Latest news with #Welch
CNBC
5 hours ago
- Business
- CNBC
Republican senators join Dems on bill to exempt small businesses from Trump's Canada tariffs
Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are joining Democrats to back a new bill that would exempt millions of U.S. small businesses from President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods. The two-page bill, titled the "Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments Act" — which shortens to the CANADA Act — comes as Trump threatens to slap a blanket 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting Aug. 1. The tariff threat is the president's latest salvo in an on-again, off-again trade war with America's longtime economic and political ally, which is the largest export partner for nearly three dozen U.S. states. "Imposing tariffs on Canada, Maine's closest trading partner, threatens jobs, drives up costs, and hurts small businesses that have long relied on cross-border cooperation and exchange," Collins said in a statement in support of the new bill. Murkowski in her own statement said, "I've heard loud and clear from small businesses in Alaska: tariffs are forcing prices to rise and making it difficult to plan long-term." "I'm hopeful this legislation sends a clear message to the administration that we want to continue this strong partnership by alleviating the effects of these tariffs on our small businesses," she said. The legislation introduced by Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., is cosponsored by five other Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Oregon's Ron Wyden, the Senate Finance Committee's ranking member. The bill targets the tariffs that Trump first announced on Feb. 1, a 25% blanket duty on Canadian goods imported to the United States and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports. If enacted, the legislation would make those tariffs inapplicable "with respect to goods imported by or for the use of small business concerns" as defined under federal law. The White House did not immediately respond when CNBC requested a comment on the bill and asked if Trump would consider signing it, should it make it to his desk. In a phone interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Welch said that other U.S. tariffs targeting Canada — including Trump's threatened 35% duty — will "all be on the table." The impact of Trump's tariffs goes beyond concerns that they will ultimately raise prices on U.S. consumers, Welch said. "Vermonters really love Canadians, and are very upset about what has happened to the relationships that many of our businesses have built up over the years," the senator said. Likewise, Canada "understandably is furious and hurt by the way they've been treated" by the U.S., and that has affected Vermont's hospitality industry, he added. Canadian travel to Vermont — and the U.S. in general — is reportedly down sharply so far this year. Trump said he imposed the Feb. 1 tariffs in response to Canada's alleged failure to stop the flow of drugs and crime over the U.S. northern border. But he quickly issued a 30-day pause on those tariffs, after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to take steps to address Trump's concerns. In a March 2 executive order, Trump further amended the Canada tariffs by delaying the end of the so-called de minimis trade exemption, a carve out which allowed low-value goods shipments to enter the U.S. duty free. The Canada tariffs — alongside 25% duties on Mexican goods and a total 20% import tax on China — nevertheless took effect on March 4, prompting retaliation from Ottawa. One day later, Trump granted a monthlong tariff pause for major U.S. automakers whose cars comply with the trilateral North American trade pact known as USMCA. The day after that, Trump issued temporary tariff exemptions for USMCA-compliant imports from Canada and Mexico. That covered about 38% of goods entering the U.S. from Canada, the White House said at the time. Canada was excluded from Trump's April 2 "liberation day" tariffs, which imposed a near-global 10% duty and significantly higher rates on dozens of individual countries. But Ottawa has continued to grapple with U.S. blanket tariffs on its imports of steel and aluminum and autos.
