(NewsUSA) - Seattle, WA – iLocal, Inc., a leader in website development and search engine optimization (SEO), announces its latest suite of services designed to help businesses maximize online visibility, increase customer engagement, and drive measurable growth. Known for its innovative digital solutions, iLocal, Inc. combines a personalized approach with industry-leading technology to deliver high-quality, fully optimized websites that rank well in search results and convert visitors into loyal customers.

With the rapid rise of online competition, businesses in every sector need a digital presence that stands out. iLocal, Inc. provides comprehensive website development services that cover every aspect, from the initial design to the final launch. Each site is meticulously crafted to reflect a business's unique brand and is fully optimized for a seamless user experience. Beyond aesthetics, iLocal, Inc. focuses on functionality and speed, ensuring that websites not only attract visitors but also keep them engaged.

"Today, an effective website is a fundamental asset for any business," said Jason Morgan, owner of iLocal, Inc. "But it’s not just about having a good-looking website; it’s about being seen. That’s where SEO comes in. Our team has a deep understanding of search engine algorithms and uses data-driven strategies to enhance website rankings. We help clients dominate search results, so they don’t just compete—they lead."

As an SEO-first agency, iLocal, Inc. is also at the forefront of the latest search engine optimization techniques, including keyword research, content optimization, and link-building strategies. By creating high-quality, targeted content and implementing advanced SEO tactics, iLocal, Inc. enhances the visibility and ranking of its clients' websites on major search engines like Google and Bing. The result is increased organic traffic, greater brand recognition, and a higher return on investment.

For more information about iLocal, Inc. and its website development and SEO services, visit ilocal.net or contact their team at (206) 790-1999.

About iLocal, Inc.

iLocal, Inc. is a full-service digital agency specializing in website development, SEO, and online marketing solutions. With a team of skilled developers, designers, and SEO experts, iLocal, Inc. has helped businesses across various industries enhance their online presence and achieve sustainable growth.

(NewsUSA) - This year marks the 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), which will take place from November 17-23!

NAW 2024 includes over 2,000 apprenticeship events and proclamations in all 50 states across the Country as well as the District of Columbia and three territories. This is an all-time record in the 10-year history of NAW. These events are hosted by ApprenticeshipUSA partners including federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as industry representatives, labor and community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and other related employers. The public is encouraged to seek out events in their local communities and attend. 

NAW activities and events help to showcase the ways in which the National Apprenticeship System strengthens the American economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs, creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into good jobs, and advancing racial and gender equity. 

NAW 2024 offers a unique opportunity to share the significant progress made in Registered Apprenticeship programs not only on a national level, but also within individual regions and states, thanks to the hard work of ApprenticeshipUSA partners. The events demonstrate the unifying power of the ApprenticeshipUSA ecosystem through uplifting examples of partnership and collaboration among national Registered Apprenticeship participants. 

This year’s theme, National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Celebrating 10 Years of Engagement, Expansion, and Innovation, reflects the transformative power of Registered Apprenticeship and its ability to bring together key national, regional, state, and local stakeholders across the country to meet critical workforce needs. Daily themes for the week are:

• Monday, November 18:  Youth and Young Adult Apprenticeship Day
• Tuesday, November 19: Registered Apprenticeship in New and Emerging Industries and Around the Globe
• Wednesday, November 20: Expanding Registered Apprenticeship to Underserved Populations 
• Thursday, November 21: Women in Apprenticeship
• Friday, November 22: Federal Apprenticeship and Veterans in Apprenticeship

Since NAW’s inception, Registered Apprenticeship has gained greater recognition as a tool to create the highly skilled workforce necessary to modernize our country’s infrastructure, build clean energy technologies, address cybersecurity threats, and build a stronger care economy. Registered Apprenticeships also create essential on-ramps for job seekers to enter robust career pathways.   

