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Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC Decreases Holdings in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)Zaire Williams, Zavier Fitch combine for 45 points to help Wagner beat Penn State-Scranton 120-30
PHILADELPHIA — Victoria Perrone wasn’t a spokesperson for Sen. John Fetterman’s 2022 Senate campaign. As his treasurer, she worked with numbers and spreadsheets. But when the campaign asked her to speak about her sister who relied in part on Medicaid at her Delaware County elementary school, she agreed. “My sister passed away from Ovarian Cancer in June and Dr. Oz became the Republican nominee,” she said on stage at Nether Providence Elementary School, sporting a ‘Made in Delco’ hoodie. “When I found out Dr. Oz lied to millions of TV viewers that one of his ‘miracle cures’ would decrease ovarian cancer by 75%, I got really mad, like Delco Mad.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights
WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!S Dinajpur Kali temple stops public animal sacrifice
Winnebago County ISU Extension youth director teaches boat building to local students
MANILA, Philippines – Amid the unrest of Mt. Kanlaon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday directed local government units (LGUs) to relocate displaced individuals staying in evacuation centers along lahar paths. This, after OCD chief Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno convened an emergency preparedness meeting to address the threats posed by Mt. Kanlaon. READ MORE: Bago City employees bring Christmas cheers to Kanlaon evacuees Mt. Kanlaon eruption: LIVE UPDATES Lahar alert up as Kanlaon spews more ash “The RTF (Regional Task Force) Kanlaon presented a streamlined Kanlaon Contingency Plan, outlining probable scenarios, roles, responsibilities of responders, coordination mechanisms, and cost projections,” Nepomuceno said in a statement. “They also emphasized preparations for potential lahar flows, directing affected LGUs with evacuation centers along lahar paths to relocate evacuees and ensuring continuous dissemination of information regarding lahar dangers,” he added. Over 4,400 families or 14,200 individuals are temporarily staying in evacuation centers in Western Visayas and Central Visayas, Department of Social Welfare and Development spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing aired over state-run People’s Television. Dumlao said 32 evacuation centers in Bago City, La Carlota, La Castellana and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental are being monitored. Nepomuceno warned that ashfall from Mr. Kanlaon is projected to drift west to southwest, posing a threat to nearby communities. Four ash emissions were recorded, lasting over four hours and resulting in 25 volcanic earthquakes, according to the latest bulletin from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption produced a plume reaching 1,200 meters into the atmosphere, with ash dispersion extending to Panay Island. Citing the current assessments, Nepomuceno said there is a high likelihood of further eruptions based on recorded sulfur dioxide emissions. “Three potential scenarios have been outlined: the first involves continued Alert Level 3 with slow magma ascent, leading to effusive activity and occasional explosive events; the second could see Alert Level 4 if magma ascent accelerates due to new intrusions; and the third may result in Alert Level 2 if gas loss occurs within the magma, temporarily halting eruptive activity while still posing threats,” he said. Nepomuceno said RTF Kanlaon has been directed to inform LGUs that no structures or residents should be allowed within the permanent danger zone (PDZ). The RTF was also tasked to notify the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to suspend any infrastructure construction within the 4-kilometer PDZ. Nepomuceno added that all schools within the PDZ would remain closed to protect students from potential hazards. Dumlao said the DSWD is providing food packs and non-food items to evacuees from Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, noting that over PHP52 million worth of humanitarian assistance have already been delivered. She added that displaced individuals have also received financial aid under the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation program. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military is on standby and ready to deliver goods for Kanlaon evacuees. (PNA)Katherine Rundell wears several hats with style and aplomb. She is a fellow of St. Catherine’s College, Oxford; she is an award-winning children’s writer; and she is a biographer, author of the magisterial “Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne” — the Renaissance poet she convincingly claims to be “the greatest writer of desire in the English language.” Now Rundell has written a book about animals that are under threat from extinction. Comprising 23 lively and informative profiles, “Vanishing Treasures” is an enthralling compendium of remarkable creatures, an urgent appeal for conservation and a joyful reminder that the natural world is “so startling that our capacity for wonder, huge as it is, can barely skim the edges of the truth.” The chapter on bears is representative of the book as a whole. We get fun facts: Polar bears can smell us more than 18 miles away and swim 100 miles without stopping to rest. There are bear-themed literary snippets from Shakespeare, Byron and Rundell’s beloved Donne, plus an origin myth by way of a Chinese children’s tale. There are also historical references, one being the grisly Elizabethan entertainment of bear-baiting. Setting a pack of dogs on a bear was, for one courtier, “a very pleasant sport to see.” Finally, there is an account of bears’ losing battle against humans: Polar bears stand on melting ice, sloth bears are tortured into dancing and sun bears are kept in cages and milked for their bile. Every chapter contains sparkling nuggets that range from eye-opening to jaw-dropping to thought-provoking. Wombats can outrun a man. Elephants have been known to bury dead members of their herd. Pangolins keep their long tongues in an interior pouch near their hips. Some trivia is sobering. In Atlanta, it is illegal to tie your giraffe to a streetlamp. However, it is not illegal “to import a cushion made from a freshly shot giraffe’s head with the eyelashes still attached,” as America has refused to designate the animals endangered, even though their numbers have dropped 40 percent in 30 years. Rundell explains how we came to associate crows with cleverness, wolves with rapaciousness and bats with dark deeds. We learn about Rebecca, Calvin Coolidge’s pet raccoon, and Hoover, a talking seal. The more outlandish details include a Nazi propaganda campaign to use migrating storks as carriers. The book is enriched by Rundell’s personal reflections and opinions, along with her experiences with animals and exhortations to protect them. As we read, it is hard not to share her awe and enthusiasm for her subjects. It is equally hard not to delight at her prose: Swifts, which can sleep, and mate, in the air, “fly like a stroke of luck incarnate”; fermented Greenland shark tastes “like a very ripe cheese, left for a week in high summer in a teenage boy’s car.” As befits a book packed with marvels, this is a marvelous book, one to enjoy and learn from.This Smart TV Is Just $59.99 for Black Friday: Shop Now
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed higher on Wall Street, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to another all-time high. The Dow added 1% Monday to the record it set on Friday. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Treasury yields eased in the bond market after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Smaller companies can feel a big boost from easier borrowing costs, and the Russell 2000 index of small stocks jumped 1.5%, closing just shy of the record high it set three years ago. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is set to break more records Monday as U.S. stocks rise to add to last week’s gains. The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher, as of 3 p.m. Eastern time, and sitting just below its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 397 points, or 0.9%, to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% higher. Treasury yields also eased in the bond market amid what some analysts called a “Bessent bounce” after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent , a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Bessent has argued for reducing the U.S. government’s deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through tax and other revenue. Such an approach could soothe worries on Wall Street that Trump’s policies may lead to a much bigger deficit, which in turn would put upward pressure on Treasury yields. After climbing above 4.44% immediately after Trump’s election, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell back to 4.26% Monday and down from 4.41% late Friday. That’s a notable move, and lower yields help make it cheaper for all kinds of companies and households to borrow money. They also give a boost to prices for stocks and other investments. That helped stocks of smaller companies lead the way, and the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped 2%. It’s set to top its all-time high, which was set three years ago. Smaller companies can feel bigger boosts from lower borrowing costs because of the need of many to borrow to grow. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks the market’s expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with overnight interest rates, also eased sharply. The Fed began cutting its main interest rate just a couple months ago from a two-decade high, hoping to keep the job market humming after bringing high inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. But immediately after Trump’s victory, traders had reduced bets for how many cuts the Fed may deliver next year. They were worried Trump's preference for lower tax rates and higher spending on the border would balloon the national debt. . A report coming on Wednesday could influence how much the Fed may cut rates. Economists expect it to show that an underlying inflation trend the Fed prefers to use accelerated to 2.8% last month from 2.7% in September. Higher inflation would make the Fed more reluctant to cut rates as deeply or as quickly as it would otherwise. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle expects that to slow by the end of next year to 2.4%, but he said inflation would be even lower if not for expected tariff increases on imports from China and autos favored by Trump. In the stock market, Bath & Body Works jumped 19.1% after delivering stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The seller of personal care products and home fragrances also raised its financial forecasts for the full year, even though it still sees a “volatile retail environment” and a shorter holiday shopping season this year. Much focus has been on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. Last week, two major retailers sent mixed messages. Target tumbled after giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Another big retailer, Macy’s, said Monday its sales for the latest quarter were in line with its expectations, but it will delay the release of its full financial results. It found a single employee had intentionally hid up to $154 million in delivery expenses, and it needs more time to complete its investigation. Macy’s stock fell 2.9%. Among the market's leaders were several companies related to the housing industry. Monday's drop in Treasury yields could translate into easier mortgage rates, which could spur activity for housing. Builders FirstSource, a supplier or building materials, rose 6.2%. Homebuilders, D.R. Horton, PulteGroup and Lennar all rose at least 5.8%. In stock markets abroad, indexes moved modestly across much of Europe after finishing mixed in Asia. In the crypto market, bitcoin was trading around $96,800 after threatening to hit $100,000 late last week for the first time. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
2024 Concludes with Positive Update On Current Initiatives TOMBALL, TX / ACCESSWIRE / December 23, 2024 / QS Energy, Inc. (OTCQB:QSEP), a leader in advanced crude oil transport efficiency technologies, is pleased to announce a significant progression in its commercial activities and strategic initiatives as the year comes to a close. Building on the strong foundation established throughout 2024, the company has achieved key milestones that position it for accelerated growth in 2025. Expansion into Global Markets Over the past year, QS Energy has made notable strides in deploying its Applied Oil Technology (AOT) systems across new and high-demand markets in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Through partnerships formalized earlier this year, the company has moved from exploratory phases to contract issuance that will enable the rollout of AOT units across critical energy infrastructure in key regions. These developments reflect QS Energy's ability to meet the growing global demand for technologies that enhance pipeline efficiency and reduce operational costs. Financial Backing to Support Customer Expansion and Growth To support these contracts and ensure smooth execution, QS Energy is advancing discussions with a leading U.S. government-supported financial institution specializing in global trade financing. This institution offers a comprehensive suite of financing solutions, including working capital, buyer-backed financing, and funding opportunities designed to enable manufacturing scale and expansion within the United States. These financial pathways allow QS Energy's customers to adopt AOT technology with minimal upfront capital barriers, streamlining the deployment process. As customers adopt and expand their use of AOT, this financing structure positions QS Energy to scale operations, including the necessary expansion of its U.S.-based assembly capabilities to meet growing demand. "Our progress with this trusted export financing partner reflects our ability to align innovative technology with practical financial solutions," says CEO, Cecil Bond Kyte. "This support framework enables us to help our customers adopt AOT systems while also preparing to meet future growth opportunities through scalable manufacturing." Addressing Legacy Licensing Fees with Temple University In support of our positive momentum to clean up our final balance sheet items, QS Energy and Temple University are in discussions to rectify our past obligations to our mutual future economic benefit. Reflecting on a Year Throughout 2024, QS Energy has demonstrated its ability to evolve from technology development to commercialization. Key milestones this year include: Establishing strategic partnerships to bring the first AOT systems into commercial operation. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand AOT deployment in Southeast Asia. Advancing financial pathways for global adoption through innovative customer financing solutions. "As we reflect on the successes of 2024, we are proud to have reached these milestones while staying true to our vision of enhancing energy efficiency worldwide. The momentum we've built sets the stage for even greater achievements in 2025." says CEO Cecil Bond Kyte. For further information about QS Energy, Inc., click here and read our SEC filings at https://ir.qsenergy.com/sec-filings . To stay connected, subscribe to Email Alerts at https://ir.qsenergy.com/news/email-alerts to receive Company filings and press releases, and subscribe to our new QS UPDATES email service here to receive timely updates on the Company's latest news and innovations. Safe Harbor Statement Some of the statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements under federal securities laws. Please click here for our complete cautionary forward-looking statement. About Applied Oil Technology QS Energy's patented Applied Oil Technology (AOT) is a solid-state turn-key system which uses a high volt / low amp electric field to reduce crude oil viscosity. AOT installs inline on crude oil pipelines, operates unattended without interrupting pipeline flow, with full remote monitoring and control. More information is available online here . About QS Energy QS Energy, Inc. (OTCQB: QSEP), develops and markets crude oil flow assurance technologies designed to deliver measurable performance improvements to pipeline operations in the midstream and upstream crude oil markets. For further information about QS Energy, Inc., visit www.qsenergy.com . Company Contact QS Energy, Inc. Tel: +1 844-645-7737 E-mail: investor@qsenergy.com Sales: sales@qsenergy.com SOURCE: QS Energy, Inc. View the original on accesswire.comCOLUMBIA — No. 19 South Carolina is the hottest team in the Southeastern Conference and on one of the most impressive streaks in the country. Can the Gamecocks stay locked in when it comes to Wofford, a six-touchdown underdog? South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders (5) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. "I would for mediocre people, I would say it's human nature" to let the focus wander, South Carolina linebacker Debo Williams said. "But we're not talking mediocre." Lately, the Gamecocks (7-3) have been extraordinary. They have won four straight in SEC play for the first time since Steve Spurrier was coach in 2012 and beaten three straight AP Top 25 opponents — Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Missouri — for the first time ever. "This is not recent years. This is not a recent team," Williams said. "We are putting it together and we've got to get better every single day." That includes, defensive lineman Alex Huntley said, putting in the same work for an FCS foe to prepare as they did for any of those noteworthy SEC victories. Wofford (5-6) has had its moments, although it has lost 17 straight against the Gamecocks and only once in the past 13 meetings have the Terriers come within single digits of their FBS opponent. "It's not about the team, it's about us," Huntley said. "So just attack everything the same exact way, don't change the routine." Terriers coach Shawn Watson understands the enormous task his team is facing Saturday in South Carolina. Watson recalled watching Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer at a new conference saying he did not want media to rank his team. "Because he knew what he had," Watson said. "They have great chemistry and are probably one of the hottest team, I think the hottest team in college football right now." Wofford is an FCS program in Spartanburg, South Carolina, that has built a strong football history the past four decades. The Terriers have been to 10 NCAA playoffs, the last trip coming in 2019. Watson, in his third season, and the team's five wins this year equal his total of the previous two. One of the school's football highlights came in 2007 when the Terriers handed Appalachian State its first loss after the Mountaineers had stunned top-five Michigan weeks earlier. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has settled into the starting job with his stellar play the second half of the season. He's passed for 1,010 yards and 10 touchdowns against just one interception in the Gamecocks four straight SEC victories. Last week, Sellers had five TD throws including an inside pass to Raheim Sanders he took 15 yards for the winning score against Missouri with 15 seconds left. It's sure to be an emotional time for Beamer as he and the Gamecock crowd say goodbye to the team's seniors who will be playing a final game at Williams-Brice Stadium. Beamer started tearing up, he acknowledged, when he filmed a video for the occasion earlier this week, in part because several of the players leaving chose to stay when Beamer took over four seasons ago. Gamecocks senior punter Kai Kroeger leads the SEC and is second nationally with a 47.7-yard average this season. When his football time is done, Kroeger said he wanted to work for the Secret Service or another federal law enforcement agency. Kroeger explained he'd had family friends follow that path and he became interested. Beamer got a text a few weeks back from Hootie and the Blowfish front-man Darius Rucker about donating to help the university's band fund their planned trip