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Darnold delivers for Vikings with career-high 347 yards and 5 TDs to beat Falcons, Cousins 42-21Dec 27 (Reuters) - Tech and growth stocks dragged Wall Street's main indexes lower on Friday, at the end of an upbeat holiday-shortened week that was driven by expectations around a traditionally strong period for markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) , opens new tab fell 0.82%, the S&P 500 (.SPX) , opens new tab was down 1.24% and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) , opens new tab briefly fell more than 2% and was down 1.80%. Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors, including information technology (.SPLRCT) , opens new tab and consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD) , opens new tab fell the most, down about 2% and 1.9%, after powering most of the broader market's gains in 2024. COMMENTS: "I’ve heard anecdotes that pension funds are rebalancing ahead of year-end, selling stocks and buying bonds. Unfortunately, I can’t verify that, but it would explain the sudden sell-off on no news. And of course, if large funds are selling stocks en masse, the megacap tech stocks would bear the brunt because of their heavy weighting in major indices." "If nothing else, today is a reminder that just because a 'Santa Claus' rally is a statistical likelihood, it is far from guaranteed." “We’ve seen an attempt at a buy-the-dips rally smacked back, which seems to confirm that this is some selling or rebalancing underway by a big investor.” JAY WOODS, CHIEF GLOBAL STRATEGIST, FREEDOM CAPITAL MARKETS, NEW YORK "What people are doing is they're raising some cash. They're taking some profits right now as we go into the end of the year and getting ready for an opportunity if it presents itself in the beginning of next year. Tech, which has had a tremendous run, is starting to pull back. I think this is the beginning of a healthy correction that will get focused over the next four to eight weeks as we switch administrations." “Any kind of selling pressure sort of spirals a little bit out of control when you have a thinly traded market. And I think the selling pressure is really just people looking for direction.” “It’s not a lot of institutions. I think a lot of non-professionals are looking seeing the market’s direction and they just go with the flow. There’s concerns that maybe the first part of this year can involve some repositioning and reallocation of funds and those that are trading today and next week are probably just trying to get a little bit ahead of that.” “There’s uncertainty about the direction of interest rates and inflation, and the fact of all this is sort of coming together at one time. What is the Federal Reserve going to do in the first part of next year?” “And then there’s a new administration coming in with new policies and (there are uncertainties as to) what those policies will actually be, which policies will actually be implemented. There's a lot of talk about new and many changes, but what's really going to happen?” “And because of the big run that you've had in 2024, portfolios are not exactly positioned correctly for 2025 and I think a lot of people are expecting a lot of changes in the early part of the year.” “You're seeing some of that today and that will lead to more selling pressure because people just want to capture the gains before they go on into 2025.” PETER TUZ, PRESIDENT, CHASE INVESTMENT COUNSEL, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA “This is end of year stuff going on people have had a pretty good year, and it’s typical year-end selling pressure caused by people taking profits, not a lot of buyers out there and not a lot of volume.“ “(There’s) no reason to jump in and buy these things at these valuations, and tax planning is on peoples’ minds this week and will be on Monday and Tuesday. I don't attribute it to, you know, any changing outlook in anything right now.” “The Santa Claus rally is one of those historic statistics that bears watching, but because of the change in administration and the potential change in policy you're probably seeing more action now than you would ordinarily. There's the potential for a lot of disruption in 2025.” BRYCE DOTY, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, SIT FIXED INCOME ADVISORS, MINNEAPOLIS "Today the market has really been reacting to the implications of taxes coming up. Tax positioning is overwhelming the other factors. But the more the Fed looks out of touch (with economic realities), the worse it is for equities...Tax trading will continue for the rest of the year." Sign up here. Compiled by the Global Finance & Markets Breaking News team Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabAs Americans are beyond burned out, Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry preaches the right to rest
