Target's earnings miss isn't about the U.S. port strike. Here's what happenedDuring Ms Fallon’s exchange with Taoiseach Simon Harris on Friday as he was canvassing in Co Cork , which went viral on social media, she said that section 39 workers “fought for our money, and we were ignored”. Her exasperation with the Taoiseach in relation to the issue is understood to be shared too by the organisations that represent employers across the voluntary sector. Their chief executives are said to be “extremely disappointed” that a first letter sent to Mr Harris earlier this year highlighting the failure to make progress on addressing funding issues across the health, homelessness, disability and other sectors involved did not receive a response. A second, handed publicly in on October 17th, drew only a two-line note acknowledging its receipt. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions wrote to him about the issues involved this week. Both employers and the unions representing thousands of staff involved say they find it perplexing that all three Government parties say they aim to resolve the issues involved if they are elected for another term in power. Yet they have not done so during their current term. The key issue involved is pay and the difficulty the hundreds of service providers, some of them household names like Enable Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Rehab, have in recruiting and retaining staff. This includes frontline carers and healthcare professionals because comparable roles in the public service, at the HSE for instance, come with better pay and conditions. Differences in the terms on which the various workers are employed developed as cuts imposed in the wake of the financial crash were not reversed for section 39, section 56 and section 10 workers, as they gradually were to public sector employees. The section numbers refer to the legislative clauses under which organisations provide services to various government departments and agencies in the areas of health and disabilities, homelessness, and families and children. With the threat of a strike looming a deal in October 2023 provided for pay increases of 8 per cent and committed the Government side to working towards a general restoration of parity. The process since, however, has been difficult and disjointed, with many workers who believed they would receive the 8 per cent being categorised as ineligible. Many employers experienced significant administrative challenges obtaining the funding required to pay the increases, sometimes finding some of their staff qualified while others did not. They also argued that related increases like PRSI and pension contributions were not always properly covered. Unions, meanwhile, have been seeking further pay increases comparable to the 9.25 per cent over 21⁄2 years agreed back in January for those in the public sector. They also seek progress on the restoration of links that previously existed with staff directly employed by the State to do comparable work. Enable Ireland chief executive John O’Sullivan says that as each pay increase agreed under that public sector deal kicks in a gap that had been narrowed by the October 23rd agreement is reopening. “The benefits are being washed away. We are almost back to where we were a year ago. We need to see decisive action taken now.” There have been many meetings between the two sides, although the most recently scheduled one for the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) last Monday was postponed by the Government departments involved. Talks outside of the WRC are due to take place on Tuesday. In the meantime Siptu organiser Sharon Cregan says members like Ms Fallon have become disillusioned with the process. “They have lost faith in the agreement reached with the staff,” she says. “There has been talk of proposals about staged increases and who would be impacted but there are thousands of staff involved and we need to see everybody included. Beyond that we want what was agreed on October 23rd, solid, proactive discussion in alignment.” She said the dedication of the workers involved was apparent in Ms Fallon’s interaction with the Taoiseach. “You could see how passionate she was but nobody could do this work without being passionate about it.” Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times

See trending post as UNIBEN student shares what he received from school after becoming best graduating studentThe latest Reserve Bank of India data has put the net household savings as a percentage of GDP at their lowest level in nearly 50 years. This has left families with less disposable income, and which, in turn, has impacted consumption patterns. A report by Marcellus Investment Managers, has traced the slowdown to three basic factors: technological disruptions, a cyclical economic downturn, and deteriorating household balance sheets. Among the three, the ‘technological disruptions’ are fundamentally altering the job economy. As underlined by the report, the jobs that once formed the backbone of middle-class employment are increasingly being replaced by automation and technology. Artificial Intelligence threatens most of the jobs, more so, the white collar ones. A report from Goldman Sachs has indicated that the AI could replace 300 million jobs globally, and impact two-thirds of jobs in the US and Europe. One-fourth of the jobs could be performed completely by AI. OpenAI and Mckinsey Global Institute estimate that AI would affect half of the job tasks for 20% of the workers. These are grim predictions for the job prospects for the educated youth just entering the job market. Fallout of the AI is being compounded by the economic downturn and declining household incomes. This is despite the fact that the Indian economy is doing relatively well. Projected to grow at 7% this year, India’s economy is the fastest-growing among the world’s major economies. But the benefits aren’t sufficiently trickling down to people. Despite this economic expansion, job opportunities remain limited, and the competition is intense, with only graduates from well-known colleges securing desirable positions. The unemployment rate in the country for those in the 15 years and above category remained unchanged at 3.2% in 2023-24. However, the youth unemployment rate for those in the 15-29 years age group rose to 10.2% in 2023-24 from 10% in 2022-23. The employment is more for females, rising from 10.6% in 2022-23 to 11% in 2023-24. Job security is another area of growing apprehension, with more Indians expressing concerns about potential layoffs. These worries are not unique to India, as global issues like recession, economic slowdown, and multinational conflicts weigh on the minds of individuals worldwide. Kashmir mirrors this tough job situation. In fact, the situation is more difficult in the UT as there are fewer opportunities outside government jobs: In the July-September quarter of 2024, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest unemployment rate at 11.8 percent, followed by Odisha with 10.6 percent. This calls for not just a job plan for also an education plan for the youth, so that the new generation has required skills and know-how to be relevant to the new job market.

