Ivanka Trump is reportedly set to attend the election night party at Mar-a-lago. 

In the swing state of North Carolina, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump competed for the 16 Electoral College votes, with Trump coming out on top.

Republican businessman Bernie Moreno is projected to win the U.S. Senate race in Ohio, according to Decision Desk HQ. Moreno was projected the winner in the race over Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 50.7% to 46% with 86% of the vote in. Moreno’s victory could go a long way toward determining which party has control of the U.S. Senate starting in January. Brown, who has been in office since 2007, had been losing ground in the polls against Moreno for months. Brown had attempted to present himself as a moderate, especially on energy, vowing that he would “not turn my back on Ohio’s rural electric co-ops, Ohio energy workers, and Ohio families whose energy bills are already too high.” MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+ In September, however, he participated in a campaign event alongside a radical environmentalist group pushing to close the state’s largest coal plant. Moreno, a Colombian-born businessman, supports stronger border security and said that “energy dominance” will be one of his top issues if he is elected. Moreno had also pushed to abolish the Department of Education, arguing that it has a “stranglehold on our kids.” Zach Jewell contributed to this report.

Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro talked to Megyn Kelly on Tuesday night about the early election results and said he was feeling “cautiously optimistic.” During Kelly’s 2024 election special, Shapiro, known for his “facts don’t care about your feelings” adage, was asked by Kelly how he was feeling. He replied, “I don’t do feelings.” The Daily Wire host then added that “early indicators” in places like his home state of Florida could show “good bellwethers” as the polling locations start closing across the country for the election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. “I’ve heard some indicators, some rumblings, from people inside some of the campaigns in Pennsylvania that she, Kamala Harris, is not getting the urban turnout that she’s looking for, thus far,” the Daily Wire host said. “But rural turnout is really, really high, which is, of course, precisely what Trump needs.” “So again, I think that cautious optimism is probably the only response given the data that we are seeing thus far,” he added. “One of the things that I just find hard to comprehend is the possibility that anybody would be enthusiastic voting for her.” “This is the thing I keep coming back to in this election cycle. I have heard a lot of people make the case for Trump. I’m one of those people,” Shapiro continued. “I’ve heard a lot of people make the case against Donald Trump. … The thing I have never heard anyone make is a case for Kamala Harris. Because that case does not exist. Kamala Harris can’t even make a case for Kamala Harris.” Kelly pointed out that some exit polls showed voters put the economy and immigration as their top concerns this election. Shapiro agreed, but pointed out that CNN exit polls had included an option for Democracy, which topped its exit polls, followed by the economy. Shapiro said it’s clear that Donald Trump’s vote is showing up and the real question is whether Kamala’s vote is going to show up. MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+ Shapiro recently talked about how much was at stake in the election and why it’s so important to get out and vote. “You need to vote because there are serious matters at stake, as I discussed yesterday,” Shapiro said. “But there is a broader question at stake today in this election: whether we are a nation that wants to be dynamic, or whether we want to slide into senescence.” “Are we a nation that wants an economy of innovation, or one of redistribution and stagnation? Are we a nation that wants a foreign policy of strength, with powerful allies and our enemies in retreat?” he added. “Or are we a nation that wants to abandon the world stage, handing power to our enemies as the light dies?” “Are we a nation that wants to build on the roots of family and community, or one that wants to trade the institutions that make life worth living in favor of top-down dictation from a self-appointed elite who believe that their untried values ought to supplant time-tested virtues?” Shapiro continued. “Most of all, you need to vote because you owe it to both your ancestors and your progeny to do so.” Related: My Closing Statement: Why I Voted Trump

