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DAN GAINOR: November’s Nuttiest News: An Elvis judge, COP chaos and more media lunacy
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Here’s your round up of the seven wildest stories from last month. Let’s get started with the blazing insanity of a climate conference in Brazil and then look at six others.
1. COP Chaos
It’s November, and that usually means the eco-loons come out of the woodwork. For the past several years, November has brought the annual meeting of the Conference of the Parties, or COP. This year was COP30, held in Brazil and drawing more than 56,000 delegates and business representatives from around the globe. Yep, you made the connection — that’s a carbon footprint the size of a small city, flying all around the world to protest … the use of carbon.
It was far worse than that. First, there’s the massive highway they built right through the Amazon to get to the conference instead of, you know, doing it online. According to the BBC, that meant eight miles of “a new four-lane highway cutting through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest.”
The highway had been proposed back in 2012, “but it had repeatedly been shelved because of environmental concerns.”
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Then rooms at the event were so expensive even some of the delegates balked at the cost. (And most weren’t paying for themselves.) So Brazil brought in two large cruise ships to house poorer delegates. One of them advertised that it “offers 11 restaurants, 12 bars, 3 swimming pools, and 8 hot tubs.” Life’s tough working to save Mother Earth. That’s not a climate event — it’s a 56,000-person group vacation.
2. The less-than-excellent Mr. Burns
We’re talking Ken Burns, sometime historian and all-around lefty. Burns is in the news for his new documentary series on the Revolutionary War. I’ll leave fact-checking that to actual historians. I’m here to mock Burns for his elitist view of rural America. Burns was interviewed on Bulwark’s “How to Fix It” podcast, and he decided to shill for his paymasters in formerly public media.
According to Burns, defunding public media will hurt us in non-blue America. “It’ll hurt mostly rural communities — maybe that’s their intention. There’ll be news deserts.”
That’s right, folks in rural America must not have things like the internet to find news. He sounds like he expects us to be upset because we can’t hear NPR while sitting in our outhouse and drinking our moonshine.
Ken Burns speaks onstage during the New York premiere of PBS’ “The American Revolution,” featuring Ken Burns and Tom Hanks, during the 2025 Atlantic Festival on September 18, 2025, in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Rural America barely even notices public media. Those outlets are designed for upscale urban audiences who are more than 90% liberal. A country boy can survive … without NPR’s ever-left spin on the news.
3. A Toast to the Post
Things are changing in the opinion section of The Washington Post. In an effort to reach out to other voices, the paper launched a new section called Ripple. Depending on your age, that might mean what happens when you toss a pebble into a pond. Or it could conjure images of the great Redd Foxx playing Fred Sanford in “Sanford and Son.” His preferred drink on the show was a fortified wine called Ripple. For oldsters like myself, one wonders if the other names they considered were Mad Dog, Night Train or Thunderbird.
Things are changing in the opinion section of The Washington Post. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
4. Farmers No Longer Dig It
Change, as we learned from President Barack Obama, is often not so good. Such is the fate for the Farmers’ Almanac. The almanac is, well, buying the farm. No, not that almanac, the other one — or, as The Associated Press put it, “not to be confused with its older, longtime competitor, The Old Farmer’s Almanac in neighboring New Hampshire.”
Still, this Maine-based almanac has 208 years under its prodigious belt, and AP says, “it’s believed to be the oldest continually published periodical in North America.”
The Maine State Capitol in Augusta. (eyecrave productions via Getty Images)
All that is ending in 2026 due to a “chaotic media environment.” The staff has nothing to be ashamed of. They outlasted more than half the newspapers I ever worked for. Chaotic, indeed.
5. Down on the Farm
And while we are down on the farm, let’s talk sheep, followed by goat cuddling. The Washington Post ran a feature on a farmer who rescues gay sheep, under the memorable headline, “I love your sweater. Is it made from gay sheep wool?”
According to the Post, “As many as one in 12 male sheep are non-procreative but show an — ahem — interest in other rams.” So the farmer, whose sheep carry names like “Marvin Gay,” did “a fashion hookup with Grindr,” appropriately the gay hookup site. Together, they launched a fashion show “to promote Rainbow Wool.” The title of the show: “I Wool Survive.”
Not to be outdone, USA Today marked Thanksgiving by writing about “turkey cuddle therapy.” “Cuddling turkeys, in particular,” we are told, “can be profound.” But don’t you dare touch a turkey without its permission. “All interaction between guests and animals happens on the animals’ terms − in other words, the turkey needs to choose me,” wrote the author.
