WEBVTT 00:00:01.620 --> 00:00:04.540 Good morning and a warm welcome to your show, 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:09.099 Sunny Mornings in Boston. I'm your host, Melissa, 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:14.039 and it's Thursday, December 18th. You'll be interested 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:21.019 to know. 69 years ago, today, in 1956, the United 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:24.660 Nations admitted Japan to full membership, restoring 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:27.399 Tokyo's standing in the global community after 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:31.149 a difficult postwar recovery. This milestone 00:00:31.149 --> 00:00:34.149 marked a major step in reintegration, signaling 00:00:34.149 --> 00:00:36.950 international recognition of Japan's sovereignty 00:00:36.950 --> 00:00:40.329 and opening avenues for diplomatic collaboration 00:00:40.329 --> 00:00:45.570 and economic rebuilding. So now you know. And 00:00:45.570 --> 00:00:52.009 now, it's time for the weather report. This morning 00:00:52.009 --> 00:00:55.770 it's sunny and it feels like 34 degrees, with 00:00:55.770 --> 00:00:59.969 2 mile per hour wind. The sunset will take place 00:00:59.969 --> 00:01:04.349 at 413, and it will rise again tomorrow at 707. 00:01:05.390 --> 00:01:07.689 It looks like we're in for a sunny day with a 00:01:07.689 --> 00:01:11.469 high near 49 and a light south wind around 5. 00:01:12.269 --> 00:01:16.209 Tonight, expect patchy fog early with a slight 00:01:16.209 --> 00:01:19.469 chance of rain, mostly cloudy skies and a low 00:01:19.469 --> 00:01:22.609 of 40, while winds pick up to around 10 with 00:01:22.609 --> 00:01:26.329 gusts up to 32. For all you beach runners out 00:01:26.329 --> 00:01:29.329 there, The first high tide Thursday will be just 00:01:29.329 --> 00:01:34.209 before 10, with a low tide at 415. The nearshore 00:01:34.209 --> 00:01:38.569 buoy at Cape Cod Bay reads 44 degrees for the 00:01:38.569 --> 00:01:42.650 water temperature. Looking ahead in the weather, 00:01:44.010 --> 00:01:46.930 Friday will be cloudy with rain likely and highs 00:01:46.930 --> 00:01:50.950 near 59, with a southwest wind of about 15 to 00:01:50.950 --> 00:01:55.109 20 miles per hour and gusts as high as 45. producing 00:01:55.109 --> 00:01:59.290 up to about one inch of rain. Friday night into 00:01:59.290 --> 00:02:02.090 Saturday brings breezy conditions with a chance 00:02:02.090 --> 00:02:05.609 of showers early, lows falling to the upper 20s. 00:02:05.849 --> 00:02:08.729 Then Saturday will be mostly sunny, with highs 00:02:08.729 --> 00:02:11.729 near 40 and lighter west winds gusting into the 00:02:11.729 --> 00:02:16.409 mid -20s. Bonjour, food enthusiasts! This podcast 00:02:16.409 --> 00:02:19.550 is brought to you by Versailles Café and Pastries 00:02:19.550 --> 00:02:23.599 in Encinitas. Nestled on El Camino Real South, 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:27.080 just north of Encinitas Boulevard, this cafe 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:31.139 is a haven for culinary delights. Indulge in 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:34.620 their amazing Eggs Benedict or their gluten -free 00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:38.680 crepes. You can grab a panini for lunch or just 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:40.860 breeze on through to get your morning coffee. 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:45.500 They are open every day from 8 to 5. So stop 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:48.900 on by and don't forget to tell them. Sunny mornings 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:54.669 send you. In local news, Boston convenience store 00:02:54.669 --> 00:02:57.629 owners are facing federal charges in connection 00:02:57.629 --> 00:03:00.409 with a scheme involving more than $7 million 00:03:00.409 --> 00:03:03.750 in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 00:03:03.750 --> 00:03:08.650 Program benefits. Solalism, owner of the Solmacho 00:03:08.650 --> 00:03:12.030 Store, and Antonio Bontor, owner of the Gizola 00:03:12.030 --> 00:03:15.430 Variety Store, are accused of exchanging SNAP 00:03:15.430 --> 00:03:19.650 benefits for cash. U .S. Attorney for Massachusetts, 00:03:20.050 --> 00:03:22.840 Leah Foley. stated that the businesses operated 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.900 from a shared storefront in Mattapan and redeemed 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:29.319 far more SNAP benefits than their inventory supported. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:32.979 Investigators found financial records lacking 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:35.960 legitimate grocery operations, instead showing 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:39.120 cash transactions used to launder SNAP benefits. 00:03:40.460 --> 00:03:43.039 Fully emphasized that these men abused taxpayer 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:51.539 money meant to prevent hunger. Now on to sports. 