The start of a new year usually brings new motivation to achieve goals like eating healthier or finally cleaning your basement. Many resolutions also focus on financial goals, such as paying off credit card debt, saving for a new house, or simply getting more educated about money.

“New Year’s is a really good time to review and realign your financial goals overall,” said Erica Grundza, certified financial planner at Betterment, an investing and savings app.

When building your goals for 2026, Grundza recommends focusing less on the past and more on an optimistic, yet realistic, vision for the future. She recommends that you focus on reestablishing the “why” behind your approach to money and how you want to make it work for your life. This can be as simple as saving $10 each week in a savings account, or a bigger goal like saving to buy a house in the coming years. It’s all about your own journey.

The Associated Press spoke with people who are making financial resolutions for 2026. Here’s a look at what they’re planning and how you can draw inspiration for your own resolutions:

Making achievable plans

Resolutions can easily turn into unattainable goals that feel more like a dream, said MarieYolaine Toms, a coach and founder of Focused Fire, a financial coaching company. To avoid setting unrealistic expectations, Toms follows a “no resolutions” mindset and instead focuses on making an actionable plan.

“What I say every year is that I am not making resolutions, I’m making plans that can be tracked forward, traced back, and tweaked until completion,” Toms said.

Recently, Toms encouraged her clients to check their credit report with the three credit bureaus and, based on their credit reports, make an attainable plan to start a savings account. For example, adding $25 to their savings account every week.

Whether you’re trying to pay off debt or save for a vacation abroad, the first step towards making a plan can be creating a budget. When making a budget, it’s best to find a technique that works for you, whether it’s the classic 50/30/20 plan or another budgeting style.

If you’re building a budget for the first time, you can find some expert recommendations here.

Paying off debt

After losing her job as a magazine editor in September, Rachel Pelovitz, 33, had to take a closer look at her finances. Having acquired a significant amount of debt over the last few years due to her husband’s year-and-a-half-long unemployment, Pelovitz explored several options to pay it off. Ultimately, Pelovitz and her husband chose to sell their house and work with a debt consolidation organization.

“Rather than rely on getting more debt, we are currently selling our house,” Pelovitz said.

Pelovitz’s main goal for 2026 is to pay off half of her credit card debt. And, with some of the money from selling the house, start investing moderately.

If you’ve also experienced a layoff, you can read expert recommendations to help you take care of your finances and your mental health here.

Building a savings account

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For Jenni Lee, 27, this is going to be the year when she gets strict about building her savings account. While Lee considers herself generally good with money, over the last six months she has overspent and wants to rein it in. The long-term goal for her savings journey is for Lee to buy a house.

“I’m now in my late 20s, I’m starting to really think about where I pinch now so it won’t hurt later when I finally decide to purchase and own a place,” said Lee, a tech worker and lifestyle TikTok creator based in Chicago.

As she saves for her future home and possibly a trip to South Korea, Lee wants to cut unnecessary spending on clothing items and eating out.

Social media microtrends are a common influence on people’s shopping decisions, and this can lead to overspending. If you’re looking to avoid spending money on microtrends, you can find experts’ recommendations here.

Building an emergency fund

If you are in a position to do so, having multiple financial goals you’re working towards at the same time can be a great way to speed up your progress. For Worcester resident Melanie Duarte, 23, her New Year’s money goals include paying off her student loans and credit card debt while building an emergency fund.

“I made sure to include it in my budget, even if it’s something as small as like $50. I just want to make sure I still put something in (my emergency fund) so that it eventually multiplies,” said Duarte, who owns a marketing agency.

Duarte’s family didn’t speak openly about finances when she was growing up. But, since she opened her own business, Duarte has been slowly working on rewriting her relationship with money.

If you’re looking to start an emergency fund or create better habits while you save, you can read some experts’ recommendations here.

Finding balance

Finding a balance between saving for your long-term goals while also making sure you enjoy your money is important, but it can also be challenging. After the death of her grandfather just a few years after retirement, Tiana Stewart, 26, felt that he didn’t get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. So, this past year, Stewart decided to enjoy her life and travel.

