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☆ A person was taken to hospital after a gallon of ammonia was spilled in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A gallon of ammonia was spilled in the basement of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Illinois, local emergency services said. AdvertisementA person was taken to hospital in a "stable" condition after about a gallon of ammonia spilled in the basement of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in a city in the suburbs of Chicago, local emergency services said. Business Insider did not immediately receive a response to a request for comment from Gordon Ramsay Restaurants North America, sent outside regular US working hours. The Scottish TV chef originally opened most of his North American restaurants in partnerships with Caesar's Entertainment, but began opening some through Gordon Ramsay North America in 2019. AdvertisementSquatters have recently taken over one of Ramsay's restaurants in London and turned it into what they described as a community art café.

Persons: Gordon Ramsay, —, Phil Giannattasio, Giannattasio, Ramsay Organizations: Staff, Service, Disease Control, Business, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants North, DuPage County Health Department, Scottish, Caesar's Entertainment, Gordon Ramsay North America Locations: Illinois, Chicago, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants North America, DuPage County, Europe, North America, Asia, Chelsea, London, American, Naperville, Wellington, British

☆ The top 14 cities in the US people are fleeing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

1 for its negative net domestic migration rate per 1,000 people. Business Insider looked at negative net domestic migration estimates for US metropolitan statistical areas for the period of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Negative net domestic migration means they had more people fleeing these metropolitan statistical areas for another US location than people in the US moving in. Six of the 14 metros that had the biggest negative net domestic migration rates per 1,000 people were California metros. Below are the top cities people are fleeing based on net domestic migration rates per 1,000 people.

Persons: — Organizations: New Orleans, Service, Golden State, Business, metros, Fremont — Locations: California, Golden, New York City, Los Angeles, Long, Anaheim , California, Chicago, Naperville, Elgin , Illinois, Indiana, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Oakland, Anaheim, Orleans, Metairie , Louisiana

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — A Minnesota man charged in the stabbing death of a 15-year-old suburban Chicago girl more than half a century ago has died, authorities said. Barry Lee Whelpley, 79, was found unresponsive early Friday in his cell at the Will County Jail in Joliet. He was transported to a Joliet hospital where he was pronounced dead, Deputy Chief Dan Jungles of the Will County Sheriff’s Office said. Whelpley was arrested in 2021 and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault in the 1972 death of Julie Ann Hanson of Naperville. DNA evidence linked him to the case.

Persons: Barry Lee Whelpley, Dan, Whelpley, Julie Ann Hanson, Hanson Organizations: Arlington Heights Daily Herald, Naperville High School Locations: JOLIET, Ill, Minnesota, Chicago, Will, Joliet, Arlington Heights, Naperville

☆ The 10 US cities with the longest commute times
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, has the longest average commute time at 36.2 minutes one way. The New York City metro area ranked second, while four California cities were in the top eight. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that residents of East Stroudsburg, a city about 40 miles north of Allentown in Pennsylvania, have the longest commute times of any metro area. The average commute time in East Stroudsburg — sometimes considered the gateway to the Poconos — may be the longest since residents often work in larger metropolitan cities like New York City, Allentown, or Philadelphia. The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area similarly has commute times of nearly 33 minutes as it's near the Los Angeles area.

Persons: — Organizations: New, Service, U.S . Census Bureau, Jersey City, Apple, Cambridge Locations: Stroudsburg , Pennsylvania, New York City, California, East Stroudsburg , Pennsylvania, U.S, East Stroudsburg, Allentown, Pennsylvania, New York, Newark, Jersey, East Stroudsburg —, Philadelphia, Jersey City, York, Stockton, Central, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino - Ontario, Los Angeles, Yuba City, Washington, DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Chicago, Naperville, Elgin, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Boston, Houston, Great Falls , Montana, Lewiston , Idaho, Manhattan , Kansas, Casper , Wyoming

A truck lines up to be loaded with soybeans in a farm in the city of Primavera do Leste in the central Brazilian state of Mato Grosso January 29, 2013. The crop-heavy northern section of Brazil’s top soy and corn state Mato Grosso experienced the driest October-November period in at least a quarter century. October-November precipitation in North Mato Grosso BrazilMato Grosso grows about 27% of Brazil’s soybeans and accounts for almost 30% of the country’s soybean export program, the world’s largest. The delay in the 2020-21 soybean crop reduced Mato Grosso’s second corn yields since it pushed the sensitive development period back into a historically drier time frame. Mato Grosso accounts for two-thirds of all Brazilian corn shipments.

