Texas Weekly Online

Texas-trans-white
Menu
Menu

Author:

Majority of small businesses anticipate revenue spikes under Trump’s 1st year in office: data

Majority of small businesses anticipate revenue spikes under Trump’s 1st year in office: data

Small businesses are optimistic about revenue boosts in 2025, when President-elect Donald Trump will kick off his second administration, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce report obtained by Fox News Digital shows.  The latest Small Business Index report by MetLife and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released Monday morning found that seven in 10 small businesses, at 72%, reported they anticipate their revenues to increase next year. Last year, only 65% of businesses reported they anticipated revenue to increase, the data show.  “The growing optimism among small business owners since the beginning of the year is a positive sign as we move into 2025 and potentially points to increasing opportunities in the new year,” Bradd Chignoli, executive vice president and head of Regional Business & Workforce Engagement at MetLife, said in a press release provided to Fox Digital. “As more and more employers look to increase investment and staff size, it is important to take advantage of the resources available to them, such as voluntary benefits, which can help strengthen their company’s culture and help attract and retain new talent.”  The Small Business Index is a collaboration between MetLife and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that measures small business owners’ and leaders’ expectations. The survey released Monday was conducted between Oct. 7 – 21, before the election’s results, and included responses from 750 small business owners and operators.  TRUMP VOWS TO CUT BUSINESS TAX RATE TO 15%, CREATE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMISSION LED BY ELON MUSK The majority of business owners, at 70%, reported that holiday shopping is vital to their overall profit, which is slightly down from 2022’s Q4 report that found 79% of business owners reported the same. The report found that inflation woes are small business owners’ top concern – as it has been for the last two years, according to the report. This year, however, an increase of business owners reported that both the U.S. economy and their local economies are healthier than they were this time last year.  TRUMP PICKS BILLY LONG TO HEAD IRS, KELLY LOEFFLER TO LEAD SBA AND FRANK BISIGNANO TO LEAD SSA Thirty-two percent of business owners reported the U.S. economy is in better shape than 2023, up from 25% last year, and 38% reported their local economies are healthier than last year, when 30% reported the same.  The survey also found that the majority of small business owners, at 51%, reported that red tape – including licensing, certification, and permit requirements – makes it harder for them to grow their operations. While 47% of respondents reported that they spend too much time and energy on complying with regulatory requirements.  ​​”Too many regulations cause big headaches for small businesses, even if they feel confident in their ability to comply or have the means to outsource compliance tasks,” said Tom Sullivan, Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “This quarter’s survey shows these requirements are complex, time-consuming, and often prevent small business owners from focusing on running and growing their businesses.” SMALL BUSINESSES GET TEMPORARY REPRIEVE FROM ‘BIG BROTHER,’ BUT NEED MORE CERTAINTY About 39% of respondents reported that in the last six months alone, they have increased their time and resources on complying with regulations alone, which is up from 33% reporting the same in the last quarter. Compliance with ​​taxes, bookkeeping, payroll and licensing ate up a “​​great deal or fair amount” of time for business owners, according to the report.  The overall index score for this quarter sits at 69.1, a slight dip from last quarter’s score of 71.2, which was attributed to business owners’ reporting an increase in time and resources on regulation compliance.  TRUMP WILL USE TARIFFS ‘CORRECTLY,’ SMALL BUSINESS OWNER SAYS Small businesses have been on edge in recent years as inflation spiraled and choked spenders’ pocketbooks. Amid the highly-anticipated election cycle this year, Trump campaigned, in part, on lowering costs for Americans at check-out lines. Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris at the ballot box last month, securing 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226. “I am promising low taxes, low regulations, low energy costs, low interest rates, secure borders, low, low crime and surging incomes for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed,” Trump said from the campaign trail in September. “My plan will rapidly defeat inflation, quickly bring down prices and reignite explosive economic growth.”  “I took care of our economy like I would take care of my own company in every decision. I asked, will I create jobs here, or will I be sending jobs overseas? Will it make America richer and stronger, or will it make our country weaker and poorer?” Trump asked. “I always put America first every single time. And when our country was hit by the China virus, we saved the economy. We rescued tens of millions of jobs.” 

