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Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - The Navy can't fight for freedom while banning books
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I took on the issue of professional military education. It may not have garnered many headlines, but education was viewed as critical from the top echelons of the Pentagon to the remote operating bases I visited in Iraq and Afghanistan. We sharpen our warriors' effectiveness when we develop their skills in critical thinking, languages, cultures and history. But we are now going dangerously backwards. The New York Times reported that the U.S. Naval Academy is identifying books in the school's Nimitz Library that may be pulled from circulation because they relate to so-called diversity, equity and inclusion. Among the 900 potential offenders: a biography of Jackie Robinson, 'The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.' and 'Einstein on Race and Racism.' The Chinese military is expanding. Russia is threatening Europe. But you can sleep better tonight knowing that the Navy is keeping its men and women safe from Jackie Robinson. The move is part of the Trump administration's campaign to purge its way through federal museums, concert halls and now the military. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth — who might want to focus on threats closer to home, like how he communicates war plans — ordered the review. I'm guessing his own book, 'The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,' won't make the cut list. It's an interesting title, because the act of banning history books in a naval library is a betrayal of the men and women who keep us free. The irony in this move is rich. In the name of freedom, we mustn't let our future leaders do things like, oh, read what they want to read. We must treat them like snowflakes, so brittle and sensitive that they must be protected from the offensive views of Robinson, King, Einstein and whoever else is on the blacklist of the Navy Blue and Gold. Our warriors need body armor, not censorship. The best of them want to build their intellectual resilience. When I visited them in Iraq, Afghanistan and our military academies at home, many consistently told me that they fought better when they had time not only to drill, but to learn. To read. During a visit to Iraq, I remember asking Gen. Ray Odierno what he needed when he commanded the Third Infantry Battalion in Iraq. Whenever I asked that question, military leaders usually answered with a list of hardware and weapons of war. Odierno's answer surprised me: more people who speak foreign languages, understand other cultures and had the skills to deal with various factions trapped in conflict zones. It was a Marine who later explained to me why military education was so important: 'If you know how to think, you realize you don't have to kick in the door and start shooting; sometimes, you can find a safer way — for yourself.' I also spoke to a soldier stationed on a remote operating base near a village called Musa Qala. His unit was preparing to assault a Taliban stronghold the next day. Amidst the maps and heavy weapons surrounding him, he said, 'Anyone who's ever studied how war is fought in Afghanistan knows one thing: We'll take the village tomorrow, and the Taliban will retake it when we leave.' That is exactly what happened across Afghanistan. Instead of supporting our warriors with libraries that will give them an unvarnished telling of history, the Pentagon has decided to whitewash it. Instead of encouraging critical thinking skills, the Navy has decided to dull them. In a world of volatile, complex military threats; of cyberwarfare and an artificial intelligence arms race; of existential enemies like Iran nearing imminent development of a nuclear warhead; the Hegseth doctrine suggests that there is nothing to fear but ink on pages, bound on the shelves in the Navy library. In the war on so-called 'cancel culture,' the U.S. military is canceling history. The brave men and women of our armed forces should receive all the training, resources, technology and weaponry they need to protect our country — books included. Our military leaders should be focused on keeping us safe from Vladimir Putin, not Jackie Robinson. Hegseth should reflect further on the title of his book. In the story of 'the betrayal of the men who keep us free,' he is the one doing the betraying. Steve Israel represented New York in the House of Representatives for eight terms and was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City of Scottsdale council members vote to end DEI practices
The Brief The Scottsdale City Council voted on Tuesday to eliminate DEI practices in its hiring. FOX 10 made several attempts to talk with council members about why this was added to the agenda, but no one responded. Scottsdale residents appear to be split on whether DEI should be used when hiring within city government. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Scottsdale City Council voted to eliminate DEI programs and "ensure city employees are hired, evaluated, and promoted based on merit." Residents are split on the issue, and council members refused to provide clarity before the meeting on why this was on their Feb. 11 agenda. The backstory A lot of people were crammed into city hall on Tuesday night, and everyone had an opinion on DEI. Before the meeting, not one council member would speak about why they put this on the agenda, or how this program adversely impacts the city of Scottsdale. What they're saying The idea of getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Scottsdale elicits fiery responses. "DEI was implemented, in fact, so that mediocre white men couldn't hire more mediocre white men," Christopher Owens, founder and CEO of CultureHub said. Scottsdale council members think, according to the meeting agenda, erasing the city's DEI efforts will benefit residents by ensuring its employees are hired and promoted based on merit. As the agenda item reads, "Ensure city employees are hired, evaluated, and promoted based on merit, protecting City of Scottsdale employees from unlawful and anti-meritocratic forms of discrimination, and ensuring that residents and taxpayers are served by the most qualified