Category: News
NFL playoff picture: NFC South title will be decided by the other 2 division teams on season’s final day
The NFC South champion will be decided by the two teams that aren’t in the race for the division title.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers 16-14 on Saturday to stay alive in the playoff race. The Buccaneers (8-9) need the New Orleans Saints (6-10) to beat or tie the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) on Sunday to clinch a fifth straight NFC South championship.
If the Falcons beat the Saints, the Panthers will secure their first division title since coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago.
The Buccaneers hold a two-team tiebreaker over the Panthers. But Carolina holds the three-team tiebreaker over the Bucs if the Falcons also finish 8-9.
The NFC West champion and the No. 1 seed in the conference will be determined Saturday night when the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) take on the San Francisco 49ers (12-4).
Twelve of the 14 playoff berths have been secured, and four teams are battling for the final two spots. Both No. 1 seeds are up for grabs, and there’s a winner-take-all game for the AFC North between the Ravens and Steelers on Sunday night.
The Broncos (13-3), Patriots, Jaguars (12-4), Texans (11-5), Chargers (11-5) and Bills (11-5) have secured playoff spots in the AFC.
The Seahawks (13-3), Bears (11-5), Eagles (11-5), 49ers (12-4), Rams (11-4) and Packers (9-6-1) are heading to the NFC playoffs.
NFC East
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles became the first team to win this division in consecutive seasons in two decades. They’ll be the NFC’s No. 2 or 3 seed. If the Eagles, who are resting key starters, beat the Washington Commanders and the Chicago Bears lose to the Detroit Lions, the Eagles will be the No. 2 seed.
NFC North
The Bears clinched their first division championship since 2018. They will be the No. 2 seed with a win over the Lions. If they lose, they’ll need the Eagles to lose to the Commanders.
The Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed.
NFC South
The Panthers or Buccaneers will clinch depending on the outcome of the Saints-Falcons game Sunday.
NFC West
The 49ers beat the Seahawks 17-13 in Week 1. If they beat them again, San Francisco will earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Niners could become the third team to play for a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
Seattle secures the division title and the No. 1 seed with a win or tie against the 49ers.
The Rams will be the No. 5 or 6 seed.
NFC playoffs: As things stand
1. Seahawks (13-3): at 49ers (12-4), 7 p.m. Saturday, ABC-7
2. Bears (11-5): vs. Lions (8-8), 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Fox-32
3. Eagles (11-5): vs. Commanders (4-12), 3:25 p.m. Sunday
4. Buccaneers (8-9): beat Panthers 16-14 on Saturday
5. 49ers (12-4): vs. Seahawks (13-3), 7 p.m. Saturday
6. Rams (11-5): vs. Cardinals (3-13), 3:25 p.m. Sunday
7. Packers (9-6-1): at Vikings (8-8), noon Sunday, CBS-2
In the hunt: After losing to the Bucs on Saturday, the Panthers (8-9) would win the NFC South with a Falcons loss/tie against the Saints on Sunday. If the Falcons win, the Buccaneers take the division title.
AFC East
New England won its first division title since Tom Brady led the franchise to 11 straight from 2009-19. The Patriots would secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over Miami and a loss or tie by Denver against the Chargers or a tie against the Dolphins and a loss by the Broncos. The Patriots could finish with the No. 1, 2 or 3 seed.
Buffalo’s run of five consecutive division crowns ended, but the Bills will be the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed.
AFC North
The Steelers beat the Ravens 27-22 at Baltimore on Dec. 7. They have to beat them again or tie them on Sunday night without wide receiver DK Metcalf to get into the playoffs.
Derrick Henry and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley led the Ravens to a win at Green Bay last Saturday night that kept Baltimore in the race and made Pittsburgh’s loss to Cleveland the next day matter. Lamar Jackson is expected to return from a back injury to start for the Ravens, who are 3 1/2-point favorites on the road, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The division winner will be the No. 4 seed and host a wild-card game.
AFC South
Jacksonville wins the division with a win or tie against the Titans or a loss coupled with Houston losing or tying the Colts. The Jaguars can end up with the No. 1 seed if the Broncos and Patriots lose. The Jaguars will finish with the No. 1, 2 or 3 seed.
The Texans would win the division with a victory over the Colts and a loss by the Jaguars. Houston can end up with the No. 3, 5, 6 or 7 seed.
AFC West
The Broncos have already won the division, ending Kansas City’s nine-year run. Denver can secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win against the Chargers or a loss by New England to Miami. If the Broncos lose, they could fall to No. 2 or 3.
Los Angeles will be the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed.
AFC playoffs: As things stand
1. Broncos (13-3): vs. Chargers (11-5), 3:25 p.m. Sunday
2. Patriots (13-3): vs. Dolphins (7-9), 3:25 p.m. Sunday
3. Jaguars (12-4): vs. Titans (3-13), noon Sunday
4. Steelers (9-7): vs. Ravens (8-8), 7:25 p.m. Sunday, NBC-5
5. Texans (11-5): vs. Colts (8-8), noon Sunday
6. Chargers (11-5): at Broncos (13-3), 3:25 p.m. Sunday
7. Bills (11-5): vs. Jets (3-13), 3:25 p.m. Sunday
In the hunt: The Ravens (8-8) need to beat the Steelers on Sunday night to win the AFC North.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/nfl-playoff-picture-week-18-outlook/
What Is The Real Reason For The Historic Drop In US Homicide Rates?
What Is The Real Reason For The Historic Drop In US Homicide Rates?
