Category: News
Japan To Resume Operations At World’s Largest Nuclear Plant 15 Years After Fukushima Disaster
Japan To Resume Operations At World’s Largest Nuclear Plant 15 Years After Fukushima Disaster
Authored by Rachel Roberts via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
Japan is set to resume operations at the world’s largest nuclear power plant, marking a key development in the country’s return to nuclear energy almost 15 years after the Fukushima disaster.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located around 136 miles northwest of Tokyo, was among 54 reactors shut down after the nuclear disaster that occurred after the crippling of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan in March 2011. The disaster occurred following the 9.0 magnitude Great East Japan Earthquake, which led to a large tsunami.
Japan has now resumed nuclear power generation at 14 of the 33 plants that remain operable, as part of its shift away from reliance on fossil fuels.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be the first operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which also ran the Fukushima plant.
Operations can resume immediately following Niigata prefecture’s assembly passing a vote of confidence on Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi on Dec. 22.
Hanazumi, who backed the restart last month, said after the vote, “This is a milestone, but this is not the end.”
“There is no end in terms of ensuring the safety of Niigata residents,” he said.
Deep Divisions
The assembly session revealed the community’s deep divisions over the restart, in spite of lawmakers giving their backing to Hanazumi.
“This is nothing other than a political settlement that does not take into account the will of the Niigata residents,” an assembly member told fellow lawmakers during the session.
Around 300 protesters gathered outside the assembly holding billboards with signs expressing their opposition to the resumption in operations, such as “No Nukes” and “Support Fukushima.”
“I am truly angry from the bottom of my heart,” Kenichiro Ishiyama, a 77-year-old protester from Niigata city, told reporters after the vote.
“If something was to happen at the plant, we would be the ones to suffer the consequences.”
Evacuation Effects
An almost 50-foot tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three of Fukushima Daiichi reactors, causing a nuclear accident rated level 7 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale, with a high level of radioactive release occurring.
The evacuation has been criticized for having done more harm than good, due to the effects of stress on those displaced, particularly on elderly people. Experts have concluded that the loss of life would have been far smaller if all residents had done nothing at all, or were sheltered in place, instead of being evacuated.
“We remain firmly committed to never repeating such an accident and ensuring Niigata residents never experience anything similar,” said TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata, who declined to comment on timing.
TEPCO pledged earlier this year to pour 100 billion yen ($641 million) into the district over the next 10 years as it fought to win the support of Niigata’s wary residents. The company’s shares rose by 2 percent in Monday’s afternoon trade in Tokyo, higher than the Nikkei index as a whole, which was up 1.8 percent.
A survey in October found 60 percent of residents did not think conditions for the restart had been met, with almost 70 percent worried about TEPCO operating the plant.
Farmer Ayako Oga, 52, was forced to flee the area around the Fukushima plant in 2011, along with around 160,000 other evacuees.
“We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it,” said Oga, who still suffers from post-traumatic stress-like symptoms following the disaster.
Hanazumi has said he hopes Japan will eventually be able to reduce its reliance on nuclear power.
“I want to see an era where we don’t have to rely on energy sources that cause anxiety,” he said last month.
The Dec. 22 vote represented the final hurdle before TEPCO restarts the first reactor, which alone could boost electricity supply to the Tokyo area by 2 percent, according to an estimate by Japan’s trade ministry.
AI Driving Energy Demand
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed her support for nuclear restarts to counter the cost of imported fossil fuels, which account for 60–70 percent of the country’s total electricity generation.
Last year, Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) on imported liquefied natural gas and coal, representing a tenth of the country’s total import costs.
Despite its declining population, Japan expects energy demand to rise over the next decade, due to the power needs of artificial intelligence (AI) data processing centers.
The country has set a target of doubling the portion of nuclear power in its electricity mix to 20 percent by 2040.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa’s total capacity is 8.2 GW, which is enough to power a few million homes.