city employees." Here's what some had to say about the issue: "I don't mind if people are different nationalities and different ethnicities, but they got to be equally qualified." "There's no proof that DEI is not merit-based." Dig deeper FOX 10 wanted to ask council members to explain why they decided to take a vote on eliminating the programs and staff of the city's diversity department, which includes Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations, but after numerous calls and emails, the item's originator, councilman Adam Kwasman, refused to speak. Scottsdale Vice Mayor Jan Dubauskas ran away when FOX 10 approached her. Checking X though, a post from Kwasman read, "You can't walk into Scottsdale City Hall without being bombarded with DEI. This poison will be rooted-out of our beautiful city. No matter one's race, orientation or creed, we value content of character." "If you thought that Scottsdale was white now, wait until the weekend when this kicks in," Owens said. He says DEI programs are meant to open doors, not just for people based on the color of their skin, but for white women, who make up a majority of the city's population. "If you don't want us, it's fine. You're not hurting us. You're simply exposing yourself for who you are, which is what most of us knew in the first place," Owens said. Vote Ends DEI More than 40 people were signed up to speak during public comment, and they had a one-minute limit instead of the usual three, per Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky. By 7:45 p.m., the council voted to end DEI, 5-2. The Office of Diversity has been in place in Scottsdale since 1998. After Tuesday's meeting, that is not the case anymore. Some at the meeting said their voices were not being heard. Two council members called for a work study to be done looking at the DEI programs. Instead, it was a 5-2 vote to eliminate DEI. The city's diversity department is also responsible for Americans with Disabilities Act oversight, anti-discrimination, and Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in the city. Three of the council members that voted to remove DEI were just elected with their terms starting last month. Once that vote was made to remove DEI from the city of Scottsdale, what was standing room only quickly cleared out, with many people chanting "shame on you." A lot of that group gathered outside and talked about recalling some of these council members. Of the 47 people that spoke during public comment, only two of them were in favor of removing DEI. Click to open this PDF in a new window. Big picture view President Donald Trump ordered that all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) staff be put on paid leave and eventually be laid off, part of his efforts to eliminate affirmative action within the federal government. The announcement came following the executive order signed on his first day in office that mandates a sweeping dismantling of the federal government's diversity and inclusion programs. This could include everything from anti-bias training to funding for minority farmers and homeowners. The sweeping executive order rolls back legislation dating back to the 1960s and it could have widespread impacts for the more than 2.4 million federal workers.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Snohomish PUD customers to see higher electricity bills as rate hikes take effect
The Brief Snohomish County PUD customers will see higher electricity bills starting in April. The utility cites severe storms, inflation and winter weather as reasons for the increase. For some, the hike means tough financial choices. SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. - Snohomish County Public Utility District customers will see higher electricity bills starting in April as the utility adjusts rates to cover significant financial losses from extreme weather events and inflation. The PUD board of commissioners approved the rate increase, citing the impact of severe storms and winter weather that cost the utility millions in restoration efforts. The primary driver behind the rate hike is the extreme weather the region experienced in 2024. January's sub-freezing temperatures on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend led to skyrocketing energy market prices, costing the PUD an additional $45 million. In November, a powerful bomb cyclone resulted in widespread power outages, leading to $16 million in restoration costs. Local customers are already feeling the pinch from inflation, and the added utility costs are yet another burden. What they're saying For some, the hike means tough financial choices. Meadowdale resident Sue O'Hare echoed similar frustrations. "We used to be able to go out to eat for $20, now it's $50," O'Hare said. "I try not to look at [my electricity bill], but I know it's over $100." Belle Moore, a Shoreline resident, pays about $70 a month for electricity. While she's not impacted by PUD she isn't pleased about the increase. "The rate payers always get in the shorts," Moore said. By the numbers The increase will impact the daily base charge: Single-family homes will see an average increase of $6.40 per month. Multifamily homes and apartments will pay about $4 more per month. Small businesses can expect an increase of approximately 80 cents per day. Snohomish PUD Lead Communication Specialist Aaron Swaney said 2024 was a challenging year for utilities across the region. "We've done a lot of cost-cutting measures to try to keep this rate increase as low as possible," Swaney said. The PUD had a 5.8% rate increase in 2024 after several years without one. Inflationary pressures, supply chain issues, and severe weather events have contributed to the need for these adjustments. "The rate payers always get in the shorts," said Moore. "It's going to hurt, people are hurting from all over. If you have senior citizens that can't stretch," "We faced significant challenges in 2024, and I'm proud of how the organization worked together to minimize this rate increase," John Haarlow, PUD CEO/General Manager said in a statement released Monday. "We recognize the impact cost increases can have on our customers and remain committed to providing reliable and environmentally sustainable power." Puget Sound Energy also recently