Over the past decade, ApprenticeshipUSA partners have hosted approximately 10,000 apprenticeship events attended by more than 1.4 million individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

The collective outreach and events held by partners during NAW since its inception has significantly broadened public awareness of Registered Apprenticeship. The dedicated efforts of ApprenticeshipUSA partners working to expand the National Apprenticeship System have led to the following accomplishments: 

• More than 2.3 million new Registered Apprentices have been registered since 2015.
• Active apprentice participation has increased by 80% from 360,026 to 659,947 apprentices.
• Join over 23,000 new Registered Apprenticeship programs have been established.

Events and activities have included Registered Apprenticeship program open houses for career seekers, skills competitions, community forums, apprentice graduations, business open houses, high school or college career fairs, apprenticeship signing days, industry roundtable events, diversity and inclusion dialogues, and more.

To learn more about NAW 2024 and how to get involved, please visit www.apprenticeship.gov/national-apprenticeship-week.

(NewsUSA) - One in three active-duty families of color have turned down military assignments due to concerns about racism or lack of inclusion in local communities, according to research from Blue Star Families’ Campaign for Inclusion. For two-thirds of these service members, declining orders led to negative career impacts — and for 15%, it was career-ending. 

"When military families of color turn down assignments due to community concerns, it impacts not just family well-being but our national security," said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. "With most recruitable U.S. adults projected to be people of color within five years, creating truly inclusive communities isn't just the right thing to do — it's essential for maintaining our All-Volunteer Force."

The latest research from Blue Star Families' Campaign for Inclusion examined how communities can better support diverse military families through case studies of three distinct military communities: Hill Air Force Base (Utah), San Antonio (Texas, "Military City USA"), and Hampton Roads (Virginia).

Key findings reveal that both formal systems (like community resources and programs) and informal networks (neighbors and local connections) are foundational for military families developing a sense of belonging. Having multiple shared identities — from military affiliation to cultural background — strengthens these connections.

The research found that individual acts of welcome — from neighbors introducing themselves to communities providing culturally relevant services — make the biggest difference in helping military families feel at home. For example, San Antonio's military spouse employment programs and Hampton Roads' diverse cultural resources demonstrate how communities can create infrastructure supporting inclusion.

Building on this, here are five ways individuals and communities can activate to support local military and Veteran families. 

1. Create Family-Friendly Spaces: Organize inclusive events and shared community spaces that bring military and civilian families together naturally.
2. Connect Through Nature: Collaborate on outdoor initiatives like community gardens and hiking clubs that facilitate organic relationship-building.
3. Celebrate Diverse Cultures: Host events honoring various cultural traditions throughout the year, not just during designated months.
4. Revive Block Parties: Foster neighborhood connections through welcoming events that help military families build local bonds.
5. Build Inclusion Programs: Develop comprehensive initiatives focused on direct support, community partnerships, and cultural integration.

"Every community member has the power to help military families feel welcomed and valued," added Roth-Douquet. "These actions aren't just about being good neighbors — they directly impact military readiness and our nation's ability to recruit and retain the force we need."

This research is part of Blue Star Families' ongoing Campaign for Inclusion initiative to strengthen military communities through greater understanding and support of diverse military families.

To learn more about the Blue Star Families Campaign for Inclusion and ways to support military families in your community, visit BlueStarFam.org/CFI.

(NewsUSA) - Lost in Thought by Deborah Serra

Does your mind wander? Where does it go without you?

Ilana manages an opera house in Manhattan. Her world is well-planned until she begins to question her choices. Having been adopted, she decides to secretly spy on her birth family. When she does, her life explodes.

This novel is about how our lives are driven by unconscious choices and the consequences from our illusion of free will.

“Ilana’s journey as a woman trying to figure out who she is, is compelling, unexpected, and also heartbreaking. This novel captured me.” — Delia Ephron, author, screenwriter

“I am in awe. This is an extraordinary story, and one that will remain with me.” — WendiReviews

“This novel is a masterclass in psychological fiction.” — Rekha Rao

 “This book is about a character navigating matters of self-control. It’s gripping."  — Patricia S. Churchland, author, MacArthur grant recipient, neuro-philosopher

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3AFn4zk.

Civil Unity by Shola Richards

In order to transform our world, we must unite behind a new kind of civility.

