South Africans spent R214 billion ($11.79bn) on Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Technology & Durable products in the third quarter of 2024. This marks a 4.1% growth compared to the same time last year, according to the NIQ Retail Spend Barometer. The barometer, based on data from GfK (an NIQ company), tracks sales of everyday and non-food products in retail stores nationwide. The NIQ Retail Spend Barometer gives a clear picture of how much South Africans are spending on everyday goods like food, healthcare, and homecare products, as well as durable goods like appliances and electronics. Published quarterly, it highlights trends in household spending. FMCG Growth Slows, But... Staff Writer, which successfully brought a messenger RNA (mRNA)-based COVID-19 vaccine to market, sought twice this past week to reassure investors that it could not only survive but thrive even if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were to become Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Donald Trump’s second administration—comments that helped spark a in the company’s stock. At an investor lunch held by Goldman Sachs, and a fireside chat held a few days later by Jefferies, Moderna’s top executives laid out a similar hopeful scenario for why they believe the company will be able to carry out the comeback plans it first announced in September and continue its development of mRNA-based vaccines should Kennedy come to oversee HHS. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel and president Stephen Hoge (joined at the event by Lavina Talukdar, the company’s senior vice president and head of investor relations) based their optimism in part on the historic administrative relationship between HHS and its secretaries. “Management highlighted that, according to legislation, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for managing the department rather than creating policy,” the Moderna leaders asserted, according to a report by Benzinga based on a Morgan Stanley analyst’s account of the lunch. The leaders also reportedly asserted, “It remains uncertain how political appointees might affect the current vaccine regulatory framework, which Moderna believes would require significant effort to alter.” While Kennedy has previously raised concerns about vaccine safety, the concerns focused on vaccines for children; Moderna’s vaccines are not specifically targeted for children. During the luncheon, Bancel and Hoge “expressed strong confidence” in the comeback strategy they laid out for Moderna in September at its annual R&D Day. Moderna committed to stepping up the development of vaccines for cancer and rare diseases, while dialing back investment in infectious disease jabs. Moderna’s strategy jolted investors enough to send shares over the two days following the announcement, to $68.28 on September 13 from $79.51. That’s because the company pushed back by two years, from 2026 to 2028, its plans to break even on an operating cash cost basis—which excludes stock-based compensation, depreciation, and amortization expense—with $6 billion in revenue. Moderna also revealed plans to slash between $1 billion and $1.2 billion in expenses by shrinking its R&D budget by about 20%, from the $4.8 billion it anticipated spending this year to between $3.6 billion and $3.8 billion by 2027. However, last month, Moderna surprised analysts by reporting net income of $13 million (up from a $3.63 billion net loss in Q3 2023) and higher-than-expected sales of its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax® ($1.8 billion). Yet the unexpected profit wasn’t enough to stave off a drop in Moderna shares. This past week saw better stock news for Moderna, as shares from last week, rising to $41.11 Friday, from $36.85 on November 15. That low (just $1.05 or 3% above the stock’s 52-week low) followed Wolfe Research initiating coverage of Moderna with analyst Alexandria Hammond rating the stock an “Underperform” and setting a 12-month price target of $40. One likely factor in Moderna’s comeback: HSBC analyst Yifeng Liu on November 18 upgraded the firm’s rating on the company’s shares from “Hold” to “Buy.” However, Liu chopped the firm’s price target on Moderna by 29%, from $82 to $58, citing concerns over the company’s comeback plans, according to TipRanks. Despite this week’s relatively good news, Moderna shares are , having closed at $78.17 on November 22, 2023, no small factor in the company mapping out its comeback. But the stock has upside potential, he added, should Moderna deliver on plans to bring 10 pipeline candidates to approvals, up from the current two (SpikeVax and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] vaccine mRESVIA, the latter approved in May). The 10 include three of Moderna’s five respiratory vaccines with positive Phase III results, which the company expects to submit for approval this year. On Thursday, Jefferies equity analyst Michael J. Yee reported highlights of its fireside chat with unnamed Moderna “management” leaders to investors. Summarizing the event, Yee wrote that the “co[mpany] believes RFK may have caused investor nervousness but unlikely doing anything draconian or removing vaccines.” That belief is based on RFK Jr. asserting in numerous interviews, including , that: “Of course, we’re not going to take vaccines away from anybody,” and, “We are going to make sure that Americans have good information about vaccines and vaccine safety.” Moderna’s view was buttressed by comments made in a separate Jeffries fireside chat with Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBRE). According to Yee, Marks “doesn’t expect any changes to vaccine approvals + the new admin’s stance has mostly been around vaccine mandates [FDA only weighs in on safety/efficacy].” He expects “add’l AdComm’s [advisory committee meetings on applications for new vaccines] or other pushes for transparency would be an oppt’y to reinforce + shift dialogue towards risk benefit.” In a separate summary elaborating on Marks’ comments, Yee reported: “Dr. Marks stated that ‘he isn’t going anywhere’ and sees it as imp’t [important] that people see constant and consistent leadership—FDA leadership has a long track record of working w/ different admins including the Trump admin[instration].” Marks cited FDA cooperation with Operation Warp Speed initiative, through which Trump’s first administration shepherded development of COVID-19 vaccines through funding of trials and manufacturing. According to a , Operation Warp Speed spent over $18 billion dollars of U.S. public funds on six vaccine candidates, including Moderna’s SpikeVax, the subject of a to manufacture and deliver 100 million doses. “While acknowledging uncertainty and that he can’t fully predict workforce impacts, his belief is that the vast majority at FDA generally have very strong relationships w/ their management and leadership and a commitment to unmet needs and rare diseases which wouldn’t change under a new admin,” Yee added. At HHS, Kennedy would oversee agencies that include the FDA—for which Trump said Friday he plans to nominate Marty Makary, MD, as commissioner—and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for which Dave Weldon, MD, a physician and former Republican Congressman from Florida, will be nominated as director. Moderna leaders also told Jefferies that they projected COVID-19 vaccines revenues averaging $2 billion to $3 billion annually, Yee reported, a “durable base biz [business] given vaccination data from the last 2 years in the ‘endemic’ commercial market.” The company reasoned that because COVID-19 vaccines are not now mandated, “people who are opting to receive the jab should con’t [continue] to do so year over year.” Two pioneers in artificial intelligence (AI)-based drug development became one this past week when and Exscientia they said would help them fulfill commitments to deliver first-in-class and best-in-class drug discovery. However, a pair of analysts took a more cautious view of the companies joining forces. Mani Foroohar, MD, of Leerink Partners acknowledged two benefits of the combination deal: It extends Recursion’s cash runway into 2027 and provides the company with additional tools in Exscientia’s pipeline candidates, as well as its precision chemistry tools and capabilities, including its newly commissioned automated small molecule synthesis platform. “We see long-term risks associated with pipeline prioritization and deal execution,” Foroohar cautioned, citing the companies’ plan to generate annual savings through operational “synergies’ of $100 million. Those synergies included job cuts, Najat Khan, PhD, Recursion’s chief R&D officer and chief commercial officer, . The combined workforce has shrunk from about 900 pre-combination to approximately 800. Foroohar also cited Recursion’s delayed timing for several of its pipeline candidates: The company also deprioritized a second program for a fourth candidate, in advanced AXIN1/APC-mutant cancers. The combined company, which assumed the Recursion name and stock ticker (Exscientia’s ticker of NASDAQ: EXAI has ceased trading and has been delisted), is a trans-Atlantic AI powerhouse with a pipeline of more than 10 clinical and preclinical programs, 10 programs in advanced discovery phases, and more than 10 additional programs partnered with biopharmas. Recursion CEO Chris Gibson, PhD, who keeps his position in the combined company, has envisioned growing to . “Investors continue to struggle with the abundance of programs for a company with a heavy cash burn,” Foroohar commented. “In light of this dynamic, we would advocate a more disciplined and focused approach with aggressive headcount and pipeline rationalization.” Investor reaction appeared to reflect the caution voiced by Foroohar. Shares of the newly-combined Recursion the day the combination took effect Thursday, from $6.04 to $5.75, and Friday, to $5.70. In the months leading up to the combination, the stock yo-yoed from $6.84 on August 8, peaking at $7.84 on November 11 before retreating. Foroohar reiterated Leerink’s “Market Perform” rating and $8 price target on Recursion shares. Also staying in place was Needham analyst Gil Blum, PhD, who reiterated his firm’s “Buy” rating and $11 price target. Dennis Ding, equity analyst with Jefferies, wrote in a research note that the company could generate a potential $50 million in cost savings next year alone from shrinking its real estate footprint, reducing its spending on external contract research, and consolidating its