Month: January 2025

An earlier version of this article was first published in the On the Trail 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Friday mornings here.
Happy Friday, friends. It’s swearing-in day in Washington for the 119th Congress. That includes John Curtis, the freshman senator from Utah who will replace Mitt Romney. Read my story on Curtis here.
Faith in the Capitol
As a growing share of U.S. adults turns away from religion, Christianity is still thriving in one American institution: the U.S. Congress.
Members of the 119th Congress overwhelmingly identify as religious, and though the share of Christian members of Congress has dropped slightly in recent years, Christians are still overrepresented in the Capitol.
According to data compiled by CQ Roll Call and organized by Pew Research Center, 461 members of the incoming Senate and House of Representatives — or 87% — identify as Christian.
That’s down from 88% two years ago and 92% a decade ago, but it is far ahead of the 62% of U.S. adults who identify as Christian, per Pew’s polling.
In one way, the incoming Congress will be record-breaking: for the first time, multiple members describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated, or “none.” Kyrsten Sinema, the outgoing independent senator from Arizona, made history when she became the first U.S. congressperson to ever describe her religion as “none”; in the incoming Congress, three will do the same: Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona; Rep. Emily Randall, D-Washington; and Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, R-Arizona.
In recent decades, the share of U.S. adults who identify as “nones” has increased dramatically. Still, the share of “nones” in Congress — making up less than 1% of the body — far trails the 28% of U.S. adults who have no religious affiliation.
That disparity between the country’s religious makeup and Congress’ is not surprising, said Ryan Burge, a professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. “Congress represents America as it looked 20 or 30 years ago, not the way it looks today,” Burge told CQ Roll Call.
Among congressional Democrats, the shift toward a religious makeup that more closely represents the country appears to be occurring more rapidly. A majority of Democrats — 75% — identify as Christian, and the remaining quarter include a diverse array including Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Unitarian Universalists and a humanist. Meanwhile, a vast majority of Republicans — 98% — identify as Christian.
My fellow Latter-day Saints make up a shrinking share of Congress. In the 114th Congress (2015-17), there were 16 Latter-day Saints in Congress; now, there are nine. All are Republicans.
Curious for more? Find the full data here from Pew Research Center.
For the most loyal “On the Trail 2024″ readers — take a crack at this 12-question quiz. It touches on the wild, unpredictable year of politics that was 2024. The correct answers will be sent out in next week’s newsletter.
Think you have what it takes? Send your answers to onthetrail@deseretnews.com. The first reader to get them right will win a Deseret News tumbler.
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Police are investigating an aggravated assault incident in Bridgeport that left one person hospitalized with life-threatening injuries on Saturday.
The Bridgeport Emergency Communications Center received calls of an aggravated assault with a firearm in the 200 block of Lake Street around 4:34 p.m. on Saturday, according to Tiadora Josef, director of public information for the City of Bridgeport.
The unidentified victim was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries to the chest and hand, Josef said.
No further information was available at this time.
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DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – You only have one more day to visit a locally famous annual light display in Dubuque.
The last day for this season’s “Reflections in the Park” event is Jan. 5.
“We know that this is a tradition for a lot of folks in the tri-state area,” said Janae Schmitt, Director of Business Development for Hillcrest Family Services.
The tradition isn’t just a fun evening out. For 30 years now, the “Reflections in the Park” light installation has benefited Hillcrest Family Services.
“We have 35 programs for behavioral health. Everything from residential services, which many people know us for, but we also have services in the community where we come into people’s homes, we have outpatient services, and then we have crisis services as well.”
Schmitt said throughout the years this fundraiser consistently collects a dollar amount in the six figures.
“Typically, we’re anywhere between about $100,000 to $130,000 after costs and expense of everything that we do.“
TV9 asked Schmitt if she thought people knew they weren’t just enjoying a beautiful tradition when they saw the lights, but that they were also helping their neighbors.
“I think some do, but I would love to continue to get the word out,” she said.
“I didn’t know until I started working for Hillcrest Family Services that that’s where the money goes, and I think that it’s incredible that that’s where the money goes is right back into our community. It’s our community supporting our community.”
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.

