New York Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that she intends to sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act into law early next year, which would make New York the latest U.S. state to allow terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to request life-ending medication from physicians.

  Criminal asylum-seeking sex attackers have preyed on vulnerable women since arriving in the UK by small boats. The map in the Daily Mail shows that these monsters are all over Britain. The map demonstrates starkly that these offenders and their trail of misery are spread all around the country. Bigger cities and towns bear […] The post Women and Girls Are No Longer Safe in the UK appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Tim McGraw is one of the most beloved men in country music. He’s made a lot of women swoon over the years with his catchy songs and signature cowboy hat. Tim and his wife, Faith Hill, tied the knot nearly 30 years ago and share three beautiful daughters. He’s happy with every aspect of his life and doesn’t need to change who he is to please anyone at this point. At 58, he knows just who he is, and if people don’t like it, that’s fine by him. @rtthebest1 #timmcgraw #vegas #countrymusic ♬ original sound – rtthebest Tim McGraw Recently Shocked Fans by Wearing Fringe During a performance in early December, Tim McGraw wore a pair of fringe pants, and people had a lot to say. But Tim didn’t seem to care about the criticism. In a second video, he addressed the controversy and let people know just where he stands. “I have to admit, I got some strange comments on my pants that I wore last Saturday night,” he said as fans cheered. “So, I decided to just screw it, double down,” Tim said as he proudly showed off another pair of fringe pants. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years, I don’t give a good damn what anybody thinks.” “I can’t with the Tim hate. I love this man,” a fan cheered. “We. Don’t. Care. What. They. Say. You. Look. Awesome,” someone agreed. This fan put it perfectly. “You are not bringing it up about your jeans because it bothers you. It is because us female fans, respectfully for your family, go crazy for you! I have followed your career since the beginning. Your song, ‘Your love saved me a moment too soon,’ happens to be my husband and I wedding song. Thank you!” This story’s featured image is by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartRadio.

If there’s one thing Costco members love more than buying 12 pounds of peanut butter at a time, it’s the $1.50 hot dog deal. The price hasn’t changed since Ronald Reagan was in office, and people like it that way. There are few deals in the world quite as good, and Costco knows it. They lure us in with hot dogs and a fountain Diet Coke, and the next thing we know, we’ve got a new couch and enough potato salad to feed the entire neighborhood. Speaking of feeling the neighborhood, Costco also understands that this time of year is busy, and people do plenty of entertaining. They’ve introduced a new hot dog just in time for the holidays. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Teton Waters Ranch (@twrgrassfedbeef) You’ll Make the New Costco Hot Dog at Home According to All Recipes, Costco will be selling Teton Waters Ranch cocktail franks, perfect for holiday hosting. Teton Waters Ranch shared the news about their Hot dogs back at Costco on Instagram. “We’re so excited to announce the return of our 100% grassfed beef mini cocktail franks – just in time for the holidays! Now available at select Costco stores in Southern California, Hawaii, and the Northeast (VA, MD, PA, DE, NJ, NY, CT, MA, NH, ME) for a limited time (blankets not included!) Small but mighty, and perfectly paired for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at all your holiday or game time gatherings!” The post reads. Fans immediately got excited. “Ahhhh need! Perfect holiday appetizer,” one wrote. “My kids are going to love those and now I don’t have to cut them up,” another person shared. Teton Waters Ranch customers love their products. “I really want to find your breakfast patties, they don’t have them at Whole Foods. I should Google where to find them in Fremont, California,” someone wrote. “Whhhhat!!!! Come to Florida!!!!” Another customer begged. This story’s featured image is by Kevin Carter/Getty Images.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As the federal minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009, cities and states across the United States are taking matters into their own hands. In 2026, 88 jurisdictions will raise their minimum wage rates, offering millions of workers a critical boost in take-home pay. Dozens of cities and states are stepping up with scheduled wage hikes designed to offset the rising cost of living. According to a new report by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), 19 states and 49 local governments will implement higher wage floors starting in January, with more to follow by year’s end. While the federal government has not acted in over 15 years, these regional increases signal a growing shift in how local leaders are addressing the realities of inflation, stagnant wages, and the pressures facing low-income workers. From coast to coast, the $15 milestone spreads In many of the jurisdictions making changes, the minimum wage will cross or exceed the long-debated $15-per-hour benchmark. Nebraska’s wage will jump from $13.50 to $15 per hour. Rhode Island will see an increase from $15 to $16. In Denver, minimum pay will rise to $19.29, one of the highest rates in the nation. Flagstaff workers will move from $17.85 to $18.35 an hour. These adjustments arrive at a time when ordinary life expenses like housing, groceries, and utilities continue to rise. And for low-wage earners, even small gains in hourly pay can mean the difference between getting by and falling behind. “They are really struggling right now,” said Yannet Lathrop, senior researcher and policy analyst at NELP. “These wages basically mitigate the effects of inflation, the effects of the rising cost of living, and the difficulties so many people are having paying for basics—food, housing, medicine.” More than just a paycheck: better wages boost well-being Beyond financial relief, minimum wage hikes may deliver broader benefits. Studies cited in the NELP report link increased earnings to improvements