Rudy Giuliani tells judge he can’t pay his bills in courtroom outburst
Martin Lewis reveals how you could save hundreds of pounds on broadband every year as he urges customers to act ahead of Black FridaySanta Claus Parade and other magical events happening this weekend in Toronto
ST. LOUIS , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric Watkins , President of Abstrakt, is shedding light on the significant challenges businesses face when building in-house Sales Development Representative (SDR) teams. Rising costs, complex technology needs, and extended timelines are making outsourcing an increasingly attractive option for companies seeking efficient and effective sales solutions. "We often find companies have already tried to do this all on their own and struggled," said Watkins. "It's a lot of puzzle pieces to put together, and working with a professional team that does this exclusively often gets better results." Watkins noted that businesses often underestimate the full scope of building an SDR team, from recruiting and onboarding skilled personnel to investing in necessary software and AI tools. Additional hurdles include developing outreach strategies, maintaining accountability metrics, and ensuring consistent performance tracking. "Building your own team can be a good route if you have the fully dedicated resources to do so," Watkins said. "But it requires a lot of software, content planning, research tools, and follow-through on sequencing." The rise of AI-driven sales tools has added to the complexity, with many companies struggling to optimize these technologies for maximum impact. Watkins explained that companies often lack the expertise to effectively integrate AI into their outreach efforts, further extending the time and cost required to build a functional SDR team. For many businesses, outsourcing to specialized teams like Abstrakt provides a faster and more cost-effective solution. By eliminating the need for ongoing training, technology investment, and process development, outsourcing offers immediate access to experienced professionals and proven systems. Abstrakt, which handles over 100,000 appointments annually across industries, has seen firsthand how outsourcing delivers measurable results for its clients. "Evaluate your resources, timeline, and ability to stay accountable to your sales goals," Watkins advised. "If there are gaps, partnering with a team that specializes in this work can help you grow faster and more effectively." Abstrakt is a B2B lead generation and marketing agency based in St. Louis, Missouri . With over a decade of experience, the company specializes in omnichannel appointment setting and helping businesses achieve measurable growth. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eric-watkins-of-abstrakt-highlights-the-challenges-of-building-internal-sdr-teams-302337750.html SOURCE Abstrakt Marketing Group
Republicans demand trans athletes are banned from women's sports in conference hit by volleyball scandal READ MORE: High school forfeits girls volleyball game against trans player By ALEX RASKIN and ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 16:03 EST, 21 November 2024 | Updated: 16:27 EST, 21 November 2024 e-mail 37 View comments Thirteen Republican congressmembers have written the Mountain West Conference to urge commissioner Gloria Nevarez to ban transgender athletes from playing sports against cisgender women. The letter comes amid ongoing controversy over one of the conference's leading volleyball players, Blaire Fleming, who is reportedly transgender. The redshirt senior and transfer from Coastal Carolina currently ranks third in the Mountain West in points and fourth in kills. The Spartans have won seven matches by forfeit this season as a string of rivals have refused to play against Fleming. 'We write with serious concerns about the safety and fair competition standards for female athletes participating in the Mountain West Conference,' read the open letter signed by members of the House and Senate . 'We urge you to update your student athlete guidelines to prohibit biological males from competing against biological female students in women's sports.' The signees include Wyoming senator Cynthia Lummis, Idaho senator Mike Crapo, and Burgess Owens, the Tennessee congressman who previously won a Super Bowl as a defensive back for the Oakland Raiders at the end of the 1980 season. Blaire Fleming #3 of the San Jose State Spartans looks on during a recent match Thirteen Republican congressmembers have written the Mountain West Conference to urge commissioner Gloria Nevarez to ban transgender athletes from women's sports Read More San Jose State demands money from colleges forfeiting volleyball games because of their trans player The 13 legislators argue that the presence of a trans athlete on a women's team undermines Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or educational institution that receives federal funding. 'Recently, members of your conference have forfeited games, risking their competitive standings to ensure the safety of their female athletes,' the letter continued. 'The Mountain West Conference's failure to prohibit biological males from competing in women's sports is unfair to the women and girls who have worked tirelessly to compete at the collegiate level. 