Sun, December 1, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

2025 will start with a 3.5% pay raise for Pennsylvania's governor, lawmakers and judges

by: Brian Stokes

Trump Will Overplay His Hand. Here's How to Be Ready.

Trump's return to power certainly poses challenges to U.S. democracy. But he will make mistakes and overplay his hand — at home and abroad. America will survive the next four years if Democrats pick themselves up and start learning from the successes of opponents of autocracy across the globe.

by: Brian Stokes

Behind the Curtain: Trump's shock and awe

by: Brian Stokes

'I had a baby in jail - here's the truth about Lauren's Coronation Street storyline'

A woman who gave birth in prison has said it has been 'emotional' seeing soap Coronation Street tell the storyline of character Lauren having a baby in jail on TV

by: Brian Stokes

Chandrababu Naidu Government Dissolves Waqf Board For 'Better' Governance

Amaravati: The Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has dissolved the AP State Waqf Board to promote good governance, safeguard Waqf properties, and ensure the board operates efficiently.

by: Brian Stokes

Starmer not a hypocrite for giving Haigh Cabinet role, minister says

Starmer's spokesman repeatedly told journalists on Friday that Haigh's resignation came after new information emerged

by: Brian Stokes

Navy putting first shipborne hypersonic weapon on vessel once seen as 'costly blunder'

The US is deploying a shipborn hypersonic missile battery to the USS Zumwalt, a destroyer once thought a major mistake.

by: Brian Stokes

Homelessness has increased in Forsyth County since COVID-19 swept through Triad, advocates say

As temperatures decrease and winter weather rolls into Winston-Salem, organizations who provide for the city's homeless are preparing to serve a population that has increased in the years after the

by: Brian Stokes

As his power grows, D.C. wonders: How do you lobby a man like Elon Musk?

Musk has flaunted his closeness with Trump, but his unconventional approach leaves few obvious ways to reach him.

by: Brian Stokes

Philly prepares for mass deportations | Morning Newsletter

Welcome to a new month. It's a chilly and partly sunny Sunday. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to remove millions of people who lack the permission to be in the United States. Today's main read highlights the ramifications of this plan on Philadelphia and beyond.

by: Brian Stokes

How to Survive the Next 4 Years: A Guide for Anti-Trumpists

Trump's return to power certainly poses challenges to U.S. democracy. But he will make mistakes and overplay his hand — at home and abroad. America will survive the next four years if Democrats pick themselves up and start learning from the successes of opponents of autocracy across the globe.

by: Brian Stokes

Hasnat Abdullah thanks BNP for 'bold and loud stance' on India

by: Brian Stokes

Migration cap not an option despite record numbers, admits Government

Pat McFadden rejected the idea of a 'simple' target number, saying this had failed when tried by Conservative administrations in the past

by: Brian Stokes

Real World Economics: Fed is insulated from political interference

Seven weeks from inauguration, Donald Trump and his aides are issuing blizzards of announced nominations to key positions and of policy measures that will be taken quickly. Most are controversial.

by: Brian Stokes

'Vivek, Jay and now Kash': Former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump lauds Indian-origin nominations to US administration

Donald Trump plans to place Indian-Americans in key positions during his potential second term as president. Trump's former spiritual advisor Johnnie Moore highlighted several appointees of Indian descent on X (formerly Twitter).

by: Brian Stokes

Debate evoked my mother's end of life: Would we have had assisted dying conversation?