Boston Globe
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Rhode Island beachfront homeowner sues coastal regulator over conditions of permit to repair storm damage
Related : The 81-page complaint arrived nearly a year after the foundation and Welch, in a Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up In a July 2024 initial Advertisement In a memorandum for a preliminary injunction in the latest lawsuit filed on Monday, Welch alleged the CMRC, without waiting for the Supreme Court to weigh in on the law, tried to impose terms of the statue as conditions of the permit – or 'assent' – he needs to lawfully complete repairs along the coastline of his property. Advertisement 'The CRMC granted the Assent with conditions requiring Stilts to record a public beach on its land up to ten feet landward of the recognizable high tide line, without just compensation, and other conditions granting the CRMC a right to search Stilts' property 'at all times,'' the memorandum states. Indeed, the lawsuit also alleges the CRMC's permit requires Welch give the agency access to the property to inspect for compliance, with the CRMC having the right to 'inspect said project at all times including, but not limited to, the construction completion, and all times thereafter.' Taken together, the conditions unconstitutionally require Welch 'to submit to an uncompensated taking of real property and to unwarranted searches, to obtain a permit,' according to the lawsuit. 'The government can't hold property owners hostage, demanding they surrender their constitutional rights just to get a permit to maintain their own home,' J. David Breemer, a senior attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, said in a statement. 'Rhode Island is essentially coercing property owners: give up your land and your Fourth Amendment protections, or you can't repair storm damage to your own house.' According to the lawsuit, Welch owns four parcels, one with a small, partially elevated home. A storm in January 2023 damaged a stairway at the home, moved boulders out from under the home, and damaged the dunes and dune fencing, the filing states. Welch applied for an assent from the CRMC, which the council granted in February 2023, the lawsuit states. But the agency later issued a cease and desist order after 'someone apparently complained to the CRMC' in the spring that the work did not comply with the assent, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement The CRMC later claimed boulders had been moved beyond the scope of the assent, and that there had also been 'unauthorized dune renourishment … and erection of snow fencing around the dunes near the home,' the lawsuit states. Welch appealed the alleged violation and following a June 2024 hearing, the parties reached an agreement, under which Welch agreed to apply for a new assent and the CRMC agreed to withdraw the cease and desist order and 'waive almost all fines,' according to the filing. The CRMC then granted a new assent in December 2024, with the conditions Welch is now challenging in the latest lawsuit, the complaint states. Without the assent, Welch will be unable to lawfully complete the repairs 'which will trigger substantial CRMC fines,' the memorandum states. The CRMC did not immediately return a request for comment on Wednesday, and has not yet responded to the lawsuit's allegations in court. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
49 Forgotten '90s Things Millennials Will Recognize
Troll dolls, which you had a collection of, and would dress up in different clothes. They were like the original Labubus. The Pepsi commercial with the Spice Girls that featured them singing the ultra-catchy "Move Over" jingle. Nestle Quik that came in syrup bottles and was the superior way to make chocolate or strawberry milk (no offense to the powdered form). Welch's jelly glasses your family had forever, with the paint slowly fading from years of use. These Barney slippers that your younger sibling or cousin owned and that smelled so gross. Old issues of Highlights magazine you'd read in the dentist's or pediatrician's waiting room. The Halloween episode of Family Matters that featured the super creepy AF ventriloquist's dummy, Stevil. Which tried to kill Urkel!!! (It was nightmare-inducing!) The creepy AF Puttermans from the Duracell commercials. And the commercials with the talking Chevron Cars who were OVER IT and loved to spill the tea about their owners. Old-school arcade change machines with the huge metal fronts and a big red button. The THX logo that would play before some movies. (And that you can still hear in your head!). Toys "R" Us, with its all-blue checkout counters that signaled you were about to leave with something awesome. And Kay Bee Toys, which stored all its video games right behind the registers. Beanie Baby price guides, which made you feel like a serious investor as you checked the value of your prized collection. Sunny Delight, which you chugged after school because it was marketed as "healthy." SnackWell's treats your parents or grandparents bought — and that you sneakily ate when no one was looking. E!'s Coming Attractions, which was literally a half-hour show of just movie trailers. And Emeril Live and his "Bam!" catchphrase. The blue cornflower