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Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday seasonThrivent Financial for Lutherans reduced its stake in shares of Banc of California, Inc. ( NYSE:BANC – Free Report ) by 6.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 108,153 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 7,085 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.07% of Banc of California worth $1,593,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BANC. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its holdings in Banc of California by 146.3% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,143 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,273 shares during the period. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in shares of Banc of California during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Banc of California by 32.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,005 shares of the bank’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 734 shares during the period. Mendon Capital Advisors Corp purchased a new stake in Banc of California in the 2nd quarter worth about $102,000. Finally, Simplicity Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Banc of California in the 2nd quarter valued at about $132,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.88% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on BANC. Wedbush increased their target price on shares of Banc of California from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Banc of California from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Banc of California from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Raymond James lifted their price target on Banc of California from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Banc of California from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Banc of California currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $17.30. Insider Transactions at Banc of California In related news, Director Richard J. Lashley sold 75,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.00, for a total value of $1,050,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 719,826 shares in the company, valued at $10,077,564. The trade was a 9.44 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . 7.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Banc of California Price Performance Shares of NYSE BANC opened at $17.26 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $15.45 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.24. Banc of California, Inc. has a twelve month low of $11.36 and a twelve month high of $18.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.74 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.04 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Banc of California ( NYSE:BANC – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The bank reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.11. Banc of California had a negative net margin of 20.75% and a positive return on equity of 2.93%. The company had revenue of $431.44 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $229.46 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.30 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Banc of California, Inc. will post 0.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Banc of California Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 16th. Banc of California’s dividend payout ratio is currently -9.37%. About Banc of California ( Free Report ) Banc of California, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California that provides various banking products and services in California. The company offers deposit products, such as checking, savings, money market, demand, and time deposits; certificates of deposit; retirement accounts; and safe deposit boxes. Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Banc of California Golden Cross Stocks: Pattern, Examples and Charts The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing What Percentage Gainers Tell Investors and Why They Don’t Tell the Whole Story 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Should You Add These Warren Buffett Stocks to Your Portfolio? FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Banc of California Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banc of California and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Several innovations are expected to help revolutionise the electric vehicle (EV) industry over the coming decade. Following years of investment in the sector, automakers expect to deliver innovative new EV models that respond to consumer needs and encourage greater uptake. Several automakers and startups have been racing to produce a reliable solid-state battery to use in new EV models, with the expectation that it will vastly improve performance and safety. At present, most companies worldwide use lithium-ion batteries to power their EVs, which can be charged through a mains electric connection. They work by using a liquid electrolyte solution that allows lithium ions to move around to power the battery. In contrast, use a solid – rather than liquid – electrolyte. If researchers can perfect this type of battery, it would allow automakers to get rid of the heavy separator component required to keep the positive electrode from coming into contact with the negative electrode in lithium-ion batteries, making them lighter. Solid-state batteries are generally viewed as safer than conventional EV batteries as they do not require flammable liquid for their power, which reduces the risk of fire. They are also expected to outperform lithium-ion batteries, giving EVs a longer range. However, experts are concerned that their lifespan may be shorter, as they can eventually form cracks and need replacing. The cost of production is also higher, which could increase the end price of the EV. Toyota is among a few automakers that have in the development of solid-state batteries, since 2006. The major automaker and Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu this year announced that electrolyte to bring to market by 2028. Meanwhile, in January, Volkswagen said it had conducted successful testing on a QuantumScape-developed solid-state battery, achieving over 1,000 charging cycles and maintaining 95 percent of the battery’s capacity. Another technology that’s attracting investor attention is wireless charging. Just like the charging technology that has become available for many electronics, automakers are looking to ditch the cables required to charge EV batteries. Installing roads with wireless charging capabilities could significantly improve the EVs’ range, which has been a major gripe for consumers looking to make the shift from fossil fuel-powered cars to electric ones. In January, the first wireless electric road in the U.S. was opened in Detroit, allowing EVs to charge wirelessly as they move along the road. While this is an impressive achievement, the high cost of almost $2 million per 1.6 km will make it prohibitively expensive to develop in most places. The pilot