Category: News
US Or China? The Nation That Wins The Nuclear Fusion Race Wins Global Primacy
US Or China? The Nation That Wins The Nuclear Fusion Race Wins Global Primacy
Authored by Lawrence Kadish via The Gatestone Institute,
There continues to be a debate among global geopolitical analysts regarding whether the United States and China are engaged in a Cold War or a competition for global dominance.
The answer is irrelevant.
By anyone’s observation, China seeks to dominate the 21st century, and they will do so by “any means necessary.”
In the process, they will use their military might to create a sphere of influence that is designed to cow nations that range from Japan to Australia to India.
Their invasion of Taiwan is almost a foregone conclusion among many military observers, who believe it is not a question of if but when.
But “when or if” China launches its amphibious assault, it will have determined that the United States is not willing to risk its armed forces to defend an island that produces the majority of the world’s computer chips, especially the most advanced ones.
China’s eventual decision to deploy its military throughout the Pacific Rim will likely be preceded by confidence in its ability to harness extraordinary advances in AI resulting from its access to unlimited, clean, inexpensive electricity available from fusion power.
It is an emerging technology currently the beneficiary of what is believed to be untold billions of Chinese yuan of investment. One executive at Brookhaven National Laboratory told me earlier this year:
“We have no idea how much they are truly spending because of the secrecy surrounding their efforts but we get the sense ‘whatever it takes’ to achieve a breakthrough in fusion.”
The strategic linkage is clear and without question.
Consider the facts: AI has the means to alter the course of a country’s history.
But to harness its full potential requires incredible amounts of energy. Create that energy, and AI becomes a 21st-century strategic weapon.
For far too long the United States failed to place its scientific and industrial might behind what might be called a 21st-century Manhattan Project, recalling the days of World War II when we won the race to create the atomic bomb.
That indifference has profoundly changed during the last quarter of 2025. The White House recently created an Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy, significantly elevating focus and urgency on this technology. Equally important is the announcement that President Donald J. Trump is getting into the fusion power business through a $6 billion merger between his social media company and the fusion research company TAE Technologies.
If there is any message that needs to be heard by China, it is that Trump recognizes that the winner of the fusion race will secure its nation’s future and dictate whether democracy and freedom will flourish or the misery of communism will fall upon tens of millions of people.
History may well view that out of all his accomplishments, the president’s investment in fusion was the one upon which the fate of nations was determined.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/24/2025 – 18:25
What we learned from the Chicago Bears, including Luther Burden III returning to practice but not Rome Odunze
The Chicago Bears got a boost to their banged-up wide receiver corps Wednesday with rookie Luther Burden III returning to practice. He was listed as limited with an ankle injury.
Fellow receiver Rome Odunze (foot), however, was a non-participant.
When asked if he expects to play Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers, Burden said: “Yeah, I think so.”
The Bears didn’t issue an injury report Tuesday, but neither Burden or Odunze was spotted on the field during the portion that was open to the media. Burden is fourth on the team in receiving yards with 479 on 36 receptions, but he has the highest catch rate at 76.6%, per NFL Pro.
With Burden and Odunze inactive for Saturday night’s 22-16 overtime win against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears relied more heavily on DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahdae Walker.
“It was really tough, man,” Burden said. “It was my first game missing ever, like college, little league.”
Burden was forced to miss the Nov. 2 game in Cincinnati because he was in concussion protocol.
“It was kind of different, just watching my team from the sideline,” he said.
Walker, an undrafted rookie, had his first two career receptions, one of which went for a game-tying touchdown with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
“I told him before the play, ‘You’re going to have to come down and make a play,’” Burden said. “Before he even caught the touchdown, I knew where it was going, who’s going to make the play.”
Meanwhile, several new injuries popped up for the Bears on Wednesday.
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze warms up before a game against the Steelers on Nov. 23, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Linebacker T.J. Edwards (glute) was a non-participant, as were receiver/return specialist Devin Duvernay, linebacker D’Marco Jackson and defensive back Nick McCloud, all listed with illnesses.
With the exception of running back/special teamer Travis Homer (ankle), several limited participants were new additions who didn’t appear on last week’s report. They included safety Kevin Byard III (ankle), cornerbacks Nahshon Wright (hamstring) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (knee), center Drew Dalman (ankle/hand) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (hamstring).
