SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — New Twitter owner Elon Musk said Thursday that he is granting "amnesty” for suspended accounts, which online safety experts predict will spur a rise in harassment, hate speech and misinformation.

The billionaire's announcement came after he asked in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1595473875847942146?s=20&amp;t=aYc9zFXDAwCUPQ_302kE9w">poll posted to his timeline to vote on reinstatements</a>&nbsp;for accounts that have not “broken the law or engaged in egregious spam.” The yes vote was 72%.

“The people have spoken. Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”

Musk used the same Latin phrase after posting a similar poll last last weekend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-biden-twitter-inc-technology-congress-d88e3de4b3cc095926dc133f53dc3320">before reinstating the account of former President Donald Trump,</a>&nbsp;which Twitter had banned for encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Trump has said he won’t return to Twitter but has not deleted his account.

Such online polls are anything but scientific and can easily be influenced by bots.

In the month since Musk took over Twitter, groups that monitor the platform for racist, anti-Semitic and other toxic speech say it’s been on the rise on the world’s de facto public square. That has included a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CCDHate/status/1594696137499619328?s=20&amp;t=yWmu4O88PYs-IMqp38ZY6g">surge in racist abuse of World Cup soccer players</a>&nbsp;that Twitter is allegedly failing to act on.

The uptick in harmful content&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-sports-d9217e91f876794bd7816013fbbc8cbb">is in large part due to the disorder</a>&nbsp;following Musk’s decision to lay off half the company’s 7,500-person workforce, fire top executives, and then institute a series of ultimatums that prompted hundreds more to quit. Also let go were an untold number of contractors responsible for content moderation. Among those resigning over a lack of faith in Musk’s willingness to keep Twitter from devolving into a chaos of uncontrolled speech&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/yoyoel/status/1593686891965992961?s=20&amp;t=iounVw-HFTnPtzNNsdVerA">were Twitter’s head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth</a>.

Major advertisers have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-business-d9d168951c98192ef90851085f343332">abandoned the platform</a>.

On Oct. 28, the day after he took control, Musk tweeted that no suspended accounts would be reinstated until Twitter formed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">a “content moderation council” with diverse viewpoints</a>&nbsp;that would consider the cases.

On Tuesday, he said he was reneging on that promise because he’d agreed to at the insistence of “a large coalition of political-social activists groups” who later ”broke the deal” by urging that advertisers at least temporarily stop giving Twitter their business.

A day earlier, Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-donald-trump-marjorie-taylor-greene-misinformation-cb7b71a78b7b8e3516711e287457806c">reinstated the personal account of far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,</a>&nbsp;which was banned in January for violating the platform’s COVID misinformation policies.

Musk, meanwhile, has been getting increasingly chummy on Twitter with right-wing figures. Before this month’s U.S. midterm elections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">he urged “independent-minded” people to vote Republican</a>.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — New Twitter owner Elon Musk said Thursday that he is granting "amnesty” for suspended accounts, which online safety experts predict will spur a rise in harassment, hate speech and misinformation.The billionaire's announcement came after he asked in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1595473875847942146?s=20&amp;t=aYc9zFXDAwCUPQ_302kE9w">poll posted to his timeline to vote on reinstatements</a>&nbsp;for accounts that have not “broken the law or engaged in egregious spam.” The yes vote was 72%.“The people have spoken. Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”Musk used the same Latin phrase after posting a similar poll last last weekend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-biden-twitter-inc-technology-congress-d88e3de4b3cc095926dc133f53dc3320">before reinstating the account of former President Donald Trump,</a>&nbsp;which Twitter had banned for encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Trump has said he won’t return to Twitter but has not deleted his account.Such online polls are anything but scientific and can easily be influenced by bots.In the month since Musk took over Twitter, groups that monitor the platform for racist, anti-Semitic and other toxic speech say it’s been on the rise on the world’s de facto public square. That has included a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CCDHate/status/1594696137499619328?s=20&amp;t=yWmu4O88PYs-IMqp38ZY6g">surge in racist abuse of World Cup soccer players</a>&nbsp;that Twitter is allegedly failing to act on.The uptick in harmful content&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-sports-d9217e91f876794bd7816013fbbc8cbb">is in large part due to the disorder</a>&nbsp;following Musk’s decision to lay off half the company’s 7,500-person workforce, fire top executives, and then institute a series of ultimatums that prompted hundreds more to quit. Also let go were an untold number of contractors responsible for content moderation. Among those resigning over a lack of faith in Musk’s willingness to keep Twitter from devolving into a chaos of uncontrolled speech&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/yoyoel/status/1593686891965992961?s=20&amp;t=iounVw-HFTnPtzNNsdVerA">were Twitter’s head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth</a>.Major advertisers have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-business-d9d168951c98192ef90851085f343332">abandoned the platform</a>.On Oct. 28, the day after he took control, Musk tweeted that no suspended accounts would be reinstated until Twitter formed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">a “content moderation council” with diverse viewpoints</a>&nbsp;that would consider the cases.On Tuesday, he said he was reneging on that promise because he’d agreed to at the insistence of “a large coalition of political-social activists groups” who later ”broke the deal” by urging that advertisers at least temporarily stop giving Twitter their business.A day earlier, Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-donald-trump-marjorie-taylor-greene-misinformation-cb7b71a78b7b8e3516711e287457806c">reinstated the personal account of far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,</a>&nbsp;which was banned in January for violating the platform’s COVID misinformation policies.Musk, meanwhile, has been getting increasingly chummy on Twitter with right-wing figures. Before this month’s U.S. midterm elections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">he urged “independent-minded” people to vote Republican</a>.

Musk says granting 'amnesty' to suspended Twitter accounts

<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

‘Tis the season for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and, of course, your favorite Christmas movie. But deciding which Christmas movie truly captures the essence of the holidays is a point of contention across the nation.

Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Google Trends,&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthynickel.com/most-popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealthy Nickel</a>&nbsp;crunched the numbers to determine the most popular Christmas movie in every state. Many holiday classics made the list, but a few states surprised us with their non-traditional picks. So cozy up on the couch amidst the twinkling glow of Christmas lights and find out if your state's idea of the most wonderful time of the year involves the North Pole or Nakatomi Plaza.

The Highest-Ranked Christmas Movies by State

Something about Christmas movies really captures the spirit of the season and can bring on a sense of nostalgia that transports viewers to Christmases past.

One of those holiday classics is&nbsp;The Polar Express, which took the top spot in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. These states love the mysterious train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Who doesn't love the dancing waiters and chefs who serve hot chocolate to all the kids?

Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia loved&nbsp;The Grinch, the story of a cynical grump who attempts to ruin Christmas for all of Whoville. While there are a few theatrical versions of the story, the most popular is 2018's animated interpretation starring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch.

With a flair for the romantic, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, and The District of Columbia all chose&nbsp;Love Actually, which follows ten Brits as they navigate their love lives in a countdown to Christmas. This romantic comedy has become a modern-day Christmas staple for many.

Other favorite Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/the-best-free-movies-online-sites/">movies</a>&nbsp;include&nbsp;Home Alone,&nbsp;Elf, and&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.

The Midwest - Illinois, Ohio, and North Dakota - support the Chicago-based&nbsp;Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin as the resourceful eight-year-old who fends off two hapless robbers from his family home. Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah eat up all the sugar they can as they watch Will Ferrell run around New York City in the endearing story of Buddy the Elf. And Connecticut, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin stand by the oldie but goodie,&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.

Some newer movies are even starting to make their mark and become a part of the Christmas tradition. The 2019 Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/best-christian-cartoons-for-kids/">animated</a>&nbsp;movie&nbsp;Klaus&nbsp;is popular among states such as Colorado and Washington.

What counts as a Christmas movie? Does anything set during the holiday season fit the bill, or does Santa Claus have to make an appearance? This debate has undoubtedly started many squabbles at family gatherings. However, the cold, hard facts don't lie. The research from Wealthy Nickel showed that search volume spiked in December for several movies that wouldn't usually spring to mind as heartwarming holiday classics.

One of the most surprising Christmas movies, voted a favorite by six states, is&nbsp;Trading Places. The 1980s comedy captures audiences year after year in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The movie follows an upper-class financial executive and a street hustler who switch lifestyles to win a bet. Set in Philadelphia during Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities for holiday hijinks, including Dan Akroyd in a Santa suit.

Edward Scissorhands&nbsp;shockingly makes the cut with four states - Arizona, California, Florida, and New Mexico - all agreeing that the movie is a must-see during the holidays. While it does not adhere to the "merry and bright" definition of a standard holiday flick, it does take place during Christmastime and is beloved by many.

Perhaps the most well-known Christmas-movie-that-maybe-isn't-a-Christmas-movie is&nbsp;Die Hard. Both Montana and Idaho enjoy seeing John McClane fighting to save Christmas from a group of rogue terrorists.

