Ministers told ‘incompetence’ at Met Office led to underestimation of Storm BertStocks drifted higher on Wall Street in midday trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped boost the market. The S&P 500 rose less than 0.1%. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 19 points, or 0.1%, as of 12:32 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Intel was up 0.7% and Apple gained 0.4%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.9%, Amazon was down 0.5%, and Netflix gave up 1.4%. Health care stocks also helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.9% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.9%, Best Buy was up 2.1% and Dollar Tree gained 2.2%. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 15.8%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.M att Gaetz spent the best part of Wednesday meeting with Republican senators to try and earn their support to become attorney general in a second Trump administration. Then, in the late evening, he and his entourage entered the House of Representatives. It’s unclear why he was there. There was no reason for the former congressman — who had so recently resigned his post — to be in the House. Neither he nor anyone he was with would explain it. But, considering Gaetz is the man who broke the House, it felt a bit like watching a thief coming back to the scene of the crime. When Trump announced his nomination of Gaetz to be the top law enforcement officer, he sent the Senate Republican conference into a miasma . Gaetz is not a popular man in Congress, among his own party or among Democrats. Nevertheless, it looked for a while like Trump and Gaetz might get away with it. Gaetz, for his part, has proven himself to be a master of obstruction. He successfully led a charge in the first week of 2023 to block Kevin McCarthy from being speaker of the House — a charge that almost turned into a fistfight on the floor of the House . He then called his shot when McCarthy had angered just enough Republicans and every Democrat to the point that Democrats would side with someone they find as repulsive as Gaetz to take out a speaker . He mapped out a long-game strategy to install a Trump loyalist like Mike Johnson, and he succeeded . Now, it looked like he and Trump would try to bend the Senate to their will, too. Trump loves to make former heretics take loyalty tests. Look no further than him making JD Vance, who once compared the president-elect to Hitler, his fawning vice president. Or nominating Marco Rubio to be secretary of state. Time and time again, Trump demands that people grovel and convert. And when they do so, he hands them a reward. What better loyalty test for the stodgiest and most institutional bodies than making a member of the lower chamber, let alone one under investigation for having sex with a teenager, attorney general? But it turned out that it wasn’t to be. Even though Vance paraded Gaetz around the Senate and desperately tried to sell him to the Republicans there, uneasiness remained. Senators like Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who sits on the Judiciary Committee and is up for re-election, tried to shift the conversation when reporters asked about Gaetz. Nobody spoke positively about him on the record. Then Susan Collins, the moderate Republican from Maine, told The Independent that the president-elect’s team hadn’t even bothered setting her up for a meeting with Gaetz. That either signaled a major oversight on behalf of Team Trump or a recognition nothing could make Collins vote for someone she finds as vile as Gaetz. If they weren’t bothering to chase Collins’ tie-breaking vote, it’s likely they had already given up after a bruising ordeal. It turns out the Senate takes its “advise and consent” role seriously. And while Trump might want to put in as many loyalists who will advance his agenda, the Senate is not a body that can be brought to heel. More than any body in Washington, it does not like being told what to do. Trump never truly understood the Senate. After the failure to repeal Obamacare, he tried to get Mitch McConnell to get rid of the filibuster, which McConnell refused. And in the depths of Covid-19, Trump threatened to adjourn the chamber to make recess appointments . But McConnell, again, refused to relent. Even Trump’s major accomplishments in his first term in the White House were not his. McConnell and the Senate majority rammed through his judicial nominations — and it doesn’t take too much to convince Republicans to sign a major tax cut. McConnell’s decision to acquit Trump after the January 6 riot was not made out of fear of Trump, but rather out of fear other Republican senators would boot him. And the House GOP’s attempts to conceal the Ethics Committee’s findings on Gaetz — from Johnson’s advising the committee not to release the report, to the committee chairman and the top Democrat on the committee feuding with one another — came off like the House preventing the Senate from doing its job to advise and consent. It all finally proved too much, which is probably why Gaetz decided to pull out of the running. Even though many of Trump’s most famous critics from the Senate — Republicans like Jeff Flake, John McCain and Mitt Romney — won’t be in the upper chamber when the president-elect returns to the White House, and many of his acolytes — like Josh Hawley, Tommy Tuberville and Ted Budd — will rubber-stamp whatever he wants, Trump learned this week that the Senate will still maintain its rules. As for Gaetz, there is little reason to feel sorry for him. He has a litany of options. He could return to the House, boring as that may be (though he resigned from this current Congress, another one begins in January — and although he did say in his resignation letter that he doesn’t “intend” to rejoin in January, things change.) He might go for his initial goal of running for governor of Florida, which has become the MAGA Mecca in the Trump era. Or he could simply be a right-wing gadfly who makes money off his podcast, arguing that the Swamp topped him because he would fight for Trump. But in the end, Gaetz learned that the Senate — decrepit as it may be, with its norms barely hanging on their bones — can still muster enough opposition from the rabble. It might the final bomb that Gaetz threw that simply wouldn’t detonate.