'We applaud the bravery of these female athletes and the universities in our home states for taking a stand to preserve Title IX when the Mountain West Conference would not.' In arguing that the conference is failing to create an 'environment that allows women to compete without fearing for their safety,' the legislators pointed to NCAA rival, the NAIA. 'In April, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) voted unanimously to allow only students 'whose biological sex is female to compete in women's sports,' the letter continued. 'The NAIA decision is a significant step toward protecting the rights and opportunities of female athletes.' Mountain West Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez was addressed in the letter Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, speaks with reporters after a vote in the Capitol on September 11 Burgess Owens, a Tennessee congressman and former Super Bowl winner, signed the letter Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the forfeitures, citing a need for fairness in women's sports. President-elect Donald Trump recently referenced a volleyball match when he was asked during a Fox News town hall about transgender athletes in women's sports. 'I saw the slam, it was a slam,' he said, presumably referring to a recent viral clip showing Fleming spiking the ball off an opponent, who was admittedly 'fine.' 'I never saw a ball hit so hard, hit the girl in the head,' Trump added. After Trump's comment, San Diego State issued a statement that said 'it has been incorrectly reported that an San Diego State University student-athlete was hit in the face with a volleyball during match play with San Jose State University. The ball bounced off the shoulder of the student-athlete, and the athlete was uninjured and did not miss a play.' San Jose State has not made any direct comments about the politicians' 'fairness' references, and Nevarez did not go into details when addressing the controversy last month. 'I'm learning a lot about the issue,' Nevarez said. 'I don't know a lot of the language yet or the science or the understanding nationally of how this issue plays out. The external influences are so far on either side. We have an election year. It's political, so, yeah, it feels like a no-win based on all the external pressure.' San Jose State's Blaire Fleming previously played at Coastal Carolina before transferring Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming, speaks during a news conference The cancellations could mean some teams will not qualify for the conference tournament November 27-30 in Las Vegas, where the top six schools are slated to compete for the league championship. 'The student-athlete (in question) meets the eligibility standard, so if a team does not play them, it's a forfeit, meaning they take a loss,' Nevarez said. San Jose State coach Todd Kress said playing was his team's 'safe haven' and noted that security and police escorts are now involved when his team takes the court. He has not discussed specific players publicly since the forfeits began. 'I know that it's definitely taken a toll on many of them. They're receiving messages of hate, which is completely ridiculous to me,' he said in Albuquerque. 'Some of those people are the underbelly of society that you attack an 18, 19, 20-year-old female. And even more so if you're a parent and you're attacking 18, 19 or 20-year-olds. 'Would you want your student-athlete, your daughter, to face the same kind of hate that you're dishing out?' Wyoming Idaho Republicans Share or comment on this article: Republicans demand trans athletes are banned from women's sports in conference hit by volleyball scandal e-mail Add commentERWIN — The Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency director said Tuesday he wrongly identified a group of people in the area he deemed suspicious as “Sierra 55.” Jimmy Erwin issued an apology and deleted a social media post he published Monday night in which he accused Sierra 55 of wrongdoing. “I have found out that the (Sierra) 55 group working in Washington County ... has been helping the community very well,” he wrote. “I appreciate all the calls I got last night and this morning. I was wrong and apologize to this group of (Sierra) 55.” In his social media post, Erwin thanked Sierra 55 for “assisting” the residents of Washington County. During a Unicoi County Commission meeting on Monday night, Erwin said a team “came into Unicoi County saying that they were the search and rescue team.” Erwin identified the group as “Strategical Rescue 55,” referring to Sierra 55. He said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was investigating the group after Washington County filed a complaint against them. He also said Mitchell and Yancey Counties in North Carolina “ran them out of their two counties” for trying to solicit money and not following orders. However, the TBI said Tuesday they have not received a request to investigate any group that has been active in the Tri-Cities area for fraud or scamming residents in relation to Hurricane Helene relief efforts. TBI Public Information Officer Leslie Earhart said that, in order for the TBI to open an investigation, a request would have to be sent to them by the district attorney general. “At this time, we’ve received no such request,” said Earhart. Erwin said he meant to relay that he told the TBI of the group and that groups similar to the one he finds suspicious have been expelled from counties in North Carolina.
