New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team's starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who turns 41 next Monday, has been hampered at times during the Jets' 3-8 start by various injuries to his left leg, including a sore knee, sprained ankle and balky hamstring. Ulbrich said Monday the quarterback came back from the team's bye-week break ready to go. “All I can say, and you'd have to ask Aaron if he's fully healthy, but he's better off today than he's been as of late,” Ulbrich said. "So he's definitely feeling healthier than he has probably for the past month. A healthy Aaron Rodgers is the Aaron Rodgers we all love. “So, I'm excited about what that looks like.” NFL Network reported on Sunday that Rodgers, who missed all but four snaps last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, has declined having medical scans on his injured leg so he can continue to play. GM: The New York Jets are turning to one of their former general managers to help them find their next GM and head coach. The franchise announced Monday that The 33rd Team, a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, will assist team owner Woody Johnson in the searches. Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman, former GM of the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, will be The 33rd Team's primary representatives in helping find replacements for former coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy took part in some light throwing on Monday after missing his first career game because of an injury and the 49ers are hoping he can return this week. Purdy hurt his throwing shoulder during a loss to Seattle on Nov. 17. Purdy underwent two MRIs last week that showed no structural damage. But Purdy he felt discomfort after making a few throws at practice on Thursday and was shut down for the game at Green Bay on Sunday that San Francisco lost 38-10. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Purdy made it through the session without pain and will rest on Tuesday and hopefully be able to return to practice on Wednesday as the Niners prepare to play at Buffalo this coming week. “We rested it throughout the weekend hoping that would help,” Shanahan said. “He threw lighter today to see if that rest helps and the rest did help him. So we’ll see again, going through the same things we did last week. We’re going to let him rest all the way up to Wednesday. We’ll see how it feels on Wednesday and then we’ll take the exact same course throughout the week. Hopefully it responds better this week than it did last week with the rest.” Brandon Allen went 17 for 29 for 199 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble in his first start since the 2021 season. Allen would play once again if Purdy is unable to go on Sunday at Buffalo. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The NFL removed New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers from the commissioner exempt list on Monday, making him eligible to participate in practice and play in the team’s games. Peppers missed seven games since being placed on the list on Oct. 9 after he was arrested and charged with shoving his girlfriend’s head into a wall and choking her. The league said its review is ongoing and is not affected by the change in Peppers’ roster status. Braintree, Massachusetts, police said they were called to a home for an altercation between two people on Oct. 7, and a woman told them Peppers choked her. Police said they found at the home a clear plastic bag containing a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine. Peppers, 29, pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class “B” substance believed to be cocaine. At a court appearance last week a trial date was set for Jan. 22. HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone, coach Antonio Pierce said Monday. Minshew was injured with 3:12 left in Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. Pierce will have to decide whether Aidan O'Connell or Desmond Ridder will start Friday's game at Kansas City. The Raiders, who have lost seven consecutive games to fall to 2-9, could use a spark. Minshew's grip on the starting job was tenuous even before he was injured. He threw 10 interceptions to just nine touchdown passes this season and Minshew also lost four fumbles. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will practice Monday and “we'll see where he's at from there,” coach Doug Pederson said. Lawrence missed the past two games, losses to Minnesota and Detroit, with a sprained left shoulder. Lawrence had extra time to rest during Jacksonville's bye week. The Jaguars (2-9) host AFC South-leading Houston (7-5) on Sunday and need a victory to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention. Pederson said Lawrence is “feeling better" and they will know more about his playing status following practice Wednesday. Lawrence took a hit to his left shoulder while scrambling at Philadelphia on Nov. 3. Instead of sliding, he chose to go head-first and got hammered by linebacker Zack Baun. Lawrence has practiced some in a limited role since, but was inactive for both games. BRIEFLY LIONS: Detroit wide receiver Jameson Williams won't be charged with a crime after he was found with a gun in a car driven by his brother in October. Prosecutor Kym Worthy says Michigan law is “far from clear” when applied to the 1 a.m. traffic stop in Detroit. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
How Bail Bonds Help Families in Minnesota During Legal TroublesWASHINGTON , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chief Executive Officer of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) expressed his profound thanks to President-elect Donald Trump and extended his heartfelt congratulations to Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer on her nomination as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. "On behalf of our 4,000 NECA contractors and the hundreds of thousands of workers they employ across the nation in our nearly quarter trillion-dollar industry, I want to congratulate Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer on her nomination to head up the Department of Labor," said David Long , CEO of NECA. "Her leadership, dedication, and commitment to fostering economic growth and workforce development make her an outstanding choice to lead the Department of Labor. We are confident she will bring a thoughtful and collaborative approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing America's workforce." Representative Chavez-DeRemer has demonstrated a deep understanding of the critical role skilled trades play in building a strong economy. Her support for apprenticeship programs, workforce training initiatives, and fair labor practices aligns with NECA's mission to create a thriving environment for the electrical construction industry and the people who power our nation. "As NECA continues to champion the skilled trades and the electrical construction industry, we look forward to working closely with Representative Chavez-DeRemer to advance policies that ensure a robust workforce, uphold workplace safety, and promote innovation in our sector," Long added. NECA stands ready to collaborate with the Department of Labor under Representative Chavez-DeRemer's leadership to unite the needs of employers, workers, and apprentices across the nation. We extend our best wishes to her for a successful confirmation process and look forward to seeing the positive impact of her work in this critical role. ABOUT THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION NECA is the voice of the $240 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across North America. NECA's national office and 118 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research, and standards development. Go to www.necanet.org for more information. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electrical-contractors-congratulate-representative-lori-chavez-deremer-on-nomination-as-us-secretary-of-labor-302315777.html SOURCE National Electrical Contractors Assoc Inc.
