NoneFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. Is it a plan in motion or more rhetoric? On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Death row inmates are mostly sentenced by states Before Biden's commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Could rape now be punishable by death? Berman said Trump's statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump's rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. What were the cases highlighted by Trump? One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl's mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden's decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. _______ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.After his team's 102-89 home win on Wednesday night over Purdue Fort Wayne, Penn State coach Mike Rhoades challenged his team's fan base to show up and make more noise. "Sweat with us," he said at one point. At 5-0, the Nittany Lions haven't had to sweat much to get off to a fast start. They might not have to expend much perspiration to make it 6-0 on Monday when they meet Fordham in a semifinal matchup at the Sunshine Slam tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla. Penn State hasn't played a strong schedule so far, but the team has been impressive. It's averaging 98.2 points per game and 13.8 steals per game, both of which ranked second in Division I through Saturday's play. The Nittany Lions were seventh per kenpom.com in turnover rate, forcing 25.3 per 100 possessions. Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. is leading the charge, scoring 16.4 points and dishing out 7.8 assists while chipping in 2.6 steals. Zach Hicks has nearly doubled his scoring average from 8.4 last season to 15.8 this season, while Northern Illinois transfer Yanic Konan Niederhauser has beefed up the interior, tallying 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. Meanwhile, Fordham (3-3) is coming off a 73-71 home loss Friday night against Drexel in New York. The Rams blew a seven-point lead early in the second half and missed a chance to force overtime when leading scorer Jackie Johnson III missed a layup as time expired. Johnson, a UNLV transfer, is averaging 19 points per game and is making nearly 48 percent of his shots as one of three Rams with double-figure scoring averages. Jahmere Tripp scores at an 11.0 clip while Japhet Medor is contributed 10.5, but Fordham is struggling to make shots, canning only 41.5 percent from the field. The Rams were picked for a 14th-place finish in the Atlantic 10 despite returning more scoring than any team in the league except for VCU. Third-year coach Keith Urgo thinks his team can defy low external expectations. "We're experienced and I think we're poised to have a tremendous year," he said. --Field Level Media
The Miami Dolphins won 34-15 and advanced to 5-6 on the season. This is another huge victory in the Dolphins’ march to the playoffs. Miami’s offense was nearly perfect, and the defense only gave up 7 points. There were many bright spots and still many downsides, but the Dolphins handled business and will look to Thanksgiving. But first, let’s talk about today’s win. Chop Robinson Continues to Improve I said it in the offseason that Chop Robinson reminds me of Dolphins legend Cameron Wake . The speed, the power, and the ability to win off the edge. Chop added another 1.5 sacks, two passes defended, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. Chop has been winning his pass rushes all season and is now finally getting home. He has ultimately been a difference-maker for a defense that has struggled to create pressure. Chop has 3.5 sacks in his last four games and looks to continue his improvement down the stretch of the Dolphins’ march to the playoffs. It is also great to see the whole defense doing the “Chop”. Tua Continues to Dominate Since Returning from his Concussion Tua since his return: 130/170 1,277 yards 11 TD 1 INT 116.2 passer rating 29-of-40 for 317 yards and 4 passing touchdowns. He has a 128.9 passer rating. Tua has been perfect since returning from injury and there isn’t much else to say. The Dolphins put themselves in a deep hole without Tua and are slowly digging their way out of it. The Dolphins are so much better with Tua yet it still begs the question, why didn’t the Dolphins upgrade their backup quarterback before the season? Waddle’s Best Preformance Jaylen Waddle had his best game of the season with 8 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. Waddle has been very quiet this season but dominated against the Patriots. Waddle made numerous tough catches and made much more happen after the catch. This game was much needed for Waddle’s confidence down the stretch. Jonnu Continues to Impress Jonnu Smith has emerged as the Dolphins third receiving option. Jonnu Smith has been on fire and added to that today with 9 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Jonnu has been involved in the middle of the field, on screens, in third and short oppurtunities and has made the most of his time so far in Miami. The addition of Jonnu Smith has added another element to the Dolphins offense that has elevated them to the next level. Some other Thoughts Still, too many big/extended plays let up on defense. Julian Hill continues to make mistakes and be on the field. The run game has struggled the past two weeks, and the Dolphins have to get back to it down the stretch. Penalties have decreased. Jordan Poyer is still a liability. OBJ had two big drops on perfect throws by Tua (time for Cracraft and Washington). Ultimately, the Dolphins control their playoff destiny. They must continue to play complimentary football and improve on some minor mistakes. They have handled business up to this point but have a tough task in Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night. The Dolphins will have to win a game on the road late in the season in the cold with the whole country watching. If they can win that game, they will start to turn some heads and have a real opportunity to talk playoffs. The Dolphins got another win and kept their playoff hopes alive, putting Tua to 7-0 all-time vs the Patriots. The Dolphins have a short week before traveling to Green Bay looking to get back to .500. This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.Liverpool boss Arne Slot talks up ‘special player’ Mohamed Salah
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in Legend Biotech Co. ( NASDAQ:LEGN – Free Report ) by 38.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 121,377 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 33,585 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Legend Biotech were worth $5,915,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. RA Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Legend Biotech by 9.5% during the 1st quarter. RA Capital Management L.P. now owns 6,861,097 shares of the company’s stock valued at $384,839,000 after purchasing an additional 596,390 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in Legend Biotech during the second quarter valued at approximately $13,487,000. Magnetar Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Legend Biotech during the second quarter valued at approximately $11,146,000. Ally Bridge Group NY LLC bought a new position in Legend Biotech in the second quarter worth approximately $8,637,000. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its stake in shares of Legend Biotech by 8.0% during the 1st quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 2,014,012 shares of the company’s stock worth $112,982,000 after acquiring an additional 148,855 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.89% of the company’s stock. Legend Biotech Stock Performance LEGN opened at $40.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 4.90 and a current ratio of 4.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.09 and a beta of 0.11. The company has a fifty day moving average of $44.92 and a 200 day moving average of $48.06. Legend Biotech Co. has a fifty-two week low of $36.92 and a fifty-two week high of $70.13. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently commented on LEGN. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $86.00 target price on shares of Legend Biotech in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $73.00 price objective on shares of Legend Biotech in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on Legend Biotech from $70.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic started coverage on shares of Legend Biotech in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. They set a “buy” rating and a $86.00 target price on the stock. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Legend Biotech has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $81.46. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Legend Biotech Legend Biotech Company Profile ( Free Report ) Legend Biotech Corporation, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of novel cell therapies for oncology and other indications in the United States, China, and internationally. Its lead product candidate, LCAR- B38M, is a chimeric antigen receptor for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LEGN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Legend Biotech Co. ( NASDAQ:LEGN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Legend Biotech Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Legend Biotech and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
BriefsThrivent Financial for Lutherans trimmed its stake in shares of Vontier Co. ( NYSE:VNT – Free Report ) by 2.9% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 182,845 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,446 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Vontier were worth $6,170,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vontier by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 19,054 shares of the company’s stock valued at $864,000 after acquiring an additional 2,774 shares in the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its holdings in shares of Vontier by 17.6% during the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 108,902 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,941,000 after purchasing an additional 16,305 shares during the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Vontier in the first quarter valued at approximately $344,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in Vontier by 24.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,695,280 shares of the company’s stock valued at $76,898,000 after buying an additional 329,191 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kingdon Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in Vontier during the 1st quarter worth approximately $9,072,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.83% of the company’s stock. Vontier Stock Up 1.4 % Shares of NYSE:VNT opened at $38.84 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $35.48 and its 200-day moving average is $36.74. Vontier Co. has a 1 year low of $31.22 and a 1 year high of $45.62. The company has a market capitalization of $5.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.23. Vontier Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.025 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $0.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.26%. Vontier’s dividend payout ratio is currently 3.83%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on VNT shares. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Vontier from $44.00 to $42.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Argus downgraded Vontier from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on Vontier from $45.00 to $40.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Vontier from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vontier has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $44.50. Get Our Latest Research Report on VNT About Vontier ( Free Report ) Vontier Corporation provides mobility ecosystem solutions worldwide. The company operates through Mobility Technologies, Repair Solutions, and Environmental and Fueling Solutions segments. The Mobility Technologies segment provides digitally equipment solutions for mobility ecosystem, such as point-of-sale and payment systems, workflow automation, telematics, data analytics, software platform, and integrated solutions for alternative fuel dispensing. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VNT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vontier Co. ( NYSE:VNT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Vontier Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vontier and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts judge dismissed criminal charges Monday against a backer of Karen Read who admitted placing dozens of yellow rubber ducks and fake $100 bills around town in support of Read. Richard Schiffer Jr. had argued in Stoughton District Court that he had a First Amendment right to support the defense theory that Read — accused of ramming into her boyfriend John O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving the Boston police officer to die in a snowstorm — has been framed in the polarizing murder case. Schiffer's attorney Timothy Bradl said Monday that the judge made the right call by quickly tossing the felony witness intimidation and criminal harassment charges against Schiffer. The ruling comes as another judge decided Monday to push back Read's retrial to April after a mistrial was declared in July when jurors couldn’t reach an agreement. Read was facing second-degree murder charges and two other charges. Her attorneys have argued that other law enforcement officers were responsible for O’Keefe’s death. Regarding Schiffer's charges, Bradl said, “There wasn't a leg to stand on.” “Hats off to the judge. He didn’t make everyone wait and ruled from the bench. Everything was completely protected by the First Amendment. This was political speech," Bradl said. The Norfolk District Attorney’s office declined to comment. Schiffer has said he got the ducks idea after thinking about a defense lawyer’s closing argument that Read was framed . Alan Jackson told jurors that “if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.” Schiffer's actions did not rise to the level of witness intimidation and criminal harassment "nor does his speech, or in this case his written word on fake currency and use of rubber toys, which are afforded the protections of the First Amendment," Judge Brian Walsh wrote. Related: “It is the view of this Court that the defendant's conduct and speech, though a rather sophomoric expression of his opinion, is nonetheless protected speech,” he wrote. Walsh concluded the two-page ruling with quotes from Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley, believed to have coined the “walks like a duck” phrase, and Robert McCloskey, author of the children's book “Make Way For Ducklings.” The defense alleged that O’Keefe was actually killed inside the home of his fellow Boston officer Brian Albert and then dragged outside. They argued that investigators focused on Read because she was a “convenient outsider” who saved them from having to consider law enforcement officers as suspects. Schiffer has been among the dozens of Read supporters who accuse state and local law enforcement of a widespread cover-up. Their demonstrations have led to confrontations, especially in the town of Canton where the murder happened, between those who support Read and others who believe she is guilty. Schiffer, who owns Canton Fence and has said that he knows practically everyone in town through his contracting work, was accused of placing some of the ducks outside a pizza shop run by Brian Albert’s brother, Canton Selectman Chris Albert. Other ducks appeared in O’Keefe’s neighborhood. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.