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Hugh Jackman and comedy legend seen in audience of Sutton Foster’s show amid affair rumors  Daily Mail
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You can gather free Coin Master spins and coins using active links on January 5, 2025. Moon Active posted two links on the game’s Facebook page; one provides 25 spins, while the other grants 10 spins and seven million coins. The developer shared a third link on the title’s X handle, offering 25 free spins.
This article lists all the Moon Active links that grant freebies on January 5, 2025.
Looking for Crossword hints & solutions? Check out latest NYT Mini Crossword Answers, LA Times Crossword Answers, and USA Today Crossword Answers
Here are all the Coin Master links that grant free spins and coins on January 5, 2025:
Here are the steps you can follow to redeem the Coin Master links of January 5, 2025:
You can claim freebies only once from each link. As the links expire after three days, make sure to redeem them as soon as possible to secure 60 free spins and seven million coins.
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Artificial intelligence is among the most transformative technologies of our time, enabling vast information analysis to improve decision-making across sectors. In Israel, AI is emerging as an engine of growth and innovation. However, while its rising electricity demand is widely discussed, its potential to revolutionize the energy sector receives far less attention.

According to the International Energy Agency, data centers supporting AI account for roughly 1% of the global electricity demand and 2-4% in major economies like the United States, China, and the European Union. These facilities, essential for AI operations, such as training models and running cloud-based services, cluster together, increasing local energy demand.

In Israel, data centers operated by companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon currently consume 1.5% of the nation’s electricity, a figure projected to rise to 6% by 2030.

This creates significant challenges for energy planners, highlighting the need for innovative strategies to address localized energy challenges effectively. These challenges, coupled with the growing adoption of solar panels, electric vehicles, and ongoing construction, are straining Israel’s already stressed power grid, requiring substantial investments in capacity expansion.

Paradoxically, while AI infrastructure drives up energy demand, its potential to optimize and transform the power sector remains underutilized. AI offers tools to tackle the very challenges it contributes to, such as optimizing grid performance and incorporating renewable energy sources into Israel’s energy mix.

AI’s groundbreaking energy solutions

AI provides groundbreaking solutions for energy challenges by optimizing power generation, distribution, and storage. AI-driven transmission planning identifies optimal locations and capacities for new power lines, enhancing efficiency through dynamic line rating. This technology calculates conductor ratings based on real-time weather conditions rather than “worst-case” assumptions, increasing grid reliability.

Another transformative application is Virtual Power Plants, which integrate diverse power resources to support the grid. AI manages decentralized energy sources, such as rooftop solar panels and smart appliances, by predicting energy demand and aligning it with renewable supply. This reduces dependence on costly peaker plants – facilities that operate only during peak demand – and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

In energy storage, AI can predict when renewable energy surpluses can be stored and schedule energy releases to maximize grid stability. It can even turn electric vehicles into energy assets through vehicle-to-grid programs, where EV batteries supply power during peak demand.

Despite its potential, AI adoption globally and nationally faces challenges. First, workforce readiness is limited, as applying AI requires expertise in grid operations and machine learning. Second, regulatory frameworks and market incentives often discourage utilities from investing in innovative AI solutions.

There are also risks associated with AI in the energy sector. Poorly designed or trained systems could make flawed decisions, potentially causing equipment damage or outages. Mitigating these risks requires rigorous testing, monitoring, and robust fail-safe mechanisms tailored to Israel’s unique grid demands.

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To harness AI’s transformative potential, Israel must act decisively. Policymakers should establish clear regulations for AI in energy, ensuring accountability and safety. Developing national data standards for grid operations can unlock AI’s ability to optimize energy use.

Collaboration between academia, industry, and utilities should be prioritized to advance AI applications in national renewable energy, emissions reduction, and energy efficiency targets.

AI isn’t just a tool; it’s a pathway to a smarter, more secure energy future for Israel. By embracing these technologies, Israel can strengthen energy resilience, reduce emissions, and position itself as a global leader in innovative energy management solutions.

The writer is the director of the Yannay Institute for Energy Security at Reichman University.

