• About seven years ago, I moved from one of the cloudiest US cities to one of the sunniest — Reno.
• Instead of only spending half of my year in the sun, I spend around 70% of it basking in sunshine.
• I miss living near family, but the pleasant year-round outdoor lifestyle I have now is hard to beat.

In 2018, I moved from Youngstown, Ohio — one of the cloudiest cities in the US — to Reno, Nevada — one of the sunniest.

Whereas my hometown of Youngstown averages about 200 days of cloudy skies each year, Reno averages over 250 days of sunshine.

Moving across the country for graduate school was an exciting new start, and I couldn't wait to leave Ohio's dark, gray skies behind.

At the time, I was still a bit hesitant to leave my friends and family in the Midwest, but I hoped moving to a sunny climate would be a major lifestyle boost.

It was. Although I miss some parts of living in Ohio, I'm still based in Reno seven years later.

The sun is almost always shining in Reno — and the city still experiences all 4 seasons

Reno is regularly ranked among the top sunniest cities in the United States. The city, located in a high desert valley, typically sees sunny skies for the majority of the year.

During my first few months in Reno, I was shocked by how consistently I experienced sunshine and clear skies. The sky shined a vibrant shade of blue nearly every day — I had never seen such predictable weather in Northeast Ohio.

The weather also had a positive effect on my mood. I always dreaded Ohio's gloomiest days, and Reno's sunshine made me feel more cheerful and motivated.

Plus, I like that the city still experiences changing seasons — mild temperatures in spring and fall, heat in the summer, and even the occasional snowfall in winter.

I mostly enjoyed the changing seasons in Ohio, especially the state's stunning fall foliage. Winters, though, could be especially harsh with overcast skies and frigid temperatures.

In Reno, I can experience all four seasons while still enjoying the near-constant sunshine. A bit of sun definitely makes chilly winter days more pleasant.

I love the city's outdoor access — and the active lifestyle is hard to beat

After moving from Youngstown to Reno, I couldn't help but notice the lifestyle differences between a cloudy and sunny city.

With excellent weather and spectacular scenery, Reno's culture seems to revolve around outdoor activities.

Nearly every person I met here seemed to enjoy a variety of active hobbies, whether skiing, cycling, backpacking, or rock climbing. The sunshine just helps foster an active lifestyle.

Back in Ohio, I had trouble finding motivation to get outside on those dreary, cloudy days. In Reno, I relish the opportunity to explore the outdoors.

I've taken up road cycling and take any chance I can find to pedal through the valley and nearby Sierra Nevada mountains.

Plus, Reno's easy access to Lake Tahoe has put even more outdoor adventures at my fingertips when I want to go hiking, kayaking, or scuba diving.

I miss living near family, but I can't imagine living in a cloudy city again

After living in Nevada for years, the state feels like home. I love walking my dog on sunny hiking trails (even in winter!) and knowing I can expect relatively pleasant weather year-round.

That being said, I don't love everything about living here. The weather can be exceptionally windy at times, and summers come with a risk of smoke from nearby wildfires.

I miss living close to family, and the distance has been harder to handle since becoming an aunt to my adorable niece and nephews back east.

Even still, I can't imagine moving back. The outdoor lifestyle in Reno is unlike anything I experienced in the Midwest, and the sunshine keeps me feeling happy and motivated.

Although the future is uncertain, I know one thing for sure: I'd never choose to live in such a cloudy place again, and I'm happy to call sunny Reno my home.

• President Donald Trump compared the US to a department store that everyone wants "a piece" of.
• In Oval Office remarks on Thursday, he said trade deals could be concluded in a matter of weeks.
• He said there would be a "little bit of transition" before tariffs are successful.

President Donald Trump compared the US to a "big beautiful department store, before that business was destroyed by the internet."

In Oval Office remarks on Thursday, he said that he felt each country wants "a piece of that store."

"China wants it, Japan wants it, Mexico, Canada — they live off it, those two, without us, they wouldn't have a country," he added.

Trump was responding to questions from reporters about US trade deals with other countries.

Asked how much time he thought the US needed to make deals, Trump said, "I would think over the next 3 to 4 weeks."

"I think maybe the whole thing could be concluded" by then, he said.

But Trump said that, at a certain point, if a deal isn't made, a tariff will just be set and the country or the market may find the tariff rate too high.

"They'll come back and say, 'Well, we think this is too high, and we'll negotiate,' or they're going to say something else, they're going to say, 'Let's see what happens,'" Trump said.

Trump's recent tariff announcements have roiled global markets and affected relationships between the US and other countries worldwide.