Friday evoked for me the end of life of my mother, my brother and my best friend, all of whom died of terminal cancer: would we have had that conversation about assisted dying, and what might that have meant?

by: Brian Stokes

How to take advantage of Medicare's expanded drug benefit in 2025

It will be easier to spread out Part D drug costs over the year, while the total annual cost of medicines will be capped at $2,000.

by: Brian Stokes

Trudeau promises border helicopters at 'very productive' Trump meeting: source

On Friday evening, Trudeau landed in Florida and travelled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago club for a hastily arranged dinner and discussion with president-elect.

by: Brian Stokes

Displaced Nepali-speaking Bhutanese fume over 'mindfulness city' plan

by: Brian Stokes

Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to meet with House Republicans next week to discuss DOGE

Businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will meet with House Republicans this week to discuss cuts to federal government spending, among other matters.

by: Brian Stokes

Election 2024: The latest results in maps and charts

by: Brian Stokes

Kash Patel's prescription for an ailing FBI: accountability and house cleaning

Patel has extensive experience as a public defender, federal prosecutor, House Intelligence Committee counsel, National Security Council member and chief of staff at the Pentagon.

by: Brian Stokes

How Trump's Tax Cuts Might Impact Medicaid and Food Stamps in 2025

In 2017, then-President Donald Trump championed a successful tax bill that lowered taxes for a large majority of American taxpayers. Many of the provisions of the tax bill are set to expire in 2025, and the now President-elect Trump spent a large part of his 2024 to retake the presidency by promising to extend the 2017 tax bill and prevent those expirations.

by: Brian Stokes

B'desh genocide: I don't find any difference between India and Bangladesh, says Mehbooba Mufti, BJP calls it treason

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti compared Bangladesh atrocities against minorities with India, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravinder Raina on December 1 called it very controversial and unfortunate. While speaking to ANI,

by: Brian Stokes

Bilawal makes pitch for political stability

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has laid emphasis on establishing political stability and writ of the state, claiming that now it will have to be decided whether this stability and writ is established through dialogue or come on the back of force.

by: Brian Stokes

Irish elections: Political parties plot path to government

by: Brian Stokes

Trump discussed border, trade with Canada's Trudeau after pledging steep tariffs

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he discussed the border, trade and energy in a "very productive" meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid fears of a trade war. Trudeau paid an unannounced visit to Florida on Friday evening and had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence,

by: Brian Stokes

Republicans eye tax breaks, border funds and clean energy cuts when Trump returns

Republicans plan to pass a huge party-line bill under Donald Trump next year that could include immigration and border, tax and climate provisions.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump and allies blur the lines between politician and influencer

by: Brian Stokes

BBC host missing from own morning show as I'm A Celebrity star steps in

A familiar face was missing from her usual Sunday morning slot on December 1, with an I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star stepping in to make sure things ran smoothly

by: Brian Stokes

Renewable energy project promising to end power outages in small WA towns sits in limbo

A unique renewable energy project using water, gravity, and solar power has been completed in WA's south, promising to end power outages for a small country town. But the government-backed project sits in limbo,

by: Brian Stokes

Trump's plans for mass deportations could target 47,000 in Philadelphia: 'No question it's going to be ugly.'

For 20 years Blanca Pacheco has fought for immigrants in Philadelphia, becoming painfully familiar with federal operations to deport men, women, and children. Sometimes a father disappears from the community,

by: Brian Stokes

Okiya Omtatah condemns Ruto for celebrating Tanzania's trade victory over Kenya: "Deeply concerning"

Senator Okiya Omtatah has slammed President William Ruto for celebrating Tanzania after they emerged victorious in trade within the East African region.

by: Brian Stokes

Lynn Schmidt: How could Dems win back workers? Start with respecting the value of work

For years now Democrats have been wringing their hands over the loss of the working-class voter to Republicans," Schmidt said.

by: Brian Stokes

Raised law and order issues hoping for action but I was attacked instead: Kejriwal

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, 1 December, targeted the BJP-led central government for alleged inaction on law and order issues in New Delhi, claiming that instead of taking action against criminals, an attack was orchestrated on him during his 30 November padyatra in Malviya Nagar.

by: Brian Stokes

Watch live: Chris Hipkins speaks at close of Labour's annual conference

The coalition Government has picked up the last Labour government ... Thomas Coughlan is Deputy Political Editor and covers politics from Parliament. He has worked for the Herald since 2021 and has worked in the press gallery since 2018.