announced its own rate hikes. Earlier this month, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved PSE's two-year General Rate Case plan, which took effect on Jan. 29. PSE filed its rate increase request in February 2024. Electricity increased by 11.5% in 2024, with another 6.4% hike coming in 2026. Gas prices went up by 10.6%, with an additional 1.8% increase expected in 2026. For a typical residential electric customer using 800 kWh per month, the increase will be about $13.08 in 2025, bringing the average bill to $122.16. Another $7.67 increase is expected in 2026. Gas customers using 64 therms per month will see an increase of about $7.56 in 2025, with a smaller rise in 2026. "Where do you cut?" Moore said. "You got to eat, you got to pay rent or mortgage, you have to provide, you have to survive, but on the other end, the utility has to make things work." According to PSE, the increases are necessary to maintain essential utility services, invest in infrastructure, and comply with state-mandated clean energy goals. The plan includes projects like the $530 million Beaver Creek wind farm, long-term power purchase agreements to replace coal-fired generation, and upgrades to the electric grid to improve reliability and wildfire prevention. What's next Snohomish PUD says it has funds set aside for future weather events, but it's too early to determine whether additional increases will be necessary. For now, this hike will cover the budget through March 2026. Both PUD and PSE encourage customers to explore assistance programs if they're struggling to pay their bills. PSE's programs include: Bill Discount Rate: Income-qualified customers can receive up to 45% off their bill. Past Due Bill Forgiveness: Customers making on-time payments can have portions of their past due balance forgiven, up to $2,500. Home Weatherization Programs: Free energy-saving home upgrades for income-qualified customers. Payment Arrangements: Flexible options to manage payments. More information on PSE's assistance programs is available at Customers looking to lower their energy usage can also explore rebates and efficiency programs at The PUD urges customers struggling with their bills to explore available assistance programs, including income-qualified discounts of 25% or 50%. More information is available at "We have great customer tools," Swaney said. "We have really robust income-qualified assistance programs that offer 25 or 50% off bills." The Source Information in this story came from the Snohomish County Public Utility District and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. 3 arrested, charged in connection to Renton, WA beauty store thefts First electric fire truck in WA unveiled in Redmond King County Metro purchase of 120 Teslas faces scrutiny Trump names Washington's Joe Kent to lead counterterrorism agency Armed suspect arrested after barricading in Thurston County, WA home Rare, endangered Malayan tapir calf born at Point Defiance Zoo in WA To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Market stable to close January; tariffs signal wild ride for February
This week's FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 40 (Shippers) Last week's FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: Three-month FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 40 (Shippers) The FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and week's Pricing Power Index is based on the following indicators: The freight market has recovered from a volume dip associated with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. It took until the end of January to experience the first week without any disruption, whether winter weather or holidays. Tariff risks are firmly in the spotlight and will likely bring some level of volatility throughout the year. The Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI), a measure of national freight demand that tracks shippers' requests for trucking capacity, erased the drop associated with the MLK holiday, rising 8.25% week over week. Tender volumes are still down year over year, currently off 1%, but the comparisons are far more accurate than they had been throughout the first four weeks of the year given the winter weather disruptions. If tender volumes follow the seasonal pattern, they will likely decline throughout February. The end of February and beginning of March will be the period to see if the demand side of the market is able to establish positive momentum. The other factor: What does produce season look like this year, and is it enough to boost the market?Contract Load Accepted Volume (CLAV) is an index that measures accepted load volumes moving under contracted agreements. In short, it is similar to OTVI but without the rejected tenders. Looking at accepted tender volumes, the increase was comparable to the increase in OTVI as tender rejection rates were relatively stable the past week. Accepted volumes are down 3.1% year over year, due to the y/y increases in tender rejection rates. Bank of America's most recent card spending report showed that growth in spending is slowing. In the most recent week for which data is available, the week ending Jan. 25, total card spending was up 0.7% y/y, down from a 5.6% increase the week prior. Bank of America noted that the timing of the MLK holiday muted spending growth. The recovery from the holiday, with national volumes jumping by high single digits, has caused the vast majority of freight markets to experience higher volumes w/w. Of the 135 markets tracked within SONAR, 104 reported higher volumes over the past week, up from 44 last week. The largest increases stem from the markets in the Southeast that were impacted by winter weather. Tallahassee, Florida; Macon and Tifton, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina, had four of the five largest weekly increases in tender volumes. All of the markets are fairly small relative to markets like Atlanta, but it does show that not only the holiday but also winter weather impacted volumes last week. The largest freight market in the country, Ontario, California, experienced a greater increase than the national level, a sign that the market is moving in a positive direction. Tender volumes in Ontario increased by 15.87% over the past week. By mode: The dry