America’s Rare Earth Problem Could Be Solved With Literal TrashDon't Forget About Holiday Poisoning Pitfalls
Published 4:41 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 By Data Skrive Let’s check out the injury report for the New Orleans Pelicans (4-14), which currently has five players listed (including Brandon Ingram), as the Pelicans ready for their matchup against the Toronto Raptors (4-14, four injured players) at Smoothie King Center on Wednesday, November 27 at 8:00 PM ET. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. The Pelicans fell in their last matchup 114-110 against the Pacers on Monday. In the losing effort, Trey Murphy III paced the Pelicans with 24 points. The Raptors fell in their last matchup 102-100 against the Pistons on Monday. Scottie Barnes’ team-high 31 points paced the Raptors in the losing effort. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .
Forafric Global PLC ( NASDAQ:AFRIW – Get Free Report ) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,100 shares, a decline of 47.6% from the November 30th total of 2,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days. Forafric Global Price Performance Shares of AFRIW opened at $0.99 on Friday. Forafric Global has a 52-week low of $0.56 and a 52-week high of $1.60. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $1.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1.31. Forafric Global Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Forafric Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Forafric Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Walmart Inc. ( NYSE:WMT – Get Free Report ) shares traded down 1.5% during mid-day trading on Friday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $91.31 and last traded at $91.40. 2,627,537 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 17,006,006 shares. The stock had previously closed at $92.79. Specifically, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 29,124 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.35, for a total value of $2,689,601.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 3,785,702 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $349,609,579.70. This represents a 0.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 13,125 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.60, for a total value of $1,215,375.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 566,794 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $52,485,124.40. This trade represents a 2.26 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on WMT shares. Barclays lifted their target price on Walmart from $78.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Walmart from $89.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of Walmart from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Roth Mkm boosted their price target on Walmart from $81.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, KeyCorp raised their price objective on Walmart from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $93.69. Walmart Stock Performance The company has a market capitalization of $736.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $88.60 and a 200 day moving average of $78.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Walmart ( NYSE:WMT – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 19th. The retailer reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $169.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $167.69 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 2.92% and a return on equity of 21.78%. Walmart’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.51 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.47 EPS for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walmart Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Walmart during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Voisard Asset Management Group Inc. raised its stake in Walmart by 77.3% during the 3rd quarter. Voisard Asset Management Group Inc. now owns 399 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the period. Hoese & Co LLP bought a new position in Walmart in the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Livelsberger Financial Advisory acquired a new stake in Walmart in the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Hara Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock. About Walmart ( Get Free Report ) Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Caitlin Whyte netted 14 points with six rebounds,four assists and three steals to lead Middletown South to a 51-34 win over rival Middletown North during the WOBM Classic at RWJ Barnabas Arena in Toms River. The Eagles (5-2) jumped out to a quick 19-6 lead. 12/29 - 2:00 PM Girls Basketball Final Middletown North 34 Middletown South 51 Amanda MacGregor added 11 points, four assists and three steals to the win. Ava Loucopoulos chipped in with eight points, five of which came during Midd. South’s first-quarter run. Kaelyn Gibson scored a game-high 22 points for Midd North (2-5). Gibson scored 12 of her points in the fourth. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)If this is how Aaron Rodgers performs against the big boys of the AFC, consider his time with the New York Jets over. The future Hall-of-Famer and his team were dominated by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, dropping to 4-12 this season by a score of 40-14. Get the Full Story Rodgers did not even make it to the end of the game, as he was benched for Tyrod Taylor in the fourth quarter after falling behind 40-0. He completed just 12 of 18 passes for 112 years and two interceptions. He was also sacked four times, including for a safety late in the second quarter to send Buffalo on its way. Taylor, meanwhile, scored touchdowns in garbage time on both of his drives, Likely NFL MVP and Bills quarterback Josh Allen did not have a monster day, passing for just 182 years while rushing for another 17, but he did score three total touchdowns, including the game’s opener via a one-yard scramble midway through the first quarter. While the Jets’ defense hung tough, Rodgers killed any semblance of momentum when he was sacked in the end zone by AJ Epinesa 2:11 before the half to put the Bills up 9-0. They tacked on a field goal at the end of the half to take a 12-point lead into the break. Rodgers’ second interception of the day was turned around into a 30-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Amari Cooper with five minutes left in the third. It was the first of three scores from Buffalo in the final five minutes of the frame, prompting Allen to hit the showers early. Backup Mitchell Trubisky added further insult to injury, hooking up with Tyrell Shavers for a 69-yard score early in the fourth to make it a 40-0 game.
