首页 > 

46 vipph

2025-01-24
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state’s expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use — and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city’s chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company’s largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation’s largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta’s data center over a 15 year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy’s existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy’s proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta’s contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use,” Hendricks said. “And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk’s AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” _____ Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: ↕jack_brook9646 vipph

KANSAS CITY 88, PUERTO RICO-RIO PIEDRAS 55DOHA, Qatar , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 25, 2024 , the First JETOUR Fan's Festival and the Launch of T2 i-DM was held in Qatar , themed "Think Future". During the event, JETOUR launched its user brand "Traveler" in the Middle East and its first hybrid model, JETOUR T2 i-DM. The launch event highlights JETOUR's commitment to exploring sustainable travel modes and ambition to become the "The World's Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles" under the "Travel+" strategy. JETOUR T2 i-DM not only inherits the strengths of T2 series, but also achieves high energy efficiency, high performance, high safety, and high intelligence with its advanced hybrid technology, i-DM. With a maximum combined power of 280kW and torque of 610N•m, T2 i-DM boasts a NEDC pure electric range of 139km and an overall range exceeding 1,000km at just 0.8L/100km, addressing range anxiety and promoting green travel. Mr. Dai Lihong, executive vice president of JETOUR Auto, emphasized technology's role in producing world-class products. The launch also introduced "Traveler", enriching user experience through diverse products and superior performance. This year, JETOUR has ranked third in sales across the Qatari auto market. The Fan's Festival invited user representatives from across the Middle East to witness the unveiling of "Traveler", experiencing "Travel+" culture through city tours and co-creation workshops. JETOUR prioritizes users, listening to their needs and co-creating products, brand, and lifestyle. Through "Traveler," JETOUR aims to provide richer travel experiences and benefits globally, leveraging the platform to spread the "Travel+" culture worldwide. Mr. Alex Tan , Vice President of JETOUR International, said, "Serving 'JETOUR users' and being 'a user-oriented JETOUR' are JETOUR's development philosophy. JETOUR will continue to build a travel community centered around users, cars, and lifestyles, sharing the joy of traveling together with users." JETOUR also partnered with Diamond League to promote athletics in Qatar and the Middle East , embodying JETOUR Speed and the brand's image of breakthroughs and innovations. With T2 selling over 150,000 units globally, T2 i-DM will continue its success to meet customers' needs and reshape the hybrid SUV market. The launch of T2 i-DM marks JETOUR's new journey towards "the World's Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles." JETOUR plans to introduce more hybrid and off-road models, providing customers with eco-friendly and diversified travel choices. With its innovative spirit and user-oriented philosophy, JETOUR will lead the global automotive industry towards a more sustainable and smarter future. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-launch-of-jetour-t2-i-dm-reshaping-the-hybrid-suv-market-302339886.html SOURCE JETOUR AUTONoneBellville’s DJ Sanders, a man of his word, signs with A&M despite late push from Texas



Micah Hyde back with Bills for a Super Bowl push

NoneTakeaways from Biden's Africa trip: Pardon of son Hunter overshadows official business

Donegal Group Inc sees $271,376 in stock purchases by major shareholder

Primerica, Inc. ( NYSE:PRI – Get Free Report )’s share price fell 0% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $270.20 and last traded at $271.67. 9,202 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 94% from the average session volume of 155,751 shares. The stock had previously closed at $271.72. Analyst Ratings Changes PRI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Primerica from $300.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Primerica from $313.00 to $300.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. StockNews.com raised Primerica from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen upped their target price on Primerica from $314.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $296.33. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Primerica Primerica Stock Performance Primerica ( NYSE:PRI – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The financial services provider reported $5.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.81 by $0.87. The company had revenue of $774.13 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $745.25 million. Primerica had a net margin of 14.95% and a return on equity of 30.93%. The firm’s revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $4.28 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Primerica, Inc. will post 19.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. Primerica Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 21st were paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.33%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 21st. Primerica’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.50%. Primerica declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, November 14th that authorizes the company to buyback $450.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 4.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Buying and Selling at Primerica In other Primerica news, CEO Glenn J. Williams sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.27, for a total value of $903,810.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 36,322 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,942,728.94. This trade represents a 7.63 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 0.85% of the company’s stock. Institutional Trading of Primerica A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in Primerica during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Primerica during the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Primerica by 85.9% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 145 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in Primerica by 56.8% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 149 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in Primerica in the second quarter worth $71,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Primerica ( Get Free Report ) Primerica, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. The company operates in four segments: Term Life Insurance; Investment and Savings Products; Senior Health; and Corporate and Other Distributed Products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Primerica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Primerica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow record

