Latest news with #Publican
Eater
3 days ago
- Business
- Eater
Chicago's Influential Violet Hour Is Closed Until Further Notice
For the past three weeks, the Violet Hour has remained dormant in Wicker Park, with ownership saying the cocktail bar was in dire need of plumbing repairs. Originally, the owners planned on reopening last week, but now the 18-year-old cocktail bar will stay closed 'until further notice,' missing the onslaught of culinary tourists in town next weekend for the 35th annual James Beard Awards. Ownership from One Off Hospitality Group, the restaurant company behind the Publican and Big Star, says they're in negotiations with the building's landlord, attempting to reach common ground over those repairs. A rep declined to say how much that would cost, only saying 'substantial' fixes are needed. Floors would need to be ripped up, and the ground dug out. The bar's furniture remains intact at 1520 N. Damen Avenue. Public records showed the owner listed as Magic Carpet LLC, which leads to Newcastle Investors. A press release shows Newcastle acquired the property in 2023. 'We're working hard to resume service and will continue to share updates as they become available, so please keep an eye on our social media pages for the latest news,' a Violet Hour statement reads. 'Thank you for your continued support — we can't wait to welcome you back, if and when the time is right.' Violet Hour's importance extends a few layers deep. The bar's debut ushered in the age of the mixologist with sophisticated cocktails using not-so-easy-to-find ingredients. And a multitude of different types of ice. But its influence extended across the country. Chicagoans enjoyed martinis and Manhattans, but Violet Hour's bartenders showed them new drinks, introducing them to future bar staples like the Paper Plane and the Art of Choke. In 2015, the bar won the Beard for Outstanding Bar Program. The bar has made numerous local and national lists and is one of Chicago's essential bars. An arsenal of bartenders remains thankful for their time working the bar, which helped launch their careers. The bar's arrival also marked the start of One Off's Wicker Park presence as the area rapidly gentrified. MTV brought the neighborhood attention when it brought its Real World circus to North Avenue in 2001-2002. One Off partner Terry Alexander was already an integral part of the area — he was also behind Danny's Tavern in nearby Bucktown and soon joined Paul Kahan and Donnie Madia's group. After opening Big Star, they eventually took over the neighboring space to the north and opened Dove's Luncheonette. In 2016, the group opened a spinoff of its pioneering Publican, but the restaurant struggled to find traction as the neighborhood continued to change. An ancillary Beard event, scheduled for Sunday, June 15 — a collaboration with Portland, Oregon Beard Award finalist Scotch Lodge — will move to Friends of Friends, a new bar that Alexander opened last week with Violet Hour alum Abe Vucekovich. Alexander's familiarity with the Violet Hour spans more than two decades through MOD, a restaurant that was open from 2000 to 2005; and Del Toro, a restaurant that gave Andrew Zimmerman a chance to shine. Zimmerman would go on to open West Loop icon Sepia, a Michelin-starred restaurant. While One Off appears to be cautiously optimistic about a reopening, a decision to shutter could echo what happened in 2020 in West Loop when the company closed Blackbird, a gastronomic trailblazer, after two decades. Fans of Blackbird didn't get a chance to have a final meal. One Off hopes Violet Hour doesn't face the same fate and gets a proper last call. Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariff Ticker: April Duties Will Be ‘More Lenient Than Reciprocal,' Trump Says
With one week to go before the administration's April 2 tariff deadline, President Donald Trump appears to be tempering expectations for America's 'Liberation Day.' Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is scheduled to brief the president on a range of trade and tariff issues early next week, after which point Trump has said he will announce a plan to impose duties on nations across the globe. More from Sourcing Journal Tariff Ticker: Are Trump's Threats Toothless? Publican Exec Talks AI, Automation To Navigate Tariff Complexities Bangladesh's Strategy for Avoiding Trump Tariffs? A Buy-cott. While he's said that these duties will be equivalent to the tariffs they impose on U.S. goods, Trump told anchor Greg Kelly in an interview Tuesday with Newsmax, 'I'll probably be more lenient than reciprocal, because if I was reciprocal, that would be very tough for people.' 'I may give a lot of countries breaks,' he added. This, following reports from the White House over the weekend that the duties will likely be more limited in scope than previously expected. But when he was asked if there will be significant exceptions to the broad and wide-ranging duties, Trump answered in the negative. 'No, I don't want to have too many exceptions. Look, we've been ripped off for 45 years by other countries,' he said. 'We always were soft and weak.' Trump claimed that the $36-trillion national debt has ballooned due to trade policy that has allowed the U.S. to be 'ripped off' by its trading partners, including 'so-called friends' like the European Union. The president also called out China in his remarks. Duty deferrals on Mexican and Canadian products, at a rate of 25 percent, are expected to expire on Wednesday, meaning that those tariffs will take effect unless the president decides to further delay their implementation. In the lead up to the Liberation tariff frenzy, certain U.S. trading partners are scrambling to appease the White House with promises to address trade imbalances. Vietnam on Tuesday announced plans to slash duties on U.S.