Day 6 of Herrington trial continues to focus on timelines, online searches Published 5:15 pm Monday, December 9, 2024 By Alyssa Schnugg Day 6 of the murder trial of Timothy Herrington, accused of killing University of Mississippi student Jimmie “Jay” Lee, saw more testimony from law enforcement officers involved in the investigation. Herrington was arrested on July 22, 2022, and charged with Lee’s murder. He was indicted on a capital murder charge and has been out on a $250,000 bond since December 2022. Lee, 20, was last seen at about 6 a.m. on July 8, 2022, when he left his apartment at Campus Walk Apartments. Lee’s body has not been recovered. Sgt. Michael Burks, a criminal investigator with the Oxford Police Department who was a detective at the time of Jay Lee’s disappearance, was the first witness called by the state Monday at the Lafayette County Courthouse. Burks searched Lee’s vehicle on July 11, 2022. He testified that he found debit and credit cards in the vehicle, along with various other items. The last transactions, other than automatic debits, on Lee’s Discover and American Express cards, were made on July 7. Also testifying for most of the day was Ryan Baker, who is currently an intelligence officer with OPD; however, in July 2022, he was a detective at OPD. Baker presented data taken from Herrington’s cell phone that showed pings and locations of Herrington’s phone as well as search history. On the morning of July 8, Herrington was captured on video driving past various locations in Grenada, including RS Cleaners, Wade Inc., and Emmanuel Baptist Church. His phone data corroborated these movements. By mid-morning, Herrington arrived at his parents’ home, where video footage showed him wiping his shoes before retrieving a shovel and a wheelbarrow from the house. From late morning to mid-afternoon, Herrington’s phone consistently pinged in the area of his parents’ home. Later, he left the property briefly, visiting locations such as Dollar General and Circle K. Baker testified that Herrington also visited a barber shop, as indicated by a CashApp payment and phone pings. In earlier footage, he was seen wearing white-and-black tennis shoes, but later he switched to rubber boots. By the evening, Herrington returned to his parents’ home, unloaded the wheelbarrow from the truck, and left again. His phone data placed him in Oxford near the Lafayette Place Apartments around 10:49 p.m. At 11:27 p.m., Herrington searched for Jimmie Lee’s Twitter account — notably before news of Lee’s disappearance was publicly announced. In the days following Lee’s disappearance, Herrington conducted numerous online searches, including terms like “Molly Barr Apartments Oxford Mississippi” and “Ole Miss student found in lake.” Baker highlighted that these searches aligned with updates from law enforcement and media reports about the case. Herrington also viewed articles about another Ole Miss student’s murder and frequently searched for updates on the Oxford Police Department’s investigation. Baker testified that Herrington’s search history before July 8 showed no interest in true crime or local law enforcement. On July 22, Herrington was arrested after investigators linked his social media account, “redeye_24,” to the case. Baker emphasized that Herrington had not voluntarily contacted police regarding Lee’s disappearance, despite his repeated online searches for information about the investigation. The trial continues at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
The University of Madras’ problems must be resolved by the very government officials who blame it for its woes, say former Vice-Chancellors and professors. Only a strong Vice-Chancellor can turn around the university, they point out. The university has been without a V-C for 15 months following a standoff between the State government and the Governor-Chancellor on the norms of appointing a V-C. Currently, it is run by a three-member convener committee, comprising the Higher Education Secretary, the Commissioner of the Directorate of Technical Education and a senior professor from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, none of whom can give the institution undivided attention. The government has refused to release block grants citing audit objections. Earlier this year, the Income Tax department froze all accounts of the university stating that it was not a public institution as it did not receive sufficient funding from the State. The university took several weeks to set right the issue. According to Gopal Ji Malaviya, former professor from the Department of Defence Studies, the decline began in 2006 and continued until 2016, when “persons of Mickey Mouse stature were appointed as V-Cs. Mismanagement of finances was initiated in 2006, regularised by 2009 and perfected in 2013. The academic and senate meetings that would go on for a whole day have been reduced to just two hours. No healthy debates and discussions are being held,” he said. “It is so unfortunate that the Governor (Chancellor of the university) and the State is at loggerheads. Why not appoint a state-level committee and go through all universities’ status in Tamil Nadu,” asked P.K. Ponnuswamy, a former V-C of the university. Audit objections could not be blamed on the V-C as “The V-C cannot appoint anyone. Somebody will send a request, and it is the syndicate that approves appointments. The Syndicate has seven nominees from the State government who will come only if they have the interest. The syndicate cannot be overruled,” he added. By denying funds the State government had disowned the university, said former V-C S.P. Thyagarajan. Even central universities struggled with audit objections but “a joint sitting of the auditors with the university officials” can sort them, he pointed out. “As a V-C, we used to largely reduce audit objections and pave way for state government grant properly. There must be a consolidated effort from all angles. The state government should necessarily