With Chicago skid at 10 games, finale can't come soon enough for Bears CHICAGO (AP) — When the Chicago Bears threatened to score in the closing minutes of a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, fans expressed their feelings loud and clear. They weren't cheering for a touchdown or field goal. Andrew Seligman, The Associated Press Dec 27, 2024 12:24 PM Dec 27, 2024 12:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown, center looks at the scoreboard during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) CHICAGO (AP) — When the Chicago Bears threatened to score in the closing minutes of a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, fans expressed their feelings loud and clear. They weren't cheering for a touchdown or field goal. They had something else in mind. “Sell the team!” they chanted. With their skid at 10 games, a season that started with playoff hopes can't end soon enough for the Bears (4-12). They will wrap it up when they visit the rival Green Bay Packers on Jan. 5. “My job is to go out there and win games,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “And we don’t focus on the outside noise. The fans are going to cheer and maybe boo sometimes. And you can’t react to that. It’s not something that we react to.” Chicago is 14-36 in three seasons under general manager Ryan Poles and has two double-digit losing streaks. The Bears dropped their final 10 in 2022 when they were tanking as part of a franchise-record 14-game skid that stretched into last year. They've never lost more than 10 in a row in a single season. The slide was at six games when they fired former coach Matt Eberflus the day after a loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving, following a series of poor late-game decisions. They're 0-4 under interim coach Thomas Brown, and they've been dominated by Green Bay in recent decades. What’s working The defense. A defense that has gone from ranking seventh in yards per game through the first six weeks to 25th did its part against Seattle. The six points allowed were a season-low and the 265 yards the Bears gave up were their second-lowest. “As we know, our defense has a certain standard and we’ve showed it,” cornerback Kyler Gordon said. “So, obviously syncing a little bit. Just getting back on the guys to get back right. It’s just important to know what we can do and just go in there and execute.” What needs help Pass protection. Williams was sacked seven times, bringing his NFL-leading total and individual franchise record to 67. The Bears broke their previous mark of 66 sacks allowed in 2004, when they used four quarterbacks. Their issues on the offensive line are well-documented. And so is Williams' tendency to hold onto the ball too long, resulting in unnecessary sacks. “There were miscues,” Williams said. “There were stupid sacks that I was taking, losing 10, 14 yards, which is frustrating. But I will say that I will definitely take the heat for this one just because (of) some of the situations that I put us in.” Stock up DE Montez Sweat. The Bears gave up 53 yards rushing on Seattle's game-opening field-goal drive. But the line performed better after that. Sweat picked up his first sack since Week 12 against Minnesota on the first play of Seattle's second possession, when he took down Geno Smith for an 8-yard loss. Though he's only missed one game, Sweat has been slowed by ankle and shin injuries. His 5 1/2 sacks are a big drop from last season, when he had a combined 12 1/2 for Washington and Chicago while becoming the first NFL player to lead two teams in the same season. Stock down Williams. Coming off a promising outing against NFC leader Detroit that followed some shaky outings, Williams had a rough night. The No. 1 overall draft pick completed 16 of 28 passes for 122 yards — not much more than his low of 93 in a Week 1 win over Tennessee — after throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. The seven sacks for 46 yards both matched his second-highest totals. Injuries The Bears reported no injuries during the game. Key number 5 — The Bears once again had trouble sustaining drives, converting just 5 of 15 third downs and punting on seven of their 10 possessions. They tied a season low with 11 first downs and managed 179 yards. Chicago owns the NFL's second-worst third-down conversion rate at 31.8% and is averaging a league-worst 287.3 yards per game. Next steps The Bears have lost 11 straight against the Packers — the longest streak by either team in the storied rivalry — and 26 of 29 counting the playoffs. They've dropped eight in a row at Lambeau Field since a win in 2015. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Andrew Seligman, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) SEC rushing leader Dylan Sampson of Tennessee declares for NFL draft Dec 27, 2024 11:19 AM Dolphins clinging to thin playoff hopes. Hit the road to face Browns, who have lost four straight Dec 27, 2024 11:00 AM Eagles coach Sirianni says it's 'tough' for Hurts to play against Dallas with head injury Dec 27, 2024 9:13 AMNone

SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 13, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In a groundbreaking move for the property management and inspection industry, DrBalcony ( drbalcony.com ) introduces its cutting-edge app, a pioneering digital platform designed to revolutionize the balcony inspection process. This innovative tool empowers homeowners, property managers, and Homeowner Associations (HOAs) with a streamlined, intuitive experience, eliminating inefficiencies and redefining how inspections are managed. With a user-friendly interface and advanced features, the DrBalcony App transforms what was once a complex, time-consuming process into one that is seamless and efficient. Users can now obtain instant quotes, create and manage projects, and schedule inspections—all with just a few taps on their devices. “At DrBalcony, we are passionate about reimagining property management through technology,” said Greg, VP of Sales of DrBalcony. “The app reflects our dedication to simplifying inspections while upholding safety and compliance standards. With over 2,500 inspections completed, we’re proud to offer a solution that sets a new benchmark for convenience and reliability.” FEATURES THAT SET THE DRBALCONY APP APART The DrBalcony App is tailored to meet the specific needs of California property owners, offering features designed to ensure the integrity of balcony structures while making compliance with state laws like SB 721 and SB 326 more accessible than ever. Learn more: https://drbalcony.com/services/ A SOLUTION BACKED BY REAL RESULTS “For years, the balcony inspection process has been frustrating and inefficient,” shared Omid, CEO of DrBalcony. “This app eliminates unnecessary complications. From instant quotes to straightforward scheduling, it’s a game-changer.” DOWNLOAD THE DRBALCONY APP TODAY The DrBalcony App is now available for download and marks a significant leap forward in property management. By addressing common pain points in the inspection process, DrBalcony ensures peace of mind for property owners, engineers, and HOAs, all while maintaining safety and compliance with California’s strict balcony safety regulations . About DrBalcony: DrBalcony leverages innovative technology to enhance balcony inspection, focusing on efficiency, safety, and customer-centric solutions. With a mission to simplify the complex, DrBalcony has become a trusted name in the balcony inspection industry, ensuring compliance and safety standards are met with ease. Learn more: https://drbalcony.com/ . Your property’s safety has never been simpler—download the DrBalcony App today! NEWS SOURCE: DrBalcony Keywords: Real Estate, DrBalcony, Balcony Inspections, home inspection, safety, app, solution, service, SB 326, SB 721, SANTA ANA, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (DrBalcony) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122836 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/drbalcony-app-redefines-balcony-inspections-with-unparalleled-efficiency/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.