phase of the project, from wireless charging technology firm Electreon, saw a 400-metre stretch of road fitted with wireless charging technology, using electromagnetic coils under the surface that are connected to Detroit’s power grid. The coils produce an electromagnetic field slightly above the road, which moves energy to a receiver attached to an EV battery through an ‘inductive charging’ process, in much the same way as wireless charging works for mobile phones. Stefan Tongur, vice president of business development at Electreon, , “The evolution of charging will be going from cord to wireless.” He added, “And we will have roads that can charge vehicles while they drive – and where they park.” Electreon is currently piloting wireless charging technology at several locations across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. While the technology shows significant promise, many automakers are reluctant to fit their EVs with wireless charging receivers as the charging infrastructure is not yet in place to make it financially viable. Michael Weismiller, the programme manager for electrification research and development in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, , “If I was a car manufacturer, I’d probably be reluctant to put it on a vehicle today just because there’s not any wireless chargers out there... You really have to see the infrastructure and the vehicles get deployed at the same time for it to ultimately make sense.” Researchers have also been looking for innovative ways to give EVs a power boost without relying on external chargers. This includes options such as fitting solar panels to the roof of the vehicle and painting cars with “solar paint”. Mercedes-Benz is currently a paint that can produce electricity when applied to an EV. The ‘solar paint’ is only 5 micrometres thick and weighs just 50 grammes a square metre. It contains no rare earth materials nor silicon and is produced using non-toxic ingredients that are simple to recycle, according to the company. Mercedes says that with an 11-square-metre surface area, roughly that available on a mid-sized SUV, the paint could generate enough energy to power an EV for up to of driving a year under optimal conditions. The energy produced can be used to power the car’s motor directly or recharge its battery. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com
Have you heard the one about the Colorado School of Mines mechanical engineer who’s going to play football at mighty Alabama? Standby. It’s a good one. “I mean, it didn’t feel real at first,” Blake Doud is telling me of his commitment to play for the Crimson Tide. “It kind of still doesn’t feel real.” Oh, it’s real alright. Really wild. Really cool. See, Doud last week became the first Mines player to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the portal era — and the first Oredigger to make the leap to a Power 4 program. Even that part is wild; it was Mines coaches, specifically punting guru Scott Groner, who encouraged him to go. “Blake would be the first to admit he didn’t want to leave Mines,” Groner tells me. It’s true. He didn’t. Mines football players don’t leave Mines football. They love Mines football. “Coming to school here was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Doud says. But that’s the thing about Mines. You opt into long study hours and brutal exam weeks to jump start your life — whether that’s building rockets or bridges as an engineer... or chasing an NFL dream with your lead foot. “At the end of the day it’s our duty to send these guys off and better their lives,” Groner says. “If he can play in front of those SEC crowds and get three meals a day and work with an SEC strength program, I truly felt that could be the edge that would allow him an NFL opportunity.” Friggin’ Alabama was never a thought in Doud’s mind. Shoot, punting wasn’t much of one, either. Mines was the only program to recruit Doud as a punter instead of a wide receiver, where he excelled at Legend High in Parker. So he chose Mines to punt balls and “hopefully build some stuff, because I’ve always liked building stuff,” he says. “It’s not easy here (at Mines),” says Doud, who will dual-enroll at Mines and Alabama next semester to complete his engineering degree. “But this place has truly shaped who I am.” Doud redshirted his first year at the Division II powerhouse. He didn’t appear in a single game in his second season. He exploded in 2023 and 2024, winning RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors. He led Division II last season at 46.1 yards per punt. “I saw it straight away,” says Groner, a former All-American punter, who spent eight years working with the Kansas City Chiefs and now works part-time with the Broncos equipment team. “I saw his 6-foot-5 frame. Being 6-foot-5 as a punter is kind of a cheat code — long levers, powering through the football, good hang time. Then his coach-ability took over.” It’s rare a single punt turns heads in college ball. But in Week 1 this season Doud launched an 80-yard boomer that went viral with over 2 million views on social media. A couple Power 4 assistants even asked me if he would consider transferring to play Division I ball for a year. Doubt it, I said. Mines football players don’t leave Mines. They love Mines. “Blake kind of came out of nowhere a little bit. He was this scrawny 6-foot-5 kid,” Groner says. “But he’s extremely coachable, which most Mines kids are. Everything I’d say, he would’t question it. He’d try it, then come back at me if something didn’t feel right. Those are the best kinds of kids to work with. And I can tell he’s really invested and driven and wants to be great. That makes it fun as a coach.” Then came the transfer portal. “I know the portal is frowned upon in college football,” Groner says. “But this is different. This is potentially life-changing.” Groner’s first call went to Dustin Colquitt, a close friend from their time with the Chiefs, who works with specialists at the University of Tennessee. The Vols didn’t need a punter. The University of Texas-El Paso was Doud’s first scholarship offer in the portal. Then the University of Missouri. Once Missouri offered, Alabama special teams analyst Jay Nunez called Doud with a scholarship offer. Roll Tide. He’s moving to Tuscaloosa in early January. “Alabama, they were always No. 1 when I was growing up,” he says. “Always in big games.” “Building stuff” is still on the table. But career plans have changed. Doud studies Los Angeles Rams punter Ethan Evans, who played at Wingate University, another Division II program. A man named Lloyd Madden was the last Mines player to play in a regular-season NFL game, the school said. That was in the 1940s. I asked Groner, who knows NFL punters: Is Blake one? “He is,” Groner says. “He has the body and he’s only getting stronger. If he doesn’t have the NFL leg now, he will. The hard work is there. The desire is there. And he’s a gamer. He is.” Before he left the Mines campus, the Orediggers had one request for their All-American punter. “When you’re playing on Monday Night Football,” Groner says, “you have to say, ‘Blake Doud, Colorado School of Mines.’” Roll Mines.