Corning Ware casserole dishes that your mom would make something in at least once a week. The WB network, which basically aired all the shows you watched. And Fox Kids, which had the best Saturday morning cartoon lineup. The ads inside TV Guide that would tell you what that week's episode of a TV show was going to be about. The Crocodile Mile slip-and-slide toy that had the infectious "You run, you slide, you hit the bump, and take a dive" jingle in the commercial. Butterfinger's commercials that featured the Simpsons. The yellow Judy Clocks that were in your classroom from kindergarten until third grade. The TV on the rolling cart that instantly got you excited and in a good mood when you'd see it rolled into your classroom. The creepy hide-and-seek/time-out dolls that usually your "arts and crafty" neighbor or country decor-loving aunt made, and that they would place in the corner of rooms or near staircases. Wacky straws that were made out of hard plastic that would give anything you were drinking a subtle plasticky taste. Bubble Beeper gum cases that you would attach to your waistband or pocket like a real pager. The Flintstones' lucky egg machine that they would have at the exit of the supermarket or at mom-and-pop pizza parlors. TVs with built-in VCRs that had like 13-inch wide screens and were the coolest thing you could have in your bedroom. Happy Meal boxes that came with puzzles, mazes, and other fun things you could do with them. Bookmarks, which you would have a collection of because you'd get them for things like birthdays or at the Scholastic Books Fair. These sand-filled, glittery, rainbow lizard toys that everyone seemed to own: Crest Kid's Sparkle Fun toothpaste that tasted a bit too delicious and was almost tempting to eat. The Chuck E. Cheese's "Where a kid can be a kid" commercials that they played a lot during Saturday morning cartoons. Having to put the TV on channel three anytime you wanted to watch a VHS movie or play Nintendo. The green volume bar that would display across the bottom quarter of your TV whenever you raised or lowered the volume. The Disney Store and its iconic blend of old Hollywood deco and '80s/early '90s design, which was almost impossible to resist stepping into. The Warner Bros. Studio Store plastic shopping bags that looked like this and that you refused to throw away because they were so, so cool looking. Lunchables, which was a major flex if you brought one to school for lunch. The red stick that came with Handi-Snacks that would slice your tongue if you weren't careful while licking it. Little Pet Shop toys that were tiny, adorable, and somehow always ended up scattered all over your bedroom floor. Sky Dancers — the toy you loved and feared — because the moment you launched one, you knew to run for cover before it smacked you in the face. Disney knock-off VHS movies you would get as a gift from a clueless relative (usually from your grandma), thinking they got you the real thing. Random VHS movies your family had in their collection that came from a fast-food restaurant. Disney's Disneyland Fun Sing Along Songs VHS tape, which made you believe Mickey Mouse and the gang were the ones who cleaned and prepped the park every morning before opening. Blockbuster Video's "Guaranteed to be there" ad campaign — which, TBH, I don't know if anyone actually put to the test. And lastly, the Quik Drop box at Blockbuster Video stores that seriously saved you (or your parents) from having to pay the late fee.
Eater
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
An Honest Review of Flamingo Estate's $82 Fruit Snacks
is the senior commerce editor at Eater. She has more than 15 years of experience in culture journalism and food media, grew up in an Italian restaurant, and is always down to order for the table. For my entire life, I've been a fruit snacks enthusiast. As a child, I was indoctrinated by the seemingly limitless 90s fruit-snack-sphere: Shark Bites, Gushers, Fun Fruits, and (deep cut) Fruit Wrinkles. To this day, my movie-theater snack of choice is Welch's Fruit Snacks. What, like they're only for children or something? Something about the gummy texture, the vibrant flavors, the bite-sized format — it all just adds up for me into something greater than the sum of its parts, a marvel of modern food science. I read the website's copy for this mysterious product, once, and then again. 'We took the lushest, ripest Strawberries from Harry's Berries and dusted them with the bright spice of Guajillo Chiles grown by Boonville Barn Collective, adding a squeeze of Key Lime and a pinch of Big Sur Sea Salt. Then we gently dehydrated them to preserve their juiciness and concentrate all of that quintessential Strawberry flavor. The result is these small dried wonders. Insanely addictive, sweet, tart and spicy with a delectable chew. Truly nature's candy.' At this juncture, I paused. These 'small dried wonders' sound like all I've ever wanted: the one fruit snack to rule them all. The antidote. The culmination of my desires. Do you know about Harry's Berries? They're, like, the Platonic ideal of strawberries; they're a Southern California sensation set apart by their exceptional quality, flavor, sweetness, and jamminess. The lines for Harry's Berries at any Los Angeles-area farmer's market tend to be long, snaking, and unrelenting. To make these berries into a chewy snack… unheard of, previously, as far as I know. I continued. 