Trump said any country has the right to decide not to shop in the "store of America" in order to avoid the tariffs, but that "we have something that nobody else has, and that's the American consumer."

In his remarks on Thursday, Trump also said that he may not raise tariffs on China if it goes beyond the 125% duty it currently has on American goods.

"At a certain point, I don't want them to go higher because at a certain point, you make it where people don't buy," he said.

The SAVE Act would require every American to provide a passport or birth certificate in person to register to vote and every time they update their registration. That would be a huge obstacle for millions of citizens.

Mom Taylor Mosley told Newsweek: "I always wanted to instill confidence in my kids and let them know that anything is possible as long as you have confidence."

Trump signals possible pause on new China tariffs; says TikTok deal may be delayed until broader trade talks see progress. Follow Newsweek's live updates.

• Melinda French Gates feared her family's vast wealth would result in entitled children.
• The billionaire philanthropist sent them to local schools, and they all took part in community work.
• Bill Gates' ex-wife used an allowance and chores to keep them grounded, she told a podcast.

Melinda French Gates knew her three children were at high risk of being detached from reality, so she says she took pains to keep them grounded.

With Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates as their father, Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe Gates were surrounded by a "crazy amount of wealth" and lived in an "extraordinarily large house," French Gates told NPR's "Fresh Air" podcast this week.

The philanthropist is worth $14.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. She said she reflected on her own childhood, and the tenets her middle-class parents instilled in her, to figure out how to stave off entitlement and elitism in her kids.

"I wanted them to have deep values. And I wanted them to know they were lucky," French Gates said in the interview, part of the publicity tour for her new book: "The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward."

French Gates, who divorced Gates in 2021 and stepped down as cochair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation last year, said she enrolled her children in local schools instead of homeschooling them. She wanted her family to be part of the community, and believed it would benefit her children, she said.

Her kids did take some "knocks" as she moved them between numerous schools in search of the "right school for the right kid," she said.

French Gates, who launched The Giving Pledge with Gates and Warren Buffett, made sure to expose her kids to the outside world whether they were overseas or at home.

"We went out and saw what life was like for other kids," she said. "And even in the Seattle community, we would go out and work with the homeless, work in a community shelter, be on the lines where they're feeding people."

Those experiences opened their eyes to how lucky they were and made them think about their role in society, French Gates said. She added that her younger daughter, Phoebe, worked in Rwanda for several summers in middle and high school and lived with a local family there.

French Gates said that seeing the world gave her kids perspective about the harsh realities of life and the fact that Seattle was just a "tiny speck on the map."

"And so I tried to ground them in that, ground them with chores, ground them with an allowance," she said, adding that she made sure the hired help had good values too.

French Gates also discussed why she values community work on the "On With Kara Swisher" podcast this week. She said that helping the homeless, mentoring or helping kids with their homework, and serving food to the less fortunate teaches valuable lessons and makes people feel better for helping out.

The lives of Black women—especially Black mothers—are not expendable. Black women are not a political talking point. Our existence is the very foundation of our families, our communities, and our future.

American students would be better off if the states handled education—and my home state, Louisiana, provides a perfect example.

DOGE has become embroiled in a number of legal battles over access to federal government data.

The U.S. has accused China of enabling attacks by Iran-backed Houthis it is fighting in Yemen

A powerful weather system has been moving across the country, bringing an elevated threat of severe storms to Nebraska and Iowa.

This is about control—an attempt to control our history, and with it, the future of American democracy.

"I was told they made a mistake, but I think it's a horrible thing," President Donald Trump said on Sunday.

New Images from the European Space Agency have captured the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Aden.

• I always wanted to be a journalist even though I knew it was a tough industry.
• I landed a full-time job right after graduating from college.
• Having work experience and realistic expectations helped.

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a print journalist. In high school, a few teachers tried to steer me in a different direction because getting a job in the media was so difficult even then, but I was determined to make it happen.

I studied for a double degree in journalism and business management and graduated in 2007. Despite the naysayers, I immediately landed a full-time cadetship job at a newspaper. I believe three things got me over the line.

I did as much work experience as possible

When I wasn't at university, I did as much work experience as I could. While my friends were busy enjoying their time off school by going to the beach or the movies, I was cutting my teeth in a newsroom. My degree required a minimum of one internship, but I wanted to do extras.

I often found it super intimidating and felt out of my depth, but I gained real-world experience that proved to be invaluable. Doing work experience meant that by the time I graduated and was out there looking for a job, I already had my byline published in multiple publications and a portfolio of work to show prospective employers.

In my one and only job interview, the chief of staff wasn't interested in my university grades. In fact, I don't think he even asked about them. He wanted to see examples of my published work. The work experience I'd done definitely paid off.