van market rebounded in a big way, reaching the highest level of the year to date to close out January. The Van Outbound Tender Volume Index increased by 10.2% over the past week, though it is still down 2.5% compared to this time last year. The reefer side of the market continues to see fairly strong demand-side indicators. The Reefer Outbound Tender Volume Index increased by 5.2% over the past week – not as pronounced as the dry van market but positive nonetheless. The outperformance really shines through when compared to last year as reefer tender volumes are currently up 6.83% y/y. While seasonal pressures appear in January and February as capacity returns to the road following the holidays, this year has been quite a different experience. Tender rejection rates have been remarkably stable throughout the year at elevated levels compared to last year, but disruptions have been lurking around every corner this year. The stickiness shows that the market is shifting back in carriers' favor, but it's a slower grind than past cycles that have been driven by demand-side the past week, the Outbound Tender Reject Index (OTRI) was remarkably stable, increasing by just 3 basis points to 7.12%. The stickiness is impressive during a period when seasonal pressures typically arise. The end of the month also tends to provide a boost to tender rejection rates, though those end-of-month impacts are often muted to nonexistent during January. Compared to this time last year, tender rejection rates are 184 basis points higher, showing that the market is in a more fragile state than last year, but routing guides aren't under immense pressure – yet. The map above shows the Outbound Tender Reject Index — Weekly Change for the 135 markets across the country. Markets shaded in blue are those where tender rejection rates have increased over the past week, whereas those in red and white have seen rejection rates decline. The bolder the color, the more significant the change. Of the 135 markets, 76 reported higher rejection rates over the past week, up from the 38 that saw tender rejection rates rise in last week's report. Most of the increases in tender rejections continue to stem from fairly small freight markets, but a positive sign was the increases in rejection rates in the major Midwest freight hub: Chicago. Tender rejection rates in Chicago increased by 120 bps over the past week to 8.33%, the highest nonholiday level since May 2022. By mode: The dry van market continues to see tender rejection rates retreat from the holiday highs, but the rate of decline is starting to slow. Over the past week, the Van Outbound Tender Reject Index fell by just 9 basis points to 6.46%. Van tender rejection rates are still 141 bps higher than they were this time last year. The reefer market continues to be the tightest of the three equipment types and has carried positive momentum into 2025. The reefer market does benefit from extremely low temperatures that necessitate protect-from-freeze measures, but the increased rejection rates continuing through January are a positive overall. Over the past week, the Reefer Outbound Tender Reject Index increased by 129 basis points to 16.57%. Reefer tender rejection rates are 722 bps higher than they were this time last year. The flatbed market saw a slight increase in rejection rates over the past week, but it is a slower period of the year for flatbed projects that gain momentum as temperatures rise across the country. The Flatbed Outbound Tender Reject Index increased by 22 bps over the past week to 11.22%. Flatbed tender rejection rates are down 86 bps y/y, but expect volatility to ramp up in the coming months. Even though tender rejection rates are proving to be sticky around the 7% level, spot rates are suffering a seasonal decline after the impacts of winter weather in the Southeast and Midwest are erased. The year-over-year comps this week are a challenge as winter weather impacted the South this time last year. Contract rates are starting the year fairly stable. The National Truckload Index (NTI) – which includes fuel surcharges and various accessorials – decreased by 4 cents per mile over the past week to $2.40. The NTI is 1 cent per mile lower than it was this time last year, though the comps this week were around the same time severe winter weather impacted much of the country last year. The linehaul variant of the NTI (NTIL) – which excludes fuel surcharges and other accessorials – fell by 5 cents per mile over the past week to $1.83. The NTIL is also 1 cent per mile lower than it was this time last year, the first time it has been lower y/y since April 2024. Initially reported dry van contract rates, which exclude fuel, were stable over the past week, remaining at $2.37 per mile, near the midpoint of the 52-week range. Compared to this time last year, the van contract rate is up 4 cents per mile, or 1.7%, which is roughly what is to be expected, especially as publicly traded carriers are starting to be more optimistic about a cycle turn. The chart above, showing the spread between the NTIL and dry van contract rates, is trending back to pre-pandemic levels. Over the past week, the spread widened by 2 cents to minus 43 cents, in line with the 2019 average. Compared to this time last year, the spread is 19 cents per mile narrower than it was, another sign that the market is moving to a more carrier-friendly environment. The SONAR Trusted Rate Assessment Consortium (TRAC) spot rate from Los Angeles to Dallas rebounded in a significant way over the past week, now aligning with contract rates. The current spot rate along this lane jumped 21 cents per mile to $2.51, erasing all of last week's decline. The spot rate is just 6 cents per mile below the contract rate. From Chicago to Atlanta, spot rates have been volatile since the beginning of the year. This week was no different. The spot rate along this lane dropped by 39 cents per mile over the past week to $2.92 per mile. The spot rate remains above the contract rate, though now it is just 11 cents per mile higher. The longer spot rates remain above contract rates, the more upward pressure there will be on contract rates. The post Market stable to close January; tariffs signal wild ride for February appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