Blockade of Democracy: Rahul Gandhi Stopped en Route to Violence-Hit SambhalSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. What’s working Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. What needs help Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. Stock up LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Stock down Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Injuries Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” Key number 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. What’s next The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Josh Dubow, The Associated Press
Luigi Mangione had lost touch with his family in the months before his arrest. In fact, he was reported missing by his mother Kathleen Mangione on Nov. 18, weeks before the 26-year-old was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald's and charged with the Dec. 4 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , according to a missing persons report obtained by NBC News . Kathleen filed the report in San Francisco , with the document stating that she had last spoken to Luigi on July 1 and that he had been working for True Car, a car retail website. However, the report noted that that location was "permanently closed" and the "main number disconnected." It also added that "Kathleen does not know where Luigi frequents." Shortly after his Dec. 9 arrest, his family issued a statement obtained by NBC News, saying they were astonished by the news, but only knew what they had "read in the media." "Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest," they continued. "We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved." The Mangiones' attorney David B. Irwin issued a followup statement to TMZ , saying that his family loves Luigi and they " wish him the best." Their lawyer noted that his relatives still do not "know all the facts," and are keeping up with the Ivy League grad's case through what they "read in the papers." As for Luigi, in addition to his murder charge in New York, he was also charged in Pennsylvania with the criminal possession of a firearm and forgery. However, his Pennsylvania attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters Dec. 10 that his client intends to plead not guilty in both states. "I haven't seen any evidence that he's the shooter," his lawyer added. "Remember, and this is not just a small thing: A fundamental concert of American justice is a presumption of innocence until you're proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And I've seen zero evidence at this point." Keep reading for more about the ongoing investigation. Who is Brian Thompson? Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. He first joined the company in 2004 and held several positions before taking on the role of CEO in 2021. Prior to working at UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was employed at PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in business administration as an accounting major in May 1997, the school's public relations manager Steve Schmadeke told NBC News. Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was married to Paulette Thompson —though according to public records viewed by E! News, they had been living in separate homes—and was the father of two sons. He was shot and killed in New York on Dec. 4, 2024. Thompson was 50 years old. How did Brian Thompson die? Patrol officers from the New York City Police Department’s Midtown North Precinct responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2024 regarding a person who was shot in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a media briefing later that morning. Kenny noted officers arrived at the scene at 6:48 a.m. and found gunshot wounds on Thompson’s back and leg. The chief detective said Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson several blocks to Mount Sinai West, where the CEO was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. “The victim was in New York City to speak at an investor conference," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said during the media briefing. "It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes. And as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf. Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.” Tisch said the shooting appeared to be a “pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack” and not a random act of violence. “The full investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are well underway,” she noted, “and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case.” What do investigators know about the shooting of Brian Thompson so far? According to Kenny, the shooter headed to the New York Hilton Midtown on foot and arrived outside the hotel five minutes before Thompson’s arrival. In a video, Kenny continued, Thompson was seen walking alone towards the Hilton at 6:44 a.m. after exiting his separate, nearby hotel apparently for a UnitedHealth Group investors conference that was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. that day. The chief detective added the shooter—who ignored "numerous other pedestrians"—approached Thompson from behind, shot him, walked towards him and continued shooting. Kenny said the gunman then fled on foot before getting on an ebike, and the shooter was seen riding into Central Park at Center Drive at 6:48 a.m. Kenny said three live nine-millimeter rounds and three discharged shell casings were recovered during the investigation. During a Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said the words “depose,” “delay” and “deny” were written on the shell casing in marker. However, he’s noted the motive for the killing has yet to be confirmed. What have investigators revealed about the gunman’s timeline? During the Dec. 6 press briefing, Kenny said investigators have footage of the shooter arriving at Port Authority in New York the night of Nov. 24. “We believe that that bus originated in Atlanta,” Kenny continued. “It has several stops along the way, so we’re not sure where he got on the bus.” After the shooter