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esports icon Dr Badrinath: The visionary behind Sankara NethralayaSirkka joins the executive team to elevate recruitment strategies and advance growth in travel nursing and healthcare staffing nationwide OMAHA, Neb., Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Solutions , a leader in healthcare staffing and talent innovation, has appointed Kerry Sirkka as Chief Recruitment Officer to spearhead transformative recruitment strategies and drive growth. She has more than 20 years of experience as a seasoned, award-winning healthcare executive with a proven track record in expansion, progress, and operational transformation across healthcare staffing and technology sectors. Sirkka has deep experience in travel, local, per diem, locums, and digital staffing. She has held key roles, foundationally spending nearly two decades leading recruitment operations at AMN Healthcare and taking on key transformational initiatives. She later moved to Head of Caregiver Experience at TheKey, where she drove operational efficiencies across 100 locations, and most recently, to Chief Delivery Officer at IntelyCare, where she managed operations and services to grow the company's healthcare platform. "We're happy to welcome Kerry to our team," said Rebecca Rogers Tijerino, CEO of Medical Solutions . "She brings extensive expertise in recruitment strategy and a proven ability to drive innovation. Her success in building high-performing teams and fostering growth will play a key role in connecting top clinicians with healthcare systems and advancing patient care nationwide." Her professional accomplishments extend beyond the workplace. She is an active member of the American Staffing Association, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and other influential organizations. Her accolades include multiple President's Forum Awards for exceptional performance and nominations for the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Staffing and The American Staffing Association Volunteer of the Year. "I'm excited to join Medical Solutions and contribute to its mission of connecting healthcare facilities with exceptional talent," said Sirkka. "I look forward to working with this talented team to create solutions that meet the changing needs of clients and clinicians." Sirkka's appointment underscores Medical Solutions' dedication to leading the healthcare staffing industry by delivering comprehensive solutions that empower clinicians and support healthcare systems nationwide. ABOUT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS Medical Solutions is one of the nation's largest healthcare talent ecosystems — connecting nurses, allied health clinicians, and clinical leaders with healthcare facilities across the U.S. Its service offerings include contingent staffing, managed services, strike staffing, local contract, PRN, and domestic and international direct hire. For more information, visit www.medicalsolutions.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kerry-sirkka-joins-medical-solutions-as-chief-recruitment-officer-302321558.html SOURCE Medical Solutions LLCGeode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Blend Labs, Inc. ( NYSE:BLND – Free Report ) by 6.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,767,104 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 283,207 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned approximately 1.88% of Blend Labs worth $17,880,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BLND. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Blend Labs by 15.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 26,148 shares of the company’s stock valued at $98,000 after purchasing an additional 3,576 shares during the period. ClariVest Asset Management LLC increased its position in Blend Labs by 2.9% during the second quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 252,059 shares of the company’s stock worth $595,000 after buying an additional 6,988 shares during the last quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Blend Labs in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Xponance Inc. bought a new stake in Blend Labs in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Blend Labs by 8.2% in the second quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 212,841 shares of the company’s stock valued at $502,000 after buying an additional 16,084 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 52.56% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BLND has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Blend Labs from $4.50 to $6.50 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Blend Labs from $3.40 to $3.90 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. JMP Securities assumed coverage on shares of Blend Labs in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $7.00 target price for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Blend Labs from $3.25 to $3.85 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Blend Labs from $3.00 to $4.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Blend Labs has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $5.11. Insider Buying and Selling at Blend Labs In other Blend Labs news, insider Oxana Tkach sold 18,324 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.18, for a total value of $94,918.32. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 88,677 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $459,346.86. This trade represents a 17.13 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, Director Timothy J. Mayopoulos sold 42,721 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.00, for a total transaction of $213,605.