Katie Hennagir mixes art and business skills at Bay Window Quilt Shop

Business News

PERHAM

— Katie Hennagir’s great-grandfather would be proud of her. Her business, Bay Window Quilt Shop, has grown over the years and now makes use of his entire 7,000-some square foot building in downtown Perham.Her great-grandfather on her mother’s side, Fred Bauck Jr., built the building in the very early 1900s, Katie said. “It was the general store for our community. It hosted the first doctor and the first dentist upstairs. It had a hat shop, and a hitching post out front for the horses.”

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Katie’s grandfather, George Bauck, opened Bauck Paint and Supply in the building, and that part of the operation is owned by Katie’s husband, Jace. He also is the master of the shop’s longarm quilting machines, and serves as director at the Perham High School Area Learning Center.

The quilt shop is a popular place, and attracts customers from a wide radius around Perham.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

Over the years, most of the building was divided up and rented out to outside businesses, A Red Owl grocery store occupied much of the main floor until around 1988, when it moved out to consolidate with another local grocery store.In 1989, Katie’s mom, Sarah, started a crafts shop in the building.“I was 10,” Katie said. “I wanted to work as soon as she’d let me.”Katie is now 45. She and Jace have three children – Jack, 16, Izzy, 14, and Lola, 10, and Katie hasn’t lost that enthusiasm for the business she grew up with.

The Hennagir family, from left: In front is Katie, Lola and Izzy, and in back are Jack and Jace.Contributed photo

“It took us 100-some years to be the only renters in our own building,” she said.When Katie came back from college, she helped her mom start a website, “and we started taking over parts of the building as we grew,” Katie said. “We grew as the (quilting) hobby grew. The hobby was not as popular in 1989 or even in 1999 as it is now.”

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Quilting has become so popular in part because it’s satisfying to create a new quilt. “So many people say they love this hobby because you get something out of it in the end,” Katie said. It’s also popular because it’s a social hobby. “It’s something you do with others,” she said. “There is community in the hobby.”

Katie’s husband, Jace, works one of the shop’s longarm quilting machines.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

Bay Window Quilt Shop serves people from all over the area. “We draw from an hour (travel) radius every day we’re open, because quilt people travel,” she said.Of course, it helps that the quilt shop is a fun place to be, with its retail spaces full of colorful fabrics and patterns, both traditional and whimsical – and customers love its rooms and connecting areas with their nooks, crannies and closets.“The joys of an over-100-year-old building,” Katie said with a laugh. “But I would never change it.”

A colorful farm quilt collection display at Bay Window Quilt Shop.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

The shop has a character all its own, that customers appreciate and that couldn’t be duplicated in a big box store.The shop is also fun because Katie has the space to carry extra inventory, and she uses it.“I go all-in on everything,” Katie said with a grin. “We have way more baby (designs) than most shops.”

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Another example is quilting material, which is usually cotton or flannel, and Bay Window has “a ton of flannel,” she said. “We have almost 700 bolts of just flannel cloth. It’s unique to us – a lot of shops don’t have the space and just leave it out. We make room for it, it’s just soft.”

The Bay Window Quilt Shop has expanded until it now occupies the entire ground and lower levels of this historic brick building in downtown Perham.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

One area in the shop has sewing machines for sale, another has finished quilts for sale, and there’s a large space for quilting classes.The shop now carries yarn as well, since a lot of quilters also like to knit.“My mom’s motto always was ‘if three different customers ask for it, we’ll put it in – there’s a demand for it,’” Katie said. Katie started stocking yarn two years ago and hasn’t regretted it.“We’ve also jumped back into crafts again,” she said. “We’ve come full circle to when mom opened the store in 1989. She sold crafts, not quilts.”Katie doesn’t just sell quilting material, she is a talented quilt designer in her own right, with patterns sold at her shop and sold nationwide through Timeless Treasures Fabrics, a wholesale fabric supplier in New York City. “One of the things that sets my business apart, in high school I started designing my own patterns for our shop,” she said. “Most shops don’t have their own designers.”

Katie Hennagir with a colorful and positive children’s quilt she designed herself.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

She has created fabric designs for the past 17 years. “It’s sort of like being a freelancer,” she said. “I give them my design ideas, and they manufacture them – I just get royalties.”

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Designing quilts is kind of like working a puzzle – you need an artistic vision and a good head for numbers. “There’s a lot of math, but I like math,” she said with a smile. “I write out all the instructions and test it before we put it in print.”All quilt fabric comes in collections, she explained. “It’s all coordinated by design, color, style, season, whether flannel or cotton, decor, color schemes, trends,” she said. There is a turnaround of between six and eight months from the time one of her designs is sold and the time it shows up in quilt stores, she said.The quilting business is “very event-driven,” Katie said. Bay Window recently held a quilting luncheon at the Perham golf course. “I do a trunk show presentation,” she said. “Holiday-themed quilts we’ve made for them to view.”Those quilts are kept on display for six or eight months, until the shop is done selling all products associated with them. Then those quilts are put up for sale in a room in the back of the shop. It’s a nice selection, considering that the shop is geared towards hobbyists who like to make their own quilts, not necessarily towards people looking to buy finished quilts.

Colorful quilt patterns in a display case at the quilt shop.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

Katie’s love of family and history are behind some of the quirks at Bay Window Quilt Shop. The paint is worn off the middle of the wooden steps leading to the downstairs level. Customers may wonder about it as they use those stairs, but she keeps it that way because her grandfather was the last one to paint those steps, and she hasn’t had the heart to paint over it. “I wonder how long it will be before they’re painted again?” she said.The paint store itself reminds her of her grandfather, who started that business. Quilt customers are sometimes surprised to find she knows her way around paint products.“I can mix paint,” she said. “I can mix paint to match your quilt if you want.”

