o365

o365 Swiss National Bank lowered its holdings in Medpace Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MEDP – Free Report ) by 0.6% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 51,500 shares of the company’s stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank’s holdings in Medpace were worth $17,191,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Westwind Capital raised its holdings in Medpace by 800.1% during the second quarter. Westwind Capital now owns 380,929 shares of the company’s stock worth $156,886,000 after purchasing an additional 338,610 shares in the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Medpace by 55.1% in the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 403,892 shares of the company’s stock valued at $166,343,000 after purchasing an additional 143,481 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Medpace by 38.3% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 443,588 shares of the company’s stock valued at $182,692,000 after purchasing an additional 122,800 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Medpace by 62.3% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 310,650 shares of the company’s stock valued at $127,941,000 after purchasing an additional 119,257 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of Medpace by 1,028.5% in the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 116,683 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,056,000 after purchasing an additional 106,343 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.98% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have weighed in on MEDP shares. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Medpace from $415.00 to $397.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Robert W. Baird lowered shares of Medpace from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $413.00 to $349.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. UBS Group lowered shares of Medpace from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $420.00 to $350.00 in a research report on Friday, September 27th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Medpace from $413.00 to $372.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Baird R W lowered shares of Medpace from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Medpace currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $380.00. Medpace Stock Performance NASDAQ:MEDP opened at $337.75 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $340.42 and its 200-day moving average is $373.77. Medpace Holdings, Inc. has a 52-week low of $268.80 and a 52-week high of $459.77. The company has a market cap of $10.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.32, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.37. Medpace ( NASDAQ:MEDP – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, October 21st. The company reported $3.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.24. The business had revenue of $533.32 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $540.99 million. Medpace had a net margin of 17.66% and a return on equity of 50.87%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.22 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Medpace Holdings, Inc. will post 11.93 EPS for the current year. About Medpace ( Free Report ) Medpace Holdings, Inc provides clinical research-based drug and medical device development services in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company offers a suite of services supporting the clinical development process from Phase I to Phase IV in various therapeutic areas. It provides clinical development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries; and development plan design, coordinated central laboratory, project management, regulatory affairs, clinical monitoring, data management and analysis, pharmacovigilance new drug application submissions, and post-marketing clinical support services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MEDP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Medpace Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MEDP – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Medpace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medpace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .None

Central Connecticut State defeats Binghamton 64-56

Manmohan Singh symbolised humility, to be remembered for his public service: Assam leadersAmazon’s early Black Friday deals are live, and the best ones are flying off the shelves. With big discounts on tech, home essentials, and more, these early drops give you a head start—and savvy shoppers are already cashing in. Want to beat the Black Friday madness? Here’s what to snag before it sells out. 53% off a soothing muscle & joint cream If you deal with occasional muscle and joint aches, it may be time to join the 74,000 Amazon reviewers who have found relief with this soothing cream from Penetrex. The non-greasy formula features actives like arnica, boswellia serrata, and vitamin B6 to help relieve discomfort when applied as instructed. You can even combine it with heat or ice therapy when needed. 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It's safe to say they would make Marie Kondo proud.Raising tuition fees to £9,535 a year passes the cost of national insurance hikes to students and 'won’t touch the sides' of a £100m shortfall, the Senedd heard. Opposition politicians quizzed Wales’ higher education minister after she announced fees for undergraduates will rise by £285 or three per cent to the same level as in England from August 2025. Vikki Howells, who was appointed in September, confirmed tuition fee loans will also rise to up to £9,535, with student support increasing by 1.6 per cent in the 2025/26 academic year. Ms Howells announced an extra £20m for Medr, a public body which was established this year to oversee all post-16 education and research in Wales. During education questions in the Senedd on December 4, Conservative Tom Giffard asked how much the UK Government’s national insurance increase will cost Welsh universities. Estimating the cost at about £20m, Ms Howells said: “The announcement I’ve made today to raise the tuition fee cap in Wales to £9,535 is estimated to cover those costs to universities.” Mr Giffard replied: “What you’ve done minister is offset the cost of a Labour UK policy by increasing tuition fees for students to pay for it.... “Before that announcement about employers’ national insurance, universities estimated that they run a deficit, cumulatively, of about £100m and yet nothing that has happened so far will address that blackhole.” The shadow education secretary said: “Taking those two policies in combination, it’s a zero-sum game ... the thing that students and universities have in common is that they were promised greater support ... and only received greater bills.” He pressed the minister about emergency funding, raising concerns about three years of cuts leaving Welsh universities worse off than counterparts in the UK. He said: “This crisis is real, the university funding crisis is very, very real and it’s immediate – so what are you going to do about it?” Ms Howells said an analysis of higher education fees and funding across the UK found Wales offers the most generous student maintenance support.

(New Castle) Session closed: Looking back on the work of area lawmakers in 2023-24

BC Conservative MLAs target caucus colleague over response to police board member’s ousterEx Demi Moore Shares Update on Bruce Willis’ Dementia BattleEven with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight

Radiation Dose Management Market Emerging Trends and Forecast 2024-2031Ustby, Donarski lead No. 16 North Carolina women over Villanova 53-36 in Battle 4 Atlantis semifinalAI-driven approach reveals hidden hazards of chemical mixtures in riversNew Collaboration with Green Dot Enables Cash Deposits at Over 7,500 CVS Pharmacy Locations AUSTIN, Texas and SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Varo Bank , the first all-digital nationally chartered bank in the U.S., today announced a collaboration with Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) and CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) to enable deposits for no fee for millions of Varo Bank customers at over 7,500 participating CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide. 1 Utilizing Green Dot's embedded finance platform (Arc) and expansive money movement network, the "Green Dot Network," Varo customers can now deposit cash at participating CVS Pharmacy locations 2 with zero fees. For customers who deposit cash regularly, this means saving $120 or more per year. Traditional banks often charge fees unless customers maintain specified minimum balances in their accounts or meet monthly direct deposit requirements. In addition, unlike fintech companies that must work through partner banks to set their fee policies, Varo's charter enables the bank to offer preferential fees and products to its customers. "As an all-digital bank, Varo is creating low-cost financial solutions designed specifically for the needs of everyday Americans," said Colin Walsh , Chief Executive Officer at Varo Bank. "This Green Dot collaboration at participating CVS Pharmacy locations eliminates cash deposit fees, making basic banking more convenient and affordable." Varo customers have access to a suite of primary banking products that support their financial stability and wellness, including: "We are thrilled to work with Varo and CVS Pharmacy to make banking accessible to millions of American consumers," said Crystal Bryant-Minter , SVP, Money Movement at Green Dot. "With more than 20 years' experience delivering seamless banking and payment solutions to consumers and businesses, Arc by Green Dot powers some of the world's most trusted brands and thousands of other businesses at all stages of growth with seamless, secure and useful financial tools and experiences." About Varo Bank Varo Bank is a new kind of bank - the first nationally chartered consumer tech bank in the U.S., built from the ground up with a focus on the needs of Americans striving to get ahead. From credit building to savings to faster payments, Varo has a complete solution to help everyday Americans make progress in their financial lives. Varo combines the capabilities and nimbleness of a technology company with the security and oversight of a regulated financial institution, enabling agile product design that provides technology-first solutions such as Varo Believe, a secured card to help build credit; Varo Advance, to help stretch hard-earned dollars between paychecks; and a high-yield savings account, offering one of the nation's highest APYs. Varo has been named as one of the Inc. 5000 2023 fastest growth companies in the U.S., CNBC's 2023 list of the World's Top Fintech Companies, one of Forbes' World's Best Banks, and Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. For more information on Varo Advance, Varo Believe, and other offerings such as Perks, visit www.varomoney.com , like Varo Bank on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @varobank. ©2024 Varo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. About Arc by Green Dot Arc is the embedded finance platform of services featuring all of Green Dot's secure banking and money processing capabilities designed to fuel value, loyalty and growth for consumers and businesses. Arc by Green Dot powers some of the world's most trusted brands and thousands of other businesses with seamless, secure and useful financial tools and experiences. Integrated with Green Dot Bank 3 Arc provides partners with leading FDIC-insured banking products and tools, plus regulatory and compliance expertise, oversight and support. The Arc platform is cloud-based, modular and scalable by design – configurable to meet a wide range of business needs and goals, and flexible to adapt as our partners grow. Arc's end-to-end banking services are powered by enterprise-grade APIs and offer partners access to comprehensive customer support, fraud protection, the largest retail deposit and ATM network in the U.S., and much more. For more information, visit greendot.com/arc . Media Contact Audrey Jacobson , for Varo Bank: varobank@consortpartners.com 1 Fees for optional service may apply 2 Cash deposit is available at all stand-alone CVS locations (through Green Dot Network®) with a cashier in the U.S. except those located within hospitals, on military bases, or in Target. You can deposit between $20 - $500 per transaction. A fee may apply for depositing cash at other Green Dot Network® locations. 3 Green Dot Bank also operates under the following registered trade names: GO2bank, GoBank and Bonneville Bank . All of these registered trade names are used by, and refer to, a single FDIC-insured bank, Green Dot Bank. Deposits under any of these trade names are deposits with Green Dot Bank and are aggregated for deposit insurance coverage up to the allowable limits. Green Dot Corporation NMLS #914924; Green Dot Bank NMLS #908739. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varo-bank-introduces-zero-fee-cash-deposits-at-participating-cvs-locations-302337565.html SOURCE Varo Bank

Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.

TikTok's future in the U.S. appeared uncertain on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge to a law that requires the social media platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January. A panel of three judges on The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously that the law withstood constitutional scrutiny, rebuffing arguments from the two companies that the statute violated their rights and the rights of TikTok users in the U.S. The government has said it wants ByteDance to divest its stakes in TikTok. But if it doesn't and the platform goes away, it would have a seismic impact on the lives of content creators who rely on the platform for income as well as users who use it for entertainment and connection. Here are some details on the ruling and what could happen next: What does the ruling say? In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance, which is also a plaintiff in the case, had challenged the law on various fronts, arguing in part that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and was an unconstitutional bill of attainder that unfairly targeted the two companies. But the court sided with attorneys for the Justice Department who said that the government was attempting to address national security concerns and the way in which it chose to do so did not violate the constitution. The Justice Department has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say that Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok's U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread, or suppress, information. However, the U.S. hasn't publicly provided examples of that happening. The appeals court ruling, written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, said the law was “carefully crafted to deal only with control by a foreign adversary." The judges also rejected the claim that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Furthermore, Ginsburg wrote the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to “suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. What happens next? TikTok and ByteDance are expected to appeal the case to the Supreme Court, but it's unclear whether the court will take up the case. TikTok indicated in a statement on Friday the two companies are preparing to take their case to high court, saying the Supreme Court has “an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech." "We expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” a company spokesperson said. Alan Morrison, a professor at The George Washington University Law School, said he expects the Supreme Court to take up the case because of the novelty of the issues raised in the lawsuit. If that happens, attorneys for the two companies still have to convince the court to grant them an emergency stay that will prevent the government from enforcing the Jan. 19 divestiture deadline stipulated in the law, Morrison said. Such a move could drag out the process until the Justices make a ruling. Tiffany Cianci, a TikTok content creator who has supported the platform, said she was not shocked about the outcome of the court's ruling on Friday because lower courts typically defer to the executive branch on these types of cases. She believes the company will have a stronger case at the Supreme Court. “I believe that the next stages are more likely to produce a victory for TikTokers and for TikTok as a whole,” Cianci said. What about Trump? Another wild card is President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the recent presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The Trump transition team has not offered details on how Trump plans to carry out his pledge to “save TikTok." But spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement last month that he plans to “deliver” on his campaign promises. After Trump takes office on Jan. 20th, it would fall on his Justice Department to enforce the law and punish any potential violators. Penalties would apply to any app stores that would violate a prohibition on TikTok and to internet hosting services which would be barred from supporting it. Some have speculated that Trump could ask his Justice Department to abstain from enforcing the law. But tech companies like Apple and Google, which offer TikTok's app on their app stores, would then have to trust that the administration would not come after them for any violations. Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said enforcement discretion — or executive orders — can not override existing law, leaving Trump with “limited room for unilateral action." There are other things Trump could potentially do. It's possible he could invoke provisions of the law that allow the president to determine whether a sale or a similar transaction frees TikTok from “foreign adversary” control. Another option is to urge Congress to repeal the law. But that too would require support from congressional Republicans who have overwhelmingly supported the prospect of getting TikTok out of the hands of a Chinese company. In a statement issued Friday, Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, said he was “optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok” and allow its continued use in the United States. Is anyone trying to buy TikTok? ByteDance has said it won't sell TikTok . And even if it wanted to, a sale of the proprietary algorithm that powers TikTok is likely to get blocked under Chinese export controls that the country issued in 2020. That means if TikTok is sold without the algorithm, its likely that the buyer would only purchase a shell of the platform that doesn't contain the technology that made the app a cultural powerhouse. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in buying it. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital. The spokesperson did not disclose the identity of the participants. Haleluya Hadero, The Associated Press

Introducing St. Maarten's New Sports Landmark: Vie L'Ven's Multi-Court With Panoramic Views of Indigo Bay and Limited-Edition Pickleball Paddle

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:24 p.m. EST

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Peyton Smith's 12 points helped Fairfield hold off Vermont 67-66 on Sunday. Smith shot 4 of 7 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Stags (3-4). Prophet Johnson scored 10 points, finishing 4 of 6 from the floor. Makuei Riek had 10 points and shot 4 for 9, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc. TJ Long led the Catamounts (3-4) in scoring, finishing with 18 points. TJ Hurley added 17 points for Vermont. Jace Roquemore finished with 13 points and two steals. NEXT UP Fairfield takes on Fairleigh Dickinson at home on Sunday, and Vermont hosts SUNY-Plattsburgh on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin agreed to a record-setting eight-year, $92 million contract on Friday, according to multiple reports. Shesterkin's deal, which averages $11.5 million annually and runs through the 2032-33 season, is the largest ever for a goaltender. The previous high was an eight-year, $84 million deal ($10.5 million average) that Carey Price signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2017. Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy as the top netminder for the 2021-22 season, turned down an eight-year, $88 million offer just prior to the start of this season. He is making $5.66 million in 2023-24 in the final season of a four-year, $22.67 million contract. The Moscow native finished third in Hart Trophy (MVP) balloting during his stellar 2021-22 season in when he went 36-13-4 and led the NHL with both a 2.07 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Shesterkin, who turns 29 on Dec. 30, has won 36 or more games in each of the past three regular seasons. But this season, he is just 8-9-1 with a personal-worst 3.05 GAA in 18 games this season. His .908 save percentage is also his worst. Overall, Shesterkin is 143-68-18 with a 2.48 GAA and .920 save percentage in 231 appearances (226 starts) over six seasons. In the postseason, he is 23-20-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .928 save percentage. Reports of the deal began circulating shortly after the Rangers traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks. That freed up money for next season as Trouba was in the sixth season of a seven-year, $56 million deal. --Field Level MediaWASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden faces a stark choice as he contemplates broad preemptive pardons to protect aides and allies from potential retribution by Donald Trump: Does he hew to the institutional norms he’s spent decades defending or flex the powers of the presidency in untested ways? The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But the president has discussed the topic with senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Biden is taking the idea seriously and has been thinking about it for as much as six months — before the presidential election — but has been concerned about the precedent it would set, according to another person familiar with the president’s discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes –- and usually to those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for some who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. The president could, if he chooses, issue blanket pardons to specific people whom Trump and his allies have threatened to punish. Or he could pardon a broad class of people — not unlike pardons issued to those convicted of federal marijuana offenses or those ensnared in the “don't ask, don't tell” military policies. Either way, he'd be using the powers of the presidency in a new way. Some worry that Trump and his allies, who have talked of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for targeted people even if they don’t result in prosecutions. The door has already been opened, given that Biden has extended a broad pardon to his son, Hunter , who was convicted and pleaded guilty in tax and gun cases. Biden explained that decision by saying he believed the prosecution of his son had been poisoned by politics. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden plans additional pardons before leaving office though she would not elaborate on the process. She repeatedly referenced “changing factors” that motivated the president to pardon his son despite promising he wouldn’t. She said Republicans have continued to try to see Hunter Biden investigated for an array of alleged offenses, a rationale that could support additional pardons for Biden aides and allies. It was two weeks ago that one of the president’s closest allies in Congress, Rep, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, encouraged Biden to pardon his son Hunter. The morning after that conversation, Clyburn told Biden’s staff that he believed the president should also pardon those being targeted by Trump. “I was very forceful in my discussions with him about what I thought he ought to do regarding his son,” Clyburn said Friday. “But I also told them that I thought he ought to go even further, because all the noise about Jack Smith and Liz Cheney and Doctor Fauci and all of that.” Special Counsel Jack Smith has been investigating Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and for accusations he hoarded classified documents at his home. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican , was the vice chairwoman of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris. Fauci, an infectious disease expert, was instrumental in the government's response to the coronavirus. All have raised the ire of Trump. Clyburn said he told Biden’s team, only half jokingly, that because the Supreme Court has already said that the president has certain immunities, “let’s give that same immunity to Jack Smith for carrying out his duties and to, Doctor Fauci, Liz Cheney, they were carrying out their duties.” Among those mentioned publicly for possible presidential pardons, there are different sentiments on whether pardons would even be wanted. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the president’s move to pardon his son, but has been silent on the speculation that Biden is considering additional pardons for her or others. A top Pelosi ally, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman who led Trump’s first impeachment, has panned the idea of pardoning Biden's allies. He says “the courts are strong enough to withstand” the worst of Trump’s threats. “I don’t think a preemptive pardon makes sense,” the incoming senator told NPR recently. “I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would seem defensive and unnecessary,” Schiff said. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who was the lead manager on Trump’s second impeachment, on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, said members of Congress already are protected by the speech and debate clause in the Constitution, which protects them prosecution for participating in their legislative duties. Raskin said figures like Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Kelly , Trump's former White House chief of staff, would similarly be protected by the First Amendment. But Raskin said the question is, “Should they go through the criminal investigation and prosecution for not doing anything wrong? I think that’s why this whole issue has erupted.” Raksin added that with Trump promising to pardon hundreds of people who assaulted police officers on Jan. 6th, “I can hardly fault President Biden for exploring the use of the pardon to protect people from a fraudulent and unjust prosecution.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he’s had no conversations with the White House regarding any preemptive pardons for current or former members of Congress. ___ Associated Press Writers Kevin Freking and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

Tuition fee rise ‘passes cost of NI hike to students’

An illegal Honduran migrant has been charged with raping a woman on a popular hiking trail outside Washington, DC just days after he was released from jail on another sex crime charge — and it’s the first sexual assault of that kind in the town for more than a decade, according to authorities. “This is the only stranger rape that we have had in the town in my more than 12 years as chief of police,” said Herndon, Virginia, police chief Maggie DeBoard in a press conference Tuesday. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin slammed local officials for allowing the serial sex pest to be released back into the community — instead of being turned over to ICE and deported. “I am heartsick for this victim and outraged that local Fairfax County officials recklessly release violent illegal immigrants who should have been prosecuted and deported,” the Republican told The Post. “This is a dereliction of their most basic duty to keep people safe. Prioritizing violent illegal immigrants over the safety of Fairfax residents is unacceptable,” he continued — adding that Virginia is not a sanctuary state. Officers arrested 31-year-old Denis Humberto Navarette Romero Monday on charges of intent to defile and rape. The suspect is a Honduran national residing in the US illegally, and his rap sheet dates back years, Herndon police say. Romero was released from jail just four days prior to his arrest Monday at the Washington and Old Dominion Trail about 25 miles west of the capital. He was freed on Nov. 14 after serving just half his 50-day indecent exposure sentence due to “good behavior,” authorities said. The victim, who cops say didn’t know her attacker before the assault, was on the busy walking trail when he allegedly grabbed her arm, forced her to the ground and raped her just before 9 p.m. Monday. After a bystander called for help, cops arrived to the scene and arrested Romero within minutes. DeBoard, the police chief, told reporters Romero has a history of sexual assaults in town and the surrounding area. “What is disturbing is the number of times this individual has been arrested and released,” she told reporters. “He has continued to reoffend and his behavior has escalated to a rape in a very public area.” Romero’s sex crime spree started in 2018, when Herndon PD received a report that the perv fondled a 14-year-old. That triggered a Fairfax County sex crimes investigation, which uncovered that he’d also exposed himself to a 10-year-old and 13-year-old the year prior, per police records obtained by the Washington Post . But the victims’ parents were loath to talk with police, and the investigation closed with no charges. His first arrest came four years later, when he choked a Herndon cop responding to another one of his deviant acts — this time, smacking a woman’s behind at a local restaurant. Herndon police charged him with felony assault on a law enforcement officer, but the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney downgraded the charge to a misdemeanor assault in exchange for a guilty plea. His most recent stint in the slammer was due to an Oct. 19 indecent exposure incident. The victim, Jennifer Pugh, spoke to Fox 5 DC about his obscene exhibition, which prompted her to file a police report. “He kept coming trying to grab my dog. Then he was trying to come after me he was saying stuff. He didn’t speak English and then all of a sudden he started pulling his stuff out,” Pugh told the local outlet. “I said ‘there’s Ring cameras all around, you know’ and he didn’t care.” The pest is now being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center as he awaits a preliminary hearing. Police records show that inconsistent spellings of the suspect’s name in his string of arrests have complicated their efforts to piece together his extensive criminal past. At least three versions of the name have been traced back to the FBI number and fingerprints of the suspect cops arrested Monday, the Washington Post reported. The Fairfax County Sheriff’s office says it notifies ICE each time they arrest an undocumented individual, but the department’s lawyer told The Washington Post that of the four times Romero has been in their custody they never received a detainer or warrant from the agency. DeBoard lamented the failure of the justice system and the fear this stokes in the community in a local interview. “It’s frustrating because I tell the community you should feel safe here and I do believe they are safe here, I truly do, but when you have cases like this, I look at this and see some part of the system... if it was all working together, if there was a way to make it work, this never would have happened,” the chief said, adding that no single party to the process is to blame. Gov. Youngkin said the silver lining is that the policies that allowed Navarette Romero to run amok in the community won’t fly come 2025. “When President Trump takes office, the political posturing will end and localities will cooperate with ICE to protect Virginians,” Youngkin said.Dior Conners hits game-winning 3 with a second left as Appalachian State tops William & Mary, 79-76A big shopping deadline is drawing near for some people, and it has nothing to do with the holidays. Millions of people use flexible spending accounts to help pay for health care, and some may lose money left in those accounts if they don’t spend it by year’s end. There are many ways to spend that use-it-or-use it balance __ think raiding the local drugstore __ but it’s important to understand FSA rules before going on a shopping spree. Here are some things to consider. What are flexible spending accounts? FSAs let you set aside money from your paycheck before taxes to cover a wide range of medical expenses like copays, deductibles, eyeglasses and other supplies. They are set up through your employer, and individuals can set aside up to $3,300 in these accounts. Figuring out the right amount to set aside can be tricky because it involves forecasting how much care you might need. And you have to use the money by a certain point or you lose it. More from Be Well How to avoid financial stress during the holiday season Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace Stay sober and have a jolly holiday season with these expert tips What are the deadlines? They can vary by employer or plan administrator. In some cases, you may have to spend the money by Dec. 31 or you will lose it. But many plans offer a grace period in the new year to let people use their remaining funds or they allow participants to carry over some of the leftover balance. “Make sure you understand the clock and the rules,” said David Feinberg of Justworks, a technology company that helps small businesses with benefits. There are limits. The IRS, for instance, limits the balance carried over to $660 for 2025. Any amounts over that could be lost if they are still in your account by the plan deadline. How can I spend my FSA balance? Think of medical expenses not covered by insurance. The IRS keeps a huge list of eligible expenses for both FSAs and health savings accounts. But companies can limit the expenses they’ll reimburse, so employees should check with their employers. Eligible expenses can include travel costs to the doctor’s office, eyeglasses, bandages, sunscreen, condoms and tampons. FSA dollars may even be used to cover things like gym memberships or electric massagers if you have a doctor’s note stating that they are medically necessary. But they don’t cover things like health insurance premiums or certain cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening. Do you have any receipts from health care you could submit, like the copayment for a doctor’s office visit? That would qualify. Some plan administrators watch for stockpiling. Don’t buy a crate of aspirin to use up your balance. Limit purchases to about a year’s supply. Items can be bought in stores or online. What is an HSA and how does it differ? Health savings accounts, or HSAs, also allow you to set aside money before taxes. The difference is that you won’t lose the balance, you can keep the account if you leave your job, and some plans let you invest the money. HSAs can only be paired with high-deductible insurance plans. Account holders can contribute several thousand dollars each year, depending on the type of coverage they have. FSAs work with more types of coverage. And the help they offer can be more immediate. The money you decide to set aside over the course of the year is available right away. That can help people facing a big medical expense like a surgery at the start of a year, said Nicky Brown of Health Equity, which manages about 3 million FSAs. ____ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.