Despite a flurry of politically charged violence and a number of Islamic and left-wing motivated terror attacks, 2025 also experienced the largest single-year decline in homicides in US history. The plunge brings official US homicide rates to near-record lows.
Based on a sampling of preliminary crime statistics from 550 U.S. law enforcement agencies, the year is expected to end with a roughly 20% decrease in homicides nationwide, Jeff Asher, a national crime analyst, told ABC News.
“So, even taking a conservative view, let’s say its 17% or 16%, you’re still looking at the largest one-year drop ever recorded in 2025,” said Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics and a former crime analyst for the CIA and the New Orleans Police Department.
The drop comes after what many law enforcement analysts call the “Pandemic Surge”, the Biden era explosion in homicides and overall crime was considered endemic to Democrat controlled cities across the US. Though, Democrat leaders claimed throughout Biden’s term that no such surge was taking place.
The spike in murders was the largest since the early 1990s at the height of the gang violence era. However, criminal data collection was incomplete during the Biden years due to a sudden change in the FBI’s Summary Reporting System (SRS). Starting in 2021, the FBI began transitioning to a new method called the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
This transition was officially slated to take up to five years to complete and during the changeover a large percentage of US cities were not required to submit complete crime stats. Meaning, as bad as the pandemic surge was, the real crime rate was likely much higher than reported.
By the end of 2024, crime data coverage returned to around 95% of the population. This is rather convenient for Democrats given they had a convenient excuse to suppress true crime rates through lack of reporting; then, the reporting system went back to normal as soon as Donald Trump returned to office.
If the stats are accurate for 2025, this means the Trump Administration has overseen the largest ever drop in homicides in the US in it’s first year without the benefit of incomplete FBI data. This is impressive.
But there as some lingering concerns about the accuracy of blue city crime rates. For example, Washington DC officials have been caught in the midst of active suppression of crime data, using intimidation of precinct commanders as a means to rig arrest records and downgrade offenses while progressive prosecutors and judges keep conviction rates low.
The exposure of this fraud (due to law enforcement whistleblowers) led to the resignation of D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith and an ongoing congressional investigation.
The question is, how many other blue cities are involved in the same kind of crime stat suppression and is this the real cause of the drop in criminal activity. Or, did Trump play a substantial role in cutting down homicides? Perhaps the mass deportations along with National Guard deployments in place like DC and LA have had a meaningful effect on urban violence.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 01/03/2026 – 20:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/homicide-rates-fall-near-record-lows-during-trumps-first-year
Coal Remains King In India While Exports Optimize Domestic Stock
Coal Remains King In India While Exports Optimize Domestic Stock
By Tsvetana Paraskova of OilPrice.com,
Coal India Limited, the biggest coal producer in the world’s second-biggest coal user, opened this year its online coal supply auctions directly to buyers in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, as Indian coal supply has swelled amid weaker-than-expected demand in recent months.
Amid an oversupply of coal and weaker demand, India and its top state coal producer are looking to optimize domestic supply and monetize exports to neighboring countries.
Until 2026, only middlemen could bid in Coal India’s online supply auctions. This has now changed with the new policy.
“In a first, effective January 1, 2026, CIL has permitted coal consumers located in the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, who wish to import coal from India, to directly participate in the Single Window Mode Agnostic (SWMA) auctions conducted by the company,” Coal India said in a statement on Friday, as carried by The Economic Times.
“Opening SWMA e-auctions to foreign buyers reflects CIL’s calibrated approach to market expansion while fully safeguarding domestic coal requirements. This step enhances transparency, competition and global market integration,” a senior company official told the publication.
Opening the e-auctions directly to buyers sent Coal India’s shares rallying by 7% on the local stock exchange at close on Friday.
Coal-fired power generation and capacity installations in India continue to rise and coal remains a key pillar of India’s electricity mix with about 60% share of total power output.
Despite booming renewable capacity additions, India continues to rely on coal to meet most of its power demand as authorities also look to avoid blackouts in cases of severe heat waves.
Coal will still be a key part of India’s power system for the next two decades, Rajnath Ram, adviser for energy NITI Aayog, said in September.
“We cannot be subjective about coal. The question is how sustainably we can use it,” the official noted.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 01/03/2026 – 19:50
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/coal-remains-king-india-while-exports-optimize-domestic-stock
Nick Martinelli scores 26, but Northwestern fades late and falls to 0-3 in Big Ten with 84-78 loss to Minnesota
Cade Tyson scored 24 points, and Minnesota pulled away late for an 84-78 victory over Northwestern on Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston.
Isaac Asuma netted a season-high 18 points, Langston Reynolds had 13 points and 13 assists and the Golden Gophers (9-5, 2-1 Big Ten) broke a 34-all tie at halftime by scoring 50 points in the second half.
Northwestern took its largest lead early in the second half, going up 53-46 after a Nick Martinelli tip-in with 14 minutes left. The Wildcats went up by seven again after a pair of Arrinten Page free throws with 4:39 to play, but the Gophers used an 8-0 run for a 68-67 lead with 3:25 left.
The teams traded the lead twice from there before Tyson drilled a 3-pointer with 1:19 left to push Minnesota’s advantage to five. The Wildcats did not get closer than three the rest of the way.
Minnesota sealed the win at the free-throw line, going 10-for-12 in the final 40 seconds. Tyson finished 11-for-12 at the line, and Asuma and Bobby Durkin combined to make four free throws in the closing seconds.
Grayson Grove, who entered the game averaging 2.3 points, scored 12 off the bench and had three dunks in the second half.
Martinelli led Northwestern (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten) with 26 points. Jayden Reid scored 19, and Page added 19 off the bench. The Wildcats were outscored 24-11 in the final 4:23.
