Category: News
Shale Pioneer Harold Hamm Steps Back From Bakken After Decades
Shale Pioneer Harold Hamm Steps Back From Bakken After Decades
Harold Hamm says low oil prices are forcing a step he hasn’t taken in decades: shutting down drilling in North Dakota’s Bakken, according to Bloomberg.
“This will be the first time in over 30 years that Harold Hamm has not had an operation with drilling rigs in North Dakota,” he said. “That tells you a whole lot right there: There’s no need to drill it when margins are basically gone.”
The decision underscores how far conditions have shifted in the region that once defined the US shale boom. The Bakken was where Hamm showed that fracking could unlock oil long thought unreachable, helping transform the US into the world’s leading producer and reshaping global energy markets.
Bloomberg writes that the pullback reflects pressure across the industry. Even as Hamm backs President Donald Trump, producers are feeling the strain from policies aimed at pushing oil prices lower to fight inflation, at the expense of profitability.
Costs are rising just as prices fall. BloombergNEF estimates that a typical Bakken well now needs about $58 a barrel to break even, nearly 4% higher than a year ago. At the same time, US benchmark crude has slid about 25% over the past year to roughly $59, weighed down by fears of oversupply and expectations of more barrels entering the market, including from Venezuela.
Drilling activity has dropped nationwide, with US rig counts down 15% over the past year and the biggest reductions coming from the Permian Basin.
“A lot of people are assessing their activity in all the basins,” Hamm said.
He made clear the pause may not be permanent. “We’re price takers, as you’re aware — not price makers,” he said with a laugh. “See what we can get.”
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/16/2026 – 12:00
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/shale-pioneer-harold-hamm-steps-back-bakken-after-decades
Highland Park removes liquor-license citizenship requirement: ‘Certain laws … we just need to get off our books’
Highland Park has made another update to its liquor license ordinances, this time to remove an out-of-date citizenship requirement that city staff said could impact businesses currently operating or interested in opening in the city’s business districts.
Councilwoman Annette Lidawer requested that the item be taken off the consent agenda during Monday’s meeting to discuss the update. While she supported the change, calling the oversight “egregious,” she described the situation as an example of a broader concern regarding the city’s ordinances.
“This is a larger question … we talked about going through our entire code to make sure that old laws that are either out of date or no longer appropriate — snowball fights, the speed limit for horseback horses — there are certain laws that we just need to get off our books,” Lidawer said.
According to meeting documents, the citizenship requirement for liquor licenses initially came from the state. That changed in 2019, when Illinois removed a portion of the Local Liquor Act of 1934 requiring citizenship for a state liquor license.
However, while the state-level requirement was struck down, local municipalities could continue to maintain their ordinances with existing citizenship restrictions.
According to city staff, many area municipalities have since amended their local codes to expressly allow licenses to be issued to citizens and permanent residents, or to remove the issue from the licensing process.
No local businesses have been denied a liquor license due to the previous code, staff said, although they noted that a recent case involving a local business brought the issue to the forefront.
City Manager Ghida Neukirch said Highland Park updates its ordinances as it goes, but city officials will be starting an effort to review the totality of the city’s code, identifying every section and when it was last examined, then prioritizing sections and putting together a plan for a full review.
Monday’s fix had echoes of a now two-year-old controversy around the city’s liquor licenses, when a rediscovered Prohibition-era portion of the ordinance that prohibited public officials from holding liquor licenses — and the City Council’s delay in modifying the ordinance — forced a newly elected city councilman to resign.
Neukirch said they had caught the citizenship issue during that last update to the liquor code, but it “wasn’t a priority” at the time and was put on hold until recently, when an applicant for a liquor license came forward who was not a citizen.
“They worked it out from their end in terms of who the contact is for the restaurant, but that’s why we decided to just bring it forward,” Neukirch said.
The change makes Highland Park consistent with state law, she said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/highland-park-liquor-licenses/
Braydon Maier sets ambitious goals for Boone Grove, which is ready to follow him. ‘He’s a great leader.’
