Applied Materials Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitorsData consumption has been skyrocketing for AI chatbots, digitalized medical records, online banking and cat videos. Now Newport Beach, California-based Province Group plans to invest up to $500 million into the 1-million-square-foot Merrillville Technology Park data center campus near Colorado Street and Harms Road in Merrillville that will pay workers up to a projected $175,000 a year. Chicago-based Wylie Capital plans to develop a 1.2 million square foot data center at Broadway, 93rd Avenue and Georgia Street in Merrillville that could result in $600 million in investment and up to 200 mostly six-figure jobs. And Karis Critical eyes up to $900 million in investment in a data center on 180 acres on 101st Avenue east of Deep River County Park that would bring hundreds of jobs. "It's a huge boon to the tax base of course once these buildings are totally finished and operational," Town Council President Rick Bella said. "They have to be equipped inside, which is another tax base increase. The neighboring businesses that will come here because there are data centers of this size here is tremendous. We're building Liberty Estates now, a thousand housing units. We need people that are going to buy those houses and move in." It would pay high salaries to highly educated professionals like network engineers, computer programmers, computer support specialists and database administrators. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts "Those are the kind of people who are going to build new homes and bring their families to Merrillville," he said. "The trickle effect of these types of large businesses. You can't really put a dollar figure on it. It just keeps growing and growing." Data centers should help modernize Northwest Indiana's economy with high-paying, high-tech jobs, Bella said. "I think it helps put the Region on the map if we have data centers and more modern businesses," he said. "The steel industry and the oil industry are there and they helped build Lake and Porter counties. They've been there for decades but they're limited. These types of businesses help build a labor force, a smart labor force. These are different types of jobs with large salaries. It's going to build the economy of the Region." Stephen Muenstermann, the president of Cloudbusters and a Data Center Advisory Board member, said some academic studies would suggest that the $2 billion in direct investment in data centers in Merrillville could end up having an $8 billion economic impact in the town. "What happens is, if you look at things like autonomous vehicles and people doing surgical processes, they can't have any latency in the amount of time when they make the action they're doing remotely on the screen. They have to have precision timing," he said. "In order to do that, you have to have as few hops as possible to get to the source. So the more data centers you have in close proximity, the less jumps you have. If you design your network right and make sure you get a secure path with minimum microsecond wait time behind it, you can draw those types of businesses." Data centers could draw health care, financial, legal, cybersecurity and other firms. "They want to be close to data because they need it fast," Bella said. "There's a multitude of different businesses that will be here because of data centers."
Unlike scores of people who 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 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 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 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. Jonel Aleccia, The Associated PressEvery movie and show coming to Netflix in December
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Australian voters have judged Jacqui Lambie to be the nation’s most likeable federal politician, backing the Tasmanian senator ahead of major party leaders in an exclusive new survey. Lambie, an outspoken independent who often rails against the major parties, has a net likeability rating of 14 per cent and is considered one of the most recognisable people in politics. Ups and downs: Lidia Thorpe (left), Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Jacqui Lambie and Barnaby Joyce. Credit: Michael Howard But voters have ranked Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe as the least likeable in federal politics, giving her a net rating of minus 41 per cent after her protest in Parliament House during the visit of King Charles in October. Thorpe, the Indigenous firebrand who quit the Greens in early 2023 and now sits on the crossbench, has seen her rating deteriorate from minus 29 per cent one year ago. The survey, conducted for this masthead by research company Resolve Strategic, is based on questions to 1606 voters nationwide about whether they have heard of a politician and whether they have a positive, neutral, or negative view of that person. “The most striking feature of this analysis is that there is only one politician with double-digit positive net likeability,” Resolve director Jim Reed said. “There’s nobody to follow, or who inspires or gives hope right now.” Nationals senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has emerged as the second most likeable leader, with a net rating of 8 per cent, reflecting her prominence as the Coalition’s key opponent of the Indigenous Voice in last year’s referendum. She was followed by Liberal senator and former trade minister Simon Birmingham, a party moderate who has chosen to leave politics, and independent senator David Pocock, the former rugby champion who now represents the Australian Capital Territory in parliament. While voters were mildly positive about Birmingham and Pocock, giving them ratings of 7 per cent and 5 per cent respectively, they gave strongly negative views about some of the most recognisable names in politics. Voters gave an equal net rating of minus 13 per cent to two leaders on opposite ends of the political spectrum, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Greens leader Adam Bandt. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given a net rating of minus 17 per cent, down from minus 3 per cent one year ago, coinciding with the federal government’s slump in popular support. The prime minister’s result has worsened from his “honeymoon” net likeability of 34 per cent at the end of 2022. His result was eclipsed, however, by the net rating of minus 22 per cent for Nationals MP and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, although voters scaled back their dislike from his net result of minus 27 per cent last year. Loading This meant Thorpe was almost twice as unpopular as Joyce. The findings show Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has climbed ahead of other political leaders to post a net rating of zero, better than the result of minus 12 per cent one year ago. More than a dozen politicians shared the “net zero” outcome, including deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley, Nationals leader in the Senate Bridget McKenzie, Education Minister Jason Clare and Industry Minister Ed Husic. Some key members of the Coalition team emerged with positive ratings, albeit with lower levels of name recognition compared with Dutton. Voters gave shadow treasurer Angus Taylor and defence spokesman Andrew Hastie net ratings of 4 per cent. Education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson received a 2 per cent rating. The Resolve Political Monitor was conducted from December 4 to 8 and put questions to 1606 respondents selected to reflect the broader population by location, age, gender and other factors. Voters were shown a list of 60 political figures and asked whether they had a positive, neutral or negative view of each of them, generating a net likeability rating by subtracting the negative number from the positive one. “Likeability is not the same as electability – you can still be respected without it, but it helps in getting a fair hearing from voters,” said Reed. “Instead of competence, likeability is about authenticity and alignment. “Politicians such as Lambie and Price are real – raw even. You get what you see, the kind of honesty and trust that is a rare commodity in politics. Loading “Thorpe has that to a certain extent, but most voters think she’s misaligned with their own attitudes and values.” Many of the political figures were not known to more than 30 or 40 per cent of the respondents, a key factor for independent MPs such as Kate Chaney, Helen Haines and Monique Ryan. The most recognisable politician with a positive rating was Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who was known to 89 per cent of voters and gained a net likeability result of 2 per cent. Wong led the list one year ago with net likeability of 14 per cent. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was given a net rating of minus 5 per cent in the December survey, after a year of criticism from the Greens over decisions to approve some gas and coal projects and the Senate’s objections to her draft law to set up Environment Protection Australia. Her net likeability was 3 per cent one year ago. Treasurer Jim Chalmers was known to 71 per cent of respondents and had a net rating of minus 7 per cent, a decline from a zero rating one year ago during a period when voters reported increasing anxiety about the cost of living. The treasurer had a positive rating of 11 per cent at the end of 2022. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Resolve Political Monitor For subscribers Political leadership Anthony Albanese Peter Dutton David Pocock More... David Crowe is chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in Politics LoadingTulsi Gabbard’s history with Russia is even more concerning than you think
ZAMBEZI LAGER SHORTAGE HITS BYOA look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) attacked California for its slow ballot counting process, which still hasn't concluded weeks after Election Day . He mentioned two Republican incumbents, Reps. Michelle Steel (R-CA) and John Duarte (R-CA), who have watched their voting leads disappear with Democratic ballots streaming in late. MEET THE NEW CONGRESS: THE HOUSE AND SENATE FRESHMEN ELECTED TO SERVE NEXT YEAR "We are on the eve of Thanksgiving and California still hasn’t finished counting votes," DeSantis posted on X on Wednesday afternoon. "Post-election day ballot 'dumps' continue to net Democrat votes over two GOP incumbents. This may reduce the Republican majority in the US House to a razor thin 220-215. What a farce." Steele conceded defeat in California’s 45th Congressional District just hours later. DeSantis's slamming of California is a continuation of the feud he has with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who he debated about a year ago in a publicized red versus blue, Florida against California face-off on Fox News. Both got in jabs against each other and fueled presidential speculation. FIVE DEMOCRATS IN PRIME POSITION TO BE FACE OF THE PARTY IN 2028 For DeSantis, it temporarily boosted his campaign against eventual President-elect Donald Trump. He ignited a social media mockery of Newsom by holding up a human "poop map" of San Francisco that showed the locations of feces across the city. And for Newsom, it boosted his profile in a time when cries for President Joe Biden to step down were at a low whimper. His viral moment came with a stabbing remark aimed at the Florida governor: “There’s one thing in closing that we have in common, is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024." Those cries would grow in the coming months until Biden relented and stepped down. Newsom got a chunk of the presidential speculation before Vice President Kamala Harris snatched the nomination and kept it. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Now post-election, both governors will be term-limited and forced to step down after the 2026 elections. That would open a pathway for either politician to run in the 2028 presidential election if they choose, and both will likely be involved in speculation. DeSantis's attack could be the opening shot in a feud that carries into November of 2028.