The Bears opened the 21-day practice window for offensive lineman Luke Newman, who’s designated to return from injured reserve. He was listed as limited with a foot injury. Guard Joe Thuney took a rest day.
Here are three other things we learned Wednesday.
1. Cairo Santos honored.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) celebrates his 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears kicker was named the NFC Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 16.
During Saturday’s win over the Packers, Santos cut through gusty winds at Soldier Field to boot 46-, 51- and 43-yard field goals, executed the onside kick that set up Walker’s touchdown and drilled the tying extra point — all of which the Bears needed to send the game to overtime.
Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower credited the whole field-goal operation, from Scott Daly’s snaps to Tory Taylor’s holds, but held special praise for Santos navigating the wind.
“You guys saw the paper cups and all of the things flying and floating all over the field,” Hightower said. “For him to just have the mental fortitude to stay focused and play the conditions is what we talk about doing.
“Not trying to beat the conditions, not being upset about the conditions, but play the conditions.”
Added special teamer Josh Blackwell: “He makes incredible kicks in the wind and elements, so it’s no surprise to us, to me, that he’s winning an award like that. He deserves all that and all the credit in the world.”
Santos expressed his appreciation for the recognition given some of the bumps he has experienced this season. He missed two games with a right thigh injury, and his accuracy has dipped to 82.8% (ranked 35th among qualifiers) from 93.8% five years ago in his first season in Chicago.
“It definitely helps me kind of stay on path that what I’m doing it’s going turn into great things,” Santos said of the award. “I just want to make kicks to help the team.”
Five Bears have been named Player of the Week this season, the first time they have had at least that many receive the honor since 2006 (six).
2. Another side of the pivotal onside kick.
The Bears recover an onside kick against Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs in the fourth quarter Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Onside kicks rarely work, but one did during the rally against the Packers. Hightower said his unit spends “hours and hours and hours” practicing the kicks.
“Some people tend to think that you can just go out there and you just kick the ball and ‘Oh, they got it,’ you know what I mean? Like, that’s crazy,” he said. “(Cairo Santos has) done so much work on the premises here. … I’ve tried to stop him at times from kicking onside kicks so much, like, ‘Hey, it’s time to go in, time to go in.’ …
“It’s not an accident, like he put work in for it, and he hit a really good ball.”
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The ball took a hop before Packers receiver Romeo Doubs dropped it, and Blackwell pounced and recovered it.
“The kick that (Santos) hit was perfect,” Blackwell said. “Right spot. Executed it right.”
Hightower said Daniel Hardy and Noah Sewell were the keys to that play, breaking through the Packers receiving line and flashing navy jerseys in front of Doubs’ eyes.
“Hardy got a phenomenal jump on that ball,” Hightower said. “If you go back and look at that play and look at how he timed that up — and he’s worked on that. We’ve had to stop him; he’s been too early, he’s been too late, he’s been right on time. He did a phenomenal job.”
Blackwell could see it from Doubs’ perspective.
“You’ve got a defensive end (Hardy) and a linebacker (Sewell) coming at you at full speed,” he said. “That’d make anybody flinch up.”
Blackwell said they were crucial to the play and allowed him to just keep his eye on the ball the whole time.
“I’m just the back-line player waiting for anything to kick back at me, and sure enough it did,” he said.
3. Wright has his coach’s appreciation.
Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright (26) forces a fumble from Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) in the third quarter Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
If not the NFL’s.
The Bears cornerback was snubbed for the Pro Bowl on Tuesday despite leading the league with eight takeaways and two forced fumbles.
One of the latter came in the third quarter Saturday when he stripped Packers running back Josh Jacobs at the Bears 3-yard line. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds recovered the fumble.
Last week, Wright told the Tribune that his favorite takeaway was ripping the ball from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during his signature “Tush Push” on Black Friday last month.
