Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Riot Platforms RIOT . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with RIOT, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga 's options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for Riot Platforms. This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 44% bullish and 55%, bearish. Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $108,053, and 7 are calls, for a total amount of $247,558. What's The Price Target? Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $11.5 to $25.0 for Riot Platforms during the past quarter. Insights into Volume & Open Interest Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Riot Platforms's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Riot Platforms's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $11.5 to $25.0 over the preceding 30 days. Riot Platforms 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot Noteworthy Options Activity: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume RIOT PUT SWEEP BULLISH 12/06/24 $1.13 $1.12 $1.13 $12.00 $71.3K 899 810 RIOT CALL SWEEP BEARISH 12/20/24 $0.6 $0.59 $0.59 $15.00 $48.3K 14.4K 517 RIOT CALL TRADE BULLISH 03/21/25 $2.1 $2.02 $2.08 $15.00 $41.6K 38.4K 473 RIOT CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/16/26 $3.2 $3.1 $3.2 $22.00 $38.4K 2.7K 123 RIOT PUT TRADE BEARISH 01/03/25 $1.47 $1.47 $1.47 $11.50 $36.7K 8 251 About Riot Platforms Riot Platforms Inc is a vertically integrated Bitcoin mining company focused on building, supporting, and operating blockchain technologies. The company's segments include Bitcoin Mining; Data Center Hosting and Engineering. It generates maximum revenue from the Bitcoin Mining segment which generates revenue from the Bitcoin the company earns through its mining activities. Having examined the options trading patterns of Riot Platforms, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance Current Position of Riot Platforms Trading volume stands at 16,034,233, with RIOT's price down by -5.14%, positioned at $11.44. RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought. Earnings announcement expected in 86 days. What Analysts Are Saying About Riot Platforms In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $14.625. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access .* An analyst from Needham downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $11. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Compass Point keeps a Buy rating on Riot Platforms with a target price of $13. * An analyst from HC Wainwright & Co. has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $17. * An analyst from Macquarie has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Riot Platforms, which currently sits at a price target of $17. Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Riot Platforms, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Gilmore Girls fans left in tears by sweet reunion starring Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson By EMILY LEFROY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 22:08 GMT, 3 December 2024 | Updated: 22:13 GMT, 3 December 2024 e-mail 22 shares View comments If they lead we will follow - right into a Walmart commercial. Gilmore Girls fans are feeling especially festive after a new advertisement for the retailer dropped, with three fan favorites reuniting. The 30-second Walmart ad begins with Sean Gunn, who played Kirk in the series, walking into Luke's diner in Stars Hollow and dropping off a branded box on the counter. Kirk leaves the diner, crossing paths with Lorelai (Lauren Graham), who walks in and asks Luke (Scott Patterson), for 'coffee, coffee, coffee, please' - a signature phrase of the show. Luke responds by telling her it's 'coming right up' before opening the box to reveal a Keurig coffee maker, exclaiming: 'You shouldn't have.' 'I had to,' he dryly replies. 'You're drinking me out of business.' The advertisement ends with the couple standing next to each other in the snow while Lorelai holds the Walmart box. Fans loved the nostalgic advertisement, many immediately clocking the wedding ring on Luke's hand. The 30-second Walmart ad begins with Sean Gunn, who played Kirk in the series, walking into Luke's diner in Stars Hollow and dropping off a branded box on the counter 'I love being a Gilmore Girls fan bc why am I crying over a 20-second Walmart ad after an eight-year drought,' one fan posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Walmart really ate with that Gilmore Girls ad,' declared another. 'Walmart ads hitting me in the feels with Chad Michael Murray and the cast of Gilmore Girls,' another gushed. However, not all were charmed by the throwback. 'Gilmore Girls Walmart ad is bleak to me. Why did they use one of the sad la la songs. Why does Kirk look like Lulu just died. In what universe would Lorelai use a Keurig,' a fan ranted. 'This Gilmore Girls Walmart commercial gives me the ick and I really wish it did not,' agreed someone else. The stars spoke to People about what it was like working together again for the Walmart commercial. 