Up next
Northwestern: Travels to No. 9 Michigan State on Thursday.
Minnesota: Hosts No. 25 Iowa on Tuesday.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/northwestern-minnesota-big-ten/
Illinoisans react with both hope, dread after Venezuelan president ousted
When Ana Gil García heard about the United States’ capture of Venezuela’s president, she felt a sense of cautious optimism.
But the cofounder of the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance said she knows the future of the country and her son who lives in Caracas hang in the balance. She’s also wary of a foreign government intervening in the South American country. Venezuelans should decide their own destiny, she said.
“We don’t know what could be the immediate consequences to the country,” Gil said. “What we know is that we cannot accept civilians being killed … we are against any intervention in which civilians will suffer more than what they have already suffered.”
The Trump administration’s capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife early Saturday morning brought up complicated emotions for some Venezuelan community leaders. Some groups and elected officials categorically opposed the stunning operation, calling it government overreach. Others, like Gil, said there’s some hope in being rid of a leader most human rights organizations describe as a dictator.
The U.S. flew Maduro out of Venezuela in an extraordinary military operation that plucked a sitting leader from office. Maduro and his wife arrived in New York to face prosecution by the Justice Department after a grand jury indicted them on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges.
President Donald Trump insisted the U.S. government would run the country at least temporarily and would tap Venezuela’s vast oil reserves to sell “large amounts” to other countries. The legal authority for the operation was not immediately clear, though the Trump administration described it — and earlier deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea — as necessary to stem the flow of dangerous drugs.
Gov. JB Pritzker, however, called it an “unconstitutional military action” in a statement, and said Trump is putting troops in danger with “no long-term strategy.”
“The American people deserve a President focused on making their lives more affordable,” he said.
Meanwhile, hundreds gathered downtown Saturday evening to protest the operation. Carrying signs that said, “No War on Venezuela,” and chanting, “No war, no coup, Donald Trump shame on you,” protesters criticized American “forever wars.” They also said it’s immoral for the government to profit from Venezuelan oil.
“Every single time the United States attacks another country, regardless of what the political color of that regime in power, the people of those countries suffer immeasurably,” activist Andy Thayer said.
“However impoverished they were before, they were greatly more impoverished afterwards,” he added.
Demonstrators gather for a protest against the U.S. military strike in Venezuela, at Chicago’s Federal Plaza, Jan. 3, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
In addition to Pritzker, several local elected officials condemned the action. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth called it “reckless and unconstitutional,” while Mayor Brandon Johnson said it “violates international law” and “dangerously escalates the possibility of full-scale war.”
“As we have said for the past two years, the dehumanization of migrants from Venezuela, and of immigrants generally, by the Far Right has laid the groundwork for military action in Central and South America,” Johnson said in a statement.
About 50,000 Venezuelan migrants have arrived in Chicago over the last several years as they fled political turmoil and extreme poverty in their home country. The Supreme Court last year allowed the Trump administration to strip legal protections for thousands of these migrants, some of whom were arrested in recent immigration enforcement operations.
Gil said, if anything, she hopes the military action helps people understand why swaths of immigrants fled Venezuela for better opportunities in the United States.
“When we left the country, we didn’t leave because we wanted to,” Gil said. “The people were forced to.”
Several Republicans had a more favorable reaction to the operation. Adam Kinzinger, a former congressman from Illinois, for example, said Maduro was never a “legitimate president” and that removing him without a massive military occupation is “how it should be done.”
“This was the right call,” he said on social media. “May Maduro face justice and the people of Venezuela be free.”
Luciana Díaz, the CEO of Panas en Chicago, a nonprofit that supports Venezuelan migrants, also said in a statement that they’re “deeply hopeful and encouraged for our community and for our country, after 28 years of dictatorship that forced thousands of Venezuelans many of whom are now asylum-seekers to rebuild their lives in cities like Chicago.”
“We have witnessed firsthand the human impact of this prolonged crisis. We trust that this moment will mark the beginning of a transition toward democracy, justice and the reunification of Venezuelan families,” Díaz said.
“God is with us. We continue to wait for a peaceful and genuine transition,” she added.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/chicago-illinois-reaction-maduro-venezuela/
California’s Open-Carry Ban Shot Down By Federal Appeals Court
California’s Open-Carry Ban Shot Down By Federal Appeals Court
2026 started with a bang for proponents of the human right of armed self-defense, as a US appeals court on Friday ruled that California’s de facto statewide ban on openly carrying firearms violates the US Constitution. However, there’s reason to think it will flip the other way as the litigation proceeds to the next phase. For now, though, leftists are recoiling. California governor and likely 2028 presidential candidate Gavin Newsom said “Republican activists on the Ninth Circuit” want to “return to the days of the Wild West.”
Then-20-year-old Caitlin Rutherford wearing a Glock at her parents’ Virginia home (Washingtonian)
As with other recent victories for gun rights, this one springs from the test prescribed by the impactful 2022 US Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. In that case, the court said firearm restrictions are only permissible if they are consistent with the country’s “historical tradition of firearm regulation.” The three-judge panel ruled against the open-carry ban in a 2-1 ruling, overturning a lower-court judge’s interpretation. As Judge Lawrence VanDyke wrote in the majority opinion:
“The historical record makes unmistakably plain that open carry is part of this nation’s history and tradition. It was clearly protected at the time of the founding and at the time of the adoption of the 14th Amendment. There is no record of any law restricting open carry at the Founding, let alone a distinctly similar historical regulation… for the first 162 years of its history open carry was a largely unremarkable part of daily life in California.”