in mental health, educational outcomes, and overall well-being. “Things that are going to benefit not just the workers, but also the communities and society as a whole,” Lathrop added. That ripple effect, advocates argue, makes minimum wage increases more about investing in the community rather than just a labor policy. State-level showdowns reflect deeper tensions While the momentum is strong, not all states are on board. In 20 states, the minimum wage is still locked at the federal level of $7.25. These include Texas, Iowa, Alabama, and Wyoming, where no local increases are on the books. Even in states where voters have approved higher minimums, the politics remain fraught. In Missouri, a ballot measure passed by voters promised a $15 minimum wage and annual adjustments for inflation. But state lawmakers reversed course, repealing the inflation adjustment and cutting a related provision for paid sick leave. Democrats called it “absolute disdain” for workers. Meanwhile, Republican Governor Mike Kehoe defended the move, stating: “Today, we are protecting the people who make Missouri work—families, job creators, and small business owners—by cutting taxes, rolling back overreach, and eliminating costly mandates.” Striking a balance between worker support and business concerns Some business groups argue that sudden wage hikes can strain small businesses, forcing them to raise prices or reduce staff. That tension played out in Rhode Island, where lawmakers initially proposed raising the minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2030. In response to pushback, the plan was revised to reach $17 by 2027 instead. Republican House Minority Whip David Place voiced concerns over job loss, saying, “The real minimum wage is $0. That’s what they make when they get fired because business can’t afford to keep them.” Still, the revised bill moved forward, reflecting a middle ground between worker support and business sustainability. Looking ahead: more hikes, more impact As the movement for higher wages gains traction, it’s becoming clear that cities and states are not waiting for Washington. While the political battle over a national wage hike continues, local governments are using policy tools they already have to ease economic strain for their residents. In many cases, these are pre-scheduled increases tied to inflation, a mechanism designed to make wage adjustments predictable and automatic. Though the national debate is far from settled, one thing is clear: in 2026, millions of American workers will earn more than they did the year before. And in a landscape of rising costs and economic uncertainty, that’s no small thing.The post More US states and cities are boosting minimum wages in 2026. What does it mean for workers? first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Scroll through any productivity blog or time-management book, and you’ll find a familiar formula: rigid routines, detailed planners, and the unspoken assumption that success comes from consistency and control. These methods often work well… for Type-A personalities. But what about those who naturally move through life a bit more slowly, creatively, or spontaneously? According to psychological research, individuals with Type-B personalities tend to be more relaxed, adaptable, and open to novelty. They are often less concerned with strict schedules and more inclined to follow internal rhythms or bursts of inspiration. Unfortunately, most traditional organizational advice wasn’t built with them in mind. When these methods fail, it can leave people feeling like they’re undisciplined or falling short. But the real issue isn’t a lack of motivation; it’s a mismatch between the person and the strategy. Organization doesn’t require becoming someone else. It just takes the right tools, aligned with the way your brain naturally works. Here are three easy-to-implement, research-backed habits that offer structure without the stress. Habit 1: use fresh starts to your advantage If the idea of sticking to the same routine every day sounds exhausting, there’s good news: You don’t need to. For people who resist repetition, timing might matter more than frequency. Psychologists refer to this as the “fresh-start effect”, a natural spike in motivation that happens after temporal milestones like a new month, birthday, season, or even a Monday after a rough week. These points create a subtle psychological divide between your “past self” and a more motivated “present self,” making it easier to kick off new habits. Instead of forcing daily discipline, Type-B individuals can build in small, symbolic rituals during these transitions. The start of each season might become a cue to clean one messy drawer. The first Monday of the month could be the day to sort your inbox or tidy your workspace. These moments give organization a natural entry point that feels intuitive, not forced. You don’t need to be consistent every single day. You just need recurring windows of opportunity that feel fresh, inviting, and achievable. Habit 2: make soft commitments (not public announcements) Accountability often gets a bad reputation, especially among people who fear it will lead to guilt, shame, or pressure. But not all accountability has to be intense or high-stakes. For Type-B personalities, low-pressure social cues can be incredibly effective. A 2021 study published in PNAS found that even casual, public commitments can improve goal follow-through, not because people fear judgment, but because knowing that someone else is aware of your plans makes those plans feel more real. For those who thrive on flexibility, this doesn’t mean announcing your intentions to thousands of social media followers. In fact, that approach can backfire. Instead, soft pledges work better: texting a friend to say you’ll spend five minutes cleaning after lunch or sharing a checklist in a group chat with no pressure to complete everything. These “light accountability” tactics introduce what economists call a minor social cost of inaction. It’s not big enough to stress you out, but just enough to nudge you forward. The best part is that they still feel like your idea (because they are). You’re choosing how and when to show up, but with just enough structure to help you stay on track. Habit 3: track one small behavior where you can see it You don’t need a planner, habit-tracking app, or elaborate routine to start feeling more organized. Sometimes, the