Shine Time LLC Offering Pressure Washing Services to the Fairfield, CT Community 12-10-2024 10:54 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Fairfield, CT - Residential and commercial property owners in need of pressure washing [ https://shinetimect.vercel.app/pressure-washing-company-in-fairfield-ct ] services are invited to reach out to Shine Time LLC, [ https://shinetimect.vercel.app/ ] a locally owned and operated business. This company, which specializes in exterior cleaning, is experienced in washing a vast range of surfaces, including porches, patios, driveways, sidewalks, and property exteriors. By using pressurized water, Shine Time LLC is able to remove dirt, moss, algae, and other forms of debris from these surfaces, leaving properties more visually appealing and customers satisfied. Clients of Shine Time LLC enjoy many benefits as a result of scheduling pressure washing services. For instance, pressure washing strips away layers of debris and increases the visual appeal of exterior surfaces. Additionally, pressure washing can lengthen the life span of surfaces. The removal of debris reduces the amount of wear and tear these surfaces undergo, thus allowing them to last longer without needing repairs. Services Provided By Shine Time LLC Shine Time LLC provides a multitude of pressure washing and exterior cleaning services, including power washing, fence cleaning, concrete cleaning, roof cleaning, and house washing. All these different offerings follow the same general steps, ensuring quality results and consistent customer satisfaction. Review and Quote. The company begins by looking over any surfaces that need to be cleaned, assessing their overall condition, and determining the correct amount of water pressure for the job. Different materials need to be treated with different amounts of force; Shine Time LLC will make an educated decision before doing any work. Pressure Cleaning. Next, the company will spray any and all dirty surfaces with pressurized water, removing all dirt, debris, and other blemishes. This will add visual appeal to the property's exterior. Shine Time LLC will work efficiently to save the customer time. Final Check. Finally, the company will ensure that all debris is removed before letting the customer know that the surfaces have been cleaned. This gives the customer an opportunity to review the results of the work before confirming their satisfaction. About Shine Time LLC Shine Time LLC is a locally owned and operated business that is committed to the needs of the Fairfield, CT community. The company always strives to improve the appearances of residential and commercial properties, and furthermore, aims to do so for a reasonable price. For more information about Shine Time LLC, visit their website [ https://shinetimect.vercel.app/ ] or call (203) 895-8494. Media Contact Company Name: Shine Time LLC Contact Person: Sands Cleary Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=shine-time-llc-offering-pressure-washing-services-to-the-fairfield-ct-community ] City: Fairfield State: CT Country: United States Website: https://www.shinetimect.com/ This release was published on openPR.
None
HOLLY Cairns' dad has shared his "delight" at becoming a new grandfather after he rushed to hear the count for her constituency. The Social Democrats leader, who is the first party leader to have been pregnant in the Dail, shared the news of her daughter's birth on election day yesterday. Cairns, 35, and hotelier partner Barry Looney revealed they had welcomed their first bundle of joy into the world, with the party leader announcing: "She’s here. We're completely in love with her." Her father Clem headed to the Cork South West count centre this evening and revealed his positivity for his daughter, new mum and Soc Dems party leader Holly Cairns. The tallies for the constituency have so far shown that the party leader has doubled her first preferences since 2020. Speaking to RTE , Clem said: "As a new grandfather, I am delighted and relieved and proud of Holly. More excited about the baby than the election." The proud granddad travelled to the count centre after visiting Holly and her newborn at Cork Maternity Hospital in Mallow - where mother and baby are both doing "great." He said: "I think Holly was looking better than her partner Barry but he was probably carrying a lot too. "I don't think he slept at all. "I think that's the third election now that she's probably surprised everybody and somebody who you wouldn't write off easily I think." He said his daughter is taking to motherhood "like a duck to water " and her child looks just like her dad Barry. He continued: "You always wonder in spite of everything that might happen, are you going to be a good parent? "Looking at Holly she took to it like a duck to water." The proud granddad recalled Holly's 2019 council election run when she won by just one vote in the recount. He said: "I think the one thing we can all be thankful for is that it is not depending on one vote anymore like it was the first time she