“It’s just what he does,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “He’s extremely ball-conscious and he’s looking for the opportunities that present themselves to take the ball away. …
“It’s not the first time he’s done it, but it was a heck of a play by him. He’s had a great year. He’s made a lot of big plays for us and (I’m) looking forward to him continuing that.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/24/chicago-bears-luther-burden-rome-odunze/
George Kittle se pierde práctica por lesión de tobillo; en duda para el juego de 49ers ante Bears
Por JOSH DUBOW
SANTA CLARA, California, EE.UU. (AP) — El ala cerrada del Pro Bowl de San Francisco, George Kittle, se perdió la práctica del miércoles debido a una lesión en el tobillo, dejando en duda su participación en el gran juego de este fin de semana contra los Bears de Chicago.
Kittle se lesionó el tobillo durante la victoria del lunes por la noche por 48-27 sobre los Colts de Indianápolis. El entrenador Kyle Shanahan dijo que Kittle aún tiene “una oportunidad” de jugar el domingo por la noche contra los Bears, dependiendo de qué tan rápido se recupere esta semana.
San Francisco (11-4) ya aseguró un lugar en los playoffs y puede obtener el primer puesto en la Conferencia Nacional al vencer a los Bears (11-4) y a Seattle (12-3) en los dos últimos juegos de la temporada.
Los 49ers recibieron buenas noticias en el frente de lesiones el miércoles con el regreso del receptor Ricky Pearsall a la práctica de manera limitada después de perderse el juego de la semana pasada por una lesión en la rodilla.
Pearsall, quien se perdió seis partidos a principios de esta temporada por una lesión en la rodilla, tiene 31 recepciones para 443 yardas en la temporada.
Pero perder a Kittle sería un gran golpe para una ofensiva de San Francisco que ha estado operando a un alto nivel durante una racha de cinco victorias consecutivas. Los Niners han tenido dos juegos consecutivos sin tener que despejar el balón por primera vez en la historia de la franquicia.
Kittle es una parte clave tanto del juego terrestre como del aéreo para los 49ers. El ataque terrestre de los Niners ha mejorado desde que el ala cerrada regresó tras perderse cinco juegos a principios de esta temporada por una lesión en el tendón de la corva.
Kittle tiene 31 recepciones para 415 yardas y cuatro touchdowns durante la actual racha de victorias y es segundo en el equipo detrás del corredor Christian McCaffrey en recepciones (52) y yardas (599) a pesar de haberse perdido cinco juegos.
Los 49ers tienen un índice de pasador de 144,6 al lanzar a Kittle esta temporada, según Sportradar, lo que sería el más alto para cualquier jugador con al menos 50 objetivos desde que Russell Wilson tuvo un índice de 158,3 al lanzar a Tyler Lockett en 2018.
El liniero defensivo Yetur Gross-Matos tampoco practicó el miércoles, tomándose un día libre programado para descansar su rodilla adolorida.
El esquinero Renardo Green estuvo limitado después de perderse el juego de la semana pasada por una lesión en el cuello.
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Toyota Will Export American-Made Vehicles To Japan Next Year To Please The Trump Administration
Toyota Will Export American-Made Vehicles To Japan Next Year To Please The Trump Administration
Toyota said it will start selling three U.S.-built models in Japan in 2026 — the Camry, Highlander, and Tundra — produced in Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas. The move is widely seen as part of Toyota’s effort to ease tensions with President Donald Trump over U.S. tariffs on Japanese vehicles and parts, according to Yahoo Finance.
“Toyota will be able to meet the diverse needs of a broad range of customers, while also helping to improve Japan–US trade relations,” the company said.
Yahoo writes that Toyota has been actively courting Trump’s favor, including Chairman Akio Toyoda’s high-profile appearance at a NASCAR event in Japan wearing a MAGA hat and a shirt with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Earlier this year, Toyoda also suggested allowing U.S. automakers to sell cars in Japan through Toyota’s domestic dealer network — a proposal that fed into a trade deal calling on Japan to “open their country” to American vehicles.
Other Japanese automakers may follow Toyota, but analysts expect limited impact.
Bloomberg Intelligence’s Tatsuo Yoshida said: “All three models under discussion are large by Japanese standards, and left-hand drive remains a major psychological and practical barrier for most consumers.” He added, “Producing right-hand-drive versions in the U.S. for the Japanese market could unlock some demand, but even then vehicle-size constraints would cap volumes.”
Large vehicles traditionally struggle in Japan due to narrow roads and parking. Meanwhile, Toyota and the Japanese government are exploring regulatory changes to make imports easier, and NHK reported that those efforts are now moving forward.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/24/2025 – 17:50
Work, Welfare, & The Illusion Of A New Eden
Work, Welfare, & The Illusion Of A New Eden
Authored by Richard Porter via RealClearPolitics.com,
The scandal among the Somali community in Minnesota highlights a question to consider as we plunge deeper into the AI Age, an age in which some futurists, such as Elon Musk, suggest work will be optional: What’s the point of working?
In the beginning, there was no work: God’s punishment for Adam’s disobedience was tossing him from the Garden of Eden and condemning mankind to suffer through labor.
And for millennia, man suffered and labored merely to exist and reproduce, as all other living things did on earth. But whether from eating from the Tree of Knowledge, intelligent design, or the vagaries of evolution, man has the capacity to reason and imagine, create and innovate that other animals do not have.
As a result, humans no longer labor merely to exist, but to aspire, acquire, and achieve. We trade our labor for things we cannot or do not wish to make ourselves; to provide for future needs; to enjoy plenty, luxury, and convenience. Humans are social animals too, so we work with others to build what a single person could not, and to gain status or admiration from other humans.
And we work to help those who cannot help themselves, mindful of the Biblical exhortation “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Working to achieve the blessing of giving is integral to Americanism; Americans are the most generous people on earth.
Now, in this golden age of plenty and peace, we consider again: What’s the point of working? And its corollary as well: What’s the point of giving?
Eden – or heaven on earth – a place of contentment, ease, and mindless happiness, a place where work no longer exists, shimmers like a mirage on the horizon: thirsted for but never really in reach.
Well now, in the AI Age, perhaps a return to Eden is in reach, but is this version of Eden – abundant slothfulness – really the pinnacle of human existence?
To Somali refugees escaping civil war, death, destruction, and a bare subsistence economy, the U.S. offered a new life in which work was no longer required to subsist. At the cost of merely filling out and filing a form – and no doubt, even that “work” was done for them as well by a well-meaning social worker – the U.S. provided for all needs and even some wants.
Each and every Somali refugee found a better life in the U.S. without working. So, no one should be surprised that 89% of Somali families with children receive public aid.
Indeed, some clever refugees figured out that the generous, inattentive welfare state the U.S. had created with good intentions over the last 60 years offered a return to Eden.
Just by breaking a few rules that no one was enforcing, filling out and filing some more forms, vast unimaginable wealth was available – and would actually be given to you. Enough, it turns out, to live in opulence and to provide most of the needs for sprawling clans back home as well.
If we create an environment in which wealth can be achieved so easily just by breaking a few rules that no one enforces, was it wrong for a rational person to pursue wealth just by taking it?
We placed refugees into a new Eden and merely said: Take fruit from these trees but not from that tree.
Somalian refugees are not the only people who have discovered this glitch – this feature – in how we give. DOGE started a process, which is ongoing, uncovering the startling extent to which government giving is gamed.
For example, the Department of Agriculture has asked each state to provide the name, address, and Social Security number of each person receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) benefits. More than 20 states have refused to comply, but in studying the data on those that did, the government discovered over 150,000 dead people receiving benefits, hundreds of thousands more taking benefits from more than one state, and of course fake Social Security numbers.
It turns out it’s easy to cheat the government, and most state governments are actually actively trying not to find the fraud. And it’s not just in the welfare state; it appears to be systemic in the social service grant-making world as well.
The Somali experience is turning out to be an inadvertent social policy experiment complete with lessons, about both work and generosity.
First, giving with lax, unenforced rules is akin to giving without rules, which is an invitation to live in Eden – an invitation many will accept.
Second, Eden is good for animals, but it’s actually not the pinnacle of human existence so long as humans have the capacity to think, create, imagine, and aspire.
Third, work may be a curse for humans focused on subsistence, but it’s a blessing for humans thinking, creating, imagining, aspiring, trading, acquiring, achieving – and giving.
Fourth, giving as an output of human labor is better than receiving, because receiving discourages work and work is how one is blessed with the ability to give – so we need to beware of thoughtless, unstructured giving that discourages work.