AP Race Call: Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks wins reelection to U.S. House in Iowa's 1st Congressional District
Asda shoppers race to buy new Christmas-themed mayonnaise flavour that is ‘perfect with turkey sandwiches’NoneLindsay Lohan and Bader Shammas might need new shoes for baby Luai . After all, the Mean Girls star provided a sweet update on their 16-month-old son's latest milestones. "He's more verbal and he's running a lot," Lindsay exclusively told E! News in a joint interview with Our Little Secret costars Kristin Chenoweth and Ian Harding . "He's like a little boy now." In fact, the 38-year-old— whose new Netflix Christmas movie is out Nov. 27—saw it in action during a recent outing at the park when her little one was focused on a new toy. "This little boy was spraying bubbles," she recalled. "This kid was running fast. He was older than him. So I was like, 'Stay back!' and tried to hold Luai, but he was like, 'Bubble, bubble!'" (For more with Lindsay, Kristin and Ian, tune into E! News tonight, Nov. 21, at 11 p.m.) Like most parents, adjusting to becoming a mom took time, especially early in her postpartum journey. For Lindsay, it was crucial to prioritize self-care . "In the beginning, I didn't want to miss a moment," she told E! News in June before joking, "Even when the baby is sleeping, you tend to become a little stalker. But once you get into a good system, you start to understand that it's OK to take time." "I need this," she recalled telling herself. "I need to feel great in order to be great for my child." The Parent Trap star, who tied the knot with Bader in 2022, emphasized that this revelation was life-changing after welcoming Luai. "After giving birth, you realize, as women, how strong we are," she said. "We forget to give ourselves credit for that. There are moments when we should take a break, sit down and stop and think about all of the things we do and how much power we have. I've learned that this past year more than I knew before." And it turns out, Lindsay’s longtime pal Ayesha Curry couldn’t help but gush over her leap into motherhood . "She's a great mom," Ayesha told E! News at the Voices of Beauty Summit in March. "It's been such a such a joy to watch. She's just killing it." "She's somehow in its early days, but she knows how to balance that work-life balance," the Sweet July Skin founder continued. "I know it doesn't exist, but it exists in her world. She does a great job in that." Now, read on to see more of Lindsay and Bader's love story. —reporting by Emily Curl After three years of dating, Lindsay Lohan announced her engagement to her boyfriend Bader Shammas , captioning her Instagram post featuring her stunning ring, "My love. My life. My family. My future." Though not much is known about their initial meet cute, Bader resides in Dubai, where Lindsay has also lived for several years. According to his Linkedin profile, Bader worked as an assistant vice president at Credit Suisse. Lindsay took fans by surprise when she shared referred to Bader as her "husband" in a sweet dedication posted to social media. Her rep also confirmed to E! News that the two did indeed tie the knot. "You found me and knew that I wanted to find happiness and grace, all at the same time," she wrote, in part, in her July 2 Instagram post. "I am stunned that you are my husband. My life and my everything, every woman should feel like this everyday." A little more than one month after announcing their marriage , she shared a rare glimpse at quality time spent as newlyweds. Alongside an Instagram photo snapped of the couple in London, Lindsay wrote that she was at the "Home of the queen with my [crown emoji]." After making her official return to acting, the Falling for Christmas star noted that she had an amazing support system around her —which of course, included Bader. "I have an amazing husband, who's a very calm person," she told Cosmopolitan in October 2022. "Just the best. And my family." As Lindsay put it, she's grateful for the circle of people she has in her life today. "I feel like I have a small group of good friends who are just really