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Why South Korea’s Leadership Is Critical for a Successful Global Plastics TreatyMinor league pitchers Luis Moreno, Alejandro Crisostomo suspended after positive drug testsCHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The City boss is enduring the worst run of his glittering managerial career after a six-game winless streak featuring five successive defeats and a calamitous 3-3 draw in a match his side had led 3-0. The 53-year-old, who has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2027 just over a week ago. Yet, despite his remarkable successes, he still considers himself vulnerable to the sack and has pleaded with the club to keep faith. “I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” said the Spaniard, who watched in obvious frustration as City conceded three times in the last 15 minutes in a dramatic capitulation against Feyenoord in midweek. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there. “My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try come back’, and especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and see what happens. “After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, (the past) nine years are dead. “More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance. “Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.” City have been hampered by a raft of injuries this term, most pertinently to midfield talisman and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Euro 2024 winner is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has been keenly felt over the past two months. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also not started a match since September. The pressure continues to build with champions City facing a crucial trip to title rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Defeat would leave City trailing Arne Slot’s side by 11 points. “I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” said Guardiola of his side’s current situation. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. “The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now. “But I’m the same person who won the four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.” Guardiola is confident his side will not stop battling as they bid to get back on track. He said: “The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that’. Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end. “What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for, this is the best (way). “Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”S&P/TSX composite rises on morning of Christmas Eve, U.S. stock markets also up
In a groundbreaking move to safeguard critical national infrastructure, the governments of Bayelsa and Rivers States have announced the establishment of a joint anti-vandalism taskforce to protect power transmission lines and other key assets in their border communities. This initiative marks a significant stride in inter-state collaboration to curb the socio-economic challenges caused by the activities of vandals. The resolution came after a high-level meeting between Bayelsa’s Acting Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, held at the Brick House in Port Harcourt. The discussions underscored the pressing need for a united front to address the recurring menace of power asset vandalism, which has plunged communities into prolonged darkness and economic hardship. Senator Ewhrudjakpo lamented the devastating impact of repeated power outages on Bayelsa State, revealing that the transmission lines between Bayelsa and Ahoada in Rivers State had been vandalized three times in four months. He highlighted the immense financial and political capital expended to restore power after a four-month blackout, emphasizing that urgent measures are required to prevent a recurrence. “For the past four months, the transmission lines have been vandalized almost three times. To fix it, TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) kept giving us one story after another. We eventually took it upon ourselves to fix the line, but now, we must ensure its protection through a joint surveillance team,” Ewhrudjakpo stated. Expressing gratitude to Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, for their willingness to collaborate, Ewhrudjakpo proposed forming a joint committee to monitor and protect transmission lines and other assets in border communities. On her part, Prof. Odu stressed the need for actionable solutions, asserting that “problems swept under the carpet remain unresolved. We must bring them out and apply strategies that work best to solve them.” Following the meeting, both states resolved to establish anti-vandalisation taskforce committees that will work collaboratively to monitor and secure transmission lines. Bayelsa has already taken proactive steps, inaugurating a 10-member anti-vandalism taskforce. The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, emphasised the importance of involving local communities in the security framework to ensure its success. “Active community engagement is crucial. This is not just a government issue; it’s a collective responsibility to protect what serves us all,” she said. The meeting also featured high-profile representatives, including the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Power, Engr. Kumoko Kharin; Chief of Staff, Hon. Peter Akpe; and the Chairperson of the Bayelsa State Anti-Vandalization Taskforce, CP Mary George (Rtd). Representing Rivers State were the Chairmen of Ahoada West and East Local Government Areas and other key stakeholders. The collaborative efforts of Bayelsa and Rivers States signal a new era of strategic partnerships to address shared challenges. As the newly formed taskforce begins its work, both governments hope this initiative will serve as a model for other states grappling with similar issues. By uniting to protect critical infrastructure, the states are not only safeguarding their power supply but also strengthening the socio-economic well-being of their citizens. The question now is whether this promising initiative will inspire similar collaborations across Nigeria, fostering a culture of proactive governance and community-driven solutions.
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:49 p.m. ESTThere isn’t a Marie listed on the Gophers women’s soccer roster, but she is an important part of the team. Marie doesn’t play a position, but she goes everywhere with the squad, which is convenient because she is the size of a carry-on roller bag and can be safely stowed in an airplane’s overhead bin. Marie is the name given to U captain defender Elizabeth Overberg’s black JBL PartyBox speaker. Marie is in Chapel Hill, N.C., for the Gophers’ game against South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament at 1 p.m. Friday. Minnesota is making its first national tournament appearance since 2018, but Marie’s inclusion shows that the Gophers aren’t taking themselves too seriously. Near the start of the season, forward Khyah Harper choreographed a dance to Michel Jackson’s “Beat It” for a handful of teammates to perform before road matches. The ensemble includes Overberg, Sophia Boman, Avery Petty, Alex Isaacs, Aaryn Gabriel, Sophia Romine and Evelyn Calhoon. The Gophers finished the regular season at home, hosted the start of the Big Ten tournament and began the NCAA run with a 2-0 win over South Dakota State last week, so they haven’t done the dance more than a month. The routine — superstition? — is to do the performance the day before the game, which they did Thursday. “They were a little rusty,” Harper reported. “They got a redo because first one did not go very well. But the second one, they definitely brought the energy.” Did head coach Erin Chastain join in? She is, after all, coming off her first career NCAA tournament win. “That would be a miracle to get her to do it,” Harper shared. But the tradition has brought the players together and their on-field success is due, in part, to their chemistry, said Harper, the Big Ten forward of the year with 17 goals in 20 matches. “Our team is super close, so it’s really easy to play well together when we’re on the field,” Harper said. “And I think that we just all have the same end goal ... just winning.” The sixth-seeded Gophers (13-4-3) will be tested by No. 3 seed South Carolina (11-3-7) on Friday. While Minnesota is in the tournament for the first time in six years, the Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference are making their 12th straight appearance. “They seem like they’re a really good team, but we know that we are, too,” Harper said. “So we kind of just focus on ourselves and know that we can bring a lot to the table, and we’re a really good team. We’re in the round of 32 for a reason. We can match up against any competition, but we also know that anyone can win on any given day, so I think just bringing our best effort versus them and we can get a result that we want.” If the U wins again and reaches the Sweet Sixteen, there will be another dance recital in the Gophers’ near future.
JHVEPhoto Introduction Lowe's ( LOW) is a home improvement retailer in North America with a store count of over 1,700 stores. The company sells a wide range of home improvement products, including building materials, tools, appliances, and lawn and garden supplies. Lowe's serves both DIY (do-it-yourself) customers and Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.PCSO lottery draw now available on IBC-13 and D8TV
Prince Harry and Queen Camilla Have Switched Places—Here’s How
NoneThere's a reason previous governments baulked at the net zero challenge - it's absolutely colossal, something Labour's new Clean Power 2030 plan lays bare. Offshore wind generating capacity, which has taken 20 years to reach 14.8GW, must more than triple to about 50GW within just six years. The plan calls for a tripling of solar generation too, and a doubling supply from onshore wind turbines. And to get all that clean, locally produced power to where it is actually needed will require an overhaul of the National Grid not seen since the current system was planned in the 1950s. The government projects that to deliver all that infrastructure will require investment of £40bn a year until 2030. Nearly all of that will come from the private sector - it hopes - knowing the Treasury certainly will not have any spare money to pay for it. And all that is backed up by a promise that the project will lower consumer bills. It's a massive challenge and given the UK's recent history of delivering large infrastructure projects - high-speed rail line anyone? - a major political gamble. But Labour has decided it is worth the risk. Read more: Paris Agreement never been 'more fragile', UK climate chief warns Scientists already say 2025 will be top three warmest years Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free If they pull it off, most analysts agree that locally generated renewable power will reduce the wholesale price of electricity - currently dictated by the international gas market. This, in turn, will protect customers from price shocks and lower bills. Definitely a vote winner. The other main attraction is to "get Britain building," creating new, skilled jobs with many of them in parts of the country where they are needed most. Coupled with that, many countries are pursuing similar goals and UK companies and workers stand to benefit by exporting their knowledge and skills. And not forgetting the fact this government, like its predecessors, is legally required to do all this under the terms of the Climate Change Act as well as fulfilling the commitment made when we signed the global carbon-cutting Paris Agreement . But none of that makes it any less difficult. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Take the grid for example. Right now, as new renewable projects like large offshore windfarms are connected to our old, fossil fuel orientated national grid, on really windy days, there is already more electricity than the system can handle. Increasingly big wind farms out to sea and a long way from consumers are having to be paid not to generate electricity, and gas-fired power stations closer to customers have to be paid to come online instead. The bill for these "grid constraints" is already about £2bn a year. Re-wiring the grid will solve that problem - benefitting everyone. But imagine there's a delay - thanks to local opposition to new pylons, or a labour shortage, or poorly managed construction - and the grid doesn't get upgraded in step with generating capacity. The constraint costs are projected to hit £8bn a year - that's £80 per household - by the late 2020s. That would make very bad headlines for a government that promised to lower bills. And the grid is just one of the pieces of the zero-carbon electricity puzzle. Read more from Sky News: Starmer has a particularly toxic fight to come PM defends 'great British institution' of sandwiches Follow our channel and never miss an update. Everything - from reforming the retail market for energy, to smart metering, EV charging, connecting heat pumps and new technologies that can store excess electricity for when the wind isn't blowing - will all have to happen in parallel, at pace, to ensure the project delivers the benefits promised. The Clean Power plan will be a genuine test of whether Britain can "get building again", but also of Keir Starmer's political stomach when it hits the inevitable bumps along the way.My older brother is a New York Jets fan, and we talk after every Miami Dolphins and Jets game. He couldn’t see the game on Sunday, so he just saw the score and how it went to overtime. He said it looked like a typical Dolphins vs. Jets game. I said, “Yes, it was. The Dolphins should have lost the game on Sunday because the Jets were the better team, but the Jets have stupid coaches, and they bailed the Dolphins out.” I was very disappointed in the Dolphins’ defense on Sunday. They were bad, and yes, they had a 5-yard loss and a sack on back-to-back plays on the final possession. Kendall Fuller was able to get Devante Adams out of bounds to keep time on the clock, but for the most part, the Jets’ offense had its way with the Dolphins. It started up front where the Jets don’t have a very good offensive line, but they ran the ball decently against the Dolphins with two rookie running backs drafted late in the draft. The Dolphins were giving up 4 yards a carry, making you wonder why the Jets didn’t keep running it. The Dolphins were missing a tackle and not getting much push up front. Aaron Rodgers picked apart the Dolphins all day long, throwing his first 300-yard game in over two years. Adams and Garrett Wilson looked like the duo the Jets had been looking for all season. The Dolphins had no answers for them. I feel like the Dolphins have more holes than ever on defense, and they are getting labeled as being soft , and it’s more than justified. The Dolphins don’t set the tone up front and get pushed, especially against good teams, but the Jets aren’t even an average team. Our defensive line lacks physicality as a whole and can’t dominate up front. I knew it would be different this year after losing Christian Wilkins , but the Dolphins banked on 38-year-old Calais Campbell and many guys on one-year contracts. Campbell and Zach Seiler have played well, but the other guys don’t give the effort those guys offer. The Dolphins have to find some younger, bigger, and more physical players to compliment Seiler on the defensive line next year, or we are going to see the same issues upfront. The Dolphins also need better linebackers. Yes, Jordan Brooks has played well but missed some tackles on Sunday. Anthony Walker has provided a little spark after moving on from David Long but has durability issues. The Dolphins need to find an inside linebacker who can run sideline to sideline and make tackles—one who doesn’t take bad angles, over-pursue, and miss the ball carrier. It’s been a while since the Dolphins have had that type of linebacker. Instead, they have had undersized guys who aren’t physical enough against the better teams. How many games this year have we seen the Dolphins miss over ten tackles? Too many. That’s why they were overmatched by the Green Bay Packers, and it cost them the game against the Arizona Cardinals on their final drive to win earlier this year. And the safeties are horrible as a group. Jordan Poyer needs to retire because he can’t play anymore, and it is so clear every time you watch him play. He’s not as fast as he used to be, and he is a liability. Jevon Holland is supposed to be our blue-chip safety for years to come, and his contract is up after the season. Well, I would tell him to take a walk after the season because his play has been uninspiring to say the least. He takes bad angle,s and he and Poyer are constantly having communication issues in the secondary. The Dolphins have to tear down that position as well and more physical ball-hawking safeties. I’m not going to place the blame on defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver because it’s an easy cop-out. I blame the person who put this team together, and that’s general manager Chris Grier. I don’t know why he thought this defense would be good signing older players and a bunch of scrap-free agents to one-year deals. He should have done a better job last offseason. If he returns next year, this team currently has ten draft pick,s and he needs to use at least half of them to rebuild this defense. It needs to get younger, and it needs players that are tough-minded and physical. This group as a whole doesn’t have it. They also need to get faster. I understand the Dolphins went into the season without their top pass rushers from a season ago coming off season-ending injuries, but that’s on Grier for not stocking up the defense better. This side of the ball went through change with free-agent losses, and it needs more change next year. If they don’t, then it’s going to be the same soft defense. You can change the defensive coordinator, but that would be lazy putting lipstick on the pig. If the Dolphins want to shed the soft label on defense, go find more tough-minded players. McDaniel Probably Isn’t Getting Fired; But He Better Have a Strong December
TV show dubbed the new 'Game of Thrones' after 'insane' bloodbath scene
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