Junior guard Braydon Maier is “Boone Grove through and through,” according to coach Dean Hill.
The 6-foot Maier envisions the junior-heavy Wolves accomplishing great things, including winning their first regional title. He already has an eye on next season and views this one largely as a stepping stone — not that he’s dismissing it.
“This group, we all played JV together last year,” Maier said. “The coaches kept us all together, and that really helped. We all played. We only lost two or three games last year. It was good because we learned how to win as a team.
“We had seven or eight seniors last year, and once those seniors graduated, we all got here together.”
Maier suffered a sprained left ankle in the first minute of the season opener and missed three games. But Hill said Maier “has been fantastic” since he returned to the lineup.
“He came back and didn’t skip a beat, started leading us right away,” Hill said. “Even when he was out, he was helping and doing what he could. Character-wise, he’s as good of a kid as you can get.
“He’s always been a lead-by-example kind of guy. He’s never missed a workout. He’s there first and wants to stay late. He’s like the cliché of ‘first one there, last one to leave.’ He tries to get guys to come with him and make sure we do what we need to do. This year, he’s starting to grow more into a vocal leader too. He’s always known what to say, but he’s learning how to deliver the message now to guys.”
Maier was averaging 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals before Boone Grove (7-4, 3-1) played a Porter County Conference game against South Central on Friday night.
“I try to bring energy into the game and have a high motor and get guys going on the defensive end,” he said. “I try to set an expectation for myself of what to do. Instead of speaking things, I try to lead on the court — no messing around, going through drills hard, everything like that.”
Maier is a captain with junior guard Carson Kinsey and sophomore forward Sal Montes. Maier is also part of Boone Grove’s principal council. One boy and one girl from each grade were selected, and they meet with the school’s principals every month to discuss relevant topics.
“I would say he’s our leading captain, our leading captain of the group,” Hill said of Maier. “He’s the mesh of being talented enough and playing solid that guys respect him, but he never talks down or is demeaning to them when he’s trying to help them. It’s always positive, bringing people up. Off the floor, on the floor, that’s the way he is.”
Junior guard Ben Oszust, who also suffered a sprained left ankle in the season opener and missed four games, bonded with Maier as they recovered.
“He’s a great leader,” Oszust said. “He always makes sure everybody’s included. He’s a very vocal guy. I’ve never seen him by himself, makes everybody feel included. He’s the definition of what a team leader should be.
“He sees everything like a floor general. He’s a good shooter when he’s open — he has one of the better jump shots on the team. He’s great on defense, always communicates on defense. He always tells everybody, ‘Keep your heads up. Next play, next play.’ He’s an all-around good player.”
Maier likes the direction the Wolves are heading.
“We’re just building and building,” he said. “It’s a process. We’re process-driven every day, and we’re working to the end result. We stick together really well, and we just have to keep doing it.
“We’ll have eight seniors next year. PCC, PCC Tournament, sectional championship, and I don’t think Boone Grove’s ever won a regional before, so that’s one thing we’re really looking to, to win our first regional.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/basketball-boone-grove-braydon-maier/
Worship news: Pancake breakfast, youth skating night and more
Chesterton
Liberty Bible Church: 824 North Calumet Ave. — Liberty Bible Church has Faithful Fitness for women on Mondays and Fridays. Faithful Fitness is an exercise class for women with two different classes offered — basic and modified. The cost is $2 per class. For more information, call 219-878-8700.
Crown Point
CrossPoint Church: 214 S Court St. — CrossPoint Church will have a First Steps luncheon from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 18. The First Steps gathering is a way to connect with the CrossPoint community and will help attendees understand the church’s mission and more. Lunch and childcare will be provided. RSVP here: https://xpoint.churchcenter.com/unproxy/people/forms/1059668.
St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W Burrell Drive — St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church will have a Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jan. 18. The event is a free-will offering. For more information, call 219-663-2201.