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Natural light provides a nice place for quilting classes at Bay Window Quilt Shop.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

Her mom retired from Bay Window in 2020. “We worked together for 20 years. It was awesome,” Katie said. “We worked side by side.”Both her parents — Sarah and Ed Hayden — waited to retire until Katie and Jace’s youngest child, Lola, was in kindergarten, she said.“My girls definitely help,” she said. “Will they take over (the business)? Maybe someday. I just hope it stays in the family.”

Perham Center for the Arts

In addition to owning and operating Bay Window Quilt Shop, Katie Hennagir is the executive director of the nonprofit Perham Center for the Arts.It’s located in the beautiful brick St. Stanislaus Church, which was built in 1922 with gorgeous stained-glass windows, a striking copper steeple and sweeping architectural lines.When the church closed in 2009, the community wanted to preserve the historic church, so the St. Stanislaus parishioners and the new nonprofit came together to make it happen in 2011.Katie was not part of the original group that set up the nonprofit, but now serves as executive director, in part to help bring in grant revenue.

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There’s a lot going on at the historic building. It is available as a venue for weddings and other events, and Katie said “there’s a Christmas concert we want to do by candlelight, which will be incredible.”

A look at the inside of the quilt shop.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

Art classes “have really taken off,” at the art center, particularly a paint-your-own-pottery class. Leaf River Pottery brings pottery to the class, people paint their own pottery, and Leaf River fires the pottery and then gives back the finished work.There are pottery wheels and a pottery kiln in the basement of the art center, and members who pay a $15 monthly fee can put them to use as members of the Clay Club. “That’s just kicking off,” Katie said in mid-October. “Last month was our first month, so we’re excited about that.” Two volunteers oversee the group meetings, something Katie appreciates.“I help with the organization, but I need others to take and run with it,” she said.There are also dance classes held upstairs, where all but a few of the original pews have been removed to provide an open space for activities.

A sewing machine can be seen through a window at the quilt shop, next to the Stitch Studio sign.Nathan Bowe / Luminous

“So I‘m busy, but it’s a good busy,” Katie said. “I’m super proud to be from Perham, there’s a lot of pride in being a fourth-generation business owner. The community is so supportive.”As a business owner and community volunteer, Katie said “I can see first-hand from both ends how collaborative our community is. Perham is special that way – we have got that in spades.”

St. Stanislaus Church was built in 1922 and designed by architect, Victor Cordella, who was born in 1872 in Krakow, Poland. He came to the United States in 1893 and designed 12 Minnesota churches, working across faiths and nationalities. St. Stanislaus was once hailed by the local newspaper as “a superstructure” and “the most magnificent building from Crookston to Little Falls.”Perham Focus file photo

This stained glass window depicts the church’s namesake: St. Stanislaus.Perham Focus file photo

Business interests: Deportation could upend Indiana’s economy

Business News

These numbers are specific to Indiana and reflect how undocumented immigrants impact the state’s economy.

Graphic created by the American Immigration Council

FORT BRANCH — Steve Obert’s family-run dairy farm has assembled the best team of workers its had in years.The crew is made up of well-trained people managing feed supplies, raunning the milking parlor and treating sick animals to ensure the 1,200 cows there continue producing about 10,000 gallons of milk a day.
But Obert worries the team that is essential to the farm’s success could soon be gone.They’re all immigrants who could be targeted under President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to undertake the largest mass deportation in U.S. history.“It’s absolutely concerning,” he said. “We just can’t deport these people.”While some business owners like Obert question the cost and logistics of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, Trump on Monday confirmed his commitment to the plan, which he promised to implement the first day he takes office, Jan. 20.On social media, he posted “TRUE!!!” in response to a conservative commentator who wrote that Trump would declare a national emergency and use military assets to lead “a mass deportation program.”Obert, who serves as the executive director of the Indiana Dairy Producers, said the organization is offering an online seminar reeducating farmers about how to maintain the required documents to ensure immigrant workers are audit-proof and can remain in the U.S.

Steve Obert, an Indiana dairy farmer and executive director of the Indiana Dairy Producers

Photo provided by National Dairy Producers

That’s especially critical in an industry where migrants make up about 80% of the workforce. A mass deportation could lead dairy farms to close in droves and milk tanks to run dry, Obert explained.“You won’t just see a ripple effect,” he said. “It’ll be more like a tsunami when it comes to food production, agriculture and so many other industries.”NO MIGRANTS, MORE INFLATIONAcross the state, farmers, builders, manufacturers and other businesses that rely heavily on immigrant workers are closely watching how new policies could disrupt the workforce that keeps operations running.In Indiana, undocumented workers make up about 2.2% of the entire labor force and just under 25% of the state’s total immigrant population, according to the American Immigration Council. Foreign-born people in total make up nearly 8% of Indiana’s employees.But those numbers are much higher in the construction industry, in which immigrants make up around 25% of the workforce, equaling more than 43,400 employees in Indiana, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Rick Wajda, CEO of the Indiana Builders Association, right, poses with Indiana U.S. Sen. and Governor-elect Mike Braun.

Photo provided by National Association of Home Builders

Rick Wajda, CEO of the Indiana Builders Association, said the construction trades are already in the middle of a workforce shortage. Without immigrants, it could become insurmountable.“The immigrant workforce is essential to meeting the demand and sustaining Indiana’s economic and housing market,” he said.Removing any portion of the construction labor force would only deepen the state’s severe housing shortage that’s led to skyrocketing home and rental prices, explained Michael Hicks, director of Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research.“It’ll be more expensive to fix your home or to see a new home built and delay the American Dream for some families of owning their own home,” he said.The same holds true for food prices, which have climbed sharply because of record-high inflation following the COVID pandemic. A study conducted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics found that mass deportation could affect agricultural labor and lead to a 10% increase in food prices.Nationally, undocumented people composed roughly 41% of all hired crop farm workers in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Obert said he trusts that Trump and federal legislators understand that deporting large swaths of the agricultural workforce would only hurt Hoosiers already struggling to afford food.”They all ran on the fact that they would tame inflation and improve housing,” he said. “You’re not going to tame inflation and you’re not going to fix housing if we have a mass deportation.”’WE WANT TO WORK’Gurinder Kaur, CEO of the Immigrant Welcome Center, was leaving her Indianapolis office earlier this month when she saw a man standing outside holding a suitcase.