I persevered

Where I lived on the Gold Coast in Australia, there was only one daily newspaper, the Gold Coast Bulletin, and I was desperate to work for them.

Back then, there was a scholarship program that high school seniors could apply for. It was a four-year program alternating work and study, with a guaranteed position as a newspaper journalist upon completion. Successful candidates could study for their Bachelor of Journalism at Bond University and work as a paid cadet journalist at the Gold Coast Bulletin on a semester-on, semester-off basis. I applied, but I missed out.

Even though I was extremely disappointed, I didn't let it discourage me. They say that there are many pathways to the same destination, and it's so true. I went to university for four years, then reapplied for a job with the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2007.

When I called and asked the chief of staff if they had any work available, he said they didn't. I dropped off my résumé and portfolio anyway with reception. Later that afternoon, he called me back and said to come for an interview.

The chief of staff gave me a chance and offered me a position on the copy desk, which basically involved answering phones and writing about kids' sporting achievements. It opened a door, and I was grateful that my perseverance paid off.

I was realistic about having to work my way up

Though the copy desk wasn't exactly where I wanted to be, the newsroom was, and I knew that I had to start somewhere.

I'd also conceded that if I didn't land a job at the Gold Coast, I was willing to move elsewhere to get started in a career in journalism. I think that being flexible and having realistic expectations about working your way up to where you want to be is really important as a graduate.

I ended up working at the Gold Coast Bulletin for three years, then traveling and working odd jobs while overseas. I returned to a newsroom as a print journalist in Melbourne in 2014, and then in 2015, I started my own copywriting business. Nowadays, I work from home and write freelance parenting, travel, and lifestyle articles for a range of publications. I still love my work.

I always tell my kids to reach for the stars and follow their dreams, even if they seem difficult to achieve. I did, and I never looked back.

An E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce affected 89 people and killed one, but the FDA did not warn the public or name the source.

Pyongyang described the move as a "reckless and unnecessary abuse of strength."

• NATO has ramped up its presence in the Baltic Sea, sensing a threat from Russia.
• Countries that border the strategic waters are also ordering more vessels.
• The sea is important both to Russia and to NATO.

NATO countries that share a strategically important sea with Russia have boosted their presence there and are buying more warships, as they eye Russia warily.

Denmark, which sits at the mouth of the Baltic Sea, announced plans to buy dozens more ships amid rising threats in the Baltic and the Arctic.

The Baltic Sea is a major trade and telecomms route that has seen increased patrols and alleged sabotages of undersea cables since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Many European officials say they believe Russia is behind the severing of cables.

Lithuania, which borders Russia and the sea, announced this month that it is buying two new attack boats. Poland is also building new frigates and is planning to buy submarines. Estonia, which has only eight ships and one of the world's smallest navies, aims to purchase up to 12 new vessels.

Sweden, which joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine, is also procuring four more surface vessels.

Much of Sweden's military was designed with a fight against Russia in mind, and it has even issued its citizens a booklet advising them about how to prepare for such a war.

Pål Jonson, Sweden's defense minister, told BI in February that Sweden is "in the process also of procuring four new surface vessels," saying they will "be significantly bigger" than its existing Visby class corvettes.

Bryan Clark, a naval operations expert at the Hudson Institute who served on the US Navy headquarters staff, said the vessels, combined with Sweden's submarines, would be "very useful for closing off the Baltic Sea if they wanted to, using the combination of the submarines and those surface combatants."

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration said last year that two of the ships were planned to be delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces in 2030.

The country's admission to NATO boosted the alliance's maritime presence, particularly in the Baltic Sea, which is flanked by countries including Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.

Russia's naval presence in the Baltic as of December 2023 included one attack submarine, five guided missile destroyers, one guided missile frigate, and 35 smaller ships, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

However, Russia moves its naval assets around, changing what is based in each port.

Many alliance members have started calling the Baltic the "NATO Sea," after Sweden and neighboring Finland joined NATO.

Sweden brings submarine capabilities that few other NATO members in the region have. Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Finland, and Lithuania have no submarines, while Poland has just one.

Sweden's submarines are also well suited for the Baltic Sea in particular, according to naval warfare experts.

Steven Horrell, a former US naval intelligence officer and now a warfare expert at the Center for European Policy Analysis, told BI that Sweden's small and quiet submarines are perfect for a sea with "smaller inlets, small islands, small shallow waters."

Jonson said Sweden could bring "unique capabilities" to NATO's operations in the Baltic Sea, underwater and on the surface.

Sweden also knows the sea well: Jonson described operating there as "something we've been doing for hundreds of years, and we like to think that we know the Baltic Sea inside out."