got elected because that would have been her vote this time!" The Cork TD, who was still knocking on doors in the lead-up to the general election , took over as party leader last year after founding members Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall stepped down. HOLLY Cairns has experienced a whirlwind political career going from newly elected TD to party leader in just three years. The Cork native took over as leader of the Social Democrats in May 2023 - after five years representing the party. She was a founding member of the party's west Cork branch and quickly rose up the ranks - making it to Dail Eireann as a TD in the 2020 election. The farming expert paid tribute to former party leaders Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy after they announced they were stepping down from the party and would not be seeking reelection. The former co-leaders said it was time for a "new generation to take over". Cairns, 35, has gained public favour raising topics like domestic violence, abortion, mother and baby homes and the environment. And she has also previously spoken out about the abuse and harassment she has experienced since entering politics. The politician grew up on a small dairy farm on the Turk Head peninsula near Skibbereen, in Cork. Holly completed her Master of Science and got a First Class Honours degree in Horticulture. Holly first got involved in politics as an activist for LGBT and women's rights. She campaigned for Senator David Norris during the 2011 presidential election. Cairns worked abroad for a couple of years before returning to Ireland and becoming involved in the Together for Yes campaign to repeal the 8th Amendment. In 2020, Cairns ran against her then-partner, Christopher O’Sullivan, a Fianna Fail candidate, for the Cork South-West constituency in the general elections. Deputy Cairns said that after O'Sullivan's last-minute addition to the ticket, it felt like being in a "badly written rom-com". In June 2024, the party leader announced she is expecting a girl with her partner, hotelier Barry Looney. Discussing the pregnancy , she said: “We’ve been trying for some time, so we are absolutely delighted.” Speaking on RTE’s Sunday with Miriam , the deputy said she had two miscarriages in the last year or so. However, she said that “fingers crossed, it is looking good” for her this time around. She added: “It is something that we know happens to quite a lot of people. “I think it is one in three women experience it, and we just do not hear a lot about it.” Cairns said hearing other women speak about miscarriages was comforting, adding: “You’re less alone, you’re not the only one going through it.” Following her announcement, congratulations poured in for the politician after she announced her baby news . Speaking to the Irish Sun just days before her due date , Cairns said she felt "excited" and "grateful". She said: "It’s that kind of stage in the pregnancy where you’re so excited but also it could be tomorrow or it could be two weeks away — you don’t know. “I’m very excited but obviously I’m trying to juggle things and make sure to not over do it. “People are so supportive here at home. They’re so nice saying ‘oh you don’t need to call’ which is so, so nice, but obviously I think it is really important to call to people as much as possible so I’m out doing what I can. “I’m so grateful for the canvassing teams and the postering teams. It’s that time when so many people have pitched in to help that I just feel extremely grateful.”Steve Smith's greatest asset has become his worst nightmare, and it was exposed by an extraordinary career-first on the . Smith became one of Jasprit Bumrah's four victims as the India captain produced a devastating opening spell on Friday in the . Bumrah trapped Smith plumb in front as the former captain's renowned hand-eye coordination abandoned him again. The first-ball dismissal marked just the second golden duck of Smith's illustrious career, and his first in a home Test match. And the method of dismissal sparked ugly questions about whether Smith's greatest asset is no more. The 35-year-old has made a career out of shuffling across his stumps and daring bowlers to aim for his pads. His hand-eye coordination is so impeccable that he rarely misses a ball on his pads, and happily takes the runs on offer when bowlers try and target the stumps. But his dismissal on Friday showed how that plan might be bringing about his downfall. Smith's hand-eye coordination might be dissipating in the twilight of his career, and it's posed questions about how much longer he'll be playing Test cricket. It marked the third-straight innings in which he's been dismissed lbw, after being trapped in front in both innings of the second Test in Christchurch in March (for 11 and nine). He was also out lbw in the first innings of the second Test against the West Indies in January, and four of his last six dismissals have been trapped in front. A move back to the middle-order would seemingly make his life easier after the failed experiment