
NHL Department of Player Safety Officially Decides on Nikita Kucherov's Suspension Fate
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year as well as inquiries into Biden and his son. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, whom he appointed during his first term. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump's norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director well before his term was up and Wray resigning to avert a collision with the incoming administration. “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me," Wray said. “I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorized to discuss the private gathering by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice" and saying that Patel's confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again.” If confirmed by the Senate, Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI's Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators," raising alarms that he might seek to wield the FBI's significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Trump's perceived enemies. Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to "a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one.” It's extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions throughout the years, including as recently as the past week. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, Trump said, “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed by the Justice Department special counsel that brought them in light of Trump's November victory. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement that Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, the self-professed "low-key, understated" Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. He also sought to avoid public conflict when possible with the Trump White House, distancing himself and his leadership team from the FBI's Russia investigation over errors that took place before he took office and announcing dozens of corrective actions meant to prevent the recurrence of the surveillance abuses that plagued the inquiry. But there were other instances when he memorably broke from Trump — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of the Russia investigation as a “witch hunt." He made known his displeasure when the White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide and contradicted a Trump talking point by stating that Ukraine had not interfered in the 2016 election. He repeatedly sought to keep the focus on the FBI's day-to-day work, using the bulk of his resignation announcement to praise the bureau's efforts in countering everything from violent crime and cyberattacks to Chinese espionage and terrorism. Yet as he leaves office at a time of heightened threats , much of the public focus has been on the politically sensitive investigations of his tenure. Besides the inquiries into Trump, the FBI in recent years also investigated Biden's handling of classified information as well as Biden's son Hunter for tax and gun violations. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last week. A particular flashpoint came in August 2022, when FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago — an action officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that search and has kept up his criticism ever since. Trump was angered by Wray's comment at a congressional hearing that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump's ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the “Bridgegate” scandal. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.49ers confirm huge news on Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa on final injury report for Week 12 game with Packers
Plans Required to Cover Treatment for SOD1-ALS ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a first-of-its-kind directive requiring Medicare Advantage plans to approve coverage for Qalsody, a treatment for people living with genetic SOD1-ALS. This decision reflects the ALS Association's commitment to ensuring that people living with ALS have access to promising ALS treatments without delay. "This is a victory for the entire ALS community," said Calaneet Balas, president and CEO of the ALS Association. "It's critical that FDA-approved treatments are made accessible rather than being labeled as 'experimental.' We are grateful to everyone in our community who helped make this day happen." Balas added: "We hope this sends a message to the entire rare disease community and pharmaceutical industry that new treatments can be developed and made accessible to those who will benefit from them. We need to ensure more ALS treatments are developed and approved that will help everyone living with ALS." The ALS Association played a key role in the historic CMS directive by participating and advocating for the research, approval, and accessibility of Qalsody for people living with ALS. In 2004, the ALS Association was the first to fund research into ALS-specific antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology, investing over $1.3 million in groundbreaking studies that laid the foundation for the development of Qalsody. This early commitment supported preclinical studies, safety trials, and the first-in-human phase 1 trial, which established SOD1 as a viable therapeutic target. In 2023, Qalsody became the first gene-based therapy approved for ALS , thanks in part to the ALS Association's efforts, including a united push from the ALS community for FDA accelerated approval. This new CMS directive provides precedent for state regulators to issue similar actions for other private insurers. According to the Valor study published in 2022 , Qalsody, which was developed specifically to target the RNA produced by mutated SOD1 genes, has demonstrated significant promise in clinical trials and real-world studies. In the phase 3 VALOR trial, Qalsody reduced levels of mutated SOD1 proteins in cerebral spinal fluid by 35% within eight weeks and decreased bloodstream levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL)—a key biomarker of neurodegeneration—by 50% within 12-16 weeks. These biological changes translated into measurable clinical benefits, including slower disease progression, improved respiratory function, and enhanced quality of life after 52 weeks of treatment. Real-world data has since validated these findings, with some patients stabilizing or even experiencing improvements in motor function and quality of life. When insurance companies began denying access to Qalsody, labeling it as "experimental," the ALS Association took decisive action, working directly with CMS to launch an investigation into these unjust denials. By presenting evidence of widespread insurance rejections and demonstrating the critical need for immediate intervention. In addition to working with CMS, the ALS Association actively engaged policymakers, held strategic meetings with state and federal legislators, and served as a staunch advocate for patients, ensuring their voices were heard and their rights to life-changing treatment were upheld. The ALS Association urges anyone previously denied Qalsody by their Medicare Advantage plan to contact their ALS specialist immediately to begin the process of securing access to this critical treatment. For more information on the CMS directive visit als.org About the ALS Association The ALS Association is the largest ALS organization in the world. The ALS Association funds global research collaborations, assists people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of care and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association is working to make ALS a livable disease while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about the ALS Association, visit our website at www.als.org . About ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Over the course of the disease, people lose the ability to move, to speak, and eventually, to breathe. The disease is always fatal, usually within five years of diagnosis. Few treatment options exist, resulting in a high unmet need for new therapies to address functional deficits and disease progression. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/groundbreaking-directive-ensures-als-patients-on-medicare-advantage-gain-access-to-qalsody-302329525.html SOURCE The ALS AssociationGREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While other teams around the NFL are seeing their injury lists grow as the season winds down, the Green Bay Packers appear to be getting healthy at just the right time. Not only is quarterback Jordan Love looking like himself after dealing with early-season left knee and groin injuries, but the rest of the roster is getting better, too. “I think every team that can realize their potential needs to be as healthy as they can be. And injuries are a part of this business,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “It is what it is in terms of the next man up, but obviously, you want the guys that are your starters to be available — especially as you get closer to the end of the year.” Love certainly has been rolling of late, completing 67.1% of his passes for 904 yards with six touchdowns and one interception (118.8 passer rating) over the past four games, owing some of his hot streak to simply being healthy again. “The name of the game is trying to stay as healthy as possible, especially late into the season,” Love said. “There’s definitely injuries that stack up and guys being out. To have everybody relatively healthy and to be able to have our top guys out there would be huge for us.” The Packers (9-4) head into their with the Seahawks (8-5) in Seattle with only one player having been unable to take part in Wednesday’s practice at all: safety Javon Bullard. LaFleur said Bullard is week-to-week with an ankle injury he suffered in the team’s . The Packers got full participation from Jaire Alexander, who has missed four of the team’s last five games with a knee injury suffered at Jacksonville on Oct. 27, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who has missed the last two games with a concussion he suffered against San Francisco on Nov. 24. Although Alexander had practiced on a limited basis in recent weeks, he has missed the last three games and pulled himself out of the team’s Nov. 17 win at Chicago because of his knee. Getting Alexander back to face Seahawks receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would give a major lift to the Packers’ pass defense, currently ranked 21st with 222.2 yards per game allowed. “When I was watching him, he looked like he was moving around well, and we’ll just see how it transpires throughout the course of the week,” LaFleur said. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready to roll.” LaFleur said Doubs and rookie safety Evan Williams, who left the Packers’ 34-31 loss to the Lions because of a concussion, are still in the concussion protocol. But Williams was able to practice on a limited basis. Meanwhile, tight end Luke Musgrave, who hasn’t played a snap since injuring his left ankle during a a Sept. 29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, has been designated for return from injured reserve. Musgrave took part in practice for the first time since undergoing surgery in early October to repair a torn ligament in the ankle. He said he only did individual drill work Wednesday, making it unlikely he would be activated this week. “Just going to ease back into it, but I feel good,” Musgrave said. “Still getting the cutting back, but overall, it feels good.” ___ AP NFL:O’Shea stands by decision to keep playing Collaros after QB was hurt in Grey Cup
The 10 most bizarre celebrity Christmas traditions: From Chrissy Teigen's annual McDonald's to the Royal Family's time out at breakfast Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By CAROLINE PEACOCK Published: 19:58, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 20:12, 24 December 2024 e-mail 5 shares View comments Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year - but not everyone celebrates it the same way. When you think of festive traditions, it's hard not to picture the classics: a turkey with all the trimmings, a singalong at the local carol service, and a cheeky glass of mulled wine with mince pies. Families across the world love these staples, but not everyone sticks to the traditional script - especially in the world of celebs. The stars are known for doing things their own way, and Christmas is no exception. Forget the glitz and glam, some of your favourite celebs have surprisingly quirky ways of marking the big day. From unusual rituals to over-the-top extravagance, MailOnline reveals the famous faces who like to do something a little bit different from the norm. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend With Chrissy Teigen famed for her cooking, you might expect her to be stuck in the kitchen over the festive period, yet instead she orders McDonald's for her family With Chrissy Teigen famed for her cooking, you might expect her to be stuck in the kitchen over the festive period. The social media savvy stunner has authored cookbooks including 2018's Cravings: Hungry for More: A Cookbook and Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat: A Cookbook,. Yet when it comes to food at the festive period, Chrissy's husband John Legend revealed it's the time of year they treat themselves to a fast food delivery. John explained that for several years now, the family has ordered McDonald's on Christmas Eve as a late-night snack. 'It's a Chrissy tradition, for sure,' John told Postmate's The Receipt. He then added: 'We've decided that Beef Wellington is our go-to Christmas main dish from now on.' Mariah Carey Mariah Carey heads to Aspen with her twins where they get 'one or two horse-drawn sleighs, and we bundle up and go riding in the snow under the stars' She's unofficially known as the Queen Of Christmas, with her hit All I Want for Christmas Is You - the bestselling Christmas song of all-time in the US. So it's unsurprising that Mariah Carey pulls out all the stops in December. Mariah - who famously kicks off the festive season by 'defrosting' and warbling 'It's tiiiiiime' in honor of her festive hit - lost her trademark battle to officially own the phrase Queen Of Christmas, but still goes all out. She usually heads to Aspen with her twins Morocco and Monroe and explained: 'Depending on how many of us are up in [Aspen], we get one or two horse-drawn sleighs, and we bundle up and go riding in the snow under the stars.' But her OTT festivities don't stop there, with the singer adding: 'We always drink cocoa with butterscotch schnapps to keep warm, and we sing at the top of our lungs.' Kate Middleton According to Royal insiders, the women and the men of the Royal Family spend breakfast time apart and only unite to go to Church later in the day (pictured: Kate Middleton) While many families will wake up on Christmas morning surrounded by their loved ones - the same can't be said for Kate Middleton and Prince William. According to Royal insiders, the women and the men of the family spend breakfast time apart and only unite to