Gurinder Kaur, CEO of the Immigrant Welcome Center in Indianapolis

The client said he had just arrived from Haiti with the proper paperwork and was looking for a job.

‘Remnant’ Movie Ending Explained: Is Grace Dead Or Alive?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Upgrade is an Australian movie where the protagonist gets an experimental implant after an accident that enhances his abilities and, eventually, his mind is controlled by the A.I. program that had started out just assisting him. Remnant is an Australian movie where the protagonist gets an experimental implant after an accident, which enhances her abilities, and, eventually, her mind is controlled by the A.I. program that was just occasionally helping her so far. One of these movies is extremely good, and the other one is really bad. Today, we have gathered here to talk about the latter, specifically its ending, which hinged on the revelation of the identity of a murderer and whether or not the protagonist had superpowers. So, bear with me as I try to understand what the hell was the point of all the sci-fi shenanigans and the serial killer subplot.

Spoiler Alert

What Is The Film About?

Remnant is centered around Grace Wheeler. She was the daughter of Sarah Grace Wheeler and John David Wheeler. Grace had a friend called Kate, who was more like a sister to her because Grace’s parents raised her as their own after Kate’s parents didn’t put in the effort to care for her. Grace and Kate were close to the Bridges family, i.e. Kevin and his two children, Tom and Sophie. But their dynamic changed when Sophie died by suicide and Grace found her suicide letter, which vaguely hinted at Tom being responsible for her death. Tom worked as an employee at the local theater, thanks to his highschool friend Brian, while also tending to his father’s farm. Kate went away to live with her girlfriend, Ava. And, well, Grace ended up in a car crash. 

One night, the Wheelers were returning home from Sophie’s funeral when a girl came in front of the car. In order to save this girl, John tried to steer the car away from her and hit a tree. The impact apparently killed both John and Sarah, and Grace was severely injured. While hospitalized, the head of the neurology department, Doctor Adriana Stone, collaborated with Bio Neural Solutions (BNS) and put a special chip in Grace’s head to see if they could find a solution to helping people with severe spinal injuries walk again. Given how Grace woke up from the coma she was in after the accident with just a sore head, it was clear that part of the experiment was successful. However, a long road lay ahead of Grace. That was why Stone put a bunch of hidden CCTV cameras all over Grace’s home and kept a watch on how well she was adapting to the device in her head. Other than that blatant invasion of privacy, there were two issues: Grace was being haunted by a ghost, and there was a serial killer on the prowl.

The Serial Killer Is Tom Bridges

Remnant’s ending revealed that Tom Bridges was the serial killer. Here’s how it all went down. Unbeknownst to everyone, Tom and Sophie’s father, Kevin, was an abusive man, and he regularly tortured the two kids. Tom had decided to kill his own father, but he was unable to muster up the courage to get the job done. So, he unloaded all his frustration and anger on his girlfriend, Anna Symes, who allegedly mistreated him as well. While running away from Tom, Anna’s car broke down on a dirt road leading to the highway, and her phone ran out of juice too. Tom used this opportunity to try to kill Anna, but she momentarily ran away from him. She saw the Wheelers’ car and tried to flag them down. That led to the whole accident. As mentioned before, John and Sarah allegedly died on the spot. Grace was injured, and so was Anna. Tom killed Anna first. Then he noticed that John and Sarah were still breathing, and he decided to put them out of their misery instead of, you know, taking them to the hospital. However, for some reason, Tom let Grace live. I guess he was too fond of her to kill her. 

Anyway, all this murder and mayhem gave Tom the confidence to kill his dad, and he gutted him like a pig. Brian witnessed this and Tom killed him too while making it look like Tom had killed himself so that nobody would suspect him. While Tom was doing all this, Grace was being haunted by Anna’s ghost, who directed Grace to the spot where her car and dead body were kept. When Grace reached the dirt road and discovered the result of Tom’s heinous actions, Tom appeared out of nowhere and abducted her. Tom captured Kate too when she came to his house looking for Grace. In addition to all that, Tom stabbed and kidnapped John Barnes (Doctor Stone’s associate) when the latter came to Grace’s house to sedate her and take her to Stone for further experiments on her implant. When all three of these hostages regained consciousness, they found themselves in the local theater where Tom used to work.

Grace Is A Cyborg

The implant in Grace’s head was certainly warping her understanding of reality. The past was melding with the present, and she was constantly seeing the ghostly figure of Anna Symes. But I don’t think there was a ghost to begin with; it was all a visceral depiction of Grace’s observational skills that was being enhanced by the BNS implant. It’s because of that device that Grace saw a young Tom with a butchered animal in his hands, thereby hinting at his dormant homicidal tendencies. She had probably suppressed that memory, but after everything that had happened in her life, that image surfaced from her subconscious and gave her a hint as to who could’ve killed Anna. Also, I don’t think there was a real ghost in the movie. The shadowy entity that Grace kept seeing was a figment of her overactive and paranoid brain that had been powered up by the implant. During the accident, Grace’s mind was able to register the moment where Tom strangled her parents to death, and she had probably made a connection between the distraught Anna and Tom too. Normally, those memories would’ve faded away, but the implant kept pushing Grace to remember what she had seen so that Tom could be nabbed. 

When Tom admitted to killing Kevin and Anna to cope with Sophie’s death and proceeded to slit Barnes’ throat and stab Kate in the stomach, Grace’s implant took full control of her body and severely injured Tom. Grace, who was being steered by the BNS implant, was about to drive Kate to the hospital, but then she noticed that Kate had succumbed to her injuries. As Grace was deciding on her next step, Tom attacked her again, and this time she ran him over and then slit his throat to make sure that he never hurt another soul in this life or the next.