Japan’s top nuclear power operator, Kansai Electric Power, said in July it would begin conducting surveys for a reactor in western Japan, in what is planned to be the country’s first new plant since the Fukushima disaster.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 12/22/2025 – 17:00
Former Hobart man receives 22 years after shooting at estranged wife
Ariel Ginjauma Jr. — formerly of Hobart, now of Hillside, Illinois — on Monday received a 22-year sentence from Lake County Superior Court Judge Gina Jones.
“There were so many opportunities where you didn’t follow what you should be doing,” Jones told Ginjauma during his Monday sentencing hearing.
Ginjauma received a 12-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction for aggravated battery when the assault poses a substantial risk of death and a 10-year sentence for criminal confinement. The 10-year sentence will include two years in the Indiana Department of Correction, four years in Lake County Community Corrections and four years of probation.
“I never like to give a long probation, but it’s going to be a hard adjustment when you get out,” Jones said. “You have a plan for when you’re out, and I’d like to see it in action.”
Ginjauma’s sentences will run consecutively, Jones said, and he will have to partake in drug and alcohol counseling or Alcoholics Anonymous once per week while on probation.
As a teen, Ariel Ginjauma, then known as Ariel Gomez, was wrongfully convicted for a 32-year-old man’s death during celebrations for the 1997 Bulls’ championship win, according to Post-Tribune archives. Jones apologized for how the justice system failed Ariel Ginjauma, who served about 20 years in prison.
Ginjauma originally received 10 charges, including two counts of attempted murder, before taking a plea deal in his estranged wife’s shooting, according to online court records.
In October, Ginjauma filed a plea agreement after he was charged with shooting at his estranged wife Evelyn Ginjauma in November 2023, after she was acquitted that day of stabbing his business partner, Nancy Heino. Ariel Ginjauma filed for divorce less than one week before the shooting, according to Post-Tribune archives.
Deputy Prosecutor Infinity Westberg showed multiple videos from the incident, including doorbell camera footage showing Ariel Ginjauma kicking the door and yelling to be let in.
Once inside, Xfinity camera footage without audio showed Evelyn Ginjauma walk to the door with her daughter upstairs. Ariel Ginjauma is let in, goes after Evelyn Ginjauma with the gun, fires it and walks upstairs while she runs out.
Ariel Ginjauma then walks downstairs and out of the home, and his stepdaughter comes downstairs, upset and on the phone. Another outside video shows Evelyn Ginjauma scream and run down the street, with Ariel Ginjauma chasing her and firing the gun at her about five times.
“He’s going to kill us,” Evelyn Ginjauma yelled in another video. “Please help.”
Her daughter called 911 for help, and Hobart Police Department Detective Brandon Kissee said Monday that Ariel Ginjauma was arrested that day after a short pursuit with officers.
Nancy Heino, Ariel Ginjauma’s business partner who Evelyn Ginjauma was acquitted of stabbing, spoke on behalf of Ariel Ginjauma Monday.
“I want it to be known that this man saved my life,” Heino said. “He’s a good man.”
Heino also said that she believes that Evelyn Ginjauma “isn’t a good person,” also calling her “evil” and “jealous.” However, Heino also said Evelyn Ginjauma and her daughter didn’t deserve Ariel Ginjauma’s actions that day.
“He’s a good guy,” Heino said. “I just ask for mercy.”
Before Jones sentenced Ariel Ginjauma, Westberg said it was tone deaf for the defense to paint him as the victim, and she said the sentencing included “a lot of victim-blaming.” Westberg also said that Evelyn Ginjauma’s daughter was impacted, and she asked Jones to remember that there were two victims.
Westberg also believes that Ariel Ginjauma targeted Evelyn Ginjauma to try to gain full custody of their young son they share. Multiple letters called Ariel Ginjauma a good dad, including one from Evelyn Ginjauma.
Westberg said Ariel Ginjauma “can still be a good dad from prison.”
“There’s no doubt that the defendant is a good dad,” she said. “But he can’t use that boy as a sword and a shield. He tried to kill that boy’s mother.”
The prosecutor asked for Jones to sentence Ariel Ginjauma to the maximum 32 years on Monday. His attorney, Maryam Afshar-Stewart, told Jones that the maximum sentence is “completely contrary” to case law and state statute.