“I do understand saving for retirement is important, but I also want to enjoy my life and the money that I work for at this time, especially being in my 20s,” said Stewart, who lives in Maryland.

But now, as she reflects on her financial future, Stewart wants to focus on paying off debt, saving, and investing. Having a healthy balance between enjoying life and saving for the future is what she wants to work toward.

For some, participating in budgeting challenges such as the no-buy year can be a great way to set boundaries on your spending and set aside money towards your financial goals. Many people start such challenges at the beginning of the year and commit to keep going until the end, but others start with a no-buy month.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/how-to-build-an-emergency-fund/ 

The U.S. Department of Energy issued an order that would prevent the Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s R. M. Schahfer generating station from retiring on Dec. 31 — the date the utility had previously planned.

According to the federal department, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, on Dec. 23, issued an emergency order that would require NIPSCO to keep the Wheatfield plant operating. The order went into effect on Dec. 23 and ends on March 23, 2026.

“The Trump administration remains committed to swiftly deploying all available tools and authorities to safeguard the reliability, affordability and security of the nation’s energy system,” Wright said in a statement. “Keeping these coal plants online has the potential to save lives and is just common sense. Americans deserve reliable power regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining during extreme winter conditions.”

According to the DOE, the emergency order was made to ensure Midwesterners “have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity heading into the winter months.”

In addition to NIPSCO, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator was told to continue operations at its F.B. Culley generating station in Newburgh, Indiana, near Evansville.

“The reliable supply of power from these coal plants is essential for keeping the region’s electric grid stable,” according to the Department of Energy. “The orders prioritize minimizing electricity costs for the American people and minimizing the risk and costs of blackouts.”

In a statement, NIPSCO said the utility has received the order and is assessing its impact to customers and the overall company. The utility will comply with the order and any following orders, according to the statement.

The order alters the timeline for Schahfer’s decommission, according to the statement, but NIPSCO’s “long-term plan to transition to a more sustainable energy future remains unchanged.”

“Guided by our Integrated Resource Plan, NIPSCO and NiSource recognize the importance of reliable and affordable energy as we manage costs and adapt to changing regulatory requirements,” the statement said. “Our commitment to providing safe and dependable energy remains steadfast both now and in the future.”

According to Post-Tribune archives, NIPSCO is in the middle of a multiyear initiative to close its coal-fired generating stations, and the utility plans to replace the sites with more cost-effective, efficient and sustainable sources, including wind, solar and battery storage.

According to the DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report, power outages could increase by 100 times in 2030 if reliable power — including coal plants — is taken offline. The report was criticized upon its release in July by Advanced Energy United, a renewable energy industry group, as “a tool explicitly tasked with preventing power plant retirements.”

EarthJustice, a San Francisco-based environmental nonprofit, said in a news release that the move by the DOE is “an unprecedented power grab” to override decisions made in the interest of customers. Coal is the most polluting and carbon-intensive electricity source, according to the organization, and they believe operating the plants will drive up electricity bills.

EarthJustice Senior Attorney Sameer Doshi said in a news release that the DOE is overriding decisions already made by power companies, grid operators and utility regulators.

“The plants at issue here were marked for retirement because coal is expensive and unreliable,” Doshi said. “These aging power plants emit deadly air pollution, contaminate water with toxic metals, harm our climate, and increasingly break down when we need them most — and the Trump administration is now asking ratepayers to pay more to keep burning coal. Congress gave DOE a narrow, limited role to address actual, imminent emergencies. An event carefully planned for years is not an ‘emergency.’”

According to EarthJustice, the remaining coal-fired generators “have been plagued with mechanical issues, and one unit cannot operate without major repairs.” The generating station’s groundwater is also contaminated from leaking coal ash ponds.

“The federal government’s order to force extremely expensive and unreliable coal units to stay open will result in higher bills for Hoosiers who are already reeling from record-high rate increases in 2025,” said Ben Inskeep, program director for Citizens Action Coalition. “We can’t afford this costly and unfounded federal overreach.”

Earlier this year, the Citizens Action Coalition found that statewide electric utility bills have increased more than $28 per month, or 17.5%, according to the organization’s July report. NIPSCO residential customers were hit hardest, with about a $50 per month, or 26.7% increase, in one year.