In our golden age, as our means to give grows, and as “work” itself becomes “optional,” we need to anticipate the paradox of working, giving, and getting. We still live in a world of scarcity, but we continue to create abundance through freely trading or selling work, and giving is a beneficial consequence of working. But getting undermines the will to work, which diminishes future giving.
Giving and getting can never be a replacement for working and giving. If we ignore this, offering a new Eden to all without work, human will experience a painful fall from grace once again.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/24/2025 – 17:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/work-welfare-illusion-new-eden
Agentes de ICE disparan contra un vehículo en movimiento en Maryland y hieren a dos personas
GLEN BURNIE, Maryland, EE.UU. (AP) — Agentes de inmigración de Estados Unidos dispararon contra un vehículo en movimiento el miércoles por la mañana durante una operación de control y remoción, e hirieron a dos personas, informaron funcionarios locales.
Un portavoz del Departamento de Policía del Condado de Anne Arundel, en Maryland, dijo que ninguna de las personas baleadas tenía heridas que pusieran su vida en riesgo, y ambas fueron llevadas al hospital.
La policía de Anne Arundel respondió a un reporte de un tiroteo que involucraba a agentes federales alrededor de las 10:50 de la mañana. Los agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE por sus siglas en inglés) fueron los únicos funcionarios involucrados en el tiroteo, según la policía.
Preliminarmente, la policía dijo que los agentes se acercaron a una furgoneta blanca, pero que el conductor del vehículo intentó atropellarlos. Los agentes dispararon contra la furgoneta, que aceleró hasta detenerse en una zona boscosa, según la policía.
Las autoridades no revelaron las identidades de los heridos en el tiroteo.
La policía de Anne Arundel dijo que investigará el tiroteo, mientras que el FBI investigará la supuesta agresión contra los agentes y el ICE llevará a cabo una investigación interna. ___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Chicago Bears DE Austin Booker says NFL fined him $5K apiece for 2 roughing-the-passer penalties on Jordan Love
Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker said he has been fined $5,000 apiece for two roughing-the-passer penalties he was issued during Saturday’s 22-16 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers.
“I did get a fine, but we’ll see what they say on the appeal,” Booker told the Tribune on Wednesday.
He said he believes it’ll take about a week to receive a ruling on his appeal.
Booker was flagged for roughing the passer on the Packers’ third offensive play of the game, when quarterback Jordan Love threw incomplete to Romeo Doubs on third-and-1 from the Bears 44-yard line.
Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) hits Packers quarterback Jordan Love, leading to an injury in the second quarter Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Then, in the second quarter, on first-and-10 from the Packers 17, Booker was penalized a second rough-the-passer for making head-on, helmet-to-helmet contact with Love.
Love left the game and didn’t return. He was placed in concussion protocol and appeared on Tuesday’s estimated report with a left shoulder injury and concussion.
On replays of the second sack attempt, it appeared that Love lowered his head just as Booker was striking, which Booker suggested should’ve been a mitigating factor.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “The first one I’ll take full responsibility for. Like, I landed on him, I should have braced myself more.
“But I think the second one could definitely go both ways.”
Bears coach Ben Johnson said Monday: “That’s 100% a flag where he ends up getting concussed, and that’s not what anybody wants. But at the same time that one is a more difficult one to coach just from a technique perspective just because we’re trying to go after the quarterback and it’s a bang-bang play like that.”
Booker agreed Wednesday.
“I’m just a physical player, too, and I was just trying to play fast,” he said. “And things happen quick and sometimes stuff happens. But the first one I can definitely make (it) not happen, because it’s a lot of (lost) field position, for sure. … But the second one, I feel like I was playing hard, playing fast and things happened how they did.”
Booker added later: “At the same time, I know the significance of (a 15-yard penalty), and I’m going to try to clean (it) up for next game.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/24/chicago-bears-austin-booker-fined/
Bison roaming in Kane County for first time in 200 years
Kane County has a created a home for a herd of bison to roam in a unique free-range area of the Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in rural Sycamore.
The animals are there through a partnership between the Forest Preserve District of Kane County as land owner, the American Indian Center of Chicago as the animals’ owner and Ruhter Bison, of Woodstock, which serves as the herd manager.
“This is something we’ve been talking about for at least five years and have dreamed about for longer than that,” said Laurie Metanchuk, the forest preserve district’s communications and marketing director.
A small herd of bison have been added to Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in rural Sycamore through a partnership between the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, the American Indian Center of Chicago and Ruhter Bison. (Keeping Moments Photography/Forest Preserve District of Kane County)
Three male and three female bison arrived at the forest preserve on Dec. 5 and were kept for a few days in a smaller corral. On Dec. 8, they were released into the wider, 38-acre prairie, Metanchuk said.
There are other bison living in or adjacent to Kane County. Fermilab has a herd that roam an area that is in both Kane and DuPage counties and Elgin’s Lords Park is home to two bison.
Fermilab’s bison live on a grass pasture whereas Lords Park’s bison live in a zoo enclosure.
Burlington’s, however, have been placed on tallgrass prairie, a complex ecosystem with incredible diversity, Metanchuk said. Burlington Prairie, for example, has 114 different native grasses and wildflowers.
“Research, journals and written histories of the time indicate the last bison were in Kane County 200 years ago,” she said. “So this is the first time in more than 200 years that bison in Kane County have lived on prairie, as historically they once did.”
Metanchuk said the bison were transferred from an Illinois herd with provenance that traces back to the last remaining bison on the Great Plains.
The forest preserve district expects to add four more bison to the herd sometime during 2026, and the animals will be allowed to breed.
“We are currently planning to build a second, adjoining fenced area, larger than the current one. With the additional space, the animals will have approximately 100 acres on which to live and move about at will, and there will be room for the herd to grow,” Metanchuk said.
“The animals are owned by the American Indian Center of Chicago. Ultimately herd size would be their decision, but we do anticipate having room for up to 30 animals.”
Metanchuk said the bison are “free range” in that they are allowed to move about at will within an enclosed area.
“We simply don’t have the acreage to allow roaming to happen,” she said. “The bison at Burlington Prairie will always be within a fenced area.”
Having bison on a Kane County prairie was one of projects promised in the forest preserve district’s Land Acquisition & Preserve Improvement referendum, which was approved in 2024. The initial fenced area cost $150,000 and was paid for in part with a $99,000 grant from the Grand Victoria Foundation, Metanchuk said.
Bison are released Dec. 5, 2025, at Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Kane County. (Karen Muehlfelt/Forest Preserve District of Kane County)
The bison were donated at no cost. The cost of feed and veterinary bills are being paid by AIC and Ruhter Bison, which are also paying the forest preserve district a nominal grazing fee of $240 per year. The district must cover the cost of electricity and water for the site but because there are restrooms and picnic shelter already on the site, there is no bison-specific cost for utilities, Metanchuk said.
While the bison have arrived, the district is asking people to be patient about heading out to take a look at them, she said.
“Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve is one of the preserves where we lock the gates seasonally due to weather. This winter that’ll also give the animals time to adjust to their new surroundings,” Metanchuk said.
When the site opens, the public will be able to view them from outside the fenced-in area. There is a long entrance drive into the preserve that leads to a picnic shelter and parking area.
“It’s an easy walk from there to the fenced area. The fence is electric, so please do not touch the fence,” Metanchuk said. “But if the bison are nearby, it’ll be easy to see them. If not, you may need to walk around the fence to find where they’re at.”
The plan is to have public events in the spring, once the gates are open, she said. And because the herd manager needs access to the preserve, there is no authorized parking outside the gates.
For a map of Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve, go to kaneforest.com/upload/MAP_BurlingtonPrairie.jpg.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/24/kane-county-bison-burlington-sycamore/
“Boosters On. Wings Out!”: AST SpaceMobile Launches Biggest Satellite Yet To Take On Starlink
“Boosters On. Wings Out!”: AST SpaceMobile Launches Biggest Satellite Yet To Take On Starlink
AST SpaceMobile launched its largest-ever satellite, BlueBird 6, from India earlier on Wednesday, marking the company’s first satellite deployment in its low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation. This constellation is designed to provide direct-to-smartphone connectivity and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. The launch comes as the LEO industry is expected to see intensified competition in 2026, especially if SpaceX proceeds with an IPO.