Germany’s AfD rallies in Magdeburg, site of deadly Christmas market attackMUMBAI: Senior NCP leader Dhananjay Panditrao Munde is facing the heat as leaders from the opposition as well as ruling parties are making a series of allegations against him, for his close aide’s alleged involvement in the murder of a sarpanch in Beed. The 49-year-old was initially groomed by his uncle, former deputy chief minister and BJP leader late Gopinath Munde. During Munde’s tenure as state deputy chief minister, Dhananjay had kicked up controversies over his high-handedness in Beed, which he used to look after. Following the rise of Gopinath Munde’s daughter Pankaja as his heir apparent, an irked Dhananjay started looking for options beyond his uncle. He was encouraged to stand up to his uncle by a few top leaders in Maharashtra BJP who wanted to keep Munde under control. As he felt that his uncle would not allow him to grow within the party, Dhanajay joined NCP. Keen to build a strong non-Maratha leadership in Marathwada, both Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit encouraged Dhanajay. They made him a member of legislative council and later leader of the Opposition in the upper house after the Congress-NCP lost power in 2014. During this tenure, Dhananjay steadily grew as a politician. He managed to take political control of Munde’s Parli constituency and won assembly elections in 2019 by defeating Pankaja and in 2024 opposite an NCP (SP) candidate. He also soon earned the trust of Ajit and became his close aide. After the 2019 assembly election, when Ajit first made the attempt to split NCP, it was Dhananjay who was working the phone to get MLAs on their side. In 2023, when Ajit finally managed to split the NCP, Dhananjay played a key role. He, however, has a penchant for controversies. During his tenure as agriculture minister in the Mahayuti government, he drew flak for forcing the transfer of agriculture secretary who refused certain plans of his department, citing a loss for the exchequer. In 2021, a singer Renu Sharma accused him of rape but later withdrew her complaint. In this episode, Dhananjay confessed that he was in a relation with Renu’s sister Karuna and they have children together. Back home in Beed, he managed to establish his control. He has been a minister in three successive governments (MVA, Mahayuti and Mahayuti 2.0) and guardian minister of Beed. Opposition leaders as well as elected representatives in Beed allege that Dhananjay’s bid to control the district politically has led to the current turmoil in the district. There have been allegations of grabbing land and properties, cornering all government contracts, extortion and murders against certain groups. Walmik Karad, a former head of Parli municipal council and a close aide of Dhananjay is accused of being a mastermind behind the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. On Saturday, thousands of political workers and other people came out on the streets of Beed demanding arrest of Karad and sacking of Munde as a minister. Dhanajay’s boss and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar as well as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis are increasingly finding it difficult to defend him as elected representatives from all parties including BJP and NCP are gunning for his head. Pawar is aware of the impact the current controversy is having on his and his party’s image. There is also a strong Maratha undertone in the case as Deshmukh was Maratha and Karad-Munde come from Vanjari caste in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. During Manoj Jarange Patil-led agitation for Maratha quota, Beed saw a bitter tussle between Maratha and Vanjari communities. According to NCP insiders, Pawar has not asked Dhananjay to step down but he is not stopping NCP leaders from Beed such as MLA Prakash Solanke from attacking the latter. The next few days could decide whether Dhananjay Munde manages to save his chair or is asked to take a step back, in the interest of his party and the Mahayuti government.
JERUSALEM — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes meanwhile carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. Israel’s security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Israel says it will ‘attack with might’ if Hezbollah breaks truce Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut’s bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah’s financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — On a damp Wednesday night with temperatures dipping into the 30s, fans in sparsely filled stands bundled up to watch Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 37-30 on gray turf. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — On a damp Wednesday night with temperatures dipping into the 30s, fans in sparsely filled stands bundled up to watch Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 37-30 on gray turf. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — On a damp Wednesday night with temperatures dipping into the 30s, fans in sparsely filled stands bundled up to watch Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 37-30 on gray turf. The lopsided game was not particularly notable, but it was played on one of the nights the Mid-American Conference has made its own: A weeknight. “A lot of the general public thinks we play all of our games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, not just some of them in November,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a telephone interview this week. “What it has done is help take what was a pretty darned good regional conference and has given it a national brand and made it a national conference.” When the conference has played football games on ESPN or ESPN2 over the last two seasons, the linear television audience has been 10 times larger than when conference schools meet on Saturdays and get lost in the shuffle when viewers have many more choices. The most-watched MAC game over the last two years was earlier this month on a Wednesday night when Northern Illinois won at Western Michigan and there were 441,600 viewers, a total that doesn’t include streaming that isn’t captured by Nielsen company. During the same span, the linear TV audience has been no larger than 46,100 to watch two MAC teams play on Saturdays. “Having the whole nation watching on Tuesday and Wednesday night is a huge deal for the MAC,” Eastern Michigan tight end Jere Getzinger said. “Everybody wants to watch football so if you put it on TV on a Tuesday or Wednesday, people are going to watch.” ESPN has carried midweek MAC football games since the start of the century. ESPN and the conference signed a 13-year extension a decade ago that extends their relationship through at least the 2026-27 season. The conference has made the most of the opportunities, using MACtion as a tag on social media for more than a decade and it has become a catchy marketing term for the Group of Five football