by: Brian Stokes

President-elect Trump and Elon Musk party at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving dinner

President-elect Trump and Elon Musk were seen partying at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving dinner and grooving to the "Y.M.C.A." song. (Credit: Jacob Safar/@yaakovsafar)

by: Brian Stokes

List of Public Holidays FG Will Declare in December 2024/January 2025

Legit.ng lists the public holidays in Nigeria for December 2024 and January 2025. These include Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day celebrations.

by: Brian Stokes

Biden's Angola visit to focus on US investments, regional partnerships in Africa

Biden's visit, scheduled for Dec. 2 through Dec. 4, will begin with a bilateral meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço in the capital of Luanda

by: Brian Stokes

A Second Trump Term Poses a Crucial Test of the Senate's Independence

President-elect Donald J. Trump is threatening to challenge the institution's historic role, and the Constitution, with his prospective nominees and threats to push the boundaries of executive authority.

by: Brian Stokes

Pat McFadden denies 'tawdry and chaotic' Government claims

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden has denied that Labour is behaving like the previous Conservative government after Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was forced to resign after a decade-old fraud conviction resurfaced.

by: Brian Stokes

Donald Trump tests the system of checks and balances just weeks after election

In the two weeks since his Election Day victory, President-elect Donald Trump has already suggested he is ready to push the limits of those checks and balances, setting up a potential constitutional showdown with a Congress controlled by members of his own party and a Supreme Court with a conservative supermajority.

by: Brian Stokes

Almost half of voters 'want a general election' within six months after being 'betrayed' by Labour Government

Nearly 50 per cent of voters are unhappy with the Labour Government and "want a general election" within the next six months, a new poll has revealed. A petition which is calling for a new election has been circulating online,

by: Brian Stokes

Labour still better than 'chaotic' Tories, says CBI chairman

Corporate Britain is better off with Labour than the "chaotic" Tories, the chairman of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said. Rupert Soames said the stability offered by the new Government was preferable to the turnover seen under the previous administration, despite a backlash to Rachel Reeves's Budget.

by: Brian Stokes

These cabinet picks and others in Trump's inner circle got their start at Philly-area universities

Individuals poised to hold high-level positions in the Trump administration used college to develop their goals, conservative values, and personalities that have led them to political prominence.

by: Brian Stokes

Thanks for dinner: Trudeau's all-smiles pic with Trump amid tariff hike threat

Canada's Justin Trudeau made an unannounced visit to Florida on Friday evening and became the first G7 leader to meet with US President-elect Donald Trump amid fears of the US President-elect threatening tariffs on Canadian products.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump picks Kash Patel to head FBI

Republican President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday said he wanted former National Security official and firebrand loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI, signaling an intent to drive out the bureau's current director,

by: Brian Stokes

Putin alerts Trump to life-threatening danger

US President-elect Donald Trump's life is still in danger," his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, told Russian media on Thursday after his visit to Kazakhstan. "The methods of fighting Trump were totally uncivil,

2025 will start with a 3.5% pay raise for Pennsylvania's governor, lawmakers and judges

Pennsylvania state lawmakers, judges and top executive branch officials will get a heftier salary increase in 2025 than the average Pennsylvanian saw during the past 12 months.

The article from WESA discusses a proposed 3.5% pay raise for Pennsylvania's state officials, including Governor Josh Shapiro, lawmakers, and judges, set to take effect in 2025. This increase, which would adjust the governor's salary to $247,126, is part of a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous year. The raise, which is automatic unless the legislature votes to reject it, has sparked debate among legislators. Some argue that the increase is necessary to keep salaries competitive and attract qualified candidates, while others believe it's inappropriate given the state's financial challenges and the economic pressures faced by many residents. The salary adjustments are part of a broader discussion on public sector compensation in Pennsylvania.

Read the Full WESA Article at:
https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2024-12-01/2025-3-5-percent-pay-raise-pennsylvanias-governor-lawmakers-judges