late discovery stage pipeline programs. He projected Recursion will offer more information on cost-cutting when it reports fourth quarter 2024 results early in the new year. On the value creation side, however, Ding said Recursion’s stock could see a boost if it reports positive data next month from its lead cancer candidate REC-617 (formerly GTAEXS617), an Exscientia-developed CDK7 inhibitor being developed to treat advanced solid tumors. Recursion expects to report initial monotherapy safety and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data from the Phase I portion of the Exscientia-initiated Phase I/II ELUCIDATE trial ( ) on December 9 during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference, being held in Toronto, and the following day at a webinar. “We think this is the next catalyst for the stock and coming up imminently,” Ding declared. In a September , Exscientia said preclinical models suggested 8-10 hours of IC [in vitro 80% inhibitory] coverage on CDK7 was optimal, while less coverage compromised efficacy and longer coverage could result in signals of safety problems. “The therapeutic window is very narrow for CDK7, and—outside of obvious chemical design choices—RXRX hopes to have a short half-life ~6-8 hours to hit CDK7 hard but not long enough to drive tox[icity],” Ding observed. “It’s imperative they thread the needle on this.”calendar method of cockfighting 。

Bluesky takes bite out of X, as global users flee social media giant: analyst - CTV News

A WALMART Christmas tree is back in stores for the holiday season. The mega-retailer offers a variety of artificial trees for Christmas, but one viral favorite is in stock. A design influencer, Simply Staged and Styled shared their Walmart find on Facebook . O CHRISTMAS TREE... The fake tree is sold under the brand name “ My Texas House .” It has a relatively sparse design that sets it apart from many other fake trees, which typically look very full and dense. Simply Staged and Styled said the "viral" tree was “back and better than ever.” Read More about Walmart “This year [it] comes with twinkle lights. It’s so pretty!” the account said. They said the sparse design is more realistic, and warned that they may sell out quick. “I would hurry!” they said. THE DESIGN The tree comes in various sizes. Most read in Money A 4-foot mini tree goes for $59 on Walmart’s website. The larger version is 7.5 feet. That one sells for $179. However, the influencer said there is also a 9 foot option, though it does not currently appear on Walmart’s website. It’s not clear the price of that largest size. The influencer said they would send links to anyone who commented “Christmas Tree” on their post. This engagement strategy seemed to work — dozens of Facebook users commented with the key phrase. MORE WALMART Walmart offers a variety of deals on its products, partly because of the scale of the business. For example, the store recently offered a sale on a usually pricey cologne. But those looking for discounts in the near future must plan their shopping carefully. Walmart will be closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Read More on The US Sun The chain started shutting its doors for turkey day a few years back, but the decision has not been without controversy . Some competitors are planning to stay open for the holiday.Bankability, procurement, patents and optimisation: Energy-Storage.news Guest Blog picks from 2024

Stocks 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.Automatic Transfer Switch: Ensuring Continuous Power Supply 12-26-2024 04:52 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: ABNewswire An Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) [ https://www.mlele.com/automatic-transfer-switch-series/ ] is a critical component in power management systems, designed to automatically switch a power load from its primary power source to a backup power source when it detects a failure or outage in the primary source. This technology ensures that operations can continue uninterrupted, making it indispensable for critical applications in various industries. How an Automatic Transfer Switch [ https://www.mlele.com/automatic-transfer-switch-series/ ] Works The primary function of an ATS is to monitor the power quality of the primary power supply continuously. When the ATS detects an anomaly such as a power outage, voltage drop, or any other issue that may affect the operation of connected equipment, it triggers a switch to an alternative power source. This backup source can be another utility line, a generator, or a battery backup system. * Detection: The ATS constantly monitors the incoming power from the primary source. It looks for specific parameters like voltage, frequency, and phase rotation to ensure that the power is within acceptable limits. * Decision: If the ATS detects an issue with the primary power source (e.g., power outage, severe voltage fluctuation), it decides to switch to the backup power source. This decision is typically made within a few milliseconds to ensure minimal disruption. * Transfer: The ATS then disconnects the load from the primary source and connects it to the backup source. This transfer can be open (where the load is momentarily disconnected from both sources) or closed (where the transfer happens without any interruption in power). * Return: Once the ATS detects that the primary power source has been restored and is stable, it switches the load back to the primary source, ensuring that the backup source is preserved for future use. Image: https://i216.goodao.net/uploads/11.png Types of Automatic Transfer Switches There are several types of ATS [ https://www.mlele.com/automatic-transfer-switch-series/ ], each suited for different applications and requirements: * Open Transition: This is the most common type of ATS, where the switch from primary to backup power involves a brief disconnection of the load. It is suitable for non-critical applications where a short interruption in power is acceptable. * Closed Transition: In this type, the ATS ensures that the load remains connected to power during the transfer process. This is achieved by momentarily paralleling the primary and backup sources, making it ideal for critical applications where even a brief power interruption is unacceptable. * Soft Load Transition: This type of ATS ramps up the backup power source before transferring the load to ensure a seamless transition. It is often used in applications with sensitive electronic equipment that requires a stable power supply. * Bypass Isolation: This ATS allows maintenance to be performed on the switch without interrupting the power supply to the load. It is commonly used in data centres and hospitals where continuous power is critical. Applications of Automatic Transfer Switches ATS are used in a wide range of applications, including but not limited to: * Data Centres: To ensure continuous operation of servers and other critical infrastructure, preventing data loss and downtime. * Hospitals: To maintain power to life-saving equipment and systems, ensuring patient safety. * Industrial Facilities: To keep manufacturing processes running smoothly without interruptions. * Commercial Buildings: To ensure business operations can continue without disruption. * Residential Buildings: To provide backup power during outages, especially in areas prone to severe weather conditions. Benefits of Automatic Transfer Switches Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) offer numerous benefits that make them essential for various applications where continuous power supply is critical. Here are the key benefits of using Automatic Transfer Switches: * Uninterrupted Power Supply: The primary advantage of an ATS is its ability to provide a seamless transition between power sources, ensuring that operations continue without interruption. * Enhanced Safety and Reliability: ATS are designed to be highly reliable, ensuring that backup power is available when needed. This reduces the risk of equipment damage and safety hazards due to power outages. * High Degree of Automation: ATS operate automatically without the need for human intervention, which reduces the response time to power outages and minimizes the risk of human error. * Versatility: Modern ATS can handle a wide range of power sources and are suitable for various applications, making them a versatile solution for power management. Components of an Automatic Transfer Switch An Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) is a sophisticated device composed of several key components that work together to ensure a seamless transition between primary and backup power sources. Understanding these components is essential to grasp how an ATS functions and why it is so reliable and effective. Here are the primary components of an ATS: * Controller: The brain of the ATS, responsible for monitoring power quality and making decisions about when to switch power sources. * Transfer Mechanism: The physical components that disconnect the primary power source and connect the backup source. * Power Breakers: These are used to isolate power sources and ensure safe operation during the transfer process. * Sensors: Devices that monitor voltage, frequency, and other power quality parameters. * Manual Override: Allows for manual control of the ATS in case of an emergency or maintenance requirement. Installation and Maintenance Proper installation and regular maintenance of an ATS are crucial for its reliable operation. Installation should be performed by qualified professionals who can ensure that the switch is correctly integrated into the power management system. Regular maintenance, including testing and inspection, helps to identify potential issues before they become critical and ensures that the ATS operates correctly when needed. Transfer Switch [ https://www.mlele.com/product/ ] is a vital component in ensuring continuous power supply in various settings. Its ability to detect power issues and seamlessly switch to a backup source makes it essential for critical applications where downtime is not an option. With advancements in technology, modern ATS offer enhanced performance, safety, and reliability, making them a valuable investment for both residential and commercial users. Media Contact Company Name: Zhejiang Mulang Electric Co., Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=automatic-transfer-switch-ensuring-continuous-power-supply ] Country: China Website: https://www.mlele.com/ This release was published on openPR.

