Dr. Speron Highlights the Importance of Topical Antioxidants in Protecting Skin from Environmental DamageQuest Partners LLC purchased a new position in SandRidge Energy, Inc. ( NYSE:SD – Free Report ) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 42,674 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock, valued at approximately $522,000. A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of SD. nVerses Capital LLC bought a new position in SandRidge Energy in the second quarter worth $25,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of SandRidge Energy in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of SandRidge Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its position in SandRidge Energy by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 12,496 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock valued at $162,000 after acquiring an additional 756 shares during the period. Finally, Lakewood Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in SandRidge Energy by 9.0% during the third quarter. Lakewood Asset Management LLC now owns 15,265 shares of the oil and natural gas company’s stock worth $187,000 after acquiring an additional 1,265 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.84% of the company’s stock. SandRidge Energy Stock Performance Shares of SD opened at $12.11 on Friday. SandRidge Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $10.94 and a fifty-two week high of $15.31. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $11.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $12.67. The stock has a market cap of $450.66 million, a PE ratio of 9.46 and a beta of 2.10. SandRidge Energy Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 29th. Investors of record on Friday, November 15th will be paid a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 15th. SandRidge Energy’s payout ratio is 34.38%. SandRidge Energy Company Profile ( Free Report ) SandRidge Energy, Inc engages in the acquisition, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States Mid-Continent. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SandRidge Energy, Inc. ( NYSE:SD – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for SandRidge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SandRidge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Daily Post Nigeria Nigeria’s Adeyemi-Bero appointed Chair of OPEC Board of Governors Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Nigeria’s Adeyemi-Bero appointed Chair of OPEC Board of Governors Published on December 10, 2024 By Favour Olekanma Ademola Adeyemi-Bero has been appointed as Nigeria’s Governor for the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, and will also serve as the chairman of the OPEC Board of Governors for 2025. His appointment was confirmed during the 189th meeting of the OPEC Conference, as stated by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri. In a statement from his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, the minister praised Adeyemi-Bero’s elevation as a reflection of Nigeria’s significant contributions to the global oil industry. Lokpobiri emphasised that this appointment offers Nigeria an important platform to promote balanced energy policies that benefit oil producers, consumers, and the global economy. Prior to his appointment as the chairman of the OPEC Board of Governors, Adeyemi-Bero was confirmed as Nigeria’s OPEC Governor for 2025. The minister also expressed deep appreciation to Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, the outgoing Nigerian OPEC Governor, for his outstanding service, acknowledging his key role in advancing Nigeria’s interests within OPEC and ensuring the country’s strong presence in global energy discussions. The OPEC Conference brought together representatives from member countries to address significant issues, including reports from the Secretary-General and the Economic Commission Board, ECB, and to deliberate on critical internal matters. Related Topics: Adeyemi-Bero opec Don't Miss ‘Zamfara will never negotiate with bandits’ – Gov Lawal You may like OPEC+ ministerial meeting extended to December 5 Fuel price hike: OPEC blames tax imposition for increase Inflation: OPEC shouldn’t be fixing oil price for local consumption – Donald Duke Nigeria’s crude oil production increased to 1.3m barrels in July – OPEC Nigeria maintains position as Africa’s largest crude oil product in June – OPEC Nigeria crude oil production drops to 1.25mbpd – OPEC Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
Canadian consumer confidence plunges after Trump election win
The Travis Hunter Heisman Train is heading to the one stop that matters: Manhattan. Hunter, the CU Buffs’ star wide receiver and cornerback, is among the finalists for the 2024 Heisman Trophy, presented annually to the player who provides the most “outstanding performance” in college football, as defined by the award itself. Finalists were announced late Monday afternoon by ESPN, a short while after voting closed. The Heisman Trophy will be presented at a ceremony in New York City that begins at 6 p.m. Saturday and will be aired live by ESPN. Hunter , a 6-foot-1 athlete out of Suwanee, Ga., will join Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami quarterback Cam Ward in the Big Apple later this week as the nation’s four leading vote-getters for the award. “A lot of people say they dream the moments like this, but I can’t say I dreamed of this moment,” Hunter said last month when asked about his junior season at CU. “Because when I was a kid, I was playing video games, trying to make my player the best player on the field, playing the (EA Sports) college game back in the day with my cousin. We always had a team full of “99” (rated players) overall, trying to make them win the Heisman, win all the good trophies and the big trophies, during this little season we used to play. But no, I never thought, (or) envisioned this would happen for me.” Hunter led the Buffs in receptions (92), receiving yards (1,152), receiving touchdowns (14), interceptions (four) and passes defended (11). He’s the first Football Bowl Subdivision player since 1980 to record at least four interceptions, 1,100 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in the same season. Hunter is just the fourth player in CU history to secure a finish among the Heisman’s top four finalists. Halfback Byron “Whizzer” White wound up second in the 1937 ballot. In 1989, CU sent two finalists to the Big Apple — tailback Eric Bieniemy was third while quarterback Darian Hagan was fifth. Buffs guard/linebacker Joe Romig wound up sixth in the 1961 voting. Buffs tailback Rashaan Salaam won the award in 1994, becoming the first — and, to date, only — CU player to do so. “Travis is him, man. Travis is that dude,” CU coach Deion Sanders said of Hunter after the Buffs closed out a 9-3 regular season with a win over Oklahoma State. “Ain’t nobody (that) could deal with him on either side of the ball. “If we put him at punt return, he would be that dude as well, (on) kick returns as well. He’s that guy. And his draft status is going to tell everyone who he is. Shouldn’t that tell you who he is? He’s probably going to be first or second pick out of the whole (NFL) draft. That should tell you how dominant and prominent he is.” There was speculation that CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who threw for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns with a nation-leading 74.2 completion percentage, would join Hunter in Manhattan as one of the four finalists. His father, Coach Prime, and others throughout the Buffs program lobbied for his inclusion, but ultimately Shedeur did not make the cut despite his prolific numbers. He was, however, named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was named a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award given to the nation’s top quarterback. Hunter and Jeanty, who ran for 2,947 yards and 29 touchdowns, are widely considered the favorites to win the award. The Heisman Trust asks voters not to reveal their ballots publicly until the winner is announced, but most straw polls of national writers in recent weeks have shown the Buffs’ two-way star leading the pack, with Jeanty a close second.
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Boxing Day Tottenham Hotspur suffered their ninth defeat of the Premier League season as they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Boxing Day. Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the 28th minute, which turned out to be the winner in the end. The Swedish international capped off a swift counter-attacking move from Nottingham Forest, toe-poking Morgan Gibbs-White’s inch-perfect through ball with his left foot past the onrushing Fraser Forster. Spurs had spells of possession and tried unlocking the door, with Brennan Johnson testing Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels in either half. However, the chances were few and far in between as Ange Postecoglou’s men barely carried a threat in the final third and failed to score. Facing the media after the defeat at City Ground, Ange Postecoglou touched on many topics. When asked why Tottenham failed to score, he explained (h/t Football London): “It’s a bit of, like I said, game state. I kind of knew that if they can get a goal up, it was going to get even tighter for us to find space behind them. It was never going to be a game with a lot of opportunities. “Having said that, I still thought we created some good ones and we just weren’t able to capitalise on them. The keeper has pulled off a couple of good saves to keep them in the game. “We just needed a goal to break them open and we didn’t seem to get it.” Tottenham have a lot of problems including defensive frailties but scoring goals isn’t one of them. Postecoglou’s high-octane, pressing and aggressive system have yielded 39 goals in 18 league games—making Spurs the top scorers in the Premier League. This was only the fourth time Big Ange’s side have failed to score in the Premier League this season. Including today’s game, the Lilywhites failed to score against Arsenal, Crystal and Bournemouth and all of those ended up being 1-0 defeats. This shows whenever the North Londoners have failed to find a way past their opponents, they have lost. Spurs are blessed with so much attacking quality and talent, capable of blitzing any team as we have witnessed in fixtures against Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, West Ham, Southampton and Everton. However, today was one of those days where Big Ange’s team didn’t really look like scoring. Nine defeats in 18 games in the Premier League this season is simply not good enough, and the latest result leaves our gaffer under more pressure. This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.A fugitive gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and nets NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For months, a fugitive dog known as Scrim has transfixed the city of New Orleans. The 17-pound mutt has gained fame eluding a tenacious band of citizens wielding a tranquilizer dart gun and night vision binoculars. He's already escaped two homes. Now his sightings are plotted on a crowd-sourced Google map. Animal rescuers hope to capture the renegade pooch and put him in a place that's safe and secure. But there's a backlash, fueled by the now-viral video of Scrim leaping out a two-story window, under the hashtag #FreeScrim, as some think the dog should be able to roam free. McConnell falls and sprains wrist after GOP luncheon, colleague says he is 'fine' WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell fell and sprained his wrist while walking out of a GOP luncheon on Tuesday, the latest in a series of medical incidents for him in recent years. That's according to a senator who was with him when it happened. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 3 Senate Republican and a doctor, said McConnell walked back to his office after the fall with no assistance and had “a small scratch.” Medical staff were seen taking a wheelchair into McConnell’s office just before a scheduled weekly news conference. McConnell, who is stepping down from his leadership post at the end of the year, did not attend the news conference. Who is Tony Buzbee, the lawyer suing Jay-Z as part of civil cases against Sean 'Diddy' Combs? HOUSTON (AP) — High-profile legal battles are nothing new for Texas attorney Tony Buzbee. His latest is a lawsuit he’s filed against rapper Jay-Z. Buzbee is accusing the iconic rapper as well as Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting a minor at an awards show after-party in 2000. The lawsuit against Jay-Z is part of multiple civil cases Buzbee has filed on behalf of more than 150 people who allege sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of Combs, who denies the claims. In his legal career, Buzbee has represented a variety of clients, including victims of sexual assault and well-known politicians. His critics say he’s full of bluster and bombast. Buzbee's firm says he's worked to “pursue justice against powerful figures.” OpenAI releases AI video generator Sora but limits how it depicts people SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI has publicly released its new artificial intelligence video generator Sora but won’t let most users depict people as it monitors for patterns of misuse. Users of a premium version of OpenAI’s flagship product ChatGPT can now use Sora to instantly create AI-generated videos based on written commands. Among the highlighted examples are high-quality video clips of sumo-wrestling bears and a cat sipping coffee. But only a small set of invited testers can use Sora to make videos of humans as OpenAI works to “address concerns around misappropriation of likeness and deepfakes,” the company said in a blog post. Soto's record $765 million, 15-year contract with Mets reverberates through Major League Baseball DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto’s record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets, the largest and longest deal in baseball history, has reverberated across the winter meetings. It stung the Yankees, who offered $760 million over 16 years to the All-Star outfielder. Soto’s deal sparked even greater expectations in a free agent market that includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Anthony Santander. Many small-market teams have long sought a salary cap but the consensus since the 1994-95 strike has been not to propose a hard limit. Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to change his family’s trust over Fox News media empire control rejected RENO, Nev. (AP) — A sealed document obtained by The New York Times says a Nevada commissioner has ruled against Rupert Murdoch’s effort to change his family’s trust to give his son Lachlan Murdoch control of his media empire and ensure Fox News maintains its conservative editorial slant. The commissioner concluded in a decision filed on Saturday that the two men had acted in “bad faith” in their bid to amend the irrevocable trust. Lachlan Murdoch is the head of Fox News and News Corp. The trust divides control of the company equally among Murdoch’s four oldest children after his death. A lawyer for Rupert Murdoch says he and his son intend to appeal the ruling. Greyhound racing is increasingly rare worldwide. New Zealand now plans to outlaw the practice WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's racing minister says the country will outlaw greyhound racing, citing the injury rates for racing dogs. He says it will be shut down over the next 20 months, allowing time for those it employs to find other work and homes to be found for the 2,900 racing dogs. New Zealand is one of only a handful of countries where commercial greyhound racing is held. The industry body says the government has not recognized the progress it has made in animal welfare. The government passed an urgent law Tuesday barring greyhound owners from killing dogs as the industry winds down. Trustee over Infowars auction asks court to approve The Onion's winning bid A trustee who oversaw the bankruptcy auction of Alex Jones’ Infowars is asking a judge to approve The Onion’s winning bid for the conspiracy-filled platform. Trustee Christopher Murray took the stand Tuesday in the second day of testimony at a hearing where a judge is scrutinizing the satirical news outlet’s winning offer. He told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston that he was there asking a court to approve the sale of Infowars’ parent company to The Onion’s parent company. It is not clear how quickly Lopez will rule. The Onion wants to turn Infowars’ website and social media accounts into parodies. Still rockin': As a singer turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple NEW YORK (AP) — Brenda Lee's memories of recording “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree” are a little hazy now. But that's to be expected, since she was 13-years-old when it was made in 1958 and this month is celebrating her 80th birthday. The song has lived a remarkable life, and even unseated Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas is You” at the top of the Billboard charts last year. Experts say the way it evokes a simpler time at the “Christmas party hop” is a key to its success. The song achieves the neat trick of sounding retro without being dated. Mass evacuation of Philippine villages underway after a brief but major volcanic eruption MANILA, Philippines (AP) — About 87,000 people are being evacuated in a central Philippine region after a volcano erupted with a huge plume of ash and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its slopes. The eruption Monday of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur. Volcanic ash fell over a wide area, nine flights were canceled or diverted, schools were closed and a nighttime curfew was imposed in the most vulnerable areas. Mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the volcano's western and southern slopes.
Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh dies at 92Fondo wants to mitigate the US’ accountant shortage with its AI bookkeeping service
NonePresident Bola Tinubu has declared that Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has achieved fundamental milestones in entrepreneurial advancement, playing a crucial role in Nigeria’s drive for job creation and economic growth. Tinubu who made the declaration during the 36th convocation ceremony of YABATECH, opined that the college’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial skills among its students has greatly enhanced the nation’s capacity for innovation and self-reliance. The president, who was represented by the minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmed, charged the graduating students to build on the strong foundation and leverage the acquired skills for professional growth and societal impact. In a statement released by the institution’s director of communication, Adekunle Adams, Tinubu charged the graduands that they are equipped not only to succeed but to lead and inspire, making meaningful contributions across various domains, including science, technology, commerce, environmental design, arts, agriculture and entrepreneurship. “As you move forward into the next chapter of your lives, remember that learning is a lifelong journey. Continue to seek out new knowledge, embrace the challenges ahead, and strive for excellence in every endeavour. The world is full of opportunities, and you are well-prepared to explore and seize them. Let the education you have received here serve as a beacon, guiding you to make a positive impact,” he said. Meanwhile, fellowship awards of the college were conferred on the wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass for their immense contribution to national development and to ordinary Nigerians. Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was represented by Dr Alawi King, in her acceptance speech, considered the award as a challenge that will continue to inspire her efforts to uplift others for the greater good and development of our nation. The rector of the college, Dr Ibraheem Abdul pronounced that the convocation is a testament to hard work, resilience and vision, and the graduating students are stepping out into a world that is rapidly changing, it is a world driven by technology, innovation, and an insatiable hunger for progress and development. “But remember success in the 21st century is not just about knowledge, it’s about adaptability, collaboration, and vision. Technology will evolve, industries will transform, and the problem of today will give way to the challenges of tomorrow. My charge to you is this: Be curious: Never stop learning, stay ahead of the curve by embracing new knowledge and perspectives. Be bold: Innovation demands courage. Do not fear failure, let it be the stepping stone to your greater achievements,” he said.OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform and Sora video generator have gone offline and are currently not responding to user queries. Social media accounts began posting about the outage around 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, which coincided with a surge of reports to Down Detector . The company confirmed the outage in a blog post at 2 p.m. ET stating, “we are currently experiencing an issue with high error rates on ChatGPT, the API, and Sora. We are currently investigating and will post an update as soon as we are able.” OpenAI provided that update just 18 minutes later, explaining that, “this issue is caused by an upstream provider and we are currently monitoring.” Just after 3 p.m. ET, the company added, “we are continuing to work on a fix for this issue,” though there is currently no timeline for when service might be restored. OpenAI has suffered similar outages in the past few months. ChatGPT was knocked offline in a widespread outage in June that also impacted Google Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and Perplexity. Earlier in December, the Sora video generation model ran into “technical difficulties” just days after its release to Plus and Pro subscribers . In both cases, the company was able to resolve those respective issues within a few hours. This outage comes on the heels of the company’s “12 Days of OpenAI ” event that saw the release of numerous new products, including the full version of its o1 reasoning model (plus a teaser for its successor, called o3 ), as well as the Sora text-to-video model, and new capabilities for its Canvas and Advanced Voice Mode features.
