous. Mighty, rich and strong, its emphatic depth, sacred bent, throaty grit and dynamic contrasts ensured each lyric and wordless expression landed with resolute passion. Whether belting at a clarion volume or shifting to a hushed, low gear, Staples’ contralto exhibited incredible purity and pitch control. On command, her instrument became a blaring trumpet, mellow French horn or sharp tenor saxophone; a demonstrative shake of a fist or consoling caress akin to a mother’s hand on her child’s shoulder. Akin to the hallelujahs in “Far Celestial Shore,” Staples’ voice rose from a whisper to a roar — and vice versa. During gospel-driven a capella runs she launched once her band completed a song, Staples testified and reasserted her purpose. The traditional approaches traced a through-line back to the river baptisms of the deep South as well as places of worship on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Preacher. Teacher. Historian. Daughter. Unifier. Fighter. Worker. Peacemaker. Comforter. Conductor. Promise-keeper. Staples wore those hats and others, broadcasting a soulful conviction that made it obvious that to her the songs were more than words set to music. They represented belief systems, empowering messages, tireless struggles for good. Vibrating with intensity, they served as vessels for delivering on her signature live pledge to bring the audience joy, happiness, inspiration and positive vibrations. She achieved that and more, and got a little help from her friends. The spacious, spare architecture of the arrangements, guided by longtime guitarist Rick Holmstrom, further underlined Staples’ intent and clarity. His tremolo-based style, swampy reverb and snaking, spring-coiled lines fostered the sense that the sounds floated. The steady rhythm section’s tempos and surplus of crisp, bounding grooves kept it all tethered. Spurring on her colleagues, Staples shouted words of encouragement between verses and refrains. She clapped to the beats, rolled her hands and extended her arms as if offering the world a hug. During a rousingly funky “Heavy Makes You Happy,” she lightly slapped Holmstrom on the back as he bent forward and leaned into a solo. Her megawatt smile and aural stimulation projected an ebullience that required none of the high-definition visual production utilized by most arena headliners. Staples guaranteed you not only saw but felt her emotions. Openers Margo Price and Jackson Browne — the former, an Illinois native, charmed with a short albeit vivid, acoustic roots-country set with her husband; the latter battled a cold that left his voice ravaged and nose dripping — joined Staples and company for “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?,” the first tune her father, Pops, taught his family. The guests also traded verses on a rendition of “The Weight.” By the time the classic ended, nobody doubted the load Staples could bear. Justice, equality, love, nonviolence: Staples presented the ideals as non-negotiables. All the while operating from a deceivingly simple, common-sense premise: Have the audience feeling better when they leave than when they arrived. Mission accomplished. May we delight in her presence again in the near future. It can’t come soon enough. Bob Gendron is a freelance critic. Setlist from the Auditorium Theatre on Dec. 6: “City in the Sky” “I’m Just Another Soldier” “Handwriting on the Wall” “Who Told You That” “Can You Get to That” (Funkadelic cover) “Respect Yourself” “Heavy Makes You Happy” (Bobby Bloom cover) “Friendship” “Far Celestial Shore” “Slippery People” (Talking Heads cover) “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” (traditional) “The Weight” (The Band cover) “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” into “Freedom Highway” Encore “I’ll Take You There”
She once admitted her own Insta weakness. Now she’s banning social media for kids
Why Biotechnology Company Carmell Shares Are Seeing Blue Skies Tuesday?Impeachment for Seoul's acting leader Han sought