If you’re wondering about the best ATS wager to make among the 16 NFL matchups in Week 13, we’re going with the Chargers at -1.5. Don’t stop there, though — see below, because we have lots more tips, which you could take advantage of in a parlay. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Cerity Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of AppFolio, Inc. ( NASDAQ:APPF – Free Report ) by 1,120.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 14,648 shares of the software maker’s stock after buying an additional 13,448 shares during the quarter. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in AppFolio were worth $3,448,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of APPF. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its holdings in AppFolio by 188.2% during the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 185,034 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $45,254,000 after acquiring an additional 120,835 shares during the period. Westwind Capital lifted its position in shares of AppFolio by 301.0% during the second quarter. Westwind Capital now owns 149,240 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $3,650,000 after purchasing an additional 112,024 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of AppFolio by 516.6% during the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 109,850 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $26,866,000 after purchasing an additional 92,034 shares during the period. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of AppFolio in the second quarter worth about $12,993,000. Finally, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of AppFolio in the second quarter worth about $9,807,000. 62.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently weighed in on APPF. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered shares of AppFolio from a “market perform” rating to an “underperform” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $255.00 to $193.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of AppFolio from $300.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. KeyCorp dropped their price objective on AppFolio from $300.00 to $252.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered AppFolio from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.75. AppFolio Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of NASDAQ:APPF opened at $253.75 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $9.22 billion, a PE ratio of 70.68 and a beta of 0.83. AppFolio, Inc. has a 12-month low of $164.29 and a 12-month high of $274.56. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $224.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $231.25. AppFolio ( NASDAQ:APPF – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The software maker reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $206.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $199.11 million. AppFolio had a return on equity of 30.64% and a net margin of 17.26%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 24.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.26 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that AppFolio, Inc. will post 3.23 EPS for the current year. Insider Transactions at AppFolio In other AppFolio news, major shareholder Maurice J. Duca sold 2,700 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.05, for a total value of $631,935.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 14,716 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,444,279.80. This trade represents a 15.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO William Shane Trigg sold 3,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $229.85, for a total value of $804,475.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 74,327 shares in the company, valued at $17,084,060.95. The trade was a 4.50 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 24,461 shares of company stock valued at $5,766,272 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 5.24% of the company’s stock. AppFolio Profile ( Free Report ) AppFolio, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud business management solutions for the real estate industry in the United States. The company provides a cloud-based platform that enables users to automate and optimize common workflows; tools that assist with leasing, maintenance, and accounting; and other technology and services offered by third parties. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding APPF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AppFolio, Inc. ( NASDAQ:APPF – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for AppFolio Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AppFolio and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. ( NYSE:CWAN – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 28,411 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $717,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CWAN. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Clearwater Analytics by 268.8% in the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,693 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,234 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. acquired a new stake in Clearwater Analytics in the third quarter worth about $45,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in Clearwater Analytics in the third quarter worth about $58,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its holdings in Clearwater Analytics by 124.6% in the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 4,372 shares of the company’s stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 2,425 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amalgamated Bank acquired a new stake in Clearwater Analytics in the second quarter worth about $90,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 50.10% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Clearwater Analytics from $23.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. DA Davidson downgraded Clearwater Analytics from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $31.00 to $35.