BUSINESS

NEWS

Land and Lot Supply Healthiest in Years as Market Sees Mixed Growth Trends Across Major Metropolitan Areas
By
Deputy Editor, Investing and Corporate News
The New Home Lot Supply Index (LSI – single-family vacant developed lots reflecting rate absorption via housing starts) for 4Q24
A Global Shift: Why Under-45s Are Driving the Future of Investing
By
Business Editor
In recent years, young people have become increasingly interested in investing worldwide. However, whether they have access to the right
Law Firm Takes on Extortion and Blackmail Scam Epidemic
By
Newsroom Editor
It is an insidious problem – and it comes from people’s own computers and phones. It lives in their office

CLIMATE

CHANGE

New Conservation Strategy Launched to Protect Monarch Butterflies as Federal Listing Looms
By
Environmental Reporter
Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the monarch butterfly be afforded new protections under the Endangered Species
U.S. Department of Defense Deploys 500 Troops and Aircraft to Combat California Wildfires
By
Associate Writer
The Defense Department now has 500 active-duty troops and a variety of equipment on standby to assist with the wildfires
4 mins
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. © Library of Congress
The Ritz Herald
Able Americans calls upon HHS Secretary RFK Jr. to empower and protect the 100 million Americans affected by disabilities

As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., promises to disrupt the U.S. healthcare system as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), spokespeople with the National Center for Public Policy Research and its Able Americans program urge Kennedy to remember vulnerable populations and people with disabilities as he does so.

Those with the National Center agree that U.S. health care system sorely needs transparency and that some disruption is likely necessary in order to provide better care in the long run. However, 100 million people with disabilities and their caregivers are particularly dependent upon consistent access to health care, and must contend daily with the challenges of insurance coverage, drug prices and navigating a complex system.

Able Americans stands ready to assist Secretary Kennedy with his reforms by providing research from Project Access and policy reform ideas as outlined in its “Able to Succeed” blueprint publication.

“America’s current social safety net, administered largely through HHS, has not adequately helped people with disabilities rise. Today, more than 25 percent of individuals with disabilities in America live in poverty — more than twice the rate of individuals without disabilities,” said Able Americans Director Rachel Barkley….

Offshore Broker is at an inflection point within the world of global finance. It is inviting all interested parties to shield their assets through offshore trusts, companies,
If your spidey senses are tingling, it’s probably because major changes are afoot for several of the world’s favorite on-screen heroes. From Captain America to Batman; from
Developing your sense of style as you age is one of the best ways to look spry and youthful, even in your later years. According to Spanish
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a transformative, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) method that allows researchers to examine gene expression at the individual cell level. By revealing the complexity

PUBLIC

INTEREST

Pentagon Prioritizes Homeland Defense, Warfighting, Slashing Wasteful Spending
The Ritz Herald

During a media interview on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said efforts at the Defense Department include modernizing the nuclear triad and building an iron dome for the U.S., referring to the iron dome that defends Israel against aerial threats.

These and other homeland priorities will be reflected in the…

Joint Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) – Federal Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO) Foundation Statement in Support of Protecting our Children From Fatal Fentanyl Overdoses
The Ritz Herald

On February 1, 2025, President Trump issued executive orders that imposed an increase in tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. According to the White House Fact Sheet released that same day, “The extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, constitutes a national emergency under the…

CULTURE

NEWS

Guadalupe Lobeto: Five Essential Qualities for Thriving in Arts and Culture
By
Culture Editor
Certain qualities are necessary to thrive in a field. The vibrancy of the arts and culture sector necessitates the qualities
Three Weeks in Costa Rica: A Cultural Immersion Trip for Students Provided by Argo Navis School
By
Newsdesk Staff
Costa Rica is a destination that seamlessly blends education, adventure, and cultural immersion, making it an ideal setting for student

RH

FINANCIAL

THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES
Ryan Offman 12, Feb 9 mins
9 mins
The Ritz Herald
© U.S. Department of the Treasury
United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom jointly sanction key infrastructure that enables ransomware attacks

On Tuesday, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are jointly designating Zservers, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting (BPH) services provider, for its role in supporting LockBit ransomware attacks. LockBit, a Russia-based ransomware group best known for its ransomware variant of the same name, is one of the most deployed ransomware variants and was responsible for the November 2023 attack against the Industrial Commercial Bank of China U.S. broker-dealer. BPH service providers sell access to specialized servers and other computer infrastructure designed to evade detection and defy law enforcement attempts to disrupt these malicious activities. OFAC is also designating two Russian nationals who are key administrators of Zservers and have enabled ransomware attacks and other criminal activity.

“Ransomware actors and other cybercriminals rely on third-party network service providers like Zservers to enable their attacks on U.S. and international critical infrastructure,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “Today’s trilateral action with Australia and the United Kingdom underscores our collective resolve to disrupt all aspects of this criminal ecosystem, wherever located, to protect our national security.”