Satanic Temple’s nativity display in New Hampshire destroyed, Dem rep calls for new display

Satanic Temple’s nativity display in New Hampshire destroyed, Dem rep calls for new display

A satanic “nativity” display involving an occult statue erected on Concord city property near the New Hampshire State Capitol was destroyed shortly after several vandalism incidents last week. Now, Democratic state Rep. Ellen Read is saying that the temple “probably should” get to erect a new display in its place. “I think they probably should, because I think the vandalism and the hatefulness shouldn’t go without a response. But it’s up to them,” Read said, the Catholic News Agency reported. Read told the outlet she came up with the idea to suggest that The Satanic Temple (TST) put up the Christmas display, which was a statue of Baphomet – despite significant pushback from local officials – arguing that a Catholic groups’ nativity scene of Jesus should not be the only decoration there. She also said she is a member of TST but has not participated in any of its meetings or events.  ‘SATANIC TEMPLE’ MEMBERS WANT TO VOLUNTEER IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS, BUT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SAYS IT WON’T HAPPEN According to its website, TST’s mission “Is To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits.” “We have publicly confronted hate groups, fought for the abolition of corporal punishment in public schools, applied for equal representation when religious installations are placed on public property, provided religious exemption and legal protection against laws that unscientifically restrict people’s reproductive autonomy, exposed harmful pseudo-scientific practitioners in mental health care, organized clubs alongside other religious after-school clubs in schools besieged by proselytizing organizations, and engaged in other advocacy in accordance with our tenets,” the website states.  Avoiding a legal dispute over the First Amendment, the Concord City Council approved the organization’s permit to show the display, despite the mayor saying earlier this week he wished the city had not approved it.  NEW YORK SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOWS STUDENT TO FORM BIBLE CLUB AFTER PREVIOUSLY DENYING PERMISSION “I opposed the permit because I believe the request was made not in the interest of promoting religious equity but in order to drive an anti-religious political agenda, and because I do not respond well to legal extortion, the threat of litigation,” Concord Mayor Byron Champlin said during the council’s meeting last Monday. “Some on social media have celebrated the Satanic Temple’s display as a victory for religious pluralism and a reflection of our growing diversity as a community. I disagree with this. This is about an out-of-state organization cynically promoting its national agenda at the expense of the Concord community.” Meanwhile, the city put out a statement saying that due to the First Amendment and the potential for a lawsuit, the city was forced to choose between banning all holiday displays or allowing TST’s statue. “After reviewing its legal options, the City ultimately decided to continue the policy of allowing unattended displays at City Plaza during this holiday season and to allow the statue,” the city said in a statement. “It is anticipated that the City Council will review next year whether permits for unattended holiday displays should be allowed at City Plaza.” LAWSUIT AGAINST NY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER PARENTS SAY CHILDREN WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST Read rebuked the mayor in an interview with the Catholic news outlet this week, saying, “I think it’s the narrow-mindedness of the mayor, who can’t seem to wrap his head around that this represents a large percentage of the community and its beliefs.” In a video posted to Facebook, two TST representatives unveiled the statue Monday. One spokesperson recalled the group’s core tenets, before chanting, “Hail Satan!” and showcasing the statue.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Concord Deputy Police Chief John Thomas told a local news outlet that the investigation into who vandalized TST’s property is ongoing.  TST has erected several holiday displays near city or state properties, often alongside traditional Christian exhibits, in recent years. In 2022, the Illinois chapter of TST installed a holiday display in the state Capitol rotunda, which featured a crocheted serpent atop a book and a pile of apples. In December 2023, the Iowa TST chapter set up a Baphomet statue at the state Capitol, which was also vandalized shortly after its placement. 