ST. LOUIS — The debate over how the city should spend more than $250 million in settlement money from the NFL entered a new phase Friday, as a bill backed by two of the city’s top three officials was introduced at the Board of Aldermen. Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, who is carrying the bill, said an initial hearing is set for Monday. The plan would put about $277 million into a series of endowment funds, each with a specific purpose. There would be one with $70 million dedicated to boosting affordable housing in the city, and one with $60 million for fixing streets and sidewalks. Another $40 million would go into a pot for the city’s water system, which is struggling with a maintenance backlog after going more than a decade without a rate increase. About $37 million would be made available to subsidize childcare for city residents, with first priority given to parents who are city workers. The last $70 million would be split between three other priorities: paying for city workers to go back to school or get additional training, helping city high school graduates pay for college or trade school, and building up struggling neighborhoods, perhaps with grants to businesses or neighborhood organizations. Sonnier, Aldermanic President Megan Green and Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said when they announced the plan Wednesday that it would transform the city by helping it attract and retain more residents, city workers and businesses. But there’s no guarantee it garners the eight votes needed to pass. A competing proposal from business leaders who pushed hard for more immediate spending focused more tightly on infrastructure and development, with $100 million earmarked for downtown and $130 million for struggling neighborhoods north and south. Four aldermen have publicly backed that plan: Pam Boyd, of Walnut Park, Tom Oldenburg, of St. Louis Hills, Cara Spencer, of Marine Villa, and Laura Keys, of the O’Fallon neighborhood. Other aldermen said they’re still making up their minds on how to vote. “I wish I could vote for both,” said Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, of Boulevard Heights. Alderman Bret Narayan, of Dogtown, said he wanted to see more done for city workers. Serious staffing shortages have hobbled functions like trash pickup in recent years. That has to be the focus, he said. “My community wants improvements in city services, not pet programs,” he said.Recently, I attempted to plan a road trip through Canada. What should have been exciting—imagining stunning national parks and scenic drives—became a digital nightmare of juggling 50 different websites. Just figuring out the basics was exhausting: Could I take my dog to the parks? Were there direct flights? What activities would be good for my three kids? What’s the best driving route? Each question spawned five new browser tabs. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of planning a trip yourself, you’re probably nodding your head. Here’s the reality of travel planning today: 43% of Americans dislike booking travel , including 23% of GenZ travelers. 88% of potential travelers abandon their bookings (85% of desktop users and 91% of mobile device users). 33% of families find the process extremely time-consuming . Meanwhile, travel industry companies are racing to implement basic AI chatbots that can handle simple questions like “What’s my flight status?” But they’re missing the real opportunity. Today’s AI is capable of so much more—it can think the way actual travelers think, handling complex requests, and solving real problems. Instead of forcing us to break our trips into rigid search boxes and dropdown menus, AI can help booking sites work the way our brains do. Here’s what that could look like. Search with human language No two people approach travel the same way. Some start with a destination, others with the experiences they want, and some just with a season. Travel companies could use AI to follow each person’s unique chain of thought, delivering personalized results and planning processes that fit how they think—not the other way around. Book by budget When was the last time you started vacation planning with a precise budget in mind? We think more naturally: “What can I get for my money in Thailand with the family?” Booking platforms can use AI to lay out complete vacation options at different price points—showing you exactly what each tier offers from flights to activities. Dynamic visual planning Trip ideas begin with inspiration, not itineraries. We save posts on Instagram, collect Pinterest boards, and share TikToks of dream destinations. Travel sites could harness AI to transform these wish lists into bookable trips—turning social inspiration into real adventures. On-demand replanning Travel plans aren’t set in stone. Weather changes, flights get delayed, kids get tired. Smart travel platforms should be using AI to handle these real-world changes, suggesting alternatives that keep your trip on track without starting over. Simplified group booking Planning group trips means balancing different wishes and constraints. AI can help travel companies transform individual preferences—from beachfront hotels to local hiking trails—into perfectly matched itineraries that work for everyone. The most frustrating part? None of this is science fiction. Companies already use natural language AI to understand complex customer service requests, visual AI to organize and catalog millions of images, and real-time systems to manage everything from stock trades to factory operations. The same technologies could transform travel planning—if companies would stop settling for quick fixes and start reimagining what’s possible. These examples are just the beginning of what’s possible when we reimagine travel planning. So, the next time a booking site asks you to start with “Where to?” remember: That’s not how we dream about travel, and it’s not how we should have to plan it. The future of travel planning is hiding in plain sight—we just need to demand better. Peter Smart is chief experience officer and managing partner at Fantasy. The application deadline for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards is Friday, December 6, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.