Indian billionaire Adani down again, but not outBOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Deshawn Purdie threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to O'Mega Blake for the go-ahead score and Charlotte defeated Florida Atlantic 39-27 on Saturday in a game that matched two new interim coaches. Charlotte (4-7, 3-4 American Athletic Conference) fired Biff Poggi on Monday and Tim Brewster took over. FAU (2-9, 0-7) fired Tom Ferman, also on Monday, with Chad Lunsford taking charge. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content.

The top US securities regulator, a skeptic towards cryptocurrency who was appointed by President Joe Biden, announced Thursday he will step down in January when Donald Trump takes office. Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said he will resign on January 20, the same day Trump assumes the presidency. The move clears the way for the president-elect to pick Gensler's successor. The news comes as bitcoin hit a fresh record, trading above $99,000 and nearing the symbolic $100,000 level. Gensler's five-year term does not end until 2026, but agency chairs customarily step down when the party of presidential administration turns over. During the election campaign, Trump promised to fire him. Gensler took office in April 2021 shortly after the so-called "meme stock" frenzy in January 2021 prompted massive volatility in GameStop and a handful of other stocks. A former mergers and acquisitions partner at Goldman Sachs, Gensler led rulemaking proposals intended to improve efficiency in capital markets. But his future in Washington looked precarious in light of the SEC's confrontational approach to cryptocurrency throughout the Biden years. Gensler referred to crypto as "the Wild West." During the campaign, Trump drew heavy financial support from cryptocurrency backers, some of whom are also close to the Republican's close ally, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In the absence of clear regulations, Gensler took an aggressive stance toward digital currencies, treating them like traditional financial securities such as stocks and bonds. The approach has prompted SEC lawsuits against major trading platforms including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken, along with various smaller startups. Legislation currently in Congress would shift oversight of cryptocurrency supervision to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, known for its lighter-touch approach to regulation. Gensler thanked Biden and fellow commissioners, saying in a statement, "The SEC has met our mission and enforced the law without fear or favor." But the SEC's announcement drew cheers from the crypto industry. The Blockchain Association posted a waving hand emoji on X in response to Gensler's impending exit, while its CEO, Kristin Smith, noted the announcement came the same day as a favorable US court ruling in Texas for cryptocurrency. The Texas ruling constitutes "a fitting turning point of the SEC's harassment campaign of the crypto industry, and the beginning of a new era," Smith said on X. Smith warned Gensler against "sneak" last-minute enforcement and called for a "better-functioning" SEC that avoids overreach and is willing to work "with industry to find fit-for-purpose solutions." Hailey Lennon, a partner at law firm Brown Rudnick who was formerly general counsel at Coinbase, said the SEC under Gensler "played gatekeeper and stalled innovation." Citing Gensler's departing comments, she wrote on X that "saying the SEC has regulated without fear or favor is insane gaslighting." tu-jmb/bjtKansas Hit on Shedeur Sanders Leads to CFB Fans Questioning Lack of Roughing PenaltyStock market today: Stocks drift higher as US markets reopen after a holiday pause

But the Democratic-led Illinois General Assembly adjourned its final session of the year without taking any meaningful steps in that direction, with some lawmakers saying more time is needed to consider what might be done. Republicans countered by accusing Democrats of considering legislation based only on assumptions about potential actions by the Trump administration. During their five-day fall veto session — legislators left town a day early in the first week — lawmakers did pass a measure to phase out a subminimum wage for people with disabilities, and moved forward on another aimed at making it easier for the state’s child welfare system to have a child’s family member serve as their legal guardian. Some bigger issues were pushed into next year, among them legislation adjusting the state’s pension system and a proposal to consolidate the Chicago area’s transit agencies. Following a lame duck session scheduled for Jan. 2-7, a new General Assembly will be seated on Jan. 8, and after that Gov. JB Pritzker and lawmakers will also need to confront a projected budget