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If you thought last year's supply chain woes during the pandemic have been resolved, think again: Analysts and industry experts say suppliers and retailers are already dealing with delayed cargo and skyrocketing freight prices, which will cause headaches during the holiday season.

Perhaps you’re snacking on a banana, sipping some coffee or sitting in front of your computer and taking a break from work to read this article. Most likely, those goods – as well as your smartphone, refrigerator and virtually every other object in your home – once were loaded onto a large container in another country and traveled thousands of miles via ships crossing the ocean before ultimately arriving at your doorstep.

The latest Beige Book report from the Federal Reserve cited many supply chain problems encountered across a range of industries. I wanted to talk to an expert on how this problem is being addressed, so I called Dr. Rob Handfield, an N.C. State professor. 

During the heights of the pandemic, COVID-19 outbreaks were frequently reported among fire departments, with one Johnston County department hit by the death of a firefighter as well as several hospitalizations.

Many who resist COVID-19 vaccination insist they have a say over what goes into their bodies. An individual’s freedom to choose is the foundation for their position. Yet, there are times when such freedom to choose takes a back seat to what is required to protect our nation’s freedoms for all to live safely and securely. This provides one basis for President Biden’s blanket vaccination mandates for millions of Americans.