Tyler Herro recorded game highs of 27 points and nine assists before being ejected during a hostile final minute as the Miami Heat rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to beat the host Houston Rockets 104-100 on Sunday. Herro was one of five players tossed in the final 47.4 seconds after Nikola Jovic's 3-pointer gave Miami a 98-94 lead. Houston's Fred VanVleet was ejected first for arguing a five-second call on the Rockets' ensuing inbounds play. Twelve seconds later, Herro and Rockets forward Amen Thompson ignited a skirmish that led to both being disqualified along with Heat guard Terry Rozier and Houston guard Jalen Green. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and assistant Ben Sullivan were also kicked out. Jovic tacked on two free throws after the chaos to help Miami close out the win. He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists off the bench. Haywood Highsmith tallied 15 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, who played a fifth consecutive game without Jimmy Butler. Bam Adebayo paired 12 points with 10 boards. Dillon Brooks scored a team-high 22 points for Houston after missing the last three games with right ankle soreness. Alperen Sengun added 18 points and 18 rebounds, while Green scored 19 points before his ejection. Herro led a 20-9 run that closed Miami to within 82-81 at the end of the third quarter. He also fueled the Heat down the stretch in the fourth, assisting on Highsmith's tying 3-pointer with 4:47 left before adding a 9-footer for a 95-94 lead with 1:56 to play. Brooks tallied nine points during a 14-2 spurt early in the third quarter that pushed the Rockets to a nine-point lead. Green's 3-pointer made it 73-61 with 5:19 left in the third before Miami began to chip away behind Herro, who finished the quarter with 11 points and four assists. The Heat used a 12-0 run to build a 31-27 lead after the first quarter. Neither team gained control of the second as Miami carried a 53-50 lead into the break. Rozier led the Heat with 12 points in the first half, while Sengun paced Houston with 14. --Field Level Media/ReutersPETALING JAYA: Two factors appear to be on the top of most investors’ minds pertaining to the local market at the moment. These are whether the key 1,600-point support level on the benchmark FBM KLCI would be able to hold, and if net buying by foreign investors would soon return to the local bourse. It is notable that after a period of strong sustained buying by foreign investors for most of the year up till the third quarter or so, this group of investors have just turned into net sellers in the year-to-date (y-t-d) period as of the end of last week. The strong net buying by foreign investors that was seen earlier in the year was unable to sustain following the recent re-election of Donald Trump as the incoming US president, who will be installed on Jan 20. “The trend of foreign net selling started following Trump’s re-election and this continues until today. “From an earlier figure of net foreign inflows of RM1.5bil at its y-t-d peak, we are now recording about RM1.6bil of net foreign outflows in the y-t-d period,” chief executive officer and founder of Tradeview Capital Ng Zhu Hann told StarBiz. “Trump’s recent rhetoric, which points to a stronger US dollar, has seen funds leaving emerging markets and this includes Malaysia back to the United States,” Ng added. The FBM KLCI climbed higher at its close yesterday by 11.48 points or 0.72% to 1,606.96. Gainers outnumbered losers 683 to 432 while 483 counters remained unchanged. Some 3.32 billion shares worth RM3.31bil changed hands. Fund outflows were also apparent in China, for example, as Bloomberg reported yesterday that exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track Chinese stocks had seen record outflows last month. The US$7.2bil iShares China Large-Cap ETF saw about US$2.3bil in outflows last month, while investors pulled more than US$1bil from the KraneShares CSI China Internet Fund – the largest monthly redemption for both funds on record. Back home, Ng said the market would require broad-based buying support from all parties including foreign investors and retailers if the FBM KLCI is to be supported above 1,600 points in the longer term. “As of now, we are seeing net outflows by retailers and the only one supporting are the local institutions that have recorded some RM6bil of net buying this year. “Local funds are supporting the market,” Ng said. Tradeview Capital’s year-end target for the FBM KLCI is 1,650. “We have not revised this target. We think the market will be able to hold above this level until the end of this year from ample support by local institutions and some return in foreign investors. “Coupled with this is that our market valuations here are still reasonable,” Ng