JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1128

The longest US government shutdown ended Wednesday, bringing overdue relief to air traffic controllers who went more than a month unpaid and received two $0 checks since October. Back pay starts Saturday. The shutdown reignited a pay debate after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said new hires start at $180,000 and can make $400,000 — claims the union and controllers called unfounded, noting most begin in the mid five figures. FAA tables show new controllers typically earn $55,000 to $68,000, with base pay topping out at $225,700 at the busiest facilities, before overtime and incentives.

Two days after sitting the fourth, Josh Hart played it wire to wire and powered the Knicks’ 140-132 win over the Heat at Madison Square Garden with a 12-12-10 triple-double, his 16th, tying Richie Guerin for third-most in franchise history. With Jalen Brunson sidelined by a sprained ankle, Hart steadied the ballhandling as Mike Brown praised his hustle on 50/50 balls and leaned on an improvised zone. Miles McBride started, Tyler Kolek did not play, and reserves Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson each topped 20 points.

After President Trump demanded a Justice Department inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats, Attorney General Pam Bondi tapped Jay Clayton, a Trump ally who leads the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, to oversee the politically charged review. Clayton, a former S.E.C. chair with a quiet tenure, faces internal skepticism, potential conflicts and questions about independence. Veterans warn of resignations if prosecutors are steered toward targets, even as newly released Epstein emails, though embarrassing, showed no evidence of crimes. The choices Clayton makes now could redefine an office long prized for keeping Washington at arm’s length.

Amid fears of civil unrest and political rhetoric, more liberals, people of color, and LGBTQ Americans are buying guns, according to interviews with clubs, trainers, and advocates. The Liberal Gun Club says membership rose from 2,700 to 4,500, with training requests up fivefold; Pink Pistols and traditional gun-rights groups also report surging interest. Google searches for how to buy a gun spiked around the 2024 election and early enforcement actions. New owners, like Charles, a Black Maryland doctor, cite self-protection only. The White House dismissed the reporting, blamed Democrats for violence, and took aim at NPR.

Investors who cheered this year’s AI-fueled market highs are growing uneasy. A sharp Nasdaq slide led by Nvidia and CoreWeave revived comparisons to the dot com era, as gains concentrate in a handful of tech giants now making up a record share of the S&P 500. Some warn of overreliance on lofty growth bets, even as Goldman Sachs notes valuations are far from 1990s extremes and Jerome Powell says today’s leaders have real earnings. The bigger question lingers: can massive AI spending deliver lasting productivity gains?

The U.S. Commerce Department’s antidumping review of Italian pasta has triggered a proposed 92% duty on selected makers, atop a 15% Trump-era tariff, for a combined 107%. The probe, sparked by complaints from U.S. brands, targets La Molisana and Garofalo, which officials say impeded analysis, extending duties to 11 others. Italy’s government and EU officials call the move unacceptable, and producers warn sales to their second-biggest market could collapse. The measure could be retroactive through June 2024, though only 16% of imports may be hit. Shopkeepers fear soaring prices for a pantry staple; a decision is due Jan. 2.

At The Annika, high school senior Kai Trump rebounded from an opening 83 with a 75, but still finished last in the 108-player field, six strokes behind the nearest competitor. She said she felt calm and peaceful after nerves rattled her on day one. In Friday’s breezy round at Pelican Golf Club, she carded four birdies, four bogeys, a double and a triple; Thursday brought nine bogeys and two doubles. A University of Miami recruit playing on a sponsor exemption, she is President Donald Trump’s granddaughter. Linn Grant and Grace Kim were tied for the lead at 9 under.

In Surry County, Virginia, 19-year-old Cameran Drew won a seat on the county Board of Supervisors by eight votes, defeating his civics teacher and mentor, Kenneth Bell. Bell had held the post on an interim basis since summer after the former supervisor resigned. The respectful race saw Bell even defend Drew against concerns about his age, calling him invested and brave. Unofficial results show Drew 345 to 337, a 1.2% margin. Bell conceded warmly, telling Drew he was proud and loved him, while Drew praised his mentor’s graciousness.

Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, made public by the House Oversight Committee, reveal Epstein’s recurring focus on Donald Trump, shifting from gossip to blistering assessments during and after Trump’s rise to the presidency. In messages from 2017 to 2019, Epstein called Trump “evil beyond belief” and “dangerous,” while noting their fractured friendship. The White House said the emails prove “absolutely nothing” and pointed to Trump expelling Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, a claim echoed in the messages. Trump urged investigations into others’ ties to Epstein. The House plans to vote on broader file releases next week.

Orchard Park felt the sting: the Bills will be without tight end Dalton Kincaid against the Buccaneers, coach Sean McDermott said Friday, after a right hamstring injury in the third quarter of the Week 10 loss to Miami. McDermott said filling the void will take everyone, with Josh Allen, Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes expected to step up. There’s optimism receiver Khalil Shakir will play after limited work while managing ankle and rib injuries; he wore a normal practice jersey Friday. Kincaid has 29 catches, 448 yards and a team-high four touchdowns.