Baker Tilly Buzzhouse Podcast: What 2025 Could Bring for Housing Tax Policy
On this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Thom Amdur, Senior Vice President of Policy and Impact at Lincoln Avenue Communities. Thom shares what he's tracking on Capitol Hill and what could be coming next for affordable housing, tax reform and federal regulation. From the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to changes in NEPA and Davis-Bacon, he breaks down the legislative and administrative shifts likely to impact developers, investors and housing professionals heading further into 2025.
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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
More young people going into farming, but it's still few of them
At the Porter County Fair on Thursday, Ron Birky, of Morgan Township, said he retired as a farmer after 46 years. 'I was raised on a farm,' he said, but that's not a guarantee he would become a farmer. 'I was one of five kids, and I was the only one to go into farming,' he said. 'I always enjoyed it. That was really the only thing I wanted to do after high school,' Birky said. But becoming a farmer isn't easy. The average age of a Hoosier farmer is 56. Out of 94,282 producers in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2022 Census of Agriculture, only 1,962 were under age 25. Compared to the previous survey, conducted in 2017, there were more younger farmers going into the business, noted Todd Davis, chief economist at the Indiana Farm Bureau. 'I can say part of that is that coming out of the experience of 2020, there might be more people wanting to look at having a change,' he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has created long-lasting changes in society. 'I guess you can read into it younger people are seeing opportunities,' Davis said. 'My guess would be a lot of them would be what I call the specialty farmers, smaller scale, maybe taking advantage of farmers markets, selling to local people,' Davis said. That could include operating an on-farm store and more aggressively marketing products to local customers. 'It's a little more niche,' he said. Cody Boone, 17, a member of the Pleasant Pioneers 4-H club, raises cattle. 'I want to do something with farming. I'm not exactly sure what part,' he said. Boone is being raised on a farm, 'a lot of work all the time, especially during birthing season.' 'The farm is more my grandpa's,' he said. Cody's uncle has a farm in LaCrosse, so working for his uncle has possibilities, too. 'I definitely want to do something with them,' he said. Cody's father, Corey Boone, 42, married into farming. His father-in-law had a dairy farm, then raised feeder calves, then goats. 'I kind of got into helping him do all that,' Boone said, although his full-time job is as a collision repair technician, working on auto bodies. With a small hobby farm like his, 'you probably put in more than you get out,' Boone said. Along the way, he has learned a lot about farming. 'One of the first lambs we had, it got out and we chased it for over an hour. We chased that lamb for miles,' he said. Raising goats has been an adventure, too. 'They will climb on everything. They will eat everything,' including flowers in the garden, Boone said. Part of specialty crop production, Davis said, is being an entrepreneur and gauging what the market is. 'Some of those operations also get into a little agritourism,' like an apple orchard, Davis said, with a focus on fall tourism. 'Frankly, I think it was kind of a donut stand. That was the most popular part of the farm experience.' For the traditional corn-and-soybeans farmer, getting into the business has some barriers for a young person. Land is the first need. That means buying or leasing, renegotiating the terms of the lease every few years. 'If you want to grow your business, you have to keep expanding your land base,' Davis said. 'Commodity agriculture is known for having margins that are constantly shrinking,' he said. 'There's always a push for greater efficiency, cost management, using every input in the most efficient way possible.' Trying to support a family? You'd want off-farm income not only for the cash but also for the benefits, especially if you're raising children. Machinery is another big expense. Farmers can find used equipment or lease it, but that will require getting loans. 'Younger farmers may not have much of a credit history, and they may not have a lot of equity to help secure loans,' Davis said. That's where their parents or grandparents come in. They need a previous generation to help them get started. And, of course, they need to know how to farm. 'That's a prerequisite for every career, isn't it?' Where younger farmers might have an advantage over their counterparts nearing the end of their careers, Davis said, is that younger farmers tend to be more interested in pursuing technology and newer, innovative production practices. They're probably more comfortable with electronics, computerization and so forth. Farm Bureau provides scholarships for ag majors, primarily, to help them get started. 'There are college Farm Bureau chapters at Purdue, Huntington and Vincennes,' getting young farmers into Farm Bureau and the networking side of industry. 'They'll make more than just friends,' Davis said. They'll bounce ideas off each other, too. 'That's something that Farm Bureau helps foster in its younger farmers program.' Agriculture gets a lot of attention this time of year, what with county and state fairs allowing youngsters to show off the fruits of their labor. 'The county fair experience is really good for the younger generation,' Davis said, along with Future Farmers of America. 4-H, and living on a farm, helped Annie Martin's kids understand where meat really comes from – not just a grocery store but all the steps along the way, from farm to slaughterhouse, before reaching the grocery. Being in 4-H, 'it's responsibility all the way around. It's time with your family. It's time management,' she said. Martin also married into the farming business when she said, 'I do,' alongside husband Blake Martin. Their kids understand the rigors of farming. 