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Planned Parenthood, the nonprofit organization that provides reproductive and sexual healthcare, is reporting a surge in demand for long-acting and permanent contraceptive options following the recent presidential election. Nationally, Planned Parenthood Health Centers saw vasectomy appointments increase by 1,200 percent. IUD appointments, meanwhile, increased by more than 760 percent, while birth control and gender-affirming appointments increased by 350 percent and 140 percent, respectively. RELATED STORY | Trump would veto legislation establishing a federal abortion ban, Vance says Planned Parenthood said the uptick "reflects patients' intensified concerns over preserving their reproductive choices as political uncertainties grow." “We’re seeing record numbers of patients making proactive reproductive health choices to help secure their ability to control pregnancy outcomes,” said Rebecca Gibron, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky. “In a landscape where reproductive health care access is increasingly under threat, expanded access to effective contraception options — supported by essential programs like Title X and Medicaid — has become even more urgent.” RELATED STORY | Patients have paid over $1 million for contraception care that should be free Planned Parenthood of Northern New England also reported a rise in people volunteering with the organization, which operates 15 clinics in the region. CEO Nicole Clegg said it reflects a growing concern among Americans that they may not be able to access the care that they need in the future. "The day after the election and in the weeks since, our health centers have opened their doors, and our staff has done what they’ve always done: care for our patients," Clegg said in a statement. "We understand the fear and the uncertainty, and unfortunately, we anticipate more chaos and confusion in the coming months and years."“Shocked” Strictly Come Dancing fans have said they are “gutted” as week 10 results have been leaked online, with some branding the decision as “a joke”. Newsquest will not reveal the details of which two celebrities found themselves in the bottom two since these results have not been verified (and to not spoil tonight's programme). During last night’s show (November 23), two couples found themselves at the top of the leaderboard, with the combined scores from their dance routines and points from the Samba-Thon. JLS star JB Gill and Love Island favourite Tasha Ghouri (along with their professional dance partners) ended the night with a score of 46 each. During their lively Charleston to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Firehouse Five Plus Two, JB flipped Lauren Oakley upside down and in a cartwheel spin and showed off his quick footwork before completing a series of dramatic lifts. Head judge Shirley Ballas thanked JB for bringing “so much joy” to the dance floor, while Craig Revel Horwood praised the routine as “pure class”. As the results show for Strictly is filmed on the same night as the rest of the show, but broadcast a day later, it allows people who are in the crowd for filming to know who is eliminated ahead of time. Due to this, the results were leaked on social media late last night and those who found out which celebrity left in week 10 “gasped” and claimed "wrong person to go". A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) This person wrote on X: “oh i GASPED that’s so insane???” “No way what the hell,” tweeted another. “Shocked !! What the hell,” shared this account. Someone else added: “Noooo omg wrong person to go.” One fan posted: “Neither should have been in dance off. That's a shame.” Recommended reading: In agreement, a viewer commented: “Disgraceful neither should have been there!!!!” Others said they were “gutted for them” and “no way...this is a joke!!” The Strictly Come Dancing result show will air on Sunday, November 24 on BBC One and iPlayer at 7.20pm.GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public Limited ( NASDAQ:WTW – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor bought 891 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $262,000. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 11.8% in the third quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. now owns 74,858 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,048,000 after buying an additional 7,924 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Willis Towers Watson Public during the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. River Global Investors LLP increased its position in Willis Towers Watson Public by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. River Global Investors LLP now owns 18,928 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,573,000 after acquiring an additional 629 shares in the last quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public by 105.4% in the third quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,902 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,328,000 after acquiring an additional 4,054 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sheets Smith Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Willis Towers Watson Public during the third quarter worth approximately $370,000. 93.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on Willis Towers Watson Public from $352.00 to $359.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $334.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Roth Mkm lifted their price target on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $315.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. UBS Group raised shares of Willis Towers Watson Public to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Willis Towers Watson Public from $295.00 to $314.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Willis Towers Watson Public presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $313.87. Willis Towers Watson Public Stock Performance WTW opened at $314.40 on Friday. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited has a 1-year low of $234.01 and a 1-year high of $320.77. The company has a market cap of $31.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.19, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.73. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $298.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $278.95. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. Willis Towers Watson Public ( NASDAQ:WTW – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.25. Willis Towers Watson Public had a positive return on equity of 18.57% and a negative net margin of 7.36%. The business had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.28 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.24 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Willis Towers Watson Public Limited will post 16.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Willis Towers Watson Public Company Profile ( Free Report ) Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company operates as an advisory, broking, and solutions company worldwide. It operates through two segments: Health, Wealth & Career and Risk & Broking. The company offers strategy and design consulting, plan management service and support, broking and administration services for health, wellbeing, and other group benefit program, including medical, dental, disability, life, voluntary benefits and other coverages; actuarial support, plan design, and administrative services for pension and retirement savings plans; retirement consulting services and solutions; and integrated solutions that consists of investment discretionary management, pension administration, core actuarial, and communication and change management assistance services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WTW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Willis Towers Watson Public Limited ( NASDAQ:WTW – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Willis Towers Watson Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Willis Towers Watson Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .LA sees drop in unsheltered homelessness amid 18% increase nationwide
The problem wasn’t money for Democrats
Kart racer Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled hits Xbox Game Pass this weekA MAJOR department store chain is set to close its doors in a busy shopping centre. TJ Hughes in the Antonine Shopping Centre in Glasgow has revealed it will be pulling down the shutters for the final time. 1 One TJ Hughes store is closing its doors (stock) Credit: Alamy The store has launched a closing down sale before shutting down for good. TJ Hughes, which was founded in 1912, stocks home appliances, clothes and even furniture. It is unknown why or when the brand's location in the North Lanarkshire leisure facility is closing. The shop in Cumbernauld which is closing first opened its doors in 2019. Read More in Money SHUTTERS DOWN Fashion chain owned by H&M launches closing down sale as seven shops to shut CHOC DEAL Shoppers have just days left to get £3.95 Quality Street tubs from supermarket A sign on the shops window reads: "Closing down sale." Locals took to Facebook to weigh in with their opinions after hearing the news . One said: "The shopping centre is getting ready to get knocked down." Another wrote: "One of many unfortunate stores to permantly close due to on-line shopping." Most read in Money GOLDEN FIND Scots dad stunned after finding 700-year-old coin worth £1500 in his garden LIGHTS OUT Beloved family-run retailer abruptly closes after 52 years on the high street RETAIL PAIN Scots retailer warns it's 'running out of cash' putting 1500 jobs at risk LAST ORDERS Full list of TV chefs that have shut down Michelin-hailed restaurants this year A third commented: "TJ Hughes has been struggling for a few years now." A Facebook user said: "Saw the signs a year ago. They blocked off 1/2 the shop. I always felt sorry for the staff as the shop is freezing. "Often saw them wearing outdoor clothes just to man the till." Why are retailers closing stores? Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming. The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested. The Golden Fry: A Beloved Scottish Chippy Hits the Market (1) Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector. It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022. Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams. "The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend," Prof Bamfield said. "Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult." Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023's biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant. The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing. However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses. The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year. Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW WAY Weather maps show heavy snow for Scotland in DAYS – with -2C New Year’s chill NO CRIME Orange Order slam cops after Celtic activist was cleared over 'sectarian rants' Retailers closing stores in 2024 RETAILERS have been hit by soaring inflation and a downturn in spending due to the cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking their toll. Some high street shops have closed due to businesses opening up in different locations such as larger retail parks. Shops may also close due to a number of other reasons, such as rising rents. We explain which retailers are closing in 2024: Argos - The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets. B&Q - The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, with two stores closing this year due to leases not being renewed. It has plans to open more in 2024 too. Boots - The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer's estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops. Clintons - Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We've listed the stores affected . Costa Coffee - The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you'll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We've revealed which stores are due to close this year . Iceland - The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut . Lidl - The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close . But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets . M&S - M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It's not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops . Trespass - The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way . WHSmith - The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shut eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming . Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk . Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