In a world that is more divided than ever, it will take a radical act to transform our discourse, our lives, and our world. International civility consultant and keynote speaker Shola Richards believes that unifying our world around the power of civility is that radical act, and it’s not for the faint of heart.

Civil Unity is not another book about turning the other cheek when faced with harmful or hateful behavior. This book is about providing the practical tactics to disagree more effectively, bridge ideological divisions, actively prioritize our mental health, and fiercely create a more civil world that will sustain over time. If you are ready to transform our discourse, our lives, and our world, let’s get to work. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3yH4iqD.

The Little Bird by Ashby Jones

In 1964, a Black teenager was murdered by a drunken white cop who got away with the crime, and eight years later, the boy’s best friend, Shane, returns from combat intent on carving out justice himself. Suzanne, the daughter of the lawyer who failed in prosecuting the case, also lands back in Virginia, but her aim is to follow her father’s path to suicide, a path created by his loss and the severe rheumatoid arthritis that followed.

Shane and Suzanne were four years apart in high school and barely knew each other before they met, but after a chance encounter, an almost instant connection is made. Neither knows the other’s secret goal, but as their bonds deepen, their love will be tested by familial duty, long-held grief, and even shifting sanity. But love might have other plans for Shane and Suzanne. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3AJZ7GY.

Here There is No Why by Philip Graubart

Did Chaim Lerner, acclaimed Israeli author and Holocaust survivor, kill himself in 1983, 38 years after surviving Auschwitz? If so, was it traumatic memories finally catching up to him? Or despair over Holocaust denialism? Or ordinary, difficult health issues? Or simply a deadly episode of depression?

Or was it murder?

In 2005, Judah Loeb, Lerner's former student and now a struggling American journalist and single father, travels to Jerusalem to investigate Lerner's death. He drags along his 15-year-old daughter, Hannah, and they team up with Charlie, Judah's former Hebrew University roommate, now a Jerusalem homicide detective. Their investigation takes them through the darker corners of the Israeli psyche, where they uncover secrets that threaten to destroy Lerner's reputation and alter Jewish history. While probing the mysteries of Israel's past, they encounter personal betrayal, heartbreak, and the fragile possibilities of forgiveness and redemption. Purchase at https://bit.ly/46ZJLdy.

(NewsUSA) - Economic uncertainty and higher prices have brought shifts in consumer behavior, yet recent sales trends show steady spending, and economic indicators are moving in a positive direction heading into the holiday season. New data from ICSC, the member organization for the Marketplaces Industry, suggests that most people are eager to enjoy themselves this holiday season—including shopping and dining out.

ICSC has released its Annual Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey for 2024, and results suggest that 92% of American consumers plan to participate in holiday shopping this year, the highest percentage since 2019. The organization also forecasts an increase of 3.0% to 3.5% in retail sales from October through December, with a 6.0% increase in food and beverage sales.

Although online shopping continues, many shoppers combine online purchases with visits to brick-and-mortar stores. ICSC’s survey showed that nearly all in-store shoppers also plan to buy online from a retailer’s website, and almost half said that in-store browsing influences online purchases.

Shoppers will spend an average of approximately $700 on gifts and other holiday items this year, according to the data, with 58% reporting a plan to buy gift cards, 52% planning to buy clothing and accessories, and 50% planning to buy toys and games.

“Despite economic headwinds, 70% of holiday shoppers feel their financial situation is better than or the same as this time last year, signaling measured optimism among consumers,” said Tom McGee, President and CEO of ICSC. “Interest rate cuts and easing inflation are taking some pressure off holiday shoppers, but other macro factors such as geopolitical turmoil and the results of this year’s election are still at play.”

Consumers are still planning to spend this holiday season but are increasingly focused on how they can find the best prices, according to ICSC. Though inflation is moderating, 9 in 10 say it will impact their purchase decisions. In response, most consumers say they’ll plan to spend more time hunting for deals and discounts, and 68% say they’ll visit brick-and-mortar stores more often in pursuit of promotions – seven percentage points higher than in 2023.