noted. He said key factors to look out for in the near term that would potentially affect market movements include any further interest rate cuts before Christmas and any major actions by other key central banks. “For the Bank of Japan – there is a likelihood it will raise its interest rates to 0.5% from 0.25%, which would be the biggest hike since 2008 for Japan. “This could mean big outflows of funds if it happens. “But if the United States continues its cut and Japan maintains there could be some inflows into emerging markets,” he said. Meanwhile, Fortress Capital Asset Management’s founder and chief executive officer Datuk Thomas Yong said some foreign investments would usually have a short-term investment horizon. “However, foreign participation remains small compared to local institutional funds. Foreign shareholding is currently below 20% and a large part of these remaining holdings are strategic investments with a longer-term investment horizon,” Yong said. “Hence, if further values emerge from any foreign selldown, local participation will absorb some of this selling. “As we move towards the year-end festive season, institutional market activities will likely slow down,” Yong noted. Moving forward, he expects investors will closely monitor political developments in the United States and headline announcements apart from business fundamentals. “Historically, the FBM KLCI usually sees positive performance in the final month of the year,” Yong added. Meanwhile, CIMB Research noted in its report that even as they net sold the broader market, foreign investors were the top net buyers in property sector stocks last week with Sime Darby Property Bhd , Tanco Holdings Bhd and YNH Property Bhd as their top net buy stocks. “Foreign investors continued as net buyers in the sector for the 12th straight week, but reduced their net buy value by 58% from the previous week to RM18.5mil,” it said. It also pointed out that real estate investment trusts (REITs) were foreign investors’ second-largest net buy sector last week, with IGB-REIT, Pavilion-REIT and Sunway-REIT as their top net buy stocks in this segment. “Foreign investors remained net buyers for the fifth week, but their net buy value fell slightly to RM4.7mil,” it added.
Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during ACA enrollment periodSaudi tech diplomat meets Iraqi PM to discuss digital cooperation
Wolverhampton has been named as the most difficult place to pass your driving test, according to a report which marks the top 100 most popular test centres in the UK based on their average pass rate. Since the pandemic, a significant backlog of driving tests has emerged in the UK, with most test centres now experiencing a waiting period of at least three to four months. Law Trucks compiled their Driving Test Report, which ranks the most popular test centres in the UK based on their average pass rate over a year. Key findings show Lancing is the easiest area to pass your driving test from these popular test centres with a 61.4% pass rate. Wolverhampton is the toughest area to pass your driving test, with a 32.4% pass rate. Goodmayes in London conducted the most tests over this period, with 26,042 in one year. This test centre also had the highest number of passes with 11,677. The top 20 hardest test centres include Wolverhampton, Speke (Liverpool), Featherstone, Chingford (London), Norris Green (Liverpool), Wednesbury, Leicester (Cannock Street), Luton, Greenford (Horsenden Lane), St Helens (Liverpool), Nottingham (Chilwell), and Birmingham (Garretts Green). In Wanstead, London, out of 9,623 cases, 3,882 passed making it a 40.3% rate. Plymouth in Devon saw 3,641 passes out of 9,037 cases also at a 40.3% rate. Cheetham Hill in Greater Manchester had 4,693 passes out of 11,552 - a 40.6% rate. Gateshead in Tyne and Wear reported 3,468 out of 8,482 - a 40.9% rate. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's Coventry in the West Midlands had 3,858 out of 9,272 - a 41.6% pass rate. Dudley in the West Midlands saw 5,119 out of 12,177 - a 42.0% rate. Doncaster in South Yorkshire reported 3,426 out of 8,097 - a 42.3% rate. Lastly, South Yardley in Birmingham, West Midlands had 4,318 out of 10,190 - a 42.4% rate.NoneNCW fact-finding committee to probe Anna University sexual assault caseMobile Crushers and Screeners Market to Surpass Valuation of US$ 6.84 Billion By 2033 | Astute Analytica
Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | FDA authorizes clinical trials to study cannabis use for veterans with PTSD Health | Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’ Health | COVID-19, flu shots available — and encouraged — ahead of holiday rush Health | More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit Health | At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.