'It's always a little surreal [returning to Stars Hollow], because we were back where we've been so many times,' Graham admitted. Fans were thrilled to see their favorite actors and characters back on screen (pictured is Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore) Luke gifts Lorelai, who is coffee-obsessed, with a Keurig saying she's 'drinking him out of business' The advertisement ends with the couple standing next to each other in the snow with Lorelai holds the Walmart box Gilmore Girls ran for seven seasons chronicling the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother and daughter with just a 17 year age difference living in a town called Stars Hollow Scott Patterson (Luke Danes) and Sean Gunn (Kirk) photos posted to Instagram, teasing 'something special' happening Most of the fans loved the nostalgic advertisement, many immediately clocking the wedding rings on Luke and Lorelai's hands Last week, the trio teased 'something special' happening on December 3, much to the delight of eager viewers. They shared a series of images to social media, including a snap of a cup of coffee at Luke's Diner, run by charmingly grumpy Luke Danes, shared by Patterson. Gunn posted a photo of the iconic gazebo and the Stars Hollow sign, to his Instagram, writing: 'Kirk's 63rd job? Find out on 12/3.' READ MORE: Gilmore Girls fans sent into a frenzy as they speculate over possible reunion Graham then also shared a picture of a snowy Stars Hollow street, writing: 'I've got something brewing,' a wink to her character, Lorelai Gilmore, and her coffee habit. Gilmore Girls premiered in 2000 on the WB, with the series finale in 2007 on The CW. It ran for seven seasons chronicling the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother and daughter with just a 17-year age difference living in a town called Stars Hollow. Lorelai's relationship with her wealthy parents, played by Bishop and the late Edward Hermann, is strained at best but both sides do their best to try to get along. The star-studded cast included Melissa McCarthy, Milo Ventimiglia, Jared Padalecki, Chad Michael Murray, Adam Brody, and Kelly Bishop. A four part Gilmore Girls special aired on Netflix in 2016 and picked up nine years after the series ended. That special also ended with the cliffhanger - with Rory revealing she was pregnant in the last seconds of the limited series. Walmart also released advertisements for Crazy Rich Asians, Love Jones and SpongeBob SquarePants. Walmart Share or comment on this article: Gilmore Girls fans left in tears by sweet reunion starring Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson e-mail 22 shares Add comment
LGBTQ-inclusive books remained top targets of bans and “ soft censorship ” throughout 2024, but titles that centered queer characters and explored topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity continued to find fierce advocates in readers and booksellers. We asked NBC Out readers and booksellers across the country about their favorite lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer books of 2024. Here’s a selection of what we heard: ‘Private Rites’ by Julia Armfield A version of King Lear that is queer and climate-dystopian, “this book is haunting and surreal,” said Kelsey Jagneaux, the events coordinator at Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Florida. “It delivers on all the heightened drama of its source material while perfectly reimagining the contentious daughters of this modern Lear,” Jagneaux said. Readers may recall Armfield’s powerful debut novel, “Our Wives Under the Sea,” which balanced elements of horror and the supernatural while exploring the story of a lesbian couple involved in a deep-sea research mission. ‘Coexistence’ by Billy-Ray Belcourt “Coexistence,” the debut short story collection of Indigenous writer and academic Billy-Ray Belcourt is the top pick of Julie Wernersbach, the owner of Hive Mind Books, a queer bookstore and coffee shop in Brooklyn, New York. “These short stories center the interior lives of young, gay intellectuals who are deeply introspective about their relationships with other men, their families, their work, themselves, their Indigenous identities and with the history of their Canadian land and ancestors,” Wernersbach said. “I love fiction that deals directly with philosophical ideas, poetry and the life of the mind, and that puts it right alongside sex and longing and love and family. Belcourt’s work is intricate, nuanced, and deep, very much working through and with ideas. And if you’ve spent any time on apps like Grindr, there’s plenty in this collection for you about intimacy, too.” ‘Housemates’ by Emma Copley Eisenberg Emma Copley Eisenberg’s bestselling queer road-trip romp was a favorite 2024 read of Samantha Puc, coordinator of The Nonbinarian Book Club at The Nonbinarian Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. “‘Housemates’ is such a beautifully queer take on the quintessential American road trip novel that asks pertinent and timely questions about art, connection and what sustains us as we age, especially in relationship to bad actors and the harm they perpetuate,” Puc said. In this latest book, Eisenberg — whose 2020 true-crime book, “The Third Rainbow Girl,” explored a double murder in rural Appalachia — “focuses particularly on how her characters embody their desires, centering fatness and