CrossPoint Church: 214 S Court St. — There will be a youth ice skating night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 23 with CrossPoint Church. The ice skating will be held at Bulldog Park. The cost of the event is $11. For more information, email youth@crosspoint.family.
Bethel Church: 10202 Broadway — All are welcome to join Bethel Church for a Newcomer Lunch from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 18. Singles and families are welcome to attend and meet pastors, elders and staff to learn more about the church and get connected to others. The lunch will be at the Crown Point campus in the Big Room in the Kids Wing, in the Commons at the Cedar Lake campus and in the Student Room at the Hobart/Portage campus. To register, visit https://bethelnwi.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1875/responses/new.
Gary
Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd. — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments afterward in the Fellowship Hall.
Hammond
Faith United Church of Christ: 3030 175th St. — Faith United Church of Christ holds its worship service at 10 a.m. on Sundays, followed by fellowship and coffee.
Saint Joseph Catholic Church: 5304 Hohman Ave. — Saint Joseph Catholic Church will have “Donut Sunday” on the last Sunday of every month after the 9 a.m. Mass. Free coffee and donuts are provided at the church hall.
East Chicago
Greater First Church of the Northwest: 4862 Olcott Ave. — Greater First Church of the Northwest will have an MLK Northwest Indiana Community Service Project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 19. The event, hosted by Lazarus Blueprint in partnership with community organizations, will have electronics, toys, bookbags, household appliances, clothing and diapers, while supplies last. The community service project is a collective effort to strengthen families and meet needs across the region.
Highland
Faith Church: 8910 Grace St. — Faith Church Highland will have a “No Regrets” men’s conference from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The event will feature multiple seminar options for attendees to pick from. Learn more about this conference at noregretsconference.org and register online here: https://wearefaith.org/noregrets/.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso Baptist Church: 612 Emmettsburg St. — Valparaiso Baptist Church will have Family Night beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 21. There will be Teens of Truth and Team Kid at 6 p.m., with an adult Bible study at 7 p.m. For more information, text 833-458-8611.
St. Paul Catholic Church: 1855 Harrison Blvd. — St. Paul Catholic Church will have a “Embrace: Retreat for Married and Engaged Couples” on February 14 with guest speakers Chris and Linda Padgett. The retreat will include interactive talks, personal time for couples’ reflection and discussion, a continental breakfast and catered lunch, and adoration with a special blessing for the couples. The cost is $120. For more information, visit: https://dcgary.org/couples-retreat.
To submit worship news, email cnance@post-trib.com.
Another $3.5 Billion For Gas Power Generation
Another $3.5 Billion For Gas Power Generation
Talen Energy is following in the footsteps of utility peers Vistra and Constellation by spending billions of dollars acquiring gas generation assets to expand their capacity and grow market share in the growing power demand market.
After spending about $3.5 billion to acquire gas generation capacity in Pennsylvania and Ohio back in July 2025, the company announced it spent another $3.5 billion to acquire two more gas facilities in Ohio. With the newly announced 2.6 GW added to last year’s 2.9 GW, Talen is getting just as aggressive as others with acquiring as much capacity as possible.
We previously discussed Vistra’s stock price popping after they purchased multiple gas plants for $4 billion, adding 5.5 GW to their portfolio across the US. The PJM market seems to be a focus of much of the capacity expansion efforts due to the extreme strain on the grid with data centers growing like weeds in places like northern Virginia. That acquisition is also in addition to their $2 billion Q4 purchase of seven gas plants for 2.6 GW.
Acquisitions by Talen and Vistra are still dwarfed by Constellation’s massive acquisition of Calpine announced one year ago. Acquiring 23 GW of mostly gas power, Constellation paid about $30 billion to further expand their generation capabilities. Constellation also currently holds ownership of the most commercial nuclear reactions in the US.
The frantic scramble to acquire as much capacity as possible, as quickly as possible, is due to the desperation for answering the demand from the US grid as it struggles to keep up with new demand growth not seen in decades due to electrification and AI data centers.