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Clearwater Analytics from $20.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Clearwater Analytics from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $23.00 to $33.00 in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on Clearwater Analytics in a report on Monday, August 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $28.00 target price for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $31.11. Insider Buying and Selling at Clearwater Analytics In other news, CFO James S. Cox sold 18,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.34, for a total value of $567,358.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 219,044 shares in the company, valued at $6,645,794.96. The trade was a 7.87 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, CRO Scott Stanley Erickson sold 3,890 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.75, for a total value of $92,387.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive now owns 4,844 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $115,045. This trade represents a 44.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 67,770 shares of company stock valued at $1,826,606. 4.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Clearwater Analytics Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE:CWAN opened at $31.04 on Friday. Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $15.62 and a 12-month high of $35.71. The company has a market capitalization of $7.67 billion, a PE ratio of 3,107.11, a PEG ratio of 11.13 and a beta of 0.61. The business has a 50 day moving average of $27.69 and a two-hundred day moving average of $23.32. The company has a current ratio of 4.66, a quick ratio of 4.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. About Clearwater Analytics ( Free Report ) Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc develops and provides a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution for automated investment data aggregation, reconciliation, accounting, and reporting services to insurers, investment managers, corporations, institutional investors, and government entities in the United States and internationally. Read More Five stocks we like better than Clearwater Analytics TSX Venture Exchange (Formerly Canadian Venture Exchange) The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing 3 Home Improvement Stocks that Can Upgrade Your Portfolio 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 How to Invest in Insurance Companies: A Guide FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Clearwater Analytics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clearwater Analytics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! Thirty-five years ago, Bilal Qayyum began working to promote peace and prevent gun violence in Philadelphia. At the time, he says gang-related violence was rampant. In response, he established the Father’s Day Rally Committee, an anti-gun and anti-violence group aiming to counter negative perceptions with positive images of Black men. “During the time when we started the campaign,” said Qayyum, director of the organization. “We realized in our meeting that we all were fathers. And that’s where the name came from.” On the Saturday before Father’s Day in June 1989, about 300 men gathered at Zion Baptist Church in North Philadelphia to hear local speakers highlight the positive work underway in their communities. “We were one of the first groups in this city that actually raised the issue around violence in particular as it relates to the Black community,” Qayyum said. Fast forward to 2024, and while homicides have declined, Qayyum told WHYY News that the proliferation of firearms still threatens public safety. One relatively recent phenomenon is the appearance of “ghost guns,” firearms built from kits or accessible parts and put together by an individual. Federally licensed gun manufacturers must place a serial number on every firearm, so it can be tracked. Ghost guns don’t have serial numbers. The gun-control group Everytown says, “Ghost guns are the fastest-growing gun safety problem facing our country.” Last year, Qayyum’s organization partnered with the Philadelphia Police Department for the city’s gun buyback program, aimed at getting firearms off the streets. “This guy came in and he turned in five ghost guns,” Qayyum said. “This is wild, but the way we do gun buybacks, you turn in the gun, no question asked.” UnitedHealthcare CEO was likely killed with a ghost gun that can be made at home A ghost gun is a firearm without a serial number. Police said Monday that the gun used in last week's shooting of Brian Thompson may have been made with a 3D printer. 4 days ago WHYY News requested data from the Philadelphia Police Department on privately-made weapons from 2020 to Dec. 9, 2024. 3D-printed firearms seized by Philadelphia police. (Philadelphia Police Department) Killing puts ghost guns in spotlight Now, the role of ghost guns is part of the investigation into the murder of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson . Police believe University of Pennsylvania graduate Luigi Mangione built the firearm used in the killing to ensure it could not be traced. One law enforcement expert says some ghost guns are completely manufactured through 3D printing, and others use 3D-printed components with parts that are available from gun kits. “They combine what is utilized in the 3D printing with the actual parts that are legitimate,” said Randy Sutton, retired lieutenant with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and former patrol officer and detective with the Princeton Police Department in New Jersey. He said new advancements in artificial intelligence pose new challenges. “Technology is wonderful. It creates life-saving and life-changing technologies,” Sutton said. “But on the other hand, it also creates opportunities for those who utilize it for nefarious purposes.” Sutton added that because ghost guns are not regulated, making them go away outright is unrealistic. “There’s not a chance in the world we’re going