“Shoppers overall are well-positioned for the holiday season,” McGee added. “While this year has seen consumers tighten their belts in some areas, they’re continuing to spend – and we expect that moderating inflation and a steady labor market will help maintain spending throughout the holiday season.”

Visit icsc.com for more information.

(NewsUSA) - Three key areas of technology – internet platforms, advanced battery technologies, and next-gen networks – have shown shifts in positions of power between the United States and China in the last few years, according to a recent report from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI.

Internet Platforms: U.S. Leads. Overall, the United States is ahead of China in terms of market capitalization and use of internet platforms to connect, communicate, and find information. As of July 2024, U.S.-based social media companies had the top four spots in highest number of monthly active users worldwide.

However, the popularity of People’s Republic of China (PRC) platforms, notably TikTok, shows that China’s growing impact on social media is not a fluke. Chinese e-commerce apps Temu and Shein also have experienced a surge in popularity worldwide, and something to watch is China’s Huawei, who plans to launch an app system on par with Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.

Advanced Batteries: China Leads. China currently retains its grip on the battery supply chain, mainly through refinement of critical minerals. In 2023, China refined a majority of three key minerals needed for batteries: graphite (91%), cobalt (77%), and lithium (65%).

The U.S. does not currently rank among the top 10 global EV battery makers, but efforts are underway to increase U.S. competitiveness in the global battery supply chain. Specifically, “the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), aims to reduce U.S. reliance on China for batteries by offering tax credits to companies that manufacture them domestically,” according to the SCSP experts. Looking ahead, AI innovations in battery-related R&D could transform the energy storage sector and will be the lynchpin for the United States to regain an upper hand in the sector. 

Next-Gen Networks: U.S. Leads. The key to next-generation connectivity is low-orbit non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), and the U.S. currently has a strong lead in this area. The success of companies such as Starlink, which has deployed more than 5,000 low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, is a prime example.

China is attempting to increase its stake in advanced networks through deployment of 6G networks, for which it has filed nearly double the number of patents as the U.S. On both the technological and standard-setting fronts, the U.S. needs to pay more attention to 6G, or risk losing out to China as it did with 5G.

Visit scsp.ai to learn more about the United States’ position in the global geopolitical technology competition.

(NewsUSA) - We take X-rays for granted, but they were unknown until German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen discovered them 130 years ago. Today, they’re associated with detecting problems with bones, teeth, and more, but one of their most important uses is curing common skin cancer.

More than 9,000 Americans each day are diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer and, traditionally, they would be facing Mohs surgery to cure their disease. However, many cases are now successfully treated without surgery, thanks to research-backed, highly effective, noninvasive radiation therapies such as Image-Guided SRT, SRT, and Electronic Brachytherapy.

These nonsurgical treatments are available at select dermatology practices nationwide.

Highly skilled radiation therapists, in collaboration with dermatologists, radiation oncologists, and other specialists, utilize the latest advancements in X-ray and high-definition ultrasound technology to precisely target and destroy cancer cells—without scalpel, pain, or surgical scarring. Image-Guided SRT boasts a cure rate of 99% or higher, comparable to Mohs surgery, while Electronic Brachytherapy achieves a 98.8% cure rate within two years. With each of these treatments, radiation therapists play critical roles in advancing patient care.

Dr. Jacob Scott, Chairman of the Dermatology Association of Radiation Therapy (DART), a nationwide association of medical practitioners in the field of skin cancer, says, “Radiation therapists are key medical team members in the fight against common skin cancer. They often have the most face time with patients and with their professional training, radiation therapists are well positioned to participate in treatment planning and execution. They are instrumental in assessing patient needs and progress, and in assuring patient compliance with the plan.”

DART member Kelsay Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy and a Radiologic Technology Certificate from the University of Iowa and is a radiation therapist with DoctorsNow in West Des Moines, Iowa. Craig notes, "It is such a privilege and pleasure to work with patients knowing that with each treatment, they are on the path to being cancer-free. Radiation therapy has been a hidden gem in most dermatology communities, and I'm thrilled to be able to present Image-Guided SRT as a noninvasive treatment option for nonmelanoma skin cancers.”