While it is far from being as dangerous as coal plants to the environment, gas generation is far from being considered as friendly as renewable and carbon-free sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear. This is one of the main reasons nuclear energy has come back into the conversation as more people than ever now approve of the use and construction of new nuclear power plants.
But, with data centers being built right now, the only way to meet their current demands is with gas and existing nuclear while the industry prepares to transfer to new and advanced nuclear in the future, most likely after 2030. There is a general concern that the nuclear bullishness of the Trump administration could be overridden by a left-wing government should parties switch after the next election, but due to nuclear being one of the most “purple” means a power production, those fears could be mostly over blown.
Regardless, Energy Secretary Chris Wright is promoting and pushing nuclear developments harder than anyone since Admiral Rickover, with the near-term potential to bring at least three new reactor designs critical by July 4 of this year.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/16/2026 – 11:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/another-35-billion-gas-power-generation
Chicago’s busy roads make for dangerous truck accidents
Content oversight provided by Studio 1847
Chicago’s status as the country’s largest inland shipping hub drives high volumes of commercial truck traffic on major expressways. Its major intermodal yards and constant freight activity has increased the risk of serious truck-related accidents, especially on highways such as Interstates 90, 94, 55, and 294.
This can make things dangerous and confusing for Chicago residents. Fortunately, law firms like Rosenfeld Injury Law can provide legal counsel and guidance through even the most extreme cases.
Chicago’s intermodal network
Major intermodal yards fuel a steady stream of freight trucks that are essential for delivering supplies that keep the city and its people functioning. Still, the heavy presence of these vehicles puts those very people at greater risk. Being involved in an automotive accident is stressful enough, but a truck-related accident takes it to another level. The stakes are higher, the damage is greater, and the risk is far more deadly.
Being involved in a personal injury case can feel altogether overwhelming. You’re attempting to manage physical and emotional harm while also suddenly becoming responsible for many legal hurdles. To secure compensation that covers necessary medical treatment, acting quickly is crucial.
But when you’re hurt and overwhelmed, taking prompt action can be challenging. That’s why getting in touch with an experienced law office can be so beneficial and helpful; suddenly, a huge chunk of those responsibilities is off your shoulders. This allows you to focus more on healing rather than on logistics.
High-risk expressways
Highways such as I-90/I-94 (Kennedy/Dan Ryan), I-55 (Stevenson), I-294 (Tri-State), and I-80/57 are key freight routes with frequent congestion and accidents. And it isn’t hard to see why. Between the sheer volume of traffic that these expressways see and the litany of distractions that populate modern drivers’ worlds, accidents are increasingly common.
Use cases: Causes of accidents
Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents in Chicago and is worsening. Whether it’s texting, browsing social media or answering calls, distractions divert drivers’ focus and can prove deadly. For instance, if traffic on I-55 slows significantly and a driver looks down to read a text, those few seconds could be the difference between life and death.
Under the influence
Driving under the influence continues to be a significant risk despite years of awareness efforts. Alcohol and drugs not only slow reactions but also impair the judgment required to identify hazards before crashes occur.
Speeding
Speeding and aggressive driving create a hazardous combination on these highways. Chicago’s aggressive driving culture promotes speeds that often exceed safe limits, especially when lanes have significantly different speeds. Such speed disparities make lane changes risky and high-stakes.
Injury risk factors
Trucks operate at different speeds, have larger blind spots and require longer stopping distances than regular cars. These factors make it far easier for a truck to be involved in an accident than a regular car and cause more damage.
What to do if you’re in an accident
When an accident occurs, if you can move safely, get to a secure location, assess injuries and call 911 immediately.
Furthermore, don’t assume that you’re uninjured just because you aren’t physically registering any pain. Adrenaline can mask these harmful symptoms and more for an extended period of time, with them only becoming apparent later.
To this end, you should document everything at the scene. Your perception of the accident is subjective and likely to be influenced in one way or another by the high-intensity emotions inherent to such events.