Which States Have the Most and Least Christmas Spirit?

According to the rankings, Utah is the most festive state, always on the lookout for a dose of holiday cheer. Of the twenty movies rated, Utahns were among the top five searchers for twelve of them. West Virginia and New Hampshire took second and third place as states that can't say no to a good Christmas movie. West Virginia was among the top five searchers for eleven movies and New Hampshire for seven.

The least festive states, at least by volume of Christmas movie searches, were Hawaii, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana. While most of these states will never have a white Christmas, New York should be slightly ashamed to be counted in that list.

What do Nevada and Nebraska have in common? Their love of the movie&nbsp;Elf, of course! Here is the complete list of the most popular Christmas movie in every state.

More Articles From the Wealth of Geeks Network:

This article was produced and syndicated by&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>.

<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;‘Tis the season for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and, of course, your favorite Christmas movie. But deciding which Christmas movie truly captures the essence of the holidays is a point of contention across the nation.Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Google Trends,&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthynickel.com/most-popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealthy Nickel</a>&nbsp;crunched the numbers to determine the most popular Christmas movie in every state. Many holiday classics made the list, but a few states surprised us with their non-traditional picks. So cozy up on the couch amidst the twinkling glow of Christmas lights and find out if your state's idea of the most wonderful time of the year involves the North Pole or Nakatomi Plaza.The Highest-Ranked Christmas Movies by StateSomething about Christmas movies really captures the spirit of the season and can bring on a sense of nostalgia that transports viewers to Christmases past.One of those holiday classics is&nbsp;The Polar Express, which took the top spot in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. These states love the mysterious train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Who doesn't love the dancing waiters and chefs who serve hot chocolate to all the kids?Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia loved&nbsp;The Grinch, the story of a cynical grump who attempts to ruin Christmas for all of Whoville. While there are a few theatrical versions of the story, the most popular is 2018's animated interpretation starring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch.With a flair for the romantic, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, and The District of Columbia all chose&nbsp;Love Actually, which follows ten Brits as they navigate their love lives in a countdown to Christmas. This romantic comedy has become a modern-day Christmas staple for many.Other favorite Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/the-best-free-movies-online-sites/">movies</a>&nbsp;include&nbsp;Home Alone,&nbsp;Elf, and&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.The Midwest - Illinois, Ohio, and North Dakota - support the Chicago-based&nbsp;Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin as the resourceful eight-year-old who fends off two hapless robbers from his family home. Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah eat up all the sugar they can as they watch Will Ferrell run around New York City in the endearing story of Buddy the Elf. And Connecticut, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin stand by the oldie but goodie,&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.Some newer movies are even starting to make their mark and become a part of the Christmas tradition. The 2019 Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/best-christian-cartoons-for-kids/">animated</a>&nbsp;movie&nbsp;Klaus&nbsp;is popular among states such as Colorado and Washington.Elf or Edward Scissorhands?What counts as a Christmas movie? Does anything set during the holiday season fit the bill, or does Santa Claus have to make an appearance? This debate has undoubtedly started many squabbles at family gatherings. However, the cold, hard facts don't lie. The research from Wealthy Nickel showed that search volume spiked in December for several movies that wouldn't usually spring to mind as heartwarming holiday classics.One of the most surprising Christmas movies, voted a favorite by six states, is&nbsp;Trading Places. The 1980s comedy captures audiences year after year in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The movie follows an upper-class financial executive and a street hustler who switch lifestyles to win a bet. Set in Philadelphia during Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities for holiday hijinks, including Dan Akroyd in a Santa suit.Edward Scissorhands&nbsp;shockingly makes the cut with four states - Arizona, California, Florida, and New Mexico - all agreeing that the movie is a must-see during the holidays. While it does not adhere to the "merry and bright" definition of a standard holiday flick, it does take place during Christmastime and is beloved by many.Perhaps the most well-known Christmas-movie-that-maybe-isn't-a-Christmas-movie is&nbsp;Die Hard. Both Montana and Idaho enjoy seeing John McClane fighting to save Christmas from a group of rogue terrorists.Which States Have the Most and Least Christmas Spirit?According to the rankings, Utah is the most festive state, always on the lookout for a dose of holiday cheer. Of the twenty movies rated, Utahns were among the top five searchers for twelve of them. West Virginia and New Hampshire took second and third place as states that can't say no to a good Christmas movie. West Virginia was among the top five searchers for eleven movies and New Hampshire for seven.The least festive states, at least by volume of Christmas movie searches, were Hawaii, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana. While most of these states will never have a white Christmas, New York should be slightly ashamed to be counted in that list.What do Nevada and Nebraska have in common? Their love of the movie&nbsp;Elf, of course! Here is the complete list of the most popular Christmas movie in every state.<ul>
 <li>Alabama -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Alaska -&nbsp;Jack Frost</li><li>Arizona -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Arkansas -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>California -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Colorado -&nbsp;Klaus</li><li>Connecticut -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Delaware -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>District of Columbia -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Florida -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Georgia -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Hawaii -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Idaho -&nbsp;Die Hard</li><li>Illinois -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Indiana -&nbsp;A Christmas Story</li><li>Iowa -&nbsp;Christmas Vacation</li><li>Kansas -&nbsp;Miracle on 34th Street</li><li>Kentucky -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Louisiana -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Maine -&nbsp;Jingle All the Way</li><li>Maryland -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Massachusetts -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Michigan -&nbsp;Krampus</li><li>Minnesota -&nbsp;Jingle All the Way</li><li>Mississippi -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Missouri -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Montana -&nbsp;Die Hard</li><li>Nebraska -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>Nevada -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>New Hampshire -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>New Jersey -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>New Mexico -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>New York -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>North Carolina -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>North Dakota -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Ohio -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Oklahoma -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Oregon -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Pennsylvania -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Rhode Island -&nbsp;Jack Frost</li><li>South Carolina -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>South Dakota -&nbsp;Christmas Vacation</li><li>Tennessee -&nbsp;The Santa Clause</li><li>Texas -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Utah -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>Vermont -&nbsp;Miracle on 34th Street</li><li>Virginia -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Washington -&nbsp;Klaus</li><li>West Virginia -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Wisconsin -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Wyoming -&nbsp;Krampus</li>
 </ul>More Articles From the Wealth of Geeks Network:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://savoteur.com/travel-gifts-guide/">The Ultimate Holiday Travel Gift Guide for Every Aspiring Jetsetter</a></li><li><a href="https://hellosensible.com/make-10-dollars-fast/">Easy Ways to Make $10 Fast This Holiday Season</a></li>
 </ul>This article was produced and syndicated by&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>.

And the most popular Christmas movie in Kansas is...

NEW YORK (AP) — While Black Friday will mark a return to familiar holiday shopping patterns, uncertainty still remains.

The
 U.S. job market remains strong, consumer spending is resilient and 
inflation has been slowing. But elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline
 and other household costs have taken a toll on shoppers.

As a 
result, many are reluctant to spend unless there is a big sale and are 
being more selective with what they will buy — in many cases, trading 
down to cheaper stuff and less expensive stores.

Shoppers are also dipping more into their savings, turning increasingly to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-technology-economy-113f3fc36a6af9e6d9dc919aa22ca276">“buy now, pay later”</a>
 services like Afterpay that allow users to pay for items in 
installments, as well as running up their credit cards at a time when 
the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.

Such financial hardships could help drive shoppers to look for bargains.

Isela
 Dalencia, who was shopping for household essentials like detergent at a
 Walmart in Secaucus, New Jersey, earlier this week, said she's delaying
 buying holiday gifts until Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving
 — when online sales rev up. Then, she will wait again until the week 
before Christmas to get the best deals, unlike last year when she 
started buying before Black Friday.

“I am shopping less,” Dalencia
 said, noting she will spend about $700 for holiday gifts this year, 
one-third less than last year.

Katie Leach, a social worker in 
Manhattan, was also browsing the aisles at Walmart but said she will 
start holiday shopping during the first week of December as usual. This 
time, however, she'll be relying more on bargains, her credit card and 
“buy now, pay later” services to get her through the shopping season 
because of surging prices on food and other household expenses.

“The money is not going as far as last year," Leach said.

This
 year's trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying
 early out of fear of not getting what they needed amid clogs in the 
supply network. Stores didn't have to discount much because they were 
struggling to bring in items.

But some pandemic habits are 
sticking around. Many retailers that closed stores on Thanksgiving Day 
and instead pushed discounts on their websites to thin out crowds at 
stores are still holding onto those strategies, despite a return to 
normalcy.

Major retailers including Walmart and Target are again 
closing their stores on Thanksgiving. And many moved away from 
doorbusters, the deeply marked down items offered for a limited time 
that drew crowds. Instead, the discounted items are available throughout
 the month, on Black Friday or the holiday weekend.

Against 
today's economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest 
retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range 
of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, 
these figures, which include online spending, aren't adjusted for 
inflation so real spending could even be down from a year ago.