'We are honored to partner with the inimitable Harry's Berries by using their exquisite Strawberries. This small-batch family farm has been growing for over 50 years, and is the true definition of generational farming. Their berries represent what Strawberries should be at their best — harvested when perfectly ripe, ruby red, and sweet. They are Certified Organic, employ sustainable growing practices, and have a deep commitment to stewardship of the land.' I imagined transcendence. I yearned. I longed! I saw hot people eating the fruit snacks on TikTok and Instagram and felt a profound sense of FOMO. Lo and behold, I eventually became a recipient of a jar of these storied creations. Could chewing on a Spicy Strawberry Snack so robustly exceed the joy of eating a bag of saxophone-shaped Fun Fruit? Jar procured. Photo by the author First impressions: the Strawberry Spicy Snacks definitely feel premium. The jar and label have a much different presence than the thin plastic or foil-lined paper packets from which I've historically eaten fruit snacks. A jar feels… artisanal. Open it and you'll see dozens of dark, shiny berries, glimmering like rubies with a syrupy, crystalline sweetness instead of the satin finish of a traditional, preservative-covered fruit snack. Did I mention that they're made with almost entirely organic ingredients (besides the sea salt — salt cannot legally be certified 'organic')? Naturally, you want to know how they taste, what it's like to eat them. The answer is: surprisingly complex. At first, the stickiness was a bit of a surprise — they're not gooey, but they definitely don't have that sort of powder-coated anti-stick technology found in, say, Welch's, or the fruit snacks of the 90s. They're still definitely finger food, but you will need to give your hands a quick wipe or rinse after eating. Chopsticks could be an asset here. That said, I enjoy the mouthfeel of the tiny seeds embedded in the strawberries' surfaces, despite internal references in my psyche from childhood that likened jammy, seedy fruit to alien pod people. As for the flavor, it begins with a slight tartness that morphs into a sweet, jelly-like, classic strawberry flavor that soon gives way to a surprising amount of heat. They're not joking — these fruit snacks are unquestionably spicy; they're spicier than Cholula hot sauce, which I generously doused on my eggs this morning, but not spicy enough to induce any sweating. I'd say they're on par with hot Takis or Flamin' Hot Cheetos — there's a slow and mild burn but it fades within about 15 seconds of finishing each bite. Think an elevated, less tropical and more berry-forward interpretation of chile mango. The TL;DR is that they're delicious; a Harry's Berry marinated in sugar, lime juice, Guajillo chile, and cayenne, as it turns out, creates a chewy, tactile gift of the Earth. They're sweet but in an adult way; piquant but not in a way that's limiting. Truthfully, I like them a lot, but would only eat a few at a time. Savor them. Don't let the magic become routine. As for the price tag — which, at $82 per jar, is undoubtedly eye-popping — let's break it down a bit. Flamingo Estate says that there are three pounds of Harry's Berries in every jar, and a pound of Harry's Berries costs $20 (or, from some sellers, nearly $30). Sure, Flamingo Estate surely buys them wholesale, but right there, we're looking at $60+ of the jar's value mathematically expressed through the cost of the berries alone. Then there are the other organic ingredients, the cooking and drying process, and the need for a profit margin, and yep, you're looking at $82. While it's a discourse-worthy price tag, it's not terribly different than, say, the really expensive fruit in Japan that's specifically developed for gifts and holidays— this isn't a chill pantry addition for casual everyday consumption, although if that's a possibility with the Scrooge McDuck gold swimming pool you're working with, by all means. This is not a commodity that you're going to buy in bulk and keep jars of on hand at all times. This is a special occasion fruit snack. A gift fruit snack. A luxury fruit snack. By the way, these may be fruit snacks, but my personal belief system dictates that they're not for kids. Buy your rugrats some normal gummy candy and send them outside to play in the dirt and develop an immune system. If Fruit Wrinkles still existed, I'd say get them some of those. (RIP.) (Please bring back Fruit Wrinkles.) A case could be made that in order for the world to maintain balance, there must be not only a very cheap, accessible version of any given product, but also a highly refined, elite version. There is $6 caviar on Amazon, and there is $2,600 caviar at Bergdorf Goodman. There is the $7 olive oil at Grocery Outlet and there is the $119 olive oil at Williams Sonoma. You know, it's like that Byrds song — there's a time and place for all things. So why wouldn't there be $1.49 fruit snacks and also $82 fruit snacks? And if the latter exists, why wouldn't we want to try them… at least once? Spicy Strawberry Fruit Snacks are available at Flamingo Estate.