simplest changes create the biggest shifts. Behavioral research consistently shows that self-monitoring leads to real improvements across a wide range of habits. The secret isn’t what you track, it’s simply that you track. For Type-B personalities, it’s often more effective to pick one very specific behavior and make it visible. Maybe it’s checking off a calendar square each day you put your keys in the same place. Maybe it’s marking a post-it every time you clear off your desk. You’re not trying to overhaul your life, you’re just building momentum. These micro-habits serve as proof that you are capable of sticking to something. And over time, that visible evidence of progress starts to reinforce a more organized identity. Organization isn’t about perfection or rigid schedules. It’s about building a system that supports your life, not one that you constantly feel like you’re failing to live up to. Building structure without changing your personality Productivity advice often assumes that everyone thrives with structure, routine, and high standards. But that simply isn’t true for everyone. People with Type-B personalities have their own strengths: creativity, adaptability, big-picture thinking. What they need is not a complete personality makeover, but a system that honors those traits while helping them stay on top of what matters. The goal isn’t to become more like a Type-A. It’s to become a more confident, calm, and capable version of yourself.The post 3 organization hacks for Type B brains that actually work first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene secured one last victory before her quickly approaching resignation date in January 2026. The House voted Wednesday evening to pass Greene’s bill criminalizing child sex change procedures nationwide over the objections of four House Republicans. (RELATED: Trump Admin’s Dismantling Of Gender Ideology Leaves Activists, Legacy Media Reeling) Three Democratic […]

Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a healthcare reform bill on Wednesday evening targeting rising costs as expiring Obamacare tax credits rally support for change ahead of midterm elections.  The new GOP-backed legislation, titled the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, does not extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax […]

Former special counsel Jack Smith—who pursued President Donald Trump on two fronts between the first and second term—faced his own scrutiny from House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.  Smith claimed that he had “proof beyond reasonable doubt” of Trump’s guilt. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told reporters afterwards that his opinion of the Smith probe of Trump has not changed: “it’s political.” “I think we’ve learned some interesting things,” Jordan said, according to the Associated Press. In late 2024, the Justice Department moved to drop Smith’s case against then President-elect Trump. Smith had secured grand jury indictments against Trump regarding his challenge to the 2020 election outcome. A federal court has already dismissed the indictment accusing Trump of mishandling classified information.  Smith told the committee in his opening statement, first obtained by the Associated Press, that his team “developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump illegally conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election.  He further said there was “powerful evidence” Trump broke the law in keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. “I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election,” Smith told the committee. “We took actions based on what the facts and the law required—the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor.” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said Republicans are lucky Smith didn’t testify in public “because had he done so, it would have been absolutely devastating to the president and all the president’s men involved in the insurrectionary activities.”  Smith did not take any questions from reporters as he walked into the committee room for a deposition.  Smith’s lawyer, Lanny Breuer, briefed reporters after his client was in the room, however. “In today, testifying before this committee, Jack is showing tremendous courage, in light of the remarkable and unprecedented retribution campaign against him by this administration, and this White House,” Breuer said. “Let’s be clear. Jack Smith, a career prosecutor, conducted this investigation based on the facts, and based on the law, and nothing more.”  The deposition came one day after Fox News first reported on emails from FBI officials who expressed doubt about whether there was probable cause for raiding Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home for classified documents. The 2022 FBI raid occurred before Smith was appointed as special counsel.   pic.twitter.com/wsVCy5dU9n— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) December 17, 2025 An FBI official wrote, “Even as we continue down the path towards a search warrant, WFO [the Washington field office] believes that a reasonable conversation with the former president’s attorney, (stating that the FBI and DOJ are readying a search warrant, and have developed information that there are more documents at Mar a Lago), ought not to be discounted.” However, senior Justice Department officials pushed the raid forward. Recent revelations have shown that the Justice Department’s Arctic Frost operation, which Smith took over, gathered phone records of 10 Republican members of Congress. Last month, the House Judiciary Committee referred Thomas Windom, former senior assistant special counsel under Smith, to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution after Windom declined to answer almost every question from the committee’s deposition.  In an October letter asking Smith to appear before the committee, Jordan claimed that Smith’s team “sought to silence President Trump by restricting his public statements in the case, conducted an unnecessary and abusive raid of his residence, attempted to improperly pressure defense counsel with the promise of political patronage, and manipulated key evidence in the investigation.” The post Amid New Arctic Frost Revelations, House Investigators Scrutinize Jack Smith appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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