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On October 19, the US Space Command revealed a troubling incident: the Intelsat 33e satellite broke into approximately 20 pieces, littering an already crowded space with large chunks of space debris.
The cause remains unknown, but the event has reignited serious concerns about the increasing accumulation of space junk in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Experts warn that this growing problem could lead to the dreaded Kessler Syndrome, potentially rendering space exploration and satellite use impossible.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is a region of space that lies relatively close to Earth, typically between 100 and 1,200 miles (160 to 2,000 kilometers) above the planet’s surface.
It’s the most commonly used orbit for satellites and space stations because it’s cheaper and easier to reach than higher orbits.
In LEO, satellites orbit the Earth much faster, completing a full circle in just about 90 minutes. This means they can pass over the same spot on Earth several times a day, making LEO ideal for things like weather forecasting, communication, and Earth observation.
One of the most famous objects in LEO is the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits the Earth at about 250 miles (400 kilometers) above the surface.
LEO is also where most commercial communication satellites, as well as satellites for internet services, operate.
Their relatively low altitude means they can provide faster data transmission speeds and lower latency compared to satellites in higher orbits.
In 1978, NASA scientists Donald Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais introduced the concept of Kessler Syndrome – a dire prediction about space debris.
The experts theorized that as objects in orbit collide, the resulting debris could trigger more collisions. These repeated collisions would create a chain reaction, generating an increasing number of fragments in space.
This phenomenon could spiral out of control, leading to a heavily polluted orbital environment. If allowed to continue accumulating unchecked, the debris could render low Earth orbit completely unusable.
This would prevent future satellite launches, disrupt space exploration, and severely impact technologies that rely on satellites, such as GPS, internet, and weather forecasting.
Kessler Syndrome highlights the critical need to manage space debris effectively and prevent cascading collisions that could jeopardize humanity’s access to space.
“The Kessler Syndrome is going to come true. If the probability of a collision is so great that we can’t put a satellite in space, then we’re in trouble,” said John L. Crassidis, space debris expert at the University at Buffalo.
Space has become increasingly crowded. There are currently more than 10,000 active satellites orbiting Earth, with approximately 6,800 of these belonging to Elon Musk’s Starlink network.
Companies like SpaceX and Amazon aim to launch thousands more satellites, heightening the risk of collisions.
Since the dawn of spaceflight in 1957, there have been over 650 fragmentation events, including collisions, explosions, and deliberate satellite destruction.
In 2021, Russia destroyed one of its own satellites in a military test, creating over 1,500 traceable debris fragments.
“The size of the debris we are tracking ranges from small fragments roughly the size of a softball to larger pieces up to the size of a car door,” noted Bill Therien, CTO at ExoAnalytic Solutions.
“The majority of the tracked objects are on the smaller end of that spectrum, which contributes to the difficulty of consistently observing all the debris pieces.”
Congestion in orbit endangers astronauts and vital space-based technologies. For instance, the ISS has performed numerous evasive maneuvers to avoid debris.
In one recent incident, a piece of debris came within 2.5 miles of the ISS, forcing a Russian spacecraft to adjust its trajectory.
If satellites collide or go offline due to overcrowded space, critical services like GPS, broadband internet, and television could fail. Experts warn that this would cause widespread disruption to modern life.
Efforts are underway to address this growing crisis. The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing initiatives like Clearsat-1 in collaboration with Swiss startup ClearSpace to capture and deorbit defunct satellites.
Meanwhile, technologies such as drag sails aim to accelerate the natural descent of debris into Earth’s atmosphere.
However, tracking and mitigating debris remains a monumental challenge. The ESA estimates there are over 40,500 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters and millions of smaller fragments that current technology cannot reliably detect.
“Even with today’s best sensors, there are limits to what can be reliably ‘seen’ or tracked, and smaller space debris is often untrackable,” said Bob Hall, director at COMSPOC Corp.
Experts emphasize the urgency of international cooperation to establish binding space regulations.
The United Nations’ Pact for the Future aims to address space debris through frameworks for traffic and resource management. However, enforcement mechanisms are lacking.
“The biggest concern is the lack of regulation,” said Dr. Vishnu Reddy, a professor of planetary sciences at the University of Arizona. “Having some norms and guidelines that are put forward by the industry will help a lot.”
To sum it all up, as more satellites are launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the risk of collisions and the potential for Kessler Syndrome — the runaway chain reaction of debris collisions — becomes an increasingly real threat.
With over 10,000 active satellites currently in orbit, the crowded space environment is putting everything from space missions to vital technologies like GPS and communication systems in jeopardy.
Experts warn that without significant efforts to manage and reduce space junk, we could face a future where space exploration and satellite services become nearly impossible.
Proactive measures – ranging from technological solutions to enforceable regulations – are crucial to safeguarding Earth’s orbit.
The key to avoiding the worst-case scenario of Kessler Syndrome lies in international cooperation and the establishment of strict regulations to prevent further overcrowding.