Persons: Mato, Brazil Mato, Karen Braun Organizations: Mato Grosso, Brazil’s, European, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Primavera, Mato, NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Money managers through Nov. 28 extended their K.C. wheat net short to near 50,000 futures and options contracts, their largest since May 2019 and among their biggest-ever shorts. Grain futures sank in the week ended Nov. 28, including a 3.2% decline in CBOT March corn and a 1.8% slide in March wheat . CBOT March wheat found contract lows on Nov. 27 but touched three-week highs by Friday, presumably motivated by short covering. Funds in that week cut their net long in CBOT soybean futures and options to 67,562 contracts from 81,587 a week earlier.

Persons: Dane Rhys, Corn, Karen Braun, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Deerfield , Ohio, U.S, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Brazil

NAPERVILLE, Illinois, Nov 28 (Reuters) - It is rare that U.S. corn supplies build in a marketing year while soybean supplies slip, but that is exactly what is happening in 2023-24, keeping soybean prices relatively elevated versus corn. The U.S. Department of Agriculture pegs total U.S. corn supplies in 2023-24 to rise 10% on the year, while soybean inventory is seen shrinking 3%. U.S. corn versus soybean supply: Year-on-yearThe 2007-08 rise in corn and fall in soybean supplies was policy-driven, and the only other recent, directionally similar year was 2003-04, when the U.S. soybean crop fell victim to rare, widespread pest issues as well as dry weather. USDA’s long-term projections issued earlier this month suggest just that, pegging 2024 U.S. corn acres at 91 million and soybeans at 87 million versus 83.6 million in 2023. Interestingly, USDA in the couple of years leading up to 2007-08 had also overestimated U.S. soybean acres in March and undershot corn.

Persons: Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Department, Agriculture, USDA, Crop Watch, Reuters, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE , Illinois, U.S, Chicago, North Dakota

☆ US Supreme Court is again asked to block Illinois assault weapons ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Andrew Chung | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man examines an AR-10 for sale at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Expo Center Gun Show, after the state of Illinois passed its "assault weapons" ban into law, in Belleville, Illinois, U.S., January 14, 2023. The National Association for Gun Rights, Robert Bevis and his firearms store, Law Weapons & Supply, made the request after a lower court denied their bid for a preliminary injunction against the ban, as well as a similar ban enacted by another Chicago suburb, Naperville. The plaintiffs also asked the Supreme Court for an injunction at an earlier stage of the case, but were rebuffed in May. The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of the Second Amendment, broadening gun rights in three landmark rulings since 2008. In 2022, the court recognized a constitutional right to carry a handgun in public for self defense, striking down a New York state law.

Persons: Kate Munsch, Robert Bevis, Democratic Illinois Governor J.B, Pritzker, Bevis, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: Belle, Clair Fairgrounds, REUTERS, Wednesday, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, National Association for Gun Rights, Weapons & Supply, Democratic Illinois Governor, AK, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Illinois, Belleville , Illinois, U.S, Highland Park, Chicago, Naperville, . Illinois, New York

Money managers’ net short in CBOT wheat futures and options rose to a 23-week high of 108,176 futures and options contracts as of Nov. 21 versus 89,271 a week earlier. That is funds’ most bearish corn stance since June 2020. wheat futures and optionsFunds’ Minneapolis wheat views remain near record-bearish, though they were slight net buyers in the week ended Nov. 21. On Monday, CBOT corn and all U.S. hard and soft wheat futures hit contract lows during trading, including the lowest price for most-active corn since December 2020. Open interest in CBOT soybean meal futures and options surged 4% during the week to another record of 671,039 contracts.