'They have to be accountable at a really young age,' she said. Her son is planning to become a farmer. 'He's been able to drive a loader since he was 6,' Martin said. 'He has a work ethic that's pretty incredible.' He's heading to the state fair after winning the tractor driving competition at the county fair, the proud mom said. 'Farmers never really retire. He slowly learns to operate something new every year,' she said. Her daughter Brooklyn Martin, 11, a Morgan Sodbuster, said she wants to be a zoologist, not a farmer. 'I just like animals a lot, so I thought that would be fun.' Soon after Ron Birky graduated from high school, a distant cousin retired and leased his 165 acres to Birky. 'At one time, we had some hogs,' he said, but corn and soybeans were Birky's two staples. Birky was in 4-H for all 10 years. He's seen his kids go through 4-H, and now his grandchildren are going through it. The oldest grandchild, now entering fifth grade, thinks he wants to be a farmer. 'We still own 600 acres,' Birky said, but the machinery was all sold at auction two years ago. If that grandchild goes through with his current career choice, it won't be easy. 'Boy, it's tough,' Birky said, for a young person to become a farmer. 'There's 600 acres that we own, and that's half the battle.' But it's a fierce battle. 'If you're not raised in a farming family, it's virtually impossible' to go into farming, Birky said. 'The capital investment is unbelievable,' he said, with combines and other machinery exceeding $1 million to buy new. Then there's the risk involved. This year hasn't had much rain. 'I don't need to go to Vegas,' Birky said, because farming is its own gamble. Birky retired at 67, his dad at 80 or so. 'He basically didn't retire, I just took over everything,' Birky said. Young 4-H'ers are considering their options. Norah Grimmer, 13, of Valparaiso, tended Maverick, her grand champion steer, at the fair on Thursday. She's planning to study animal science at the University of Notre Dame to become a veterinarian. Elizabeth White, 16, a member of the Center Wildcats, plans to attend Valparaiso University. 'I'm trying to decide between mechanical and electrical engineering,' she said. After that comes law school. 'We have a small hobby farm,' White said, raising poultry and rabbits along with a few sheep not exhibited at the fair. '4-H has really, really raised my confidence,' she said. 'I know a lot of veterinarians, and they have to deal with a lot of attitudes.' Alexis Leek, 18, of Morgan Township, is a member of the Hustling Hoosiers club. 'I was thinking about working with horses,' she said, in the criminal justice field. That involves riding horses in parades and other events, not putting the handcuffs on felonious equines. 4-H 'definitely helped me with people skills and talking with people I don't know,' she said. Heather Cox, of Morgan Township, aged out of 4-H but was master showman last year, she said while visiting the horses – and people – in the horse barn. She's at Purdue University, where she's thinking of studying animal behavior. Like Leek, Cox said 4-H has polished her people skills. Now she's passing the torch to others. Shiloh Otey, 15, a member of the Hustling Hoosiers, is exhibiting horses, rabbits and poultry, and helping her sister with goats. 'I want to be a veterinarian,' she said. 'I like working with bigger animals.' Leek and Cox said although their career paths don't include farming, they wouldn't rule out raising animals on a small farm when they're older.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
New Speed Test Results Reveal the Fastest Internet Service Provider in the US
There's been a lot of talk about internet speed lately. From various company taglines -- "Don't take slow for an answer" -- to the latest news about Japan's internet data transmission record, it's all about the speed. This week, Ookla released its Speedtest Connectivity Report for the first six months of 2025, and AT&T Fiber topped the list as the country's fastest fixed internet service provider. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) What does that mean? Does it tell us that AT&T offers the fastest internet plan available to customers nationwide? No. This report doesn't look at an ISP's top speed (the fastest plan the company offers), but instead considers the average internet speed that subscribers experience across all levels of the provider's plans. Many variables exist (including the internet connection type), so when you sign up for internet service, you shouldn't assume AT&T will always be your fastest option. That said, Ookla's report shows AT&T Fiber at the top of its charts, registering a median download speed of just over 363 megabits per second in tests collected by Ookla from January through June 2025. It's the third Ookla speedtest report in a row (going back to the first half of 2024) in which AT&T Fiber has claimed the pole position. Overall, AT&T Fiber led Ookla's report with a 78.33 Speed Score, a unique metric the company uses to consider a provider's download and upload speeds and latency. Frontier Fiber, which is in the process of being purchased by Verizon, came close to nudging AT&T out of first place, recording a median download speed of 359Mbps and notching a Speed Score of 78.30. Third place was held by Verizon Fios, the company's own fiber internet service, while the cable internet providers Cox, Xfinity and Spectrum rounded out the rest of Ookla's list. Ookla Ookla is an internet speed-test company that collects data via its tool, which gathers insights from millions of daily customer uses. CNET frequently uses those findings to help inform our internet service provider reviews, as well as our city and state geo pages. Locating local internet providers Why do we care about speed tests? In CNET's ISP reviews, we stress that speed test data can be a helpful diagnostic tool -- a snapshot of your internet connection performance at any given moment. For example, it can help you pinpoint when and where your connection may be laggy. But it's not an exact science. Many things can affect a speed test, including whether or not you're using Wi-Fi or a hardwired Ethernet connection, the time of day you're running the