However, photographs are objective and can help you piece together more concretely what happened and how the accident affected you and your vehicle. Take photos from multiple angles, exchange insurance information with all parties involved, and collect contact details from witnesses. These details become crucial when insurance companies start asking questions and can be essential tools for your legal guidance team, such as the one at Rosenfeld Injury Law.
FAQ
Q1: Why is Chicago a hotspot for truck accidents?
A1: Chicago’s massive freight infrastructure and constant truck traffic on major highways like I-90 and I-294 make it one of the most congested and dangerous areas for trucking collisions.
Q2: What should I do after being hit by a commercial truck in Chicago?
A2: Seek medical attention, document the scene and contact a trusted Chicago truck accident lawyer to understand your legal options.
Q3: Which roads in Chicago see the most truck accidents?
A3: I-90/94 (Kennedy/Dan Ryan), I-55 (Stevenson), and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) are among the most heavily trafficked and dangerous for commercial vehicles.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/chicagos-busy-roads-make-for-dangerous-truck-accidents/
Kathleen Kennedy, responsable de “Star Wars”, deja Lucasfilm
Por JAKE COYLE
Después de más de 13 años al frente de Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy dejará la “fábrica de Star Wars” fundada por George Lucas.
La compañía Walt Disney Co. anunció el jueves que ahora recurrirá a Dave Filoni para dirigir “Star Wars”, como presidente y director creativo, hacia su sexta década y más allá. Filoni, quien se desempeñó como director comercial de Lucasfilm, heredará el mando de una de las franquicias más destacadas del cine, junto a Lynwen Brennan, presidenta y gerente general de los negocios de Lucasfilm, quien actuará como copresidenta.
Kennedy afirmó: “Cuando George Lucas me pidió que asumiera Lucasfilm tras su retiro, no podía imaginar lo que me esperaba. Ha sido un verdadero privilegio pasar más de una década trabajando junto al extraordinario talento de Lucasfilm”.
Kennedy, la sucesora elegida por Lucas, había presidido el mundo de ciencia ficción en constante expansión de “Star Wars” desde que Disney lo adquirió en 2012. Al anunciar la noticia del jueves, Bob Iger, director ejecutivo de la compañía Walt Disney Co., la calificó como “una cineasta visionaria”.
Kennedy supervisó un período altamente lucrativo, pero a menudo polémico, en la historia de “Star Wars” que produjo una trilogía taquillera y aclamadas obras derivadas en streaming como “The Mandalorian” y “Andor”, aunque también encontró una creciente frustración por parte de los fanáticos de toda la vida.
Bajo la dirección de Kennedy, Lucasfilm acumuló más de 5.600 millones de dólares en taquilla y ayudó a establecer Disney+ como un destino de streaming, logros que fácilmente validaron los 4.050 millones de dólares que Disney desembolsó por la compañía. Sin embargo, Kennedy también luchó por entregar la magia en la pantalla grande que Lucas capturó en la trilogía original de finales de los años 1970 y principios de los 80, y su relación con los leales a “Star Wars” se convirtió en una saga propia.
Filoni se ha establecido casi por completo en la pantalla pequeña, ingresando a la franquicia con la serie animada “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” y creando la serie de Disney+ “Ahsoka”, que recibió una acogida tibia. Filoni, quien colaboró por primera vez con Lucas en “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, también ha sido productor ejecutivo de “The Mandalorian”, “The Book of Boba Fett” y “Skeleton Crew”.
Ambos reportarán a Alan Bergman, copresidente de Disney Entertainment.
“Desde Rey hasta Grogu, Kathy ha supervisado la mayor expansión en la narrativa de Star Wars en pantalla que hemos visto”, dijo Filoni. “Estoy increíblemente agradecido con Kathy, George, Bob Iger y Alan Bergman por su confianza y la oportunidad de liderar Lucasfilm en este nuevo rol, haciendo un trabajo que realmente amo. Que la Fuerza te acompañe”.
