Two displaced in $200,000 house fire
Download the 9News App and follow us on digital and social media platformsTERRYVILLE – Waldermar “Wally” Ward, 71, of Terryville, passed away Dec. 5, 2024, peacefully at the side of his significant other of 24 years, Melanie Adamowich. Wally was born in Germany on Oct. 6, 1953, the son of the late Harvey and Hannelore (Murth) Ward. Fondly known to called Wally, this kind soul was a genuine person and friend in both heart and mind. He was loved and cared for as he pursued and achieved his life’s purpose of perfecting his game of golf; especially for almost a decade of consistent club championship wins at Pequabuck Golf Club. Wally was a proud member of his commitment toward practicing/playing golf and served as treasurer of the club. He was very proud of winning three club championships at Pequabuck in 2019. Wally’s two fur-boys and Melanie will miss him dearly, but he lives on in our hearts forever. He leaves a son, Jason and his wife Kelly, granddaughter Olivia, of Vernon; sister Angelika Donavan, of Watertown; aunt Anna Darm of Naugatuck; nephews and nieces; and significant other Melanie Adamowich of Terryville. No services at this time. The Dunn Funeral Home, 191 West St., Bristol, is in charge of the arrangements. Dunnfh.com.
By DEVNA BOSE One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used “physician work time values,” which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it’s unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It’s not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . Related Articles Nation | The next census will gather more racial, ethnic information Nation | As data centers proliferate, conflict with local communities follows Nation | NASA’s stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go Nation | Tsunami warning lifted for Bay Area coast after magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits California coast Nation | Imprisoned Proud Boys leader balks at answering a prosecutor’s questions about Capitol attack People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. “If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem’s announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn’t affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City.WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year as well as inquiries into Biden and his son. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, whom he appointed during his first term. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump's norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director well before his term was up and Wray resigning to avert a collision with the incoming administration. “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me," Wray said. “I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorized to discuss the private gathering by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice" and saying that Patel's confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again.” If confirmed by the Senate, Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI's Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators," raising alarms that he might seek to wield the FBI's significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Trump's perceived enemies. Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to "a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one.” It's extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions throughout the years, including as recently as the past week. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, Trump said, “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed by the Justice Department special counsel that brought them in light of Trump's November victory. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement that Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, the self-professed "low-key, understated" Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. He also sought to avoid public conflict when possible with the Trump White House, distancing himself and his leadership team from the FBI's Russia investigation over errors that took place before he took office and announcing dozens of corrective actions meant to prevent the recurrence of the surveillance abuses that plagued the inquiry. But there were other instances when he memorably broke from Trump — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of the Russia investigation as a “witch hunt." He made known his displeasure when the White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide and contradicted a Trump talking point by stating that Ukraine had not interfered in the 2016 election. He repeatedly sought to keep the focus on the FBI's day-to-day work, using the bulk of his resignation announcement to praise the bureau's efforts in countering everything from violent crime and cyberattacks to Chinese espionage and terrorism. Yet as he leaves office at a time of heightened threats , much of the public focus has been on the politically sensitive investigations of his tenure. Besides the inquiries into Trump, the FBI in recent years also investigated Biden's handling of classified information as well as Biden's son Hunter for tax and gun violations. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last week. A particular flashpoint came in August 2022, when FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago — an action officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that search and has kept up his criticism ever since. Trump was angered by Wray's comment at a congressional hearing that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump's ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the “Bridgegate” scandal. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A police officer responding to a report of a man with a gun inside a North Carolina supermarket was fatally shot Monday and a suspect was later taken into custody, authorities said. Police announced the death of Greensboro police officer Michael Horan at a news conference, saying Horan was responding to the report when he was shot shortly before midday at a Food Lion store in Greensboro in the central part of the state. Ramona Miller told WGHP-TV she was shopping with her 6-year-old granddaughter when she heard shots being fired. “We were on our way out and I was purchasing a lottery ticket and I was just sitting there and heard a ‘pop-pop’ and then ‘pop-pop-pop.’ I think I heard five shots,” Miller said. “At first I didn’t know it was a shooting ... but an employee yelled out, ‘Shooting! Shooting!’ ” Miller said she and her granddaughter left the store and that police arrived soon afterward. Authorities said Monday afternoon that the circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation and they did not immediately release further details about how it unfolded. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the state’s lead law enforcement agency, is continuing the investigation. Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said. Horan served in the department’s patrol bureau. He also was a U.S. Coast Guard member since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile. “He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris said at the news conference. Gov. Roy Cooper said he was monitoring the day’s developments. Cooper said on the social media platform X that his office had sent a “significant” number of state law enforcement officers to aid the emergency response in Greensboro. A heavy police presence was spotted outside the grocery store in Greensboro. The store will remain closed while authorities continue their investigation, Food Lion said in a statement, adding it was providing resources to its affected workers. It directed all questions to local law enforcement and said it was cooperating with the investigation. The shooting was another reminder that state lawmakers should strengthen resources and improve safety for law enforcement officers, said Democratic state Sen. Michael Garrett, who represents part of Guilford County where Greensboro is located. “During what should be a time of joy and celebration, another brave officer has been shot in the line of duty. Another family’s holiday season forever changed,” Garrett said in a Facebook statement. More articles from the BDN
Q3 FY24 Net Sales of $151.3 Million Q3 FY24 Gross Margin of 71.4% Q3 FY24 Operating Income of $19.2 Million Announces $25.0 Million Share Repurchase Authorization J.Jill, Inc. JILL today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. Claire Spofford, President and Chief Executive Officer of J.Jill, Inc. stated, "We delivered third quarter results inline with our expectations as we continued to execute the disciplined operating model yielding another quarter of healthy overall margin performance. While our customer has remained selective with her purchasing behavior and we have not yet seen the robust return to full price selling we saw earlier this year, we are maintaining our commitment to providing her the product, value and shopping experience she expects and appreciates from J.Jill. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our operating principles and continue to invest in strategic initiatives such as systems and new stores that we believe will enhance the omni-channel experience and broaden our reach longer-term. In addition to continuing to invest in the business, we are also pleased to further expand our total shareholder return strategy to include a new share repurchase program further underscoring our confidence in the business and the long-term opportunities that remain in front of us." For the third quarter ended November 2, 2024: Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 0.3% to $151.3 million compared to $150.