queerness with attention toward complexity and how hard it can be to figure out who you are and what you want when you’re young, in love and thrust into the spotlight,” Puc added. ‘Little Rot’ by Akwaeke Emezi An “unsettling, spicy and thrilling literary fiction with the most diverse cast” is how Chelsia Rice, co-owner of Montana Book Company in Helena, Montana, describes “Little Rot.” The novel, which follows five friends through the murky underbelly of a fictionalized Nigerian city, begins with a breakup and then races forward, taking its characters on a harrowing journey. “It is a steamy entanglement of chaos. It’s brutal, it’s thrilling and nobody is left unscathed. There’s representation of all genders and sexualities. This book just blew my mind,” Rice said. ‘Somewhere Beyond the Sea’ by TJ Klune The highly anticipated sequel to “The House in the Cerulean Sea,” this novel is part of “The Cerulean Chronicles” fantasy series. NBC Out readers loved both books, and they aren’t alone: “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is considered one of the most popular fantasy novels of the past decade. The books follow Arthur Parnassus, the headmaster of an orphanage. He hopes to be the father of the children who live there, who are magical and described as dangerous. A story of found family and resistance, this series is beloved by readers, and its author dedicated the book to the transgender community. ‘Exhibit’ by R.O. Kwon R.O. Kwon’s second novel explores the relationship between two Korean American women who both find themselves at a crossroads — and drawn to each other. “This book is full of sexy sentences, startling images, complicated characters and unexpected moments of tenderness,” said Rachel Knox, co-host of the Tombolo Book Club at Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Two women, with different art forms, brush up against one another at just the right time and form something larger than the sum of their parts. I kept finding myself picking up this book and flipping back to sections, rereading them and feeling like they were perfect little arias.” ‘American Teenager’ by Nico Lang A nonfiction option for readers interested in true stories about LGBTQ people, “ American Teenager ” was recommended by Susan Post, the owner of BookWoman in Austin, Texas. Post said “no other book supporting trans families has generated so much interest in our store.” She added that BookWoman sold more than 75 copies of journalist Nico Lang’s debut title in one weekend. “Being such a personal look into the lives of trans youth, ‘American Teenager’ has profoundly touched those who care about trans and other queer youth,” she said. In an interview with NBC News this year , Lang described how they spent nearly a year traveling the country to document the lives of eight trans teens as the transgender community was being targeted by hundreds of state bills seeking to restrict their access to gender-affirming care and sports, among other things. ‘The Pairing’ by Casey McQuiston An NBC Out reader favorite, “The Pairing” is a dual-point-of-view novel about Theo and Kit, two bisexual exes who have accidentally booked themselves on the same European tour. Surprised to see each other, they make a bet on who can sleep with their tour guide first, and a hookup competition ensues. But is a second-chance romance in the cards for these two? Pick up this book for descriptions of scenic European travels, food and wine and a blend of romance and self-discovery we’ve come to expect from the author of “Red, White & Royal Blue,” “One Last Stop” and “I Kissed Shara Wheeler.” ‘In Universes’ by Emet North Considered one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of the year, “In Universes” is a kaleidoscopic debut of parallel worlds that can be read as a stand-alone novel or a series of interconnected short stories. The book follows various versions of Raffi, a queer physicist who exists in a multiverse and searches for belonging and love as they cross space and time. This was a favorite of Charlie Crawford, co-owner of Montana Book Company, who found it both compelling and unusual. ‘On Strike Against God’ by Joanna Russ Joanna Russ’ 1980 feminist novel “On Strike Against God” was out of print for decades before being reissued this year. The story follows Esther, a divorced professor who falls in love during the social upheaval and feminist consciousness-raising of the 1970s. “A bitingly funny coming-out novel about first love and first failure, it captures the pains and pleasures of coming into yourself and falling out of step with the world around you. Esther is the original feminist killjoy — acerbic, brilliant, obsessive, confrontational, deeply relatable. In this edition, editor Alec Pollak approaches contextualizing a controversial, difficult, crucial period of lesbian feminist history with deep generosity and seriousness,” said Ira Beare, the co-operator of Bookends in Florence, which describes itself as “the last lesbian bookstore in Western Massachusetts.” Beare added this book is “everything a reissue should be — perfect for mean lesbians, later-in-life lesbians, academic lesbians, archive enthusiasts (who do tend to be lesbians) and anyone interested in feminist literary history.”