Adobe
 Analytics expects online sales to be up 2.5% from Nov. 1 through Dec. 
31, a slowdown from last year's 8.6% pace when shoppers were uncertain 
about returning to physical stores.

Analysts consider the five-day
 Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of 
shoppers' willingness to spend, particularly this year. The two-month 
period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the 
retail industry’s annual sales.

While Black Friday still has a 
strong place in the U.S. among shoppers, it has lost stature over the 
last decade as stores opened on Thanksgiving and shopping shifted to 
Amazon and other online retailers. Stores have further diluted the day’s
 status by promoting Black Friday sales throughout the month. This year,
 stores began sales earlier than last year to get shoppers to spread out
 their buying.

Plenty of shoppers like Lolita Cordero from Brooklyn, New York, are sitting out Black Friday.

“I’m
 shopping early, trying to get things on sale, discount, or clearance – 
and I use coupons,” Cordero said. “I never did Black Friday. I hear it’s
 a mess, and people get hurt.”

Still, some experts believe Black 
Friday will again be the busiest shopping day this year, according to 
Sensormatic, which tracks customer traffic. Consumers are also back to 
shopping at physical stores amid easing worries about COVID-19. In fact,
 more stores opened than closed in the U.S. last year for the first time
 since 2016 — and that gap is only widening this year, according to 
Coresight Research, a retail advisory and research firm.

NEW YORK (AP) — While Black Friday will mark a return to familiar holiday shopping patterns, uncertainty still remains.The
 U.S. job market remains strong, consumer spending is resilient and 
inflation has been slowing. But elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline
 and other household costs have taken a toll on shoppers.As a 
result, many are reluctant to spend unless there is a big sale and are 
being more selective with what they will buy — in many cases, trading 
down to cheaper stuff and less expensive stores.Shoppers are also dipping more into their savings, turning increasingly to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-technology-economy-113f3fc36a6af9e6d9dc919aa22ca276">“buy now, pay later”</a>
 services like Afterpay that allow users to pay for items in 
installments, as well as running up their credit cards at a time when 
the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.Such financial hardships could help drive shoppers to look for bargains.Isela
 Dalencia, who was shopping for household essentials like detergent at a
 Walmart in Secaucus, New Jersey, earlier this week, said she's delaying
 buying holiday gifts until Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving
 — when online sales rev up. Then, she will wait again until the week 
before Christmas to get the best deals, unlike last year when she 
started buying before Black Friday.“I am shopping less,” Dalencia
 said, noting she will spend about $700 for holiday gifts this year, 
one-third less than last year.Katie Leach, a social worker in 
Manhattan, was also browsing the aisles at Walmart but said she will 
start holiday shopping during the first week of December as usual. This 
time, however, she'll be relying more on bargains, her credit card and 
“buy now, pay later” services to get her through the shopping season 
because of surging prices on food and other household expenses.“The money is not going as far as last year," Leach said.This
 year's trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying
 early out of fear of not getting what they needed amid clogs in the 
supply network. Stores didn't have to discount much because they were 
struggling to bring in items.But some pandemic habits are 
sticking around. Many retailers that closed stores on Thanksgiving Day 
and instead pushed discounts on their websites to thin out crowds at 
stores are still holding onto those strategies, despite a return to 
normalcy.Major retailers including Walmart and Target are again 
closing their stores on Thanksgiving. And many moved away from 
doorbusters, the deeply marked down items offered for a limited time 
that drew crowds. Instead, the discounted items are available throughout
 the month, on Black Friday or the holiday weekend.Against 
today's economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest 
retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range 
of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, 
these figures, which include online spending, aren't adjusted for 
inflation so real spending could even be down from a year ago.Adobe
 Analytics expects online sales to be up 2.5% from Nov. 1 through Dec. 
31, a slowdown from last year's 8.6% pace when shoppers were uncertain 
about returning to physical stores.Analysts consider the five-day
 Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of 
shoppers' willingness to spend, particularly this year. The two-month 
period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the 
retail industry’s annual sales.While Black Friday still has a 
strong place in the U.S. among shoppers, it has lost stature over the 
last decade as stores opened on Thanksgiving and shopping shifted to 
Amazon and other online retailers. Stores have further diluted the day’s
 status by promoting Black Friday sales throughout the month. This year,
 stores began sales earlier than last year to get shoppers to spread out
 their buying.Plenty of shoppers like Lolita Cordero from Brooklyn, New York, are sitting out Black Friday.“I’m
 shopping early, trying to get things on sale, discount, or clearance – 
and I use coupons,” Cordero said. “I never did Black Friday. I hear it’s
 a mess, and people get hurt.”Still, some experts believe Black 
Friday will again be the busiest shopping day this year, according to 
Sensormatic, which tracks customer traffic. Consumers are also back to 
shopping at physical stores amid easing worries about COVID-19. In fact,
 more stores opened than closed in the U.S. last year for the first time
 since 2016 — and that gap is only widening this year, according to 
Coresight Research, a retail advisory and research firm.

Holiday shopping kicks off with inflation dampening spirits

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/22/kansas-lawmakers-consider-using-states-surplus-to-cut-social-security-taxes/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Kansas legislators want to use a projected budget surplus to address 
the state’s “Social Security cliff,” which they say is driving retirees 
out of the state.

Kansas taxes income from Social 
Security benefits, with an income tax exemption for those who make 
$75,000 in federal adjusted gross income or less. Critics of the tax 
policy say retirees are put under unnecessary financial strain.

During Friday’s legislative hearing 
on taxation, Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, said she supported removing 
state income tax on Social Security entirely. Tyson and other lawmakers 
have tried to pass legislation on this subject for the past few years.

Most recently, lawmakers tried to pass <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2597/">House Bill 2597</a>
 in 2022, which would have exempted several thousand dollars in 
retirement plan income and provided for that amount to annually increase
 by the Internal Revenue Code cost of living adjustment.

“All the committee members, we 
definitely made an attempt, a great attempt, to address this last year 
and in previous years,” Tyson said. “If there’s any type of tax on 
social security that plays into it and discourages people at different 
levels to not work. We engineer behavior through our tax structure.”

With Kansas carrying a record surplus
 of more than $2 billion this fiscal year and a surplus of $400 million 
expected next year, lawmakers are trying to decide what to do with the 
extra money.

Surplus estimates for the 2023-2024 
state general fund were produced by the Division of the Budget and 
Kansas Legislative Research Department using a consensus process. The 
governor and the Legislature use these estimates when making the annual 
budget and spending blueprint.

For the 2023 fiscal year, the 
estimate increased in November from previous estimates made in April by 
$794.2 million. Total tax estimates increased by $773 million, and other
 revenue estimates increased by $21.2 million, making the revised 
estimate for the 2023 fiscal year $9.701 billion.

The initial estimate for fiscal year 
2024 is $10.124 billion, a 4.4% increase from the 2023 fiscal year 
estimate. The amount of total taxes is estimated to increase by 0.9%, 
following an increase in 2023.

Gov. Laura Kelly campaigned for 
reelection on a platform of more quickly eliminating Kansas’ 6.5% sales 
tax on groceries, fully funding special education and working to reduce 
the Social Security income tax cliff. Kelly’s budget will be released in
 January, and it’s expected that some of these issues will be addressed 
in the budget.

Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said Social Security issues needed to be a priority in the upcoming legislative session.