This action builds on last year’s trilateral cyber sanctions with Australia and the United Kingdom against Russian ransomware actor Alexander Ermakov and members of the Evil Corp ransomware group. It also reflects a shared commitment to combatting cybercrime and degrading the support networks that enable bad actors to target victims in the United States and in allied countries. This action was developed with the support of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Zservers: a Russian Bulletproof Hosting…

CURRENT EDITION

3 mins
The Ritz Herald
A monarch butterfly at Buckley Space Force Base, Aug. 29, 2024. © Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Hollis
Defense Department unveils conservation strategy to support monarch butterfly protections while ensuring military readiness
By / Environmental Reporter

Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the monarch butterfly be afforded new protections under the Endangered Species Act.

The Defense Department, with nearly 27 million acres of land, air and water resources, already plays a role in providing protections for the monarch butterfly. However, the new “Conservation Strategy for the Monarch Butterfly” details what its role will be if the monarch butterfly becomes federally listed as a threatened species under the ESA.

In preparation for the monarch’s potential listing, the department has been collaborating with USFWS to develop a conservation strategy that allows DOD to contribute to the monarch’s conservation. That same collaborative effort also ensures that the department will still be able to perform its mission and maintain military readiness.

The strategy’s key tenets are to enable DOD to meet its mission with flexibility and certainty while participating in the conservation of the monarch butterfly.

The strategy promotes the continued implementation of existing conservation programs to benefit the monarch butterfly on the over 1.7 million acres of grasslands that the department manages by providing nectar and milkweed resources and protecting 53 sites for overwintering monarchs. These efforts allow for realistic military training, testing and operations on natural landscapes that are critical for maintaining mission readiness.

“Mission readiness is predicated on having sufficient access to open lands and ranges to enable our troops to train and test. To achieve this, the actively conducts natural resources management that provides conservation benefits to millions of acres that it oversees,” said Ron Tickle, the deputy assistant secretary…

By Michelle Kellett Published on Feb 12
2 mins
The Ritz Herald
© Curtis Adams
U.S. Lot Supply Index up for the second consecutive quarter

The New Home Lot Supply Index (LSI – single-family vacant developed lots reflecting rate absorption via housing starts) for 4Q24 loosened quarter-over-quarter for the second quarter, while lot supply tightened year-over-year.

“Land and lot supply is at the healthiest levels we’ve seen in years,” said Ali Wolf, chief economist with Zonda. “Between 2021 and 2022, builders expressed concerns about a potential shortage of buildable lots due to rapid demand growth. However, lot supply surged in late 2022 and early 2023 as consumer demand softened while lot development continued. Currently, the market is characterized by steady growth in both lot supply and new housing starts.”

  • The LSI came in at 60.8 for 4Q24, representing a 1.7% decrease from 4Q23. The 4Q24 data shows a “significantly undersupplied” market nationally, which has been the case since 2017.
  • On a quarter-over-quarter basis, supply increased by 5.4% from 3Q24.

Lot supply tightened year-over-year in most major metropolitan areas in 4Q24, with 17 of 30 decreasing, down from 22 last quarter.

  • The markets where land supply loosened the most on a year-over-year basis were led by Orlando, San Francisco, and Nashville. In these markets, 4Q starts were mixed compared to this time last year- up 7% in Orlando and up 5% San Francisco, while down 2% in Nashville.
  • Three markets are considered appropriately supplied – Austin, Atlanta, and Dallas, while San Antonio is still slightly undersupplied….

CURRENT EDITION

A Global Shift: Why Under-45s Are Driving the Future of Investing
In recent years, young people have become increasingly interested in
Law Firm Takes on Extortion and Blackmail Scam Epidemic
It is an insidious problem – and it comes from
Offshore Broker Transforms Wealth Management for a Global Audience
Offshore Broker is at an inflection point within the world
Middle-Class Financial Resilience Shows Promising Signs Despite Ongoing Challenges
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) has released its
  • Loading stock data...
Urban sprawl is not just unsightly. It could also be impeding intergenerational mobility for low-income residents and reinforcing racial inequality, according to a series of recent studies
When you hail from the Motor City with a grandmother who sang the blues, and a cousin who was one of the original Motown Temptations, music just
During a media interview on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said morale is high among U.S. troops currently assisting with enforcement operations at the southern border because
The following statement was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society upon the passage of the bipartisan U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act and the WILD Act.

EDITOR'S

CHOICE

Two New Studies Provide Broadest Evidence to Date of Unequal Impacts of Abortion Bans

Geiger / RH
In two new papers, researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and colleagues estimate that abortion bans in 14 states resulted in 22,180 additional live births and 478

WEATHER

TODAY

RH

NEWSROOM