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:55.620 The Bears are exploring moving out of Chicago 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:59.419 and into Indiana. The team has been in Chicago 00:03:59.419 --> 00:04:02.539 for more than 100 years, having moved to the 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:07.740 city in 1921 from Decatur, Illinois. Bears president 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:10.439 Kevin Warren announced the team's latest stadium 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:13.539 plans, stating the need to evaluate opportunities 00:04:13.539 --> 00:04:16.680 throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:20.290 northwest Indiana. Warren emphasized that this 00:04:20.290 --> 00:04:23.470 is not about leverage and that the team is committed 00:04:23.470 --> 00:04:26.990 to Chicago. The Bears face obstacles in their 00:04:26.990 --> 00:04:30.029 search for a new stadium, but moving to Indiana 00:04:30.029 --> 00:04:34.389 is now Plan C. Houting a team play in a state 00:04:34.389 --> 00:04:38.009 outside of its city is rare, but not unprecedented. 00:04:39.250 --> 00:04:42.129 Looking at tonight, Sam Darnold was far from 00:04:42.129 --> 00:04:44.610 his best when he faced the Seattle Seahawks, 00:04:44.750 --> 00:04:47.370 and he knows he must perform better after tossing 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:50.319 four interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:53.860 on November 16th. Darnold's rematch with the 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:56.699 Rams carries significant implications for the 00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:00.259 NFC West title, as both teams are tied atop the 00:05:00.259 --> 00:05:04.100 division. Darnold stated, we are excited about 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:07.300 this challenge, acknowledging his previous performance. 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:11.579 The Rams defense ranks 13th in the NFL, creating 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:14.199 issues for Darnold while the Seahawks offense 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:18.019 has struggled to score early. Rams coach Sean 00:05:18.019 --> 00:05:21.519 McFay remarked, there is no weakness, highlighting 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:25.439 both teams' strengths. If Devonte Adams is out, 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:29.180 the Rams will miss their leading receiver. Kickoff 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:33.019 is at 8 .15 Eastern, tonight on Amazon Prime 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:38.060 Video. In local sports, the Bruins will host 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:42.139 the Edmonton Oilers tonight at 7. This matchup 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:45.019 comes after Morgan GK's impressive two -goal 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:48.339 game helped the Bruins secure a 4 -1 victory 00:05:48.339 --> 00:05:52.180 against the Utah Mammoth. Boston boasts a 12 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:55.620 -win and five -loss record at home, and 20 wins 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:59.879 and 14 losses overall. In contrast, Edmonton 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:03.759 holds an 8 -wins, 9 -losses, and 3 -overtime 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:07.779 losses record on the road, with 16 wins, 12 losses, 00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:11.769 and 6 -overtime losses overall. This will be 00:06:11.769 --> 00:06:14.310 the first meeting between these teams this season. 00:06:16.629 --> 00:06:20.290 In top news, yesterday, a United States judge 00:06:20.290 --> 00:06:23.170 indicated she would block President Donald Trump's 00:06:23.170 --> 00:06:26.089 administration from laying off hundreds of federal 00:06:26.089 --> 00:06:30.110 employees, citing a shutdown law. The U .S. District 00:06:30.110 --> 00:06:33.490 Judge, Susan Elston, stated that layoffs at four 00:06:33.490 --> 00:06:36.730 agencies were likely invalid under a law passed 00:06:36.730 --> 00:06:40.370 under recent government shutdown. She intends 00:06:40.370 --> 00:06:42.889 to block the U .S. State Department and Education 00:06:42.889 --> 00:06:47.769 Department from laying off about 250 and 150 00:06:47.769 --> 00:06:51.750 employees respectively. The judge plans to reinstate 00:06:51.750 --> 00:06:55.209 roughly 300 employees who lost their jobs during 00:06:55.209 --> 00:06:58.649 the shutdown. Elston's ruling has been praised 00:06:58.649 --> 00:07:04.050 by unions involved in the case. In business news, 00:07:04.900 --> 00:07:07.600 Walmart has maintained its stance on avoiding 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:10.560 near -field communication -based payments, such 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:15.139 as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Other major retailers 00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:17.839 have increasingly accepted this technology as 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:21.240 the norm. Walmart offers its own contactless 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:24.139 payment options, which provide key advantages. 