“As far as it comes with Social 
Security, I am very interested in addressing the cliff issue,” Holland 
said. “That’s a real problem to me, for people who have paid into Social
 Security, particularly for those who are seniors who don’t have other 
additional sources of income. I think it’s imperative that they get 
access to those funds.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669147297609.png" alt="Sen. Caryn Tyson said she supports removing Social Security taxes. (Kansas Reflector Screen Capture from Kansas Legislature Youtube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Caryn Tyson said she supports removing Social Security taxes. (Kansas Reflector Screen Capture from Kansas Legislature Youtube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/22/kansas-lawmakers-consider-using-states-surplus-to-cut-social-security-taxes/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Kansas legislators want to use a projected budget surplus to address 
the state’s “Social Security cliff,” which they say is driving retirees 
out of the state.Kansas taxes income from Social 
Security benefits, with an income tax exemption for those who make 
$75,000 in federal adjusted gross income or less. Critics of the tax 
policy say retirees are put under unnecessary financial strain.During Friday’s legislative hearing 
on taxation, Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, said she supported removing 
state income tax on Social Security entirely. Tyson and other lawmakers 
have tried to pass legislation on this subject for the past few years.Most recently, lawmakers tried to pass <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2597/">House Bill 2597</a>
 in 2022, which would have exempted several thousand dollars in 
retirement plan income and provided for that amount to annually increase
 by the Internal Revenue Code cost of living adjustment.“All the committee members, we 
definitely made an attempt, a great attempt, to address this last year 
and in previous years,” Tyson said. “If there’s any type of tax on 
social security that plays into it and discourages people at different 
levels to not work. We engineer behavior through our tax structure.”With Kansas carrying a record surplus
 of more than $2 billion this fiscal year and a surplus of $400 million 
expected next year, lawmakers are trying to decide what to do with the 
extra money.Surplus estimates for the 2023-2024 
state general fund were produced by the Division of the Budget and 
Kansas Legislative Research Department using a consensus process. The 
governor and the Legislature use these estimates when making the annual 
budget and spending blueprint.For the 2023 fiscal year, the 
estimate increased in November from previous estimates made in April by 
$794.2 million. Total tax estimates increased by $773 million, and other
 revenue estimates increased by $21.2 million, making the revised 
estimate for the 2023 fiscal year $9.701 billion.The initial estimate for fiscal year 
2024 is $10.124 billion, a 4.4% increase from the 2023 fiscal year 
estimate. The amount of total taxes is estimated to increase by 0.9%, 
following an increase in 2023.Gov. Laura Kelly campaigned for 
reelection on a platform of more quickly eliminating Kansas’ 6.5% sales 
tax on groceries, fully funding special education and working to reduce 
the Social Security income tax cliff. Kelly’s budget will be released in
 January, and it’s expected that some of these issues will be addressed 
in the budget.Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said Social Security issues needed to be a priority in the upcoming legislative session.“As far as it comes with Social 
Security, I am very interested in addressing the cliff issue,” Holland 
said. “That’s a real problem to me, for people who have paid into Social
 Security, particularly for those who are seniors who don’t have other 
additional sources of income. I think it’s imperative that they get 
access to those funds.”

Kan. lawmakers consider using surplus to cut Social Security taxes

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JESSE%20BEDAYN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America</a>

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The co-owner of the Colorado Springs gay nightclub where a shooter turned a drag queen’s birthday celebration into a massacre said he thinks the shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-denver-springs-79976bed902603de59bd7b6ba2b16aff">killed five people</a>&nbsp;and injured 17 others is a reflection of anti-LGBTQ sentiment that has evolved from prejudice to incitement.

Nic Grzecka’s voice was tinged with exhaustion as he spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday night in some of his first comments since Saturday night's attack at Club Q, a venue Grzecka helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-colorado-gay-rights-112e79c6886defbcc07e2c7cec32a246">build into an enclave</a>&nbsp;that sustained the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs.

Authorities haven’t said why the suspect opened fired at the club before being subdued into submission by patrons, but they are facing hate crime charges. The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, has not entered a plea or spoken about the incident.

Grzecka said he believes the targeting of a drag queen event is connected to the art form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-a26e7eee15df0bbc2bb98071b683b1f4">being cast in a false light</a>&nbsp;in recent months by right-wing activists and politicians who complain about the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children. Even though general acceptance of the LGBTQ community has grown, this new dynamic has fostered a dangerous climate.

“It’s different to walk down the street holding my boyfriend's hand and getting spit at (as opposed to) a politician relating a drag queen to a groomer of their children," Grzecka said. “I would rather be spit on in the street than the hate get as bad as where we are today."

Earlier this year, Florida's Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">barring teachers from discussing gender identity</a>&nbsp;or sexual orientation with younger students. A month later, references to “pedophiles” and “grooming” in relation to LGBTQ people rose 400%, according to a report by the Human Rights Campaign.

“Lying about our community, and making them into something they are not, creates a different type of hate,” said Grzecka.

Grzecka, who started mopping floors and bartending at Club Q in 2003 a year after it opened, said he hopes to channel his grief and anger into figuring out how to rebuild the support system for Colorado Springs’ LGBTQ community that only Club Q had provided.

City and state officials have offered support and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reached out to Grzecka and co-owner Matthew Haynes on Thursday to offer condolences and reiterate their support for the community as well as their commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence.

Grzecka said Club Q opened after the only other gay bar in Colorado Springs at that time shuttered. He described that era as an evolution of gay bars. Decades ago, dingy, hole-in-the-wall gay venues were meant largely for finding a hookup or date, said Grzecka. But he said once the internet offered anonymous ways to find love online, the bars transitioned into well lit, clean non-smoking spaces to hang out with friends. Club Q was at the vanguard of that transition.

Once he became co-owner in 2014, Grzecka helped mold Club Q into not merely a nightlife venue but a community center – a platform to create a “chosen family” for LGBTQ people, especially for those estranged from their birth family. Drag queen bingo nights, friendsgiving and Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations became staples of Club Q which was open 365 days a year.

In the aftermath of the shooting, with that community center having been torn away, Grzecka and other community leaders said they are channeling grief and anger into reconstituting the support structure that only Club Q had offered.

“When that system goes away, you realize how much more the bar was really providing,” said Justin Burn, an organizer with Pikes Peak Pride. “Those that may or may not have been a part of the Club Q family, where do they go?”

Burn said the shooting pulled back a curtain on a broader lack of resources for LGBTQ adults in Colorado Springs. Burn, Grzecka and others are working with national organizations to do an assessment of the community's need as they develop a blueprint to offer a robust support network.

Grzecka is looking to rebuild the “loving culture” and necessary support to “make sure that this tragedy is turned into the best thing it can be for the city."

“Everybody needs community,” he said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JESSE%20BEDAYN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America</a>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The co-owner of the Colorado Springs gay nightclub where a shooter turned a drag queen’s birthday celebration into a massacre said he thinks the shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-denver-springs-79976bed902603de59bd7b6ba2b16aff">killed five people</a>&nbsp;and injured 17 others is a reflection of anti-LGBTQ sentiment that has evolved from prejudice to incitement.Nic Grzecka’s voice was tinged with exhaustion as he spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday night in some of his first comments since Saturday night's attack at Club Q, a venue Grzecka helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-colorado-gay-rights-112e79c6886defbcc07e2c7cec32a246">build into an enclave</a>&nbsp;that sustained the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs.Authorities haven’t said why the suspect opened fired at the club before being subdued into submission by patrons, but they are facing hate crime charges. The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, has not entered a plea or spoken about the incident.Grzecka said he believes the targeting of a drag queen event is connected to the art form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-a26e7eee15df0bbc2bb98071b683b1f4">being cast in a false light</a>&nbsp;in recent months by right-wing activists and politicians who complain about the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children. Even though general acceptance of the LGBTQ community has grown, this new dynamic has fostered a dangerous climate.“It’s different to walk down the street holding my boyfriend's hand and getting spit at (as opposed to) a politician relating a drag queen to a groomer of their children," Grzecka said. “I would rather be spit on in the street than the hate get as bad as where we are today."Earlier this year, Florida's Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">barring teachers from discussing gender identity</a>&nbsp;or sexual orientation with younger students. A month later, references to “pedophiles” and “grooming” in relation to LGBTQ people rose 400%, according to a report by the Human Rights Campaign.“Lying about our community, and making them into something they are not, creates a different type of hate,” said Grzecka.Grzecka, who started mopping floors and bartending at Club Q in 2003 a year after it opened, said he hopes to channel his grief and anger into figuring out how to rebuild the support system for Colorado Springs’ LGBTQ community that only Club Q had provided.City and state officials have offered support and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reached out to Grzecka and co-owner Matthew Haynes on Thursday to offer condolences and reiterate their support for the community as well as their commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence.Grzecka said Club Q opened after the only other gay bar in Colorado Springs at that time shuttered. He described that era as an evolution of gay bars. Decades ago, dingy, hole-in-the-wall gay venues were meant largely for finding a hookup or date, said Grzecka. But he said once the internet offered anonymous ways to find love online, the bars transitioned into well lit, clean non-smoking spaces to hang out with friends. Club Q was at the vanguard of that transition.Once he became co-owner in 2014, Grzecka helped mold Club Q into not merely a nightlife venue but a community center – a platform to create a “chosen family” for LGBTQ people, especially for those estranged from their birth family. Drag queen bingo nights, friendsgiving and Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations became staples of Club Q which was open 365 days a year.In the aftermath of the shooting, with that community center having been torn away, Grzecka and other community leaders said they are channeling grief and anger into reconstituting the support structure that only Club Q had offered.“When that system goes away, you realize how much more the bar was really providing,” said Justin Burn, an organizer with Pikes Peak Pride. “Those that may or may not have been a part of the Club Q family, where do they go?”Burn said the shooting pulled back a curtain on a broader lack of resources for LGBTQ adults in Colorado Springs. Burn, Grzecka and others are working with national organizations to do an assessment of the community's need as they develop a blueprint to offer a robust support network.Grzecka is looking to rebuild the “loving culture” and necessary support to “make sure that this tragedy is turned into the best thing it can be for the city."“Everybody needs community,” he said.

Gay club owner: Shooting comes amid a new 'type of hate'

NEW YORK (AP) — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York 
on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the 
holiday season during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 
annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a
 procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 
blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.

Children balanced atop 
metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid 
mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.

“Blue, Blue. There's 
Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 
4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.

The youngster was 
referring to the star of the animated show “Blue's Clues" — not to be 
confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian 
cattle pup making her parade debut.

Bluey's balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.

Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.

But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.

“It's
 one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who 
lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John 
Wopperer.

It was the first time the father and son had seen the 
parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, 
before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.

Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.

This
 year's parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and 
heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 
clowns and one Santa Claus.

The procession of characters were 
joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop 
band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues &amp; 
You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk 
Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 
2022 Emma Broyles.

Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who
 were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s 
“Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula 
Borg. Jimmy Fallon &amp; The Roots were on a float celebrating Central 
Park.

President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he
 did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first 
responders, saying, “They never take a break.”

They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.

Asked
 about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens 
said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking 
first responders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669307551663.jpeg" alt="The Boss Baby balloon makes its way down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)" />
 <figcaption>The Boss Baby balloon makes its way down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York 
on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the 
holiday season during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.The 
annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a
 procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 
blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.Children balanced atop 
metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid 
mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.“Blue, Blue. There's 
Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 
4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.The youngster was 
referring to the star of the animated show “Blue's Clues" — not to be 
confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian 
cattle pup making her parade debut.Bluey's balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.“It's
 one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who 
lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John 
Wopperer.It was the first time the father and son had seen the 
parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, 
before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.This
 year's parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and 
heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 
clowns and one Santa Claus.The procession of characters were 
joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop 
band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues &amp; 
You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk 
Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 
2022 Emma Broyles.Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who
 were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s 
“Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula 
Borg. Jimmy Fallon &amp; The Roots were on a float celebrating Central 
Park.President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he
 did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first 
responders, saying, “They never take a break.”They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.Asked
 about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens 
said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking 
first responders.

High-flying balloon characters star in NYC Thanksgiving parade

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/23/kansas-regulators-want-to-slash-evergys-energy-efficiency-plan/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Regulators’ opposition could unravel a consensus plan to provide millions of dollars in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/25/kansas-evergy-customers-could-soon-get-help-to-make-homes-more-energy-efficient/">energy efficiency programs to Evergy’s Kansas customers</a>.

Evergy, the largest electric utility in Kansas, came to <a target="_blank" href="https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/S202208011639051095.pdf?Id=a9fdbbda-2c58-4680-9135-3ebb3a97eadc">agreement with consumer and environmental advocates</a> on a variety of programs meant to lower energy demand and save customers close to $100 million over four years.

The plan requires approval by the Kansas Corporation Commission. But <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/23/evergy-regulators-clash-over-costs-of-kansas-energy-efficiency-program/">objections by staff of the KCC</a> mean there are now two proposals:&nbsp;the original and one that cuts the programs by more than 80%.&nbsp;

“The KCC staff and Evergy have 
basically stripped from the initial agreement almost everything,” said 
Ty Gorman, Kansas representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal 
Campaign.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/23/evergy-regulators-clash-over-costs-of-kansas-energy-efficiency-program/">Evergy has had energy efficiency programs</a>
 —&nbsp;including financing for home upgrades and weatherization —&nbsp;in 
Missouri for years. But establishing those same programs in Kansas has 
proven difficult.&nbsp;

The company filed with the KCC almost
 a year ago to establish a series of programs and later reached an 
agreement with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, 
the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board and other stakeholders that it 
estimated would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount comparable 
to taking tens of thousands of cars off the road.

But KCC staff objected, saying the 
programs would benefit Evergy more than ratepayers. Now, commissioners 
will decide between the two competing proposals. Evergy has signed onto 
both, but advocates aren’t signing onto the version supported by KCC 
staff.

“We don’t believe it’s better than 
nothing,” said Dave Nickel, consumer counsel for the Citizens’ Utility 
Ratepayer Board, which represents residential and small business energy 
users. “We think it goes the opposite way.”

CURB and environmental groups worked 
for months to reach a consensus to both reduce emissions and provide 
programs to help low-income customers.

“It’s just awful what they agreed to,
 but there was agreement to move both the initial settlement and this 
new settlement forward and let the commissioners decide,” said Ashok 
Gupta, senior energy economist for the Natural Resources Defense 
Council.

Evergy’s spokeswoman, Gina Penzig, 
said in a statement that either the original agreement or the smaller 
set of programs would be a “positive step forward for Evergy’s Kansas 
customers.”

“For more than a decade, Evergy’s 
Missouri customers have benefitted from energy efficiency programs, and 
we want to offer programs to our Kansas customers,” she said. “Investing
 in energy efficiency helps customers use less energy and lower their 
bills, which is good for household budgets and makes businesses more 
competitive.”

The KCC’s spokeswoman, Linda Berry, said in a statement that staff “remains supportive of the initial slate of programs.”

“Staff also supports the smaller set 
contained in the alternative agreement because it preserves low-income 
and educational programs while drastically reducing the costs Evergy 
would require to implement these programs, thus reducing the amount 
customers will have to pay for the programs,” Berry said.

Evergy, consumer advocates and 
environmental groups argue reducing customers’ energy demands is cheaper
 than building new power plants or renewable energy, meaning that, in 
the long-run, even customers who don’t directly take advantage of the 
programs will benefit.

And Kansas is behind nearly every 
state in its investment in energy efficiency policies and programs. The 
state ranks 47th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Now the KCC could have a hearing on 
the new proposal in early December, before Evergy and stakeholders file 
briefs to persuade the commissioners to pass one package or another. The
 KCC is expected to make a decision in mid-February.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669224062037.png" alt="Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka. The utility's energy efficiency plan could be drastically altered under a proposal by regulators. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka. The utility's energy efficiency plan could be drastically altered under a proposal by regulators. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/23/kansas-regulators-want-to-slash-evergys-energy-efficiency-plan/">Kansas Reflector</a>Regulators’ opposition could unravel a consensus plan to provide millions of dollars in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/25/kansas-evergy-customers-could-soon-get-help-to-make-homes-more-energy-efficient/">energy efficiency programs to Evergy’s Kansas customers</a>.Evergy, the largest electric utility in Kansas, came to <a target="_blank" href="https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/S202208011639051095.pdf?Id=a9fdbbda-2c58-4680-9135-3ebb3a97eadc">agreement with consumer and environmental advocates</a> on a variety of programs meant to lower energy demand and save customers close to $100 million over four years.The plan requires approval by the Kansas Corporation Commission. But <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/23/evergy-regulators-clash-over-costs-of-kansas-energy-efficiency-program/">objections by staff of the KCC</a> mean there are now two proposals:&nbsp;the original and one that cuts the programs by more than 80%.&nbsp;“The KCC staff and Evergy have 
basically stripped from the initial agreement almost everything,” said 
Ty Gorman, Kansas representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal 
Campaign.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/23/evergy-regulators-clash-over-costs-of-kansas-energy-efficiency-program/">Evergy has had energy efficiency programs</a>
 —&nbsp;including financing for home upgrades and weatherization —&nbsp;in 
Missouri for years. But establishing those same programs in Kansas has 
proven difficult.&nbsp;The company filed with the KCC almost
 a year ago to establish a series of programs and later reached an 
agreement with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, 
the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board and other stakeholders that it 
estimated would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount comparable 
to taking tens of thousands of cars off the road.But KCC staff objected, saying the 
programs would benefit Evergy more than ratepayers. Now, commissioners 
will decide between the two competing proposals. Evergy has signed onto 
both, but advocates aren’t signing onto the version supported by KCC 
staff.“We don’t believe it’s better than 
nothing,” said Dave Nickel, consumer counsel for the Citizens’ Utility 
Ratepayer Board, which represents residential and small business energy 
users. “We think it goes the opposite way.”CURB and environmental groups worked 
for months to reach a consensus to both reduce emissions and provide 
programs to help low-income customers.“It’s just awful what they agreed to,
 but there was agreement to move both the initial settlement and this 
new settlement forward and let the commissioners decide,” said Ashok 
Gupta, senior energy economist for the Natural Resources Defense 
Council.Evergy’s spokeswoman, Gina Penzig, 
said in a statement that either the original agreement or the smaller 
set of programs would be a “positive step forward for Evergy’s Kansas 
customers.”“For more than a decade, Evergy’s 
Missouri customers have benefitted from energy efficiency programs, and 
we want to offer programs to our Kansas customers,” she said. “Investing
 in energy efficiency helps customers use less energy and lower their 
bills, which is good for household budgets and makes businesses more 
competitive.”The KCC’s spokeswoman, Linda Berry, said in a statement that staff “remains supportive of the initial slate of programs.”“Staff also supports the smaller set 
contained in the alternative agreement because it preserves low-income 
and educational programs while drastically reducing the costs Evergy 
would require to implement these programs, thus reducing the amount 
customers will have to pay for the programs,” Berry said.Evergy, consumer advocates and 
environmental groups argue reducing customers’ energy demands is cheaper
 than building new power plants or renewable energy, meaning that, in 
the long-run, even customers who don’t directly take advantage of the 
programs will benefit.And Kansas is behind nearly every 
state in its investment in energy efficiency policies and programs. The 
state ranks 47th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.Now the KCC could have a hearing on 
the new proposal in early December, before Evergy and stakeholders file 
briefs to persuade the commissioners to pass one package or another. The
 KCC is expected to make a decision in mid-February.