Antes de unirse a Lucasfilm, Kennedy fue una de las productoras más exitosas de Hollywood. En 1981, cofundó Amblin Entertainment con Steven Spielberg y su eventual esposo, Frank Marshall. Produjo “E.T.”, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (“Indiana Jones y el templo de la perdición”), “Jurassic Park” y la trilogía de “Back to the Future” (“Volver al futuro”).
En Lucasfilm, su mayor éxito llegó al principio, con “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (“Star Wars: El despertar de la fuerza”) de 2015. La película dirigida por J.J. Abrams recaudó más de 2.000 millones de dólares en todo el mundo. Pero la entrega subsiguiente, “The Last Jedi” (“Los últimos jedi”) de Rian Johnson (2017), fue amargamente divisiva. La tercera película, “The Rise of Skywalker” (“El ascenso de Skywalker”) de Abrams (2019), fue ampliamente criticada tanto por críticos como por fanáticos.
Después de “The Rise of Skywalker”, “Star Wars” se apagó en la pantalla grande a pesar de una lista de proyectos anunciados. Se espera que la sequía se termine en mayo con “The Mandalorian & Grogu” de Jon Favreau. Los años intermedios han estado marcados por éxitos en streaming como “The Mandalorian” y “Andor”, pero el futuro de “Star Wars” se ha sentido cada vez más incierto.
Las luchas sobre el tono y la visión han sido frecuentes. El spin-off de Han Solo de 2018, “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, desembocó en el despido de sus directores, Phil Lord y Christopher Miller, durante la producción, quienes fueron reemplazados por Ron Howard. La mayoría encontró el resultado mixto y decepcionantemente insípido.
Más recientemente, Adam Driver, quien interpretó a Kylo Ren/Ben Solo en la trilogía más reciente de “Star Wars”, reveló a The Associated Press el año pasado que él y Steven Soderbergh habían desarrollado una película de Ben Solo con el apoyo de Kennedy y Lucasfilm durante dos años antes de que el jefe de Disney, Bob Iger, la cancelara. Los fanáticos estaban tan indignados que un avión voló sobre los estudios de Disney en Burbank con una pancarta que decía “Salven ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’”.
En cambio, la única película de “Star Wars” bajo la dirección de Kennedy que ganó una aprobación generalizada y duradera de los fanáticos fue, posiblemente, “Rogue One” de 2016. El spin-off de Gareth Edwards también fue una producción problemática, lo que llevó a Tony Gilroy, eventual creador de “Andor”, a supervisar las regrabaciones. Sin embargo, a pesar de eso, “Rogue One”, que tiene lugar dentro de “Star Wars” pero fuera de la línea principal de los Jedi, podría ser la única película del reinado de Kennedy en “Star Wars” que logró tanto mantenerse fiel al tono de la odisea espacial como abrir nuevos terrenos.
La huella de Kennedy estarán en muchos de los próximos proyectos de “Star Wars” durante años. Eso incluye “Star Wars: Starfighter” de Shawn Levy, con Ryan Gosling, que se estrenará en mayo de 2027, y otros proyectos más en varias etapas de desarrollo.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/kathleen-kennedy-responsable-de-star-wars-deja-lucasfilm/
Underwater Auto Trade-Ins Reach Record Highs: Edmunds
Underwater Auto Trade-Ins Reach Record Highs: Edmunds
Authored by Rob Sabo via The Epoch Times,
A record number of automobile owners are carrying negative equity of $10,000 to more than $15,000 into trade-ins on new vehicles, according to online vehicle data analytics website Edmunds.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, a record high of 27 percent of vehicle trade-ins involved negative equity of at least $10,000, Edmunds reported on Jan. 15. Just more than 17 percent of trade-ins involved loans with $10,000 to $15,000 of negative equity, while 9.2 percent of trade-ins had loan balances exceeding $15,000.