California law forbids open carry in any county with a population of more than 200,000 people, a threshold that covers 95% of the population. In practice, however, it’s a 100% ban. Technically, Californians in sparsely-populated counties are allowed to apply for a license to carry openly in their home county, but, as noted in the 98-page ruling, “California admits that it has no record of even one open-carry license being issued, and one potential reason is that California has misled its citizens about how to apply for an open-carry license.”
The opinion also points to the 19th century, which saw plenty of concealed carry restrictions but few on open carry (and those that did exist were usually struck down) pic.twitter.com/0yvJqiTU6B
— Kostas Moros (@MorosKostas) January 2, 2026
The sole judge in the minority, George W. Bush-appointed N. Randy Smith, said the ban passed constitutional muster because California lets residents carry concealed firearms, if they can get a permit. “A state may not prohibit the public carriage of firearms by eliminating both open and concealed carry, but a state can lawfully eliminate one manner of carry to protect and ensure the safety of its citizens, as long as they are able to carry in another manner,” he wrote in his dissent.
The majority opinion skewered California’s strained attempt to find some tangential way to characterize the open-carry ban as consistent with the “historical tradition of firearm regulation,” and thus pass the Bruen test:
“Open carry remains open carry, just as it was at the Founding. And concealed carry remains concealed carry, just as it was in 1791. To get around that reality, the analogical argument that California would have us adopt really boils down to the idea that today a state can ban all open carry because some other states regulated some other things at the Founding in some other ways. That is too sloppy a fit. Bruen requires a closer relationship between “how” and “why” a historical regulation burdened the right to bear arms and “how” and “why” a modern analogue burdens that right.”
The victory will likely be short-lived, according to Kostas Moros, Director of Legal Research and Education for the Second Amendment Foundation. “With near certainty, it will be en banc’d and reversed,” Moros wrote in a thread on X in which he analyzed the ruling. Pointing to a previous, dubious ruling, he said, it’s “hard to see how the Ninth Circuit would ever let this ruling stand.”
Tyler Durden
Sat, 01/03/2026 – 19:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/californias-open-carry-ban-shot-down-federal-appeals-court
South Korea says North Korea has launched a ballistic missile into the sea
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, South Korea’s military said.
South Korea’s military said North Korea’s missile launch off the North’s east coast happened Sunday morning but gave no further details.
The launch is the latest weapons display by North Korea ahead of its upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress.
The launch also came hours after South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, leaves for China for a summit with President Xi Jinping. During the trip, Lee’s office said he would request China to make “a constructive role” in efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Earlier this week, North Korea said it fired long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/south-korea-north-korea-ballistic-missile/
Daily Horoscope for January 04, 2026
General Daily Insight for January 04, 2026
Warm confidence colors our choices and conversations. With Luna dancing into energetic Leo at 8:43 AM EST, we can bravely show our talents and ask for what warms our hearts. We start gently and build playful momentum, so small appreciation or a creative tweak can brighten home routines and spark teamwork. Later, as the Moon faces transformative Pluto, honest feelings will surface in collaborations — which is ultimately for the best, even if it involves an intimidating conversation. Steady truth will magnify our impact.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Take charge of your time! Creative risks are extra inviting once the instinctive Moon bounces into your 5th House of Wonder, encouraging play that helps you share ideas without waiting for a “perfect” moment. Consider delving into a passion project that’s always intimidated you — and don’t be afraid to ask for input from your peers. Your spark thrives when you let joy set the pace. Today, in particular, you’re blessed with the confidence to move forward. Follow what brings you bliss.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
This morning favors comfort and steady progress. Your 4th House of Authenticity wakes as the Moon arrives, guiding you to make small changes that soothe your space and simplify plans. You might rearrange a messy closet or prep an easy meal so the evening feels calmer for whoever shares your roof. Because you currently move best at a measured pace, you may prefer to stay home and work through your to-do list slowly. Choose peace first, so progress arrives without extra strain later.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Delivering your message is possible, but it may need a little editing first. Luna is leaping into your chatty 3rd house, inviting you to share ideas with humor and rewrite notes before hitting send. You may smooth over a neighborhood misunderstanding, call a sibling, or speak up to banish mixed signals. When your mind races with options, you may feel scattered. Fortunately, focusing on one clear point per exchange should keep conversations nimble and supportive. Speak with care, because kindness keeps doors open everywhere.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Home feels like the right place to start. You’re ready to improve your situation with practical effort. This productivity is boosted by the Moon entering your 2nd House of Resources, which highlights money and self-worth through pragmatic choices. Take your time handling your possessions, whether you’re repairing a keepsake or considering selling an unused appliance. Give yourself permission to pause before committing, and let trusted support remind you that your needs truly matter. Let practical care show love, and stability should follow soon.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Leo, your presence changes the room instantly. The Moon is stepping into your vivacious sign, inviting you to lead with warmth by adjusting your approach as necessary and showing your heart without overexplaining. Try starting a meeting with gratitude for what’s working before you get into critiquing what’s not. If attention feels like pressure, step back and breathe. Remember, you should be in charge of your life’s pace, not outside influences. Own your glow so people can rally around your vision!
