PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (PYR.V) ( CVE:PYR – Get Free Report ) shares shot up 11% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$3.99 and last traded at C$3.85. 335,425 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 1% from the average session volume of 337,985 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$3.47. PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (PYR.V) Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 165.50, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of C$606.96 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -154.00. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$3.85 and a 200-day moving average price of C$3.85. About PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (PYR.V) ( Get Free Report ) PyroGenesis Canada Inc designs, develops, manufactures, and commercializes advanced plasma processes and systems in Canada and internationally. It offers DROSRITE, a sustainable process for enhancing metal recovery from dross targeting primarily metallurgical industry; plasma atomized metal powders; PUREVAP, a process to produce high purity metallurgical grade silicon and solar grade silicon from quartz; plasma fired steam generator, which directly generates steam suitable for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) for the oil and gas industry; and custom reactors and furnaces for use in advanced materials, metallurgical, environmental, and chemical fields. Read More Receive News & Ratings for PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (PYR.V) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (PYR.V) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Pakistan dispatch: massed protesters demanding release of ex-PM Imran Khan met with harsh response from security forces in IslamabadMORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley is being reunited with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia. Rodriguez, who was hired for his second stint as West Virginia's coach on Dec. 12, announced Sunday that he hired the 31-year-old Alley as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekKash Patel is vying with one of Donald Trump's other insiders for the CIA deputy director post. Patel became a Trump ally when he coordinated with former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) to fight back against special counsel Robert Mueller, who investigated Russian efforts to meddle in the 2016 election. Patel pressed to have all of the information around the Russia probe declassified, thinking it would expose wrongdoing in the intelligence community, CNN reported in 2020 . Patel is fighting with Cliff Sims, Trump's former deputy director of National Intelligence for Strategy and Communications, over the post, Politico reported Tuesday . The report characterized the position as "one of the most sought-after national security posts." ALSO READ: 'Not normal times': Ex-intel officials brace for retribution following J.D. Vance vow Patel was teased as a possible pick to head the FBI, but it never happened. One of his more controversial positions involves jailing journalists, something he proposed to Steve Bannon last year. Trump insiders told Politico that both men are "angering others who feel they're using their roles on the transition to undermine any would-be contenders." The post "wields enormous influence inside the U.S. intelligence community," reported Politico. "The frustration toward Sims ... and Patel, the firebrand former House Intelligence Committee staffer and Pentagon official, stems from the fact that both are helping the transition interview candidates for the CIA role," the report said, citing those in the transition. “The issue that a lot of us have is that these people are involved in staffing national security jobs, and at the same time, they’re also promoting themselves for the same roles,” said one of the individuals who spoke to Politico. Patel is known for "fighting dirty," so there's a concern that he's leaking damaging stories about Sims. After leaving the White House , Trump was furious with Sims when he published a tell-all memoir in 2019. At this point, however, many former officials have published memoirs about their political lives and their work with Trump. At the time, White House officials described Trump as “very p---ed off ” and “really hopping mad” after reading excerpts of the tell-all book. The current deputy, David S. Cohen, helped craft Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act, which dealt with money laundering. He then went on to work as the assistant secretary for Terrorist Financing at the Treasury Department, the under-secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. Neither Sims nor Patel has any experience working on domestic or global terrorism. Trump's previous appointees during his first administration had experience working in the CIA. Transition spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, refused to comment about the two men, saying only that “remaining decisions will continue to be announced" when made. Read the full report here.