Kansas regulators want to slash Evergy’s energy efficiency plan

SNOHOMISH,
 Wash. (AP) — The names of four people killed in a small plane crash 
northeast of Seattle last week were released by medical examiners on 
Wednesday.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner said the victims 
included three men from Washington state: Nathan Precup, 33, of Seattle;
 Nate Lachendro, 49, of Gig Harbor, and Scott Brenneman, 52, of Roy; as 
well as David Newton, 67, of Wichita, Kansas.

The plane’s right 
wing broke away from the aircraft during the morning flight from Renton,
 the National Transportation Safety Board said this week. The plane 
crashed and then burned in a field near Snohomish. The victims all died 
of blunt-force injuries, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Raisbeck
 Engineering of Seattle was having the Cessna 208B test flown before 
modifying the aircraft, according to a statement from Raisbeck President
 Hal Chrisman.

He said the aircraft had not yet been modified. The
 flight crew included two “highly-experienced” test pilots, a flight 
test director and an instrumentation engineer who were collecting 
“baseline aircraft performance data,” Chrisman said.

It was 
unclear who was responsible for which task. Due to the ongoing 
investigation, the company declined to disclose any further information,
 the Herald <a href="https://www.heraldnet.com/news/crew-of-4-identified-in-deadly-snohomish-plane-crash/">reported</a>.

A
 preliminary report is expected in the next few weeks. The final report,
 which would identify the probable cause for the crash, could take up to
 two years.

SNOHOMISH,
 Wash. (AP) — The names of four people killed in a small plane crash 
northeast of Seattle last week were released by medical examiners on 
Wednesday.The Snohomish County Medical Examiner said the victims 
included three men from Washington state: Nathan Precup, 33, of Seattle;
 Nate Lachendro, 49, of Gig Harbor, and Scott Brenneman, 52, of Roy; as 
well as David Newton, 67, of Wichita, Kansas.The plane’s right 
wing broke away from the aircraft during the morning flight from Renton,
 the National Transportation Safety Board said this week. The plane 
crashed and then burned in a field near Snohomish. The victims all died 
of blunt-force injuries, according to the medical examiner’s office.Raisbeck
 Engineering of Seattle was having the Cessna 208B test flown before 
modifying the aircraft, according to a statement from Raisbeck President
 Hal Chrisman.He said the aircraft had not yet been modified. The
 flight crew included two “highly-experienced” test pilots, a flight 
test director and an instrumentation engineer who were collecting 
“baseline aircraft performance data,” Chrisman said.It was 
unclear who was responsible for which task. Due to the ongoing 
investigation, the company declined to disclose any further information,
 the Herald <a href="https://www.heraldnet.com/news/crew-of-4-identified-in-deadly-snohomish-plane-crash/">reported</a>.A
 preliminary report is expected in the next few weeks. The final report,
 which would identify the probable cause for the crash, could take up to
 two years.

Kansas man among victims of Washington state plane crash

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/23/new-kansas-crime-tracking-system-halfway-completed-officials-say/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation director said the agency’s new 
data tracking system is about halfway complete and will create a better 
overview of the state’s crime problem, including a potential rise in 
fentanyl cases.

During a Tuesday legislative budget 
hearing, KBI director Kirk Thompson said the new system would store 
details about criminals that the old system isn’t equipped for, 
including socioeconomic conditions, geographic details and other 
relevant case features.

“We’ll know a lot more about each 
individual case. Whether it was homicide by knife, homicide by firearm 
and much, much more granular information about crime in our state,” 
Thompson said.

The old data system, the Kansas 
Incident Based Reporting System, hasn’t been changed in decades. It 
contains all the data from criminal reports submitted by law enforcement
 agencies across the state. Thompson said more than 250,000 offense and 
arrest reports are added into the system each year, and are used to gain
 a sense of Kansas crime rates and areas of concern.

Thompson said he was concerned the 
old system would break down, because it was built with technology that 
is no longer used today, and that it can only provide basic crime 
statistics. KIBRS was created in 1993 and was last updated in 2001.

“This particular system is well 
beyond its effective lifecycle, and the technologies it’s built upon are
 no longer supported,” Thompson said. “The data security of those 
technologies is questionable, and it’s absolutely inflexible as to 
questions regarding what is going on in our state.”

Thompson said the new information 
system being developed will provide much more detailed and timely crime 
data. The system was funded through an $3 million federal grant, along 
with some internal funding for an assessment of system priorities and 
needs.

Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, said the KBI needs to examine data surrounding fentanyl cases.

“I think this is just coming into 
Kansas like water, and I think if we don’t get a handle on it, we’re 
going to have so many young people dead, it’s going to be a sad day,” 
Billinger said.

Thompson said the update was urgently needed for examining data in all criminal cases.

“There’s really nothing we can do with this antiquated system,” Thompson said. “It can’t be changed.”

During the hearing, predictions of 
revenue for the upcoming year also were discussed. Forecasts show rough 
times ahead for farmers across the state.

Kansas has experienced steady growth 
in farm income over the past few years, according to the Kansas 
Legislative Research Department and Kansas Division of the Budget, which
 released estimates ahead of Tuesday’s budget hearing.

But drought and rising material costs
 are predicted to negatively impact farmers, especially with western 
Kansas struggling with drought since early 2019.

“We’ve seen some declines in 2022, 
and it’s really all around drought conditions and lack of rain in other 
places as well,” said J.G. Scott, director of legislative research. 
“We’re not projecting that we’re going to be able to keep up with that 
production as much as we would like, though it’s still high.”

Corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum crop
 yields decreased by 20% compared to 2021. Overall, Kansas’ agricultural
 exports for this year are still expected to have the same value as last
 year, in the range of $5 billion.

Kansas’ unemployment rate decreased 
by 0.6% percentage points from 2021 to 2022, shifting from 3.2% to 2.6%.
 In 2023, unemployment rates are predicted to have a slight increase, 
rising to 3.5% overall unemployment.

Job recovery is also on the rise — 
Kansas lost 157,400 jobs between February and April of 2020 and has 
recovered more than 80% of these lost jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669223938744.jpg" alt="The new Kansas crime-tracking system will give officers a better sense of problem areas, official say. Pixabay photo" />
 <figcaption>The new Kansas crime-tracking system will give officers a better sense of problem areas, official say. Pixabay photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/23/new-kansas-crime-tracking-system-halfway-completed-officials-say/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation director said the agency’s new 
data tracking system is about halfway complete and will create a better 
overview of the state’s crime problem, including a potential rise in 
fentanyl cases.During a Tuesday legislative budget 
hearing, KBI director Kirk Thompson said the new system would store 
details about criminals that the old system isn’t equipped for, 
including socioeconomic conditions, geographic details and other 
relevant case features.“We’ll know a lot more about each 
individual case. Whether it was homicide by knife, homicide by firearm 
and much, much more granular information about crime in our state,” 
Thompson said.The old data system, the Kansas 
Incident Based Reporting System, hasn’t been changed in decades. It 
contains all the data from criminal reports submitted by law enforcement
 agencies across the state. Thompson said more than 250,000 offense and 
arrest reports are added into the system each year, and are used to gain
 a sense of Kansas crime rates and areas of concern.Thompson said he was concerned the 
old system would break down, because it was built with technology that 
is no longer used today, and that it can only provide basic crime 
statistics. KIBRS was created in 1993 and was last updated in 2001.“This particular system is well 
beyond its effective lifecycle, and the technologies it’s built upon are
 no longer supported,” Thompson said. “The data security of those 
technologies is questionable, and it’s absolutely inflexible as to 
questions regarding what is going on in our state.”Thompson said the new information 
system being developed will provide much more detailed and timely crime 
data. The system was funded through an $3 million federal grant, along 
with some internal funding for an assessment of system priorities and 
needs.Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, said the KBI needs to examine data surrounding fentanyl cases.“I think this is just coming into 
Kansas like water, and I think if we don’t get a handle on it, we’re 
going to have so many young people dead, it’s going to be a sad day,” 
Billinger said.Thompson said the update was urgently needed for examining data in all criminal cases.“There’s really nothing we can do with this antiquated system,” Thompson said. “It can’t be changed.”During the hearing, predictions of 
revenue for the upcoming year also were discussed. Forecasts show rough 
times ahead for farmers across the state.Kansas has experienced steady growth 
in farm income over the past few years, according to the Kansas 
Legislative Research Department and Kansas Division of the Budget, which
 released estimates ahead of Tuesday’s budget hearing.But drought and rising material costs
 are predicted to negatively impact farmers, especially with western 
Kansas struggling with drought since early 2019.“We’ve seen some declines in 2022, 
and it’s really all around drought conditions and lack of rain in other 
places as well,” said J.G. Scott, director of legislative research. 
“We’re not projecting that we’re going to be able to keep up with that 
production as much as we would like, though it’s still high.”Corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum crop
 yields decreased by 20% compared to 2021. Overall, Kansas’ agricultural
 exports for this year are still expected to have the same value as last
 year, in the range of $5 billion.Kansas’ unemployment rate decreased 
by 0.6% percentage points from 2021 to 2022, shifting from 3.2% to 2.6%.
 In 2023, unemployment rates are predicted to have a slight increase, 
rising to 3.5% overall unemployment.Job recovery is also on the rise — 
Kansas lost 157,400 jobs between February and April of 2020 and has 
recovered more than 80% of these lost jobs.