I will tell you, I cuddled some turkey on Thanksgiving — along with mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
A Thanksgiving dinner featuring cooked turkey and more. (iStock)
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6. House Hating
The media are bombarding us with well-earned complaints about how expensive life is for most Americans and how hard it is to buy a house. Leave it to lefty Vox to zig while the entire world zags. Vox ran a piece in November headlined, “Why owning a house is overrated.”
Yeah, building equity and having a place you can fix up and call home — what craziness. What followed was an interview with Jerusalem Demsas, editor-in-chief of The Argument, who argues: “Homeownership is overrated.” Now, I agree houses don’t always go up in value, but to come out against the American Dream is uniquely liberal.
Yes, houses don’t always go up in value, but to come out against the American Dream is uniquely liberal.
7. Hunka Hunka Burnin’ … Law
Movies that involve quirky judges are more honest than we want to admit. A Missouri judge is losing his job for wearing an Elvis wig and playing “The King” during court cases.
St. Louis Judge Matthew Thornhill “faces a six-month unpaid suspension under the deal he reached with the state,” according to AP. After that, he gets 18 more months on the bench before he steps down, possibly to go on tour. (People magazine even had photos of him as Elvis.)
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The Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline went after his love for the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” noting how he posed “with staff in a plastic Elvis wig and sunglasses” and sang from the bench.
(St. Louis Judge Matthew Thornhill.)
The Elvis-is-everywhere schtick allegedly violated rules on “order and decorum,” despite 35 letters backing the judge’s character. So the judge was judged and found wanting.
On the bright side, he might have the makings of a sequel to “My Cousin Vinny.”
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Holiday deliveries are stacking up on Boston doorsteps and police warn that means porch pirate season is back.
In the past year, one in four Americans was a victim of package theft with losses averaging between $50 and $100 per incident, according data in a report on package thefts in 2025 from security.org.
December is the peak month for porch pirates, with households receiving 10 more packages on average at the end of the year than at the start, the report found. Additionally, those who live in apartments and condos are over three times as likely to have packages stolen than people in single-family homes.
The crimes are something Boston residents are no stranger to.
During the holiday season in 2024, South Boston was terrorized by an individual the Boston Police Department dubbed the “Tom Brady of Porch Pirates.”
A 34-year-old woman named Kerri Flynn was arrested in connection with the thieveries on Christmas Eve 2024, after a Boston police cadet saw her in South Boston holding two bags stuffed with unopened packages.
Prosecutors ultimately dismissed her charges related to the South Boston thefts, as she pleaded guilty to charges in two other larceny cases. Flynn was sentenced to a year of probation with conditions to remain drug-free with screens and undergo a substance abuse evaluation with treatment.
To avoid another season of stolen gifts, Boston police are urging residents to take precautions and released a video on the topic Thursday.
The department advises to track deliveries and be home — or ask a neighbor — to grab them, or use secure options like lockers or scheduled drop-offs. Police also say to install a doorbell camera and immediately report any missing items, regardless of price or size.
Carriers like Amazon, FedEx, UPS and USPS also have a few more pieces of advice, like requiring signatures for high-value items and to avoid leaving packages out overnight.
Amazon recommends using Lockers or Hub Counters and enabling Photo-on-Delivery, while UPS suggests signing up for My Choice to redirect packages to Access Points. USPS also offers “Informed Delivery” and options to hold for pickup — all tools that may keep holiday gifts from getting intercepted before they reach the tree.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best prospect in baseball in Konnor Griffin, who heads into a crucial 2026 season with great expectations on him.
Griffin turns 20 years old next April, but could ink his future with the Pirates before he even makes a plate appearance at the major league level.
The Pirates aren’t known for their frivolous spending, but keeping Griffin around for the long-term and committing to that early on in his career might be the way to go.
Pirates GM Addresses Konnor Griffin Extension.
Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic spoke to Pirates general manager Ben Cherington at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. this week.
They spoke on a host of topics, like free agency, trades and offseason plans, as well as whether they would try and sign Griffin to an extension.
Cherington said that they haven’t had discussions with Griffin on a potential extension, as their focus is more on what is most important this offseason, such as big-time trades and signing free agents to bolster their lineup in 2026.
“You chase down 100 things, and three, four or five land,” Cherington said to Nesbitt. “That’s just the way it works. That’s still the stage we’re at.”
Would the Pirates Actually Sign Griffin to an Extension?
Most teams don’t normally sign players that haven’t made their MLB debut, but it has happened before in recent years.
Outfielder Jackson Chourio signed an eight-year, $82 million extension with the Milwaukee Brewers on Dec. 4, 2023.
Chourio had a solid start, finishing third in 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Award voting, with Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes winning the award.
