Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI
Chase Voss, 36, moved this year from Hawaii to rural Georgia to be closer to family.
His new home, Dawson County, is one of the fastest-growing counties in the US for young people, amid a wave of movers into rural areas that's reversing a decadeslong trend toward cities.
Voss, a real-estate agent, said many younger and middle-aged families have moved to Dawsonville from out of state for job reasons. Though there aren't many jobs in Dawsonville itself, which has a population of just over 4,600, some work tourism or nature jobs in the nearby mountains, while others commute the over 50 miles to Atlanta or work remotely.
"Dawsonville is far enough away where they can feel that remoteness but still close enough to the city that they can have access to everything," Voss said.
Chase Voss
In recent years, younger professionals have been bucking a longtime trend of their age group: moving to cities. Now, with flexible work arrangements and high housing costs, many are forgoing more densely populated areas in favor of rural America. Those areas bring bigger houses, lower prices, and a different pace of life — and their own new challenges.
A recent analysis of Census data by Hamilton Lombard, a demographer at the University of Virginia, found that 63% of rural counties or counties in small metros experienced increases in their populations of 25- to 44-year-olds between 2020 and 2023, compared to 27% between 2010 and 2013.
Northern Georgia, the Mountain West, and New England were rural regions with particularly strong population growth among young Americans. The 10 counties that saw the biggest influxes of younger adults were largely rural; the most populated of all of those areas is Hays County, Texas, in the suburbs of Austin, which had a population of around 280,500 in 2023. Musselshell County, which is the least populous, had just 5,308 people as of 2023.
That's a big shift from pre-pandemic patterns: From 1980 to 2020, white-collar workers increasingly moved into densely populated areas, per Lombard's analysis. That trend was expected to continue — until the pandemic and the rise of remote work. Since 2020, Lombard found, rural areas and smaller cities have attracted that younger workforce at the highest rate in nearly a century.
Jeannie Steele, a real-estate broker in Townsend, Montana, has seen an influx of young people. Broadwater County, with about 8,000 residents, was the third-fastest-growing county for Americans ages 25 to 44, Lombard's analysis found. Townsend is located about 30 miles from Helena, though Steele said many commute to Bozeman or Three Forks.
Steele said she previously considered her area a retirement hub. However, the construction of a new elementary school starting in 2019 brought many younger families, particularly some working in construction, mining, or medicine. Many are moving from Washington, California, and Minnesota, Steele said.
"We have a lot of people here that come and have this vision of homesteading," Steele said. "They want to grow their own food. They want to have chickens and gardens. Interestingly enough, though, all those things in our environment are difficult."
In Custer County, Colorado — the area that's seen the highest net percent increase of 25 to 44-year-olds — 28-year-old Arrott Smith has seen many more nice cars driving around as younger, well-off remote workers move into town.
"For the most part, that's kind of a weird juxtaposition because it is a very working-class county," Smith said.
Smith, the manager and a roaster at local haunt Peregrine Coffee, said that the area has traditionally skewed older — but saw a big influx of younger workers over the last few years. Smith said that the area's newer residents are buying homes even as costs have gone up.
"To me it's more like the people that are moving here have a romanticized version of what it is to live up here," Smith said.
Economist Jed Kolko said that, with the proliferation of remote work, Americans moved out of bigger urban areas into nearby suburbs or smaller towns. But headwinds in some occupations might slow down the influx of newcomers.
"If unemployment rises, particularly in the kinds of occupations where remote work is more common, employers might be more able to insist on workers spending more days in the office," Kolko said. "Even if that doesn't cause people to reverse the moves that they made during or after the pandemic, it could still slow down that trend in the future."
Meanwhile, in areas that have seen a rush of new residents like Townsend, Kolko said it's key for housing to keep up with demand. If not, affordability challenges from big cities could spread out.
New challenges confront the residents reshaping these areas. Steele said many people moved to her part of Montana after the TV series "Yellowstone" aired, though she's seen many younger people regret their moves. She said many don't anticipate the challenges of living in a more remote part of the US, such as navigating storms, buying goods in bulk, or dealing with isolation.
Recently, rentals have gone really fast, Steele said, adding that rents, on average, have increased from about $750 in 2019 to well over $1,000 monthly. A more stark comparison is some of the county's single-family homes, many of which were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s; while they sold for about $100,000 in 2017, they range from $390,000 to $400,000 today, Steele said.
Housing affordability pushed Solitaire Miles, a Gen X musician, to move from Chicago to northwestern Indiana in 2013. Miles and her husband lived in the Chicago area for about 13 years. While they were gainfully employed, she said, they weren't earning enough to live comfortably while renting. They couldn't afford a home in Illinois, especially with high property taxes. But in Indiana, they found a home with three-quarters of an acre of land just 50 miles from Chicago for under $200,000.
Miles loves having the space. A quieter pace of living has helped stimulate her creativity and her at-home border collie rescue — they currently have five of their own dogs.
Courtesy of Solitaire Miles
But the area has changed over the past few years; the pandemic also fractured her community.
"After Covid, everything just kind of went downhill. So many people died, a lot of elderly died, or they left and they moved south," Miles said.
She's glad they ended up buying out there, and if and when they choose to sell, they'll make a tidy profit. Even so, though, the move came with its own struggles.
"It was hard. I had the gym that I loved and the spas and my beauty salon and the restaurants — all of our friends," she said. "I mean, I did make friends here, but it took time, and I had to go to places where I knew they would be."
For Voss, the real-estate agent, it took him time to acclimate to the South. As a gay man, he noticed more hostility toward his community, though he said many in Dawsonville have appreciated his advocacy work. He's enjoying rural Georgia for the time being but anticipates splitting his time with Hawaii in a few years.
"Georgia is beautiful, I love it. It's so great for so many people," Voss said. "But for me, because of the mentality of the people here, I just don't see myself staying full-time."
Have you moved to a rural area and regretted it (or loved it)? Contact these reporters at [email protected] and [email protected].
Goldman Sachs; Bank of America; Axom Partners
AI offers the promise of a dealmaking gold rush in years to come, and investment bankers are looking to cash in on deals involving data and infrastructure companies selling the proverbial pickaxes and shovels.
"Everybody's rightly caught up in the lore of AI and what the industry leaders are doing regarding building out platforms, but people forget; unless you have good data management and good data integrity, you can't fully deploy any application of AI," said Neil Kell, Bank of America's chair and global head of technology, media, and telecom for equity-capital markets. "Companies that are looking to be acquisitive are focused on this," he said.
Brandon Hightower, a founder and partner at the tech-focused M&A advisory firm Axom Partners, attributes an increase in AI-themed deals to "an arms race" earlier this year around infrastructure and talent.
Those are two themes that are expected to see continued momentum, according to interviews with four AI bankers. Tech companies focusing on managing, moving, and securing data will be at the forefront of the AI M&A wave. Other "pickaxe and shovel" companies include those focusing on developer tools and resource optimization. AI dealmaking is also poised to touch non-technology sectors, like customer service, commerce, and industrials.
While there hasn't been a lot of dealmaking activity among pure-play generative AI companies, tens of billions have been spent on technology companies that are building infrastructure around AI like storage, server, cloud, and software companies, according to Scott Denne, a principal research analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
In 2024, some $82 billion was spent on AI- and AI-related acquisitons, up from about $55 billion in 2023, according to data from 451 Research, an arm of S&P Global Market Intelligence. This includes purchases of companies selling AI products or products built with AI, as well as companies that sell software, hardware, and other tech to support AI development and deployments.
There are several reasons the timing may be right for companies to shop around. Lower interest rates have reduced the cost of borrowing. The gap between buyer and seller price expectations is shrinking as companies, AI ones included, reset their valuations. Election uncertainty is behind us, and president-elect Trump's pick of Andrew Ferguson to run the Federal Trade Commission is looking like a positive for Big Tech, according to Wedbush Securities.
Ferguson was tapped "at a key time in the AI arms race in which we expect the strong to get stronger as Mag 7 gets the engines started up again on M&A," Wedbush analysts wrote in a note to clients Wednesday.
Because generative AI is still relatively nascent, bankers are focused on the raw ingredients that are critical to AI models'success.
"Two of the most interesting areas to watch next year will be data infrastructure, management, and analytics companies. The second is developer tools," Jung Min, the co-COO of Goldman Sachs' TMT division, told BI.
Also important is data security, according to Bank of America's Kell, which he said continues to be very relevant and vital for those companies thinking about M&A.
Eventually, the front-facing application layer will be the biggest area, he said. But "in that creation phase, the infrastructure and the developer tools, those are the things that really matter first" after the models are trained, Min said.
That's because companies are trying to figure out "how to get better quality data" and "more efficient flows of data," Axom's Hightower said.
It's something even the biggest AI companies are opening their wallets for. When Axom worked on the sale of database analystics firm Rockset to OpenAI earlier this year, the deal came down to enabling faster data retrieval and improving the data pipeline, according to Axom cofounder Alan Bressers.