programs that usually operate under the radar in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and New York. Attendance does tend to go down with weeknight games, keeping some students out of stadiums because they have class or homework and leading to adults staying away home because they have to work the next morning. “The tradeoff is the national exposure,” Buffalo coach Pete Lembo said. “You know November nights midweek the average fan is going to park on the couch, have a bowl of chips and salsa out in front, and watch the game from there.” When the Bulls beat Ball State 51-48 in an overtime thriller on a Tuesday night earlier this month, the announced attendance was 12,708 and that appeared to be generous. There were many empty seats after halftime. “You watch the games on TV, the stadiums all look like this,” Buffalo fan Jeff Wojcicki said. “They are not packed, but it’s the only game on, and you know where to find it.” Sleep and practice schedules take a hit as well, creating another wave of challenges for students to attend class and coaches to prepare without the usual rhythm of preparing all week to play on Saturday. “Last week when we played at Ohio in Athens, we had a 4-four bus ride home and got home at about 3:30 a.m.,” Eastern Michigan center Broderick Roman said. “We still had to go to class and that was tough, but it’s part of what you commit to as an athlete.” That happens a lot in November when the MAC shifts its unique schedule. During the first two weeks of the month, the conference had 10 games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays exclusively. This week, there were five games on Tuesday and Wednesday while only one was left in the traditional Saturday slot with Ball State hosting Bowling Green. Next week, Toledo plays at Akron and Kent State visits Buffalo on Tuesday night before the MAC schedule wraps up with games next Friday and Saturday to determine which teams will meet in the conference title game on Dec. 7 in Detroit. In all, MAC teams will end up playing about 75% of their games on a Saturday and the rest on November weeknights. When the Eagles wrapped up practice earlier this week, two days before they played the Bulls, tight end Jere Getzinger provided some insight into the effects of the scheduling quirk. “It’s Monday, but for us it’s like a Thursday,” he said. Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler said he frankly has a hard time remembering what day it is when the schedule shift hits in November. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “The entire week gets turned upside down,” Loeffler said. “It’s wild, but it’s great for the league because there’s two days a week this time of year that people around the country will watch MAC games.” ___ AP freelance writer Jonah Bronstein contributed to this report. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Advertisement Advertisement
First Bancorp ( NASDAQ:FBNC – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Monday, October 28th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.22 per share by the financial services provider on Saturday, January 25th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. First Bancorp has increased its dividend payment by an average of 6.9% per year over the last three years. First Bancorp has a payout ratio of 28.3% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect First Bancorp to earn $3.08 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.88 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 28.6%. First Bancorp Stock Performance Shares of FBNC stock opened at $44.40 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $45.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $41.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.83. First Bancorp has a 1 year low of $29.53 and a 1 year high of $50.34. The firm has a market cap of $1.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.90 and a beta of 1.04. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently commented on FBNC. StockNews.com cut shares of First Bancorp from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of First Bancorp from $49.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on First Bancorp About First Bancorp ( Get Free Report ) First Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for First Bank that provides banking products and services for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. The company accepts deposit products, such as checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time deposits, including certificate of deposits and individual retirement accounts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for First Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Network completed in partnership with Escambia River Electric Cooperative brings high-speed internet to more than 12,000 rural homes and businesses KANSAS CITY, Mo. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Conexon Connect , the internet service provider (ISP) formed by rural fiber broadband leader Conexon , has completed its first fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project in the state of Florida , a 2,000-mile network launched in partnership with Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC). The Connect, powered by Escambia River Electric Cooperative, network marks the ISP's sixth FTTH network completion. With this milestone, Conexon Connect has successfully delivered fiber internet access to 12,000 EREC members across rural Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in northern Florida , bringing world-class, high-speed internet service to homes and businesses previously lacking reliable connectivity. The newly completed network enables residents to access essential online services including telemedicine, remote education and modern work opportunities. "Completing the fiber network across EREC's service area is another major step forward in our mission to bring connectivity to underserved communities nationwide," said Randy Klindt , Conexon Founding Partner and co-CEO. "We're proud to empower these areas with digital access to help drive innovation, opportunity and growth in Florida ." The Connect, powered by Escambia River Electric Cooperative, network provides members access to multi-gigabit-speed symmetrical internet capabilities, offering the same fast download and upload speeds, as well as reliable phone service. Fiber broadband technology also enables the benefits of smart grid capabilities to the co-op's electrical infrastructure. "Over the past two years, we've worked tirelessly to bring this critical infrastructure to every EREC member in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties," said Ryan Campbell , CEO of EREC. "Today, every member of our cooperative has access to fast, reliable internet, which is not just about improving connectivity – it's about enhancing quality of life, fostering economic growth and ensuring that no one in our community is left