The week of November 3 is National Radiologic Technology Week. If you know or have been treated by a radiation therapist, give them your thanks.

Photo Caption: Radiation Therapist Madeleine Appleseth uses high-tech system to cure common skin cancer painlessly

(NewsUSA) - Deena Undone by Debra Every

A terrifying nightmare sets off a series of attacks on Deena Bartlett's five senses, and her eighty-year-old Aunt Agatha is responsible. But the old woman is not alone. She's made a monstrous bargain with the Sensu, a malevolent entity whose stock in trade is attacking a person's five senses, one by one. It has promised Agatha health in return for the killing of her niece.

Deena has remained loyal to her bitter aunt for years. But Agatha is dying and her insults will soon end... until a string of inexplicable incidents. A sound so piercing Deena's nose bleeds. A smell so vile her breathing suffocates. And after each attack her aunt's health improves. With mounting dread, Deena discovers her aunt’s bargain, and when the Sensu thrusts her into its terrifying realm, she must battle not only the power of her aunt's long-held secrets but her own guilt. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3THZfMX.

The Burning Years: Until This Last Quartet: Book 1 by Felicity Harley

In this first book in a series, it’s the year, 2060. Sophie, a top female scientist, dismantles the government weather modification program and steals the male and female trans-humans who hold the promise of extended life.

While the remaining inhabitants of Earth are forced to design new underground habitats in order to survive a harsh, overheated world, Captain Rachel Chen, takes the worldship Persephone to Proxima Centauri, hoping that this new star system will provide a refuge for the survivors of the human race.

One Amazon reviewer calls the book “captivating and fast-paced, covering important issues facing our planet through a very engaging story. The author provides a wealth of scientific information very creatively, easily weaving it in as part of the suspense and plot of this story.” Purchase at https://bit.ly/3C4gnHC.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover by Sierra D. Luchien

A scared woman is afraid to live for herself because she’s caught up in the street life and issues with gangs, men, money and abuse. Little did she know she would change her life.

A social worker comes into the picture. She takes Sierra’s siblings out of school, and says she is going to help the family turn things around. But was it a deal with the devil?

That day caused a domino effect, leading to overall depression with underlining pain that was covered with material things and a false pretense. Nothing would stop Sierra not getting raped, stabbed, shot. But she was a runner that ultimately ran right into God as her savior. Purchase at https://bit.ly/4d7xlm1.

Building Wealth Through Rental Properties by Dr. Amit Sachdeo

In the ever-evolving landscape of investment opportunities, real estate stands out as a powerful wealth-building tool that has stood the test of time. If you are completely new to rental property investing, this book serves as a comprehensive roadmap to mastering the exciting world of real estate investing.

Packed with practical advice and actionable strategies, this handbook covers everything novice investors need to build a successful rental property portfolio from the ground up. Each chapter is crafted to empower readers with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence needed to unlock the wealth-building potential of real estate. Inside, readers will find the motivation to transform aspirations of wealth and prosperity into an abundant reality of financial freedom.

Key steps include: how to identify lucrative rental properties, optimal financing methods for investing in rental properties, tips for effective property management, real-life case studies, and more. Purchase at www.sachdeo.com/shop.

(Bart S. Fisher) - Former President Donald Trump has proposed replacing the federal income tax with tariffs imposed on imported products. Indeed, this is the central pillar in his campaign's economic program.

There are four problems with this flawed proposal.

First, it would trigger a global trade war, as other countries would surely retaliate with their own tariffs. It was the protectionist Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 that contributed to the Great Depression, which occurred when other countries retaliated against the draconian tariffs imposed by the United States. Far from Making America Great Again Trump's tariffs would bring America a Great Depression again. It is the consensus view of economists and economic historians that the passage of Smoot-Hawley dramatically worsened the effects of the Great Depression. We should remember the wise words of George Santayana, who said that "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.".