Officials: New Kan. crime-tracking system halfway complete

<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.

By TROY BICKHAM <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-turkey-the-main-dish-on-thanksgiving-193702">The Conversation</a>

Have you ever wondered why Thanksgiving revolves around turkey and not ham, chicken, venison, beef or corn?  

Almost <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2021/11/24/thanksgiving-food-debates-poll">9 in 10</a>
 Americans eat turkey during this festive meal, whether it’s roasted, 
deep-fried, grilled or cooked in any other way for the occasion.

You might believe it’s because of what the Pilgrims, a year after 
they landed in what’s now the state of Massachusetts, and their <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story">Indigenous Wampanoag guests</a> ate during their first thanksgiving feast in 1621. Or that it’s because <a href="https://www.almanac.com/wild-turkey-history-all-american-bird">turkey is originally from the Americas</a>.

But it has more to do with how Americans observed the holiday in the 
late 1800s than which poultry the Pilgrims ate while celebrating their 
bounty in 1621.

The <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.mourtsrelationor00brad/?st=pdf&amp;pdfPage=189">only firsthand record</a>
 of what the Pilgrims ate at the first thanksgiving feast comes from 
Edward Winslow. He noted that the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, arrived 
with 90 men, and the two communities feasted together for three days.

Winslow wrote little about the menu, aside from mentioning five deer 
that the Wampanoag brought and that the meal included “fowle,” which 
could have been any number of wild birds found in the area, including 
ducks, geese and turkeys.

Historians do know that important ingredients of today’s traditional dishes were not available during that first Thanksgiving.

That includes potatoes and green beans. The likely absence of wheat flour and the <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/40532/50517_aer382a.pdf?v=0">scarcity of sugar</a> in New England at the time ruled out pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. <a href="https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/squash.html">Some sort of squash</a>, a staple of Native American diets, was almost certainly served, <a href="https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/arts-culture/2021-11-24/heres-what-was-served-at-the-real-first-thanksgiving">along with corn</a> and shellfish.

<a href="https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/history/profile/troy-bickham/">Historians like me</a>
 who have studied the history of food have found that most modern 
Thanksgiving traditions began in the mid-19th century, more than two 
centuries after the Pilgrims’ first harvest celebration.

The reinvention of the Pilgrims’ celebration as a national holiday was largely the work of <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-hale">Sarah Hale</a>.
 Born in New Hampshire in 1784, as a young widow she published poetry to
 earn a living. Most notably, she wrote the nursery rhyme “<a href="https://www.almanac.com/sarah-josepha-hale-godmother-thanksgiving">Mary Had a Little Lamb</a>.”

In 1837, Hale became the editor of the popular magazine <a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=godeylady">Godey’s Lady’s Book</a>.
 Fiercely religious and family-focused, it crusaded for the creation of 
an annual national holiday of “Thanksgiving and Praise” commemorating 
the Pilgrims’ thanksgiving feast.

Hale and her colleagues leaned on 1621 lore for historical 
justification. Like many of her contemporaries, she assumed the Pilgrims
 ate turkey at their first feast because of the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-turkeys">abundance of edible wild turkeys in New England</a>.

This campaign took decades, partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among white Southerners. Many of them considered <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/nov02/thanks-early.html">an earlier celebration among Virginia colonists</a> in honor of supply ships that arrived at Jamestown in 1610 to be the more important precedent.

The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/expulsion_cases/CivilWar_Expulsion.htm">absence of Southerners serving in Congress</a> during the Civil War enabled <a href="https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/lincoln-and-thanksgiving.htm">President Abraham Lincoln</a> to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

Godey’s, along with other media, embraced the holiday, packing their 
pages with recipes from New England and menus that prominently featured 
turkey.

“We dare say most of the Thanksgiving will take the form of gastronomic pleasure,” <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/history-southern-thanksgiving">Georgia’s Augusta Chronicle</a> predicted in 1882. “Every person who can afford turkey or procure it will sacrifice the noble American fowl to-day.”

One reason for this: A roasted turkey makes a perfect celebratory centerpiece. 

A second one is that turkey is also practical for serving to a large 
crowd. Turkeys are bigger than other birds raised or hunted for their 
meat, and it’s <a href="https://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/meat-and-animal-feed.html">cheaper to produce a turkey than a cow or pig</a>.
 
The bird’s attributes led Europeans to incorporate turkeys into their 
diets following their colonization of the Americas. In England, <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/the-history-of-turkeys/">King Henry VIII</a> regularly enjoyed turkey on Christmas day a century before the Pilgrims’ feast.

The bird cemented its position as the <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/christmas-parties/christmas-party-ideas/why-do-we-eat-turkey-at-christmas_10022">favored Christmas dish in England in the mid-19th century</a>.

One reason for this was that Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A 
Christmas Carol” sought redemption by replacing the impoverished 
Cratchit family’s meager goose with an enormous turkey. 

Published in 1843, Dickens’ instantly best-selling depiction of the prayerful family meal would soon <a href="https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol">inspire Hale’s idealized Thanksgiving</a>.

Although the historical record is hazy, I do think it’s possible that
 the Pilgrims ate turkey in 1621. It certainly was served at 
celebrations in New England <a href="https://hilltownfamilies.org/2012/11/14/hf-613/?v=7516fd43adaa">throughout the colonial period</a>.

Troy Bickham is a Professor of History at Texas A&amp;M University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669043121500.jpeg" alt="Pixabay photo" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay photo</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/curious-kids-us-74795">Curious Kids</a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to <a href="mailto:curiouskidsus@theconversation.com">curiouskidsus@theconversation.com</a>.By TROY BICKHAM <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-turkey-the-main-dish-on-thanksgiving-193702">The Conversation</a>Have you ever wondered why Thanksgiving revolves around turkey and not ham, chicken, venison, beef or corn? Almost <a href="https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2021/11/24/thanksgiving-food-debates-poll">9 in 10</a>
 Americans eat turkey during this festive meal, whether it’s roasted, 
deep-fried, grilled or cooked in any other way for the occasion.You might believe it’s because of what the Pilgrims, a year after 
they landed in what’s now the state of Massachusetts, and their <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story">Indigenous Wampanoag guests</a> ate during their first thanksgiving feast in 1621. Or that it’s because <a href="https://www.almanac.com/wild-turkey-history-all-american-bird">turkey is originally from the Americas</a>. But it has more to do with how Americans observed the holiday in the 
late 1800s than which poultry the Pilgrims ate while celebrating their 
bounty in 1621.<h2>Did they or didn’t they eat it?</h2>The <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.mourtsrelationor00brad/?st=pdf&amp;pdfPage=189">only firsthand record</a>
 of what the Pilgrims ate at the first thanksgiving feast comes from 
Edward Winslow. He noted that the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, arrived 
with 90 men, and the two communities feasted together for three days. Winslow wrote little about the menu, aside from mentioning five deer 
that the Wampanoag brought and that the meal included “fowle,” which 
could have been any number of wild birds found in the area, including 
ducks, geese and turkeys.Historians do know that important ingredients of today’s traditional dishes were not available during that first Thanksgiving.That includes potatoes and green beans. The likely absence of wheat flour and the <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/40532/50517_aer382a.pdf?v=0">scarcity of sugar</a> in New England at the time ruled out pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. <a href="https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/squash.html">Some sort of squash</a>, a staple of Native American diets, was almost certainly served, <a href="https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/arts-culture/2021-11-24/heres-what-was-served-at-the-real-first-thanksgiving">along with corn</a> and shellfish.<h2>A resurrected tradition</h2><a href="https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/history/profile/troy-bickham/">Historians like me</a>
 who have studied the history of food have found that most modern 
Thanksgiving traditions began in the mid-19th century, more than two 
centuries after the Pilgrims’ first harvest celebration.The reinvention of the Pilgrims’ celebration as a national holiday was largely the work of <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-hale">Sarah Hale</a>.
 Born in New Hampshire in 1784, as a young widow she published poetry to
 earn a living. Most notably, she wrote the nursery rhyme “<a href="https://www.almanac.com/sarah-josepha-hale-godmother-thanksgiving">Mary Had a Little Lamb</a>.”In 1837, Hale became the editor of the popular magazine <a href="https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=godeylady">Godey’s Lady’s Book</a>.
 Fiercely religious and family-focused, it crusaded for the creation of 
an annual national holiday of “Thanksgiving and Praise” commemorating 
the Pilgrims’ thanksgiving feast.Hale and her colleagues leaned on 1621 lore for historical 
justification. Like many of her contemporaries, she assumed the Pilgrims
 ate turkey at their first feast because of the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-turkeys">abundance of edible wild turkeys in New England</a>. This campaign took decades, partly due to a lack of enthusiasm among white Southerners. Many of them considered <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/nov02/thanks-early.html">an earlier celebration among Virginia colonists</a> in honor of supply ships that arrived at Jamestown in 1610 to be the more important precedent.The <a href="https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/expulsion_cases/CivilWar_Expulsion.htm">absence of Southerners serving in Congress</a> during the Civil War enabled <a href="https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/lincoln-and-thanksgiving.htm">President Abraham Lincoln</a> to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.<h2>Turkey marketing campaign</h2>Godey’s, along with other media, embraced the holiday, packing their 
pages with recipes from New England and menus that prominently featured 
turkey.“We dare say most of the Thanksgiving will take the form of gastronomic pleasure,” <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/history-southern-thanksgiving">Georgia’s Augusta Chronicle</a> predicted in 1882. “Every person who can afford turkey or procure it will sacrifice the noble American fowl to-day.” One reason for this: A roasted turkey makes a perfect celebratory centerpiece. A second one is that turkey is also practical for serving to a large 
crowd. Turkeys are bigger than other birds raised or hunted for their 
meat, and it’s <a href="https://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/meat-and-animal-feed.html">cheaper to produce a turkey than a cow or pig</a>.
 
