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U.S. stocks traded lower midway through trading, with the Dow Jones dipping over 500 points on Friday. The Dow traded down 1.18% to 42,814.39 while the NASDAQ fell 2.18% to 19,583.95. The S&P 500 also fell, dropping, 1.61% to 5,940.27. Check This Out: Wall Street’s Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Consumer Stocks With Over 7% Dividend Yields Leading and Lagging Sectors Energy shares rose by 0.4% on Friday. In trading on Friday, consumer discretionary shares dipped by 2.2%. Top Headline The U.S. trade deficit in goods increased to $102.86 billion in November, from a revised gap of $98.3 billion in the previous month and versus market estimates of a $100.7 billion deficit. Equities Trading UP iLearningEngines, Inc. AILE shares shot up 382% to $0.7800. iLearningEngines recently announced it voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Shares of SES AI Corporation SES got a boost, surging 43% to $2.0305. Quantum-Si incorporated QSI shares were also up, gaining 36% to $2.9299. Equities Trading DOWN Exodus Movement, Inc. EXOD shares dropped 15% to $40.02. Shares of zSpace, Inc. ZSPC were down 12% to $12.20. Gaxos.ai Inc. GXAI was down, falling 21% to $2.8200. Gaxos.ai announced $4 million registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 0.7% to $70.12 while gold traded down 1% at $2,628.50. Silver traded down 1.6% to $29.910 on Friday, while copper fell 0.3% to $4.1165. Euro zone European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 gained 0.39%, Germany's DAX gained 0.42% and France's CAC 40 rose 0.69%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index rose 0.16%, while London's FTSE 100 slipped 0.02%. Asia Pacific Markets Asian markets closed mixed on Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 1.80%, China's Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.06%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index falling 0.04% and India's BSE Sensex gaining 0.29%. Economics U.S. wholesale inventories declined by 0.2% month-over-month to $902 billion in November compared to a revised 0.1% gain in the previous month and versus market estimates of a 0.2% increase. The U.S. trade deficit in goods increased to $102.86 billion in November, from a revised gap of $98.3 billion in the previous month and versus market estimates of a $100.7 billion deficit. Now Read This: Top 3 Tech And Telecom Stocks That May Rocket Higher In Q4 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties.
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Bastiaan Slabbers via ZUMA Press Seven Democratic senators are demanding answers from Dr. Mehmet Oz, Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, over his long-held support for private Medicare plans and his financial ties to those programs. In a letter first obtained by NBC News , Democrats referred to a 2020 op-ed Oz published wherein he called on the US to shift all Americans to Medicare Advantage, a private coverage option favored by Trump and the authors of Project 2025, and effectively eliminate traditional Medicare. As the Quartz reported last month, Oz has disclosed owning as much as $600,000 of stocks in companies that benefit from private Medicare services. The TV personality, who over the years has been fiercely condemned within the medical community for promoting unfounded medical cures, also reportedly has invested millions in businesses that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is charged with regulating. “Your advocacy for eliminating the Traditional Medicare program and replacing it with MedicareAdvantage also raises questions about your own financial conflicts of interest,” the letter from Democratic lawmakers read. The letter comes one week after Public Citizen, a progressive watchdog group, sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that Oz violated the organization’s influencer marketing ethics while pushing herbal supplements on his social media accounts. Three days after the letter’s release, Oz vowed to stop promoting wellness products if he’s confirmed, according to ABC News.Chattanooga wins 85-63 against Alabama A&MBurt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, said. He was at least 90 years old. “Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor – an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts. The aquarium added: “He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years.” A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 16 feet long. He was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most well-known crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove. The 1986 film stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile before being saved by Dundee. Burt is briefly shown lunging out of the water. But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the film made a mistake by depicting an American alligator, which has a blunter snout. The Australian aquarium where Burt had lived since 2008 features a Cage of Death which it says is the nation’s only crocodile dive. It said it planned to honour Burt’s legacy with a commemorative sign “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park”.