provide the block grant,” he opined. Mr. Thyagarajan suggested a high-power committee by the State to take “a pragmatic look” at the issue. Earlier this month at an interaction with the media here, University Grants Commission chairman Jagadesh M. Kumar said all universities must follow the commission’s norms on selecting a V-C. The State government has appealed to the Supreme Court. Mr. Kumar said a university must have a plan and a vision for the next five to ten years. Its financial requirements for capital expenditure and infrastructure “are the responsibility of the government which established the universities. In the case of State universities, it is the State government”, he explained, adding that the university could look for avenues such as industrial collaboration to raise funds. “Universities cannot run without its leaders. You need a V-C to be appointed without delay. For fund crunch, institutions must find ways to raise internal resources. Madras University has vast intellectual resources. Why not conduct executive and industry appropriate training programmes,” he suggested. A member of Madras University’s convener committee, Sarit Kumar Das has much faith in the university’s intellectual potential. “The University needs a stable administration, a steady flow of funds, proper financial planning, and clearcut plans to reassess its academic and research activities. For this, you require a strong administration with a vision for the next five to ten years,” he said. On the university achieving total autonomy from the UGC despite various issues, he said, “Getting A++ in NAAC accreditation is not very difficult. Where does Madras University stand in NIRF ranking? It was once one of the top universities of the country. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework, it is ranked 39th among universities. Whereas Calcutta University, established together with Madras University and a State university as well, is ranked 18, Kerala University is at 21 and Andhra university, at 25. University of Madras with its glorious past deserves to be better than them” he observed. Published - November 26, 2024 12:36 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit higher education / universityRIYADH: Kuwait’s Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah held an official meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. According to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior, the two sides discussed several security matters of mutual interest and reviewed the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the security sector. They also explored ways to strengthen and enhance this cooperation and the mechanisms for coordinating efforts to address regional and international challenges, aiming to ensure security and stability in both nations. The two ministers reiterated the deep ties between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their commitment to reinforcing security integration and continuing joint coordination on various issues of shared concern. During the visit, Sheikh Fahad, who is also First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, toured the Riyadh Metro Station and the city’s modern transport network. He received a detailed briefing on the technologies used in the metro project, which is considered one of the key achievements in Saudi Arabia’s public transportation sector. The tour highlighted the metro’s essential role in facilitating movement for citizens and residents, supporting urban development, and enhancing overall quality of life. Sheikh Fahad was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh earlier today by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and a number of senior security officials. — KUNAThe reserves – known as security stocks – are usually earmarked for Irish customers but are now being used to ease pressure on publicans in the UK who have struggled to keep up with new fans after a marketing push in recent years. Some pub landlords have reportedly been using ration cards to ensure every customer gets a fair share of the stout. Diageo , which owns Guinness, has also put shipments bound for North America on standby for potential diversion to the UK in case the security stocks fail to fill the gap, according to the Sunday Times, which first reported the reserves raid. A spokesperson for Diageo thanked customers for their patience and said demand remained at “unprecedented levels”. “We are producing more Guinness today than we ever have in our 265-year history, and we continue to work closely with customers across our network to manage Guinness distribution as efficiently as possible, ensuring we maximise supply and minimise disruptions for pubs and retailers,” the spokesperson said. [ London pubs turn to ration cards amid Guinness shortage Opens in new window ] Diageo said it was buying time before it could roll out a “phased replenishment” in the new year that would help UK Guinness supplies return to normal. The early 2025 restock is part of efforts to avoid an even more acute shortage, with the company anticipating a fresh rush for Guinness as sport fans gear up for the Six Nations rugby championship, which kicks off on January 31st. Guinness has notably gained traction among women and young people, including gen Z, having traditionally been the favoured drink of older men and rugby teams. It follows a marketing push over the past few years that has involved working with influencers on social media to raise Guinness’s profile. Celebrities have also fuelled the trend, with Kim Kardashian making headlines last year when she supped on a pint in a London pub. The singer Olivia Rodrigo made waves when she wore a “Guinness is good 4U” T-shirt when performing in Dublin this year. The drink’s growing popularity has also been fuelled by trends such as “splitting the G”, a drinking game in which players try to get the line between the foam and stout to sit in the middle of the letter G on the Guinness pub glass after their first sip. There has been some speculation that the shortage is merely part of a wider marketing stunt, though insiders have said the supply concerns are genuine. Earlier this month, Diageo was said to be unable to increase supply from its Dublin brewery, which was already working at full capacity. It is hoped the shortage will be temporary, given Diageo has been pumping money into its St James’s Gate brewery in the Irish capital and is also building a new €200 million brewery in County Kildare. - Guardian
Day 6 of Herrington trial continues to focus on timelines, online searchesWalmart Inc. ( NYSE:WMT – Get Free Report ) shares traded down 1.5% during mid-day trading on Friday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $91.31 and last traded at $91.40. 2,627,537 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 17,006,006 shares. The stock had previously closed at $92.79. Specifically, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 29,124 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.35, for a total value of $2,689,601.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 3,785,702 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $349,609,579.70. This represents a 0.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.60, for a total value of $1,215,375.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 566,794 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $52,485,124.40. This trade represents a 2.26 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WMT shares. Barclays lifted their target price on Walmart from $78.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Walmart from $89.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of Walmart from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Roth Mkm boosted their price target on Walmart from $81.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, KeyCorp raised their price objective on Walmart from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $93.69. Walmart Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $736.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $88.60 and a 200 day moving average of $78.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Walmart ( NYSE:WMT – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 19th. The retailer reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $169.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $167.69 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 2.92% and a return on equity of 21.78%. Walmart’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.51 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.47 EPS for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walmart Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Walmart during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Voisard Asset Management Group Inc. raised its stake in Walmart by 77.3% during the 3rd quarter. Voisard Asset Management Group Inc. now owns 399 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the period. Hoese & Co LLP bought a new position in Walmart in the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Livelsberger Financial Advisory acquired a new stake in Walmart in the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Hara Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock. About Walmart ( Get Free Report ) Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
SS&C Signs Agreement with Insignia Financial
Connected, brainy, athletic: the suspect in US insurance CEO's slayingMumbai, December 29: Meta's WhatsApp introduced several new features this year, offering customers more than just chat with others. The latest features included Meta AI, WhatsApp Channels, WhatsApp group-related features, profile privacy, and more. WhatsApp is testing new features for the future and will offer customers a better experience of instant messaging and privacy. WhatsApp is working on a new feature called "Meta AI shortcut," which it rolled out for iOS beta testers already and will soon introduce to common users. This shortcut to Meta AI is aimed at encouraging WhatsApp users to explore artificial intelligence, according to a post by WABetaInfo . The feature is said to help users solve everyday problems and experiment with creative functionalities. It is rolled out for iOS beta testers. Grok New Features: Elon Musk’s X, xAI Launches Grok Search Engine, Grok Personalisation, New Grok Followup Post Feature in Works. Another new feature expected to be rolled out is "Search images on web", under development. It will add a dedicated option to search on the web in the chat setting (three dots). WABetaInfo said this new feature would help users conduct reverse image searches and find out if the image already exists online. This feature will help users make informed decisions about their content before hearing and help eliminate misinformation or manipulation. WhatsApp is also reportedly testing "business platform and AI replies." Dedicated to business people, this feature will help them continue conversations without interruption from artificial intelligence to ensure a smooth flow with the other party. This would help those who want to handle manual messaging and do not want AI to get involved. Samsung Patents Eye-Tracking Smart Glasses, Self-Adjusting Galaxy Ring 2 Feature and AI-Powered Imaging Technology for Upcoming Launches: Report. The instant messaging platform also works on camera effects and filters that bring various AR (augmented reality) elements to users. The experimental feature is already rolled out for the beta testers on iOS. WhatsApp will also bring the "scan documents" feature to enable users to photograph documents and make them legible before sharing. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2024 06:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).Sedona Waterproofing Solutions Helps Residents Prepare Crawl Spaces for Winter Holidays
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