On X, AST SpaceMobile announced that its BlueBird 6 satellite – designed to deliver direct-to-smartphone cellular connectivity from space and function as a space-based cell tower – successfully reached orbit after launching aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation’s LVM3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
AST SpaceMobile Announces Successful Orbital Launch of BlueBird 6, the Largest Commercial Communications Array Ever Deployed in Low Earth Orbithttps://t.co/STxx8tNnlQ
— AST SpaceMobile (@AST_SpaceMobile) December 24, 2025
CEO Abel Avellan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting the US-India space partnership that enabled the BlueBird 6 satellite launch.
Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi, @isro, and @NSIL_India on the successful launch of our BlueBird 6 satellite—the largest-ever commercial communications satellite in low Earth orbit.🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀
Perfect execution from both teams in India and the U.S. We are now in… pic.twitter.com/z7wzNodOsD
— Abel Avellan (@AbelAvellan) December 24, 2025
AST currently operates five commercial satellites in orbit and plans to deploy more than 60 next-generation satellites in 2026. The company has partnered with major telecom providers, including AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Vodafone Group, to integrate satellite coverage with existing cellular networks.
Boosters on. Wings out! 🚀 #SpaceMob cc: @AST_SpaceMobile pic.twitter.com/Z8fC5l6GVA
— AT&T (@ATT) December 24, 2025
AST shares in New York are up 3% on the session, adding to the year-to-date gains of more than 300%.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Starlink is years ahead of the competition, with more than 9,400 satellites in orbit, making it the largest satellite constellation ever assembled. Starlink has partnered with T-Mobile US.
The latest Starlink data shows that Elon Musk’s space internet company is adding more than 21,000 customers per day, bringing the total to 9 million customers worldwide.
BREAKING: SpaceX has announced that @Starlink now has over 9 million customers, up from 8M in November and 7M in August 2025.
Starlink added a record 21,275 new customers on average per day since they hit 8M, smashing their previous record of 14,250. That growth rate is a… pic.twitter.com/AqqgERUkMh
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) December 23, 2025
In recent weeks, SpaceX trademarked “Starlink Mobile,” and Musk confirmed a SpaceX IPO set for next year.
The key takeaway is that the LEO space industry is set to accelerate next year. We’ve previously explained ways to profit (read here), especially with the news that AI data centers will be launched aboard SpaceX rockets. After that, the focus will shift to the Moon and then Mars, meaning we’re still in the early stages of this LEO industry.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/24/2025 – 16:40
Clarendon Hills police join Hinsdale and other departments for social worker services
Police departments from Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge and Willowbrook have formed a team that will enable them to provide additional services by sharing a social worker from Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services.
The Hinsdale, Burr Ridge and Willowbrook departments put the Police Social Work Program in place for fiscal year 2025, said Clarendon Hills police Chief Ed Leinweber. He said he and acting village manager Paul Dalen were approached in September by Hinsdale police Chief Brian King about getting involved in the program.
The cost now is just over $23,000 for a year for each of the four departments. Clarendon Hills becomes part of the local group Jan. 1.
Leinweber said each department will have the social worker in-house one day per week for 10 hours.
“The social worker also has the flexibility to respond to one of the other towns, should there be an active critical incident where their services could be utilized,” he said, adding that the social worker would provided services to children, adolescents, adults and families of all backgrounds.
Leinweber said the social worker would focus on mental health incident follow-up, on-site response to mental health incidents, case management, short-term counseling to achieve crisis stabilization, suicide & mental health assessments, assistance with DCFS calls, homelessness, food insecurity and other basic needs, 24/7 on-call coverage for social service emergencies, ”walk-in” services for residents during designated office hours, domestic violence counseling, safety planning and resource assistance, outreach and training for residents and village officials and community meetings and events.
“Many police departments are moving toward having a social worker on staff, either on a part-time or full-time capacity,” Leinweber said. “There has been a lot of interest nationwide to have social workers work with police departments in responding to calls involving mental health crisis and domestic violence. Mental health crisis and domestic violence calls are two of the more common calls for service received by police departments.”
Leinweber said police and village officials believe partnering with Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services will further strengthen the commitment to promoting the mental health and social needs of the Clarendon Hills community.
“We look forward to working with NEDFYS and our neighboring villages in an effort to provide the best police service possible,” he said.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/24/clarendon-hills-hinsdale-social-worker/