Persons: soyoil, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, Reuters, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE , Illinois, South America, Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, K.C, U.S, Brazil

☆ I answer the Butterball turkey hotline. I get lots of funny questions on Thanksgiving Day.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Phyllis Kramer is a Butterball Turkey Talk-Line expert based in Aurora, Illinois. AdvertisementI've been talking turkey on the Butterball Talk-Line for 22 years now. AdvertisementSome people assume my job must be easy, but they couldn't be more wrongKramer answers calls to the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. AdvertisementOur average call lasts 3 minutes, and the most common question is how to thaw a frozen turkeyA herb- and citrus butter-roasted Butterball turkey. I always thaw turkey in the refrigerator.

Persons: Phyllis Kramer, She's, —, I've, Kramer, I'm, we're, we've, parsnip, it's, We'll Organizations: Service, Canadian, Foods, Butterball University Locations: Turkey, Aurora , Illinois, Butterball Turkey, Naperville , Illinois

The Vegetation Health Index (VHI), a U.S. government product, suggests vegetation in Mato Grosso may be in the worst state since 2015, which preceded one of the state’s worst growing seasons. The other comparable one was in 2020, though the following soybean crop was normal. Soils in Mato Grosso lack in nutrients and quality as compared with the best U.S. The state is expected to grow 27% and 38% of Brazil’s total 2023-24 soy and corn crops, respectively. Nationally, Brazil’s soybean planting was 68% as of last Thursday, the lowest rate since 2019-20 and behind the year-ago 80%.

Persons: Rio, Mato Grosso, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Lucas, El Nino, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mato Grosso, Brazil, NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Mato, U.S, Mato Grosso’s

Money managers through Nov. 14 expanded their net long in CBOT soybean meal futures and options to 131,404 contracts from 111,987 a week earlier, also on new longs. January meal futures surged 21% during those five weeks and nearly 4% in the most recent week, reaching their highest ever levels for the date. The pre-2023 record open interest in meal futures and options was 594,016 contracts set in mid-2018 after drought significantly cut down top meal exporter Argentina’s soybean crop. March CBOT wheat futures rose fractionally during the week, and funds trimmed nearly 3,000 contracts from their huge net short, resulting in 89,271 futures and options contracts. wheat, funds have been very heavy sellers of spring wheat futures since late July.

Persons: Gustavo Bonato, Soyoil, Karen Braun, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Campo Verde, Mato Grosso, Brazil, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, United States, U.S, Kansas City, Minneapolis

Additionally, tightness in U.S. soybean meal supplies related to Argentina’s extreme crop shortfall earlier this year has lent significant support to soybean and soymeal futures lately. Managed money net position in CBOT soybean futures and optionsIt was funds’ biggest net buying week in soybeans since early April, and both new longs and short-covering played an instrumental role. Managed money net position in CBOT soybean meal futures and optionsThe new managed money meal long is the biggest since mid-March and the largest ever for the date. CBOT soybean meal on Monday traded up the daily limit at one point, reaching the most-active contract’s highest since mid-March and notching another contract high for December meal. Most-active CBOT soybeans on Monday hit their highest price since Aug. 31, and most-active corn futures rose 2.9%, their biggest single-day percentage gain since July 24.

Persons: Karen Braun, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, China, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Reuters, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE, Ill, Brazil, Chicago

USDA pegged U.S. corn yield at 174.9 bushels per acre, up from 173 last month and above nearly all estimates, which on average predicted a slight increase. It was the most bearish corn yield in a November report since 2017. That could negatively impact Brazil’s second corn production, as was the case after the 2015-16 El Nino, rerouting corn demand to the United States. USDA left Brazil’s 2023-24 soy crop unchanged at 163 million metric tons this month, but it raised the prior crop by 2 million tons to 158 million, suggesting exports are outperforming prior crop expectations. However, USDA has flashed 2.85 million tons (105 million bushels) of U.S. soybean sales so far this week, mostly to China and unknown destinations.

Persons: Dane Rhys, El, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department, USDA, El Nino, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Deerfield , Ohio, U.S, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Brazil, United States, China

The trade’s idea of corn yield lines up with past similar years. Other than 2023, the last three times that soybean yields fell in August, September and October were 2008, 2003 and 1999. Crop Watch results generally support these predictions since the 11-field soybean yield ended up close to the season’s lowest score while corn yields bounced a bit at the end. It has been 15 years since the agency lowered Brazil’s soy crop between October and November. 2024Without severe crop losses in Brazil’s soy or corn this year, U.S. supplies, especially corn, could balloon in 2024-25.