Panthers TE Ja'Tavion Sanders has been released from the hospitalNone

FLAGSTAR FINANCIAL, INC. APPOINTS BRIAN CALLANAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

It was a murder case almost everyone had an opinion on. O.J. Simpson ‘s “trial of the century” over the 1994 killings of his ex-wife and her friend bared divisions over race and law enforcement in America and brought an intersection of sports, crime, entertainment and class that was hard to turn away from. His death in April brought an end to a life that had become defined by scrutiny over the killings. But he was just one of many celebrities who died in 2024. The music industry lost a titan in producer Quincy Jones , who died in November. His many contributions included producing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album and working with hundreds of other musicians over a long and storied career. Other artists and entertainers who died this year include: actors James Earl Jones, Chita Rivera, Donald Sutherland, Gena Rowlands, Louis Gossett Jr., Shelley Duvall, Kris Kristofferson, Carl Weathers, Joyce Randolph and Shannen Doherty; musicians Sergio Mendes, Toby Keith, Phil Lesh, Melanie and Frankie Beverly; filmmakers Roger Corman and Morgan Spurlock; authors Faith Ringgold and Nikki Giovanni; TV fitness guru Richard Simmons; and sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, to name a few. We also lost celebrities with strong ties to Chicago, including comedian/TV icon Bob Newhart, talk show host and TV pioneer Phil Donahue, beloved children’s music icon Ella Jenkins, radio disc jockey legend Dick Biondi, and rock underground musician/producer Steve Albini. Here is a roll call of some notable figures who died in 2024: JANUARY Glynis Johns, 100. A Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim. Jan. 4. David Soul, 80. The actor-singer was a 1970s heartthrob who co-starred as the blond half of the crime-fighting duo “Starsky & Hutch” and topped the music charts with the ballad “Don’t Give Up on Us.” Jan. 4. Joyce Randolph, 99. A veteran stage and television actor whose role as the savvy Trixie Norton on “The Honeymooners” provided the perfect foil to her dimwitted TV husband. Jan. 13. Mary Weiss , 75. The lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack.” Jan. 19. Charles Osgood, 91. He anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, was host of the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence. Jan. 23. Melanie, 76. The singer-songwriter who rose through the New York folk scene, performed at Woodstock and had a series of 1970s hits including the enduring cultural phenomenon “Brand New Key.” Jan. 23. Herbert Coward, 85. He was known for his “Toothless Man” role in the movie “Deliverance.” Jan. 24. Chita Rivera, 91. The dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident. Jan. 30. FEBRUARY Carl Weathers, 76. A former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore.” Feb. 1. Toby Keith, 62. A hit country crafter of pro-American anthems who both riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans. Feb. 5. Henry Fambrough , 85. The last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” and “The Rubberband Man.” Feb. 7. Richard Lewis , 76. An acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain.” Feb. 27. MARCH Eric Carmen , 74. The singer-songwriter fronted the power-pop 1970s band the Raspberries and later had soaring pop hits like “All by Myself” and “Hungry Eyes” from the hit “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack. March 11. Louis Gossett Jr., 87. The first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots.” March 28. Chance Perdomo, 27. An actor who rose to fame as a star of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and “Gen V.” March 29. Julius Russell , 53. The Chicagoan quit a career in sales to pursue his dream of being a chef. He started his own company and named it A Tale of Two Chefs, offering catering and his services as a private chef. He developed a long list of well-known clients that included Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Juanita Vanoy, Michael Jordan’s ex-wife. March 30. Barbara Rush , 97. A popular leading actor in the 1950s and 1960s who co-starred with Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman and other top film performers and later had a thriving TV career. March 31. APRIL O.J. Simpson , 76. The decorated football superstar and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but later found liable in a separate civil trial. April 10. Robert MacNeil , 93. He created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades. April 12. Faith Ringgold, 93. An award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling. April 12. Dickey Betts, 80. The guitar legend who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” April 18. Sir Andrew Davis , 80. The acclaimed British conductor was music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and orchestras on three continents. In 2020, during his final season with Lyric, Davis told the Chicago Sun-Times he had “a wonderful time” working with Lyric’s orchestra, which he called “second to none on the international scene.” April 20. Duane Eddy, 86. A pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser” and “Peter Gunn” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. April 30. MAY Jeannie Epper , 83. A groundbreaking performer who did stunts for many of the most important women of film and television action of the 1970s and ’80s, including star Lynda Carter on TV’s “Wonder Woman.” May 5. Bernard Hill, 79. An actor who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and went down with the ship as the captain in “Titanic.” May 5. Steve Albini, 61. An alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more. May 7. Roger Corman , 98. The “King of the Bs” helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood’s most famous actors and directors early breaks. May 9. Dabney Coleman, 92. The mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie.” May 16. Morgan Spurlock, 53. The documentary filmmaker and Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet. May 23. JUNE Janis Paige , 101. A popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 90s. June 2. Anouk Aimée , 92. The radiant French star and dark-eyed beauty of classic films including Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” and Claude Lelouch’s “A Man and a Woman.” June 18. Donald Sutherland, 88. The Canadian actor whose wry, arresting screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games.” June 20. Bill Cobbs , 90. The veteran character actor became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man. June 25. Dick Biondi , 90. Influential in advancing the careers of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis, among many others, Biondi — Chicago’s definitive voice of Top 40 radio —was the first disc jockey to play the Beatles on American radio. June 26. Martin Mull, 80. His droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development.” June 27. JULY Joe Bonsall , 76. A Grammy award winner and celebrated tenor of the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys. July 9. Shelley Duvall, 75. The intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” July 11. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 96. The diminutive sex therapist became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics. July 12. Shannen Doherty , 53. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star whose life and career were roiled by illness and tabloid stories. July 13. Richard Simmons , 76. He was television’s hyperactive court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. July 13. James Sikking , 90. He starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character’s kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.” July 13. Cheng Pei-pei , 78. A Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” July 17. Bob Newhart, 94. The deadpan accountant-turned-comedian became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album. July 18. Abdul “Duke” Fakir , 88. The last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops, which was known for such hits as “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “Standing in the Shadows of Love.” July 22. AUGUST Jack Russell, 63. The lead singer of the bluesy ’80s metal band Great White, whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me,” and who was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island. Aug. 7. Wallace “Wally” Amos , 88. The creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire went on to become a children’s literacy advocate. Aug. 13. Gena Rowlands , 94. She was hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes. She later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook.” Aug. 14. Peter Marshall , 98. The actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares.” Aug. 15. Alain Delon , 88. The internationally acclaimed French actor embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world. Aug. 18. Phil Donahue , 88. His pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others. Aug. 18. Mickey Loewenstein , 90. As the WTTW set designer for Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel’s TV series, one colleague noted Lowenstein “was a master of forced perspective, a technique he used to make the Sun-Times and Tribune film critics look as if they were offering up movie reviews from the balcony of a large movie theater instead of inside tiny TV studio.” Aug. 20. John Amos , 84. He starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots.” Aug. 21. Leonard Riggio , 83. A brash, self-styled underdog who transformed the publishing industry by building Barnes & Noble into the country’s most powerful bookseller before it was overtaken by the rise of Amazon.com. Aug. 27. Jack Conaty, 77. The Fox Chicago political reporter was a high school English teacher before switching gears and pursuing journalism. The educational background, colleagues said, allowed him to deliver complex news stories in a way that was concise and easy to understand. Aug. 28. Fatman Scoop , 56. The hip-hop artist topped charts in Europe with “Be Faithful” in the early 2000s and later lent his distinctive voice and ebullient vibe to hits by artists including Missy Elliott and Ciara. Aug. 30. SEPTEMBER Eric Gilliland, 62. Gilliand grew up in Glenview and was head writer for the TV series “Roseanne.” Sept. 1. James Darren, 88. A teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget.” Sept. 2. Sergio Mendes , 83. The Grammy-winning Brazilian musician whose hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a global legend. Sept. 5. James Earl Jones , 93. He overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen, eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Sept. 9. Frankie Beverly, 77. With his band Maze, he inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go.” Sept. 10. Jim Sasser , 87. He served 18 years in the U.S. Senate and six years as ambassador to China. Sept. 10. Chilli Pepper. The entertainer, who was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2007, was a guest on shows such as “Donahue” and “Oprah,” where she spoke with dignity and clarity and helped educate millions of viewers about drag as an art form, the gay community and AIDS. Sept. 11. Tito Jackson , 70. One of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5. Sept. 15. John David “JD” Souther, 78. A prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. Sept. 17. Nick Gravenites, 85. The musician penned “Born in Chicago” and fostered blues revival. From the Southwest Side son of Greek immigrants to beatnik to bluesman — Mr. Gravenites’ journey was singular. Sept. 18 Kathryn Crosby , 90. She appeared in such movies as “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad”, “Anatomy of a Murder,” and “Operation Mad Ball” before marrying famed singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby. Sept. 20. Cat Glover, 62. The dancer from Chicago who performed with Prince, made it her goal to meet the superstar when she was a dancer working at clubs in Chicago. She went on to perform on his “Sign o’ the Times” and “Lovesexy” tours. Sept. 24. John Ashton , 76. The veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films. Sept. 26. Maggie Smith, 89. The masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for the 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Sept. 27. Kris Kristofferson , 88. A Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor. Sept. 28. Drake Hogestyn , 70. The “Days of Our Lives” star appeared on the show for 38 years. Sept. 28. Gavin Creel, 48. A Broadway musical theater veteran who won a Tony Award for “Hello, Dolly!” opposite Bette Midler and earned nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Sept. 30. Ken Page , 70. A stage and screen actor who starred alongside Beyoncé in “Dreamgirls,” introduced Broadway audiences to Old Deuteronomy in “Cats” and scared generations of kids as the voice of Oogie Boogie, the villain of the 1993 animated holiday film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Sept. 30. Artie Baldacci , 73. The drummer was the throbbing heart of Heartsfield, a band formed by a group of Chicago South Side rockers in 1970 that opened for some of the biggest names in music, including Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers, the Charlie Daniels Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Waylon Jennings, Kiss and the Marshall Tucker Band, among others. Sept. 30. OCTOBER Cissy Houston, 91. A two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang with Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and other stars and knew triumph and heartbreak as the mother of singer Whitney Houston. Oct. 7. Liam Payne, 31. A former One Direction singer whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans. Oct. 16. Mitzi Gaynor , 93. The effervescent dancer and actor starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film “South Pacific” and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Oct. 17. Phil Lesh , 84. A classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling by reinventing the role of rock bass guitar as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Oct. 25. Teri Garr, 79. The quirky comedy actor rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star in such favorites as “Young Frankenstein” and “Tootsie.” Oct. 29. NOVEMBER Quincy Jones, 91. The multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists. Nov. 3. Elwood Edwards, 74. He voiced America Online’s ever-present “You’ve got mail” greeting. Nov. 5. Tony Todd , 69. An actor known for his haunting portrayal of a killer in the horror film “Candyman” and for roles in many other films and television shows. Nov. 6. Judith Jamison , 81. The transcendent dancer and artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance helped make the company one of the most successful and critically acclaimed in the U.S. Nov. 9. Ella Jenkins, 100. The beloved “first lady of children’s music” Chicagoan Jenkins traveled the world, performing for generations of kids who never forgot listening to and performing with her. She has a Grammy Award, and her music is in the Library of Congress. Nov. 9. Arthur Frommer , 95. His “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day” guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad. Nov. 18. Kris Vire, 47. The Chicago theater writer and critic was staunch supporter of the city’s vibrant stage community. “Advocating for storefront and independent theaters, that’s his legacy, it’s what got him out of bed in the morning,” a former colleague said. Nov. 16. Chuck Woolery , 83. The affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19. Nov. 23. Barbara Taylor Bradford , 91. A British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga “A Woman of Substance” and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies. Nov. 24. Silvia Spinal, 93. The “last great diva” of Mexican cinema. As her star status began to cross borders, Pinal cemented her international acclaim with a trilogy of films by surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel. Nov. 28 DECEMBER Nikki Giovanni , 81. The poet, author, educator and public speaker who rose from borrowing money to release her first book to decades as a literary celebrity sharing her blunt and conversational takes on everything from racism and love to space travel and mortality. Dec. 9. George Joseph Kresge Jr. , 89. He was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin. Dec. 10. Rodessa Barrett Porter , 94. Mrs. Porter was one of a handful of people with direct ties to Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of gospel music. She and her sisters used to listen to him at Chicago’s Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. Dec. 16.Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Economists Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Executives Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020