Also on today’s menu:
Late-Season Hurricane Hits Florida
Russia Withdraws From Kherson Region
Upcoming Activities In The Newfound Area
The Associated Press is predicting that, today, the Labor Department will announce that consumer prices jumped 8% in the past year, and by 0.6% from September to October. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy costs, is expected to be up 6.5% from a year ago, and 0.5% from September to October.
The Federal Reserve’s brutal interest increases are likely to continue, despite the likelihood that they will put people out of work and lead to a recession because the Fed is refusing to acknowledge that the real reason for inflation is the supply shortages amidst increased demand following the pandemic. Federal pandemic aid has contributed to a burst of consumer spending, but disruptions in food and energy associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are the larger issues that the Fed’s antiquated approach cannot affect.
The federal aid package has helped people out of poverty, but the Fed’s rate hikes are damaging the American housing market, making it harder for people buy a home. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has more than doubled over the past year, topping 7% before falling slightly last week. Investment in housing has dropped to a 26% annual rate.
Late-Season Hurricane Hits Florida
Hurricane Nicole hit Florida with 70 mph winds early this morning, but it was quickly downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall. The storm is likely to continue into Georgia and South Carolina and may even hit Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York later in the week.
Before hitting Florida, Nicole lashed Grand Bahama Island as a Category One hurricane.
November hurricanes are rare in Florida. Since record-keeping began in 1853, the Sunshine State has been hit by only two, in 1935 and 1985.
Russia Withdraws From Kherson Region
Russia has announced that its troops would withdraw from the west bank of the Dnieper River near the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, reflecting a significant setback for Moscow and a potential turning point in the war. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, said it could be a ruse.
Still, U.S. President Joe Biden Jr. said the withdrawal is evidence that Russia has “real problems” on the battlefield. General Mark Milley estimated that 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and wounded since the invasion of Ukraine, and Kyiv’s armed forces “probably” suffered a similar number of casualties.
Ukraine and Russia face a potential winter lull in fighting that analysts say could offer an opportunity for negotiations.
Upcoming Activities In The Newfound Area
Club Soda will perform during a fall dance at the Old Town Hall on Summer Street in Bristol on Saturday, November 12, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., open to those 21 and older. Donations will be accepted at the door, and the Tapply-Thompson Community Center will offer child care for a fee.
Coming up on Thursday, November 24, is the 41st annual Turkey Trot, to benefit Newfound Children & Families in Need, a community partnership between the Newfound Country Store in Bridgewater and the TTCC. The race will start at 9 a.m. at the Newfound Country Store. Participants who pre-register will receive a commemorative custom-knitted beanie hat with the Turkey Trot logo.
Bristol’s annual Tree-Lighting ceremony in Central Square will take place on Friday, November 25, with music at 5:30 p.m. Santa will arrive by fire truck at 6 p.m. to light the tree. The Festival of Trees at the Old Town Hall on Summer Street will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 26.
Café Chatter
On ‘Political Trash’: Glossy makes them harder to recycle and unhealthy to burn. I read them. Then I find the citations in the teeny tiny print, look up their source (watch debates, listen to podcasts, read old articles and tweets), then contact the group responsible for the flier for their explanation of how they spun what was said in the source became the claim on thr flier, then when someone repeats what they read in a flier as gospel, I share screenshots, facts, and videos to educate them. Both Sides, btw, both parties lie and spin (just that Dems are more prolific).
— Maura Annette Chappelle
On ‘A Career In Journalism’: I love this. I remember that when you did this very well. You didn’t mention Dartmouth in your journey though. That was an important step.
— Candace Skurnik
Giving Tuesday
The News Café is a virtual meeting place where we discuss the news of the day: local, statewide, national, and international.
An offering by the nonprofit Liberty Independent Media Project, the News Café does not rely on advertising, as most media outlets do, freeing us to provide an independent focus on events and cultural matters. The project instead relies on direct monetary support from donors and subscribers.
Giving Tuesday is coming up on November 29. If you like what we’re doing, and want to see more of it, please give what you can by going to kindest.com.
You can also support the News Café by converting your free subscription into a paid subscription.
Please consider supporting our work to keep the News Café coming.