Persons: USDA’s, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, South, Reuters, SOUTH AMERICA, Consultancy, USDA, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE , Illinois, U.S, USDA, Mato Grosso, Argentina

Looking at export inspection data versus export sales data suggests that the actual shipments, not demand, are the standout factor. USDA predicts U.S. wheat exports at a 52-year low of 19.05 million tons in 2023-24, which began on June 1. As of Oct. 26, export sales totaled 11.4 million tons, some 60% of the full-year target, above the date’s recent average of 58%. USDA’s projections call for 2023-24 U.S. wheat exports to decline 8% on the year, and export sales were down 7% as of Oct. 26. Since June 1, wheat export inspections at the U.S. Gulf are down 40% from a year ago, while the Pacific Northwest volume is down 16%.

Persons: Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Weekly, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, Reuters, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE , Illinois, States, U.S, Mississippi, Gulf, Pacific, Pacific Northwest, China, United States

Unusually hot and dry weather in Mato Grosso has caught traders’ attention. October weather in North Mato Grosso BrazilIn Brazil’s southern state of Parana, October rainfall totaled around 350 mm (13.8 inches), the most for any month in at least 25 years. It is unhelpful in this analysis that there have not been many stronger El Ninos in recent years for comparison. Soy yield was 13% below trend that year, but otherwise, soy yields rarely miss in Mato Grosso, making it difficult to detect an impending disaster. In the south, Parana’s rainiest soy-growing seasons have most often coincided with El Ninos, but actual yield outcomes are mixed.

Persons: El Nino, Mato Grosso’s, Mato, La Nina, El, Karen Braun, Rod Nickel Organizations: Mato Grosso, Farmers, El Ninos, El Nino, Iowa, La, El, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Primavera, Mato, NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Brazil, Mato Grosso, North Mato, Brazil’s, Parana, U.S, Southern, Argentina

But national winter wheat yield ended up only about 2% below the long-term trend in 2023. Winter wheat there is only 32% GE, down from the week’s five-year average of 43% but above the year-ago 24%. Winter wheat is 42% and 41% GE, respectively, equal to the Oklahoma average and 13 points above the Texas one. Winter wheat at 47% GE is among the lower ratings for the date historically, but it is not necessarily in poor company. U.S. winter wheat conditions, fall versus springKaren Braun is a market analyst for Reuters.

Persons: Amira Karaoud, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department of Agriculture, GE, Nino, El Nino, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shelbyville , Kentucky, U.S, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, United States, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri , Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Southern

Managed money net position in CBOT soybean meal futures and optionsMost-active CBOT soymeal futures jumped 8.6% in the week ended Oct. 24 on increasing international demand for U.S. soybean meal, tightening up the domestic market. Money managers flipped back to a net long in CBOT soybean futures and options through Oct. 24, snapping a seven-week selling streak. The new net long of 7,753 contracts compares with a net short of 1,984 in the prior week, which was funds’ first net short in soybeans since April 2020. Money managers cut their net long in CBOT soyoil futures and options to 11,523 contracts from 20,729 a week earlier. Spring wheat futures are off 25% from their July top.

Persons: Jim Young, Karen Braun, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Minooka , Illinois, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Argentina, Minneapolis, Kansas City

☆ Bob Odenkirk Isn’t Letting His Past Repeat Itself
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Marc Myers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bob Odenkirk, 61, is an Emmy-winning comedian and actor best known for his dramatic roles in the film “Nobody” and the AMC series “Better Call Saul.” He is co-author with his daughter and illustrator, Erin Odenkirk, of the children’s book “Zilot & Other Important Rhymes” (Little, Brown). He spoke with Marc Myers. Naperville, Ill., was a quiet place to grow up, but it wasn’t Losersville. I had plenty of friends there and lots of laughs with my three brothers and three sisters. Yet there was a powerful undercurrent of anxiety at home, fed by my parents.