The one prior to that was the Chicago White Sox signing outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to a six-year, $50 million contract in 2020.
There have also been four other times this has happened, but for lesser money that both Chourio and Robert signed without making their MLB debut.
|
Name |
Team |
Extension |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jon Singelton |
Houston Astros |
5 Years, $10 million |
2014 |
|
Scott Kingery |
Philadelphia Phillies |
6 Years, $24 million |
2018 |
|
Eloy Jiménez |
Chicago White Sox |
6 Years, $43 million |
2019 |
|
Evan White |
Seattle Mariners |
6 Years, $24 million |
2019 |
|
Luis Robert Jr. |
Chicago White Sox |
6 Years, $50 million |
2020 |
|
Jackson Chourio |
Milwaukee Brewers |
8 Years, $82 milllion |
2023 |
The Pirates would likely have to pay more than what Chourio got, with Griffin having the title of best prospect in baseball.
Still, they would likely sign him for much less right now than if he does make his MLB debut in 2026 and has a great season, like winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Why Konnor Griffin is Deserving of an Extension
No one expected Griffin to have the season he did after the Pirates took him ninth overall out of Jackson Preparatory School in Jackson, Miss., but he not only exceeded those expectations, he became a star in the making in less than a year.
Griffin quickly moved up in the Pirates minor league system. He started out with Single-A Bradenton after a strong showing in Spring Training, moved to High-A Greensboro on June 10, then finished off with Double-A Altoona on Aug. 18.
He slashed .333/.415/.527 for an OPS of .942 in 122 games this season, with 161 hits, 23 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs, 50 walks to 122 strikeouts and 65 stolen bases on 13 attempts.
The 19-year old led all of minor league baseball with 117 runs scored and the 19-year old became the first teenage draftee to have a 20-40 season, finishing with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases. He was also the first minor league player to have a 20-60 season since 1982.
Griffin ranked amongst the best players in the minor leagues, including second in runs scored, fourth in batting average, fifth in hits, tied for seventh in RBIs and tied for eighth in stolen bases.
He was the first teenager since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to hit .333 or better in a minor league season. He is also one of just five teenagers that were a part of the 20-40 club and stole the most bases of that group.
Griffin also played in the Futures Game during All-Star week, honoring the best prospects in baseball. Altoona teammate Esmerlyn Valdez joined him there as well, as the duo represented the Pirates for the National League.
Accolades Pile on for Griffin
Griffin’s great play earned him many awards and accolades, including earning the title of top prospect in baseball, with Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and The Athletic giving him the coveted spot.
He also won honors like Baseball America naming him their Minor League Player of the Year Award and MLB Pipeline naming him their Hitting Prospect of the Year and Debut of the Year.
The Pirates also honored Griffin with the Honus Wagner Player of the Year, given to the best player in their minor leagues, and the Bill Mazeroski Defender of the Year, given to the best defensive player in the minor leagues.
Griffin ended his season by earning an MiLB Gold Glove Award, which bodes well for the Pirates, who are reportedly eyeing him as the starting shortstop for 2026 Opening Day.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
Connecticut
CT Weather: Initial Snow Accumulation Estimates Released: Here’s When, How Much To Expect
Meteorologists are predicting the next storm system in Connecticut could bring a couple inches of snow this weekend.
WTNH reports snow will start late Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning.
“There is pretty good agreement with light snow amounts statewide with up to around 2″ expected,” WTNH says.
Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
WFSB reports long-range models have been “all over the place with the development of a coastal storm.”
According to WFSB, some show the system moving to the south of Connecticut, which would make the impact on weekend plans “minimal.” Another model, however, shows a greater impact on Connecticut, which could mean a “coating to an inch” of snow, WFSB reports.
Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
WFSB as of Thursday also predicts the timing would be late Saturday night through Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service as of Thursday has increased the odds of snow in this weekend timeframe to 50 percent, up from 30 percent.
In the short term, it is going to be very windy today.
The National Weather Service has advisories for northern and southern parts of Connecticut due to high winds, with possible gusts of up to 50 miles per hour.
Today, Friday and daytime Saturday will be clear and dry, according to the National Weather Service, with high temperatures starting in the low to mid-30s and gradually warming.
“Saturday is the pick of the weekend, as it will be dry and relatively milder,” WFSB reports. “While we could start bright, cloud cover will be on the increase with temps that peak between 35 and 40. Sunday will be colder as temps only reach the upper 20s and lower 30s.”
The National Weather Service indicates the chance for snow begins around midnight Saturday.
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. West wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 32. West wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A chance of snow, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Here are the forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. West wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. West wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Snow likely after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of snow before 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 33.
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