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Households could face double-digit council tax hikes to fund services when current freeze on bills ends in spring Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By TOM GORDON DEPUTY SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 22:50, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 22:50, 8 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Families face costly tax rises after the finance chief for Scots councils refused to rule out double-digit increases when the current freeze ends this spring. Katie Hagmann, resources spokeswoman for council umbrella body Cosla, said ‘difficult decisions’ lay ahead, with hikes needed to keep services running. SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison last week said there was ‘no reason’ for big tax rises after she raised council funding by £1billion to £15billion in her 2025-26 budget. But Cllr Hagmann said the real terms increase was barely half what councils asked for, as authorities needed to make up for years and years of cuts. In comments that raise the prospect of costly increases, she told BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show that more money than councils got in the Budget was required. She said: ‘It’s fair to say that there’s still going to be difficult decisions that some councils are going to have to make. ‘We asked for an increase of 5 per cent and we have had a real terms increase. However, it’s only 2.6 per cent. So while this is really welcome news, we’re not out of the woods yet.’ The SNP has frozen or capped council tax in all but two of its 17 years in office. When councils had free rein in 2022-23 and 2023-24, the average rises were 3 and 5 per cent. Finance minister Shona Robison delivering the Scottish budget on Wednesday Former first minister Humza Yousaf froze it again this year, but next year councils can set what they like again. Last week, Perth and Kinross Council approved provisional plans for a rise of 10 per cent on bills next year - then 10 per cent and 6 per cent in the years after that. Shetlands Islands Council is also consulting on a hike of up to 10 per cent next year, while Aberdeenshire has asked residents about a possible 20 per cent rise. Cosla, which represents Scotland’s 32 local authorities, recently said local government was close to a ‘tipping point’ because of stretched resources. It has demanded a £694million, or 5 per cent, increase in revenue funding to £14.5billion in 2025-26 and a £163million, or 23 per cent rise, in capital funding to £872million, to adjust for soaring inflation since 2020. Cllr Hagmann, an SNP member of Dumfries & Galloway Council, went on: ‘We do have concerns, and we would like additional funding for delivery of health and social care.’ Inadequate funding meant cuts, she said, or ‘council tax is one lever that we can use to safeguard services - council tax increases could be used to fund services locally’. Pressed on whether double-digit rises were realistic, she did not deny it. She said: ‘This is the first time that we’ve had a real terms increase for a number of years. There’s been significant cuts throughout the previous years. Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport Advertisement ‘That will be down to local councils. Our ask had been heard by Scottish Government for no council tax freeze and no cap. It’s not going to be easy. But the very last thing we want to do is to add the pressures onto families, onto our communities, who may already be struggling.’ She said Scotland’s 32 councils would have a better idea of what they faced when they got their individual funding figures later this week. Meanwhile, Russell Findlay told the programme Scotland’s benefits bill - set to rise from £6.9 billion to £8.8 billion by 2030 and already running £1.3 billion ahead of Treasury funding - was ‘unsustainable’. The Scottish Tory leader said: ‘We can’t continue to increase benefits and increase taxes. The entire benefits bill needs to be looked at.’ Citing the budget decision to restore free bus travel for asylum seekers for £2million, he said: ‘That money would pay for the winter fuel payment for 6,000 Scottish pensioners who are in desperate need of it - that’s a much better way of spending that money. ‘This ever increasing benefits bill is unsustainable. It’s unaffordable. It lacks basic common sense. It can’t continue down this path.’ Ms Robison said some devolved benefits helped children out of poverty, benefitting society and reducing demand for public services down the line. She denied the Scottish public sector was ‘bloated’ but added: ‘Does it need to be more efficient and productive? Does it need to change and reform? Yes.’ Humza Yousaf Scotland Taxes SNP Share or comment on this article: Households could face double-digit council tax hikes to fund services when current freeze on bills ends in spring e-mail Add commentAn increase in usage of e-scooters has led to an increase in road collisions involving e-scooters ... [+] riders and other road users, like pedestrians. Speed, age of rider, and acceleration are among the issues addressed in a new report that calls for the development of a single set of mandatory technical requirements for all e-scooters sold in the European Union “to replace the current patchwork of national requirements, and voluntary standards.” The report, “ Improving the Road Safety of E-scooters ,” was released earlier this month by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), a Brussels-based independent non-profit organization, to promote common standards for e-scooter users that can be applied across the European Union. “E-scooters are now an established and popular way of getting around in urban areas in the EU,” Jenny Carson, co-author of the report, said in a statement. “However, they also come with a degree of risk that needs addressing more effectively than today.” The report was essential due to the increase in usage of e-scooters, which has led to an increase in road collisions involving e-scooters riders and other road users, like pedestrians, researchers said. Standards should be established soon, they added, as it takes years for new safety technologies and measures to be widely implemented. The safety standards recommended in the report