According to Post-Tribune archives, NIPSCO plans to convert the Schahfer station into a natural gas plant as part of the plan to provide energy for data centers. Hobart is finalizing a development agreement for a site at 61st and Colorado Street is about 500 acres, nearly half of the 1,100 acres that would be needed to fulfill Amazon Web Services’ plans for a $15 billion investment in Northwest Indiana.

Ashley Williams, executive director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, said in a statement that the organization condemns the DOE’s order, calling the Schahfer generating station “one of the most notorious polluters in the country.”

“On-site coal ash contamination of groundwater, along with a proposed massive gas plant and (artificial intelligence) data center, compounds an extremely dire situation and creates an unconscionable environmental burden,” Williams said. “The Trump administration is trying to steal away our futures by keeping us tethered to the dirty coal energy of the past. We will not be silent in the face of this injustice.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/u-s-doe-orders-nipsco-schahfer-plant-to-continue-coal-usage/ 

US Reaches 30th Strike In Boat Bombing Campaign Ahead Of New Year

Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/30/2025 – 12:05

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-reaches-30th-strike-boat-bombing-campaign-ahead-new-year 

Ron Paul Praises Trump Taking A Step Toward Liberty

Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/30/2025 – 11:45

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ron-paul-praises-trump-taking-step-toward-liberty 

On the second day of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino’s brief, chaotic return to Chicago earlier this month, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervisor dialed 911 as a convoy of federal vehicles sped north on Lake Shore Drive.

“This is Supervisory Border Patrol Agent [redacted],” the agent said. “How are you doing today?”

The 12-minute conversation that followed between the 911 dispatcher, her supervisor and the Border Patrol supervisor shows that while Chicago police and emergency personnel did not assist Bovino’s caravan in its arrests or other immigration enforcement, local authorities coordinated with federal agents to meet their convoy as it traveled north toward Evanston and divert a pair of cars which the Border Patrol supervisor claimed were “trying to run us off the road.”

Bovino, speaking with a Tribune photographer in the parking lot of an Evanston Home Depot later that day, said he and his men had “for the first time, (received) some assistance” from local law enforcement during their brief return to the area.

Bovino didn’t elaborate on what that “assistance” was at the time, and CPD said in a statement that its personnel “only responded to the call they received regarding potential criminal action.”

The 911 call and other newly released records show that Chicago Police activated one of its department helicopters, stopped a man who had been following the federal convoy and gave him a “verbal warning” about driving while using a cell phone while responding to the feds’ “assist the police” request.

And they highlight once again the fine line that local law enforcement in Illinois has had to straddle throughout “Operation Midway Blitz,” the Trump administration’s campaign to arrest and deport people living in and around Chicago without legal immigration status.

While they are prohibited from aiding federal authorities with immigration enforcement, city police and other state and local agencies are still obligated to respond to general public safety threats and maintain order.

Reached for a comment Monday afternoon, CPD representatives referred to the department’s earlier statement — that its officers had only responded to the feds’ 911 call of possible criminal behavior and that the department was conducting an internal review.

Chicago police were present at many of the most serious standoffs between residents and federal authorities this fall, mostly doing crowd control, documenting car accidents and forming skirmish lines between members of the public and agents. Police officers and supervisors themselves, speaking anonymously to the Tribune, said department members have a range of views on the “blitz” but anticipated that their actions would be seen as political no matter what they did.

After CPD’s response to a pair of car crashes and a shooting by federal agents in Brighton Park drew intense scrutiny in early October, Supt. Larry Snelling said that the department must remain politically neutral in order to enforce the law, and that officers will respond to any federal calls for assistance.

When the Border Patrol agent first called for assistance around 10:45 a.m. the morning of Dec. 17, the convoy was traveling north on what the agent referred to as “41 North and Monroe Drive.”

“So, Lake Shore Drive and Monroe?” the dispatcher asked.

“Yes, ma’am, that’s correct,” the agent replied. “We’re heading northbound.”