The focus on data infrastructure is spotlights two big-data giants Databricks and Snowflake, which respectively have made a handful of acquisitions related to data and AI this year.
"If you have data and if you own the models, those are two key components. How do I bring those together? And if you've got Databricks and Snowflake holding a lot of enterprise data, that's a natural place for a future winner in the AI world," he said.
A need to scale is also driving tech companies to acquire infrastructure players, Axom's Hightower said. He pointed to Nvidia's purchase of Seattle-based OctoAI, a deal that Axom worked on "so that it can scale and do certain aspects of AI workflows in a more efficient manner," he said. It's at least Nvidia's second acquisition this year with an eye toward scalability.
Earlier this year, Nvidia set out to buy Run:ai. The deal, which is still in the regulatory approval process, could help the chipmaker run compute more economically by allowing more work to be done on fewer chips.
There's also a greater focus on lowering inference costs, essentially the price of asking an AI models a question and having them generate a response. While it's well known that training LLMs can come with astronomical prices, getting them to beam back an answer might come at an even steeper price. It's something that AI adopters are learning the hard way, prompting a "very near-term thing where you can see M&A because people can say there's real dollar value from inference savings," Axom's Bressers said. He noted potential buyers interested in this part of the tech stack could be the newer generation of cloud companies, like CoreWeave or Lambda.
While most of the AI and AI-related deals will likely be between tech companies, Goldman's Min anticipates some transactions in the industrial space.
"Companies that already automate or help automate the supply chain, a lot of those interaction are already software to software or machine to machine, so those are ripe for AI to really deploy there," he said.
Other fertile grounds for acquisition going into 2025 include customer service and customer-relationship management companies, potentially spurred by some of Salesforce's recent AI ambitions, Axom's Hightower said. This year, the CRM giant Salesforce made "a hard pivot" to AI agents with a product that lets clients build their own custom ones to interact directly with clientele. Competitors like ServiceNow, Braze, Klayvio, and HubSpot to broaden their suite of solutions and add data and data connectivity to their offerings, he said.
A report from the Biden administration on the environmental impacts of increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports could add delays to President-elect Trump's efforts to immediately authorize new licenses for the fuel, experts say.
Brad Crabtree, the Department of Energy (DOE)'s assistant secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, told lawmakers last week that the report, intended to measure the economic and environmental implications of increasing U.S. exports of the fuel, would be released by mid-December. Under the Natural Gas Act, the DOE must evaluate whether exports are in line with the public's interest before issuing any new permits.
While some experts dismissed the magnitude of the report, citing the fact that Trump can just undo any restrictions Biden puts on natural gas, others suggested it could provide fodder for environmentalists wanting to go after the Trump administration.
"Corporate sponsors don't put billions of dollars to work on fragile permits, period, full stop," said Kevin Book, managing director at ClearView Energy Partners, an independent research and analysis firm that covers the natural gas sector. "The industry is right to expect support [from the Trump administration] but the documentation has to be airtight."
Book noted that if the report is published and lays out reasons why new natural gas permits are not in the public's interest, it would require the incoming Trump administration to come up with a different study, or a different interpretation of the study, in order to get to a place where it can cleanly say "yes" to new natural gas permits. Book said that depending upon what is shared in the Biden administration's new study, that process could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, if not multiple quarters.
DEMS JOIN HOUSE GOP'S REBUKE OF BIDEN LNG EXPORT PAUSE: ‘WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT ATTACK’ ON US ENERGY
"I’m a strong supporter of LNG exports. Unfortunately, the report could slow down movement on new LNG export licenses both because the Trump team will need to respond to comments and because the report could provide fodder – even if it is unfounded – for those who claim that LNG exports have detrimental consequences," said Jeff Kupfer, the president of nonprofit ConservAmerica and a former acting deputy secretary and chief operating officer at the DOE under the second George W. Bush administration.
While other energy sector experts agreed that the move could spell potential legal hurdles for the Trump administration and, thus, delay new natural gas licensing, they suggested there was not much to worry about.
"It's a last ditch effort," said Trisha Curtis, CEO of PetroNerds and an economist at the American Energy Institute. "Could there be legal setbacks? Yeah. Just like there were legal setbacks under the Biden administration, and then they fight those legal battles. But if you're trying to hurry up and issue a study before the end of the year, and then have a two-month comment period, I'm not sure anything's going to really stick. Especially if your comment period is during the Trump administration."
The Biden administration announced a "temporary pause" on issuing new natural gas export permits in January, which included a DOE review of the current environmental impact analysis that the department uses to meet requirements under the Natural Gas Act. Under that measure, which was passed nearly 75 years ago, the DOE must evaluate whether natural gas exports are in line with the public's interest before issuing any new permits.
HOUSE DELIVERS BLOW TO BIDEN'S CLIMATE AGENDA, VOTES AGAINST NATURAL GAS MORATORIUM
The requirement excludes free trade agreement countries, but, according to Book, 80% of the liquefied natural gas market is countries that do not have free trade agreements with the U.S.
Trump has signaled that he wants to remove the natural gas pause immediately in order to boost domestic energy production. This is among several actions he plans to take to peel back the Biden administration's climate regulations. On his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, he wrote: "Any person or company investing ONE BILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals. GET READY TO ROCK!!!"
"Families have suffered under the past four years' war on American energy, which prompted the worst inflation crisis in a generation," Trump-Vance Transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Voters re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, including lowering energy costs for consumers. When he takes office, President Trump will make America energy dominant again, protect our energy jobs, and bring down the cost of living for working families."
Fox News Digital reached out to the DOE for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
Steve Marcus/Reuters
Bank of America downgraded AMD after a Business Insider report raised concerns about demand for the tech company's AI chips.
Analysts at BofA cut AMD shares to a "neutral," citing "higher competitive risk" in the AI market, according to an analyst note published on Monday.
BofA analysts also lowered their AMD GPU sales forecast for next year to $8 billion, from $8.9 billion, implying a roughly 4% market share.
AMD's stock dropped roughly 5.6% on Monday, after falling about 2% on Friday. Its shares are down about 5% so far this year.
The declines follow BI's report on Friday that said Amazon Web Services was "not yet" seeing strong enough customer demand to deploy AMD's AI chips through its cloud platform.
Bank of America cited this AWS customer-demand issue, alongside Nvidia's dominance and the growing preference for custom chips from Marvell and Broadcom, as factors limiting AMD's growth potential.
"Recently largest cloud customer Amazon strongly indicated its preference for alternative custom (Trainium/ MRVL) and NVDA products, but a lack of strong demand for AMD," the Bank of America note said, referring to AWS's in-house AI chip Trainium and its close partnerships with Marvell and Nvidia.
AWS's spokesperson said in an email to BI, "AWS and AMD work together closely, as we continue to make AWS the best place to run AMD silicon. Based on the success of AMD CPUs on AWS, we are actively looking at offering AMD's AI chips."
An AMD spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment on Monday.
AMD recently increased its GPU sales forecast, just a year after launching its line of AI chips. But its GPU market share is still far behind Nvidia's.
Bank of America said AMD could still succeed in the AI chip market, in part due to Nvidia's supply constraints and premium pricing, making it a strong alternative, especially for internal cloud workloads. It also said AMD is well positioned in the server chip market, as rival Intel continues to struggle.
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Kawa Ni/Yelp
It's been a big year for the restaurant industry, which is estimated to reach $1.1 trillion in sales by the end of December, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Although new restaurant growth slowed by 4% compared to last year, according to Yelp data from June 2024, new restaurant openings increased by 6% from May 2023 to April 2024 compared to May 2022 to April 2023.
Restaurants that have opened across the country in the past year have experimented with new cuisines and introduced diners to flavors from around the world.
But with so many options to pick from — including old favorites — it can become hard to decide which new spots to try and which to skip.
To help you decide, Yelp ranked the top 25 new restaurants in the country — selecting eateries that opened after January 1, 2023 —based on total volume and review ratings of restaurants from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2024. The platform also collaborated with Tara Lewis, its trend expert, to zoom in on the places Yelp users enjoyed visiting.
All the restaurants on this list had a passing health score and were marked open as of September 1.
The ranking includes restaurants from 14 states and two from Washington, DC. Several restaurants highlighted below serve more than just delicious dishes — think immersive experiences, innovative plating, and all-around relaxed vibes.
Business Insider identified the best thing to order from the top 25 new restaurants, and what customers say about each spot.
Here are the 25 best new restaurants in the US, according to Yelp.
Catalina Kitchen And Bar/Yelp
What to order: Ahi tuna poke bowl, rigatoni
What customers say: "Why didn't y'all tell me about Catalina sooner? We had a great time. First off, validated parking — a win. Emerson was awesome. I had a spicy marg, and my friend ordered a limoncello drink — both solid. The [Brussels] sprouts were a 5/5, seriously blew me away. Bread was good. Both of our entrees were delicious. We couldn't stop talking about how amazing everything was. Definitely coming back," wrote a Yelp user named Tyler G.