Afshar-Stewart said that Ariel Ginjauma owes no child support money for his son while incarcerated, and his imprisonment would cause undue hardship to his son, who would have to grow up without a father. She asked Jones to sentence him to 10 years concurrently, with two-and-a-half years in the Department of Correction, three-and-a-half in Lake County corrections and four years of probation.
Ariel Ginjauma also agreed to pay restitution and had two checks ready on Monday, Afshar-Stewart said.
Before he was sentenced, Ariel Ginjauma apologized to the court system, Evelyn Ginjauma and her daughter, saying he “failed everyone tremendously.”
At the time of the incident, Ariel Ginjauma said he was “in constant fear” of his wife, who allegedly threatened to take their son from him. Ariel Ginjauma also said that he self-medicated with drugs and alcohol during that time.
No matter his reasons, Ariel Ginjauma told Jones that there was no excuse for his actions.
“I promise I will not let you down,” Ariel Ginjauma told Jones. “You will see and hear from me again, but it won’t be in the courtroom. … I now understand the signs and symptoms that led to my actions.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
Here’s what stores are open, and which ones are closed, on Christmas
From department stores to grocery stores, most retailers across the U.S. close early on Christmas Eve and shut their doors entirely on Christmas Day — while others opt to cut back hours. But there’s also a handful of businesses that will be open during the holiday.
Before you run out the door this Christmas — whether it’s to buy last-minute gifts or simply get out of the house — it’s wise to double-check operating hours, which can differ depending on their location. When in doubt, call ahead or look up more specific schedules online for stores in your neighborhood.
Here’s a rundown of major chains on Christmas Day this year.
IS WALMART OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Walmart will be closed on Christmas Day — and reopen at 6 a.m. on Dec. 26.
IS TARGET OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Target will be closed on Christmas and reopen at 7 a.m. on Dec. 26.
IS COSTCO OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
All Costco warehouses in the U.S. are closed on Christmas Day.
IS CVS OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Many CVS locations will have modified hours on Christmas Day. Customers are encouraged to call ahead or double-check local hours online.
IS WALGREENS OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Walgreens stores will be open on Christmas Day but pharmacy hours may vary. All 24-hour locations will continue to remain open. You can double-check local hours here.
IS STARBUCKS OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Many Starbucks locations will be closed on Christmas, while some may have limited hours. It’s best to check ahead online.
IS MCDONALD’S OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Many McDonald’s locations in the U.S. are open on holidays like Christmas, but hours vary by location. Consumers can use the chain’s online store locator to confirm.
IS KROGER OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Kroger stores are closed on Christmas Day and will resume regular hours on Dec. 26.
IS ALBERTSONS OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Many Albertsons stores will be closed on Christmas — but there will also be locations that remain open with adjusted hours. Select pharmacies may also be closed or have different hours.
WHAT STORES ARE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS?
Here’s some other grocery, convenience and retail stores that are closed on Christmas Day:
1. ALDI: Stores are closed.
2. Harris Teeter: Stores are closed.
3. Home Depot: Stores are closed.
4. IKEA: Stores are closed.
5. Jewel-Osco: Stores and pharmacies are closed.
6. Lowe’s: Stores are closed.
7. Macy’s: Stores are closed.
8. Meijer: Stores are closed.
9. Publix: Stores are closed.
10. Rite Aid: Stores are closed.
11. Sam’s Club: Stores are closed.
12. Sprouts Farmer’s Market: Stores are closed.
13. Trader Joe’s: Stores are closed.
14. Whole Foods: Stores are closed.
WHAT STORES ARE OPEN ON CHRISTMAS?
Here are some stores that are open on Christmas Day (or have select locations that are):
1. Safeway: Many stores are closed, but there will also be some locations open with adjusted hours.
2. Sheetz: Stores are open with regular hours (24/7).
3. 7-Eleven: Most stores are open 24/7 (including on Christmas), but some locations’ hours can vary.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/stores-open-closed-christmas/
Mapping The Chances Of A White Christmas
Mapping The Chances Of A White Christmas
A white Christmas is one of those holiday experiences that feels universal—until you look at the weather history and actual odds of snowfall on Christmas Day across the United States.