include: a top speed limit of 20 km/h (12-13 mph), set at the factory; requirements for stability; minimum braking and maximum acceleration; front and rear brakes; an audible warning device (like a bell); front and rear lights; a minimum age of 16 for e-scooter riders; mandatory helmets; and a ban on riding after consuming alcohol or drugs. Elon Musk Apparently Just Became The No. 1 ‘Diablo 4’ Player In The World Stop Using Your Passwords—1Password And Google Warn Samsung’s Android 15 Decision—Bad News For Millions Of Galaxy S24, S23, S22 Owners While the European Union has some existing product regulations that apply to e-scooters, like rules covering machinery and batteries, there is no mandatory single standard for e-scooters covering factors like stability, maximum speed and braking performance, according to the report. However, several EU member states, including Germany and Spain, have developed their own national standards, and 11 European countries already require a 20 km/h maximum speed for e-scooters within their countries. Standards are important, the safety group said, as the EU currently has mandatory safety standards for new cars, vans and trucks, which include the fitting of automated emergency braking systems that can help prevent crashes with pedestrians and cyclists, but similar systems are not currently required to recognize e-scooter riders. Data is limited, but reported e-scooter-related deaths often involve alcohol, researchers said, noting that between half and two-thirds of those killed had consumed alcohol before riding. As a result, measures to address drunk-riding should include legal limits and appropriate levels of enforcement, they said. In Finland and Norway, for example, shared e-scooter providers are required to limit speed at night, or ban shared e-scooters during night hours, which resulted in a reduction in injuries. Safety issues surrounding e-scooter riders who take passengers and ride on pavement were also addressed in the report. In addition, lowering speed limits in urban areas is one of the main tools cities can use to reduce the risks for e-scooter users, and have been effective, researchers said. Drivers of cars, vans and trucks traveling at lower speeds are much less likely to kill e-scooter riders, pedestrians and cyclists. A new report, “Improving the Road Safety of E-scooters,” was released by the European Transport ... [+] Safety Council (ETSC) to promote common standards for e-scooter users that can be applied across the European Union. But in order to better understand and reduce the risk of death and serious injury, more crash data on e-scooter usage is needed, researchers said. For example, in some cases, police may not be called to the scene of a collision, so it may not be reported in national data. “With the right combination of a safer urban traffic environment, safer vehicles and safer rider behaviour, we can ensure that the roads are safer for e-scooter riders as well as cyclists and pedestrians,” Carson added. For more information, click here and here .
The Digital Dialogue: Freedom Network convenes stakeholders for Internet governance, media sustainability The image released on July 5, 2024 shows Senator Farhatullah Babar addressing an event. — Facebook@PHRN.PAKISTAN ISLAMABAD: Human rights activist and former Senator Farhatullah Babar said on Friday that access to digital spaces and uninterrupted Internet should also be fundamental rights alongside citizens’ existing right to information. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); He was delivering the keynote address at The Digital Dialogue, a summit on public interest media, technology and digital citizenship organized by Freedom Network in Islamabad, which brought together over 50 experts and practitioners from the fields of digital journalism, the tech sector, academia and civil society to talk about solutions for shaping Pakistan’s digital future. Babar urged the participants to take the conversation to the relevant parliamentary committees to explain the pitfalls and best practices of Internet governance, emphasizing the need to broaden the discussion on a legal framework for digital rights and ensure the inclusion of all stakeholders in this dialogue. Iqbal Khattak, the Executive Director of Freedom Network, said the summit was intended to provide a collaborative forum for voices ignored in media and Internet policy and aims to foster dialogue on the challenges and opportunities for Pakistan’s digital media and tech sectors,” he said. “We are meeting at a time when equitable access and progressive policies are needed to help Pakistan prepare for its digital future.” The summit also saw the launch of the Pakistan Digital Transformation Report 2024, published by Freedom Network and IDRAC (Ideas for Development, Research and Change). While introducing the report’s findings, media development expert Adnan Rehmat, the author of the report, said Pakistan is one of the world’s 10 most digitalized societies in terms of the number of people with Internet access and social media users. “Pakistan has a stated policy of aiding and fast-tracking digitalization of democracy, governance, economy and social development,” he said. “The country’s journey toward deep and irreversible digital transformation has been gaining momentum in recent years. Rehmat said some of the key achievements related to digital transformation have been economic growth and innovation. “The increasing digitalization of government departments and online government services for citizens and the IT-enabled services sector have exhibited