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Fresno TNR reaches spay, neuter milestone in 2024Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women's basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and Tuesday she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court. After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark’s exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women’s sports leagues along the way. A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its members voted on the award. Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second with 25 and boxer Imane Khelif was third, getting four votes. Clark is only the fourth women’s basketball player to be honored as the female athlete of the year since it was first presented in 1931, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995) and Candace Parker (2008, 2021). “I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me and to be honored in this way, is super special and I’m thankful,” Clark said in a phone interview. “It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.” Shohei Ohtani won the AP Male Athlete of the Year on Monday for the third time. Clark broke the NCAA Division I career scoring record for both men and women finishing her career with 3,951 points while guiding Iowa to its second consecutive national championship game. After her Hawkeyes lost t South Carolina for the title, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley took the mic during her team’s celebration and said, “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport.” For all the success Clark has had and the attention she has brought to women’s basketball, she is often the centerpiece of debates and online toxicity towards her and other players in the league. For her part, Clark has disavowed the toxic discourse. Lobo also has been impressed with the way the 22-year-old Clark has handled the pressure and attention that has come her way. “I would say she’s navigated it almost flawlessly. she hasn’t had an big missteps or misspeaks at a time you’re under constant scrutiny,” Lobo said. “She’s seemed to say and do all the right things. That’s just incredible at a time when it’s constant attention and scrutiny. She has not done anything to tarnish this sort of mild persona she has.” As Clark handled the praise — and the backlash — during the heat of competition, it was hard for her to appreciate just what she was able accomplish over the past year. But after having time to reflect on the whirlwind tour, she appreciates those who were there alongside her for the ride. “I'm thankful for the people I got to do it with,” Clark said. “A year ago I was still in the early part of my senior year in college. ... How fast things change, and now I can see how great a college season it was.” Iowa sold out all of its games at home and on the road with Clark as the main attraction. That momentum continued into the pros. Her No. 22 jersey was prevalent wherever she played during her rookie season and will be retired at Iowa. “You’d be remiss not to acknowledge how crazy her fan base is and the eyes she gets with everything she does,” said Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was often spotted courtside at Clark's Indiana Fever games. “It’s a different type of popularity, she’s one of the most popular athletes in the world. It’s not just women’s sports anymore. "It’s really cool to see and she just handles it with such grace.” Clark said she enjoys spending time with fans at games, usually taking a few minutes before and after games to sign autographs. “For me it's still really fun,” she said. “Whether it's 15 seconds or 10 seconds or 5 seconds can be very impactful in a young girl and young boys life. Seeing the fans going crazy an hour before tipoff, I never take that for granted. That's super cool and I never want that to go away.” After a slow start to her WNBA career, Clark eventually found her stride there too. She set the single-game assist record with 19 and also had 337 assists on the season to break that mark as well. Clark, known for her logo-distance 3-pointers, was the fastest player to reach 100 3’s when she did it in 34 games which helped Indiana reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Lobo, who won the AP female athlete of the year award after lifting UConn to its first national championship, was on the court for launch of the WNBA two years later. The ESPN analyst sees Clark's ascension as something different. “She’s brought unprecedented attention both in the building, but also viewership to the sport that was worthy of it but didn’t have it yet," Lobo said. "There’s never been anything like this. "That timeframe from 1995-97 was a baby step in the progression of it all. This is a giant leap forward. I’ve never seen anything like this. There's more attention then the sports ever had." The numbers have been record breaking when Clark is part of a broadcast: — TV viewership in the WNBA was up 300% thanks in large part to Clark with ABC, CBS, ION, ESPN, and ESPN2 all having record viewers when Fever games were on. — The NCAA women’s championship game outdrew the men on TV for the first time in the sport’s 42-year history with 18.9 million viewers tuning it to watch the event. It was the second most watched women’s sporting event outside of the Olympics in the history of U.S. television. — The 2024 WNBA draft was the most-watched in league history with 2.4 million viewers. Clark credits the community of women athletes for the popularity increase of women's sports, saying “we” did this or “we” did that when asked about it. “It's fascinating, you don’t always appreciate how many people 18 million is,” Clark said. “You see that number against a college football game or the Masters or whatever it is as far as the biggest sporting events in our country and it puts it in perspective. We outdrew the men’s Final Four.”
Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes appears to MOCK Viktor Gyokeres with trademark celebration after scoring header against Sporting Lisbon Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes appeared to mock Viktor Gyokeres on Tuesday The defender rose highest to head home Arsenal's third goal on the night SOCCER A-Z: Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube. New episodes every Wednesday and Friday By JAMES COHEN Published: 21:47 GMT, 26 November 2024 | Updated: 21:49 GMT, 26 November 2024 e-mail 5 shares View comments Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes appeared to mock Viktor Gyokeres after scoring on Tuesday night. The centre-back rose highest to head home Arsenal's third goal in the first-half of their Champions League clash, as the Gunners ran riot in Portugal. After scoring, Gabriel wheeled away in celebration and interlocked his hands before raising them to his face - identical to the trademark celebration of Gyokeres. The Brazilian was quickly swarmed by his teammates but users on social media were quick to pick up on the gesture made by the central defender. Earlier in the match, Gabriel came out on top against Swedish star Gyokeres in a number of duels and was even seen jeering the crowd after doing so. Earlier in the match, Arsenal took the lead through Gabriel Martinelli after a neat ball across the box by Jurrien Timber before Kai Havertz doubled their lead shortly after. Gabriel Magalhaes performed Viktor Gyokeres' trademark celebration on Tuesday night The Sporting Lisbon star is known for locking his fingers and raising them above his face Gabriel then got their third after rising highest from a corner and powering his header into the back of the net defiantly. After the half-time break, Sporting got back into the match through a Goncalo Inacio header before the Gunners hit back through Bukayo Saka from the penalty spot. Prior to the match, Rio Ferdinand revealed what it would take for Sporting Lisbon star Gyokeres to reach the 'top bracket' of forwards. Speaking ahead of Sporting's clash with Arsenal on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: 'I wouldn't put him in the top bracket yet because he hasn't done it in a top league. 'With all due respect, the Portuguese league is a very good league but it's not a top league. 'If he signs for a team in the Premier League, he'll be having to prove who he is, reshaping himself and presenting himself to everybody under that spotlight and going: this is who I am. 'If he wants to win, he goes to Manchester United... I'm joking! The key point is he knows the manager. 'For a transition into another league, to go with somebody that knows his game perfectly and can get the best out of you - and he's proved he can do that somewhere else - and you're going to go somewhere where he's rebuilding and you're part of that process with him, he'll be licking his lips at something like that'. The Brazilian rose highest to power home a third goal for Arsenal on the stroke of half-time Gabriel was quickly swarmed by his teammates after scoring Arsenal's third goal of the half He has 16 goals in just 11 Primeira Liga games this term, five in four in the Champions League, a few more in the Portuguese cups and nine in six (plus four assists) in the Nations League for Sweden, where he has a potentially fearsome partnership with Alexander Isak. His overall record for Sporting is 67 in 69 matches, plus 19 assists. Gyokeres’ goal celebration, where he covers half of his face with his hands to resemble a mask, has had fans everywhere copying him and debating its origin. Champions League Gabriel Magalhaes Arsenal Share or comment on this article: Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes appears to MOCK Viktor Gyokeres with trademark celebration after scoring header against Sporting Lisbon e-mail 5 shares Add comment
PHILADELPHIA — Patients addicted to opioids are arriving at ERs with deep wounds that expose their bones. Some have lost multiple limbs. And many ultimately are leaving hospitals against medical advice, with severe, untreated skin lesions, insisting they can’t bear the withdrawal from tranq — the drug that caused their wounds in the first place. Those were among the stories shared by doctors from Philadelphia’s major health systems as they compared notes for the first time on the medical consequences of tranq — the street term for xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that has exploded across the city’s illicit opioid supply. At a weekend symposium hosted at Thomas Jefferson University by Rothman Orthopedics and the Foundation for Opioid Research and Education, physicians outlined the patient cases they’d seen and the limited research on how xylazine affects the body. “This has really changed the dynamic of the opioid crisis,” said Asif Ilyas, an orthopedic surgeon at Rothman who helped organize the event. “And Philadelphia is the front line.” For the last several years, doctors in Philadelphia have been increasingly treating wounds caused by xylazine. Never approved for human use, it is now present in nearly all of the illicit opioids sold in the city . Health officials believe it was initially added to fentanyl to provide a longer-lasting high . Xylazine also appears to cause severe skin lesions. At Saturday’s symposium, doctors said that it’s believed the drug is toxic to skin cells and may also constrict blood vessels, slowing the circulation of oxygen in the body and making wounds slower to heal. Doctors who spoke stressed the importance of collaboration to help patients requiring care that goes beyond simply treating a serious wound. “Wounds are a symptom of the disease; not the disease itself,” said Jason Wink, a plastic surgeon at Penn Medicine. Doctors working with tranq wounds must also address their patients’ addiction: “It is a disease like any other disease,” Rachel Haroz, head of Cooper University Hospital’s toxicology and addiction medicine division, told her colleagues from other specialties. Of particular concern are patients with wounds who leave against medical advice before their treatment is complete. Sometimes, that’s