Negative equity on auto loans is commonly referred to as being “upside down” or “underwater,” a situation where the vehicle is worth less than what’s currently owed on the loan. Nearly 30 percent of all vehicles traded in during the fourth quarter of last year carried some amount of negative equity, Edmunds said. It’s the highest amount of underwater loans on record since the first quarter of 2021, when nearly 32 percent of trade-ins carried negative equity.
The average negative equity of $7,214 that was rolled over into new auto loans in the fourth quarter was the highest amount ever recorded.
Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds, said carrying negative equity into a new auto loan can be a difficult cycle to escape.
“Rolling debt forward may offer short-term relief, but it often leaves buyers with higher payments, and fewer options the next time they’re in the market,” Drury said in the report.
“Avoiding that cycle generally comes down to fundamentals: understanding how much a vehicle is worth relative to what’s owed, choosing purchases that hold their value and align with long-term needs, and recognizing that focusing only on monthly payments can obscure the true cost of a purchase.”
The all-time highs on upside down loans come at a time when more Americans are being approved for auto loans. According to Cox Automotive, the overall approval rates for auto loans in December 2025 jumped 90 basis points from a month earlier, to roughly 74 percent. Loans to riskier subprime borrowers—applicants with fair to poor credit scores—dipped slightly, to just more than 14 percent, Cox Automotive noted. However, subprime lending was still up by 230 basis points from year-ago figures.
Jonathan Gregory, senior manager for Cox Automotive’s economic and industry insights team, said borrowers should take a broad view of total ownership costs when evaluating loan offers.
“Ongoing improvement in credit access, especially in both the new and used markets, continues to offer financing opportunities,” Gregory said in a Jan. 12 analysis.
“While approval rates increased, the slight decline in down payments combined with longer loan terms may indicate stretched affordability.”
The amount of down payment borrowers brought to auto loans dipped slightly in December, to 13.3 percent, Cox Automotive noted.
Edmunds said the imbalance in auto loans largely stems from loans taken out during the COVID-19 pandemic, when chip shortages led to a dearth of new-vehicle inventory and pushed automobile prices higher. As those borrowers seek to upgrade their vehicles, more are finding themselves significantly underwater, Edmunds said.
“Loans that originated when prices were elevated are now aging into a market where values are no longer inflated, making the gap between what many buyers owe and what their vehicle is worth more apparent,” the report states.
“Combined with higher borrowing costs in today’s market, that dynamic has left more buyers facing steeper financial trade-offs when it comes time to replace a vehicle.”
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/16/2026 – 11:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/underwater-auto-trade-ins-reach-record-highs-edmunds
Trump sugiere que podría imponer aranceles a países que no apoyen plan de EEUU sobre Groenlandia
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — El presidente Donald Trump sugirió el viernes que podría castigar con aranceles a los países que no apoyen que Estados Unidos controle Groenlandia, un mensaje que llegó al tiempo que una delegación del Congreso se reunía con legisladores daneses y groenlandeses en Copenhague y buscaba reducir las tensiones.
Durante meses, Trump ha insistido en que Estados Unidos debería controlar Groenlandia, un territorio autónomo que forma parte del reino de Dinamarca, aliado de la OTAN, y dijo a principios de esta semana que cualquier resultado menos que la isla ártica esté en manos de Estados Unidos será “inaceptable”.
“Podría imponer un arancel a los países si no están de acuerdo con Groenlandia”, dijo el viernes, sin proporcionar detalles. “Necesitamos Groenlandia por razones de seguridad nacional”.
No había mencionado previamente el uso de aranceles para intentar forzar el tema.
A principios de esta semana, los ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de Dinamarca y Groenlandia se reunieron en Washington con el vicepresidente estadounidense JD Vance y el secretario de Estado Marco Rubio.
El encuentro no resolvió las profundas diferencias, pero produjo un acuerdo para establecer un grupo de trabajo, sobre cuyo propósito Dinamarca y la Casa Blanca luego ofrecieron opiniones públicas marcadamente divergentes. Groenlandia es un territorio autónomo de Dinamarca, un aliado estadounidense de la OTAN.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Arlington Heights calls for state lawmakers to act on Chicago Bears proposed new stadium
Arlington Heights officials called Friday for Illinois lawmakers to get moving on a proposed new Chicago Bears stadium in the northwest suburb — even as Indiana lawmakers introduced a bill to draw the team to their state.