The Border Patrol agent said two vehicles, a dark-colored Chevy Equinox and a red Nissan, were “trying to impede operations… they got close to one of our vehicles. They act as if they’re trying to run us off the road here.”

The convoy was at Navy Pier, he reported. The dispatcher stayed on the phone with the agent as he periodically updated their progress, passing exits for North Avenue and Fullerton Parkway in Lincoln Park. The caravan had just passed the Belmont Avenue exit when the dispatcher relayed, “help is on the way, sir.”

In the background, an OEMC supervisor can be heard saying, “tell him we have a couple of cars coming his way; stay on the phone with him.”

The Border Patrol agent, evidently speaking to his colleagues, told them that “Chicago PD does have units en route for that red (car).” The other car who had allegedly been following their convoy had “peeled off.”

The convoy passed Montrose Avenue, then Wilson, then Foster.

“They’re coming up on you, sir,” the dispatcher said. “They’re approaching you.”

“Let them know they can come to the front of the convoy,” the agent said. He didn’t see the CPD cars, he said, but was  “pretty sure the Nissan saw them… he started peeling off a little bit.”

The Nissan was about two car lengths in front of the convoy, he said. Then a Town Hall (19th) District police car pulled the car over near the drive’s Hollywood Avenue exit.

“Alright,” the Border Patrol agent said. “They blocked him off for us.”

An investigatory stop report obtained in a Freedom of Information request shows that a Town Hall (19th) District police officer gave the driver of the Nissan, Omar Luna, “a verbal warning about the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while in use of a cell phone.”

Chicago police units get between a whistleblower and a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol caravan on North Sheridan Road just off the DuSable Lake Shore Drive exit, Dec. 17, 2025. (Omar Luna)

Luna, speaking to the Tribune the day of the stop, said he had been trying to keep up with the Border Patrol cars to record and broadcast their movements.

“We follow them to alert people,” Luna said. “I have never injured them or tried to crash into them.”

Records show that a second Town Hall police car moments later made contact with the lead car of the federal convoy and reported that “they are good.”

A second update shortly afterward read, “they just want to continue on. They don’t want anything with the red car. Just want them to leave the caravan.”

Records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show Border Patrol agents have periodically called Chicago police for help as they’ve attempted to make arrests around the city and confronted enraged neighbors during many of the highest-profile melees to result from Operation Midway Blitz, in East Side, Albany Park, Little Village, and Brighton Park.

One of those calls came on one of the final and most chaotic days of the 64-day surge. As federal forces tore through Little Village, an off-site Border Patrol supervisor called to report that someone had fired at the agents near the intersection of 25th Street and Kedzie Avenue.

“How many shots were fired?,” the 911 dispatcher asked. “Who was firing shots?”

“Currently unknown,” the supervisor said. “It got put out on the radio from one of our agents on the ground.”

“Are you all on the scene?” the dispatcher said.

“I am not on the scene. My – ”

The dispatcher interrupted: “I get that. Are they are on the scene?”

“Yes, ma’am, requiring assistance from Chicago PD with possible SWAT backup,” the Border Patrol supervisor said.

“Are the shots fired at Border Patrol, or you don’t know?”

“Currently unknown,” the supervisor said, before asking if there was an estimated time that police would arrive. The dispatcher said she didn’t have one.

Although Chicago police arrested a man in a car that matched the description Border Patrol agents gave of the alleged shooter’s vehicle and federal authorities have charged him with possession of a gun by a person who was unlawfully in the country, no one has thus far been accused of firing at the federal agents as they claimed that morning.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/audio-captures-border-patrol-911-call/ 

A Humboldt Park 18-year-old is facing felony charges of reckless driving, possession of a stolen vehicle and other traffic citations after he allegedly hit a CPD squad car in Wrigleyville Monday night, police said.

Orlando Matos III allegedly drove a Hyundai Elantra through a stop sign around 3 a.m. Monday in the 3600 block of North Racine Avenue, seriously injuring two Town Hall District (19th) officers who were driving southbound in a marked squad car, authorities alleged.

In a preliminary statement, police said the Elantra, which had been previously reported as stolen, hit three other cars, while and the squad car was pushed onto the sidewalk and hit a tree. Police said Matos was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition for treatment.