Quartz Crystal Market Poised for Significant Growth with 4.3% CAGR, Reaching USD 7.7 Billion by 2034OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Fresh off one of its best showings of the season, the Baltimore defense now has another problem to worry about. Roquan Smith missed practice again Friday because of a hamstring injury. Although the Ravens didn't officially rule him or anyone else out — they don't play until Monday night — the All-Pro linebacker's status seems dicey. “Definitely it will be a challenge if Roquan can’t go,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “We’re holding out hope and everything like that. I think it’ll just be by committee. Not one person is going to replace Roquan. Roquan’s an every-down linebacker.” Although the Ravens lost 18-16 last weekend, Baltimore didn't allow a touchdown. That was an encouraging sign for a team that ranks 26th in the league in total defense. Baltimore is on the road Monday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens appear to have dodged one potential nightmare. Star safety Kyle Hamilton injured an ankle against Cincinnati on Nov. 7, but he was able to play almost every defensive snap the following week against Pittsburgh. But Smith was injured in that game and didn't practice Thursday or Friday. Linebacker Malik Harrison had a season high in tackles last weekend and figures to have a significant role if Smith can't go. “We tell these guys, ‘You’re one play away to going in there — you never know, so you got to stay ready.’ Malik — he was ready,” Orr said. “I thought he went in there and did a good job, especially after the first series, he settled down. That’s what we expect from him.” It's hard to tell whether last week can be a significant turning point for Baltimore's defense. The Ravens allowed only 10 points in a dominant win over Buffalo in Week 4, then yielded 38 against Cincinnati the following game. After allowing 10 against Denver, the Ravens were picked apart by the Bengals again a few days later. So they still haven't shown they can play a good game defensively and then build on it. “I think it’s easier said than done. It’s something that we kind of got caught up saying against Buffalo and then coming up the next week and not doing," Hamilton said. "We’re aware of it now and know that we played a good game, but I think we can get a lot better, and I think that’s kind of the mindset everybody on defense has right now.” Hamilton's ability to make a difference all over the field is part of what makes him valuable, but positioning him deep is one way the Ravens can try to guard against big passing plays. Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson threw for only 205 yards against Baltimore. That's after Joe Burrow passed for 428 and four touchdowns in the Ravens' previous game. “I’ve always seen myself as a safety. A versatile one, but at the end of the day, I think I play safety,” Hamilton said. “If I’m asked to go play safety, I feel like that’s not an issue for me to play safety if I’m a safety.” NOTES: In addition to Smith, WR Rashod Bateman (knee), DT Travis Jones (ankle), S Sanoussi Kane (ankle) C Tyler Linderbaum (back) and CB Arthur Maulet (calf) missed practice Friday. WR Nelson Agholor (illness) returned to full participation after missing Thursday's practice. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
1. A mini inflatable tube guy because there is *no way* they can look at this little dude and not giggle. If they're feeling extra goofy, imitating him is ~encouraged.~ Promising review: "Got this as a toy for my 7-year-old. She loves it. It's compact and is fun to watch wave around. Very similar to its full-sized big bro. Great product!" — Christell Get it from Amazon for $8.58 . 2. A screaming goat so they can express all their feelings by pressing it and letting it do the screaming for them. Needless to say, there will be a loooottt of laughing caused by this little guy. Promising review: "Hilarious and irritating — my kid loves it. It's funny, loud and cute. Great for goat lovers. As described. Great gift for people who think screaming goats are funny." — E. Hurtt Get it from Amazon for $8.18 . 3. Some dehydrated water for the times when they are packing light but know they are bound to get thirsty. Instead of carrying a heavy jug of water, they can just carry this little can and fill it with water to rehydrate it whenever they need! Promising review: "Gave this for a Christmas gift to a relative...he is still speechless...from laughing! He shows it to everyone he knows. I would give this 10 stars if possible ...yeah, a bit pricey for an empty can but more fun than giving a pair of socks for sure!" — B burton Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 4. An anti-stress desktop punching bag so they can take out all their rage against Kevin, the office pain-in-the-butt, in a safe and controlled manner that won't end with a trip to HR. Promising review: "I bought this as a white elephant gift for Christmas in the office. I anticipated it to be thin, flimsy, and cheap. However, it was just the opposite. My coworker has it suctionned to her glass wall and people use it all the time. The suction is strong, and the item itself feels very sturdy. I was pleasantly surprised, and it was one of the favorite gifts of the day." — Vicki McClain Get it from Amazon for $23.95+ (available in two colors). 