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With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fightLONDON -- Here was something Arsenal sorely needed at the start of the all too lengthy absence of Bukayo Saka , something managers crave most of all at this stage of the season: an extended workout, a prolonged session of at least 45 minutes to start smoothing out the issues that cannot run for over two months. That is not written to denigrate Ipswich Town, whose battling second half gave their hosts something to think about, at least briefly. What they did not do, however, was capitalize on the moments where Arsenal chose to mess about and find out. At the death, Ipswich might even have got something (with their third shot of the game, one that sent their xG soaring from 0.04 to 0.16). Kieran McKenna's side organized themselves excellently, kept the space between the lines at a premium and approached every challenge with gusto. In the second half they even managed to push up towards the Arsenal penalty area. They just are not quite good enough to test the Premier League's best. In that sense, they are exactly what Arsenal would want to test out an attack that must go through its second identity shift of the season. No Saka means no leading shooter, no chief chance creator, no number one method of ball progression. In short, it means a lot of adjustments on the fly. From the outset Arteta lent into much the same approach he took when Martin Odegaard missed two months early in the season. Without a guy to run play through, fluidity would be the name of the game. "The replacement of Saka is going to be the team," said Arteta. "Having minutes together, asking different things. There were moments it flowed really well, there were moments where we can improve it and adapt to the qualities of the individuals. I'm certain we're going to do that." The team sheet might have had you believe that Gabriel Jesus would lead the line, flanked by Leandro Trossard on his left and Gabriel Martinelli on his right. For the most part that was how Arsenal landed, but there was not quite the static look of this team when Saka and Odegaard are doing their thing on the right hand side. The opening attack of the game saw Trossard move infield, Jesus looking to drift in off the left too while Kai Havertz pushed up to form a front two. Before the half was out Martinelli, who began with plenty of temptingly hit crosses from the right, had drifted infield with the aim of chasing long balls over the top of the Ipswich line. The common denominator was greater pressure on the penalty area, Havertz's presence as the left eight meaning this was an XI with as much goal threat as Arteta could muster without Saka and Raheem Sterling. When it worked, Arsenal had just enough. A low cross from Trossard and Jesus was attacking the near post, Havertz the back. It came to the German and Arsenal had their goal. It would be all they needed, but they could have had more. Havertz could have done better in the 75th minute. A patchy display from Odegaard still saw him beat three men and rasp a rising shot against the fingertips of Arijanet Muric. Substitute Mikel Merino curled temptingly wide. Most shockingly of all, king of set pieces Gabriel managed to head wide from three yards out. It wasn't particularly exhilarating, at times in the second half it was outright cumbersome. Certainly, they need more options for Arteta to turn to on a bench that contained four left backs and no real forward. Still, however, Arsenal worked the chances to win this game more tidily without their most reliable shot creator and taker. Meanwhile, they blot out the sun at the other end. That no hitter game where their opponent doesn't get a shot remains tantalizingly out of reach — Kalvin Phillips, did you have to hit one from there — but this is a backline that routinely gives David Raya nothing to do. Even when he and William Saliba decided to turn the second half kick off into a high farce, they managed to turn what promised to be a straight run at goal for Sammie Szmodics into a no shot situation. Since the last international break they have given up less xG than Tottenham allowed Liverpool on Sunday and the margin isn't even that close. If your attack is going to be a Saka-free zone, at least your defense is replete with William Salibas, Gabriels and even Myles Lewis-Skellys, the latter as cool under pressure as he is ready to scrap when someone threatens his team mate. "We should have scored more, but it's the consistency," said Arteta. "The team conceded nothing. The defensive behaviors were again outstanding. That's something that's always going to give us the chance to win games." And that probably is who Arsenal are going to need to be if they are to stay in the hunt for silverware over the two plus months they are without Saka, a side that gives up so little at their own end that they can cope without a top two or three forward in the Premier League this season. The attack might need time to work out how to thrive without the star man playing on the right. Happily for Arteta, however, the defense looks primed to give that to them.
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The NWT Recreation and Parks Association (NWTRPA) has launched a new podcast that covers a rarely discussed element of life in residential and day schools in the North: recreation. The podcast is called ‘How I Survived,’ and was produced in partnership with the University of Alberta. The first season will feature seven episodes. The first three have already been released on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. “I would really encourage people to listen to the whole season if they’re able to because it’s quite easy to listen to one episode and make assumptions,” said Crystal Gail Fraser, who serves as co-lead on the project with her longtime friend and collaborator Jess Dunkin. “The season as a whole really complements every interview, and I say that because there is not just one experience of residential school. You will get to hear about the diversity. You’ll get to hear about the ups and downs of how Indigenous folks experienced these years of their childhood.” Fraser, a Gwichya Gwich’in historian whose PhD research focused on student experiences at residential schools in the Inuvik region between 1959 and 1996, has known her fellow historian Dunkin since they were masters students. Their new podcast started as a research project with the same name. The purpose of the project was to share recreation-related stories of residential and day school survivors, and the podcast is carrying on that tradition in audio form. “We had actually brainstormed a little museum about the history of sports and recreation at residential schools,” said Fraser, who also hosts several episodes of the first season. “That didn’t really pan out like we had maybe hoped.” The hope was that the podcast would allow “the stories of survivors to be shared as they told them,” she added. “Sometimes when the content is in other formats, you are just taking quotes from the interviews. We thought [the podcast] would be a great way to keep the integrity of the interviews, and reach a lot of people and educate Canadians and help them learn more about residential schooling in the North because that is still a very understudied area.” In the interviews Fraser and Dunkin have conducted so far, survivors have discussed many kinds of recreation, including music, sewing, painting and sports such as volleyball, hockey and skiing. The typically European-Canadian activities they engaged in were intended to assimilate, but it sometimes had the opposite effect, according to Dunkin, who doubles as a producer for the show. “In some cases, children understood these activities differently than staff, [for example] skiing was a way to connect to the land,” she said. “Also, during recess or free time, children engaged in activities that were familiar from home, like sledding or moose-skin ball.” With just three of seven episodes available so far, the new podcast is still in its “early days,” according to Dunkin. However, she is pleased with the traction it’s been getting so far. “I’ve been surprised how many downloads we’ve had so far,” she said. “The Northwest Territories is a small place, but we just surpassed the 200 download mark overnight [on Nov. 14],” she said. “That tells me there is at least a topical resonance, that people are interested in the podcast and are listening to it. We’re also seeing those numbers climb kind of progressively when we add another episode. That means people are listening to subsequent episodes. It’s not like they just did the intro one then they’re done.” Dunkin said she’s received positive feedback about the podcast, both in-person and online. “I have conversations, bumping into people on the street [in Yellowknife] and they’re like, ‘Wow, I’ve listened to it and it’s really powerful.’” she said. “They have talked about how it’s vital, how it’s critical. “The other thing I’ve heard from people — mostly through social media — is just how nice it is to hear from people that they know, but that they didn’t necessarily know their story. Again, that’s being from a small place — we’re kind of connected. Listeners are meeting people they already know, but in a different way. “So far, it’s been positive what we’ve heard from listeners.” The first season of How I Survived is still far from over, so it’s difficult for Fraser or Dunkin to say for sure if there will be a second season. However, it sounds like it’s possible. “We have already had a couple of people reach out to talk about interviews for a possible season two,” said Fraser. “It has been good. The NWTRPA has been extremely supportive, and the University of Alberta has as well.”Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of Customers Bancorp, Inc. ("Customers Bancorp" or the "Company") CUBI investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws. On April 12, 2024, Customers Bancorp disclosed that its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Carla Leibold, had been terminated "for ‘cause' under her employment agreement for violating Company policy." However, later that month, the Company amended this description to state that her termination "was a separation by mutual agreement" and that Ms. Leibold would be paid $2.5 million in "post-employment compensation." On this news, Customer Bancorp's stock price fell $2.40, or 4.9%, to close at $46.62 on April 15, 2024, thereby injuring investors. Then, on August 8, 2024, the Federal Reserve Board announced the execution of an enforcement action with Customers Bancorp, Inc., and Customers Bank stating that the most recent inspection of Customers Bancorp "identified significant deficiencies related to the Bank's risk management practices and compliance with the applicable laws, rules, and regulations relating to anti-money laundering." On this news, Customer Bancorp's stock price fell $7.22, or 13.3%, to close at $47.01 per share on August 8, 2024. That same day, after market hours, Customer Bancorp disclosed a consent order by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Banking and Securities, Bureau of Bank Supervision, which stated that deficiencies within the Company "give the Bureau reason to believe that the Bank had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices relating to BSA/AML Requirements[.]" On this news, Customer Bancorp's stock price fell $1.08, or 2.3%, to close at $45.93 per share on August 9, 2024, thereby injuring investors further. If you purchased Customers Bancorp securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com , or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com . This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206794663/en/ © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday night due to soreness in his left foot. James will miss his second straight game when the Lakers return from a four-day break to face the Timberwolves, the Lakers announced Thursday. The top scorer in NBA history was away from the team this week with an excused absence attributed to “personal reasons,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. It's unclear whether James will even make the quick round trip to Minnesota before the Lakers' next game at home against Memphis on Sunday. James missed his first game of his record-tying 22nd NBA season when the Lakers beat Portland at home last Sunday. That absence also was attributed to his foot injury. James is averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds for the Lakers (13-11), who have lost seven of 10 after a 10-4 start. The Lakers upgraded starter Austin Reaves to questionable for the game at Minnesota after he missed LA's previous five games with a pelvic bruise. Anthony Davis is listed as probable with left plantar fasciitis. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBACVRx to Present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
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Dividend stocks can be your best friend in retirement -- especially when their payouts allow you to cover your living expenses without selling shares. But investors shouldn't mindlessly chase high yields. Stocks that offer sky-high yields of 10% to 15% can be tempting, but they're often risky investments. With that in mind, retirees and soon-to-be retirees should try to find above-average yields, but they shouldn't go looking in the dumpster for them. A better strategy is to seek quality companies that look like they'll be able to keep paying (and raising) their dividends over the long term. These three blue-chip dividend stocks with yields between 4.8% and 7.8% today fit that description. Their dividends are well covered, and they should produce enough growth to manage payout hikes that at least keep up with inflation in 2025 and beyond. 1. Altria Group: 7.8% yield Although smoking rates have been declining for decades in the United States, Altria Group ( MO -0.42% ) , which sells Marlboro cigarettes (among other brands) domestically, has raised its dividend for over 50 consecutive years. This has earned it the rare Dividend King designation. Altria still makes most of its money from cigarettes, but has grown its bottom line by steadily raising its prices enough to more than offset the fact that it sells fewer cigarettes with each passing year. Analysts estimate the company's 2024 earnings will be $5.12 per share, giving it a manageable dividend payout ratio of 80%. Management generally uses the cash after paying the dividend to repurchase shares , which has grown its per-share dividends and profits. Altria has milked its cigarette business for years, and its strategies are still working. The company has grown its earnings at a 4.4% annualized pace over the past five years, and analysts estimate it will grow them by 3.5% annually over the next three to five years. Altria will eventually need to move beyond cigarettes, and it's working on that. The company is pushing next-generation products such as oral nicotine pouches, heat-not-burn tobacco cartridges, and electronic cigarettes (vapes). How Altria develops these products over the next decade will determine its long-term prospects. Still, retirees who buy and hold the stock will be able to rely on the company's near- and medium-term ability to pay and raise its dividend. 2. AT&T: 4.8% yield Telecom giant AT&T ( T -0.44% ) now operates the third-largest wireless network in the U.S. by market share. The company has existed in various forms since the late 1880s, and today is focused on its core communications business after a tumultuous decade that it spent trying to become a successful media streaming company. Over the years of attempting to evolve its business model, AT&T loaded itself with debt. That period culminated with a dividend cut in 2022 intended to free up cash flow that it could use to pay down what it owes. While in some cases, a company having a dividend cut in its recent past can be a sign for investors to avoid the stock, AT&T's payout reduction made it an excellent dividend stock again. Management expects to end 2024 with $17 billion to $18 billion in free cash flow versus a dividend commitment that amounts to about $8 billion annually. In other words, AT&T is spending less than half its cash flow on its dividend, giving it plenty of financial breathing room. Its debt is declining, which is positioning the business for a new era of dividend growth thanks to AT&T's healthiest financials in years. Don't expect too much growth from AT&T. Analysts estimate that it will grow earnings by an average of 3% annually over the next three to five years. Still, that would be enough for management to raise the dividend slowly, with room to expand the payout ratio if AT&T chooses. Either way, investors can look forward to dependable dividends thanks to management's wise decision to rightsize the payout. 3. Enbridge: 6.3% yield Energy still makes the world go round, so business should stay strong for Enbridge ( ENB 0.05% ) , one of the largest energy companies in North America. The Canadian company owns a network of pipelines that transport oil and natural gas throughout the continent, North America's largest natural gas utility by volume, and a portfolio of renewable energy projects, among other businesses. The company makes money primarily from transport and distribution fees, so it enjoys more durable revenue streams than upstream oil companies, which are more sensitive to commodity prices. Enbridge has proven this by increasing its annual dividend payouts for 29 consecutive years, and it has already announced its 30th to take effect in early 2025. Enbridge pays its dividends in Canadian dollars (CA$), but U.S. investors will see their payments automatically translated to U.S. dollars. For 2025, management plans to pay total dividends of CA$3.77 per share, and is guiding for between CA$5.50 and CA$5.90 in distributable cash flow, which would give it a healthy payout ratio in the range of about 64% to 69%. That's right in the 60% to 70% range where management wants it. North America's steadily growing energy demand should ensure Enbridge stays busy. Management expects the company's cash flow to grow at a low single-digit percentage rate through 2026 and then accelerate to approximately 5% annualized growth. Therefore, investors can count on the dividend and expect Enbridge to continue building on its growth streak.
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Dell, HP, Workday, and more set to report earnings Tuesday