Matos is set to appear at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse for a detention hearing Tuesday, per a CPD news release.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/humboldt-park-man-charged-with-injuring-two-cpd-officers-in-traffic-crash-police/ 

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back at the most popular items at Naperville Public Library this year.

For the first time in a long time, our top circulating item of the year was a nonfiction book. “The Left Them Theory” by Mel Robbins was checked out nearly 800 times! The next closest title was “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore with 549 circulations.

Napervillians were also swept away to the distant lands of Panem, Oz and the world of Peppa Pig with these most popular picks of 2025. Whether you’re looking for a great read or other entertainment to pass the time at home this winter break, we hope these serve as inspiration for your next library adventure!

Top Nonfiction Book: “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn’t you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words, “Let Them,” will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands. In this book, Mel Robbins teaches how to stop wasting energy on what you can’t control and start focusing on what truly matters: YOU.

Top Fiction Book: “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore

When Barbara Van Laar is discovered missing from her summer camp bunk one morning in August 1975, it triggers a panicked, terrified search. Losing a camper is a horrific tragedy under any circumstances, but Barbara isn’t just any camper. She’s the daughter of the wealthy family who owns the camp as well as the opulent nearby estate and most of the land in sight. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared in this region: Barbara’s older brother went missing 16 years earlier, never to be found. How could this have happened yet again?

Top Teen Book: “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins

As the day dawns on the 50th annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. In District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight … and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

Top Children’s Book: “Dog Man: Big Jim Begins” by Dav Pilkey

In the 13th volume of the “Dog Man” graphic novel series, Dog Man, Big Jim and others join forces to stop the Space Cuties from destroying their city. Will the past predict the future for Dog Man and his friends? Will goodness and bravery prevail? Can anything happen if you truly believe?

Top Movie: “Wicked”

In the film adaptation of the beloved Broadway production “Wicked,” Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, and Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz. Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the two forge an unlikely but profound friendship. But when their friendship reaches a crossroads, their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Top Video Game: “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”

Gaming icons clash in the ultimate brawl you can play anytime, anywhere with this Nintendo Switch game. Smash rivals off the stage as new characters Isabelle, Simon Belmont and King K. Rool join Inkling, Ridley and every fighter in Super Smash Bros. history. Enjoy enhanced speed and combat at new stages based on the Castlevania series, Super Mario Odyssey and more.

Top Board Game: Pictureka! Jr.: Peppa Pig Edition

Bring the fun and laughter of Peppa Pig to family game night with this lively seek-and-find adventure designed especially for young children. The preschool-friendly board game combines the energy of quick spotting with the charm of Peppa’s world. The colorful tiles come alive with scenes featuring Peppa, George and all their friends, encouraging kids to look closely, think fast and shout “Pictureka!” when they find what they’re looking for.

Top CD: “Mayhem” by Lady Gaga

Enjoy the latest album from 14-time Grammy winner, Academy Award winner and two-time Golden Globe winner Lady Gaga. The album includes previously released singles “Die With A Smile,” “Disease” and “Abracadabra.”

Trente Arens is the director of marketing and communications at Naperville Public Library.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/naperville-library-popular-books-dvds-2025/ 

OMAHA, Neb. — Greg Abel faces the challenge of taking over Berkshire Hathaway from the legendary Warren Buffett later this week.

Many regard Buffett as the world’s greatest investor after he grew Berkshire from a struggling New England textile mill that he starting buying up for $7.60 a share in 1962, to the massive conglomerate it is today with shares that go for more than $750,000 a pop. Buffett’s personal fortune of Berkshire stock is worth roughly $150 billion even after giving more than $60 billion away over the past 20 years.

Berkshire for decades has routinely outpaced the S&P 500 as Buffett bought up insurance companies like Geico and National Indemnity, manufacturers like Iscar Metalworking, retail brands like Dairy Queen, major utilities and even one of the nation’s biggest railroads, BNSF. Along the way, Buffett bought and sold hundreds of billions of dollars of stocks and profited handsomely from his famously long-term bets on companies like American Express, Coca-Cola and Apple.