Premier League leaders Liverpool ruthlessly exploited another slip by their title rivals to move seven points clear with a match in hand after a 3-1 win over Leicester. Chelsea’s surprise defeat at home to Fulham earlier in the day had been an unexpected gift for Arne Slot’s side and they drove home their advantage by outclassing the struggling Foxes. Having overcome the early setback of conceding to Jordan Ayew, with even the travelling fans expressing their surprise they were winning away after taking just five points on the road this season, the home team had too much quality. That was personified by the excellent Cody Gakpo, whose eighth goal in his last 14 appearances produced the equaliser in first-half added time with the Netherlands international unlucky to have a second ruled out for offside by VAR. Further goals from Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah, with his 19th of the season, stretched Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 22 matches. For Leicester, who had slipped into the bottom three after Wolves’ win over Manchester United, it is now one win from the last 10 in the league and Ruud van Nistelrooy has plenty of work to do, although he was not helped here by the absence of leading scorer Jamie Vardy through injury. It looked liked Liverpool meant business from the off with Salah’s volley from Gakpo’s far-post cross just being kept out by Jakub Stolarczyk, making his league debut after former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward was omitted from the squad having struggled in the defeat to Wolves. But if the hosts thought that had set the tone they were badly mistaken after being opened up with such simplicity in only the sixth minute. Stephy Mavididi broke down the left and his low cross picked out Ayew, who turned Andy Robertson far too easily, with his shot deflecting off Virgil van Dijk to take it just out of Alisson Becker’s reach. With a surprise lead to cling to Leicester knew they had to quell the storm heading their way and they began by trying to take as much time out of the game as they could, much to Anfield’s frustration. It took a further 18 minutes for Liverpool to threaten with Gakpo cutting in from the left to fire over, a precursor for what was to follow just before half-time. That was the prompt for the attacks to rain down on the Foxes goal, with Salah’s shot looping up off Victor Kristiansen and landing on the roof of the net and Robertson heading against a post. Gakpo’s inclination to come in off the left was proving a problem for the visitors, doing their utmost to resist the pressure, but when Salah curled a shot onto the crossbar on the stroke of half-time it appeared they had survived. However, Gakpo once again drifted in off the flank to collect an Alexis Mac Allister pass before curling what is fast becoming his trademark effort over Stolarczyk and inside the far post. Early the second half Darwin Nunez fired over Ryan Gravenberch’s cross before Jones side-footed home Mac Allister’s cross after an intricate passing move inside the penalty area involving Nunez, Salah and the Argentina international. Leicester’s ambition remained limited but Patson Daka should have done better from a two-on-one counter attack with Mavididi but completely missed his kick with the goal looming. 🎯 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) Nunez forced a save out of the goalkeeper before Gakpo blasted home what he thought was his second only for VAR to rule Nunez was offside in the build-up. But Liverpool’s third was eventually delivered by the left foot of Salah, who curled the ball outside Kristiansen, inside Jannick Vestergaard and past Stolarczyk inside the far post.Manmohan Singh a great listener spoke only substance Former RBI guv SubbaraoJosh Norris scores late power-play goal in the Senators’ 3-1 victory over the Wild
Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in Badger Meter, Inc. ( NYSE:BMI – Free Report ) by 67.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 37,976 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 15,240 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc.’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $8,294,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in Badger Meter in the 2nd quarter worth about $10,622,000. Driehaus Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Badger Meter by 66.4% in the second quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 128,651 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $23,974,000 after purchasing an additional 51,318 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in Badger Meter by 86.2% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 100,788 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $18,782,000 after purchasing an additional 46,650 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in Badger Meter by 47.1% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 126,100 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $23,499,000 after purchasing an additional 40,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC grew its stake in Badger Meter by 80.3% in the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 78,914 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $14,706,000 after buying an additional 35,150 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company’s stock. Badger Meter Stock Performance BMI stock opened at $216.82 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $6.