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:28.420 The retail giant strategy has confused customers 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:31.720 over the years, as many expect to pay using their 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:35.439 phones. Analysts suggest that while accepting 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:39.399 tap -to -pay does not incur extra fees, upgrading 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:43.120 payment hardware can be costly. Walmart's preference 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.480 for its own payment tools allows it to collect 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.819 valuable customer data. For now, the company 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:51.639 seems to be doing just fine by bucking the trend. 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:57.620 In crypto movement, Bitcoin is down 1 % to about 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:03.850 $87 ,000. Ethereum is down 4%. to just over $2 00:08:03.850 --> 00:08:12.329 ,800. And XRP is down 3 % to $1 .85. Moving on 00:08:12.329 --> 00:08:16.269 to a more local vibe. In our community spotlight 00:08:16.269 --> 00:08:19.189 on health and wellness, we are working with a 00:08:19.189 --> 00:08:22.029 national Pilates studio to bring you some free 00:08:22.029 --> 00:08:26.350 classes, so listen up. Check out Club Pilates 00:08:26.350 --> 00:08:29.850 with several locations in the Boston area. Pilates 00:08:29.850 --> 00:08:33.289 presents a comprehensive wellness approach. cultivating 00:08:33.289 --> 00:08:36.769 strength, reducing tension, and elevating mental 00:08:36.769 --> 00:08:40.149 well -being. Scientific research affirms its 00:08:40.149 --> 00:08:44.210 benefits. So now you can check out Club Pilates 00:08:44.210 --> 00:08:48.409 for a free class. With locations in Canton, Wellesley, 00:08:48.789 --> 00:08:52.509 Hingham, Brookline, and Framingham, just be sure 00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:56.990 to tell them Sunny Morning sent you by. And now, 00:08:57.230 --> 00:09:02.169 back to the show. Let's talk tech. The TikTok 00:09:02.169 --> 00:09:05.590 ban was set for December 16, but it did not happen, 00:09:05.809 --> 00:09:10.009 and here is why. President Donald Trump has postponed 00:09:10.009 --> 00:09:13.950 the ban on TikTok five times this year. The deadline 00:09:13.950 --> 00:09:16.769 was extended after concerns regarding the app's 00:09:16.769 --> 00:09:20.549 Chinese ownership. Chinese tech company ByteDance 00:09:20.549 --> 00:09:24.230 owns TikTok, and in 2024, President Joe Biden 00:09:24.230 --> 00:09:27.210 signed a law requiring its sale due to national 00:09:27.210 --> 00:09:30.759 security concerns. The band date was nullified 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:34.000 on September 25th, extending the prohibition 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:39.679 to January 23rd, 2026. Messages from Washington 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:43.240 continue to label TikTok as a privacy threat, 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:49.460 with the band now anticipated for January. And 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:53.080 in entertainment news, the Rolling Stones have 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:56.480 called off plans for a 2026 stadium tour of the 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.120 United Kingdom and Europe. A source close to 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:02.320 the band confirms to Variety, following reports 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:05.500 that guitarist Keith Richards was unable to commit 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:09.059 to it. While the band's touring pianist and a 00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:11.279 spokesperson mentioned they nearly completed 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:15.580 a new album, Richards, who turns 82, is unable 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:19.320 to handle the rakers of another tour. The band 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.740 plans to return to the stage when they are ready. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:26.200 Well, alrighty folks, it's time for the quote 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:30.259 of the day. And today, our quote comes from the 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:33.639 American historian and author, Henry Steele Comaker. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:46.860 And he said, And that's a wrap for this morning. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:50.639 You can check out our Instagram, YouTube, and 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:54.360 TikTok for some captivating aerial videos with 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:58.470 local news and the weather reports. Had an amazing 00:10:58.470 --> 00:11:00.850 day, my good friends. We'll see you tomorrow 00:11:00.850 --> 00:11:03.970 with another episode of Sunny Mornings in Boston.