Berkshire has struggled to keep that pace in recent years because it has grown so huge and also struggled to find new and significant acquisitions. Even this fall’s $9.7 billion acquisition of OxyChem probably isn’t big enough to make a difference in Berkshire’s profits.

Investors will be watching closely to see what changes Abel might make in Berkshire’s trajectory, but don’t expect any seismic shifts.

Buffett isn’t going anywhere and Abel has already been managing all of Berkshire’s noninsurance businesses since 2018. Buffett will remain chairman and plans to continue coming into the office each day to help spot new investments and offer Abel any advice he asks for.

Some changes are likely

CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said it is natural for Abel to make some changes in the way Berkshire is run. Taking a more traditional approach to leadership with nearly 400,000 employees spread across dozens of subsidiaries makes a lot of sense, she said.

But Berkshire operates under an extremely decentralized structure that trusts its executives with significant decisions. Everyone associated with the company has said there are no plans to change that.

The world learned that Abel was to become the designated successor at Berkshire in 2021 when Buffett’s longtime business partner, the late Charlie Munger, assured shareholders at an annual meeting that Abel would maintain the company’s culture.

Part of Buffett’s sales pitch to company founders and CEOs thinking of selling their companies has always been that Berkshire would largely allow them to continue running their companies the same way as long as they delivered results.

“I think the investment community would likely applaud Greg’s management style to the degree that it sort of buttons things up,” Seifert said. “And if it helps performance, that can’t really be faulted.”

Abel plays an active role managing companies

Abel has already shown himself to be a more hands-on manager than Buffett, but he still follows the Berkshire model of autonomy for acquired companies. Abel asks tough questions of company leaders and holds them accountable for their performance.

Abel did announce some leadership changes earlier this month after investment manager and Geico CEO Todd Combs departed, and Chief Financial Officer Marc Hamburg announced his retirement. Abel also said he’s appointing NetJets CEO Adam Johnson as manager of all of Berkshire’s consumer, service and retail businesses. That essentially creates a third division of the company and takes some work off of Abel’s plate. He will continue to manage the manufacturing, utility and railroad businesses.

Abel will eventually face more pressure to start paying a dividend. From the beginning, Berkshire has held the position that it is better to reinvest profits rather than making quarterly or annual payouts to shareholders.

But if Abel can’t find a productive use of the $382 billion cash that Berkshire is sitting on, there may be a push from investors to start paying dividends or to adopt a traditional stock buyback program that would boost the value of shares they hold. Currently, Berkshire only repurchases shares when Buffett thinks they are a bargain, and he hasn’t done that since early 2024.

Still, Abel will be insulated from such pressure for some time since Buffett controls nearly 30% of the voting power in the stock. That will diminish gradually after his death as his children distribute his shares to charity as agreed.

Berkshire has a solid foundation

Many of Berkshire’s subsidiaries tend to follow the economy and profit handsomely whenever the country is prosperous. Berkshire’s utilities typically generate a reliable profit, and its insurance companies like Geico and General Reinsurance supply more than $175 billion worth of premiums that can be invested until claims come due.

Investor Chris Ballard, who is managing director at Check Capital, said most of Berkshire’s businesses “can almost take care of themselves.” He sees a bright future for Berkshire under Abel.

One of the biggest questions right now may be how much additional change there will be in company leadership after Combs’ departure, if any at all. The head of the insurance unit, Vice Chairman Ajit Jain, who Buffett has long lavished with praise, is now 74 and many of the CEOs of the various companies have continued working long after retirement age because they like working for Buffett.

“As a long-term shareholder, we aren’t too concerned with Todd’s departure and don’t think this is the tip of some sort of iceberg,” said Ballard, whose firm counts Berkshire as its largest holding. “Todd’s situation is unique. It’s just a reminder that Warren’s pending departure is imminent and they’re preparing for a new phase — one that we’re still excited to see unfold.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway/ 

Gas Prices Drop For 5th Consecutive Week; Lowest NYE Level Since COVID

Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/30/2025 – 11:05

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/gas-prices-drop-5th-consecutive-week-lowest-nye-level-covid 

NEW YORK — They’re ready to embark on 2026.

Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows and likely increasing their visibility to the pet-loving public.

One of the newcomers is a terrier named for a U.S. president. Another is a toy dog from Cold War-era Russia. The third is a centuries-old French hunting hound. Here’s a closer look:

The basset fauve de Bretagne

The stats: 12.5 to 15.5 inches (32 to 40 centimeters) at the base of the neck; 23 to 39 pounds (10.5 to 17.5 kilograms)

The topline: A hardy, sociable, compact hound that can hunt all day — and needs mental and physical activity.

The pronunciation: bah-SAY’ fove deh breh-TAHN’-yeh

The translation: Fawn-colored, low-set dog from Brittany

The history: Versions of these coarse-coated, tan-hued hounds go back at least as far as 16th-century French aristocratic circles. The breed has been championed in the U.S. in recent years by Cindy Hartman, a South Carolina service dog trainer who brought a pair of fauve puppies back from France in 2001. She has since trained and placed about 20 fauves as medical alert dogs for people with diabetes, she said.

The quote: “They’re wicked smart, and so if you’re wanting a dog that’s just going to lay around all day long, a fauve is not for you,” Hartman said. “But yet, when challenged mentally and physically, they’re happy to come in with you and curl up on the sofa for the evening.”

The Teddy Roosevelt terrier

The stats: 8 to 14 inches (20 to 36 centimeters) at the base of the neck; 8 to 25 pounds (3.5 to 11 kilograms)

The topline: A solid, energetic small canine that will rid your barn of rodents, alert you to strangers, do dog sports — or just entertain you with its antics.

The history: Originally seen as a short-legged variant of the rat terrier, these dogs were deemed a breed of their own in 1999. The breed was named for President Theodore Roosevelt because of his fondness for dogs, including terriers.

The quote: “They know how to get you to laugh,” says Cindy Rickey of Waynesville, North Carolina, the secretary of the American Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Club. While many terrier breeds are known for being independent-minded, her Teddy competes in obedience. “They’re terriers, no doubt about it, but they also have this tremendous desire to please,” she explains.

The Russian tsvetnaya bolonka

The stats: Up to 10¼ inches (26 centimeters) at the base of the neck; 7 to 9 pounds (3 to 4 kilograms)

The topline: A sweet but clever little companion that wants playful interaction, not just snuggling (though it likes that, too).

The pronunciation: zvit-NEYE’-ah boh-LON’-kah

The translation: Russian colored lapdog

The history: The breed was developed in Soviet-era Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) after World War II as a pet for apartment dwellers. American fans have been working to establish bolonki (the proper plural) in the U.S. since the early 2000s.

The quote: “Having a bolonka is like having a 3-year-old kid running around your house. … They can enjoy their time lying on the couch with you, but you’ve got to be prepared to play with them and keep them entertained,” says Denise Dang of Oklahoma City, the secretary of the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Club of America. Owners also need to care for a thick, wavy coat that’s low-shedding but can get matted. Even if it’s cut fairly short, a bath every couple of weeks is wise, Dang says.

The big picture

The AKC recognizes 205 breeds, including these three newcomers. Fanciers of many others — though, as yet, no “doodles” or other popular poodle hybrids — have voluntarily entered a pipeline that takes years of breeding, documentation and consensus-building.

The club doesn’t limit the number of breeds it might eventually recognize. Spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden says it’s not “adding dogs indiscriminately,” but rather providing “an established framework for growth, breed standards, competition and education in the U.S.”

The controversy

Animal-rights activists have long deplored dog breeding and the AKC for supporting it, and the criticism hardened this year into a lawsuit over the health of French bulldogs, pugs, dachshunds and Chinese shar-peis. The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking a court order to stop the AKC from continuing to promulgate the current “standards,” or ideal characteristics, for those breeds.

PETA accused the kennel club of providing “blueprints for the breeding of deformed, unhealthy dogs.”

The AKC denies the allegations and has asked a court to dismiss the case, calling the suit frivolous. The club said it “has been — and remains — firmly committed to the health, well-being and proper treatment of all dogs.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/30/american-kennel-club-adds-3-breeds/