During Remnant’s mid-credits scene, we saw Grace returning to her home with Kate’s lifeless body and tucking her into her bed. Then, Grace turned to one of the CCTV cameras to reveal that her hand was glowing. Stone noticed this and smiled because she was glad that her gamble had paid off. I guess that the implant was slowly transforming Grace into a cyborg, and it was only a matter of time before the A.I. program running the implant completely took over Grace’s motor controls. Grace taking care of Kate’s dead body might make it seem like there’s still a bit of her soul left in that body. However, the A.I. program could’ve simply copied all her memories and behavioral patterns to have a better handle on her body. I guess we’ll know all about it if this movie finds its audience on Prime Video and gets a sequel.

Related

Top political science researchers at SLU discuss implications of the 2024 election

Science and Health

Faculty and researchers from Saint Louis University’s political science department discussed the results and impact of the 2024 U.S. elections at a panel event on Nov. 14. They talked about how the economy affected voter turnout, President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks and his domestic and foreign policy goals.
With lingering questions and anxiety about the next four years, the political science experts set out to explain the implications of the election. Nearly 40 students and faculty attended the panel in McGannon Hall, which aimed to give the campus community tools and information to make sense of the election.
Election experts are still considering what motivated voters in this election. Steven Rogers, an associate professor of political science, said the economy was the primary driving force for voter turnout.
“We are seeing a shift in the way that people perceive the economy, at least in the research,” said Rogers, who also researches elections and public opinion. “Previous research showed that individuals used to consider the overall macroeconomic picture when voting, but now, individuals seem to be voting based upon their individual socio-economic standing.”
Rogers also speculated about why Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris had difficulties securing the same historic turnout her predecessor President Joe Biden had in 2020. 
He explained the unpopularity of Biden’s administration and the challenges Harris faced assuming her party’s nomination less than four months away from the election.
“The unpopularity of Biden’s administration stood in the way of any democratic candidate against Trump,” Rogers said. “[Harris] could’ve possibly given more attention to the fact that the cost of living has been growing differently in urban areas than in rural ones, but the situation within the nation and her party made her loss more likely.”
Rogers cited research from Vanderbilt University professor John Sides that predicted a three-point popular vote victory for Trump given Biden’s approval rating, which was at 41% leading up to the election.
Students and faculty gathered for a panel about the implications of the 2024 election in McGannon Hall on Nov. 14, 2024. Three political science professors delivered speeches and hosted a Q&A session, during which they discussed a variety of subjects, ranging from cabinet appointments to the Democratic Party. (Photo courtesy of J.D. Bowen)
With less than two months until Trump takes office, his presumed cabinet appointments have been the subject of major public attention and outcry. Nori Katagiri, a professor in the political science department and researcher of international relations, overviewed Trump’s cabinet picks and how they will affect his foreign policy.
“Be ready to be surprised. The next four years will be unlike any other you’ve seen before,” Katagiri said. “It’s always a great time to study politics. But it’ll be even more critical than before to study American politics, political theory and international relations.”
Katagiri also explained how Trump’s preference for personal loyalty over political experience displayed by his cabinet picks so far will play out when he takes office.
While Trump’s appointees still need to be confirmed by Congress, media reports indicate he may use recess appoints to circumvent the confirmation process.
“We are likely to see the same kinds of tension that occurred in his 2016 administration, between senior executive officials and the newly appointed, often inexperienced Trump loyalists,” Katagiri said. “Expect short terms and a lot of both voluntary and involuntary departures from these key offices.”
Robin Saywitz, an assistant professor of political science who also researches public administration and local government, spoke about how Trump’s policy goals would change the federal government’s bureaucratic structure.
“Trump’s administration is likely to be focused on turning some of the non-appointed roles in bureaucracy, such as division directors, to appointed positions,” Saywitz said.
Federal bureaucrats currently have checks in place against the goals of a new president. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency can investigate and independently enact policies deemed relevant to their expertise. If Trump replaces non-appointed positions with politically influenceable appointees, they may lose some liberty to administer the law, she added.

“
“Be ready to be surprised. The next four years will be unlike any other you’ve seen before,”
— Nori Katagiri, professor of political science

Among the most controversial individuals selected for Trump’s cabinet are billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramawsamy, who have been appointed as co-heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Saywitz said the complex nature of the bureaucratic process and the inexperience of Trump’s appointees could be major roadblocks in executing his policy goals. 
“We already have a government efficiency agency, the GAO, U.S. Government Accountability Office. It currently acts at the request of Congress, whereas Trump’s new DOGE would likely act upon his request,” Saywitz said. “It’s unclear how this agency will operate in relation to our current bureaucratic structure that often isn’t timely.”
Trump also proposed to close the Department of Education, favoring state-led education initiatives and parent-driven school choice. His plans have drawn controversy, but Saywitz said they would likely not pan out exactly how conservatives envision.
“His changes to the Department of Education are also likely to not be as impactful as he has expressed, and would likely result in the transfer of specific initiatives to other departments. The Department of Treasury could take over the federal student loan programs for example,” Saywitz said.
Beyond domestic issues, people are looking closely at how the Trump administration will handle ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Katagiri said there is a bigger international threat that Trump has taken aim at–– China.
While China has been a major economic rival to the U.S. for nearly two decades, the second Trump administration could take the competition to new heights. Trump has proposed sweeping tariffs on all Chinese goods imported to the U.S., a policy that threatens domestic consumers and Chinese manufacturers alike.
At the end of the hour-and-a-half-long event, students and faculty in attendance were invited to ask questions, several of which were about the challenges the Harris campaign faced and what the Democratic Party should do in 2026 and beyond. 