Persons: Bob Odenkirk, Saul, ”, Erin Odenkirk, Brown, Marc Myers Organizations: AMC Locations: Naperville, Ill

The potential timing of those sales is uncertain, as similar agreements in the past have sometimes led to immediate announcements of large U.S. export sales while other times they have not. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) on Tuesday were also unusually thin as neither volumes nor commodities were specified as normal. Therefore, large daily sales announcements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are not guaranteed to follow. Some of the other biggest daily soybean sales also immediately followed signings. U.S. soybean export sales to China, October 12Karen Braun is a market analyst for Reuters.

Persons: Stringer, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China, Export, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Brazil, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wuhan, Hubei, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Iowa, U.S, Beijing, China, China’s U.S

Several attendees in the virtual meeting noted that U.S. corn yield has landed below USDA’s trend yield for five consecutive years now, prompting questions as to whether the calculation will be revisited for future seasons. The market’s main grievance with the recent yield pattern is that negative price implications could arise if trend yield starts out too high, since it may cause U.S. corn supplies to be overstated early on. Trend yield is set forth by USDA’s World Board and is based off a publicly documented model written in 2012. They also suggested that consecutive bad weather years can skew the view of true trend yield. In the last five years including 2023, corn yield fell below trend in each year and by an average of 6.1 bpa (3.4%).

Persons: Daniel Acker, Karen Braun, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department, USDA’s, Agency, USDA, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tiskilwa , Illinois, U.S, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois

National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) data on Monday revealed U.S. soybean oil stocks among NOPA members totaled 1.108 billion pounds as of Sept. 30. A mid-year drawdown of U.S. soyoil stocks is common, but this year’s pace is unusual. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects total domestic soybean oil use at a record 27.45 billion pounds in 2023-24, which began Oct. 1. The most actively traded Chicago soybean oil futures are at three-year lows for the date, down 20% from a year ago. Most-active CBOT soybean oil futuresRISING IMPORTSU.S. soybean oil stocks may be falling, but both the reduction in exports and influx of vegetable oil from overseas have been somewhat offsetting.

Persons: Jason Lee, Stocks, Karen Braun, Miral Organizations: Industry, Trade Co, REUTERS, Rights, Oilseed Processors, U.S . Department of Agriculture, NOPA, U.S, Higher, USDA, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Qufu, Shandong province, China, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, U.S, Chicago, United States, USDA

Three of the 11 Crop Watch producers increased their corn yield expectations this week, the most notable coming in eastern Iowa. A 3.77 for average Crop Watch corn yield is still below what was expected in July and August, and it would land above the 2022 yield but below that of 2021. Producers in Indiana and western Iowa also increased their Crop Watch corn expectations this week based on results from other fields. Final Crop Watch soybean yield for 2023 is likely to end at 3.5, up from 3.48 a week earlier. Only five of the 22 Crop Watch fields have yet to be touched, all corn: Both Dakotas, western Iowa, Indiana and Ohio.

Persons: Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: . Crop Watch, Crop Watch, Producers, Reuters, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, Kingsbury , South Dakota, Freeborn , Minnesota, Burt , Nebraska, Rice , Kansas, Audubon , Iowa, Cedar , Iowa, Warren , Illinois, Crawford , Illinois, Tippecanoe , Indiana, Fairfield , Ohio, The North Dakota, Griggs County, Stutsman County

During that week, money managers cut their net short in CBOT corn futures and options to 112,691 contracts from 159,433 a week earlier, marking their biggest round of net buying since late July. Managed money net position in CBOT corn futures and optionsDecember corn futures had reached their U.S. harvest lows by mid-September in 2016, 2018 and 2019, and so far, the harvest low for December 2023 corn sits on Sept. 19 at $4.67-3/4 per bushel. Money managers have not held a bearish soy view since April 2020 but have come close a couple times. Managed money net position in CBOT soybean futures and optionsHowever, overall speculators’ soybean net short was preserved through Oct. 10 as other reportable traders were only slight net buyers during the week. That small net short was established in the prior week for the first time since March 2020.

Persons: Gleb Garanich, Wheat, Karen Braun, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., U.S . Department, Agriculture’s, USDA, U.S . Renewable, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bilohiria, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Chicago

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