tremendous potential to improve governance; drive economic growth, foster innovation and improve the quality of life through digital transformation,” he said. He also listed key challenges during the year such as the still-limited infrastructure and inadequate investments that are preventing the realization of a digital society. “This includes a dichotomous approach to viewing access to the Internet as a key priority for the national digitalization drive including the digital economy and yet also myopically seeing the Internet as a dangerous power in the hands of people when it comes to freedom of expression and democratic engagement online,” he added. The report ranked setbacks with the overall negative impact that hindered the digital transformation process during 2024 in the domains of digital freedom of expression and right to information, content regulation and privacy concerns, digital politics, digital economy, Internet, and investments in tech entrepreneurism. The summit also featured discussions on digital media viability, online citizenship, tech sector collaboration and public interest journalism for marginalised communities. At the summit panel on the financial sustainability of independent digital news media, panellists discussed strategies for diversifying revenues. Talha Ahad, the CEO of Centrum Media, said digital media outlets must understand the value they can offer through their journalism and never compromise on content quality because it leads to credibility with the audience and revenue. Media viability strategist Momina Mindeel said digital media need to collaborate and explore innovative ways to engage with their audiences including through offline events. Arsalan Ali, the co-founder and CEO of Times of Karachi, said investment and advertising opportunities are available for digital media but they need to be consistent in their news operations to benefit from these chances. The panel on digital citizenship discussed meaningful online participation for citizens. Digital rights activist Usama Khilji said it is important to hold the government accountable because cyber laws are selectively implemented to infringe upon the rights of the public rather than using a citizen-centric approach that respects digital rights. Digital expert Usman Zafar said it is important to include education on digital critical thinking in the curriculum so young people can learn which online information is good and which is harmful. “People are genuinely confused about finding information online and they want to know where to look for it,” he said. “Education, sensitization and skill-building in digital literacy are the steps we should take.” Journalist Qurrat ul Ain Shirazi said the local digital news media do not have the support and resources that international digital media possess so they have to make extra efforts to provide ethical and reliable information, otherwise calls for their regulation will increase. The panel on collaborative pathways saw participation from the financial and tech sectors and civil society representatives. Laraib Farhat, manager of policy and government relations at P@SHA, said a consultative process for digital policymaking is often ignored in Pakistan. “We should strike a balance between the need for regulation and for facilitation,” Ms. Farhat said. “We should not regulate so much that we choke society.” Mutaher Khan, a business journalist and founder of Data Darbar, said incentives for digital startup growth are still missing and the growth potential is further affected by external factors such as Internet slowdowns and app bans. “The media and civil society must engage with the tech sector in order for their interventions to be scaled up,” he said. Mubariz Siddiqui, a tech lawyer and entrepreneur, said Pakistan is still far from global standards in its digital policies. He said the compliance procedures for foreign investment in technology continue to be so intrusive that they discourage potential investors. “A little foresight can help Pakistan avoid the negative impact of its digital policies on trade,” he said. IRADA programme manager Salwa Rana said the policy intent of control continues to prevail about Internet governance rather than considerations for safe and open Internet access.Husband’s excessive manners leave wife feeling left behindThere were too many stars in the kitchen when Taylor Swift and fellow WAGs Brittany Mahomes and Lyndsay Bell dodged paparazzi by sneaking out of the kitchen of a Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Beverly Hills. A video of the incident at Spago was reportedly taken in January but has only been making the rounds on TikTok since Sunday. In the now-viral clip, several staffers can be seen leading the group toward the back of the restaurant as Swift waves to onlookers, who are calling out their thanks and goodbyes. Swift’s friendship with the WAGs has made headlines since the popstar began attending Kansas City Chiefs games last fall, in the early days of her romance with tight end Travis Kelce . She’s been seen sitting and celebrating in the stands with Brittany Mahomes and Lyndsay Bell, who are married to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Blake Bell, respectively. Back in August, fans speculated there might be a rift in Swift and Brittany’s relationship, after the latter appeared to support Donald Trump’s controversial presidential platform . Swift, who has been known to support progressive policies related to LGBTQ and reproductive rights, shortly thereafter issued her endorsement