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.78. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $215.58 and its 200 day moving average is $202.76. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52 week low of $139.50 and a 52 week high of $230.76. Badger Meter Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd will be paid a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.63%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 22nd. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 33.75%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Badger Meter from $189.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Maxim Group upped their price objective on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $214.75. Check Out Our Latest Report on BMI About Badger Meter ( Free Report ) Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Badger Meter, Inc. ( NYSE:BMI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Badger Meter Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Badger Meter and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Jason Robertson, Evgenii Dadonov and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for Dallas, which had lost three of four. Jake Oettinger made 24 saves. Chicago dropped its fourth consecutive game. It lost three of four in its season series against Dallas. Connor Bedard scored his 10th goal for the Blackhawks, and Arvid Soderblom made 26 stops. Next up for Bedard and company is the Winter Classic on Tuesday against St. Louis. Dallas grabbed control after Chicago forward Tyler Bertuzzi was ejected 8:11 into the second period. Bertuzzi was sent off for elbowing Stars forward Colin Blackwell in the face. Robertson made it 2-1 when he converted a wrist shot from the right circle at 8:23. It was Robertson's first goal since Dec. 14 and No. 8 on the season. Dadonov got a slick pass from Duchene and scored his 10th goal with 5:14 left in the second. Stars: Miro Heiskanen added two assists as the Stars used their superior depth to control much of the game. Blackhawks: Once again, not enough offensive opportunities. It has been a recurring problem for the Blackhawks for much of the season so far. Johnston's stick broke right before he scored his eighth goal 10 seconds into the third period. Duchene's pass went off Johnston and past Soderblom, giving the Stars a 3-1 lead. The Stars are 12-3-0 against the Blackhawks since the 2021-22 season. Dallas opens a three-game homestand on Tuesday night against Buffalo. Chicago plays St. Louis on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Sealed Air Corp. stock rises Tuesday, outperforms marketNoneCHICAGO -- The Seattle Seahawks are in the Windy City to face the Chicago Bears for a pivotal NFC matchup at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois today. The game will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Video with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. Eastern. (7:15 p.m. Central) You can watch the Dec. 26 game with a free trial on Prime Video . Amazon’s video streaming service is the exclusive national home of “Thursday Night Football,” which features play-by-play announcer Al Michaels, game analyst Kirk Herbstreit and sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung. It’s the final installment of TNF in 2024. Note: Viewers in each team’s home television market can also watch the game on a local station. In Chicago, it’s on FOX 32, while KING - 5 NBC will carry the game in the Seattle area. Both are available on Fubo , which comes with a free trial and is offering $30 off your first month. They are also available on DirecTV Stream , which also offers a free trial. The game is a crucial matchup for the Seahawks (8-7), who are trying to make the playoffs and still have a chance to win the NFC West over the Los Angeles Rams. Seattle has lost two in a row, and another loss could eliminate it from playoff contention. The Bears (4-11) have been eliminated from the playoffs after a nine-game slide while firing their head coach and offensive coordinator. Chicago is playing the role of spoiler. Seattle Seahawks playoff scenarios If the Rams win over the Cardinals, and the Seahawks lose or tie with the Bears, Seattle is eliminated from playoff contention. If the Rams win and the Seahawks lose, Los Angeles clinches the division. If the Rams lose and Seahawks win, a potential winner-take-all game will take place at SoFi Stadium. Fifth tiebreaker scenario If both the Rams and Seahawks win this week it would leave both teams with the same record, a head-to-head split, the same NFC West record, the same record in common games, and the same conference record. The fifth tiebreaker is strength of victory. Heading into the Week 17 matchup, the Rams have the edge in that category. Rams could clinch this week with a win even if the Seahawks win. They can do this with 3.5 or more wins from the Vikings (vs. Packers), Bills (vs. Jets), Commanders (vs. Falcons), Bengals (vs. Broncos), 49ers (vs. Lions), and Browns (vs. Dolphins). If the Rams win Sunday, the Seahawks need to win to stay in the NFC West race, and they