Denielle B./Yelp
What to order: Braised short ribs, skirt steak
What customers say: "Oh my! What a gem we stumbled on while in Boise! From the decor to the thoughtfully designed menu to the drinks and finally the excellent service, we had such a memorable meal. I loved the Crispy Cauliflower over Parsnip Puree with Italian Chili Crisp and Pickled Veg! Yum!!! I wish I lived in Boise. I'd be here 3 times a week!" wrote a Yelp user named DeAnna L.
Chris F./Yelp
What to order: Prime rib sliders, shrimp tacos
What customers say: "Hillary was our server on 11/14 and she was the sweetest server I've ever had, she has great customer service as well as a great personality. The food was good and we let her know that is was my mother in laws birthday and she surprised us with a birthday dessert. Kaitlin also helped us refill our waters as well as bring out our appetizers and she was so sweet. Will definitely recommend to others as well as visit again," wrote a Yelp user named Eddianna H.
Learn more about Wolf by Vanderpump at Harveys Lake Tahoe here.
Love Makoto/Yelp
What to order: Spicy tuna, shrimp tempura
What customers say: "Had a little birthday celebration for a friend and it was a great time! Highly suggest the wagyu Tower option for meats to grill and the Udon "Mac" and cheese. Yum! The mango popsicles were a perfect end to the meal. Service was great from the start as we were greeted by a uber friendly host and our server was also friendly and helpful. Looking forward to coming back and trying the sushi options as well," wrote a Yelp user named Casey J.
Charles B./Yelp
What to order: Tiramisu, arancini
What customers say: "I am happy to report that my experience today was top notch. The food, service, and ambiance was all that I have come to expect from this establishment. The bartender came over and apologized for the bad service I received on my last visit, and he didn't even service me. I am impressed that he was aware of the service and appreciate him for taking the time to acknowledge me. Top notch service!" wrote a Yelp user named Sauncy E.
Casa Pollastro/Yelp
What to order: Brazilian flan, Parmesan-crusted galeto
What customers say: "Love this place and the concept! I knew the food would be good but it exceeded my expectations! The service was top tier and I will definitely go back," wrote a Yelp user named Lauren L.
Sartiano's/Yelp
What to order: Meatballs, Caesar salad
What customers say: "Great food, great drinks, great vibes. Service was excellent. The Caesar salad was perfectly dressed with the perfect amount of dressing, cheese, and croutons. The fingerling potatoes - with a side of truffle-topped mayo. The chai espresso martini was delicious- not too strong on the chai. I've had the pacherri on another occasion which was also very good. I'll definitely be back!" wrote a Yelp user named Dana L.
SV./Yelp
What to order: Chawanmushi, wagyu sukiyaki
What customers say: "FOOD - next level! I 100% recommend the unagi/caviar add-on for those who are fans. Pairings offered, too (we passed). Absolutely enjoyed experiencing the Wagyu-centric tasting menu - each dish was uniquely presented, and quality of ingredients and care to preparation was evident in every item. No substitutions or accommodations for dietary restrictions - no issue for our party SERVICE - Friendly & efficient/brisk as they are on a timetable due to timed seatings. AMBIANCE - Intimate and extra nice when you are fortunate enough to score seats directly in front of Chef Ogawa!" wrote a Yelp user named Kathleen S.
Soo L./Yelp
What to order: Toro tar tar, mushroom rice hot stone
What customers say: "Hard not to like this place with its posh design, attentive service and superior sushi offerings.... especially if someone else is paying! Yes, expensive, but if you're looking for a singular sushi experience, then this is the place. From the same people that brought you Kata Robata, so you know you're in good hands…Houston is fortunate to have so many top-tier sushi options and Katami is right there at the top of the list," wrote a Yelp user named Ronald D.
The Evie/Yelp
What to order: Mag mile roll, butter-poached lobster
What customers say: "We celebrated my aunt's bachelorette here and it was such a great time! Our waitress Lisa walked us through the fall specials and gave some great recommendations. She was very attentive and kept our great vibes going and made us feel special and celebrated. The food was also 10/10. Highly recommend having your next girls night here!" wrote a Yelp user named Nicole S.
Anna L./Yelp
What to order: Hamachi, lamb chops
What customers say: "Gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS. Inside The Wave Hotel which it's beautiful itself, Nami is a stunning restaurant tucked into the back side of the building… The food is predominately seafood, wagyu, and pork. There was no poultry on the menu and really it is more like a small plates/tapas kind of place because everything is a la carte… The food was delicious, of course, and the presentation was so nice - my favorite above all was the wagyu fried dumplings, though i'm not 100% sure what it was called on the menu! Very expensive, I would like to note - with four people it was almost $600 after tip for the table. My Espresso Martini was $30, for reference!" wrote a Yelp user named Brittani W.
Toan D./Yelp
What to order: Seafood paella, shrimp ajillo
What customers say: "Came here for my birthday dinner. Husband picked the place. We were a little late but they have a grace period of 15 minutes. We were sat right away. They also have outdoor seating. Our server was amazing…We ordered one order of the croquettes and one empanada and my husband loved them so much he ordered another order of both. The octopus was extremely tender and with the chimichurri it was delicious. I got the uni and crab pasta it was okay would definitely try something else next time. My husband got the steak and it was very tender. The dessert they gave with the happy birthday writing was a flan I think with lilikoi and it was so good! We also got the ube basque cheesecake. It was good too not too heavy," wrote a Yelp user named Amanda K.
Marllie P/Yelp
What to order: Braised short rib, Japanese fried chicken
What customers say: "Chef Jean Paul, Kat and Derek were a great team last night. Scallop raviolis are not to be missed as well as the fried chicken and scallop and shrimp risotto. The preparation and presentation were great. Food served fresh and straight from the kitchen. Wonderful meal with a superb service. Look forward to many more wonderful meals," wrote a Yelp user named Bert K.
Gannons Nashville/Yelp
What to order: Prime rib, lobster bisque
What customers say: "Don't let the fact this restaurant is inside a Courtyard Hotel fool you. It has nothing to do with Courtyard and this is one of the best dining experiences we have had in years...and we live in San Francisco where there is no shortage of great restaurants. […] The food and cocktails were all excellent. My wife had the empanada and I had the double pork chop. The arugula and roasted butternut squash was amazing as well. Wish Gannons and Bennett could relocate to San Francisco!" wrote a Yelp user named CJ K.
Janet D./Yelp
What to order: Szechuan dumplings, crab fried rice
What customers say: "This is one of the best meals I've had in Denver (and really as a whole) in a long time. Everything was tasty but my favorites were the infuse sake bombs, tofu pockets, tuna, and Szechuan dumplings. Truly, you can't go wrong with this place. I can't stop raving about it," wrote a Yelp user named Kimberly L.
Little's Oyster Bar/Yelp
What to order: American red snapper, grilled octopus
What customers say: "This was a last-minute date night spot. We had driven by it countless times but this time we had time to go inside. Parking was a breeze and they even offered free valet. Our servers were always prompt and explained each of the food options well so we were t surprised when it got to our table. The oysters were so fresh, and they offered a large variety. Overall the price wasn't bad and we'll be back to try some different foods in the off season of seafood," wrote a Yelp user named Jazlyn R.
Caitlin H./Yelp
What to order: Mama's cochinita pibil, chicken enchiladas
What customers say: "The food is delicious, and the presentation of each dish is beautiful. The service was friendly & attentive starting at check-in, to the hosts, to our server Avelino who took his time to explain the dishes and give his recommendations. The ambience is also fantastic. Overall, a great experience," wrote a Yelp user named Aurora F.
Winston L./Yelp
What to order: Gh Jidori chicken wings, Gh smoked deviled eggs
What customers say: "This restaurant is located in part of an office building but truly is a find! We came in for brunch/lunch on a Sunday afternoon to football on the tv behind the bar and a pretty quiet restaurant. All the decor was beautiful, from the lighting to the tables and chairs. We ordered the shakshuka and spicy chicken sandwich. The food did take a little while to come out but boy was it delicious! And piping hot when it came to the table! The shakshuka might be my favorite that I've had with chunks of lamb sausage and satisfying crunches of cabbage. And the pita was absolutely perfect: warm, puffy and with just the right amount of chew. The chicken sandwich was juicy and well balanced with the slaw, though not particularly spicy but the winner on that plate were the fries. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfect texture. I'll definitely be back for dinner!" wrote a Yelp user named Kyna N.
Course Restaurant/Yelp
What to order: Sturgeon pie panna cotta, Lamb loin
What customers say: "I've been to my fair share of highly rated restaurants, but this one might be my new favorite in AZ. My wife and I each got the tasting menu and were able to share the plates that we got that were different. EVERY plate was amazing. It's hard to pick a favorite, everything was plated beautifully, all the flavors worked perfectly together. Our servers were amazing and very attentive. I can't wait to come back again!" wrote a Yelp user named Kenzie Z.