for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris . Though the women cheered on the Chiefs from different suites during the Super Bowl champs’ home opener in early September, talk of a political-based feud was put to rest when Swift attended the birthday party Brittany threw for Patrick two weeks later. Swift is currently in the home stretch of her record-breaking Eras Tour , which has just three shows left in Vancouver before she takes her final bow on Dec. 8.Q. My new year’s resolution is to clean out my garage and get rid of any pesticides that are expired, not needed, or harmful to wildlife. How do I find out what I should get rid of? Do fertilizers have an expiration date? ANSWER: This is an excellent new year’s resolution! If you have any pesticides that are expired or not needed anymore, make sure they are labelled (hopefully with the original) and place them in a sturdy box so you can take them to your nearest hazardous materials disposal site. Fertilizers don’t really expire, but they may become clumpy and unusable, so these can be disposed of in a similar way. The laws concerning pesticides change frequently, so it’s always a good idea to take inventory and get rid of any chemicals that are no longer considered safe to use. Take note of the active ingredient(s), which should be listed on the front of the container, and look them up on the UC IPM website. There you can find an active ingredient index that will give you information on precautions, how it works, and possible adverse effects, including effects on wildlife. There is also a list of less toxic alternatives that is quite useful. When you are ready to dispose of your old pesticides, fertilizers, and other household chemicals, you can find a drop off site by searching “Household Hazardous Waste + (your county)”. Alternatively, your waste management company’s website should also have this information. Q. What rodenticides are least likely to harm wildlife? We have a terrible rat problem, but I don’t want to hurt the local predators. Realistically, there are no rodenticides that are completely safe for non-target species like owls, bobcats and coyotes. Poisons such as brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difethialone are single-dose rodenticides. These poisons kill quickly, usually within a day of ingestion. Once eaten, the drug is stored in the liver and prevents blood clotting. Since these drugs are not excreted before the rodent dies, predators and scavengers can be poisoned. If you have any of these rodenticides, please dispose of them properly and do not use them. Older poisons such as warfarin, chlorophacinone, and diphacinone are multiple-dose rodenticides. These are generally considered to be less harmful to wildlife but can cause problems if a predator or scavenger consumes multiple rodents that have been poisoned. To minimize the risk of secondary poisoning to wildlife or pets, follow the instructions on the label closely. Promptly remove and dispose of any dead rodents by sealing in a plastic bag and disposing in a secure trash container. Don’t handle dead rodents with bare hands. Buried rodents can be exhumed by dogs or coyotes. If possible, find other ways to kill rodents. I prefer the electrocution-type traps since they are humane and easy to use. Never use sticky traps outdoors since they are more likely to catch non-target animals and are inhumane. For more information on rat control, see ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/rats/pest-notes/#gsc.tab=0 Related Articles
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CHICAGO — With a wave of her bangled brown fingertips to the melody of flutes and chimes, artist, theologian and academic Tricia Hersey enchanted a crowd into a dreamlike state of rest at Semicolon Books on North Michigan Avenue. “The systems can’t have you,” Hersey said into the microphone, reading mantras while leading the crowd in a group daydreaming exercise on a recent Tuesday night. The South Side native tackles many of society’s ills — racism, patriarchy, aggressive capitalism and ableism — through an undervalued yet impactful action: rest. Hersey, the founder of a movement called the Nap Ministry, dubs herself the Nap Bishop and spreads her message to over half a million followers on her Instagram account, @thenapministry . Her first book, “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2022, but Hersey has been talking about rest online and through her art for nearly a decade. Hersey, who has degrees in public health and divinity, originated the “rest as resistance” and “rest as reparations” frameworks after experimenting with rest as an exhausted graduate student in seminary. Once she started napping, she felt happier and her grades improved. But she also felt more connected to her ancestors; her work was informed by the cultural trauma of slavery that she was studying as an archivist. Hersey described the transformation as “life-changing.” The Nap Ministry began as performance art in 2017, with a small installation where 40 people joined Hersey in a collective nap. Since then, her message has morphed into multiple mediums and forms. Hersey, who now lives in Atlanta, has hosted over 100 collective naps, given lectures and facilitated meditations across the country. She’s even led a rest ritual in the bedroom of Jane Addams , and encourages her followers to dial in at her “Rest Hotline.” At Semicolon, some of those followers and newcomers came out to see Hersey in discussion with journalist Natalie Moore on Hersey’s latest book, “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” released this month, and to learn what it means to take a moment to rest in community. Moore recalled a time when she was trying to get ahead of chores on a weeknight. “I was like, ‘If I do this, then I’ll have less to do tomorrow.’ But then I was really tired,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘What would my Nap Bishop say? She would say go lay down.’ Tricia is in my head a lot.” At the event, Al Kelly, 33, of Rogers Park, said some of those seated in the crowd of mostly Black women woke up in tears — possibly because, for the first time, someone permitted them to rest. “It was so emotional and allowed me to think creatively about things that I want to work on and achieve,” Kelly said. Shortly after the program, Juliette Viassy, 33, a program manager who lives in the South Loop and is new to Hersey’s work, said this was her first time meditating after never being able to do it on her own. Therapist Lyndsei Howze, 33, of Printers Row, who was also seated at the book talk, said she recommends Hersey’s work “to everybody who will listen” — from her clients to her own friends. “A lot of mental health conditions come from lack of rest,” she said. “They come from exhaustion.” Before discovering Hersey’s work this spring, Howze said she and her friends sporadically napped together in one friend’s apartment after an exhausting workweek. “It felt so good just to rest in community,” she said. On Hersey’s book tour, she is leading exercises like this across the country. “I think we need to collectively do this,” Hersey explained. “We need to learn again how to daydream because we’ve been told not to do it. I don’t think most people even have a daydreaming practice.” Daydreaming, Hersey said, allows people to imagine a new world. Hersey tells her followers that yes, you can rest, even when your agenda is packed, even between caregiving, commuting, jobs, bills, emails and other daily demands. And you don’t have to do it alone. There is a community of escape artists, she said of the people who opt out of grind and hustle culture, waiting to embrace you. The book is part pocket prayer book, part instruction manual, with art and handmade typography by San Francisco-based artist George McCalman inspired by 19th-century abolitionist pamphlets, urging readers to reclaim their divine right to rest. Hersey directs her readers like an operative with instructions for a classified mission. “Let grind culture know you are not playing around,” she wrote in her book. “This is not a game or time to shrink. Your thriving depends on the art of escape.” The reluctance to rest can be rooted in capitalist culture presenting rest as a reward for productivity instead of a physical and mental necessity. Hersey deconstructs this idea of grind culture, which she says is rooted in the combined effects of white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism that “look at the body as not human.” American culture encourages grind culture, Hersey said, but slowing down and building a ritual of rest can offset its toxicity. The author eschews the ballooning billion-dollar self-care industry that encourages people to “save enough money and time off from work to fly away to an expensive retreat,” she wrote. Instead, she says rest can happen anywhere you have a place to be comfortable: in nature, on a yoga mat, in the car between shifts, on a cozy couch after work. Resting isn’t just napping either. She praises long showers, sipping warm tea, playing music, praying or numerous other relaxing activities that slow down the body. “We’re in a crisis mode of deep sleep deprivation, deep lack of self-worth, (and) mental health,” said Hersey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2022 , in Illinois about 37% of adults aren’t getting the rest they need at night. If ignored, the effects of sleep deprivation can have bigger implications later, Hersey said. In October, she lectured at a sleep conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where her humanities work was featured alongside research from the world’s top neuroscientists. Jennifer Mundt, a Northwestern clinician and professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, praises Hersey for bringing the issue of sleep and rest to the public. In a Tribune op-ed last year, Mundt argued that our culture focuses too heavily on sleep as something that must be earned rather than a vital aspect of health and that linking sleep to productivity is harmful and stigmatizing. “Linking sleep and productivity is harmful because it overshadows the bevy of other reasons to prioritize sleep as an essential component of health,” Mundt wrote. “It also stigmatizes groups that are affected by sleep disparities and certain chronic sleep disorders.” In a 30-year longitudinal study released in the spring by the New York University School of Social Work, people who worked long hours and late shifts reported the lowest sleep quality and lowest physical and mental functions, and the highest likelihood of reporting poor health and depression at age 50. The study also showed that Black men and women with limited education “were more likely than others to shoulder the harmful links between nonstandard work schedules and sleep and health, worsening their probability of maintaining and nurturing their health as they approach middle adulthood.” The CDC links sleeping fewer than seven hours a day to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and more. Although the Nap Ministry movement is new for her followers, Hersey’s written about her family’s practice of prioritizing rest, which