test and so on. To be included in Ookla's Speedtest Connectivity Report, an ISP must appear in 3% or more of the data collected during the six-month window. That means some fiber-optic internet providers across the country might perform especially well, but if they're more regional and unable to hit that 3% minimum share of the national market, they won't appear in the top. Google Fiber is a good example. It was the fastest provider in nine of the country's top 100 cities (second only to AT&T Fiber), but it didn't reach enough households to meet Ookla's mark for national inclusion. Yes, nabbing the top spot is certainly something a company like AT&T can brag about. Last year, after the first of its three wins in a row, CEO John Stankey said in a press release, "The Ookla results confirm what we already knew in the market: the fiber experience wins by a mile. Pair our award-winning fiber with the largest wireless network in North America, and AT&T is the clear choice to connect customers anytime, anywhere.' But just because a company wins kudos as the fastest ISP in the country -- or a particular state or city -- doesn't automatically make it the best internet provider for you. Though AT&T Fiber places highly in CNET's overall ISP rankings (and is tied with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for the highest score among all internet providers in the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index report), it might not be available in your area. There may also be a smaller or more regional provider that might make more sense for you. Speed test results can be important factors when choosing a broadband provider, but they shouldn't be your only consideration.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Red Lobster's 36-year-old CEO isn't repeating the chain's $11 million endless shrimp disaster. But he is reading all of your social media comments
Red Lobster, the iconic seafood chain, is charting a new course under the leadership of CEO Damola Adamolekun after making its way out of bankruptcy. In an interview with Good Morning America on Thursday, the 36-year-old chief executive addressed two questions lingering on the minds of loyal guests and industry watchers alike: Will the beloved Endless Shrimp deal return, and how will looming U.S. tariffs on imported seafood impact diners? His answers signal a reset for the troubled restaurant brand, focused on financial stability, customer experience, and menu innovation. Endless shrimp promotion: officially retired For years, the Ultimate Endless Shrimp promotion was a staple at Red Lobster, drawing crowds with the promise of limitless seafood at a set price. But as the company navigated severe financial headwinds, it became clear the beloved deal was more curse than blessing. Adamolekun stated unequivocally, 'We don't have any plans to bring it back,' all but closing the door on an offer that, while popular, ultimately helped sink Red Lobster's bottom line. The all-you-can-eat shrimp program, initially launched as a limited-time offer, was made a permanent fixture in recent years. Far from boosting profits, the promotion instead triggered multimillion-dollar losses due to customers out-eating the chain's margins. Bankruptcy filings revealed the deal alone was responsible for a loss of $11 million, accelerating Red Lobster's financial unraveling in 2023 and 2024. 'We listen intently to customer comments and try to react really quickly to deliver people what they want,' Adamolekun explained. 'But you also have to make sure you're running a profitable business.' Red Lobster has shifted its strategy to focus on value in more sustainable forms: introducing appetizer deals, weekday happy hours, and a three-course 'shrimp sensation' menu offered at select locations. While Adamolekun hasn't completely ruled out creative promotions in the distant future, diners hoping for the Endless Shrimp's return shouldn't hold their breath. Red Lobster's new menu items Adamolekun has prioritized innovation and agility, though, including extensive outreach to customers via social media, and a notable responsiveness from the chain to their feedback. Since emerging from bankruptcy, the company has overhauled its menu—streamlining offerings by 20% while adding new items like Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallops, and revitalizing favorites including hush puppies and popcorn shrimp. Within days of receiving requests for bolder flavors, Red Lobster added new spicy, Old Bay Parmesan, and Cajun sausage options to the menu. 'We want to be exciting, relevant and compelling for our guests,' Adamolekun said. Red Lobster addresses new tariffs This summer's scheduled U.S. tariffs on imported seafood have sparked concern that seafood lovers could soon see restaurant bills soar. Adamolekun was quick to calm those fears in his GMA interview, stressing that almost 90% of Red Lobster's key seafood—lobster and crab—comes from North America and Canada. These sources are largely exempt from new tariffs under agreements like USMCA. While some shrimp and other products are still imported and thus subject to tariffs, Adamolekun underscored, 'We do import products as well — so on those products we'll pay a tariff like everybody else. That impacts our business, and our intention is not to pass that through. We're not intending to do any more price increases for the rest of the year, regardless of what happens with tariffs'. Adamolekun's leadership approach Red Lobster's turnaround has not gone unnoticed, with improved customer feedback and returning foot traffic since the restructuring. The company's multiyear plan includes further renovations of its restaurants to create a more vibrant, inviting atmosphere—an appeal especially aimed at younger diners looking for experience as much as a meal. After turbulent years, Adamolekun's approach reflects both hard business lessons and a renewed commitment to guest satisfaction. The days of bottomless shrimp may be over, but under new leadership, the seafood chain is betting that menu innovation, value deals, and responsive service can once again make Red Lobster a place to celebrate. For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