Thea R./Yelp
What to order: Beef Wellington, Chilean sea bass
What customers say: "This place is fantastic! We stopped in before a show at the Majestic Theater, which is just a block away. The staff was very friendly, and the food was excellent--as in some of the best steak you will ever have excellent! We were given complimentary glasses of champagne, risotto balls, and at dessert some mini chocolate-chip cookies. I love it when restaurants do that sort of thing as it is unexpected and very classy. The steaks we ordered were cooked perfectly to our individual tastes, and again, I cannot overstate just how good the food was…Overall this place has just become one of my new favorites for high end steak houses!" wrote a Yelp user named Scott S.
Burnin' Shell/Yelp
What to order: Steamed egg, cold noodle soup
What customers say: "I came here reading that they do a Thai seafood sauce so I came to confirm. And I can confirm that they DO!!! The service is quick and on point. The seafood is fresh and cooked for you!! The side dishes are usually an afterthought but it's clear that they still live up to the freshness and goodness of the seafood. I can't wait to come back!" wrote a Yelp user named Jaymie N.
Kinme Omakase/Yelp
What to order: Wagyu tartar, Miyazaki A5 beef, spring pea soup
What customers say: "This place is just second to none! Expensive yes. But I've been here twice and felt it was worth it each time. Decor is really beautiful, simple, very Japanese that way. Even the bathroom is an experience! Food quality and mixing of ingredients is exceptional and unique…the staff is insanely on-top of things and and polite. The entire restaurant is there to serve you and they make sure you know it. Beautiful people, beautiful environment, beautiful food, really beautiful experience. Can't say much more than that," wrote a Yelp user named Jessica S.
Meesh Meesh/Yelp
What to order: Smoked lamb, brown butter knafeh
What customers say: "We started with delicious crafted house cocktails. The servers are integral in understanding the Mediterranean menu. We had a six top and shared three appetizers and four entrées. The crispy cauliflower and beets were my favorite apps. The chicken thighs and grape leaf wrapped branzino were my top two. Note: the branzino is boned but head/tail on so be aware for those who don't care for that presentation…Very highly recommended Slainte!!" wrote a Yelp user named Sean M.
Noko Nashville/Yelp
What to order: Tuna crispy rice, burnt-end lettuce wraps
What customers say: "The food is not only fantastic but the owners have built a culture of upscale yet non pretentious hospitality that permeates the entire staff. Favorite Nashville restaurant," wrote a Yelp user named Christina M.
Mēdüzā Mediterrania New York/Yelp
What to order: Lamb chops, cacio e pepe
What customers say: "I absolutely loved this place!!!! The food! The service! The ambiance! All top tier. The restaurant's decor is beautiful. There was a violinist playing throughout the night. The lighting was perfect. Our waiter was very attentive and took great care of us. Everything we ate was amazing! The drinks were also amazing. With a couple of appetizers, my friend and I were able to split an entrée due to the size. Definitely a must if you are ever in NYC," wrote a Yelp user named Nita D.
Donald Kravitz/Getty Images
Miss America 2025 is just weeks away, and a legal battle over who owns the organization is playing out behind the scenes.
The 103-year-old competition has had several leadership controversies in the last decade, but this matter centers on Robin Fleming and Glenn F. Straub, who both purport to own Miss America.
In a sweeping, 32-cause complaint obtained by Business Insider, Fleming accused Straub, his lawyer, his company, and one of his employees of fraud, defamation, and trademark infringement.
Her lawsuit came days after Straub filed for bankruptcy on November 22. In a letter to Miss America board members, Straub wrote that Fleming was using the organization's scholarship fund to pay her legal fees, which was "putting Miss America in financial and legal jeopardy." He also said that the 2025 competition, scheduled for December 31 to January 3, will continue as planned.
Fleming said in her complaint that Straub's bankruptcy filing was fraudulent because he does not own the organization and Miss America Corporation, LLC, has no debt. She said Straub was attempting to sow "further chaos and confusion" amid their legal battle.
She told BI on Thursday that "Miss America has always been an activist" and believes "justice will prevail" in her case. "I just feel very strongly that this is a case about standing up and having your voice heard," she added.
"Robin Fleming's Miss America competition is going strong and will be fully successful," her attorney Gene Rossi said in a statement to BI. "Mr. Straub's litigation tricks are nothing more than shiny objects. All sound and fury with no meaning."
When asked for comment on this story, a representative for Straub pointed BI to the court's decision on Wednesday to dismiss Fleming's case without prejudice because of its length. The order allows Fleming to refile her complaint before December 20, which she told BI on Thursday that she intends to do.
Here's a timeline of all the legal drama detailed by Fleming and Straub's complaints.
Houston M Photography
Fleming, who told BI she's in her 50s, and Straub, 78, briefly met at a charity event in 2008. Still, the two formed a professional friendship in 2021 at Palm Beach Polo Country Club, a luxury gated community in Florida that Straub owned and where Fleming was a resident.
Straub "presented as a wealthy and elderly man in his mid-70s keenly interested in her passion for businesses that empowered women and her passion for the pageant industry."
Straub offered to finance the $20 million purchase of the Miss Universe Organization with Fleming "as owner and him as banker."
Fleming agreed to the proposition and made her interest known to the organization, providing Straub's name after it requested a call with her banker. The call never occurred, and it was announced in October 2022 that the Miss Universe Organization had been sold to Anne Jakrajutatip.
Fleming learned in 2024 that the Miss Universe Organization ceased its negotiations with her after learning Straub, according to her suit, had "allegedly choked a 22-year-old young woman in 2012 at a polo match."
Straub was arrested and charged with criminal battery. He filed a civil action against the woman for libel and slander. Both the civil and criminal cases were dismissed and closed.
During dinner together, Straub asked Fleming if they could become "friends with benefits."
Fleming texted Straub the following day, saying, "I like our relationship exactly as it is, fun business chatter/ambitions with a smattering of humor… I am too conservative for anything else."
Straub replied, "Check," and "never asked the question again."
Courtesy of Robin Fleming
Fleming said she bought Miss America's assets on behalf of Miss America Competition, LLC and Miss America IP, Inc., using three documents created by Straub's attorney, Craig Galle, who she used at Straub's suggestion.
Shantel Krebs signed one of the agreements on December 30, officially selling the organization's assets to Fleming.
Straub's company paid off a Small Business Administration loan for Miss America to help the purchase proceed, his only official role in the acquisition.
Fleming also said she attended the closing meeting alone.
Following the acquisition, Fleming said that Krebs and the Miss America board formally welcomed her as the organization's "new owner" and publicly referred to her as its CEO at events and in the media.
Fleming said she operated as Miss America's CEO and owner for over a year without complaints from Straub.
In a January 2024 text included in the suit, Straub asked Fleming how he should introduce himself as the Miss America 2024 pageant, suggesting "banker."
That same month, according to the lawsuit, Straub attacked a talent judge at Miss America 2024 because he was a Black man talking to a white woman.
Straub admitted in texts to Fleming that the attack was racially motivated, her suit states.
Straub's threat came a day after Fleming declined to serve as his proxy in a lawsuit against board members of their gated community.
Straub told Fleming he wanted to end Miss America because she "cannot be controlled" and the organization is a "waste of time." He also said Fleming was a "failure," "over the hill," and that he would bring her children into the "public humiliation" and send letters to all the Miss America state directors saying she was mentally ill.
The following day, Straub sent Fleming a letter notifying her of her "Temporary Suspension and Investigation" by the "Miss America Competitions, LLC." Fleming said the letterhead featured typos in both the company name and the spelling of Fleming's name.
Fleming said Straub also threatened to tie her up in "three years of civil litigation" unless she gave him "total control of Miss America" and promised to "always be subservient" to him.
Fleming said Straub presented three different versions of the document created by Galle and dated December 28, 2022, between April and August.
Her legal team said metadata for one of the documents indicated it was created on August 25, 2023.
AP Photo/Wayne Parry
Fleming's suit said Straub texted her on April 12 to tell her she was fired as Miss America's CEO.
It added that he intended to email the Miss America state directors and tell them she was stealing money from the organization, which Fleming said was defamatory.
Her suit also states that he sent her a "Termination Notice" on April 15, which Fleming rejected in a written statement on April 16.
Straub's complaint said Fleming had never been an "owner" of any Miss America entity and sued her for breach of fiduciary duties and obligations, "at will" employment agreement, temporary and permanent injunctive relief, and trademark infringement.
His complaint sought $20 million in damages.
Straub sent a letter to Miss America directors and licensees in late December 2022 stating that he had "purchased all the assets of the former Miss America Organization."
He also said he hired Fleming to run Miss America and terminated her "after we received damaging information and conducted an extensive audit of her conduct while working with the organization."
In response to the letter, Krebs and other former Miss America board members told licensees and directors via email they had "voted unanimously to transfer the assets to Robin Fleming."