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase includes approximately $2.0 million of benefit due to the calendar shift with the 53 rd week in fiscal 2023. Total company comparable sales, which includes comparable store and direct to consumer sales, decreased by 0.8% for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Total company comparable sales was negatively impacted by approximately 50 basis points due to hurricane-related disruptions in the quarter. Direct to consumer net sales, which represented 45.7% of net sales, were up 0.3% compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross profit was $108.0 million compared to $108.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross margin was 71.4% compared to 72.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. SG&A was $88.6 million compared to $86.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Excluding non-recurring items from both periods, SG&A as a percentage of total net sales was 58.4% compared to 57.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating income was $19.2 million compared to $22.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating income margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 12.7% compared to 14.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted Income from Operations* was $21.4 million compared to $22.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Interest expense was $2.8 million compared to $6.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Interest income was $0.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $0.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $4.5 million compared to $4.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and the effective tax rate was 26.8% compared to 28.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Net Income was $12.3 million compared to $11.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Net Income per Diluted Share was $0.80 for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share* in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $0.89 compared to $0.83 in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA* for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $26.8 million compared to $28.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin* for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 17.7% compared to 18.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The Company opened three new stores, reopened one store that was temporarily closed for relocation in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and temporarily closed one store due to hurricane damage, which has an uncertain reopening date. The store count at the end of the quarter is 247 stores. For the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024: Net sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 increased 2.2% to $468.0 million compared to $457.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. The increase includes approximately $2.0 million of benefit due to the calendar shift with the 53 rd week in fiscal 2023. Total company comparable sales, which includes comparable store and direct to consumer sales, increased by 1.4% for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024. Direct to consumer net sales, which represented 46.6% of net sales, were up 5.1% compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Gross profit was $335.1 million compared to $329.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Gross margin was 71.6% compared to 71.9% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. SG&A was $264.1 million compared to $253.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Excluding non-recurring items from both periods, SG&A as a percentage of total net sales was 56.4% compared to 55.6% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Operating income was $70.6 million compared to $75.6 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Operating income margin for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was 15.1% compared to 16.5% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted Income from Operations* was $75.9 million compared to $77.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Interest expense was $13.0 million compared to $19.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Interest income was $2.0 million compared to $1.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. During the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $13.8 million compared to $13.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 and the effective tax rate was 27.1% compared to 29.8% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Net Income was $37.2 million compared to $31.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Net Income per Diluted Share was $2.48 compared to $2.19 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share* for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was $3.15 compared to $3.00 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted EBITDA* for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was $92.6 million compared to $95.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin* for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was 19.8% compared to 20.8% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. The Company opened four new stores for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 and temporarily closed one store due to hurricane damage, which has an uncertain reopening date. The store count at the end of the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 is 247 stores. Balance Sheet Highlights Net Cash provided by Operating Activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024, was $56.9 million compared to $56.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Free cash flow* was $46.9 million compared to $45.9 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. The Company ended the third quarter of fiscal 2024 with a cash balance of $38.8 million. Inventory at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $61.7 million compared to $56.7 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023. *Non-GAAP financial measures. Please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA," "Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Income from Operations," "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income," and "Reconciliation of GAAP Cash from Operations to Free Cash Flow" for more information. Share Repurchase Authorization On December 6, 2024, J.Jill's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to an aggregate amount of $25.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock over the next 2 years. The program is expected to be funded through the Company's existing cash and future free cash flow. The timing of any repurchases and the number of shares repurchased are subject to the discretion of the Company and may be affected by various factors, including general market and economic conditions, the market price of the Company's common stock, the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and levels of indebtedness, legal requirements, and other factors that management may deem relevant. The share repurchase program authorization does not obligate the Company to acquire any shares of its common stock and may be amended, suspended or discontinued at any time. Shares may be repurchased from time to time through open market transactions, block trades, privately negotiated purchase transactions or other purchase techniques and may include purchases effected pursuant to one or more trading plans established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Quarterly Dividend Payment On December 4, 2024, the Board declared a cash dividend of $0.07 per share, payable on January 9, 2025 to stockholders of record of issued and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock as of December 26, 2024. Outlook For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company expects net sales to be down 4% to 6% compared to the 14-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The Company expects total company comparable sales to be up 1% to 3% compared to the comparable 13-week period in the prior fiscal year and expects Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $12.0 million to $14.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. For fiscal 2024, the Company expects net sales to be about flat to up 1% compared to fiscal 2023, total company comparable sales to be up 1% to 2% and for Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $105.0 million to $107.0 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 5% to 7% compared to fiscal 2023. This net sales and Adjusted EBITDA guidance reflects the negative impact from the loss of the 53rd week in fiscal 2023 of $7.9 million in net sales and $2.2 million in Adjusted EBITDA as well as investments to support profitable sales growth, including approximately $2.0 million in operating expenses related to the Company's Order Management System ("OMS") project. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week as well as the operating expense investment in the OMS project, the Company expects fiscal 2024 net sales to grow in the range of 1% to 2% and Adjusted EBITDA to decline in the range of 2% to 4% compared to the prior year. The Company now expects net store count growth of 4 stores to end fiscal 2024, excluding the impact of the hurricane closure. The Company continues to expect total capital expenditures of approximately $22.0 million, which reflects the treatment of cloud based software implementation costs as prepaid expense. Conference Call Information A conference call to discuss third quarter 2024 results is scheduled for today, December 11, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Those interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (888) 596-4144 or (646) 968-2525 if calling internationally. Please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and reference Conference ID 7311773 when prompted. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at http://investors.jjill.com/Investors-Relations/News-Events/events . A taped replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours following the call and can be accessed both online and by dialing (800) 770-2030 or (609) 800-9909. The pin number to access the telephone replay is 7311773. The telephone replay will be available until December 18, 2024. About J.Jill, Inc. J.Jill is a national lifestyle brand that provides apparel, footwear and accessories designed to help its customers move through a full life with ease. The brand represents an easy, thoughtful and inspired style that celebrates the totality of all women and designs its products with its core brand ethos in mind: keep it simple and make it matter. J.Jill offers a high touch customer experience through over 200 stores nationwide and a robust ecommerce platform. J.Jill is headquartered outside Boston. For more information, please visit www.jjill.com or http://investors.jjill.com . The information included on our websites is not incorporated by reference herein. Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement our unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), we use the following non-GAAP measures of financial performance: Adjusted EBITDA, which represents net income plus depreciation and amortization, income tax provision, interest expense, interest expense - related party, interest income, equity-based compensation expense, write-off of property and equipment, amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on debt refinancing, adjustment for exited retail stores, impairment of long-lived assets, loss due to hurricane, and other non-recurring items primarily consisting of outside legal and professional fees associated with certain non-recurring transactions and events. We present Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis because management uses it as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. We also use Adjusted EBITDA as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting overall expected performance of our business and for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations. Further, we recognize Adjusted EBITDA as a commonly used measure in determining business value and as such, use it internally to report results. We also use Adjusted EBITDA margin which represents, for any period, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales. Adjusted Income from Operations, which represents operating income plus equity-based compensation expense, write-off of property and equipment, adjustment for exited retail stores, impairment of long-lived assets, loss due to hurricane, and other non-recurring items. We present Adjusted Income from Operations because management uses it as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts, and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. Adjusted Net Income, which represents net income plus income tax provision, equity-based compensation expense, write-off of property and equipment, loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on debt refinancing, adjustment for exited retail stores, impairment of long-lived assets, loss due to hurricane, and other non-recurring items. We present Adjusted Net Income because management uses it as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share represents Adjusted Net Income divided by the number of fully diluted shares outstanding. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share is presented as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. Free Cash Flow represents cash flow from operations less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow is presented as a supplemental measure in assessing our liquidity, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative liquidity and operating performance from period to period. While we believe that Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Free Cash Flow are useful in evaluating our business, they are non-GAAP financial measures that have limitations as analytical tools. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered alternatives to, or substitutes for, Net Income, Income from Operations, Net Income per Diluted Share or Cash from Operations, which are calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate these non-GAAP measures differently or not at all, which reduces the usefulness of such non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. We recommend that you review the reconciliation and calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Free Cash Flow to Net Income, Income from Operations, Net Income per Diluted Share and Cash from Operations, respectively, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, under "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA", "Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Income from Operations", "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income" and "Reconciliation of Cash from Operations to Free Cash Flows" and not rely solely on Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share, Free Cash Flow or any single financial measure to evaluate our business. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains, and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain, "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management, expected market growth and any activities, events or developments that we intend, expect or believe may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are often identified by words such as "could," "may," "might," "will," "likely," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "continues," "projects," "goal," "target" (although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words) and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding capital market conditions, our business, the economy and other future conditions and are not guarantees of future performance. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are inherently subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, including risks regarding: (1) our sensitivity to changes in economic conditions and discretionary consumer spending; (2) the material adverse impact of pandemics, other health crises or natural disasters on our operations, business and financial results; (3) our ability to anticipate and respond to changing customer preferences, shifts in fashion and industry trends in a timely manner; (4) our ability to maintain our brand image, engage new and existing customers and gain market share; (5) the impact of operating in a highly competitive industry with increased competition; (6) our ability to successfully optimize our omnichannel operations, including our ability to enhance our marketing efforts and successfully realize the benefits from our investments in new technology, for example our recently implemented point-of-sale system and the forthcoming upgrade to our order management system; (7) our ability to use effective marketing strategies and increase existing and new customer traffic; (8) any interruptions in our foreign sourcing operations and the relationships with our suppliers and agents; (9) any increases in the demand for, or the price of, raw materials used to manufacture our merchandise and other fluctuations in sourcing and distribution costs; (10) any material damage or interruptions to our information systems; (11) our ability to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights; (12) our indebtedness restricting our operational and financial flexibility; (13) our ability to manage our inventory levels, size assortments and merchandise mix; (14) the fact that we are no longer a controlled company; (15) the impact of any new or increased tariffs; (16) our management succession plan; and (17) other factors that may be described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 28, 2024. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov , for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. We caution investors, potential investors and others not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release and in the oral statements made by our representatives. Any such forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. J.Jill undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. (Tables Follow) J.Jill, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net sales (a) $ 151,260 $ 150,881 Costs of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 43,285 42,283 Gross profit 107,975 108,598 Selling, general and administrative expenses (a) 88,646 86,450 Impairment of long-lived assets 102 21 Operating income 19,227 22,127 Interest expense (b) 2,849 6,501 Interest income (b) (494 ) (707 ) Income before provision for income taxes 16,872 16,333 Income tax provision 4,524 4,717 Net income and total comprehensive income $ 12,348 $ 11,616 Net income per common share: Basic $ 0.81 $ 0.82 Diluted $ 0.80 $ 0.80 Weighted average common shares: Basic 15,331,712 14,169,955 Diluted 15,490,876 14,448,228 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.07 — (a) For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, Net sales includes $0.7 million of processing fee income related to customer sales returns that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. (b) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation J.Jill, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net sales (a) $ 468,015 $ 457,758 Costs of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 132,909 128,423 Gross profit 335,106 329,335 Selling, general and administrative expenses (a) 264,072 253,705 Impairment of long-lived assets 413 66 Operating income 70,621 75,564 Loss on extinguishment of debt 8,570 — Loss on debt refinancing — 12,702 Interest expense (b) 13,009 18,758 Interest expense - related party — 1,074 Interest income (b) (2,020 ) (1,750 ) Income before provision