Start the Clock

📝FBI Hate Crime Report

The number of hate crimes in the U.S. rose last year to the highest level since 2008, according to an FBI report published Monday (7,314). The Bureau recorded 51 hate crime murders in 2019 (including 22 people killed in a shooting that targeted Mexicans at a Walmart in El Paso, TX), the most since the agency began collecting that data in the early 1990s.

More: When used in this context, the word “hate” does not mean rage, anger, or general dislike. In this context, “hate” means bias against people or groups with specific characteristics that are defined by the law. (DOJ)

🤺 Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach Arrested

Former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand and Harvard parent and businessman Jie Zhao were arrested on conspiracy charges yesterday morning. Federal prosecutors allege that Zhao paid Brand more than $1.5M over several years to ensure his two sons were admitted as fencing recruits into Harvard in 2013 and 2017.

More: The case is separate from the “Varsity Blues” scandal, where federal prosecutors indicted 53 parents on similar charges of bribery to get their children into elite U.S. colleges.

⚜️ Boy Scout Abuse Claims

Around 90k sexual abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America as part of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings that began in February. At that time, the organization faced 275 lawsuits in state and federal courts, plus another 1,400 potential claims.

🦠 COVID Quick Hits:

• More than one million U.S. children have tested positive for COVID-19 according to data from 49 states (with 133 deaths reported across 42 states), the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association reported on Monday.
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom pulled what he called the “emergency brake” yesterday, placing 41 of the state’s 58 counties (representing ~94% of residents) under the most restrictive tier of lockdown orders effective today.

💵 Market Moves

🛏️ Airbnb submitted its IPO filing to the SEC on Monday, stating a target of $1B (which will likely be updated later). The company also disclosed earnings through the first three quarters of 2020. (Dig deeper)

🚘 Tesla will join the S&P 500 on December 21 of this year.

📈 The Dow closed at an all-time high on Monday (+1.6% to 29,950.44), with the other two major U.S. stock indexes also rising. (S&P +1.2% | Nasdaq +0.8%)

💉 Modern(a) Solutions

Moderna announced preliminary results from a Phase 3 trial yesterday suggesting its experimental coronavirus vaccine was ~94.5% effective at preventing new COVID-19 infections when compared with a placebo. The news comes after Pfizer said last Monday its vaccine candidate was more than 90% effective (also based on early results from a Phase 3 trial).

🪑 Musical Chair

SEC Chairman Jay Clayton announced he will be stepping down at the end of 2020, ahead of the expiration of his term in June 2021. During his three-and-a-half year tenure, Clayton oversaw ~$14B in various fines and agreements, including a record $4.68B in fiscal 2020. SEC chairs traditionally step down when the presidency changes hands.

SEC Fun Fact: The agency’s whistleblower program paid out $175M in awards to 39 tipsters in fiscal 2020 out of more than 6.9k total tips. (All three numbers represent record highs)

💾 Best Day Ever

Parker Buchholz, a young boy with autism from Fort Wayne, IN, loves all things electronic – from televisions to computers to DVDs. As a result, his mom Erika explains, Parker dreams of someday working at Best Buy, a store that sells all of his favorite technological gadgets and gear. This fall, Erika reached out to the local Best Buy team and asked if they would give her an employee shirt for Parker to wear for Halloween.

The staff agreed, but with one stipulation: Parker had to come into the store and earn the shirt.

When Parker and his mother arrived at the Best Buy, three staff members stood waiting for him with his own personal shirt and nametag (photos). The warmhearted workers let the ecstatic young boy pick out all of the merchandise he wanted, insisting he scan all of his items like a real employee and fulfill his dream.

🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookie Caper

One morning in April, Jeremy Uhrich, a middle school English teacher from Huntingdon, PA, was scrolling through Facebook when a post from friend Scott McKenzie caught his eye. Scott, who was trying to teach himself a new skill each week during quarantine, had just made his first batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and bragged about his achievement on the social media platform.

The thing was, Jeremy had also made his own batch of cookies that very morning.

Jeremy subsequently challenged his buddy to a bake-off. After Scott accepted, the two men agreed to have local frontline workers judge the sweet treats to show gratitude for their work during the pandemic. The pair grew the lighthearted competition into the Cookies for Caregivers group on Facebook, where more than 100 bakers have joined forces to deliver more than 15,000 cookies to workers at local hospitals, fire departments, and groceries stores since April.

🚑 Saved By A Belle

On Veterans Day, Hollyanne Milley, wife of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, attended an annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, with her husband when she heard a clamor erupt from behind. Turning around, Hollyanne found a veteran had collapsed and was now lying unconscious on the ground.

That was when Hollyanne – who has worked as a nurse for 33 years – sprang into action.

After instructing one of the other bystanders to call 911, the seasoned healthcare worker inspected the unconscious man and discovered he was no longer breathing and had no pulse. Hollyanne proceeded to perform two cycles of CPR on the fallen veteran until, at last, he took a deep breath on his own and regained consciousness. The saved serviceman, who was taken to the hospital, is grateful that he will be around next year to continue to honor all those who have served.

The Great Entertaining & Snacking Season is Upon Us.

Back to Nature’s selection of delicious and flavorful plant-based snacks are sure to keep you and your guests happy through a small dinner party, holiday get together, or just a quiet night at home this holiday season.

Simply Delicious, Simply Good.
Whether it’s crackers for your charcuterie board, granola or nuts & trail mix for satisfying snacking, or cookies for dessert, Back to Nature has you covered.