National News - Page 87

Black Friday 2024 Breaks Online Shopping Records

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Written By Emma Bowman Many shoppers on Black Friday ditched the mall crowds the day after Thanksgiving and spent more money online than ever before. And big retailers relied on deep discounts to draw in sizeable traffic. Shoppers spent a record $10.8 billion online on Friday, over 10% more than they did last Black Friday, according to data from Adobe Analytics, which tracks retail transactions. That’s more than double what consumers spent in 2017. Online shoppers shelled out some $11.3 million per minute between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Adobe said. “Crossing the $10 billion mark is a big e-commerce milestone for Black

#VoteForALICE: United Way Pushes for Policy Change

United Way’s programs and services, as well as our advocacy work, supports equity, access, and opportunity for all—with a focus on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households. People at or below the ALICE budget threshold struggle every day to pay for the basics—like housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and childcare. In Maryland, 39% of households—nearly one million—don’t bring in enough income to keep pace with the cost of living. A significant portion of Maryland’s workforce, including cashiers, cooks, restaurant staff, drivers, warehouse workers, health aides, childcare providers, office staff, and more, live as ALICE. A majority of these peopel are working in one

Biden Pardons Hunter, Ignites GOP Fury and Legal Debate

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By Megan Lebowitz  GOP lawmakers began publicly fuming shortly after President Joe Biden announced that he was pardoning his son Hunter Biden. President-elect Donald Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, reacted to the announcement without naming the president or his son. “The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proven that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Cheung said in a statement. “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an

Bomb Threats Target Connecticut Democratic Lawmakers’ Homes

At least five Democratic members of Congress from Connecticut were targeted by bomb threats on their homes Thursday, the lawmakers or their offices said. Sen. Chris Murphy and Reps. Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson and Jahana Hayes all reported being the subject of such threats. Police who responded said they found no evidence of explosives on the lawmakers’ properties. There was no immediate word whether Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the fifth Democratic House member from the state, and Connecticut’s other Democratic senator received threats. The bomb threats against Democrats happened a day after a number of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s

Canada Prepares for Migrant Surge Amid Trump Deportation Plan

By Jeff Arnold Canada is bracing for a surge of immigrants to cross the United States’ northern border as President-elect Donald Trump continues to press for the largest domestic deportation in American history after he takes office in January. Canadian officials are preparing to add more border patrols and vehicles and plan to set up emergency reception facilities along the border of New York state and the province of Quebec in anticipation of the large number of new arrivals, The New York Times reported. The plans come amid Trump’s pledge to use U.S. military assets and state and local law enforcement to locate and apprehend immigrants with criminal convictions.

Biden Makes Historic Visit to Amazon in Climate Push

By Sara Schonhardt and Lauren Egan Joe Biden will put a bow on his environmental legacy Sunday, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon — a gesture of solidarity with global efforts to confront the looming catastrophe of climate change. But while Biden will be remembered for making climate a core part of his political and economic agenda in America, his international record has less to show for it. “He has been able to put the U.S. in the right direction,” said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, president of the global climate talks in Peru in 2014 and now global

NYC City Council Approves $5B ‘City of Yes’ Housing Plan

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By Emma G. Fitzsimmons A major plan seeking to address New York City’s housing crisis won approval from a City Council committee in a key vote on Thursday, bolstered by an unexpected pledge of $5 billion in city and state funds for affordable housing and infrastructure projects. The plan, known as City of Yes, is designed to ease restrictions that have made large-scale housing growth difficult, and represents the most significant overhaul of New York’s zoning regulations in decades. City officials estimate the changes could make way for 80,000 additional homes. The plan was passed by the Council’s Land Use Committee

Floridians face slow recovery after back-to-back hurricanes

By Ryan Bass In Treasure Island, Fla. — just west of Tampa — residents are still struggling to recover after being hit by back-to-back hurricanes. Areas off the Gulf of Mexico were hit first by Hurricane Helene, then, a few weeks later, by Hurricane Milton. Now, communities are struggling, with locals packed into hotel rooms that are usually filled with snowbirds this time of year. Floridians are frustrated with how slow the process has been. The two storms came 13 days apart, and almost two months after Hurricane Helene, damage is still visible. In one apartment complex, sand is still pushed up in banks against the

NPS Awards $500K for 2024 Underground Railroad Projects

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The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded $500,000 in grants to a variety of research, preservation and outreach activities related to the Underground Railroad and freedom seekers. In collaboration with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the grants were distributed through a competitive process to 20 current or prospective NPS Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program members in 14 states. “These grants are vital to uncovering and sharing previously untold stories related to our country’s history,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “They help expand public awareness, connect us with our shared heritage, and provide a

Columbus Unity March Counters Neo-Nazi Hate With Solidarity

By Char Adams A group of Black leaders and locals marched through Columbus, Ohio, in a unity rally Sunday, one day after neo-Nazis walked through the same streets carrying Nazi flags and chanting racial slurs and white nationalist slogans. The Rev. Derrick Holmes, senior pastor at Columbus’ Union Grove Baptist Church, said he received frantic calls from members of his congregation as people walked along North High Street dressed in all black with red masks, carrying black flags with swastikas on them. They yelled, “Bow down, [N-word]!” and other racist chants as they made their way through the state capital’s Short North Arts

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