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Silent moments have much to offer at present. With the comforting Moon beginning her transit of your 12th House of Solitude, you may not be up to much socialization. Instead, look for at-home activities that encourage personal reflection. You’re allowed to cancel plans if you aren’t feeling up to them — you can always make new ones, after all. Guarding against the daily grind’s noisy intrusions is likely necessary to make space for finding fresh insights. Rest restores your sharper judgment.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Watch out for false dilemmas! Someone may present you with limited options, but there’s likely a creative path that they never imagined was possible. Think out of the box — your community may be able to assist with this. Once the Moon enters your group-aligned 11th house, teamwork becomes even more powerful than usual. You may propose a clearer division of tasks on a volunteer project, or help friends pick a plan that includes everyone. Mutual respect grows when everyone has fair choices.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Scorpio, your ambition speaks louder through consistency. Authority grows as the intuitive Moon focuses your 10th House of Status, sharpening your skills so you can shape a message or boundary that protects long-term goals. You might revise a presentation, confirm timelines with a supervisor, or simply commit to quality over quantity. Your depth turns heads when you stay calm under pressure, because focused action demonstrates authority more than any dramatic move ever could. Commit to substance, because respect grows from consistent delivery.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Where do you want life to expand? Your 9th House of Intrigue welcomes the Moon today, potentially inspiring a stretch through study or a cultural outing that inspires a future trip. You could sign up for a short class or invite a mentor to lunch to hear a bigger view. Your optimism works best when paired with follow-through, so keep an eye on the path ahead. You can turn inspiration into movement without losing your easygoing spirit. Keep being curious!
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Don’t jump into the deep end unless you’re sure you can swim! The moody Moon activates your 8th House of Intimacy today, focusing your instincts on the topics that matter. Consider penciling in a financial check-in with a partner or updating your privacy settings online. Be cautious when sharing sensitive details. In close relationships, remember that steady honesty builds closeness faster than overgiving. Pace the conversation to protect your energy while strengthening mutual confidence. Share honestly so trust deepens and solutions come more easily.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Social connections thrive on simple, steady attention right now. Your 7th House of Partnership draws focus as the instinctive Moon enters, inviting honest exchanges and useful commitments. Deadlines and contracts can be renegotiated, while personal bonds can be strengthened. You might want to check in with a relative about shared responsibilities. Pay attention to the systems that underpin your social circle — each person needs something different to be successful. To find out what they need, listen closely. Understanding turns friction into progress for everyone.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Small habits create meaningful, healthy momentum. As the subconscious Moon supports your 6th House of Daily Routine, you’re gifted with insight regarding which practices are actually helpful. Let this motivate you to tidy your workspace, stretch more regularly, or simply drink more water. Be compassionate with yourself, because you can’t get things done without taking care of your mind and body. Celebrate each win — even minor ones — so that encouragement can fuel your future. Choosing simple routines ensures your energy stays steady.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/daily-horoscope-for-january-04-2026/
Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson has come full circle since his Detroit Lions moment: ‘He never changed his tune’
Kevin Byard III remembers how badly the Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions in Week 2, but also how, in the aftermath, Ben Johnson didn’t lose it.
Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator, was humbled by his ex-team 52-21 at Ford Field, stumbling to an 0-2 start as a first-time head coach.
“There’s TVs around this building that be on these networks,” Byard said of the early critics, the doubters. “The main thing he (Johnson) just preached to us is we recognize outside of the building, everybody thinks the sky is falling, but we’re going to continue to trust the process.
“And I think that was the thing that spoke heavy to all of us. … When you lose in the NFL usually, that week the building is kind of tense. Nobody likes losing, it’s not a good feeling. But he went up there saying, ‘Hey, we’re good. We’re going to continue to trust the process. We’re going to turn this thing around. We’re still a good team.’ He basically just continued to instill that belief in us.”
Johnson, 39, gets ready to face his former team again Sunday, but the circumstances couldn’t be more different.
The Bears are 11-5 and have clinched the NFC North Division for the first time since 2018 after finishing in last place the season before. If they beat the Lions, this time at Soldier Field (3:25 p.m., Fox-32), they’ll secure the No. 2 seed in the conference.
Regardless of the outcome, he’s assured of becoming just the second Bears coach since the 1970 merger to finish with a record above .500 in his first season in Chicago, joining Matt Nagy in 2018 (12-4, .750).
Johnson will have a .706 winning percentage if the Bears win, .647 if they lose.
But more than just a better number in the standings, a win would represent a full-circle moment for Johnson and the team.
A turning point … or just a benchmark?
Bears head coach Ben Johnson goes over plays in the second quarter against the Lions at Ford Field on Sept. 14, 2025, in Detroit. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
There were some hard feelings in Detroit about Johnson leaving for a division rival, so the rout had some personal stakes.
“You always remember how you felt in those moments,” Johnson said earlier this week. “It’s never a good taste when you get beat by that so handily. The fourth quarter wasn’t even close. So yeah, I’ll leave it at that.”
Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, another Lions export, also felt the sting of the blowout loss and said Johnson felt it too.
“Yeah, it bothered us to no end and, I mean, yes, it bothered him,” Randle El said. “It’s one thing to lose, but losing the way we did, it’s not, it’s just not (us). … We are a different team than we were Week 2 at the end of the day.”
Afterward, Johnson led the Bears on a four-game winning streak. And after a Week 8 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore, the Bears went on a five-game winning streak.
Randle El stopped short of saying that the slap in the face in Detroit served as a catalyst.
“I don’t think it was a turning point, but it was still getting guys to believe in what we’re doing,” said Randle El, who noted that several members of the coaching staff experienced slow starts before, only to see those teams rattle off consecutive wins.
Also, Johnson said that based on the talent of the roster and work ethic players showed in each camp, he and the staff felt strongly that the group would turn the ship if they stayed the course.
“I think it’s a great lesson to be learned that you don’t jump to conclusions too early,” Johnson said.
