JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1131

D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder, is turning to Prophetic’s AI to accelerate land acquisition and development amid a housing shortfall. Chronic underbuilding has left an estimated 4 million home deficit and driven prices more than 50% above pre-pandemic levels, while builders struggle with high costs and complex entitlements. Prophetic’s platform pulls zoning manuals from every city and county in a state, operating in 25 states and aiming for all 50 by June, cutting parcel analysis from hours to 30 seconds by surfacing source-cited rules on lot size, density and setbacks.

Rob Gronkowski signed a one-day contract with the New England Patriots to retire with the franchise, fulfilling the dying wish of his friend and charity partner Susan Hurley, who died earlier this month from cancer. Nearly four years after his last NFL appearance, the 36-year-old tight end returns to the team where he won three Super Bowls with Tom Brady during an eight-year run, before adding a fourth in Florida with the Buccaneers. The Patriots plan to induct him into their hall of fame in 2026.

The Bengals acquired Joe Flacco earlier this year to cover for Joe Burrow, but Burrow’s return to practice this week and his target of a Thanksgiving comeback signal Flacco’s stint may be winding down. Asked Wednesday, Flacco said he’s locked on the present: “I really don’t care. It’s this week and that’s all that matters.” Cincinnati faces two games before a Thanksgiving date with the Ravens; a win over the Steelers now would bolster hopes for an AFC North push, regardless of who runs the offense later.

Erik Bottcher, a Democratic city councilman from downtown Manhattan, entered the race to succeed Representative Jerrold Nadler in New York’s 12th District, joining a crowded primary that includes Jack Schlossberg, Micah Lasher, Alex Bores and others. Framing his bid through his L.G.B.T.Q. activism and personal mental health story, Bottcher highlighted confrontations with right-wing extremists and his record on expanding shelter mental health services and backing affordable housing projects. He supports mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani but differs on Israel and housing priorities, and he argued grassroots work outweighs celebrity in the contest.

More than 1.4 million federal workers could start seeing paychecks as soon as this weekend, after a 43-day shutdown ended with House passage of a funding package that President Trump signed. An OMB schedule, first reported by Semafor and confirmed to CBS News, aims to clear back pay by Nov. 19. Most agencies will first issue base pay for Oct. 1–Nov. 1, with overtime and later days to follow. Initial payments roll out Nov. 15–19 across departments including Defense, VA, HHS, EPA and NASA. The deal funds most operations only through Jan. 30, raising the prospect of another shutdown fight.

President Trump signed a bill ending the longest U.S. government shutdown, reopening agencies after 43 days. Federal workers are returning Thursday, with back pay guaranteed but deposits varying by agency; travel disruptions may linger. Longer fallout looms, from national parks’ lost revenue to IRS refund delays, and funding only runs through Jan. 30. The measure reverses staffing cuts and blocks layoffs through January. SNAP is funded through September 2026, restarting amid uneven state payments after a Supreme Court pause. Smithsonian museums will reopen gradually, with three opening Friday and the rest by Monday.

Ford's F-150 Lightning, once seen as a hit, has stalled after Congress and President Trump eliminated federal tax credits for electric-vehicle purchases at the end of September, triggering a sharp sales drop for costly models. Ford has halted production of the $55,000-to-$85,000 truck and won't say if or when it will resume. The setback mirrors a broader shift away from luxury EVs like the Tesla Model S, GMC Hummer and Porsche Taycan, as buyers gravitate to lower-priced options such as the Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Amazon dropped the GMKtec G10 mini PC to $218 from $299, an all time low for a Windows 11 Pro machine smaller than a hardcover book. The Mac Mini style box uses a Ryzen 5 3500U with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, delivering about 35 percent better performance than Intel N series chips like the N150 or N97. It can drive three 4K displays via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB C, expands storage to 16TB, and adds 2.5GbE, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB C Power Delivery for packable portability.

Apple unveiled the iPhone Pocket, a knitted strap created with Issey Miyake, pitched as an 'additional pocket' for any iPhone and everyday items. Launching Friday in multiple colors, it costs $149.95 for the short version and $229.95 for the long. The price drew ridicule online—comparisons to a sock and Borat’s mankini abounded—while one analyst pointed to a wearable trend. MG Siegler called it 'an insanely expensive sock,' noting Miyake was among Steve Jobs’ favorite designers and casting it as a colorful accessory alongside Apple’s $59 iPhone Crossbody Strap.

Notre Dame junior Hannah Hidalgo delivered a historic night in an 85-58 win over Akron, pouring in a program-record 44 points and setting an NCAA single-game steals mark with 16. She added nine rebounds, four assists, and shot 16-of-25 in just 28 minutes. Emphasizing defense, Hidalgo credited her teammates: “Defense wins championships.” The women’s steals record had been 14; the men’s, 13. Notre Dame’s previous scoring high was 41 by Ruth Riley and Jewell Loyd. Afterward, teammates celebrated, with Cass Prosper dousing the two-time All-America first-teamer in the locker room.