5 lucky numbers for today

Consumers in the United States scoured the internet for online deals as they looked to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with Cyber Monday. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people's regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation — has become the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping, expected consumers to spend $13.2 billion Monday — a record, and 6.1% more than last year. That would make it the biggest shopping day for e-commerce for the season — and the year. Online spending was expected to peak between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday night, per Adobe — reaching an estimated $15.7 million spent every minute. For several major retailers, a Cyber Monday sale is a dayslong event that began over the Thanksgiving weekend. An Amazon Prime delivery person lifts packages while making a stop Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver. Amazon kicked off its sales event right after midnight Pacific time on Saturday. Target's two days of discount offers on its website and app began overnight Sunday. Walmart rolled out its Cyber Monday offers for Walmart+ members Sunday afternoon and opened it up to all customers three hours later, at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Consumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. Many U.S. consumers continue to experience sticker shock after the period of post-pandemic inflation, which left prices for many goods and services higher than they were three years ago. But retail sales nonetheless remain strong, and the economy kept growing at a healthy pace. At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies are rising. More shoppers than ever are also on track to use "buy now, pay later" plans this holiday season, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items. Many economists also warned that President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs next year on foreign goods coming into the United States would lead to higher prices on everything from food to clothing to automobiles. A FedEx delivery person carries a package from a truck Nov. 17, 2022, in Denver. The National Retail Federation expects holiday shoppers to spend more this year both in stores and online than last year. But the pace of spending growth will slow slightly, the trade group said, growing 2.5% to 3.5% — compared to 3.9% in 2023. A clear sense of consumer spending patterns during the holiday season won't emerge until the government releases sales data for the period, but some preliminary data from other sources shows some encouraging signs for retailers. Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, noted that discounts from Thanksgiving onward "exceeded expectations" and online spending throughout Cyber Week is on track to cross a record $40 billion mark combined. U.S. shoppers spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday, a 10.2% increase over last year, according to Adobe Analytics. That's also more than double what consumers spent in 2017, when Black Friday pulled in about $5 billion in online sales. Consumers also spent a record $6.1 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, Adobe said. Meanwhile, software company Salesforce, which also tracks online shopping, estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $17.5 billion in the U.S. and $74.4 billion globally. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 3.4% from a year ago. A United Parcel Service driver sorts deliveries July 15, 2023, on New York's Upper West Side. E-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $5 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $4.6 million per minute — with top categories by volume including clothing, cosmetics and fitness products, according to the Canadian company. Toys, electronics, home goods, self-care and beauty categories were among the key drivers of holiday spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to Adobe. "Hot products" included Lego sets, espresso machines, fitness trackers, makeup and skin care. Other data showed physical stores saw fewer customers on Black Friday, underscoring how the huge crowds that were once synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving are now more than happy to shop from the comfort of their homes. RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in stores, said its early data showed store traffic on Friday was down 3.2% in the U.S. compared to last year, with the biggest dip happening in the Midwest. Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, said its preliminary analysis showed retail store traffic on Black Friday was down 8.2% compared to 2023. Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, noted that in-store traffic was getting spread across multiple days since many retailers offered generous discounts before and after Black Friday. "Some of the extended Black Friday promotions really ended up leading to a little bit of a softer day-of traffic than expected," Gustafson said. In 2024, staying small on purpose seems to be paying off big for small businesses. They're keeping operations small and targeting niche, highly specialized customers. And some business owners find this strategy results in more time, energy, and money to intentionally capitalize on unique, small cap opportunities. The data tells the story of growth in small businesses for the year. According to , the reports awarding 38,000 loans under $150,000: double the amount they awarded in 2020. Here are the related small-business trends paying off in 2024. Commercial real estate agent Ryan Beckenhauer of in Boulder, Colorado, has noticed that small businesses are growing smaller, and that their office and warehouse spaces are starting to reflect that as they shop for business space. In commercial real estate, many small business owners gravitate toward industrial condos and other flexible spaces. These are small-scale industrial spaces with a 90:10 or 80:20 split of warehouse to office. "More individuals are leveraging skills acquired at larger organizations to venture out on their own," explains Beckenhauer. And he goes on to say that they don't need a large commercial space as they make that leap to start a business. His clients include engineers, consultants, builders and other tradespeople. Beckenhauer's clients like the flexibility of being out of an office and being close to their inventory and workshop space. "The clients want to see and touch the finishes," he says. Small business owners both rent or buy these spaces. But he's seeing his clients opt to own industrial condos to stabilize costs due to rent increases in Boulder. And because these spaces are smaller, it can be easier for new buyers to qualify for financing. Mariana Alvarez, owner of , an online bookkeeping and advisory firm, has noticed that small business owners outsource financial support services because they don't want to increase headcount. "Outsourcing gives them the possibility of having access to the knowledge and the skills of a CFO without having to pay for the salary," she says. "They don't have to manage or deal with the workload, , and all that comes with it," says Alvarez. Additionally, many small business owners in fields like construction are family-owned, and this makes it easier for business owners to hand off delicate financial work to a trusted person with financial experience. Every small business has recurring tasks that can benefit from some level of . And Alvarez sees a lot of value in using AI for small business bookkeeping. She explains that you can automate the data entry on Quickbooks. "When you create rules, as long as you create the rules correctly, it pretty much does itself," says Alvarez. From there, you can lean on financial experts to help you analyze the data and make more informed decisions. She uses AI as a background resource when guiding her accounting clients. "I believe that we still need the human-to-human interaction that comes with more perspective for financial analysis," she explains. , 77% of consumers feel that human interaction is still required for a positive customer experience. People turn to small businesses every day for a human experience. According to Arvind Rongala, CEO of , small business workers can show up for their customers but still use AI for routine tasks like customer queries. "This balance allows companies to scale their operations without losing the personal touch that makes them unique. It's important to remember that AI isn't there to replace the human element—it's there to enhance it," he says. "By really focusing on one very small weakness that Amazon has, I've been able to carve out a successful business by offering something different," says Lou Harvey owner of , a retailer of commercial water and fuel tanks. "When you read our customer reviews, many of them actually mention me by name because of how much we focus on customer service and go the extra mile." One of Harvey's most successful business strategies this year has been to lean into his small, niche market and offer the kind of customer experience that large retailers like Amazon don't. "Any small weaknesses that Amazon has (however small those weaknesses may be) needs to become a strength of a smaller business focusing on a niche market," says Harvey. Harvey has his company's customer service phone number front and center on the website to help earn customer trust. "I prominently feature our phone number, and a real person always answers the phone (usually it's me)," says Harvey. Lucie Voves, CEO and founder of , an online, woman-owned diploma framing company that uses sustainable materials, has noticed an uptick in customers seeking services from a business on a mission. "This year, we've seen a growing inclination for consumers to actively seek out and support small businesses owned by women and minorities," says Voves. When consumers shop small, they choose to make their dollars count. "Customers are fueled by a desire to promote social impact through purchasing power," says Voves. Long gone are the days of online retailers "building it and they will come." In 2024 we've seen more small businesses than ever to sell directly on social media platforms like , , and . Small business owners are turning toward influencers, social media ads, and organic content to target their customers. Mike Vannelli of creates online ads for businesses, and he has seen his clients succeed on TikTok of late. "I've seen businesses, especially in retail, use TikTok's short-form video format to make their products go viral. Think of it as word-of-mouth marketing on steroids," says Vannelli. He uses the platform's algorithm to push a company's content to the right audiences, and it works because TikTok loves storytelling. "I know small brands that use behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, and even playful challenges that tap into trends to humanize their products and build trust," explains Vannelli. To stand out on TikTok, he says, smaller brands need to embrace authenticity and emotional connection. Show your team, share your journey, and involve your community in content creation. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.'Unacceptable': Hakeem Jeffries condemns Thanksgiving Day threats against House DemocratsMalian army eliminates senior terrorist leaders5 lucky numbers for today 。

Hailing the 77th Anniversary of Independence Day 2025: People in generations have dutifully served

As 2024 draws to a close, it is clear that the civil conflict in Sudan and rampant gang violence in Haiti have generated massive food insecurity crises that will only deepen in 2025, leaving unprecedented numbers of innocent people at risk of severe hunger and even starvation. Sudan Since the eruption of hostilities in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April of 2023, the senseless conflict has precipitated one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory, including the largest internally displaced persons (IDP) crisis in 2024. According to a statement issued on Oct. 17 by a group of United Nations Special Rapporteurs, 97 percent of the 11 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan, as well those civilians who managed to remain in their homes, endured severe levels of hunger in 2024. And the UN experts accused the combatants in the ongoing civil conflict of employing “starvation tactics” against the civilian population. “Never in modern history have so many people faced starvation and famine as in Sudan today,” the UN Special Rapporteurs declared. Similarly, the World Food Programme took to social media to sound the alarm about the worsening food insecurity crisis. “The Sudan war has sparked the world’s largest hunger crisis, leaving over 25 million people in dire need,” read the Oct. 22 nd post. In a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Sudan earlier this year, Joyce Msuya, UN Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told the UN Security Council that the Zamzam internally displaced persons’ camp—population 500,000 people–was in a state of famine. Sudan at the end of 2024 As 2024 draws to a close, UNICEF reports that the humanitarian situation on the ground in Sudan “continues to worsen, with 13 million children facing acute food insecurity.” Moreover, 14 areas are reportedly “on the brink of famine, and famine conditions already confirmed in Zamzam camp, North Darfur.” UNICEF and its partners have provided 8.9 million people in Sudan with safe drinking water. And they have also provided 288,000 children with lifesaving treatment for malnutrition and delivered primary healthcare to 1.6 million mothers and children. However, UNICEF reports that its Sudan response is only 44 percent funded. “Urgent support is needed to sustain essential services, particularly nutrition, child protection, and healthcare,” reads the UNICEF situation report published on Dec. 17. UNICEF says that it urgently requires US$ 35 million “to replenish supplies to ensure distributions in the first quarter of 2025.” WFP staffers killed No one is safe in Sudan, not even humanitarian workers delivering life-saving food aid. On Dec. 20, three World Food Programme staffers were killed in an airstrike. The killing of humanitarian workers is a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law. “I am shocked and heartbroken by the tragic deaths of three members of the WFP Sudan country team, who lost their lives after an aerial bombardment hit the WFP Field Office Compound in Yabus, Blue Nile State on the evening of Thursday 19 December,” reads a statement issued by WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “Among the colleagues lost were the head of field office, a programme associate, and a security guard who were carrying out life-saving duties on the frontlines of one of the world’s largest hunger crises. One staff died immediately, while the other two were critically injured and passed away while being transferred for treatment.” McCain made it clear that the death of the WFP members was an outrage. “Any loss of life in humanitarian service is unconscionable,” she declared. “Humanitarians are not, and must never be, a target. Yet a record number have lost their lives in 2024.” UN Security Council on Sudan On Dec. 19, the UN Security Council was briefed on the situation in Sudan by Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. She underscored the “unbearable” number of civilians killed and wounded in the conflict. According to the official UN readout of the meeting, Wosornu told the Council: “while a World Food Programme convoy was able to reach Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur on 22 November, a second convoy was delayed by an escalation in fierce fighting.” Wosornu laid out a plan to ease the suffering of the civilian population. First, all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law, including protecting civilian infrastructure and stopping sexual violence. Second, Security Council members must use their influence to ensure full humanitarian access across the county. Third, “donors must provide the $4.2 billion needed to support nearly 21 million people inside Sudan in 2025, as well as the $1.8 billion needed to support 5 million people — primarily refugees — in seven neighbouring countries.” Gangs starve Haiti According to a situation report issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), gang violence in Haiti drove “nearly 5 million people (half the population) into high levels of acute food insecurity earlier this year. The IPC projection update covered March to June 2024, and it revealed that the violence had internally displaced 362,000 people. In a March 26 th statement, UNICEF reported that “the alarming surge in armed violence in areas of Haiti” had created a “heightened risk of furthering a malnutrition crisis in the country.” The United Nations Children’s Agency warned that violence and instability had generated a child health and nutrition crisis that could “cost the lives of countless children.” According to an emergency situation report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the violence and insecurity in Port-au-Prince severely disrupted aid operations, “both for UN humanitarian agencies and NGOs.” For example, roadblocks prevented the World Food Programme from delivering a total of 18,800 hot meals in Port-au-Prince over a three-day period during the third week of March. Insecurity worsens in December Earlier this month, the World Food Programme revealed that in excess of 50,000 Haitians had been displaced in the previous two weeks due to violence and insecurity across the country, whilst 5.4 million people endured acute hunger. In fact, the WFP reported that Haiti was experiencing “one of the highest per capita proportions of food insecurity worldwide.” “The number of Internally Displaced People in Haiti has now risen to well over 700,000, mostly in the capital Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite region,” reads a Dec. 2 nd WFP press statement. “In response to the latest surge of IDPs, WFP and partners have scaled-up support with hot meals and cash assistance.” And WFP reports that it is currently feeding approximately 50,000 IDPs per day, “the largest number of people served per day since the beginning of the crisis.” According to a Dec. 6 th update from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), which was established in 1985 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), “poor urban market-dependent households are struggling to access food due to increased insecurity, staple food prices above the five-year average, and falling incomes,” especially in the urban areas of Port-au-Prince. The update noted that parts of the metropolitan area were experiencing Widespread Crisis (IPC 3) and Emergency (IPC 4) levels of food insecurity. FEWS NET also reports that humanitarian access to food insecure areas of the capital city is being hampered and limited by violence and insecurity, “affecting food assistance distribution activities.” “So far this year, WFP has provided almost three million hot meals which are largely prepared using locally grown and procured ingredients,” reads the Dec. 2 nd World Food Programme statement. And the WFP plans to ramp up food assistance operations in 2025, “targeting 1.85 million individuals with emergency relief while also supporting efforts to strengthen national resilient systems.” To make that happen, the UN agency requires $94 million to run its operations over the next six months. Conclusion As long as violence and lawlessness rule the day, the already severe food insecurity crises in Sudan and Haiti will only get worse in 2025, causing needless suffering and death.MIAMI — Haley and Hanna Cavinder, the University of Miami twin basketball players and social media influencers, on Tuesday were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the Class of 2025. The 30 Under 30 List recognizes North American leaders from a wide array of industries who are creating meaningful change with business, culture and entrepreneurship. Forbes compiles the annual list with the help of an independent panel of judges. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

VENHUB GLOBAL, INC., A PROVIDER OF FULLY AUTONOMOUS AND ROBOTIC RETAIL SOLUTIONS, TO LIST ON NASDAQKristina is once again infuriating fans with her "cruel and vindictive" treatment towards her sister Molly in this episode of General Hospital In Friday's episode of the ABC daytime drama, Ava was found not guilty of pushing Kristina and causing her to lose the baby she was having for her sister and her partner TJ. Kristina was heartbroken, as well as angry, about the results of the trial and she viciously took it out on Molly. The sisters got into an argument about the trial verdict and their fight reached its breaking point when Kristina coldly said these words to her sister involving the baby. Kristina told Molly, "Oh no, I understand. You're able to focus on finding peace and moving on because you were never really Adela's mother." After hearing that Molly walked away, she said she "was done, they're done" despite Alexis pleas. General Hospital fans slam ‘misogynistic’ storyline as they complain writers ‘dumbed Anna and Carly down' General Hospital fans are predicting that Gio could be the love child of these two characters Fans were fuming with what Kristina said to Molly and how she was mean to her sister, especially since the baby was Molly's child as Kristina was the surrogate. They took to social media to express their anger and disgust at Kristina for her words and actions towards Molly. One fan on X, formerly Twitter, said: " Not only did Kristina say Molly wasn’t the baby’s mother, she PURPOSELY called her Adela 4 extra punch.Cruel & vindictive. The character has been a lot of things, but not that—especially toward her sister. Again, I don’t want these 2 reconciling w/o true contrition from Kristina." A second person said: " After Molly even apologized to Kristina for the time she blamed her, Kristina twisted the figurative knife in Molly all because Molly can't take anymore misery and wants to find peace. Absolute Scum." Another added: "Molly really shoulda slapped the dog piss outta her." A fourth fan noted: "After what kristina said to molly today. She should be dead to her. Because she's beyond dead to me." This is not the first time Kristina has said the baby was not Molly's and has called the child hers, despite the fact that she agreed to be a surrogate for Molly and TJ. She also continues to call the baby the name she wants (Adela) rather than the name Molly and TJ named her (Irene). Fans before have called out Kristina's behavior in this storyline , especially in the way she disregards Molly's feelings towards the baby since she didn't carry her and for her trying to blame Ava for killing the baby when it was an accident (or to some fans, Kristina's fault). DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.

Well, Week 14 is already off to a very interesting start. As is tradition with rivalry week, anything can happen—and we're certainly seeing that unfold. After a massive brawl broke out following the Michigan-Ohio State game, another incident took place during the Notre Dame - USC game. In a fiery moment following USC's first touchdown of the game, Notre Dame's Rylie Mills was caught on camera punching USC left guard Emmanuel Pregnon directly in the face mask. This altercation occurred after Pregnon appeared to tug on Mills' leg following the touchdown run. Surprisingly, no penalty was called on the play, despite the clear altercation between the two players. The lack of a flag raised eyebrows, as tensions continued to rise between the two teams. It’s been a weekend of intense rivalry clashes, and this incident only added fuel to the fire. Check it out: Notre Dame’s Rylie Mills punches #USC LG Emmanuel Pregnon as he’s on the ground here tugging on Mills’ leg on Jayden Maiava’s TD keeper. 🎥 @Rivals_Jeff pic.twitter.com/nKRoqTwOCC Definitely an intriguing play that none of the refs seemed to catch, but the cameras were quick to pick it up. The incident has garnered plenty of attention across the college football world, as fans and analysts alike are questioning how such a clear altercation went unnoticed by the officials. The No. 5 ranked Fighting Irish are playing for their College Football Playoff lives, and a loss would be a devastating blow to their hopes. With a second defeat, Notre Dame's playoff chances would be hanging by a thread, especially given the lack of a truly impressive résumé in terms of quality wins. © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images However, a win in this game, coupled with Ohio State's loss, could shift the tides in Notre Dame's favor. If the Irish can pull off the victory, they would likely earn a home playoff game in the first round—an enormous advantage for them heading into postseason play. The stakes couldn't be higher, and all eyes will be on how Notre Dame handles the pressure as they battle for a spot in the playoff. Related: Huge Brawl Breaks Out After Michigan-Ohio State GameAnalysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easy

New Orleans police arrested on Friday a man accused of killing two people during a large parade where two separate shootings within an hour left two dead and at least 10 wounded. Curtis Gray, 19, faces two counts of second-degree murder tied to the Nov. 17 shootings along a crowded parade route, according to a news release from the New Orleans Police Department . Gray allegedly fatally shot Rasean Carter, 21, and Malachi Jackson, 19, at the Almonaster Avenue Bridge, authorities say. Carter, an aspiring photographer who lived in Marrero just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, had planned to document the Nine Times Social Aid & Pleasure Club's annual outing and was accompanied by Jackson, his friend and uncle, Nola.com reported. The parade was part of New Orleans' long-running tradition of “second-lines” where revelers follow brass bands marching through the streets and has deep ties to the city's Black culture. The deaths of Carter and Jackson were among a series of recent lethal shootings in New Orleans. While most violence has been on the decline in the city since mid-2023, there were three people killed and eight wounded in six shootings over the past weekend according to Nola.com. On Thursday, New Orleans police arrested two men, Darrell Fairley Jr., 18, and Cornelius G. Tillman, 19, in connection with a Nov. 30 double homicide in New Orleans East.Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on biggest day for online shopping

Colorado's 2-way star Travis Hunter eyes Big 12 title and more before 'for sure' entering NFL draftFormer Spanish teacher turned entrepreneur Lori Wall took a risk by moving her business into a brick-and-mortar store. Wall is the proprietor of Spanish on the Fly, a conversational Spanish education and tutoring service. Her client base is wide-ranging, consisting of young professionals looking to learn Spanish for their careers and older people who are traveling or interested in picking up a new hobby. After operating out of her home for nearly 20 years, Wall decided to take a leap of faith this past August by moving into a storefront at 311 Elm Street in Ludlow in an effort to expand her business. So far, the move has paid off, Wall told LINK nky, but there is still room to grow. Earlier this year, she applied for a small business grant for minority, women and veteran-owned businesses through the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Duke Energy and Blue North. The funds could be put toward physical space improvements, technology upgrades, talent sourcing, job posting fees and professional development training. Keep up with the latest NKY news with our daily newsletter window.zone_load_1277787059 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById('zone_load_1277787059').style.display = 'none'; }; Sign up Last week, it was announced that Spanish on the Fly was one of eight Northern Kentucky-based businesses to receive a small business grant this cycle. Wall’s business is slated to receive $5,000, which she plans to invest in software upgrades and newer signage for her storefront. “I will be able to put up large visible signage out front, purchase some technology and software for my online presence and purchase some practical items like a printer which makes it more convenient to print any ancillary materials I provide to my students,” Wall said. “ It really is a huge help that will bring in more foot traffic and let me spend more time focusing on growing the business.” In addition to Spanish on the Fly, the following businesses received awards: Dashai Thompson, the NKY Chamber’s inclusive business strategies director, detailed in a press release that the grants were to help regional business owners from underserved communities achieve sustainability. “In doing so, our region enhances its ability to support a thriving business landscape that values and promotes small businesses by removing a major barrier – funding – to entrepreneurs, especially those in often underserved communities,” Thompson said. Alejandra Flores of Unataza Coffee receives a check for a small business grant. Pictured Left to Right: Dave Knox, Blue North; Flores, Nancy Spivey and Dashai Thompson of NKY Chamber of Commerce. To qualify for the grant, businesses had to employ 50 or fewer people and be Duke Energy customers located in Boone, Campbell, or Kenton counties. Duke Energy contributed $25,000 to the program, with Blue North’s Northern Kentucky Entrepreneurship Fund matching the donation. The grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000. The Northern Kentucky Entrepreneurship Fund is specifically dedicated to supporting and funding Northern Kentucky-based entrepreneurs and organizations, including startups, support organizations, educational vehicles and accelerators. “This year’s winners demonstrated a clear need for the capital and a clear plan of how they’re going to make it an investment in their business to drive growth,” Blue North Executive Director Dave Knox said in the release. “These are entrepreneurs that have thought about how they can be a flywheel and when they look at that investment, it can not only grow their business but also their community in Northern Kentucky as a whole.” For Duke Energy, the grants were part of a larger effort where the utility company distributed a total of $122,000 to eight organizations throughout the Greater Cincinnati area, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Before you go.... Can you help us make a difference? The reporters and editors at LINK nky are dedicated to covering Northern Kentucky and providing you with the information you need to be an informed citizen. If you value what you get from LINK nky, please join us with a tax-deductible donation so we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. Will you chip in to LINK nky today? YES, I'LL CHIP IN! SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS DONATE

Colorado's 2-way star Travis Hunter eyes Big 12 title and more before 'for sure' entering NFL draftA report this week indicated Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins was with a knee sprain and it will be at least a four-game absence from the lineup. The Chargers announced that Dobbins has been placed on injured reserve on Saturday. Safety Alohi Gilman, who has a hamstring injury, was also moved to that list. Dobbins has been enjoying a strong season after three injury-plagued years with the Ravens. He has 158 carries for 766 yards and eight touchdowns, but the Chargers will have to go with Gus Edwards, Hassan Haskins, and Kimani Vidal for the time being. The Chargers filled one of the open roster spots by signing veteran safety Tony Jefferson to the active roster. They also called up cornerback Dicaprio Bootle and linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste from the practice squad on a temporary basis.

Adventure Tourism Thrives in the Post-COVID Era, Redefining Global Travel TrendsOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The biggest question facing the Baltimore Ravens right now has little to do with Lamar Jackson or even a defense that started the season poorly. It's about a kicking conundrum that has turned into a crisis. Can the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl with Justin Tucker? One of the more surprising subplots of this NFL season has been Tucker's decline from one of the greatest of all time to a week-in, week-out liability. Sunday's loss to Philadelphia might have been the nadir — he missed two field goals and an extra point in a game the Ravens ultimately lost 24-19 . “Points were at a premium in the game. They have been in a few of these games. Sometimes we haven't made the most of our opportunity to score points,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "We're racking our brains, talking to Justin, looking at what we're doing. I'm very confident that it's going to get fixed. I believe it will. It has to. “And he's the guy to get it fixed.” Harbaugh has given every indication that he's standing by Tucker, who is in his 13th season and is under contract through 2027. When he's at his best, he's the type of kicker that gives his team a clear advantage in close games, but this season he has missed eight field goals. Sunday showed that against a good defensive team, the Ravens (8-5) can't simply assume their excellent offense will pile up points. There almost certainly will be close games in the weeks to come. Tucker's ability to come through will be tested again, and it's hard for Baltimore to feel too confident at the moment. “When he was hitting, three or four years ago, hitting bombs, we were going 57, 58, 56 pretty regularly," Harbaugh said. “That's tightened up a little bit.” The Ravens continue to do a good job stopping the run. Although Saquon Barkley did eventually surpass the 100-yard mark late in the game, Baltimore held the Eagles to 140 yards on the ground, well below their usual output. Even beyond Tucker's problems, Sunday wasn't a great showing by Baltimore's special teams. Tylan Wallace was shaky returning punts, and the Ravens had to start four drives inside their own 20 and two inside their own 10. “They had great bounces, and they downed right down in there,” Wallace said. "I’m pretty sure we’ll come back and talk about those and see what we can do to avoid those.” The Ravens' defense continued to show signs of improvement, holding Philadelphia to 252 total yards. “I think we’ve just locked in on some things, and we’re playing our deep coverages better, bottom line,” Harbaugh said. "You watch the coverage, you watch the guys’ spacing, positioning, eyes, the communication, the checks that get made, and you just keep chasing doing the right things. It’s not (that we) changed the defense. We’re just playing it a lot better.” Harbaugh was vague on receiver Diontae Johnson's situation. He was active Sunday but didn't play, and he has only one catch in four games since the Ravens acquired him in a trade from Carolina. “I’m going to have to wait just to clarify it,” Harbaugh said. "There’s some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at. I know that’s not the answer you want, but that’s the best I can do in fairness to everybody right now.” The Ravens were missing pass-rushing ace Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck) on Sunday, and WR Rashod Bateman was dealing with knee soreness. Through his first 12 seasons, Tucker made field goals at a 90% clip. That's dropped to 70% this season. He had a 95% success rate from under 50 yards, and that's dipped to 83%. The Ravens have this week off before a Dec. 15 road game against the New York Giants. Then comes a home matchup with Pittsburgh that may determine whether Baltimore has any shot to win the AFC North. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

* Gap surges after raising annual sales forecast * Intuit drops after forecasting Q2 results below estimates * Small caps touch over one-week high * Three major indexes post weekly gains (Updates as of the close) By Abigail Summerville and Johann M Cherian Nov 22 (Reuters) - Wall Street closed higher on Friday, with all three major indexes posting weekly gains, as investors took comfort from data pointing to robust economic activity in the world's biggest economy. A measure of business activity raced to a 31-month high in November, boosted by hopes for lower interest rates and more business-friendly policies from President-elect Donald Trump's administration next year. The domestically focused small-cap Russell 2000 index rose and outperformed large-cap indexes. The index hit its highest in more than a week and was set for weekly advances. Meanwhile, Alphabet fell following Thursday's 4% drop, as the U.S. Department of Justice argued to a judge the company was monopolizing online search. AI bellwether Nvidia also slipped in choppy trading following its quarterly forecast on Wednesday. An index tracking S&P 500 value stocks rose as investors rotated out of their growth peers. "I’ve been looking for this leadership change to go from technology to everything else. I think we may be in the midst of that shift. Small caps are acting much better, values are acting better," said Mark Hackett, Chief of Investment Research at Nationwide. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 19.55 points, or 0.33%, to end at 5,968.26 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 26.45 points, or 0.14%, to 18,998.87. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 423.28 points, or 0.96%, to 44,293.63. The S&P and the Dow reached one-week highs. Expectations on the Federal Reserve's policy move in December have recently swayed between a pause and a cut, as investors weighed the likely impact of Trump's plans on price pressures. There is a 59.6% probability the central bank will lower borrowing costs by 25 basis points, as per the CME Group's FedWatch Tool. Geopolitics were top of mind this week as investors monitored a missile exchange between Ukraine and Russia, after Moscow lowered its threshold for a nuclear retaliation. The markets are also awaiting Trump's Treasury Secretary pick. "The fact that we’ve been calm on a nice, steady stair step pattern higher is very encouraging and reflective of the fact that investors aren’t acting with the emotion that they could be given the amount of uncertainties we’ve faced," Hackett said. In company news, Gap Inc jumped after the Old Navy parent raised its annual sales forecast and said the holiday season was off to a "strong start". Intuit fell after the TurboTax parent projected second-quarter revenue and profit below Wall Street estimates on Thursday. (Reporting by Abigail Summerville in New York; additional reporting by Johann M Cherian and Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio)

Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on biggest day for online shoppingDemocrat Bob Casey concedes to Republican David McCormick in Pennsylvania Senate contestWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain, a prestigious posting for the Republican donor whose contributions this year included $2 million to a Trump-backing super PAC. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site Monday evening, announced he was selecting Stephens to be the U.S. ambassador to the Court of Saint James. The Senate is required to confirm the choice. “Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the U.S.A. to one of America’s most cherished and beloved Allies,” Trump said in in his post. Stephens is the chairman, president and CEO of Little Rock, Arkansas-based financial services firm Stephens Inc., having taken over the firm from his father. Trump has already named many of his nominees for his Cabinet and high-profile diplomatic posts, assembling a roster of staunch loyalists. Over the weekend, Trump announced he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. During his first term, Trump selected Robert “Woody” Johnson, a contributor to his campaign and the owner of the New York Jets football team, as his representative to the United Kingdom. The Associated Press

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Consumers in the United States scoured the internet for online deals as they looked to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with Cyber Monday. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people's regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation — has become the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping, expected consumers to spend $13.2 billion Monday — a record, and 6.1% more than last year. That would make it the biggest shopping day for e-commerce for the season — and the year. Online spending was expected to peak between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday night, per Adobe — reaching an estimated $15.7 million spent every minute. People are also reading... For several major retailers, a Cyber Monday sale is a dayslong event that began over the Thanksgiving weekend. An Amazon Prime delivery person lifts packages while making a stop Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver. Amazon kicked off its sales event right after midnight Pacific time on Saturday. Target's two days of discount offers on its website and app began overnight Sunday. Walmart rolled out its Cyber Monday offers for Walmart+ members Sunday afternoon and opened it up to all customers three hours later, at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Consumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. Many U.S. consumers continue to experience sticker shock after the period of post-pandemic inflation, which left prices for many goods and services higher than they were three years ago. But retail sales nonetheless remain strong, and the economy kept growing at a healthy pace. At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies are rising. More shoppers than ever are also on track to use "buy now, pay later" plans this holiday season, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items. Many economists also warned that President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs next year on foreign goods coming into the United States would lead to higher prices on everything from food to clothing to automobiles. A FedEx delivery person carries a package from a truck Nov. 17, 2022, in Denver. The National Retail Federation expects holiday shoppers to spend more this year both in stores and online than last year. But the pace of spending growth will slow slightly, the trade group said, growing 2.5% to 3.5% — compared to 3.9% in 2023. A clear sense of consumer spending patterns during the holiday season won't emerge until the government releases sales data for the period, but some preliminary data from other sources shows some encouraging signs for retailers. Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, noted that discounts from Thanksgiving onward "exceeded expectations" and online spending throughout Cyber Week is on track to cross a record $40 billion mark combined. U.S. shoppers spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday, a 10.2% increase over last year, according to Adobe Analytics. That's also more than double what consumers spent in 2017, when Black Friday pulled in about $5 billion in online sales. Consumers also spent a record $6.1 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, Adobe said. Meanwhile, software company Salesforce, which also tracks online shopping, estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $17.5 billion in the U.S. and $74.4 billion globally. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 3.4% from a year ago. A United Parcel Service driver sorts deliveries July 15, 2023, on New York's Upper West Side. E-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $5 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $4.6 million per minute — with top categories by volume including clothing, cosmetics and fitness products, according to the Canadian company. Toys, electronics, home goods, self-care and beauty categories were among the key drivers of holiday spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to Adobe. "Hot products" included Lego sets, espresso machines, fitness trackers, makeup and skin care. Other data showed physical stores saw fewer customers on Black Friday, underscoring how the huge crowds that were once synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving are now more than happy to shop from the comfort of their homes. RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in stores, said its early data showed store traffic on Friday was down 3.2% in the U.S. compared to last year, with the biggest dip happening in the Midwest. Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, said its preliminary analysis showed retail store traffic on Black Friday was down 8.2% compared to 2023. Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, noted that in-store traffic was getting spread across multiple days since many retailers offered generous discounts before and after Black Friday. "Some of the extended Black Friday promotions really ended up leading to a little bit of a softer day-of traffic than expected," Gustafson said. The 7 small business trends that paid off in 2024 The 7 small business trends that paid off in 2024 In 2024, staying small on purpose seems to be paying off big for small businesses. They're keeping operations small and targeting niche, highly specialized customers. And some business owners find this strategy results in more time, energy, and money to intentionally capitalize on unique, small cap opportunities. The data tells the story of growth in small businesses for the year. According to NEXT , the Small Business Administration (SBA) reports awarding 38,000 SBA 7(a) loans under $150,000: double the amount they awarded in 2020. Here are the related small-business trends paying off in 2024. 1. Small and cozy office spaces in industrial and flex condos Commercial real estate agent Ryan Beckenhauer of Market Real Estate in Boulder, Colorado, has noticed that small businesses are growing smaller, and that their office and warehouse spaces are starting to reflect that as they shop for business space. In commercial real estate, many small business owners gravitate toward industrial condos and other flexible spaces. These are small-scale industrial spaces with a 90:10 or 80:20 split of warehouse to office. "More individuals are leveraging skills acquired at larger organizations to venture out on their own," explains Beckenhauer. And he goes on to say that they don't need a large commercial space as they make that leap to start a business. His clients include engineers, consultants, builders and other tradespeople. Beckenhauer's clients like the flexibility of being out of an office and being close to their inventory and workshop space. "The clients want to see and touch the finishes," he says. Small business owners both rent or buy these spaces. But he's seeing his clients opt to own industrial condos to stabilize costs due to rent increases in Boulder. And because these spaces are smaller, it can be easier for new buyers to qualify for financing. 2. More outsourcing of financial services Mariana Alvarez, owner of Controller Works , an online bookkeeping and advisory firm, has noticed that small business owners outsource financial support services because they don't want to increase headcount. "Outsourcing gives them the possibility of having access to the knowledge and the skills of a CFO without having to pay for the salary," she says. "They don't have to manage or deal with the workload, employment taxes , and all that comes with it," says Alvarez. Additionally, many small business owners in fields like construction are family-owned, and this makes it easier for business owners to hand off delicate financial work to a trusted person with financial experience. 3. Automating bookkeeping tasks with AI Every small business has recurring tasks that can benefit from some level of artificial intelligence automation . And Alvarez sees a lot of value in using AI for small business bookkeeping. She explains that you can automate the data entry on Quickbooks. "When you create rules, as long as you create the rules correctly, it pretty much does itself," says Alvarez. From there, you can lean on financial experts to help you analyze the data and make more informed decisions. She uses AI as a background resource when guiding her accounting clients. "I believe that we still need the human-to-human interaction that comes with more perspective for financial analysis," she explains. 4. AI-driven customer service According to the SBA , 77% of consumers feel that human interaction is still required for a positive customer experience. People turn to small businesses every day for a human experience. According to Arvind Rongala, CEO of Edstellar , small business workers can show up for their customers but still use AI for routine tasks like customer queries. "This balance allows companies to scale their operations without losing the personal touch that makes them unique. It's important to remember that AI isn't there to replace the human element—it's there to enhance it," he says. 5. Personalized customer experiences "By really focusing on one very small weakness that Amazon has, I've been able to carve out a successful business by offering something different," says Lou Harvey owner of Tank Retailer , a retailer of commercial water and fuel tanks. "When you read our customer reviews, many of them actually mention me by name because of how much we focus on customer service and go the extra mile." One of Harvey's most successful business strategies this year has been to lean into his small, niche market and offer the kind of customer experience that large retailers like Amazon don't. "Any small weaknesses that Amazon has (however small those weaknesses may be) needs to become a strength of a smaller business focusing on a niche market," says Harvey. Harvey has his company's customer service phone number front and center on the website to help earn customer trust. "I prominently feature our phone number, and a real person always answers the phone (usually it's me)," says Harvey. 6. Businesses promoting social impact Lucie Voves, CEO and founder of Church Hill Classics , an online, woman-owned diploma framing company that uses sustainable materials, has noticed an uptick in customers seeking services from a business on a mission. "This year, we've seen a growing inclination for consumers to actively seek out and support small businesses owned by women and minorities," says Voves. When consumers shop small, they choose to make their dollars count. "Customers are fueled by a desire to promote social impact through purchasing power," says Voves. 7. Increased social commerce sales Long gone are the days of online retailers "building it and they will come." In 2024 we've seen more small businesses than ever turn to social commerce to sell directly on social media platforms like Instagram Shopping , Facebook Marketplace , and TikTok . Small business owners are turning toward influencers, social media ads, and organic content to target their customers. Mike Vannelli of Envy Creative creates online ads for businesses, and he has seen his clients succeed on TikTok of late. "I've seen businesses, especially in retail, use TikTok's short-form video format to make their products go viral. Think of it as word-of-mouth marketing on steroids," says Vannelli. He uses the platform's algorithm to push a company's content to the right audiences, and it works because TikTok loves storytelling. "I know small brands that use behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, and even playful challenges that tap into trends to humanize their products and build trust," explains Vannelli. To stand out on TikTok, he says, smaller brands need to embrace authenticity and emotional connection. Show your team, share your journey, and involve your community in content creation. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Dems, Media Have New Strategy To Break Up Trump-Musk Honeymoon

The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. People are also reading... Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Gunman’s steps after killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO give police new clues The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman For many companies, investor meetings are seen as a risk In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Another health insurer taking precautions after the shooting Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.