arrived at Port Authority, Kenny continued, the gunman took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton hotel, where he was for about half an hour before traveling by cab to an Upper West Side hostel. On the morning of the shooting, Kenny added, the gunman left the hostel at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at the Hilton hotel at 5:41 a.m. Kenny said the gunman continued to walk in the vicinity of the hotel before then going to a nearby Starbucks, where he purchased a bottled water and a snack. He then returned to the hotel, and the shooting occurred at 6:44 a.m. Immediately after, the gunman fled the scene. Kenny said the shooter was seen entering Central Park at 60th St. and Center Drive at 6:48 a.m. and exiting the park through W. 77th St. and Central Park West at 6:56 a.m. At 7:00 a.m., Kenny added, the gunman was spotted on W. 86 th St without the bike. And four minutes later, the chief detective continued, the shooter got in a cab at 86 th St. and Amsterdam Avenue. Kenny said the gunman was then seen in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge at 7:30 a.m. Kenny told CNN on Dec. 6 investigators thought the shooter left NYC after he was seen at Port Authority. Who were investigators looking for? During the Dec. 4 briefing, Kenny said the shooter appeared to be a "light-skin male" who wore "a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a very distinctive gray backpack." Over the next few days, the NYPD released a series of photos of the individual they were looking for with the person's face was covered with a mask in many of the pictures. A senior law enforcement official told NBC News Dec. 5 the photos with the lowered face mask came from surveillance video at an Upper West Side hostel, and two separate law enforcement officials noted to the outlet investigators were trying to determine if the individual used a fake ID and cash for a hostel room. As for what led the individual to lower the face mask? "Apparently, there was an interaction while he was checking in, making casual conversation," Kenny said at the Dec. 6 briefing. "At some point, he pulled his mask down and smiled at the clerk." Kenny has also said a cellphone was found in an alley where the shooter fled before heading to the ebike, but it's unclear if it belonged to the gunman. Two law enforcement sources told NBC News a backpack was also found in Central Park. Kenny said investigators are "looking at everything"—including Thompson's social media and interviews with employees and family—that could help the case. They're also working with Minnesota and Atlanta law enforcement. Why was Luigi Mangione arrested? Pennsylvania’s Altoona Police Department arrested Luigi Mangione on firearm charges Dec. 9. According to a criminal docket obtained by NBC News, these include two felony charges—one of forgery and one of firearms not to be carried without a license—as well as three misdemeanors: tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and providing false identification to law enforcement. NYPD commissioner Tisch said a McDonald’s employee recognized Mangione and that the Altoona police were then called. When asked if he had been to New York recently, Mangione "became quiet and started to shake," police said per NBC News . Tisch also called Mangione a "person of interest" in Thompson's murder and spoke about the efforts to find him, with her thanking law enforcement partners and the public. "For just over five days, our NYPD investigators combed through thousands of hours of video, followed up on hundreds of tips, and processed every bit of forensic evidence: DNA, finger prints, IP addresses and so much more to tighten the net," she said. "We deployed drones, canine units, and scuba divers. We leveraged the domain awareness system, Argus cameras and conducted aviation canvases, and our detectives also went door to door interviewing potential witnesses and doing the good old fashioned police work that our investigators are famous for. This combination of old school detective work and new age technology is what led to this result today." What did police find on Luigi Mangione? In addition to "acting suspiciously," Tisch added, Mangione was "carrying multiple fraudulent IDs as well as a U.S. passport." “Upon further investigation, officers recovered a firearm on his person as well as a suppressor, both consistent with the weapon used in the murder," she continued in the Dec. 9 briefing, per a video shared by NBC News . "They also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with those worn by our wanted individual." Tisch added officers also recovered a “fraudulent New Jersey ID” that matched the one the individual used to check into the New York hostel prior to the shooting. "Additionally,” she continued, “officers recovered a hand-written document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset.” What other charges is Luigi Mangione facing? On Dec. 9, Manhattan prosecutors filed a murder charge against Mangione, according to court documents obtained by NBC News . The 26-year-old is also facing three counts of criminal possession of a weapon (two in the second-degree for loaded firearm and one in the third degree such as for a silencer) and one count of possessing a forged instrument. He has yet to enter a plea for any charges. What did Luigi Mangione state in his writings? According to NBC News, citing the NYPD, Mangione had three pages of writings on him that totaled less than 300 words when he was taken into custody. Three senior law enforcement officials told the outlet these writings read, in part, "Frankly these parasites had it coming." In the writings, the officials continued, Mangione said he acted alone. However, the officials told NBC News they haven't ruled out other actors at this time. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country," Mangione's writings read, officials told NBC News. "To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone.” Officials said Mangione also added, "I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done.” However, Tisch noted Mangione's motive has yet to be confirmed. "I think when we look at the manifesto, or that three-page written document that was recovered, you see anti-corporatist sentiment, a lot of issues with the healthcare industry," she said in a Dec. 10 Today interview. "But as to particular specific motive, that will come out as this investigation continues to unfold over the next weeks and months." Has Luigi Mangione appeared in court? Mangione attended a hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania on Dec. 10. As he arrived, NBC News reported, he yelled out to families, "It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people." Per the outlet, Mangione did not waive extradition to New York and was denied bail. As a result, he will remain in Pennsylvania's SCI Huntingdon prison. His lawyer Thomas Dickey told reporters that Mangione will plead not guilty in Pennsylvania and will likely do the same in New York. "I haven’t seen any evidence that says he’s the shooter,” he said, per NBC News . “Remember, and this is not just a small thing: A fundamental concept of American justice is the presumption of innocence, and until you’re proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Who is Luigi Mangione? Mangione is a suspect in the murder of Brian Thompson and is facing several other charges in both Pennsylvania and New York, including forgery and criminal possession of a weapon. He's an Ivy League graduate, having received a Bachelor of Science in engineering in 2020 and a Masters of Science in engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, the school confirmed to NBC News . NYPD Chief of Detectives Kenny shared additional details on Mangione's upbringing, saying he was born and raised in Maryland. His most recent address is listed as Honolulu but he also has connections to San Francisco, Kenny told NBC News. After Mangione's arrest, his family released a statement on X . "Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," they said in the Dec. 9 post . "We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news." What has Brian Thompson’s family said about his death? After learning of the shooting, Thompson’s family mourned his passing. “We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian,” a family statement obtained by NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis on Dec. 5 read. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your condolences and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.” Thompson’s wife Paulette also recalled how her husband had received threats prior to his death. "Yes, there had been some threats," she told NBC News Dec. 5. "Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him." What has UnitedHealth Group said about Brian Thompson’s death? UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, also expressed how it was "deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend" Thompson, flying its flags at half-mast at corporate headquarters in Minnesota. "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," a Dec. 4 statement from the organization read. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.” And while the company noted "our hearts are broken," it shared in a Dec. 5 statement that it has also "been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place." "So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out," the message read. "We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend." However, there's also been public criticism about UnitedHealthcare, Thompson and America's healthcare system overall. This has included online conversations about insurance companies' claim denial rates as well as a look at accusations against Thompson. For instance, in a class-action lawsuit filed by the City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund in May 2024 and obtained by NBC News, Thompson was accused of selling more than $15 million of his personal UnitedHealth shares after allegedly learning of an investigation of the company by the U.S. Department of Justice before the public did. When asked about the trades allegedly made by Thompson and other executives, a UnitedHealth spokesperson told Bloomberg in April 2024 "these directors and officers followed our protocols and received approval from the company." The lawsuit, per the BBC , remains active. And while a motive for the shooting hasn't been revealed, many outlets have noted the words “depose,” “delay” and “deny” on the shell casings are similar to the title of the 2010 book Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It . Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro slammed "deeply disturbing" online reactions to the killing: "In America," he said at a Dec. 9 press conference, per NBC News' video, "we do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint." (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).
( ) gained Food and Drug Administration approval late Friday for its weight-loss drug, Zepbound, as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, also called sleep suffocation, occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. This stops or reduces airflow. Patients typically wear a continuous positive airway pressure device, or CPAP. In testing, Zepbound proved five times more effective than a placebo in reducing breathing disruptions in adults who didn't wear a CPAP. In adults using the sleep device, Zepbound recipients had 29 fewer breathing disruptions per hour, compared to a reduction of six for the placebo group. Eli Lilly stock was unmoved on the news. But the announcement could pressure shares of ( ), a maker of CPAP devices. But Chief Executive Mick Farrell says most patients will benefit from the combination of a CPAP and a weight-loss drug like Zepbound. Further, the approval will likely stoke obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis rates, he told Investor's Business Daily in an April interview with Investor's Business Daily. "I think the GLP-1s will bring patients into the funnel," he said. In after-hours trades Friday, rose almost 1% while ResMed stock remained flat.