Uruguay's voters choose their next president in a close runoff with low stakes but much suspenseNFL Week 14 injury tracker: Latest updates on Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, DeVonta Smith and other playersIn this article AEO Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A shopper walks by an American Eagle store on November 21, 2023 in Glendale, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images American Eagle shares dropped about 13% in extended trading Wednesday after the company reported third-quarter earnings in which it issued weak holiday guidance and cut its full-year forecast. The company said it's contending with value-seeking consumers who are only willing to spend during key shopping moments. The apparel retailer narrowly missed Wall Street's expectations on the top line, but beat on the bottom line. Here's how American Eagle performed during its fiscal third quarter compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG: Earnings per share: 48 cents adjusted vs. 46 cents expected Revenue: $1.29 billion vs. $1.30 billion expected The company's reported net income for the three-month period that ended Nov. 2 was $80 million, or 41 cents per share, compared with $96.7 million, or 49 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time charges related to restructuring and impairment costs, American Eagle posted an adjusted profit of 48 cents per share. Sales dropped to $1.29 billion, down about 1% from $1.3 billion a year earlier. While it was narrow, Wednesday's miss is the third quarter in a row that American Eagle has not met Wall Street's sales targets. In a statement, CEO Jay Schottenstein touted a "strong" back-to-school shopping season but said demand remains inconsistent between major shopping events. "We have entered the holiday season well positioned, with our leading brands offering high-quality merchandise, great gifts and an outstanding shopping experience across channels," Schottenstein said. "Key selling periods have seen a positive customer response, yet we remain cognizant of potential choppiness during non-peak periods." Consumers coming out for key shopping moments followed by sales sharply dropping off has been a consistent theme across the retail industry. Foot Locker cited a similar dynamic when reporting earnings earlier Wednesday, as did Dollar Tree . For its holiday quarter, American Eagle is expecting comparable sales to be up around 1%, with total sales down about 4%, including an $85 million impact from having one less selling week and a later start to the holiday shopping season. The outlook is below the 2.2% comparable sales growth StreetAccount was looking for and the 1% sales decline LSEG had expected. As a result, American Eagle is now expecting comparable sales to grow by 3% for the full year, down from prior guidance of 4% growth and below StreetAccount's estimate of 4.1%. It's now expecting full-year sales to be up 1%, down from previous guidance of between 2% and 3% and below LSEG expectations of 2.5% growth. Similar to other retailers, American Eagle had taken a cautious approach to the back half of the year as it contended with uncertainty around the 2024 election and the overall macroeconomic environment. But unlike its competitors, it has kept that cautious tone. Both Abercrombie & Fitch and Dick's Sporting Goods , which issued cautious outlooks earlier this year, reversed their previous mood when reporting earnings earlier this month. Despite the underwhelming outlook and sales miss, American Eagle is seeing strong demand for its Aerie brand. Third-quarter revenue for Aerie came in at an all-time high for the company, and comparable sales grew 5%, on top of 12% growth from the year-ago period.

Jaguars place QB Trevor Lawrence (concussion) on IRBy Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump asked a Georgia Appeals Court on Wednesday to end the criminal case against him in that state for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. Lawyers for Trump argued that his continued prosecution by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has also charged several of Trump's allies, would violate the U.S. Constitution as he prepares to return to the White House next month. They urged the appeals court to remove Trump from the proceedings and to order a lower court judge to dismiss the case against Trump in its entirety. A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal prosecutors have already dropped two criminal cases against Trump based on a Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Trump's sentencing on charges in New York involving hush money paid to a porn star was put on hold indefinitely following Trump's election victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump's lawyers renewed their attempts to dismiss that prosecution on Tuesday. In Georgia, Trump and 14 others face racketeering and other charges for allegedly forming a criminal conspiracy to reverse Trump's narrow defeat in the battleground state in the 2020 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has argued that the case, and others he has faced, were politically motivated attempts to damage his campaign. Trump as president will not have the authority to end the Georgia case, but his lawyers argued that continuing to prosecute him would undermine his ability to govern. Trump and eight of his co-defendants have asked the appeals court to disqualify Willis from prosecuting the case, arguing that a romantic relationship she had with a former deputy tainted the proceedings. The case has been paused since June because of the appeal. Oral arguments were scheduled for Thursday, but were postponed by the court last month without explanation. Trump's filing applies only to his case. The other co-defendants can continue to press their appeal if Trump is removed from the case. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Stephen Coates)

CHICAGO (AP) — Cairo Santos had a field goal blocked — again. DeAndre Carter muffed a punt in the second half. And those were just the special teams mistakes for the struggling Chicago Bears. Santos' blocked field goal and Carter's turnover were part of another sloppy performance for Chicago in its fifth consecutive loss. The pair of miscues helped set up two of Minnesota's three touchdowns in a . The Bears (4-7) closed out a miserable three-game homestand after they won their first three games of the season at Soldier Field. They were in position to beat Green Bay last weekend before Santos' 46-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the final play of the Packers' . “It’s tough. ... When things just aren’t going your way, you gotta put your head down and just keep going to work,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “It’s not easy to do but that’s kind of where we’re at.” Chicago and Minnesota were tied at 7 when Caleb Williams threw incomplete on third-and-4 at the Vikings 30 early in the second quarter. Bears coach Matt Eberflus sent Santos out for a 48-yard attempt, but by defensive lineman Jerry Tillery. “I think it was the penetration with the trajectory of the ball,” Santos said. “Had the ball started 3 or 4 inches to the right of both those guys' hands, I think it still goes in through the uprights.” Brian Asamoah returned the blocked kick 22 yards to set the Vikings up with good field position. Sam Darnold then capped a six-play, 53-yard drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Jalen Nailor for a 14-7 lead with 6:29 left in the first half. It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. Santos also had a 43-yard try blocked in the fourth quarter of a 35-16 victory over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. The Bears became the first NFL team to allow three blocked field goals in a season since the Browns and Ravens each had three blocked in 2022. “Whenever that happens two games in a row we’ve got to make sure we take a hard look in terms of the protection, the technique and who we have in there,” Eberflus said. “So it's going to be a big thing to look at.” Chicago trailed 17-10 when it forced a Minnesota punt midway through the third quarter. Carter warned his teammates to get out of the way, but it hit the ground and bounced off the inside of his right leg before it was recovered by Bo Richter at the Bears 15. The Vikings turned the mental error into Aaron Jones' 2-yard touchdown run and a 24-10 lead. “Gotta get out of the way of the ball. That’s on me,” Carter said. “I let the team down today. Game shouldn’t have been in the situation it was in. I felt bad for the guys.” Santos and Carter both played a role in a late rally for Chicago. Carter had a 55-yard kickoff return, and Santos got an onside kick to work before making a tying 48-yarder on the final play of regulation. But the Bears stalled on the first possession of overtime, and Darnold drove the Vikings downfield to set up Parker Romo's winning 29-yard field goal. “We're losing in the most unreal situations,” Bears receiver DJ Moore said. “Now it's like the luck's got to go in our favor at some point.” AP NFL:Seahawks safety Coby Bryant scored the first pick 6 of his career on Sunday to give Seattle a third-quarter cushion against the Arizona Cardinals. He celebrated with a tribute to one of Seattle's favorite sons — a crotch grab in honor of Marshawn Lynch. It's a move that will surely cost Bryant some money while met with glowing reviews in the Pacific Northwest. The play took place midway through the third quarter as Seattle held a 7-3 lead. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray overthrew Michael Wilson on a fourth-and-1 pass from the Seattle 39. Bryant was there to pick it off. He then raced 69 yards down the left sideline to the end zone. When he reached the goal line, he leapt backward and grabbed his crotch a la Lynch to the delight of the home Seattle crowd. HOUSE CALL FOR COBY 🎱 — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) The move was an ode to Lynch, the ex-Seahawks great who made the celebration his own much to the chagrin of the NFL. Lynch first pulled the move while scoring a touchdown in the 2015 NFC championship. The league for the gesture. The celebration has resurfaced multiple times since, with the most recent iteration just last week . Bryant, who's playing on the the third season of his four-year, $4.5 million rookie contract, should expect a fine in the same neighborhood. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are fully embracing Bryant's celebration on social media with a juxtaposition of Bryant's crotch grab next to Lynch's. Art But Make It... Marshawn. — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) Who did it better?

Previous: 365 vip
Next: 49 vipph