to ban these weapons. It’s impossible,” Sutton said. “You can make them illegal to possess. But the techno barn door has already been opened.” The Biden administration has aimed to treat these firearms like regular weapons, requiring serial numbers on the parts and mandated background checks. Several states’ Attorneys General have filed lawsuits that are now under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Cour t. Shira Feldman, Director of Constitutional Litigation for the gun violence prevention organization Brady United, calls ghost guns a national threat. “Ghost guns have become weapons of choice for criminals and their proliferation cannot be ignored,” Feldman said in an email. “We’re hopeful the court will side with the safety of American people, but this ultra-conservative court, with a conservative majority solidified by former President [Donald] Trump, has proven that it has no issue ignoring the safety of the American people in favor of gun lobby rhetoric.” Gun rights groups are challenging the proposed rules in the Supreme Court , arguing they violate the Second Amendment. In March, the Pennsylvania House passed a bill to close loopholes in the Uniform Firearms Act and prohibit the purchase, sale and production of the untraceable gun parts used in ghost guns. However, the legislation failed in the state Senate . “I don’t see any legislation passing against ghost guns in the state of Pennsylvania. At least, not in my lifetime,” Qayyum said. New Jersey and Delaware are among 15 states that have laws to regulate these weapons. Get daily updates from WHYY News! The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship'The Philadelphia Eagles are on a roll heading into their Week 12 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, as they have won their past six games to push their record to 8-2, which has allowed them to take control of the NFC East in the process. However, they have been dealt some tough injury news regarding wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Smith has been putting together another strong campaign with the Eagles, as he's racked up 41 receptions for 516 yards and four touchdowns through nine games of action. He's been dealing with a hamstring injury as of late that threw his status for Week 12 up in the air, though. Even with the long week after Philadelphia played against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football in Week 11, Smith was unable to practice at all this week due to his injury. As a result, the team had no choice but to rule him out for their contest against the Rams on Friday afternoon. Friday's Injury Report #PHIvsLAR pic.twitter.com/hEyV5JAj0Q This is a tough blow for the Eagles, as you never want to be without one of your best players in a big primetime matchup against a team in the Rams that is arguably more desperate for a win than they are. Unfortunately, Smith's hamstring did not respond well throughout the week, and he will be forced to watch this one from the sidelines. In his absence, that will place more of a burden on A.J. Brown in the passing game, with Jahan Dotson set to step up and fill in Smith's WR2 role. Dallas Goedert will chip in at tight end, with Saquon Barkley also helping out in the passing game out the backfield. © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Given how hot the Eagles have been, folks could choose to ignore Smith's absence in the belief that they will roll past the Rams either way. It is worth noting, though, that one of Philly's two losses on the year came back in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was the only other game on the year Smith was inactive for. Philadelphia will take on Los Angeles on Sunday Night Football in Week 12, with kickoff for this game being scheduled for 8:20 P.M. EST. Related: Eagles Release Veteran Quarterback On ThursdayWhat both sides are saying about ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah
Gophers women’s basketball tops Louisiana to improve to 9-0
LISBON (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was looking for a statement win from his side on Tuesday and got it as they brushed aside in-form Sporting Lisbon with a superb display in a 5-1 away Champions League victory. Arteta praised his team’s intelligent use of the ball and their tenacity against a Sporting team that beat Manchester City 4-1 in their previous Champions League outing and had won 17 of their previous 18 games in all competitions. "I’m very happy, it is a big result against a big opponent," Arteta said. "We wanted to make a statement. I felt a really good energy before the match, but you have to put it into practice. "The first half was exceptional and gave us the platform to win the game. We were really clever and efficient in the way we attacked them. It is an important win for us." Arsenal looked untouchable in the first half as they went into the break 3-0 up, but a goal early in the second period for Sporting changed the mood in the stadium until Bukayo Saka scored a fourth to swing the momentum their way once more. "The atmosphere was changing (when Sporting scored), they had belief, but after that we showed our personality to get on the ball again, to defend deeper if we needed to and the fourth goal changed it again," Arteta said. "We have to enjoy it, playing in this competition against these sorts of team. I was pleased with how the performance flowed." Arsenal had been in a mini-slump of three games without a win before a 3-0 win over high-flying Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this past weekend. Backing up a victory with another dominant display is something they will have to do all season long if they are to be successful, according to Arteta. "We need the consistency, if you want to be going for championships then you have to win and win again. Today was a different type of game but we handled it well and let's move on now," he said. Arsenal are next in action on Saturday when they travel to West Ham United in the Premier League. (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HAYW) Shares Bought by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans