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DETROIT (AP) — If Donald Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, booze and other goods. The president-elect floated the tariff idea, including additional 10% taxes on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S. But his posts Monday on Truth Social threatening the tariffs on his first day in office could just be a negotiating ploy to get the countries to change behavior. High food prices were a major issue in voters picking Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, but tariffs almost certainly would push those costs up even further. For instance, the Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said Tuesday that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when other countries retaliate. “Tariffs distort the marketplace and will raise prices along the supply chain, resulting in the consumer paying more at the checkout line,” said Alan Siger, association president. Mexico and Canada are two of the biggest exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables to the U.S. In 2022, Mexico supplied 51% of fresh fruit and 69% of fresh vegetables imported by value into the U.S., while Canada supplied 2% of fresh fruit and 20% of fresh vegetables. Before the election, about 7 in 10 voters said they were very concerned about the cost of food, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. “We’ll get them down,” Trump told shoppers during a September visit to a Pennsylvania grocery store. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. People looking to buy a new vehicle likely would see big price increases as well, at a time when costs have gone up so much that they are out of reach for many. The average price of a new vehicle now runs around $48,000. About 15% of the 15.6 million new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year came from Mexico, while 8% crossed the border from Canada, according to Global Data. Much of the tariffs would get passed along to consumers, unless automakers can somehow quickly find productivity improvements to offset them, said C.J. Finn, U.S. automotive sector leader for PwC, a consulting firm. That means even more consumers “would potentially get priced out of the activity” of buying a new vehicle, Finn said. Hardest hit would be Volkswagen, Stellantis, General Motors and Ford, Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska wrote Tuesday in a note to investors. Stellantis and VW import about 40% of the vehicles they sell from Canada and Mexico, while it's 30% for GM and 25% for Ford. GM and Stellantis import more than half of their high-profit pickup trucks from the two countries, according to Bernstein. If Trump does impose the tariffs in January, the auto industry would have little time to adjust, putting operating profits at risk for the automakers, Roeska said in an email. “A 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada would severely cripple the U.S. auto industry,” he said. The tariffs would hurt U.S. industrial production so much that “we expect this is unlikely to happen in practice,” Roeska said. The tariff threat hit the stocks of some companies that could be particularly hurt, such as auto manufacturers and Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States. But the overall market held relatively steady near records as investors saw Trump’s proposal as more of an opening position for negotiations rather than as a definitive policy. It's not clear how long the tariffs would last if they are implemented, but they could force auto executives to move production to the U.S., which could create more jobs in the long run. But Morningstar analyst David Whiston said in the short term automakers probably won't make any moves because they can't quickly change where they build vehicles. To move to the U.S., they would have to buy equipment and revamp their parts supply chain, which can take years. “I think everyone is going to be in a wait-and-see mode,” Whiston said. Millions of dollars worth of auto parts flow across the borders with Mexico and Canada, and that could raise prices for already costly automobile repairs, Finn said. The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. said tariffs on tequila or Canadian whisky won’t boost American jobs because they are distinctive products that can only be made in their country of origin. In 2023, the U.S. imported $4.6 billion worth of tequila and $108 million worth of mezcal from Mexico and $537 million worth of spirits from Canada, the council said. “At the end of the day, tariffs on spirits products from our neighbors to the north and south are going to hurt U.S. consumers and lead to job losses across the U.S. hospitality industry just as these businesses continue their long recovery from the pandemic,” the council said in a statement. Electronics retailer Best Buy said on its third-quarter earnings conference call that it runs on thin profit margins, so while vendors and the company will shoulder some increases, Best Buy will have to pass tariffs on to customers. “These are goods that people need, and higher prices are not helpful,” CEO Corie Barry said. Walmart also warned this week that tariffs could force it to raise prices, as did Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who talked with Trump after his call for tariffs, said they had a good conversation about how the countries can work together on the challenges they face. "This is something that we can do, laying out the facts and moving forward in constructive ways. This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on and that’s what we’ll do,” Trudeau said. Trump's transition team wouldn't comment on the call. Also Monday, Trump turned his ire to China, saying he has “had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail.” The Chinese Embassy in Washington cautioned on Monday that there will be losers on all sides if there is a trade war. Trump's threats come as arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico have been falling . The most recent U.S. numbers for October show arrests remain near four-year lows. But arrests for illegally crossing the border from Canada have been rising over the past two years. Much of America’s fentanyl is smuggled from Mexico. Border seizures of the drug rose sharply under President Joe Biden. The tariffs would also throw into doubt the reliability of the 2020 trade deal brokered in large part by Trump with Canada and Mexico, the USMCA, which replaced NAFTA and is up for review in 2026. Trump transition team officials did not immediately respond to questions about what authority he would use, what he would need to see to prevent the tariffs from being implemented and how they would impact prices in the U.S. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department and Economy Department also had no immediate reaction to Trump’s statements. ___ Rugaber reported from Washington. AP reporters Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit, Stan Choe and Anne D'Innocenzio in New York, and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report. Tom Krisher And Christopher Rugaber, The Associated Press

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Donald Trump has tapped Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who presented him with a plan to end the war in Ukraine, to serve as a special envoy for the conflict, the president-elect wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. Kellogg, who was the chief of staff for the White House National Security Council during Trump's 2017-2021 term and national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence, will likely play a central role in attempting to resolve the conflict in his new position. While there is currently no special envoy for the war in Ukraine, Trump had privately expressed interest in creating the position. Quickly winding down the Ukraine war was one of Trump's central campaign promises, though he has avoided discussing how he would do so. "Keith has led a distinguished Military and Business career, including serving in highly sensitive National Security roles in my first Administration," Trump said on social media. Kellogg's plan for ending the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory, involves freezing the battle lines at their prevailing locations and forcing both Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table, Reuters reported in June. Richard Grenell, Trump's former acting director of national intelligence, was also in the running for the job, Reuters reported on Friday. During a Bloomberg roundtable in July, Grenell had advocated for the creation of "autonomous zones" as a means of settling the conflict. Kellogg drafted his plan for Ukraine alongside Fred Fleitz, who also served as a chief of staff to the National Security Council under Trump. Under their proposed strategy, the U.S. would tell Ukraine that it would only get more American weapons if it enters peace talks. The U.S. would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased U.S. support for Ukraine. NATO membership for Ukraine would be taken off the table for the immediate future. That plan would be unlikely to please Kyiv, given that it would in practice give Russia uncontested control of parts of eastern Ukraine, at least for a significant period of time. Additionally, some Republicans, particularly in the House of Representatives, would likely be reluctant to agree to more aid to Ukraine.

Enzo Maresca believes his attack’s improvement means nobody can accuse Chelsea of being Cole Palmer FC any more. The nickname was coined by ­Mauricio Pochettino last season and soon came to be seen as a negative. It was on Maresca’s mind when he replaced Pochettino and the Italian is of the view that Chelsea, the highest goalscorers in the Premier League, have become less reliant on Palmer in the final third. “Yes – and we are very happy,” the head coach said. “If you remember in my first press conference I said that we cannot rely on Cole for every game because it is not correct. He has to enjoy football. “But if we prepare the season thinking Cole is the only solution then we are wrong. We work every day to allow Cole to be in situations where he can be the best and be good. You see that we move him from the right side to the left side, or from one side to the other side, because we want to put players in situations where they can be the best.” Palmer collected his ninth goal of the season when Chelsea won 5-1 at Southampton on Wednesday, when Axel Disasi, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku and Jadon Sancho also scored. Maresca, whose side are second before visiting Tottenham on Sunday, has enviable options up front. He praised Nkunku, Sancho, Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernández, Nicolas Jackson, Pedro Neto and João Félix for lifting the pressure on Palmer. “I don’t know if the players are better than last season,” the former Leicester manager said. “The only thing I can say is that since we started, with the right side with Noni and Pedro and the left side with Mischa [Mudryk] and Jadon, and Enzo, Cole, João the other day, Nico and Christo, the attacking players are doing well.” Maresca was also effusive about Moisés Caicedo’s performance in midfield, saying that the Ecuador international was as good as Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Manchester City’s Rodri. “He is for sure now at that level,” he said. “No doubt. Unfortunately, Rodri is injured but Declan is playing. But I think Moisés can sit at that table with that kind of midfielder.” Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Despite the growing positivity Maresca maintained that Chelsea were not in the title race. “We need to do so many other things good, not only scoring goals,” he said. “We need to avoid conceding goals. Overall, I think defensively we are doing quite well but we are just focused on Sunday’s game. We are not thinking about May or June, these kind of things, because it is too early. In football, everything can change very quick.”DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate . President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald's and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump's transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”

Need to reintroduce country's forgotten pride: RSS chief BhagwatTech occupation unemployment rate inches down to 2.5% DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The tech workforce saw modest movement in the latest national employment data, according to CompTIA , the nonprofit association for the tech industry and workforce. Analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) #JobsReport data reveals the tech unemployment rate for the month fell slightly to 2.5%, matching the low end of the rate for 2024. The national unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2% in November. Employment within the technology industry sector was essentially flat with a decline of 1,636 jobs for the month. 1 The tech sector employs nearly 5.6 million people, which translates to a percentage decline of essentially 0%. Tech professions throughout the economy declined by 6,000 in a national workforce of nearly 6.5 million workers. 2 "While a flat month in the aggregate as some employers take a breather, the data continues to highlight the diversity of hiring activity across the tech workforce," Tim Herbert , chief research officer, CompTIA. "Across industry sectors, metro areas and company sizes harnessing tech talent remains a top priority." Active employer job postings for new hiring totaled more than 475,000 in November, down about 42,000 from October. 3 Companies added nearly 184,000 new tech job postings last month, with employers in consulting, finance, manufacturing and technology hardware, software and services among the most active. Artificial intelligence (AI) hiring momentum continues to build. In the aggregate employers recorded nearly 331,000 active job postings throughout 2024 in recruiting for AI job roles and AI skills, a year-over-year increase of 71%. Across all tech occupations 44% of November postings did not specify a four-year degree requirement for applicants. Some occupations had notably higher percentages, including network support specialists (84%) and tech support specialists (71%). The data indicates hiring for work from home (WFH) positions is holding steady at about 20% of total tech job recruiting. On a hiring activity volume basis, the top WFH positions include software developers, IT project managers, data scientists and analysts, tech support specialists, and systems analysts. The "CompTIA Tech Jobs Report" is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/tech-jobs-report . About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. Millions of current and aspiring technology workers around the world rely on CompTIA for the training, education and professional certifications that give them the confidence and skills to work in tech. https://www.comptia.org/ 1 Labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and employer job postings from Lightcast may be subject to backward revisions. 2 Monthly occupation level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tends to experience higher levels of variance and volatility. 3 Active job postings include open postings carried over from previous months and new postings added by employers. Media Contact Steven Ostrowski CompTIA sostrowski@comptia.org +1.630.678.8468 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/latest-employment-data-shows-little-change-in-tech-job-market-comptia-analysis-finds-302325237.html SOURCE CompTIACeltic manager Brendan Rodgers praised Cameron Carter-Vickers and his side’s mentality after they dug out a Champions League point following the defender’s disastrous own goal against Club Brugge. The normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:08 p.m. EST

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Dogs seized Oct. 24 from a home at 42 Madison Road in Norridgewock rest at their foster home, arranged by the Animal Welfare Society’s Kennebunk shelter. State officials say they seized 48 dogs and five cats from the home. Animal Welfare Society photo NORRIDGEWOCK — Prior complaints were lodged as early as April by local officials concerned with inhumane conditions at a Norridgewock home where the state last month seized nearly 50 dogs and a few cats, according to an affidavit. The home, a single-wide mobile home at 42 Madison Road, belongs to Diane and Steven Bouffard. Maine’s Animal Welfare Program executed a search warrant at the property Oct. 24, seeking to find and seize evidence of the crime of cruelty to animals. There was probable cause that an animal cruelty violation had taken place or was taking place at the property, according to the affidavit written by Rachel Welch, a district humane agent for the program. The search of the property revealed 48 dogs, including 46 that were white or tan shih tzus, and five cats, all of which were seized by the state. At least three of the dogs and likely more were never registered with the town, according to Norridgewock’s dog license records. Multiple prior complaints were made against the property, according to the affidavit. On April 17, Welch wrote that she had received a complaint from Dexter Bridges, Norridgewock’s animal control officer, about poor living conditions for animals at the residence. Welch said she met with Diane Bouffard on April 22 at the Madison Road residence, where Welch observed poor conditions inside the home. Welch said she gave Bouffard a notice to bathe the dogs and thoroughly clean the home, and asked Bouffard to consider neutering the animals. When asked how many pets she had, Bouffard said she had 17 dogs, all registered with the town, and “about 15” cats, according to the affidavit. On June 12, Bouffard reported a missing dog to the town. In the following days, multiple people reported seeing a dog in the vicinity of River Road in Norridgewock. Bouffard was contacted, but never showed up, according to Town Manager Richard LaBelle. Three days later, a dead dog was reported on the shoulder of the road, and Bouffard confirmed it was one of her animals. After multiple failed follow-up visits, Welch was able to meet again with Bouffard on Oct. 21 to see if changes had been made to the property. During the visit, Welch saw that a majority of the dogs had feces matted to their body. Welch said she determined the area was not clean or safe enough for animals or people. The affidavit was filed Oct. 22. Following the state’s seizure, the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook received 23 of the dogs, the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk took nine dogs and three cats and Midcoast Humane accepted 14 dogs and two cats. The dogs were matted and in poor condition when they arrived Oct. 24 at Midcoast Humane’s Brunswick location, but it was clear that they were nice animals, according to Executive Director Jess Townsend. “When you’re working with pets that have come from an overcrowding situation, you never quite know what you’re getting until you get them,” Townsend said. “Absolutely lovely dogs, and I’m very sorry for the people who own them, because, you know, nice dogs don’t just happen. Nice dogs are socialized and raised, and they did a good job, and I’m going to guess that they got overwhelmed.” Townsend said the dogs do not like being left alone, and would be happiest at a home with other dogs and owners who are present. The Animal Welfare Society will update its website after the animals pass veterinary wellness checks and are available for adoption, according to Stephanie Kelley, the organization’s marketing communications manager. Morning Sentinel staff writer Jake Freudberg contributed to this report. Update: State investigates inhumane conditions after 50 dogs seized from Norridgewock home Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »Bowling Green 61, New Mexico St. 60

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By Lawrence Delevingne (Reuters) - Investor Scott Bessent has spent his career in finance, working for macro investment billionaire George Soros and noted short seller Jim Chanos, as well as running his own hedge fund. Bessent will take his investing knowledge down a rarefied career path that only a few other prominent Wall Street luminaries have followed: running the U.S. Treasury. Other examples of U.S. Treasury secretaries who have come from finance include Steven Mnuchin, who served under Trump in his first term, and had worked at Goldman Sachs. Henry Paulson, who served as Treasury secretary under George W. Bush, was also a Goldman Sachs alumnus, where he had been chairman and CEO. Bessent has advocated for tax reform and deregulation, particularly to spur more bank lending and energy production, as noted in a recent opinion piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal. The market's surge after Trump's election victory, he wrote, signaled investor "expectations of higher growth, lower volatility and inflation, and a revitalized economy for all Americans." "Scott is one of the smartest and sharpest investors I’ve had the privilege to work for. Just like George Soros was, he too is typically multiple steps ahead of the market," said Michael Oliver Weinberg, a Columbia Business School professor and investment advisor who previously worked under Bessent as a portfolio manager at Soros Fund Management. Bessent, 62, has said his success came after growing up knowing financial anxiety. He grew up in the fishing village of Little River, South Carolina, where Bessent has said his father, a real estate investor, experienced booms and busts. “I’ve known financial anxiety and I do not want that for any family,” Bessent told Trump ally Roger Stone in a recent interview on Stone's radio show. Bessent attended Yale College and considered journalism but, after graduating in 1984 with a degree in political science, took an internship on Wall Street. He worked for Chanos in the late 1980s and then joined Soros Fund Management, Soros' famed macroeconomic investment firm. He soon helped Soros and top deputy Stanley Druckenmiller on their most famous trade - shorting the British pound in 1992, which earned the firm more than $1 billion. In 2015, Bessent raised $4.5 billion, including $2 billion from Soros, to launch Key Square Group, a hedge fund firm that bets on macroeconomic trends. The firm managed approximately $577 million in overall assets, as of December 2023, according to a regulatory filing. Bessent has said he has known the Trump family for 30 years through a friendship with Donald Trump’s late brother, Robert Trump. Bessent supported Donald Trump’s presidential run in 2016 but during this election cycle worked as a top economic advisor to the campaign in addition to being a top fundraiser. “I was all in for President Trump. I was one of the few Wall Street people backing him,” Bessent told Stone over the weekend. (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne in Boston, editing by Megan Davies and Rod Nickel)Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lowered its position in shares of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. ( NASDAQ:FIBK – Free Report ) by 19.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 56,941 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 13,920 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned 0.05% of First Interstate BancSystem worth $1,747,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in FIBK. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of First Interstate BancSystem by 16.0% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,123 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $87,000 after purchasing an additional 430 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in First Interstate BancSystem during the 2nd quarter worth about $106,000. nVerses Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of First Interstate BancSystem by 412.5% during the 2nd quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 4,100 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $114,000 after buying an additional 3,300 shares during the last quarter. Telos Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of First Interstate BancSystem during the 3rd quarter worth about $201,000. Finally, Washington Trust Bank bought a new position in shares of First Interstate BancSystem in the 2nd quarter valued at about $204,000. 88.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently commented on FIBK. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $36.00 price target on shares of First Interstate BancSystem in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of First Interstate BancSystem from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $30.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. StockNews.com raised shares of First Interstate BancSystem from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday. Barclays lowered shares of First Interstate BancSystem from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $32.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of First Interstate BancSystem from $38.00 to $36.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, First Interstate BancSystem presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $33.83. Insiders Place Their Bets In other First Interstate BancSystem news, Director Jonathan R. Scott sold 6,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.18, for a total transaction of $222,170.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 958,710 shares in the company, valued at $32,768,707.80. This trade represents a 0.67 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, major shareholder Julie A. Scott sold 22,050 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.80, for a total value of $745,290.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 613,019 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,720,042.20. The trade was a 3.47 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 54,837 shares of company stock worth $1,839,583 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 6.90% of the company’s stock. First Interstate BancSystem Stock Performance NASDAQ FIBK opened at $34.97 on Friday. First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. has a 52-week low of $24.16 and a 52-week high of $36.77. The stock has a market cap of $3.66 billion, a PE ratio of 15.34 and a beta of 0.81. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $31.93 and a 200-day moving average of $29.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. First Interstate BancSystem ( NASDAQ:FIBK – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The financial services provider reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.58 by ($0.04). First Interstate BancSystem had a return on equity of 7.48% and a net margin of 15.94%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.70 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. will post 2.28 EPS for the current year. First Interstate BancSystem Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 4th were issued a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.38%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 4th. First Interstate BancSystem’s dividend payout ratio is 82.46%. First Interstate BancSystem Profile ( Free Report ) First Interstate BancSystem, Inc operates as the bank holding company for First Interstate Bank that provides range of banking products and services in the United States. It offers various traditional depository products, including checking, savings, and time deposits; and repurchase agreements primarily for commercial and municipal depositors. Further Reading Five stocks we like better than First Interstate BancSystem What is the NASDAQ Stock Exchange? The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Bank Stocks – Best Bank Stocks to Invest In 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 How to Calculate Retirement Income: MarketBeat’s Calculator FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FIBK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. ( NASDAQ:FIBK – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for First Interstate BancSystem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Interstate BancSystem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

The Golden State Warriors redefined the meta for success in the NBA, and teams have followed suit. However, no other team has been able to emulate the Steph Curry and Klay Thompson -led Warriors like the Celtics. The defending NBA champions set records in their three-point volume en route to their title. Only a few months later, they are on pace to shatter these records. Former Clippers star, Lou Williams believes Boston’s current offensive strategy is reminiscent of Golden State’s iconic offense of the 2010s. Williams took to FanDuel TV’s Run It Back to share his thoughts on the Celtics’ remarkable three-point shooting this season. In their recent 126-94 win over the Clippers, Boston connected on 22 three-pointers. During their onslaught from the perimeter, Williams was reminded of the play style of one specific team. He said, “Everybody’s trying to mock the Golden State Warriors and the way that they’ve been able to have championship runs and success playing behind the three-point line. One of the things the Golden State Warriors had were the top-two best three-point shooters in NBA history, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. The Celtics have used that style of play to match [the Warriors] because they have a lot of guys that can shoot the basketball.” Boston doesn’t play exactly like the Warriors teams of old but has expanded on their philosophies. Thompson and Curry spearheaded the Warriors three-point shooting. Although there were times they played five out, their lineups typically featured at least one non-shooter. That player could’ve been Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Kevon Looney, or Andrew Bogut. Boston’s entire offense is based on the shooting ability of all five players. The Celtics don’t necessarily have two iconic three-point shooters at the level of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. However, Williams believes Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown worked to achieve the same objective. So far into the season, both players are averaging career highs in three-pointers made and attempted. Brown attempts 7.5 three-pointers and converts 2.5 per game. On the other hand, Tatum attempts 10.7 threes a game and connects on 4.0 of them. Tatum and Brown aren’t the team’s only three-point shooters. The Celtics’ entire roster is packed with decent perimeter shooters, making them a matchup nightmare for teams across the league. The Celtics are attempting 50.6 3-pointers per game and converting on 18.9 of them. Williams continued, “I don’t see a lot of teams beating them when they’re hitting like this.” Many teams experience championship hangovers after winning a title. That has not been the case with the Celtics. Jayson Tatum, the team’s superstar, set the precedent for this key reason. Tatum’s desire to be the best version of himself Unlike other All-NBA players coming off a title, Tatum had a chip on his shoulder. He suited up for Team USA at the Paris Olympics but barely got any playing time. The contempt for the 6-foot-9 forward has reached an all-time high. However, Tatum used it as extra motivation coming into the season. Tatum addressed the basketball world at the Celtics’ media day. “At 26 and I guess as accomplished as I am, I just always feel like, overall, I can still get better,” Tatum said. You haven’t seen the best version of Jayson Tatum... I’m only 26, I should continue to keep getting better.” Tatum backs up his words with his deeds. He is averaging 28.4 points per game, leading the Celtics to a 15-3 record. They are in an ideal position to compete for back-to-back titles, and Tatum is raising his game once more.The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has emphasized the necessity for the proposed Waqf Bill to safeguard the interests of the Muslim community. TDP parliament leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu articulated this position on Sunday, ahead of the parliamentary committee's anticipated report presentation on the amendment. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has slated the Waqf (Amendment) Bill for deliberation during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, which commences on Monday. Sri Krishna, responding to inquiries about TDP's stance, asserted the importance of Muslim community buy-in, stressing that their views and interests should be appreciably reflected. He is a member of the joint parliamentary committee reviewing the bill, chaired by veteran BJP Member of Parliament Jagdambika Pal, who indicated that the committee's draft report is prepared and awaiting formal adoption at an impending meeting. (With inputs from agencies.)Tech occupation unemployment rate inches down to 2.5% DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The tech workforce saw modest movement in the latest national employment data, according to CompTIA , the nonprofit association for the tech industry and workforce. Analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) #JobsReport data reveals the tech unemployment rate for the month fell slightly to 2.5%, matching the low end of the rate for 2024. The national unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2% in November. Employment within the technology industry sector was essentially flat with a decline of 1,636 jobs for the month. 1 The tech sector employs nearly 5.6 million people, which translates to a percentage decline of essentially 0%. Tech professions throughout the economy declined by 6,000 in a national workforce of nearly 6.5 million workers. 2 "While a flat month in the aggregate as some employers take a breather, the data continues to highlight the diversity of hiring activity across the tech workforce," Tim Herbert , chief research officer, CompTIA. "Across industry sectors, metro areas and company sizes harnessing tech talent remains a top priority." Active employer job postings for new hiring totaled more than 475,000 in November, down about 42,000 from October. 3 Companies added nearly 184,000 new tech job postings last month, with employers in consulting, finance, manufacturing and technology hardware, software and services among the most active. Artificial intelligence (AI) hiring momentum continues to build. In the aggregate employers recorded nearly 331,000 active job postings throughout 2024 in recruiting for AI job roles and AI skills, a year-over-year increase of 71%. Across all tech occupations 44% of November postings did not specify a four-year degree requirement for applicants. Some occupations had notably higher percentages, including network support specialists (84%) and tech support specialists (71%). The data indicates hiring for work from home (WFH) positions is holding steady at about 20% of total tech job recruiting. On a hiring activity volume basis, the top WFH positions include software developers, IT project managers, data scientists and analysts, tech support specialists, and systems analysts. The "CompTIA Tech Jobs Report" is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/tech-jobs-report . About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. Millions of current and aspiring technology workers around the world rely on CompTIA for the training, education and professional certifications that give them the confidence and skills to work in tech. https://www.comptia.org/ 1 Labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and employer job postings from Lightcast may be subject to backward revisions. 2 Monthly occupation level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tends to experience higher levels of variance and volatility. 3 Active job postings include open postings carried over from previous months and new postings added by employers. Media Contact Steven Ostrowski CompTIA sostrowski@comptia.org +1.630.678.8468 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/latest-employment-data-shows-little-change-in-tech-job-market-comptia-analysis-finds-302325237.html SOURCE CompTIAThe normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”

CHICAGO – Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo's game-ending 29-yard field goal , and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Chicago Bears 30-27 on Sunday after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings (9-2), who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North. Recommended Videos Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (4-7), who lost their fifth straight and fell to 5-18 in one-possession games under coach Matt Eberflus, who is 14-31 in 2 1/2 seasons. Minnesota appeared to have the game in hand, leading 27-16 with 1:56 left after Romo kicked a 26-yard field goal. But the Bears weren’t finished. Deandre Carter made up for a muffed punt that led to a touchdown in the third quarter with a 55-yard kickoff return to the 40. Williams took it from there, capping an eight-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. A 2-point conversion pass to DJ Moore made it 27-24 with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears recovered the onside kick and Williams hit Moore over the middle for a 27-yard gain to the 30 before spiking the ball. Cairo Santos made a 48-yard field goal as time expired. Chicago won the coin toss, but Williams was sacked for a 12-yard loss on second down, leading to a three-and-out. The Vikings took over at the 21, and Darnold led a 10-play drive, overcoming a sack and two penalties. Darnold connected with Hockenson for a 29-yard completion that put the ball on the 9. He took a knee and then Romo nailed the winner. Darnold surpassed his previous season high of 19 touchdown passes with a 2-yarder to Addison on the first play of the second quarter, and he made it 14-7 with a 5-yard score to Jalen Nailor late in the first half. He completed 22 of 34 passes. Aaron Jones ran for 106 yards and a score for the VIkings. Williams was 32 of 47 with a 103.1 passer rating in his second straight solid performance since Thomas Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. Moore caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Allen added 86 yards receiving and the late TD. Injuries Vikings: LB Ivan Pace Jr. (hamstring) and LT Cam Robinson (foot) left in the first quarter. ... Darnold missed two plays after he was hit by Gervon Dexter Sr. on a pass play with about 6 1/2 minutes. Up next Vikings: Host Arizona next Sunday. Bears: Visit Detroit on Thanksgiving. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLUCL 2024-25: Man City stunned again as Feyenoord fights back to draw 3-3