shortfall of nearly $3.2 billion for next year’s state budget. Pritzker last week announced he was part of an initiative called Governors Safeguarding Democracy with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to leverage states’ rights against threats following Trump’s reelection. But Pritzker didn’t go the route of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who directly asked his state’s general assembly to address Trump’s election in a special legislative session next month. Illinois’ Democratic lawmakers said figuring out exactly what to do will take some time, and that the just-completed session simply provided an opportunity to get discussions started. “So many people that we legislators represent, including ourselves, have so much anxiety about changes to come due to the incoming administration and we don’t know immediately what we can do in the state legislative arena, but we are already listening, talking about it and planning for it,” said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, a Democrat from Chicago’s Northwest Side. “Those are complicated issues and once we start putting stuff on paper and talking about it publicly, we have to get it right.” Some of the issues being explored are in the areas of environmental protections, immigration and health care access, along with abortion, LGBTQ+ and workers’ rights. State Rep. Bob Morgan, a Democrat from Deerfield, believes he and his colleagues will be working on issues that address “preemptive, proactive protections” for Illinoisans. Morgan, who has a special interest in gun safety issues following a deadly mass shooting in his district at the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, questioned whether President Joe Biden’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention would be on the chopping block and how that would affect Illinois. “When we start talking about policy to keep people safe, it really puts the pressure on states like Illinois to really figure out what can we do to reduce gun violence, and the opportunity to rely on the federal government will no longer be there,” Morgan said. Morgan was a main sponsor of Illinois’ sweeping gun ban that took effect in January 2023, but earlier this month was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge who was appointed to the bench during Trump’s first term. House Republican leader Tony McCombie, who has been critical of the Democratic call for a legislative response to Trump’s approaching presidency, said Thursday she was against having a lame duck session if the Democrats don’t intend to pass any meaningful measures. “We do not need more time for out-of-touch Democrats to dream up harmful legislation,” said McCombie, of Savanna. “We need bipartisan legislation that focuses on the issues Illinois families care about most.” Republican Rep. Charlie Meier said Democrats shouldn’t be changing laws or passing laws “just because America’s doing what America does” by electing a new president. “They’re going to try to think what he might do before he even does it to create another law on the Illinois citizens that we may not need,” said Meier, of Okawville. “We are a state that has written so many laws, so many rules, that we are about the worst in unemployment in the country.” Among the measures lawmakers did move to Pritzker’s desk during the brief session was a heavily debated bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers over the next five years. Federal law allows some employers to pay disabled workers less than minimum wage. In Illinois, some disabled workers are paid less than a dollar an hour, according to the bill’s advocates. Erin Compton, a student who identified as having an intellectual disability, testified in favor of the bill in committee, saying she has held several jobs including in research and as a ticket scanner for the Cubs. “Some people say that having a job isn’t for me, because I’m not smart enough or good enough to work, but I was given opportunities to work in the community and have to have a fair wage,” Compton said. Pritzker praised the legislation, calling it an “unprecedented, crucial leap forward” for disabled people to earn a fair wage. “Far too often, people with disabilities still endure barriers to employment and discrimination in the workplace,” he said in a statement. “Many are paid subminimum wages that devalue their contributions and diminish their likelihood to secure meaningful work and participate in other life-enhancing activities.” While the bill passed with bipartisan support, opponents including Republican Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet warned it could lead to a loss of opportunities for some disabled people. Another measure that has bipartisan support provides additional incentives for relatives of children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to maintain a home for the youths as an alternative to the children being placed in foster care with nonfamily members. It passed with no opposition in the Senate on Thursday after passing 113-0 in the House last spring. But because of an amendment that was attached to the bill by the Senate, it has to go back to the House for what will likely be the bill’s final vote. The legislation requires DCFS to seek federal funding to start a “kinship navigator program” to assist relatives who are caregivers with the agency and increase financial support to those relatives. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which pushed for the measure, more than 10,000 children in DCFS care live with relatives, but over 60% of these caregivers are denied the foster care benefits necessary to care for a youth being placed in their household because state law requires them to meet complex standards that were put in place decades ago. “Current licensing procedures create unnecessary roadblocks to financial assistance for relatives serving as caregivers,” Sen. Mattie Hunter, a Chicago Democrat who was a chief sponsor of the measure, said in a statement. “Research shows children are better off when they can maintain connections to their families and traditions. We need to provide these families with the support they need to make this possible.” The veto session was also an opportunity for lobbyists, unions and other advocates to make last-minute pushes to get their bill proposals on lawmakers’ agendas. On the second day of the veto session, thousands descended on the state Capitol for a rally highlighting their concerns over changes made to Illinois’ beleaguered pension system 13 years ago. Workers hired after Jan. 1, 2011, were placed into a “Tier 2” system that offered reduced benefits compared with other employees hired before that date. The overall goal of creating the Tier 2 plan was to shrink a pension debt that now runs to about $141 billion. But benefits paid out under the Tier 2 system at some point won’t equal to what Social Security would provide to those employees, a violation of a federal “safe harbor” law. This would require Illinois to pay large sums in Social Security taxes instead of operating its own pension system which, while still costly, allows the state more flexibility. At the rally, proponents cheered and bellowed chants calling for equality in the state’s pension system. “We are union people. We believe people doing the same job, a fair day’s work, deserve a fair day’s pay, whether that’s in your paycheck, your benefits or your retirement security in a pension,” Pat Devaney, secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO, said to the crowd. “So what happened over the years? Politicians, state governments, local governments came up with schemes to underfund the pensions, take pension holidays, use other gimmicks to cause stress in the system.” The state’s perennial pension problems are among several budgetary matters that will likely be taken up in the coming months by the legislature, along with how to deal with a $730 million fiscal cliff for Chicago-area public transit once federal pandemic aid dries up in early 2026 and whether to set aside more state funding for Chicago’s public school system. Other unresolved issues include gun safety measures that Democrats haven’t been able to bring over the finish line. Legislation often referred to as “Karina’s Bill,” named after Chicago resident Karina Gonzalez, who, along with her 15-year-old daughter, was shot and killed by her husband last year, would require police to remove guns from people who have orders of protection against them, clarifying when and how authorities can confiscate such firearms. As it stands, firearms aren’t always taken from people in those situations even if the firearm owner’s identification card is revoked. Illinois lawmakers could weigh a proposal to create a statewide office to help under-resourced public defenders. One of the proposal’s goals is to address the lack of public defense resources in rural areas, many of which don’t even have a public defender’s office. The measure also seeks to address disparities in the resources allotted to county prosecutors and public defenders. For example, Cook County’s 2024 budget provided about $102 million for its public defender’s office, and about $205 million for its state’s attorney’s office. Other unresolved issues range from whether to allow all dispensaries to sell medical cannabis to legalizing medical aid in dying, often referred to as physician-assisted suicide or medically assisted death. This proposal would give mentally competent, terminally ill adults the right to choose to end their lives by allowing these patients the right to access life-ending prescription medication.

Old Nemesis is after Elon Musk again. What will world's richest person do now?