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 387,620 shares in the company, valued at $1,938,100. This represents a 9.93 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 201,782 shares of company stock valued at $1,011,478 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 13.21% of the company’s stock. Blend Labs Trading Down 2.5 % Shares of BLND opened at $4.29 on Friday. Blend Labs, Inc. has a 12 month low of $2.08 and a 12 month high of $5.53. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $4.51 and its 200-day moving average is $3.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.10 billion, a PE ratio of -12.62 and a beta of 1.33. Blend Labs Profile ( Free Report ) Blend Labs, Inc engages in the provision of cloud-based software platform solutions for financial services firms in the United States. It operates in two segments, Blend Platform and Title365. The company's Blend Builder Platform offers a suite of products that powers digital-first consumer journeys for mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, credit cards, and deposit accounts; and offers mortgage products to facilitate the homeownership journey for consumers comprising close, income verification for mortgage, homeowners' insurance, and realty. Read More Five stocks we like better than Blend Labs Health Care Stocks Explained: Why You Might Want to Invest Buffett Takes the Bait; Berkshire Buys More Oxy in December There Are Different Types of Stock To Invest In Top 3 ETFs to Hedge Against Inflation in 2025 Overbought Stocks Explained: Should You Trade Them? These 3 Chip Stock Kings Are Still Buys for 2025 Receive News & Ratings for Blend Labs Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blend Labs and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Northern Illinois gets tricky to beat Fresno St., win Potato Bowl in 2OT

Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. ( NASDAQ:IAS – Free Report ) by 207.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 127,733 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 86,133 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned 0.08% of Integral Ad Science worth $1,380,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Integral Ad Science by 0.6% in the third quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 2,772,440 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,970,000 after purchasing an additional 17,166 shares in the last quarter. abrdn plc raised its position in Integral Ad Science by 12.5% in the 3rd quarter. abrdn plc now owns 2,147,656 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,216,000 after buying an additional 237,930 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in Integral Ad Science by 10.8% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,224,138 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,899,000 after acquiring an additional 119,740 shares in the last quarter. Crestwood Capital Management L.P. boosted its position in Integral Ad Science by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Crestwood Capital Management L.P. now owns 650,738 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,034,000 after acquiring an additional 1,941 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Integral Ad Science by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 595,907 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,442,000 after acquiring an additional 41,528 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.78% of the company’s stock. Integral Ad Science Stock Down 0.3 % IAS opened at $10.44 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.71, a quick ratio of 3.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $11.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.74. Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. has a 1-year low of $7.98 and a 1-year high of $17.53. The stock has a market cap of $1.70 billion, a PE ratio of 52.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.45. Insider Transactions at Integral Ad Science In other news, CFO Tania Secor sold 5,240 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.11, for a total transaction of $52,976.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 248,223 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,509,534.53. This represents a 2.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CEO Lisa Utzschneider sold 10,481 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.11, for a total value of $105,962.91. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 239,709 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,423,457.99. This trade represents a 4.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 16,363 shares of company stock valued at $165,629. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently commented on IAS shares. Benchmark restated a “hold” rating on shares of Integral Ad Science in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on shares of Integral Ad Science from $20.00 to $18.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Integral Ad Science from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on Integral Ad Science from $18.00 to $16.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Scotiabank assumed coverage on Integral Ad Science in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $10.00 price target for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $15.18. View Our Latest Analysis on Integral Ad Science Integral Ad Science Profile ( Free Report ) Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. operates as a digital advertising verification company in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Australia, Japan, India, and the Nordics. The company provides IAS Signal, a cloud-based technology platform that offers return on ad spend needs; and deliver independent measurement and verification of digital advertising across devices, channels, and formats, including desktop, mobile, connected TV, social, display, and video. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Integral Ad Science Asset Allocation: The Key to a Successful Portfolio. Are You Paying Attention to Yours? Buffett Takes the Bait; Berkshire Buys More Oxy in December Best Stocks Under $10.00 Top 3 ETFs to Hedge Against Inflation in 2025 What is the Nikkei 225 index? These 3 Chip Stock Kings Are Still Buys for 2025 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Integral Ad Science Holding Corp. ( NASDAQ:IAS – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Integral Ad Science Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Integral Ad Science and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company. The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. “I’m very honored,” Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with the AP. ”Obviously all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I’ll get the award again.” In balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members, Ohtani received 48 votes. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2021 , when he was with the Angels. “Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods,” he said. “I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States.” The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Golfer Babe Didrikson won six times, the most by a man or woman. Swimmer Léon Marchand of France, who won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was second with 10 votes in balloting announced Monday. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose victories this year included the Masters and an Olympic gold medal, was third with nine. The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Tuesday. Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases. Ohtani signed a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. Already a two-way superstar, he embellished his reputation even further despite not pitching all season while he rehabilitated from a second major right elbow surgery he had in September 2023. Ohtani went wild on offense, making every at-bat a must-see moment. The 6-foot-4 designated hitter batted a career-high .310 while easily surpassing his previous career highs in home runs and stolen bases. In September, he reached the previously unheard of 50/50 mark in a performance for the ages . Against the Miami Marlins in Florida, Ohtani went 6 for 6 with three homers, 10 RBIs, two stolen bases and 17 total bases. "It wouldn’t shock me if he went 60/60 and 20 wins a year from now,” Brad Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019 during Ohtani’s second season in Anaheim, said recently. “This guy is the greatest athlete to ever play the sport of baseball and there’s not a close second.” Ohtani said he knew the Dodgers' franchise record for most homers in a season was 49. His previous best was 46, set in 2021. "I kind of wanted to get over that bar,” he said. “I was pleasantly surprised I was able to pass that record.” Ohtani carried the Dodgers offensively during the regular season, and he stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series. He injured his left shoulder trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees and finished the Series playing hurt. He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November. "I don’t have full range of motion yet, but it feels a lot better,” he told the AP. “There’s no pain. There’s obviously still a little bit of tightness, but slowly but surely it’s getting better.” Ohtani recently received an updated rehab schedule, and he’s focused on the near-term. “It’s the small steps that I think are very important to get me to the ultimate goal, which is to just get back healthy,” he said. Ohtani is also throwing in the 70 mph range, which is typical for pitchers early in the offseason. "I’m going to continue to ramp up slowly,” he said. The Dodgers’ rotation for next season is in flux, and Ohtani is waiting to see how it shakes out. "We may go with a five-man rotation with a bullpen (game), which is what we did a lot during this season or we may have a six-man rotation,” he said. “But it’s all about balancing out when we can get rest and recuperate. We’ll see where that takes us along the playoff chase. I’ve got to obviously pace myself, but again that situation will guide us to how we get there.” The Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan, where Ohtani is even more closely watched . "My personal goal is to be fully healthy by the time the opening games do start,” he said. “To be able to pitch and hit would be great, but the situation will kind of guide itself.” Each time Ohtani comes to the plate or steps on the mound, there’s great pressure and expectation for him to perform spectacular feats. "I just go out there and try to stay within myself,” he said. “I can only control what I can control and that’s where you trust your teammates. The guys behind me, you trust they’re going to make the plays for you. I don’t really try to overthink it.” Ohtani generated big bucks for the Dodgers off the field, too. Fans traveled from Japan in droves to see him play around the U.S. At Dodger Stadium, they paid extra for tours of baseball’s third-oldest venue narrated by Japanese-speaking guides and to be on the field during pre-game batting practice. A majority of the fans bought Ohtani-branded merchandise, especially his No. 17 