He said "a lot of things" were being done to protect critical infrastructure on the seabed, adding that Sweden was using its own navy and coast guard, but NATO had also stepped up its efforts.

Sweden is part of NATO's Baltic Sentry operation, which has put more ships and control vessels in the sea. But Jonson said more could be done.

Sweden's defense minister warned last year that, even though Russia's forces were "tied up" in Ukraine, "We cannot rule out a Russian attack on our country."

In addition to boosting defense spending, Sweden is giving Ukraine its biggest-ever support package this year, worth about $1.6 billion.

Jonson described that as a message to its allies: "We have to all step up and provide more assistance to Ukraine."

He called supporting Ukraine "the right thing to do and the smart thing to do because it's really also an investment into our own security because the stakes before us are enormous."

• Many consultants and accountants strive to be made a partner at one of the Big Four firms.
• BI asked executive recruiters and a former PwC partner for their tips for making it to the top rank.
• Their advice includes developing a commercial mindset, being a team player, and learning to navigate internal politics.

Making it to partner at one of the Big Four professional services firms — Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG — is the pinnacle of success for many consultants and accountants.

Partners are the firms' most senior employees. Those who hold equity in the business traditionally get a vote in strategic matters and a share of annual profits. That meant each of Deloitte's equity partners in the UK received the equivalent of $1.3 million last year.

Becoming a partner is notoriously difficult, and is only getting more competitive as structural shake-ups and slowing growth have reduced partner numbers and annual payouts.

Business Insider asked two recruiters who place partners at the Big Four firms and a former PwC partner who recently left the firm for the advice they'd give early-career employees who want the coveted role.

Networking

James O'Dowd, founder of the global executive recruiter Patrick Morgan, which specializes in senior partner hiring and industry analysis, told BI that two key traits were needed to become a Big Four partner: a "commercial nature" and an understanding of "the politics within the business."

"A lot of your success is about the support and encouragement you get from senior individuals and the individuals around you as much as it is your competence," he said.

You can be technically good, but unless you invest time building those internal networks, you won't progress as quickly, O'Dowd said.

Mohamed Kande, who made it all the way to become PwC's global chairman last year, wrote in a 2021 LinkedIn post that several executives in the firm helped him "learn the many areas of our business" and "helped me grow and provided me with tremendous opportunities to advance my career."

As a junior, you should start putting your hand up to do the tasks other people don't want to do, said O'Dowd. Over your career, that will build you a reputation as someone who can get stuff done, he added.

Paul Webster is a former EY employee who's now a managing partner at Page Executive, a senior talent recruitment firm. He said there was no doubt that networking was a necessary skill at the Big Four.

Webster, who has worked in the advisory world for the past 20 years, advised employees to start incorporating more networking and client events into their schedules, and "be good at schmoozing."

You should also draw on these social skills to be a team player, Webster added. Whereas other industries have more of a focus on individual performance, he said the Big Four don't want to see you trying to get ahead by stepping on someone else's toes.

"You're trying to help the team win so that the firm gets ahead. They particularly venerate collaboration and an extremely collegiate style."

Develop a commercial mindset

"Ultimately, a partner in a Big Four is a sales role," O'Dowd told BI. "Your sole focus is on winning and nurturing client relationships."

He said a Big Four career meant transitioning from doer to revenue generator to seller.

"As you progress through those levels, you're increasingly managing people and then eventually the onus is on not only managing but bringing in money," so developing those skills from an early point will help to set you apart, O'Dowd said.

Even if everyday tasks don't require commercial skills, he advised junior employees to get as much exposure as they can to the commercial side of projects by attending client-facing meetings and connecting with people who are known for doing it really well.

O'Dowd added that senior partners tend to frown on those who work from home, preferring people to demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary for commercial business, so going to the office is a good idea.

Webster said the focus on business skills has become even more pertinent over the past decade.

"Even when you're getting up to senior manager grade, they now start to expect you to have some level of a Rolodex or some contacts or some sort of ability to bring in business even before you get to partner," he said.

Climbing the ranks isn't the only option

Working your way up the ranks internally isn't the only way to a Big Four partnership.

Alan Paton joined PwC as an equity partner from Google. He worked in AI cloud capabilities in its financial services division before leaving the Big Four firm this year.

He told BI that joining the firm required more than a year of individual interviews, panel interviews, personality and academic references — and that was while being "fast-tracked."

Every hiring decision is based on the business case, so to become a partner from an external company, you have to have specific skills the firm is lacking, Paton told BI.

He added that the firms are desperate for high-quality people with cloud, AI, data, and tech skills, but anything else will not get you very far.