Building from scratch (mostly)
New Bears coach Ben Johnson speaks with Chairman George McCaskey after being introduced Jan. 22, 2025, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
By the time the Bears decided to fire Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29, 2024, Johnson already was a top coaching candidate for an upcoming vacancy.
After Johnson’s Lions offense averaged a franchise-record 409.5 yards and a league-high 32.4 points and the Associated Press named him NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, he became the hot name. The Bears hired him on Jan. 21, 2025, making him the franchise’s 18th full-time head coach.
Johnson kept some key coaches from Eberflus’ staff, including tight ends coach Jim Dray, special teams coordinator Richard Hightower and a handful of other assistants, but otherwise made sweeping changes.
Like a lot of head coaches filling out their staffs, Johnson used former relationships and coaches well-versed in familiar systems to guide his selections.
He named Dennis Allen as his defensive coordinator. Allen had served the same role when Johnson’s Lions boss Dan Campbell was assistant head coach for the New Orleans Saints in 2020. Allen also had been Saints head coach from 2022-24.
Johnson looked to a couple of other Saints who worked under Campbell, elevating Declan Doyle to a first-time offensive coordinator and luring offensive line coach Dan Roushar out of retirement.
Johnson brought in Randle El and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett from the Lions and hired Al Harris as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.
Harris had been a coaching intern on Joe Philbin’s 2012 Miami Dolphins, when Johnson, a former Boston College tight ends coach, first cut his teeth in the NFL as an offensive assistant coach.
Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy told the Tribune that in his opinion, Roushar was one of Johnson’s most critical hires, but one could argue that Bieniemy has made as much of an impact on Johnson’s run-based scheme.
Column: Finding edges in the running game fuels Ben Johnson’s evolution of the Chicago Bears offense
Under Bieniemy, lead back D’Andre Swift has rebounded from last season’s career-low 3.8 yards per carry to a second-best 4.9, while rookie Kyle Monangai (4.7) has helped form a powerful 1-2 punch.
Bieniemy said he and Johnson had a lot of colleagues in common, which led to his hire.
“He was in Detroit (and) he worked with (former offensive coordinator) Darrell Bevell,” Bieniemy said. “I’ve known Darrell Bevell for years, me and Darrell Bevell worked together in Minnesota. …
“(Bears general manager) Ryan Poles, me and Poles worked together out in Kansas City. … We’ve had some interconnections that have always kept us basically connected at the hip, in a sense.”
Bieniemy said if there are traits Johnson’s coaches have in common, it’s “consistency, hard work, guys that appreciate just the fundamentals of being the best.”
“Ben has done a great job of creating an urgency within the building, not just with the players, but with the coaching staff as well, just hungry to get as good as we can, as fast as we can,” passing game coordinator Press Taylor said.
Added Doyle: “There’s not a lot of egos on the staff. That’s the biggest thing is … guys (are) smart, and then guys with humility, that really is what our coaching staff is littered with.”
That’s a start, but coaches can’t execute on the field.
Byard thought back to the Lions game and how Allen didn’t hold back in the film room.
“It was just some real grown-man talk,” he said.
A lot of coaches can say the right things, but how do they get results? An example, Byard said, is how the defense reviews Wednesday’s practice on Thursday.
“(Allen) literally is going to do a pop quiz and call on a young guy, particularly one who isn’t a starter,” Byard said. “‘Hey, two-by-two, or this formation, what do we think right here?’ And it’s like the young guy, he has to know his stuff.
“It’s like, now you know in your head, like, I’ve got to make sure I go home and study, study my film, study my plays, because I could possibly get called on. Not only does it not look good upon yourself and for the coaches, (other) players in the team, we like, ‘Oh, we can’t depend on this guy because he’s not studying. He don’t know what he’s doing.’ So that’s the accountability part.”
Evidence of a turnaround?
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) is helped off the field after a second-quarter play against the Lions on Sept. 14, 2025, at Ford Field in Detroit. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Once the staff and players were in place, Johnson installed the systems over the course of OTAs and camps. Predictably, not everything went smoothly.
Training camp and the early part of the season were plagued by presnap penalties — unforced errors.
Injuries took out key defensive players.
The passing game had its moments but consistent execution was a problem.
Quarterback Caleb Williams’ accuracy was hit and miss.
But as the offensive line has built chemistry, the presnap penalties have become far less frequent.
Since Week 4, with a rally over the Raiders in Las Vegas, Williams has led six fourth-quarter comebacks, the most in franchise history.
The Bears have had the league’s fewest turnovers (10) and the most takeaways (32). Their takeaways in nine consecutive games is the NFL’s longest active streak.
The Bears defense hasn’t allowed an opponent to score in an opening series in eight straight games.
Points per game have jumped from 18.2 in 2024 to 26.6 this season.
Still, even Johnson has said his offense isn’t where he wants it. He set a goal of 70% for Williams’ completion rate, but the quarterback is at 57.9%, last in the league among qualifiers
The defense, despite the takeaways, continues to be a work in progress. The Bears ranked 28th in total defense after Week 2 and hold that same ranking heading into the final week of the regular season.
“We’re constantly improving,” Johnson said. “That’s the goal, at least — we want to continue to get better. We’ve got a lot of young players where each week you do see growth.”
Evolution of the offense
Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) celebrates with tight end Colston Loveland after a touchdown reception against the 49ers on Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears own the No. 3 total offense (375.8 yards) and No. 3 rushing offense (149.4) in the NFL. Since their Week 5 bye, the Bears rank second in the league in rushing (165.2 yards) and average the third-most total net yards per game in the NFL (391.7).
Johnson was intent on not making a carbon copy of the offense he ran in Detroit, but he did bring certain characteristics to Chicago.
