LOWELL — The city of Lowell rolled out another tool in its homeless enforcement kit and started fining local organizations for the trash and vagrancy found on their private property generated by homeless people. And they started with Eliot Church on Summer Street. Charly Ott, the director of operations for the Eliot Church Day Center, found a sanitary code violation posted to the church’s front door. “The sanitary code inspector said, ‘I’m sorry I have to do this, but the [City] Manager [Tom Golden] has instructed me to fine the church for the minimum maintenance violation as listed on this document,’” Ott said by phone on Tuesday morning. Golden could not be reached for comment. The violation notice lists a $300-per-day fine, the first ever in the church’s history. But Ott said they simply don’t have the budget to care for the unhoused people and clean up the outside even as the staff tries to do both. The church, with St. Paul’s Kitchen, runs a day program that offers homeless people food and daytime shelter Monday through Friday, utilizing its Fellowship Hall and kitchen from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The church does not offer overnight shelter. “They want us to spend our time cleaning the yard rather than serving people with the resources that we have,” Ott said. “My staff is starting to crack.” The crackdown on the sanctuary’s services comes at a fraught time for the Day Center, which has seen the number of people it serves explode from 35 in 2020 to almost 200 people a day, while operating on the smaller budget. The center’s services were recently in danger of closing down due to the strain on the budget, temporarily alleviated by sacrifices by the staff. “We all took a 25% pay cut in order to be able to stay open past Nov. 1,” Ott said. There’s not only tension and stress in the nonprofit service community, but also on the street as pandemic funding evaporates, winter weather starts creeping in and more people are seeking services in Lowell. Eliot started its humanitarian mission in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when social distancing rules required extra community supports to help the city’s homeless population. That year, Eliot received a $200,000 Emergency Solutions COVID-related grant through the city from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the funds were used to launch the Day Center. But the end of COVID-era funding in March 2023 moved the population back out onto the streets. That summer, the number of unhoused people who call Lowell home jumped by a staggering 23% in just two months based on figures released by Director of Homeless Initiatives Maura Fitzpatrick. In July 2023, the office, which falls under the Department of Health and Human Services, counted 238 total adult homeless people in the city; by September, that number had risen to 291. A point-in-time count in January found nearly 300 unhoused people living in Lowell. Advocates say the number has grown even larger, with many of them calling the South Common Park on Summer Street, directly across the street from the church, home. By 2024, the 22.5-acre historic green space had become the city’s largest homeless encampment. On Nov. 12, the City Council passed an ordinance making it unlawful to camp on public property in the city of Lowell. The ordinance is enforceable through the Lowell Police Department and although no fines are assessed, violators can be moved along, have their belongings confiscated and be arrested. Many moved their belongings to private property like the small yard space that flanks Eliot Church’s perimeter, and with it, the debris and detritus that is commonly found with people who spend their lives outside. It’s that situation that ensnared Eliot Church in the city’s sanitation dragnet and a mounting daily fine. Eliot doesn’t have the money to pay it, Lori Hoffman said Tuesday afternoon. The longtime church member manages the books and other administrative responsibilities for the church, including managing the Day Center’s budget of $160,000 that is a mix of donations, state, federal and local funding and grants. “We cannot use many of our funds to pay the fine,” Hoffman said. “Not the church donations, the city [money], not the Parker Foundation or Cummings Foundation money. It comes out our operating budget.” Joyce Hughes’ roots to Eliot Church run deep. Her parents were married at the church and her family are lifelong members. She’s known Ott and Hoffman for years and calls the work to provide homeless services a sacred duty. Hughes took over as executive director of the Day Center when the Rev. Heather Doss, who founded the outreach program, left in April. “As Christians, we’re trying to help people and the city wants us to succeed at that,” Hughes said late Tuesday. “But then the building inspector has people complaining about the trash and has the sanitation inspector fine us because we don’t maintain our property.” She compared the constant trash pickup performed by the staff every day as “raking leaves in the wind.” “We can appeal, which of course we will,” she said. “I think it’s deplorable. Turning a blind eye isn’t helping and neither do fines. Let’s get them help or get them someplace that can help. Living on the streets isn’t helping them at all.”Algert Global LLC grew its position in shares of Viasat, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VSAT – Free Report ) by 361.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 77,880 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 60,998 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC owned 0.06% of Viasat worth $930,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VSAT. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Viasat by 8.2% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,523,465 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock worth $18,190,000 after acquiring an additional 115,909 shares during the last quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in shares of Viasat during the third quarter worth $710,000. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Viasat during the third quarter worth $322,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its position in shares of Viasat by 6.1% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 66,227 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock valued at $791,000 after purchasing an additional 3,807 shares during the period. Finally, KBC Group NV increased its stake in Viasat by 63.7% in the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,623 shares of the communications equipment provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,021 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Viasat Stock Down 2.8 % Shares of NASDAQ VSAT opened at $9.33 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $10.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. Viasat, Inc. has a 12-month low of $6.69 and a 12-month high of $29.11. The company has a market cap of $1.20 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.00 and a beta of 1.37. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have commented on the company. Bank of America lowered their price target on Viasat from $31.00 to $19.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Viasat from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $29.00 to $15.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 17th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on shares of Viasat from $28.00 to $19.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Viasat from $24.00 to $9.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Viasat from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 31st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $18.33. Read Our Latest Analysis on Viasat Viasat Company Profile ( Free Report ) Viasat, Inc provides broadband and communications products and services worldwide. The company's Satellite Services segment offers satellite-based fixed broadband services, including broadband internet access and voice over internet protocol services to consumers and businesses; in-flight entertainment and aviation software services to commercial airlines and private business jets; satellite-based connectivity services; mobile broadband services, including satellite-based internet services to energy offshore vessels, cruise ships, consumer ferries, and yachts; and energy services, which include ultra-secure solutions IP connectivity, bandwidth-optimized over-the-top applications, industrial internet-of-things big data enablement, and industry-leading machine learning analytics. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VSAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Viasat, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VSAT – Free Report ). 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Gus Malzahn is resigning as Central Florida's head coach to become Florida State 's offensive coordinator, a person familiar with the hire told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Seminoles have not confirmed Malzahn's move, which is pending a state background check. ESPN first reported the decision. The Knights made official that Malzahn is leaving in a statement released a day after UCF (4-8) concluded its season with a 28-14 loss to Utah. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Netanyahu says he supports proposed ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah
Xavier aims to rebound from a tough week and get one more critical tune-up for a rivalry matchup when it hosts Morgan State on Tuesday night in Cincinnati. The Musketeers (7-2) were ranked No. 22 in the AP poll two weeks ago but fell out after a 25-point loss to Michigan in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament final on Nov. 27. Xavier then barely escaped with a 71-68 home win over South Carolina State on Dec. 1 before losing 76-72 at TCU on Thursday. Dante Maddox Jr. came off the bench to score nine points in 20 minutes on three 3-pointers against the Horned Frogs. He also grabbed six rebounds before fouling out. The Musketeers have been waiting for the Toledo transfer to add a punch to an underwhelming bench cast that many thought would be a strength for Xavier coming into the season. "I really feel like you can almost be baited into a false sense of how deep your team is because you're around guys every day and have a good, older group, which we do," Musketeers coach Sean Miller said. "You see the good in a lot of different guys. It's not until you get 8 to 10, 10 to 15 games in when you truly understand how deep your team is." Maddox hit a 3-pointer and started a fastbreak with a steal that gave Xavier a 60-54 lead with 7:28 remaining, but the Musketeers faded down the stretch and lost for the second time in three games. Maddox is averaging 4.7 points per game, while Ryan Conwell leads the team with 16.6. Tuesday's game will be the last chance for Xavier to straighten up before visiting No. 22 Cincinnati on Saturday for the teams' annual intense crosstown showdown. Morgan State (5-7) is coming off a 102-81 road loss at Bowling Green on Saturday. Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection Will Thomas led the Bears with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, while Kameron Hobbs scored 12 points off the bench. Amahrie Simpkins made all five of his field-goal attempts to add 11 points and Wynston Tabbs had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Tabbs leads Morgan State in scoring this season at 16.8 points per game, while Simpkins (12.8) and Thomas (12.2) round out the Bears' double-digit scorers. The Bears have struggled away from home, losing all five road contests this season. --Field Level Media