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia warned that without legislation to let the Bears negotiate property taxes for the stadium, the team may move across the border, warning, “We cannot fumble this opportunity.”
What to know about the Chicago Bears’ possible move from Soldier Field
In Indiana, lawmakers introduced a bill last month to create a northwest Indiana stadium authority to acquire and finance sports facilities. Indiana previously created a commission to look into attracting professional sports teams to northwest Indiana, but the new proposal would go further to potentially provide money for the deal.
The measure was assigned Thursday to the Committee on Appropriations.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, in his State of the State address Wednesday, said his administration was “working hard” to attract the Bears. “Let’s get it across the finish line,” he said.
In response to the new legislation, the Bears quickly issued a statement: “The legislation presented by the State of Indiana is a significant milestone in our discussions around a potential stadium development in Chicagoland’s Northwest Indiana region. We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Governor Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
Arlington Heights officials called a news conference Friday and issued an open letter to Illinois lawmakers, urging them to pass a “Mega Projects bill” that would let large developers — not just the Bears — negotiate long-term property taxes with local schools and other taxing bodies.
“We must stand together as Illinoisans to prevent our State from being out of the NFL business altogether, and support the Mega Projects Bill,” Mayor Tinaglia wrote. “The Chicago Bears should not get special treatment just because they are ‘the Bears,’ but they shouldn’t have it held against them, either. They should be treated the same as any other entity.”
Without the bill, the Bears might be on the hook for an annual tax bill of $100 million to $200 million, which would kill the deal, Tinaglia said.
Currently, the Bears and Chicago White Sox pay zero property taxes on their stadiums, because they are publicly owned. The Cubs pay about $3 million a year, and the Bulls and Black Hawks about $6 million annually, according to an analysis by former state Rep. Mark Batinick.
The highest property tax bill in the country for a sports stadium is $8 million a year for SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles, Tinaglia said. The mayor emphasized that the Mega Projects bill would not cost the state anything.
However, the Bears are asking the state to help pay for infrastructure, such as new expressway ramps and other road, rail and utilities work, which could cost an estimated $855 million.
A team consultant estimated the project would create 33,000 construction jobs, plus $11 billion in economic activity, plus more than $1 billion a year annually thereafter, with a domed stadium allowing year-round shows and concerts, and occasional special events like a Super Bowl or college sports championships that now go elsewhere.
Economic studies generally have contradicted such projections, repeatedly finding that sports stadiums are bad public investments.
But the competition between two states can drive both sides to make deals they might not otherwise offer.
The Kansas City Chiefs football team recently agreed to move from Missouri to Kansas for a new publicly-subsidized stadium.
After voters in Missouri rejected a sales tax extension for new stadiums, Kansas lawmakers agreed to pay for 60% of the cost of a $3 billion domed stadium with sales and other taxes. That amounts to $1.8 billion — the largest pro sports subsidy ever.
That deal came after Washington, D.C, dedicated $1 billion for the Commanders football team to move there from a suburb in Maryland.
J.C. Bradbury, an economics professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia and a leading critic of publicly subsidized stadiums, previously told the Tribune, “In general, sports stadiums are never a good deal for taxpayers, no matter how the funding is laundered on behalf of the team. Sounds like a new shade of lipstick on the same old pig.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state legislative leaders have opposed spending money to build a Bears stadium, and the team has said they would pay for the $2 billion dome themselves — the largest private development in the history of the state.
But the governor and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch have said they are open to having the state pay for infrastructure.
Welch previously called the Bears’ proposal “insensitive,” but this week told WGN-TV that passing the Mega Projects bill would be helpful to keep the Bears in Illinois.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/16/arlington-heights-chicago-bears-lawmakers/
