Demand is up for real Christmas trees this year, observes Grumpy Editor.
Wholesale tree farmers and others report strong demand for fresh-cut evergreens.
Tree sellers say they are seeing more people and earlier than in recent years.
With bigger demand, big box stores are seeking fresh trees earlier this year from places such as Oregon and North Carolina.
Pushing the trend, Walmart is offering free home delivery of the real trees.
More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid pandemic restrictions and are realizing that for the first time in years — or maybe ever — they will be home to water a fresh-cut tree, reports Associated Press.
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...
ROBOT DOGS PATROL MILITARY BASE. Security forces at the 29,000-acre Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida are using robot dogs for patrolling the installation, a first for mechanized pooches. The computerized canines can be programmed to patrol areas that aren’t desirable for humans and vehicles.
YOUR NEW FRIENDLY BANK. General Motors’ lending arm is planning to apply for a banking charter that would allow it to accept deposits and expand its auto-finance business.
TONING IT DOWN. Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, sees any future negotiations with President-elect Joe Biden, potentially more difficult than with President Donald Trump.
POISON GAS, FIRING SQUADS RETURN. The Justice Department, in amending execution protocols starting Dec. 24, no longer will require death sentences to be carried out by lethal injection, clearing the way for other methods such as poison gas and firing squads.
CHER VISITS LONELY ELEPHANT IN PAKISTAN. Singer-actress Cher visits Pakistan to mark the departure of Kaavan, dubbed the “world’s loneliest elephant,” that will soon leave a Pakistani zoo for better conditions. Kaavan’s destination is a sanctuary in Cambodia . The move follows years of lobbying by animal rights groups and activists.
NOT ENOUGH VANS WITH DELIVERY RUSH. FedEx and United Parcel Service are running into a shortage of delivery vans, prompting a surprise cost squeeze that’s cutting into profits during a record surge in package volumes.
MILITARY CEMETERY CLOSES FOR WREATHS. Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, will close to the public from Dec. 13 to 19 to allow Christmas wreaths to be placed at 267,000 graves. The wreaths will be placed as part of the Wreaths Across America event.
BRITISH ARMY DOG GETS TOP AWARD. A retired British army working dog — named Kuno, a Belgian Malinois — that suffered life-changing injuries while supporting the British special forces fighting Al Qaeda is awarded the Dickin Medal – the highest award an animal can receive within the British military. The award is equivalent to the U.S.’s Medal of Honor.
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