to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. "It took me five seconds to respond" with a yes, Beamer said as he, Rucker and women's basketball coach Dawn Staley each donated $25,000 for band expenses. Get local news delivered to your inbox!SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024-- Talavera Solutions , a pioneering technology services firm, today announced its launch with a dual mission: transforming how organizations build and scale their CRM Centers of Excellence while creating unprecedented growth opportunities for Latin American technology professionals. Founded by Gabriel-Alberto 'Gabe' Arce , who led Axos Bank 's Salesforce practice for nearly a decade, Talavera Solutions is reimagining how organizations achieve technical excellence in the digital age. Innovation at Scale Talavera Solutions has built a state-of-the-art talent community platform on Salesforce technologies, reducing recruiting times by 75%. The company plans to release a few innovations that resulted from that effort as enterprise-ready solutions on the Salesforce AppExchange , including a Universal Document Manager for 360-degree document visibility and a Secure Messaging Starter Pack for integrated communications within Experience Cloud and external applications. "We're not just using Salesforce -- we're actively contributing to its ecosystem," said Arce. "Our upcoming AppExchange solutions reflect our commitment to making enterprise-grade innovations accessible to the broader Salesforce community." Comprehensive Services and Cost Optimization Talavera Solutions offers: Salesforce Implementation & Technical Strategy Omnichannel Customer Experiences Strategic Nearshore Staffing Virtual Generative AI Agents The company provides innovative cost-optimization through bespoke CI/CD infrastructures on Azure DevOps and automated documentation via a partnership with Swantide (venture-backed by Menlo Ventures, Scribble Ventures and Burst Capital ). "When we saw his vision we partnered immediately," said Taylor Lint, CEO of Swantide. Customers can see a ~15% boost in salesforce team productivity with these 2 services combined. Revolutionary Digital-First Talent Experience The company's talent platform enables personalized career development through automated profile tracking, opportunity matching, and streamlined onboarding. For technical professionals across the Americas, Talavera Solutions provides fully funded certification programs, structured mentorship from industry veterans, hands-on enterprise experience, and opportunities to contribute to AppExchange solutions - all supported by continuous learning and clear advancement pathways. Regional Expansion Following its successful launch in Bogota, Colombia, Talavera Solutions will open its second delivery center in Guadalajara, Mexico in December 2024. New centers are planned for El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Argentina in 2025, establishing a strong Central & South American presence. The company will also expand its technical specializations into Data Science and Generative AI practices. "We're building something special," concluded Arce. "A place where organizations can find true technical partners, where ambitious professionals can build remarkable careers, and where innovation flows back into the broader technology community. This is just the beginning of our journey to transform technical talent development in Latin America." About Talavera Solutions Talavera Solutions is a trusted technology advisor driving enterprise growth through proven Salesforce expertise and innovative nearshore solutions. Founded on values of technical excellence, continuous learning, and collaborative innovation, we're transforming how organizations access elite technical talent while building lasting partnerships across the Americas. For more information about partnership opportunities or to begin your career growth journey with Talavera Solutions, visit www.talaverasolutions.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126822623/en/ CONTACT: Gabriel-Alberto 'Gabe' Arce Founder & CEO gabe@talaverasolutions.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA MEXICO UNITED STATES SOUTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA NORTH AMERICA COLOMBIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOFTWARE SMALL BUSINESS INTERNET DATA MANAGEMENT VOIP OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOURCE: Talavera Solutions Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/26/2024 03:00 PM/DISC: 11/26/2024 03:01 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126822623/en
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden's commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump's statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump's rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl's mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden's decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. _______ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Police in Barking given extra powers to tackle anti-social behaviourNEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!