Johnson uses a lot of motion, shifting and personnel versatility — at long as it’s physical.
Players from any position could be used almost anywhere in the formation — as receivers, runners, blockers or decoy.
Heck, against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, he used special teams defensive lineman Daniel Hardy as a fullback.
At his heart, Johnson employs outside-zone and power running schemes, and the play-action passing game keys off that.
The Bears have run 496 plays under center, the second most behind the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Pro’s Next Gen Stats. In addition, 703 plays this season have used motion, which ranks sixth.
Johnson and his staff have cited several influences, but he said last month: “It was when Bill Lazor took over at Miami (as Dolphins offensive coordinator in 2014), he kind of had this vision of bringing Chip Kelly’s run game and combining it with Mike Martz’s digit-system offense. And so indirectly, I’ve been influenced by that digit system.
“We did it for a couple years, and so I do have a little bit of familiarity in terms of how he would coach some of that stuff. We brought him in, and he’s talked to the staff about it. So, yeah, there are elements of that, but I think I’ve talked about the root of this offense is we’re more of a mutt.”
Bears tight end Durham Smythe has a number of roles in the offense, a lot of it involving the complex blocking scheme.
“It starts with outside zone and it kind of goes from there,” he said. “From early on in the OTAs and training camp, Ben’s big thing was we’re going to be physical in whatever we do, and then as we master things, we’ll add more.”
Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) points after getting a first down during the third quarter against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Smythe overlapped one season (his rookie year) with Johnson in Miami in 2018, when Johnson was promoted to wide receivers coach. Smythe recognizes some current playbook terminology from Adam Gase, a former Bears offensive coordinator (2015) who was Dolphins head coach in 2018.
“(It’s) also kind of a similar tree, like with the outside-zone stuff,” Smythe said. “I know he’s been with a lot of people, but some of it’s similar to what I did in Miami, which is the San Francisco tree.”
Smythe, who’s in his eighth season, said Johnson does a good job of mixing in other concepts, such as the New England Patriots gap scheme and West Coast outside zone from various sources.
“There’s a little bit of the two-tight-end, outside-zone stuff, where there’s no fullback, and then one of us will go to the backfield,” Smythe said. “I’ve played a lot of fullback this year. It makes it fun because there’s a bunch of different schemes, just in terms of a run game, within this offense. So, one play, I’m lining up at the Y, blocking, power, whatever, and then I’m in the backfield ISO’d (isolated) on a MIKE (middle linebacker) or something. … It’s really creative.”
From a defensive perspective, it’s really confusing.
Byard has practiced every week against it, and “it keeps you off-balance a little bit. It’s hard to be able to jump a certain route because this week might be a double move.”
Byard explained that Johnson’s formations “just mess with your rules on defense, as far as the communication and having certain things that you’re used to seeing on defense.”
“I’ve even seen a couple gadget plays in practice that didn’t work in practice,” Byard added. “And normally coaches just throw it out. Ben’s calling it in the game.
“He has that much trust in what’s going on.”
Johnson has expanded the playbook since the Lions game.
“From a shift-and-motion standpoint, we’re able to do so much more now,” he said. “I think our quarterback has a lot to do with that. He has grown immensely in terms of what he can handle.”
Rebuilding Caleb Williams
Bears coach Ben Johnson talks with quarterback Caleb Williams in the second quarter against the Lions on Sept. 14, 2025, at Ford Field in Detroit. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
To be fair, Williams walked in the door with a lot of the traits that Johnson requires, such as leadership, competitiveness and a willingness to do whatever it takes to live up to his potential as the No. 1 draft pick in 2024.
Johnson transformed Williams into a weapon from under center, using play action, when Williams didn’t have a lot of history with either.
Now, 16 games into his second season, Williams is just 270 yards from becoming the franchise’s first 4,000 yard passer in its 106-year history.
Johnson said of the milestone, “There are probably some (teams) who don’t have a 5,000-yard passer, right? So it’s just a number.”
Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams on 4,000 yards: ‘I was brought here for those types of things’
That has been Johnson’s and Williams’ relationship in a nutshell: There’s no such thing as too much to ask.
Johnson has acknowledged repeatedly that he purposely overloaded Williams with his playbook and didn’t softball his expectations about its execution.
“I can’t remember exactly if it was in a game (or camp) or not, but something happened and … I got pissed off, too, and then I ended up waving him off,” Williams vaguely recalled. “And then he lit a fuse into the mic.”
Williams admits he bristled under Johnson’s militaristic coaching at first.
“It took me a while,” he said. “It took me throughout camp. Certain parts, it felt like our relationship was pretty fragile from my perspective.”
Williams said Johnson was on him about everything: drops, footwork, cadence, speed out of the huddle, reading defenses, etc.
“I think the biggest thing is we didn’t just approach Caleb that way, we really approached everybody that way,” Doyle said. “It’s a championship-level standard and we’re not going to bend that to anybody, including the quarterback.”
Added Williams: “It was like, ‘Gee, this dude doesn’t seem like he likes me. (But) he doesn’t have to like me.’ That’s what you kind of realize.”
He also came to realize that that’s just Johnson’s personality. Johnson has given assistants an earful of choice words over the headset.
“He cares so much about the sport, he cares so much about us, he cares so much about winning,” Williams said. “And then when you get off the field, he’s one of the guys, he’s a player’s coach. He laughs and jokes with us. He’s bumping us around.”
Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) makes the game-winning touchdown catch in overtime against the Packers on Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Last month, in a rematch with the Green Bay Packers, Williams threw a walk-off touchdown pass in overtime after coaches saw the Packers defense take the bait on an offensive formation.