because doctors haven’t adequately treated their withdrawal symptoms . Avoiding wound treatment can have serious consequences. Katherine Woozley, the head of Cooper’s orthopedic hand and nerve surgery division, spoke about a man who had arrived at Cooper with a wound that covered much of his forearm, and a host of other medical issues, including endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves often seen among people who inject their drugs . The man ultimately left the hospital against medical advice, only to come back a year later with his arm missing below his shoulder, and a section of bone exposed. He told doctors the arm had fallen off on its own about six months before. Woozley didn’t say why that man had originally left the hospital, but stressed that surgeons treating tranq wounds must work closely with addiction specialists and other social support services to give patients a better shot at healing. At Temple University Hospital, doctors are seeing success with synthetic skin coverings that can protect a wound for up to a year, allowing it to heal even if a patient isn’t ready to quit using drugs. Lisa Rae, Temple’s chief of burn surgery, said her goal is to decrease patients’ risk of amputation. She spoke of a patient with a wound that had exposed the joints in their wrist, who kept leaving the hospital and was continuing to inject drugs. Doctors covered the wound with synthetic skin and, earlier this year, the person entered recovery. At a recent follow-up, the wound was almost healed, Rae said. “Don’t give up on wound care ,” Rae said. “People are trying. This gives them time to find their way out.” Other surgeons spoke about navigating treatment for patients with wounds so severe they can no longer use their limb. Wink, the Penn plastic surgeon, recalled a woman who had not used drugs for three months, but still dealt with a serious wound on her forearm. She told doctors she wanted to save the limb, but ultimately felt relief when it had to be amputated. “Amputation can remove the burden of wounds from a patient,” Wink said, urging careful consultations with patients, their families and other doctors before proceeding with a life-changing surgery. Doctors at Saturday’s symposium said they’re beginning to develop comprehensive recommendations for classifying and treating tranq wounds. Earlier this year, Philadelphia health officials also released guidelines on wound treatment. And addiction medicine experts stressed that hospitals must also emphasize follow-up care for patients who use xylazine, ensuring that patients have adequate medication, wound-care supplies, and connections to social services when they leave the hospital. Ilyas said he was pleased that the first-of-its-kind symposium had brought together so many doctors with different perspectives and areas of expertise. “This is not a problem managed by just surgery,” he said. In the early days of the crisis, he said, “we weren’t managing the problem in front of us, which is fundamentally addiction. And this type of wound crosses multiple surgical specialties — orthopedic, burn, plastic, general. Most of us have never trained on these injuries, so it’s important to exchange notes.” ©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreamsHarmonic to Participate in Upcoming December 2024 Investor Conferences
Spotting and cruising through spectacular Australian landscapes are among the things Greg Esnouf loves about being a . or signup to continue reading "I'm out in the bush today; I'm driving around, I just saw an ... and I showed my guests some wallabies," he said. "I'm in the in Western Victoria, which is magic country and I'm enjoying it as much as they are because I just love being out and about and showing people things." As president of Tour Guides Australia, Mr Esnouf welcomed the federal government listing tour guides on its Occupation Shortage List. "Tour guides are Australia's on-the-ground ambassadors, bringing our natural environment and local culture to life," he said. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census data, about 39 per cent of tour guides in Australia are aged 55 and over. Mr Esnouf, 68, of Melbourne, has been a tour guide for about 15 years. He previously worked in emergency services and saw tour guiding as a way to do a "change of life experience". He started doing it part-time alongside his day job and has since transitioned to tour guiding being his career. Ms Esnouf said it's not uncommon for people who have been in stressful corporate roles to later become tour guides. "They know the local area because they've generally lived there for a long time, they've got stories that they can write to [that go] back a long time because they've lived that experience," he said. Mr Esnoug said mature people were well suited to the role as they could talk about their own experiences as well as the history and culture. He said there was a mix of employment opportunities, for example being a sole trader like himself, or working for a company. "It can be whatever you want it to be, depending on how you operate and what you want to get out of it," he said. Mr Esnouf said good money could be made from the profession if people wanted it. He said tour guiding is an unregulated occupation in Australia, but it is something he would like to see happen for quality and safety purposes. Tour Guides Australia offers a three-day course to help new guides acquire the essential skills, plus a Professional Tour Guide Accreditation Program. Share your thoughts in a . DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