CORK, Ireland , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI), the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share of common stock, payable on Jan. 17, 2025 , to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 23, 2024 . Johnson Controls has paid a consecutive dividend since 1887. About Johnson Controls At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, with a global team of experts, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms. INVESTOR CONTACT: Jim Lucas Direct: +1 414.340.1752 Email: jim.lucas@jci.com MEDIA CONTACT: Danielle Canzanella Direct: +1 203.499.8297 Email: danielle.canzanella@jci.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnson-controls-announces-quarterly-dividend-302324312.html SOURCE Johnson Controls International plcJimmy Carter, former U.S. president and peace activist, dies at 100
Share this Story : Teenager hospitalized following south Ottawa school bus-van collision Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links News Local News Teenager hospitalized following south Ottawa school bus-van collision The crash was near the intersection of Bank Street and Lester Road. Author of the article: Staff Reporter Published Dec 03, 2024 • Last updated 16 minutes ago • 1 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. A file photo of an Ottawa Paramedic Service ambulance. Photo by Tony Caldwell / POSTMEDIA Article content A teenager was taken to hospital in serious, but non-life-threatening condition Tuesday afternoon following an accident between a school bus and a van near the intersection of Bank Street and Lester Road in south Ottawa. Article content Article content Three others were listed in stable condition, and another accident victim was dealing with minor injuries following the incident, Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesperson Marc-Antoine Deschamps said. The collision, which occurred at approximately 2:50 p.m., led to traffic being shut down on Bank Street between Queensdale Avenue and Park Lane. Lester Road and Davidson Road were also closed between Dearborn Private and Conroy Road. Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Recommended from Editorial Gatineau police, probing hit-and-run that left teen injured, ask for help Pembroke cyclist injured after being hit in head by object thrown from vehicle Advertisement 2 Advertisement This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Teenager hospitalized following south Ottawa school bus-van collision Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending City of Ottawa worker fired after audit uncovers kickback scheme with landlords Local News Layoffs could be on the table for public servants. Here's everything you need to know Public Service Denley: Trudeau is treating the public service with contempt Opinion General told 'woke' dress code retreat improved troop morale Defence Watch Teenager hospitalized following south Ottawa school bus-van collision Local News Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local SavingsNoneBig Ten could place four teams in playoff, thanks to IU's rise
President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency's supervision. The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden's AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how they plan to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, "limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people "may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.