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Goodwill of Silicon Valley started an innovative venture by launching its first store inside Milpitas’ Elmwood Correctional Facility. This innovative initiative offers hands-on retail training to incarcerated women, preparing them for future work opportunities upon release. Participants receive training in cash handling, inventory management, and customer service twice a week. “I’ll be released with a lot of work experience,” says 30-year-old Myra, one of the first trainees, for whom this is her first job. A unique step forward for incarcerated individuals Goodwill‘s collaboration with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office began following discussions about how to better assist people returning to society. With prior experience at the county’s Reentry Resource Center, Goodwill was well-positioned to develop an impactful program. Trish Dorsey, VP of Mission Services, suggested establishing a store to give training and clothing to women leaving. Empowering women through practical experience The business sells basic essentials ranging from shirts to socks, giving women ready to be released a fresh start in acceptable dress. For 46-year-old Sinica, the opportunity is unprecedented: “To get that experience while in jail, it’s unheard of.” Those who work at the store not only learn new skills, but they also get the opportunity to interview at Goodwill stores once they leave. A broad vision for rehabilitation and reintegration This program’s influence goes beyond vocational training, giving participants confidence and a feeling of purpose. Jessica Castello, VP of Retail at Goodwill Silicon Valley, highlights the human development it fosters: “Not only are we giving them work skills, but we’re also showing them that they matter.” Castello hopes to inspire similar programs around the country, describing the project as “priceless” for its ability to teach dignity and prepare women for life outside. Goodwill and the Elmwood Correctional Facility have developed a pioneering program that not only meets immediate reintegration needs but also encourages wider discussions about recovery. This is a positive step forward, assisting individuals in their journey to employment and independence.The post Goodwill’s new store inside the Silicon Valley Jail offers hope and job skills first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every year, tens of millions of birds fly thousands of miles along the Pacific Flyway, a critical migration path that runs from the Arctic to South America. The western sandpiper, for example, migrates from Alaska to as far as Peru, stopping to rest and feed along the way. However, with the loss of 95 percent of California’s Central Valley wetlands due to farming and construction, these birds have fewer places to land. A network of conservation organizations, the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership, has long been looking for answers to habitat degradation, and in 2014, they discovered one through an unlikely partnership: rice farmers. BirdReturns, first supported by The Nature Conservancy, pays rice farmers to flood their fields, resulting in temporary “pop-up” wetlands. These constructed habitats provide a spot for migratory birds to stop and replenish on their lengthy voyages. “It’s this weird, rare circumstance where you have a large industrial-scale intensive agricultural system that can simultaneously support wildlife,” says Daniel Karp, a conservation researcher at UC Davis. A critical refuge for migrant birds The Central Valley of California is critical for the survival of migratory birds, particularly shorebirds such as the western sandpiper, whose populations have declined by more than 33 percent since 1970. Historically, the wetlands of this region served as a refuge for birds during migration, but the majority of those wetlands have vanished, leaving the birds vulnerable. Millions of birds continue to pass through during peak migration in September, but many struggle to find safe locations to land due to a lack of adequate habitat. BirdReturns provides a unique, market-based solution to this expanding problem. The program compensates rice farmers for flooding their fields earlier in the fall and leaving them submerged longer in the spring. This timing is critical because it corresponds to the birds’ migration patterns, providing them with the wetland conditions they require at the optimal time. How pop-up wetlands are helping The BirdReturns program’s genius rests in its adaptability and accuracy. Conservationists use data from eBird, a citizen science platform that counts bird sightings, to predict where birds would need habitat. They integrate this information with satellite imagery that shows where water is accessible, allowing the software to target specific regions and periods to create wetlands. “It’s like renting bird habitat,” says Julia Barfield, program manager at The Nature Conservancy. Farmers participate in a reverse auction, in which they bid on contracts to flood their fields, with the lowest bidder winning. This creates temporary wetlands that function similarly to natural ecosystems but without the need for permanent land purchases or long-term operations. This method is highly adaptable—BirdReturns can ramp up during droughts or cut back when wetter conditions increase the abundance of natural wetlands. Benefits to farmers and wildlife So far, the program has produced positive results. Since its inception, BirdReturns has constructed over 120,000 acres of temporary wetlands. While far from the region’s original 4 million acres of wetlands, studies show that these pop-up wetlands attract two to 3.5 times more shorebirds than rice fields that aren’t part of the program. Furthermore, research suggests that the birds may benefit farmers by breaking down remaining rice stalks, however, additional evidence is required to confirm this. For rice farmers, the program offers a new income stream. While flooding fields for extended periods can shorten the growing season, BirdReturns compensates for this loss. Farmers and conservationists work together to create community bonds, demonstrating that sustainable farming techniques and wildlife conservation can coexist. Challenges and the way ahead Despite its success, BirdReturns faces a few major hurdles. As climate change worsens, California experiences longer and more severe droughts, making water an increasingly limited resource. Paying farmers to flood their fields becomes more expensive during drought years, and some farmers may not have enough water to participate in the scheme at all. “It’s costly to pay farmers to keep their lands flooded if they have any water to spare at all,” points out Karp. Additionally, the time of migration does not necessarily coincide with the agricultural calendar, making it difficult for some farmers to participate. However, BirdReturns is already developing solutions to these issues. By collaborating with tomato farmers whose growing season ends earlier in the year, the program can establish wetlands for long-distance migratory birds arriving as early as July. The program is also constantly developing, with new data and farmer comments helping to fine-tune its approach. “The findings of your results are applied right away to on-the-ground actions,” says Greg Golet, senior scientist for The Nature Conservancy. This adaptable, data-driven approach is one of the program’s most valuable assets, allowing it to adjust to changing conditions and maximize its benefit for both birds and farmers. A model for future conservation efforts The BirdReturns program is a unique example of a conservation strategy that benefits both wildlife and people. As climate change and habitat degradation continue to endanger migratory bird populations, projects like this one provide innovative, market-based solutions for protecting fragile species. According to Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, a conservation ecologist at UC Santa Cruz, market-based initiatives are a necessary component of future conservation efforts. BirdReturns is a model for future conservation efforts, illustrating how to balance agricultural productivity with wildlife requirements. This program, which brings together farmers, environmentalists, and scientists, gives promise to the survival of migratory birds—as well as the larger challenge of protecting biodiversity in human-dominated environments.The post Migrating birds find refuge in pop-up wetlands thanks to the innovative rice farming program first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Trust God’s plan in every challenge life brings your way.

Let's ask God now for his help to direct our prayers and bring people and situations to our minds to pray for and about.