Most Americans have jobs that withhold payroll taxes (aka FICA taxes) that contribute to the Social Security system, and when they reach retirement age they are able to claim a Social Security benefit based on their earnings. Other people work at jobs that are not within the Social Security system, meaning no Social Security taxes are paid that accrue to a future benefit. But some people spend enough time in both kinds of job that when they retire, they are due both a pension and a Social Security benefit. I hear from readers who fall into that latter category. They write saying that they believe that the provisions of Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduce Social Security benefits and are unfair both to them and their beneficiaries. Members of Congress, for many years, have proposed legislation that would repeal WEP and GPO. In an environment in which Social Security is facing shortfalls, the proposed legislation has not been approved by Congress. In November, however, the House passed the Social Security Fairness Act, which would repeal both WEP and GPO if the Senate also passes the bill and the president signs it. Workers impacted by WEP and GPO include certain public sector workers, including some federal and local workers whose retirement systems are not part of the Social Security system. This often includes police officers, firefighters and many foreign workers. WEP impacts you if you are entitled to a Social Security benefit as well as a pension for work done not subject to FICA taxes. Under current WEP regulations, you do not receive the same Social Security benefit (for the same length of work) as workers who did not work outside Social Security. Social Security benefits are based on the 35 highest years of employment under Social Security. For a worker who earned a pension outside of Social Security, those years are posted as “zero” years, and unless the worker was employed 30 years paying FICA taxes, the benefit that worker will receive from Social Security is much less than the benefits received by workers who only worked under Social Security for the same workload. For example, someone who worked 10 years under Social Security might receive $400/month less than an individual who also worked 10 years under Social Security only (that is, who doesn’t have a pension for non-FICA work). If the Social Security Fairness Act becomes law, then there would be no penalty, and workers who earned a pension outside Social Security would receive the same Social Security benefit as workers who worked the same number of years but did not work outside Social Security. WEP affects only your Social Security payment, not the pension you receive for work outside Social Security. If you apply for spousal or survivor benefits, the Government Pension Offset could reduce or eliminate those benefits. The amount of the reduction is two-thirds of your pension. The offset is often enough to eliminate any spousal benefit or survivor benefit. For example, assume you would normally be eligible for a spousal benefit of $1,500/month (50% of your spouse’s $3,000 Social Security benefit). Also suppose your pension for work outside Social Security is $3,000/month. The offset of 2/3 is $2,000/month, which is more than the spousal benefit. So, in this example, you would not be eligible for a spousal benefit. Bottom line: The regulations associated with WEP and GPO will reduce your Social Security benefit if you receive a pension from work outside Social Security, and are entitled to Social Security benefits for work done under Social Security. They may also reduce or eliminate a spousal benefit or a survivor benefit. If you have been impacted by WEP or GPO, or will in the future, you should immediately write your two senators and ask them to approve the Social Security Fairness Act this year. Having WEP and GPO repealed can have a significant impact on your retirement income. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com1:2 Split + Rs 9.7 Dividend In 2024: Defence PSU Stock Up 8.4% In 1-Day, Crosses Rs 1,000; Buy Or Sell?
Velus Jones Jr.'s Bears Belongings Show Up at Goodwill
Elon Musk's brain technology startup Neuralink said Monday it has received approval to launch a new feasibility study using its brain implant and an experimental robotic arm. Neuralink is conducting its PRIME study, aimed at evaluating the safety of its wireless brain-computer interface and surgical robot. It is assessing the initial effect of the implant in patients with quadriplegia, a form of paralysis, to control external devices with their thoughts. The company plans to cross-enroll participants in the feasibility study from the ongoing PRIME trial, it said in a post on social media platform X. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Neuralink did not immediately respond to requests for details on the feasibility study. Last week, the company received approval from regulator Health Canada to launch a trial of its device in Canada. Canadian neurosurgeons in partnership with the startup have regulatory approval to recruit six patients with paralysis in the study. In the United States, Neuralink has already implanted the device in two patients. It has allowed the first patient to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media and move a cursor on his laptop. The company has said its device is working well in the second trial patient, who has been using it to play video games and learn how to design 3D objects.( MENAFN - Newsfile Corp) Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 27, 2024) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQX: RYES) (the " Company ") announces it has contracted to sell 66 acres of industrial land located adjacent to the Company's Idaho-Maryland Mine Property (the "I-M Mine Property") for $4.3 million. Prior to 1991, the land being sold hosted a major commercial lumber mill, which had previously provided timber to the I-M Mine when it was in operation. All buildings associated with the lumber mill have been removed. The sale transaction is subject to two sale agreements with the same, arm's length third party. The first agreement covers 16 acres of land for total consideration of $1.8 million. That contract closed today, November 27, with the payment of half the sale price, minus certain deductions. The balance of the purchase price is due on November 27, 2026. The buyer will pay monthly interest at an annual rate of 5% per year on the balance of the purchase price until it is paid in full. The second sale agreement covers 50 acres of land for total sale price of $2.5 million and is expected to close on May 26, 2025, at which point half of the sale price will be due, with the other half due on May 26, 2027. The buyer has placed $200,000 in escrow and will pay $12,500 per month in rent until closing, with the rent payments to be applied against the purchase price. Commencing on the closing date, the buyer will pay monthly interest at an annual rate of 5% per year on the balance of the purchase price until it is paid in full. Rise and the purchaser have also executed an option agreement whereby the Company may repurchase the 66 acres of land being sold for the sale price plus the cost of any capital improvements plus an increase of five percent per year on the condition that Rise acquires final government approvals to perform mining operations at the I-M Mine Property. The Company retains ownership of the I-M Mine Property, which is comprised of 53 acres of land surrounding the New Brunswick shaft, as well as its nearby 56-acre Centennial property, and it retains all of its 2,585 acres of mineral rights. The Company will use the sale proceeds to repay debt and to fund its legal claims against Nevada County (the "County"). As previously disclosed in its press release dated May 13, 2024, the Company has submitted a Writ of Mandamus (the "Writ") to the Superior Court of California for the County of Nevada (the "Court") asking the Court to compel the Board of Supervisors of Nevada County to follow applicable law and grant Rise recognition of its constitutionally-protected, grandfathered vested right to operate the Mine. Rise's litigation attorneys at Cooper & Kirk have advised the Company that should the Writ be unsuccessful, Rise's mineral estate will lose all value, which will allow Rise to bring a takings action in federal court against the County under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The remedy for an unconstitutional taking is the payment of just compensation, which is the fair market value of the property taken. Based on comparable mines and historic yields at the I-M Mine, management believes the fair market value of Rise's mineral estate is at least $400 million. About Rise Gold Corp. Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Joseph Mullin President, CEO and Director Rise Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: RISE GOLD CORP. 345 Crown Point Circle, Suite 600 Grass Valley, California, USA 95945 T: 530.433.0188 ... The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit SOURCE: Rise Gold Corp. MENAFN27112024004218003983ID1108934111 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Will Howard’s motivation heading into the most important game on Ohio State’s schedule is completely void of personal gain. He’s about to be the fourth quarterback of the Ryan Day era to play in The Game, but only one so far can say it has a win over Michigan. Joining Justin Fields on that list means something to too many people for him to fail next week, and he knows that. Because he’s been hearing about it ever since he got to Columbus. “This one’s for those guys who came back,” Howard said. “This one’s for Buckeye Nation. I feel it, man. I can just feel it. There’s been that hurt the last three years. This rivalry game was the first thing that I heard when I came here on my visit. Beat the team up north. It’s the first goal we have every single year.” Latest Ohio State Buckeyes news What Will Howard’s jabs at Curt Cignetti tell us about Ohio State football heading into Michigan week Ohio State’s seniors reveling in one last chance to beat Michigan: ‘This is what we came back for’ Buckeyes and Ohio State fans celebrate big win over Indiana with ‘Carmen Ohio’ (video) What Ohio State football coach Ryan Day said after win vs. Indiana So much of the way the Buckeyes’ roster has been constructed this season is a direct result of a veteran group of players, who could’ve gone pro but came back because they still lack a win over Michigan. For the past three years, the Wolverines have been responsible for what the Buckeyes failed to win — a Big Ten title — and twice kept them out of the College Football Playoff. They punctuated the third of those wins with a national title last season. Much of why that happened no longer exists in Ann Arbor. Sherrone Moore has taken over as head coach, essentially starting from scratch, which has led to a team that came into Week 12 still needing a win to even be bowl eligible. The future might again be bright after landing five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood , but the present has been a season-long nightmare. OSU can be the final nail in the coffin for what is essentially a lost season. In the process, it can finally release some emotions that’ve been building up for three seasons. That’s where Howard comes in, as the vessel charged with helping the program do so. “I want this for them so bad because they’ve been here,” Howard said. “I’ve seen it from a distance and I feel it and I’m a part of it now. I want this for me, too, but I want this for those guys. I want it for Coach Day to shut up the haters. Be able to go out there and say this is the Ohio State Buckeyes.” On paper, next week looks to be a blowout in the making. The 11-1 Buckeyes are expected to stamp their ticket to Indianapolis and continue their journey toward a potential national championship. Depending on how things go against Northwestern, the Wolverines will either be fighting for bowl eligibility or trying to avoid their first under .500 season in a non-pandemic year since 2014. But the great thing about college sports is that records don’t matter in rivalry games, and that gets to play itself out in the 2024 version of The Game. “It doesn’t matter what their record is,” Howard said. “I couldn’t care less.” Howard has a chance to make his mark in an Ohio State-Michigan game that’s arguably the most important of the Ryan Day era. He gets to be the guy that stops the bleeding and flip things back in the favor of the Buckeyes while sending a group of players out on a high note. “This rivalry game means everything,” Howard said. “I’m just honored to be able to be a part of it and I won’t take it lightly. This is the biggest game of our season and I’m looking forward to it.”Pack takes down Judson
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed at more records after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to reach another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6% as Big Tech stocks helped lead the way. Stock markets abroad saw mostly modest losses, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. U.S. automakers and other companies that could be hurt particularly by such tariffs fell. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising toward records Tuesday after created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% and was on track to top its set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 81 points, or 0.2%, to set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% higher, with less than an hour remaining in trading. Stock markets abroad were down, but mostly only modestly, after President-elect Trump said he on Mexico, Canada and as soon as he takes office. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada's main index edged down by just 0.1%. Trump has often praised the , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. General Motors sank 8.2%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.9%. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support to the . While lower interest rates can boost the overall economy and prices for investments, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed's earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to released Tuesday afternoon. Unlike tariffs in Trump's first term, his proposal from Monday night would affect products across the board. Trump’s tariff talk came almost immediately after U.S. stocks rose Monday amid excitement about his pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent. The hope was the hedge-fund manager could steer Trump away from policies that balloon the U.S. government deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another set of mixed profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates instituted by the Fed to get inflation under control. tumbled 17.6% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. fell 4.7% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. J.M. Smucker jumped 5.4% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500 after topping analysts' expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 2.8% for Amazon and 2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. In the bond market, Treasury yields rose following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.30% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after late last week. It's since dipped back toward $91,600, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.Live streams of Taylor Swift’s sold-out Eras Tour concerts in Toronto give devoted fans a window into the spectacle of outfits, surprise songs and elaborate stages from one of the biggest cultural events in recent memory. As the massive tour inches toward its final three shows in Vancouver early next month, feeding Swifties’ insatiable appetite has become a nightly tradition for a handful of live stream hosts based all over the world. They act as ringleaders for tens of thousands of viewers witnessing Swift’s constantly evolving show through unofficial channels. “I never saw it being as big as it is,” said Tess Bohne, one of the personalities credited as a pioneer of the Swift live streams. “There is a big idea of community (and) being present without being there.” Broadcasting unauthorized concert live streams on social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook isn’t an entirely new phenomenon, but it’s one that’s been amplified with Swift’s tour. As their popularity grows, the streams are sparking conversations about copyright law and the delicate balance between protecting intellectual property and allowing listeners to embrace their fandom. “We’ve gone beyond art being a one-way conversation from the artist to the