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BOZEMAN, Mont. – Aurora, a self-driving trucking company, is making waves in Bozeman with its innovative technology and job creation. The company uses LIDAR, a tool that employs lasers and photonics to create a 3-D picture of the environment. Montana State University and Gallatin College have developed programs to educate students in photonics, preparing them for real-world applications. Some students have already secured positions with Aurora. Mayor Terry Cunningham of Bozeman emphasized the local impact, saying, "The genius folks who are creating those sparks and those innovations get to stay here in the place that they love, because of the innovations that they created. But also, for folks like Aurora who are creating businesses from that technology." Aurora has already introduced 70 tech jobs to the Bozeman area, with more on the horizon. Governor Greg Gianforte, who has a background in high tech, highlighted the state's role in fostering industry growth. "We've been reducing regulations. We've been reducing the tax burden. We've been making IT investments in education. And this really creates an environment where entrepreneurs can succeed in the private sector," he said. The new Aurora Bozeman location will function as a LIDAR testing and research facility, further contributing to the area's technological advancement.Sports on TV for Thursday, Dec. 19
What Operators Expect From Tech Providers: Kantar Survey Insights for SOFTSWISSThe US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.‘In football, no fear. Never’: Lopetegui urges West Ham to take battle to Liverpool
US CEO slaying suspect charged with murder as 'act of terrorism'Air Products Files Investor Presentation Highlighting Successful Two-Pillar Strategy to Deliver Superior Shareholder ValueAurora's self-driving truck tech boosts Bozeman job market
Sports on TV for Thursday, Dec. 19FEMA under investigation over Trump supporter discrimination
Cybersecurity Starts with Employees: The Importance of Awareness TrainingPayroll/HR platform Remote says its clients can now pay contract workers using stablecoins. The new offering, launching initially for businesses in the U.S., allows companies to pay contractors in 69 countries with the USDC stablecoin, according to a Tuesday (Dec. 17) news release . “One of the biggest hurdles companies face when hiring on international talent is providing fast, flexible, and reliable payments around the world,” Remote CEO and Co-founder Job van der Voort said in the announcement. “With the introduction of stablecoin payouts via Stripe , we’re adding a feature that has been highly requested by our customers, enabling them to pay contractors how they prefer, while maintaining the compliance and simplicity Remote is known for.” According to the release, the new capability lets companies pay contract workers securely and near-instantaneously, whole Remote provides compliance at home and abroad. Contractor can pick a new withdrawal method and add their Base Network Wallet Address to get payments in USDC, while their employer will be billed in U.S. dollars. “Contractor management is one of the fastest-growing capabilities of the Remote platform as businesses shift toward tapping global talent pools and adopting more flexible workforce models,” the release said. “Stablecoin payments complement Remote’s powerful automation features for onboarding, invoicing, and paying contractors in minutes around the world, making it easy to manage and pay all their talent from a single dashboard.” The launch comes at a time when stablecoins appear to be gaining momentum as a cross-border payment method, as covered here last week. “Traditional cross-border payments are notorious for high fees, slow processing times and opaque intermediaries,” PYMNTS wrote. “Stablecoins offer a compelling alternative by allowing near-instantaneous transfers, significantly lower costs and enhanced transparency through blockchain technology.” Still, the utility of digital coins has been hampered by the difficulty in moving funds between stablecoins and fiat currencies — a gap that on-ramp and off-ramp services at some financial institutions hope to fill. “For banks, this functionality highlights the emergence of a potentially stark choice: adapt to a changing payments landscape or risk disintermediation,” PYMNTS wrote. Meanwhile, research by PYMNTS Intelligence has shown that using cryptocurrencies to make cross-border payments could be the winning use case that the industry has been searching for. The research found that blockchain-based cross-border solutions, stablecoins in particular, are being embraced by companies hoping for a better way to transact and expand internationally.
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Veteran hero lifesaver can hardly walk, but 'I can bloody well still swim'DENVER , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The Board of Trustees (the "Board") of Principal Real Estate Income Fund (the "Fund"), announced today that it has approved a renewal of the Fund's share repurchase program. Under the share repurchase program, the Fund may purchase up to approximately 2.1% of its outstanding common shares beginning January 21, 2025 , in the open market, until January 21, 2026 . As part of its evaluation of options to enhance shareholder value, the Board has authorized ALPS Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor") to repurchase the Fund's common shares at such times and in such amounts as the Advisor reasonably believes may enhance shareholder value. The Board and the Advisor continually analyze options to enhance shareholder value and potentially reduce the discount between the market price of the Fund's common share and the net asset value per share ("NAV"). The Board and the Advisor believe that the share repurchase program may further these goals because the program allows the Fund to acquire its shares in the open market at a discount to NAV, which will increase the NAV and thereby benefit remaining shareholders while potentially providing additional liquidity in the trading of the fund shares. The Board will monitor the repurchase program and will continue to consider strategic options to enhance shareholder value in the long-term. The Fund's repurchase program will be implemented on a discretionary basis under the direction of the Advisor. There is no assurance that the Fund will purchase shares at any specific discount level or in any specific amount or that the market price of the Fund's shares will increase as a result of any share repurchases. RISKS An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all investors and is not intended to be a complete investment program. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. Investing in the Fund involves risks, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or that you may lose part or even all of your investment and exposure to below-investment grade investments (i.e., "junk bonds"). The Fund's net asset value will vary and its distribution rate may vary and both may be affected by numerous factors, including changes in the market spread over a specified benchmark, market interest rates and performance of the broader equity markets. Fluctuations in net asset value may be magnified as a result of the Fund's use of leverage. Therefore, before investing you should carefully consider the risks that you assume when you invest in the Fund's common shares. Securities backed by commercial real estate assets are subject to market risks similar to those of direct ownership of commercial real estate assets including, but not limited to, declines in the value of real estate, declines in rental or occupancy rates and risks related to general and local economic conditions. The Fund's investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return the initial investment to investors that purchase shares. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain an annual report or semi-annual report which contains this and other information visit www.principalcef.com or call 855.838.9485. Please read them carefully before investing . Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value and initial offering prices. NOT FDIC INSURED | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee The Fund is a closed-end fund and does not continuously issue shares for sale as open-end mutual funds do. Since the initial public offering, the Fund now trades in the secondary market. Investors wishing to buy or sell shares need to place orders through an intermediary or broker. The share price of a closed-end fund is based on the market's value. ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund. Principal Real Estate Investors LLC is the investment sub-adviser to the Fund. Principal Real Estate Investors LLC is not affiliated with ALPS Advisors, Inc. or any of its affiliates. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the FINRA Member firm. About SS&C Technologies SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut , and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale, and technology. Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com . About SS&C ALPS Advisors SS&C ALPS Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SS&C Technologies, is a leading provider of investment products for advisors and institutions. With over $26.24 billion under management as of September 30, 2024 , SS&C ALPS Advisors is an open architecture boutique investment manager offering portfolio building blocks, active insight and an unwavering drive to guide clients to investment outcomes across sustainable income, thematic and alternative growth strategies. For more information, visit www.alpsfunds.com. About SS&C Technologies Principal Real Estate Investors manages or sub-advises $102 billion in commercial real estate assets, as of September 30, 2024 . The firm's real estate capabilities include both public and private equity and debt investment alternatives. Principal Real Estate Investors is the dedicated real estate group of Principal Global Investors, a diversified asset management organization and a member of the Principal Financial Group ® . PRE000436 12/18/2025 View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/principal-real-estate-income-fund-continues-share-repurchase-program-302335508.html SOURCE Principal Real Estate Income Fund
Mandan, ND, Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amanda Babb's journey from a successful career as a physician assistant to a thriving Dickey's Barbecue Pit franchisee in Mandan, North Dakota, highlights the power of bold career moves and entrepreneurial spirit. Partnering with Randy Rhone, Babb has established her restaurant as a cornerstone of the local community, combining her passion for service with her love of barbecue. "I loved working in medicine, but I wanted a new challenge—something where I could work for myself and make a direct impact on my community," Babb said. "Owning a Dickey's has given me the opportunity to create something meaningful while staying connected to the people I serve." Babb entered the franchising world over a decade ago when she and her then-husband teamed up with Rhone to bring authentic barbecue to North Dakota . Driven by her desire to control her own career path, Babb took over daily operations when the original operator left, ultimately becoming the driving force behind the Mandan location. Seven years later, her restaurant has earned a reputation for exceptional service, quality food, and its welcoming atmosphere, becoming a gathering place for the Mandan community. Babb takes a hands-on approach to managing her restaurant, whether it's overseeing daily operations, coordinating catering orders, or personally welcoming guests. Her emphasis on building relationships with customers has been central to her success. "We're not just serving barbecue; we're building connections," Babb said. "When people come through our doors, we want them to feel like family." Catering has become a key aspect of her business, with Babb and her team regularly handling multiple large orders. This focus on community engagement has solidified her reputation as a leader within the Dickey's franchise system . As with any business, challenges have arisen—from navigating supply chain issues to adapting to shifting market conditions—but Babb has approached each hurdle with creativity and determination. "Margins in the restaurant industry are tight, but with the right strategies and a strong team, you can find ways to thrive," Babb said. She also emphasizes the importance of strong collaboration. "Franchising is a partnership," she said. "Having the right support system in place—both locally and from corporate—makes all the difference when challenges arise." Babb encourages aspiring franchisees to fully understand the demands of the business before jumping in. "Franchising isn't a passive investment—it's a hands-on endeavor," she said. "But if you're willing to put in the work and stay focused, it can be incredibly rewarding. The key is loving what you do and building something that truly matters." Amanda Babb is focused on growing her business while continuing to serve her community. For her, the restaurant represents more than a business—it's a space for connection, celebration, and shared meals. "This is about more than barbecue," she said. "It's about creating a space where people can connect and share great food together." Laura Rea Dickey , CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc ., praised Babb's impact: "Amanda's story exemplifies the spirit of Dickey's. Her ability to transition from one career to another while excelling in both shows her resilience and dedication. She's an inspiration to our entire system." Roland Dickey , Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group, added: "Amanda's commitment to her community and her business sets her apart as a leader. Her journey demonstrates the opportunities franchising can provide when paired with passion and hard work." Babb's story reflects the resilience, adaptability, and drive required to successfully transition from one career to another, and her success is a testament to the opportunities franchising offers. About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Founded in 1941 by The Dickey Family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world's largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For over 80 years, Dickey's Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.TM Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey's barbecued meats are paired with a variety of southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey's never takes shortcuts—because real barbecue can't be rushed. With over 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey's Barbecue Franchise and Dickey's Restaurant Brands continues to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Inc. Dickey's has been recognized on Newsweek's 2022 "America's Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation's Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today's 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology's Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine . For more information, visit www.dickeys.com . For information about becoming a franchise partner, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com . Attachment Amanda Babb, Owner/Operator © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.