5. A giant waffle...blanket for anyone who eats waffles on the daily and has been known to scream "leggo my Eggo" if anyone tries to take a bite. Now they can finally live out their dreams of being fully surrounded by a delicious breakfast food. Promising review: "My grandson loves this waffle lightweight throw. He got up and made sure everyone could see it. Well made. Not too heavy, just right for watching TV on a cooler night. This is the third unique one I purchased. Now all three grandsons have one, each being different. Love it." — becky spinks Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in five sizes and five styles). 6. A toilet timer to help them remember there is a whole world outside of the bathroom and they shouldn't be sitting on the commode until their legs are numb. Promising review: "It was a great Father's Day gift! My 3-year-old loves playing with it. I'm not sure my husband actually uses it for its intended purpose because he still takes forever! :D" – katherine viens Get it from Amazon for $16.99 . 7. And some no-rip toilet paper that'll leave them flustered and confused when they do finally decide bathroom time is over only to realize they are stuck there a little bit longer. Be warned, once you mess with someone in their most vulnerable state, you'll certainly be in the middle of an ongoing prank war. Promising review: "I pulled this prank on my partner and it was hilarious. It really doesn't rip hahaha." — Austin C. Get it from Amazon for $13.99 . 8. And! A talking toilet paper holder so you can really scare the 💩 outta them (thankfully they're on the toilet so there won't be any mess). Record whatever message you'd like them to hear when they go to pull the paper. And they can reuse it on the prankee of their choice. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Promising review: "This thing is awesome. I don’t know how something so simple can bring so much joy in my life. Just a tip if you’re going to get this, don’t keep it on the toilet paper roll all the time. Just do it every once in a while. That way they don’t know it’s coming. The other great news is you can remind your children to wipe their butt all the way every single time they go to the bathroom." — Ecow Get it from Amazon for $15.95 . 9. A container of nothing , perfect for someone who already has everything. Or for those people who always say "nothing" when asked what they want. Now you can finally grant their wishes! Promising review: "Got a few of these for Christmas. A few people said they wanted nothing, so that's just what I got them, NOTHING. LOL. We did buy them real gifts, but they loved their nothing. Everyone who received one thought it was funny. I suggest getting this for anyone who asks for nothing. The reading part on the nothing is funny too, strongly suggest this!! Worth the laughs!!" — CatsMeow Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 10. A dinosaur eating gnomes figurine to show them how you really feel about their extensive gnome collection in their front yard. Promising review: "I keep this on the sideboard in the dining room. I feel that’s the proper place for it considering. I get more compliments and chuckles and looks of pure merriment every time someone sees it. And it’s every time, regardless of whether they’ve seen it before. My favorite thing in the house." — Margaret W. Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two sizes). 11. A bottle of "headlight fluid" that'll confuse all the car novices who barely even know how to fill their car up with gas. They're sure to experience a rollercoaster of emotions when they open this up — from being concerned that they've never replaced the fluid before to utter disbelief when they find out this isn't real. Note: this is just an empty bottle, because no, headlights don't need fluid. Promising review: "This will definitely make for some laughs at Christmas. It looks just like something you might buy at an auto parts store...until you think about what it really is. Ha ha ha." — teri Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 12. A ridiculous yodelling pickle if you wanna give them the perfect ammo to irritate anyone and everyone in their life. Promising review: "This pickle rocks!!! Well, actually, this pickle yodels, and I don't care how many times you listen, you can't help but laugh, or smile, or both. I really believe every single person on planet earth needs to own one of these precious pickles." — Ken C. Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 13. A Bob Ross Chia Pet that kinda speaks for itself. Plant and art lovers will rejoice at this completely unique gift. Go get them a Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Includes the themed pottery planter, plastic drip tray, and chia seed packets for three plantings. Promising review: "Ummm... this is a Bob Ross Chia... don't even think... just order. Bought this for our white elephant family Christmas exchange. Who wouldn't want this???" — SaraB Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 10 other variations). 14. A pair of Fish flip-flops so they can up their slides game to this sweet pair that looks like a fish is swallowing their whole foot. They do always say they're a trendsetter.... Promising review: "These are some of the ugliest awesome slides I have ever had the privilege of wearing...total headturners that everyone loves, and they are surprisingly squishy and comfortable too. Love them!" — Brian Get them from Amazon for $23.99 (available in sizes 5 women/3 men—16 women/15 men and 13 colors). 