for income taxes 51,062 44,780 Income tax provision 13,827 13,346 Net income and total comprehensive income $ 37,235 $ 31,434 Net income per common share: Basic $ 2.51 $ 2.22 Diluted $ 2.48 $ 2.19 Weighted average common shares: Basic 14,831,762 14,130,734 Diluted 14,994,786 14,379,529 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.14 — (a) For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023, Net sales includes $2.5 million of processing fee income related to customer sales returns that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. (b) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. J.Jill, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except common share data) November 2, 2024 February 3, 2024 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 38,765 $ 62,172 Accounts receivable 6,535 5,042 Inventories, net 61,737 53,259 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 18,774 17,656 Total current assets 125,811 138,129 Property and equipment, net 52,091 54,118 Intangible assets, net 62,223 66,246 Goodwill 59,697 59,697 Operating lease assets, net 112,358 108,203 Other assets 6,076 1,787 Total assets $ 418,256 $ 428,180 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 50,936 $ 41,112 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 42,534 42,283 Current portion of long-term debt 2,188 35,353 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 34,251 36,204 Total current liabilities 129,909 154,952 Long-term debt, net of discount and current portion 69,124 120,595 Deferred income taxes 9,511 10,967 Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 105,161 103,070 Other liabilities 1,290 1,378 Total liabilities 314,995 390,962 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' Equity Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 15,340,378 and 10,614,454 shares issued and outstanding at November 2, 2024 and February 3, 2024, respectively 153 107 Additional paid-in capital 241,998 213,236 Accumulated deficit (138,890 ) (176,125 ) Total shareholders' equity 103,261 37,218 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 418,256 $ 428,180 J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 12,348 $ 11,616 Add (Less): Depreciation and amortization 5,257 5,792 Income tax provision 4,524 4,717 Interest expense (a) 2,849 6,501 Interest income (a) (494 ) (707 ) Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (b) 1,726 942 Write-off of property and equipment (c) 17 19 Amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs (d) 180 283 Adjustment for exited retail stores (e) — (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (f) 102 21 Loss due to hurricane (g) 252 — Other non-recurring items (h) 47 — Adjusted EBITDA $ 26,808 $ 28,552 Net sales (i) 151,260 150,881 Adjusted EBITDA margin 17.7 % 18.9 % (a) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. (c) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. (d) Represents amortization of capitalized implementation costs related to cloud-based software arrangements that are included within Selling, general and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. (e) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (f) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (g) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (h) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (i) For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, Net sales includes $0.7 million of processing fee income that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 37,235 $ 31,434 Add (Less): Depreciation and amortization 16,091 16,854 Income tax provision 13,827 13,346 Interest expense (a) 13,009 18,758 Interest expense - related party — 1,074 Interest income (a) (2,020 ) (1,750 ) Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (b) 4,676 2,757 Write-off of property and equipment (c) 74 65 Amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs (d) 645 399 Loss on extinguishment of debt (e) 8,570 — Loss on debt refinancing (f) — 12,702 Adjustment for exited retail stores (g) (615 ) (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (h) 413 66 Loss due to hurricane (i) 252 — Other non-recurring items (j) 485 2 Adjusted EBITDA $ 92,642 $ 95,075 Net sales (k) $ 468,015 $ 457,758 Adjusted EBITDA margin 19.8 % 20.8 % (a) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. (c) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. (d) Represents amortization of capitalized implementation costs related to cloud-based software arrangements that are included within Selling, general and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. (e) Represents loss on the prepayment of a portion of the term loan. (f) Represents loss on the repayment of the Priming and the Subordinated Credit Agreement. (g) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (h) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (i) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (j) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (k) For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023, Net sales includes $2.5 million of processing fee income that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Income from Operations (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Operating income $ 19,227 $ 22,127 Add (Less): Equity-based compensation expense (a) 1,726 942 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 17 19 Adjustment for exited retail stores (c) — (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (d) 102 21 Loss due to hurricane (e) 252 — Other non-recurring items (f) 47 — Adjusted income from operations $ 21,371 $ 22,477 For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Operating income $ 70,621 $ 75,564 Add (Less): Equity-based compensation expense (a) 4,676 2,757 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 74 65 Adjustment for exited retail stores (c) (615 ) (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (d) 413 66 Loss due to hurricane (e) 252 — Other non-recurring items (f) 485 2 Adjusted income from operations $ 75,906 $ 77,822 (a) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. Adjusted income from operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Operating income. Beginning fiscal 2024, equity-based compensation expense is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. Adjusted income from operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Operating income. Beginning fiscal 2024, write-off of property and equipment is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (c) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (d) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (e) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (f) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 12,348 $ 11,616 Add: Income tax provision 4,524 4,717 Income before provision for income tax 16,872 16,333 Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (a) 1,726 942 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 17 19 Adjustment for exited retail stores (c) — (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (d) 102 21 Loss due to hurricane (e) 252 — Other non-recurring items (f) 47 — Adjusted income before income tax provision 19,016 16,683 Less: Adjusted tax provision (g) 5,172 4,655 Adjusted net income $ 13,844 $ 12,028 Adjusted net income per share: Basic $ 0.90 $ 0.85 Diluted $ 0.89 $ 0.83 Weighted average number of common shares: Basic 15,331,712 14,169,955 Diluted 15,490,876 14,448,228 (a) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, equity-based compensation expense is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, write-off of property and equipment is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (c) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (d) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (e) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (f) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (g) The adjusted tax provision for adjusted net income is estimated by applying a rate of 27.2% for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and 27.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 37,235 $ 31,434 Add: Income tax provision 13,827 13,346 Income before provision for income tax 51,062 44,780 Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (a) 4,676 2,757 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 74 65 Loss on extinguishment of debt (c) 8,570 — Loss on debt refinancing (d) — 12,702 Adjustment for exited retail stores (e) (615 ) (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (f) 413 66 Loss due to hurricane (g) 252 — Other non-recurring items (h) 485 2 Adjusted income before income tax provision 64,917 59,740 Less: Adjusted tax provision (i) 17,657 16,667 Adjusted net income $ 47,260 $ 43,073 Adjusted net income per share: Basic $ 3.19 $ 3.05 Diluted $ 3.15 $ 3.00 Weighted average number of common shares: Basic 14,831,762 14,130,734 Diluted 14,994,786 14,379,529 (a) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. Adjusted net income for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, equity-based compensation expense is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. Adjusted net income for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, write-off of property and equipment is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (c) Represents loss on the prepayment of a portion of the term loan. (d) Represents loss on the repayment of the Priming and Subordinated Credit Agreement. (e) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (f) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (g) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (h) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (i) The adjusted tax provision for adjusted net income is estimated by applying a rate of 27.2% for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 and 27.9% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. J.Jill, Inc. Selected Cash Flow Information (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) Summary Data from the Statement of Cash Flows For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 19,067 $ 21,067 Net cash used in investing activities (5,487 ) (3,655 ) Net cash used in financing activities (3,281 ) (2,200 ) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 10,299 15,212 Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of Period 28,466 48,903 End of Period $ 38,765 $ 64,115 For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 56,947 $ 56,682 Net cash used in investing activities (10,047 ) (10,760 ) Net cash used in financing activities (70,307 ) (68,860 ) Net change in cash and cash equivalents (23,407 ) (22,938 ) Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of Period 62,172 87,053 End of Period $ 38,765 $ 64,115 Reconciliation of GAAP Cash from Operations to Free Cash Flow For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 19,067 $ 21,067 Less: Capital expenditures (a) (5,487 ) (3,655 ) Free cash flow $ 13,580 $ 17,412 For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 56,947 $ 56,682 Less: Capital expenditures (a) (10,047 ) (10,760 ) Free cash flow $ 46,900 $ 45,922 (a) Capital expenditures reflects net cash used in investing activities, which includes capitalized interest and excludes cash received from landlords for tenant allowances. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211903405/en/ © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler brought a new putting grip to the Hero World Challenge and felt enough improvement to be satisfied with the result, a 5-under 67 that left him three shots behind Cameron Young on Thursday. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more than three months ago and found great success on and around the greens of Albany Golf Club, chipping beautifully and holing four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for his 64. He led by two shots over Justin Thomas in his first competition since his daughter was born a few weeks ago. Thomas ran off four straight birdies late in his round and was a fraction of an inch away with a fifth. The big surprise was Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf who looked as good as he has all year in compiling eight victories, including an Olympic gold medal. His iron play has no equal. His putting at times has kept him from winning more or winning bigger. He decided to try to a "saw" putting grip from about 20 feet or closer — the putter rests between his right thumb and his fingers, with his left index finger pointed down the shaft. People are also reading... "I'm always looking for ways to improve," Scheffler said. Scheffler last year began working with renowned putting instructor Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon mentioned the alternative putting grip back then. "But it was really our first time working together and it's something that's different than what I've done in the past," Scheffler said. "This year I had thought about it from time to time, and it was something that we had just said let's table that for the end of the season, take a look at it. "Figured this is a good week to try stuff." He opened with a wedge to 2 feet and he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 third. But he holed a birdie from about the same distance at the next par 5, No. 6, and holed a sliding 6-footer on the ninth to save par. His longest putt was his last hole, from 12 feet for a closing birdie. "I really enjoyed the way it felt," he said. "I felt like I'm seeing some improvements in my stroke." Young, regarded as the best active player without a PGA Tour victory, is treating this holiday tournament as the start of a new season. He worked on getting stronger and got back to the basics in his powerful golf swing. And on this day, he was dialed in with his short game. He only struggled to save par twice and kept piling up birdies in his bogey-free round on an ideal day in the Bahamas. "The wind wasn't blowing much so it was relatively stress-free," Young said. Patrick Cantlay, along with Scheffler playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup, also was at 67 with Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala. Thomas also took this occasion to do a little experimenting against a 20-man field. He has using a 46-inch driver at home — a little more than an inch longer than his regular driver — in a bid to gain more speed. On a day with little wind, on a golf course with some room off the tee, he decided to put it in play. "Just with it being a little bit longer, I just kind of have to get the club out in front of me and get on top of it a little bit more," Thomas said. "I drove the hell out of it on the back, so that was nice to try something different and have it go a little bit better on the back." Thomas said the longer driver gives him 2 or 3 mph in ball speed and 10 extra yards in the air. "It's very specific for courses, but gave it a try," he said. Conditions were easy enough that only four players in field failed to break par, with Jason Day bringing up the rear with a 75. Be the first to knowCarolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was taken to a hospital for a neck injury after landing on his head while making a catch late in the first half of Sunday's 30-27 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. As Sanders was brought down near the sideline after a 10-yard reception, he was flipped upside down and landed directly on the top of his helmet as he went out of bounds on the tackle by cornerback Trent McDuffie. After receiving attention from the team's medical staff, Sanders was strapped to a backboard and taken off the field on a cart with 40 seconds remaining in the half. He was taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for observation and later released Sunday afternoon, according to the team. On the CBS broadcast following halftime, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Sanders had movement in all his extremities, while extreme precaution was taken because of back tightness. CBS reported he was being examined for a concussion before later amending that to a neck injury. The 21-year-old rookie out of Texas had a team-leading three receptions for the Panthers at the half for 49 yards. In 11 games this season, Sanders has 29 receptions for 302 yards and a touchdown. Sanders was a fourth-round selection in the NFL draft in April. --Field Level MediaDid you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Should the crowd at Parken Stadium on Thursday evening get close to or even exceed the anticipated 30,000 mark, a deafening din is guaranteed. Hearts must cope with the noise, hostility and general atmosphere if they are to take anything from this UEFA Conference League visit to FC Copenhagen. Midfielder Blair Spittal is keen not to release too much detail on the Edinburgh club’s gameplan, although he did indicate how head coach Neil Critchley is approaching this tie. Any kind of result for Hearts would be seen as hugely positive against the Danish league leaders, fresh from last season’s Champions League campaign. Advertisement Advertisement “I think it's all about how we manage the ball,” said Spittal. “In the first couple of games in Europe, I thought we did that pretty well, controlled most of the games. In Bruges [against Cercle], I don't think we used the ball well enough but we learn from that, we don't have to wait any longer. “As soon as you win the ball back you don't have to go and score straight away, it's all about having a few passes and getting control of the game. That's what we want to do tomorrow but when the chances come along we've got the confidence we can take them.” One of the main protagonists when it comes to creating chances is left-back James Penrice. With Spittal in an advanced left-midfield role, the pair are rekindling a productive partnership first fostered at Partick Thistle. “I played with Penners before when I was at Partick,” explained Spittal. “We had played on the same side of the pitch before and we’ve built up a good relationship since we've come to Hearts. It's just kind of happened. “We work on patterns in training in terms of how we can hurt opponents. When Penners gets the ball, I know where to be and vice versa. Hopefully tomorrow, if selected, we can create a couple of problems for Copenhagen as well.” Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the size of the task facing Hearts against an experienced European side full of internationalists, Spittal is determined not to be overawed. “You don't really get opportunities like this often in your career,” he remarked. “It's all about trying to seize those moments. It’s a massive game tomorrow, one we're looking forward to and hopefully, when the opportunity comes along, we've got a few goals in the squad and I'm feeling confident in that.” Hearts have done plenty research on their opponents, who boast familiar names like Thomas Delaney and former Celtic winger Mohamed Elyounoussi. “I know Elyounoussi from past experience,” recalled Spittal. “I expect a tough game obviously, being the Pot 1 team. We don't want to just come here and sit behind the ball and force ourselves to get deeper and deeper on the park and just invite them on to us. It's all about how we count on their threats as well. There's definitely signs in training this week that we can go and do that. “It's top quality opposition that we're playing against. I think last year in the Champions League they did very well as well. They'll be expecting to come here and put on a show, but at the same time you've got to go and try to spoil that. Like I said, we don't want to come here and sit with men behind the ball and just defend and hope for something. We feel as though there's an opportunity that we can go and create issues for them and we'll do what we can to do that.”
Is that a chill in the air? Perhaps your boots are starting to feel colder and damper with each passing day. Maybe your cheeks are turning pink every time you step outside. Whether we like it or not, winter is here, which means it’s the perfect time to avoid the cold and hurry to your nice, warm movie house. With the holidays right around the corner, repertory theaters are stocking up on Christmas classics and seasonal favorites. For those looking for something more traditional than Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” and Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” which release December 20 and December 25, respectively, cinemas in New York and Los Angeles have plenty of options for the whole family, as well as more festive adult fare for those looking to spice things up. Selections this month come from the Metrograph located on the Lower East Side in New York City and Village East by Angelika, as well as American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, which is responsible for the programming at The Egyptian Theater, the Aero Theater, and the Los Feliz 3, and Quentin Tarantino’s theater, the New Beverly Cinema. December has a wide array of choices dating back to 1944, with some film ‘s having been released within the last 10 years and even within the last few months. Keep reading to find out IndieWire’s picks for the last month of 2024. The holidays are a time of romance, celebration and, let’s face it, inebriation. And what better way to celebrate all three than with a viewing of Federico Fellini’s epic satire of Roman life, “La Dolce Vita.” The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1960 and stars one of Fellini’s muses, Marcello Mastroianni, as a tabloid journalist on a week-long bacchanalia through the ancient, yet modern city in search of love and happiness. Running at nearly three hours, “La Dolce Vita” offers plenty of time to kick back and live as the Romans do, with multiple screenings happening across the month on December 6, 8, 11, 18, and 26, all of which will be shown in 35mm. In need of a little romance this time of year? Metrograph has you covered with its 2024 installment of “The Holidays at Metrograph,” featuring three films that are sure to set your heart aflutter. First up is Paul Thomas Anderson’s cheeky peek behind the curtain of the 1950s London fashion world starring Daniel Day-Lewis, “Phantom Thread,” screening in 35mm on December 20, 24, and 26. Are the 1950s not far enough back for your taste in period romances? Try Greta Gerwig’s take on Louisa May Alcott’s classic family tale, “Little Women,” featuring performances from Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper. There are many opportunities to catch the film, starting on December 21 and playing every day up to Christmas. Last on the list is another 1950s affair, this time starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as a housewife and department store clerk drawn to each other by some magic magnetic force at a time where falling in love with one another could put them both at great risk. Todd Haynes’ “Carol” may be a holiday film for adults, but it still feeds the soul in the same way films like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol” do. It can be seen in DCP on December 21 and 26 and in 35mm on December 23 and 25. On its own, Vincente Minelli’s “Meet Me in St. Louis” is a trite, unsubstantial musical filled with catchy but forgettable standards and a wasted Judy Garland pushing her talent across every inch of the frame as best she can. However, as one of the films that fueled the relationship between Minelli and Garland and led to the birth of their daughter, Liza Minelli, one can’t help but bask in its mediocre glory. Following a year in the life of a family at the turn of the 20th century, “Meet Me in St. Louis” would cement Minelli’s talents as a musical film director, leading to a long career at MGM helming projects like “An American in Paris” and “The Band Wagon.” To see where it all started, catch “Meet Me in St. Louis” at the Village East on Monday, December 23. Tired of seeing Hugh Grant plays villains and creeps? Go back to a time when the handsome Brit charmed and romanced with a viewing of the 2003 seminal classic, “Love Actually.” Comprised of an all-star cast that includes Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, and many more, the Richard Curtis film follows a string of Londoners experiencing the highs and lows of love around Christmas time and cemented Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” as one of the greatest holiday tunes of all time. Catch it with your favorite loved ones on Wednesday, December 18 at 7pm. And of course, no Christmas would be complete without a viewing of Frank Capra’s touching drama, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore. Following building and loan manager George Bailey on an odyssey of rediscovery, the film continues to hold a place in the hearts of multiple generations with its message of value and appreciation for the everyman in America just trying to help his fellow neighbor get by. It screens twice on Wednesday, December 11. It may still be reaching 70 degrees and higher here in Los Angeles, but with lights strung up and preparations underway for Jeremy Renner to serve as Grand Marshal of the 92nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, it’s hard not to feel in a festive mood. If you’re wanting to feed that spirit, take your pick of two holiday gems screening on December 21 through American Cinematheque. The television version of Ingmar Bergman’s childhood tale “Fanny and Alexander” screens in all its glorious 312 minutes at The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood starting at 12pm and follows a pair of siblings during turn of the 20th century Sweden as they have their first experiences with familial strife. At 4pm , Tyler Taormina’s loving ode to family and community, “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point,” screens at the Los Feliz 3. Featuring Maria Dizzia, Francesca Scorsese, Ben Shankman, Elsie Fisher, and a host of unknown, yet terrific talent, the film premiered at Cannes this year and hit theaters in November, but if you missed it, there’s no better opportunity to catch this soon-to-be-holiday-classic than later this month. Another modern favorite returns to the screen for the holiday season and in glorious 35mm. Starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Ed Asner, Peter Dinklage, and Mary Steenburgen, Jon Favreau’s “Elf” is a classic fish-out-of-water tale with a healthy dose of silly winter cheer. It plays at the Egyptian on Christmas Eve at 7:30pm . Need a shift from all the candy canes and holly jolly after Christmas? Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” has you covered. Screening in 70mm at the Aero Theater on December 27, Kubrick’s dark journey through the cosmos is a visual feast that defies description and the perfect film to cap off a year that truly showed us the horrors technology can bring forth. Run, don’t walk to tonight’s screening of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” at New Beverly Cinema, shown in glorious 70mm from an IB Tech Print and featuring the only performance from then-model George Lazenby as James Bond. Set mostly in a chilly research institute in the Swiss Alps, Lazenby’s Bond is as debonair as he is deadly, courting multiple women at the same time as he’s trying to stop the spread of a biological weapon. If you can’t make it tonight, there’s another showing tomorrow night, December 7 , as well. Later in the month, for those adults seeking out some mature, yet festive fare, Kubrick’s dizzying erotic epic “Eyes Wide Shut,” starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, plays on December 19 and 20 , while the action thriller “Die Hard,” starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, screens December 23 and 24 . For our last selection, something the entire family can enjoy: “The Muppets Christmas Carol.” While the film does follow all of the beats and much of the traditional dialogue from Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, by surrounding Michael Caine’s forceful, yet grounded performance as Ebenezer Scrooge with the Muppet players, the story is given a new buoyancy that pulls audiences into the fantastical journey more than ever before. There are two matinee showings of the film this month, on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 .Racing Optics® Introduces Game-Changing Twilight Tearoff to Enhance Visibility in Low-Light Racing Conditions
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reverses decision to put a time limit on anesthesiaDECEMBER 3-6 _ Women’s volleyball, NCAA Division III Championship, Bloomington, Ill. 5 or 6 _ College football, Mountain West Championship, at TBD. 5-7 _ Auto racing, F1, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi, UAE. 5-7 _ Men’s college soccer, NCAA Division III Championship, Salem, Va. 5-7 _ Men’s water polo, NCAA Championship game, Stanford, Calif. 5-8 _ Women’s college soccer, NCAA Division I Championship, Kansas City, Mo. 6 _ College football, Big Ten Championship, Indianapolis. 6 _ College football, Southeastern Championship, at TBD. 6-8 _ Women’s college soccer, NCAA Division III Championship, Las Vegas. 7 _ Major League Baseball, Hall of Fame and Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee vote announced, Orlando, Fla. 7-10 _ Major League Baseball, Winter meetings, TBD. 11 _ Major League Baseball, Rule 5 Draft, Orland, Fla. 11-13 _ Women’s volleyball, NCAA Division II Championship, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 11-15 _ Men’s and women’s college soccer, NCAA Division II Championship, Matthews, N.C. 12-14 _ Women’s golf, LPGA Tour, The Grant Thornton Invitational, Naples, Fla. 12-15 _ Men’s college soccer, NCAA Division I Championship, Cary, N.C. 14 _ Running, Honolulu Marathon. 15 _ Major League Baseball, International signing period closes, 5 p.m. EST. 18-20 _ Women’s volleyball, NCAA Division I Championship, Kansas City, Mo. 21-Jan. 18 _ Men’s soccer, African Cup of Nations, Morocco. TBD _ College football, CFP Playoffs, First Round, at TBD. TBD _ College football, CFP Playoffs, Quarterfinals. TBD _ College football, Heisman Trophy Ceremony, New York. TBD _ College football, NAIA Championship game, at TBD. TBD _ College football, NCAA Division II Championship, at TBD. TBD _ College football, NCAA Division III Championship, at TBD. TBD _ Major League Baseball Draft Lottery, Orlando, Fla. TBD _ Men’s college soccer, NAIA Championship. TBD _ Men’s soccer, 2026 World Cup draw. TBD _ Men’s soccer, MLS Cup. TBD _ Men’s tennis, ATP Tour, Next Gen ATP Finals, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. TBD _ Pro basketball, NBA G League regular season begins. TBD _ Women’s college soccer, NAIA Championship. 3-6 _ Women’s volleyball, NCAA Division III Championship, Bloomington, Ill. 5 or 6 _ College football, Mountain West Championship, at TBD. 5-7 _ Auto racing, F1, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi, UAE. 5-7 _ Men’s college soccer, NCAA Division III Championship, Salem, Va. 5-7 _ Men’s water polo, NCAA Championship game, Stanford, Calif. 5-8 _ Women’s college soccer, NCAA Division I Championship, Kansas City, Mo. 6 _ College football, Big Ten Championship, Indianapolis. 6 _ College football, Southeastern Championship, at TBD. 6-8 _ Women’s college soccer, NCAA Division III Championship, Las Vegas. 7 _ Major League Baseball, Hall of Fame and Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee vote announced, Orlando, Fla. 7-10 _ Major League Baseball, Winter meetings, TBD. 11 _ Major League Baseball, Rule 5 Draft, Orland, Fla. 11-13 _ Women’s volleyball, NCAA Division II Championship, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 11-15 _ Men’s and women’s college soccer, NCAA Division II Championship, Matthews, N.C. 12-14 _ Women’s golf, LPGA Tour, The Grant Thornton Invitational, Naples, Fla. 12-15 _ Men’s college soccer, NCAA Division I Championship, Cary, N.C. 14 _ Running, Honolulu Marathon. 15 _ Major League Baseball, International signing period closes, 5 p.m. EST. 18-20 _ Women’s volleyball, NCAA Division I Championship, Kansas City, Mo. 21-Jan. 18 _ Men’s soccer, African Cup of Nations, Morocco. TBD _ College football, CFP Playoffs, First Round, at TBD. TBD _ College football, CFP Playoffs, Quarterfinals. TBD _ College football, Heisman Trophy Ceremony, New York. TBD _ College football, NAIA Championship game, at TBD. TBD _ College football, NCAA Division II Championship, at TBD. TBD _ College football, NCAA Division III Championship, at TBD. TBD _ Major League Baseball Draft Lottery, Orlando, Fla. TBD _ Men’s college soccer, NAIA Championship. TBD _ Men’s soccer, 2026 World Cup draw. TBD _ Men’s soccer, MLS Cup. TBD _ Men’s tennis, ATP Tour, Next Gen ATP Finals, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. TBD _ Pro basketball, NBA G League regular season begins. TBD _ Women’s college soccer, NAIA Championship.
New Delhi: The Kundarki assembly bypoll results threw a surprise as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won by over 1.4 lakh votes in the Muslim-majority constituency. BJP’s Ramveer Singh got 1,70,371 votes, which is 76.71 percent of the total votes cast, whereas his opponent Mohammad Rizwan of the Samajwadi Party (SP) got only 25,880 votes. Singh was the sole Hindu candidate in Kundarki, where there were 11 Muslim contenders including INDIA bloc’s pick Rizwan. The Muslim population in this SP stronghold is above 60 percent. On Sunday, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that in Kundarki, the police and the administration removed almost all the booth agents of his party as well as prevented many supporters from exercising their voting rights. “If voters were prevented from voting, then who cast the votes? If Samajwadi Party voters didn’t reach those booths and our candidate didn’t get support, then who voted there? This is a serious issue.” he said at a press conference in Lucknow. The BJP had last won Kundarki in 1993, when Chandra Vijay Singh emerged victorious in the constituency. ThePrint analyses the reasons behind this BJP’s victory in a Samajwadi party’s stronghold. According to the BJP functionaries in Uttar Pradesh, Ramveer’s different style of campaign in minority areas played an important role in his victory. “Ramveer has put Muslim topis (Muslim prayer caps) during his campaign in minority-dominated areas in Kundarki. He was not only visiting Muslim households but also attended their ‘walima ’ (wedding banquets),” a senior UP BJP leader from Moradabad told ThePrint, adding that the party candidate became a ‘secular bhai’ for the past few weeks. “With the help of the BJP minority wing, he created a team of over two dozen Muslim workers who not only campaigned for him but also fixed his meetings with local maulanas and influential Muslims.” According to a senior Uttar Pradesh BJP functionary who campaigned in the bypolls, there are almost 80,000 Shaikhzadas in Kundarki. “They are considered to be Muslim Rajputs and Ramveer Singh is also a Rajput. During campaigning, we pitched that we are one, as we all are rajputs. That our ancestors are one. This worked in our favour,” the BJP functionary elaborated. Apart from this, he said, the local unit kept two Muslim agents at every booth. “They brought Muslims voters from their home to vote for the BJP. Somehow they convinced a section of the Muslims. 57.7 percent votes were polled in Kundarki, which means a major chunk of the Muslims voted for BJP,” the BJP functionary added. The bypoll in Kundarki was necessitated as SP leader Zia Ur Rehman Barq, a grandson of the later SP veteran Shafiqur Rahman, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Sambhal this year. The Barq family wanted a ticket for another of their kin but the SP preferred former MLA Mohammad Rizwan, 71, for this seat Rizwan first won from Kundarki in 2002 but lost to the Bahujan Samaj Party’s Akbar Husain in 2007. But, he went to secure consecutive wins in 2012 and 2017 The Barq family, according to SP insiders, did not support Rizwan as their request was not heard by the party leadership. “Barq Sahab family has a good reputation among the Muslims in this region. Kundarki is in Moradabad district, but falls in the Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency where Zia Ur Rehman is the sitting MP. So, why would they want any other leader to capture their space? Though the MP came for some public meetings that was not enough,” a local SP leader told ThePrint. Another reason touted for this stunning results is the BJP raking up the ill-treatment meted out to Ilma Afroz, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi, in the Congress-ruled hill state. The Indian Police Service (IPS) officer is currently at her native place in Kundarki, which falls in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district, after she was sent on long leave allegedly after she took on Congress MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary. The BJP’s local unit highlighted Ilma’s case and alleged that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were not coming to the rescue of the Muslim officer. Even Uttar Pradesh cooperative minister JPS Rathore, party’s in-charge of Kundarki, had harped on “injustice” faced by Ilma when he campaigned in the constituency. “’We pitched the issue of Ilma among Muslim women. By showing newspaper cuttings, we told them how a daughter of Kundarki is suffering. He (Akhilesh) can raise this issue to his friend Rahul, but he would not do so because they use Muslims only as a votebank. Our appeals worked somehow...,” a BJP’s women wing leader from Moradabad said. If SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan’s statement is to be believed, the BJP managed to wrest Kundarki on the basis of “gun power”. ”The videos of the Muslims being stopped from voting went viral on social media on the day of voting. They have used gun power to threaten voters,” Sajan said. He further alleged that several Muslim families were threatened with false cases against them if their votes did not go to the BJP. “Otherwise, why would any Muslim vote for the BJP? Why did this not happen in Sishamau where the Muslims are above 40 percent of the total population (and Naseem Solanki retained the seat for the SP). This is a wrong prediction that the Muslims voted in the BJP’s favour. Some of them were forced to do that in Kundarki and on some booths, bogus voting also happened. The way they managed the Rampur bypolls a few years ago, similarly it now happened in Kundarki,” he alleged. The SP, Sajan said, would bounce back at Kundarki in 2027 just like in the case of Rampur in the 2024 general elections. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Dimple, Shivpal, back-to-back rallies. Why SP called in big guns to campaign in family bastion Karhal var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Photo: Facebook Ronald Learning A drug trafficker who was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison following his arrest in 2015 in Vernon is now free on day parole. Ronald Learning, 41, was sentenced on 27 charges, including four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and multiple firearms charges. According to parole documents, Learning was involved in a drug-trafficking operation between Canada and the U.S. He was identified through an investigation where he sold drugs to an undercover officer. In January of 2015, Learning was arrested in Vernon after attempting to pick up a large box of heroin that had been flagged by border agents at Vancouver International Airport. When the box went through an X-ray, agents discovered more than 360 grams of heroin hidden in two lamps. Authorities switched the heroin for fake drugs in order to keep the box under surveillance. A police search of Learning’s home found several handguns, some of which were loaded, assorted ammunition, stolen identification and quantities of various drugs. Learning was first granted day parole in November of last year, and was given a six-month continuation in May 2024. The most recent decision, dated Dec. 4, grants Learning a further six months of day parole, noting there’s been no evidence of breaches over the past year. In its Dec. 4 decision, the Parole Board of Canada noted Learning’s “criminal activities contributed to what is considered to be a social crisis and epidemic.” “The [Correctional Services Canada] reports you no longer downplay your offending, previously stating you were ‘just a transporter’, and now admit and understand how your actions contributed to the drug trade and had a negative impact on the community,” reads the decision. “You have acknowledged your responsibility for your actions and recognize your problem areas; you reportedly understand your crime cycle and have been taking active steps to mitigate your risk to reoffend." The board said Learning’s release will reintegrate him into society as a law-abiding citizen which will ultimately help protect society. Under the terms of his parole, Learning cannot consume, purchase or possess drugs outside of prescribed medication. He must also have no contact with people involved in criminal activity, drug use or its subculture, and he can only possess one mobile phone. Learning is employed full time with a plumbing and heating company as an apprentice. The decision did not specify where Learning is living. In addition to the prison time, Learning was handed a lifetime firearms prohibition and ordered to submit a sample of his DNA to a national criminal database.
COPENHAGEN: Greenland is not for sale, its elected leader said on Monday (Dec 23), responding to comments made by US President-elect Donald Trump regarding the "ownership and control" of the vast Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for over 600 years. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom," the island's Prime Minister Mute Egede said in a written comment. Trump on Sunday announced that he had picked Ken Howery, a former envoy to Sweden, as his ambassador to Copenhagen, and commented on the status of Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark and host to a large US Air Force base. "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, did not elaborate on the statement. The Danish government was not immediately available for comment. Greenland, with its Pituffik air base, is strategically important for the US military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island. During his previous term in office, Trump in 2019 expressed interest in buying Greenland, but the proposal was promptly rejected by Denmark as well as by the island's own authorities before any formal discussions could take place. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as the time labelled Trump's offer as "absurd", leading him to term her dismissal of the idea as "nasty" and to subsequently cancel a visit to Copenhagen. Frederiksen remains in her role of Danish prime minister. Since 2009 Greenland has held the right to declare independence from Denmark. The island of some 56,000 inhabitants, which relies on significant budget transfers from Copenhagen each year, has so far refrained from doing so. Separately on Sunday, Trump threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage and drawing a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83
AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:56 p.m. EST