This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Niccolo Conte, shows the historic probability across the U.S. of seeing at least one inch of snow on the ground on December 25, using data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is based on the latest U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
These “normals” are three-decade averages built from observations at nearly 15,000 stations, offering a consistent baseline for what’s typical in different parts of the country.
Latitude Matters Most For a Snow on Christmas Day
If you want the simplest rule of thumb for a white Christmas, head north. The northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and large stretches of the interior Northeast generally sit in higher probability bands than the rest of the country.
The data table below features state averages of NOAA’s full 5,000+ row dataset of specific station probabilities of at least one inch of snow:
State
Average probability of at least one inch of snow on Christmas day
Alabama
0.1%
Alaska
84.3%
Arizona
4.1%
Arkansas
1.3%
California
4.4%
Colorado
48.7%
Connecticut
35.2%
Delaware
6.5%
Florida
0.0%
Georgia
0.4%
Hawaii
0.0%
Idaho
62.1%
Illinois
27.2%
Indiana
26.0%
Iowa
46.9%
Kansas
15.0%
Kentucky
6.6%
Louisiana
0.1%
Maine
74.4%
Maryland
11.2%
Massachusetts
35.8%
Michigan
64.8%
Minnesota
75.2%
Mississippi
0.2%
Missouri
13.7%
Montana
56.7%
Nebraska
35.1%
Nevada
17.8%
New Hampshire
70.1%
New Jersey
13.7%
New Mexico
11.3%
New York
55.9%
North Carolina
3.1%
North Dakota
77.3%
Ohio
26.8%
Oklahoma
3.1%
Oregon
14.4%
Pennsylvania
34.2%
Rhode Island
26.9%
South Carolina
0.6%
South Dakota
55.5%
Tennessee
2.8%
Texas
0.8%
Utah
46.2%
Vermont
76.9%
Virginia
8.6%
Washington
26.9%
West Virginia
26.8%
Wisconsin
66.3%
Wyoming
56.0%
Areas around the Great Lakes can also improve their odds thanks to lake-effect snow, which can build persistent snowpack when cold air is in place.
Meanwhile, the further south you go, the more quickly the map shifts into darker shades—signaling that a white Christmas is historically uncommon.
Mountains Upgrade White Christmas Probabilities
Elevation can change the forecast more than any state line. The Rockies and the Sierra Nevada stand out as some of the most reliable places for holiday snow cover, with many high-altitude areas reaching the upper probabilities of Christmas Day snowfall.
The Cascades and ranges across Idaho also show strong odds, reinforcing how quickly temperatures drop with height.
Even in the East, the Appalachians make a visible difference—higher terrain can hold onto snow that the surrounding lowlands doesn’t.
Why the South and Coasts Often Miss White Christmas
Across the Gulf Coast, Deep South, and much of the Sun Belt, the map largely sits in the 0–10% range. Warmer winter temperatures mean snow is rarer to begin with—and even when it does fall, it’s less likely to stick around long enough to still be on the ground by Christmas morning.
Coastal climates often tilt milder as well, especially where ocean air moderates winter cold.
And for non-contiguous states, the story is mixed: Alaska’s station network is too sparse to confidently fill in the entire map, while Hawaii’s odds remain firmly at zero.
In other words, the classic “white Christmas” is real—but it’s also highly regional. If snow is the goal, history suggests two reliable strategies: chase colder latitudes, or climb into the mountains.
For more Christmas-related visualizations, check out this graphic which ranks Spotify’s most streamed Christmas songs on Voronoi.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 12/22/2025 – 16:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/weather/mapping-chances-white-christmas
Singer-songwriter Chris Rea, known for ‘Driving Home for Christmas,’ dies at 74
LONDON — Chris Rea, the singer and songwriter best known for the hit “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at 74, his family said Monday.
Rea died in the hospital following a short illness, according to a statement from his family to Britain’s Press Association news agency.