of using him as an opener last summer. But it lasted just one delivery on Friday after Smith came to the crease at 2-19 in just the seventh over. As cricket writer Andrew Wu wrote on social media: "Steve Smith’s technique challenges bowlers to attack his pads. In his prime, he loved it, knowing he’d get easy runs if they bowled straight. Now, he’s missing balls he used to hit. The eye is not as sharp. The best problem solver in the game has a big problem to solve." Aussie legend Mark Waugh wasn't willing to write Smith off after just one innings of a five-Test series, but admitted it was concerning. “I don’t want to read too much into it today," he said on Fox Sports. "The pitch is doing enough at pace and Bumrah is a world class bowler. "People have always questioned Steve Smith’s technique over the years, and he always responds. He’s a good problem solver. I think his footwork at times, he can go too far across (to) the off-side. So I think it’s something he’s aware of. But I think today, the first ball, I don’t want to read too much into that.” This is exactly how Steve Smith *should* have been getting out over the last decade. His hand eye coordination knew no equal at one stage, but in 2024 he is a shadow of the batter he used to be. — markus (@markusc__) Smith is going below 50 by end of his career unless he figures his flaw out . He is a hand eye coordination type player so it was bound to happen . Labuschagne I believe is still a good batter and will score tons of runs ,I expect a century at Gabba or Sydney against Us — Darkpheonix86 (@AbhisekBChoudh2) Players who depend on too much on their hand eye coordination tend to normally struggle at the end of the career because they haven't got reflexes. They need to change technique to avoid lbws. — R RAJEEV NAIK (@rajeevaryan21) Everyone knew as soon as he lost his eye he was done. — Ex-panda (@rlexpanda) Poor technique against Indian bowlers. Standing on off stump line and playing the ball coming sharply inwards! It’s obvious bumrah gonna give that delivery but why smith and Labuachane has similar technique? Making themselves uncomfortable — AR Tamil (@19ART9) Smith will be pivotal to Australia's hopes of regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India, who have won the last four Test series against the Aussies. His recent struggles, coupled with those of teammate Marnus Labuschagne, pose a huge headache for Australia - and they'll need to turn things around quickly. After bowling out India for just 150, Australia were reduced to 7-67 at stumps on the opening day. Bumrah took four scalps during a blistering display, as the Aussies were put on the brink of conceding what appeared to be an unthinkable first innings deficit.Alex Ovechkin likely out 4-6 weeks with a broken left leg — pausing his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record
Despite what you may have heard, the 2024 election was pretty close . President-elect Donald Trump won a clear victory in the Electoral College, but he leads outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris in the national popular vote by only 1.5 percentage points, 49.8 percent to 48.3 percent* — one of the smallest margins ever in a presidential race. Nonetheless, the magnitude of Trump's triumph may appear much larger because it featured a major swing to the right from where the nation voted in 2020. As President Joe Biden defeated Trump by about 4.5 points nationally four years ago, Trump's 2024 advantage represents about a 6-point shift to the right, which is the largest swing toward either party since 2008. Back then, Barack Obama's 7.3-point edge represented a nearly 10-point swing to the left from George W. Bush's 2.5-point win in 2004. Yet the national swing only tells part of the story. What particularly stands out this year is the breadth of the swing in Trump's direction across not only the 50 states and the District of Columbia, but also an overwhelming majority of the more than 3,000 counties or their equivalents in the United States. Compared with his showing in 2020, Trump didn't pick up a huge amount of ground in many places, but he did gain at least a little bit nearly everywhere. We can see this by drilling into the state-level and county-level data below. Every state swung to the right in 2024 From one presidential election to the next, more states usually swing toward the party that gains ground compared with how it performed four years earlier. However, it's rare for every state to move in the same direction, even in elections where one candidate wins decisively. After all, changes in the makeup of the party coalitions and the varying appeal of individual candidates can lead different states to move in opposite directions. Plus, at least in a few historical cases, a third-party candidate may have won a meaningful share of the vote that cut more into one party's coalition than another. But in 2024, all 50 states and D.C. swung to the right to varying degrees based on their margins versus the 2020 race. This marked the first presidential