With her winter concert tour having recently been launched and a new album, Broadway musical and several books in the works, it seems clear that self-described “happy workaholic” Judy Collins has absolutely no intention of slowing down at the age of 85. But don’t take our word for it. “I’m never retiring!” declared the constantly active singer, songwriter, activist, author, podcast host, Wildflower Records label co-founder and mental health advocate. “Not if I can help it.” Collins’ overflowing schedule and constant touring — except for March, she has performed concerts every month this year — leave no doubt she relishes being out on the road. The fact that artists half her age or younger often complain about the rigors of touring don’t faze this Seattle-born troubadour, who will perform at The Magnolia in El Cajon on Feb. 12. It’s a make-up date for her Thursday. “Holidays & Hits” tour date at the same venue, which was pushed back Friday afternoon because of a family emergency. She credits her zeal for being constantly on the move to her late dad, Chuck Collins. He was a blind radio host who often went from city to city to perform as a singer and pianist. “I grew up in the backseat of a Buick when my father was traveling in the northwest, and it seems to be where I belong. I love being in a new place. I love being in a hotel room,” she said, speaking from a late November tour stop in Spokane. Accordingly, Collins’ seven-decade music career and her drive to continue working long past an age when many people retire is a source of purpose and pride for her. “I have to prove the point — somebody has to prove the point — and I guess it’s me,” she said. “I’m sort of like the Betty White of the folk-music era!” White was 99 when she died in 2021. Her TV acting career lasted a remarkable 73 years, which means Collins has another 8 years to go to match it. But were she to move to a tropical island next month and become a hermit, Collins’ legacy would speak for itself. Her 1961 debut album, “A Maid of Constant Sorrow,” came out after only 13 months after Joan Baez’s first album was released. The two, along with fellow troubadour Odetta, helped create a vital template for folk singers in the 1960s and well beyond. Collins also was instrumental in exposing the work of Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Randy Newman to a broader audience. She recorded songs by all three when they were toiling in obscurity, and she championed their music — and that of other gifted but then little-known young talents — on her albums and at her concerts and TV appearances. Symphony debut at 13 A classically trained pianist, Collins made her debut as a soloist with the Denver Symphony when she was just 13. She soon switched to folk music because it offered more artistic freedom, launching her professional career at the age of 20. Collins earned success quickly, thanks to her soaring soprano voice and her tireless work ethic. Equally pivotal was her ability to make any song her own, be it Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and “Chelsea Morning,” Cohen’s Suzanne” and “Bird on a Wire,” or Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns.” The title of her 2011 memoir, “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music,” was inspired by “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” the classic 1969 song by Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was written by her then-boyfriend, Stephen Stills, in the hope of salvaging their star-crossed love affair. “The song was so beautiful. But it was also clear that our relationship was not going to work,” she recalled in a 2017 San Diego Union-Tribune interview that previewed her joint concert tour that year with Stills. For her recently concluded “Holidays & Hits” tour, Collins performed with different musical configurations in different cities, the better to keep her music fresh for her and audiences alike. “It all happens when it happens,” she said told the San Diego Union-Tribune in an interview on Monday, four days before the announcement that her concert here was being postponed. “It’s a holiday show, so that means I’ll be doing some of those wonderful old songs that we don’t hear until Christmas.” Collins spoke to the Union-Tribune for nearly an hour. The conversation has been lightly edited for space and clarity. Q: Your first Christmas-themed album came out in 1993, 32 years after your debut album, and you have since made two more Christmas albums. What prompted you to make “Come Rejoice: A Judy Collins Christmas” in 1993? A: It was because I had written songs for it. That’s the trick. You have to be able to write some songs that are appropriate, and I was able to do that. I love Christmas and I’m inspired by the classic songs. I like to think about those early times in my life when I was young and going home to celebrate Christmas with my family. Q: How easy or difficult is it to inject fresh vigor and meaning into songs that are so often sung by so many people on stages and in countless homes? A: The whole point about being a singer is to make it sound like you’ve never heard it before. That’s what the pleasure is and what the challenge is. You do it because you love it and because it holds so many special memories that you filter into the song. That can have a valuable resonance for young performers, to learn that (weathered songs) don’t need to be boring. Q: Your singing and piano playing on your 2022 album, “Spellbound,” both sound terrific, and its the first album to exclusively feature songs you wrote yourself. Do you have the same practice regimen you’ve always had? Or has it changed over the years, and if so, how? A: I have a certain amount of exercises I do, so that I can stay in the moment and have the flexibility in my hands. You have to do that. Last night, I was playing a Chopin piece because I haven’t played it in a long time. Doing piano exercises allows me to sit down and come up with new melodies. I’ve just written a whole bunch of new songs for a Broadway musical; they invited me to write 14 new songs. I said: ‘Sure!’ So, I sat down and wrote them. Q: What about your vocal regimen? A: It’s very hard to be a singer. You must have the good fortune, as I have had, to have a great voice teacher. And you have to strive to be on the level of people who sang all their lives, like Pavarotti and Frank Sinatra. Frank was a drinker. When I went to see him perform at the end of his career, he’d be fine at the beginning of the show. Then, he’d drink during the show and his voice would crack. I don’t drink anymore, thank god. But if you have a great teacher and decide to follow the regimen. you do it — no matter what — in sun or rain, when you’re well and when you’re sick. Being a singer, there are certain kinds of demands that go with it. I’m writing a new book called “Singing,” and I’m having a very happy time doing it. Q: On your “Spellbound” album, the lyrics to your song “So Alive” reference your drinking whiskey. And your song, “Hell on Wheels,” is a gripping, true-life story about how your drinking and driving as a teenager almost resulted in a fatal car accident. You stopped drinking in 1988. Do you think you’d be here now if you hadn’t gotten sober? A: No. I would be dead. There’s absolutely no question about it. I would have been dead a long time ago. Q: What was your wake-up call? A: I was dying. I was dying. I was coming apart at the seams. I had no choice; I literally didn’t. I mean, I did (have a choice). Sometimes, I’d think: “I don’t know how it ever happened that I’m still here.” I’m lucky. Many people are not here anymore. Q: How cathartic was it for you to write and sing “Hell on Wheels?” A: Well, it took me years. And the person I finally worked with on the song, Ari Hest, helped me. I said: “I can’t figure this out; I don’t know what I’m doing here. So, he pulled it out of me and helped. He was very encouraging and it was wonderful. I’m going back into the studio soon to make a new album, and Ari will be working with me. I’m doing a couple of his new songs, which are fabulous, so that’s exciting. I’ve already recorded a great (2014) David Crosby song with Graham Nash, called “Radio.” Q: In the wake of the November election... A: Oh. let’s not talk about that. Q: My question is about music, not politics. Given the state of the world at large, does music mean more — or something different — to you than it did a decade or 60 years ago? A: Music means everything to me, not just now, but always. It’s always part of the fabric of recovery, always, no matter what’s going on. And, honest to god, this whole situation now is not so terrible. I mean, it scares the sh-t out of me. But in the light of history, we got through the dark ages... Q: You took part in the 1968 Yippie press conference in New York at which Abbie Hoffmann, Jerry Rubin and other members of the Chicago 7 announced their plans to stage a mass protest at that summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. What are your memories of the Yippies and of testifying at the Chicago 7 trial? A: When I stood up there in court and began to sing “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”, and the clerk came and put his hand over my mouth, I thought time had stopped in that moment. Of course, it didn’t, but I was in shock. I thought (my testimony) ended right there. But it didn’t and I can see in the trial transcripts how long it went on. It was quite a devastating experience. I remember there were a lot of discussions, apologies, a kind of a mass movement in the court room. It was a conversation about my singing and my life. The various people on the prosecution side were talking, and it went on for quite a long time. What was shocking to me, decades later, was that (film director and screenwriter) Aaron Sorkin did not put that episode in the court hearing in his 2020 move, “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” I think that was a real loss for that story. I was the only woman in the room and I was singing. It was a moment of real drama and it would have been a wonderful moment for a young actress to have portrayed that. Q: Judge Julius Hoffman presided over the Chicago 7 trial, and he was the one who ordered the clerk to stop you from singing during your testimony. Did you ever send him one of your albums? A: Ah, no. I didn’t have time for that. He was a smart man; he could have found one himself. Q: Do you ever think about President Nixon? A: Never. I was on his “Enemies List,” and I was proud to be on it. Q: You and I have done a number of interviews over the years. In 2001, when you were 61, you told me: “I always intended to be around as long as possible. I knew I wouldn’t get good enough to do what I’d intended to until I’d been around long enough and done enough things creatively. I’m in this for the long haul.” A: Oh, yeah! I’m in it for the long haul. And it’s really a challenging and wonderful position to be in, because I’m not too famous. That would be trouble! But I don’t have that kind of trouble and am glad I don’t. I gave myself stability. I have work. I have dreams. I have possibilities and Ii work on them. That’s a real privilege to have. I keep strong. I eat well, I exercise and do my 10,000 steps a day. You keep working and having ideas and looking forward. You keep getting up in the morning with bright eyes and new things to do. If you stop doing that, you stop living and stop having a vital life. And I want, most of all, to have a vital life, to have fun and move forward. Judy Collins ‘Holiday & Hits’ When: Feb. 12 (replaces her originally scheduled Thursday, Dec. 5, concert here) Where: The Magnolia Performing Arts Center, 210 East Main St., El Cajon Tickets: $38.50-$94.40 Online: livenation.com ©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to pause a federal TikTok law that would ban the popular social media app or force its sale, with the Republican US president-elect arguing that he should have time after taking office to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. TikTok and its owner ByteDance are fighting to keep the popular app online in the United States after Congress voted in April to ban it unless the app’s Chinese parent company sells it by January 19. Reuters Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Latest In North America Fetching latest articles Most Viewed In WorldLANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Allowing two kickoff return touchdowns and missing an extra point all in the final few minutes added up to the Washington Commanders losing a third consecutive game in excruciating fashion. The underlying reason for this slide continuing was a problem long before that. An offense led by dynamic rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels that was among the NFL's best for a long stretch of the season put up just nine points and 169 yards for the first three-plus quarters against Dallas before falling behind 20-9 and teeing off on the Cowboys' conservative defense. “We just couldn’t really get it going,” said receiver Terry McLaurin , whose lengthy touchdown with 21 seconds left masked that he had just three catches for 16 yards through three quarters. “We’ve got to find a way to start faster and sustain drives, and that’s everybody: the whole coaching staff and the offensive players just going out there and figuring out ways that we can stay on the field.” This is not a new problem for Washington, which had a season-low 242 yards in a Nov. 10 home loss to Pittsburgh and 264 yards four days later in a defeat at Philadelphia. Since returning from a rib injury that knocked him out of a game last month, Daniels has completed just under 61% of his passes, after 75.6% over his first seven professional starts. Daniels and coach Dan Quinn have insisted this isn't about injury. The coaching staff blamed a lack of adequate practice time, but a full week of it before facing the Cowboys did not solve the problem. It is now fair to wonder if opponents have seen enough film of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's system to figure it out. “I think teams and coordinators are going to see what other teams have success against us and try to figure out how they could incorporate that into their scheme," Daniels said after going 12 of 22 for 80 yards passing through three quarters in the Dallas game. "We’ve been in third and longer a lot these past couple games, so that’s kind of where you get into the exotic pressures and stuff like that. We’ve just got to be better on first and second downs and stay ahead of the chains.” Daniels has a point there, and it predates this losing streak. The Commanders have converted just 36% of third-down opportunities (27 for 75) over their past seven games after 52% (31 for 60) in their first five. That challenge doesn't get any easier with Tennessee coming to town Sunday. The Titans, despite being 3-8, have the second-best third-down defense in the league at 31.6%. The defense kept the Commanders in the game against Dallas, allowing just 10 points until the fourth quarter and 20 total before kickoff return touchdowns piled on to the other side of the scoreboard. Even Cooper Rush's 22-yard touchdown pass to Luke Schoonmaker with five minutes left came after a turnover that gave the Cowboys the ball at the Washington 44. The defense spending more than 35 minutes on the field certainly contributed to fatigue as play wore on. The running game that contributed to a 7-2 start has taken a hit, in part because of injuries to top back Brian Robinson Jr. The Commanders got 145 yards on the ground because Daniels had 74 on seven carries, but running backs combined for just 57. Daniels could not say how much the rushing attack stalling has contributed to the offense going stagnant. “You’ve got to be able to run the ball, keep the defense honest,” he said. "We got to execute the plays that are called in, and we didn’t do a good job of doing that.” Linebacker Frankie Luvu keeps making the case to be first-year general manager Adam Peters' best free agent signing. He and fellow offseason addition Bobby Wagner tied for a team-high eight tackles, and Luvu also knocked down three passes against Dallas. Kicker Austin Seibert going wide left on the point-after attempt that would have tied the score with 21 seconds left was his third miss of the game. He also was short on a 51-yard field goal attempt and wide left on an earlier extra point. Seibert, signed a week into the season after Cade York struggled in the opener, made 25 of 27 field goal tries and was 22 of 22 on extra points before injuring his right hip and missing the previous two games. He brushed off his health and the low snap from Tyler Ott while taking responsibility for not connecting. “I made the decision to play, and here we are,” Seibert said. “I just wasn’t striking it well. But it means a lot to me to be here with these guys, so I just want to put my best foot moving forward.” Robinson's sprained ankle and fellow running back Austin Ekeler's concussion from a late kickoff return that led to him being hospitalized for further evaluation are two major immediate concerns. Quinn said Monday that Ekeler and starting right tackle Andrew Wylie are in concussion protocol. It's unclear if Robinson will be available against Tennessee, which could mean Chris Rodriguez Jr. getting elevated from the practice squad to split carries with Jeremy McNichols. The Commanders still have not gotten cornerback Marshon Lattimore into a game since acquiring him at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Lattimore is trying to return from a hamstring injury, and the secondary could use him against Calvin Ridley, who's coming off a 93-yard performance at Houston. 17 — Handoffs to a running back against Dallas, a significant decrease from much of the season before this losing streak. Don't overlook the Titans with the late bye week coming immediately afterward. The Commanders opened as more than a touchdown favorite, but after the results over the weekend, BetMGM Sportsbook had it as 5 1/2 points Monday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