Straub also hosted Zoom meetings with Miss America licensees and contractual partners in May, during which he said he was Miss America's owner and had fired Fleming as CEO.
According to a court docket reviewed by BI, Straub and Fleming were ordered to hold a "conciliation conference" to discuss his state-level lawsuit against her.
In her lawsuit, Fleming said Straub used the meeting to "directly threaten, intimidate and extort" her. She said Straub told her he wanted to "shut down Miss America," called himself "Hamas" and Fleming "Israel," and said he was Hitler.
Her complaint also said that Straub said he "intended to file for bankruptcy on behalf of her Miss America" during the meeting.
Fleming said Straub sent additional letters to state executive directors in September saying he had fired her, and, in November 2024, he publicly said she was funding her legal defense through Miss America's scholarship fund.
Her suit described his statements as defamatory and led to potential business deals to fall through.
Notably, the complaint said the "organizers of the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving parade withdrew their invitation to have Miss America participate in the parade, which has been a yearly tradition since the 1940s."
Noam Galai/WireImage/Getty Images
Straub filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Florida on behalf of Miss America Competition, LLC.
Fleming filed an emergency response to the bankruptcy filing on November 25, saying the bankruptcy was "a 'scorched earth' litigation strategy to attempt to sabotage the upcoming Miss America Competition and cause reputational harm to Ms. Fleming."
In the response, Fleming said Straub could not file for bankruptcy for Miss America Corporation because she is its sole member, manager, and owner.
Fleming's suit lists 32 causes of action, including fraud, defamation, and more. She is seeking $500 million in damages for herself and Miss America.
In her complaint, she said she was the rightful owner of Miss America and provided a timeline for its purchase, details of Straub's involvement, and evidence that Straub and his attorney created false documentation to show he owned it.
Fleming's case was dismissed on December 4, 2024, without prejudice, with the court requesting Fleming's lawyers condense their complaint.
Fleming told BI on Thursday that she would file a new version of the suit before the new December 20 deadline.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Deciding where to live isn't always easy.
Some people move multiple times in a decade, searching for new experiences or better opportunities. Others end up regretting relocating to their new homes.
While everyone's circumstances are unique, data can help narrow down the choices.
Every year, US News & World Report ranks 150 big cities based on factors including quality of life, schools, crime rates, employment opportunities, and housing affordability to find the best places to live in the United States.
For 2024's list, the South and the Midwest have the most cities ranked in the top 15.
Booming Boise, Idaho; outdoorsy Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the bustling banking hub of Charlotte, North Carolina, all consistently make the list of the best places to live. Newcomers include Austin, a growing tech hub, and two scenic South Carolina locales: Greenville and Charleston.
In addition to weighing job opportunities and housing costs, US News & World Report emphasizes each area's overall standard of living.
Here are the 15 best places to live in the US, according to US News & World Report. Residents find plenty to like about these cities, including relatively affordable homes, plenty of jobs, and lots of ways to spend their free time.
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Population of the metro area: 320,154
Median home price: $331,000
Median monthly rent: $1,600
Median household income: $66,392
Climate Vulnerability Index: 58th percentile (average vulnerability). This index shows areas of the US most likely to face challenges from climate change.
Known for: Home to over 450 horse farms, Lexington is known as the horse capital of the world. While it doesn't have the Kentucky Derby, Keeneland Race Track holds its own horse races twice a year.
Walter Bibikow/Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 280,305
Median home price: $415,000
Median monthly rent: $1,700
Median household income: $70,484
Climate Vulnerability Index: 6th percentile (lowest vulnerability)
Known for: Wisconsin's capital is also the state's second-largest city. Madison is a college town, offering plenty of chances to see concerts and sporting events.
f11photo/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 155,369
Median home price: $617,500
Median monthly rent: $2,800
Median household income: $89,083
Climate Vulnerability Index: 55th percentile (average vulnerability)
Known for: With its cobblestone streets and 18th- and 19th-century buildings, Charleston is a dream for historic-architecture buffs. Plus, miles of beachy coastline are just a short trip from downtown.
DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 105,744
Median home price: $318,000
Median monthly rent: $999
Median household income: $66,950
Climate Vulnerability Index: 15th percentile (lowest vulnerability)
Known for: Wisconsin's oldest city is home to the Green Bay Packers, a storied NFL team. Nature lovers can make the most of Green Bay's 25-mile Fox River State Trail, even in the winter.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 57,602
Median home price: $488,500
Median monthly rent: $2,800
Median household income: $68,870
Climate Vulnerability Index: 24th percentile (lower vulnerability)
Known for: Sarasota earned the nickname the Circus City because Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus moved its winter quarters to the beachy town in 1927. These days, the weather, leisurely pace of life, and lack of income tax all attract people to Florida. Sarasota, in particular, has become a magnet for workers, according to a January LinkedIn report.
Page Light Studios/Shutterstock
Population of metro area: 105,898
Median home price: $945,000
Median monthly rent: $2,995
Median household income: $75,923
Climate Vulnerability Index: 12th percentile (lowest vulnerability)
Known for: Not far from the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is known for outdoorsy activities, including rock climbing, hiking, skiing, and cycling. The city's median age is 28.6, giving it a youthful, lively energy.
Kruck20/Getty Images
Population of metro area: 979,882
Median home price: $484,900
Median monthly rent: $2,000
Median household income: $91,501
Climate Vulnerability Index: 20th percentile (lower vulnerability)
Known for: An artsy, contemporary city, Austin is known for its vibrant nightlife, live music, eclectic cuisine, and college scene. It also has a long history of attracting tech giants, and even more companies have opened offices there since the pandemic. West Coasters in the industry have moved to the city, lured by the booming job market and comparatively low cost of living.
Kyle J Little/Shutterstock
Population of metro area: 453,649
Median home price: $384,500
Median monthly rent: $2,195
Median household income: $91,141
Climate Vulnerability Index: 18th percentile (lowest vulnerability)
Known for: Boasting a beloved boardwalk, Virginia Beach has miles of beaches, delectable seafood, and a mild climate. Murals, museums, and shops in the ViBe Creative District give the seaside destination some arty flair, too.
Denis Tangney/Getty Images
Population of metro area: 225,564
Median home price: $315,000
Median monthly rent: $1,465
Median household income: $73,319
Climate Vulnerability Index: 54th percentile (average vulnerability)
Known for: Since the start of the US space program in the 1950s Huntsville has been a hub for the aerospace and defense industries. Today it's bursting with startups, alongside long-standing workplaces like NASA and Boeing. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin also has a facility for building rocket engines in Huntsville.
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Population of metro area: 482,295
Median home price: $450,000
Median monthly rent: $1,826
Median household income: $86,309
Climate Vulnerability Index: 13th percentile (lowest vulnerability)
Known for: This capital city has a busy downtown, free museums, and miles of hiking trails. Part of North Carolina's Research Triangle, Raleigh has a long history of fostering technology and science companies, creating a strong local economy.
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Population of the metro area: 911,311
Median home price: $424,900
Median monthly rent: $1,950
Median household income: $80,581
Climate Vulnerability Index: 35th percentile (lower vulnerability)
Known for: Second only to New York, Charlotte is a bustling banking hub. Locals can root for the city's professional basketball, football, and soccer teams or soak up the art and food scenes.
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 72,824
Median home price: $366,500
Median monthly rent: $1,725
Median household income: $73,536
Climate Vulnerability Index: 55th percentile (average vulnerability)
Known for: In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville attracts new residents with its moderate climate, burgeoning food reputation, and natural beauty. Greenville is also home to several major corporations, including Michelin, GE, and Lockheed Martin.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 488,664
Median home price: $440,000
Median monthly rent: $1,873
Median household income: $83,215
Climate Vulnerability Index: 34th percentile (average vulnerability)
Known for: The US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center is located in Colorado Springs, making the city especially attractive to athletes. There are hundreds of miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and white water rafting is a popular summer activity. From the Garden of the Gods to the iconic Pikes Peak, gorgeous natural sights adorn the area.
vkbhat / Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 235,421
Median home price: $472,500
Median monthly rent: $1,774
Median household income: $79,977
Climate Vulnerability Index: 9th percentile (lowest vulnerability)
Known for: Thousands of new residents flocked to Idaho's capital in the past decade, making it the US's fastest-growing city in 2018. Boise blends sought-after amenities such as microbreweries and cider houses with nearby scenic state parks full of rivers, canyons, and mountains.
Mint Images/Getty Ima
Population of the metro area: 19,704
Median home price: $629,500
Median monthly rent: $6,100
Median household income: $135,657
Climate Vulnerability Index: 32nd percentile (lower vulnerability)
Known for: Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, Naples is like a postcard come to life, with white-sand beaches, luxurious residences, and over 1,350 holes of golf. The city has long attracted wealthy residents who can afford the high housing costs. Right now a $295 million compound is up for grabs, the most expensive home for sale in the US.