"The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" 97th Academy Awards Documentary Feature Category
Jennison Associates LLC Makes New Investment in Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:APAM)They’re scattered across Tampa Bay — dispensary-like stores lined by glass shelves containing a colorful assortment of intoxicating products. Gummies, joints and vape cartridges promise consumers an unforgettable high. These shops aren’t marijuana dispensaries. But they sure look like them. After Amendment 3′s failure, small hemp retailers, which thrive in a legal gray area, may profit from a continued ban on recreational marijuana. Local vendors St. Pete 420, The Hemp Spot and Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary all expanded in the last year. More than 9,500 Florida shops , from gas station convenience stores to smoke shops, are licensed to sell marijuana-like products derived from hemp plants. Some hemp products, which consumers 21 and older can buy, meet the state’s definition of marijuana, but escape detection by regulators, a Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald investigation found. Others purchased by reporters were revealed to contain harmful levels of mold and pesticides. Since June 2023, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Safety has uncovered more than a million hemp products on store shelves that violated state law. Had Amendment 3 passed, hemp shops would have faced overwhelming corporate competition. Florida’s massive medical marijuana companies, which abide by strict product safety regulations, would have been able to sell pot to consumers without requiring a medical card. The amendment “gave all the control to huge companies,” said Micky Morrison, co-owner of St. Pete 420, a hemp dispensary. “There’d be no mom-and-pop pot shops, period.” The hemp industry lobbied fiercely against Amendment 3, alleging that it would create a corporate monopoly among the 28 companies already licensed to sell medical marijuana in the state. Gov. Ron DeSantis helped them win that fight, a partnership between “strange bedfellows,” cannabis attorney Zack Kobrin said. “It was less to do with hemp and more how to kill Amendment 3,” he said. But business owners wonder how long the freewheeling industry will escape federal or state regulations that could threaten their livelihoods. And health experts wonder about consequences for consumers, who can easily purchase marijuana-like products — without the same safety regulations imposed on medical marijuana companies. Related Articles Consumers looking for a marijuana-like “high” in Florida have two options. They can, with a licensed physician’s help, seek a medical card if they have a qualifying condition — think cancer, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder or comparable ailments. The process can cost hundreds of dollars. These cards allow consumers to shop at licensed marijuana dispensaries like Trulieve and Surterra. Without a card, consumers can walk into a smoke shop and find joints and edibles that, while not technically marijuana, contain similar intoxicating chemicals derived from hemp plants. Places like St. Pete 420 have capitalized on that easy access, declaring “no medical card needed” on storefronts. So what’s the distinction between hemp and marijuana? Per federal law, a hemp plant, and products thereof, must contain less than 0.3% of the specific intoxicating substance rich in marijuana plants — delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC. Any higher percentage makes it a marijuana plant. Both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants. They look virtually identical. Delta-9 THC isn’t the only chemical hemp producers can harvest and replicate to create intoxicating products. Popular variants like delta-8 and delta-10 THC — considered less potent, but still psychoactive — are legal in larger concentrations. A state bill would have banned the sale of delta-8 THC, which helps make hemp stores profitable. But DeSantis vetoed that bill earlier this year, arguing it would devastate the thousands of small businesses that sell those products — and cementing his alliance with the hemp industry. Hemp businesses fear that a repeat of this year’s legislation could reemerge next year. But Kobrin said it’s not likely to go far. The hemp industry has aggressively organized, hiring influential lobbyists like Republican Party of Florida Executive Director Bill Helmich. If DeSantis stays in office, his advisers are partial to hemp’s interests, Kobrin said. “The hemp industry realized if they don’t organize, they’re dead,” Kobrin said. Republican state legislators will also likely wait for the White House and Congress to weigh in on hemp’s legality nationwide, Kobrin said. Congress is poised next year to update the farm bill, which legalized hemp-derived THC products, for the first time since 2018. The possibility of federal regulations has owners like Morrison and Jordan Meservey of Tampa Bay Hemp Co. holding their breath. “A (restrictive) federal law would effectively shut down anything,” Morrison said. Florida’s medical marijuana laws exclude all but the largest operators. That’s because medical marijuana companies must grow, process, distribute, market and sell their products in-house, without middlemen or contractors. An application to obtain a license already costs $146,000. And the state has so far distributed only 28 licenses — soon to be 50 — to companies with the cash to operate. Had recreational marijuana become legal, Florida’s rules favoring large operations likely would have remained, said Jeff Sharkey, founder of the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida. But the Legislature could have changed the laws to allow small businesses to enter the marketplace. The Trulieve-sponsored amendment that failed on this year’s ballot had to be narrow to pass state Supreme Court review, Kobrin said. It couldn’t have added opportunities for small businesses even if its authors wanted to. But the message that Amendment 3 was a cash grab by the state’s largest medical marijuana vendor at the expense of small businesses resonated with voters, Kobrin said. Some hemp shops, like Carlos Hermida’s Chillum Mushroom & Hemp Dispensary, with stores in Ybor City and St. Petersburg, are already shifting from exclusively selling knockoff pot. He thinks he could have remained afloat with the sales of other products, like legal mushrooms and kratom. Morrison thinks Amendment 3 could have been fatal for her business. “We’d be lucky to still be in business a year from now, if not two years from now,” she said. Medical marijuana companies abide by strict product safety regulations that help protect consumers and limit improper access, said Amie Goodin, a marijuana researcher at the University of Florida. Product labels must include detailed testing information and a recommended dosage. A separate regulator, the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, enforces those rules. By contrast, hemp products are required to display a certificate of analysis which includes independent lab test results and confirmation that the product does not contain contaminants like mold or pesticides. The Times/Herald investigation found that the labels provided for hemp products were inaccurate in shops across the state. The proliferation of hemp shops across the state, plus the little-known intoxicating chemicals that products could contain, means inspectors with Florida’s agriculture department are playing a game of regulatory “whack-a-mole,” even if more restrictions go into effect, Goodin said. Few large-scale studies have explored how chemicals that act as alternatives to marijuana, like delta-8 THC, affect the body, Goodin said. “It’s hard to provide guidance to the general public if we just don’t know,” she said. ©2024 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NoneTwo-way Colorado star Travis Hunter is who were revealed on Monday. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Miami quarterback Cam Ward will join Hunter in New York on Saturday for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, where the winner will be revealed. Hunter, who plays wide receiver and cornerback for Colorado, has emerged late in the season as the favorite for the award. Jeanty has gained ground as his projected top competition as Jeanty challenged Barry Sanders' single-season FBS rushing record. Either would represent an unorthodox selection in the modern college football landscape. Just once in the last eight seasons and twice in the last 14 has a non-quarterback . Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith was the last non-quarterback to win the award in 2020. Alabama running back Derrick Henry was the last running back to secure the Heisman Trophy in 2015. Either Gabriel or Ward would have to emerge as an upset winner to continue the trend of quarterbacks claiming the Heisman Trophy. Hunter's produced a season like few others, if any, that we've seen before. As Colorado's top offensive weapon, Hunter leads the Big 12 in receptions with 92 for 1,152 yards and a league-best 14 touchdowns. As a cornerback, he's one of the nation's best who's accounted for four interceptions, one forced fumble, 32 tackles and a Big 12-best 11 passes defended. He's pick for his anticipated ability to play either position — but not likely both — at the next level. Jeanty has emerged in the Heisman Trophy conversation thanks to a monster season that's helped . The two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Jeanty leads the FBS in both rushing yards (2,497 on 7.3 yards per carry) and rushing touchdowns (29). For comparison, North Carolina's Omarion Hampton is a distant second in rushing yards with 1,660. With at least one more game to play, Jeanty has Sanders' all-time record (Oklahoma State, 1988) for rushing yards (2,628) in his sights. In his first season at Oregon since transferring from Oklahoma, Gabriel has led the Ducks into the CFP as the No. 1 seed and the nation's only undefeated team (13-0). He has completed 73.2% of his passes for 3,558 yards with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. He's added 192 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Gabriel has quarterbacked the Ducks to wins over then-No. 2 Ohio State and over No. 3 Penn State in . Ward was among the early Heisman Trophy favorites, but fell off in the eyes of analysts in recent weeks alongside Miami's fortunes. The Hurricanes lost two of their last three games to Georgia Tech and Syracuse to fall out of the CFP picture. Regardless, Ward posted a stellar season, completing 67.4% of his passes for 4,123 yards, an ACC-best 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a Miami team that finished 10-2 and is ranked No. 15 in the nation heading into its Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup against Iowa State.Japan holds first memorial for 'all workers' at Sado gold mines but blurs WWII atrocity. Why?For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter , with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal . His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft . Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb David Brandt, The Associated Press
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