election since 1976 in which all 51 components of the Electoral College moved in the same direction relative to how they voted four years earlier. Unlike 1976, though, all 50 states and D.C. moved to the right in 2024 even though the previous election was also highly competitive. That wasn't the case in the closely fought 1976 race won by Jimmy Carter: His victory came four years after a landslide result in 1972 , when Richard Nixon carried 49 states and won by 23 points nationally — the largest popular vote edge a candidate has earned in the post-World War II era — making 1976's leftward swing more of a return to a highly competitive baseline. Although six other elections since 1976 featured larger swings than in 2024, at least one state in each of those contests still moved toward the party that lost ground. In 1980, Vermont was the only state where Carter's margin improved even as he lost reelection badly to Ronald Reagan. In 1984, Reagan built significantly on his 1980 margins while winning the only definite landslide since Nixon's 1972 victory, but seven states and D.C. still voted more Democratic than they had four years earlier. Republicans lost ground in 49 states while winning again in 1988, but George H.W. Bush's margin grew very slightly over Reagan's in Tennessee and D.C. When the elder Bush lost reelection in 1992, he did worse in nearly every state, but still managed to improve his margin slightly in Iowa. And when Obama won by the largest margin in recent years in 2008, five now-dark red states trended right (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia). While every state swung to the right in 2024, the extent of that swing did vary quite a bit. Weighted by each state's share of the national popular vote, the average state shifted 5.6 points to the right by margin from its 2020 result. Leading the way was New York, which Harris only won by about 13 points after Biden carried it by 23 points — a swing of more than 10 points. Other populous blue states like New Jersey (10 points) and California (9 points) also swung notably to the right, as did large red states like Florida (10 points) and Texas (8 points). Conversely, 36 states and D.C. shifted to the right by less than the weighted average. Those states tended to be less populous and therefore more rural, but also include most of the seven principal swing states in the 2024 race, which had the most concentrated campaign attention and spending during the election. Of those, only Arizona had a larger-than-average shift to the right of 5.8 points, while Nevada's 5.5-point rightward shift was about the same as the weighted average. Beyond that, Michigan swung just 4.2 points to the right, and the other four swing states — Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — all swung right by fewer than 3 points. Of all the states, Washington state had the smallest swing to the right, going from Biden +19 to Harris +18. The Washington outcome serves as yet another reminder that you should never rely on one data point as an indicator of things to come. After all, Washington's blanket and top-two primary results have often served as a decent predictor for the national political environment in the ensuing November election. But in 2024, Democrats running for the U.S. House of Representatives did better in the state's top-two primaries than they performed in 2020 or 2022, yet the November results saw Republicans nationally do much better than in 2020 and similar to their 2022 result in the national popular vote for the House. Most counties swung right to a small or medium degree Naturally, as one party gains more compared to the last election, it tends to gain a larger share of voters across the nation's counties, and county-level data can help us understand the depth and breadth of the swing behind an election's outcome. But a simple count of the number of counties that moved in one direction isn't especially helpful in painting this picture. After all, most counties are rural (and consistently conservative-leaning), but rocks and trees can't vote. Carter's 1976 victory was the last time a Democratic presidential nominee won more counties than the Republican did, yet Democrats have won five of the 12 White House contests since then. To get a read on the scope of county-level swings, it's more useful to consider the share of the nation's overall vote found in counties that moved toward one party or the other. That way, we better account for the vast differences in population across counties. By this measure, the rightward swing of Trump's 2024 victory featured substantial breadth. Compared with the 2020 election, 92 percent of voters lived in counties (or their equivalents) that swung toward Trump, while only 8 percent lived in places that moved toward Harris. The only recent election to rival that span is Obama's 2008 win, when 92 percent of voters lived in counties that swung to the left from the 2004 election. Now, the depth of Trump's swing was somewhat shallower than Obama's 2008 win, which isn't necessarily