Rea found fame in the 1980s in Britain with hits such as “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” and “Let’s Dance.”
Two of his studio albums, “The Road to Hell” in 1989 and “Auberge” in 1991, went to number one in the country.
“Driving Home for Christmas,” did not become an overnight hit when it was first released in 1986, but the gentle track proved to be an enduring success over the decades and remains one of the U.K.’s most-loved festive songs. It featured in a TV advertisement for the retailer Marks and Spencer just this year.
The musician was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, in northeast England, to an Italian father and Irish mother. He took various jobs after leaving school and helped out in his family’s ice cream business.
He came late to the guitar, picking one up at 21, and played in bands before going solo.
He had suffered from health problems including pancreatic cancer, and in 2016 he suffered a stroke. In more recent years he turned away from pop and released several bluesy records.
Rea is survived by his wife and two daughters.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/singer-songwriter-chris-rea-obit/
Seven children charged in attack on mom, son near South Deering elementary school
Seven minors are facing battery charges in the attack of a mother and her 9-year-old son near a Southeast Side school this fall.
The children, four boys and three girls ranging in age from 10 to 13, have each been charged with misdemeanor battery causing bodily harm, according to Chicago police. Two of those charged face two counts, while the other five face one count. Released from custody, the children were also referred to counseling services, police said.
The charges stem from an incident last month that was captured on video and circulated widely on social media.
On Nov. 17, a 33-year-old woman and her son were walking in the 10600 block of South Bensley Avenue in the South Deering neighborhood on the city’s Far South Side when a group approached and struck them multiple times, police said at the time.
Following the attack, which took place about two blocks northwest of Orville T. Bright Elementary School, the woman and boy were transported to Advocate Trinity Hospital, where they were initially listed in serious condition.
The confrontation stoked fear among Bright parents and gained the attention of Mayor Brandon Johnson.
In the wake of the attack, Johnson wrote on social media that he was “deeply disturbed to see the video of young people attacking a mother and her child.” Shortly after, Johnson’s spokesperson confirmed that the mayor’s office had moved the woman’s family to a different location and that their team was also looking into transferring the son to a new school.
In response to the incident, Chicago Public Schools affirmed that it was committed to “building a physically and emotionally safe teaching and learning environment in every school.” The Chicago Teachers Union stated that it believes this is an opportunity for the city to provide the resources that students need.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/children-charged-south-deering-school-attack/
Barry Manilow to have surgery for early-stage lung cancer and postpones January concerts
Barry Manilow will be having surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his lung and will reschedule his January concerts, the singer announced Monday.
Manilow, 82, said doctors found the cancer after he had an extended bout of bronchitis — six weeks, then a relapse of another five weeks.
“My wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK,” Manilow wrote on Instagram. “The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early.”
The singer added that doctors don’t believe cancer has spread, so for now he expects “No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns.”
A statement issued by Manilow’s representatives specified that the spot was a stage one tumor, and that the surgery would take place in late December.
Manilow will be recovering for the month of January and plans to return to action with Valentine’s weekend concerts beginning Feb. 12 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, and then his arena concerts will resume Feb. 28 in Tampa, Florida.
Manilow was due to perform 10 concerts in January at nine locations in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Ohio. They will now be held in February.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/barry-manilow-lung-cancer/
Watch Live: Trump Makes Announcement At Mar-A-Lago With Secretary Of War Pete Hegseth
Watch Live: Trump Makes Announcement At Mar-A-Lago With Secretary Of War Pete Hegseth
President Trump is scheduled to make a public announcement at 4:30 p.m. EST at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.
*TRUMP’S 4:30PM ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IS ON SHIPBUILDING: OFFICIAL
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) December 22, 2025
No details have been released about the substance of the announcement, which comes as the holiday week begins with Christmas Eve just days away.
The timing follows a flurry of defense and national security developments. Last week, Trump signed the annual defense policy bill into law, authorizing roughly $900 billion for the Pentagon. Since then, the administration has escalated gunboat diplomacy in the Caribbean, raised new national security concerns over offshore wind farms, and sparked diplomatic backlash after appointing a special envoy, which prompted an angry response from Denmark’s foreign minister earlier today.