Musk shares wild conspiracy as to why Ellen DeGeneres has left the United States

Technology

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreElon Musk has shared a conspiracy theory about comedian Ellen DeGeneres’s decision to move to the United Kingdom with her wife.The billionaire, who is set to head Donald Trump’s newly-created Department of Government Efficiency, shared a post on Thursday suggesting DeGeneres left the US “after the election” due to her past affiliation with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.Musk shared a post with a screenshot of a 2016 X, then Twitter, post from DeGeneres referencing Combs.“’Happy birthday, P Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Combs, or as I call him, Cuddle McSnugglestuff,” DeGeneres’s post read. “You don’t need to know why. @iamdiddy.”The original poster shared the screenshot with the caption, “It makes sense why she fled the country after the election.” Musk then re-shared the post, captioning it with the eyebrow-raised emoji.Portia de Rossi (left) and Ellen DeGeneres (right) have moved to the United Kingdom after buying a house there in October

What might happen in the next ‘Wicked’ movie? The musical has clues

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

🚨🚨🚨Warning: This story has major spoilers for the ending of “Wicked: Part 1” and the Broadway musical.After hearing the final notes of Cynthia Erivo’s powerhouse performance of “Defying Gravity” in 2024’s “Wicked,” fans will have a while to wait to find out what happens next.”Everyone’s like, ‘This is the longest intermission ever,'” Bowen Yang, who plays Glinda’s friend Pfannee, tells TODAY.com.”Wicked,” which premieres in theaters Nov. 22, is part one of two films inspired by the hit Broadway musical of the same name. “Wicked: Part 2” is expected to come out one year later, in November 2025.Part 1 of the film adaptation clocks in at 2 hours and 40 minutes, making it about the same length as the entire “Wicked” musical. But the first film is just half of the story, following the events of Act 1 while giving moments “a chance to breathe,” the musical’s composer Stephen Schwartz says.Other than expanding certain scenes and adding some dialogue, Part 1 of “Wicked” is largely faithful to the stage musical that inspired it. As for Part 2?”I want to have the sanctity of the show. I love the show, so to me, that’s first and foremost,” director Jon M. Chu, who is still editing the second film, says. “It will be the DNA of what it is.”Here’s what’s in store (or could be) for “Wicked: Part 2,” based on Act 2 of the musical.Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the original Broadway production of “Wicked.”Richard Corkery / NY Daily News via Getty ImagesA time jumpLike the 2024 film, Act 1 of “Wicked” ends with “Defying Gravity.” When the curtain rises again after a 15-minute intermission, a lot has changed. Between acts, there’s a time jump, although how much time exactly is unclear. (The 1995 book by Gregory Maguire, which has a markedly different tone and adult audience, would suggest it’s a period of about five years.) In the musical, Act 2 opens with the song “Thank Goodness,” sung primarily by Glinda and Madame Morrible, played by Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh in the film. The song establishes that Glinda has left Shiz University and has officially assumed the mantle of Glinda the Good, meant to uplift spirits, while the rest of Oz is overwhelmed by fear of the Wicked Witch of the West, the enemy of the Wizard. She also announces that she and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey in the 2024 film), now a captain in the Wizard’s army, are officially engaged.Yang confirms there will be a time jump in Part 2 of “Wicked.””Right when we pick up, Glinda is in this very front-facing position. Pfannee and Shenshen (Bronwyn James) are at her side still, but a lot is in motion,” Yang says. “The world has literally changed, and the landscape of it is very different. There is this campaign against this one person that they’re like the reason for all the problems in the world.”The story is so flexible with how it relates to our real world,” Yang adds.A love triangleAct 2 of the musical also delivers on lingering chemistry and Elphaba’s unrequited feelings for Fiyero. While Elphaba resigned herself to being “not that girl” in Act 1, audience members learn in the second act that the reason Fiyero joined the Wizard’s army was to take an active role in searching for Elphaba, who has been missing in action but speaking out against the Wizard, his leadership and his treatment of Animals (sentient animals). When Elphaba tries to free the flying monkeys she accidentally created at the end of Act 1, she runs into the Wizard, who, after a failed attempt to again sway her to his side, turns her in to his guards. She and Fiyero reunite, and instead of bringing her to the Wizard, he helps her escape and leaves with her, abandoning Glinda. Glinda then finds herself the third prong of the love triangle and sings a reprise of “I’m Not That Girl.” Meanwhile, Fiyero and Elphaba profess their love to the steamy song “As Long As You’re Mine.” Dancing through life with Glinda and Fiyero.Torsten Blackwood / AFP via Getty ImagesA transformationWhile Elphaba leads a campaign against the Wizard, her sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode in the film), has taken over as governor of Munchkinland in the wake of their father’s death and rules harshly. Her relationship with Boq (Ethan Slater) has soured, and he stays by Nessarose’s side under duress rather than love.Elphaba visits Nessarose in Act 2, and the younger sister airs her resentment. Elphaba then casts a spell on Nessarose’s silver shoes, allowing her to walk. Boq responds by announcing his intentions to leave and declare his true affections for Glinda.Desperate to make him love her, Nessarose tries to use Elphaba’s spell book, the Grimmerie, but her enchantment goes wrong and she shrinks his heart. To save him, Elphaba turns him into a man made of tin so he can survive without a heart. Nessarose then proclaims herself the Wicked Witch of the