go to Church later in the day. Former Royal chef Darren McGrady explained: 'On Christmas Day, the ladies generally opt for a light breakfast of sliced fruit, half a grapefruit, toast, and coffee delivered to their rooms.' He added to the Daily Mail back in 2017: 'The male royals, meanwhile, come downstairs to the dining room for a hearty breakfast at 8:30 am, with eggs, bacon and mushrooms, kippers, and grilled kidneys, to set them up for the 11:00 a.m. church service at St Mary Magdalene.' The Jonas Brothers Many mark Christmas morning with a hearty feast of eggs, bacon, toast or biscuits for their festive breakfast - but not the Jonas family, who enjoy tamales Many mark Christmas morning with a hearty feast of eggs, bacon, toast or biscuits for their festive breakfast - but not the Jonas family. The boy band likes to treat themselves to a Mexican tradition in the morning and will scoff at hot tamales before opening their presents. Speaking to InStyle, Nick, 32, admitted: 'Every year we eat tamales on Christmas morning and it's pretty awesome,' He went on to reveal: 'My mom started it and I think it's special because we've grown up doing it and it's very like us to have tamales on Christmas.' A tamale is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa, a dough made from nixtamalized corn, which is then steamed in a corn husk or banana leaves. Julia Roberts Julia Roberts revealed she and husband Danny Moder don't allow anyone into the living room on Christmas Day alone, and they have to enter as a family Julia Roberts, 57, has a number of holiday traditions she can't wait to get stuck into. The star previously gave a glimpse of how she, her husband Danny Moder and their three kids celebrate Christmas. The actress shared that she loved waking up on Christmas morning, saying her family had a tradition where 'nobody goes into the living room until everybody goes into the living room.' The mother of three said the holidays wouldn't be complete without 'a good hearty Christmas dinner' as well as figuring out just how much to feed everyone before the festive meal. 'I do enjoy the practical challenge of Christmas morning mealtime because you don't want too much, you don't want to spoil them off the bat,' she explained. 'You want to keep a steady blood level going where you don't get crazy before the big meal.' Reese Witherspoon Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon, 48, has revealed she gets her Academy Award involved in the Christmas celebrations Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon, 48, has revealed she gets her Academy Award involved in the Christmas celebrations. As well as lavishly decorating her home, Reese previously confessed that her statuette gets a little bit of festive love. The mum-of-three revealed that the Best Actress Oscar, which she took home back in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line, looks completely different on the big day. And that's all thanks to her children Ava, Deacon and Tennessee. 'At Christmastime, they put a little hat on him and a little scarf, so he doesn't get cold,' The Morning Show actress previously said in an interview. Stacey Solomon Stacey Solomon whips up an unusual breakfast on Christmas for her husband and children Stacey Solomon has very much become the epitome of Mrs Christmas herself. While she gets into the spirit nice and early, the British TV star, who is married to Joe Swash and has five children, likes to go against the grain on Christmas. Rather than tucking into a full English, the 35-year-old presenter rustles up a very different morning meal, which even she has admitted is rather strange. 'This is going to sound really weird... my mum every Christmas morning used to cut a grapefruit in half, put some sugar on it and that was our breakfast,' Stacey revealed. 'None of my kids will eat it, Joe won't eat it, it's not even that great, but I just have to every single Christmas.' She added on an episode of Loose Women: 'I don't eat grapefruit all year but on Christmas morning, I sit there with my half a grapefruit and sugar and I really enjoy it.' Peter and Emily Andre Emily Andre makes stockings from cutting up old tights (pictured with husband Peter) Peter Andre and his wife Emily are set to have a magical Christmas as they prepare to celebrate with their newest addition, baby Arabella, who was born this April. While discussing her family Christmas traditions, Emily revealed that her favourite festive custom involves cutting up old tights - a quirky tradition passed down from her parents, Rebecca and Ruaraidh. 'It's my favourite tradition, we do weird stockings, stockings in tights,' she told OK! Magazine . 'We cut tights in half and fill them. We've always done it since I was a child – no idea why, but we love it.' Chrissy Teigen Kate Middleton Joe Jonas Share or comment on this article: The 10 most bizarre celebrity Christmas traditions: From Chrissy Teigen's annual McDonald's to the Royal Family's time out at breakfast e-mail 5 shares Add comment