15. A tin with a pair of emergency underpants , which is perfect to have on hand while they open up all these hilarious gifts as a backup in case they do in fact pee themselves from laughing so hard. Promising review: "Hey! If you're on the fence about getting this gag gift...GET IT!!! Today is my husband's birthday and he couldn't stop laughing when he opened this! Our kids kept referring to it as the 'man diaper' while laughing...BUT keep in mind that this gag gift is NOT geared only toward a man! This was worth every penny and my husband sent me a photo to make me laugh now! Apparently he carried it on him as he headed out the door LOL. He hasn't opened it...so I am unaware of how they would actually fit him. However, the purpose it was purchased for, did not let me down." — CB Get it from Amazon for $7.95 . 16. A mini violin so they can join Mr. Krabs' tiny orchestra that plays the perfect pity party soundtrack. This comes with the mini violin, stand, bow, and case. Promising review: "It looked exactly like my real violin! But a mini version. Such specific details for such a small instrument!!! It uses ACTUAL wood, little metal strings, and real pegs!!!!!!!! It has a little case that is a pretty velvet red and black color. The bow is real wood also, but the actual bow hair is plastic. If you replace the plastic bow hair with horse hair, and apply rosin, THE LITTLE VIOLIN CAN REALLY WORK!" — Michelle Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in four sizes). 17. A prank box with a spider that'll jump out when they open it. You can either use on its own or filled with a gift card, candy, or other small treat. Let's just say it may take them a little while to ever trust a box you hand to them again. Promising review: "We witnessed a good jump! My 14-year-old is not afraid of anything, well maybe except for the spiders. He got this box today as a Christmas gift. He opened it, totally freaked out, instantly jumped back, put his hand to the heart and started hyperventilating. After he pulled himself together, he said, 'You got me!!!' And believe me it is hard to 'get' him nowadays! We videotaped it. It was worth every dime!!!" — Elena Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes). 18. A fake power outlet sticker so they can stick up on a wall in an airport, restaurant, or other public place. Then, sit back and watch unassuming patrons who desperately want to charge their phones try to plug in just to realize they've been tricked! Reviewers say these are removable, but to be careful if you want to pull them off a wall as they are stickers and may cause damage. Promising review: "I was able to trick my stepson into using one for his dresser so he can plug his Alexa into it. I told him you gotta make sure it goes on straight and wait for it to grow a box. Over the course of four days he came to me and said it's not growing. So I told him hmm maybe you have to water it like a plant. So sure enough he waters it (only a little bit). He did that for a week. Then I started to put more around the house and tricked my wife and friends who came over :D Great gag item." — Shawns211 Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $6.98 . 19. And some voice-activated prank stickers they can place on their coffee maker, TV, and so much more to trick their guests into wondering why "make me some coffee" isn't magically dispensing a much-needed hot beverage!!! The pack also includes some that say "motion activated." Promising review: "We have put these things on flower pots, weed eaters, a shovel, etc....Yes, they are juvenile, but always get a smile when seen. I do not condone vandalism, but I have seen a few of these stickers on 'non-automatic' paper towel dispensers, in a few gas station bathrooms. The thought of someone talking to a paper towel dispenser, in public, makes me giggle." — Amazon Customer Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $8.99 . 20. A classic snake-in-a-can to scare the bejesus out of them when they think you're just giving them a savory snack to go with all the candy in their stocking. Promising review: "My 6-year-old loved it and then my wife took it to the high school she teaches at and all the teens thought it was funny and played with it. Broad age gap for fun ." — Welsey Fraser Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 21. A pack of 10 tiny hands so they can shock friends and family by reaching out to grab stuff with these little ~unsettling~ hands. The set comes with five right-handed and five left-handed finger hands. Promising review: "We’re a silly family, so when my mom mentioned wanting these, I got them for her birthday. She had a bad day yesterday, so I gave them to her a few days early to cheer her up. Her face lit up as she threw her head back in genuine laughter. She immediately went to the garage to find a wooden stick to attach the hands to each end. She uses it as a scepter and orders the household about like peasants. When we complain, she holds the tiny hand up for silence. She uses it to pet our faces while we sleep. The cat has declared the Hand her arch nemesis. It's been 24 hours now, and I regret everything." — Nesha Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $7.99 . 22. A coffee mug they'll get countless laughs out of when they hand their guests a beverage and watch as the words are slowly revealed with every sip. When the cup is empty, they may even burst out with a "mwahaha" to really seal in the dramatics. This mug is dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Promising review: "I love this mug. Served coffee to my BF in it and got a laugh out of his reaction when he got to the bottom. He had a good laugh, too. It’s also a fun mug to drink out of on those rough work days where you just kind of wish you had been poisoned, rather than sitting on another useless, never-ending conference call. Good quality. Fun gag gift. Great mug for your own personal arsenal." — R Redick Get it from Amazon for $13.98 . 23. A pair of glowing lightsaber chopsticks because no matter how much everyone tells them to, they ~still~ haven't grown out of playing with your food, and now they actually have an excuse. They have eight different color modes! BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord says, "As you can see from the above GIF, I bought these for myself, and I love them to pieces. TBH, I use them as decor every bit as much as I use them to eat. Sometimes I just keep them in my work area to light them up during the day to feel fancy. They toggle back and forth between a bunch of different colors, like red, blue, yellow, purple, and multicolor, so you can either make them match *or* have a red and blue one together and bring ~balance~ to the Force." Promising review: "The chopsticks are very durable, and the glow is bright. They're a bit bigger that I expected — but very pleased nonetheless with the product because it serves the purpose and is entertaining for kids, right up to adult Star Wars nerds. It also made the perfect gift for my fellow Star Wars nerds. I've been too busy playing with them rather than using them to eat food — but hopefully that will eventually happen before the batteries need changing." — Anthony Get it from Amazon for $12.97 . 24. A set of Porta Potty shot glasses that are straight up disgusting but also so fun. Let's just hope they don't think too much about it while they're using them. Promising review : "They are a pair of shot glasses in the shape of Porta Potties so it got the expected laugh and enjoyment when picked at the White Elephant office party. They were 'stolen' a couple of times, so they turned out to be quite popular. Pick a pair for your next gag gift party...they will be a hit!" — Thor Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99 . 25. A hard-boiled egg holder worthy of royalty because why would they wanna eat their eggs like a peasant when they could dress 'em up as knights and have an army waiting to serve? And it comes equipped with a spoon, so they truly will have everything they need basically handed to them on a silver platter. Promising review : "I bought this for my wife's birthday and she absolutely loved it! She loves whimsy and this really struck a chord with her. I put a soft-boiled egg in it and she was grinning the entire time she was eating it. As far as being 'practical'; well, what can I say, but it beats chasing a soft-boiled egg around a slick dinner plate." — UrbanDad Get it from Amazon for $13.90 . 26. A silicone crab utensil holder perfect for when they're ~in a pinch~ and need somewhere to put their spoon that doesn't end with their delicious soup all over the counter. Promising review : "Probably the coolest holder I have ever seen. Bought it for my wife and she loves it and thinks it's cute. I laugh when I look at it, just cool as all! Hangs on all of our pots and pans, and stays cool. Easy to clean and looks awesome. A great addition to any kitchen. Works great, does exactly what it is intended to do!" — Logan E. Get it from Amazon for $13.95 . 27. A stress-relieving Dammit doll so they can relieve their anger without actually causing any harm or destruction. Everyone is gonna want to get their hands on this guy so they can take out all their frustrations in an ~appropriate~ manner. The Dammit Doll comes with a little poem: "Whenever things don't go so well, and you want to hit the wall and yell, here's a little dammit doll that you can't do without. Just grasp it firmly by the legs and find a place to slam it. And as you whack the stuffing out, yell 'dammit!' 'dammit!' 'dammit!'" Promising review : "This doll is amazing! Not only did it help me through holiday shopping, it helped me survive election commercials! It's small enough to take anywhere you might experience stress: your job, grocery store, dentist, Department of Motor Vehicles, parent/teacher conferences, and waiting in line to vote! It fits right into my purse, so I can quickly grab it when someone drives too slow in front of me or when I get pulled over for my right tail-light out. I love that it fits nicely on the nightstand to conveniently grab when hubby snores! I can't think of a better gift for friends, teachers, or people you purposely annoy. And it's VERY VERY durable! I use it at least 25 times a day, and the seams are just fine! " — William Imand Get a random patterned version from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in multi-packs). 28. Socks with magnetic hands to make sure their socks always have a ~pair.~ Tell me why this inanimate object holding hands is one of the cutest freakin' things ever?! Promising review: "I bought these socks for a couple that stand next to each other all the time. It was a very cute gift and they loved it the hands actually clasp by the magnet to each other if they stand close enough." — Michelle F. Get two pairs from Amazon for $14.98 (available in three color combos). The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Police arrested a 26-year-old man on Monday in the of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after they say a Pennsylvania McDonald's worker alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. The suspect, identified by police as Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in Wednesday’s attack on , as well as writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. Here are some of the latest developments in the ongoing investigation: Mangione was taken into custody at around 9:15 a.m. after police received a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, police said. Mangione was being held in Pennsylvania on gun charges and will eventually be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny said Mangione also had a , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Officers also found a suppressor, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” the commissioner said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, Tisch said. Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. Some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent people, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have had children attend the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things,” according to a post on the school website. He praised their collective inventiveness and pioneering mindset. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione, according to his obituary. Luigi Mangione's grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes ranging from Catholic organizations to colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione. A spokesman for the lawmaker's office confirmed the relationship Monday. Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Just 11 minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspected shooter exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore and Cedar Attanasio in New York contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.Ahmad Robinson scores 25 to lead Mercer to 75-63 victory over winless Chicago State
(The Center Square) – The latest federal numbers show the U.S. deficit is soaring as President Joe Biden heads out of office. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office released its monthly budget review on Monday, which showed that in the first two months of this fiscal year, the federal government has run up a deficit of $622 billion. “That amount is $242 billion more than the deficit recorded during the same period last fiscal year,” CBO said in its report . That figure means the deficit is nearly 40% higher than this time last year. “The most alarming turkey in November was the federal government’s inability to live within its means,” Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said in a statement. “We are only two months into the fiscal year, and we have already borrowed a staggering $622 billion, with $365 billion in the month of November alone." Deficits never surpassed one trillion dollars before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, they remain well above one trillion and for this next fiscal year are well beyond the pace to surpass $1 trillion. The deficit last fiscal year was about $1.8 trillion. Billionaire Elon Musk, now an advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, lamented the debt, which is about $36 trillion, on X Monday. “If we don’t fix the deficit, everything will suffer, including essential spending like DoD, Medicare & Social Security,” Musk said. “It’s not optional.” CBO did explain that some of the increase is from accounting changes. From CBO: The change in the deficit was influenced by the timing of outlays and revenues alike. Outlays in October 2023 were reduced by shifts in the timing of certain federal payments that otherwise would have been due on October 1, 2023, which fell on a Sunday. (Those payments were made in September 2023.) Outlays in November 2024 were boosted by the shift to that month of payments due December 1, 2024, a Saturday. If not for those shifts, the deficit thus far in fiscal year 2025 would have been $541 billion, or $88 billion more than the shortfall at this point last year, and outlays would have been $38 billion more.”Global Applicant Tracking (ATS) Software Market Size, Share and Forecast By Key Players-Visume, Jobvite, Jobscan, JobAdder, ADP
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines to two sportsbooks and a tech company for violations that included taking bets on unauthorized events, and on games that had already ended. In information made public Monday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined DraftKings $20,000. It also levied $10,000 fines on Rush Street Interactive NJ and the sports betting technology company Kambi. According to documents released by the state, Rush Street accepted 16 bets worth $1,523 in Nov. 2021 on a college basketball game between the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Tennessee Tech University after the game had already concluded with a UNC victory. Kambi told the enforcement division that a trader had failed to manually remove that game from its betting markets, saying it had stopped receiving messages from its own sports data provider due to a network connectivity error. Kambi said it has updated its guidelines and retrained its traders to prevent a recurrence. Kambi, which is based in Malta, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. Rush Street declined comment, and DraftKings had no immediate comment Monday. DraftKings stopped using Kambi in 2021. In March 2022 Rush Street took seven bets totaling just under $2,900 on three Magic City Jai Alai games after the results were already known. Kambi told the division it experienced a connectivity issue that allowed