It is worth noting that The Epoch Times expects the announcement to focus on shipbuilding, a fitting topic given the Pentagon’s strategic repositioning across the Western world and the increased emphasis on hemispheric defense. We have informed readers about how Goldman is profiting from this historic realignment (see here).
Given the news flow, here are several topics Trump, Hegseth, and Phelan could address:
Trump signs defense policy bill into law
Hunting Season: US Forces Target Third ‘Dark Fleet’ Tanker Near Venezuela
Trump Wants New “Golden Fleet” Of Future Battleships For Hemispheric Defense
Leases For Five Offshore Wind Projects Suspended Over Radar-Related National Security Concerns
Denmark Furious After Trump Names Special Envoy To Greenland
Watch Live:
. . .
Tyler Durden
Mon, 12/22/2025 – 16:25
“Power That Goes Unpunished Only Learns One Lesson: It Can Do Whatever It Wants…”
“Power That Goes Unpunished Only Learns One Lesson: It Can Do Whatever It Wants…”
Authored by James Howard Kunstler,
Seeing Is Believing (Not)
“…power that goes unpunished only learns one lesson: it can do whatever it wants.”
– Roger Stone
Has it occurred to you that the video footage of the hallway outside Jeffrey Epstein’s prison cell that shows nobody coming or going around the hour that he “killed himself” could be fake? All authorities from the FBI to The New York Times pretend that the date-and-time stamped video is authentic, and that it proves nobody went into his cell to kill him. Nobody has questioned this. How difficult would it be to take a few hours of alternate closed-circuit TV footage of the same drab hallway from the same position, making sure nobody got on-camera, and then stick a fabricated date-and-time stamp on it? Do you suppose that the intel agencies don’t have the capacity to fabricate that sort of evidence?
At this point, seeing what the capabilities are for AI to compose any kind of picture — or even what years’ old Photoshop programs can do — why would you suppose that anything in the Epstein files now being released might not be subject to fiddling by persons and parties with an interest? Even one second of video showing a notable person in somebody’s arms, or performing an illicit act with a child, a mere glimpse of such a thing, would be A) easy to manufacture, and B) guaranteed to create a mighty shit-storm of a political crisis that would steal everybody’s attention from now until the Rockies tumble.
The Epstein files looks like the end of the seeing-is-believing phase of human history. Whatever dazzling fakes you’re watching on “X” these days, consider that the deep fake abilities of government agencies are a mile ahead of commercially-available AI tech that any jamoke on TikTok can use. I wouldn’t believe a single goshdarn thing coming out of these files that preoccupy the nation right now — while many momentous events unfold at home and around the world unnoticed, or get crowded out by the hoo-hah over Jeffrey Epstein’s sketchy doings. The further forward in time this goes, the worse you can expect it to get.
And why wouldn’t it be in the intel community’s interest to keep this hoo-hah going as long and hard as possible, so as to distract the public from some of the other problems besetting the republic — such as the intel community’s obdurately sociopathic and seditious activities against that very republic?
Talk might be cheap, too, but there’s plenty of chatter on the Internet these days to the effect that a claque of players with familiar names, currently under suspicion of major misdeeds, are secretly running critical sections of the government as a kind of rogue directorate.
For instance, former CIA Director John Brennan, whose front-job for years has been as a “national security contributor” to MSNBC/NBC.
Do you suppose he sits around his home-office all the livelong day and doesn’t talk to any of his old colleagues? How else would he acquire any “national security” info to report on cable TV? And might you wonder whether these conversations, if they occur, include not just queries and postulations but instructions? That is, orders. . . for people to carry out such-and-such activities? Or suggestions of orders?
And, of course, John Brennan is just one character in a basket of deplorable former intel officials who conceivably wield influence, or issue orders, in the vast turbid, stagnant, septic backwaters of America’s intel swamp.