-made imports, including liquefied natural gas, automobiles and ethanol by about half of the current rate per category. In a statement on the Vietnam Finance Ministry's website, director Nguyen Quoc Hung wrote that the duty cuts were imposed with the goal of 'improving trade balances with [Vietnam's] trade partners.' Vietnam's trade surplus with the U.S. totaled $123 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, the government of Bangladesh announced last week that it plans to import more cotton from U.S. farmers as a means of addressing a $6.2-billion trade imbalance. The country represents the fifth-largest export market for American-grown cotton, with export values topping $339 million in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Markets saw some decline Wednesday after rallying Monday following the news that Trump's April 2 tariff rollout might be less robust than previously thought. The S&P 500 fell 0.76 percent, about 41.3 points, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.58 percent, or 289 points. The Dow Jones Industrial average traded 0.017 percent higher, a gain of about 7 points. Federal officials—some in Trump's own party—have been increasingly dubious about the White House's tariff strategy. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ken.) has been privately trying to galvanize Republican lawmakers against the proposed duties, according to a report from Time. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell last week said that tariffs—or the looming threat of tariffs—have contributed to a 'good part' of price increases at retail. 'It's the net effect of these policy changes that will matter for the economy and for the path of monetary policy,' Powell said. 'Uncertainty around the changes and their effects on the economic outlook is high.' The president has expressed his displeasure with the Fed's decision not to lower interest rates in March. 'The Fed would be MUCH better off CUTTING RATES as U.S. Tariffs start to transition (ease!) their way into the economy,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'Do the right thing. April 2nd is Liberation Day in America!!!'
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump policies could fuel illicit drug trade despite vow to curb fentanyl
Donald Trump's policies could leave the US more vulnerable to dangerous synthetic drug trafficking from abroad, even as the administration has vowed to stop fentanyl from entering the country, former government officials say. This week, Trump imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, ostensibly as a tactic to stem the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Jim Crotty, the former Drug Enforcement Administration deputy chief of staff, called the approach 'coercive' and said it has the potential to backfire. Federal funding cuts could also leave US borders more insecure, according to Enrique Roig, a former Department of State official who oversaw Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) portfolios and who has also worked with USAid. US overdose deaths began to decrease significantly for the first time in 2023, after rising for decades. But Crotty notes this progress is fragile. Related: US consumers warned to brace for higher prices due to Trump's tariffs 'We're seeing this decrease in overdose deaths and everyone's still trying to suss out exactly why. I don't think now is the time that we want to stop any of those existing efforts because we know that at least some, or a combination of them, have been working,' Crotty said. Roig agreed: 'All this has to be working together in concert.' Federal funding cuts could put the US behind when it comes to drug detection technology. The global drug supply has increasingly shifted towards highly potent synthetic substances such as fentanyl and newly emerging nitazenes. Often, these drugs arrive in the US in the form of powders or precursor chemicals that take up minimal space, and are difficult to detect by odor. Roig says advanced drug detection technology is therefore vital, but Trump's federal funding and staff cuts mean less money for the latest technology and equipment, and fewer people to install it. Ram Ben Tzion, the CEO of Publican, which provides drug detection technology to government agencies outside the US, says cutting-edge methods detect suspicious shipments even before they get to the border. Publican uses large language models to flag shipments that 'don't make sense' and are likely to contain illicit substances. For example, his company once found fentanyl precursors in a shipment to a residential address in California. The shipment claimed to contain fashion items, but came from a Chinese construction company. Similarly, the UN Container Control Programme, which has historically received state department funding, helps authorities flag suspicious shipments before they reach their destination. This program has helped authorities around the world seize hundreds of tonnes of illicit drugs each year. Roig says federal funding cuts have stalled CCP's implementation in Mexico, even though it's a primary security target for Trump. Some of Trump's measures are more showy than they are constructive, Crotty and Roig said. The designation of certain cartels as terrorist organizations 'doesn't do much of anything'. It's symbolic, says Crotty, given that they were already designated transnational criminal organizations. Other measures are a harmful waste of money, according to Roig. Just this week, for instance, the administration suspended the use of military planes to deport immigrants, including those accused of drug related crimes, due to the extravagant cost. Roig says this measure was completely unnecessary, as 'Ice already has its own fleet of airplanes' that are much cheaper. Crotty is concerned the aggression could backfire. 