The second problem is that the president does not possess the legal authority to replace the income tax with tariffs. Under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 of the Constitution, known generally as the Commerce Clause, Congress possesses the plenary power over the the collection of taxes and the regulation of foreign commerce, including the power to "lay and collect Taxes, Imposts, and Excises," unless and until it delegates such power to the Executive Branch. Moreover, an attempt by Congress to delegate across the board tariff-making authority to the president would surely be struck down by the courts as an impermissibly broad delegation of authority.  

The third problem is that the tariff is essentially a regressive national sales tax that would discriminate against lower income consumers and permit corporations and higher income Americans to escape paying their fair share of taxes. American consumers would see higher prices and increased inflation as a result of the Trump tariffs. Contrary to Trump's repeated erroneous assertions, tariffs are passed along in large part by importers to consumers. 

Fourth, replacing the income tax with tariffs would be irresponsible fiscal folly, as tariffs imposed on goods alone could not raise the revenues required to run the federal government. America is a service-based economy, with 77.6 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) coming from services in 2021.  Indeed, the reason the federal income tax was instituted by the 16th Amendment in 1913 was that tariffs alone could not adequately support the activities of the federal government. The purpose of the federal income tax is to pay for the essential services of the federal government, including defense, highways, supporting the justice system, social security, and providing services that benefit all citizens, who could not provide such services very effectively for themselves.

In a nutshell, replacing the federal income tax with tariffs is a simple proposal from a simple mind designed to soak the poor. It ignores the lessons of history, a major symptom of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

 

* Bart S. Fisher is a lawyer in Washington, D.C. He was nominated in 2019 and 2020 for the Nobel Peace Prize.

(NewsUSA) - Artificial intelligence (AI) creates many things, including a staggering demand for energy, and the United States is exploring ways to meet the power requirements of the future, according to experts at the recent AI + Energy Summit in Washington, D.C.

 The Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI, hosted the Summit, which brought together top policymakers, technologists, and energy industry leaders.

SCSP identified 12 key takeaways that should be part of a strategy for how America can maintain its competitive edge at the intersection of AI and energy.

1. Acknowledge the surge in energy demand. AI applications could potentially drive a 160% increase in global energy demand from data centers by 2030.

2. Modernize electrical infrastructure. A smart and flexible grid is essential to handle the demands of AI and renewable energy.

3. Improve energy systems. Using AI to improve energy systems to power more AI could be a key accelerator of progress.

4. Rethink nuclear regulations. Thoughtful regulatory reform could open the door for small nuclear reactors that could power AI data centers.

5. Consider climate benefits. The energy demands of AI could accelerate the transition to clean energy by helping to reshape energy infrastructure.

6. Take risks on emerging technology. Fusion and advanced geothermal technology, which taps into the earth's heat, have great potential payoffs as energy sources.

7. Embrace the moonshot mentality. Create a regulatory system that allows public and private sectors to explore and push boundaries.

8. Support public-private partnerships. Empower the Department of Energy's national labs to act more like startups and partner with the private sector to expand promising energy technology and innovation.

9. Build a pipeline. Encourage the government to focus on early-stage, high-risk research to create a pipeline of technology for private companies to commercialize and scale.

10. Maintain global leadership. Only a handful of AI training clusters exist globally, and where they are located will shape the future of AI development and energy geopolitics, so the U.S. needs to pay attention to these locations and engage allies in order to maintain energy leadership.

11. Create a coherent strategy. Leverage the American innovation culture of risk-taking to promote fundamental research and entrepreneurship in order to continue to compete with China in areas such as fusion and advanced nuclear.

12. Invest in technical education. Developing talent and building a workforce to deploy and maintain next-generation energy systems is especially crucial for fusion and advanced geothermal systems.

By focusing on smart regulatory reform, workforce retraining, and global competitiveness, the United States can stay ahead in this evolving landscape, SCSP concluded at the Summit.

To read more about the key takeaways from the AI+ Energy Summit, read Memo to the President on AI & Energy - Key Takeaways from SCSP's AI+ Energy Summit and visit scsp.ai to learn more.