behind in the digital age. This project represents our commitment to providing not just electricity, but the tools that empower our members to thrive in an increasingly connected world. By partnering with Connect, we've been able to make a lasting impact on our community." Conexon's current impact in Florida spans five electric cooperatives' service territories – delivering Connect high-speed internet to members of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Glades Electric Cooperative and EREC – and partnering with Central Florida Electric Cooperative and Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative as those co-ops build FTTH networks to serve their members with broadband. Collectively the co-ops' broadband project investment totals more than $260 million , with nearly 9,000 miles of fiber built to date, reaching well over 70,000 rural Floridians. "In rural areas across the state, there is only one group of people who truly care about getting broadband to every home in every rural area – not the telephone companies that have abandoned rural Florida , not the cable companies that never built to rural Florida – it is the rural electric cooperatives that have been serving their communities for over 85 years," said Conexon co-CEO Jonathan Chambers . "We are proud of the partnership we formed with Escambia River Electric Cooperative. In just eighteen months, we built a fiber broadband network to serve every member of the cooperative, a network that will last for decades to come." About Conexon Connect Conexon Connect, the fiber-to-the-home internet service provider (ISP) formed and operated by Conexon, is an emerging local broadband leader in rural communities across the country. Connect works predominantly with electric cooperatives and communities, building networks using Conexon's proven methodology and architecture that leverage existing infrastructure to power reliable and affordable 100 percent fiber broadband service for rural homes and businesses. Connect currently operates in Colorado , Florida , Georgia , Kentucky , Louisiana , Mississippi , and Missouri . About Escambia River Electric Cooperative Founded in 1939, Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC) is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving approximately 12,000 residents in northern Escambia County and Santa Rosa County, Florida . Headquartered in Jay, Florida , with an additional location in Walnut Hill , EREC has a long-standing commitment to providing affordable, reliable electric power to its members. In recent years, the cooperative has expanded its service offerings, including the successful deployment of high-speed fiber internet to every member in its service area. EREC's mission is to provide dependable electric and broadband services at competitive rates while enhancing the region's quality of life through community-driven initiatives. These include supporting economic development, promoting safety and environmental education, and generously contributing time, energy, and resources to charitable organizations, schools, and community events. Cindy Parks 913-526-6912 cindy.parks@conexon.us View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/conexon-connect-completes-first-fiber-to-the-home-project-in-florida-marking-sixth-broadband-network-completion-nationwide-302316929.html SOURCE Conexon Connect © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Democrat Bob Casey concedes to Republican David McCormick in Pennsylvania Senate contest
Methodist Hospital's New OBGYN Center Debuts in BrooklynUS budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000 overnight. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister has rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intends to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday that Musk’s criticism was “unsurprising” after the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would fine platforms including X up to $133 million for allowing children under 16 to hold social media accounts. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire over regulators’ efforts to reduce public harm from social media. Parliament could pass the legislation as soon as next week. Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it heads for a winning week Stocks gained ground on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.3% in afternoon trading Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 352 points and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts' estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called of its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. European markets were mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. Apple and Google face UK investigation into mobile browser dominance LONDON (AP) — A British watchdog says Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers. The watchdog's report Friday recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year. The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker’s tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. The CMA’s report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers “the clearest or easiest option.” Apple said it disagreed with the findings. German auto supplier Bosch to cut 5,500 jobs in further sign of carmakers' woes FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany's technology and services company Bosch is cutting its automotive division workforce by as many as 5,500 jobs in the next several years, in another sign of the headwinds hitting the German and global auto industries. The company cited stagnating global auto sales, too much factory capacity in the auto industry compared to sales prospects and a slower than expected transition to electric-powered, software-controlled vehicles. Some 3,500 of the job reductions would come before the end of 2027 and would hit the part of the company that develops driver assistance and automated driving technologies. About half those job reductions would be at locations in Germany. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration.
OK, so "brat" is out and "demure" is going to rule in 2024. The latter has been named word of the year, with searches for the word seeing a "meteoric rise" of some 1,200% between January and August. As reports, the spike in people who apparently don't know what demure means was largely driven by—you guessed it—a social influencer: TikToker Jools Lebron, who has some 2.3 million followers. "You see how I do my makeup for work? Very demure. Very mindful," goes one of the posts that inspired the likes of Kim Kardashian, RuPaul, and Jennifer Lopez to glom on. "The way I came to the interview is the way I go to the job. A lot of you girls go to the interview looking like Marge Simpson and go to the job looking like (her sisters) Patty and Selma. Not demure," Lebron says. Other words that made the shortlist:The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $0.06 on January 31st