Mitt Romney names who he thinks will be the GOP’s 2028 presidential nominee

Mitt Romney names who he thinks will be the GOP’s 2028 presidential nominee

Outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said that he thinks Vice President-elect JD Vance will become the GOP’s 2028 presidential nominee, describing Vance as “smart” and “well-spoken.” President-elect Donald Trump tapped Vance to serve as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election, and the two trounced the Democratic ticket, consisting of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Romney, who made the comments on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said the GOP “has become the party of the working-class, middle-class voter,” adding that Trump should be given credit. TRUMP FOE MITT ROMNEY RESISTS ENDORSING HARRIS The senator suggested that movements to defund the police and allow biological males in female sports led to some middle class flight from the Democratic Party, which he said is “in trouble.” “I don’t know how they recover,” he said. “They’ve lost their base,” he said, noting that union workers have departed the Democratic Party and voted for the GOP. “And the Democratic Party is seen not as rich people, but as college professors and woke scolds,” he said. While interviewing Romney, CNN’s Jake Tapper said “Trump has made it clear that he wants to go after his political opponents,” and asked Romney whether he is worried that he or his family could be targeted “for retribution.” MITT ROMNEY DEFENDS TRUMP’S BORDER SECURITY POLICY, SLAMS BIDEN IN HEATED EXCHANGE WITH MSNBC HOST Romney indicated that he is not worried and that he thinks Trump will likely seek to “focus on the future.” Romney served as a senator since 2019, but opted not to seek another term. He was previously the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee, but lost that election to incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama.  Romney also previously served as governor of Massachusetts. ROMNEY ANNOUNCES HE WON’T SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2024, BASHES TRUMP AND BIDEN When Tapper asked Romney how he would like to be remembered in history, the senator said he does not “think history will remember Mitt Romney.”  “What I want is my family to remember me,” he noted. 

Harris tells DNC staffers after devastating layoffs, ‘our spirit will not be defeated’

Harris tells DNC staffers after devastating layoffs, ‘our spirit will not be defeated’

Vice President Kamala Harris tried to encourage Democratic staffers facing layoffs from the DNC on Sunday, telling them that their “spirit will not be defeated.” Harris made the comments during the DNC’s holiday celebration in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. She spoke alongside President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the event, which played host to staffers who were let go from the DNC without severance packages after the election. “This holiday season, like any time of the year, let us really be conscious of all the blessings we have. Let us celebrate the blessings we have; let us celebrate and advance the blessings we have yet to create,” Harris said. “And let us always remember our country is worth fighting for, and our spirit will not be defeated.” “And hear me when I say this, that spirit that fuels the countless hours and days and months of work that you have put into this, that spirit. It can never be defeated. Our spirit is not defeated. We are not defeated. Let’s be clear about that. We are strong. We are clear about why we are in this. And because you’re here right now. I say again, thank you. Because not only are you clear about all of that, you’re willing to put in the hard work and that work must continue,” she said. ELIZABETH WARREN SAYS KILLING OF UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO WAS A WARNING: ‘YOU CAN ONLY PUSH PEOPLE SO FAR’ Biden took the stage after Harris and defended the pair’s legacy as they prepare to leave office. He argued that the country is in a “resoundingly” better position today than when he and Harris entered the White House. “The one thing I’ve always believed about public service, and especially about the presidency, is the importance of asking yourself, have we left the country in better shape than we found it? Today, I can say with every fiber of my being, of all my heart, the answer to that question is a resounding yes,” he said. WHO ELSE IS MULLING A BID TO STEER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY He went on to encourage staffers to “stay engaged” in the years ahead. “You’re not going anywhere, kid,” Biden said of Harris. “Because we’re not gonna let you.” Some DNC staffers had expressed frustration at the post-election layoffs, which are relatively common in Washington, D.C. The DNC union objected to the lack of severance packages and other benefits when the layoffs were announced in late November. TRUMP VICTORY PROVES IMPORTANCE OF CANDID, LONGFORM PODCASTS AS PLATFORM SHOWED ‘HUMAN SIDE’ OF ONE CANDIDATE “We find it very cruel that DNC management is trying to claim that layoffs are just part of the job,” a DNC union member told Mother Jones. “And we feel strongly that losing an election has not absolved the organization of its responsibility to treat its workers with basic dignity.” DNC Chair Jaime Harrison does not plan to seek re-election to his post, leaving a pool of would-be leaders to vie for the top position. The next chair will be chosen by the roughly 450 voting members of the national party committee when they meet at the beginning of February at National Harbor in Maryland for the DNC’s winter meeting. The long list of candidates seeking to replace Harrison includes former Chicago mayor and current U.S. ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, as well as Martin O’Malley, the former two-term Maryland governor. Ben Wikler, who has led the Democratic Party in Wisconsin for five years, has also thrown his hat in the ring.

Delhi-NCR Pollution: Schools up to class 5 shift to hybrid mode after GRAP 3 reimposed

Delhi-NCR Pollution: Schools up to class 5 shift to hybrid mode after GRAP 3 reimposed

Due to further poor air quality, schools across Delhi NCR will implement a hybrid learning model for up to grade 5, as per the GRAP-III guidelines. This decision followed the enforcement of the measures of GRAP-III by the Commission for Air Quality Management because of “very unfavourable weather conditions like calm wind and very low mixing height”.