Sources: Population and income data are from the US Census, median home price from Realtor.com, median rent from Zillow, and climate information from the Climate Vulnerability Index.
This story was originally published on May 15, 2024, and most recently updated on December 4.
Between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago, people in Alaska kept reinventing dogs with mixed results.
The dogs that share our homes today are the descendants of a single group of wolves that lived in Siberia about 23,000 years ago. But for thousands of years after that split, the line between wolf and dog wasn’t quite clear-cut. A recent study shows that long after dogs had spread into Eurasia and the Americas, people living in what is now Alaska still spent time with—and fed—a bizarre mix of dogs, wolves, dog-wolf hybrids, and even some coyotes.
University of Arizona archaeologist François Lanoë and his colleagues studied 111 sets of bones from dogs and wolves from archaeological sites across the Alaskan interior. The oldest bones came from wolves that roamed what’s now Alaska long before people set foot there, and the most recent came from modern, wild Alaskan wolves. In between, the researchers worked with the remains of both wolves and dogs (and even a couple of coyotes) that span a swath of time from about 1,000 to around 14,000 years ago. And it turns out that even the wolves were tangled up in the lives of nearby humans.
© Russell Burden
To fill a car with gas, you generally just need a credit card or cash. To charge an EV at a DC fast charging station, you need any number of things to work—a credit card reader, an app for that charger's network, a touchscreen that's working—and they're all a little different.
That situation could change next year if a new "universal Plug and Charge" initiative from SAE International, backed by a number of EV carmakers and chargers, moves ahead and gains ground. Launching in early 2025, the network could make charging an EV actually easier than gassing up: plug in, let the car and charger figure out the payment details over a cloud connection, and go.
Some car and charging network combinations already offer such a system through a patchwork of individual deals, as listed at Inside EVs. Teslas have always offered a plug-and-charge experience, given the tight integration between their Superchargers and vehicles. Now Tesla will join the plug-and-charge movement proper, allowing Teslas to have a roughly similar experience at other stations.
© Getty Images
President-elect Trump is expected by many of his supporters to preside over an energy "boom" in the United States by slashing Biden administration regulations, and one industry expert told Fox News Digital that she is encouraged by Trump’s energy sector cabinet nominees while outlining specific moves she hopes to see over the next four years.
"I think the three cabinet picks that Trump has so far chosen to lead EPA, Interior and Energy are a vast improvement to who we have currently in those respective positions," Gabriella Hoffman, Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy & Conservation Director, told Fox News Digital.
"They're going to be taking a more tactful approach to energy development. They're not going to be keeping things in the ground. They're going to be prioritizing reliable energy sources like coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear even, and most recently, geothermal has also taken a renewed interest by Congress, and we will probably see geothermal as well unleashed. But also there's going to be this balance of this energy abundant mindset with promoting land stewardship, expanding hunting and fishing opportunities, expanding ocean access, and reevaluating so-called clean energy projects that promise to be greener or are believed to be green but actually might be worse for the environment and don't produce enough reliable energy or electricity."
Hoffman told Fox News Digital the country is going to see a "reassessment of what conservation looks like" that is "balanced out by this robust kind of development of energy here in the United States.
I KNOW WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ENERGY POLICY WILL BE. I USED TO RUN HIS ENERGY REGULATORY AGENCY
"So it's going to be great for the economy, we believe. As a center, we believe it's going to lead to better national security with more energy being produced here. We're going to be less reliant on countries that produce certain energy sources less cleanly, less environmentally friendly than we do."
In recent days, President-elect Trump has named former Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin to head the EPA, Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright to head the Energy Department, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to oversee the Interior Department.
Hoffman outlined several top line agenda items that her center hopes to see from the three departments.
TRUMP'S PROPOSED TARIFFS COULD DRIVE UP FOOD PRICES, EXPERTS SAY
"Emphasizing reliable energy production, moving away from sources that are subsidized like solar and wind to reliable sources that don't really need to be subsidized or that are actually very plentiful and can be extracted safely and responsibly here in the United States," Hoffman said.
"Another priority is to kind of clamp down on this regulatory overreach we have seen across all three agencies. We have seen them take extreme positions with devising so-called tailpipe emissions standards, all these different green energy efficiency, household appliance directives. We've seen them take extreme positions on policies like the America the Beautiful Plan, or the 30 by 30 plan to protect so-called 30% of waters in lands by 2030, which is a very extreme position, not rooted in conservation whatsoever. It's a control mechanism, not a conservation tool."
Hoffman said she anticipates a "return back to true conservation" under Trump "where you don't see environmentalist groups suing agencies in perpetuity to block different measures of progress to go into effect."
Trump often vowed on the campaign trail to unleash an energy boom in the United States by slashing regulations and expanding drilling in the United States and Hoffman told Fox News Digital she is optimistic that will happen.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS PRESENT DIFFERING OPINIONS OF TRUMP'S ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT APPOINTEES
"Our center is very optimistic that there will be an energy boom," Hoffman said. "It's not going to happen overnight, but it could be seen within a couple of months. I think realistically, once we hit the six-month mark, perhaps the year-end mark if President-elect Trump is going to be able to repeal some of the Biden-Harris directives as it relates to all the climate measures, the day one executive orders are really going to be a weight off of the administrative state’s shoulders and then all other policies that emanate from that tackling the climate crisis executive order will similarly be probably clamped down."
Trump has for months vowed to "undo" the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats' marquee climate and clean energy spending legislation that allocates $369 billion in subsidies aimed at re-shoring investments for electric vehicle manufacturing and battery production as well as new utility-scale wind and solar projects.
Hoffman told Fox News Digital that repealing the IRA will be critical to unleashing American energy despite possible opposition from some Republicans in Congress who like certain aspects of the bill.
"For gas prices, electricity prices to truly be lowered, you're going to have to see that law terminated or repealed, because that is what invited a lot of the so-called energy or environmental inflation," Hoffman said. "These higher prices at the pump, higher utility bills, higher food costs, because everything emanates from energy, transportation, food delivery, things of that sort. So that law really does have to be kind of called into question. And perhaps Trump will work with Congress to ensure that that is repealed."
Hoffman also explained that a focus on nuclear energy will be critical over the next four years.
"It is a really safe technology, especially produced here, and we don't want China or Russia to have an edge," Hoffman said.
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
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One of the best ways to learn more about a place and its people is by traveling there ... but when you can't do that, books are your next best bet.
In the US, where each state has a storied past and varied cultures and traditions, there's much to explore. If you're curious about life in Louisiana or itching to experience the many neighborhoods of New York City — or just love reading about new places — one way to travel across the country without going through the trouble of rental cars or airports is by picking a book in the comfort of your home.
To ensure you have the most wholesome literary tour around the country, Business Insider scoured published listings and surveyed our reporters for their best picks, rounding up the most famous book set in every state — and, as a bonus — Washington DC, too.
Here are the most famous books set in every state.
Melissa Stanger, Melia Russell, Melissa Wiley, and Jacob Shamsian contributed reporting on a previous version of this post.
Amazon
When a local attorney is asked to defend an African American man accused of rape, he has to decide between doing what's right and doing what society expects of him, launching his children right in the middle of the conflict.
This Pulitzer Prize winner is set in Maycomb, a community divided by racism and inspired by Lee's hometown of Monroeville.
Amazon
Christopher McCandless, a young man from a family of money, donates all of his savings to charity and abandons his possessions before hitchhiking into the Alaskan wilderness to reinvent himself.
This true-story survival-drama was made into a movie of the same name in 2007, directed by Sean Penn and starring Emile Hirsch, shedding light on McCandless' idealism of a life unburdened by material possessions and the harsh realities of the Alaskan wild.
Amazon
Taylor is well on her way to escaping small-town life. But shortly into her journey to Tucson, Arizona, where she hopes to start over, a stranger leaves her with a Native American toddler with a traumatic past.
Kingsolver's story of finding salvation in a barren situation is packed with real places and events.
Amazon
Luke Chandler lives on a cotton farm with his parents and grandparents and suddenly finds himself keeping the deadly secrets of harvest workers. The legal-thriller follows the 7-year-old as he grows up and loses his innocence in the 1950s.
The narrator's upbringing in rural Arkansas inspired this coming-of-age tale.
Amazon
Joan Didion's 1970 novel established her as a master fiction writer in addition to an already acclaimed nonfiction one. Set in Nevada, New York, and Hollywood, it's "an indictment of Hollywood culture" in the 1960s and utterly gripping in its intensity. Didion and her husband, John Gregory Dunne, adapted the book into a movie in 1972.
Amazon
A recovering alcoholic writer accepts a position as winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel, which sits in the Colorado Rockies. He moves in with his family, including 5-year-old son Danny, who has psychic abilities and begins to witness aspects of the hotel's horrific past.
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, which inspired the fictional Overlook, offers a Ghost Adventure Package for guests.