need at least four wins from the Packers, Jets, Falcons, Lions, Broncos or Dolphins. Other teams in the hunt The NFC South’s Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the same record as the Seahawks heading into Week 17. As of now, Tampa Bay wins the tiebreaker over Seattle based on best win percentage in conference games. Check out a complete rundown of NFL Week 17 action , including the schedule, predictions, previews, TV information and more. SEAHAWKS - BEARS Matchup Preview The Seahawks are coming off a frustrating home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, placing them in a dangerous predicament on the road tonight. Quarterback Geno Smith has thrown for 3,937 yards, which is the fourth-most in the NFL this year. He has 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has amassed 93 receptions for 1,083 yards, which is the fifth-most in the NFL. He has six touchdowns and is averaging 11.7 yards per reception. The second-year receiver is top-10 in receptions, yards and targets (126) this season. He has recorded 70 or more yards in his last seven games. Kenneth Walker III has totaled 153 carries for 553 yards and seven touchdowns. He has played in 11 games this season and will miss the matchup due to an ankle injury. Zach Charbonnet will be the featured back. He has 106 carries for 453 yards and eight touchdowns. The Seahawks are 5-1 on the road this season. Watch Seahawks vs. Bears on Amazon Prime Video for free The Bears were blasted by the Lions in their last game, continuing what has been a nightmare in Chicago this season. The offense has shown flashes, but the defense has been decimated. First overall pick Caleb Williams has thrown for 3,271 yards and 19 touchdowns with five interceptions. The rookie hasn’t thrown an interception in nine straight games. DJ Moore has hauled in 83 receptions for 826 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 10 yards per reception. D’Andre Swift runs the rushing attack, tallying 221 carries for 841 yards and five touchdowns. Opposing offenses are torching Chicago’s secondary during their massive skid, averaging 277.3 yards passing per game in the last six contests. SEAHAWKS - BEARS Last Game Recap The Seahawks lost a thriller against the Vikings while the Bears continued to their slide into the abyss against Lions. SEAHAWKS: Lost against the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 on Dec. 22 BEARS: Lost against the Detroit Lions 34-17 on Dec. 22. SEAHAWKS - BEARS Players to Watch: Seahawks: QB Geno Smith, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, RB Zach Charbonnet, CB Coby Bryant, S Julian Love Bears: QB Caleb Williams, RB D’Andre Swift, WR DJ Moore, CB Jaylon Johnson, LB T.J. Edwards SEAHAWKS - BEARS Injuries of Note The Seahawks will be missing a key running back while the Bears will have their playmakers available for the primetime matchup. Seahawks: RB Kenneth Walker III (ankle) and TE Brady Russell (foot) are all out. S Jerrick Reed II (quadriceps), S K’Von Wallace (ankle), LB Trevis Gipson (ankle) and G Anthony Bradford (ankle) are all on injured reserve Bears: G Teven Jenkins (calf), S Tarvarius Moore (knee), S Elijah Hick (ankle) and RB Travis Homer (hamstring) are all out. DT Gervon Dexter (knee), C Doug Kramer Jr. and LB Amen Ogbongbemiga are all questionable OT Braxton Jones (ankle), C Ryan Bates (concussion) and WR DeAndre Carter (hamstring) are all on injured reserve. What are the latest odds for Seahawks vs. Bears? Spread: SEA: (+4), CHI: (-4) Moneyline: SEA: (-205), CHI: (+170) Point total: 46.5 Odds from DraftKings How to Watch SEAHAWKS - BEARS Who: Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears When: Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024 Time: 8:15 p.m. Eastern Where: Soldier Field | Chicago, Illinois Channel: Prime Video Only streaming options: Amazon Prime Video (free trial). Also, Fubo (free trial and $30 off your first month) and DirecTV Stream (free trial) are options if you live in the Seattle or Chicago area markets. Channel finder if you have cable You can access the channel by using the channel finders online: Verizon Fios , AT&T U-verse , Comcast Xfinity , Spectrum/Charter , Optimum/Altice , DIRECTV and Dish . About Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, this video service is included at no extra cost with your membership. Joining Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139 annually. The streaming service features blockbuster movies, hit shows, Amazon Originals and sports, including select NFL games for the 2024 season. About FuboTV Fubo (free trial, $30 off your first month) has three main packages: Pro costs $79.99/month; Elite is $89.99; Premier is priced at $99.99. Cancel before the free trial ends to avoid being charged. Fubo includes access to more than 185 sports, entertainment and news channels. You can record games, TV shows, movies and more. About DirecTV Stream DirecTV Stream , which also gives customers a free trial, offers four packages if you continue with the service after your trial ends: Entertainment for $69.99; Choice for $84.99; Ultimate for $109.99; and premier for $159.99. Choice offers the most channels for sports enthusiasts. For team hats, shirts and more gear: Visit Fanatics , Dick’s Sporting Goods , Lids , Champs Sports and New Era .