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Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become one of European soccer's hottest properties . Because that is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals. “It's fun that he likes my celebration,” Gyokeres told Viaplay after the match. “He can steal it if he cannot come up with his own.” Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off netting four for Sweden in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Story continues below video Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. “Today he wasn't that dangerous,” Arsenal striker Kai Havertz said of Gyokeres, “but I think it's because we defended very well.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday the 2023 debt ceiling extension agreed by then House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden will "go down as one of the dumbest political decisions made in years." Under the 2023 budget deal Congress suspended the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025. The U.S. Treasury will be able to pay its bills for several months beyond that deadline, but Congress will have to address the issue, possibly around mid-year. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The extension of the Debt Ceiling by a previous Speaker of the House, a good man and a friend of mine ... will go down as one of the dumbest political decisions made in years." He added, "The Democrats must be forced to take a vote on this treacherous issue NOW, during the Biden Administration, and not in June. They should be blamed for this potential disaster, not the Republicans!" Republicans, however, will control both chambers of Congress beginning on Jan. 3 and at least some of the party's lawmakers would have to go along with a debt limit increase or elimination in order for it to become law. Without the 2023 debt limit increase, the United States would have seen a historic default on its debt payments that would have roiled financial markets worldwide. A debt default would also likely have brought a downgrade in the U.S. credit rating, raising borrowing costs for businesses and individuals. At the time, several far-right Republicans in the House of Representatives had pushed for deeper federal spending cuts as a condition for raising the debt limit than what had been negotiated. About a week ago, with U.S. government discretionary funding due to expire on Dec. 20, Trump, encouraged by billionaire Elon Musk, demanded the debt limit either be eliminated or extended, possibly to 2029 when his presidency would end. That idea was tacked onto an extension of government funding into March, but it was quickly voted down by a coalition of House Democrats and hard-right Republicans, many of whom represent districts in Trump-leaning states. A government-funding bill without a debt-limit provision was then enacted into law. Next month, Republicans in the newly-elected Congress are expected to insist on deep federal spending cuts as a condition for raising the country's borrowing limit. Democrats earlier this month argued Trump's call for an immediate increase or elimination of the debt limit was motivated by his desire to make room for a new round of tax cuts that likely would lower revenues and thus add more to the debt. The national debt currently stands at about $36.1 trillion due to federal spending levels and tax cuts that have been enacted into law over several decades. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Richard Cowan; Editing by Don Durfee and Chris Reese)
Will Utah State or Boise State forfeit vs. San Jose State in the Mountain West semifinals?David Hilzenrath, Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group | (TNS) KFF Health News In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized agency “injustices” that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he appeared before Congress and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast investigative reporting on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to share their overpayment stories since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with little or no income or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. Marley Presiado, a research assistant on the Public Opinion and Survey Research team at KFF, contributed to this report. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.What Nebraska-Creighton series history tells us about the importance of 3-point shooting
Dynavax to Present at the 7th Annual Evercore HealthCONx Conference"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
RICHMOND — Stricter immigration policies could be the hallmark of the recent election where Republicans gained control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on stronger border policy and has appointed Tom Homan, former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director as his “border czar.” “We’re talking about millions of immigrants that the administration wants to expel ... right away,” said Chad Hankinson, a lecturer in the political scientist department at Virginia Tech. “That would have a probably catastrophic or at least a very serious negative impact on the nation’s economy.” A common misconception about immigration is the belief that immigrants drive up housing prices and when they are deported, new jobs and housing will open up, Hankinson said. He added that in reality, immigrants have essential jobs native-born citizens don’t want to do. If immigrants who work in construction, agriculture, and other fields are deported, it could create more inflation and potentially a housing shortage. “Just one policy like that is going to have a broad economic impact, not just nationally, but also here in Virginia,” Hankinson said. ___ Trump promised to complete the Mexico-U.S. border wall he started in 2018. Trump has said his border plan involves mass deportation with local police and military help. “The president’s going to feel pretty comfortable just trying to use executive action,” Hankinson said. “The Senate’s going to be fine to let him do that kind of stuff, so that he takes all the political fallout.” More modest, impactful policy changes such as increases in border enforcement could occur, like the bipartisan immigration bill which almost passed earlier this year, according to Hankinson. Trump’s executive level changes could be challenged in the Supreme Court. However, the court leans conservative 6-3. Three of the conservative justices were appointed by Trump. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has stated that Virginia’s law enforcement professionals have “both the authority and a moral duty” to cooperate with lawful federal immigration orders. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants, but more importantly “we are a nation of laws whose observance remains the only sure foundation of any free society,” he stated. “I understand immigration in a way few others do,” Miyares stated, as his family immigrated from Cuba. Miyares did not respond to phone and email requests for an interview. ___ Although Republicans flipped the Senate, Virginia’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine beat Republican opponent Hung Cao with a 54.1% majority. “I will do everything I can to protect Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and other immigrants with long ties to the U.S. from mass deportation,” Kaine said in a statement. Kaine previously said the mass deportation of over 10 million immigrants proposed by Trump would devastate the economy. Immigrants represent 16% of Virginia workers, including entrepreneurs who make up 29% of “Main Street business owners,” according to a recent study by The Commonwealth Institute. Main Street businesses are “storefront shops that help keep downtown areas vibrant.” Virginia immigrants generate $104 billion of economic output in the state, according to the study. Immigration to the state creates more job opportunities for more consumers, workers and business owners, which benefits U.S.-born workers. ___ There are an estimated 11,000 undocumented students in Virginia, according to research published last year by the American Immigration Council and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. The Migration Studies Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University hosted an event on Nov. 19 with David Morales, attorney with the Farmworker Unit of the Northwest Justice Project, to discuss the future of immigrant studies. The immigration system is complex, as are the “safeguards in place to protect the integrity of justice administration,” according to Antonio Espinoza, who helped organize the event with the Humanities Research Center. The continuity of presidential initiatives like DACA, and others, may be uncertain, according to Espinoza, but immigrant students will potentially have other options through study or work visas, and individual recourse to courts, although not ideal. “In the second case, although the Executive has enhanced authority regarding certain aspects of immigration, the Administrative Procedures Act guarantees that federal agencies cannot develop, issue or apply rules in an arbitrary or capricious manner,” Espinoza stated. The upcoming administration will impact the access of international and immigrant students to higher education, but the overall impact is uncertain, according to Espinoza. The enrollment of international students in U.S. higher education has declined, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also because of immigration policies and official rhetoric, according to Espinoza. “This was a negative development, as international students enrich the diversity and outcomes of higher education, and contribute to the local, state and national economies,” Espinoza stated. “In the case of immigrant students, excluding them from access to higher education is, in my opinion, an injustice as well as a loss of human capital and qualified labor for the U.S.” ___ Trump’s vision could lead to the removal of TPS residents and U and T visas, both humanitarian visas for victims of crimes, said John Cano, senior organizer for the Virginia-based Legal Aid Justice Center. There is uncertainty about what 2025 will bring, Cano said. People are worried about job security, interactions with ICE, separation from their children and what that would mean for children born in the U.S. Virginians can support immigrants by being involved in local advocacy and attending board of supervisors meetings to ensure protective policies remain in place, Cano said. “We need to be that light,” Cano said. “We need to be more unified than ever now and continue to ensure that Virginia stays the way it is and push back on any potential negative rhetoric.” Several allies and impacted people have already been at the forefront to push for change, Cano said. “We know when we’re united, we can overcome anything,” Cano said. “We’ve done it before and we will do it again.” Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.
ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!Traffic citations issued to Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill after a September altercation with police have been dismissed after the charging officers didn’t attend a court hearing. Hill’s tickets for careless driving and failing to wear a seat belt were dismissed after the Miami-Dade Police officers failed to show up for a Monday hearing. The tickets were issued after Hill was stopped outside Hard Rock Stadium for allegedly speeding before the Dolphins’ season opener on Sept. 8. The stop escalated and an officer pulled Hill from the car, forced him to the ground and handcuffed him. Hill said in a Tuesday post on the social platform X, “Where all the internet cops now.” The Miami-Dade Police Department said it would have a statement later Tuesday. Police body camera video from the September stop showed Hill appeared to speed past two motorcycle officers who were monitoring traffic on a road outside the stadium. They pulled over his McLaren sports car and one tapped on his window. Hill, 30, handed the officer his driver’s license, but told the officer repeatedly, “Don’t knock on my window like that.” He then put his window back up. Their verbal exchange escalated and the officers soon pulled him from the car, forcing Hill face-first to the ground. The officers cursed at Hill but he did not resist their physical force or strike at them in the video. He did tell one officer, “Don’t tell me what to do.” Hill was eventually stood up, but then an officer dragged him into a sitting position on the curb after he said a knee injury made that difficult. After about 30 minutes, Hill was issued citations and allowed to enter the stadium. One officer was placed on administrative duty and an internal affairs investigation was launched. No results have been released.