jersey. Ohtani’s presence also helped the Dodgers land a bevy of new Japanese sponsors. Because Ohtani prefers to speak Japanese and use an interpreter with the media, he is shrouded in a bit of mystique. Asked before his first postgame series if he was nervous, he dropped a one-word answer in English: “Nope,” which drew laughter. Japanese-born Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed Ohtani’s behind-the-scenes interactions with his teammates, coaches and staff, and came away impressed. "I really do believe that as good of a ballplayer as he is, he’s a much better person. He’s very kind, considerate, he cares,” Roberts told the AP. “I’m just proud of any fame or glory or award that he receives because he just does it in such a respectful and humble way.” Ohtani relishes his privacy and rarely shares details about himself off the field. That’s why his February announcement via Instagram that he had wed Mamiko Tanaka , a former basketball player, stunned his new teammates and the rest of the world. The following month, after the Dodgers arrived in South Korea to open the season, he was enveloped in scandal when his longtime interpreter and friend , Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after being accused of using millions of dollars of Ohtani’s money to place bets with an illegal bookmaker. His new teammates rallied around Ohtani, who was found to have no part in the wrongdoing, and publicly it didn’t seem to affect him even if he was privately distressed by it. By June, the uproar had subsided. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to federal bank and tax fraud charges and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The public got a glimpse of Ohtani’s softer side in August, when his dog Decoy delivered a first pitch to his owner on their shared bobblehead night. The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje exchanged an endearing high-five with Ohtani at the plate. As a result, Decoy became a celebrity in his own right, with his breed (pronounced COY-ker-HUND-che) making the list of the most mispronounced words of 2024. He and Ohtani were mentioned during the telecast of last month’s National Dog Show, where the small Spaniel-type breed was among the competitors. "The number of the breed has kind of dwindled, so by him gaining a little bit of popularity hopefully that brings up the number of his breed,” Ohtani said. “I do feel like we were able to, in a small way, contribute to the popularity of the dog and I’m sure Decoy himself would be happy about that.” Ohtani will be looking to top himself next year while eyeing a repeat World Series title. "It’s almost like right now you can lock in the Most Valuable Player in the National League award because no one has that ability or talent,” Roberts said. "I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.” AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlbNew 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns

Wisconsin Sees Creative Winter Fun as Travelers Embrace Snowboarding and Snow Tubing Despite Warmer Temperatures at Crystal Ridge in Franklin

Better Enterprise Software Stock: ServiceNow vs. SalesforceGold has been a highly prized commodity for thousands of years, and yet much of it still remains within the Earth’s surface. A considerable amount of the precious metal can be found as deposits in gold mines around the world, most of which are owned and operated by gold mining companies. Operating a single gold mine requires significant capital investment in addition to prospecting, labor costs and land rights. For that reason, it’s a difficult industry to break into. Once mining sites are established, gold miners are tasked with extracting gold from ore deposits, which are located thousands of meters underground. So it’s easy to see why gold mining companies invest significant amounts of money into the process. The price of the precious metal has gained more than 70% over the past five years and is an essential resource for many industries. If you want to invest in gold — or more specifically, gold mining companies — it’s helpful to know which ones own the biggest gold mines. While there are more details to know than the size of a company’s gold mines, investors can benefit from understanding who the leaders in the industry are. The top-producing gold mining companies Publicly traded gold mining companies are required to report quarterly and annual earnings reports and other information with their shareholders. These companies also share how many tons of gold they produce each year. Based on that information, the following are the top five gold mining companies based on 2023 year-end gold production: Newmont is also the world’s largest gold mining company by market cap. While it’s approaching a $50 billion market cap, Agnico Eagle Mines is closing in on a $40 billion market cap. Barrick Gold is just shy of a $30 billion market cap. For income-focused investors, both Newmont and Agnico Eagle Mines pay dividends that yield above 2%. Barrick Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines are Canadian-based miners, while Newmont is a U.S.-based miner. Nonetheless, each company has mines located worldwide. Russian-based Polyus has a market cap of roughly $15 billion after converting the Russian ruble to U.S. dollars. Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company is headquartered in Uzbekistan. The world’s biggest gold mines The largest gold mining companies own and operate mines worldwide. Acquiring more mines allows companies to extract more gold and command higher profits. The 10 largest mines are spread across several countries, with three of them calling the U.S. home: Nevada Gold Mines owns some of the top 10 gold mines. That company is a joint venture owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont — the two largest gold mining companies in the world. Barrick Gold has a 61.5% stake in Nevada Gold Mines, while Newmont has a 38.5% stake. Should investors buy gold mining stocks or physical gold? Investing in gold mining stocks appears more attractive on the surface. It can be easier to buy stocks of these companies than it is to buy physical gold . Investors also have to store and insure physical gold , while a gold mining stock stays in your portfolio without any storage costs. Finally, some gold mining companies pay quarterly dividends to shareholders. Meanwhile, physical gold doesn’t produce yield. However, that’s where the advantages end for gold mining stocks. At the end of the day, investors care about growing their money as quickly as possible. For the most part, gold mining companies fall short and underperform a lot of assets, including physical gold . Newmont, Agnico Eagle Mines and Barrick Gold are the top three gold mining companies based on market cap. Despite Newmont and Agnico Eagle Mines both paying dividends around 2% yields, the long-term returns of those companies don’t compare to physical gold. Here’s how those three gold mining stocks have performed over the past year as of Nov. 20, 2024 compared to the one-year performance of gold itself: Agnico Eagle Mines is the only company that delivered a higher one-year gain than gold. But when comparing that company’s five-year return of 37.70% to gold’s five-year return of 74%, the difference between owning shares of gold mining companies versus physical gold is apparent. Gold mining companies deliver different returns from physical gold because each company has fluctuations in revenue, operating expenses and net income, all of which impact long-term performance. Physical gold outperformed Newmont and Barrick Gold over the past year, but the gap expands when looking at five-year gains: Even when factoring for dividends, Newmont and Agnico Eagle Mines can’t compete with gold’s five-year returns. It’s easier to hold onto shares of gold mining companies, but investors who want to maximize their returns should consider adding physical gold to their investment portfolios. Read our guide to the best online gold dealers to learn more about precious metal investing. More from Money: Best Gold IRA Companies How China Became the World’s Largest Gold Consumer and ProducerDartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!” Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in UAE is missing. Israeli officials fear he may have been kidnapped DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that Zvi Kogan has been missing since noon Thursday. It said that against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. State-run media in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, did not immediately report the incident. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict.The BGL Automotive Aftermarket Insider – AAPEX/SEMA Show Recap CHICAGO , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Investor interest in automotive aftermarket M&A will remain high in 2025 as favorable tailwinds, including an increasingly aging car parc, more miles traveled, and the proliferation of new technologies, continue to drive the industry forward, according to an industry report released by the Automotive Aftermarket investment banking team at Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL). Download and read the latest BGL Automotive Aftermarket Insider : https://bit.ly/BGLAutomotiveAftermarketInsider Inside the report, BGL shares its annual recap of the 2024 AAPEX and SEMA Shows in Las Vegas . The automotive aftermarket M&A environment and strategies impacting current and future deal activity are discussed, and optimism and interest in the sector remain high. Political discussion pervaded conversations more than ever before among company owners and investors, largely due to the unique timing of the show and our U.S. Presidential Election. Through discussions with owners and other industry leaders, BGL identified key strategies that companies are employing to navigate uncertainty and challenges facing the industry. Key takeaways include: How the scarcity of quality assets in 2023 and 2024 has sparked fierce competition among buyers Why owners and investors should act soon to seize the opportunities in the non-discretionary aftermarket segment The factors behind a surging M&A interest in suppliers of replacement parts and mission-critical services Why more miles, older vehicles, and a growing car parc are creating continued value of non-discretionary parts and service providers BGL's Automotive & Aftermarket investment banking team maintains coverage of the broad automotive sector, including the automotive supply chain, automotive aftermarket, and the on- and off-highway commercial vehicle sectors. Our team has executed numerous transactions for private, public, or institutionally-backed companies in the automotive industry, including M&A sell-side advisory, financial restructuring advisory, and capital markets advisory. About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions , capital markets , financial restructurings , business valuations and opinions , and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Boston , Chicago , Cleveland , Los Angeles , and New York , and real estate offices in Chicago , Cleveland , and San Antonio . The firm is also a founding member of REACH Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC . For more information, please visit www.bglco.com . 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