Number of registered lobbyists jumps to a record high in California

In a Dec. 22 Truth Social post , Trump announced Ken Howery as his choice for United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark and added that the U.S. should pursue control of Greenland. Greenland is an island located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans and is a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump’s post says. While Trump hasn’t elaborated on his motivation to purchase Greenland, the territory has access to valuable natural resources and houses a large U.S. military base . Its location also provides access to the Arctic Ocean from the Atlantic. Trump first floated the idea of purchasing Greenland in 2019, during his first administration. Denmark’s prime minister called purchase discussions “absurd,” prompting Trump to cancel a planned trip to the country. Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton penned an op-ed in 2019 saying that acquiring the territory would provide a safeguard against foreign threats like what the U.S. faced during World War II and the Cold War. After Trump expressed renewed interest in Greenland on Dec. 22, Google search data shows there’s been a spike in searches about Trump’s statement and Greenland, including whether the territory is for sale. THE QUESTION Is Greenland for sale? THE SOURCES Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede Danish national government website Self-Government Act in 2009 Statement from Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to ABC News Rasmus Jarlov , a member of Danish parliament U.S. Space Force THE ANSWER No, Greenland is not for sale. WHAT WE FOUND Greenland is not for sale, Múte Egede, the territory’s prime minister, said on Facebook . “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom,” Egede wrote in Danish, translated into English via Google Translate. “However, we must continue to be open to cooperation and trade with the whole world, especially with our neighbours. Since all cooperation and trade cannot go through Denmark. All cooperation with us must be based on our values. Because at all times we must not squabble about our country,” Egede wrote. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, according to the Danish national government website . It has its own government, managing most domestic affairs, while Denmark oversees foreign policy, defense and monetary matters. In 2009, Greenland's residents voted for increased autonomy , which gave the island its own parliament and independent leadership, but it is still in part controlled by Denmark. According to Greenland’s Self-Government Act in 2009 , Greenland has the option to declare full independence if it chooses to in the future. First, in order to do that, the decision regarding Greenland’s independence must be brought before the people. Greenland has a population of roughly 56,000. If Greenland’s population decides to move forward, negotiations begin between Danish and Greenland governing bodies. An agreement has to be made between the two, and if reached, Greenland’s parliament has to approve and then draft a resolution for independence. The agreement for independence ends with Denmark’s parliament approving the independence. Greenland would then become an independent nation. In response to Trump’s Dec. 22 Truth Social post, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told ABC News the “Danish Government is looking forward to welcoming the new American ambassador. And the Government is looking forward to working with the new administration.” “In a complex security political situation as the one we currently experience, transatlantic cooperation is crucial. As far as statements about Greenland, the Prime Minister's Office has no comments other than reference to what was stated by the Premier of Greenland about Greenland not being for sale, but open for cooperation.” VERIFY reached out to the Danish prime minister’s office for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication. Danish parliament member Rasmus Jarlov rejected Trump’s interest in purchasing Greenland in a post on X. “Greenland is Danish. It has been since 1380 and it will continue to be. This is undisputed, signed in rock in treaties and not open for negotiation. At all. Dictators threaten to take control over other countries' territory. Free democratic countries do not,” Jarlov said. The U.S’s interest in Greenland did not begin with Trump. In 1946, the U.S. considered proposals to pay Denmark $100 million in gold bars for Greenland or trade oil-rich land in Alaska for some of Greenland’s territory, according to the Associated Press . Even though the sale did not go through, the United States ended up with the military bases it wanted anyway. The U.S. Air Force currently maintains two bases in Greenland, Thule and Sondestrom. Construction of the Thule base in 1952 was made possible by a defense treaty signed by the U.S. and Denmark in 1951 . Originally designed as a refueling base for long-range bombing missions, it has been a ballistic missile early warning site and satellite telemetry station since 1961. Sondestrom’s mission is in support of the base at Thule. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Related Articles Claim that only 6% of federal employees work in the office is false No, Trump can’t legally withdraw the U.S. from NATO by executive order No, the U.S. does not have any authority over the Panama Canal The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808Saturday, December 7, 2024 Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube Personal Finance Education Entertainment Jobs Alert Sports Hindi Technology Complaint Redressal. Fact-Checking Policy Correction policy Authors and Team DNPA Code of Ethics Onwership and Funding Cookie Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Contact US About Us More Search Home Personal Finance Disha Patani wore a deepneck transparent dress, fans said 'Hi Garmi' after... Personal Finance Disha Patani wore a deepneck transparent dress, fans said ‘Hi Garmi’ after seeing the photo By Shyamu Maurya December 7, 2024 0 17 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Disha Patani wore a deepneck transparent dress, fans said 'Hi Garmi' after seeing the photo Disha Patani has shared a bold photo on Instagram, which fans are liking very much. Disha Patani is one of the hot actresses of Bollywood. She often remains in the news due to her boldness. Disha remains popular on social media due to her stylish style. The actress always shares her hot and bold pictures with fans. Recently, the actress has shared a picture on her Instagram. Disha looked very bold A post shared by disha patani (paatni) 🦋 (@dishapatani) In the picture shared by Disha, the actress is looking very hot. During this, she is wearing a very transparent deep dress. Along with this, she has kept her look very simple. The actress has done makeup and has kept her hair open. During this, Disha is making fans crazy with her sizzling style. Disha’s friends also praised A post shared by disha patani (paatni) 🦋 (@dishapatani) Fans are liking these pictures of Disha a lot. One user praised the actress and wrote – Hotness. At the same time, another user wrote – Hi Garmi. Along with the fans, Disha’s friend actress Mouni Roy has also commented. She wrote – Stunner. Along with this, Alexander, who has been in the news for his relationship with Disha, has also praised Disha. He commented and wrote – Glam Glow. A post shared by disha patani (paatni) 🦋 (@dishapatani) Join Informal Newz Tags Disha Patani Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Previous article CBSE Board News: Big news for class 10th students! Preparations to bring dual syllabus for science and social science Shyamu Maurya Shyamu has done Degree in Fine Arts and has knowledge about bollywood industry. He started writing in 2018. Since then he has been associated with Informalnewz. In case of any complain or feedback, please contact me @informalnewz@gmail.com RELATED ARTICLES Personal Finance CBSE Board News: Big news for class 10th students! Preparations to bring dual syllabus for science and social science December 6, 2024 Personal Finance Metro Liquor Rules: Passengers will be able to travel with liquor in the metro, know the limit of bottles December 6, 2024 India School Holidays 2024: Schools will remain closed for this many days during Christmas and winter holidays December 6, 2024 - Advertisment - Most Popular CBSE Board News: Big news for class 10th students! Preparations to bring dual syllabus for science and social science December 6, 2024 Metro Liquor Rules: Passengers will be able to travel with liquor in the metro, know the limit of bottles December 6, 2024 School Holidays 2024: Schools will remain closed for this many days during Christmas and winter holidays December 6, 2024 Free Passport Apply: Free passport will be made for these students, orders issued December 6, 2024 Load more Recent Comments Gul Mohiudin on Kavita sister-in-law wore a sari without a blouse, seeing the pictures you will also be... 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Preparations to bring dual syllabus for science and social science December 6, 2024 Metro Liquor Rules: Passengers will be able to travel with liquor in the metro, know the limit of bottles December 6, 2024 School Holidays 2024: Schools will remain closed for this many days during Christmas and winter holidays December 6, 2024 POPULAR CATEGORY Personal Finance 17837 Entertainment 17061 India 4456 News 3785 Technology 2236 Jobs Alert 787 Travel 652 Education 451 ABOUT US INFORMALNEWZ brings the Latest News & Top Breaking headlines on Politics and Current Affairs. Up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by informal Newz. Find latest news coverage of breaking news events, trending topics, and compelling articles. Contact us: informalnewz@gmail.com FOLLOW US Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube © - 2024 - informalnewz | Izon web Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us - Izon Web Pvt. Ltd. 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GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Toyota said Thursday it will build a new paint facility as part of a $922 million investment at its factory complex in Georgetown, Kentucky, making it the second big addition announced this year at the automaker's largest global manufacturing plant. In February, the company said it would invest $1.3 billion at its Kentucky complex, in part so it can build an all-new three-row electric SUV to be sold in the U.S. Neither project will add any new jobs at the facility, which now employs about 10,000 workers. However, the investments reinforce Toyota's commitment to long-term job stability, the company said. The new paint facility, scheduled to open in 2027, will add 1 million square feet of capacity while decreasing carbon emissions by 30% and water usage by 1.5 million gallons per year, Toyota said. It will enable the company to offer more diverse color options for its vehicles, the company said. “Toyota’s commitment to advanced paint technologies goes beyond aesthetics,” said Kerry Creech, president of Toyota Kentucky. “It encompasses efficiency, sustainability and quality, leading the industry in environmentally responsible manufacturing.” The project also will increase flexibility for future vehicle production and advances Toyota's goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, the automaker said. Toyota’s investment in the Bluegrass State has surpassed $11 billion since breaking ground at the central Kentucky site in 1986. Georgetown is 16 miles (26 kilometers) north of Lexington, Kentucky.

Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is brushing off Ontario’s threat to restrict electricity exports in retaliation for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, as the province floats the idea of effectively barring sales of American alcohol. On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York state and Minnesota if Trump follows through on a threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada. “That’s OK if he that does that. That’s fine,” Trump told American network CNBC when asked Thursday about Ford’s remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. “The United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldn’t have to do that,” Trump added. “And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn’t have to subsidize a country,” he said, claiming this amounts to more than US$100 billion annually in unspecified subsidies. Meanwhile, an official in the Ford government says it’s considering restricting the Liquor Control Board of Ontario from buying American-made alcohol. The province says the Crown agency is the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. The province also says it could restrict exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric-vehicle batteries, and bar American companies from provincial procurement. Ford doubled down Thursday on the idea of cutting off energy exports. The province says that in 2013, Ontario exported enough energy to power 1.5 million homes in those three states. “It’s a last resort,” Ford said. “We’re sending a message to the U.S. (that if) you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let’s hope it never comes to that.” Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said the province would rather have co-operation with the U.S., but has mechanisms to “end power sale into the U.S. market” the day Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ruled out following suit. “Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,” she said. “Our approach is one of diplomacy, not threats.” Michael Sabia, president and CEO of Hydro-Québec, said “it’s not our current intention” to cut off Quebec’s exports to Massachusetts or New York state, but he conceded it might be possible. “Our intention is to respect those contracts, both because they’re legally binding, but also because it’s part of, in our view, a sound relationship with the United States,” he said. “It’s a questionable instrument to use in a trade conflict.” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew would not directly say whether Manitoba would threaten to withhold hydroelectric exports. “We are preparing our list and starting to think through what those options should look like,” he said. “I’m not going to make specific news today about items that we’re looking at.” Kinew added that some premiers felt retaliatory measures wouldn’t work in a call Trudeau held Wednesday. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said “we have no interest in stopping” the export of energy to the U.S., adding that a trade war would hurt both countries. “We hope it is just bluster; we’re preparing as if it is not,” he said. Canada supplies more oil to the U.S. than any other country. About 60 per cent of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 per cent of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada sold $170 billion worth of energy products last year to the U.S. It also has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. Canadian officials have said it is unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Canada since has promised more border security spending to address Trump’s border concerns. Ford said that will include more border and police officers, as well as drones and sniffer dogs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press, Liam Casey in Toronto, Lisa Johnson in Edmonton and Steve Lambert in Winnipeg. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

Proposed blockbuster 3-team trade brings multiple All-Stars to Phillies | Sporting News