good people," she added. "That's the only support that I really need: friends, family, and loved ones." The Life-Size alum announced the beginning of the couple's biggest chapter yet: The journey of parenthood . In an Instagram post announcing the news, Lindsay wrote that the pair are " blessed and excited " to be welcoming a baby. July 2023: No Parent Trap Here: Lindsay Is a Mom The Get a Clue actress gave birth to her first baby with Bader, her rep confirmed to E! News. The pair welcomed a baby boy named Luai in Dubai, where they live. September 2024: A Fetch Getaway to NYC The couple embarked on a trip to New York, joining her family—including brother Dakota Lohan —at the Museum of Ice Cream and enjoyed a winning date at the U.S. Open.
Rodriguez girls basketball can't keep pace against InderkumA controversial and long-delayed tower is moving a step closer to becoming a reality. The 27-storey La Mer building at Main Beach Parade will be put to the market on Thursday by developer ODUS, just months after beginning construction. The $140m tower, which is being created by builder Nazero, is expected to open in late-2026 and will have some of the city’s most expensive real estate. Expressions of interest are opening for the first five units, which start at $3.9m each. ODUS director Byron Sakha said the full-floor Main Beach Parade apartments, would have 360-degree views of the city. Artist impression of the La Mer tower planned for Main Beach on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied “Every apartment in La Mer has house-sized proportions and incredible views — not to mention a location in one of the city’s best postcodes,” he said. “Demand continues to outstrip supply for ultra luxury apartments on the Gold Coast, and the rare full-floor design will make these residences particularly prized. We’ve elevated every aspect of the development, enhancing its stunning sculptural design, expansive ocean-view balconies, and elegant interiors to create a truly exceptional living experience. “Each apartment has private lift-access to its own opulent lobby and the site borders parkland, with neighbours on one side only, creating a real feeling of privacy.” Construction has begun on the tower. Picture: Supplied The project’s sales are being marketed by OTP Group. The site was bought by ODUS in May 2024. It came after the beachfront tower was given the green light in December 2022 after its previous owners – Developers Polites Property Group and Anthony Quinn’s QNY Group – won a long-running, high-profile legal battle against the Gold Coast City Council. Inside one of the tower’s units. Picture: Supplied Polites filed the project with council in April 2021 and were so confident of its approval it was launched to the market in June and had pencilled in construction to begin in May, 2022. More than $65m in units within the tower were sold before the project was rejected by councillors in December 2021, sparking an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court. Officers in their refusal for La Mer wrote that the previous version of the project did not comply with the City Plan. More Coverage ‘Under-supply’: How mega-project will transform tower-free suburb Andrew Potts ‘Falling off a cliff’: The ‘disaster’ facing Gold Coast homebuyers Andrew Potts Originally published as La Mer: Main Beach tower goes to market with units starting from $3.9m Property Don't miss out on the headlines from Property. Followed categories will be added to My News. Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Property Socialite’s Sydney terrace fetches huge sale price It featured in Vogue Living, but now the luxe home of mega-influencer Nadia Fairfax-Wayne has been sold for a tidy sum at auction. Check out its super-stylish interior. Read more Property How mega-project will transform tower-free suburb The developer behind a giant four-tower project in the heart of a suburb which currently has no high-rises, is pitching its project as a solution to the Gold Coast’s housing crisis. FIND OUT WHY Read more
TJX Cos. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors despite daily gains