Jamie Redknapp pointed the finger at Ruben Amorim’s right-hand man Carlos Fernandes after Manchester United’s set piece problems continued. United lost their second match in a week as Nottingham Forest left Old Trafford with a famous 3-2 win on Saturday evening . The defeat was Amorim’s first at home and followed on the back of a comprehensive 2-0 reverse at Arsenal on Wednesday to leave United languishing in 13th place in the Premier League . They were 1-0 down inside two minutes when Nikola Milenkovic climbed highest to power home a corner for Forest. The ease with which he got a free header inside the United box was concerning after Arsenal scored both of their goals from corners earlier in the week. Amorim explained before the game that Fernandes has taken over from Andreas Georgson as the coach in charge of set pieces – and former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp is not impressed by the defensive set-up he has implemented. “ Manchester United have changed their set piece coach,” he said in a piece of analysis on Sky Sports. “They’ve got a new guy in, that the manager’s brought in. Carlos Fernandes his name is. Another guy was doing it. But this doesn’t work for me. There are a couple of people in the Premier League who you don’t want to mark from set pieces: one of them is Gabriel [Magalhaes] and one has to be Chris Wood. “[Manuel] Ugarte, he must be 5ft 10in maximum, and he’s up against Chris Wood. If that ball comes in there it’s a mismatch and it’s a goal. Nobody in this situation is taking control. There’s not one bit of confidence when I look at it.” Former United centre-back Phil Jones feels that having Diogo Dalot as the first defender on the near post is problematic. He believes that Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt should be positioned more prominently to clear the ball. “There was a real sense of vulnerability, just watching the game, in the crowd,” Jones said. “It was almost infectious, every time the ball went out for a corner you felt that.” He added: “I think he's got a clear identity of how he wants to play, I think he's got a clear message of how he wants every individual player to be in possession, out of possession, that will take time. “He's alluded to the fact that it will take time to implement his style and the way he wants to go about things. But I do think if you're going to concede goals like they have and set plays then they're going to find it increasingly difficult.” When asked who was to blame for the poor organisation from the corner, Amorim told Sky Sports: "This is more my fault, because I'm responsible. And we tried to do it in the best way. We did a lot of work in this area, because we saw it in Arsenal. It was really hard.” United striker Rasmus Hojlund said: "Annoying goals of course, we need to do better, specifically on corners, we've conceded too much now but I'm sure we'll improve.” Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.CHICAGO (AP) — Mark Scheifele snapped a third-period tie and Kyle Connor had two assists, helping the Winnipeg Jets beat Chicago 4-2 on Saturday in the first game for interim Blackhawks coach Anders Sorensen. Mason Appleton had a goal and an assist as the Jets picked up their second straight win after a four-game losing streak. Nino Niederreiter and Gabriel Vilardi also scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 12 saves. Sorensen was promoted from the team’s top minor league affiliate when Luke Richardson was fired on Thursday. Alex Vlasic scored for the second straight game for Chicago, which has dropped five in a row. Alec Martinez added his first goal of the season. The Blackhawks had a 2-1 lead before Niederreiter converted a backhander 13:10 into the second, beating Arvid Soderblom. It was Niederreiter’s 10th of the season. Soderblom entered 11 minutes into the game when Petr Mrazek appeared to aggravate a right groin pull. Appleton had an empty-net goal with 1:41 to play. Takeaways Jets: Winnipeg outplayed Chicago in the final 30 minutes, not only in shots but in puck possession. Blackhawks: Chicago played with more pace but it still struggled to get the puck to the net. They had only 14 shots on goal. RELATED COVERAGE Flyers coach John Tortorella criticizes the officiating in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins Zacha scores in overtime as the Bruins rally past the Flyers for their 4th straight win Michael Kesselring scores as Utah beats the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 Key moment Scheifele beat Jason Dickinson on the face-off that led to Winnipeg’s go-ahead goal. He slid the puck to Connor, then raced to the net for the rebound at 10:18. Key stat Blackhawks coaches, interim or full-time, are 6-7-1 in their first game behind the bench since the beginning of the 1995-96 season. Richardson lost his debut at the beginning of the 2022-23 season. Up next The Jets begin a four-game homestand against Columbus on Sunday. The Blackhawks are in New York on Monday night to play the Rangers. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Groundbreaking Directive Ensures ALS Patients on Medicare Advantage Gain Access to Qalsody
Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over expensive shambles that saw Ten Hag get new deal before being sackedWILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Attorneys for Fox Corp. asked a Delaware judge Friday to dismiss a shareholder lawsuit seeking to hold current and former company officials personally liable for the financial fallout stemming from Fox News reports regarding alleged vote rigging in the 2020 election. Five New York City public employee pension funds, along with Oregon’s public employee retirement fund, allege that former chairman Rupert Murdoch and other Fox Corp. leaders deliberately turned a blind eye to liability risks posed by reporting false claims of vote rigging by election technology companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic USA. Smartmatic is for defamation in New York, alleging damages of $2.7 billion. It recently in the District of Columbia against One America News Network, another conservative outlet, over reports of vote fraud. Dominion also filed several defamation lawsuits against blaming its election equipment for Donald Trump’s loss in 2020. Last year, a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion in Delaware for $787 million. The shareholder plaintiffs also allege that Fox corporate leaders ignored “red flags” about liability arising from a 2017 report suggesting that Seth Rich, a Democratic National Committee staffer, may have been killed because he had leaked Democratic party emails to Wikileaks during the 2016 presidential campaign. Rich, 27, was shot in 2016 in Washington, D.C., in what authorities have said was an attempted robbery. Fox News retracted the Seth Rich story a week after its initial broadcast, but Rich’s parents sued the network for falsely portraying their son as a criminal and traitor. Fox News in 2020 for “millions of dollars,” shortly before program hosts Lou Dobbs and Sean Hannity were to be deposed, according to the shareholder lawsuit. Joel Friedlander, an attorney for the institutional shareholders, argued that Fox officials waited until the company’s reporting about Rich became a national scandal before addressing the issue. Similarly, according to the shareholders, corporate officials, including Rupert Murdoch and his son, CEO Lachlan Murdoch, allowed Fox News to continue broadcasting false narratives about the 2020 election, despite internal communications suggesting that they knew there was no evidence to support the conspiracy theories. “The Murdochs could have minimized future monetary exposure, but they chose not to,” Friedlander said. Instead, he argued, they engaged in “bad-faith decision making” with other defendants in a profit-driven effort to retain viewers and remain in Trump’s good graces. “Decisions were made at the highest level to promote pro-Trump conspiracy theories without editorial control,” Friedlander said. Defense attorneys argue that the case should be dismissed because the plaintiffs filed their lawsuit without first demanding that the Fox Corp. board take action, as required under Delaware law. They say the plaintiffs also failed to demonstrate that a pre-suit demand on the Fox board would have been futile because at least half of the directors face a substantial likelihood of liability or are not independent of someone who does. Beyond the “demand futility” issue, defense attorneys also argue that allegations that Fox officials breached their fiduciary duties fail to meet the pleading standards under Delaware and therefore should be dismissed. Defense attorney William Savitt argued, for example, that neither the Rich settlement, which he described as “immaterial,” nor the allegedly defamatory statements about Dominion and Smartmatic constitute red flags putting directors on notice about the risk of defamation liability. Nor do they demonstrate that directors acted in bad faith or that Fox “utterly failed” to implement and monitor a system to report and mitigate legal risks, including defamation liability risk, according to the defendants. Savitt noted that the Rich article was promptly retracted, and that the settlement included no admission of liability. The Dominion and Smartmatic statements, meanwhile, gave rise themselves to the currently liability issues and therefore can not serve as red flags about future liability risks, according to the defendants. “A ‘red flag’ must be what the term commonly implies — warning of a risk of a liability-causing event that allows the directors to take action to avert the event, not notice that a liability-causing event has already occurred,” defense attorneys wrote in their motion to dismiss. Defense attorneys also say there are no factual allegations to support claims that Fox officials condoned illegal conduct in pursuit of corporate profits, or that they deliberately ignored their oversight responsibilities. They note that a “bad outcome” is not sufficient to demonstrate “bad faith.” Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster is expected to rule within 90 days.