Socwell tosses hat in Watertown mayoral raceTrump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Beth Gazley , Indiana University (THE CONVERSATION) The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would empower the Treasury Department to eliminate the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit it deems to be supporting terrorism. The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act was approved in a 219-184 vote , with all but one Republican backing it and only 15 Democrats voting for it, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Conversation U.S. philanthropy and nonprofits editor Emily Schwartz Greco spoke with Beth Gazley , an Indiana University scholar of nonprofits, local governance and civil society, to better understand the outcry over this measure – which would have to pass in the Senate before a U.S. president could sign it into law. President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in January 2025, will begin his second term with narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. That means an identical or similar bill could come across his desk after being reintroduced in the next Congress . Why are so many people concerned about this bill? I believe that this is part of a strategy to preempt opposition to Republican policies and encourage self-censorship. It’s a way for the GOP to try to restrict what activists and nonprofit organizations can say or do. And, essentially, it’s a threat to political opponents of President-elect Donald Trump. This kind of law could become a blunt sword that can be used against everybody. I’m not the only one who feels this way. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin , a Democrat who previously was a constitutional law professor , called the bill “a werewolf in sheep’s clothing.” Raskin observed that “rendering support to terrorists is already a felony” and warned that this bill could end up “capsizing” all rights to due process. Several nonpartisan groups and associations representing a wide array of nonprofits, including the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, the National Council of Nonprofits, and United Philanthropy Forum, issued a joint statement that condemned this measure ahead of its passage in the House. The groups said they were concerned that it would provide “the executive branch with expansive new authority that could be abused.” What do you think ‘terrorism’ means in this context? An earlier version of this legislation was introduced in December 2023 and passed in the House in April 2024. Based on the timing, it was widely interpreted as an attempt to quell widespread protests by students and other people who were expressing their solidarity with Palestinians and their objections to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. But this legislation could easily do far more than that because it does not distinguish between foreign and domestic terrorism – whether it’s real or imagined. Until now, the Treasury Department has taken great care in how it defines domestic terrorism, observing on its website that the Constitution and U.S. laws “protect a wide range of expression – even expression that many might disagree with or find abhorrent, and even expression that certain foreign allies and partners of the United States prohibit and criminalize under their own laws.” U.S. law stipulates that The Treasury Department has an obligation to remain nonpartisan in any of its interactions with tax-exempt organizations. As a result, making it easier for federal authorities to allege that a nonprofit is “terrorist” would be a big departure from American traditions. It could be turning the term into a kind of political rhetoric that’s meant to intimidate activists, including those holding campus protests. The lack of a clear definition in the legislation would leave room for interpretation. It’s not clear who would be held liable – it might even be the nonprofits’ donors. Constitutional protections may protect people in the end who get caught up in these allegations, but there’s no way to know how far this could go or how much it might upend their livelihoods while they defend themselves. What other concerns do you have? This bill reminds me of what’s happening around the world in countries where support for democratic principles is declining and right-wing governments are restricting dissent . I’m currently working with Jennifer Alexander , a public administration professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, on a paper about this trend and how it’s tied to what’s already happening in many U.S. states. We’ve found this pattern most prevalent where the Republican Party has full control over the government – the GOP occupies the governor’s mansion and has a majority in both legislative chambers. We have found that at least 22 U.S. states have either passed new laws restricting protests or tightened laws that were already on the books, increasing the severity of possible punishment. These laws restrict public advocacy and organizing. I can see it being used to clamp down on environmental protests, like the ones held in Atlanta to object to the construction of a police training center in an urban forest, or in North Dakota , against the construction of an oil pipeline. This kind of measure could lead to more severe crackdowns, should there be a new wave of Black Lives Matter protests, similar to the ones in 2020 that followed George Floyd’s murder . Many of those demonstrations were organized by nonprofit groups. In Texas, state authorities have attempted to shut down charities that assist immigrants , leading to an outcry from civil rights groups. And Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has launched a probe of companies and nonprofits, including the God Is Good Foundation, that have allegedly conspired to bring noncitizens to the state . What do you think would happen if this measure were to become law? I can see how people intending to continue with the kind of mass mobilization organized by nonprofits might decide to go underground – to avoid the repercussions of activity that I would argue is clearly protected by the U.S. Constitution. Even without this measure becoming law, it has become possible for an organizer to be held liable in court for damage or injuries incurred during a demonstration – even if they personally did not engage in violence or destruction. Officially labeling an organization as “terrorist” can be very powerful. If this were to start happening, some of the population would never see that group any other way again. Many authoritarian regimes like to use this propaganda tool because it makes the public distrust those organizations. It places these organizations outside acceptable norms of civic engagement, despite nonprofits’ right to freedom of speech, assembly and petition embedded in the First Amendment to the Constitution. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/us-house-passes-measure-that-could-punish-nonprofits-treasury-department-decides-are-terrorist-244391 .