Illinois stuns Rutgers on Pat Bryant's 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds leftWhen Target’s ( TGT -0.71% ) earnings fell drastically short of expectations on Wednesday, executives pointed to the U.S. port strike as a key factor. However, the retailer’s troubles – which pushed its stock down 21% to a one-year low – go much deeper than shipping costs and an inventory glut. Target imported a similar number of cargo containers during the key summer months as it did in 2023, well before the strike became a major problem , as reported by CNBC ( CMCSA +1.30% ), which cites trade data from ImportGenius, a firm specializing in the international trade industry. During Target’s Nov. 20 earnings call, CEO Brian Cornell acknowledged that the company “faced supply chain challenges” tied to the East Coast and Gulf port strikes, but explained Target had adjusted by “changing shipment timings and rerouting deliveries to other ports,” as a way to ensure it had stock for the fourth quarter. These changes, coupled with weaker demand in discretionary categories, led to higher-than-normal inventory levels earlier in the year, resulting in increase cost’s for the company’s supply chain, Cornell noted. Still, imports during the summer months – especially July and August – were consistent with past years, with no major surge to suggest a rush of goods to preempt the strike. Target actually increased the number of containers arriving thorough its West Coast ports. If the strike isn’t too blame for Target’s big earnings miss, what is? Analysts at Jefferies ( JEF +3.37% ) said in a research note that Target misjudged consumer demand and pricing. Despite importing more goods than Walmart ( WMT +1.33% ) by $1.2 billion, the retailer struggled to attract customers in key categories, even as shoppers increasingly turned to competitors for essentials like groceries, apparel, and personal care items. In May, Target revealed plans to slash prices on 5,000 items , and by October, the company expanded this initiative to include an additional 2,000 products , covering categories like food, cold medicine, and baby essentials. Target said it aims to slash prices on 10,000 items during the holiday season. However, some items – like deodorant and undergarments – will remain locked behind glass shelves due to theft concerns. While Target hasn’t traditionally been seen as a price leader, analysts told Quartz earlier this week that its emphasis on competitive pricing has helped the retailer attract more budget-conscious shoppers in today’s cautious consumer environment. That, however, hasn’t been enough to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Target’s main rival, Walmart, reported strong quarterly earnings on Nov. 19, continuing its success , by catering to all consumer income levels –especially those with household incomes over $100,000, and who accounted for 75% of its sales this quarter. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.CHICAGO — 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 report 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 still say 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 percent from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87 percent 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 percent from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55 percent higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3 percent 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.” Impact on retailers, communities 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 analysis 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 report attributed 36 percent 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 percent of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38 percent in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5 percent. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Increased penalties 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 signed 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 signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved 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 bill 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 bill 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. Retail theft data 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 notoriously difficult, 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 percent 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.

Denver Nuggets Struggle to Bring Effort ConsistentlyLEE COUNTY – Most of us have a to-do list of some sorts – for the day, the week – but Emily Benjamin’s list spans five years, like from 2025 to 2029. The new CEO and President of Lee County Economic Development Group (LCEDG) says that list is called “Connect Lee County” and is being launched right after the entity’s busiest season. “Starting in September we started working with a nonprofit, capital fundraising group called Conversion Nonprofit Solutions. You’re sitting on top of a Conversion Nonprofit Solutions project. They were instrumental in getting the funding for the marina project,” Benjamin told Fort Madison Rotarians at their meeting Tuesday at the marina’s Turnwater Bar & Grill. With respect to the LCEDG, the fundraising nonprofit helped raise money to implement Connect Lee County and other initatives. In preparation, Nonprofit Solutions had LCEDG entities map our their accomplishments of the last five years as well as their goals for the next five years. During this process, Benjamin said the consultant interviewed community stakeholders. “Sometimes people will say meaner things to the consultant than to me or to Dennis (Fraise, the former retired CEO/President), so we like the unvarnished treatment that we get out of that feasibility study,” she said. She said Lee County does have some significant “head winds,” or challenges, but that in the end, her group needs to focus on three main areas – people, business, and quality of life. Benjamin said these areas have to be addressed from two angles – attracting the new and engaging or enhancing what is already in place. “We need to look at attracting new residents, new businesses, new quality of life amenities, and we also have to look at engaging the residents that already here, the businesses that are already here, and making sure we are fully utilizing the quality of life amenities that are here.” Under the “people” category,” Benjamin said the goal it build a strong, skilled workforce. She said they will do this in a variety of ways, including an Iowa Economic Development Authority pilot program for attracting talent by partnering with state colleges and those majoring in specific study areas. “We can then reach out to them and say ‘Hey, you have a mechanical engineering degree. Have you ever thought of moving back to your home community – I see you’re from Fort Madison, Iowa and there are three positions available in Lee County.” She said LCEDG can also help existing businesses recruit talent by cutting through some of the corporate red tape and representing them and the area at career fairs and by contacting college offices. She said there is also a community concierge piece to focusing on people and attracting new residents to the area. “It doesn’t do us a lot of good to bring people into the community and not connect them to that community.” Benjamin said this means reaching out to others in the community to show visitors the sights, the amenities, and to help sell them on the idea of relocating to the area. “Find out if they have kids, are interested in schools. Find out things about them and then also try to connect them with more fabrics of our community.” A third goal is to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that provides support and resources for small business owners. “Anybody here that has been a small business owner knows it can be kind of a lonely island to own a small business. We want to make sure we are utilizing the program we already have, but also build a new one so that people feel like they have a support network.” Last, but not least, the Career Advantage Center that offers vocational and business training to local high school students in cooperation with area industries, will come into play. The center was five years in the making, under Fraise’s leadership, and is now governed by its own nonprofit board, which includes LCEDG representation. Benjamin said a large part of Connect Lee County is a unified approach with one entity representing the interests of all cities within the area, rather than having Fort Madison and Keokuk working independently. She said one site selector scouting the area said he does select a site, rather he goes out and disqualifies sites. “He said ‘if I have to call three different people to find out who the right person is to talk to, I’m going to eliminate your community because I assume there is bad politics. I assume there’s bad blood or some sort of contention where you guys can’t work together.’” In the area of business, Benjamin said they not only want to be chosen by site selectors for new industry, but they also want to work with existing industry so that if that company’s corporate officials are looking to relocate a division of manufacturing that Lee County is a contender. “We know that about 80 percent of future growth will come from these existing businesses.” She said Lee County currently has 4,500 manufacturing jobs that contributes $250 million to the economy, but that agricultural sector is also prominent and in need of more attention and support. “We have a goal in our five-year plan to focus on building relationships with that ag community.“ She said the more difficult part of her job is that “you win some, and you lose some.” For example, corporate officials decided to close Fort Madison Independent Can manufacturing plant and move its operations to another existing plant – leaving the county with one less industry, but with a marketable building for a new one. “We know that if we get everything right, we’re still going to lose some, so we have to continue to attach new industries to the area. We have to continue to be really proactive about getting these. A lot of times, when we get a lead, we get a spread sheet and we have 24 hours to turn it around.” She said she is often reminded of Derry Brothers’ “push, pull or drag” promotion where the Burlington car dealership vowed to pay for any trade-in vehicle that would be pushed, pulled or dragged to their premises. “Sometimes doing economic development in a rural community feels a little like a push, pull or drag sale. We don’t care who you are. We don’t care what you want to make. If you’ll consider Lee County, we want you here and we’re going to try to get you here.” The third piece of the five-year plan consists of quality of life – amenities and lifestyle benefits to living in the area. Existing amenities include the Fort Madison marina, the recreational trails, the schools and community college, the Baxter Sport Complex, pickle ball courts, the YMCA, events, historical landmarks, the Mississippi River, the many trains passing through the communities, the scenic parks and more. “Whether it is in Keokuk, in Fort Madison, whether it is in Montrose, what is our next big-slash impact that we can make?” But quality life can also be a lifestyle that may attract newcomers. “The one thing that I personally sell is that I have a job that I love. It’s a job that demands a lot of my time and a lot of my attention, but I don’t miss my kids’ baseball games. I can do my job. I can work really hard and still be the kind of present parent, engaged community member, and active volunteer that I want to be.”

Number of registered lobbyists jumps to a record high in California

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