East.Bode is the first actor to play Nessarose who uses a wheelchair in real life. She told TODAY’s Donna Farizan in an interview that while she can’t say too much about Part 2, “it is definitely less of a case of my character wanting to be fixed, and more of her just taking in the magic itself.”Bode also confirms to TODAY.com that in “Wicked: Part 2″ her character plays a bigger role in the story. Her character undergoes almost a 180-degree change from the end of Part 1, which sees her happy and in love with Boq, to the start of Part 2.”What was helpful to me was journaling as my character to fill in a lot of the blanks and to really get in the mindset (of) why my character changed, what her feelings were in the in between and how did she get to where she was today,” Bode says.New songsBy breaking up “Wicked” into two films, composer Stephen Schwartz and screenplay writer Winnie Holzman had “freedom” to let scenes and moments “breathe.” “There are a lot of scenes that Winnie wrote, there were a couple of songs that I tried for the first movie that we wound up not putting in the movie, but the essence of what we were trying to accomplish got into the movie,” Schwartz says. While there aren’t any new songs to Part 1, there will be in Part 2.”There are two new songs in the second movie because they felt they were dramatically necessary,” Schwartz says.But will any songs get cut?”No, I don’t think so,” Chu says. “I don’t know if I can confirm or deny that, but in my first pass of it right now … but you never know, I’m still editing it.”But I want to have the sanctity of the show,” he adds. “If it doesn’t fit in one place, and I need to find a place where it does emotionally, or we need to change the lyrics, or we need to do things to change — but it will be the DNA of what it is.”The soundtrack of Act 2 of “Wicked” includes: “Thank Goodness” “Wonderful” “I’m Not That Girl (Reprise)””As Long As You’re Mine””No Good Deed” “March of the Witch Hunters” “For Good” “Finale” Overlap with ‘The Wizard of Oz’Act 2 of “Wicked” also turns the story into less of a prequel and more of an alternate perspective on the events of original 1939 film “the Wizard of Oz.”After Elphaba and Fiyero run off together, Glinda tells Madame Morrible that the way to draw out her former friend is by targeting her sister. So, using her powers to control the weather, Madame Morrible summons the tornado that lands a house on Nessarose, bringing Dorothy Gale to Oz. Like in “The Wizard of Oz,” Glinda gives Dorothy Nessarose’s shoes and instructs her to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City.Elphaba arrives after her sister’s death to a trap, which results in Fiyero being captured. In the song “No Good Deed,” she casts a spell for her beloved to “feel no pain.” In “March of the Witch Hunters,” Boq is revealed to be the Tin Man from “The Wizard of Oz,” and the lion cub Fiyero and Elphaba saved in Act 1 grows up to be none other than Cowardly Lion. In Act 2, the citizens of Oz storm Elphaba’s castle, as she holds Dorothy captive to try and get Nessarose’s shoes back. Glinda, realizing the danger of the angry mob against Elphaba, arrives at her friend’s side to try and warn her. Elphaba decides to give up the fight and sings the tearful (and iconic) goodbye song “For Good” with Glinda.Glinda hides when the mob arrives and hides behind a curtain to witness the shadowy form of Elphaba melt after Dorothy throws a pail of water on her.How does the ‘Wicked’ musical end?But we’re missing someone from the original “Wizard of Oz” quartet — the scarecrow.The finale of “Wicked” reveals that Elphaba wasn’t actually killed by the pail of water. Elphaba’s spell to protect Fiyero turned him into a scarecrow. After the showdown with Dorothy, he arrives at the castle to bring his love out of the trap door she was hiding in, and they leave Oz together. Fiyero and Boq, is that you?REX via ShutterstockMeanwhile, Glinda confronts the Wizard after witnessing Elphaba’s “death,” bringing the remnants of her melting: Elphaba’s hat and the green bottle she always carried that belonged to her mother.When the Wizard sees the green elixir, he realizes that Elphaba was his biological child, finally unmasking the identity of the man Elphaba’s mother had an affair with at the very beginning of the story.Jeff Goldblum confirms that he’s the figure singing in the part of the opening song, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” which shows Elphaba’s mother having an affair. (He’s also credited in the song on the movie’s official soundtrack.)”You don’t see me,” he says. “I have this drink, and that’s a little mysterious and that will come to light.” The camerawork keeps the man’s face just out of each frame, so audiences “aren’t supposed to know that it’s me,” he says. But there’s a tiny moment for careful listeners that connect the mysterious man to the Wizard in the first film, he says.After his introduction in “Wicked,” Goldblum’s version of the Wizard performs a little tap dance and sings, “You’ve got to give people what they want,” in a similar tune to the part he sings in the overture.”So if you’re listening, and you’re subliminally Easter egg-oriented, you might go, ‘Is that the guy?'” Goldblum says.Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Nigel Planer as the Wizard in “Wicked” in London, 2006.Alamy So wait, the Wicked Witch of the West is alive?Yes, deviating from the plot of “The Wizard of Oz,” the Wicked Witch of the West is alive at the end of the “Wicked” musical. Elphaba’s fate with the scarecrow Fiyero is left unknown. The musical’s ending also differs from Maguire’s original book, which sees Elphaba actually melt and die at the hands of Dorothy. Maguire went on to write several sequels to “Wicked,” focusing on different Ozian characters, including “Son of a Witch,” about Elphaba and Fiyero’s son.So could there be a sequel to the “Wicked” musical? “We actually have a notion for something, and it’s not from Gregory Maguire book,” Schwartz says. “That’s really all I can say right now. It is something Winnie and I are talking about and exploring, but it actually goes back to Baum, not back to Gregory.”

