The longest government shutdown in history is now in the rear view mirror, Congress is back and the government is back in business. And while we're hoping that this means the Congress will return to addressing key priorities—permitting reform among them--the deal only funds the government until January 30, so we could be right back here in a little over two months.

A 50-page report from the bipartisan U.S. House Select Committee on China finds that China for decades has worked to manipulate minerals prices, using its control of the minerals markets as an economic weapon to expand its manufacturing sector and its geopolitical influence. The report makes a range of recommendations, including price controls and increased oversight of price reporting agencies.

And Reuters has an interesting piece on 6 states to watch as increasing natural gas prices drive a shift towards more coal use. Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina and Wisconsin - have roughly equal-generation shares from coal and gas within their electricity mixes, and are in the best position to use coal as a price buffer when gas prices are up. Last year, all 6 states sharply boosted their coal use while decreasing gas-fired generation.