The bird’s attributes led Europeans to incorporate turkeys into their 
diets following their colonization of the Americas. In England, <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/the-history-of-turkeys/">King Henry VIII</a> regularly enjoyed turkey on Christmas day a century before the Pilgrims’ feast.<h2>Christmas connection</h2>The bird cemented its position as the <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/christmas-parties/christmas-party-ideas/why-do-we-eat-turkey-at-christmas_10022">favored Christmas dish in England in the mid-19th century</a>.One reason for this was that Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A 
Christmas Carol” sought redemption by replacing the impoverished 
Cratchit family’s meager goose with an enormous turkey. Published in 1843, Dickens’ instantly best-selling depiction of the prayerful family meal would soon <a href="https://www.biography.com/news/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol">inspire Hale’s idealized Thanksgiving</a>. Although the historical record is hazy, I do think it’s possible that
 the Pilgrims ate turkey in 1621. It certainly was served at 
celebrations in New England <a href="https://hilltownfamilies.org/2012/11/14/hf-613/?v=7516fd43adaa">throughout the colonial period</a>.Troy Bickham is a Professor of History at Texas A&amp;M University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193702/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

 Why is turkey the main dish on Thanksgiving?

GARDEN CITY — At approximately 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, officers of the Garden City Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado in the 1200 block of North Eighth. Officers had prior knowledge that the license plate was stolen out of Garden City, according to a media release.

Officers made contact with Emilio Gomez, 27, and Sarah Paz, 41, both of Garden City. After investigation, a search of the vehicle was conducted, where suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a firearm were located. Gomez and Paz were arrested at the scene.

Gomez and Paz were lodged in the Finney County jail on suspicion of: • Distribution of methamphetamine • Distribution of marijuana • Distribution of drug paraphernalia • Criminal use of a weapon by a person addicted to a controlled substance • Driving while suspended

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669233577945.jpeg" alt="Gomez" />
 <figcaption>Gomez</figcaption>
 </figure>GARDEN CITY — At approximately 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, officers of the Garden City Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado in the 1200 block of North Eighth. Officers had prior knowledge that the license plate was stolen out of Garden City, according to a media release.Officers made contact with Emilio Gomez, 27, and Sarah Paz, 41, both of Garden City. After investigation, a search of the vehicle was conducted, where suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a firearm were located. Gomez and Paz were arrested at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669233599933.jpeg" alt="Paz" />
 <figcaption>Paz</figcaption>
 </figure>Gomez and Paz were lodged in the Finney County jail on suspicion of: • Distribution of methamphetamine • Distribution of marijuana • Distribution of drug paraphernalia • Criminal use of a weapon by a person addicted to a controlled substance • Driving while suspended

Two from Garden City arrested for alleged drug distribution

By&nbsp;Leilana McKindra KU Medical Center News

KANSAS CITY -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/hmangat.html" target="_blank">Halinder Mangat, M.D.,</a>&nbsp;an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is the lead author on a research paper confirming the overall safety of the two mRNA vaccines and the single adenovirus vector COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.972464/full" target="_blank">observational study published in Frontiers in Public Health</a>&nbsp;last month, Mangat and the research team, which included collaborators from the United Kingdom, Germany, India and the Netherlands, found that over a one-year period there were very low overall cumulative reported rates of severe adverse events from the three COVID-19 vaccines. The findings were based on data from a publicly accessible vaccine safety surveillance database and included all reported instances up to 28 days after vaccination.

“While part of the safety may be dependent on selecting different vaccines for different age groups, the overall safety profile of both mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) and adenovirus vector (Janssen) vaccines is very good,” Mangat said. “In the context of COVID-19, risks of such severe adverse events following immunization appear to be significantly lower than from COVID-19 in adults.”

The study team found 88,626 severe adverse events after immunization (sAEFI) reported out of 485 million vaccine doses administered nationwide over a one-year period.

In the study, researchers looked at the rates of sAEFI reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) between December 13, 2020, and December 13, 2021, for each of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines authorized for emergency use and attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programs across all states and territories in the United States. Severe adverse events included emergency department visits, hospitalizations, life-threatening events and deaths.

Given the low rates of severe adverse events with the three COVID-19 vaccines, the study concluded that immunization should remain a critical tool for adults for decreasing severity of COVID-19 in the United States. Researchers also noted that data confirming the safety of the vaccines should be the centerpiece of public health messaging to help fuel vaccine uptake and combat vaccine hesitancy.

The study team wrote that the findings should bolster confidence in adenovector virus vaccines and their continued use globally, including some remote areas where refrigeration is difficult or impossible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649633006948.jpeg" alt="(Photo by Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Leilana McKindra KU Medical Center NewsKANSAS CITY -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/hmangat.html" target="_blank">Halinder Mangat, M.D.,</a>&nbsp;an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is the lead author on a research paper confirming the overall safety of the two mRNA vaccines and the single adenovirus vector COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.972464/full" target="_blank">observational study published in Frontiers in Public Health</a>&nbsp;last month, Mangat and the research team, which included collaborators from the United Kingdom, Germany, India and the Netherlands, found that over a one-year period there were very low overall cumulative reported rates of severe adverse events from the three COVID-19 vaccines. The findings were based on data from a publicly accessible vaccine safety surveillance database and included all reported instances up to 28 days after vaccination.“While part of the safety may be dependent on selecting different vaccines for different age groups, the overall safety profile of both mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) and adenovirus vector (Janssen) vaccines is very good,” Mangat said. “In the context of COVID-19, risks of such severe adverse events following immunization appear to be significantly lower than from COVID-19 in adults.”The study team found 88,626 severe adverse events after immunization (sAEFI) reported out of 485 million vaccine doses administered nationwide over a one-year period.In the study, researchers looked at the rates of sAEFI reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) between December 13, 2020, and December 13, 2021, for each of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines authorized for emergency use and attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programs across all states and territories in the United States. Severe adverse events included emergency department visits, hospitalizations, life-threatening events and deaths.Given the low rates of severe adverse events with the three COVID-19 vaccines, the study concluded that immunization should remain a critical tool for adults for decreasing severity of COVID-19 in the United States. Researchers also noted that data confirming the safety of the vaccines should be the centerpiece of public health messaging to help fuel vaccine uptake and combat vaccine hesitancy.The study team wrote that the findings should bolster confidence in adenovector virus vaccines and their continued use globally, including some remote areas where refrigeration is difficult or impossible.“The results from this study should encourage people who have been skeptical about vaccine safety to take the vaccines,” Mangat said. “At a global level, these data also provide safety reassurance for the continued use of adenovector virus vaccines, which do not pose cold-chain logistical challenges.”See Related Stories in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=147">Research</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=145">School of Medicine</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive.html?cat=710">School of Medicine Research</a>