Scheifele scores as the Jets beat the Blackhawks 4-2 in Sorensen's first gameB. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG purchased a new stake in shares of AAON, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AAON – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 11,914 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,285,000. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of AAON by 106.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 1,089,070 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $95,010,000 after purchasing an additional 561,195 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL bought a new position in AAON during the second quarter valued at approximately $44,934,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in AAON by 212.3% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 656,552 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $57,278,000 after acquiring an additional 446,344 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in AAON by 552.4% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 350,082 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $30,541,000 after acquiring an additional 296,423 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of AAON during the 2nd quarter worth $15,700,000. 70.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. AAON Price Performance Shares of AAON stock opened at $137.42 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $114.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $94.31. AAON, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $61.09 and a fifty-two week high of $144.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 3.06 and a quick ratio of 1.79. The company has a market cap of $11.17 billion, a PE ratio of 60.54 and a beta of 0.79. AAON Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, November 29th will be paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.23%. AAON’s payout ratio is 14.10%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Gary D. Fields sold 35,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.03, for a total value of $4,621,050.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 64,295 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,488,868.85. The trade was a 35.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, VP Casey Kidwell sold 1,421 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.14, for a total transaction of $192,033.94. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,953 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $669,348.42. This represents a 22.29 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 41,217 shares of company stock valued at $5,467,162 over the last ninety days. 18.55% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently issued reports on AAON. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of AAON from $130.00 to $138.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. StockNews.com upgraded AAON from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Baird R W raised shares of AAON from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. DA Davidson lifted their target price on shares of AAON from $102.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Sidoti downgraded AAON from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their price target for the company from $102.00 to $111.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, AAON currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $133.00. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on AAON AAON Profile ( Free Report ) AAON, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and selling air conditioning and heating equipment in the United States and Canada. The company operates through three segments: AAON Oklahoma, AAON Coil Products, and BASX. It offers rooftop units, data center cooling solutions, cleanroom systems, chillers, packaged outdoor mechanical rooms, air handling units, makeup air units, energy recovery units, condensing units, geothermal/water-source heat pumps, coils, and controls. Read More Receive News & Ratings for AAON Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AAON and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Colorado secured what it said was record insurance coverage for quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as the star duo opted to rather than sit out and prepare for the NFL draft. Colorado would not disclose the amount of insurance coverage each received, citing privacy laws. Coach Deion Sanders and athletic director Rick George both said it was the largest in college football history. “We happen to have two players that are probably going to be the first two picks of the NFL draft,” Sanders said Monday. “We all know who those two are and they have received, I think, the highest number of coverage that has ever been covered in college football. It far exceeds anyone that has ever played this game of college football.” While college programs maintain insurance policies for their athletes in case of injury, Colorado increased disability coverage for its entire roster in the Alamo Bowl. Sanders, the coach of the No. 20 Buffaloes, ensured his QB son and received larger policies since both are expected to be among the top 10 selections in the upcoming NFL draft. “It was his idea we should get disability insurance for our athletes for this game to ensure that they played and if there was some kind of injury that they would be well taken care of," George said. “So, we worked together on that. We’re excited about it. We think it’s great that all our players are playing in the game. That’s what all bowl games should be like.” Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. While most teams are scrambling with starters opting out of bowl games this year to enter the transfer portal or NFL draft, the Buffaloes did not lose any player on their two-deep roster. “It’s more than what I got (when he played at Kansas State),” Colorado linebackers coach Andre’ Hart said. “They gave us a helmet and said pop this on your leg and get out there and play. For them to get that (increased insurance coverage), I just think it’s beneficial. To talk about where the game is, where it’s going and how leadership is taking care of the players, I thought that’s excellent.” Shedeur Sanders completed 337 of 454 passes for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Many scouting services have Sanders rated as the top quarterback in this year's draft. Hunter received the Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at cornerback and wide receiver. He had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns and as a cornerback had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and limited the opposition to 22 receptions on 688 defensive snaps. “They’ve taken care of us, everybody,” Colorado running back Micah Welch said. “It really means a lot to have every teammate up here. That's a big thing. What I like about Coach Prime, they’re taking care of us.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: andMohamed Salah 'has agreed a new two-year contract at Liverpool as talisman and the Reds board reach an agreement to extend his stay' with forward's deal expiring at the end of the seasonNavitas Semiconductor director Hendrix sells $88,914 in stockPregnant Charlotte Crosby ‘rushed to hospital’ days after home robbery attempt
WGO INVESTOR NEWS: Winnebago Industries, Inc. Investors that Suffered Losses Are Encouraged to ...None
John Stossel: Your tax dollars not at workWASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to abandon their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in one of their filings. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, welcomed the decision to drop the prosecutions against the president-elect, describing it as a “major victory for the rule of law.” "The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country,” Cheung said in a statement. Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will re-enter the White House free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. ___ Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker And Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
O’Shea stands by decision to keep playing Collaros after QB was hurt in Grey Cup