Scaling Success: Managing Business Expansion Without Growing Pains

Business News

Expanding your business is an exciting milestone, reflecting your hard work and vision. However, growth comes with challenges that, if unaddressed, can disrupt operations and harm your brand. By planning carefully and embracing a strategic approach, you can expand successfully while avoiding the common pitfalls of scaling up.Lay a Strong Operational Foundation
Before expanding, take the time to assess your current operations. Inefficiencies that seem minor now can grow into significant bottlenecks as your business scales. Review workflows, identify gaps, and invest in systems that streamline processes. Automation tools, cloud-based software, or even outsourcing specific tasks can free up your time and resources for core growth activities.
One common issue during expansion is managing space. Whether it’s inventory, equipment, or additional office supplies, increased storage needs can strain your existing setup. A flexible option like Stashbee self storage Leicester allows you to secure additional space without committing to long-term leases, keeping costs manageable during transitions.
Support and Develop Your Team
Your team is your most valuable asset during expansion. Rapid growth can place immense pressure on employees, leading to burnout or high turnover if not managed carefully. Start by clearly communicating your growth plans and setting realistic expectations. This helps employees feel included and valued during the process.
Invest in training programmes to upskill your existing staff so they can handle new responsibilities effectively. Strategic hiring is also crucial—focus on bringing in talent that complements your team and fills skill gaps. Building a strong, adaptable workforce ensures your business can handle the demands of growth without sacrificing productivity or morale.
Maintain Focus on Your Customers
As your business grows, don’t lose sight of your customers. Expansion often leads to a more diverse customer base, which may bring new expectations and demands. Regularly gather feedback through surveys, reviews, and social media to understand their needs. Adjust your products or services accordingly to remain relevant and competitive.
Consistency is critical during this phase. Your brand identity and customer experience must remain strong across all touchpoints, whether you’re serving long-time customers or new ones. Maintaining high standards helps preserve trust and ensures loyalty even as you scale.
Keep Finances Under Control
Growth often requires significant investment, whether in infrastructure, staff, or marketing. Without careful financial planning, you could overextend your budget and jeopardise your success. Conduct regular cash flow reviews to monitor spending and identify areas where you can save. Detailed financial forecasting helps you allocate resources wisely and prepare for unexpected expenses.
It’s also essential to maintain a financial buffer. This safety net can help you address unforeseen challenges, such as market fluctuations or operational delays, without derailing your expansion efforts.
Refine Your Strategy Continuously
Business expansion isn’t a one-time effort—it requires ongoing adjustments and monitoring. Set measurable goals for each stage of growth and track your progress. If something isn’t working, don’t hesitate to pivot or refine your approach. Flexibility and adaptability are vital for navigating the complexities of scaling.
Turning Growth into Lasting Success
Scaling your business is a rewarding journey when approached with intention and care. By strengthening operations, empowering your team, and staying customer-focused, you can achieve sustainable growth. Each step of the process offers an opportunity to refine your business and lay the groundwork for long-term success. With the right strategies in place, growth doesn’t have to mean growing pains—it can simply mean progress.

Liane Moriarty’s New Book Headlines FIRST Book Club Picks!

Arts & Culture, Books

Welcome back, dear readers! Whether you’re gearing up for a long road trip for the holidays or a cozy weekend spent at home, we have a new batch of book recommendations for November 22 to December 5—and it’s just in time for the long Thanksgiving weekend. From historical fiction to family saga, mystery, thriller and more, we guarantee there’s a compelling book for every reading taste. 
If you feel like traveling to 19th-century Europe and diving into royal drama, bestselling author Katharine McGee’s A Queen’s Game is a perfect fit. More in the mood for a multilayered family saga that spans decades? Try Jami Attenberg’s A Reason to See You Again, which readers describe as “undeniably absorbing.” 
For those looking to kickstart the festive reading season, pick up The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose—it’s a holiday whodunit filled with intrigue and charm! This week, FIRST editors are also recommending bestselling author Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment for its “powerful” premise and beautiful prose. 
Keep scrolling here for the entire list of FFW Book Club must-read recommendations for November 22 to December 5!
Young adult
‘A Queen’s Game’ by Katharine McGee
Random House
“Nothing beats escaping into a fun royal drama—and Katharine McGee’s American Royals series is one of my favorites,” says Carissa Mosness, FIRST Assistant Digital Editor. “So when I heard she was releasing another royal-themed book—this time set in 19th-century Europe—I cleared my schedule to read it!” The story follows Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter, Alix of Hesse. Alix knows she will marry a prince, but the one she’s currently falling for is not the one she’s set to marry. Elsewhere, Hélène d’Orléans, the daughter of the exiled King of France, is technically no longer a princess, but she’s spending time with charming Prince Eddy, heir to the British throne—and very much off-limits. Royal outsider May of Teck wants one thing: to finally have a place in the royal court. And she is determined to marry the future king to make it happen.  What follows is a battle of love, duty and staying true to who you are and what you believe in. “Based on real women and true events, this Victorian-era story swept me away,” cheers Carissa. “Plus, the romance and marriage mart gossip was very entertaining! This might be my favorite Katharine McGee book yet.” (Random House, 2024)

Family saga
‘A Reason to See You Again’ by Jami Attenberg
Ecco
“When I’m in the mood for an emotional book, I reach for a family saga,” says Melissa D’Agnese, FIRST Senior Editor. “And Jami Attenberg’s latest novel is a captivating story about family love and the many forms it can take.” The book begins in the 1970s, after the death of patriarch Rudy, which sends the Cohen women into a crisis. Shelly, the youngest, runs off to the West Coast. Her sister, Nancy, gets married at age 21. Their mother, Frieda, moves to Miami to try to forget her past. Says Melissa, “This story intrigued me from the jump.” (Ecco, 2024)
Historical mystery
‘The Third Wife of Faraday House’ by B.R. Myers
HarperCollins
“My mom’s book club reads the most interesting books, and she recently let me borrow this one by B.R. Myers,” says Lauren Stachiw, FIRST Beauty Director. It’s 1816, and Emeline Fitzpatrick’s plan to marry a lieutenant has been ruined after a scandal. Now she’s left with only two options: Join a coven or marry Captain Graves, a two-time widow. Emeline picks the latter, but once she moves into Faraday House, she learns that Graves’ second wife is still alive and determined to find a way out. “I enjoyed the whodunit’s Gothic setting,” says Lauren. “And the slow tension kept me turning pages!” (HarperCollins, 2024)
Mystery
‘The Mistletoe Mystery’ by Nita Prose
Ballentine
“I fell in love with Molly Gray, the title character in Nita Prose’s The Maid series, so when I saw a holiday novella featuring the quirky, naive hotel maid, I was all in,” says Patty Bontekoe, FIRST Executive Editor. “And it did not disappoint!” Molly adores the holidays almost as much as she loves her job at the Regency Grand Hotel. But this year, her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, a pastry chef at the hotel, is acting odd. And before long, she finds herself wrapped up in another mystery, wondering what is going on at the hotel—and what he’s actually up to in the days leading up to the staff’s Secret Santa gift exchange. Says Patty, “This heartwarming story was exactly what I needed to get into the holiday spirit.” (Ballantine, 2024)
Thriller
‘Here One Moment’ by Liane Moriarty
Crown
“I’ve been a fan of Liane Moriarty’s for years, and when I heard the premise of Here One Moment, I was hooked,” says Rachel Cosma, FIRST Health Director. On a short domestic flight, a woman dubbed “The Death Lady” tells each passenger when and how they’ll die. Most shrug it off—until one person dies as she predicted. Then two more. Soon, the rest of the passengers must decide how to spend their remaining time or dare to try to change their destinies. “This powerful saga inspired me to slow down and focus on what truly matters,” says Rachel. (Crown, 2024) 