If action is not taken soon, the consequences could be catastrophic – not just for space exploration but for the many aspects of modern life that depend on satellite technology.
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Sony’s Most Disappointing Spider-Man Universe Movies, Ranked  CBR
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Nithya Rajendran, a celebrated classical vocalist with over 30 years of experience, blends her deep expertise in Carnatic and Hindustani music with a passion for music therapy and spiritual growth. As the founder of Music Vruksh, she has created a platform to explore the emotional and therapeutic power of music. In this interview, Nithya shares insights into her journey, the role of music in healing, and her vision for making classical music accessible to all
Nithya Rajendran, a celebrated classical vocalist with over 30 years of experience, is the founder of Music Vruksh. A dual-trained artist in both Carnatic and Hindustani classical traditions, Nithya’s work uniquely combines musical artistry, therapeutic insight, and spiritual depth. Growing up in a family of musicians, she was influenced by her grand uncle, Guruji A S Raghavan, renowned for his Thirupuggazh compositions. Through Music Vruksh, Nithya seeks to preserve Indian classical traditions while exploring the therapeutic potential of music.
“My upbringing in a musically inclined family made music an organic part of my life,” Nithya shares. “Music was always encouraged by my parents, who supported me by sending me to competitions and musical festivals from a young age. I started my Carnatic music training at five and began performing by the age of six or seven. Despite exploring other careers in advertising and photography, music remained a constant presence. About 15 years ago, I decided to focus entirely on music, and it has become the thread tying my life together.”
Regarding her formal education in classical music, Nithya says, “My educational background in classical music has been extensive and foundational. I’m a high-graded artist with All India Radio in both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, which reflects my proficiency in these two rich musical traditions. I hold a distinction from Mumbai University in Hindustani classical music, which deepened my theoretical and practical understanding. Performing extensively over the years has further enriched my craft and musical journey.”
Describing her typical day, Nithya emphasizes the importance of balance. “Balancing my various roles—mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, singer, teacher, and entrepreneur—is essential,” she reflects. “I begin each day with contemplation and meditation to center myself. I prioritize my tasks while giving equal importance to work, personal life, and self-care. When working on music, I am fully immersed, and when with family, I give them my undivided attention. Physical fitness, yoga, and meditation are integral to my routine, helping me maintain stamina for performances and emotional well-being.”
Inspiration for Nithya comes from many sources. “Inspiration can come from anyone—my students, family, and even strangers. It could be a child’s curiosity, the wisdom of the elderly, or the resilience of everyday people. My musical inspirations include legends like Bhimsen Joshi and M S Subbulakshmi, but I also find inspiration in a dedicated student’s passion. Inspiration is everywhere, and embracing diverse influences helps me grow and evolve.”
Reflecting on the Music Vruksh Baithak, she says, “The Baithak is a celebration of Music Vruksh’s vision, blending my passion for teaching, performing, and the therapeutic power of music. It’s a space where I share my compositions and students gain confidence performing on stage. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students grow, and the Baithak signifies the inclusive community we’ve built.”
On music as a therapeutic tool, Nithya explains, “Music has a profound emotional impact. Ragas unlock specific emotional memories, helping to access and express feelings—much like therapy. In my performances and teachings, I focus on the emotional connection to music, fostering mindfulness and emotional awareness, which are key steps toward healing. I aim to spread classical music’s transformative power, helping people find peace and emotional fulfillment through ragas.”
Discussing the challenges of promoting music therapy, Nithya sees these not as obstacles but as opportunities for growth. “I’ve witnessed the power of music in helping people with issues like addiction, depression, and stress. The relief they experience through ragas validates music’s healing potential. Each of these experiences has been transformative and rewarding.”
Inclusivity in classical music is another priority for Nithya. “Inclusivity should be reflected in how we communicate and engage with others, whether they are learners or audiences. Our academy embraces students of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. We aim to make classical music accessible to everyone. Whether performing for traditional classical music lovers or newcomers, I strive to create an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes people to appreciate the beauty of music.”
Nithya believes classical music is particularly empowering for women. “Music therapy can provide a profound spiritual connection that benefits everyone, but for women, it offers emotional balance and resilience. Women often juggle multiple roles, and classical music’s soothing and centering effect can help them navigate emotional and physiological challenges. Music also fosters community and emotional support among women. Through workshops and community events, I have promoted classical music’s therapeutic benefits, helping women thrive emotionally and socially.”
In conclusion, Nithya Rajendran’s work through Music Vruksh is a testament to her dedication to preserving Indian classical music while unlocking its therapeutic potential. By integrating music into daily life, whether through teaching, performing, or therapeutic practices, Nithya continues to inspire and empower others, creating a harmonious space where music heals, connects, and transforms.
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