Chicago Tribune
14-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Juliana Stratton's US Senate bid endorsed by House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris' Welch
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Monday added more endorsements in her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin, with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch and a number of other state lawmakers announcing their support. Backing for Stratton from the Democratic Party of Proviso, a political operation headed by Welch, comes as no surprise. Welch, of Hillside, and Stratton served together as rank-and-file lawmakers in the Illinois House, and Welch said he knocked on doors for Stratton ahead of her election to the House in 2016 when she defeated longtime state Rep. Ken Dunkin of Chicago. In declaring his support for Stratton's U.S. Senate run Monday morning, Welch described the lieutenant governor as a proven leader who, as a House member from 2017 to 2019, stood up to former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner during a two-year budget impasse that decimated state services and brought hardship to Illinois' economy. 'She's already proven to us who she is. She's already proven to us what she stands for. And she did something about it. She ran. She won,' Welch, flanked by several state and municipal elected officials, told the crowd at the Ironworkers Local 63 offices in suburban Broadview. 'And I was proud to stand with her on the House floor in the end of the Republican budget crisis.' Stratton, who is from Chicago's South Side, served in the legislature at a time when the 'tide turned in Illinois' for Democrats, Welch noted. The state House went from a 65-51 Democratic majority during the 2017-2018 legislative term to a 74-44 Democratic majority in the 2019-2020 term. Rauner ended up losing by a landslide in his 2018 reelection bid to JB Pritzker, who chose Stratton as his running mate. Welch also appeared to draw a parallel between Rauner, a wealthy hedge fund executive, and Republican President Donald Trump — a frequent target of criticism for Pritzker and other Democrats over policies that include the sweeping tax breaks and spending cuts under a bill the president signed July 4 that could negatively impact Illinois residents who rely on Medicaid and other public assistance. 'We faced a billionaire Republican who wanted to cut this state to the bone. We faced a billionaire Republican who tried to cut health care for seniors, for veterans and for families in need. We faced a billionaire Republican whose only agenda was to give special deals to his ultra-wealthy friends. Does that sound familiar at all to you all?' Welch said, drawing a few groans of agreement in the room without having to mention Trump's name. 'She knows how to fight.' In her remarks, Stratton took a more direct swipe at Trump and his 'big beautiful bill.' 'What we're living through now is truly unprecedented. Donald Trump has ignited a five-alarm fire and the chaos has reached a fever pitch. Attacks on the rule of law. Attacks on the Constitution. Attacks on our neighbors,' Stratton said. 'Just look at what he did (earlier this month). Cutting health care for millions of Americans, ripping food out of the mouths of hungry children, raising costs for middle-class families. And he had the audacity to call it 'beautiful.' Well, I call it despicable. And it's also dangerous.' Stratton's remarks come as Pritzker, who threw his support behind her Senate campaign shortly after she announced in late April, issued an executive order directing state agencies to evaluate the scope and impact of Trump's tariffs on how they would affect key economic sectors in Illinois. The governor is asking state agencies to look into the industries and economic development regions most affected by trade-related disruption and to check on supply chain disruptions of medical supplies and disruptions that could adversely affect food assistance programs. Among those at the event to endorse Stratton were Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford of Maywood; Assistant House Majority Leader Bob Morgan of Deerfield; Assistant House Majority Leader Camille Lilly of Chicago; state Rep. Norma Hernandez of Melrose Park; and state Reps. Mary Beth Canty and Nicolle Grasse, both of Arlington Heights. Previously announced support came from the state's other sitting U.S. senator, Democrat Tammy Duckworth. While a larger field is expected, Stratton's major announced Democratic opponents so far are U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, whose campaign on Monday announced a slew of endorsements from local officials for his candidacy. With backing from Pritzker, a billionaire and heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, Stratton has the potential to raise big money before the March primary. But Krishnamoorthi has also proven to be an able fundraiser. Through March, his campaign raised about $19 million, federal elections records show. Asked about Krishnamoorthi's fundraising ability, Stratton said she instead sees 'momentum of my campaign.' While the latest true accounting of Krishnamoorthi and Stratton's campaign coffers won't be available until later in the week, Stratton said she was able to raise more than $1 million 'through grassroots support.' 'I started from scratch when I ran for this federal race, and the fact that we were able to set a goal of a seven-figure dollar amount and exceeded that, I think it shows the strength of my campaign,' she said. 'And remember, I also made the commitment to not accept any corporate PAC (political action committee) money.'