'The Mexican people are protective of their culture and their sovereignty. If you push them too hard, could it do more harm than good?' he said. Mexico sent 10,000 troops to its US border to cooperate with Trump's demands, but Crotty says 'while in a vacuum that sounds like a whole lot', Mexico's border is vast, and drugs are often transported in 'minute quantities'. So, the US needs Mexico's cooperation when it comes to intelligence – otherwise 'you're not going to find the proverbial needle in the haystack', Crotty said. Roig said that 'it's important that we do this in cooperation with Mexico and not alienate them,' adding that Trump's aggressive stance toward China could harm the Biden administration's progress negotiating with the Chinese government to cooperate on counternarcotics initiatives. Related: Trump's claim that Mexican cartels and government are allied is not reality Massive USAid cuts also threaten programs intended to curb the 'root causes' of the drug trade, says Roig. Some USAid-funded programs simultaneously tackled drug smuggling and another one of Trump's key issues, migration – as cartels that traffic drugs also traffic people. When Roig worked with USAid, he says he spent a lot of time on 'community violence prevention efforts', including programs to keep young people from joining international crime organizations and cartels. (Notably, the Trump administration has purged many websites describing USAid programs.) If the drug supply does increase, it could mean US overdoses begin to rise again as well. But Crotty is worried we won't even know if that happens. Layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could leave fewer people to track overdose deaths, and Trump's attack on government data sharing could keep everyone in the dark. ' CDC maintains the overdose death dashboard. A lot of that stuff is data driven. Are they still going to have access to the data?' he said. The Guardian contacted INL and UNODC for comment.
The Guardian
08-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Trump policies could fuel illicit drug trade despite vow to curb fentanyl
Donald Trump's policies could leave the US more vulnerable to dangerous synthetic drug trafficking from abroad, even as the administration has vowed to stop fentanyl from entering the country, former government officials say. This week, Trump imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, ostensibly as a tactic to stem the flow of illicit drugs into the US. Jim Crotty, the former Drug Enforcement Administration deputy chief of staff, called the approach 'coercive' and said it has the potential to backfire. Federal funding cuts could also leave US borders more insecure, according to Enrique Roig, a former Department of State official who oversaw Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) portfolios and who has also worked with USAid. US overdose deaths began to decrease significantly for the first time in 2023, after rising for decades. But Crotty notes this progress is fragile. 'We're seeing this decrease in overdose deaths and everyone's still trying to suss out exactly why. I don't think now is the time that we want to stop any of those existing efforts because we know that at least some, or a combination of them, have been working,' Crotty said. Roig agreed: 'All this has to be working together in concert.' Federal funding cuts could put the US behind when it comes to drug detection technology. The global drug supply has increasingly shifted towards highly potent synthetic substances such as fentanyl and newly emerging nitazenes. Often, these drugs arrive in the US in the form of powders or precursor chemicals that take up minimal space, and are difficult to detect by odor. Roig says advanced drug detection technology is therefore vital, but Trump's federal funding and staff cuts mean less money for the latest technology and equipment, and fewer people to install it. Ram Ben Tzion, the CEO of Publican, which provides drug detection technology to government agencies outside the US, says cutting-edge methods detect suspicious shipments even before they get to the border. Publican uses large language models to flag shipments that 'don't make sense' and are likely to contain illicit substances. For example, his company once found fentanyl precursors in a shipment to a residential address in California. The shipment claimed to contain fashion items, but came from a Chinese construction company. Similarly, the UN Container Control Programme, which has historically received state department funding, helps authorities flag suspicious shipments before they reach their destination. This program has helped authorities around the world seize hundreds of tonnes of illicit drugs each year. Roig says federal funding cuts have stalled CCP's implementation in Mexico, even though it's a primary security target for Trump. Some of Trump's measures are more showy than they are constructive, Crotty and Roig said. The designation of certain cartels as terrorist organizations 'doesn't do much of anything'. It's symbolic, says Crotty, given that they were already designated transnational criminal organizations. Other measures are a harmful waste of money, according to Roig. Just this week, for instance, the administration suspended the use of military planes to deport immigrants, including those accused of drug related crimes, due to the extravagant cost. Roig says this measure was completely unnecessary, as 'Ice already has its own fleet of airplanes' that are much cheaper. Crotty is concerned the aggression could backfire. 