Self-help
‘Your Best Financial Life’ by Anne Lester
William Morrow
“Learning about finances is overwhelming and confusing,” admits Kristina Mastrocola, FIRST Senior Editor. “That is, until I found this simple guide!” Anne Lester, former head of retirement solutions for JPMorgan Asset Management, shares practical, easy-to-follow advice on everything from the magic of compounding to the difference between dollar cost averaging and lump sum investing. Says Kristina, “I feel more confident and prepared now that I’ve implemented so many of the strategies I learned from Lester: Hello, Roth IRA!” (William Morrow, 2024)
Fantasy
‘Atalanta’ by Jennifer Saint
Flatiron

“Between the daring adventure and complex characters, Jennifer Saint’s Greek mythology retellings are so good—and I couldn’t wait to read this one,” says Erin McCarthy, FIRST Graphic Designer. Atalanta’s life is simple and free, until one day, Artemis selects Atalanta to be her champion. She embarks with the Argonauts on the quest to get the golden fleece. But as she is tested, her quest evolves into a journey of self-realization. “The story showcases how Atalanta makes her own choices while facing opposition,” says Erin. “It’s a celebration of ­powerful women!” (Flatiron, 2023)
Romance
‘You, With a View’ by Jessica Joyce
Berkley
“A friend told me this story’s enemies-to-lovers trope was executed immaculately,” says Courtney Shapiro, FIRST Digital Associate Editor. “And she was right!” Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her grandmother when she comes across letters detailing her Gram’s forbidden love. Desperate to know more, Noelle makes a TikTok video that goes viral. Next, Noelle finds herself taking Gram’s planned honeymoon trip with the man Gram loved, Paul. The catch? Paul’s grandson, Theo—Noelle’s rival—is joining them. “Joyce also captured grief beautifully,” says Courtney. “She showed how honoring lost loved ones helps us heal.” (Berkley, 2023)

CIMMYT at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit 2024

Technology

At the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, CIMMYT was distinguished through Jelle Van Loon, Juan Cortina, and Andrea Gardeazabal, who are driving collaboration, the use of open data, and regenerative practices to address the climate crisis and transform agriculture.
Jelle Van Loon during his participation in the panel “Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Mexico: Corporate and Government Programs Supporting Small Growers to Adopt Climate-Smart Practices.” (Photo: Francisco Alarcón / CIMMYT)
At the recent World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit (October 29-30), two representatives and a member of CIMMYT’s Board of Directors—Jelle Van Loon (Associate Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and Regional Representative for Latin America), Andrea Gardeazabal (Manager of Monitoring and Evaluation of Information and Communication Technology for Agriculture at CIMMYT), and Juan Cortina (member of CIMMYT’s Board of Directors and President of the National Agricultural Council)—shared a comprehensive view on the challenges and progress towards a more sustainable and resilient agriculture. The event brought together global leaders in technology, innovation, and sustainability, serving as a platform to highlight CIMMYT’s role in transforming the agri-food sector.
Andrea Gardeazabal, in her presentation, highlighted the urgency of addressing the climate crisis with actions based on data and collaboration. “With 10 years of data on regenerative practices, we are moving towards an agriculture that not only restores ecosystems but also responds to the challenges of climate change,” Andrea said. She emphasized the importance of creating an environment of open and standardized data access for regenerative agriculture to scale globally. Through a long-term testing network and the development of digital technologies, CIMMYT has laid the groundwork for practices that optimize agronomic management and improve water use efficiency—critical in the current context of water scarcity.
Andrea Gardeazabal, during her participation in the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit. (Photo: Francisco Alarcón / CIMMYT)
Juan Cortina underscored the importance of collaboration between Mexico and the United States for the growth of Mexico’s agri-food sector. He emphasized how nearshoring, promoted since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), has allowed Mexico to specialize in products that complement U.S. production. “Our country is the ninth-largest agricultural producer and the seventh-largest agro-exporter in the world, which demonstrates the impact of strategic collaboration in North America,” said Cortina. He also highlighted that this supply chain integration, strengthened by access to key inputs such as U.S. corn, is vital for the region’s food security.
Jelle Van Loon emphasized that CIMMYT’s role at the World Agri-Tech Summit reflects the organization’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. He highlighted how Andrea and Juan’s interventions underscored CIMMYT’s multidimensional approach: combining science and practice, applying advanced technology, and fostering global partnerships to accelerate agricultural transformation. “Our work at CIMMYT is an example of how collaboration and knowledge-sharing can have a real and lasting impact on agriculture and global food security,” concluded Jelle.
Juan Cortina, a member of CIMMYT’s Board of Directors, participates in the panel discussion “Capitalizing on Nearshoring: Alliances between Mexico and International Partners.” (Photo: Francisco Alarcón / CIMMYT)
CIMMYT’s message at the event was clear: to scale up regenerative agriculture and address climate challenges, we need more data, more collaboration, and a shared vision of the future. In Andrea’s words: “Safe and sustainable agricultural transformation will only be possible if we work together and share our progress and knowledge on a global scale.”
Innovation in the agricultural sector demonstrates that science, technology, and collaboration are essential to achieve resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture. These forums encourage the agri-food sector to strengthen collaborative networks and food security, thus promoting a brighter agricultural future.