He added it was "pretty tough" to break into the Big Four from a smaller consulting firm if your work consists only of "generic consulting."

O'Dowd said Big Four employees should be thinking carefully about positioning themselves and their skill sets.

"Think strategically about your progression and the area you're filling versus who else is in the organisation," he said. "If I'm smart and I'm still developing my capability, I might position myself into an area where I know there's a gap."

In response to a request for comment, KPMG US's vice chair of talent and culture, Sandy Torchia, said the firm aimed to empower partners with three essential mindsets.

"These mindsets — referred to as 'owner, operator, steward' — are vital to the partnership's strength and provide our partners with meaningful connections to KPMG throughout their careers and beyond," she said.

We also recognize that career aspirations evolve. By fostering a multi-disciplinary firm with diverse career pathways, we not only better support our clients but also offer our professionals layered opportunities throughout their journey."

PwC, EY, and Deloitte did not respond to requests for comment.

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• In March 2024, I moved from New York City to Seattle.
• I expected to love it, but it had a lot of challenges.
• After a little over a year, I returned to New York and am much happier now.

In early 2024, I decided to leave my life in New York City and embark on a new adventure on the West Coast in Seattle.

After visiting my mom's cousin in western Washington as a teen and seeing the area that was depicted in my beloved "Twilight" franchise, I vowed I would live there one day — and I finally had the chance.

Plus, I had been in New York for about 10 months after moving from the UK and felt a lack of stability because I couldn't get a lease — I lacked a record of rental history in the US to qualify — and therefore was subletting. I needed a change.

I moved to Seattle expecting to love it but the reality was very different. A year later, I returned to New York City.

I loved my apartment with a water view, but the public transportation was lacking

I signed a six-month lease (which I later renewed for eight months) on an apartment in Kitsap County, which is about 15 miles outside Seattle by ferry.

My apartment was nothing short of incredible — it overlooked the Puget Sound, and I could often see sea lions and, if I was really lucky, orcas from my window.

I was situated a short walk from the Washington State Ferry terminal, with access to Seattle via a 30-minute $2 fast ferry ride or an hour's journey on the larger free ferry.

The time spent on the ferry was nothing I wasn't used to in New York, where it can easily take an hour to get from some parts of Queens to Brooklyn.

However, the major difference is that there were only eight larger ferries a day, often at odd times. The fast ferry was very small and often required waiting in line for upward of an hour at peak times if you wanted to snag a seat.

If I had a meeting in Seattle, I would need to account for an extra two hours, and if I ever wanted to go for dinner or a night out, I would have to catch the 10 p.m. ferry home or wait until after midnight — which did happen.

One evening, I met a friend visiting from out of town and, sure enough, missed the 10 p.m. ferry and had to wait for the 12:50 a.m. ferry, which got me home around 2 a.m.

While the ferries felt safe, I was still uneasy being out so late alone.

The public transportation was annoying but not my main issue with Seattle

I also thought that living in Washington would mean more exploring with long hikes and trips to the beach.

I had visions of myself frequently venturing to the Olympic National Park, but as I don't have a driver's license, this was nearly impossible without taking several buses on a journey that would take close to half a day to complete.

My mom's cousin still lived in the area, but despite having her and other distant family relatively nearby, I would rarely see them, and I found it difficult to make friends.

Before moving to the West Coast, several people warned me about how difficult it can be for newcomers to make friends — a phenomenon called the "Seattle freeze."

Oftentimes, I would smile and ask people about their day while grabbing a coffee or in a store. Most people were shocked that I even spoke to them and would ignore me.

I also tried Bumble BFF and joined Facebook Groups like Seattle's Girl Group, but nothing ever came from it. I would chat with people and arrange to meet up, but they either stopped responding or the unreliable ferry schedule made it unfeasible to meet up at a bar or club night — the type of outing a lot of people suggested.

I missed the hustle and bustle of NYC

Although it can be overwhelming at times, I really missed the hecticness and excitement of New York.

In Washington, there were times when I would go almost a week without leaving the house because I had no one to hang out with.

My small Kitsap County town was mainly made up of people in the military and retirees, and many venues closed by 8 p.m. And events I wanted to attend in Seattle sometimes didn't align with the ferry schedule.

On the other hand, when I lived in NYC, I would attend media events and hang out with friends at least three times a week.

The social aspect is what I missed the most.

So, in April, just over a year after first moving away, I headed back to New York City.

I don't regret my time in Seattle, but New York is home

The year I spent in Washington doesn't feel like wasted time. I learned a lot about myself and those around me.

It helped me realize that I was made for big city life, and I love being an honorary New Yorker. I truly feel alive in this city.