To name a few: Jim Clapper, Michael Hayden, Mike Pompeo, Avril Haines, Leon Panetta, Gina Haspel. Just add the rest of the list of bigshots who signed the infamous 2020 Hunter Biden / Russian disinfo “open letter.”
And dozens more including a big gang of ex-FBI and DOJ with cases pending for activities that have the shape and smell of a coup to overthrow the US government (that they served.
Do you suppose any of them might have an interest in stirring the pot of cognitive dissonance that is making it nearly impossible for the people of this land to understand what the fuck is going on around them?
You’ve got to wonder what John Ratcliffe thinks about all this (and about the 21,000 employees of the CIA he supposedly directs). And what Tulsi Gabbard knows about the sundry communications flying around the American digital ether.
And what fresh treachery is yet being launched by this coterie of scoundrels. And now imagine how difficult life must be for one President Donald Trump. Just sayin’.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 12/22/2025 – 16:15
Evergreen Park Elementary District 124 pulls plan for facilities referendum
While Evergreen Park Elementary District 124 is seeking funding to address facilities needs at its schools, including the almost century-old Central Middle School, the district recently decided against adding a referendum to the March 17 primary ballot.
Superintendent Jenna Woodland said after hosting four public information hearings regarding the district’s $110 million facilities proposal, community support was not high enough to proceed with the referendum. She said about 56% of district parents supported the plan, which should be at 70% to account for lack of support among others living in district.
“What I ultimately think happened is it was a very, very large financial ask of our community,” Woodland said Friday. “And I get that, I respect it.”
The proposal included constructing a building to replace Central Middle School at 9400 S. Sawyer Ave., along with additions and renovations to the district’s four elementary schools. Woodland said the district will now prioritize improvements it can fund within its budget.
“Our survey really did indicate that the community’s higher priority would be Central Middle School and addressing the needs of that building,” Woodland said. “So I think that’s good information.”
The district worked with DLA Architects of Itasca, which designed the Oak Lawn Community High School field house that remains under construction, to envision a Central Middle School with improved security and access for people with disabilities as well as modern classrooms and shared spaces.
A rendering of the proposed replacement Central Middle School in Evergreen Park. (DLA Architects)
The existing building, Woodland said, has “created a number of concerns in terms of the health, life and safety of our students” that are difficult to solve due to its age. Renovations are difficult due to building additions approved in the past, which created a structure Woodland said is piecemealed together.
The superintendent said navigating the building is difficult for students with disabilities, as it lacks compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The building has one elevator that needs to be replaced, as it has repeatedly failed inspections and stopped working during school days.
Woodland said on one of the days the elevator failed this year, school staff had to perform a two-person lift to help a student in a wheelchair get to her physical therapy. Other students on crutches have had to receive remote instruction due to their inability to move through the building.
“Our largest concern always goes back to ADA compliance and making sure that we’re meeting the overarching safety concerns of kids — making sure that everyone has access to public education at its highest level,” Woodland said.
While Central Middle School is the district’s oldest building, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest and Southeast elementary schools range between 59 and 76 and are in need of their own improvements, Woodland said.
Due to lack of space, elementary school art, music and technology classes are taught from carts pushed from classroom to classroom. Staff continue to use temporary mobile classrooms that are 24 years old and pose their own safety risks to students.
During a Nov. 5 informational session on the facilities proposal, Woodland said the district hoped to get rid of the mobile classrooms in favor of elementary school additions. Woodland said one evening a custodian was cleaning a mobile classroom used by kindergarteners and had to call 911 because someone had broken into the unit.
“What I want you to picture is a group of kindergarten teachers or a group of kindergarten students walking into that mobile in the morning,” Woodland said. “They’re not safe, they’re not secure and they need to be addressed.”
Woodland said the district plans to present an adjusted proposal at the school board meeting in January that will include at least replacing the Central Middle School elevator and addressing ADA compliance issues. The next opportunity to present a referendum will the November 2026 general election.
“At this point, I’m calling it a power pause,” Woodland said. “We want to continue to engage with our community and seek feedback regarding what would be palatable for the taxpayer.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/evergreen-park-district-124-referendum/