Amazon
Considered the original anti-suburban novel, "Revolutionary Road" follows a young, bright couple marooned in Connecticut and trying to escape pressure to conform in the 1950s. Their failed attempts to be different lead to self-destructive affairs and a psychotic breakdown.
In 2008, the book was adapted into a movie of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Hachette Group
Seven years after settling in Wilmington, an Italian couple is still in pursuit of the American Dream. Maddalena sews at a factory, but desperately wants to be a mother, while her husband's nighttime escapades threaten to unravel all their hard work.
Castellani wove bits of his own family history into the book. His Italian father, who emigrated to Wilmington after World War II, dreamed of opening a restaurant in Wilmington's Little Italy neighborhood just like Maddalena's husband did.
Amazon
A classic work of African-American literature, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is about Janie Crawford, a woman living in the town of Eaton, Florida.
Hurston was one of the most prominent writers of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s, publishing the novel in 1937. But she slipped into obscurity in the later years of her life, and "Eyes" went out of print until Alice Walker championed her in the 1970s. Now, the book is taught in classrooms around the country.
Amazon
Mitchell's 1936 classic love story, set in the South during the Civil War and its aftermath, introduced the world to Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. O'Hara, the young spoiled daughter of a plantation owner, and her rogue star-crossed lover are torn apart and reunited through the tragedies and comedies of the human existence.
Mitchell spent nine years writing her manuscript, and the ensuing, unwanted fame led her to vow she would never write again.
But the book has been criticized for its portrayal of slavery, for romanticizing the Confederacy, and for its inclusion of racist stereotypes. In 2023, a new edition of the book came with a warning from its UK publisher, Pan Macmillan, that "there may be hurtful or indeed harmful phrases and terminology that were prevalent at the time this novel was written," The Telegraph reported.
Amazon
The first of Michener's mammoth sagas, "Hawaii" tells the islands' history, from its creation by volcanic activity to its evolving identity as the most recent of the 50 US states.
Michener sought to show how Hawaii harmonizes different cultures and races, as a template that would benefit the rest of the country. However, he and his wife, the daughter of Japanese immigrants, faced harsh discrimination while living there.
Amazon
Little to do with housekeeping, Robinson's poetic story follows two orphaned girls who are cared for by eccentric female relatives in the fictional town of Fingerbone.
Robinson describes the town as "chastened by an outsized landscape and extravagant weather." This, and many other details in "Housekeeping," conjure images of her own Idaho hometown of Sandpoint.
Amazon
The story of a Lithuanian immigrant employed in Chicago's stockyards, where Sinclair worked undercover to research for the book, revealed the poverty, hopelessness, and unpleasant living and working conditions experienced by meatpacking laborers in the early 20th century.
The book's graphic depictions of the slaughterhouse work caused a public uproar that contributed to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act six months after "The Jungle" was published.
Amazon
Written by a native Hoosier, the novel centers on characters struggling to preserve their status during the rapid industrialization between the Civil War and 20th century. The aristocratic Amberson family loses its prestige and wealth as "new money" tycoons take over.
Woodruff Place, Indianapolis' earliest suburb, was the setting for Tarkington's "The Magnificent Ambersons," which Orson Welles later adapted as a movie.
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When an Iowa farmer decides to retire, he plans to divide his thousand acres of land among his three daughters. The youngest objects, setting off a chain of events that unleashes long-suppressed emotions and secrets. It's a modern-day "King Lear."
Smiley's narrator describes the farm in Zebulon County as "paid for, no encumbrances, as flat and fertile, black, friable and exposed as any piece of land on the face of the earth," like a lot of land in Iowa.
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There's no place like the Great Kansas Plains.
Baum's imaginative tale of Dorothy Gale from Kansas and her Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion friends was the best-selling children's story of the 1900 Christmas season and spawned the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz."
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Uncle Tom, a long-suffering enslaved person, is sold by the Shelby family and begins a journey that, for 19th-century readers, depicted the realities of slavery and endorsed the power of Christian love to overcome all obstacles.
Stowe based the abolitionist novel on the first-hand stories of former enslaved people in Kentucky, a slave state, while she lived across the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Its powerful condemnation of slavery fueled the human rights debate in the mid-19th century.
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"A Confederacy of Dunces" is one of the funniest American novels ever published. It's hard to describe, but it's basically about a 30-year-old man named Ignatius J. Reilly who lives with his mother in New Orleans. Reilly is educated and philosophically opposed to having a job, but has to confront reality when his mom makes him get one.
The story behind the novel is as famous as the novel itself. It was Toole's first published novel, published 11 years after his death after being championed by his mother and the writer Walker Percy. It was released to instant acclaim, winning a rare posthumous Pulitzer Prize.
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Carrie, a shy high school girl raised by an unstable, Christian fundamentalist mother, discovers she has telekinetic powers. When her classmates falsely crown her prom queen in an elaborate effort to humiliate her, she enacts her supernatural revenge.
Stephen King is Maine's biggest champion in literature, and "Carrie" takes place in the fictional town of Chamberlain.
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Another Baltimore-based novel by Tyler, "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" tells how three siblings remember growing up with their perfectionist mother as she lies on her deathbed. The Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel examines how the siblings' recollections vary drastically.
Tyler's characters live in Charles Village, near her long-time residence.
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"Walden" is the product of transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau's two-year retreat into the woods, an experiment in isolation, simple living, and self-reliance. By immersing himself in nature, he hoped to understand society more objectively.
Encompassing 61 acres, Walden Pond is the crown jewel of the greater Walden Woods ecosystem in Concord.
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"The Virgin Suicides" is a gripping tale of five beautiful yet eccentric sisters who all die by suicide in the same year in Gross Pointe, Michigan. It is written from the perspective of an anonymous group of boys who are observant, infatuated, and endlessly struggling to explain the tragedy.
Eugenides said he was inspired by the deterioration of the state's auto industry and the "feeling of growing up in Detroit, in a city losing population, and in perpetual crisis."
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"Main Street" reveals two sides of Minnesota: the thriving metropolis of Saint Paul, where the heroine is from, and the dried-up small town she moves to after much convincing from her new husband. The young woman falls victim to the narrow-mindedness and unimaginative nature of the townspeople.
The author used his birthplace of Sauk Centre as a mold for the fictionalized Gopher Prairie setting.
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"The Sound and the Fury" encapsulates the decline of the American South through the dysfunctional Compson family, who face financial ruin during the Roaring '20s and lose the respect of the townspeople in Jefferson, Mississippi.
Many readers complained that the book's stream of consciousness style was hard to follow. Faulkner's advice was to "read it four times," he told the Paris Review.
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This classic coming-of-age story set alongside the Mississippi River follows Tom Sawyer, a young boy who preoccupies himself with pulling pranks and impressing a girl — until he witnesses a murder. Tom and his companions run away to an island, but eventually return to take up treasure hunting.
Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which inspired the setting of "Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
Find out more about this book here.
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"A River Runs Through It" is the semi-autobiographical tale of everyday life in the west for two brothers who are the sons of a local pastor.
Set amidst the beautiful, wondrous landscape of Montana, the two boys — one dutiful and one rebellious — each grow up and discover themselves, turning, at times, to dark places, but always under the footfalls of their father.
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The reader meets Ántonia Shimerda through a written account from the narrator, Jim Burden, a young man who moves to the fictional town of Black Hawk, Nebraska, to live with his grandparents.
Through Jim's lens of love and infatuation, Ántonia is brought to life as a young Bohemian girl with many trials and triumphs. The reader grows to know her and, simultaneously, the author as well, who wrote the novel from details of her own life in Nebraska.
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"Fear and Loathing" follows a journalist, Raoul Duke, and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, on a trip to Las Vegas to cover an event taking place there.
However, the two are preoccupied and saddened by what they perceive as the decline of 1960s American pop culture and begin experimenting with drugs. Much of the book is seen through their hallucinations and twisted realities, which are only fueled by the hyperreal surroundings of Sin City.
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Containing all the classic John Irving tropes — a bear, rape, body-building, and social privilege — "The Hotel New Hampshire" follows a peculiar family as they open hotels in New Hampshire, Vienna, and Maine.
The book evokes Irving's upbringing in the back woods of New Hampshire.
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Based on Díaz's own experiences as a Dominican immigrant who moved to New Jersey, the 10 short stories in "Drown" tell of the struggles the New Jersey immigrant community faces, from poverty to homesickness to the language barrier.
The outlook is often grim, but thanks to Díaz's riveting and intoxicating narrative, we manage to see the characters' unsentimental determination for a better life.
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The final book in McCarthy's Border Trilogy, "Cities of the Plain" is about a doomed romance in the American frontier between a man and a sex worker who runs afoul of a pimp.
The novel is set in New Mexico on the border of the United States and Mexico.
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"The Great Gatsby" tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a young, lovesick millionaire, through the eyes of his friend and next-door neighbor, Nick Carraway. The novel progresses as Gatsby tries to rekindle his love with Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin.