the bets to be accepted after the games were over. An explanation of what Kambi did to address the situation was blacked out in documents released by the division. A month earlier Rush Street took 13 wagers worth $8,150 with pre-match odds on a Professional Golf Association match after the event had already begun. In this case, Kambi told the division a newly hired trader failed to enter the correct closing time time for bets on the event. The trader and a supervisor underwent retraining. DraftKings was fined for taking bets on unapproved events including Russian basketball for nine months in 2020 and 2021. It eventually voided over $61,000 in bets and returned the money to customers after being directed to do so by the state. In this case, Kambi told the division it misidentified this particular Russian basketball league as one that was approved for wagering in New Jersey. DraftKings told the state it did not catch the error, either. In 2020, DraftKings accepted 484 wagers on unapproved table tennis matches. Kambi incorrectly enabled the events for wagering without conditions required by the state, the division said. In Feb. 2022, the division said DraftKings took pre-season NFL bets involving specific players but did not give the state specific information on what information was to be included in the bets, drawing 182 wagers worth nearly $7,000 that were later voided and refunded to customers. Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
Huge Australian crocodile made famous by cameo role in Crocodile Dundee dies
A BAR has painted over the beer tap of Conor McGregor’s stout and replaced it with a rape survivors charity logo. It comes after the MMA superstar lost his civil rape case . David Stephenson, owner of The Grind in Spennymoor, near Durham in England , made the decision to end his partnership with Forged after McGregor lost his civil rape case to Nikita Hand on December 5. The bar owner said he felt it was “the right thing to do” as more than half his staff and customers are women. David claimed there is a “negative” association with the stout, which he does not want in his bar. The MMA star’s beer tap is now dedicated to The Survivors Trust, a UK abuse charity . All proceeds from the sale of the remaining stout supply will be donated to them. Footage on The Grind’s social media account of staff painting over the Forged logo and replacing others with The Survivors Trust image has gone viral. Staff can also be seen tearing down brand signage and chucking it in the bin. Pub owner David, 45, said: “We’re a very female-driven business. Around 70 per cent of our customers and staff are female. We thought it was the right thing to do. “There was some left in stock and we thought there’s not much point tipping it down the sink as it had already been paid for and would be a waste. I thought we could do something good with this. “I thought we could raise a bit of awareness. People have a voice and when they get together it’s a big voice. “I just don’t think the brand is good for anybody’s business. It will always be associated with him, the bads outweigh the goods. “We really liked the brand, we got represented really well by Forged when we first signed with them, they took us on a trip to Dublin and we went to the brewery, but obviously it’s gone sour now.” The video has gathered attention on social media, and despite a few negative comments, he stands by his decision. David said: “Everyone’s got their own opinions but my opinion is that I no longer want to sell this stout. It would send the wrong message because everyone’s talking about it in a negative way. “I don’t want that association with my bar. “Everyone knows it’s the right thing to do. It’s non-negotiable and if you don’t agree with that then good luck because you won’t get very far.” Forge have been contacted for comment.Ontario First Nations mull next steps on child welfare amid various legal opinionsCINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals took care of business and won three straight games for the first time this season. Cincinnati is playing its best football, but it might be too late to sneak into the playoffs, with five teams battling for the two remaining AFC postseason spots. At 7-8, the Bengals are on the bubble along with two other teams that have the same record, the Colts and Dolphins. To have a chance, the Bengals will need to beat the visiting Denver Broncos (9-6) on Saturday, then try to take down the Steelers (10-5) at Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale. They'll need some help from other teams, too. The rub for the Bengals is that they have yet to beat a team with a winning record this season. Now with some momentum for the first time, the Bengals will have to clear that hurdle. “It’s just what it’s supposed to feel like for us. This is our expectation," coach Zac Taylor said after the Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns 24-6 on Sunday. “We just put ourselves in a position to now play some real meaningful games. ... We found a way to get the win and now we can turn our focus to a short week and the Denver Broncos.” What's working Joe Burrow became the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 250 yards and three or more touchdowns in seven consecutive games. One of his TD passes, to Tee Higgins, came as he was falling down. He finished 23 for 30 for 252 yards. ... Ja'Marr Chase continues to build his resume as he strives to win the receiving “triple crown.” He had six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Browns and leads the league in receptions, yards and TDs. ... K Cade York tied a franchise record with a 59-yard field goal. “The guys have responded this way all season,” Taylor said. “We lost some heartbreakers to be quite frank, and games that just came down to the end. It doesn’t mean that we’ve had a bad football team and we weren’t in it. We’ve been in this, and now — I don’t want to say getting our confidence back, because we’ve had confidence — but we’re just making the plays necessary at the critical points of the game to take control of these games. That’s really what’s happened the last three weeks, and we’ve got to continue that.” What needs help Burrow has fumbled 10 times this season. Against the Browns, he lost a fumble on a strip-sack with the Bengals on the Cleveland 2-yard-line. Stock up Last week, S Jordan Battle scooped a fumble and ran it all the way back, only to fumble as he crossed the goal line, leading to a touchback. Against the Browns, he intercepted a second-half pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the end zone. The Bengals' defense has nine takeaways in the past two games. Stock down Cincinnati's depleted offensive line allowed four sacks. Injuries The offensive line took a hit when tackle Amarius Mims went out with an ankle injury and didn't return. Key number 5.1 — Yards per carry by RB Chase Brown, who seems to get better every week. He had 18 carries for 91 yards. Next steps The Bengals continue their improbable effort to slip into the playoffs when they host the Broncos in their home finale on Saturday. They finish the season the following week at Pittsburgh. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press
The mellowing of electric-vehicle adoption hasn’t prevented General Motors from introducing several such models, specifically for the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands. In particular, Chevrolet has three available, including the Blazer EV. A fourth – the Corvette EV – is expected sometime in 2025, with others reportedly in the development stage. The scalable platform, which is used for all GM EVs, large and small, can handle front, rear or front and rear electric motors. For the midsize five-passenger Blazer EV, the prominent nose does have a type of grille, but it’s mostly for aesthetics. The rest of the bodywork shares nothing – as in zero – with the gasoline Blazer, which remains in production. Both are same length, but the EV has about a 23-centimetre advantage in distance between the front and rear wheels. That means easier rear-seat access through the generously sized doors, plus plenty of legroom. Despite the EV’s lower roofline, cargo volume is greater than the gasoline Blazer’s, with the seat upright or folded flat. There’s no storage beneath the hood – commonly called a front trunk or a frunk – for smaller items, which is frequently found in other EVs, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The interior has a 17.7-inch infotainment screen and a fashionably large 11.1-inch driver-information display. Instead of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the Blazer EV gets Google software. Oversized air vents are positioned on either side of the dashboard and directly above the floor console. The base 300-horsepower LT lists for $57,900, including destination charges. It’s available in front- or all-wheel-drive ($61,400), has a range of 453 and 538 kms, respectively. Equipment includes the usual power features as well as heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, 19-inch wheels and standard active-safety technology such as front and rear emergency braking, active cruise control and blind-spot warning. The 365-horsepower rear-wheel-drive RS ($68,400) can also go up to 538 kms on a charge, but AWD claws that back to 453. The performance-oriented AWD Blazer SS ($73,400) makes 595 horsepower and 645 pound-feet. According to Chevrolet, it can hit 60 mph (96-km/h) from rest in less than four seconds. The range is advertised as 470 kms. For every 10 minutes the Blazer EV is plugged in to a Level 3 DC fast charger, 125 kms of range will be added. With a 240-volt home charger, expect a full top-up overnight. Note that the dual-level charge cord needed for Level 2 and Level 3 use is optional. The RS and SS come with heated and ventilated front seats, heated flat-bottom steering wheel and a hands-free power liftgate. They both have exterior lighting between the grille and the hood that illuminates when the driver approaches. Exclusive to the SS is a head-up driver’s info display (projects information such as speed onto the windshield), a rear-view camera/mirror, Brembo-brand front brakes, premium-grade interior trim and unique 22-inch wheels (21-inch versions are fitted to the RS). Standard with the SS is the latest version of General Motors’ Super Cruise system that allows hands-free driving on more than 640,000 kms of roads in the United States and Canada. GM says that Super Cruise allows the Blazer to safely overtake slower-moving traffic and return to the original lane, all without driver involvement. Chevrolet also says it is creating a Police Pursuit Vehicle model based on the SS, which, given its power output, likely makes the most sense. Given its size, styling, output and variety of trim levels, the Chevrolet Blazer EV has plenty going for it. It also happens to be competitively priced, further enhanced by government rebates. These factors are helping to create increased buyer interest and acceptance in electric vehicles.