informs her work. Her dad was a community organizer, a yardmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and an assistant pastor. Before long hours of work, he would dedicate hours each day to self-care. Hersey also grew up observing her grandma meditate for 30 minutes daily. Through rest, Hersey said she honors her ancestors who were enslaved and confronts generational trauma. When “Rest Is Resistance” was released in 2022, Americans were navigating a pandemic and conversations on glaring racial disparities. “We Will Rest!” comes on the heels of a historic presidential election where Black women fundraised for Vice President Kamala Harris and registered voters in a dizzying three-month campaign. Following Harris’ defeat, many of those women are finding self-care and preservation even more important. “There are a lot of Black women announcing how exhausted they are,” Moore said. “This could be their entry point to get to know (Hersey’s) work, which is bigger than whatever political wind is blowing right now.” Hersey said Chicagoans can meet kindred spirits in her environment of rest. Haji Healing Salon, a wellness center, and the social justice-focused Free Street Theater are sites where Hersey honed her craft and found community. In the fall, the theater put on “Rest/Reposo,” a performance featuring a community naptime outdoors in McKinley Park and in its Back of the Yards space. Haji is also an apothecary and hosts community healing activities, sound meditations and yoga classes. “It is in Bronzeville; it’s a beautiful space owned by my friend Aya,” Hersey said, explaining how her community has helped her build the Nap Ministry. “When I first started the Nap Ministry, before I was even understanding what it was, she was like, come do your work here.” “We Will Rest!” is a collection of poems, drawings and short passages. In contrast to her first book, Hersey said she leaned more into her artistic background; the art process alone took 18 months to complete. After a tough year for many, she considers it medicine for a “sick and exhausted” world. “It’s its own sacred document,” Hersey said. “It’s something that, if you have it in your library and you have it with you, you may feel more human.” lazu@chicagotribune.comCEFS: Activist Manager Unlocks Value In Closed-End Funds
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New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns
The family of a 9-year-old boy who died several years after hitting his head on a metal cart holder at Walmart is now suing the superstore for allegedly creating a dangerous and unsafe condition that ultimately led to the boy’s death. According to a complaint, Tamika Springer is seeking damages beyond $30,000 for the death of her son , Saiy-Yah Allen. During a trial hearing on Tuesday, Saiy-Yah’s sister spoke about how her brother experienced seizures after the incident at the Florida megastore. According to the sibling, her then-7-year-old brother walked into a metal stock cart and struck his head in a walkway in November 2020, per Law and Crime. “He would shake a lot and he would look in a different direction, and then he would shake and make noise, too,” Miharah Allen said. “Every time he ate, he would throw up, he would throw the food up or use the bathroom on himself.” Florida mom 'left loaded gun' on Disney DVDs and bullets in bed as kids played at squalid home DNA left on discarded cigarette butt solves 40-year murder mystery of Indiana steelworker The testimony of the sibling comes after it was reported by local NBC affiliate WTVJ after Walmart had questioned whether or not the injury led to his seizures and death. “Walmart is not liable for the incident as the stock cart was so open and obvious that S.A. should have been reasonably expected to discover it and protect himself (by simply walking around it), and a stock cart is so obvious and not inherently dangerous that it can be said, as a matter of law, not to constitute a dangerous condition that will not give rise to liability due to the failure to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition,” the defendant’s motion for summary judgment said . “Here, unfortunately, S.A. was inattentive and failed to walk around a stock cart’s handles that were observed by his sister, who was not walking with her head turned. S.A. failed to use his senses and was walking while looking backward, therefore he did not observe the open, obvious, and innocuous stock cart.” According to the boy's obituary, Saiy'yah was "the King that the world deserved but wasn't ready for." According to the site, "His energy filled every room he walked into, and his presence impacted everyone who came in contact with him." The obituary also made reference to some of the boy's passions and hobbies. "Saiy'yah's talents were extraordinary. His drawings, paintings, origami and popsicle sculptures were amazing to everyone that was fortunate to see them or receive a gift from him," it said. "He often made origami birds and drawings for our friends and even random people he came in contact with." "His eyes and smile lit the entire universe! He did everything with the utmost pride and precision," they concluded. We all told him how brilliant and genius he is and how his talents will only get greater." According to the site, the boy left behind his parents, sisters and brother and several other relatives who loved him dearly. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.Oklahoma's throwback offensive approach against Alabama gets LSU's attention
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