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The seven states that rely on the Colorado River to supply farms and cities across the U.S. West appear no closer to reaching a consensus on a long-term plan for sharing the dwindling resource. The river’s future was the center of discussions this week at the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference in Las Vegas, where water leaders from California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming gathered alongside federal and tribal officials. It comes after the states blew past a November deadline for a new plan to deal with drought and water shortages after 2026, when current guidelines expire. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has set a new deadline of Feb. 14. Nevada’s lead negotiator said it is unlikely the states will reach an agreement that quickly. As we sit here mid-December with a looming February deadline, I dont see any clear path to a long-term deal, but I do see a path to the possibility of a shorter-term deal to keep us out of court, John Entsminger of the Southern Nevada Water Authority told The Associated Press. An essential resource More than 40 million people across seven states, Mexico, and Native American tribes depend on the water from the river. Farmers in California and Arizona use it to grow the nation’s winter vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and carrots. It provides water and electricity to millions of homes and businesses across the basin. But longstanding drought, chronic overuse, and increasing temperatures have forced a reckoning on the river’s future. Existing water conservation agreements that determine who must use less in times of shortage expire in 2026. After two years of negotiating, states still haven’t reached a deal for what comes next. The federal government continues to refrain from coming up with its own solution preferring the seven basin states reach consensus themselves. If they don’t, a federally imposed plan could leave parties unhappy and result in costly, lengthy litigation. Not only is this water fight between the upper and lower basins, individual municipalities, tribal nations and water agencies have their own stakes in this battle. California, which has the largest share of Colorado River water, has over 200 water agencies alone, each with their own customers. Its a rabbit hole you can dive down in, and it is incredibly complex, said Noah Garrison, a water researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles. No deal emerges During a Thursday panel of state negotiators, none appeared willing to bend on their demands. Each highlighted what their state has done to conserve water, from turf-removal projects to canal lining in order to reduce seepage, and they explained why their state cant take on more. Instead, they said, others should bear the burden. Entsminger, of Nevada, said he could see a short-term deal lasting five years that sets new rules around water releases and storage at Lakes Powell and Mead two key reservoirs. Lower Basin states pitched a reduction of 1.5 million acre-feet per year to cover a structural deficit that occurs when water evaporates or is absorbed into the ground as it flows downstream. An acre-foot is enough water to supply two to three households a year. But they want to see a similar contribution from the Upper Basin. The Upper Basin states, however, dont think they should have to make additional cuts because they already dont use their full share of the water and are legally obligated to send a certain amount of water downstream. Our water users feel that pain, said Estevan López, New Mexico’s representative for the Upper Colorado River Commission. Upper Basin states want less water released from Lake Powell to Lake Mead. But Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said he hasnt seen anything on the table from the Upper Basin that would compel him to ask Arizona lawmakers to approve those demands. Within the coming weeks, the Bureau of Reclamation will release a range of possible proposals, but it will not identify a specific set of operating guidelines the federal government would prefer. Scott Cameron, the bureau’s acting commissioner, implored the states to find compromise. Cooperation is better than litigation, he said during the conference. The only certainty around litigation in the Colorado River basin is a bunch of water lawyers are going to be able to put their children and grandchildren through graduate school. There are much better ways to spend several hundred million dollars. Jessica Hill, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
A reader asks: I run a small business that supplies a product to major companies. To keep the details anonymous, lets say that we supply garments to a few mid-tier clothing retailers that you can buy in the mall. The problem is that one of my employees two levels down (he reports to someone who reports to me), Dave, behaves as though were making clothing for Gucci or Prada. This causes enormous production headaches. It means everything moves much more slowly through his department, because he is extremely conscientious about quality. That is admirable, but it results in things like being short with our subcontractors because they have not produced the products to his standard, even though they have produced them to industry standards. Weve lost freelance designers because theyre being asked to make Prada-level clothing for Old Navy-type wages. He also causes many things to be done over or redoes them himself. This dramatically drives up the cost of what we produce. He should be producing 5,000 items a year in order to justify his salary but he only produces 3,000. This means we have gotten to a point where it actually costs us more to produce these products than we are being paid for them. Both his manager and I have attempted to tell him directly that he is overdoing things. This angers him and causes him to dig in his heels. Weve said, You dont have to redo this work. It was fine the way the freelancers produced it. Just concentrate on the big issues like the overall cut of the fabric. What he apparently hears is, What you do doesnt matter. Youre wrong to be concerned about quality. His reaction is to stay up all night and work through the weekend to try and increase his numbers instead of just not doing everything twice. Daves heart is in the right place. This is tricky because its not like were asking him to do X and he refuses. Were asking him to do X, and he does X twice and then adds Y and Z! How can I motivate Dave to take a step back and be more in alignment with the market tier we serve instead of driving up cost and increasing everyones aggravation by overdoing things? Or perhaps he is just a bad fit for this job? Green responds: He might be a bad fit for the job. Whether his heart is in the right place or not, you cant keep someone on who refuses to work in the way that you need, wildly misses your production metrics, and drives up your costsand who, when spoken to about it, flatly refuses to change what hes doing. But first make sure you have been very, very clear with Dave. Not just Concentrate on X, not Y clear. This needs to be, If you do not immediately start doing X and stop doing Y, we are going to need to let you go clear. You need to say it that way to make sure Dave understands the stakes. Its possible that he has been hearing, We would like to have the level of care and quality that youre providing and obviously it would be better if we could, but sadly we cannot find a way to sustain it. And hes thinking, Let me show you how we can do it! So you need to be crystal clear that you dont want it and will not allow it. You also need to be clear about the consequences if he continuesthat you will fire him. If you dont spell that out explicitly and then you let Dave go, he sounds like he might be shocked because hes focused on how much he cares and how hard hes working (and in his mind, who would fire someone who cares so much and works so hard?). So its a kindness to let him know now that thats the path hes heading down. If you have this conversation and the problem continues, then youll know that he just cant do the job you need done. At that point, you can move forward with a clear conscience because youll have told him clearly what he needed to do to stay in the job and will have given him a chance to do it. Want to submit a question of your own? Send it to alison@askamanager.org. Alison Green