ANDOVER, Mass. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TransMedics Group, Inc. ("TransMedics") (Nasdaq: TMDX), a medical technology company that is transforming organ transplant therapy for patients with end-stage lung, heart, and liver failure, today announced the appointment of Mr. Gerardo Hernandez as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, effective December 2, 2024 . In this role, Mr. Hernandez joins the TransMedics executive leadership team, succeeding Mr. Stephen Gordon . To enable a smooth transition, Mr. Gordon will remain a non-executive employee of the Company until March 31, 2025 , before serving as a non-employee senior advisor to the Company focusing on national transplant stakeholder engagement until March 31, 2026 . TransMedics also updated its 2024 financial outlook. Dr. Waleed Hassanein , Mr. Gerardo Hernandez and Mr. Stephen Gordon will attend the upcoming Piper Sandler Conference on December 3, 2024 , the TransMedics Investor & Analyst Day on December 10, 2024 , as well as the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in January 2025 . Mr. Hernandez is an accomplished finance leader with over 25 years of experience across the healthcare and consumer packaged goods (CPG) sectors. He most recently served as Vice President Finance, Head of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on RNAi therapeutics. In this role, Mr. Hernandez led a global team as the company scaled rapidly. Prior to his role at Alnylam, Mr. Hernandez spent nearly a decade at Shire, where he rose through the organization, eventually leading corporate FP&A. During his tenure, Shire was acquired by Takeda in a $62 billion transaction, after which he was instrumental in the integration effort. Mr. Hernandez began his career at Unilever where he held several finance roles of increasing responsibility before joining Shire in 2010. Mr. Hernandez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin , La Crosse and an MBA in Strategy and Economics from Fundação Getulio Vargas , Sao Paulo, Brazil . "Stephen has been an exceptional partner to me as a member of the TransMedics leadership team for nearly a decade. During his tenure we transitioned the Company from a clinical stage organization to a high growth, publicly traded commercial business," said Waleed Hassanein , M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. "On behalf of the entire management team and the Board, I want to thank Stephen for his countless contributions to our business that will have lasting benefits for the Company. I am grateful for Stephen's dedication and efforts to advance our corporate strategy while delivering considerable shareholder value, and I look forward to his continued partnership to affect a smooth transition as we start our next chapter at TransMedics." "I am delighted to welcome Gerardo to the TransMedics leadership team as our new Chief Financial Officer," added Dr. Hassanein. "His proven record over two decades of leadership across FP&A functions within high-growth, complex global organizations makes him an ideal addition to our team. I am looking forward to partnering with Gerardo as we continue to deliver significant long-term corporate growth and shareholder value." "I am thrilled to join TransMedics as Chief Financial Officer," said Mr. Hernandez. "I look forward to working with the entire leadership team to expand access to the Company's unparalleled products and services in the organ transplant field while enhancing operational efficiency and delivering lasting value to both our shareholders and the patients we serve." Dr. Hassanein concluded, "As we enter the final weeks of the fourth quarter, we are also updating our financial outlook for the full year 2024. Our updated guidance reflects our continued expectation for considerable year-over-year revenue growth. We look forward to providing additional context at our upcoming Investor & Analyst Day." 2024 Financial Outlook TransMedics now expects revenue for the full year 2024 to be in the range of $428 million to $432 million, which represents 77% to 79% growth compared to the Company's prior year revenue. Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference Members of the TransMedics management team will participate in a fireside chat at the upcoming Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference at the Lotte New York Palace. The fireside chat will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 , at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time . A live and archived webcast of the fireside chat will be available on the "Investors" section of the TransMedics website at https://investors.transmedics.com . The Company's standard investor presentation is also available through this link. TransMedics Investor & Analyst Day Details TransMedics will discuss the transition and updated financial outlook, as well as the Company's growth strategy, clinical pipeline, and operations, in greater detail at its Investor & Analyst Day in New York City on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 , at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time . A live and archived webcast of presentations and Q&A sessions will be available on the "Investors" section of the TransMedics website at https://investors.transmedics.com . Please note management will only take questions from the live audience during the question-and-answer session following formal presentations. About TransMedics Group, Inc. TransMedics is the world's leader in portable extracorporeal warm perfusion and assessment of donor organs for transplantation. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts , the company was founded to address the unmet need for more and better organs for transplantation and has developed technologies to preserve organ quality, assess organ viability prior to transplant, and potentially increase the utilization of donor organs for the treatment of end-stage heart, lung, and liver failure. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, a leadership transition and our full-year guidance. For this purpose, all statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "could," "target," "predict," "seek" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Our management cannot predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ include: our ability to maintain profitability on a sustained basis; our ability to attract, train and retain key personnel; our existing and any future indebtedness, including our ability to comply with affirmative and negative covenants under our credit agreement to which we will remain subject until maturity; the fluctuation of our financial results from quarter to quarter; our need to raise additional funding and our ability to obtain it on favorable terms, or at all; our ability to use net operating losses and research and development credit carryforwards; our dependence on the success of the Organ Care System or OCS; our ability to expand access to the OCS through our National OCS Program or NOP; our ability to scale our manufacturing and sterilization capabilities to meet increasing demand for our products; the rate and degree of market acceptance of the OCS; our ability to educate patients, surgeons, transplant centers and private and public payors on the benefits offered by the OCS; our ability to improve the OCS platform and develop the next generation of the OCS products; our dependence on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenue; our ability to maintain regulatory approvals or clearances for our OCS products in the United States , the European Union, and other select jurisdictions worldwide; our ability to adequately respond to the Food and Drug Administration or FDA, or other competent authorities, follow-up inquiries in a timely manner; the performance of our third-party suppliers and manufacturers; our use of third parties to transport donor organs and medical personnel for our NOP and our ability to maintain and grow our logistics capabilities to support our NOP and reduce dependence on third party transportation, including by means of attracting, training and retaining pilots, and the acquisition, maintenance or replacement of fixed-wing aircraft for our aviation transportation services or other acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic investments; our ability to maintain Federal Aviation Administration or FAA or other regulatory licenses or approvals for our aircraft transportation services; price increases of the components of our products and maintenance, parts and fuel for our aircraft; the timing or results of post-approval studies and any clinical trials for the OCS; our manufacturing, sales, marketing and clinical support capabilities and strategy; attacks against our information technology infrastructure; the economic, political and other risks associated with our foreign operations; our ability to protect, defend, maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights relating to the OCS and avoid allegations that our products infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of third parties; the pricing of the OCS, as well as the reimbursement coverage for the OCS in the United States and internationally; regulatory developments in the United States, European Union and other jurisdictions; the extent and success of competing products or procedures that are or may become available; our ability to service our 1.50% convertible senior notes, due 2028; the impact of any product recalls or improper use of our products; our estimates regarding revenues, expenses and needs for additional financing; and other factors that may be described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Additional information will be made available in our annual and quarterly reports and other filings that we make with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and we are not able to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Investor Contact: Brian Johnston Laine Morgan 332-895-3222 Investors@transmedics.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/transmedics-appoints-gerardo-hernandez-as-chief-financial-officer-and-provides-updated-2024-financial-outlook-302320060.html SOURCE TransMedics Group, Inc.Panic among spectators at soccer game kills at least 56 in the West African nation of Guinea
Surge in calls to rape crisis helpline after jury decision in Conor McGregor caseZayn Malik has admitted he feels "good" being back on stage weeks after the shock death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne. The 31-year-old singer was left devastated last month when Liam fell to his death from the third floor balcony of the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On Saturday night, Zayn kicked off his Stairway to the Sky Tour - his first ever headline tour as a solo artist. He paid tribute to Liam with an emotional message that was beamed onto the stage amid his performance. The touching note read: "Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro," - and was presented alongside a red heart. And taking to the stage, Zayn admitted he was in good spirits as he sang to a throng of screaming fans. He told his audience: "It's good to be back up North." He was performing at the O2 Academy Leeds and belted out an impressive 18 tracks over the course of the evening. According to the Daily Mail, he told his fans: "This might be a pretty decent moment for you all, this is the first time I've ever sang this song live... this song is called Pillow Talk." Many in attendance took to social media to share their joy at being able to see the star on stage - while also reflecting on the sad fact that Liam had died. One fan wrote on X: "Happy and sad at the same time." Another typed: "What a beautiful First show and Zayn was amazing and his vocals omg but then leave this tribute just make me cry all over my prayer are with Zayn tonight as he tour too." And a further fan wrote: "this is such a bittersweet sight, i bet liam would've appreciated it." Following the announcement of Liam's tragic death, Zayn penned an emotional tribute to him on Instagram. Sharing a photograph of them hugging together, he wrote: "Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives. I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved." He continued: "Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f**ks about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it. "When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional. I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next." The star went on: "I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly. I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated." Zayn added: "I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro." Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.
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Listed: The broken youth crime promises crippling Qld( MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) Social media influencers have kicked off a fierce debate over OpenAI's new o3 reasoning model, with some of them raising concerns about its high cost and the potential for overhyping its artificial general intelligence (AGI) capabilities. Several of them also expressed awe at its impressive performance across various benchmarks, including exceeding human performance on coding and scientific reasoning tasks, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Influencers are particularly captivated by o3's ability to perform complex tasks autonomously, potentially exceeding human capabilities in nearly every cognitive domain, and its demonstration of a 'private chain of thought' approach, allowing for more reliable answers, said Shreyasee Majumder, social media analyst at GlobalData. However, there is significant debate surrounding the model's cost-effectiveness and its potential for generalizability across different problem domains. Some influencers highlight the massive compute required for o3, pointing out that while it may be a significant step forward, its real-world applicability is still limited due to its high cost. “Additionally, some influencers challenge the claims of achieving 'AGI', arguing that while o3 demonstrates impressive capabilities, it is not yet capable of true general intelligence and lacks robustness across all problem types,” said Majumder. According to Elvis S, Cofounder and CEO at DAIR, the hype around o3 is out of control. “It's not AGI, it's not the singularity, and you definitely don't have to change your worldview. In fact, the public doesn't even have access to the models so how can anyone claim any of the above. I appreciate how the OpenAI researchers presented o3,” said Elvis. Aaron Levie, CEO at Box, added that OpenAI's o3 model appears to be better at reasoning than any other model out there. “It costs way more to operate, but that's irrelevant. What is expensive today is cheap tomorrow. Quality is all that matters because you know that costs will always drop,” he mentioned. Chamath Palihapitiya, CEO at Social Capital, said the AI model sets new performance records across multiple benchmarks, achieving 96.7 per cent on the American Invitational Mathematics Exam, 87.7 per cent on graduate-level science questions, and a Codeforces rating above the 99th percentile. -IANS na/ MENAFN27122024000231011071ID1109036238 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Gender ideology is based on regressive stereotypes of man, woman
LAS VEGAS — Players Era Festival organizers have done what so many other have tried — bet their fortunes in this city that a big payoff is coming. Such bet are usually bad ones, which is why so many massive casino-resorts have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard. But it doesn't mean the organizers are wrong. They're counting on the minimum of $1 million in guaranteed name, image and likeness money that will go to each of the eight teams competing in the neutral-site tournament that begins Tuesday will create a precedent for other such events. EverWonder Studios CEO Ian Orefice, who co-founded Players with former AND1 CEO Seth Berger, compared this event to last year's inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament that played its semifinals and final in Las Vegas by saying it "did really well to reinvigorate the fan base at the beginning of the year." "We're excited that we're able to really change the paradigm in college basketball on the economics," Orefice said. "But for us, it's about the long term. How do we use the momentum that is launching with the 2024 Players Era Festival and be the catalyst not to change one event, but to change college basketball for the future." Orefice and Berger didn't disclose financial details, but said the event will come close to breaking even this year and that revenue is in eight figures. Orefice said the bulk of the revenue will come from relationships with MGM, TNT Sports and Publicis Sport & Entertainment as well as sponsors that will be announced later. Both organizers said they are so bullish on the tournament's prospects that they already are planning ahead. Money made from this year's event, Orefice said, goes right back into the company. "We're really in this for the long haul," Orefice said. "So we're not looking at it on a one-year basis." Rick Giles is president of the Gazelle Group, which also operates several similar events, including the College Basketball Invitational. He was skeptical the financial numbers would work. Giles said in addition to more than $8 million going to the players, there were other expenses such as the guarantees to the teams. He said he didn't know if the tournament would make up the difference with ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship money. The top bowl of the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be curtained off. "The math is highly challenging," Giles said. "Attendance and ticket revenues are not going to come anywhere close to covering that. They haven't announced any sponsors that I'm aware of. So it all sort of rests with their media deal with Turner and how much capital they want to commit to it to get these players paid." David Carter, a University of Southern California adjunct professor who also runs the Sports Business Group consultancy, said even if the Players isn't a financial success this year, the question is whether there will be enough interest to move forward. "If there is bandwidth for another tournament and if the TV or the streaming ratings are going to be there and people are going to want to attend and companies are going to want to sponsor, then, yeah, it's probably going to work," Carter said. "But it may take them time to gain that traction." Both founders said they initially were met with skepticism about putting together such an event, especially from teams they were interested in inviting. Houston was the first school to commit, first offering an oral pledge early in the year and then signing a contract in April. That created momentum for others to join, and including the No. 6 Cougars, half the field is ranked. "We have the relationships to operate a great event," Berger said. "We had to get coaches over those hurdles, and once they knew that we were real, schools got on board really quickly." The founders worked with the NCAA to make sure the tournament abided by that organization's rules, so players must appear at ancillary events in order to receive NIL money. Strict pay for play is not allowed, though there are incentives for performance. The champion, for example, will receive $1.5 million in NIL money. Now the pressure is on to pull off the event and not create the kind of headlines that can dog it for years to come. "I think everybody in the marketplace is watching what's going to happen (this) week and, more importantly, what happens afterwards," Giles said. "Do the players get paid on a timely basis? And if they do, that means that Turner or somebody has paid way more than the market dictates? And the question will be: Can that continue?" CREIGHTON: P oint guard Steven Ashworth likely won’t play in the No. 21 Bluejays’ game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday and coach Greg McDermott said afterward he didn’t know how long he would be out. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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