'The Mexican people are protective of their culture and their sovereignty. If you push them too hard, could it do more harm than good?' he said. Mexico sent 10,000 troops to its US border to cooperate with Trump's demands, but Crotty says 'while in a vacuum that sounds like a whole lot', Mexico's border is vast, and drugs are often transported in 'minute quantities'. So, the US needs Mexico's cooperation when it comes to intelligence – otherwise 'you're not going to find the proverbial needle in the haystack', Crotty said. Roig said that 'it's important that we do this in cooperation with Mexico and not alienate them,' adding that Trump's aggressive stance toward China could harm the Biden administration's progress negotiating with the Chinese government to cooperate on counternarcotics initiatives. Massive USAid cuts also threaten programs intended to curb the 'root causes' of the drug trade, says Roig. Some USAid-funded programs simultaneously tackled drug smuggling and another one of Trump's key issues, migration – as cartels that traffic drugs also traffic people. When Roig worked with USAid, he says he spent a lot of time on 'community violence prevention efforts', including programs to keep young people from joining international crime organizations and cartels. (Notably, the Trump administration has purged many websites describing USAid programs.) If the drug supply does increase, it could mean US overdoses begin to rise again as well. But Crotty is worried we won't even know if that happens. Layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could leave fewer people to track overdose deaths, and Trump's attack on government data sharing could keep everyone in the dark. ' CDC maintains the overdose death dashboard. A lot of that stuff is data driven. Are they still going to have access to the data?' he said. The Guardian contacted INL and UNODC for comment.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Pauses Tariffs on Mexican and Canadian Goods Covered by USMCA
Update: President Donald Trump also deferred duties on Canadian goods covered under USMCA until April 2, signing an executive order Thursday afternoon. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has talked President Donald Trump into walking back 25-percent duties on her country just two days after they were implemented. More from Sourcing Journal Vendors Could Be Less Inclined To Absorb Latest Tariff Round Publican Uses AI to Help Customs Brokers Generate Import Documentation TPM 25: Tariffs Could Cause 'Short-Term Disruption' But Won't Upend US-Mexico Trade Taking to his platform of choice Thursday morning, Trump declared on Truth Social that Mexico will not have to pay tariffs on any products that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—including an array of footwear, apparel and textile products. The truce will remain in place until April 2, when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is slated to provide the president with reporting on America's global trade agreements and trade deficits from multiple government agencies. 'I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum,' Trump wrote. 'Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl.' Mexico's government has deployed robust enforcement mechanisms in recent weeks to combat the flow of drugs into the U.S., sending 10,000 members of its National Guard to patrol popular thoroughfares for drug trafficking. The country has also taken in 20,000 deportees from the U.S. since Trump took office on Jan. 20. Since September, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has intercepted 7,793 pounds of fentanyl entering the country, 98 percent of which was seized at the Southwest border. The lethal synthetic narcotic is made largely with precursor chemicals imported from China, which was also hit with new duties this week for its role in the drug trade. 'We had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties,' Sheinbaum wrote of her conversation with Trump in a post on X. 'We will continue working together, particularly on issues of migration and security,' she added. Lutnick has hinted in recent days, and reiterated Thursday, that a similar deferral deal with Canada is likely forthcoming and could take shape as soon as Thursday afternoon. But in a sharp contrast to his budding collaborative relationship with Sheinbaum, Trump's animus for outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems only to have deepened in recent weeks. 'Believe it or not, despite the terrible job he's done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister. So much fun to watch!' Trump Truthed shortly after announcing the deal with Mexico. Trudeau, whose approval ratings were already on a decline before Trump took aim at Canada, was criticized by both liberal party allies and conservative adversaries for his tepid response to the president's gibes and threats. The Canadian leader announced his intention to step down in early January. As Trump's insults and intimidation have escalated, however, so too have Trudeau's rhetoric and retaliatory actions. Following the implementation of duties on Tuesday, he imposed duties on $155-billion worth of U.S. products, including finished apparel and textiles, $30 billion of which took effect immediately, and $125 billion of which will be rolled out in the next 20 days. Trudeau spoke directly to the American people, saying, 'We want to work with you as a friend and ally, and we don't want to see you hurt either. But your government has chosen to do this to you.' 'As of this morning, markets are down and inflation is set to rise dramatically all across your country,' he added. Markets tanked Monday after Trump announced his intention to move forward with the duties, with shareholders anticipating the impacts of lost sales as well as the effects of inevitable retaliation from the trade partners. They rallied slightly Wednesday, when Trump announced that U.S. auto makers would see exemptions on necessary inputs from Canada and Mexico. On Thursday, however, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid by 1 percent (about 450 points), and the S&P 500 fell 1.7 percent. This week, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta released forecasting showing that gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to decline by an annualized 2.8 percent in the first quarter of 2025, an about-face from the 3-percent growth predicted in early February.