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E-Commerce
Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Friday and further trimmed losses from earlier in the week for several major indexes.The S&P 500 jumped 0.8%, adding to gains made on Thursday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 283 points, or 0.6%, as of 10:05 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq jumped 1% and is now on track for a weekly gain.Technology stocks with an focus on artificial intelligence once again led the market. Nvidia jumped 3.4% and Broadcom rose 2.4%.Oracle rose 7% on news that it, along with two other investors, had signed agreements to form a new TikTok U.S. joint venture. Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX each get a 15% share in the popular social video platform, ensuring that it can continue operating in the U.S.Company earnings and how companies are performing amid tariffs and inflation were a key focus for Wall Street.Nike slumped 9.6%, as the impact from tariffs overshadowed an otherwise strong quarterly profit report. Frozen potato maker Lamb Weston fell 19.8%, despite also beating Wall Street’s profit and revenue forecasts.Winnebago Industries jumped 10.7% after turning in profits and revenue for its latest quarter that easily beat analysts’ estimates.Japanese stocks rose after the Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate to its highest level in 30 years. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 1%, leading the rise across Asia’s key markets. Markets in Europe also gained ground.AP Business Writer Matt Ott contributed. Damian J. Troise, AP Business Writer
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E-Commerce
Last month, the U.S. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was subsequently signed into law by President Donald Trump. The act mandates that the Department of Justice (DOJ) publish all unclassified information it has on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by Friday, December 19. That’s today. Here is what to know about what will likely be included in the trove of documents, as well as where and when you can view them. What documents will be included in the disclosure? When Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, it mandated that the DOJ must publish its unclassified material on Jeffrey Epstein. But what exact material will be included in the disclosure? The act was pretty specific. According to the November law, the DOJ must publish all unclassified: records documents communications investigative materials One can presume that this includes digital evidence such as emails and photos, as well as documents and communications the DOJ created in relation to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein. However, the Epstein Files Transparency Act further clarifies that the release applies to more than just files related to investigations, prosecutions, or custodial matters regarding Epstein. The law states that the following must also be released by the DOJ: materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell flight logs and travel records individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein Entities, including corporations and governmental, with known or alleged ties to Epsteins financial or trafficking networks immunity or other deals with Epstein or his associates Files related to his detention and death Files held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorneys Offices must also be released. Can the DOJ withhold any information? Yes, the DOJ can withhold information from the release of files under a few circumstances, including: If the files or information are classified If the information contains personal information about Epsteins victims If the information, if released, would jeopardize an active federal investigation However, the law specifically states that no information can be withheld solely because that information would cause embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary. When will the DOJ release the Epstein files? The law states that the DOJ must release the Epstein files in a searchable and downloadable format no later than 30 days after the Epstein Files Transparency Act was enacted. The Epstein Files Transparency Act was enacted on November 19, 2025. That means that the DOJ has until 11:59 p.m. tonight to release the files. Where will the files be released? The Epstein Files Transparency Act doesnt explicitly state where or how the Department of Justice must release the files beyond saying that the files must be in a searchable and downloadable format. That clause means the DOJ must release the files digitally (since they must be downloadable). However, the law does not state which website must host the files. However, it is very likely that the files will be hosted on the Department of Justices website (justice.gov) or the Justice Department will specify via a press release on its website where the files will be hosted. Its possible that the DOJ could set up a dedicated website where the files will be available to search and download. We’ll update this story with the link once it becomes available.
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E-Commerce
Canada and the U.S. will launch formal discussions to review their free trade agreement in mid-January, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.The prime minister confirmed to provincial leaders that Dominic LeBlanc, the country’s point person for U.S-Canada trade relations, “will meet with U.S. counterparts in mid-January to launch formal discussions,” Carney’s office said in a statement late Thursday.The United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact, or USMCA, is up for review in 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump negotiated the deal in his first term and included a clause to possibly renegotiate the deal in 2026.Carney met with the leaders of Canada’s provinces on Thursday to give them an update on trade talks with the U.S.Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and more than 75% of Canada’s exports go to the country’s southern neighbor. But most exports to the U.S. are currently exempted by USMCA.Trump cut off trade talks to reduce tariffs on certain sectors with Carney in October after the Ontario provincial government ran an anti-tariff advertisement in the U.S. That followed a spring of acrimony, since abated, over Trump’s insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.Carney said earlier Thursday that Canada and the U.S. were close to an agreement at the time on sectoral tariff relief in multiple areas, including steel and aluminum. Tariffs are taking a toll on certain sectors of Canada’s economy, particularly aluminum, steel, auto and lumber.Carney also said trade irritants flagged this week by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are elements of a “much bigger discussion” about continental trade. Greer said a coming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal will hinge on resolving U.S. concerns about Canadian policies on dairy products, alcohol and digital services.Carney and the provincial premiers agreed to meet in person in Ottawa early in the new year.Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, as are 85% of U.S. electricity imports.Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.Carney said U.S. access to Canada’s critical ministers is not a certainty.“It’s a potential opportunity for the United States, but it’s not an assured opportunity for the United States. It’s part of a bigger discussion in terms of our trading relationship, because we have other partners around the world, in Europe for example, who are very interested in participating,” Carney said earlier Thursday. Rob Gillies, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
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