Through Gatsby's shady business dealings and his extravagant wealthy lifestyle on Long Island, Fitzgerald reveals a world in New York that is both terribly beautiful and terribly corrupt.
Nicholas Sparks Website
This Sparks romance novel, made famous by its film adaptation starring Mandy Moore, shows the unlikely, blossoming love between two high school students from Beaufort: Landon Carter, a popular rebel, and Jamie Sullivan, a quiet bookworm.
While Landon tries to get closer to Jamie, she pushes him away, fearing that a secret will end things between them before it begins.
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A woman living on a North Dakota Indian reservation is attacked, but police have a hard time investigating the case when she is unwilling to discuss what transpired.
Her son takes matters into his own hands, recruiting his friends to find out what happened and bring justice to his family and tribe.
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In Foster Wallace's slightly altered view of Ohio in 1990, we follow our heroine, Lenore Stonecipher Beadsman, a telephone operator and secretary who juggles a job with barely any purpose, a relationship with her much-older boss, and the task of finding her decrepit grandmother.
The grandmother, along with 25 other residents of the Shaker Heights Nursing Home, has managed to disappear without a trace.
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"Paradise" chronicles tensions between the patriarchal, all-Black town of Ruby, which was founded by the descendants of free slaves intent on isolating themselves from the outside world, and a nearby community of five women, each seeking refuge from the past.
Morrison conceived the idea for "Paradise" after researching the all-Black towns in Oklahoma that formed when newly freed men left plantations under duress.
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Randle McMurphy barges into an Oregon mental institution one day and decides to rally the patients against the tyranny of Nurse Ratched. McMurphy stirs more trouble as he smuggles in women, alcohol, and other contraband, leading to an all-out war between him and the institution.
Told through the eyes of one of the patients, Kesey's novel reveals bits of his own background. He previously worked as an orderly in a mental health ward.
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"The Lovely Bones" is a dark, gripping tale about Susie Salmon, a young girl who was brutally raped and murdered in the cornfields of Norristown. It's told from her point of view after her death.
Looking down on her family from heaven, Susie watches as they come to terms with what happened to her and try to solve a case that, to police, seems to lead nowhere.
Simon & Schuster
Anna has always been her older sister Kate's lifesaver. She's undergone countless surgeries, transplants, and donations to help save her sick sister, but when doctors discover that Anna is now a match to be Kate's bone marrow donor, Anna decides to sue for the right to control her own body.
Picoult shows the heartbreaking pull between freedom and family in this Rhode Island-set novel.
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Lily Owens is a young girl growing up in 1960s South Carolina with an abusive father and an African American nanny who serves as a surrogate mother. When her nanny ends up in jail for insulting some white men, Lily breaks her out and the two run away, seeking refuge among three eccentric bee-keeping sisters.
Monk Kidd injects some of her own Southern upbringing into this contemporary heartwarming novel.
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"A Long Way From Home" details Brokaw's own "American pilgrimage," from boyhood on the Missouri River into a career in broadcast journalism in the '60s.
In Brokaw's honest narrative, we see how much his life has been shaped by growing up in South Dakota and the historic events he lived through as a child and young adult.
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"A Death in the Family" is the only novel by the polymath writer James Agee. It's a semiautobiographical book about the emotional reverberations in a family after a father dies in a car accident. Set in Knoxville, it lyrically captures the feelings of every character, from the inner mind of a child to the tragedy of a widow.
The novel was published posthumously, after Agee died of a heart attack at 45, and won the Pulitzer Prize. He was also an acclaimed screenwriter, critic, and journalist.
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Made famous by the film of the same name starring Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men" is Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece about a drug deal-gone-wrong on the Texas-Mexico border. The event left a group of men dead and $2 million in an abandoned truck.
Llewellyn Moss, who discovered the scene, takes the money and gets swept up in the illicit drug business.
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Ebershoff weaves a novel based on the life of Ann Eliza Young, one of the wives of Mormon leader Brigham Young, who escapes her oppressive husband and embarks on a mission to end polygamy. The tale is juxtaposed against a modern-day story, following a young Mormon man who was cast out of the church and is trying to re-enter to solve his father's murder.
In this work of historical fiction, Ebershoff takes a critical look at polygamy through his side-by-side narratives.
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Tartt's debut novel tells the story of six classics students at a fictional Vermont college and was a sensation when it was released in 1992. It's narrated by Richard Papen, one of the students, who recounts the story of a murder that happened among them.
The story takes a classic whodunnit premise and situates it in an coming-of-age story as well as the intellectual world of classic literature.
"Forceful, cerebral and impeccably controlled, 'The Secret History' achieves just what Ms. Tartt seems to have set out to do: It marches with cool, classical inevitability toward its terrible conclusion," Michiko Kakutani wrote in The New York Times in her review of the novel.
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Jesse Aarons wants to be the fastest runner in his rural Virginia elementary school and almost realizes his dream until a new girl shows up and outruns everyone. This leads to an unlikely friendship between Jesse and the girl, Leslie, who together invent a magic wooded kingdom they call Terabithia.
The book is loosely based on events from Patterson's own childhood, which she spent in the greater DC area.
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The small town of Forks, Washington, became famous as the setting for Meyer's best-selling vampire book series.
Bella Swan moves from her mom's house to live with her dad in Forks where she meets Edward Cullen, a quiet, handsome young man at her new high school. Edward usually keeps to himself, but he is drawn to Bella and can't seem to stay away from her — for a shocking reason.
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In this story of espionage, conspiracies, and buried American secrets, "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown has done it again.
Brown's beloved character Robert Langdon returns, this time chasing down his mentor's kidnapper in DC while trying to decode five puzzling symbols linked to the Free Masons.
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In Friendly, a young boy finds a puppy he names Shiloh in the hills behind his home. But Shiloh belongs to Judd, a scary town-drunk who beats the dog.
Now the boy, who's made a friend in Shiloh, will do anything to save him.
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The classic characters Laura, Mary, and their family struggle to make a home for themselves in Ingalls Wilder's beloved "Little House" children's book series.
Based in part on Ingalls Wilder's own journey around the Midwest, young Laura and Mary, along with their parents and baby sister Carrie, learn to survive the long winter, fend for themselves, and take care of each other in this true-to-life work.
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Kaufman wrote "The Laramie Project" as a play to recount the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who became the victim of an extreme hate crime in a quiet Wyoming town.
Shepard is remembered and honored from the perspective of family and friends as Kaufman takes a lens to the stubborn intolerance in society.
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In the years leading up to the election, young people flocked from urban areas to rural counties at record rates — but they didn't necessarily bring their big-city politics with them.
In fact, nine of the top 10 counties to which Americans aged 25 to 44 moved between 2020 and 2023 voted for Trump this year. All of those top counties happen to be classified as rural or have under 250,000 residents.
This is based on a Business Insider analysis of 2020 and 2024 election results as reported by The New York Times, and a September report on migration patterns among younger Americans by University of Virginia demographer Hamilton Lombard.
Even Hays County, Texas — the only county in that group that voted Democratic in both 2020 and 2024 — got more red, as seen in the table below. The colored swing column in the table shows the percentage point change in vote share for Trump between 2020 and 2024. The blue squares mean fewer of that county's votes went to Trump in 2024; however, the majority still went Republican in both elections, as seen in the last two columns. Counties in red swung even more toward Trump in 2024 than in 2020.
Rural areas moved right, and big cities like New York got substantially redder between 2020 and 2024, said economist Jed Kolko. He said some of the shift in already-conservative areas might be because movers wanted to go somewhere that aligned with their politics. City dwellers also may have gotten more conservative.
"The people who leave big blue cities probably don't have the same politics — or don't have exactly the same politics — as people who stay," Kolko said. "And wanting to move to a community where people have similar views could be on the list of reasons why someone moves."
Millennials and Gen Zers — both represented in that 25 to 44 group — have swung more to the right. Vice President Kamala Harris' margins among those groups shrunk in 2024 from President Joe Biden's lead in 2020, exit polling from CNN as of November 6, the most recent data available, showed.
While turnout of voters aged 18 to 29 rose in 2020, it fell again in 2024. Those who did vote went more conservative. In 2024, 46% of young voters voted for Trump, compared to 36% in 2020, an analysis from the nonpartisan Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement found.
To be sure, early exit poll data has a wide margin of error. As more votes are counted in the coming days and months, more precise data on the shape of the 2024 electorate will be released.
Data also shows that while age may not be as determinative of political affiliation as it once was, where people migrated from might be a bit more instructive, per the bipartisan public policy organization the Economic Innovation Group. Red areas with migration influxes from blue counties saw, in some cases, smaller swings towards Trump, and in at least one such county Trump lost vote share.
Some of those voting swings might be chalked up to increasing political polarization along educational lines.
"There's been a trend over many elections that places where more people have a college degree vote more democratic," Kolko said. "That trend was even stronger in 2024 than it was in previous years."
Did you move to a rural area, or somewhere that aligns better with your politics? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