audience,” said Jay Kerr-Wilson, an IP lawyer and co-leader of Fasken’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications Group in Ottawa. “Copyright owners, generally speaking, are being more flexible and they’re not necessarily (thinking) black-and-white.” Representatives for the singer did not respond to requests for comment. For fans, the lines are already blurred. Bohne got wrapped up in the Swift live-streaming phenomenon nearly two years ago after she attended the second night of the Eras Tour, in Glendale, Ariz., and found herself consumed by the experience for days afterward. “(Often) you go to a concert and you’re like, ‘That was great, let’s move on with my life,’” the 33-year-old explained in a video call from Salt Lake City. “But there was something different. It was like, ‘No, that wasn’t enough. I’m not done.’” Eager to relive the high she felt, Bohne chased down the TikTok profiles of fellow Swifties streaming other stops on the tour. With little technical experience, she began rebroadcasting their videos, with credit, on her own TikTok profile. She would place an iPad playing their feed in front of her phone’s camera, and then swap it out with her other iPad when she found a user with a better angle of the concert. The crude setup initially drew a few thousand viewers, she said, and with more effort put into the productionher audience has grown to 100,000 to 200,000 during peak moments. Since her initial broadcast, Bohne estimates she’s streamed more than 110 of Swift’s concerts in a split-screen format, streaming the concert in one corner and munching on snacks in the other while discussing all things Swift with a chat room of strangers. Some fans donate cash, and her social media status has helped attract influencer partnerships. But the stay-at-home mom of three children said this is primarily a labour of love. Bohne is credited by many of her contemporaries as the one who inspired them to take a shot at hosting their own Eras Tour with live commentary. “A lot of people say it’s like religion for them,” explained Lucas Chalub, a Twitch streamer and longtime Swiftie. Chalub first experimented with hosting streams in August 2023. Rumours swirled that the singer might announce the release date for one of her re-recorded albums on stage in Los Angeles, so many Swifties sought out live feeds, which included his impromptu setup that night. “A lot of people joined,” remembered the 27-year-old sports journalist from Argentina. “That’s the first night that I said, ‘Why not do this every night?’” Chalub said he usually draws on streams from 10 to 15 concertgoers who are often aware their recordings might get picked up by the streaming hosts. Many bring power banks to recharge their devices and sometimes a backup phone. “We are not the heroes that people think we are,” Chalub added of his fellow streamers, crediting fans on the ground who do their work pro bono. “The real heroes are the people in the venue spending — or wasting — their time trying to live stream for us instead of enjoying the show.” The legality around live streaming Swift’s concerts is murky. In the simplest terms, the rebroadcasting of copyrighted music without a licence isn’t allowed, and platforms such as YouTube and TikTok have sometimes shut down live feeds mid-stream at the behest of record labels. It happened to Ammir Shar, a 25-year-old streamer from Blackpool, U.K., who saw his YouTube feed for the fourth Toronto concert yanked down while the show was in progress. Hosts say they worry about racking up too many takedown notices, which can risk permanently shutting down their channels. Usually after a live stream ends, they delete the footage from platforms like YouTube. However, they say attempts to silence them won’t amount to much. When one streamer falls, sometimes two others turn up. Copyright owners are still grappling with that perspective, especially when unsanctioned live streams can impact other financial stakes, said Kerr-Wilson. In Swift’s case, she sold the streaming rights to her “The Eras Tour” film to Disney Plus for US$75 million. Arguably, the lawyer suggested, a company might take issue with similar options on the market, such as a live stream. But even that seems to be an evolving conversation. “People have realized that social media and user-generated content isn’t the enemy, and, in fact, can be a powerful way to engage with fans and to be part of the conversation,” he said. “I think the trend is going to continue.” While Swift hasn’t publicly said much about the streams, several streamers believe she is aware of them. They also argue the vast majority of people tuning into their feeds already have an investment in Swift’s success. Last November, a group of technologically savvy Swifties launched Swift Alert, a phone app that sends out alerts for the highlights of each Eras Tour show. Inside the app, the creators also launched a game called Mastermind — named after a Swift song, of course — where fans can win prizes by guessing which of Swift’s rotating selection of outfits she’ll wear for each “era” of her performance. Using Swift Alert in tandem with the live streams, many fans tune in for the standout moments of the three-hour concert. “A lot of people compare it to fantasy football,” Shah said. “This kind of stuff brings us closer together.” With the Eras Tour set to end in Vancouver on Dec. 8, many live streamers say they’re uncertain how the future looks. Recently, Bohne experimented with a live stream from pop singer Meghan Trainor’s concert to see if there’s similar interest. While it was enjoyable, she said the experience wasn’t quite the same. Others have started streaming Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour. They say her shows are closest to Swift’s because Carpenter is a natural at witty banter, performs nightly surprise songs and changes up her outfits. “I’ve considered doing a few other (musicians, but they) are more like normal concerts — the artist on the stage with a microphone in one outfit, just singing their songs,” said Shah. “It’s not something that people at home will be like, ‘What outfit is she going to wear?’” Some wonder how live streaming will look without the intrigue of Swift’s tour. Added Bohne: “No concert is like The Eras Tour.”
Kansas City Chiefs hold off Raiders in dramatic fashion but fans convinced the fix was in