surprising considering 2008 saw a bigger overall swing nationally (9.7 points to the left). More than half of all votes in 2008 came from places that swung at least 10 points to the left by margin. By comparison, only 11 percent of 2024 votes hailed from counties that swung more than 10 points to the right, while 81 percent overall came from counties that shifted between zero and 10 points to the right. Compared to recent contests besides 2008, though, the broad scope of Trump's gains across much of the country seem striking. The third-biggest swing in the past quarter century after 2008 and 2024 came in 2012, when Obama won reelection but the country as a whole swung 3.4 points to the right. Yet even as much of the country swung slightly to the right that year, about 1 in 4 votes still came from counties that moved at least somewhat to the left. In 2020, we saw a similar story: Biden swung the country about 2.4 points to the left from 2016, but a tad more than 1 in 4 votes came from counties that swung right toward Trump. Another data point further suggests that the shift from 2020 to 2024 was not just broad, but especially consistent in its impacts across the country. Overall, the correlation between each county's margin in 2020 compared with 2024 was .995 on a scale of -1 to 1 — a near-perfect positive association between the two elections, and the strongest between the results in any two consecutive presidential elections dating back to 2000. To be clear, this does not mean that the results were the same in each county in 2020 and 2024. Rather, it broadly means that the more Republican a county voted in 2020, the more Republican it tended to vote in 2024. Although results in other recent pairs of elections have been highly correlated as well, the 2020-24 comparison is particularly notable because such an incredibly strong association happened even while the country swung 6 points to the right. This suggests that, broadly speaking, this ample national swing did not vary massively across the country. By contrast, the sizable 10-point swing to the left in 2008 from 2004 had a county-level correlation of .933, meaning that while the margins across counties were relatively similar, more places still saw some substantial movement that didn't correspond as closely. And in 2016, which saw particularly large county-level swings from 2012 because of the shifting nature of the Democratic and Republican coalitions at the start of the Trump era, the correlation between the two contests was .945. *** The breadth of the nation's rightward swing could suggest a couple of larger possibilities. Considering 2008 saw the only similarly large national shift in recent times amid financial and global turmoil, the broad swing in 2024 seems to be another point in favor of larger fundamentals-based reasons for the shifts in this election. Dissatisfaction with the economic status quo and immigration, along with high disapproval of the incumbent president, were all clear boons for Trump's candidacy. At the same time, Trump's gains may have greater resonance moving forward. The relative consistency of the county-level shifts suggests that there weren't major coalition shifts this year, but even minor swings could be a harbinger. Notably, Trump improved most in more urban and more racially diverse places . Odds are that the 2028 election results will be highly correlated with the 2024 results, so even small coalition changes in this election could have a long-term impact on the makeup of the parties and the preferences of voters as we look ahead to future elections. Footnote * 2024 data is based on unofficial election results from ABC News as of 12 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 10, 2024.Caleb Love holds faith despite early-season slide with Arizona Wildcats
Showers and a few storms are possible Thanksgiving DayThroughout the year, in our Women, Money, and Mindset columns , we have tackled some of life’s most pressing financial challenges. Every month, we have delved into a financial issue that touches the lives of our readers, offering, each week, a distinct insight from the differing viewpoints of a Certified Financial Planner, an attorney, a CPA, and an executive business coach. From navigating the financial markets and business strategies to estate planning and tools to cut taxes, our goal has always been to provide clear, practical, actionable advice to take to your trusted professionals so you take the next steps to grow your wealth and increase your financial security. In this final installment of the year, the issue is giving, and the topic this week is Charitable Gift Annuities. It is a strategy that can address multiple financial and tax planning issues while supporting the causes that matter most to you. Unlike giving away cash or assets and not receiving anything in return, with a CGA, if you donate to a 501(c)(3) qualified charity, in return, you receive two powerful benefits. First, you can qualify for an immediate tax deduction for part of the contribution. Second, you receive a dependable, fixed income from the charity for the rest of your life. The minimum contribution is usually only $5,000, so it is an accessible planning tool for most people. Before diving into more specifics, let’s see how a CGA can help with some specific financial and tax planning concerns you might have: —You want to give more to your house of worship or favorite charity but are concerned about not having enough income in the future. With a CGA, you can receive guaranteed income for life. —You need a last-minute tax deduction and have maxed out on your IRA or 401k plan contribution for the year. A CGA can act as an alternate retirement plan if you itemize deductions on your return. —You are interested in giving away more to charity but do not want the complications of setting up a charitable trust or naming a trustee. A CGA can be set up in days directly with the charity at no cost to you. —You intend to leave some or all of your estate to charity and would like to have all of your estate planning finalized now. CGAs are especially helpful if you would like to leave your estate to several charities because you can set up annuities with each charity. —You have adequate income now or are not yet retired, but you are concerned about costs later in life, like long-term care. You can receive a larger monthly payment later if you choose a deferred annuity and start the payments at a later date. —If you are concerned about paying capital gains taxes on assets you want to sell, you can avoid or defer taxes if you contribute the asset to the CGA. —If you would prefer your church or favorite charity to have access to some of your contribution now, a CGA is preferable to a charitable remainder trust or bequest that funds after you have died. —If you want to secure the financial future of your spouse, child, or another loved one, CGAs can be set up for the lives of two individuals. This could be especially helpful if you have a child in their 50s or older, and you are concerned about them not having enough guaranteed retirement income. —If you keep most of your funds in the bank but would like to earn a higher return, the charity invests your CGA funds (and generally considered safe) with usually a fixed rate of return that is higher than you would receive on a CD. —You would like to avoid paying taxes on a required minimum distribution, so you are planning on doing a Qualified Charitable Rollover (QCR). New rules will allow you to fund your CGA with a one-time $53,000 QCR. The QCR amount to your CGA will not be included as income on your return, but you can still receive the monthly income benefit from the CGA, and you can defer income further if you choose a deferred CGA. As you can see, a charitable gift annuity checks many financial and tax planning boxes, and it is easy and cost-effective to set up. Now to the specifics. First, you set up the CGA and donate the asset to the charity. The gift is set aside and invested by the charity. You (and also your spouse or other person if you choose a two-person annuity) will receive fixed monthly or quarterly payments for the rest of your lives. The charity can utilize the remaining funds after your death. How much is the tax deduction? The income tax deduction is equal to the amount of the contribution minus the present value of the payments that will be made to the donors during their lives. The charity will handle these calculations for you. How much income will you receive? Current suggested annuity rates range from 4.6-10.1% for those 50 and older, dependent primarily on your age. (In other words, you would receive $4,600 to $10,100 a year on a $100,000 contribution.) For recommended rates and how they are calculated, go to acga-web.org/current-gift-annuity-rates . The amount you would receive is generally fixed and will never fluctuate or adjust for inflation. But it’s also secured by the charity’s entire assets and will continue regardless of how the investments of the annuity perform. Here is an example. Dennis, 75, and Mary, 73, fund a $50,000 charitable gift annuity with appreciated stock that they originally bought for $20,000. They are eligible for an income tax charitable deduction of $17,584. They will then receive a payment rate of 6%, or $3,000 each year for the remainder of their lives. If you contact your church or charity, they will provide you with information regarding the minimum age, contribution requirements, and rates for their annuities. As you can see, a charitable gift annuity is more than just a financial tool-it’s a way to make a lasting difference while providing for yourself and your loved ones. As you plan for the year ahead, I hope this inspires you to take the next step. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year filled with peace and purpose! Michelle C. Herting is a CPA, accredited in business valuations, and an accredited estate planner specializing in succession planning and estate, gift, and trust taxes. She is also the past president of the Charitable Gift Planners of Inland Southern California.
A fired-up Fatima Payman says Pauline Hanson brings “disgrace to the human race” as the One Nation leader continues to hound the Afghan-born senator over her eligibility to sit in Parliament. Senator Hanson wants an investigation into whether Senator Payman falls foul of section 44 of the constitution, which prevents foreigners and dual-citizens from sitting in Parliament. Senator Payman - who was eight when her family fled Kabul - addressed the issue before 2022 election, explaining that her attempts to renounce her Afghan citizenship could not be completed because the Afghanistan embassy in Australia had no contact with the new Taliban regime. She received legal advice at the time confirming she took “all reasonable steps” to hand back her Afghan citizenship, meaning she was eligible. But Senator Hanson continues to pester Senator Payman over her citizenship status, renewing her pursuit after the Labor outcast last month launched her new political party Australia’s Voice. Dan Jervis-Bardy Joe Spagnolo The One Nation leader on Wednesday morning won Senate approval to table a letter from Senate President Sue Lines regarding Senator Payman’s eligibility, which she wanted referred to a parliamentary committee for investigation. The major parties allowed Senator Hanson to table the documents as a matter of procedure, not because they supported her pursuit of Senator Payman. In her response to Senator Hanson’s letter, Senator Lines said she could not take the matter further because it did not meet the requirements for the Senate to consider questions about eligibility. Before the letter was tabled, Senator Payman defended her eligibility while unleashing a blistering attack on Senator Hanson. “You’re not just vindictive, mean, nasty – you bring disgrace to the human race,” she said. “You have no dignity whatsoever as a Senator in this prestigious place, where we’re supposed to bring unity, where we’re supposed to have that freedom of expression, yes, but within boundaries of confinement of respect.” Holding a copy of the legal advice that confirmed her eligibility, Senator Payman challenged Senator Hanson – who once wore a burqa as a stunt in the Senate – to “pack her burqa and go to Afghanistan and talk to the Taliban” about her case. “Do you want to see it (the advice) for yourself?” Senator Payman said. “You’re in absolute denial. All that Senator Hanson does in this place is spread hatred, spread division because that’s what you’re made to do here.” Georgina Noack Max CorstorphanDonald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling
While the Carolina Hurricanes are putting themselves in strong position to eventually secure home-ice advantage in the postseason, the New York Rangers appear to be a shell of the squad that won the teams' second-round playoff series last season in six games. The Hurricanes will attempt to extend their winning home winning streak to nine games, while the Rangers hope to avoid a fourth straight loss when the Metropolitan Division foes convene for the first time this season on Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C. Carolina missed winning the division by three points last season, when it finished with 111. The title instead went to New York, which also won the Presidents' Trophy after racking up a league-best 114 points. Just more than a month into the new season, the Hurricanes own the third-most points in the league (31) and are outscoring foes 41-16 on home ice since taking a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in their home opener on Oct. 11. Carolina has scored at least four goals in each game of its home winning streak and has hit that mark 16 times overall in 21 games this season. The Hurricanes kept the streak alive with Monday's 6-4 victory over the Dallas Stars. Carolina scored five goals in the third period, including a tiebreaking, power-play goal from Martin Necas with under three minutes left to overcome a 3-1 deficit. "I already know what we have," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "It's just, can they grasp how we have to play every shift? I think sometimes we get a little off and try to do things differently, then all of a sudden, we get to the way we have to play... We don't always get the result like that, but you're giving yourself a chance. Really, a game like that, that's what you're hoping you get out of it." Sebastian Aho scored the first goal of the third-period flurry and collected three assists. Seth Jarvis scored in his first game since Nov. 9 and collected two assists, including the secondary helper on the goal by Necas. The Hurricanes are continuing to win despite uncertainty in goal. Frederik Andersen is about a month into his recovery from knee surgery and Pyotr Kochetkov is in the concussion protocol after colliding with defenseman Sean Walker in Saturday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Spencer Martin started in goal Monday. The Rangers raced out to a 5-0-1 start but are just 7-7-0 since then and have lost three straight. New York ended its four-game road trip with a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and produced another dud in a 5-2 home loss to the St. Louis Blues Monday. Will Cuylle scored twice, but big names Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad combined for six shots on goal and were a combined minus-7 as the Rangers were outshot 44-29. "We need to be better," New York coach Peter Laviolette said. "Everybody needs to be better. It's not good enough what we're doing." Monday's loss came after reports surfaced that general manager Chris Drury told other teams he may be willing to trade forward Chris Kreider and defenseman Jacob Trouba, who has a no-move clause to 15 teams. Kreider on Monday missed his first game since Jan. 16, 2023, due to an upper-body injury and is day-to-day. He has nine goals in 19 games this season. Trouba was on the ice for two goals Monday and has just two points since collecting four assists in the first three games this season. --Field Level MediaBLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 10, 2024-- The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.38 per share of TTC’s common stock, an increase over the previous quarter’s cash dividend of $0.36 per share of TTC’s common stock. This marks the 16 th consecutive year that the company has increased its dividend. The dividend is payable on January 13, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 23, 2024. Additionally, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 4 million shares of TTC’s common stock through open-market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. About The Toro Company The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With net sales of $4.55 billion in fiscal 2023, The Toro Company’s global presence extends to more than 125 countries through a portfolio of brands that includes Toro, Ditch Witch, Exmark, Spartan, BOSS, Ventrac, American Augers, Trencor, Subsite, HammerHead, Radius, Perrot, Hayter, Unique Lighting Systems, Irritrol, and Lawn-Boy. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, The Toro Company and its brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers work on golf courses, sports fields, construction sites, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural operations. For more information, visit www.thetorocompany.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210820960/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Jeremy Steffan Director, Investor Relations (952) 887-7962,jeremy.steffan@toro.comMedia Relations Branden Happel Senior Manager, Public Relations (952) 887-8930,branden.happel@toro.com KEYWORD: MINNESOTA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL HOME GOODS MANUFACTURING AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES MACHINERY SOURCE: The Toro Company Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/10/2024 04:35 PM/DISC: 12/10/2024 04:34 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210820960/en
We will respond forcefully to ceasefire violations :Netanyahu
Will Utah State or Boise State forfeit vs. San Jose State in the Mountain West semifinals?TowneBank ( NASDAQ:TOWN – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, November 27th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of 0.25 per share by the bank on Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.91%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. TowneBank has raised its dividend by an average of 10.8% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 12 years. TowneBank has a payout ratio of 39.4% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect TowneBank to earn $2.53 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.00 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 39.5%. TowneBank Price Performance NASDAQ:TOWN opened at $34.42 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.30 and a beta of 0.91. TowneBank has a one year low of $25.70 and a one year high of $38.28. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $35.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $32.77. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised TowneBank from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $35.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Get Our Latest Analysis on TowneBank About TowneBank ( Get Free Report ) TowneBank provides retail and commercial banking services for individuals, commercial enterprises, and professionals. The company operates through three segments: Banking, Realty, and Insurance. It accepts various deposits, including demand deposits, savings accounts, money rate savings, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TowneBank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TowneBank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Aurora apartments owner CBZ Management sues Colorado attorney general in bid to quash subpoenas
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's House of Representatives passes bill banning children younger than age 16 from social media.
Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.BancFirst Co. ( NASDAQ:BANF – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 21st, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of 0.46 per share by the bank on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. BancFirst has raised its dividend payment by an average of 7.9% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 31 consecutive years. BancFirst has a dividend payout ratio of 29.7% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect BancFirst to earn $6.12 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.84 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 30.1%. BancFirst Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of BANF stock opened at $119.89 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.27 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The business’s 50 day moving average is $120.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.86. BancFirst has a twelve month low of $81.21 and a twelve month high of $132.29. Insider Activity In other BancFirst news, Director William Scott Martin sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.50, for a total value of $567,500.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 306,904 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $34,833,604. This represents a 1.60 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, Director Leslie Jeannine Rainbolt sold 2,152 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.47, for a total value of $237,731.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 4,942,550 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $546,003,498.50. This represents a 0.04 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 129,150 shares of company stock worth $15,442,825 in the last 90 days. 33.89% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. DA Davidson boosted their price target on shares of BancFirst from $104.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on BancFirst from $117.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, StockNews.com raised BancFirst from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BANF BancFirst Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) BancFirst Corporation operates as the bank holding company for BancFirst that provides a range of commercial banking services to retail customers, and small to medium-sized businesses. The company operates through BancFirst Metropolitan Banks, BancFirst Community Banks, Pegasus, Worthington, and Other Financial Services segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BancFirst Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BancFirst and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .