UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Shutterstock).

In its last two months in office, the Biden Administration will be sending increased aid to Ukraine to defend itself from Russian armed forces.

According to the Associated Press, “President Biden has committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and Jan. 20,” when President-elect Donald Trump is due to be sworn in,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The move comes because of uncertainty over what President-elect Donald Trump and the new Republican Congress will do regarding the years-long conflict between the two nations.

It’s now mired in a general standoff, partially because of billions in military aid from the U.S. and Europe, which have “leveled the playing field” between the larger and smaller nations.

North Dakota Governor gets new jobs

DOUG BURGAM, North Dakota governor.

Doug Burgum, governor of North Dakota, will be trading in his current job for two, perhaps three new jobs. The Republican has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of the Interior and chair of the new National Energy Council.

“This council will oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation,” wrote Trump in a social media post, according to The New York Times.

He will also have a seat on the National Security Council.
The new direction advocated in the appointment would appear to be a reversal of Obama and Biden administration efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions by emphasizing “clean energy” such as electric and wind power over petroleum.

Holiday spending may soar

HOLIDAY SHOPPERS are expected to spend more in 2024.

With rising prices an issue in the recent presidential election, will consumers spend less this holiday season, more, or about the same?
According to United Press International, retail analysts are predicting a boom overall in sales this fall and winter.

The claim is that good economic growth in the past few months will be a bigger factor in consumer decisions than the cost of gifts and celebrating the season.

But not in all cases. The divide between those doing well may mean that while holiday shopping may increase by as much as 7 percent over 2023, much of that increase will come from consumers earning more than $65,000 annually.

They are expected to spend an estimated $3,000 on gifts, entertaining and travel, compared to the average shopping spending close to half of that, at $1,638.

Weather: Still in the Sixties

We’re in for more of that good autumn sweater weather in our West Orange County cities for a while. The forecast for Saturday is for a daytime high of 67 with an overnight low of 45. Sunday will warm slightly to 69 (48) and Monday to cool to 66 (46). Tuesday should continue the up-and-down pattern at 68 (48). Sunny skies should be in place Saturday and Sunday, followed by partly cloudy skies on Monday and Tuesday.

Great Thoughts

“Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail … the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.”
– Thomas Jefferson, “First Inaugural Address.”