“I’ve got the best coach in the world,” Williams declared after the game. “Let’s put it that way.”
So does that mean Johnson and Williams are going out for beers or matcha tea?
“We both have the same goals,” Johnson said. “We both care deeply about this team. We care deeply about this city, and I care deeply about his success as well.
“He understands that now, at this point, and you only get to that by spending a lot of time together. … We can be very transparent with each other. … I think we’re mentally very similar. We share a lot of the same competitive drive and we think very much the same way.”
Cult(ure) of personality
Bears coach Ben Johnson, center, reaches the field for a game against the Lions at Ford Field on Sept. 14, 2025, in Detroit. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
When talking to Johnson’s players and coaches throughout the season, one word has come up consistently: “consistent.”
“One thing about Ben, Ben has always been consistent,” Bieniemy said. “He’s never changed his messaging. He never changed his tune.”
Well, there was one moment of inconsistency.
In the celebration after the Bears’ 24-15 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, Johnson ripped his shirt off and flexed.
The locker room erupted. Then Johnson shouted his now-signature “good-better-best” chant:
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest, till your good gets better, and your better gets best.”
Column: Only in Chicago could a shirtless Bears coach and free hot dogs rally an entire city
Taylor said that even that moment of levity served a purpose.
“So there may be times where everybody’s kind of feeling themselves, thinking we had a good practice, we had a good half … and he just changes the atmosphere in the room and keeps everybody on edge,” Taylor told the Tribune. “There may be times that we’re all frustrated and disappointed with what happened, and he comes in with an encouraging word, and he just always seems to have that timing of what’s needed right then.
“Taking his shirt off postgame, that was the kind of thing that just pushed it over the top and gets everybody going.”
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Long snapper Scott Daly said when coaches are putting on a show for the cameras or media, players “can kind of see through that.”
After getting to know Johnson over three seasons together in Detroit, Daly said he has seen Johnson “not change one bit.”
“Everyone has their own quirks and have their own things, but for the locker room … all we ask is for authenticity,” Daly said. “Ben’s been truly authentic.”
Johnson admits he can be demanding.
“I’m somewhat direct,” he said. “Just kind of my personality is (to) keep the main thing the main thing and be crystal clear and not a whole lot of gray.
“So, yeah, I don’t know if there’s more than that.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/ben-johnson-chicago-bears-detroit-lions/
USDA: Undercover Investigators To Make Sure Retailers Comply With New Food Stamp Restrictions
USDA: Undercover Investigators To Make Sure Retailers Comply With New Food Stamp Restrictions
Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
Undercover investigators with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are going to check whether stores are complying with new restrictions on food stamps, the department said in a new notice to state and regional officials.
The USDA’s Office of Retailer Operations and Compliance carries out federal oversight of retailers that accept funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), colloquially known as food stamps. The office “initiates and conducts undercover investigations to determine if a retailer is complying with program requirements,” the USDA said in the Dec. 30, 2025, notice.
Once new SNAP restrictions take effect in states, investigators “will incorporate attempts to purchase restricted items according to the state’s SNAP Food Restriction policy, beginning 90 days after the implementation date,” the notice states.
Retailers that are not in compliance will initially receive a warning letter advising corrective action. If retailers are found to be out of compliance again, then officials will revoke their authorization to keep accepting SNAP.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in 2025 approved requests from 18 states to diverge from normal SNAP operations and impose various restrictions on which items participants can buy.
The first five states—Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia—began restricting purchases on Jan. 1. The next restrictions take effect in Idaho, Louisiana, and Oklahoma in February. Restrictions in other states may not start until as late as Oct. 1.
Many of the states have targeted soda and other soft drinks. Some have barred SNAP funds from being used for energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts.
Some 42 million Americans participate in SNAP. Eligibility is primarily based on household income.
Federal law says SNAP’s main purpose is to “safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income households.”
The waivers “further that purpose, as part of broader state and federal government efforts to fight the obesity epidemic and Make America Healthy Again,” Patrick Penn, a USDA official, told state and regional officials in the new notice.
Each waiver has definitions of restricted items. Due to the varying definitions and implementation dates, close coordination between state agencies and retailers is needed, Penn said. Retailers have to take steps such as updating equipment and training employees.
Penn also said that the USDA plans to approve additional waivers in the future.
The Food Industry Association, whose members include retailers, said in a statement it appreciated that USDA clarified there is a 90-day grace period before the agency will enforce the new restrictions, and guidance from federal and state officials.
“While receiving this guidance and assurance of a 90-day grace period is critical, our members have additional questions and need assurance that ‘involuntary withdrawal’ following a second offense mentioned in the guidance will be limited to retailers knowingly and intentionally not following the restriction, not an accidental error on one of 21,000 or more products that must be coded as restricted in each state,” Jennifer Hatcher, an association officer, said.
The National Grocers Association, a trade group representing independent supermarkets, said in a statement on Dec. 22, 2025, that the waivers present challenges because they mean that SNAP funds can no longer be spent on tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of items.
That will force grocers to reprogram systems, track items, retrain workers, and talk to customers, the group said.
“These regulatory burdens have the potential to disrupt store operations and slow checkout lines as retailers work in good faith to implement and enforce the new rules,” the association said. “For SNAP reforms to Make America Healthy Again, policymakers must provide clear, consistent definitions and a realistic implementation timeline. Independent grocers are proud economic drivers, creating local jobs and generating tax revenue, but they need certainty and common sense, not more costly red tape handed down by bureaucrats.”
Tyler Durden
Sat, 01/03/2026 – 18:40
