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An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalitionSpark divests remaining tower assets for $314mKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a 56-0 victory over UTEP on Saturday. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn't caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee's defensive line, which had no sacks in last week's loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee's offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. UTEP was the dominant team in the first quarter. Tennessee managed just 37 offensive yards and, thanks to an interception near the end zone and a missed field goal by the Miners, both teams were scoreless after 15 minutes. POLL IMPLICATIONS Tennessee’s convincing victory, coupled with losses by Mississippi and Indiana, should put the Volunteers in a good position when the next College Football Playoff poll is released. The Vols were ranked No. 11 going into this week’s games. THE TAKEAWAY UTEP: The Miners will head into a very winnable game against New Mexico State having won two of their last five games. First-year coach Scotty Walden will try to build on that success in the offseason to help enhance his roster. Tennessee: Even a lopsided win won’t carry much weight where it means the most — in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Vols will have to rely on a convincing win against Vanderbilt next week, a team that has shown a lot of improvement this season, to help their standing for those coveted spots. UP NEXT UTEP: The Miners will finish their season at New Mexico State Saturday. Tennessee: The Vols will finish their regular season at Vanderbilt next Saturday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Tuipulotu 'trying not to make Australia game bigger than it is'
An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalitionThe Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (NYSE:GBX) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages
Raw Farm milk has been voluntarily recalled. Photo via California Department of Public Health The Marin County Public Health department is warning people not to consume raw milk products after what it calls a “suspected case of bird flu in a child who experienced fever and vomiting after drinking raw milk.” Marin County officials said they are investigating the possible case of bird flu with the California Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The child has since recovered, with no other family members who became sick, health officials said. Marin officials said the possible illness was linked to unpasteurized milk produced by Fresno County-based Raw Firm, which is currently after California health officials said its products tested positive for bird flu. But Mark McAfee, CEO of Raw Farm near Kerman, said this announcement represents the latest politically motivated attack against the raw milk community. U.S. sales of raw milk increased by 21% this year. close to the CDC investigation that testing hasn’t been completed, but initial tests have been negative for the H5 avian influenza virus in this case. McAfee said the illness could be the seasonal flu. “There are literally 100,000 people in California drinking raw milk, and you don’t think some of them might get the flu?” McAfee said Wednesday. “This is definitely part of an agenda.” On Dec. 6, state health officials issued an alert to health care providers to test for human avian flu in people who develop flu-like symptoms after consuming raw milk. Due to widespread transmission of bird flu among wild birds, there have been significant outbreaks among dairy cows and sporadic human cases. “Bird flu infections in humans are uncommon but there are ongoing outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry farms in the United States,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin County’s Public Health Officer, “The risk to the public remains low, as bird flu spread from person to person is rare.” There have been 32 confirmed cases of bird flu reported in California this year. Most bird flu detections in the U.S. have been in ag workers who were exposed to sick animals. The Marin County Public Health department is warning people not Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Those celebrating Thanksgiving won’t have to spend as much to A pair of locally based farm associations have weighed in
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Ruling parties held sway in most of the 13 states in the assembly by-election results declared on Saturday, with the BJP and its allies wresting seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan and the Trinamool Congress sweeping West Bengal. Out of the 46 seats where byelections were held, the BJP and its allies won 26, a gain of nine seats, followed by Congress with seven -- a loss of six seats. The Trinamool Congress won six, the Aam Aadmi Party three and the Samajwadi Party two seats. The LDF in Kerala and BAP in Rajasthan got one each. Apart from this, two seats in Sikkim were won unopposed by Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) candidates. In the bypolls to two Lok Sabha constituencies, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi cruised to her maiden electoral victory from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala with a margin of over 4.1 lakh votes against CPI(M)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri, but the party lost Nanded in Maharashtra to the BJP. After the reverses in the Lok Sabha election, the ruling BJP-led alliance secured its hold over the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh with its candidates winning seven out of nine seats. The BJP retained four seats -- Ghaziabad, Khair, Majhawan and Phulpur -- and wrested Katehari and Kundarki from the SP while its ally RLD retained one. The Samajwadi Party, which had four of these seats, retained Sishamau and Karhal. The ruling BJP won five of the seven seats in Rajasthan, wresting three from Congress and one from the RLP. The Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) and the Congress retained one seat each. In a boost to the Bhagwant Mann-led government, the ruling AAP in Punjab wrested Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal assembly segments from the Congress, which ousted AAP from Barnala. The ruling NDA in Bihar swept the bypolls to four assembly segments, retaining Imamganj (HAM) and wresting from the INDIA bloc Tarari (BJP), Ramgarh (BJP) and Belaganj (JD-U), receiving a boost ahead of the assembly elections due next year. The TMC trounced the opposition in West Bengal, retaining five seats and wresting Madarihat from the BJP, further cementing its political dominance in the state despite the the ongoing protests over the RG Kar incident. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the results of the byelections would help her work for the people. "I would like to thank and congratulate the 'Maa, Mati and Manush' from the bottom of my heart. Your blessings will help us work for the people in the coming days. We all are common people and that is our identity. We are not zamindars, but the custodians of the people," she posted on X. The ruling National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya also got a boost as party candidate and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's wife Mehtab Chandee Agitok Sangma wrested the Gambegre seat from Congress. The Congress won the byelections to all three assembly seats in Karnataka, wresting one each from the BJP and its ally JD(S). In Kerala, it retained the Palakkad assembly seat while the ruling LDF maintained its hold in Chelakkara assembly seat. Giving credit to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's leadership as well as the five guarantees for the Congress party’s success, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said it was a prelude to the 2028 assembly election where the party would once again win. The BJP long with its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United Peoples' Party Liberal (UPPL) won all five assembly constituencies in Assam. The AGP and UPPL retained the Bongaigaon and Sidli (ST) constituencies, respectively. The BJP retained Behali and Dholai (SC), and wrested Samaguri from the Congress. The ruling BJP wrested the Vav assembly constituency in Gujarat from the Congress and retained the Raipur City South assembly seat in Chattisgarh and Kedarnath assembly seat in Uttarakhand. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP retained the Budhni seat, where byelection was necessitated following the resignation of former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, but suffered a setback as state minister Ramniwas Rawat lost in the Vijaypur assembly seat with the Congress retaining the seat. Rawat had won the seat on a Congress ticket in the 2023 assembly polls but then switched over to the BJP, which made him forest minister in the Mohan Yadav government. He had won from Vijaypur in Sheopur district as a Congress candidate in 1990, 1993, 2003, 2008 and 2013 as well. Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) candidates Aditya Golay and Satish Chandra Rai were on Saturday elected unopposed in the bypolls to Soreng-Chakung and Namchi-Singhithang assembly constituencies, officials said. The assembly bypolls were held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven seats in Rajasthan, six seats in West Bengal, five seats in Assam, four seats each in Punjab and Bihar, three seats in Karnataka, two seats in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya. (With inputs from PTI) Follow us on: Facebook , Twitter , Google News , Instagram Join our official telegram channel ( @nationalherald ) and stay updated with the latest headlinesBrock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks . Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn't improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Atria Investments Inc grew its position in Synovus Financial Corp. ( NYSE:SNV – Free Report ) by 42.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,198 shares of the bank’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,132 shares during the quarter. Atria Investments Inc’s holdings in Synovus Financial were worth $320,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new stake in Synovus Financial in the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of Synovus Financial by 87.2% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 747 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Synovus Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at $43,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Synovus Financial by 43.5% during the 1st quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,224 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares during the period. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Synovus Financial by 404.8% in the second quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 1,378 shares of the bank’s stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 1,105 shares during the period. 83.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Synovus Financial Stock Up 2.9 % Synovus Financial stock opened at $57.62 on Friday. Synovus Financial Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $29.34 and a fifty-two week high of $59.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.89. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $49.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.09. The stock has a market cap of $8.16 billion, a PE ratio of 26.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.37. Synovus Financial Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 19th were given a dividend of $0.38 per share. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 19th. Synovus Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 68.78%. Analysts Set New Price Targets SNV has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup set a $59.00 price objective on shares of Synovus Financial in a report on Friday, October 18th. DA Davidson increased their price target on Synovus Financial from $53.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Raymond James raised Synovus Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $49.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered Synovus Financial from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $48.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Synovus Financial from $52.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $52.71. Get Our Latest Research Report on Synovus Financial About Synovus Financial ( Free Report ) Synovus Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Synovus Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking products and services. It operates through four segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Consumer Banking, and Financial Management Services. The company's commercial banking services include treasury and asset management, capital market, and institutional trust services, as well as commercial, financial, and real estate lending services. See Also Five stocks we like better than Synovus Financial What is the Euro STOXX 50 Index? Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade Why Are These Companies Considered Blue Chips? MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally How to Read Stock Charts for Beginners Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SNV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Synovus Financial Corp. ( NYSE:SNV – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Synovus Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Synovus Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Will Daboll Give Nabers Targets He Deserves?
Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Federal hostility could delay offshore wind projects, derailing state climate goals National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC Takes Position in Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ)The Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera is a great starter for aspiring photographers. It features a 24-megapixel sensor for great image quality and color and can capture 4K (UHD) video at 24 frames per second. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a flip-out preview screen. It's a great time to be a photographer these days, as it's easier than ever to access great cameras. Specifically, mirrorless cameras like Canon's EOS R100 . Sure, our smartphones are capable of capturing pretty good photos, but if you're a true photographer at heart, you're eventually going to want more from your camera. Also: The best Black Friday deals live now You're going to want more flexibility in post-processing and, quite frankly, better image quality. Luckily, Canon has several camera bodies in its mirrorless product line, including the R100: a compact mirrorless camera aimed at the beginner photographer who's fresh off their smartphone. Canon EOS R100 The compact Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera fits in the palm of your hand. The Canon R100 is one of the lightest camera bodies on the market, but don't let its weight fool you into assuming it can't create quality images or video. It has an APS-C sensor that can capture 24 megapixels and 1080p video at 60 frames per second. It's also capable of capturing 4K (UHD) video at 24 frames per second. Also: The 15 best Black Friday security camera deals of 2024 When you're just starting out in photography, the last thing you want to do is struggle with flipping through menus, buttons, and dials. You want to start shooting as soon as possible to get used to the feel of the camera and its capabilities. Canon's intuitive menu design along with its dial-and-button layout makes the R100 an easy sale for new photographers. The Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera is for beginner photographers and creators. Yes, it's compact, but the shutter button and rear buttons are right where they need to be for your index finger and thumb, respectively. I have really large hands, so I battle with holding smaller cameras. With the R100, however, it only took a few minutes for me to get used to how it feels. I'm a firm believer that a camera has to feel good in your hands; I don't care about its elaborate list of bells and whistles, it should just "feel right" if you're going to shoot with it regularly. Canon does a good job with this. Image quality The image quality is on par with what I expected from a budget-friendly camera with a cropped sensor (APS-C). You'll hear smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung boast having over 40 megapixels in their smartphone cameras, so if you're unsure if a camera with only half that can stand up to them in quality, the answer is a resounding yes. Here's why. Also: Best instant cameras of 2024: Polaroid and alternatives The image sensor on this camera is much larger than those in any smartphone, so the image quality will almost always be better. Here are two sample images captured with the R100 in two slightly different scenarios. Image one utilized the kit lens (18mm-45mm) that came with the R100. Here's a Canon R100 sample image with the 18mm-45mm kit lens. In this first image, you'll notice the image quality is pretty solid. I didn't do any post-processing other than adjusting the white balance. My dog Kylo looks pretty good here. Even when I zoomed into the image, I noticed the noise wasn't bad, considering I shot this in a shaded area on a sensor smaller than what I usually use (full frame). The ISO was cranked up to 3,200, so getting image noise is almost guaranteed. Look at the first image and compare it to the zoomed-in version of the image below. The noise isn't much of an issue. Sample of image noise from Canon R100 I captured one more image, but I'll admit, I cheated just a little. In the second image, I attached an 85mm prime lens, which has a wider aperture for more light. Also, it's just a better lens thanks to the quality of the glass. I should also note that I attached this lens onto the R100 via an RF to EF lens adapter. Most of my Canon lenses are EF mount, which isn't compatible with the mirrorless bodies unless you use an adapter. With that said, the R100 did a stellar job. Sample image Canon R100 with 85mm EF lens attached This 24-megapixel APS-C sensor did a great job capturing fine details. Yes, I have a better lens on the body, but this also proves that a photographer can start with this camera and upgrade to better lenses over the years until they're ready to move on to an upgraded mirrorless body from Canon. As in the first image, I only corrected the white balance. No other post-processing was done. How the Canon handles video Shooting video on the R100 is straightforward, with full HD at 60 frames per second. This is great for live action, but if you're attempting to shoot something in a "cinematic flare," back the frame rate down to at least 30 frames per second, preferably 24 frames per second. Also: I went mountain biking with DJI's latest action camera, and it didn't let me down If you're curious to shoot in 4K (UHD), note that your image will be presented at a tighter focal length because the video mode utilizes the center of the APS-C sensor and not the full working area. This could be an inconvenience, but it's not a dealbreaker for a camera in this price range. Canon EOS R100 camera body If you're wondering whether the R100 can be used for vlogging and live streaming, the answer is yes and no. If you want to vlog, you can, but you won't be able to see yourself as there's no flip-out screen found on most vlogging cameras. Regarding live streaming, you can use the micro HDMI to connect the R100 to your computer via a capture card or an HDMI switcher such as an ATEM Mini. I don't have many concerns. First, the lack of a flip-out screen is rather inconvenient. Flip-out screens are useful beyond just vlogging purposes. For example, if you're photographing something from a high or low angle, having the option to rotate the screen is super helpful in composing and framing your shot. Also: How to get lifetime access to stock photos for under $30 Secondly, the APS-C sensor is not a dealbreaker, but shooting video should be done in the highest resolution available. Shooting in 4K (UHD) is an option, but cropping in on the sensor doesn't give your 4K footage the look of a clean 4K video, just a 4K file size. On a positive note, the APS-C sensor is great for shooting moon photography, and it has a full-frame telephoto lens attached. You'll gain a little more reach in focal length by roughly 1.4x. ZDNET's buying advice If you're an aspiring photographer looking to scratch the itch that your smartphone camera can't seem to satisfy, the Canon EOS R100 is a solid camera at a budget-friendly $449 (with the 18-45mm kit lens). The starter lens isn't the best, but you'll definitely see an improvement over your trusty smartphone. Another great thing about the R100 is that it has the potential to grow with you as you buy slightly better lenses, such as the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM . This one offers a wider aperture, better glass, and great portraits right out of the box. So, even with the addition of the 50mm lens, you're still under $1,000 spent for a great option to get started with photography. What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals? ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. 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Spending squeeze ‘could cost more than 10,000 Civil Service jobs’None
(The Center Square) – Government attorneys are wrapping up their case with a focus on AT&T and former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, D-Chicago, at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. Former Illinois state Rep. Michael McClain and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan separately enter the federal court building in Chicago Wednesday December 11, 2024. Both face corruption charges. Judge John Robert Blakey ruled Wednesday that Acevedo would be required to testify next Monday, despite questions about Acevedo’s competency as a witness. Blakey denied defense attorneys’ motion to quash Acevedo’s subpoena Wednesday morning. Blakey pointed to the distinction between the credibility of the witness and competency to testify. Acevedo’s attorney, Gabrielle Sansonetti, had also sought to prevent Acevedo’s testimony by saying her client had dementia. U.S. government attorneys have introduced evidence showing that Acevedo was paid by AT&T and ComEd for do-nothing jobs. In a separate case, Acevedo was sentenced in 2022 to six months in prison for tax evasion. Lobbyist Thomas Cullen, who worked for Madigan from 1987 to 1999 in both the Speaker’s office and the Democratic Party of Illinois, reported to the witness stand Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors say AT&T made payments to Acevedo through Cullen’s lobbying firm. Cullen said his attorney, Thomas Durkin, requested a non-target letter from the government to indicate that Cullen is not the target of the investigation corresponding with the trial of Madigan and McClain. Cullen called himself a “political junkie” and said he was loyal to the speaker and loyal to Democrats. Cullen said McClain would ask him to go to his clients and request campaign donations for Illinois Democrats in target districts. Government attorney Sarah Streicker displayed a transcript of a recording from Aug. 29, 2018, of McClain asking Cullen, on behalf of “our mutual friend,” to join him and others in donating $1,000 each per month for six months to former Madigan aide Kevin Quinn, who had been dismissed over harassment claims. Cullen said he understood “our mutual friend” to mean Mike Madigan and agreed emphatically to McClain’s request, even though Cullen said there were no unique services that Quinn could provide for him. During the call, McClain said that Madigan would “take care of Kevin” once Madigan was sworn in as speaker. Cullen testified that Kevin Quinn was an effective member of Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic Organization in Chicago. Cullen said he paid Quinn $1,000 per month for six months. Cullen said he helped AT&T talk with Illinois lawmakers about carrier-of-last-resort legislation. According to Cullen, a COLR bill was AT&T’s No. 1 priority in 2017. The legislation passed that summer. Streicker asked Cullen about Acevedo, who had served as an assistant majority leader for Democratic members of the Illinois House under Madigan until Acevedo left the General Assembly in 2017. Cullen said AT&T did not want Acevedo’s successor, Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, to know that the company was paying Acevedo, because Mah had defeated Acevedo’s son in a contentious campaign. Cullen said he agreed to hire Acevedo even though he did not think Acevedo could add anything of value to his firm. “He wasn’t a serious member of the General Assembly ... I didn’t think he could add anything to my team,” Cullen added. Cullen described a meeting during which Acevedo “got mad” and used “some choice words” because he was upset that AT&T was being “cheap” by only offering him $2,500 per month. Prosecutors called AT&T Illinois employee Barbara Galvin to the witness stand Wednesday morning. Galvin said she has worked in the company’s external and legislative affairs department since 2003. Government attorney Amar Bhachu introduced a 2017 consultant agreement with Cullen’s firm to work under the direction of AT&T President Paul La Schiazza. According to the agreement, Cullen’s firm did not have authority to give gifts or payments directly or indirectly to political officials or parties. Bhachu also displayed an amendment to the deal that raised the payment amount to Cullen’s firm from $7,500 per month to $10,000 per month. Bhachu then introduced an email among AT&T legislative affairs members explaining the increased payments for an additional asset, which Galvin testified was “Eddie Acevedo,” to support House Democratic leadership. Bhachu then showed jurors a document showing AT&T’s sponsorship of a fundraising event for Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness in Chicago “to provide stakeholder opportunities with legislators.” The document included language explaining the $2,500 cost of the event, to align with Aunt Martha’s, was “to position AT&T with state, city and county decision-makers and business leaders.” FBI Special Agent Jennifer Avila followed Galvin to the witness stand and testified about AT&T records related to the company’s efforts to lobby Madigan for telecommunications modernization. Prosecutors introduced several emails over prior objections by the defense teams. In one email, La Schiazza wrote, “In Illinois no bill can get through the legislature and to the Governor without the tacit approval of the all-powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan. He is the longest serving Speaker in the United States and rules the House with an iron fist.” Another email from La Schiazza asked if there was money set aside for Eddie Acevedo. A subsequent email recommended that Acevedo not be contracted directly with AT&T but instead be hired by Cullen’s firm. In a series of emails, AT&T executives indicated that Acevedo “felt insulted” by the company’s consulting offer of $2,500 per month and asked for $3,000 per month. Acevedo eventually accepted the $2500 amount for consulting through Cullen & Associates. Government attorney Julia Schwartz introduced a series of emails from the summer of 2017, after the General Assembly passed legislation favored by AT&T. In one email, the speaker’s son, Andrew Madigan, emailed AT&T officials to invite them to participate in a fundraiser for Aunt Martha’s. La Schiazza suggested that this would not be the last such request and, after some discussion via email, La Schiazza wrote, “We’re on the friends and family plan now.” Connie Mixon, professor of Political Science and director of the Urban Studies Program at Elmhurst University, said defense attorneys might argue that AT&T’s behavior is not unusual. “Most people, most organizations, most corporations try to curry favor with legislators and, importantly, the powerful Speaker of the Illinois House, Michael Madigan,” Mixon told The Center Square. Lobbyist and former Madigan aide Will Cousineau mentioned AT&T in a wiretapped call with McClain on May 25, 2018. “Zalewski was asked to get you language on his small cell item today?” Cousineau asked. “Yeah?” McClain said. “Was that to talk to, to start a discussion with AT&T? And here’s the reason I’m asking: I’ve got a little, uh, COLR relief for little Century Link in there, um, that I would like to hook to anything that moves, and it’s in the language that he got you,” Cousineau said. Former AT&T executive Deno Perdiou began testifying Tuesday afternoon but did not return Wednesday due to what Blakey called “a personal issue.” The court is not scheduled to be in session Thursday or Friday. Trial proceedings are scheduled to resume Monday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. Prosecutors indicated that they expect to rest their case Tuesday. Madigan’s defense attorneys suggested they would be ready to begin presenting their case when the government rests. Attorneys mentioned that state Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, might return to the witness stand. Rita testified for about 10 minutes on Oct. 24 but did not return. Bhachu said there are “some things in play” with regard to Rita. Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme U.S. government attorneys termed, “The Madigan Enterprise.” Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted last year in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors.